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How We Doth Quell Boredom [FxF] (Clearsight x Javorcek)

Syri took a deep breath before appearing in front of the crowd, wanting to present a strong front, despite her current condition. It proved difficult, but she managed, pulling off a rather convincing smile, at least for those who didn't know her. For those who did, the underlying misery likely shone through, but it was the best she could do given the circumstances.

The smile turned genuine as her eyes scanned the crowd, finding a distracted Alice among the masses. The look seemed to catch the attention of a few people, and the bids escalated slightly in response, showing that her good looks attracted a few people, even if she didn't have the same status and star power as the others that graced the stage that night.

"Five thousand!"

"Six!"

It kept going, and although she wasn't entirely pleased with the idea of going on her first date in months with a stranger instead of Alice, she stood there, resigned to her fate. The more she thought about it, the more pitiful she felt, but with Mara at the helm, backing out wasn't an option.

"Twenty!"

"Twenty-five thousand!"

Then it happened. The next bid cut through the air and made the entire world go quiet, at least for Syri. The alpha raised her downcast eyes and looked into the crowd, locking her gaze on the shy dragon.

Instantly, her face lit up, and she practically stared holes into Mara as she turned and urged the older wolf to end the bidding right there. Then it ended. Nobody else made a bid, and while some people might regret not getting another bid or two, Syri couldn't have been happier. Alice bid for her! Alice won!

Was Alice interested?

That question popped up amid Syri's internal celebration, causing her brain to lag as she tried to think about whether such a thing was even possible. It was, right? They had grown closer. So wasn't it a possibility?

Before Syri could make heads or tails of her own thoughts, Alice stepped directly onto the stage, catching the alpha slightly off guard.

"You were right," Syri said with a smile tugging at her lips.

"Thank you." Syri wasn't sure whether Alice bid on her out of genuine interest. But while knowing her exact thoughts was a tough ask, she knew that the dragon had helped her avoid embarrassment and a miserable night, so she was grateful. Excited too.

Syri also felt grateful to Mara since the older wolf was the reason she was prepared with an amazing reservation. The old wolf insisted that they turn in a plan for their charity dates, and it just so happened that Syri chose an incredible restaurant where she would not get to share a meal with Alice!

"Since you have been so kind as to save me from the clutches of strangers, it is only right that I show you a fantastic evening. So, if my lady would please give me the opportunity, I would very much like to take you out for a lovely dinner."

Filled with energy, Syri offered her arm and a charming smile, amazed by how quickly the day had turned around. She felt so good that she even managed to ignore the fact that Haley was still watching them with a stupid look on her face.

—————

Bellamy did what she had to in order to get some time to spend with Sasha, which meant coming clean to Arlann about what had been going on in her life. She kept the details to a minimum, but it didn't take much to get a bit of understanding from the mage. Though, that didn't save her from a thinly veiled threat at the end, which promised that Arlann would finish the job nature couldn't if she hurt her darling niece again. It was actually a little terrifying.

The negotiations ended with success, though, and Bellamy walked away with the rights to the date with Sasha. She didn't even have to pay back the money Arlann blew on the auction, with the mage waving her away when she offered. Apparently, she had other plans, and after seeing the look in her eyes, Bellamy didn't ask.

With her objective achieved, Bellamy put things into motion, a grin on her face as she made some plans. She only had one chance, and it needed to go perfectly.

---

Bellamy's plan was for everything to go perfectly, but it was a pipe dream. It couldn't be helped, not when the very start of the date was going to be an unpleasant realization for Sasha and a struggle for her. But she was still determined. All she had to do was get past the first hurdle, and everything would fall into place… hopefully. No, definitely!

Confidence was key, so Bellamy kept a smile on her face as she waited in front of the banquet hall, leaned against the wall as she waited for Sasha to come out as she fought her nerves.

"Sasha, over here!"

When the siren finally left the venue, she pushed off the wall and made her way over, waving a piece of paper in the air as she did.

"Ready for our date?"

Yeah, there was no winning that one. The moment she spoke, she watched Sasha's expression crumble. All she could do was repeatedly try to convince herself that all she had to do was overcome this one thing, and everything would work out just fine. It wasn't very convincing, but it was all she had.

"Come on, don't be like that. I just… Can we not go out and talk? I promise that I won't try anything. Please?"

Right, anything she had to, even begging.
 
Jocelyn had been won by an old - ancient - werewolf. The man had a slight hunch to his shoulders and needed a cane to help him walk. His tuxedo hung loosely around him, as though he had once been much more muscular but had not had the suit recently tailored to match his declining stature. At one point he surely had been a handsome fellow, one could almost see it underneath all of his wrinkles; even now he still had a strong jaw, most of his white hair, and sported a grand mustache. It was strange to be won by someone so much older than her, and Jocelyn was a little apprehensive as she sat down to have dinner with a man who was easily old enough to be her grandfather.

"Your dress…it reminded me of my late wife. She wore one very similar to it when we first met at a masquerade ball. I hope you will not begrudge an old man for wanting to dance with a ghost." the old wolf gave a disarming smile, sensing Jocelyn's discomfort. He wasn't here to prey upon the girl, as some men might, he merely wanted to relive a memory.

"Not at all," Jocelyn smiled, relieved that more would not be expected of her. Their meal went by pleasantly, with the old man, Harold, regaling her with stories of his youth. Jocelyn listened patiently, showing deference to her elders as she had been taught, but the man's stories were also quite interesting as he told her about The Great War.

After their meal, she bore some of the old wolf's weight so that he could walk to the dance floor without his cane. "I think I should thank you for saving me from having to entertain boring suitors."

The old man laughed. "Ah, well, there was one suitor I saw who caught your eye."

"We are not together," Jocelyn scoffed, blushing a little bit. Elle had indeed surprised her by bidding for her. However, once the amounts had reached the tens of thousands, the engineer had dropped out of the running. It had been cute, watching the wolf-mage try to win her.

"Come now, pup. You live as long as I do and you can easily spot young love," with great effort, the old man twirled her out and then back again. He huffed a little bit with the effort, and Jocelyn would find herself bearing more of his weight when she came back in. "Ah, these old bones…" the old man gruffed, "Edith so loved to dance…"

"Tell me about her?"

——————

After their dance, the old man slowly led Jocelyn along back to the tables. Instead of stopping at his, he kept on, all the way until they reached the table where Elle was seated. "Excuse me, young lady, I believe you would be better suited than I to take of my date for the rest of the evening."

"Harold, it's no trouble, really. I am enjoying our date," Jocelyn insisted, wanting to keep her end of the deal.

"Ah you have done more for this old wolf than you know, little pup," Harold chuckled and pat the back of Jocelyn's hand. "It was fun to go down memory lane but I am tired. I think I would quite like to have a seat. Besides, the night is young and so are the two of you; enjoy it," he smiled, then waved over a man who looked a little older than Jocelyn's mother. He escorted Harold back to their table where the rest of the family sat.

"It was very nice to spend time with you, Harold," Jocelyn called before turning her gaze back to Elle. She smiled, then offered the other wolf her hand. "Come dance with me?"

———————

After the auction, Sasha decided to just head home. She had had enough of this gown and these heels and just wanted to change into something not terrible. Who should she happen to run into but Bellamy…Bellamy who was waving that stupid enchanted piece of parchment that was a voucher for a date. How had she gotten that thing?! It was enchanted! Ugh… Aunt Arlann must have given it to her. That was it! Aunt Arlann wasn't going to be her favorite aunt anymore!!

"'Don't be like that'?!?!" Sasha parroted, glaring at Bellamy in disbelief. She'd be however she wanted! Bellamy didn't have a say in how she was feeling and how she was acting since the dragon pushed her away.

The siren growled in frustration, obviously not happy that not only had she been betrayed, but also that Bellamy just wasn't letting up. Worst of all she was momentarily stuck here on these steps with her until her car was brought back to her. "If you want to talk, you have exactly however long it takes for the valet to bring me my car."
 
Bellamy flinched slightly when Sasha shot the line back at her, realizing she might have put her foot firmly in her mouth from the get-go. Yeah, not a great place to start. The only positive note was that the conversation didn’t immediately devolve into Sasha punching her. It wouldn’t be the first time. As far as silver linings went, it was quite pathetic, but the dragon had long adopted the mentality of taking anything she could get.

Sasha gave her some time, but it wasn’t much, and the frustration on her face seemed to build with each passing moment. It caused the dragon to panic, and the charming lines and planned out thoughts that she constructed over months of planning and deep thought went up into smoke.

“Everything that happened was because of me. My world crumbled when I got injured, because I lost the dream I had been chasing since I was a child.”

Bellamy’s smile faded, and she appeared serious—for once. No attempt to smooth things over or deflect, and no desire to. She couldn’t hope to hide the truth and her faults while also winning Sasha’s heart back. Only one of those things could exist between them.

“Then I made the biggest mistake of my life and pushed you away, ruining the other dream from my childhood, the one still in front of me—you. I got so focused on the door that slammed shut in my face that I ruined the only good thing I had left, and I hurt the one person I never wanted to hurt.”

Bellamy still felt her heart break when she thought back to those days, when she remembered the terrible words that slipped from her lips in a fit of anger and depression.

“And before I could get ahold of myself and put the pieces back together, I learned that I had cancer.”

Bellamy stepped forward, full of determination as she locked eyes with Sasha. “When I beat it and got my life back, I realized there was only one thing I wanted in this life. You. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

—————

Michelle wanted to show off and win Jocelyn during the auction, but she had enough sense to stay out of the spotlight. It hurt to watch her get taken by another, even an innocent-looking old wolf, but it had to be done. While a fortune could be explained, an employee at Lykos bidding so much for the CEO’s daughter would be problematic for everyone involved. So she behaved, even if it killed her to sit around and watch.

The fact that Jocelyn’s date seemed harmless made things easier, but he wasn’t the only annoyance. Jocelyn had a reputation, and it came with a lot of attention that Michelle found intolerable.

Michelle would have liked to go around and glare at all of them one by one, but they seemed to be an endless bunch. She simply didn’t have time, not when a voice pulled her out of her own little world and back to reality.

“Yes?” Michelle looked up at the old man standing in front of the table, then turned her attention to the gorgeous alpha by his side. She began to blush as she realized that the old wolf brought Jocelyn over to hand her off. If he did that, her affection for Jocelyn was more obvious than she thought.

Michelle’s shock only lasted for a moment before she jumped up from her seat and thanked the man, then looked back at Jocelyn with a bright smile on her face.

“I would love to dance.” Michelle took Jocelyn’s hand, thrilled that the moment she had been waiting for all night finally appeared.

Michelle enjoyed the event, but aside from spending a bit of time with some of Jocelyn’s friends, the rest of the evening was spent alone. Jocelyn was her reason for being there, and being by her side caused Michelle’s spirits to soar.

Things only got better when they reached the dance floor, with Michelle taking the opportunity to press her body gently against Jocelyn’s. Nothing sexual, no attempts to grind or tease. She simply enjoyed the closeness with a happy expression that showed no signs of going away.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

Jocelyn always looked beautiful, but when she put in the effort, it showed. Michelle kind of hated it really, mainly because of all the attention it drew, but she also grew mesmerized as they danced, her eyes unable to tear themselves away.

“Though, I’m clearly not the only one who thinks so.” Michelle tried to hold it in, but she eventually said those words with a pout. Her eyes remained glued to Jocelyn, but she still felt it—the looks. The people admiring what belonged to her. And yet, nobody knew, likely thinking that she was just the nightly flavor of the lecherous Lykos heiress.

It was in that moment, as they danced and Michelle grew overwhelmed with emotions—the same ones that caused her to make mistake after mistake and wait all night just to catch a glimpse of the woman in front of her—that she once again decided that one more mistake in a line of bad decisions wouldn’t be so bad.

A single kiss—one without any hunger but full of affection—planted itself on Jocelyn’s lips. Michelle didn’t think about the consequences, she simply allowed herself to be carried by her emotions. Even as they came to a stop in the middle of the dance floor, she indulged in it, spilling forth with everything she felt for the other wolf—unspoken words she didn’t dare even mouth.

Then it started to come to an end, but Michelle still remained close, her lips barely separated from Jocelyn’s as she said, “Maybe people will finally take a hint now. What do you think?”
 
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Being so close to Bellamy was bordering on physically painful. Sasha wanted to touch her; her wolf remembered how physically perfect Bellamy was for them, and the siren part of her preened at the fact that a dragon had chosen them. Rather than deal with the pain, she wanted to either lash out or free. But she was stuck here! Where the hell was that damn valet?!?! She had no choice but to stand here and give Bellamy a moment of her time to explain her colossal fuck up.

"You…had cancer…" Sasha repeated slowly. She eyed Bellamy closely, trying to suss out the lie, but the dragon merely looked at her with an honest, vulnerable expression. "And you've beaten it?" the siren asked. At Bellamy's affirmative, she nodded a little bit to herself.

Without warning, Sasha wound up and socked her ex right in the gut.

It was a cheap shot but she could've made it a lot worse. Bellamy just looked so handsome in her suit that Sasha hadn't wanted to mess up her makeup or break her nose, so had avoided clocking her in the face. But still, she was furious, and had to hit her somewhere. "Gods, you fucking idiot!" the siren shouted, uncaring that she was making a scene as the dragon doubled over from the blow. "You could have -died-, Bellamy, and I wouldn't have known!" the wolf snarled, most pained by that particular realization. Bellamy's family were not the type that liked werewolves. No one would have bothered to tell Sasha.

"You didn't have to go through it all alone," Sasha's voice finally grew quiet as she relented. Dealing with Bellamy threw her emotions into extremes; fury and sympathy, it was hard to arrive at a rational thought anywhere in the middle, especially because she didn't want anyone, let alone Bellamy, to be making choices for her. "You didn't have to 'protect me' or whatever stupid shit you were doing. I don't need you to decide what I can and cannot handle," she huffed softly.

Part of her was tempted to give Bellamy a kick to the shin for good measure, but the dragon was already doubled over trying to regain her breath. With a sigh, Sasha reached forward. She put her hand on Bellamy's stomach, her hand glowing a soft blue as she healed away some of the pain. She wasn't particularly good at any of her magic if it didn't directly involve the water or spirits…but she could heal little boo boos like this one. "We'll go out…but I'm still mad at you. No more lies or secrets or anything or I'll sick my sisters on you."

——————-

Jocelyn hadn't had the pleasure of dancing with Elle before, but once the two of them arrived at the floor they fell into a rhythm as though they had done this a thousand times. Most wolves took lessons (as it was a more civilized way of showing off coordination and strength without maiming an opponent) and Elle appeared to be no different. She let the other alpha lead, for no other reason than she was taller, and smiled as she chose a slow, uncomplicated step that allowed them to be close to one another.

"Though, I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so." Elle's observation made her smile. "Well, that's the point now, isn't it?" Jocelyn teased with a soft laugh. Everything about her appearance was made to attract: the perfectly curled hair, the accentuating makeup, the dress with a tantalizing neckline. She was used to this: being a pawn for her mother's games. It didn't bother her, Mara would ultimately yield to Jocelyn's happiness above all else…but so long as the girl wasn't committed to anyone, Mara was going to make profit off of it.

Apparently Elle wasn't satisfied with how easily Jocelyn brushed off the attention of others. The pair's swaying slowly came to a stop as the alpha wrapped her into a kiss that was so tender and so full of emotion that Jocelyn's heart began to pound in panic. Meaningless affections that were fun and felt good were things she knew what to do with…but this…kisses like these were far too fragile for Jocelyn to handle. Elle made her want things that she wasn't used to wanting and she wondered if it would be safer to just push her away or put up barriers.

In the end, she decided that she didn't want to go through the effort of such things. As serious as they may or may not be becoming, Jocelyn was still having fun. "You'd be surprised how few hints these people take," Jocelyn murmured. Even now, with her parents married for so many years, there were those who chased after Mara as if Arlann didn't exist. "But, even if they don't take the hint… I did promise that I'd be in your bed tonight, didn't I?" An agreement that no matter who won her, Jocelyn would be doing naughty things to Elle instead was the closest thing to a declaration of a relationship that the heiress had ever mustered.

————-

Puka beach was one of Sasha's favorite places. Not because the waves were the best for surfing, but because it had the softest white sand and clearest blue water in the world. Adamantly the waves here were for babies, little swells that were probably better suited for bodyboarding than surfing. It was a good place for beginners though, and if her date had wiped out a thousand times, at least it was a beautiful day for lounging on the beach and taking in the tropical scenery.

Sasha was already out in the water, perched atop her board. It was nice and warm out here, so she could sport just her rashguard and board shorts instead of a whole wetsuit. As lovely as it was, Bellamy adamantly refused to get on the board and paddle out, despite all her prodding.

Sasha sighed. She understood Bellamy's fear. Being dragged under by a Bakunawa…those things were terrifying. She'd probably never want to go into the water herself again if a sea serpent grabbed her leg and pulled her down. It had been a little one… not like the ones sailors talked about who were so large and said to jump so high out of the water they could swallow the moon and cause an eclipse. They weren't even supposed to be near the shore, ever. Sea serpents were supposed to prefer the chill of the deep ocean water. It had been a freak accident, one that couldn't possibly happen again.

"Spirits…please protect Bellamy. Let the waves be something that she can manage," Sasha whispered her prayer softly. The blue tattoos that ran along her arms glowed, and then the water suddenly went very still, as though they were on a pond instead of the open ocean. Then the waves began to come back in, flowing in much more predictive swells.

"Come out here? Please? I won't let anything bad happen to you!" Sasha called.
 
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Bellamy wanted Sasha to know everything, to understand what happened. Not because she believed it made everything okay—it didn't. She just wanted her to know everything, and to tell Sasha that the only thing she regretted was pushing her away. Whether a hard punch to the gut meant she understood, Bellamy didn't know, but she knew how easy a punishment it was for everything she put the other woman through.

"I deserved that," Bellamy groaned, a slight smile playing at her lips as she tried to recover. She didn't particularly like being hit, but it was a small price to pay, especially since Sasha seemed more upset about the prospect of losing her and not knowing anything than everything else. She was worried. Bellamy knew it, but seeing that Sasha still cared that much made her emotional.

"I know. I wish I hadn't gone through it alone. I was stupid, and I regret it." Sasha was all Bellamy had. Her family cared, but they only offered financial support, and most of her friends were Sasha's friends and family, so she lost them too. She took on the hardest battle of her life alone, and it was isolation of her own choosing.

Bellamy straightened up, finally managing to catch her breath. She wanted to tell Sasha even more. She wanted to tell her that even though they were apart, it was thoughts of her that kept her going. She wanted to share everything.

"No more lies." Bellamy reached down and gently took Sasha's hand in hers, bringing it up to her lips and giving it a soft kiss. "I just want to be back in your life, in whatever capacity you let me."

——————

Although only briefly, Michelle found her mind wandering to the things she didn't want to think about after the delicate kiss. The depths of her feelings, Jocelyn's desire to keep their relationship casual, and the fact that none of it mattered since Elle would soon vanish from the face of the earth.

Michelle hated it. She hated that the first bit of true happiness she managed to find was doomed from the start. And she hated that she couldn't bring herself to pull away. It hurt so bad that it took all she had not to cry, to appear normal as she looked at Jocelyn and realized that the person who could brighten up her day with a glance would either no longer be a part of her life or would come to hate her.

Fortunately, Jocelyn managed to return her attention to the present, bringing out a smile as she reminded her of the fantastic night to come.

"You did, and I'm looking forward to it." Michelle kissed her again, but the meaning was entirely different. Passion, desire, lust—she wanted to devour her. In order to truly shake off the other thoughts crowding her mind, she leaned into it. She only stopped after she made an entirely new statement to anyone paying attention—one likely not anymore effective but with far less subtlety.

"What do you think? Danced enough tonight?"

——————

Bellamy sat on the beach, shoes off and toes digging into the sand. It was bliss. But it wasn't because of the beautiful beach or lovely breeze coming off the water. The reason she felt so at peace was simply because she was there with Sasha. They even talked a bit on the way.

The dragon looked on happily from the shore as Sasha went into the water, completely fine with watching the impressive surfer face off against some of the tamest waves out there. After all, baby waves or not, the view was quite spectacular. The tropical scenery wasn't bad, either.

Bakunawa aside, Bellamy found it difficult to imagine going out there and making a fool of herself when she had once been such a prominent surfer. It was what kept her out of the water, more than the creature that almost killed her. Pride was a real bitch like that. But even pride had its weaknesses.

Bellamy watched as Sasha prayed, and she watched the water settle. Then came the beautiful soul that used her magic for something so damn silly, and Bellamy felt a sting in her nose as tears started to work their way up.

"Damn it." Bellamy reached up and rubbed her eyes, preemptively pushing it all down. She had to be cool. Or, as cool as she could be in front of the person who knew her best. It was a tall order, but she was definitely going to do it.

"Alright, alright!" she shouted. Acting as if she were still reluctant, Bellamy got to her feet. "I guess I didn't get changed for nothing after all," she muttered, walking towards the water after grabbing the spare board.

Although Bellamy couldn't handle a swell or any serious waves, the basics felt as familiar as ever, so it didn't take long for her to paddle her way out and ride up beside Sasha. But it wasn't all positive. She felt fine physically, still in good enough shape to handle the short trip with ease, but her hand was shaking slightly, and her eyes kept looking towards the water uneasily. The only way she could calm herself was looking up at Sasha, locking eyes with the siren in an attempt to block out every irrational fear and thought bubbling to the surface.

"Alright, you got me out here. Now what?" she asked, managing a smile.
 
Sasha was the type of person to mutter an apology to a tree if she kicked it when she stumbled over a root; so asking the ocean for something wasn't totally out of place. Growing up her papa had always encouraged them to respect the land, as all the wolves of the Northern Territories did…but with the siren blood in her, she could actually -talk- to the land. She used to feel silly, talking to something no one could see; but the spirits often helped her out, especially if she asked nicely. They allowed an easy journey for Bellamy, letting the dragon paddle out to her without having to struggle against the tides.

"Now you surf, dummy." When Bellamy didn't immediately move to search for a wave, Sasha pulled out her best pout and puppy dog eyes, knowing she was damn near irresistible thanks to her siren genes. When Bellamy finally caved, she burst into a smile. "Awesome! I know you'll have fun, Bell. Just ride two and if you absolutely hate it we can paddle back in."

She divided her attention between Bellamy and the ocean as the dragon took the first wave. Sasha thought she might have to ask the spirits for more help, but her ex took the first swell without incident. When the next wave came it was her turn; she popped up onto her board and carved her way down the line to the dragon so they could wait together for the next wave.

Big waves required surviving the barrel of the wave and balancing fear with adrenaline. These little ones were much more fun to just lazily carve and try little tricks. Plus it hurt a lot less when she wiped out, which, even as a professional, she did quite often. She was comfortable enough around Bellamy to just try tricks that she knew she was bad at and would end up with her eating a mouthful of saltwater. Sasha knew that the dragon wouldn't judge her for screwing up something she would need to practice a lot more for competition.

When she noticed Bellamy starting to paddle slower, she decided to call it quits. In her skin tight rash guard, Sasha could see that she was no longer sporting the defined muscle she had once had. She didn't want to strain the dragon too badly. Besides, the sun was getting lower and it was almost time for dinner!!

"Let's go back in!" Sasha called, then paddled back to shore. She shook off as much water as she could before wrapping herself up in a towel to get the rest of it. As soon as Bellamy joined her on the land, the sea went back to its choppy waves.

"You looked really good out there…almost like you were having fun," Sasha smiled, then peeled off her wet rash guard and board shorts to reveal the sporty bikini underneath. She wrapped her sarong around her hips, making herself presentable for on the beach dining. "I know it's not the same…and I can't imagine what that must feel like. But…I dunno…if you ever wanted to surf again for fun, I wouldn't mind asking the water spirits to behave for a little while for you…." she trailed off, knowing she was implying there being another time.

Mara had of course arranged for people to take their boards and wet belongings away so that they could easily walk the short distance to a restaurant that was right on the beach. If Sasha had asked, her aunt probably would have gotten tables and chairs set up right by the water. But this restaurant was one of her favorites and she liked to sit on the open patio.

After dinner and a few drinks, Bellamy offered to show Sasha some of the photos she had been taking in her new career path. The slightly inebriated wolf swept her chair around to her side of the table and scooted close to look at her phone. Bellamy had always taken amazing pictures when it had just been her hobby, but not with it as her job, she was absolutely amazing.

"These are so awesome Bell," Sasha slurred slightly, not even noticing that by now she had rested her head on Bellamy's shoulder and was snuggling very close to the dragon. It had been a long, long time since she had been intimate with anyone and apparently her body was desperately missing that skinship.
 
Bellamy looked over at Sasha, and after a moment of watching her pout and pull out the cutest damn puppy dog eyes she ever did see, she burst out laughing. It was the kind of intense laughter that pierced her very core, causing tears and nearly sending her off the board and into the calm ocean.

"Okay, okay. Now I surf." It was as easy as that. All the time she spent terrified to go back in the water, of struggling with everything that came after… it all seemed small with Sasha by her side. Yet more proof she was an absolute fool for pushing her away—as if she needed more evidence of that.

"Uh-huh, I'm sure I'll just hate it." Bellamy rolled her eyes playfully. It would be a lie to say she felt completely calm, but she was calm enough.

Bellamy even managed a few arrogant words as she promised to show Sasha how to surf, something about the roles of teacher and student soon to be reversed. So cocky, so sure of herself, and so ready to take on some baby waves!

Unfortunately, for all her bravado, Bellamy tired more quickly than she would like. Quitting surfing dealt a major blow to her exercise time, and while she occasionally did some cardio, her body fell out of shape quickly, especially after the fight with cancer. Even briefly, it was an experience that sapped every bit of energy inside of her. It all led to a softer dragon, one with far less stamina.

None of that mattered, though—not to her and not to Sasha. They had fun, a rarity for the both of them, it seemed. And just like that, Bellamy felt utter happiness once again, as if color returned to her life after a long, isolating absence.

"Going back already? I guess you're tired, huh." Bellamy gently panted as she stretched on the back of the board. Okay, so maybe she was the tired one. She wouldn't say it, though! Unless she was asked… honesty and all. That was going to come back to bite her in the ass at some point. Hopefully, literally! A girl could dream.

When they reached the shore, Bellamy slowly dried herself off, distracted as she watched Sasha change into something more presentable. It was odd how entrancing even the most simple things were, how she could get caught up watching her do nothing, and yet she did.

"Hmm?" She shifted her eyes up. "I think I'd like that, yeah. And soon I hope." Immediately if she could, just for a few hours more. At least she had dinner to look forward to, and it lived up to every expectation.

Entering the restaurant ended up transporting them both back in time. It was a place they both knew, one they ate at before, back when they went around together, competing and living each day absolutely in love and inseparable. Bellamy hadn't been there in a while—since before their breakup, but that only made everything all the more special. And in good spirits, they ate and drank until the night went on far longer than either of them imagined it would at the start.

"Thanks, Bambi," Bellamy, drunk and delirious with joy, dropped the adorable pet name that hadn't graced her tongue in what seemed like an eternity. She looked over to gauge Sasha's response, but all she got was a cuddly siren snuggling against her, head on her shoulder.

Bellamy leaned over and nuzzled at the beautiful woman, craving warmth and closeness. But she wasn't drunk enough to make the mistake of taking things further on her own. With a whine, she eventually pulled back, her whimpering absolutely miserable as she tried her best to stay rational. The last thing she wanted was to screw up a perfectly good night.

"We should stop. I haven't… since we were together. I'm not going to be able to hold myself together much longer." Bellamy said the words, but Sasha just looked up at her, an all-too-familiar twinkle in her eyes.

"Saaaaaaasha," Bellamy whined, looking at her with eyes that begged her to stop as the siren leaned against her all the more. She knew what her siren half did to her! She was being mean! And Bellamy was far too inebriated to do more than whine and whimper about it.
 
It was so easy to fall into old habits with Bellamy. At the first sign of adorable submission, Sasha jumped all over it. The playfulness of her siren combined with the alphaness of her wolf made for a woman who wasn't going to let up, especially when told to 'stop'. She leaned more purposefully into the dragon, even nuzzled at her neck, right under her ear where she knew she was extra sensitive. "Yeah? No one since me?" Sasha purred, when she felt Bellamy give the slightest nod of confirmation, she leaned up and nipped at her ear as a reward.

"So…did you keep your puppy things?" It was a bad, terrible, unhealthy idea and she knew all those things before the question had tumbled out of her mouth…but she still asked it anyways. They still had lots of things to work out. It was impossible to just pick up where they had left off and pretend that none of what had happened had happened. But… truth of the matter was, Sasha hadn't been with anyone either this whole time. She was still mad and hurt and worried…but she was also really, really, really missing physical connection.

—————-

They ended up in their old apartment together. There was a surreal element to it all, being back to the place she had thought of as home for so long. Sasha tried to shake off the mixed feelings she had, opting to focus on her current task instead.

"Go get comfy on the couch," even a little tipsy still, Sasha wasn't quite ready to have sex in their old bedroom. It made her feel a little better that Bellamy hadn't brought any other women through there, however, there was still a sense of loss that she knew would ruin anything they did tonight. It would be better to fool around in the living room, a place that was better suited for whirlwind affairs than tender lovemaking.

While Bellamy got settled, Sasha went to retrieve the dragon's puppy ears and tail. She chose to leave the collar behind, not finding it entirely proper yet, and quickly returned to her eager little pet. She helped Bellamy put the ears on just right, then set down the tail and a little bottle of lube next to her on the couch.

"I want you to put the tail in while I watch," Sasha said simply as she took a seat on a nearby chair so that she could comfortably watch the show. She could count on one hand the times she had asked Bellamy to do such a thing. Usually she preferred to put in the plug herself; even now, a large part of her wanted to play with Bellamy's cute little bottom until the dragon was ready to take the sleek metal plug. Other times she'd allow Bellamy some modesty and let the dragon put in the tail in private. But on a very few, rare occasions when her puppy had been very bad, Sasha would have her put in the plug while she looked on.
 
Sasha always loved to push further at the slightest sign of weakness. Under normal circumstances, Bellamy might fight back a little, show some backbone, but as it were, she barely managed to stop herself from whimpering long enough to nod a simple yes to Sasha's question. And then the same thing to the question after that. Everything else happened quickly.

——————

When the night began, Bellamy only had one goal, which was to strike up a simple conversation and hope that Sasha wouldn't ignore her completely. She never imagined going on a fun date, nor did she even dare dream of ending up back at their place with the promise of pulling out some very familiar toys.

Honestly, Bellamy knew that moving so quickly was unlikely to end well. Part of her wanted to turn to Sasha and say as much, but it wasn't enough to resist the urge to place herself in Sasha's hands and let go. But she missed her. It made resisting the urge impossible.

"Yes…" Bellamy swallowed as she made her way over to the couch and plopped down, appearing very obedient as she put her hands on her legs and looked at Sasha eagerly. Even though it had been quite a long time, she fell into the rhythm immediately, waiting for Sasha to give her another order, just like a good puppy should. It came back so naturally that it felt a little off-putting.

When Sasha left the room, Bellamy didn't move, watching the door with unblinking eyes and a rapidly-beating heart. The mix of excitement and nervousness causing chaos inside of her provided quite the contrast to her calm exterior, and it only grew more difficult to suppress when Sasha walked out holding her ears and tail.

Bellamy still remembered the first time she wore them, almost as a joke. Now, well, the very thought of putting them on and presenting herself drove Bellamy wild.

Bellamy nuzzled Sasha's hand gently when she walked over to help with the ears, looking up at her with the big puppy eyes she knew the siren loved. She even licked her palm, offering very little help and more distraction. She planned to do more, too, already thinking about the best way to entice Sasha when it came time to put in the plug. But the moment the ears were on, Sasha stepped back, leaving the rest of the items on the couch. It didn't take more than a moment for Bellamy to figure out what was going on.

Immediately, the puppy whined, looking over at Sasha with pitiful eyes. It did absolutely nothing, seeming to only amuse her more if anything.

How long had it been since she played with her ass? Since Sasha. It wasn't something she did on her own, even if she did enjoy it more than she cared to admit. It had always been a "them" thing. And even then, she had always found it difficult to put in the plug alone, struggling and whimpering as she did. Now, it would only be more difficult.

Bellamy's eyes wandered to the tail and lube. She started at it, and without even noticing, a small whimper slipped from her lips. Then she looked at Sasha, acting just as pitiful as before, as if a few moments would lead Sasha to have a change of heart. It didn't.

When she realized that she was going to have to do it on her own, Bellamy picked the plug and lube up, looking at them nervously. They seemed almost foreign with how long it had been.

Taking a deep breath, Bellamy readied herself for what was ahead. She stripped out of her clothes and found a better position on the couch, trying her best to both get comfortable and ensure Sasha had a good view. If she had to do it, Sasha had to watch!

After finding the perfect spot, Bellamy started by turning her backside in Sasha's direction and giving it a little wiggle. Then came the slow teasing, consisting of showing off her ass, playful looks, and soft moans as her fingers ever so gently teased her tight little hole. But it stopped there, and only after some time did she finally reach for the plug.

Bellamy got the plug ready, seeming prepared to finally do what she was told, but instead of relaxing and slowly working it in like a good little puppy, she clumsily fumbled around with it, whining in frustration when it didn't work. The dragon acted like some innocent little thing that knew nothing, and she turned those innocent eyes towards Sasha as if saying, "I can't do it! Help me, pleeeeease!"

Completely innocent. Not a naughty puppy at all!
 
Sasha was unmoved by all the dragon's pitiful looks and pouty face. She wasn't about to be moved by such nonsense! Having been with Bellamy for so long, Sasha knew what she could handle and what she couldn't; marinating in a little bit of humiliation while she worked her adorable puppy tail into her cute little behind was definitely something the dragon could handle.

As soon as her private show started to get good, Sasha would find herself leaning forward in the chair, the wolf practically salivating at the sight of a gorgeous female presenting herself.

"What's the matter, Puppy? Can't get it in?" The second she heard the dragon's frustrated whine, Sasha immediately wanted to check in with her. She had a feeling that Bellamy was faking, but since it had been so long since they had played, she felt compelled to make sure she was okay. Of course Bellamy laid it on thick as an answer, whining and huffing and pouting; as if she had never used the plug before. Hah! Her little butt slut knew how to put the tail in on her own!! She was just being purposefully pathetic so that Sasha would break.

"Here…let me see," Sasha got up and moved closer. The cost of her help was a swift slap to the bottom; a loud Smack! echoing in the quiet apartment. "Mmm…yup, found the problem, I have a naughty Puppy who has apparently forgotten how to do all of her tricks," she gave the unmarked cheek a quick blow, admiring how the red immediately blossomed over Bellamy's flesh. "Or maybe just a -lazy- puppy who wants her mistress to do everything for her…"

Sasha let her gentle fingers dip down to Bellamy's tight little hole, circling the ring of muscle and giving a testing push. "You need to relax more, Puppy," the wolf gave a disapproving click of her tongue as she found resistance. She grabbed the bottle of lube and coated her fingers, rubbing them together a bit to get them warm before she tried again. "Just relax…nice deep breaths…" Sasha cooed as she pushed again, this time managing to get the tip of one finger in. She stayed still for a moment, petting Bellamy's side and letting her get used to the stretch for a moment before she started to work the second finger in.

"Now pick up your tail…" with her free hand, she covered Bellamy's, guiding her towards her incredibly tight hole and slowly removing her fingers. With her puppy, she pressed the cool metal tip to her most taboo place. "Go on…push it in yourself, I helped prepare you but I'm not going to do it all for you."
 
Bellamy turned her face away, whimpering again through a victorious smile. The moment Sasha spoke, she knew her little act caught the siren’s attention. She might not totally buy it, but it was enough. They both wanted more, making even the smallest excuse seem oh so enticing. Desire turned that small bit of doubt and attention into Sasha moving closer.

Smack! Bellamy yelped, a small exclamation of surprise at the unexpected swat. But she stayed in character, her little noise followed by pitiful eyes that were widened in confusion. Proof of how well Sasha trained her.

Then, stripped of her schemes, Sasha smacked the other cheek. This time, Bellamy released a sensual whimper, clearly enjoying the slight sting that came with her light punishment for her naughty deeds. She always loved being spanked… among other things, which included humiliation, like that already befalling her. And Sasha knew it—knew how to push her buttons.

Sasha’s words left Bellamy nowhere to hide, piercing to the heart of the matter with a few sentences. The naughty puppy truly wanted her mistress to do everything for her. No, she just wanted to hear those words—her mistress.

Even if sex never returned to the table, Bellamy needed Sasha in her life. As the person she loved most and her best friend, their breakup crushed an already desperate and lonely Bellamy. But it would be a lie to say she didn’t crave the physical side of their relationship as well.

Bellamy wanted it to the point that her ass wiggled excitedly after a few slaps, the dragon practically wagging her non-existent tail. She even started to look back, wondering what Sasha was doing behind her. But she never had the chance.

Sasha’s fingers started to circle her taboo hole, offering a tempting promise of pleasure in the gentlest way they could. Even the probing push seemed more like a polite greeting than forceful intrusion, further coaxing her to relax. Her body instinctively agreed, though the disapproving click of Sasha’s tongue told her that she didn’t act fast enough for her liking.

Bellamy looked back with a pout, as if asking what happened to the gentle promise her fingers spoke of when they drew slow circles. The response she received was another visit, this time from a more insistent digit, which displayed patience, working its way into the tight passage.

By that point, Bellamy no longer had control. Even if she wanted to be rebellious and push the finger out, she lacked the ability. Her body wanted it, and aided by Sasha’s calming voice and soft petting, she gave into her natural instinct—submission.

Bellamy’s every action became one guided by Sasha’s will. Her body relaxed, her whimpers turned to soft moans, and she reached out for the tail the moment the words floated from the siren’s lips to her ears. Soon enough, it reached her hole, the cool metal pulling out a tiny gasp from her lips, followed by a final little whine as Sasha pushed the job back into her hands. Even after everything, Sasha remained adamant that she put it in herself.

Bellamy’s face flushed with color as embarrassment finally arrived. But the discomfort only seemed to push her forward, not making her want to retreat in the least. So she took the plug, and with a drawn out groan, pushed it in. And that was that. After Sasha’s stretching and with a little patience, the tail was snugly secured in place.

The dragon seemed drained, her hand falling down and her body plopping down as she rolled to her side, adorable puppy eyes focused directly on the gorgeous siren by her side. Then she smiled, a bright, loving smile that would have come with a wagging tail were it real.

But before she could gather enough energy to move in for a few cute nuzzles and an attempt at getting more out of their sudden return to form, the sound of a phone broke the silence and the scene, causing her smile to turn into a rather cute frown. Whoever it was would die!
 
Assuming the role of mistress came naturally with Bellamy; Sasha was always filling in what the dragon needed and vice versa. When the siren was being too strict, her puppy would be pliant and cute, when Sasha was sweet and doting, her puppy was naughty and begging for a spanking. Round and round they went in this loop; it made for play that never had a dull moment. Like right now, Bellamy was being innocent and adorable, turning bright red as she pushed the shiny toy into her cute little ass, and Sasha was choosing this moment to fondly humiliate her a little more. "Aw. Why is my Puppy blushing? Ashamed of how eagerly you just took your tail?"

As the dragon flopped over, panting softly and needing a break, Sasha chuckled and moved to stand so that she could go sit back down in her chair. The difference in their power dynamic was made all the more severe in that moment as a totally clothed Sasha loomed over a very nude Bellamy. But before she could capitalize on it, her phone began to go off. Sasha was prepared to ignore it, but, it was late, and it might be an emergency, so she checked to see who it was.

"It's Haley. Roll onto your back, legs spread and don't make a sound," if Bellamy thought Sasha was done just because she had to take a call, the dragon was sorely mistaken. While the dragon lay entirely exposed, belly up and tail between her legs like a good submissive puppy, Sasha answered her phone. "Hey Haley, what's up?" Haley launched into questioning about why she wasn't home yet and how her date had gone.

Sasha decided that during this interrogation was a good time to give her puppy some tummy rubs. "The date was fun, actually. Bell did great on the board and dinner was fine… We talked a lot. Still probably have a lot more to talk about but it was good." Sasha managed to keep her tone light, despite the fact she was dying inside. Her hungry eyes that had only been drifting downwards were now glued to the delicious, pink, swollen, glistening folds that were bared for her; her own core throbbed with sympathy. She could acutely remember the way Bellamy tasted, the way her legs would shake and tremble when she was close, the way she would whine and moan if Sasha spent too long teasing…

Pushing both of them further along this torturous path of 'not nearly enough contact', her fingers moved downwards from Bellamy's tummy. Haley was going in about something…but Sasha wasn't quite listening as she traced her fingers over Bellamy's hips and then dipped lower to her mound. The siren's eyebrows rose in surprise as she heard the tiniest little whimper, and her gaze shot up to meet Bellamy's, eyes hardening, as though daring the dragon to do it again. Such a mistake would end with the kind of punishment that would make sitting difficult for the next three days.

"Uh huh…. Yeah, yeah. I'm almost back… just um…fifteen minutes I guess? Assuming traffic isn't bad?" She paused for a moment, smirking slightly as she listened to her sister accuse her of probably doing something stupid right now. Haley had a knack for knowing when someone wasn't telling the absolute truth. But she wasn't about to admit what she was up to! "Alright Detective Haley, I don't have to listen to these baseless accusations; love you and I'll see you in a bit."

Right as she was about to hang up the phone, she gave the dragon's poor swollen, wanting, totally exposed, and defenseless clit a little pinch. She barely ended the call before Bellamy cried out. "Puppy! I am surprised at how poorly behaved you've gotten!" Sasha admonished…though any real threat of disappointment was diminished by the giant grin she wore. "I told you to be quiet and all you did was pant and whine…then you have the nerve to yelp!" Sasha tsked softly and shook her head. "What am I going to do with you…"

"Well, not like I could really reward you if you had been good anyways." Sasha sighed, actually looking bummed out this time. "I gotta go…sorry." The siren leaned down and gave Bellamy an apologetic kiss to her forehead. "Sister movie night…I totally forgot." Movie Night had been a thing they had been doing since they were kids, Bellamy would hopefully remember the silly tradition the trio had and not be too upset about it.

"I did have a good time with you…call me tomorrow?" Sasha smiled as she pulled away. "And um…since you're all dressed up, I wouldn't say 'no' to a naughty video of you playing with yourself while I'm gone. No orgasm though," the siren said with a wink, then showed herself out.

———————

Part of Alice wanted to give her date up to Lena; the chef would have probably gotten far more enjoyment out of the food and wine served than she ever could have. (Eighty dollars for a side of mashed potatoes? They're potatoes!!! Five hundred dollars for a glass of wine?! A -glass- of dead grapes from a century ago was more than her monthly car payment….it was ridiculous.) Per Se had all the earmarks of an incredibly pretentious restaurant…down to the French accented waiter who was mildly horrified when Alice explained that she was a vegetarian.

It wasn't Syri's fault…well…it was and it wasn't. Since the wolf hadn't planned out the date herself, so Mara had done it for her. Of course the CEO had planned a date that she thought would best showcase the fact that Syri was a successful doctor. They would have an insanely expensive, twenty course, three hour tasting menu experience at Per Se and then off to the theatre to watch the ballet in a private box.

The whole date was ridiculous in her opinion. So out of the realm of how she lived her life, she felt like she was a character in one of her novels. The only thing that kept her grounded was the fact that Syri was here, being charming and keeping things interesting with excellent conversation throughout dinner.

When their delicious meal was all over, they walked the short distance to the theatre arm in arm. On the way they were talking about movies and tv shows that they were currently watching when Syri suddenly stopped in her tracks and asked, "Hey…do you want to just go back to my place and stream something?"

"Yeah. I'd really like that." Alice smiled. After they gave away their tickets to another couple, then caught a cab back to Syri's.

——————-

Syri let her borrow a pair of sweatpants and a comfy hoodie so that she didn't have to wear her cocktail dress anymore. Glad to be out of the formal clothes, the dragon burrowed into the couch with a bunch of blankets while Syri made them popcorn and brought them drinks.
 
The ease in which they fell back into things proved how well they matched one another. They managed a perfect balance, which extended into their sex life and beyond. When Sasha pushed, Bellamy pulled, displaying cuteness that only Sasha knew her capable of showing. When Sasha required coaxing, Bellamy happily took the role of the troublemaker, a naughty, playful side popping out as she grabbed onto Sasha’s clothes with her little puppy teeth and yanked her into something, whether she liked it or not. Even as Sasha teased and humiliated her, she felt nothing but excitement.

It made the ringing phone that much more devastating, and even though Sasha warned her to remain quiet, she found it more difficult than it ought to have been. She still obeyed, offering her tummy and needy puppy eyes along with it, but she quickly started to grow impatient. She wanted Sasha to pay attention to her and only her, but she wasn’t!

Bellamy started to pout, wriggling beneath Sasha’s touch and trying all the more to snatch her attention back. When that got her nowhere, she even began to whimper, not holding back as Sasha’s fingers dipped to her mound. In the heat of the moment and amidst unbearable need, she disobeyed, and she quickly realized her mistake when Sasha shot her a warning look.

Even then, it took everything she had to stop herself from repeating the mistake. A small part of her even wanted to, keen on purposefully provoking Sasha into action. It was tempting, especially as the call dragged on a little longer, but she managed, merely looking up at Sasha and doing all her whining with her eyes. They begged for something, anything, but all she received for her efforts were a smile and a grazing touch that stoked more than it sated. Then she finally received more.

The moment Sasha’s fingers pinched down on her clit, Bellamy lost it, completely unable to stop a surprised cry from escaping her lips. But the cry carried a hint of delight. She wanted more, and when Sasha began to lecture her with a grin, she believed she was about to get exactly what she wanted.

Instantly, Bellamy started to react, prepared for all the things Sasha would do. Only, the next words out of Sasha’s mouth devastated her to the point that she fell right out of character.

“Wait… you’re leaving?” Bellamy pushed herself up, unsatisfied by the single kiss on her forehead. But before she could shove a foot in her mouth by saying something stupid — like trying to get her to stay when the night already went so much further than either of them meant it to — she stopped herself.

“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow… and I’ll think about the video,” Bellamy said, a half-sincere smile appearing on her lips. She really didn’t want Sasha to leave, but it was fine. The night already went so well.

“Drive safe.”

As long as she got another chance, she could do anything, even endure the torture of things ending then and there. And she could do it with a smile.

—————

Syri made a solemn vow as they sat at the dinner table in the fancy, renowned restaurant. No matter what her future held, she promised herself to never let Mara plan another date for her. Not even for charity.

Perhaps she was overreacting, but everything felt wrong! If it were someone else, maybe, just maybe, it would have been bearable. But her date with Alice was supposed to be perfect, not in some overly fancy restaurant that made it difficult to get the least bit comfortable!

Syri tried to make it better with conversation and charm, and it seemed to work to a degree. Their chemistry and shared interests carried the night enough to consider it a decent date. But Syri didn’t want it to just be decent! No, she wanted perfection! And it was impossible to achieve perfection when the atmosphere and food didn’t suit either of them.

Still, the two of them endured. They ate dinner, a meal Syri found unworthy of the inflated price tag. They spoke about wonderful things. And they left as quickly as they could after. Then, refusing to allow the rest of the night to follow the same unnerving line between pleasant and miserable, she called an audible.

“Hey… do you want to just go back to my place and stream something?”

It almost sounded like a pickup line, the words she might say to some girl at a bar to get her to come over for something far less innocent than an episode of the current hit show. But she just wanted to be comfortable and spend the rest of the night doing what they always did, talking and enjoying one another’s company. Because as far as Syri was concerned, their coffee dates beat a pretentious restaurant and ballet any day. Alice agreed.

—————

When they arrived at her place, Syri got right to work arranging everything. She helped Alice find a pair of comfortable clothes so that she could change, she prepared drinks and popcorn, and she flipped on the TV and dimmed the lights. She set the mood, though it seemed to be one of comfort more than anything else.

Of course, she also got more comfortable herself, but she waited for Alice to return before doing that, offering her a seat on the couch before draping her in a blanket and handing her the prepared popcorn and drink.

“Now that you have been settled, I shall attend to my appearance to better suit the occasion. Please excuse me, my lady.” Syri gave her a slight bow before returning upright with a smile. Then she turned and headed to her room, already beginning to rid herself of the stuffy clothes.

When Syri returned, she wore similar attire to Alice, though she sported a loose tee instead of a hoodie.

“Room for me?” she asked as she reached the edge of the couch, quickly sliding under the blanket when Alice nodded her head.

It would be a lie to say Syri wasn’t nervous. Although they spent a lot of time together in recent days, it was the first time they did so on a date. It hadn’t changed much, but it definitely made things feel different. It caused the alpha’s mind to drift a bit further than it might otherwise. And as the date went on, she slowly began to wonder if Alice thought the same way.

Syri tried to focus on the TV show, attempting to keep her thoughts in check, but her attention strayed as the show went on. Then she noticed that, at some point, they had become closer, and Alice was leaning against her. She might not have noticed since her eyes were glued to the screen, watching curiously as the story unfolded, but Syri saw it now, and she found it impossible to return her attention to the show.

“Syri, what’s the matter?”

Perhaps sensing Syri looking at her, Alice turned her head. She appeared so innocent, seeming as if she didn’t realize why the alpha was looking at her. But that only made Syri smile all the more.

“Nothing. I’ve just been trying to figure something out,” Syri said, her smile growing brighter as Alice tilted her head curiously, causing a lock of hair to drift out of place.

“Figure out what?”

“Hmm.” Syri didn’t answer immediately, reaching out and moving the lock of hair back to its rightful place first. “I’ve been trying to figure out how I can make a big move without you thinking I’m fooling around. Because I really want to kiss you again, but I’m nervous that if I do that, you’ll think the worst of me. And I really don’t want you to think poorly of me since I really like you.”
 
After changing into more comfortable attire, cozying up with fuzzy blankets, and pulling up enough snacks and beverages to keep them sated for a long while, Syri and Alice finally could settle in to watch a movie. They chose a historical documentary on The Empire. Alice easily managed to get sucked into it, eyes trained on the strange fashions and armors of the time period. She was quietly wondering what it must be like to live in such a time, her mind wandering off to characters she could place into a new novel…when suddenly she felt like there were eyes on her. She turned, now realizing that she was leaning against the wolf.

"Syri, what's the matter?" Alice asked, head tilted to the side in curiosity. She almost pulled away, thinking that her closeness was the cause for Syri's staring, but the wolf reached out to tuck a strand of her hair away. She smiled, and her smile only grew as the wolf confessed her desire.

"I think…I think part of me will always be scared you're fooling around," Alice answered Syri's honesty with some of her own. It was a common stereotype: wolves were just animals, going from lover to lover until they found their mate. While it was true they were fiercely loyal creatures, getting to that point in a relationship was quite the journey. She could see confirmation of the bias in her little friend group: Jocelyn, Syri, and Haley bounced from partner to partner…but then Lena acted more like a human, maintaining longer monogamous relationships, and then Sasha was an outlier entirely, seemingly stuck on Bellamy and only Bellamy.

It was scary to take a leap…but…that's what she already had done when she placed her bid, wasn't it? She had made it clear that she held some interest in the wolf. "But…I wouldn't mind you kissing me again, and I wouldn't mind you trying to be with me and not fool around," she paused, biting her lip in indecision because she wished she was cooler than she was and didn't have to be honest with the next bit. "I don't date much…so…things will be slow, Syri. I don't want you to get your hopes up." Because the real me isn't nearly as fun as the stories I write.

Syri didn't seem to mind that, at least not at the moment anyways. So, steeling her nerves, she leaned forward and pressed their lips together. Alice was incredibly shy about kissing. She'd kissed people before but it was always a bit of a disappointment. She never saw fireworks or felt that spark… Even now, with Syri, there was no grand revelation that this was something she'd been missing her whole life. But it was nice…there was a feeling of warmth that stirred in her heart and her lips broke into a smile.

She tossed her arms around the wolf and urged her on, soon finding herself on her back with the protective weight of a powerful werewolf on top of her. Their kisses were still unhurried, slow and exploring…it took the pressure off so that the dragon could try things out. Her hands began to wander from Syri's shoulders, coming up to play along the back of her neck and drift down her spine.
 
Well, she didn't get rejected. No, it was far better than that. Alice expressed her openness to giving things a shot, and that was all Syri needed. As for convincing Alice that her feelings amounted to more than a whim and some fooling around, actions always spoke loudest.

The smile on Syri's face only widened when Alice added some of her own honesty to the mix, finding it absolutely adorable that she seemed to think she gave off any other vibe than innocent and inexperienced. Sure, her novels were fantastic, but Syri liked her well before knowing that. Plus, even those hinted at her lack of hands-on knowledge. So cute.

"Sorry, but I already have my hopes up," Syri responded. "But it has nothing to do with your experience. I'm excited because it's you. Because I like being around you and spending time together. The rest is just a bonus." Syri was prepared to take things as slowly as needed. She just wanted to be with Alice. To know that the beautiful, clever, delightful person she liked was just a little more hers and a little less everyone else's. To be just a little closer.

Of course, just because she could go slow didn't mean she wasn't eager. The moment Alice leaned forward and kissed her, Syri reacted, meeting the kiss happily and doing her best to make sure she kept her intensity controlled.

It wasn't easy to temper her desire. As much as she might want to refute the claim that wolves were animals, there was a certain truth to it. Her wolf, from the moment Alice showed interest, wanted to pounce. Syri retained control, still far from her breaking point, but the immediate reaction grew stronger still when Alice took the initiative to kiss her. It was always there, tugging at her mind in its search for weaknesses.

The faint smile on Alice's lips made things easier. During the brief moment their lips parted, she smiled back, gentleness in her eyes that made her feelings clear. She really liked Alice. The other girl made her happy in a way nobody else did, and Syri never wanted to hurt her—ever.

Syri tried to reassure Alice in the only way she knew how—by going slow. No pressure, no expectations, just taking it at a pace that the younger woman found pleasant. Even when she found herself on top, everything went slow… gentle. It felt great, and she let Alice explore as she pleased.

Of course, the belief that they had all night made it easier for Syri to control the smaller impulses, like the desire to nip at Alice's neck or do some exploring of her own. She planned for all of that to come after—once Alice felt comfortable. Then it happened—the same thing that happened every time she wanted to enjoy something in private since childhood—Haley found a way to appear at the worst possible moment and disturb everything.

"Syri! Let us in! It's sisters' night."

Haley's energetic voice—far too energetic considering the time and place—echoed out, making it all too clear why the polite doorman sounded a bit out of sorts. The man, clearly unaccustomed to such antics, tried his best to inform Syri that she had "guests" who were "eager" to be let in. However, Syri had yet to add anyone to her list of approved visitors, so he could not do so, even if it meant dealing with Haley's dramatics.

"It's fine. Let them up, please."

Syri sounded more exhausted than the doorman when she realized her lovely evening had just received yet another curveball. No, scratch that. Her evening with Alice received a wrecking ball known as Haley. Sasha, too.

"Understood. And… may I add them to your list of approved guests?" he asked, his pleading tone all too obvious. It seemed another extended run-in with Haley might be more than the man could take.

"Go ahead. Thank you."

Syri reminded herself to tip the man the next time she found a chance… generously.

After ending her conversation with the doorman, she walked over to Alice with a pout on her face. "Haley and Sasha are here." Ordinarily not disappointing news, but it was currently quite unwanted.

"Sorry. I wanted it to just be us tonight, but I completely forgot about our little tradition." She wasn't even sure how Haley and Sasha remembered. With the auction and everything else, it seemed reasonable to skip it. Apparently not.

"I'd still like it if you stayed. But I understand if you don't want to."

—————

Haley bit down on the corner of an unlit cigarette, hand fiddling with the lighter inside the pocket of her trench coat. She peered across the street, watching people go in and out of a restaurant. The restaurant. The place Lena worked and where the new dame in her life appeared. She wanted nothing to do with the mysterious woman. But after hearing about her nonstop, Haley found herself lathered up. Now she had to see her, had to know. Why was her gal so impressed? And today was the day. Today she got the answers she needed.

The hand inside Haley’s coat stopped moving and slowly retreated out into the chill air. She then snatched the cigarette out of her mouth, her face scrunching up momentarily as the unpleasant taste lingered on her lips. Then she dropped it on the ground and stomped it out, heel grinding it into nothing.

“Right. Let’s go see what this dame is all about.”

Haley steeled herself, though just before she started across the street, she leaned down and picked up the cigarette, running to throw it in a nearby trash can. She even fished out the rest of the full pack and tossed it as well, her nose crinkling up cutely as she threw them away hurriedly. Gross.

The moment Haley finished the task, she reached up and played with the collar of the trench coat, making sure it was straight. She also adjusted her sunglasses, wanting everything to be perfect. A good investigation required the proper equipment, and her attire served as her camouflage. It had to be perfect.

Fortunately, she planned everything out ahead of time. Now all she had to do was get inside. Fate would take care of the rest. That and her hunches. They never failed her, not on a single case. Soon she’d be where she needed to be and see who she needed to see. Soon she’d figure out what was so special about this dame, this pastry chef. She’d know why her gal was abuzz. And if she were really lucky, make a cup of joe. Black. And a copy of the daily to see what the city had experienced since she last looked upon its splendor.
 
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Alice was jolted out of her warm fuzzy daze by the sound of a buzzer going off, followed by Haley's voice coming over the intercom, effectively ruining the mood. It wasn't an ideal situation but she couldn't help but laugh; the beta's timing was just absolutely impeccable. As if sensing things were about to escalate, both of Syri's sisters were here to douse a bucket of cold water on their little make out session. At least Haley didn't have a key and wasn't an approved guest, otherwise the dragon would be teased for an eternity if she were found in such a compromising position.

When Syri got up to answer the intercom, Alice nearly reached for her. She missed the reassuring weight and shared heat between them the moment it was gone. But it was best to deal with Haley immediately before she caused more shenanigans than she already was up to. While Syri dealt with her family, Alice went about sitting up and putting herself back together. Her hair was a little tousled and her shirt had ridden up when she had been arching under Syri for more; a quick tug and combing of fingers had her looking less scandalous. Well…as less scandalous as she could look while wearing her date's clothes.

"It's totally fine. I think it's cute that you're so close to your sisters," Alice smiled. Sometimes she wished she had some siblings of her own; the closest thing she had was a few cousins which wasn't nearly the same. Syri's bond with her sisters was adorable and the dragon didn't want to get in the way of their special night. "While I would love to stay, I'm fairly certain Haley will feel jilted that you get to have me here and she doesn't get to have Lena," the dragon gave Syri a kiss on her cheek, not trusting herself to give the wolf anything more now that her sisters were coming up. "We can hang out another time. I'm on winter break soon so there will be plenty of opportunities." She knew that Syri's schedule would be crazy with the holidays on top of her normal schedule at the hospital; so wanted to assure her that they could meet up again, as soon as she liked.

——————

When one of the bartenders had called out for a family emergency, Lena found herself trading her chef's whites for a button down and black vest. She didn't particularly love bartending (pretending to be interested in the things drunk people said wasn't her strong suit), but she knew how to do it. She couldn't perform any of the showy tricks of flipping bottles or tossing shakers that her staff could do, but she knew a bunch of recipes off the top of her head and that would just have to suffice for the night. Not like people really came to the restaurant for drinks anyways…usually the bar was just a place to shove single diners so that they didn't take up an entire table. Such was the case of a little beta with a very familiar voice and gait.

"Haley?" Lena asked, though she knew that that was the love of her life poorly hiding behind a newspaper without any confirmation. "Why are you dressed like you're in a vintage crime drama?" the chef teased, unable to keep the laughter out of her question. Then, after further thought, she dropped her voice and asked, "Is this…is this a sex thing?" If it was, the poor alpha was very confused about what was happening. If it was a sex role playing thing she was totally down! …Just…whatever was happening was weird.

When her girlfriend came clean that she was here to scope out the new pastry chef, Lena burst into laughter. "Oh my gods, you're jealous?! -You- are jealous even though -I'm- the one that has to worry about all the famous asshats you work with who want a piece of you?!" she giggled, shaking her head in disbelief. There was literally a parade of good looking, rich people who went in and out of Haley's studio; some of whom the little beta had already slept with! And here Haley was, jealous of the new pastry chef.

"You know I love you, right? You dummy," Lena smiled, hopping up so she could lean over the bartop and kiss her little foolish fool. Though when she did, she caught the acrid scent of tobacco and flinched. Lena -hated- that smell; she just absolutely could not stand it. She had once gone on one date with a girl who had smoked and that one date had been that - she just couldn't get over the scent of cigarettes. "Were you - have you been smoking?" the wolf's nose wrinkled. She looked far more upset that Haley might have been smoking than she was about not being trusted.
 
Haley's gut told her that the answers she sought awaited her inside the restaurant. Everything she wanted to know about a particular pastry chef lay just within reach, and she found no reason not to trust her hunch, as any good detective should. Thus, she expected answers! What she never expected was for Lena to be at the restaurant. Her gut, in all its infinite wisdom, missed that fine detail. Useless!

"What good is a gut that can't detect danger!" Haley huffed, looking down and glaring at her stomach.

Though, one positive did quickly take her mind off her instant failure. Lena looked fantastic in the button-down and vest. Very sexy.

Unfortunately, Haley's momentary appreciation put the final nail in the coffin of her plan. Or so she blamed that and not anything else. Right, definitely her peeking around the newspaper for too long and not the ridiculous getup.

"It could totally be a sex thing," Haley responded quickly—too quickly. While Haley could lie for dramatic effect, she instantly became a nervous, guilt-ridden wreck when she tried to tell even the slightest fib to her beautiful girlfriend, who was equally capable of sniffing out the faintest lie or half-truth like a human lie detector. Lena just knew her too well.

"Okay, not a sex thing…" Haley's head lowered slightly, and the look on her face seemed to come with an illusory pair of drooping ears. She only seemed more pitiful as she bit the bullet and came out with it, spilling that her real intentions were to see what was so amazing about the stupid new pastry chef. The one Lena kept talking about!

'Yeah, I'm jealous! I have a girlfriend who doesn't realize how amazing she is and might get taken advantage of, meaning I have to be alert and ready to fend off would-be scoundrels!"

That part she meant. Although it might appear like Lena had more to worry about, Haley had enough awareness to not put herself in a bad situation. Ever since they started dating, she drew clear lines, and she made sure there was never a moment where something could happen between her and some persistent idiot. On the other hand, Lena always seemed to underestimate her charm!

Now that she thought about it, she narrowed her eyes and reevaluated the sexy attire, suddenly against it all!

Of course, Haley kept her mouth shut, knowing not to dig the hole deeper by insisting upon something ridiculous as if it made sense.

"Not a dummy," Haley shot back immediately, matching it with an angry pout. It was not intimidating. Not that anything could be with her wearing such a ridiculous outfit. But before Haley could keep pretending to be upset, Lena's expression shifted, and the beta found the script flipped.

"Huh?" Haley asked, her eyes widening as she found herself on the uncomfortable end of an upset look.

"No, wait! I haven't been! I mean, not a lit one. I may or may not have bought a pack so that I could pretend to smoke one outside…" Just saying it out loud… embarrassing. "But I threw them away because it was gross. I… Oh! I can show you! I can go dig them out. I didn't even light one!"

Quick thinking, just as any tough-as-nails detective should be.

—————

Andi crouched down in front of the oven and grabbed the handle with both hands. Ten, nine, eight… she counted down in her head, preparing to open it up and peer at the goodies inside. She felt like a kid at Christmas every time, even after years of baking. Three, two, one. Time! She tugged on the handle and cracked it open ever so slightly, catching a peek at the loaves of bread destined for packed tables.

"Perfect~" Andi cooed, humming a happy tune as she finished pulling it open and reached a mitted hand inside to pull them out.

Baking ordinary loaves of bread stood prominently on the Mount Rushmore of boring. However, even if the process failed to excite as much as a fancy dessert or more complicated endeavor, it satisfied her to achieve perfection. Every loaf, she nailed it. Took pride in it too, hence her joyous humming at yet another successful game of "follow the boring recipe."

Andi placed the bread aside to cool and then stripped off the clunky oven mitt, wiggling her fingers in a celebration of freedom. Of course, knowing their track record, they would end up back in confinement soon enough, but small victories!

"Hmm, I have almost half an hour on the next oven."

Andi looked behind her at what would soon become the focus of her attention. Something more interesting, too! A new project. Guh, it was nice to work with multiple ovens and the best ingredients. And a boss who let her experiment like a mad scientist on a mission. She really loved her new job. And the kitchen! It was one of the reasons she decided to work there. Well, that and because it might just be the best restaurant in the city. But the massive kitchen that afforded her multiple ovens and a little space of her own made it an easy choice!

But still, since she had a few minutes to spare, she didn't hesitate to leave her little promised land and venture out into the world, even if only to get some fresh, cool air. Might even hit on the cute server that started just after her if she found the opportunity. Anything was possible.
 
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Lena wasn't charming, at least, not in the way Haley was. Her girlfriend was witty and funny; a dazzling conversationalist…which made the two of them work wonderfully because Lena actually said very little. She was just friendly; she liked to ask questions and always listened to explanations with rapt attention. It was a trait she had garnered from her mom, Sammie, this desire to just know more about a person (though for her mother, this was so that she could provide people with what they needed like the perfect personal assistant she was). Lena's curiosity and amiable behavior was often mistaken as romantic interest; Haley wasn't wrong with her worries that Lena attracted 'would be scoundrels'…but she was a big dummy if she thought Lena didn't know how to get rid of unwanted advances and draw firm barriers herself!!

And for her to be with Andi? Pha! That was just extra silly. Lena would -never- date anyone from work. Her mother had managed to create a drama-free culinary team that was almost like a family…Lena would never want to ruin all the hard work Sylvia had put in. Running a restaurant was difficult enough without creating more chaos with bad interpersonal relationships. Plus she was taken! Lena wasn't like her friends who partied and slept around, she had always been that 'girl with a girlfriend'. Haley was supposed to be her 'no strings attached' attempt and here they were in a very committed relationship.

The distrust didn't upset her nearly as much as it should. As it turned out, the cigarettes weren't going to upset her either. "You…were pretending to smoke outside…?" Lena repeated, brow furrowed as she ran that scenario through her head. Haley had been outside, dressed in her trench coat and glasses, and had been pretending to smoke cigarettes in her attempt to be incognito while staking out Lena? Had anyone else in the entire world came up with that explanation, it wouldn't have made any sense. But, with Haley…well, she could imagine the little beta throwing herself fully into the role of 'undercover detective'….even though she was more like Eddie Valiant than Dick Tracy.

"No, you don't have to show me. I believe you," Lena smiled at her silly beta fondly. "Well, since you're here, I can introduce you to Andi after her consultation. Annndddd um…about this sexy detective thing…" the wolf dropped her voice to maintain a degree of professionalism…even though she was very much plotting to fuck her girlfriend while sorta on the clock. "I go on break in about two hours, so if you want you can get well fed and we can hash out this role play a bit… I still have to do work though." The alpha grinned, two hours would give her time to think about some cheesy dialogue to use, even if she did have to tend to customers while doing it.

She grabbed a menu from under the bar and set it in front of Haley. "Figure out if you want to be the big bad detective interrogating me or the brand new flatfoot who's in over her head. We can probably go play down in the wine cellar," the alpha gave a her love a kiss to the tip of her nose before excusing herself to go deal with a trio who were being seated at the other end of the bar.


————————

Every girl dreamed about what their wedding day would be like…at least…supposedly.

Charlotte had many ideas for what her wedding should be and some of the things she wanted. But to make a checklist and actually go through it? Even with a wedding planner, things were a nightmare. There were just SO many little details, from place setting styles and colors, to seating charts and hounding people for RSVPs.

Maybe this sucks because I have to do it alone…

The thought was reoccurring more and more as the wedding date neared. Her fiancé wasn't exactly helpful when it came to any of this; just getting him to pick a color for his groomsmens' ties had been a trial. Now here she was, coming to a cake tasting all on her own. 'Busy with a case,' he had said. As if she weren't a lawyer with her own cases as well! And on top of that, being involved with their daughter's upbringing as much as she could!! (Yes, the nanny did a lot of the work, but she did everything she could!)

Her marriage to James was just the logical evolution to their relationship. Date -> Knock Up -> Marry. Ugh…she probably wasn't being fair in her irritation towards him right now. James was unable to multitask to the degree Charlotte could, and though they had both passed the Bar Exam, Charlotte had done so with flying colors while he had barely skirted by. They were just…different in this regard: Charlotte was able to take on more while James just struggled with what he had. So maybe it was just fine that she was walking into the Blue Moon Bistro all on her own for a cake tasting…she could handle that.

Upon entering the restaurant, Charlotte did a double take as a familiar face caught her eye. "Andi?" It had been years since she had seen her old friend… Andi had crumbled under the stress of law school around the same time Charlotte's mother had been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Charlotte had rushed back home to take care of the estate in New Haven and had finished her program at the University of Armistice. It had all been so much…it still was all so much… Sometimes she still felt guilty about losing touch with old friends, but, her mother's illness and her dying wishes were at the forefront of Charlotte's mind: take care of the estate, and stabilize her own life so her mother could pass in peace, knowing Charlotte would be taken care of.

Andi's hair was a shorter, edgier cut, and she now sported tattoos that were very unbecoming of a lawyer…but Charlotte was sure that it was her. She burst into a smile, a real, bright smile, and moved to wrap Andi up in a bear hug. Part of her, the finished, posh part of her, thought it might not be appropriate; the pair had fallen out of the same circle for a long time now. But this was Andi! One of the best people Charlotte had ever met. "Stars, I can't believe it's you. And a chef now! That's amazing," the witch beamed. Only a crazy person like Charlotte would actually think a demotion from law school to culinary school was a good thing. But Andi actually looked happy, a lot happier than she had ever been when they were in school together, and happiness was an achievement all on its own.
 
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Haley smiled at Lena, openly displaying her adoration and affection. Plenty of people might believe her nonsense, accepting that her quirks often sent her into the realm of the ridiculous, but few people appreciated her special brand of chaos. Fewer still loved her for it. It was one of the reasons she remained single and kept things casual and commitment-free. Because whenever she got serious with anyone, they eventually grew tired of her shenanigans. They got tired of who she was, ridiculousness and all.

Lena was different, though. The alpha loved her despite her quirks, for them even. And they were best friends long before they became lovers, with Lena easily being her favorite person in the world. So even if it didn't make sense for her to be jealous, or if she already knew that the alpha would never cheat on her, she couldn't help herself. Lena was too precious to be left alone in the company of anyone, especially would-be scoundrels!

Haley was determined to be the only scoundrel in Lena's life!

"Break, huh? Are you sure that's gonna give us enough time?" Haley asked, raising her brow and letting a little smirk overtake the smile that still lingered on her lips.

Of course, regardless of whether they had enough time, they were definitely going to try! Lena already put the idea in her mind, and she quickly took off with it, already coming up with scene after scene of cheesy dialog and roleplay delight. Sometimes, Haley wondered if her true calling was to write horrible television scripts. It just came so naturally.

Before she knew it, she was holding a menu and half-reading it as Lena slipped away, leaving behind a few tempting ideas and a gentle kiss to tide her over, at least for a time.

Besides, all good detectives need coffee before a big case! Perhaps some fried eggs and dry toast as well!

Well, maybe not that. Sushi and some hot tea? Yeah, the meal of every... Haley pretending to be a detective.

Or perhaps something sweet? Or should she load up on carbs for the activities to come?

No, focus!

Haley settled on the sushi and tea so she could quickly refocus, pushing the menu away and delving into her own mind.

As usual, the first thought that came to the beta was letting Lena take control. Haley liked being at the mercy of the sexy alpha, dragging out that side of her with practiced ease. Perhaps Lena would tie her hands or have some choice words for the nosy detective caught snooping where she couldn't.

However, after thinking about that possibility, her imagination began to paint a different picture. A strapping detective breaking the case wide open, having the bad guy dead to rights. And the very idea of taking control while Lena was at work excited her. It rarely happened, but it seemed like the perfect time.

Haley sat at the table, grinning to herself. It all sounded wonderful.

—————

Andi forgot about having an appointment with a customer. Even after meticulously preparing for the tasting and ensuring every bit of icing sat perfectly in place, the reason escaped her. It only proved how lopsided her priorities were, with a heavy leaning towards food and away from people. The funny thing was that it used to be the opposite.

At one point in Andi's life, her dream was to help people. She went to law school in hopes of opening her own little firm that dealt with cases for people and communities who couldn't afford legal help, and she threw herself into it happily.

Back then, everything seemed perfect. Andi's effort placed her grades toward the top of her class, and she volunteered and spent her free time gaining experience and working with nonprofits. Andi had a clear dream and walked the path with confidence. It all seemed to be going smoothly. Until it wasn't.

The problem came when Andi's powers awakened. It was unexpected, really. Even though she came from a long line of powerful mystics, she never showed any talent. In fact, her magical abilities were so poor she never bothered training. So when she suddenly found herself with power in her hands, it caught her completely off-guard. And to make matters worse, she awakened empathic abilities, opening her up to a new world of raw, unfiltered emotions.

Law school was already difficult, and with more thrown into the mix, Andi crumbled, quickly spiraling into a depression that destroyed everything she worked so hard to build. Andi could barely even talk to people, finding herself unable to shut everything out. And in the end, she left, dropping out of the program and leaving it all behind.

It took Andi a long time to find her way back, even longer still to find a new path that brought her joy. She didn't think she would for a time, and even now, it changed her, making it difficult to be around people and communicate like she once did. She tried, but it took effort.

But when Andi heard someone say her name, the usual dread didn't appear. Instead, her heart started to pound wildly in her chest.

"Charlotte?" Andi's mouth spoke the name before her mind caught up, and she quickly turned to face the smiling woman heading in her direction.

The hug was unexpected, and the pastry chef froze when Charlotte pulled her in tight, not knowing what to do with her hands. However, after the warmth and genuine happiness coming off of Charlotte started to sink in, her body relaxed, and she returned the hug with a smile.

"Yeah, a lot has happened since we last saw one another," Andi responded, thinking back to her days in law school for the first time in a long time. And perhaps just a bit about the massive crush she had on the gorgeous woman. And she still looked fantastic.

Andi's excitement quickly fizzled, though, her eyes catching sight of a ring on Charlotte's finger.

"I suppose the same is true for you." Andi smiled, though she found it a bit harder than the last.
 
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"Oh, yes," Charlotte followed Andi's gaze down to her ring. "I'm engaged. I guess a lot of things have changed...." she trailed off, sounding more embarrassed than anything else. It did make her feel awkward to have someone she knew see that she was here, all alone, partaking in a tradition that the majority of people did with their potential spouse. She was supposed to have a partner in life and couldn't even get that partner to show up for a cake tasting! Well. No matter. There was nothing she could do to change the way things were so she may as well take it as gracefully in stride as she could.

"I have a cake tasting appointment today, I suppose that's with you?" Charlotte looked Andi over; the chef had a little bit of flour on her black pants and icing on her jacket, leading the witch to believe that she was a pastry chef. She seemed to brighten a bit when Andi revealed that she was indeed her guide into the world of culinary desserts today. "I have to warn you…I don't really like cake," 'don't really like' was an understatement, on her list of treats, cake was near the bottom, just slightly above mousse. Charlotte could appreciate the beauty of a wedding cake though, as well as the tradition. So even though she would rather have a pie or a macaron, a cake was what she was settling on tonight.

"My fiancé, James, won't be joining us," Charlotte frowned, unable to keep the disappointment out of her voice. Again, the irritation that she was here alone resurfaced, but she quickly tamped it down. Maybe she should have invited her maid of honor to do this with her, Bellamy would have at least made it a little less awkward. Ah well, it was too late for that now. "He's not really picky though, he'll eat just about anything." At least she didn't have to worry about picking the wrong thing.

Andi seemed to sense Charlotte's conflicting emotions. The chef had a passing server go bring them some champagne to celebrate (though the alcohol was probably more to take the edge off) and then guided Charlotte to a little office looking area in the back. There were mock-ups of cakes on the shelves, examples of place settings, as well as very detailed menus with lovely photographs of what foods were possible. There was a large round table with chairs around it for them to sit at and discuss options. She had been back here before a few weeks ago, discussing the menu with Sylvia. At that time, the table had been covered with small servings of some of the dishes that Charlotte had been interested in so that the final menu could be narrowed down. This time there was a scattering of cake slices for her to try. Her guidelines to the chef had been merely 'no plain vanilla cake' and that the actual cake should have four or five tiers for the two hundred guests she was expecting.
 
Andi picked up on Charlotte’s discomfort immediately, and not because she felt it, though she did. It simply stood out, appearing strange on a beautiful woman that arrived to taste cake for her wedding. One expected excitement, perhaps a bit of bragging, not embarrassment and awkwardness. But Andi only dwelled on it for a moment, mulling it over in passing before pushing it aside completely. As curious as it was, Andi had long learned that her power only revealed raw emotion, not the reason behind it. Besides, she was just happy to see an old friend, even if her whimsical memories of a bygone affection were instantly dampered by reality.

“That’s right!” Andi grinned, pointing a thumb at her chest as she tried to be as reassuring as possible. “You get me, and I’m the best.” Plus, she already knew that Charlotte didn’t care for cake, even before she said it. She remembered a lot of things about the witch, likely more than she ought to.

“Don’t worry, I can do more than just cakes. You can find something palatable and then move onto other desserts.” Andi wanted to reassure Charlotte that the tasting didn’t have to be miserable. She could try more than just cake, and it only had to be one part of it. In fact, she wouldn’t have it any other way. The last thing Andi wanted was an old friend who hated cake only trying her cake! No, she had to try other things. Andi needed a chance to show off!

Of course, Andi’s momentum stumbled a bit when Charlotte brought up her fiancé again, but she picked things right back up, grabbing Charlotte’s arm and dragging her toward a private meeting room in the back. She even asked a server to bring some champagne in passing, hoping things would lighten up a little after a drink. They could celebrate their reunion too.

---------

The actual cake testing went okay. Charlotte found a type of cake she didn’t mind, and Andi had enough energy for the both of them to make it through the trying ordeal. Well, that and a hefty dose of reminiscing over champagne kept things from becoming too dull. However, it was after the cake portion was finally over that things started to liven up. The fact that they were on their second bottle probably helped too.

Regardless of the reason, the atmosphere relaxed considerably, and after figuring out the main item, Andi began to pull out all the stops, starting with some desserts she just knew Charlotte would love. Pie, macarons, a few other odds and ends like some special cookies and tarts she whipped up earlier that morning. She started to show off her prowess, and she did it while bringing out only the things she knew Charlotte enjoyed.

They tried so many different things that they didn’t bother staying put in the meeting room. Instead, Andi dragged her, along with the champagne, into her kitchen.

“Try this~”

Andi had started dancing around the kitchen at some point, continuing to work while also chatting and shoving various delicious sweets in Charlotte’s direction. Now, without even thinking about it, she walked over and held up a pasty, a smile on her face as she stared at Charlotte’s lips, a bit absent-minded as she urged the witch to open up and take a bite.

“Come on, you’re going to love it,” she promised, showing no signs of backing down.
 
Charlotte eyed the dozen slices of cake neatly laid out on white dessert plates. She just didn't understand the fascination with cake; arguably the best part of the dessert was the frosting and any fillings that lived between the layers, not the actual cake itself. Andi seemed to take her apprehension in stride though, trying to make the tasting fun. It wasn't all bad…some of the cakes were actually fine, good even. They ended up settling on a sad, bland, vanilla cake for people who actually liked it and a chocolate raspberry concoction that Charlotte quite enjoyed. For decorations, Charlotte chose flowers and greenery that symbolized luck, prosperity, and harmony. Not all witches and wizards prescribed to such old-fashioned superstitions, but Charlotte was from those who had a 'well if it doesn't hurt, why not,' attitude.

After their business was concluded, Andi seemed adamant that Charlotte was not allowed to leave until she found something she was truly happy with. She even went so far as to insist they go back to her area of the kitchen so that she could whip up something special. "Are you sure we won't get in trouble?" Charlotte was reluctant to cross the threshold between the dining area and kitchen, but Andi assured her again that her boss wouldn't mind. As long as the chef kept the bread coming, filled all her dessert tickets, and didn't create any health code violations, she was allowed to do as she pleased.

After another sip of champagne - of too much champagne - and Charlotte was turning into the playful, mischievous wood witch that Andi would remember. Perched atop one of the steel counters with her legs crossed at the ankles, she drank straight from the champagne bottle because she had no idea where her glass had gone. All the prim and properness of her social stature melted away to reveal the hidden layer of wildness caused by the untamed, old magic that ran through her veins. All giggles and teasing as Andi danced about the kitchen, she required very little coaxing as the chef came at her with a delicious looking pastry with custard and fruit on top.

Her cheeks tinged with pink as the intimacy of the gesture suddenly dawned on her. Andi was feeding her something sweet the way James should be on their wedding day. She quickly swallowed the bite and threw her hands up in surrender with a laugh. "Alright, alright…no more delicious treats. You're going to give me a stomach ache, I can't eat like I'm twenty anymore," Charlotte smiled. She'd eat her weight in sweets but she'd feel sick afterwards and she couldn't possibly do that! She had a little one to watch when she got home (granted, she could have the nanny watch Lucy, but Charlotte did so love to be present for her little troublemaker.)

Oh dear. She had a little one to go home to and here she was, bordering on drunk!

Andi seemed to sense her need for real food to soak up the sugar and alcohol, because she offered her a meal here at the restaurant. Charlotte only hesitated a moment before agreeing, she had her schedule cleared for the afternoon and evening…she just needed to make sure Lucy was okay. "Just let me make a phone call, and I'll join you.

It was rare that Charlotte did anything for herself nowadays. Most of her life was devoted to her mother, her daughter, and her career. She could afford some time to herself this one night, just to catch up with a wonderful old friend.


——————- Several Weeks Later ———————


Winter Solstice was one of Alice's favorite holidays: the lights, the singing, the snow; it was all quite lovely. The only problem was dating a wolf who celebrated Yule! And that was fine, it wasn't breaking news that Syri celebrated Yule like most other werewolves…it was just…the traditional gift of a murdered, once adorable animal… Alice didn't want to kill something innocent and fluffy! But hunting wild game and giving the best cuts away (or hosting a giant feast for friends and family) was the entire spirit of Yule. Usually she gave her friends accoutrements to go with their wild game: homemade jams, cookies, sometimes a pie or or berry tart…things that were homemade to keep in line with the themes of Yule.

So she thought maybe, just maybe, she could write Syri a story as something special for Yule. A tale of The Huntress goddess chasing after a dragon…and of course the whole thing devolved into sex through some mildly unbelievable plot devices. It was well written though! Only five pages in length but full of adventure and romance!

And smut. Lots of smut.

No, no, no. She couldn't possibly send this! The story was cute but the sex scene was far too explicit… There was no way Alice could ever gift this story to Syri and then be able to look the wolf in the eyes ever again. It wasn't as if Syri didn't know what genre of writing Alice specialized in… But this…this would -never- be suitable for publication. It was about two thousand words of pure smut in the end.

Oh darn it! Alice was going to chicken out, she knew she was! Just like she chickened out whenever Syri tried to put the moves on her! While she really appreciated the kissing and the heavy petting, anything further just made her so nervous. Syri was so experienced and she was so…not. She had plenty of time simulating sex in her head and on paper, but actually participating in the act and writing about it were two very different things!

Ugh…I'll just…make her some cookies… With a sigh, she resigned herself to never letting that short story ever see the light of day.

Well that was a silly idea too! She had written all this, someone somewhere should get to enjoy it!

On top of writing as a profession, and academically for her Masters program, Alice also wrote fanfiction as a guilty pleasure. So it seemed as though her fanfiction readers would get a present this Winter Solstice. She had to make some edits, but eventually the dragon had the whole document changed to two video game characters who she liked to ship together, tossing the pair of them off into this Yule alternate universe. In the realm of fanfiction, the story fell to the adorable side, so hopefully they would like it.
 
The moment Andi reunited with Charlotte, she realized something: her crush remained alive and well. Beautiful, intelligent, funny — Charlotte had always made her crazy, and it seemed their time apart changed nothing. If anything, Andi found herself in a place to truly appreciate it. Sure, she had her own struggles regarding people, but not with Charlotte. As if grandfathered in, Charlotte’s presence brought a smile to her face without any of the exhausting side effects of human interaction that often plagued her.

Andi liked Charlotte so much that her engagement barely phased her, putting some limitations down but failing to prevent her from immediately scheduling another meetup with her old friend and college crush.

It started with the cake tasting, continued with several coffees, lunches, and dinners over a few weeks, and then it turned into a Christmas get-together. Andi didn’t even question it, practically pushing the presence of a fiancé out of her mind. Instead, she tried her hardest to make some of the tastiest treats she could and pushed her Christmas spirit to the max. She even dressed up as Santa, cute hat and all!

When Andi arrived at Charlotte’s, she stepped out of her car with a rapidly-beating heart. She looked forward to seeing her for days, and all the anticipation had turned her into an idiotic teenager — nervous, excited, and unable to keep a smile from her face.

Andi turned and looked at her reflection in the car window, even doing a little spin that caused the skirt of her Santa suit to twirl.

“Hmm…” Although she looked great, she started tugging here and there, trying to look even better. She fussed with her hair, adjusted this and that, and basically ended the whole thing looking the exact same as before. But the peace of mind remained, and she nodded her head and took a deep breath, finally ready.

“Oh!” She nearly forgot the desserts!

—————

Michelle felt nauseous. At this point, she didn’t know whether the cause was the pregnancy or stress, but it was getting harder and harder to hide from people. Mostly Jocelyn. Although neither of them said it aloud, they both knew how they felt about one another. It was undeniable. They were in love, and while that made her happy beyond belief, it was also the cause of her revolving states of sadness and panic.

Despite all of that, she couldn’t bear to rip herself away yet. She still had a few days, and even if it meant hurting more later, she wanted to spend every second she could by Jocelyn’s side. It was the reason she agreed to a big holiday celebration together, planning to follow her around as she went to parties and saw her parents. They were going to be doing so much, Michelle packed a small bag to lug around with her. Presents, too. Even if her disappearance would attract nothing but hate to the woman known as Elle, she still wanted to bring a few smiles while she could, especially to Jocelyn.

—————

Haley stood in the doorway of the apartment, waiting for Lena patiently. So calm and at peace in her own silence that she appeared like a seasoned monk prepared to live a life of meditation and silence. Or not. It was all lies. She wasn't patient at all. Not at all! The only reason she wasn't rushing into the bedroom was that she had already tried and failed! Hmph. She just wanted to look at her beautiful girlfriend. Maybe touch her. Just a little kissing too. And that was as far as she got during her first attempt, which ended with a gentle swat to her nose and a strangely effective, "Bad!"

Now, Haley waited in the other room, silently protesting my standing near the door instead of sitting down and relaxing as she waited for Lena to get ready. Protesting to who? Herself? Maybe? Who knew. Regardless, protest she did! And she was good at it, too, constantly looking adorably upset as she glared toward the bedroom in an aggrieved manner. Not that the wait bothered her. She just didn't like knowing that Lena was in there looking all pretty, and she wasn't allowed to peek her head in and be a distraction!

"Leeeena, hurry uuuuup," Haley whined, finally unable to take it any longer. If she wasn't allowed to go in and be naughty, the wait needed to hurry and be over! Then she could do whatever she pleased… assuming they were not late as a result. Being late sounded really fun, though!

Unfortunately for Haley, the years spent by her side gave Lena immunity to her antics, enough that the alpha ignored her ridiculousness and got ready properly, taking her time and not rushing at all, even as Haley's whining became more and more desperate. She even came out sporting a smile, which Haley took to be a mocking smile that reveled in her misery! Or because Lena seemed to find her begging cute. Oooh, she could work with that!

---------

They were late. Gloriously late! All of Lena's attempts to rein her in had eventually ended in the alpha defeat! If one could call getting pleasured by a needy sub defeat. Most wouldn't, but Haley claimed the victory as her own.

"Heh." Haley's silly laugh caused Lena to give a sigh with a smile on her face, clearly thinking her girlfriend was a goof. Perhaps she was right, but she loved it. Haley was sure of it. Lena loooooved her, goofiness and all.

"See, nobody cares that we're late," Haley cooed, leaning against Lena's arm happily as they walked inside. If anything, people expected her to be late. And Haley didn't care, so long as she was with Lena. After all, the only reason to ever get anywhere early was to see Lena a bit faster.

—————

Bellamy fiddled with the small box in her pocket, uncharacteristically nervous as she waited out front for Sasha. They agreed to meet early, a bit before everyone else would arrive. Bellamy didn’t tell her why she wanted to meet early, but thankfully, she agreed anyway.

So many things changed after the auction. They started seeing one another again, seeming a little slow at first but falling back into a rhythm quickly enough. Perhaps it wasn’t the best thing, allowing themselves to be swept into old habits, but it was hard to prevent considering just how in love they had been and seemed to still be. Sure, some things changed, but a small silver lining was that they were stronger for it. At least she was stronger. She realized what truly mattered. Hopefully, Sasha felt the same.

“Is it really a good idea?” she muttered, on the verge of pacing back and forth. Fortunately, the cool night air helped keep her calm, keeping her from losing it too much. She still felt on edge, teetering back and forth as she wondered what Sasha’s reaction would be. But she managed to keep it under control, even if just barely. She was so nervous.

—————

Syri enjoyed the holidays, but she never cared about the traditions. She celebrated them, but it was mostly because of Alex's influence, doing so as part of the family more than for her own satisfaction. But this year, she found more joy during the holiday season because of Alice. Her girlfriend clearly loved the holidays, and her happiness was infectious.

However, one thing stuck out as particularly adorable to the alpha, and it was something she found during a period of boredom. It was a story written by a fanfic author that wrote some very fun, rather spicy stories about random characters she liked. But what Syri knew that most people didn't was that the author was Alice!

Of course, that fact alone didn't make it adorable. The content did. The steamy story was clearly written with Syri and Alice as the main characters, and she loved it. It was the best gift ever, and Alice hadn't even meant to give it to her!

Really, Syri found the story a breath of fresh air, allowing her to breathe and liven up. After all, while the two of them grew closer and closer by the day, Alice had yet to become comfortable enough to take things to the next level. Syri didn't mind waiting, not even a little, but she did wonder if Alice really wanted to be with her in that way from time to time. Question answered.

The fanfic tried to disguise it, but the story had clear inspirations, and it turned Syri into a smiling idiot. And that state was ongoing as she walked into Alice's place, the smile still plastered on her face. No, if anything, her expression only grew brighter as she walked over and captured Alice's lips in a loving kiss.

The kiss turned into a few kisses, and even though Alice seemed a bit surprised about the sudden affection, she didn't put a stop to it. She even held her curiosity until it ended, when she looked questioningly at Syri, wondering what brought that along.

"Thank you for my gift," Syri said, not explaining, just so she could see the adorable look on Alice's face grow deeper. Only then did she give another smile and lean in closer, whispering despite it only being the two of them.

"The story. I read the story you wrote for me. And I liked it a lot."
 
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Alice glanced at the time again; Syri would be here soon… She fiddled with a few last minute things - finished writing a sappy little note in Syri's holiday card card and attaching it to the tin of cookies she had made. By the time she was all settled, Syri was coming into her apartment. The dragon smiled, grinning at the silly Yule sweater her girlfriend was wearing. "Don't you look dashing," she teased, finding herself wrapped up in strong arms and colliding with eager lips in response. Geeze. She should tease Syri more often if that was the reaction she'd get!

One kiss became two, then three, and then by the end of it, she found herself dazed and smiling stupidly, if a little confused at the passionate greeting. Alice blinked at her girlfriend's explanation for the sudden advances, brow furrowed in thought. Syri's present was still on the counter, she hadn't even given it to her yet!

"The…story…?" Alice asked, still trying to puzzle it all out when it suddenly dawned on her that maybe, just maybe, Syri knew her fanfiction handle. The author had never confirmed or denied anything, and she thought she was pretty careful about making sure storylines didn't overlap, but there were plenty of her fans that speculated DaydreamingDragon and Jane Shepard were the same person. Very few authors wrote dragon characters convincingly; even fewer wrote them into lesbian romances. And if Syri was one of her fans that knew her fanfiction handle…

Oh no.

OH NO!

Her story!!

Gods. And that story wasn't even the most depraved one. Sometimes she'd write for fan prompts whenever she had a case of writer's block…those little snippets were always so sordid. Ugh. What if Syri had read them all?!?!

Alice turned the brightest shade of red; from the tips of her ears all the way down to her throat, everything became crimson. She ducked her head under Syri's chin and hid her face in the wolf's shoulder. "You read that?!" Alice's voice came out in a muffled squeak. Oh gods. Syri -read- that. -All- of that. She must know that the story was about the two of them.

Oh no. Syri read the two paragraphs basically worshipping her abs. It was no secret that Alice liked to feel them under her shirt…but…to be face to face with how much she secretly fantasized about them…it was so embarrassing!

Could she just... melt into the floor? Was that within the scope of her dragon powers?

———————-

"Whining won't make me go any faassstteeeer~" Lena sang. She knew her girlfriend was impatient, but Haley was just going to have to suck it up and wait! She was busy changing her top, again, not satisfied with how the festive red blouse had looked. Maybe the green, knitted sweater would be better? Or the grey one with the cute cowl neck? "Grrrrr…" Lena growled softly at the clothes in her closet. Usually she was -not- the type to fret over the clothes she wore (hell, half her day was usually spent in her chef's whites and she never had to worry about choosing anything) but she just wanted to look good under the scrutinizing eyes of her aunt Mara…and maybe, just maybe, she was worried how Alex would see her too.

She had been to Haley's parents' house a zillion times. But now it was different…now she was going there as Haley's girlfriend. The change in role was suddenly terrifying. Alex was terrifying. She had fucking killed people! Sure they were poachers encroaching on her land in the Northern Territories, and yeah, it was 'kill or be killed'…but still, murder. Lena wasn't so stupid as to think that Alex wouldn't beat her within an inch of her life if she did anything to hurt the littlest Reigns. Not like she would - Haley meant everything to her. So it was crucial that she show her girlfriend's family that she was a great choice in potential mate!

"Alright, alright. I'm done," she had settled on the dark green sweater; it was cut in such a way to make her look cute but also tomboyish…which she hoped read as tough and confident. Lena smiled as she swung the door open to reveal a very impatient beta waiting on the other side of the door. "How do I look?" for a moment her smile faltered and she appeared a little self conscious. She wasn't really asking what Haley thought, more so 'do you think your mother would approve?'

Apparently Haley herself very much approved, because Lena found herself being pounced upon by a naughty little beta.

-—

One unruined pair of bottoms and a fresh coat of make-up later, the two of them were finally ready to go to the Yule party. Lena was uncharacteristically nervous as they pulled up to the Reigns estate. She had been worried about being late, especially because it was all of Haley's fault with her sexy shenanigans! Her stride was a little longer and more hurried as they approached the door; trying to make up for time that was already lost.

"Nobody cares because nobody has seen us yet," Lena murmured as she leaned over to give Haley a little nip to her neck…just as Alex opened the door to greet them. The alpha blanched slightly at the old wolf's disapproving glare but she didn't cower or give up her hold around Haley's waist.

"Uhm. Happy Yule, Mrs. Reigns," Lena offered with a weak smile.

Alex growled, low and threatening, until Lena released her hold on Haley's waist and stood a puritanical distance away from her.

"Papa…" Haley pouted and whipped out the biggest puppy eyes she could muster. "Be nice to Lena!"

Alex glared at her daughter, then at Lena, who was obviously trying not to panic. Truthfully, she liked Lena. She was a good influence on Haley. But Lena dating and defiling her tiny precious baby?!?! No. Alex didn't like that, she didn't like that one bit.

Alex and Tessa had done everything they could to make sure the girls knew they loved them like their own. Haley couldn't even remember much of her old parents - probably a little bit of the court battle and media circus those two assholes put the family through, but that was it. She didn't have nearly as many issues (or require as much counseling) as her big sister did… But how she had difficulty making good attachments to people, how she bounced from fucking moron to fucking moron, was a reminder that she had really shitty birth parents that hadn't forged a loving connection to their baby. Haley never, ever, ever brought any of her previous flings around the house, knowing that Alex would disapprove (very violently). But, here she was, holding Lena's hand and asking her papa to be nice.

"Happy Yule, Lena," Alex conceded gruffly. She would always be protective of her babies…but, she supposed that Lena was a vast improvement over the nitwits her kid was usually galavanting around with.

————————-

Charlotte really needed a personal assistant.

It was Christmas Eve and they had given the staff (except for the nurses that cared for her mother in the estate) the holidays days off. Under normal circumstances, that would be fine, Charlotte was on vacation from the practice and had time to take care of household duties. But Andi was coming over and James was supposed to be taking Lucy to his parents' for Christmas and he wasn't! So now she was supposed to entertain -and- have to watch Lucy and she had never really done that before.

Maybe she wasn't really overwhelmed… No, she wasn't, she was just angry that things weren't going according to plan, and they weren't doing so because Jame's mother was a bitch. Her in-laws gave her so much guff for being a witch, and sometimes they passed that pretentious judgement over Lucy. She had already given James a piece of her mind when he suggested they raise their daughter as a mage instead of a witch a few days ago. She had a sneaking suspicion that the reason James conveniently 'forgot' to take Lucy with him to see her grandparents was because he was too scared to stand up to them.

Ugh. It wasn't fair. James' mom was a bitter old crone who would probably outlive them all while her own mother was a sweet woman who only had a limited amount of time left.

"Mommy? Can I have snack?"

Charlotte was pulled from her seething hatred for her in-laws by an adorable little one tugging at her shirt, asking her for a snack. "We're going to have dinner soon, sweetie. Mommy's friend will be here to join us and then we can eat." Dinner wasn't any sort of grand affair - a simple, traditional Winter Solstice meal that was already set out in the small dining room.

Just a few minutes after the promise of food, Charlotte heard the doorbell ring. She headed towards the foyer, Lucy trotting right off behind her. "Andi, hi," Charlotte smiled apologetically as she opened the door. Hiding behind her legs was Lucy. The little shy one clutched at her mother's pant leg as she peered up at the new stranger. "Lucy, lovey, say 'hello'," Charlotte moved to scoop up her daughter and rest her on her hip.

"Hello," Lucy parroted. Seeing the new stranger standing there dressed like Santa reminded her of something, "Mommy, are we gonna give aminals pressies?"

"Oh, sweetie, I don't know…we could do that tomorrow morning…" she looked over at Andi, silently asking if it would be alright. Lighting candles near a few of the trees and leaving edible gifts for the wildlife was common Winter Solstice tradition.
 
The kiss served as a mere distraction to turn Alice's attention away from the sweater. Syri actually liked it, really. It was comfortable and warm. Plus, seeing her sisters dressed in the same tacky attire always brought a smile to her face. Especially because it looked better on her than it did on them. She could look "dashing" while making it cute simply didn't work. But even then, she needed to distract Alice from looking at it too long for fear that it might sear its way into her mind. The last thing she wanted was for the next story featuring her to also feature the sweater. Absolutely not.

Though, judging from Alice's reaction, she might never write again. Syri watched as Alice went from passionately kissing to befuddled to mortified all in a brief span that left the adorable dragon colored a shade of crimson. She was so damn cute.

"Mhm." Syri nodded, a playful smile on her face as Alice ducked under her chin. "Every word." Every single word. As if to prove it, she even reached down and took Alice's hand, leading it to her abs. Not that the damn sweater let her feel much of anything, but the gesture accomplished what she wanted. She knew to stop there, though, only holding her hand there for a second before releasing it and pulling Alice into a loving hug.

"Truthfully, I was really happy after reading the story. I haven't been feeling so confident lately, so it was a nice boost," Syri said with a chuckle. She then kissed the top of Alice's head and stroked it softly, a gentle smile on her face.

After Alice calmed down enough to stop hiding her face, Syri leaned down and gave her another kiss on the lips. "Close your eyes and don't move," Syri whispered, smiling down at Alice until the nervous dragon did as she asked. Syri then walked around behind her, taking slow, patient steps. She took her time, intentionally so, watching as Alice struggled against her desire to open her eyes and see what was happening.

"No peeking," Syri reminded her, almost sounding amused as she walked her squirm. She only made her wait a moment longer before retrieving a necklace from a box inside her pocket and putting it around Alice's neck.

"You can open them now," she said as she leaned forward and nipped at Alice's ear. She stepped back and allowed Alice to admire the new addition around her neck.

"It's called a Lover's Heart. The stone is created with special magic that binds to someone using a drop of blood. As long as there is love between the one bound and the one wearing it, it remains a beautiful pink stone."

It was tangible proof that Alice had her heart. That she loved her, even if she often failed to find the words to express it quite so elegantly.

—————

Before they left, Lena told her that whining wouldn't make her go any faster, but Haley knew it was a lie. Whining and pouting got her anything she wanted as the youngest, and while she rarely used the tactic anymore, it still proved effective when it needed to. For instance, when her papa was being a butt to Lena! Lena looked so good and tried so hard, yet Alex refused to be nice, so Haley pulled out the pouting and the adorable chastising that sounded about as threatening as a mewling kitten.

However, despite Alex's stubborn nature, she relented, albeit gruffly. But it was enough, and it brought a bright smile from Haley's lips that seemed to satisfy her papa, even if only a little bit.

"See, approval!" And if Alex approved, Tessa would surely approve! Actually, her mom already approved. She adored Lena!

Haley hugged Lena tightly, trying not to let anyone know that she might have been the most nervous of all of them. She put on a strong front, pretending none of it bothered her, but Haley couldn't imagine the heartbreak if they didn't get along. Haley loved her family more than anything, except for Lena. She loved Lena just as much!

As they walked through the door, Haley leaned over and kissed Lena's cheek, uttering a soft "I love you" as she pulled away.

—————

Andi normally spent the holidays alone, her family not being the type to celebrate. They were nice enough people, but Andi could count the number of times she returned home after leaving for college with her fingers. More than five, less than ten, and every one of them were forgettable. They did talk, spending a few minutes here or there to catch up and make sure nobody had died, but that was about it.

But none of that stopped the energetic pastry chef from enjoying the festive season on her own, often with elaborate gingerbread creations that could be put on the cover of a magazine. Even now, when she might have been better served showing up in something more impressive, she appeared in front of Charlotte wearing a festive getup. And it couldn't have worked out any better.

Andi had no idea that Charlotte had a child, much less such an adorable little girl, but the moment she saw them standing there together, her heart melted. She looked exactly like Charlotte. Well, a tiny version that was adorable beyond belief, but still, very similar.

After glancing at the tiny one for a moment, Andi looked back up at Charlotte, a bright smile blossoming on her face. "Charlotte. What a lovely surprise."

Andi watched the little one clutch at her mother's leg, practically melting as she obediently greeted her after a gentle reminder from Charlotte. And then, as if wanting to prove that she was even more adorable still, she talked about giving the aminals pressies! Andi had to stop herself from rushing forward and pinching a cheek.

"Wait until tomorrow? How can we do that?" Andi asked, clearly playing it up as she smiled at Lucy and then looked over at Charlotte. "Why don't I go put all these goodies in the kitchen, then we can go feed the animals? What do you say?" she asked, turning back to Lucy at that point.

Andi was determined to make a good impression on both of them, but she focused entirely on Lucy while the little girl was awake. They went and fed the animals, then returned to the house and had dinner. After that, Andi let the little girl have any dessert she wanted, within reason, from the batch of goodies she brought with her. She even showed off a few tricks, entertaining skillfully until a few hours went by and small yawns started to escape that tiny mouth.

"Good night, Lucy." Andi waved to the little girl as Charlotte took her upstairs to put her to bed. She said it wouldn't take long, clearly estimating that they wouldn't even make it through a full story before the tiny one set off to dreamland. But Andi didn't care either way. She simply waved goodnight and then went over and plopped down on the couch, a content smile on her face as she looked toward the staircase.

The reason Andi found herself in such a good mood primarily had to do with spending the evening with her beautiful crush and the most adorable tiny thing she had ever seen. However, there was more to it than that. Andi also had a smile plastered on her face because she realized something after spending the evening with them. She realized that Charlotte wasn't happy with her engagement. If anything, it seemed like she was only doing it for Lucy. And at the thought of that, not only was Andi not disheartened, but she found herself unable to stop smiling. Because to her, that meant there was a chance. A chance she never dared imagine. Well, maybe a little.
 
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