-Valerio-
“What would you say if I wanted a ceremony?” Octavia asked as we lay in the dark, still in the hospital room. Her head rested on my chest, and I ran my fingers through her dark hair.
“You want a ceremony?” I inquired, a bit surprised.
“Would you give me one if I asked for it?” she pressed.
My free hand moved to her cheek, caressing it as I gazed deeply into her eyes. “I’ll give you whatever you ask for,” I promised.
She smiled at me and placed a soft kiss on my chest.
“Do you want one?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve never really thought about it before. My father wanted me to be a fighter, and wearing a ceremonial dress and pledging to honor and love someone in front of others wasn’t part of that,” she explained before laying
