Ryker just winked, and pointed at Eke with both hands.

"You da man." he said.

"What you say, goes." he told him.

"...ok, but seriously."' he then said, his tone serious now. "When do you want to get married?" he asked.

"Do you literally want it ASAP, or do we have about a year or so to plan this out? 6 months?" he asked further.

"And how big an affair do you both want this to be?"

"I don't need a big wedding." Aly said.

"But my parents will definitely help pay for it." she then added.

"And... three months?" she asked.

"That.... hmmm... I might be able to prepare in that time." she said further.

"Try for 4-5 months, Eke."' Ryker suggested.

"Basically, give everyone involved a month to come to terms with the big news, THEN 3 months to prepare for it and such." he explained.

Ryker sighed, and held back the guilt.

"I understand." he said to Eke.

"But remember, Aly's family needs a little time." he told him.

"We'll say 5 months at most, ok?" he then said.

"5 months at most works for me, Eke." Aly told him.

"Does it work for you?" she asked.

Ryker just sighed again.

"5 months." he said.

"Then the wedding." he told him.

"That works for Aly." he continued. "Work for you?" he asked.

He truncated it all down, just so Eke would get the gist of it.

Aly nodded.

"Of course." she replied.

She then leaned in and gave him a kiss, before leaving the room.

Ryker watched her go, and then looked at Eke.

"Uh-oh." he said.

"Is this a good talking-alone, or a bad talking-alone?" he asked Eke.

"....." Ryker was quiet, before sighing.

"15, huh?" he asked.

"Well... I suppose that's better than 7. Or 5. Or any other low number you might have had." he reasoned.

"And I'm sure Aly will make it so that you're comfortable in these 15 years." he went on.

"............." there was another pregnant pause from him, before he just looked up at the ceiling.

"My life... I wouldn't have had it without you, Eke... knowing what I know now." he told the dragon before him.

"You've done wonders for me... and for the one lurking INSIDE me, too, whether or not he'll admit it." he then added.

Ryker looked at the candy in his hand... and he was immediately awash with memories, going all the way back to the day that they had met in that cursed forest.

As he did so, tears welled up in his eyes, and started to trickle down his cheeks.

The corners of his mouth then curled up slightly, in a soft and subtle smile.

"....heh..." he chuckled, almost choking up a little.

"Feels like almost yesterday." he commented.

"............I'm scared, too." Ryker admitted.

He then pocketed the candy, and brought Eke into a hug.

"But at least we're not alone." he said.

"For however long you have, we have each other." he told him.

"We need to be thankful for that." he continued, though he was also trying to convince himself of it as well.

"And I love you." Ryker responded.

"Always will." he assured him.

"No matter WHAT happens." he added with a small smile.

"And I'll do all I can for you in the time together we have left." he added.

"I promise this, as your brother."

Ryker just chuckled.

"So you're tired AND hungry." he said.

"Well, let's deal with your hunger first." he suggested.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"You name it, I'll make it."