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Aurora smiled at the invitation that arrived in the mail. Not even a week had passed when Once-ler again invited her over for dinner again. Norma sat next to her as she read it. “Can he possibly get any more sweet? He’s spoiling me” Aurora sighed as she read the letter.

“You’re one lucky girl, just enjoy it! I just wish it was legal to clone guys like him…” Norma said with a laugh that Aurora joined in, before reading the letter after Aurora handed it to her. “So, has he asked you – you know?”

“What?”

“You know, to be his girlfriend.”

“He has to ask? I thought it just… you know… happens? You know, we kissed, isn’t that kind of sum it up?”

“I guess, but in my experience, getting asked is always nice. Let’s you know it’s official.” Norma replied, handing her back the letter. “But maybe that’s just me. I’m kind of an old-fashioned romantic.”

Aurora didn’t reply as she looked back down at the invitation as Norma stood up to head to bed. Aurora re-read the letter once more before standing to her feet and walking back toward her bedroom to get ready for bed.

It was February 14th, the following day.

Once-ler arose early that morning. He took Melvin and a long list and it was a few hours before he returned just in time to prepare for the evening ahead.

“Wow. You really are head over heels for this girl.” Lorax commented as he watched Once-ler washing the floors like a mad-man.

“It’s Valentine’s Day. I want just everything to be special for her.” Once-ler said, glancing over from his work to look at the Lorax when he spoke.

“Well, kudos. She’s a really sweet gal.”

“Yeah… She is…” Once-ler replied before standing to his feet and walking over to the sink to wash the dishes as the Lorax walked into the cabin before sitting on Once-ler’s bed and continued to watch him. Once-ler glanced back when he felt the familiar feeling of eyes boring holes in the back of his head. “Do you still have to watch me even when I’m cleaning?” Once-ler commented after a few moments of tense silence.

“Yes.” Lorax said without hesitation.

“Make yourself comfortable then.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” The Lorax said, reaching over and grabbing a few marshmallows out from a small open bag of them on the nightstand next to the bed. He lay back down on the comfortable bed before popping them individually into his mouth.

Once-ler looked back in amusement before quickly returning back to his work.

The Lorax soon fell asleep after watching Once-ler begin making dinner and didn’t wake up until he smelt baking of fresh bread. He quickly sat up as Once-ler removed the steaming buns from the oven. “Hey, good, you’re awake… Darnit, I was hoping to use this…” Once-ler commented, holding a pitcher of ice water and smiling naughtily.

The Lorax just narrowed his eyes at the comment.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t be like that. Look, I’ll make you a deal. You go off and make yourself scarce tonight and I promise I’ll save you a plate.”Once-ler offered.

“Deal.” Lorax replied without hesitation before he stopped at the doorway and looking back at Once-ler. “I want a roll first.”

Once-ler just smiled before placing a warm roll in a napkin before walking toward Lorax and handing it to the small creature. After it was passed to the Lorax, Once-ler watched in amusement as the bright orange creature virtually disappeared into the early night.

“Wow. For having such short legs, he runs pretty darn fast.” Aurora commented as she walked up to Once-ler’s cabin.

Once-ler paused for a moment when he caught a glimpse of her. Her hair tied in a loose bun, a few strands of hair dangling against her face. Wearing a thin strapped V-neck black dress that fell just past her knees and just simple rhinestone ballet flats. After Once-ler looked at her and then looked down to the same drab clothes he always wore that were lightly dusted in flour. “Um, come in.” Once-ler said.

“Hello to you too.” Aurora said with a laugh as she walked passed him and into his cozy cabin. She brushed passed him slowly and rubbing her hand along his back before her arms linked around his waist. Once-ler’s cheeks burned a bright red as she pulled him closer to him. She looked up at him under heavy-lidded dark eyelashes with a smile tugging at the edges of her lips. Her hands snaked up his back and rested along his shoulder blades as she closed her eyes before getting on her tip-toes and leaning up to kiss him. Her eyes opened suddenly when she felt his fingertips resting on her puckered lips.

“Hold that thought.” Once-ler said with a nervous chuckle before pulling his way and excusing himself to the back rooms.

Aurora furrowed her brows but smiled as she sat down on the edge of his bed. She listened in amusement at the shower starting and just a few moments later, the rustling of clothes and slamming of doors and a few muffled choice words Once-ler said in frustration. Within a few seconds, Once-ler walked back out, his hair still dripping from a shower. Aurora was taken aback. He was wearing a black button up shirt with a pair of dark blue denim jeans and black shoes.

“Haven’t worn these since graduation.” Once-ler said with a shrug and a smile. “Now… where were we?” he continued, walking over to her as she stood back to her feet. His placed his hands gingerly on her bare shoulders and she bit her bottom lip as he ran his hand down her arms until their hands joining momentarily. Her arms wrapped back around his thin waist and Once-ler’s hands resting on her hips before he moved lower and gave her lips a ghost of a kiss. Aurora smiled against his lips before deeping the kiss as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. After they parted, he whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Aurora smiled before she watched as Once-ler reached to his counter and handed her a box of chocolates and a dozen pink roses. Aurora gasped slightly before looking back up in shock. “Thank you.” Aurora whispered, happily accepting the gifts and placing them upon his bed before she grabbed his hands and pulled him down, her right hand resting on the back of his neck and the other on his back and kissing him passionately on his surprised lips. “You’re the sweetest guy in the world.” She whispered after pulling away.

Once-ler just smiled before closing his eyes and giving her another tender kiss before pulling back. “Well, dinner’s getting cold.” He said with a chuckle as she pulled away, a blush burning her cheeks. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable, it’ll just be a minute.” Once-ler continued, pulling out a kitchen chair for her.

Aurora sat down and reached over and picked up the roses and taking a deep breath of their sweet essence. “Here. Go ahead and start. I’ll get a vase and some water for these.” Once-ler said as she handed him her flowers after he placed a plate in front of her. Aurora smiled as she watched him pull out a small blue vase and place the flowers inside. He was soon sitting across from her. They were just having a typical “what have you been up to?” conversation.

After dinner, Once-ler was washing dishes as Aurora dried them. After they cleaned up, Once-ler sat down on the edge of his bed and Aurora joined him. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, Once-ler.”

Once-ler didn’t respond, he just smiled before leaning over and kissing her softly on her temple. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just happy to do it as long as it means I can be with you.”

“Oh, Once…” she cooed his nickname she gave him before her arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.

Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist as she kissed the side of his neck. Once-ler closed his eyes and bit his lip before he hesitantly pulled away. He just wasn’t ready for their relationship to escalate in that sense.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“It’s getting late. I have a long day tomorrow. I’m gonna head into town tomorrow and see if maybe my luck’ll change.” Once-ler smiled before shrugging his shoulder.

Aurora smiled and nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. Walk me home?”

“Of course.”

The next day, Once-ler was surprised at the positive reaction he received in town. He knew that word would spread quickly and was just happy with the few dozen orders he already received. After a long day of making thneeds, carefully removing the tuft from the top of the trees with his new invention, he sighed before falling back on his bed and quickly falling asleep.

The next few weeks, he spent most of his time making thneeds and taking them to his customers in town. Once-ler was making a delivery in town and was approached by new customers. It was soon he was swamped with orders and was overwhelmed with how busy he had become. He was still arguing with himself over the fact of whether or not he needed to have his family travel so far to help. He was still able to fulfill the orders on his own and made his mind that if his thneed sales branched out of this town and further out, that was when he would call. And little did he know, it wasn’t too long of a wait.
It was a warm March morning; Aurora and Once-ler were having a picnic by the lake. Once-ler laughed at the humming fish chasing after each other. Once-ler jumped slightly when she felt Aurora’s hand grazing his chest. His face turned red when he felt her unbuttoning his shirt. “What are you doing?” he asked, a nervous chuckle gracing his voice.

“Your buttons are all off, silly.” Aurora said as she scooted in closer to him.

Once-ler licked his bottom lip as his hands rested warmly against her bare arms. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he leaned his head against the dip in her shoulder. He kissed her neck and she giggled unexpectedly. Once-ler pulled back in amusement as she giggled and reached up her hand and scratched the side of her neck where his lips just were. “I didn’t know you were ticklish.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yeah.” She said, nervously pulling away as she pulled away seeing the mischievous sparkle in his light blue eyes. But it was too late as he grabbed her by his waist and pulled her closer as his fingers eagerly tickled her and she laughed until tears were dripping from her eyes. In her effort to push him off of her, the two were soon laying on the picnic blanket as she rolled on the checkered blanket in her hysterical laugher.

Once-ler eventually quit and smiled as she wiped her eyes and shook her head at him.
Aurora smiled back, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. His left hand went to rest comfortably on her waist as the fingers of his right hand touched her silky hair. Once-ler pulled her face closer to his and kissed the edge of her lips.

“Aurora?” Once-ler asked after the two of them pulled apart slightly to lay on their backs and glance the sky. Aurora’s head still resting against Once-ler’s chest as his hand grasped her shoulder.

“Yeah?” Aurora asked, rolling onto her side and leaning in to give his lips a soft kiss.
After Once-ler eagerly returned it and pulled away, he whispered, “Will you… be my girlfriend?”

Aurora paused for a second before smiling bright and replying, “I thought you’d never ask…”

---

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Description
Aurora smiled at the invitation that arrived in the mail. Not even a week had passed when Once-ler again invited her over for dinner again. Norma sat next to her as she read it. “Can he possibly get any more sweet? He’s spoiling me” Aurora sighed as she read the letter.

“You’re one lucky girl, just enjoy it! I just wish it was legal to clone guys like him…” Norma said with a laugh that Aurora joined in, before reading the letter after Aurora handed it to her. “So, has he asked you – you know?”

“What?”

“You know, to be his girlfriend.”

“He has to ask? I thought it just… you know… happens? You know, we kissed, isn’t that kind of sum it up?”

“I guess, but in my experience, getting asked is always nice. Let’s you know it’s official.” Norma replied, handing her back the letter. “But maybe that’s just me. I’m kind of an old-fashioned romantic.”

Aurora didn’t reply as she looked back down at the invitation as Norma stood up to head to bed. Aurora re-read the letter once more before standing to her feet and walking back toward her bedroom to get ready for bed.

It was February 14th, the following day.

Once-ler arose early that morning. He took Melvin and a long list and it was a few hours before he returned just in time to prepare for the evening ahead.

“Wow. You really are head over heels for this girl.” Lorax commented as he watched Once-ler washing the floors like a mad-man.

“It’s Valentine’s Day. I want just everything to be special for her.” Once-ler said, glancing over from his work to look at the Lorax when he spoke.

“Well, kudos. She’s a really sweet gal.”

“Yeah… She is…” Once-ler replied before standing to his feet and walking over to the sink to wash the dishes as the Lorax walked into the cabin before sitting on Once-ler’s bed and continued to watch him. Once-ler glanced back when he felt the familiar feeling of eyes boring holes in the back of his head. “Do you still have to watch me even when I’m cleaning?” Once-ler commented after a few moments of tense silence.

“Yes.” Lorax said without hesitation.

“Make yourself comfortable then.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” The Lorax said, reaching over and grabbing a few marshmallows out from a small open bag of them on the nightstand next to the bed. He lay back down on the comfortable bed before popping them individually into his mouth.

Once-ler looked back in amusement before quickly returning back to his work.

The Lorax soon fell asleep after watching Once-ler begin making dinner and didn’t wake up until he smelt baking of fresh bread. He quickly sat up as Once-ler removed the steaming buns from the oven. “Hey, good, you’re awake… Darnit, I was hoping to use this…” Once-ler commented, holding a pitcher of ice water and smiling naughtily.

The Lorax just narrowed his eyes at the comment.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t be like that. Look, I’ll make you a deal. You go off and make yourself scarce tonight and I promise I’ll save you a plate.”Once-ler offered.

“Deal.” Lorax replied without hesitation before he stopped at the doorway and looking back at Once-ler. “I want a roll first.”

Once-ler just smiled before placing a warm roll in a napkin before walking toward Lorax and handing it to the small creature. After it was passed to the Lorax, Once-ler watched in amusement as the bright orange creature virtually disappeared into the early night.

“Wow. For having such short legs, he runs pretty darn fast.” Aurora commented as she walked up to Once-ler’s cabin.

Once-ler paused for a moment when he caught a glimpse of her. Her hair tied in a loose bun, a few strands of hair dangling against her face. Wearing a thin strapped V-neck black dress that fell just past her knees and just simple rhinestone ballet flats. After Once-ler looked at her and then looked down to the same drab clothes he always wore that were lightly dusted in flour. “Um, come in.” Once-ler said.

“Hello to you too.” Aurora said with a laugh as she walked passed him and into his cozy cabin. She brushed passed him slowly and rubbing her hand along his back before her arms linked around his waist. Once-ler’s cheeks burned a bright red as she pulled him closer to him. She looked up at him under heavy-lidded dark eyelashes with a smile tugging at the edges of her lips. Her hands snaked up his back and rested along his shoulder blades as she closed her eyes before getting on her tip-toes and leaning up to kiss him. Her eyes opened suddenly when she felt his fingertips resting on her puckered lips.

“Hold that thought.” Once-ler said with a nervous chuckle before pulling his way and excusing himself to the back rooms.

Aurora furrowed her brows but smiled as she sat down on the edge of his bed. She listened in amusement at the shower starting and just a few moments later, the rustling of clothes and slamming of doors and a few muffled choice words Once-ler said in frustration. Within a few seconds, Once-ler walked back out, his hair still dripping from a shower. Aurora was taken aback. He was wearing a black button up shirt with a pair of dark blue denim jeans and black shoes.

“Haven’t worn these since graduation.” Once-ler said with a shrug and a smile. “Now… where were we?” he continued, walking over to her as she stood back to her feet. His placed his hands gingerly on her bare shoulders and she bit her bottom lip as he ran his hand down her arms until their hands joining momentarily. Her arms wrapped back around his thin waist and Once-ler’s hands resting on her hips before he moved lower and gave her lips a ghost of a kiss. Aurora smiled against his lips before deeping the kiss as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. After they parted, he whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Aurora smiled before she watched as Once-ler reached to his counter and handed her a box of chocolates and a dozen pink roses. Aurora gasped slightly before looking back up in shock. “Thank you.” Aurora whispered, happily accepting the gifts and placing them upon his bed before she grabbed his hands and pulled him down, her right hand resting on the back of his neck and the other on his back and kissing him passionately on his surprised lips. “You’re the sweetest guy in the world.” She whispered after pulling away.

Once-ler just smiled before closing his eyes and giving her another tender kiss before pulling back. “Well, dinner’s getting cold.” He said with a chuckle as she pulled away, a blush burning her cheeks. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable, it’ll just be a minute.” Once-ler continued, pulling out a kitchen chair for her.

Aurora sat down and reached over and picked up the roses and taking a deep breath of their sweet essence. “Here. Go ahead and start. I’ll get a vase and some water for these.” Once-ler said as she handed him her flowers after he placed a plate in front of her. Aurora smiled as she watched him pull out a small blue vase and place the flowers inside. He was soon sitting across from her. They were just having a typical “what have you been up to?” conversation.

After dinner, Once-ler was washing dishes as Aurora dried them. After they cleaned up, Once-ler sat down on the edge of his bed and Aurora joined him. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, Once-ler.”

Once-ler didn’t respond, he just smiled before leaning over and kissing her softly on her temple. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just happy to do it as long as it means I can be with you.”

“Oh, Once…” she cooed his nickname she gave him before her arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.

Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist as she kissed the side of his neck. Once-ler closed his eyes and bit his lip before he hesitantly pulled away. He just wasn’t ready for their relationship to escalate in that sense.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“It’s getting late. I have a long day tomorrow. I’m gonna head into town tomorrow and see if maybe my luck’ll change.” Once-ler smiled before shrugging his shoulder.

Aurora smiled and nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. Walk me home?”

“Of course.”

The next day, Once-ler was surprised at the positive reaction he received in town. He knew that word would spread quickly and was just happy with the few dozen orders he already received. After a long day of making thneeds, carefully removing the tuft from the top of the trees with his new invention, he sighed before falling back on his bed and quickly falling asleep.

The next few weeks, he spent most of his time making thneeds and taking them to his customers in town. Once-ler was making a delivery in town and was approached by new customers. It was soon he was swamped with orders and was overwhelmed with how busy he had become. He was still arguing with himself over the fact of whether or not he needed to have his family travel so far to help. He was still able to fulfill the orders on his own and made his mind that if his thneed sales branched out of this town and further out, that was when he would call. And little did he know, it wasn’t too long of a wait.
It was a warm March morning; Aurora and Once-ler were having a picnic by the lake. Once-ler laughed at the humming fish chasing after each other. Once-ler jumped slightly when she felt Aurora’s hand grazing his chest. His face turned red when he felt her unbuttoning his shirt. “What are you doing?” he asked, a nervous chuckle gracing his voice.

“Your buttons are all off, silly.” Aurora said as she scooted in closer to him.

Once-ler licked his bottom lip as his hands rested warmly against her bare arms. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he leaned his head against the dip in her shoulder. He kissed her neck and she giggled unexpectedly. Once-ler pulled back in amusement as she giggled and reached up her hand and scratched the side of her neck where his lips just were. “I didn’t know you were ticklish.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yeah.” She said, nervously pulling away as she pulled away seeing the mischievous sparkle in his light blue eyes. But it was too late as he grabbed her by his waist and pulled her closer as his fingers eagerly tickled her and she laughed until tears were dripping from her eyes. In her effort to push him off of her, the two were soon laying on the picnic blanket as she rolled on the checkered blanket in her hysterical laugher.

Once-ler eventually quit and smiled as she wiped her eyes and shook her head at him.
Aurora smiled back, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. His left hand went to rest comfortably on her waist as the fingers of his right hand touched her silky hair. Once-ler pulled her face closer to his and kissed the edge of her lips.

“Aurora?” Once-ler asked after the two of them pulled apart slightly to lay on their backs and glance the sky. Aurora’s head still resting against Once-ler’s chest as his hand grasped her shoulder.

“Yeah?” Aurora asked, rolling onto her side and leaning in to give his lips a soft kiss.
After Once-ler eagerly returned it and pulled away, he whispered, “Will you… be my girlfriend?”

Aurora paused for a second before smiling bright and replying, “I thought you’d never ask…”

---

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