[b]To Ella's relief, Marken seemed to be preoccupied for the night, though she did wonder what he wanted to give her. Dinner didn't drag on for too long, much to the woman's relief, and it wasn't long before Marken and Ella bid his parents good night, and everyone headed in their separate ways.

Ella was both excited and terrified to be alone with her fiancé, knowing what the night would bring them. And damn it all, her heart wouldn't calm itself, even for just a few seconds. Couldn't she have just one moment of piece before she took the final plunge?

Ella was almost shaking when the two arrived at their shared apartments, taking her long hair down before Marken came over to do it himself. If he was too kind to her tonight, or touched her too much, she would cowardly back down again, ruining her plan. She couldn't afford- [i]they[/i] couldn't afford for her to do so.

"So, what is this gift you mentioned before supper?" Ella asked Marken as she placed her hair ties on the coffee table, "You have piqued my interest, so don't keep me in the dark for too long."[/b]