Gorgeous...

The next day they had gone to get their rings, but of course, Ash wouldn't let Ru leave without his own engagement ring. 

He ended up picking out a black opal with a gold and silver band. It was one of the cheapest the store sold, at only four-hundred dollars, but the second he'd laid eyes on it he'd fallen in love. 

"You're daydreaming again, my Ru," Ash said as he pressed a turkey and pepperoni lettuce wrap to his lips with a knowing grin. 

They had decided to go to a restaurant for lunch to celebrate their engagement, and let Ashy pick. That's how they ended up at a simple lunch joint that hadn't looked like much from the outside, but the food was surprisingly good. 

"Like your ring that much, hmm?" he said with a grin that lit up his one red and one brown eye. 

Ru blushed and took a bite, filling his mouth to keep from babbling because, not only did he love his new ring, but Rucrow was also quite excited about their new acquisition. 

And considering that he'd been a bit miffed after being scolded by Ash the other day, the bird had been pretty quiet within his mind... until it saw that ring. 

Finishing chewing, Ru calmly swallowed, then met his love's soft gaze. 

"I'm sorry, I really do love it, but Rucrow is in love with it. He won't stop trying to push his way out so that he can pick it up and inspect it," he said honestly, blushing. 

Ash's eyes lit up at the mention of his bird.

"Does that mean I am forgiven for chastising him yesterday?" he asked as he leaned forward a little. 

Rucrow immediately cawed within his mind, ruffling his feathers as he strutted back and forth, anxious to get out. 

"I think that's definitely a possibility," he replied before finishing his last bite, then handing the waitress his card to pay. 

Once they were finally back in the car and heading to the resort Ru tucked his left hand beneath his leg and pulled out his phone. He calmly flipped through a few things, trying to keep his ring out of view of his bird for a little while. 

"So... I was thinking that maybe we should call a realtor for that area we were looking at? Maybe get some ideas on what the prices really are right now and such," he said as he looked over at his love. 

Ash gave him a big grin as he nodded, then returned his attention to the road. 

"I agree, that way we can understand what we're getting into better."

They talked a bit more about what they wanted and what they were willing to make concessions on when comparing locations and prices. 

The moment they got home they greeted Ash's mother at the front desk, then went to his room and got comfortable before finding a realtor they liked from the area to call. 

As luck would have it, they were available to talk right away, and pretty soon the three of them were going over everything from housing locations, neighborhood ratings, population densities and possible available restaurant locations for lease. 

To Ru's surprise, Ash actually kept up with everything just as well as he, himself, was, as he wrote down the important points the lady was making. 

By the time they finally hung up they were both giddy and had a few addresses to look up that were currently either for sale right then or going to be put on the market very soon. 

Hmm...

Leaning back against his man since he'd been settled in his lap for the majority of the conversation, Ru tilted his head and settled his cheek against Ash's shoulder. 

"So... I was thinking," he said, leaving his words hanging as he stared curiously up at his lover. 

Of course, Ash was already beaming, making Ru chuckle and close his eyes, silently giving his love permission to give him some attention before they continued their discussion. 

He knew that Ash often held back for him, so he was going to work on relaxing his own guard around him slowly. It would take a bit to get used to how much attention he wanted to give, and they'd probably never be on the same level, but he knew that he was becoming comfortable enough to concede some more space to him. 

Thus, he allowed Ash to love on him for a few moments, as well as make a mark or two on his neck before finally leaning away just enough to signal that he'd had enough for the time before. 

Ash took a moment to regain control of himself, but that was perfectly fine. He listened well even as steam drifted from his nose and his eyes shone with excitement. 

I hope he doesn't think that I'm intentionally teasing him...

It was honestly the opposite. 

"I don't think that your teasing me at all!" Ash said abruptly, reading his thoughts as he hugged him a little closer. 

"It's actually the opposite. I'm a horny dragon and would gladly love on you all day and night, but you're calmer and not as interested in having someone in your space twenty-four seven. We're just two different types of people, and that's okay." 

He could tell that Ash wanted to snuggle into him, amongst other things right then, but the man held himself back with just hugging him in his lap. 

"I love that Ruru has been giving me more physical attention. I might be horny all the time, but I have two hands that work perfectly fine, and besides, I'd take a single hug from you over a hundred bouts of sex if that hug was what you were more comfortable with." 

This guy...

Was so corny, but so, so sweet.       

Smiling, Ru leaned away just enough to look at him without needing to look up much. 

"So, I was thinking that maybe it's time to move sooner over later? I know I've only been here a very short time, but I went over my accounts again earlier this morning and I think I'm actually pretty comfortable with being able to help buy a house and storefront, though we'd need a loan for one or the other," he said, excited and curious to see what Ash thought of his idea. 

It would mean leaving his mother and his job abruptly, and not just as a small vacation, but it would also mean that they could finally start building their own lives together. 

"I think that's a good idea," Ash replied after only a few moments of silence, surprising Ru a bit. 

You... you're really ready to go so soon? 

Ash smiled gently, his eyes squinting as the grin reached them. 

"I love my mum and I love my job, but I love you more than anything. I know this whole relationship happened faster than either of us thought it would, but I don't think that we're going too fast, or too slow. I think this is just our pace and I've honestly been wondering when you'd suggest us moving out." 

Ru tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. 

"You were just waiting for me to suggest it?" he asked, a little stunned. 

Ash nodded, his eyes shining. 

"Yeah! I've been thinking about leaving permanently to live with you even before you quit your job and came here, but uh, I'm really just the horny dragon, while you're the genius crow, so I didn't want to say anything that we might not be ready for yet. I didn't want to rush you." 

Ru shook his head, then reached up and patted Ash's soft hair. 

"You're not just the horny dragon, sweetheart. Your my smart, adorable, determined, gorgeous, horny dragon. And my fiancé, and soon, my husband. I won't let you rush me, and you won't let me rush you. If we disagree with something, we'll talk about it, right? There's no need to hold anything back." 

Ru paused for a moment as he remembered something, then carefully climbed out of his man's lap, and the bed, before turning and kneeling down. 

Ash looked a bit confused and surprised, but when Ru reached up and took his hand, then leaned forward to press a kiss against the ring he couldn't keep from slipping on the man's finger the moment he'd bought it, Ash's face turned bright red all the way back to his adorable ears! 

"I know I've already made my intentions very clear, but I wanted to make sure that I am completely clear so, my sweet Ash, Ashy, will you both marry me and my stubborn Rucrow?" 

His love's eyes quickly squeezed shut and began to overflow with tears as he nodded once, then twice, then three times. 

So cute. 

Standing up, Ru stepped forward and got himself situated in his love's lap again. Ash's arms immediately wrapped around him, hugging him close so that he could burry his nose in the crook of Ru's neck. 

Smiling softly, Ru returned his hug, then waited patiently until, after about two minutes of sniffling, he heard Ash mumble something against his skin, his warm, faintly damp breath heating the area.    

"What was that, love?" he questioned as he sifted his fingers through Ash's soft hair. 

The man was practically steaming, warming Ru's body faster than any fire ever could. 

"Mm, I said... yes." 

Ash slowly lifted his head until their eyes met again, making Ru swallow. 

Ash's red eye was burning so bright it appeared to nearly be on fire, itself. 

"Yes, I will marry you, Ru. And I will take care of you, and treasure you. Both of you," Ash said, his voice a little rough as he gently lifted Ru's hand upward until he could press his own lips to the ring he'd bought for him. 

"I will be your husband and stand with you, by your side, forever," he said, his voice growing quiet as his warm hands encased Ru's, then squeezed softly, all while his eyes refused to look away from his. 

 Now it was his turn to blush. 

"So beautifully-handsome," Ash whispered before leaning up to press their lips together. 

It was a very careful, gentle kiss, but it lacked absolutely nothing, and brought with it a promise of everything. 

(I'm not sure if this is the general end or if I'll need an extra chapter before the epilogue because I want to put a lot into it, so I'll leave it as a base chapter for right now :) )