Hey, it's Kayti...I remember how to write...lol...Sorry, been busy working on other things like query letters and job applications...and a small 1 hour a week job that is no excuse...lol...anyway, I had this idea come to me the other day. Okay, so maybe it was like two months ago or whenever I posted that last pic of Jo....but here is the fanfic! Yay! I wrote it last night....and I'm posting it now before I talk myself out of it...hahaha...ignore typos and enjoy!!!
Bless!
Kayti
(If anyone has a better title let me know...cause I don't know...lol...)
Jo thumped his cup on the counter and a bit of the liquid frothed over the side and splattered on the bar. He watched the liquid run across the counter, then looked up at Moonlight who stood across the bar cleaning cups.
“I’m going to do it,” he said, rising and wrapping his cloak around his shoulders.
Moonlight looked at him out of his one eye. “You sure, Jo?”
“What if she says no,” Cole said from his seat, “again.”
“Perfectly, sure. I going to do it. This time it will be different,” Jo nodded and paid Moonlight for the drink before marching out of the Citadel of Dreams and down the streets of First Warren.
His heart pounded so hard he don’t know what to do with it. C’mon Jo, you’ve faced wolves and birds of prey and you never acted this way. Jo straightened his tunic and threw his shoulders back.
Today was the day, he could feel it. Tenth time was the charm, right? Or was that the third? Jo shrugged and kept going, it didn’t matter. She was going to say, yes, this time, he could feel it. He had crashed and burned too many times already, but this time was it.
Jo slowed his steps, what if he was wrong. What if Emma didn’t say yes this time? What if Morgan had been back early this morning and Emma had agreed to marry him. It would make more sense for a princess to marry a lord. Jo shook his head like Emma cared about that she insisted on being called Doctor instead of Princess.
He kept moving. Passing rabbits he knew and rabbits he didn’t know, but they all seemed to know him.
Jo smiled. Jo Shanks wasn’t just some ‘nobody-wanna-be-archer’ now he was Captain Jo Shanks with a whole division under his command. He was nothing like the clumsy buck he had been when Emma first met him. He had made something of himself.
At the palace, Jo hesitated and thought back to his first attempt at proposing. That one hadn’t gone so well.
~ ~ ~
It was a glorious morning, sunny, spring in the air, Morbin gone, Emma looking beautiful. Jo marched to the palace, one thought in his mind. He was going to propose to Emma, he was sure this was a perfect time. He was sure Emma would say yes, she seemed so happy when he was around. The way she looked at him, well, it practically melted him.
Jo found Emma busily working with the other medics, her red and white fur a little ruffled but he was sure he had never seen her look better. Jo smiled as he tapped her on the shoulder. She turned quickly and smiled.
“Oh, Jo it's just you,” she said rolling her eyes and going back to work. “Do you need something?”
Jo smiled glad he had thought this one out. Take it easy, make it a joke, make it fun. “I’ve been bitten by something, Emma,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
She turned her full attention to him. “Really? Where? What was it?” Her eyes scanned him for injuries.
Jo grinned. “It’s something that bites the inside, Emma, I want…”
“Jo! I don’t have time for your pranks. Really, I have so much work to do and I promised Picket I would come check on Weezie later.” Emma huffed and marched past him out into the streets.
Jo watched her go, with longing eyes he hadn’t even got to the best part.
~ ~ ~
Jo shook his head, that wasn’t going to happen again. He knew better than to joke around, the other two times he had tried that had failed as well. He needed to be serious, or did he? The four times he had tried being serious Emma said he was scary with that, wildly determined look in his eyes.
The only time he had got out the full proposal out was the time when his love for Emma had been threatened. The time that Lord Morgan had the gumption to…
~ ~ ~
Jo came around the corner and there in the center of First Warren Square was Emma and…Lord Morgan. Lord Morgan had dropped to one knee, face upturned to Emma, he was proposing. Jo felt the heat rising inside him the moment his eyes landed on the scene. How dare Morgan even assume that he could propose to Emma.
Lots of rabbits had stopped to watch the scene. Jo mingled with the crowd and listened in.
“Emma, fairest of princesses, I ask that you marry me and…” Morgan got no further because Emma was shaking her head, tears starting in her eyes.
“I really like you, Morgan, as a friend, but I do not wish to marry. My work is enough,” Emma withdrew her hand from Morgan’s, and Jo felt like shouting.
Emma turned and walked off and Jo followed her. Silently he shadowed her wanting to make sure she was alright.
After a while, she noticed him and an easy smile came to her lips. “Oh, Jo. I’m glad it’s you.”
Jo smiled and sauntered up to her. “I’m glad your glad.”
Emma put her arm through his and they walked in silence for a minute. Emma was so lovely, even when she was distressed. But Jo couldn’t stop thinking about Morgan and the audacity the buck had to propose to Emma. Well, the buck was a lord so maybe it made more sense but Jo couldn’t help but be jealous. The silence stretched long and finally Jo could take it no more.
“Emma,” he stopped and looked at her. Her blue eyes were so full of fire and life, he loved her with every atom of his being but somehow his tongue didn’t know how to say it. It was a love he couldn’t put a voice to, couldn’t explain, especially to her. It was too deep for mere words; it was something that he needed a whole new vocabulary to explain. “Emma, I…”
“Yes, Jo,” she looked into his eyes and prodded.
He took strength from it and went on. “Emma, I want to marry you. I love you more than I know how to voice. I want to spend forever with you or however long we have. Every moment of every day with you by my side. I want you to be with me always. When I saw Morgan proposing I was so jealous I wanted to, I wanted to shout when you turned him down. I love you, Emma.” Jo looked into her face.
Emma looked down and pushed away from him. “I’m not ready for that Jo, not yet.”
Jo watched her go wanting to say something but not knowing what to say. So, he merely watched her go. But at least she hadn’t said no.
~ ~ ~
Jo placed his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath, this was the day. This had to be the day because it was the last time he was going to ask. His final mission.
He opened the door and walked into the palace scanning the rooms and halls for Emma. He didn’t see her. He started to worry. What if she wasn’t here? What if this time he didn’t even get to ask her?
Empty room after empty room. Long halls, rabbits scurrying about with different types of True Blue. True Blue blooms, oil, dried True Blue blooms, True Blue wine, medicine, ointments…everything! Emma had turned the palace into a hospital, then the hospital into a True Blue factory of sorts.
But not matter how much True Blue there was he didn’t see Emma, the one thing he had come for.
What did it matter if True Blue could possibly make you live forever if you couldn’t spend forever with the one rabbit you loved most in the world? The one doe you had somehow fallen in love with in spite of the difference in rank.
Jo climbed the stairs to the palace roof figuring hr would go for a fly to quiet his uneasy emotions. Emotions that told him he had been defeated. He had said today would be the last day he tried, so maybe not finding Emma meant it was not meant to be. He sighed; he just couldn’t accept that.
As he stepped onto the roof, Jo noticed the sunset. The colors that mingled and blended to create something new and beautiful every evening. He longed for a new life with Emma by his side, but if she wouldn’t have him there was nothing he could do. But life without her seemed pointless.
Maybe she thought he was too goofy, or too childish. Maybe she didn’t like his long legs. Maybe she just didn’t like him. He sighed as he sat down on the roof’s edge. He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh, crisp air. Maybe it was time to move on, but where could he move on too? Everywhere he went there was something that would remind him of Emma. Something to haunt him and tease him about the thing he wanted most but could not have.
“Nice, isn’t it?”
Jo jerked his head around to see Emma standing behind him. The sunset made her shine and the blue dress she was wearing matched her eyes and complimented her fur, she looked stunning.
Emma smiled at him. “Doctor Zeiger said he saw you wandering about and figured you were looking for me.”
Jo smiled. “I had given up on finding you.”
Emma laughed. “I wasn’t hiding, I promise. Now, what does my old friend need?” She sat down beside him and closed her eyes.
So close, yet it felt like they were a thousand miles apart. Jo’s tongue felt all twisted and his thoughts seemed cluttered. He searched for the right words but couldn’t find them. He felt jumpy and nervous. This was it, his last chance, the chance he had been eager for all day. At first, he didn’t know what to say so he just placed his arm around Emma’s shoulders. She leaned into him and his breath caught in his throat.
He took a deep breath, working up the courage then said, “Emma, I know you’re probably tired of me. I know you probably wish I would just go away but I can’t, at least not without trying one more time.” Jo looked out at the sunset and went on, “I love you. I have loved you since that first day when I woke from hitting my head on that horrible patrol mission and saw you hovering over me, and it was confirmed on that fateful misadventure with Helmer where we almost died and has been confirmed so many times since then.” Jo felt like he was rambling, but Emma was listening so he went on, “At first, I tried to tell myself I didn’t love you but I did. I always have! I always will! Emma, I want to marry you, will you marry me? I understand if you don’t…”
“Jo.”
“Yes,” Jo said, his heart feeling like it was going to run out of his chest.
“I would love that.”
“Okay, I won’t bother you again. I figured you would say no…” Jo paused as it dawned on him that she hadn’t turned him down again. “Wait, did you?”
“I would love that,” Emma repeated, placing a hand on Jo’s cheek, “I’m ready now.”
Jo felt his heart soar and didn’t know if he would ever get it back. She had said yes! He was to marry the most wonderful doe, finally after so many times of being turned down. She was ready and together they would have a life. Jo jumped up and shouted.