A/N: This pairing belongs to mew-tsubaki. This is the official prequel to 'Forever Waiting' – thought you don't need to read that to understand this. I don't own HP.
Burnt breakfast and a rising sun.
Helena cried out in pain. Her hand whipped back from the hot pot and went directly into her mouth.
"Helena, darling, what is it?" Nick asked, popping into the kitchen. He neared her and pulled her hand away from her mouth. "Burn yourself again?"
"Don't pretend likes it's something I do often." She scolded him. Nick protruded his wand and twirled it slightly. Helena felt the blisters burst and immediately heal themselves.
"Must you be apt at everything?" She asked, playfully scathingly.
"I wouldn't call it everything, darling, perhaps simply most things."
"Control your ego, sweetheart." She said, placing a soft hand in his cheek.
"I have lost control of it, I must admit. For I have you."
She smiled at him.
"I apologize for burning your breakfast." She said softly. Nick chuckled and reached for her hand.
"Not to worry, dearest, it's not the end of the world." He kissed her pale hand. "Would you come with me?"
She nodded eagerly. Nicholas always had a way of surprising her at the oddest of times. Even if it was early in the morning, just before the sun was rising.
He led her out to the deck of her temporary home – his home. They stood on the porch. Helena didn't understand, but Nick just kept smiling eerily.
The first few days of breaking sun peeked over the mountains around his cottage. She could actually see the several rays protruding through the many clouds and over the mountains.
"Will you marry me, Helena?" He asked. She stared. Did she hear correctly? "Helena?"
He calling her name brought her back to the present time. She appraised him.
"What of my mother? She'll go to any lengths to stop it."
"We elope. We don't tell anyone."
"Are you certain, Nicholas?"
"Yes, Helena!" He took her hands in his and pulled her face close to his. "Never have I been more certain of anything in my life."
She stood on the very tips of her toes and placed a small kiss on his lips.
"Of course I will marry you, dearest." She said. Nick smiled a bright smile.
"Shall I meet you in the forest tonight? I have some… business… to attend to."
He nodded. Knowing her 'business' involved the stolen diadem.
"I shall meet you then."
A/N: So… to find out what happened that certain night, read my other ficlet, 'Forever Waiting'.