#anyways also personally i love cait most shes my girl would die for her probably im rotating her around in my head like a microwave

[song-tam]

re: the arcane ask you just sent quil. i feel compelled to share this exchange i JUST had with my friend

me when i’m. me when i’m predictable as fuck

LOSER. youre the opposite of nonchalant and mysterious

[mercurryblack]

Chapter 10: Hattie

The night is but young.

❃❃❃

“Are you done yet? Are you done yet?” Hattie asked, squirming as she repeated her question for what seemed like the thousandth time.

“For the thousandth time, no, I’m not done yet. Stupid three thousand word count.” Cait groaned, slouched over their desk. “I swear, the day I graduate, I’m gonna kick Professor Rook square in the junk… boring old bastard… ”

“Sorry, time’s getting away from me.” Hattie apologized. “You’re still using that trick I told you about?”

Cait shrugged. “Even if I don’t count it as I go, it still feels like I’m never gonna finish it.”

The two had been spending the entire evening in their dorm room; Cait had been working on their assignment since the moment the Armilde sisters had left, and Hattie had been trying to keep herself busy by dusting, staring outside, dusting again, and even going as far as to read a lesson they hadn’t yet covered in class.

Tossing the Modern Remnant History textbook to her side, Hattie fell back on her bed spread-eagled, disappointed at the evening so far. She regretted how she had never really fostered a social life outside of Haven Academy— or much less her team, for that matter.

She had grown up as a ward of the underground Sisterhood, mostly keeping to herself and her small collection of fairytale books back then. Having dwelled for so long down in the habitable mine tunnels that the Sisterhood called home, she had recently found herself wanting to explore the world outside more often, if only to make up for lost time.

Those extracurricular lessons with Professor Gormlaith don’t count, she mentally noted.

Hattie didn’t have many friends, either— ironically, the happy-go-lucky girl could be a lot more introverted than extroverted at times. She knew a few students in their year by name, but not enough to warrant anything closer than a “hello” in the hallways. Plus, she didn’t find it to be much fun going out without her friends, which essentially consisted of LLAC and pretty much nobody else.

Well, there is CMYK, she thought to herself, remembering the team of now-second-years that they had tutored in the previous semester. I bet ol’ Mallow or Kara would have been free at this hour… but they’re all over in Vale helping with the set-up for the Vytal Festival, lucky dogs.

And since Lillian and Amaryllis were out doing their own things, she was left cooped up with Cait, who had been taking their time in writing an essay she had already finished.

“…Don’t you have anywhere else to go, Hattie?” Cait asked, glancing over their shoulder.

Hattie turned, wilting slightly as she did. “Should I leave you alone?”

“Nah, it’s not that.” Cait replied. “I just don’t want you to feel stuck here with me, y’know? You could go if you wanted to.”

Hattie shrugged. “Yeah, but I don’t really wanna. I’d prefer to wait for you rather than leave by myself.”

“Fair. Are we going somewhere after I’m done, anyways?” Cait said, turning back to their writing.

“I don’t know. I mean, Ammy said we can come down to her boyfriend’s family’s charity event, but it sounds kinda formal.” Hattie said, then shook her head. “I’m not in the mood for formal tonight.”

“So you don’t have a plan for this evening?” Cait inquired.

“I was kinda hoping you had that part sorted out,” she said with a lopsided smile. Having hung out with them the most, Hattie had always left the ideas up to Cait— they did always know where to go for a fun time. Also, she tended to worry that she’d make a big plan and it would turn out to be a flop.

Lost for any follow-up, she wondered aloud, “What do you think Detective Yuen and the old guys are up to now?”

“Probably living their nice and worry-free adult life.” Cait said sarcastically.

“Do you think we should give them a call? You know, check up on them?”

“Nah. I’m sure they’re doing fine on their own for one night.”

Hattie grabbed her Scroll from the far edge of her bed and waved at Cait, sticking out her tongue. “I’m gonna do it anyways! What if they’ve finally found the bad guys or something?”

Cait rolled their eyes. “Whatever you say…”

***

Sardion paced back and forth in Yuen’s office, his gaze fixed on the vinyl floor. The day had been yet another bust— Rudyard had hung back at Yaara’s house, while Sardion and Yuen, with little else to do, had returned to the precinct.

“I’m just saying, don’t you think we should give LLAC a call?” Yuen suggested. “They’re part of this investigation too, and we could really use some help right now. Plus, they might see something we’ve overlooked.”

“They’re having a night off, Yuen. I’m sure they have better things to do.” Sardion replied. “You don’t want to tire the young’uns out before they even graduate, right?”

“Maybe.” Yuen sighed. “Hear anything from Rudyard?” 

“Not yet, but he said he’d call if he found anything to go on.”

***

Rudyard stared up to the inky heavens, taking in the starry night sky from Yaara’s old lawn chair, a half-empty bottle of beer loosely grasped in his fingertips.

In the backyard of her humble home, the Huntress had cultivated a small flower garden. In the back of his mind, Rudyard reflected on the visits he had paid her, how she had meticulously tended to them every day; thoroughly watering them, rooting out any weeds, gently humming while she kept her garden impeccable.

Now, seeing as their owner had been dead for a week, the garden had slowly begun to die as well. The bright petals and leaves of the flowers had begun to fade and wilt from a lack of water, and weeds had taken over a small patch of dandelions.

Rudyard rose to pick up a rusty old watering can on the back veranda, then filled it up with a nearby hose. As he let the water trickle down onto the garden’s parched soil, he let out a long sigh— after all she had done for him, it was the least he could do. Eventually emptying the can, he opted to go back inside, as the night air started to grow colder.

Searching for a spot where the police hadn’t tagged or taped anything of interest, he made himself comfortable in a reclining chair in her personal study. Looking around, a single book lying on her desk caught his eye, the tip of a torn sheaf of paper stuck in the pages halfway through. The title on the cover read Eternal Blue Sky, luminescent gold font on a pastel blue background.

“Of course.” Rudyard chuckled to himself. “You would have hated this, Yaara, leaving a book unfinished.” Absentmindedly, he picked up the book and opened it up to the bookmarked page.

He paused.

Written on the scrap of paper in what was unmistakably Yaara’s handwriting was a short message; 1100 apr 23 for further details - stored on hosaki comm log 1138.

“April…?” Rudyard muttered, squinting at the writing. He remembered that April 21st had been the starting date of the last mission on her and Berilo’s record, and it had been marked as remaining within city limits.

He had never heard of a place called “Hosaki” anywhere in Mistral City.

Frowning, he tucked the sheaf of paper into his pocket and rose from the chair, reaching into his pocket. “Wonder what Yuen’ll make of this.”

He paused, fingers fumbling inside an empty pocket.

“…Where’d I put my Scroll?”

***

“Do you know of any other places they might have escaped to?” Sardion asked as he took a closer look at the map of Mistral spread over Yuen’s desk, doing his best to focus despite his inner restlessness slowly clouding his mind.

“Besides the forest, nothing, and if that’s the case then they’re likely long gone by now.” Yuen said, leaning back in her chair. “Maybe the Manju-Shage District, but I doubt it. The whole thing’s cordoned off by a tripwired security fence. There’s no way someone could’ve broken in without us knowing about it.” She continued, tapping her fingers against the armrests in mild frustration.

“Well, maybe they could’ve snuck in, if they had the right Semblance for the job. At this point, I’m ready to try anything if it means we might find a lead,” Sardion paused, sharply exhaling, “Any step we take, no matter how small, is at least a bit closer to the whoever’s behind this.”

“True.” Yuen said, glancing up at him. “After all, there’ve been times that thugs occasionally get the great idea to break in and squat there, to lay low or whatever… you want to check it out, just in case?”

“Might as well. I’ve already got my weapon on me.” Sardion shrugged. “I’ll call up Rudyard first, see if he’s up for it.” He pulled out his Scroll and sent a call to Rudyard’s contact.

Bzzzzz. Bzzzzz. A small buzzing hum came from beneath a stack of papers on the right of Yuen’s desk. The Huntsman and the detective exchanged confused looks, before realizing what was making the noise.

“Oh, for the love of…” Sardion muttered, sticking his hand underneath the stack and pulling out a Scroll— Rudyard’s own. “Perfect time to forget this, you freakin’ cueball…” He stuck his Scroll back in his jacket and tossed Rudyard’s onto Yuen’s desk.

“Okay, well, that’s a bust… like I said before, we could call up LLAC.” Yuen suggested.

Sardion was inclined to disagree with her, given that it had been the students’ night off— calling them in for duty at such an hour wouldn’t be the most gracious move. However, he figured that they’d best bring some backup, if only to cover more ground if nothing else.

“Alright, go for it.” he said.

Yuen took out her Scroll and pulled up Lillian’s contact. “Here goes. Hope for the best.”

***

“Why do I always have to be the one to make the food?” Rosario asked, swinging her now-empty basket from one hand as she walked alongside Lillian down the cliffside path.

“You’re a great cook, and I can’t even season my food correctly.” Lillian replied. “Do you remember the last time when I tried to make instant ramen unsupervised?”

“Point.” Rosario said. “You did literally set a pot of water on fire. I’m no scientist, but I’m pretty certain that violates every law of thermodynamics that there is.”

Lillian nodded. “See?”

“Riiiight.” Rosario drawled. “Imagine what adult life would be like. Every night, it’ll just be me greeting you, ‘Welcome home, mi amor! What do you want first? Dinner? A bath? Me?’ And then you’ll go, ‘I’ll have you for dinner in the bath!’”

“I know you’re trying to make fun of me, but you’re drooling, Rosario.” Lillian said, giving her girlfriend a flat stare.

Rosario flushed red, wiping the corner of her mouth. “I am not.”

Lillian snorted.

***

“Damnit, her Scroll’s turned off.” Yuen groaned. “Her sister’s offline as well.”

“Thought so. They have private lives too, you know.” Sardion shrugged, slinging his coat over his shoulders. “C’mon, might as well see if any airships are available and just get this over with.”

Yuen rose from her chair. “Fine. I’ll leave them a message if we do find anything.” Just as she was about to follow Sardion out, her Scroll suddenly vibrated in her coat.

The profile picture that displayed the caller wasn’t Lillian— rather, it was the Lazuli kid calling her.

It’s something, I guess. Yuen thought to herself, swiping to accept the call.

“…Hey, Detective Yuen.” Hattie chirped up on the other end.” How’s it going? It’s Hattie from, uh, Team LLAC. Uhm, we just wanted to check in, and—” She continued, stumbling slightly over her words.

“As a matter of fact, I’m glad you called.” Yuen replied. “Listen, Sardion and I are going to investigate a possible lead down in the old Manju-Shage District, and your help would be very much appreciated.” She hesitated before continuing. “That is, if you’re not already preoccupied.”

***

On the other end of the line, Hattie’s face lit up as she heard Yuen’s invitation. For the moment, she managed to suppress the urge to whoop and cheer out of deference to the still-working Cait. “Nononono, no problem. We’ll be there right away, Detective,” she said, struggling to contain her excitement as she ended the call.

It took her a few seconds before she was able to produce words, since all that was coming out of her mouth were muffled joyful squeaks. “…Cait?”

“Gimme a sec.” Cait replied, holding up a finger.

Hattie paused, her smile falling slightly.

“Cait.” she repeated, her tone becoming  normal.

“Wait, I’m almost done.” Cait said, focused on their computer’s monitor.

“Cait!” Hattie repeated for a third time, her voice rising slightly as she grew irked by their dismissal.

“I said wait, Hattie.” Cait said, still not turning around. “…’Make sure to provide footnotes along with citations’? Aw, what the hell’s the point of that?” they muttered to themself as they reviewed their essay.

Hattie scowled darkly, thoroughly annoyed at the brush-off. After a moment, she tiptoed up next to her teammate’s shoulder and leaned in towards their ear as close as possible.

“CAAAAAAAAAAAIT!” she screamed.

“AUUUUUUUGH!” Cait screeched, jumping up from their seat in shock as they spun around to face her. Their brow contorted, startled and frustrated at the girl’s outburst.

“WHAT?!” they snapped.

Hattie’s expression morphed into a tooth-bared cheshire grin, her attempt at emulating Cait’s own habit.

“I know what we’re gonna do tonight~♪.”

[agentmarymargaretskitz]

The Decoy Bride Snowlily AU for @jewishraypalmer​. I hope you enjoy!

(AO3, Fanfiction)

Lily sighed as she lowered her phone and stopped the recording. No one who came to the island was going to care about the toilets in here. Not even the haunted cow stall would motivate someone to visit. Maybe this guidebook was an utter waste of time.

The sounds of someone running and breathing heavily started to echo inside the structure. Quickly, Lily dashed into the haunted cow stall and shut the door. A person’s footsteps hitting the stones beneath their feet told her they were inside. Swearing in her head, Lily peered over to catch the sight of someone in a raincoat facing away from her. If it was Nate again, she’d be furious. She crept over to an exposed pipe with a terrible idea half planned in her head.

“Moooooo,” she hummed into the pipe, listening to the sound bounce around the room.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice called out. “Someone there?”

Lily stayed silent. That was definitely not Nate.

“I know you’re here, because that sound absolutely nothing like a real cow.”

“Dammit,” Lily thought as she pushed open the door of the cow stall. “Sorry about that. I thought you were someone else.

The woman turned around. A copy of The Ornithologist's Wife was clutched close to her chest. Her brown hair was plastered against the front of her raincoat. Bright brown eyes shined as she let out a small laugh. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you.”

“No, you weren’t barging in,” Lily shook her head. “I was pretending to be the ghost of this cow, even though ghosts aren’t even real. But the person I thought you were believes in them, and he’s kind of been annoying lately to me, so, ah, yeah.”

“I’ve been there before,” the woman replied. “Erm, am I on private property or something?”

“Oh,” Lily shook her head. “Oh, no. This isn’t even close to where I live. Not that I don’t have a bathroom or anything at my home. I’m just here doing...stuff. Research stuff that is not on ghosts.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Lily smiled. “There’s not a whole lot to tell here anyways. You can tell the rest of the people at the marketing conference that this isn’t all that special. The cow ghost is just a myth.”

“Marketing conference,” the woman nodded. “Yes, that’s what I’m here for. Are you one of the locals?”

“Yes,” Lily stuck out her hand to her. “I’m Lily. And you are?”

“Uhh...Cait,” she replied, taking her hand and giving it a little shake. “I think I’ve gotten a little lost wandering around.”

“If you’re following that book, I’m not shocked,” Lily pointed to The Ornithologist’s Wife. “You would not believe how inaccurate that is. The writer is completely clueless about this place.”

Cait gave a forced smile. “Have you ever read it?”

“It’s the only book written about the island, so anyone here who can read has read it,” Lily told her. “Not that they enjoyed it. The book club gave it only four stars.”

“Not that bad,” Cait brushed off.

“Out of ten.”

“Oh. Tough crowd then.”

Lily shook her head. “Not so much a tough crowd. More like frustration over a dragging plot and the worst, most soulless love story ever. I mean, how could she settle for the first man who gets thrown her way after all that tragedy and trauma she went through with her first love? I’m almost hoping that the author’s promise of more books never comes to be.”

“Or maybe the author’s just really blocked?” Cait offered.

“Maybe,” Lily shrugged. “Look, just tell me where you need to go, and I’ll help you get there. Can’t have you sticking your nose in that book following an inaccurate map and then go plunging to your death off a cliff now.”

She had never babbled this much in front of a pretty girl before. But Cait smiled easily at her.

“I’d rather not die, so I think I’ll take you up on your noble offer.”

“What do you mean ‘kind of missing’?” Leonard Snart demanded.

Sara Lance sighed. “I went back to see where Lisa was and I couldn’t find her. What I did find was a pair of binoculars from which I could see that annoying photographer through.”

Leonard groaned. All he wanted was for his sister to have her happy day without it getting ruined by the paparazzi. “So she’s gone and Ramon is here. Now what do we do?”

“We have to do something to get rid of him,” Sara reminded him. “He’s not going to leave unless he gets a picture of the bride.”

“Then we’ll give it to him,” Leonard replied as a plan came to him. “What if we use a decoy to make Ramon think it’s Lisa so he thinks he has his photo? Once he’s gone, we bring in the real Lisa and she can marry Caitlin and they can have their peaceful wedding.”

“I love it,” Sara grinned. “Should we tell Caitlin?”

“No, she’ll go looking all over for Lisa if we do. Just go to the village and see if you can find a good stand-in. Meanwhile, I’m going to see if I can find Trainwreck.”

Lily frowned at Lisa Snart’s agent. “Are you serious about this?”

“As a heart attack,” Sara Lance promised. “You just have to pretend to be Ms. Snart for an hour tops. Then you can go on with your life.”

“How the hell is her fiancee going to believe that?” Lily muttered as she fidgeted in the wedding dress. “I can barely walk in these heels! You don’t think that’ll tip her off.”

“Act like your life depends on it,” Sara instructed. “Because I assure you, Ms. Snart’s private life really does depend on how well you sell this.”

Lily held back a groan. She reminded herself that the money would be worth it for her parents to finally get off the island and see the world. First she just had to get through this ridiculous affair.

Caitlin had known something was wrong when Lisa had said her vows, but she hadn’t expected the cute local from the toilets to be underneath the veil. Now she heard that her fiancee was missing on the island. Even worse, the paparazzi had flocked to the island and surrounded them in the castle. But to top it all off, she was locked in the honeymoon suite with Lily by Leonard and Sara.

“So is this how Hollywood does it?” Lily asked as she peered into one of the gift bags. “Gift bags at our own wedding.”

“I’m marrying Lisa Snart, not you,” Caitlin snapped. “This was probably her brother’s idea for the bags. The theme...that was her, I’ll admit that.”

“The Ornithologist’s Wife?” Lily clapped a hand over her mouth that did nothing to hide her snigger. “Is this all the copies of your books on the bookshelf? Where’s the variety? That’s what makes a bookshelf so great in the first place.”

“You snob,” Caitlin muttered.

“Says the lady whose fiancee’s brother has gift bags for them,” Lily shot back as she thumbed through one of the copies of Caitlin’s novel. “Also, no reason for alarm, but did you sign your name on the registrar?”

She nodded. “Of course. I thought I was marrying Lisa, after all. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I might have signed my own name in all the confusion,” Lily admitted hesitantly, glancing down at her ring.

Caitlin’s eyes widened as she realized what that meant. She looked down at the wedding ring on her own hand and shook her head. “Oh no.”

“Uh oh,” the local girl gulped. “This is definitely not how I pictured I’d finally be getting married.”

“Me neither,” Caitlin murmured. “Oh god, what do we do?”

“Well, we’re locked in a turret together,” Lily said. “We don’t know how long we’ll be here, but we have champagne, cake, a tub, and numerous copies of your terrible book. How about we try to get to know each other until we get a divorce?”

Caitlin grabbed one of the champagne bottles. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Just stay there. I’ll get someone to come back and get you out.”

“Not a chance!” Lily said as she fumbled with the rope. The stupid fake nails were getting caught in it. “Oh come on alre-”

She didn’t get to finish her sentence before she pulled her hand free and toppled backwards. Caitlin called out as she hit the water with a splash. Her voice became muffled as Lily sank below the surface. The fabric billowed up around her. She tried to kick her legs and swim upward but something held her back.

Lily couldn’t see what was happening. Every time she tried to push the fabric down, it just floated back up. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst and she still couldn’t pull herself free. This was not the way she wanted to go. She was going to end up a local legend just like the damn cow in the toilets.

The next thing she knew, someone was pulled her free. Lily sucked in as much air as possible when her head broke the surface. She glanced over to see Caitlin holding onto her as she swam them over to the shore. They both climbed onto the grass, sopping wet in their wedding dresses.

Caitlin was the first to speak. “You got the bottom of the dress wet.”

So did you,” Lily panted back.

They stared at each other for a few more seconds before both breaking out into laughter.

“Quills?” Lily asked as she turned back around after pulling off the soaking wet dress.

Caitlin blushed as she looked down at the pattern on her underwear. “Lisa gave it to me last Christmas. She thought it was cute and could spark some inspiration for my block.”

“I like it,” the local girl nodded as she passed her a towel to dry off with.

Caitlin wrapped it around herself and looked around the small kitchen they were in. There was a poster for a band on one of the walls. The members were all dressed in bad seventies clothing.

“Yikes,” she cringed. “That’s a special kind of seventies right there.”

Lily followed her gaze and smirked. “My parents and a few friends started that band. They performed at a few festivals.”

“Oh,” the author blushed. “I didn’t know.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Lily shook her head. “I’ve heard their music. It was terrible. Do you want something hot?”

Caitlin nodded. “After walking back here in that wind, I don’t think there’s anything I want more.”

“Me too,” Lily said as she filled a kettle.

Caitlin grabbed a blanket to replace the towel. “I’m sorry, by the way. I was an utter bitch at the castle.”

“I was too,” Lily replied. “I insulted your book to your face there, and back when we first met. I’m really sorry.”

“You were right about the book though,” Caitlin told her. “The romance is just tactless and flimsy. I threw someone into my character’s life without letting her recover first from someone she’d loved for years.”

Lily put the kettle on the stove. “I don’t know if I’m someone to trust for romantic advice since I have a tendency to chase off every girl or guy I meet. Basically, I’m walking relationship kryptonite.”

“Somehow I find that hard to believe,” Caitlin murmured. “Or at least I do now that I know you better.”

“Then you’re the first,” Lily replied. “Oddly enough, being married is a whole lot more bearable now. Maybe it’s knowing that you’ll eventually leave me for another woman. A much prettier, taller, talented woman.”

“You’re talented too,” Caitlin reassured her. “Just in a different way. Height doesn’t matter so much to me. But you are just as pretty as her. All you need to do is wait for the right man or woman.”

Lily picked up a spoon. “I’m hoping they can appreciate my ability to do this then.”

Caitlin watched as the local girl breathed on the spoon and balanced it on her nose. She couldn’t help but giggle.

“Well, that’s one thing you can do that Lisa cannot,” she admitted.

“I look ridiculous.”

“Hey, isn’t vintage supposed to be fashionable?” Lily asked as the author gave a little twirl.

“Cute vintage is,” Caitlin muttered. “I’m not so sure this stuff is. How do your parents still have all this?”

“They kept everything from the band days,” Lily shrugged as she shrugged on her cardigan.

The front door to the house suddenly opened and shut. “Lily!”

Lily tensed at the sound of her mother’s voice. “Mom?”

“Mom?” Caitlin mouthed.

“Pack your things, we’re getting off this rock,” Clarissa Stein announced as she came down the hallway. “Your father’s booking tickets on the ferry. We have the money to go and see the world finally. Or at least enough to get me to my volcano….”

Clarissa trailed off as she saw Caitlin standing in the center of the kitchen. “Are those the clothes from your father and I’s band?”

“Uh-huh,” Lily nodded.

Clarissa turned from Caitlin to Lily. “Who is this? What���s going on?”

“I’m her wife,” Caitlin offered. “Caitlin.”

“Her wife?” Clarissa raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “Sweetheart, you promised you’d invite your father and I to your wedding.”

“This wasn’t planned,” Lily shook her head. “My turn. Mom, why are we getting off the island?”

“Oh, Lisa Snart made us throw the money we got for sharing her story off a cliff. But she promises to pay for us to travel. Right now she’s waiting at Cathedral Cove for her fiancee Caitlin Snow to meet her so they can get married.”

Lily looked back at Caitlin, feeling her heart sink. She’d almost forgotten about Lisa. In the time she’d spent with her, she’d really started to fall for her. Now she was going to lose someone she truly cared about. Just her luck that she finally found a girl who seemed to accept her only to lose her to someone she was supposed to marry.

Caitlin, however, was looking at them in disgust. “Did you tell everyone about the wedding just to get money out of Lisa?”

“No, no, no,” Lily shook her head. “It’s not-”

“And did you pretend to care about me just for your own entertainment?” Caitlin accused.

“Of course not!”

Caitlin stormed away from her and out the back door.

Lily lowered her arms to her sides with a heavy sigh.

Clarissa covered her mouth. “Lily, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry,” Lily swallowed. “I would have lost her anyways.”

“No, dear,” her mother shook her head. “Can I give you a piece of advice that someone gave to your father before he started dating me?”

Lily nodded.

“Go after her.”

She ducked her head and smiled.

Clarissa shook her head. “No, I mean it, Lily. Go!”

“I have to tell you something.”

Caitlin looked back at Lily. She was still pissed off from earlier in the house, but soon they’d be divorced and she wouldn’t have to deal with her feelings being toyed with. Now, they had to stick it out so they could get their divorce and go their own ways.

“My parents sold your story, not me,” Lily explained. “They never intended blackmail. All they wanted to do was fix up the B&B and go see the world before they die. That’s why they did it. I had no clue.”

Caitlin looked back to her as they walked past the public restrooms where they first met. “Is that the truth?”

“Yeah.”

Before she could reply, Caitlin spotted a group of photographers coming up over the hill. Inhaling quickly, she grabbed Lily’s hand and dragged her into the stone dwelling. They hid in the famed haunted cow stall and shut the door. A few minutes later, they heard the paparazzi’s voices complaining about the inaccuracies in The Ornithologist’s Wife. Caitlin stifled a laugh at that as Lily grinned wickedly. With a wink, she threw up her jacket’s hood.

“INCOMERS!” she shrieked loudly as she threw the stall door open and strode out. “INCOMERS!”

Caitlin listened as her wife gave a dramatic performance while banging two metal objects together. The photographers were stunned by her at first. However, Lily’s offer to throw another puffin on the griddle for them chased off in the end. Once they were gone, Caitlin emerged from the stall.

“Griddled puffin?”

Lily shrugged. “First thing that came to mind.”

Caitlin laughed. “So can we call this our first home?”

“Ugh, I’d rather call that tacky turret and its fake walls our first home.”

“That was a suite, darling.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Still better than a smelly bathroom, dearest.”

“Go back to Sam and sort it out. He loves you. It’s better when people love you back.”

“So do you love her?”

Lily looked from Rosa to Caitlin. When did her life get so complicated?

Instead of answering, she grabbed Caitlin’s hand and pulled her along. “Come on. We still need to get a divorce.”

Caitlin walked beside her. Lily noticed she hadn’t pulled her hand away.

Eventually, the duo ran into Lily’s father as he was coming back to the B&B. As soon as she heard Lily’s father had been a rabbi, Caitlin asked him if he happened to know anything about the divorce procedure.

“Why do you want to get divorced?”

“Because she’s engaged to Lisa Snart,” Lily sighed next to Caitlin.

“She’s that actress, right?” Martin Stein asked as he put his tickets into his pocket.

“Yes, Dad,” Lily nodded. “She’s beautiful and talented and unique and incredible and generous and modest and nice.”

Caitlin noticed that all of the things Lily had just used to describe were exactly how she’d described her fiancee earlier, word for word.

Martin frowned. “But she married you.”

“Yeah,” Lily shrugged. “An ordinary girl from a tiny island. I’m like a match compared to Lisa’s bonfire.”

“You’re not ordinary,” Caitlin scoffed. “And you are so much more than a match, Lily Stein.”

“It doesn’t matter how many good things you are,” Martin said. “That actress could be Miss Universe and still be wrong for someone.”

Caitlin felt like his words were directed straight at her. She reddened and looked down shyly.

“Weddings are like sunsets,” Martin continued. “The romance of a moment, if you will. Marriage is the sea into which the red sun sets.”

“That’s sweet, Dad,” Lily complimented. “But the thing is we got married by mistake”

Caitlin shook her head in agreement. “Not exactly the best situation for an enduring romance.”

“Well,” Martin thought for a moment. “The paperwork you’d need would need to be ferried out here or you two would have to go to the mainland. However, there is something that could work.”

“And that is?”

“In the early days of the island, there was a family that stole women to be their wives along with a sheep or three. However, if a woman was reclaimed before consummation, the marriage didn’t count. Fortunately for you two, that still exists in the local law. As long as we make it to Cathedral Cove before sunset, then Caitlin can marry Ms. Snart as was originally planned...if that’s what you both truly want.”

Caitlin looked over at Lily before turning back to Martin. “How long before the sun goes down?”

“I’d give it a good half hour,” Martin told them. “But we better start going. I can officiate the true ceremony between Caitlin and Ms. Snart if needed.”

Caitlin smiled gratefully. “That’d be wonderful.”

“Ah, thank you, Dad,” Lily sighed. “You’re a hero.”

Martin smiled and shook his head. “But, erm, you two haven’t…”

“No!” Caitlin and Lily shrieked at the same time.

“How do you know you’ve found the one?” Lily asked as they waited for her father to get the materials he’d need to marry Lisa and Caitlin, which was something Lily was trying not to dwell on.

Caitlin pursed her lips as she looked for the best description. “You know you love someone when any good love song fits how you feel about them.”

“So that’s what happens when you’re with Lisa? All those love songs are how you feel?”

The author nodded. “In a survey of one thousand people, ninety-seven percent of them said they saw Lisa as their ideal partner. That’s both men and women, by the way. If Lisa Snart is falling in love with you and you like girls, then it’s more than likely she’s the one. If you can’t find yourself happy with her, then can you find yourself happy with anyone else?”

Lily chewed her lip. “That’s a pretty narrow mindset.”

“Take it from the woman who kept losing love before she met Lisa,” Caitlin replied. “It’s true.”

“Are you sure about it though?” Lily asked her as her father came out of the house.

Caitlin remained silent as Martin walked over to them.

“Are you two certain about this?” he said hesitantly. “Lily, it seems like you’ve really found your match here with Caitlin.”

“She loves Lisa, Dad,” Lily corrected, not letting herself look at her wife. “I can’t let her be unhappy.”

Martin sighed. “Then let’s do this. Come along, you two.”

“Do you, Caitlin Rose Snow, take Lily Rosalind Stein as your lawful wedded wife?

Caitlin glanced over at Lily and swallowed the lump in her throat before choking out. “I do not.”

Lily’s father turned to his daughter. “And do you, Lily Rosalind Stein, take Caitlin Rose Snow as your lawfully wedded wife?”

“No,” Lily shook her head. Caitlin wasn’t sure if it was the sea spray from behind them, but she thought her eyes looked bit wet.

“Then I ask you two to remove your rings as a sign that you are no longer married.”

Caitlin slipped off her ring slowly. It didn’t feel right to be taking it off. Two days ago she wouldn’t have felt like this at all. But now she’d met Lily and things had gone upside down. Looking up at Lisa, she set the ring down, telling herself not to snatch it back up and stick it on her finger again.

“I’ll let you say your goodbyes, and then I’ll perform the marriage ceremony between you and Ms. Snart,” Martin told them. “Caitlin, however brief it was, it was a pleasure to have you as a daughter-in-law.”

Caitlin smiled as he walked over towards Lisa. Then she turned to Lily.

“So I guess this is it,” she murmured.

The local girl chuckled. “I guess so. Good luck with Lisa, Caitlin.”

“Thank you,” Caitlin smiled. “You’ll find someone one day, Lily Stein. I know it.”

She turned and began to walk away. It didn’t feel good, but this was how it had to be, right?

“Caitlin, wait!”

Caitlin looked around as Lily took a few steps towards her.

“If things don’t work out with Lisa, although I hope they do,” she called over the surf. “But I think she’s the one who gave you writer’s block. Even though ninety-seven percent of people say she’s their ideal partner, maybe you’re in the three percent who aren’t meant to be with her. Could that not be impossible?”

Doubt started to cloud her mind. Caitlin shook her head to try and clear the thoughts, but they persisted. Things had gotten so complex now and she’d never stopped to think about it. She hadn’t wanted to lose love again, so she’d done everything to keep Lisa when the actress fell in love with her.

The author walked back to her ex-wife and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

“I know,” Lily nodded. “I’m sorry, I was rambling. I know I’m just one chapter or one minor character, not the whole book.”

Caitlin opened her mouth to respond, but then caught sight of wandering paparazzi. Lily peered over her shoulder and saw them too. When she turned back to Caitlin, her face was set in determination.

“Go. I’ll keep them away from you.”

Caitlin couldn’t move.

“Caitlin, you have to go.”

Caitlin finally moved away and followed after Lily’s father and Lisa. As she got further away, she heard Lily tell the photographers that Lisa wasn’t getting married in the castle, but was now going to get married in the haunted toilets. She felt herself smile as she navigated down the stone pathway to the beach. Lisa grinned as soon as she saw her.

“Hey,” her fiancee greeted her as she walked forward. “You made it.”

“I did,” Caitlin took a deep breath. “Lisa, we need to talk.”

One year later

Lily pulled her suitcase behind her as she walked through the town. The old B&B was under new management. Her parents had gotten to travel the world and ended up settling down for good at one of the places they’d visited. They had managed to get their affairs in order, and Lily had stayed behind to make sure everything got wrapped up properly.

In the window of the shop she used to work at, Lily smiled as Nate set out copies of her guidebook to the island in the window. Since the Lisa Snart incident, tourists had started to flock to the island more and more. Her book was a success and drew a nice profit for herself. She was planning to use that money to go to Central City. Apparently STAR Labs was hiring now, so she could finally put her degree in nanotechnology to good use rather than relying on her English minor she’d gotten on a whim.

Next to her book were copies of The Ornithologist’s Wife, as well as Caitlin Snow’s latest novel. She had published it a few months back, and it had since found its way to the island. This book was much better than her first, or so Lily had heard. She hadn’t quite brought herself to read it yet. But she had heard that Caitlin dedicated it to Lisa.

Lily kept walking, saying a few goodbyes to some of the residents she was close too. When she boarded her boat, she watched the pier go by her, knowing it would soon fade off. But then she saw someone getting off another boat and climbing the ladder to the pier. Lily’s eyes widened as she recognized Caitlin Snow.

“Hello!” she shouted over the wind.

Caitlin turned at the sound of her voice and smiled. “Hey!”

“Long time no see,” Lily called as Caitlin climbed to the top to look back at her.

“No kidding,” Caitlin laughed as she walked along the pier. “I was hoping our first meeting would go a bit more casual.”

“Caitlin, I don’t mean to be rude, but…” Lily flung up her arms. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been trying to get your attention in all the normal conventional ways,” Caitlin shouted back. “I called, emailed, and anything else to try and contact you.”

“Sorry, I’ve been helping my parents move,” she apologized.

“Oh,” Caitlin had run out of pier and was now at the very edge. “Have you read my new book?”

Lily shook her head. “I haven’t had the time, but the book club gave it a seven and half this time.”

“Lily, you should really read the book though,” Caitlin leaned far out against the railing. “There’s a dedication.”

“To Lisa, I know.”

“No,” the author shook her head, pushing her brown hair away from her face. “It’s not! It’s not, Lily!”

Lily turned around as one of the other passengers pulled the copy of Caitlin’s book from her bag and flipped it open. “It says ‘To my wife. A chapter can be a book.’ Strange. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I might know,” Lily whispered as she began to smile as she approached the captain. “Rosa, I need to go back!”

Caitlin hurried forward as soon as Lily stepped off the boat. Lily was beaming at her and wrapped her in a hug immediately. Caitlin could smell the sweetness of her perfume that she still remembered from a year ago in the toilets. When they stepped back, Caitlin knew it was her turn to explain.

“Lisa and I talked and we realized that maybe we weren’t going to work out,” Caitlin explained. “We didn’t go through with the ceremony. All we did make the press think that we got married.”

Lily shook her head. “Neither of you had to say a thing, did you?”

“Nope,” Caitlin confirmed, noticing that Lily now held a copy of her book.

Lily followed her gaze and shrugged. “It’s Rosa’s copy.”

“Rosa as in the woman who proclaimed her love for you and tried to fight me for it?”

“The very same,” Lily nodded. “She and Sam worked their issues out though.”

“That’s good,” Caitlin smiled “I was hoping you’d have read the book when I found you. There’s a character I created in there that reminds me a lot of you. But now I hope you read it some day.”

“Maybe you could tell me what it’s about?” Lily suggested.

Caitlin smirked. “Well, it’s about a really foolish woman who makes a terrible choice or four and it costs her someone brilliant from her life. But it shows her coming to realize that as she tries to move forward, she wants to do so with that person at her side.”

Lily blushed and ducked her head.

“They do say to write about what you know,” Caitlin smiled. “Believe me, I could relate to that woman in so many ways, and not just because I set it in the years following World War I.”

“Does she finally decide to come back to that person?” Lily asked.

“Normally, I’ll tell anyone else to read the book,” Caitlin replied. “But just this one time, I’ll spoil it and tell you that she does.”

“I think I’ll read it then,” Lily told her. “Or better yet, maybe we can live it out, if you’d like that.”

“I’d love to,” Caitlin smiled as she drew a little closer.

Lily got the signal and met her lips halfway.