Like the ocean that's ::running:: dry {Axel}

The wind rustled through the trees, swishing their leaves and bringing a melody almost as sweet as music to whoever stopped to listen. Birds chirped their afternoon sounds, outdoing the simple melody of the leaves in the trees. Their patterns moved with each other. No two birds sang the same song, and no tree made the same swoosh. The leaves though, fell noiselessly to the ground, allowing the trees and the wind and the birds to sing together in harmony. Summer sunshine shone down on the land like a spotlight, centering out the sounds and keeping them alight away from the silent shadows. Cookie cutter houses aligned the streets, and it was strange how nature could differ in such astonishing ways, yet the human world remains the same. Each person is just another version of someone else. Each house is the same. White picked fence, black shutters, white siding. While the condition of houses, or perhaps the colors of flowers -or lack thereof- in the yards caused some differentiation. Still, the bones of the houses were the same. Foundation, floor, walls, doors. Meanwhile, each tree was different. The branches stretched in different ways, the roots determined their own length. The color of the leaves and the texture of the bark was always different from the tree next to it. Whether it produced nuts of fruits or beautiful flowers or nothing at all, the trees meant something. They meant something because they were all different, each with it's own unique design.

The slight creak of the old porch swing brought Renn back from her thoughts. Back into the real world, to which she couldn't complain. Xander's arm was draped heavily on her shoulders, a feeling she'd learned to love. They'd gone to visit her family, and after lunch, Renn had pulled Xander outside, craving for the afternoon sun to cast it's glow on his bronze eyes. Now though, they sat in the shade of the porch, the warm breeze ruffling Renn's loose hair against Xander's cheek. They sat so close that Renn could hear each beat of Xander's heart, each intake and outtake of his breath. His mouth was at Renn's ear, his cheek against the top of her head. Neither of them spoke. With each coming day, time seemed to wind down. The world spun a little slower. The fast pace drama of the first few days of their relationship had left. Floated away on the summer breeze. Now, the peace and happiness came. Each day was magical, whether Renn and Xander decided to spend it under the cherry trees, in the woods, or by the lake. Sometimes, they spent the day in bed, just staring into each other's eyes, warming themselves in each others embrace. Others, they spent with Renn's family, Xander and her brothers relationships improving through long talks about training. Some days, they picked up Maria from school. With one of her hands in each of theirs, they'd walked her home as she skipped beside them.

The past few days had been happy. With each kiss and each hug, Renn grew closer and closer to Xander. Everyday he asked something about her, and she asked him things about him, too. They could talk for hours on end, questioning things about each other. Often though, they teased or poked fun at each other. And more often then not, could be found kissing. But now, Renn just let the silence of the moment float in the air. The unasked questions, the memories of long days and short nights. They'd found an even greater peace in their apartment when the moon shone over the district. It wasn't like watching the stars, or counting the leaves as they fell. But they were at peace with themselves. Sleeping side by side, Xander's arm ever present around Renn's waist, they'd both slept soundly every night.

The ring around Renn's finger had stayed there since she slipped it on, and not once did she regret accepting it. Luckily, her parents were in no rush for her and Xander to get married, and the subject of them together hardly ever came up in conversations. Renn's family had just become used to Xander being around. And he always was. Even though Renn's mind felt at peace more and more each day, she never grew more independent. She always required Xander's presence to feel safe. Or maybe it was his absence that scared her. Sometimes, she felt as she were protective of him as much as he was of her. They protected each other, from the same person. Wade. He'd threatened Xander, and his arms restricting Renn from movement while his lips pressed into her was ever present in Renn's mind. The images of that day haunted her dreams, and for the past few nights, she hadn't wanted to wake Xander from his peaceful state of rest. He could often tell when her muscles twitched in her sleep, and that was often enough to wake him. He would cradle her in his arms and rock her to sleep. Then, set Renn down on the bed, and Renn would pull him down next to her. They'd wake up in the same position in the morning.

The swing creaked as Xander pushed it back and forth with his feet. Renn snuggled further into his side, putting her ear to his heart to hear the steady rhythm. Her hands ran over his, never growing tired of the dents and shapes and curves of his hands. She never grew bored of the feel of his skin against her's, and she placed his hand on her cheek. He smelled of dawn, of a new beginning. Just from him, Renn could hear the morning birds, and feel the dampness of the wet grass against her feet. She could see the fog drifting in the air, and his scent made her walk on clouds. In front of them, a cherry tree swayed in the wind, it's pretty petals falling in the front yard. Beyond the tree stretched the lake, it's water silent and still. Renn thought of her family, and how they liked Xander so much. Another thought came to her mind. She still hadn't met his family. It was necessary, especially if they were to get married. Xander warned her before of his family's intense passion for the games. Renn, though, no longer shared it with Xander. Now, Xander was the rush after a fight. That feeling that made her stomach lurch. And nothing else mattered.

Renn took a hold of Xander's arm over her shoulders and moved out from underneath of it. She settled on his lap, and his hands automatically went to her waist to hold her steady. Renn stared at the grain in the wood on their porch, brushing a hair behind her ear. Then she turned to Xander.