Perfect Seed

He heaves a low sigh, his breath carried away by the soft summer breeze, but not before being heard by the redhead seated next to him. The reaction is delayed, but he sees the smile creep slowly onto the woman's lips, another moment passing before she speaks, words breaking up the predictable monotony of yet another perfect day.

"Something on your mind?"

"Yeah."

"Care to share?"

He studies her for a few seconds, looking up at her from where he lays outstretched on the grass. She really is beautiful with her strikingly violet eyes, spiked red hair, and sharp jawline. He'd known a lot of beautiful girls, but he was truly lucky to have found her.

"Do I have a choice?" He redirects his gaze to the branches that sway above them, eyeing the growing green fruit that burdens them with budding nostalgia.

"Leo. You always have a choice." Her voice is still kind, but there is an edge to her words that matches the look in her eyes when turns his attention back to her.

"I used to want to be buried under this tree." She tenses up, just a little, but he can see it. He knows her well after all of this time together, months spent earning her trust and her love, wooing her in this very garden.

"I wish you wouldn't say things like that."

She's definitely upset, and he knows she's right. She thinks it's cruel when he makes those comments; maybe it is. Maybe he says it because a part of him knows that it will hurt her. Maybe he says it to prove she cares. Whichever the reason, not saying it wouldn't make the truth disappear.

"Sorry." He reaches out, holding his hand palm up until she notices and moves to lace her finger through his. He gives her hand a solid squeeze, pushing himself upright with his free arm.

"I guess I just..." He trails off, tilting his head back and looking up at the dancing leaves again, willing away the heat behind his eyes.

"What, Leo?"

"It's hard to imagine not being by your side anymore."

"Leo." She whispers his name, her tone now reflecting the melancholy he feels in his own chest, something the painfully beautiful summer weather cannot quell. She squeezes his hand tighter and turns to face him.

"Leo, I love you. And you love me. More than anyone, right?"

He nods once, taking a deep breath and meeting her eyes.

"So then what does it matter if we aren't standing beside each other? We're still together, aren't we? Forever? Because you're in my heart and I'm in yours."

"Trudi..." He smiles softly, reaching up and running a hand through her short hair affectionately.

"Why do you love me like this? Even when you know it's going to end with..." His words fade out, and he takes moment, looking down when he finally finishes the thought in a hushed whisper.

"Death."

"No. Not death. Rebirth." He chuckles breathlessly at her response, but she's still smiling at him so warmly, so proudly, like tragic love is the prize every woman has wanted to win.

She pulls her hand free, using it to untie a blue and gold silk ribbon that adorns her other wrist and holding it up toward Leo. His smile grows wider when he lifts his arm toward her, watching her youthful face and her soft eyes as she works to tie the ribbon gently around his wrist.

"Rebirth." He repeats her word quietly before pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her, and dragging her down to lie in the soft grass with him. He kisses her forehead and cradles her tightly, and they stay like this, soaking in the very real life that will soon be very gone until the sun's warming rays fade away and leave the moon to kiss them with her cooling lips.

"Let's get inside." Leo kisses her forehead again, rising and helping her up. They go wordlessly into the small cabin at the edge of the garden, Leo flicking on the overhead light and leading Trudi to the back into the bedroom.

"There she is." She smiles and goes to the corner of the room, reaching out and running her graceful fingers down the branch of a small pink weeping willow.

"My Love." She looks up to see Leo beside her, and she smiles brighter, rising up and reaching out her hand expectantly.

She swallows down the pills with the water he gives her, she gives the willow one last, loving caress, and then she pulls Leo to the bed, her white gown puffing up around her when she drops playfully onto the mattress.

"Beautiful." Leo smiles again, crawling in beside her and wrapping an arm around her, watching her closely as her smile softens and her eyes begin to droop.

"Do you still want to be buried beneath a pear tree?" Her words are soft and her voice is tired, and Leo breathes out an incredulous laugh before pressing a sweet kiss to her forehead.

"No, my darling. I'll sleep beneath a pink willow. Those pears have never been sweet enough for me."

Leo closes his eyes, too. Tomorrow, he'll have a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, he'll add a new tree to his garden. His last tree. For his last love.

Should no sweeter fruit fall onto his path, at least.