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The woman refereeing the contest looked at him with wide eyes. "We've got a winner!" she announced, grabbing his arm and waving it up in the air. "That has to be the fastest I've seen anyone down two pints since I started working here."

The crowd cheered, but it was Jennifer's excited cries that made the moment for Mark. She looked even more thrilled than he did, which was saying something, since he was bursting with energy, too.

Once the others finished their drinks, the woman looped the medal around Mark's neck and declared him the winner.

"Next contest is this evening, come back later, folks!" she said and waved amongst the cheers and excitement.

A moment later, Mark found Jennifer amongst the audience, wrapping her arms around him. "You were right, that was fun," he said. "Hope you found it entertaining, too."

"That was amazing. You can really drink, huh?" she said.

"Just got a big mouth. See?"

He planted his mouth on hers, and she laughed. "Mm, tastes like beer. Not bad stuff, too. Must be a local brewery."

Mark felt bubbly and alive for the first time in years. Not because of the alcohol, but from being with Jennifer. She was amazing, and every second by her side slowly brought him out of the cocoon he'd built around himself after being alone in the woods for so long.

And soon, she would be his wife.

They spent another hour playing around at the beer festival, mostly just watching other people play drinking games since Jennifer didn't want to drink anything herself. After Mark's victory in the drinking contest, he wasn't too keen on drinking anything else, either. But it was fun to watch, even more so because Jennifer seemed to be enjoying herself, and that was what mattered the most.

After they saw everything there was to see, they found a secluded area away from the growing festival crowd and danced to the music in the distance. Jennifer leaned against Mark and they swayed to the loud tune, an electrical buzz that wasn't exactly meant for the kind of dance they performed, but this was how they wanted to hold each other. Holding each other close, breathing each other in.

"I think it's time to go get the paperwork done," Mark murmured into Jennifer's hair.

"Mm, paperwork, how romantic," she laughed.

An idea sparked in Mark's head. Maybe it was the remnants of the alcohol, or maybe it was just wanting to hear her laugh one more time before they left ... but he lowered himself onto one knee, not caring if people were watching.

Jennifer looked at him with cautious amusement.

"Jennifer, I've never met a woman as amazing as you," he said, reaching around his neck to take the cord of his newly won medal. "I have no ring for you, and should you choose to scold me for such an oversight, that is well within your right. However ..."

He held up the medal to her, and she broke into laughter.

"However," he continued, his grin matching hers, "I hope you will accept this honorably won medal on your behalf as a token of my affections. Will you marry me?"

Her smile softened, and she extended her hand to him. "Of course, Mark. This last day has meant more to me than I can put into words ... so yes. Justyes."

He wrapped the medal around her wrist, and once it was secured in place, Jennifer knelt in the grass with him. He took her into his arms, vowing to himself never to let this woman go. She was the best thing to happen to him, and he wasn't going to waste a single second he had with her.

Within the hour, they would be officially married. And once they were, it would be his responsibility to make sure that she was cared for. In his eyes, that meant looking after her mother, too, whom she loved so dearly.

So even though Jennifer hadn't agreed to take him up on his offer of paying for her mom's treatment, he was going to make sure it happened.

A few minutes later, Jennifer rested her head on his chest. "I guess we should get going, huh?"

He kissed her right on the mouth, triggering a swarm of bubbles in the simmering heat of his desire for her. "It's time to make you my wife."

Chapter 7 – Jennifer

The next few days passed in a blur. Now that Jennifer and Mark were officially married, they spent very few minutes apart. Being with him was a dream come true, the relationship she'd been waiting her whole life for.

Whenever Jennifer stared into his deep green eyes, whenever he brushed his lips against hers, ran his fingers down her arm ... her insides shivered with such inexplicable joy. She could only describe it as the makings of love.

Maybe it was fast, but what else could she call what she felt? She'd never felt anything like it before, not even with exes she thought she loved in the past. Mark was the man of her dreams, there was no denying it ... or him.

They lay in bed together, just enjoying being in each other's company, when Mark asked, "what are you planning on doing now that you're here?"