At the shore, a large ship stopped at a distance. Tarzan frowned as there were more people walking to the jungle at the beach. Brook didn't want to risk that Vincent most probably found out she was alive and hid behind a tree.

"Yes! Right there! Leave it right there, I'm sure they'll hear it."

They blinked at them and Brook shut her eyes in worry. She felt a calloused hand grab hers and tighten it a little, comforting her a bit.

"Hello?! Tarzan?!"

They stopped as they can vaguely remember that voice. Brook peeked through the tree and smiled widely as Professor Porter was yelling with his belongings in the back. He brought more than what he brought last time.

Brook grinned and walked out. Tarzan's eyes widened and later softened as he saw his Flame running to Mr. Porter.

They laughed and hugged each other in greeting. Brook turned to the captain and asked them what they were doing here.

Tarzan knuckle-walked to them, standing next to Brook. Mr. Porter's eyes widened and laughed, hugging him.

"Tarzan, my boy! It's been so long!" he laughed.

Brook chuckled, "It's been a few months."

Mr. Porter nodded, "Yes, it has. How have you been doing, dear? Oh! And your clothes are nice, dear!"

Brook's face flushed as she now realized that she is wearing inappropriate clothing in front of the captain and Mr. Porter and laughed nervously.

"I didn't bring spare clothes. Tarzan was kind to make this, thank you."

He laughed and turned to the captain. "Thank you! You can leave now. I am lost and you never found me."

Tarzan and Brook blinked as the captain left with his men to the ship, leaving the professor in front of them.

"You're staying?" Tarzan asked.

Archimedes nodded and grinned. "Yes, I have all sorts of discoveries to do and I missed Brook dearly. Oh! Jane also brought gifts! She didn't let me leave until she has gone shopping."

He walked back to his belongings as Tarzan turned to her. Brook smiled, "How's Miss Jane?"

"She's doing splendid, dear! Just married that fellow back at London."

She slumped as she also wanted to be at the wedding but grinned, "I'm glad! She deserves it."

Archimedes huffed, trying to carry a box but failed. "Well, where will I stay?"

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"You have a house!" Archimedes laughed. "That's good news!"

Tarzan had some of his family help carry Archimedes' stuff near the treehouse. Terk huffed as she had to carry a box of furniture with Tantor.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay at the treehouse, Mr. Porter?" Brook frowned as she helped carry a small box.

He shook his head, "Please, dear. Call me Archimedes. And thank you for the invitation, but you two deserve a home for yourselves."

Tarzan walked over to Brook and grabbed her box, placing it next to the other stuff. Archimedes wiped a bead of sweat and started opening the boxes.

"Now, which ones are yours...Aha! Here it is."

Brook's eyes widened at the amount of jewelry in his hand and furniture in the boxes. She paled as he kept taking things out that she knew were at the most expensive price in London. She could have sworn, she also spotted a mattress large enough for four people!

"She shouldn't have," she nervously laughed.

Tarzan sniffed at the mattress and pressed onto it, feeling the soft texture. Terk laughed jumping on it, causing her to bounce. Tarzan grinned and also jumped on it.

"This is too much..." Brook sweatdropped.

As she grew up, she made sure to take care of everything in Mr.Porter's house. She wasn't given anything expensive or pretty and grew scared as Terk started playing hot potato with a vase with Tantor.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"There. All better," she sighed as Tarzan and Brook have organized the stuff into their home. They also replaced the makeshift bed with the mattress. They had replaced the curtains and other furniture.

Brook couldn't have plates or vases in the house, so she placed them in the second room for storage. Here in the jungle, you can't always be careful with sharp stuff.

Brook hummed as she put bedsheets on the bed as Tarzan stood at the door, staring as she concentrated.

"Something in your mind, love?" she asked, turning to him.

He shook his head and walked to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She looked up at him as he lovingly stares into her golden eyes.

"Are you sure? You can tell me anything."

Tarzan lied. He did have something in his mind, but he wasn't sure how to phrase it and only spoke the word. Especially when he saw that Brook was slightly saddened at the word before when Professor mentioned it.

"Married?"

Brook blinked and later flushed, instantly turning to him. "W-What are you confused about?" she stuttered.

"What's married?" he tilted his head in confusion.

Brook cleared her throat and awkwardly sat on the edge of the bed. Tarzan crouched in front of her and held her hands, giving his full attention to her.

She sighed and smiled at him, "Being married or marriage is a sort of commitment between two people who dearly love each other and cannot be separated until death...or until one of the couples chooses a divorce."

"Mate?"

"Yeah, like that. But..." Brook slightly frowned at the next words she will say. "You would lose the chance to be with anyone else."

Tarzan frowned and then cupped her cheeks, making her turn to him. "Brook married to Tarzan?"

Her eyes widened and slowly shook her head. "We're not married. Tarzan, you...considering that you only met Miss Jane and me. You should be with someone you're willing to be with who you truly love. It's a strong commitment to not be able to be with anyone else–"

"Brook."

Her eyes met his as he intensely looked through her. It made her lightly gasp as she has never seen his eyes hold so many words and expressions in her life.

"Brook married to Tarzan?"

Her eyes widened as she now realized his true meaning. He is proposing to her. She flushed as he neared closer to her and kissed her lips. His hand was placed on her hip as the other cupped her cheek. She teared up and kissed him back.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. She softly moaned as she softly bit his lip, making him open his lips slightly. She used this chance to include her tongue into the kiss and explore his mouth.

Tarzan hummed and awkwardly did the same thing as he was unexperienced to this new kiss. He then hovered over her on the bed as they continued to kiss. They felt as if the whole world stopped and only they were the only ones moving.

Brook and Tarzan pant as they separated. A string of saliva connected their lips as they both panted for air. Tarzan's pupils dilated as he observed his Flame. Her eyes were half-lidded with swollen lips and rosy cheeks.

He had never seen anything beautiful in his life and this girl is the definition of it. He placed his head against hers.

"You're my Flame."

Brook teared up and hugged him. "I love you."

He smiled and kissed her neck, hugging her back. "I love you."

After asking for Kala's and Archimedes' blessings. They got married within a week.

Published: March 7, 2022

Word Count: 1249