Nearly two months passed after I received my powers, my strength increasing as time went on. I had already set up a number of couples across the city using my smoke clouds. I was slowly expanding the territory of my powers. I would ride Bastet for hours on end, enjoying the wind in my air as she bounded through the forest and streets, neither one of us seen unless I chose for it to happen. Learning to be a Guardian was hard work, and sometimes it left little time for Pitch and I to spend together. However, each night we would meet back up in my bedroom and climb into bed, spending what precious time we had cuddling and exchanging stories of our day.

Not long after, I returned home one evening after my duties to find Pitch sitting on my window ledge, his hands clasped behind his back. His skin glowed a soft tan color as the setting sun of dusk hit his face. "Hello my love, I have something for you." He greeted me. I quirked an eyebrow as I stepped over to him, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek. "Whatever could that be?" I asked teasingly, poking him in the chest lightly. He chuckled and brought his hands in front of him, revealing a bouquet of inky black roses that glittered in the dull light filtering in through the curtains. I gasped, reaching out to accept the flowers that were tied together with an ombré magenta and scarlet ribbon. "Oh, Pitch. These are stunning. What is this for?" I inquired, glancing up at him through my lashes while I sniffed the fragrant petals, inhaling the musky scent of amber and smoke that clung to the petals.

My boyfriend gave me a smile with his pointed teeth visible. He also withdrew what looked to be a velvet blindfold from his robe pocket, the midnight colored fabric shimmering like the roses. My curiosity grew, though there was also slight apprehension as well. I wondered what the Boogeyman was planning. "I'm glad you asked. Do you trust me, my pretty nightflower?" He murmured, and while there was humor in his tone, his eyes were serious. "With everything I am," I replied, meeting his gaze fully. "Very well. Turn around please...I have a surprise for you." He continued.

His command was confusing but I complied, watching as the blindfold was lifted over my head and draped over my eyes softly. My vision totally blocked, I allowed my senses to wander and focused on feeling Pitch's fingers make a loose knot to tie the blindfold at the back of my head. Then I felt his cool palms glide down my shoulders and rest on my upper arms, rubbing them soothingly. A sudden gust of chilly wind told me that we had teleported into the shadows, Pitch holding me tightly as our bodies sank into nothingness for a couple moments.

When my feet touched the ground again, I took the time to listen and smell the air, trying to determine where he had taken me. Almost instantly, I recognized the drafty breeze that carried a sweet damp smell as it hit my face, and the crackle of small torches overhead reassured me that I was correct. Pitch's palace. I thought to myself with a smile. "Are you peeking?" My boyfriend demanded with a chuckle, apparently seeing my grin. I shook my head, "Nope. I just know this place like the back of my hand at this point. Why all the secrecy if we were coming here?" I wondered aloud. Pitch clicked his tongue at me, "Why so many questions, my insatiably curious lover? I cannot possibly answer any of them without giving away my surprise. You shall see soon enough." He told me, brushing one long finger lightly over my lips to hush me. Deciding to stay silent, I nodded at my boyfriend.

Slowly, he tugged gently on my arm to lead us to our mysterious destination. The cloth over my eyes made it impossible for me to have the faintest idea of where we were going. The chasms of Pitch's castle were endless and always led to multiple passageways and caverns, so while I had a vague idea of our location, there was no way of being sure at the moment.

After about ten minutes of walking, the Boogeyman unwrapped the blindfold and allowed it to fall at my feet. "Surprise." Pitch whispered, his breath ghosting over my ear. When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at not one, but two large thrones sitting side by side in the gleaming chamber that was Pitch's ballroom. We had been here many times, and this was the first time I had seen this new addition. "Pitch? Where did that new throne come from?" I questioned him curiously. "I figured it was high time you had one as well, my love..." He said simply. "That's so sweet Pitch! But...why?" I pressed, elated with the idea of having my own special spot in his castle, but not entirely sure what it may mean.

As I turned around to face my boyfriend, I gasped in shock. The Nightmare King was kneeling before me, his long cloak flared out upon the marble floor. He gazed up at me with a look of pure seriousness. "Anara Rose...I cannot begin to describe how utterly in love I am with you. After I lost my family so long ago, I promised myself I would never love or care for anyone ever again. Thankfully, I met you, and your stubborn grip on my heart forced me to break that promise. It is still hard to fathom that a woman so pure, compassionate, and beautiful could ever love a monster such as myself...Be that as it may, I kneel before you now to ask one very important question," Pitch paused, breathing deeply. "Will you, the Guardian of Love, agree to also be my Nightmare Queen?" He asked softly, drawing a small black velvet box from his robes and presenting it to me.

His fingers made quick work of opening the container, exposing a beautiful black metal engagement ring covered in rose colored pink diamonds. A larger heart shaped gem sat proudly on the top at the center, reflecting the light from the torches surrounding us. Two other bands encircled with matching diamonds sat on either side of the center ring. A full wedding set. My heart thudded in my ears rapidly, my mouth open in bewilderment. Of course, it was then that I realized Pitch was still waiting for me to answer.

Breaking the tense silence, I practically leapt at the Boogeyman, throwing my arms around his shoulders as I cried out happily, "Yes Pitch! Of course I will marry you!" Pitch let out a loud breath of relief and a soft laugh, hugging my waist tightly and nuzzling my neck. "Thank the Man in the Moon, I feared you had changed your mind about our future..." He murmured into my hair. I shook my head, pulling back just enough to see his face. "Never. I was just taken aback is all. But I can't tell you how happy I am to have heard those words! I love you so much, Kozmotis Pitchiner..." I whispered breathlessly, the excitement of the moment making it difficult to breathe, let alone form a coherent sentence. "I love you too, my lovely wife-to-be." He whispered back, before turning his attention to the ring box and plucking out the one in the middle that had the heart shaped stone on it. "May I?" He asked, holding out his hand to ask for mine.

Smiling widely, I held out my left hand, staring wordlessly as my lover slid the beautiful engagement ring onto the appropriate finger. It was absolutely stunning, and both of us admired it as it sparkled atop my finger. When I looked back up at Pitch, I found that he was already gazing at me with a look that was pure love, his eyelids lined with a thin layer of water. I realized that he must've been crying. "What is wrong?" I prodded gently, not wanting to embarrass my fiancé. He quickly wiped his face with the sleeve of his robe, shaking his head. "Nothing...I just...I never imagined having this again. I never saw myself proposing marriage a second time...It is something I have dreamt of since I started to fall in love with you, and now it has happened." He admitted. His confession made me start to tear up as well. "I feel the same way, my love..." I whispered, leaning forward to press my forehead against his. We stayed like that for a few moments before shifting our position a little bit to kiss one another lovingly. While we held each other tight, I savored the feeling of his familiar embrace and taste, though in my mind I was already planning our wedding.