"We loved a love that was more than love." - Edgar Allen Poe

****

Two Years Later

Eli paced around the store, looking at all of the books. His books. The Sun And The Stars in bold white cursive surrounded him. He ran his fingers over the print.

"I guess I'm early." Audrey laughed as she walked in, looking around gleefully at the books. "Yeah." Eli responded with a shrug. She smiled at his nicely combed hair. He was in a collared shirt and everything. How mature. "You gonna roll those sleeves down?" She asked as she set down her purse.

Being a counselor was great for the most part. But, it was tiring. Audrey smoothed down her new red dress- bought especially for this occasion, and ran her fingers through her curls. Her hair was long now, past her shoulders. Longer than it had ever been. She quite liked her loose curls now that she could tame them nicely. Most of the time, that is. 

"The rolled up sleeves are a conscious choice." Eli corrected.

"Hmm."

"Perks of working for yourself." Eli added with a small smile. 

"I'll keep that in mind." Audrey laughed again. She laughed a lot these days. They both did. "Is your Mom still coming?" 

"Yeah, Pheebs is bringing her." He said nonchalantly, though Audrey knew how much it meant to him. Not just that his Mom was there for him again, but that Phoebe was warming up to her Step Mom again. After all, Phoebe wasn't as independent and hard shelled as she made herself out to be. She craved parental love just as much as we all do.

The first reading of a book was a big deal. And sure, they were only in a small town book store in Arizona, but it was huge for Eli. His book was no best seller, but it was well received by those reading it.

"Any reason you asked me here so early?" Audrey asked as she walked closer. Eli shrugged in response. He honestly just wanted her there before anyone else. If no one else showed up but Audrey, he wouldn't mind. At least the sun would still be shining in his life. "Oh, your Mom said she might be late and that she'll bring your hat with her." He remembered.

"My Mom calls you more than she calls me." Audrey rolled her eyes.

"It's because I appreciate her." Eli quirked an eyebrow and Audrey shoved his arm as she hoisted herself up to sit on a little bookcase. He leaned against the bookcase himself and they both took in the scenery. Their story. Well, at least the beginning of it, printed in permanent ink and sprawled proudly around the store.

Audrey nudged Eli's arm. "You sure there's no reason I'm here early?" She tried again. Eli eyed her with suspicion. "No..."

A loud sigh escaped her and she stood up to be face to face with him. "Eli, I have to confess something."

Eli let out a breathy laugh. "Okay."

"I know about the ring." She said, biting her lip, "I know you've been carrying it around for like, six months and I'm going crazy because you carry it around all the time and-"

Eli's jaw dropped open. "Audrey, it's not what you think."

"It's not a ring?" Audrey exclaimed, mortified that she'd started a crazy speech for nothing.

"No, it is."

"It's not for me?" She asked, scrunching her nose up.

"It's- I um..." Eli stuttered, feeling stupid for carrying it around so long, "I got it over two years ago. But, when I found out I was getting published, I decided to wait."

Audrey's mouth opened, but then closed as realization dawned. Eli watched her face change from confusion to softness. "You want to get me a more expensive ring?"

"A better ring." Eli added. He pulled out a little, black velvet box and Audrey's heart started thumping out of her chest in spite of herself. "This is my unpublished authors ring." His eyes lingered on her for a beat before saying, "There's not even a diamond on it. I've been trying to figure out how to exchange it. You deserve better."

Eli looked down. Audrey shook her head. "You saw this ring and bought it for me, even though you were broke." Her pink lips pulled up into a smile as she gazed up at him, "Why?"

Eli looked back up and into her curious eyes. "It just made me think of you, I guess."

"Then that's the one I want." She said softly. "Not one that costs you more, the one you chose for me." Audrey straightened and took a small step back. "Eli Davis, I think it's about time you proposed."

Eli broke into a grin and nodded. "Yeah..." He clutched the soft box, "Should I kneel, or?"

"I wouldn't know, never been proposed to before." Audrey laughed nervously, suddenly jittery of an action she'd pushed for.

Eli took in a deep breath and stepped forward, taking Audrey's delicate hand into his, thumb stroking her knuckles. She gulped as she looked from their hands to his freckled face. "Audrey Kepler," He said in his quiet way. Audrey was already grinning from ear to ear. "Will you marry me?" He said slowly, being sure to pronounce every word correctly.

Audrey forced herself into a state of containment and attempted a frown. "Hmmm..." She looked at the ceiling as she pretended to think it over.

Eli gaped at her. "Don't do that!" He chided, though he was laughing. Audrey beamed back at him. "I would love to marry you, Eli Davis." She answered, unrestrained endearment pouring out of her very soul.

She pulled herself up and kissed him tenderly, lovingly, and he excitedly kissed her back. And when she wound her arms around his neck, he gripped his hands on her waist and swung her around in a circle. 

Audrey audibly gasped when she saw the ring, not caring if she looked childish or girly anymore. It was a simple Silver band with a small gemstone on it. "It's beautiful." She breathed out. "What is it?"

"It's this sort of opal." He explained as he gingerly pulled it out. Audrey watched as the gem refracted the sunlight coming in through the windows, dancing with yellows and oranges. "It looks like sunshine." Audrey commented as she stared at it. Eli's eyes flicked up to meet hers, and lingered there for a second. "Exactly."

Through the big windows, the store was draped in the hazy deep colors of a summers afternoon. Filled with the distinctive and all too familiar scents of books, lavender and nutmeg.

As Eli gently held onto her hand and pushed the ring onto her finger, Audrey knew that this was the moment that they became more than just stars. They weren't just two spots of light, trying to find their way around the vast universe.

That very second, Eli and Audrey became part of something else. Imprinted in the sky as two parts of one whole. Something was beginning, though it had started so very long ago. Something that would last until the last star burnt out. In that exact moment, they both felt it.

They were a constellation.

((A/N: I have so so so many people to thank for this! Thank you to literally everyone who has voted and commented on this series! You've all given me that boost of confidence to really get back into writing. I hope I can be content leaving Eli and Audrey now to go off on their adventures without me narrating. I wish I could write a little one shot series for Eli and Audrey's life together! But I guess I should leave the rest of their journey up to all of your imaginations.

So, I want to give a big shout out to all of these lovely people! ))

1Writer2016         Queen_Riarkle
crucianellas        Rain_Baby_

snapitsbrittany    ElleLeeLove

imthewriter1     empire_10

KellyGe         LostShadowsx

washingtonstate    BriQWilliamz149

pLouderThanWordsr     pixles     just_jackiee