Back to the past.

Jasmine jerked up the moment the wheels of the plane she was riding in touched the ground. The public addresser went off, informing the occupants of the plane that they had reached their destination. Groggily, Jasmine stood up and wiped sleep off her face. Her golden-green eyes instantly changed colors mirroring her mood. She was tired after the long ride and felt jet lagged.

"I'll see you around," Dominic said to Jasmine, engulfing her in a short but warm hug.

"Be careful, okay? And tell Rob I'll come to see him soon. Tell him I love him and that I really miss him," Jasmine said, the calm of her hybrid eyes returning to her pupils.

"I will. Call me when you get home," Dominic said and Jasmine nodded. She came outside the plane and waited until it was her turn to grab her luggage. When she actually did, she heaved a relief sigh.

"Here comes everything!" Jasmine murmured to herself as she strolled out of the airport with her luggage. Her skin at once registered the familiar feeling of home. The crisp smell of trees and the sea filled her nostrils and she allowed herself to bask in it. She angled her face in search of any familiar face but she didn't see any and because she wasn't with her sunshade glasses, she refrained from using her hybrid powers.

A familiar scent covered her nostrils as she stepped onto the paved environment of the airport. This time it wasn't the familiar scent of a place but of a person. Training her neck as though she was searching for something, she took a right turn and headed down, tracing the smell she was perceiving. A couple of hours later she saw two familiar figures. There was no way she wouldn't recognize those people even from a thousand miles away. With her eyes focused on them, Raul suddenly turned in her direction and the speed of his heartbeat increased from too much joy... Or something else?

"Jasmine!" he called out faintly but surely and the winds were kind enough to carry the wave of his voice to Jasmine. Loretta, whose attention was focused on a set of very identical triplets, suddenly turned her attention to Raul and traced his gaze until it rested on Jasmine.

"Jasmine!" Loretta shouted in glee and hopped in ecstasy to meet her halfway. "I missed you so so much," She whispered into Jasmine's ear, holding her close in their embrace.

"I missed you so much more," Jasmine replied, tightening her grip on the female friend of hers that had been true with her. "I missed you, Loretta."

"You don't want to crush tiny Kyle, do you?" Raul's voice echoed from behind them and they were forced to break apart, both with large bright smiles plastered on their faces.

"I bet you are jealous that I got to hug her first," Loretta joked.

"I learned the person that danced last danced best," Raul said smiling. "How have you been?" He asked Jasmine and hugged her.

"Fine... I've been just fine,"

"Yeah, you look just fine. Werewolf guy took care of you real good, huh?" Raul asked slyly. If Jasmine took offense from it, she didn't show it.

"Well, he did what you asked him to do," Jasmine replied slyly and if Raul caught on to what she meant, he didn't show.

"How is baby Kyle? I'm sure he missed me too," Loretta said in a cranky voice, causing Jasmine to look up at her; Loretta's sapphire green eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"He did... He definitely did,"

****

"It's so nice to have you back home," Arturo said to Jasmine as the people who hadn't gone to welcome her from the airport took turns to welcome and hug her.

"It feels great to be back home, I tell you,"

"Dinner will be ready in a few, so I think it is best that you go up to your room and freshen up then come join us," Raul said. "I'll walk you," he added, planting his palm on the small of her back, guiding her up the stairs.

"It's fine, I'll take it from here," Jasmine turned slightly so that a part of her face was facing Raul while the other half was facing the opposite direction. As she climbed the stairs, memories of her and Kyle filled her heart and she finally felt tears well up in the corner of her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Raul asked, concern evident in his demeanor.

"Perfect. I'm tired but that's all." Jasmine added trying to house the waters of her river bank.

"Are you..." Raul was still speaking when Jasmine cut him off.

"I'll just freshen up and join you guys for dinner," she said rather too quickly and entered her room before Raul could utter another word. She lay against the wall of her room, her chest rising and falling. Everything in the room looked the same and brought her both peace and anguish—she felt both close and distant to him.

On the table close to the bedside was a red velvet pouch case for jewelry—It was the case of her engagement ring

—

FLASHBACK

"I know today is about Justin and his new bride—one of the loveliest people and couples I know. I envy their bond and I hope to establish one with the woman of my dreams someday—to forever with each other and to other bonds that would spring forth because of yours…Jasmine, I look back to the first time we met and what I would say is It's been crazy how you stick up with my excesses and love me unconditionally. All I seek is Jasmine, is a chance to repay all the good and love you've shown me. Love you unconditionally and worship you. Whatever I am today, is because I have you in it and I look forward to conquering more ground with you as my queen. Please make me the happiest man on earth by being my wife,"