In the Gardens ~September 19, 2024~

Nicolas was pacing while he waited for Amy.

He'd set everything up, every little detail. He wanted everything to be perfect.

There was a small clearing in the middle of the rose bushes, and there, there was a small table, fit for two. White table cloth, two tall candles... everything was there.

He peeked in his pocket.

Yup, it was there, a small velvet box.

Amy arrived in the Casillas manor with a smile on her face, she had been looking forward to the evening all day.

She was wearing an a long black evening dress that had a silver strip down the middle. Her hair was down and and she had just enough make up on to look prefect.

Walking out into the garden she noticed Nick pacing, back and forth. She snickered "Nervous about something?" she asked with a raised eye brow.

Nicolas jumped slightly when he heard her voice. He turned around and beamed. He looked at her and his breath caught in his throat.

"Wow... You look beautiful." Nicolas sighed.

Amy laughed and walked closer to him, " You always say that Amor, how do I know when you truly mean it?" she said as she came up and and gently kissed him on the lips.

"You look nice tonight as well" she whispered with a smile dancing on her face.

"I say it because it's true." Nicolas said easily. And he pulled her in for another kiss.

"Shall we?" Nicolas gestured at the table set before them. He pulled out one of the seats for Amy to sit at.

Amy smiled "I looks lovely" she said and sat down.

"It looks like you went through a lot of trouble for this Nick.. What is the Occasion?" she asked in curiosity.

A private dinner just the two of them was something that had not done on a while.

"Nothing," Nicolas lied. Well it wouldn't really do to tell her the truth right off the bat would it?

He subconsciously felt the ring in his pocket.

"Can't I do something special without there being an occasion?" Nicolas said smoothly. He sat down on the other end of the table.

Amy laughed " I suppose, but you rarely ever do something like this with out a reason... " she with a smile. " I am not complaining though, what ever your reason is am you decided to do it"

"I love you, have mentioned that today?" she asked with a smile.

"No you haven't but then again, I haven't either." Nicolas said smiling. "I love you too."

"Just out of curiousity, where is Aiden?"

Amy smiled and chuckled at bit a the mention of her brother, " He got roped in by mother to attend one of her social parties. Thank for planning this tonight by the way I might have had to join him."she said with a victorious smirk.

"So what is for dinner this evening?" she asked.

"Why?" Nicolas grinned, "You hungry?"

Amy raised her eye brow, " Well not starving... just curious I guess"

Then she blinked and she rubbed her left arm.. Aiden must have knock into someone.

Nicolas noticed her discomfort. Oh Merlin, he was so nervous. But it wasn't like he wasn't sure... Nicolas was sure, more sure than he's ever been in his entire life.

"Are you okay?"

Amy nodded, though her shoulder now throbbed she ignored it, this wasn't the first time Aiden had a klutz attack or gotten into a fight. Her tolerance for pain was rather high.

"I am fine Amor" she said with a smile as she reached out to take his hand.

Nicolas held her hand and squeezed it gently.

"As for dinner," Nicolas grinned. "I've made roast beef..."

Yes, he made it himself, he worked at it for a month. Now he can cook it perfectally. Actually... its the only thing he can cook.

Amy looked at him in surprise, in a good surprise as she knew he never cooked.

"You actually made it? whoa, did I do something extra good to deserve such the effort tonight?" she asked.

She shifted her leg under the table as a sharp pain went through it. Holding back a sigh, she thought out to her brother.

"Aiden what's going on?"

Aiden voice entered her head, "I am not sure... someone cursed me but I can't see who"

"Taste it first, and tell me whether or not my effort was worth it." Nicolas joked. He'd burnt a few fingers in the whole general process. Diana and Helena were of course no help, they just laughed at him.

"Are you sure you okay?" He looked at her in concern.

Amy nodded again, "Yes, Don't worry Nick, I am perfectly alright" she said with a smile to reassure him. Though the pain in her leg wasn't going away.

"Well whatever is going on Aiden, get out of there, Please..." she thought

"and I am sure it will be worth it" she said moving her thumb gently over his hand.

"I am trying Ams" Aiden thought back.

With his other hand, Nicolas managed to get the bottle of wine open. The wine was especially made from the Casillas Vinery. Nicolas of course choose the best for tonight.

He poured it in her wine glass then at his.

Amy Noted the Wine. It was such a romantic setting, and he had put so much effort into it is seemed. She desperately wanted the night to go well, but if the nagging pains in her arm and leg persisted, she wouldn't be able to push away Nicks concerns for long.

"Wine.. roast beef dinner, which you made your self, in a relatively private intimate setting.. Nick I refuses to believe you went through all this for the hell of it. You are planning something I know" she said with a laugh.

Almost sighing in relief when no stab of pain went through her this time.

Grinning sheepishy he poured himself more wine. Nothing like alcohol to calm the nerves. He could practically feel the ring burning into his pocket.

"Well then I guess you'll just have to wait and see." Nicolas teased.

Amy sent him an amused smile, "I can't wait, I do love surprises"

Picking up the glass of wine she laughed "To.. whatever this surprise of yours is..." she said.

"It better be good, the suspense is killing me"

Nicolas grinned but remained silent. He was afraid, if he opened his mouth, it might blurt it out randomly.

To his relief, the food arrived via the personal man servants of the Casillas Manor.

They methodically placed a sliver dish on Amy's place then on his.

Amy looked at the plater of food, her eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Wow Nick it looks perfect. You made it all by your self? wow... I am so proud" she said with a laugh.

Picking up the fork and knife she cut off a small piece and tasted it.

"It tastes perfect to Nick, it was well worth the effort" she said sincerely.

Then something happened, something must have hit Aiden hard in the head, she sworn she could feel the force of the impact on something hard.

Amy dropped her fork and brought hand up to her head, and she swore as the area started to spin slightly.

Nicolas grinned at Amy's compliment, and if Boris had been around, he would have even said Nicolas blushed. Nicolas did not blush, he was Nicolas Casillas! He made girls blush, not the other way around.

Suddenly Nicolas' grin morphed into a frown as he saw Amy drop her knife and touched her head.

"Are you okay?" Nicolas pushed off the table. There was something seriously wrong...