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It was an hour or so before sunset, and Faline was on her way to the airport. Something that was usually just a part of her daily routine but tonight had her feeling maybe a bit more nervous than she’d care to admit.
She had with her a big blanket that had been a present from her mom, and a picnic basket that was full of food that she’d prepared and had mostly grown herself on her little farm.
“Hey Faline!” Beau greeted, running up to join her on her walk.
“Hi Beau!” she replied.
“What’cha got in the basket? Something delicious I bet!” the deer asked.
Faline giggled a little at that, of course he was interested in her food. “I sure hope so. But it’s all for Wilbur tonight. We’ll have to have our own picnic some other time, okay?” she said, not wanting to go into specifics and make him even more hungry.
“Aw, okay. I’m gonna hold you to that, don’t forget about me!”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Faline assured. With that, the pair said their goodbyes and the deer was off.
The distraction had been good, because the girl now found herself just about to the airport. She was more excited now, but definitely still nervous. However, she didn’t let herself dwell on it as she made her way across the dock.
Both brothers were at the counter when she stepped inside. Orville was behind the counter as usual and Wilbur had been leaning against the currently open gate post facing the other dodo, though when Faline appeared he straightened up. She had both of their attention immediately, but Orville was the first to speak.
“Hey, there she is! We were just talking about you,” he greeted, chipper as ever.
“All good things I hope?” she asked.
“Oh of course,” Orville immediately agreed.
Wilber’s greeting was a bit gentler as he met her halfway to take the blanket and basket from her. She barely refrained from thanking him with a kiss on the cheek, resorting to a simple verbal thanks instead.
It was..a little weird to think that she’d even wanted to kiss him in the first place, she thought. Faline was very familiar with the dodos by now, it had been a couple months now that she’d moved to this island and she had visited everyday since then. Not even just to fly or to send mail either, she liked to come by just to visit, just because she enjoyed the brother’s company.
How could she have known that she would enjoy it this much?
“You ready to take off?” Wilbur asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” the girl replied, smiling up at him.
“Let’s go then,” he said, offering back a big smile of his own before the pair headed off through the gate.
“Have fun you two! But not too much fun!” Orville teased as they passed by him, causing both Faline and Wilber to blush a little and share a look as they continued on.
The comment had all but been forgotten though, when the man opened up the door to offer his date the co-pilot seat. In all the flights she’d taken in the little green plane, Faline had always ridden in the passenger seats in the back. So naturally, the chance to ride up front was exciting.
“Do I really get to ride up here with you?” she asked.
“I have to impress you somehow, don’t I?”
Faline just laughed.
They didn’t talk much on their flight since the cockpit was a bit too noisy to have a comfortable conversation in. The sun was low in the sky, turning the world around them orange and the view was beautiful. That definitely made up for it.
The girl had no idea where Wilbur had planned to take her, only knew that it was somewhere special. It almost seemed like forever before they were finally descending and she was able to see the island covered in pink and orange roses.
The dodo helped her out of the plane after they had landed and carried their picnic necessities to the perfect spot, as determined by Faline, where they laid the blanket out and sat close together to watch the rest of the sunset together.
Faline picked a nearby rose and put in her similarly colored hair and then, after a moment of thought, did the same to Wilbur mindful of the thorns. Needless to say she was happy when he left it in.
“This place is wonderful, Wilbur. Why have you never brought me here before?” the girl asked, curiously.
“Well, to be honest.. I always sort of hoped I’d get to save it for something like this,” the man admitted, almost seeming a little embarrassed.
Faline blushed for the second time, though it was hard to tell. “That’s really sweet. And I’m glad you did.”
A few moments of silent contentment passed between them then before Faline asked, “Are you hungry?”
“Sure am. I’ve been wondering what you’ve got in that basket of yours ever since I saw you with it,” Wilbur agreed.
“Well, I hope you like fruit!” the girl all but chirped and then opened the basket in question.
She first pulled out a thermos and a couple plastic cups followed by a couple sandwiches, some sliced apples, and finally some orange rolls.
“You made all this for me?” Wilbur asked surprised, as the girl poured them each a cup of cherry juice that she had pressed.
“Of course. I had to impress you too, you know,” she answered playfully.
It was Wilbur’s turn to laugh at line. “Well, consider me impressed.”
The food was, as Beau had predicted, delicious. The dodo had made sure to tell her so, making her even more proud of herself.
“You really should come out to the farm sometime,” Faline suggested after they’d finished their dinner and had put everything back in the basket save for the rest of the cherry juice. “I could cook for you, like actually cook. And I’d really love to show you my orchard too.”
Wilbur hummed in agreement. “That sounds real nice.”
It wasn’t long before it was completely dark out, and since it was still springtime the night air was getting cold. The dodo took his jacket off when he’d noticed and wrapped it around the girl instead, though she had protested at first he had insisted. The pair laid down before long, Faline feeling comfortable enough to snuggle up to him, head on his chest and arm laid overtop of him. He had an arm around her too, to keep her close.
The pair had almost been ready to doze off when Faline first spotted a flash in the sky. And then another. And then two at once.
She could hear the smile in Wilbur’s voice when he spoke a soft, “Well would you look at that.”
It took a moment to process but after she had, the girl sat up just enough so she was holding herself up with the arm underneath her. “You planned this,” she said matter-of-factly, looking down at the other.
He only smiled, and this time she couldn’t keep herself from leaning down and kissing him. Not on the cheek either.
The man had tensed a little at first but quickly relaxed and pulled her closer.
They continued kissing for a little while until Faline pulled away again, giving Wilbur a last loving look before laying back down and cuddling back up to watch more of the meteor shower before it got too much later.
Faline did end up falling asleep, for how long she didn’t know. But she woke up to Wilbur carrying her back to the plane wrapped up in their picnic blanket. He managed to get her back into the plane without having to let go of her, and though it was noisy she slept most of the way back to their island.
Wilbur didn’t carry her back into the airport once they got there though, knowing his brother would have something to say about it. She kept the blanket around her, half awake as they walked inside. Orville seemed about there himself, but perked up when the pair returned.
“Welcome back,” he greeted, the pair returning the sentiment.
“I think I’d better walk Faline home, then I’ll be back,” Wilbur said.
“That’s probably a good idea. Wouldn’t want her fallin’ asleep halfway,” his brother agreed, presumably holding back another comment about him having worn her out.
The girl made a small sound of agreement herself then and then managed a, “Goodnight Orville,” that he returned.
Wilber did walk her home, all the way to the other side of the island with a guiding arm wrapped around her the whole time.
When they’d finally reached her doorstep, Faline spoke up again. “Thanks for walking me home. And for the best night ever,” she said.
Thinking on it now, she found it silly that she’d been so nervous in the beginning.
“You’re welcome. Can’t wait to do it again sometime,” the man replied.
Faline left him with one last goodnight kiss and the promise to see him again tomorrow. Then they finally parted, her to sleep the rest of the night in her cozy cabin and him to go back to his brother who would probably bombard him with questions before he could do the same.
As he walked back to the airport, he realized that Faline still had his jacket. But, smiling a bit to himself, decided that he had no problem with letting her keep it until tomorrow.