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She sat down again quickly, quite surprised that she had done it. The guests applauded again, but nobody louder than Emma and Levi, and as Emma turned to him she saw that he was bursting with pride. They had been practicing for days, and it had clearly paid off as far as he was concerned.

After the breakfast, the festivities continued, and when the time came for the dances Levi took Emma's waist as if instinctively. He took to the floor with her and twirled her until she was dizzy, and they did not stop there. She felt the most like herself when she was in his arms, safer than anywhere else in the world.

When the wedding had come to an end, and Sarah had left with her beloved to see her new home, Emma left with her own to return to the one place she had ever seen as a home. Levi sat beside her, pulling her close.

“You seem upset,” he commented. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no,” she replied quickly, before thinking about it. “Well, yes, but I do not wish to spoil everything.”

“A day such as this cannot be spoiled. Believe me, whatever your concern, it will be alright.”

She steeled herself, knowing that each time she had mentioned it he had become angry.

“Levi, I–”

Just then, they drove past a family. There was a mother and father, and their immaculately dressed small daughter. She could not have been more than four years old, and at once Emma’s breath caught in her throat. It was the one thing that she had wanted that Levi had refused to give her, and she felt selfish for daring to mention it again and so she stopped.

“I told you, it is nothing,” she finished, but as she turned to him she saw that he was watching too.

“I have been thinking, for a while now,” he explained, “that I am a fool. This curse, it hasn't changed a thing for me thus far. I have always done exactly what I pleased, and no bad has ever come of it. I have begun to wonder if I have been wrong about all of this, and that I may not necessarily bestow a terrible fate upon a child.”

She searched his face carefully to try and find the meaning in his words. She felt as though she knew what he was saying, but she refused to give herself false hope.

“I must say,” he chuckled, “I was expecting a smile, at least.”

“Levi, do you mean– are you–”

“I believe my thoughts on children have been too harsh. I have had such thoughts for a long time now, and I have been waiting for the right moment to tell you. If you still find yourself in want, we will try.”

She kissed him without a care as to who might see.

“Oh, Levi, do you mean it? You do not understand how happy you have made me.”

“I hope that it is even a fraction of the joy that you bring me, Emma. I love you.”

“And I love you.”

She was dizzy and breathless for the second time that day, and it hadn't even required a dance.

The End?