a sky of diamonds just for us

[withresolve]

It had been a long but pleasant day. They had done household chores, gone out for lunch with her brother, went grocery shopping, and tried out a new recipe for dinner. To many, it might seem like a boring day. But Lenalee relished it.

The war had been over for a few years. There was no more fighting, no more death, and no more Black Order. They were all free now, and able to live a normal life -- at least, as normal as possible.

Lenalee and Allen had chosen to live their lives together. Their feelings for one another had grown, evolving from friendship to something much deeper, a bond that could not easily be put into words. She loved Allen with all her heart, and hated to be parted from him for long, always anxious for his safety. Being by his side brought her great peace, and she loved making him happy. Lenalee felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

They had a small house to themselves, with plenty of peace and quiet and privacy. Large windows let in lots of sunshine, and together they chose calming colors and simple decorations. Flowers grew around the house, bird feeders hung from trees, and they even had a small vegetable garden. Of course, Komui and all their friends were always welcome to come and go. Something delicious was always cooking or baking, and the house was often full of happy chatter, laughter, and music. They were never lonely.

This happiness and freedom they had...sometimes it overwhelmed her. Though she hadn't really talked about it, Lenalee was still having difficulty adjusting to civilian life. After all, she had been a soldier for most of her life. It often felt as if she should be doing more, as if she were a bad person for not remaining in the Black Order. Nightmares still plagued her, as well as anxiety and panic attacks.

But she refused to let the past get in the way of her future. Lenalee fought the memories, focused on the present, and cherished the life she was building with Allen.

Outside, the sun had set. A balmy summer night breeze ruffled the curtains in the kitchen. The smell of chocolate filled the house; she had just taken a pan of brownies out of the oven to cool. With that done she went around the house, making sure the doors were locked and lights were turned off. She thought about closing the windows as well, but decided against it. The breeze was nice, and it brought in the scents of lavender and foxglove from their garden.

Allen was still in the shower, so she headed for their bedroom, kicked off her slippers, and sat on the bed. While waiting for him, she began the task of combing out her hair. It was long, falling down to the small of her back, and smelled faintly of the orange blossom shampoo she had used earlier.

Lenalee was looking forward to tonight. There were no plans for tomorrow, so they could be lazy and sleep in. Outside the sky was clear, revealing endless stars and a waxing moon. They had a hammock, and could curl up and stargaze later if they wished.

Once finished with her hair, Lenalee found herself drawn to the window seat. She gazed out the open window, watching fireflies lazily fly about, listening to the sound of crickets and tree frogs. It helped to relax her. Adjusting the thin cotton nightgown she wore, Lenalee drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them.

At that moment, her life felt perfect. What more could she ask for?