“Hey, Joey?” the rabbit said quietly.
“Mm-hmm?” replied the fox, his snout pressed against the top of his girlfriend’s head as his paw gently played with one of her ears.
“There’s something I wanna show you.”
“What’s that?” Joseph asked as he pulled back a little to gaze upon the bunny’s face. Jamie looked into his eyes before she responded, and saw in them no trace of the fear or pain or guilt that had consumed him earlier. She only saw love.
Jamie gave her boyfriend a light peck on the cheek as she stood up, her legs a little stiff from sitting in Joseph’s lap for so long. She offered her paw to Joseph and helped him get to his feet, holding on to him as she began to move deeper into the woods.
“Come with me,” she said with a smile so sweet it made Joseph’s heart throb.
“Okay,” he said, still a little in shock from the fact that Jamie had admitted that she was in love with him. He let the bunny tug on his paw and lead him deeper into the woods, not caring where they went or what they were doing so long as they were together.
It only took a few minutes for the couple to reach their destination, one that Jamie had visited so many times that she could find her way to it from almost anywhere in the woods. She’d discovered it when she was fourteen whilst wandering in the woods near the farm, and, as far as she knew, she was the only one in the family who knew of it.
Jamie looked back at the boy she loved and gave him a glowing smile as she pulled him past the last trees into the wide open space. The trees vanished from around them and Joseph found himself standing in the middle of a small meadow in the middle of the woods, a wide space unbroken by trees that was teeming with wildflowers. The change of the seasons seemed to have no effect here, as all the flowers seemed to be healthy and thriving. A cool night breeze blew through the meadow as Jamie led her boyfriend to the center, and the moon shone down from above and illuminated their surroundings in a pale and almost unearthly light. Jamie stopped in the middle of the sea of grass and wildflowers, then grasped Joseph’s other paw in hers as she looked up at him.
“What do you think?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.
“It’s beautiful,” Joseph replied, his eyes scanning the small space and the trees that surrounded them. “Quiet and peaceful…just like you.”
She couldn’t stop the blush that spread through her ears when he said that. “I found this place a few years ago,” she explained. “As far as I know, I’m the only one in the family that knows about it. I came out here whenever I was sad or stressed...it was my sanctuary.”
“Thank you for sharing it with me, Jamie,” said Joseph, gently rubbing Jamie’s paw between his fingers. “Thank you for everything.” He leaned down once more and kissed Jamie on the lips, the taste of her on his tongue making his mind go blank and his knees shake.
“I love you,” Jamie whispered breathlessly when they finally broke apart a minute later.
“I love you more,” Joseph responded, carefully brushing his nose against the bunny’s velvety cheek. He couldn’t help but grin at the little shiver that went through her body at the action.
“Dance with me?” she asked suddenly.
The reynard let out an airy chuckle. “I’d love to,” he told her, “but we don’t have any music to dance to.” In answer, Jamie merely smiled wryly at him as she moved his paws to rest on her hips and placed her own on his shoulders. Then, with a voice so soft and light and pure and beautiful that Joseph was certain he was listening to an angel, Jamie began to sing to him.

I found a love for me
Darling, just dive right in
And follow my lead
Well, I found a fox, beautiful and sweet
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me…

Tears of joyful love began to drip from Joseph’s eyes again as Jamie sang her way into the pre-chorus of the song, one that had come out recently and which he had listened to countless times while thinking of her. Their bodies slowly began to sway from side to side to the steady beat of Jamie’s voice.

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you were a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it: Joey, you are perfect tonight

Jamie softly hummed the instrumental portion of the song as the two spun in a slow and steady circle, orange eyes locked on the blue. She hoped and prayed that he could hear in the words she sang how much she meant them, hoped that he could see in her eyes that she loved him with all her heart--because she could see by the look in his eyes that he loved her just as much.
When she was about to start the second verse of the song, she was surprised when Joseph began to sing it for her. His voice was ever so slightly choked with heartfelt emotion, and she felt the rumble of his chest against her own as he continued right where she had left off.
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Jamie, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don’t deserve this, Jamie, you are perfect tonight
By the time Joseph reached the end of the chorus, he had leaned down to gently press his nose against Jamie’s, his eyes locked on hers as he sang. Just like the first time they had danced together, every word that he sang was true, every syllable and note dripping with affection and pure, infinite love. He loved this little bunny with all of his heart, mind, and soul, and she finally knew it. And, by some miracle, by some mysterious alignment of all the stars and planets...Jamie Hopps loved him, too.
As Joseph entered the final stanza of the song, Jamie began to sing in tandem with him, their voices aligning perfectly and complementing each other as though they had done this a thousand times before. Their voices rose in volume as they sang to each other, each mammal unable to contain the raw love they felt inside.
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And you are perfect
I don’t deserve this, darling you are perfect tonight
Their lips met once again in a tender kiss as they completed the song. Joseph wrapped his arms around his lover and scooped her up like a child, putting one arm under her knees and one under her shoulders as he continued to kiss her softly. He broke the kiss and spun her around in a gentle circle, eliciting a playful giggle frum the bunny’s muzzle. The moonlight shone in her eyes, and Joseph knew then and there that Jamie Hopps was the meaning of his life. There would never be anyone or anything else but her. His perfect little Buttercup.
“I love you,” she whispered softly to him as she laid a caramel paw against his cheek. The words were sweeter than any music he had ever heard.
“I love you, too, Jamie,” Joseph replied sweetly. “Always have, always will.”
“Always?” Jamie questioned, amazement and love in her eyes.
“Always,” Joseph repeated, hugging the bunny close to himself as though she were his source of life. “To infinity and beyond.”

A stunningly beautiful commission by  SkellyDoll of my OCs Joseph and Jamie dancing in the meadow after confessing their love for each other.