Chapter 29
The group spent the weeks much as they had done the first time they at been to the property. Bush walking, quad and horse riding, fishing, and yes, some very rowdy games of trivial pursuit, uno and monopoly. The girls had become very adept at cheating and they ganged up on the guys time after time. Try as they might the guys never seemed to be able to get back at them. Most nights were spent playing one of these games; everyone laughed and enjoyed the lightness and freedom to be silly. Nights were rounded off with mugs of hot chocolate.
During a break in one of these night games Tracey asked Sebastien to join her outside. They sat on the front steps to the guesthouse.
“What is it Cherie? Can I help you with something?”
Tracey smiled at Sebastien. “I have something very serious I need to speak to you about my sweet prince.”
Sebastien became very nervous thinking Tracey was going to ask him to help her with something in regards to her health. He swallowed hard before he spoke. “What is it my angel?”
“How long are you going to wait before you ask Reba to marry you Sebastien? How many more hints does she have to drop?”
Sebastien was dumbfounded; he just looked at Tracey unable to speak.
Tracey smiled sweetly at him and kissed him gently on the tip of his nose. “She adores you Sebbie but she won’t wait for ever. What are you so scared of? Are you afraid she will say no?”
A small tear began to run down Sebastien’s face and he nodded his head. “I’m afraid I will not be able to give her all she needs. When this fairy tale is over, what will I have to give her?”
“Sebastien do you really; really think that is why she is with you? If you do then you don’t deserve to have her.”
Sebastien was shocked at what Tracey had said. His heart broke, he could not bear to think of life without Reba and yet he did not want to hurt her. Tracey’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“My sweet prince, If all you had were the clothes on your back she would love you forever. She loves you Sebastien Izambard, not the lifestyle, but you. Don’t you think you should give her the chance to show you just how much she loves you? Don’t you both deserve to be happy?”
Sebastien was overcome with emotion. “Like you and David?”
Now it was Tracey’s turn to feel the turmoil in her heart. “Yes my sweet. David has given me a life I thought I would never have. He’s a brave man who I cherish and love with all my heart and like you I don’t want to hurt him but unlike you I don’t have a choice. Sebastien… You’re far braver than you think. Be her knight in shining armour. I promise, you won’t look back.”
Sebastien smiled. “Be her Merlin?”
Tracey leaned in close to Sebastien. “Be you.”
Tracey left him to sit alone and she returned to the house.
David joined Tracey as she came inside, putting his arm around her shoulder. “Everything ok Trace?”
Tracey looked back towards the door. “I think so babe. I think so.” Tracey folded her arms around David’s waist and kissed him. “Time for bed I think.”
About 40 minutes after they had settled down for the night they heard a howl. A human howl, a Sebastien type howl. Tracey smiled to herself and cuddled closer to David.
“I am guessing you know something about that Missy?”
“Maybe.”

Reba was up early the next morning. She was glowing and couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t wait to tell the others. She had already woken her parents up with the news. Sebastien lingered in the room waiting for all the others to get up. He wanted Reba to share her news with them in her own way. Sebastien was amazed at just how wonderful he felt. The woman he loved had agreed to marry him and he couldn’t think of anything more beautiful in the world than spending the rest of his life with her.
Sebastien heard a communal howl drift up from downstairs, he smiled. It seemed that this howl was now their call sign. They all knew when they heard it that something good had happened and they each had tuned into the slight differences in their individual sounds. So hearing the communal happy wail he decided to join the rest of them for breakfast.

Tracey was sitting at the far end of the table when Sebastien walked in. She gave him a smile and a wink. David caught her winking and lent over to talk to her. “You did have something to do with this didn’t you?”
“Just gave him a little push.”
Reba and Sebastien were in each others arms, not sure whose smile was the widest. Nat was perched on Urs’ lap, Gillian was in a similar position with Carlos and everyone was so happy.
Reba kissed her sweet prince. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to ask me Seb. I am so glad that you did.”
Sebastien returned the kiss. “I don’t know why I waited so long.”
The three other guys sent up a cheer and the day progressed, the girls talking about wedding plans and where and when, what to wear. The guys finally escaped just after lunch, but not until it had been decided it was going to be an Aussie wedding.

The rest of their vacation weeks swept by fast and it was time for Il Divo to head back on the road, a few more months to go before the end of their tour. Tracey stayed in Tasmania, Gillian had work commitments in Italy but both Nat and Reba went with the group. Between e mails and voice mail and text messages and mobile phone calls this little group managed to keep in touch with each other very well. Without really knowing it they had become a family, brothers and sisters. Considering the diversity in their characters it was amazing just how well they all got on.