It's a Love Story

"My grandma when I was about three." she said.

"But you wouldn't remember that... I promise you that it will go away. I will be right here to help it happen."

She nodded. "But I also don't want to forget the way that Pavo made me feel."

"You won't be able to forget something like that," he told her gently with a small smile. "It is impossible to forget your first love, though the pain goes away eventually."

"I hope you're right." She said softly.

He figured it was time for a change of subject. "Let's go into town. I'll show you around," he suggested.

She looked up at him and smiled slightly. "Sure."

He smiled and helped her up, then helped her up onto the horse and got on behind her. "Would you like lunch while we are out," he asked, steering the horse toward the road that led to town.

"Yes, but later." she said. "We just had breakfast."

"Alright," he nodded. "Shopping first then," he chuckled.

She nodded, leaning against him and letting him stear the horse. She didn't know where she was going.

He smiled softly and enjoyed her weight leaning against him. Once they got to the city to the best shopping area, he got down and helped her down off the horse. "Which shop first," he asked, ignoring the annoyed and suspicious looks from the people who worked there.

She took his hand, letting the workers know that she wouldn't let him steal anything and shrugged. "Uhm. You pick." she said.

"How about we start at this one and work our way down," he smiled gently.

She nodded. "That sounds like a fabulous idea." she smiled. Each time she did, her smile seemed more real, more like she wanted to smile and wasn't forcing it.

He chuckled and walked into the first store with her, taking a look at all the trinkets. He knew the people who worked there were watching his every move. Every time he lifted his hand, or even moved a finger, they seemed to panic a little.

She smiled and went straight to the necklaces. "These are pretty."

Dante smiled. "Which one do you like best," he asked curiously, eying them as well.

She looked at them carefully, pulling off one that had a simple sea shell attached to a strap of leather. "If I had remembered my card I would buy this one. But I left it at your house."

"We can come back and get it tomorrow," he smiled at her.

"If it's still here." she nodded, letting the shell fall from her fingers and back in place with the other necklaces.

"It might be," he shrugged.

"I hope so." she smiled slightly, going to look at the other trinkets.

"Stay here. I'm going to go apologize to the owners," he told her. He slipped the necklace she'd wanted off the hook silently and easily concealing it from her, took it up to the counter. He handed twice the amount it was worth to the owner and refused to take back any change as he apologized for what he'd done. He put the necklace in his pocket and went back to Roman.

Roman smiled at him, more genuine than it had been in a while. "Were you forgiven?" she asked.