[i]”With all due respect, madam, I will not be sleeping in a separate bedroom.”[/i]

“If that’s what you think, Nicholas,” Claire replied with a smirk, looking down at her hands in her lap. Sounded like neither of them were giving in on something simple, and they weren’t even married yet!

[i]“Our bedroom will have a couch where the person not using the bed can sleep for the night. I suggest, to give both of us a fair chance, that we agree on a contest and whoever wins, will have the bed for a night.”[/i]

Claire looked up at him, smiling again. “Oh, I will certainly take you up on that,” she laughed, putting a finger to her lips as she considered a few options. “What do you think the contest should be? What about something with our horses? We could race, if you’re all right with that,” she offered, sounding excited. “Or perhaps we could jump with them? I’ve trained in both.”

The facts still stood, as humorous as the conversation was. Nick didn’t plan on sleeping with her anytime soon. “Nick, may I ask you something?” Claire shifted in her seat, unsure how to approach the subject. They were already halfway there, though, and she might not get this opportunity for a while. “I may not understand why you want to marry me, and you’re right, this isn’t exactly how I pictured my life playing out, but there are still things I’d like to have.” Surely they were things he wanted as well.

“I’d like to start a family. Have a couple children, perhaps more. Not now,” she assured him quickly, “not with the war going on and things so uncertain.” And her so busy with her extracurricular activities. “But one day. When we’re ready.” Claire knew she was different, knew she was currently doing things that everyone would frown upon, but surely one day she could quit and fulfill her want of a happy family with little ones. Was it so strange to want something to simple, to look at the positives of her future? “I don’t believe that you actually love me, Nick, but I bet you could love our children. Just picture it! Playing in the yard, maybe a dog there too. Hopefully she’ll look like her mother, though,” Claire laughed. “I know you’re not one to be tied down, I can tell with your flirting for the sake of your business, but you wouldn’t have to be with us often. I could handle things at home.”