"Are you ready for this, Bella?" Strike asked, his voice tender; filled with concern for both his future and that of his only true love. "No," Bella confessed, sighing. Strike looked at her, concerned and surprised as Bella sucked in her breath. "I'll never be more ready than this, however. So we may as well." Strike nodded, looking up and into the forest which lay ahead of him. They were about to step into a new world, into a new type of living, into a new life. And they were not the slightest bit prepared. "Yes, Bella?" "It's wonderful news, Bella. It's wonderful news." |-|Chapter 1= |-|Chapter 3=