Birdsong tapped on the windows of the Rising Bread Bakery as the sun rose over Poppy, making Gigi’s eyes flutter as sleep left her. Memories of the prior evening were slowly merging in her mind. She moved her hand and reassuringly found she was not alone. In an instant, the last night fully came back to her. Their fight, her crying, their embrace by the river, them holding hands on the way home.

Once at the bakery, they saw no reason to end their embrace. Gigi wanted to respect her mother's wishes, so things didn’t progress further. However, neither wanted to let the other go. So they didn’t. They lay together, listening to the soft crackle of the fire. Few words passed between them, yet time seemed to melt away.

Now, the morning of the big day was finally here. Gigi wouldn’t admit to anybody, not even Drake, that she had been looking forward to this for weeks. Ordinarily, the festival could be depressing, working at the stand instead of enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells until her mother released her from her servitude. This year, though, she would have Drake to keep her company, and she knew it would make all the difference. Yes, they would still be working, but they would be together.

Gigi knew better than to wear anything nice when working at the family stand. She was as likely to get caked in the goods while selling and making them. The damned powdered sugar was especially nettlesome.

After her work clothes were ruined, she would change into her dress. She rarely wore dresses, but it was a special day. The fall festival was a time when she could be someone else for a night. She had picked one out back in the heat of the summer before she knew she was going with someone. She hoped Drake liked it. However, even if he didn’t, she didn’t care much because she loved it.

That would have to wait, though. For the time being, it was an apron, crumbs, and sweat. She cracked her neck and then popped her knuckles. With a grunt, she threw the covers off, immense joy lifting her spirit.

***

Drake was still dozing beside Gigi as she jumped from the bed. Since arriving at the bakery, Drake had been sleeping in the attic, and they had only recently begun openly sharing a room. He had been worried her mother might disapprove, but Griselda hadn’t said anything. He had loved the safety of the attic. There was only one way in and out; his back had always been against a wall. Of course, being next to Gigi trumped that. He felt safest of all beside her. The heat of their bodies intermingling filled him with a sense of peace. For the first time since he arrived, he hadn’t had nightmares.

Watching Gigi get ready for their day felt like a dream, especially as she got dressed. He was waiting for this sweet reality to be a façade. At any moment, this balloon of joy would burst. Then he would be back at camp, back in the stockade.

“Are you getting up?” Gigi asked expectantly.

The question cut through Drake’s mental fog. He refocused his blue eyes on the woman standing by the bedside. Her big brown eyes burned with life and passion, filling him with a feeling he couldn’t express with words, perhaps not even with ink and paint. His heart felt full to bursting.

“Yes, sir,” Drake smirked.

The pair set about their day. Something had changed between them, and neither was sure what it was, but it felt good.

***

The work at the family’s stand had been hard for Gigi. Drake couldn’t keep up in the back frying the doughy delights, nor was he fast enough to take the orders being shouted at him by a mob of unruly festivalgoers. That made him as worthwhile as a hole in a waterskin. Gigi sighed in frustration. Perhaps this wasn’t the romantic day she had envisioned. If anything, he was making it worse.

Stolen novel; please report.

“This isn’t what I ordered!” came the roar of an angry patron.

Drake froze at the mounting conflict. Panic plastered on his face.

“All sales final,” Griselda said sternly.

“Sorry!” Drake called out to the angry pigkin.

“Gigi, why don’t you and Drake enjoy the festival?” Griselda offered wearily.

Gigi perked up. Good job, Drake. Never improve. She jumped up from the fryers and grabbed him by the arm.

“Let’s go change!” she said excitedly. She nearly pulled his arm out of his socket when she lurched forward out of the tent. Griselda shook her head.

“They are going to be the death of me,” the goblin matron sighed.

***

Drake could hardly keep up with the jubilant goblin. Her powerful legs seemed to take the stones three or four at a time. He found it extremely difficult to match her, even though he was far taller. Despite the challenge, he was doing his best to keep up. Seeing Gigi so happy was intoxicating. He wondered if this was what feeling drunk was like. Everything felt warm and gauzy inside of him despite the chill in the air.

Soon, they arrived at the bakery. Gigi instructed him to get into his good clothes - considering he only owned one other set of clothes, it wasn’t hard to deduce what she meant - then wait for her outside. Drake did as instructed, staying in the backyard. The flowers from the fox kit still bloomed strong despite autumn claiming the rest of the village as victims. Drake assumed it must have been some kind of elemental magic. Perhaps the flowers were tied to the creature. Either way, he loved their aromatic perfume.

Drake sat in the flowers, waiting for Gigi. The festival had been a little scary if he was being honest. The number of people hammered him with anxiety. He liked all the colors and the art on the streets, the smell of the food, but the people…there were too many people.

He might have hesitated if he had known a festival was a civilian field parade with food. However, he wouldn’t have gotten to spend the evening with Gigi, so he decided the crowds for her were worth enduring.

“Ahem,” Gigi sounded behind him.

Drake turned his head, mouth going slack, when his eyes focused on the form before him. There stood the woman who made him feel unlike anyone ever had. Her black dress looked thick and warm, softly hugging her curves before ending at her calves, with a swirl of colorful leaves sewn into the hem of the skirt. His eyes followed the leaves trail as they climbed up the garment, finishing at her neckline in an explosion of red and yellow hues. Her muscular shoulders and elegant neck were proudly displayed, and her long black hair flowed freely to her waist. Her brown eyes looked at him expectantly, a light scarlet on her cheeks.

“Do you like it?” she asked, picking at her dress.

Words failed him as he struggled to breathe, lost in her beauty. Drake was about to speak when his hand slipped on the slick grass, his face quickly meeting the earth. He turned over and looked up. Gigi was standing above him, smiling.

“Can you dress like that every day?” he asked, looking up at her.

She giggled as the red in her cheeks brightened. She held out her hand to help him up, and he graciously took it. Dusting himself off, he held out his arm's crook to her. She played with her hair for a moment before grabbing on. Drake’s heart fluttered as her strong but delicate green hands wrapped around his arm.

“My lady,” he said, extending his other arm before them, bowing slightly.

She stepped forward, immediately steering Drake by the arm to walk faster. He did his best to keep up.