//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: Eternal Love 
// by Swift Quill 
//------------------------------//

  The next morning, Fire Heart wakes up on the couch.
He sees Rosebud lying next to him, resting her head on his chest and smiles. He leans down, kisses her and starts stroking her mane. 
Rosebud wakes up, “Oh good morning sweet heart.” She says with a yawn, “Did we fall asleep on the couch again?”
“Looks like it honey, doesn’t bother me though.” Fire Heart replies, still stroking her mane.
“Doesn’t bother me either love.”

A few minutes later, Slava walks downstairs.
He sees Fire Heart snuggling up to Rosebud, and not wanting to disturb them, he walks past them and finds a table to sit at. He slumps over the table and sighs.
Hearing his little brother sigh, Fire Heart walks up to him, “What’s wrong little brother?”
Slava looks up from his slump, “Well, I’m happy for you being engaged to Rosebud, truly I am. But the thing is, I want to propose to Redheart.”
Fire Heart sits down opposite him, “Well, what’s stopping you?” he asks.
“I’m too n…nervous to. What if she says n…no?” Slava says, sighing.
Rosebud hears them talking and gets up, walks over to Fire Heart, drapes her hooves over Fire Heart’s shoulders and says to Slava, “What, say no to a strapping young stallion like you? She’d be crazy if she did.”
Slava looks up again, “You think she would say yes?” he asks Rosebud.
“I know she will say yes!” Rosebud exclaims.

Slava thanks his brother and Rosebud, gets up and leaves the inn.
After wondering around for a bit, Slava decides to go see Nurse Redheart at the hospital. 
He arrives there shortly and walks up to the front desk and asks the pony sitting there, “Excuse me miss, may I please see Nurse Redheart?”
The pony turns around, and it IS Nurse Redheart, she giggles, “hello sweety, what are you doing here? Your brother hasn’t hurt himself again, has he?”
Slava gulps, “N…no, I…I came here to see if you…” He trails off.
Redheart leans in and gives him a kiss, “You’re cute when you go all shy.”
He gulps again, “W…would you like to go out with me tonight, after work?”
Nurse Redheart leans in and says that she would love to, she asks him to pick her up at seven o’clock. Slava kisses her and says that he will, he then leaves the hospital.

An hour later, he hears his stomach growling and decides to go have something to eat.
He walks to the milkshake bar and orders a strawberry milkshake. While drinking his milkshake, he thinks about what sort of ring to get Nurse Redheart. He then thinks of how he is going to propose to her, should he do it before or after they have eaten? Or should he do it just as he picks her up?
He looks at the time and sighs, he gets up and pays for his milkshake. Leaving the bar, he decides to go the jewellery store. 

He arrives and walks into the store and walks in.
“Hello sir, what can I do for you today?” the clerk asks with a smile.
“Hello…I’d like an engagement ring please. Something with an Aquamarine gem in it please.”
“Certainly sir,” the clerk takes out a ring, “how about this one?”
“I like it, but do you have one that maybe has a pattern?” Slava asks the clerk.
The clerk takes out another ring, “This one does, sir.”
Slava nods his head, “I’ll take that one then, please. Will it be ready before seven?”
“Very well sir, and yes you can pick it up at six thirty.” The clerk replies.
Slava thanks the clerk, pays for the ring and leaves to go back to the inn.

When he gets back to the inn, Slava wsays hello to Fire Heart and Rosebud and walks upstairs to his room. Fire Heart gives Rosebud a hug, goes to Slava’s and room and knocks on the door.
“Who is it?” Slava asks
“It’s your big brother” Fire Heart replies, “Can I come in?”
“Sure, I’m just getting ready for my date with Nurse Redheart.”
Fire Heart opens the door and walks in, “So are you going to propose to her tonight?” he asks with a smile.
“Yes, do I look alright?” Slava replies, walking out of the bathroom, “I want to look nice when I ask her to marry me.”
Fire Heart smiles, “You look great mate,” he walks over to him and gives him a hug, “Good luck!”
Slava thanks Fire Heart and decides to have a nap before going out. Fire Heart leaves Slava’s room and goes back downstairs to talk to Rosebud.

Four hours pass, and Slava wakes up.
He looks at his watch, it’s six o’clock. He stretches and yawns. Makes himself a little more presentable and walks downstairs, says hello to Fire Heart and Rosebud, and leaves the inn. He walks to the jewellery store and looks at his watch, “Just in time.” He says to himself. He walks into the jewellery store. 
The clerk takes out the ring box and shows it to Slava, “I hope that this is to your liking, sir.”
Slava nods and takes the ring box, “It’s perfect, thank you.”
The clerk wishes him luck and watches him leave.

Ten minutes later, Slava arrives at Nurse Redheart’s house and knocks on the door.
“Who is it?” Nurse Redheart asks.
“It’s Slava, my dear.” Slava replies.
Nurse Redheart, finishes putting on her dress, walks downstairs and opens the door.
Slava sees her, gulps and starts sweating.
“Are you alright honey?” Nurse Redheart asks him
“Y…yes, it’s just that you’re really beautiful in that dress! I mean you’re always beautiful but you’re even more beautiful in that dress.” Slava stutters.
Nurse Redheart giggles and kisses him. Slava offers her his hoof and she takes it.

A few hours later, after finishing their meals at the restaurant.
Slava clears his throat, “Umm Redheart…” he begins, taking out the ring box and putting it on the table.
Nurse Redheart sees the box, “What’s that? And go on honey.” She says
“Well, you are my life. Before I met you, I didn’t know what love was. But then I met you, and I knew instantly, that you were the mare for me. Without you, my love, I would surely die!” Slava, who has forgotten all about being nervous says with a clear and strong voice.
Nurse Redheart not knowing exactly what he was talking about asks, “What are you trying to say dear?”
He pushes the ring box forward and says, “Well, what I am trying to say, or ask more like is,” he gets down on one knee, opens the ring box and says, “Will you marry me?”
Nurse Redheart sees the ring and her eyes widen with delight, she picks Slava up and gives him a big hug and a kiss. “YES! Yes, I will marry you!” she exclaims.

An hour later, they pay for their meals and leave the restaurant.
“Well, now that we’re engaged, would you like to move in with me?” Nurse Redheart asks Slava.
“I would love to, but I’ll need to get my saddlebags and of course tell Fire Heart and Rosebud, will you come with me, to tell them?” He replies with a smile.
“Of course I will dear.” Nurse Redheart says, kissing him.

They shortly arrive at the inn and walk in.
Fire Heart looks up and sees a ring on a chain around Nurse Redheart’s neck.
“So you finally asked her, and by the looks of it, she said yes.” He remarks.
“Yes, and what’s more, she’s asked me to move in with her!” Slava replies with a big smile.
“That’s wonderful! Congratulations little brother!” Fire Heart exclaims, getting up and giving Slava a big hug!
Slava hugs Fire Heart back and says that he’s going upstairs to get his saddlebags. Fire Heart nods and sits back down next to Rosebud. Nurse Redheart sits on a recliner and leans back with a smile on her face. 

Shortly after, Slava walks downstairs with his saddlebags.
Nurse Redheart sees him, gets up and gives Fire Heart and Rosebud a hug. Takes some of Slava’s saddlebags off him, and holding his hoof, she and Slava leave the inn.
Fire Heart snuggles up to Rosebud and they fall asleep.