Promises & Bondings!

"I would like to talk to you!" Zamiel expressed, "In human form, of course!", an addition.

The dragon remained in the air for a minute before landing, hesitating for a second more before shifting.

Zamiel couldn't believe his eyes for the till now devastating fire emanating dragon transfigured into a gentle and beautiful lady?

He could almost take her for an angel!

However, she looked weak, her mouth blood-stained, thanks to him for a guess?!

Her body covered with bruises and wounds he didn't yet comprehend, did he hurt her that bad?!

Halting his racing thoughts, the lady fell on her knees not being able to stand anymore, almost getting him to help her but he remained unmoved.

"Why did you chose to fight?" He calmly asked, clearly witnessing how weak she was.

"Who are you?!" She asked with a glance he could identify, one of those belonging to rage.

A dragon for a reason!!

Zamiel chuckled, "That shouldn't bother you, neither should you bother my way!!" his brow arching, "I have things to do, so stop playing with me." He said once for all, deciding to leave.

His movements were halted when she noticing him leave, attacked again, which he had to dodge.

"Don't you dare move!!" She warned.

He sighed out of frustration, "Why do you pick a fight when you don't have any need to?" his gaze wandered all around, "What are you protecting? For, you wouldn't pick a fight considering your already weakness if not to protect something with your life, unless you have a death wish!!"

She looked down, hesitating again before few words were spelt out, "My child!"

Child?

She thought he was here to harm her child?!

"I meant no harm!" He reassured.

She sighed, "I'm Dyla." she introduced, "I had a happy family, with my husband and soon to be born baby!"

Zamiel frowned, had?

"If not for that manipulative demonic snake, my husband would have lived!!" She cried.

Her husband died?

A sigh escaped him, he knew the pain that comes from losing your beloved partner.

"He protected us till his last breath."

"I have no one else other than my child, and I am on the verge to lose him too!!"

She looked up at him, "That demon had tried several times to manipulate me with its demonic traits, attacking in different forms, but I fought back, however I can't anymore."

"I apologise, I thought you were one of his form!"

Zamiel sighed, and she fought with him making herself even more weak.

That fear and sadness in her face was nothing new for him, for, he knew how it hurts to have both your partner and baby lost forever. He for a second could see himself in her. "Why exactly is that creature after you?"

"The dragon core!" She breathed, "He plans to cultivate on it so he could get out of this world."

He sighed, "I can give you the strength to fight!" he suggested.

Dyla shook her head with a faint smile, coughing out more blood, panicking him. "It's too late, I can see my end already!"

Well, he can too! But what's the solution?

Zamiel sighed again, "I'll protect your baby!"

Her eyes were lit in hope "Will you?"

He nodded assuringly, "I'll protect it with my life, and will care it with love, I promise!!"

Dyla smiled in pain, relieved yet bothered. With the battle she had, she knew he could protect her baby well, with a deep breath, she motioned her hand, and a huge egg appeared out of a rock from the cave.

Zamiel stared the thing amazed, so, a dragon egg?

Exchanging an assuring stare, Zamiel took over the egg, letting it emerge in himself.

"Thank you!!" Dyla whispered, her eyes teary.

Zamiel reached her immediately when she collapsed, concerned.

"God sure has his blessings on me for granting my last wish!!" She whispered with a smile, "Please, take care of my child!"

"I will, like my own child!!" Zamiel promised.

She smiled, a tear cascading down her eye, she can finally meet her husband with no concern and regrets.

Zamiel watched her take her last breath, a lump settling in his heart, remembering his wife.

Did she leave with the regret of not being able to save their baby as well?!

It pained him even as a thought!

Taking a deep breath, he stood, deciding to leave, however, soon witnessed the lady turning back into a dragon.

************

Amara was taken aback when she heard her parents went for shopping while she was in office, upon reaching home.

However, her parents assured her that they took care of the confidentiality of the situation.

She still suggested them not to go anywhere anymore without informing her ahead, for some time.

They just smiled for that, and after getting ready, they left for Oliver's house.

Sarah who went to pick up Ralph was on time as well, Amara knocked the door.

Oliver opened almost after two minutes, with an apology for the delay.

"Good evening!!" He greeted the couple.

Harry and Isobel greeted back in unison as they all entered in.

"I'm glad you both could join!"

"And we are glad we can!!" Isobel smiled.

"Please, sit. I'll be back within a minute!" He bowed slightly before disappearing into the kitchen.

"He looks cute in an apron, doesn't he?" Sarah wondered.

Amara and Ralph laughed.

Soon, they were all seated together for dining, Oliver placing all of the dishes he cooked neatly on the table before getting seated as well.

"You cook?!" Isobel wondered.

Oliver hesitated, "At an average level I guess!!"

"That's more than enough to impress your future wife!!" Amara shrugged.

He smiled feeling slightly shy.

They all laughed.

"We heard the good news, congratulations!!" Harry finally greeted.

"Yeah, congratulations!!" Isobel joined.

"Thank you!" Oliver bowed his head, "Please, suit yourself!" he served them.

"You cook great!!" Sarah exclaimed as soon as she took a bite of the meat. "It's delicious!!"

Oliver just smiled.

"It sure is!!" Amara accepted as she enjoyed the soup.

Oliver with a smile, poured some more in her bowl surprising her.

She just accepted it with a smile and they had a pleasant meal.

Later, they even spent some time together. Oliver showed them all around the house, his photo album which had all of the photos of him participating in different programmes at the orphanage. His certificates and more which were precious to him.

They felt happy to explore this personal side of his.

As the couple got busy exploring the album while Sarah and Ralph were busy in reading his diary where he wrote his opinions on several articles, appreciating his point of views from such a young age, Oliver stood at the balcony, looking down the garden he always admired.

Amara joined, "This flat has the best view of the garden perhaps!!"

Oliver smiled, "That's the reason I choose this flat!"

"Whenever I feel lonely, burdened or stressed, I just stare it from here, witnessing all the children playing around, old people walking, couples' sweet unheard talks." Oliver smiled, "And the nature, they all relax me somehow!!"

Amara breathed, finding sense in his description, just like how she likes her hospital's garden. "That's good to hear!!"

He smiled.

"Well, I have a gift for you!!" She handed him the box from her coat, tapping on it twice with a blink.

He who was surprised to have it, opened it out of curiosity, but was more surprised to see the same watch he desired to buy, a month ago. "How.... come?"

She shrugged, "Don't think I didn't notice, you desired to buy it but had choose to save your salary, didn't you?"

"It was when we were shooting the inauguration of the shopping mall wasn't it?" She wondered.

He nodded with a smile.

Amara smiled back, "I pre-ordered it, and recieved a week ago, but couldn't give you cause of my health issue." She shrugged, "Who would have thought it would become a gift for an occasion?!"

He laughed shaking his head.

A moment of silence carried away before he hesitatingly cleared his voice, "Actually...." his fingers held his shirts' button on the wrist, "I'm sorry for this morning, I acted out of excitement!!"

She wondered what was he speaking about.

He turned, facing her, "That initiative, it made you feel awkward right?!"

Realising he was speaking about the hug, she smiled, "It sure....was awkward for a second!" she admitted.

"But....nothing was bothering."

He nodded understandingly, "I still apologize for that!"

Amara hissed, her sudden embrace surprising him. "You're my friend Oliver, my family somehow, stop.... restricting yourself!!"

Oliver took a deep breath, letting her words sink in, tears swirling in his eyes which he held back with a blink. His hands embracing her in return.

"Thank you head!" He whispered.

She hissed again, "It sure is uncomfortable to have you address me that way, use my name at least now man!!"

He chuckled pulling himself away, "I can't help!"

She shook her head, "Even when there's no need to?!"

He shrugged, "Takes some time I guess then!!"

She sighed, "Let me help you!!" she took out the watch with a smile, helping him wear it.

Oliver just stared her in silence, adoring her while she fastened the belt, his right hand hesitating to touch those strands of hair, the urge to tuck it behind her ear, to get a clear view of her face and all her little unnoticed expressions which he always found adorable.

"It looks great on you!!" She exclaimed looking up at him, having his gaze settled right on her.

Amara halted for a second, until she heard Sarah calling out for them.

Oliver looked away briefly before his gaze settled on his hand, "It sure does, thank you head!"

Amara smiled with a nod, "Shall we get in? They are calling for us!"

He nodded.

As they returned, the couple, gifted him with a suit.

"There wasn't any need though!!" Oliver seemed resistant, "Having you both here was more than enough!!"

"Oh please, we spent a lot of time wondering which one would you like to wear and look good in. Finally we both agreed on this, now don't just deny it!" Harry requested.

Isobel nodded, "Respect our efforts!" she funnily complained.

Oliver chuckled, accepting the gift, "Thank you!!"

"Good decision!!" Isobel appreciated for which Amara laughed.

"And this is from both of us!!" Sarah gifted a box, a tie for him.

Ralph shrugged, "Selection was mine, money was hers'."

Oliver laughed with a shake of head while Sarah chuckled. Him with a smile accepting that as well, "Thank you so much!!"

"It's getting late, we should leave I guess?!" Amara suggested for which they nodded.

As they were getting into the car, Oliver halted the couple, "Don't mind me taking the lenience, but....can you both still visit me often?!"

Harry and Isobel took a moment of silence before she reached him, caressing his hair, "Of course we will often, from now on!!"

"And if we didn't, you can always take the initiative!!" Harry assured with a wink.

Oliver smiled wholeheartedly, "Thanks a lot!!"

Amara and her friends could only smile at the scene.

Oliver watched them leave, a sigh escaping him.

The security guard who watched him, reached with a smile, "You finally had guests visiting your house, sir!!"

Oliver smiled, shaking his head, "It's my family!!" he whispered.