Ann was just passing Pt’this’s door as he was leaving. He put a finger to his lips and closed the door as softly as he could. He then listened at the door a moment and sighed in relief. He motioned for Ann to follow. He carried his boots, shirt, and tunic and his hair hung loose. He led her to his receiving room where he finished dressing. “I didn’t want to wake Sapphire.” He explained. “She’s such a light sleeper.” “With all she’s been through, is that a surprise?” Ann asked. “No, I suppose not. Somehow, I think Sapphire’s problems lately have more to do with Remtani then anything else,” Pt’this said. He sat to put on his boots. “Perhaps.” Ann nodded. “How is she doing?” “She’s on edge. She staying to be with me, but we’re never together. She wants to go back to Thager but she doesn’t want to go alone, and she knows I can’t leave now.” “Things might improve. Mother said she’d talk to Father about letting you have some more time to spend with her.” “That would be wonderful.” He laid his head back. “Have you thought about marrying her?” Ann asked. Pt’this’s had snapped up. “We are... Well, we will be...” He started but stopped when he realized what she was asking. “I’m not talking about mating. I’m talking about marriage.” “It’s the same thing.” Pt’this shrugged. “For you maybe, but you’re a dragon. She’s human.” “She knows there’s no real difference.” Pt’this shrugged again. “Does she? In her head she does, but what about her heart? She’ll be your mate either way. There’s no question about that. But it might mean more to her if you were her husband not just her lover.” Pt’this sat there and considered the idea. Ann waited. “I never looked at it that way. I assumed when she agreed to be my mate she thought the same way as I did.” “You see them as the same. Would you have a problem with an extra step?” Pt’this smiled. “If that’s what it takes to make her happy, I’ll do it in a second.” Ann could tell the more he thought about it, the more he liked it. But then he frowned. “Uh, Ann, I don’t know the first thing about proposing. What do I do?” “Guys do lots of different things, but there is one thing you have to do. You have to say ‘Sapphire, will you marry me?’” “I’m serious.” “So am I. Andy asked me while we were washing dishes. But some guys will try to do something romantic.” “Romantic?” “Yeah, romantic. Kith took me out to a beautiful oasis in the desert. You were mated for five hundred years, surely you did something together besides mate.” “But that was with Mirimar. Sapphire likes different things.” “Like what?” “Like quiet. All the commotion here is starting to get to her.” “So take her away for an afternoon.” “Where?” “Someplace quiet. Someplace she’s never been.” “The beach.” “She’s been to the beach. And it’s not that quiet.” “No, the one in Baj-tisk. Nobody goes there because only dragons can get to it and we don’t swim.” “If you don’t swim, what are you going to do? She doesn’t swim much either.” “What about a picnic?” He asked. “At the beach? I think she’d love it. Ask my dad for tomorrow off. I’ll talk with cook and have her make you a picnic.” “Uh, don’t I need a ring? Give me a few days to get something. I have something special in mind. And it might take me that long to convince your dad to give me some time off.” “If he doesn’t, we’ll talk to my mom. She’ll make sure you get as much time as you need.”