"Not at all." Her words were measured as she looked into his eyes.  "My mind has recently been on marriage. What if we went to the courthouse tomorrow."

He felt his mouth drop before he closed his mouth quickly.  "Are you sure? What about the prenuptual agreement?"

"We can prepare a postnuptual agreement if you're so set on having one.  You know I received a letter from my mother--the Queen--if you can imagine me with some good rest that's what she looks like.  Apparently my younger brother has caught the eye of some heiress so they're going to be married in the coming week. Quickly probably before she realizes he's really not up to snuff.  I do love him very much, but he shouldn't be married. He's not ready, he's young. Also we have some temple functions that the whole family should be present for." Wu took Nolan's hands and put them on her shoulders.  "You know my love, if I wanted to take you to Thailand to meet everyone. The press has forgotten what I look like so we could have our privacy. Maybe right before we leave I could sneak you in front of my mother so she knows I'm well taken care of by someone I like very much.  My father won't be happy that I've thrown myself out on a n.o.body, but it's better than nothing. He'll grow to accept you eventually. I'm more interesting in showing you how I grew up from a distance than in the thick of it."

Hmmm . . . so she still considered the place she had run away from to establish herself to be where she wanted to go back to.  After all this time, she still missed her old life. Nolan found it adorable that she couldn't wait to show him around. "I can't believe you would want to go home with me in tow.  Sometimes I feel like this is too beautiful of a dream to be real. There's no way I could be with you on such a spectacular adventure. I'd love to be married to you. The timing means nothing to me."

"Of course." Her melt melted into a million dollar smile.  "I have to make peace with my past at some point.  I don't want my past to affect my future and G.o.d forbid if I'm not there when our children come around, you should have some experience dealing with the wolves.  I can't wait to see you slide through their traps with ease. It's exhilarating thinking I have an able partner now."

Her absolute a.s.surance in his abilities made him feel stronger.  This was a woman worth being married to. He knew that everyone else saw the mess of her patient files and successes in surgery, but here he could see the gears behind her eyes moving.  She had chosen him like he had chosen her. Nolan could feel the blood beating in his head faster as he moved his fingers up, brus.h.i.+ng against her shoulders as he reached for her face. Her eyes darkened as he knew he was caressing the desire she was trying to extinguish from before.  "If these are your feelings that you are sure I am the one for you--only and truly--Janna. Then let my last name join yours as being your husband sounds much more exciting than fiance."

=//=

Ah, Henry sighed as he stretched out the aches in his arms as he had spent most of the last few days a.s.sisting and managing the constuction crew that had come to make the house livable.  They had mad excellent progress on that front, which had made him proud enough to know he would be leaving this place better than it had been when he had first walked it. But, he was at the same time, drained.  Henry knew he needed a pick me up. He had Michael catch him up on what the locals wore around here and the old butler had laughed before throwing him a black peacoat and skinny jeans.  

Henry threw them back.  "I'm not wearing those. Those are for men who like other men.  I won't have room to be able to use the restroom correctly. You don't want me to not carry on the family line."

Michael threw them back.  "They're not for you. These are for Ellie.  She is going to appreciate them much more than any man who would want to touch you.  You're a tad too young to be frightened of the gays. They are excellent company and good friends.  Maybe after your annulment is finalized, you should have a man or two or warm up your bed so you can change your perspective.  What cheek! A man who is afraid of a pair of pants. I've never heard of a less masculine quality to have."

"You are not of the gays, Michael.  My father would have never hired you.  He would be horrified to know that one in his employ was so."

"Of course, I have many lives I lived before your father had any d.a.m.ned right to tell me what to do.  It's pants, Henry. I'm not going to put them on you as you're a bit too old for that and I don't want to give Ellie any more strange ideas."

"Excuse me?  Strange ideas?  You raised me half.  What idea would she have if you were near my--"

"You really should try to go to a gay club when this is all finished."

"Fine, I will.  First thing when I get back to the city.  I'm not scarred of anything."