#i remember discovering them randomly when it was very late and i was starving

[eternalnight8806-3]

A Very Feudal Christmas

OMG OMG OMG I MADE IT!

Ok, dear anon, I am so sorry for the delay in your gift. I’ll admit I had a bit of trouble with the prompt you gave me. But I do hope you enjoy this secret Santa gift of mine!

Category: Romance, fluff, Christmas theme

Pairing: InuKag

Words: 3,346

Rating: General or Teen

Also read on AO3 or FF.net

Tagging: @inusecretsanta @keichanz @noviceotakus-blog @hinezumi @morikothehalfangel @cstorm86 @digital-art-monster @cammysansstuff @redflamesofpassion @heyy-ahriii

The snow touched one of InuYasha's triangular shaped dog ears and he flicked it in response. Yellow eyes looked up at the dark sky and the falling snow. He smiled as he thought about whatever this “Christmas” surprise was Kagome had in store for all of them. She had taken it upon herself to force them all to take a few days off from shard hunting to celebrate this holiday from her time.

InuYasha still didn't understand the strange custom. Kagome had forced him to cut down a tree with Tetsusaiga and she had taken it inside Kaede's little hut. There, she had fashioned little baubles and decorations from plants, berries, fabric and other found items available to her. On the very top she placed a five point star she had managed to make from twigs and twine. Once the star was placed, she stood back and admired her work.

“Isn't it beautiful, InuYasha?” she asked him.

“Keh. I don't get it, Kagome. What's the point of all this damn stuff?”

Sighing, Kagome shook her head and tried to explain it again. “It's an old custom from the west. It brightens up the house during the winter and it provides a place to put all the presents under.”

Shippo leapt up onto Kagome's shoulder and looked at her excitedly. “Presents?”

Kagome giggled and ruffled the kit's hair. “Yes, Shippo, presents. We all get eachother a present, or sometimes we just choose one person to give something to randomly so evertyone still gets a gift but no one has to spend too much money to buy everyone gifts. That's called a secret Santa.”

“Santa?” Shippo looked puzzled at the word as he spoke it.

“Santa is a magical man who's supposed to live up at the north pole with all of his helpers who make all of his toys for all of the children in the world. Then, on Christmas Eve, he loads up his sleigh with all the toys, hooks up his eight flying reindeer and delivers them to all the children.”

“In one day?” Shippo asked, wonderously.

“Yep. He's magic, remember?”

“Wooooow...” he said as he looked on, a sparkle in his big eyes.

“Keh. Sounds like a load of crap to me,” InuYasha grumbled as he slumped down on the floor.

“Kagome turned to him and glared. “You live in a world with demons and magical swords. You can't believe a man can use some kind of magic to do something wondrous like bring joy to children?”

InuYasha flushed at her scolding. “I... I guess...” he mumbled.

Miroku stepped forward and pulled Kagome's attention from the grumpy hanyou. “Tell us more about this “secret Santa” custom, Kagome.”

Smiling, Kagome clapped her hands together and happily replied, “Well, we all write our names and a few ideas for things we would want or need on a piece of paper and then fold them so we don't know who's is who's. Then we place them all in a container and swish them around to mix them up and we all draw a name one at a time. We don't tell who we got and then on Christmas morning we reveal who our secret giftee is.”

“Ohhhhhh Kagome can we do it? Please, Kagome, pleeeeeeeease?” Shippo begged, jumping up and down excitedly. Kagome laughed boisterously and nodded her head at the happy fox child. She bent over her giant yellow backpack and pulled out a notebook and pencils. Carefully, she ripped six pieces of equally sized paper and handed one each to Kaede, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and InuYasha, keeping one for herself.

Over the next several minutes the sounds of scratching, erasing, and heavy sighs were heard throughout the tiny hut as each of them thought about what to put on their slip of paper. Finally, they each had something written and folded their papers. Kagome grabbed a small bowl and had each of them place their paper in it. She used her hand to swirl them around for a few seconds before she leaned down in front of Shippo and said, “You pick first, Shippo.”

Positively beaming, Shippo reached his tiny hand in the bowl and drew a name. He opened his paper and smiled gleefully. Kagome moved on to Sango, then Miroku, Kaede, and InuYasha, until there was only one paper left that she took for herself. She opened it to discover that she had drawn InuYasha's name. He had only written one thing below his name, 'Acceptance'. Eyes brimming with tears, Kagome tucked the slip of paper into her jacket pocket and quickly wiped them away before anyone could notice.

The next few days went by with everyone talking in hushed tones and quickly clamming up when someone came into view. Shippo had basically disappeared, but they knew he'd be back by Christmas morning. InuYasha was the strangest of them all. He kept to himself even more than normal, not even speaking to Kagome. She had hoped he would ask her advice on his gift, but she knew he was probably trying to figure it out on his own. As for Kagome, she had a big plan for InuYasha. Unfortunately, it wasn't something he could unwrap in the traditional sense, but she looked forward to giving it to him anyway.

Kagome awoke Christmas morning to a very excited Shippo jumping up and down on her chest and yelling, “Kagome! Kagome, wake up! It's time for Santa!” Smiling, she rubbed her eyes and smiled at the young boy.

“Alright, Shippo, I'm up. Go tell the others I'll make some breakfast with Kaede and then we can open presents, ok?” Shippo happily bounded away to do as she had asked of him. As she sat up, Kagome stretched out her arms above her head and looked around the small hut. Kaede was already up, with a fire started in her fire pit. She had put on some rice and as a special treat had gathered a few eggs from the locals to make for the group for this special day. Kagome also had a special surprise for everyone stashed away in her backpack and she couldn't wait to see all their faces when she let them try it.

Rising from her pallet on the floor, she walked over to Kaede and looked down at the small pot of rice she was stiring. “That looks so good, Kaede. I'm starving!”

“Aye, child. We best get these eggs ready before InuYasha busts down my hut and Shippo loses all his patience and tears into his own gift before it's time.” Kagome giggled as she grabbed another pan to make the eggs in.

She had just cracked the last egg into the pan when Miroku, Sango and Shippo all joined them. Kagome frowned and looked down at Shippo. “Where's InuYasha?” she asked.

“I dunno, Kagome. I looked everywhere. Even in the sacred tree. I couldn't find him anywhere.”

Kagome's face furrowed into a frown. It wasn't like him to disappear without telling them, except in the case of... But no. Surely he wouldn't do that to her on Christmas when he knew how much it meant to her? She pulled in a deep breath to keep herself calm and to stave off the tears that threatened to fall.

The group ate in mostly silence, sensing Kagome's tension. Even Shippo's cheery mood had dampened somewhat. But then, something magical happened. Shippo's ear flicked, his nose twitched and he shot up from his spot on the floor and ran off out of the hut in the direction of the forest.

Kagome quickly tried to go after him, but the young kit was too fast for her. “Shippo!” she called, but he was already out of sight beyond the treeline. Sighing, she returned to her own spot on the floor and shoved the food in her mouth with obvious annoyance. It was just as she had finished her last bite of egg that Shippo came bounding back in the hut, followed by InuYasha.

Kagome breathed a huge sigh of relief, along with the rest of the group. But she glared up at him anyway. “Where were you, InuYasha?”

Face flushed, he responded, “I was... gettin' my gift. Sorry I'm late...” he said, sheepishly. Kagome smiled up at him and grabbed the bowl of food she had saved for him and handed it to him as he sat down next to her on the floor. He began shoveling in his mouth in pure InuYasha fashion and she couldn't help but giggle. He looked over at her, his cheeks puffed up from all the food and said, “Wha?” through his mouthful.

She simply shook her head and said, “Nothing, InuYasha. I'm just glad you're here is all.” She then stood and walked over to her backpack and rummaged through it until she found her special surprise for everyone. Everyone looked at her curiously as she pulled out little paper packets and a few long thin bars with the word 'Hershey's' in big letters on the wrapping. “Shippo, could you go get a small bucket of milk from Ichiro, please? He knows you're coming.”

“Sure, Kagome,” he said as he happily ran off to complete his task. He returned moments later with his prize and Kagome smiled as she took it from him and poured it into the kettle she had placed over the fire. Miroku and Sango watched her with much curiosity as she stirred the fresh milk. Once it was warmed, she opened up the paper packets and poured the contents of them into the milk, turning it a medium shade of brown. Shippo's eyes widened. “What kind of magic are you using, Kagome?” he asked her.

Kagome chuckled and shook her head at the kitsune. “Not magic, Shippo. Just something from my time. You'll see when it's all done. You'll like it, I promise!”

She continued stirring the now brown milk until it was fairly well steaming. It was then that she opened up the bars and broke the contents of them up into the milk, stirring them in as well. As she stirred, the milk turned an even darker shade of brown, and Kagome's eyes gleamed. Finally, she poured the concoction into six mugs and went back to her bag in search of one more thing. She pulled out a small bag of small, white fluffy looking things and placed several on each drink before handing a cup to each of them in turn. They each looked at the drink and sniffed it carefully. InuYasha studied it most of all, staring at it with wide eyes and flicking ears.

“It's called hot chocolate with marshmallows. It's something we drink in cold weather in my time. It's really good, I promise. Try it,” Kagome prompted.

Slowly, each of them took a small sip. Shippo's eyes grew twice their normal size and he exclaimed, “Kagome, this is amazing!”

Miroku nodded in agreement, “Indeed, this is very good, Kagome.”

Sango simply stated, “This is common in your time? It seems so special...” Kaede agreed.

“It's easier to make in my time. We don't have to milk cows to get milk, we just buy it at the store. And we have this thing called a microwave that heats food up for us much faster than traditional cooking,” she stated.

“Woooooooow, Kagome. Your time must be so fun!” Shippo exclaimed.

Laughing, Kagome said, “Sometimes, yea. But honestly I'd rather be here, with you guys.” She looked around them all to the tree in the corner of the room. “Now, are we all ready to open our gifts?”

Shippo shot up and said, “Me first, me first!” As he ran over and grabbed his package and handed it to Kaede. “Merry Christmas, Lady Kaede.”

Smiling, Kaede untied the twine holding the box together and opened the gift she had been given. Inside the box was a new handmade basket decorated with flowers and ribbon. It had 3 separate compartments. “Oh Shippo, this is so beautiful,” Kaede exclaimed.

Beaming, Shippo said proudly, “I made it! It's for all your herb collecting. So you don't have to mix everything up or carry different baskets.”

“Thank you, child. I will cherish it,” Kaede said as she patted the boy's head. “Now, I believe it's my turn, then?” She said as she stood and made her way over to the tree and retrieved her own gift, handing the package to Shippo with a large smile on her face. “Merry Christmas, dear.” Shippo could hardly contain his excitement as he tore open the box. He peered inside and with careful hands pulled the item out and held it up for everyone to see. Kaede spoke softly, “It's a charmed spinning top. Once you use it, it won't stop spinning until you speak the magic word.”

“Oh Lady Kaede, thank you so much! This is the best thing ever!” Shippo said as he ran and gave her a huge bear hug.

Chuckling, Kaede patted his back and said, “Of course, child. Yer very welcome.”

Miroku stood and silently walked over to the tree and picked up a small box. He turned, sighed deeply, and handed it to Sango. “Merry Christmas, Sango,” he stated, obviously nervous.

Sango looked into the violet eyes of the monk and with shaking hands opened the gift he had presented her. The box contained a piece of forearm armor, matching her current armor, with one small difference. This piece contained a hidden blade with the words 'My Dearest' inscribed on the blade. “Now be careful, Sango. The blade is dipped in a permanent poison that I'm told works on humans and most lower level demons alike. Supposedly it won't ever need replenished,” Miroku said as he stared at the young taijiya.

“Oh, Miroku, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever received. Thank you so much,” she said as her face turned a hefty shade of pure pink. She carefully set her gift down next to her hiraikotsu and walked over to the tree to retrieve her own gift. She stood in front of Miroku and handed him her present, hands trembling.

Miroku looked at her with wide eyes and wordlessly opened the gift. He looked inside the box with wonder as he pulled out a bundle of fabric and let it fall open. It was a small, formal kimono. One obviously meant for a child. Shyly, Sango spoke, “It's for your first child. For, you know, after we defeat Naraku...” Her words trailed off as he looked at her with his eyes positively sparkling.

“Sango, this is the most precious thing you could've given me. Thank you so much.” With those words he wrapped her up in his arms and gave her a tight embrace, making the slayer blush even deeper. She returned his affections, however.

With that, the whole group turned to Kagome. It was time for her gift to InuYasha. Smiling, she stood and walked over to him, taking his hand and leading him into the center of the group. They circled the confused hanyou and each of them held out their hand and touched his arm or shoulder. Kagome stood in front of him and spoke softly, “InuYasha, here, in this family, you are always accepted.” She turned to Shippo.

“You're like a the most annoying big brother in the world, but of course I accept you. I don't know what I'd do without you and Kagome around.” Shippo turned and looked at Miroku.

“InuYasha, you're brash and harsh with your words, but you have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known, save Kagome. You fight for what's right and protect the innocent. Anyone would be proud to call you Ani*. As proud as I am.” He turned to a smiling Sango.

“You're brave, cunning, quick witted and god awful stubborn. Your heart is always in the right place, even if your words don't express it well. I'm proud to fight beside you and call you Kazoku*.” She turned to Kaede.

“InuYasha, I thought for a very long time that ye were the reason my older sister was slain. Since learning the truth and gettin' ta know ya, I've learned that yer much more than meets the eye. Yer smart, fiercely protective, and ye have one of the biggest hearts of any man this old woman has ever known. Ye are like the Mago* I never had.”

Finally, it was Kagome's turn to speak. “InuYasha, we all love you. Here in this family you will always have a place. You will always be accepted, no matter what happens. Always know that, ok?”

InuYasha stood speechless and looked at each one of them in turn. No one had ever displayed this much affection for him in his entire life. He was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do with himself. “K-Kagome...” he said, softly.

She smiled at him and took his hand. “I know,” she said as she led him outside and away from the group to the one place she wanted to take him, the sacred tree. There, he stood trembling in front of her. She gently touched his cheek and smiled at him. “Do you understand now?” She asked him. He simply nodded.

After a few moments to compose himself, InuYasha reached into his haori and pulled out a very small, modern looking, beautiful, glittery forest green box and handed it to her. “It's not much... your mom helped me with it...”

Kagome looked up at him in shock. “That's where you've been? At my house?” He nodded once. “Oh, InuYasha...” she said, as she held the box tenderly. She pulled off the lid to the box and peered inside. It held a silver heart shaped locket on a long silver chain to match. She pulled the necklace from the box and opened it up. On one side was a tiny picture of InuYasha, looking as grumpy as ever and on the other was an engraving. It read, 'You have my heart in full'. Kagome's eyes brimmed with tears as she read the inscription. “InuYasha...”

“Ah, damnit wench, ya weren't s'posed to cry!” He said as he took her shoudlers in his clawed hands.

She looked up into his amber eyes and gave him the brightest smile he'd ever seen from her. “No, InuYasha, I'm crying because I'm so happy.”

“Oh...” he said as he looked down, embarrassed.

“You know, there is another Christmas tradition I wanted to show you...” Kagome said, quietly.

InuYasha looked back into her chocolate brown eyes. “Oh yea?”

“Look up, InuYasha.” His head swiveled back and looked above his head. There, hanging on a red ribbon from one of the lowest branches on the tree, was a plant he didn't recognize. It was green with tiny white and red berries.

“It's called mistletoe. When two people are under it at the same time they're supposed to kiss.” Kagome said, voice shaky, but sounding confident.

InuYasha looked back down into her entrancing eyes. He hesitated only for a moment before taking her face into both of his clawed hands and bent down to capture her soft, pink lips with his own. She gasped at the intensity of the kiss. Every word unspoken, every feeling not known, poured into her very soul. In that moment, she was sure he loved her. She was sure she was his first choice. She was sure she wanted to be with him, forever. Her nerves tingled as the kiss came to an end and she shook in his arms as he barely pulled away.

“Merry Christmas, Kagome.”

She smiled against his lips. “Merry Christmas, InuYasha.”

   *Ani- informal brother in Japanese

*Kazoku- family in Japanese

*Mago- grandchild in Japanese

**I do apologize if I have used these words incorrectly. I did try to look up the proper meanings, but the internet only tells so much!**

[journeysintowebcomics]

Homestuck Liveblog #185

UPDATE 185: Get What You Want

Last time Dirk’s hijacking has been hijacked by the version of Calliope that’s deep in the black hole. She also took over Jade, because if there’s one thing this meat epilogue has a lot of is hijacking. Should be the Hijack Epilogue. So let’s continue.

Terezi has been standing there for a while, and she mentions smelling, so it’s likely this is the version that’s from Earth C, instead of any version that’s able to see. What have you been doing all this time, Terezi? Mind talking about that? Looks like she doesn’t, she’s busy commenting John smells like shit. He really must, what with all the vomit on himself and also the blood, the broken glasses, and finally the big-ass golden tooth stuck on his chest. It’s no surprise everyone John’s seeing tells him right away he should go clean himself.

I like how Calliope’s descriptive narration takes the time to point out all the flesh and dull teeth the characters move, since it’s all alien to her. The way she describes it amuses me a lot. Another reason to prefer this over Dirk’s narration, really. Less pretentious rambling, more amusing asides.

Somehow John spends a few paragraphs thinking Terezi is cute, even going as far as saying the term ‘gap moe’ would apply to her. I’m not really knowledgeable about such terms or really know much about what defines them, but never, in a million years, I’d have thought of calling Terezi ‘gap moe’. Who would have before this was written? I blame you for this, Hussie.

I don’t fucking believe this.

I know, right? Thanks, Dirk.

Dead Calliope is not judgmental and couldn’t care less about John’s cuteness thoughts about Terezi or about creepy human males gathering seven billion pillows with anime characters. Be relieved, John!

There’s a reference to Monty Python, and John says their movies suck, which is blasphemy as far as I’m concerned. It’s correctly said Alternia sucks, and Terezi gets sick, because apparently half of the characters in this epilogue has to be sick or fainting. I’m almost thinking somebody will take over Terezi in the next minute, but thankfully it doesn’t seem like that’s happening.

So, the reason why Terezi is about to faint is because she’s starving to death, she hasn’t eaten in who knows how long. I suppose she has been wandering in the middle of nowhere for a loooong time, and if she took any food with her it must already be gone. She doesn’t have a concrete destination in mind, I suppose. She must be flying around just for the sake of not being on Earth C. If it wasn’t for John here maybe she’d be doomed to die alone in the emptiness of paradox space.

Searching for food in the wallet only nets them a car. Hey, that’s good! I remember John used his wind powers to make a car float and fly, this could be a fast way of going around, although...given John’s delicate state, it may not be good for him to use his powers extensively, poor guy. Terezi isn’t very impressed a car was stored in a wallet.

JOHN: what are you doing out here anyway?

TEREZI: WH4T DO YOU TH1NK 1M DO1NG OUT H3R3?

TEREZI: LOOK1NG FOR VR1SK4 OF COURS3

Oh. So she didn’t leave Earth C because she was going to feel overwhelmed by everything like Rose and Dirk, she went all the way out here to look for Vriska. Good thing John isn’t aware of what happened to Vriska, because how to explain to the person who has almost starved to death that the person she’s looking for was sucked in a black hole? On the other hand, if she had arrived here earlier, she’d have been involved in the Lord English fight and that means she likely would have died. She got a bit lucky there.

I wonder if now that Terezi has heard finding Vriska is impossible she’ll want to return to Earth C. I also wonder if when she gets into that Earth she’ll suddenly feel the same thing Rose and Dirk felt, whether it’s because of her power or because Dirk or Dead Calliope force it on her.

Time doesn’t pass linearly here in the emptiness, so I’m not sure how old Terezi is. She may be just as old as John is, she sounds a bit delighted he’s older. The examination by smell ends when she discovers shaving cream and tries to eat it. Oh boy, she really must be starving! Somehow she seems to be satisfied by it, so maybe it’s not bad for trolls. Who knows.

but no. it’s just my brother’s tooth, lodged deep in his chest, spreading its poison. it really should be extracted before it’s too late.

Hey, now that I think about it, did Caliborn embed a vial of poison or whatever in that tooth? For no reason? Did he have any reason to think someday he’d be biting somebody and leaving the golden tooth behind? Did he install poison in there just because he wanted to? I mean, it wouldn’t really be out of character for him to randomly decide he wants a poisonous gold tooth, but it’s not like he’d have the chance to use it against many people!

Now that Terezi is gorging herself with shaving cream and seems to be a little better, John wants to return home, most likely by zapping, so he can get medical attention for the fatal injury he has right now. Terezi doesn’t want to, I guess because being with an agonizing John is a pleasant enough experience. Kind of inconsiderate, Terezi, let the poor guy get medical attention. John, being the sweet guy he is, accepts and decides to drive around with wind, waiting for Terezi to decide they can go home.

Iiii don’t remember John having such romantic feelings in Homestuck. He did have something that could resemble black romance, at least for a little while, but this is red. He must have really missed her.

Back in Earth C, Jane returns to the office after another political event.

the last traces of trickster mode are bleeding off her aura. the great gift of this sacred boon has run its course for the evening, and though she is not as grateful as she should be, she nevertheless acknowledges the extraordinary benefit it has afforded her with a slight nod to the mirror.

She has been using the lollipop Calliope gave her to get rid of any inhibitions and say whatever she wants in political conferences, without a care if she’s stepping on any toes or offending anyone. Wow. I was actually speechless for a moment. Using the trickster thing again seems like a stupid idea. I can only imagine what the sugary rambling was like. Hopefully it included 100% less paragraphs about having babies with literally all her friends.

however, while a great portion of the electorate adores jane’s elevated sense of charisma and presence when she is in trickster mode, as they should, there are just as many detractors who claim that the whole thing is “extremely problematic.” i doubt this is true but must also acknowledge it exceeds the scope of my expertise to comment on the subject.

JANE: Oh my goodness.

JANE: It’s NOT problematic!

Oh, it’s definitely a problem for your sanity, Jane. This whole political thing is starting to seem a chain of bad decisions, one after another.

Jane’s inner monologue almost looks like it was funneled into her by Dead Calliope, given how she’s praising the lollipop so much. Dead Calliope better not start imitating Dirk on this, thanks. A moment later, Jane tosses the lollipop on the floor, then turns around much to her surprise and places it on a more reverent place over the mantle. Dead Calliope really is forcing things when it’s convenient, too. Okay then.

JANE: You know, the last time we spoke about this issue I could have sworn you asked me to let you handle Jake.

DIRK: Hmm.

DIRK: I guess I did say that.

JANE: ...

JANE: Dirk, are you doing quite okay?

JANE: It’s very unlike you to forget details like that.

DIRK: I’m fine, Jane.

the prince is not fine. he is not the type who takes well to having his plans upended, or his control of a shared vehicle fully suppressed. my brother wasn’t much that type either.

DIRK: Oh, fuck off. I’m nothing like that guy.

It has been days, apparently. Days since Dirk and Rose met, days since he told Jane that. Dirk somehow forgot to go get Jake’s endorsement for days. He definitely is not okay. I thought you were good at multitasking, Dirk! Maybe Dead Calliope’s hijacking of his plans really hit him hard, but dang, I thought he wasn’t the kind of person that’d let miserable failures get to him. I mean, other than the miserable failure that led to him fading away into glitches in that doomed timeline, but that’s a different matter.

but certain objects and actions strike me as more notable than others. that very long, red rifle on the table, for instance. a weapon that does not belong to him and has not been used in a long time. he has been returning to the rifle between his other menial activities of probable misdirection. he dismantles it, reassembles it, slides off the receiver cover to examine the firing mechanism.

Sounds familiar. That was seen before, I think? I think it was made by combining one of Jade’s rifles with some of the Condesce’s technology, back from Act 6. It makes objects teleport, I believe. What could Dirk be planning with this, I wonder...

JANE: Actually, I have been thinking...

JANE: Perhaps this attempt to get Jake on our side is the wrong angle from which to approach this vexing problem.

JANE: Wouldn’t it be much easier to discredit or blackmail him?

JANE: He is much beloved in the Troll Kingdom for his carefully cultivated posterior, true.

JANE: But we both know that his bottom is not the only intimate attribute for which he is famed amongst Trollish citizens.

JANE: It would take almost nothing to expose his many dalliances through the human media.

DIRK: Hoo boy.

JANE: I know! Not to be judgmental, but his zipper is as loose as his pants are tight.

DIRK: That’s not what I meant by hoo boy.

JANE: You don’t think it would work?

DIRK: Oh, it could work.

That’d be such a way to break Jake’s heart and alienate him forever. If this is ever done, you can bet Jake won’t show his face to anyone ever again, whether it’s out of shame or feelings of betrayal. I suppose if he for some reason decides to support Karkaroni this is what Jane will do, but seriously, I hope things don’t come to that.

What makes Jake so marketable – supposedly – is that he’s viewed as innocent while also sexual, at least in the human circles. Discrediting that would break his influence on the human public. Somehow that makes sense, really, but it also has the danger of making it sound like interspecies sex is scandalous, which is...not really something that won’t inflame tensions between species. Wasn’t the point of this whole election that Karkaroni getting elected would make things tense? It’s starting to sound like Jane’s campaign would make things just as bad.

JANE: Dirk... do you want me to deal with Jake or not? You’ve offered nothing helpful yet, but you’ve shot down all my ideas.

DIRK: That’s because lately, all your ideas have been fucking terrible, Jane.

DIRK: Seriously. You’ve got to quit the tricksterpop. It’s rotting your brain.

He’s not wrong! He really isn’t. Jane, listen to him, he tends to be right most of the time – unfortunately for a lot of people he is. Dead Calliope takes offense to the insult to the cherub artifact, but seriously, Dirk is right.

After a baking metaphor and Dead Calliope making sure nothing will happen to the lollipop, the conversation ends, and Dirk focuses on the rifle. He’s satisfied with it. What’s he up to?

DIRK: Your ass is mine, Jake English.

he speaks under his breath inaudibly, perhaps frustrated, unaccustomed to scheming while others look over his shoulder. it’s possible he is not as bold, or as confident in his own designs as i believed.

DIRK: I fucking said, your ass is mine, Jake English.

Oh no! So that’s Dirk’s genius political machination! He’ll use the teleportation rifle to surgically remove Jake’s ass from a distance by transporting it to his workshop, getting rid of any influence Jake has on anyone! Okay, most likely that’s not his plan, but at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if it is. Let’s hope he doesn’t mean that literally.

JAKE: Ah chaps dont you love to take a rigorous jaunt about the wilds first thing in the morning, middle thing in the day, and last thing in the evening?

Said Jake, unaware of the shot that’d extricate his posterior in the blink of an eye—okay, I have to stop with that.

Apparently Jake is torturing Karkaroni by making him hike around in a freaking suit. That can’t be good! Is this something he’s doing to get Jake’s favor? Because if so then it’s not worth it! You couldn’t get me to hike in a suit unless you paid me a veeeeery large amount of money.

DAVE: hey jake were cool on the whole cardio program or whatever

DAVE: karkats not really what id call a kinesthetic learner

KARKAT: HEY!

KARKAT: I CAN HOLD MY OWN IN A THRESHING MATCH BETTER THAN 99% OF THE SQUISHY, PLACID HUMAN POPULATION ON THIS PLANET.

KARKAT: I WAS LITERALLY TRAINING TO BE A COMBAT SPECIALIST ON ALTERNIA.

KARKAT: MAYBE WE SHOULD SOMETIMES TRY TO REMEMBER AND *FUCKING RESPECT* THAT FACT ABOUT ME???

DAVE: hm

DAVE: gonna make another mental note about which material to avoid when writing your campaign speeches

DAVE: like

DAVE: dude is nuts with a sickle

DAVE: can carve a bloody arc through a surrounding circle of gathered squishy humans

DAVE: watch their guts spill on the floor while he roars at the sky in honor of his genocidal ancestors

DAVE: were kinda trying to downplay the idea that trolls are naturally good at violence and shit here?

Hm. Recently I found out the sharp edge of sickles and scythes are on the inside, not the outside, so I call shenanigans on the deadliness of a sickle when it’s about groups of people. Hah! But yeah, they better avoid anything that involves killing humans and how good the trolls would be at that with some training. Don’t say it aloud, you’ll give Jane ideas!

Apparently they hadn’t popped the question to Jake yet, they just did. Jake doesn’t seem very eager to give the endorsement, so Dave tries his hand at appealing to him by pointing out Jane owns the internet, and also that Jane has been saying some nasty things of Jake in the media. Wait, did Jane go ahead with her idea of ruining Jake’s good name? Oh god, she continued messing with the lollipop and lost any inhibitions about not doing that, didn’t she. That’s what happened, I bet. Goshdarnit, Jane.

By now I’m pretty sure ‘Jane Crocker has neoliberal austerity measures’ is the troll campaign’s slogan.

KARKAT: JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

KARKAT: I’M GOING TO SAY THIS FOR THE LAST TIME.

KARKAT: SWEET BRO AND HELLA JEFF IS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS SUBJECT MATTER FOR PRODUCING CAMPAIGN ADS!

KARKAT: NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT, OR WHAT POINTS YOU’RE TRYING TO MAKE!

...ah. He’s using that surreal nonsensical creation of his to argue his points in the campaign ads.

...

Okay, Jane has the election in the bag. So much for being a savvy advisor, Dave!

At least Jake appreciates they’re not trying to disguise their appeals with a lot of pleasantries and sweet words, or trying to seduce him with blue dresses and scotch. After Karkaroni insults Jake half a dozen or so times to his face, Jake tries to settle things down by pretty much saying he’s not convinced yet and that he still hasn’t been given a reason to side with them against Jane, and Jane hasn’t given him such a reason either.

JAKE: Im not entirely ignorant of the rules of this jamboree. I understand that whoever i endorse will have a good chance of winning on nothing but my good word.

Jake definitely isn’t the smartest cookie in this baker’s dozen, but he’s not so dense he wouldn’t realize how desperate both sides are to try to recruit him, and he can pinpoint the reason. Good, he’s aware how important he is in this entire debacle, thank goodness.

JAKE: So why should i trust ANYONE trying to win my favor right now? Do you have ANY case to make which does not involve glowing accounts of my muscular bottom???

Quick, mention to him how you want a wink and double pistols instead of a picture of his ass, that’ll win him over.

Dirk comments spitefully Jake has no proactive thoughts – thanks for your commentary, Dirk, go away – and it’s up to Karkaroni to deliver the effective arguments to get Jake’s support. Oh, this is going to be good! Go ahead, show your oratory chops!

Karkaroni’s argument is that he’s not trying to pull the wool over Jake’s eyes, he’s not trying to hide his intentions or disguise things under a veneer of niceness. Jane is, and she’s more concerned with how things look than how they actually are. He has a point there, I think. Also, she’s holding an entire species’ reproductive rights hostage and that still resembles the Condesce’s actions too much for me to like it. To Karkaroni’s credit it’s a pretty good speech, I actually like it. Will it be enough to convince Jake?

he thinks it could break jane’s heart were he to oppose her. and yet, hasn’t she fired the first shot by broadcasting such scandalous things about him in the media? and it was so soon after they’d nearly had an intimate reconciliation. the more he thinks on it, the more jake struggles to believe in the sincerity behind jane’s friendship with him.

Oh god, she definitely is throwing mud at him. Jane, what the hell.

Until now he had been afraid of disappointing Jane and Dirk, but with Jane throwing stones at him and Dirk being insidious and thankfully far away from him right now, Jake decides he’ll do it: he’ll support Karkaroni. They did it! I’m actually surprised! Hopefully he’ll be able to do something before Dirk retaliates, but really, nice job, guys!

The matter of how much clout he’ll have left with humans is something that remains to be seen, as well as the intensity of Jane’s maybe-scandalous broadcasting about Jake, but this is a minor victory.

Hey, John, how’s it going?

Terezi is munching her way through another tin of human fatherly tobacco as john crawls into the back seat. this has been their ritual for several days. precisely how many, they couldn’t say.

...you know, for an injury that’s poisoned and almost fatal, John sure is lasting a long time. Are we sure it was as bad as it was said to be?

Since they have nothing better to do, John asks questions about how Terezi is the way she is, with her licking and smelling and eating tobacco as if it was chocolate. He says all of his conversations with her was a snark-off or a jokey argument – or that time she literally led to his death, lest we forget that. Somehow, John implied she’s difficult to be around, which isn’t really wrong, but...something I like of Terezi is that although she’s a bit exhausting, she has this way of talking that makes her fun to be around, most of the time. Ever since her pesterlogs that was shown pretty well.

All John wants is a real conversation, because he has been really depressed and antisocial these last few years, and although he doesn’t admit it to her, it was already stated pretty clearly he missed Terezi a lot. She’s here now! So he wants to talk to her. Although she’s really flippant about it, she appreciates it and calls John a dork in an affectionate manner. She may not show it often, but she really appreciates this kind of thing.

All this makes John reminisce about that doomed Game Over timeline, where Terezi bled seventy gallons of blood all over the place and collapsed in an outline made with her own chalk. She had been able to give him good instructions even though she was dying horribly, and John really admires that, he’s even a bit intimidated by it. Terezi admits she remembers that timeline too and is the reason she’s out here in the middle of nowhere.

TEREZI: TH4T DOOM3D T3R3Z1 M1SS3D VR1SK4 *SO* MUCH, 1T W4S L1K3 4 HOL3 1N H3R H34RT

TEREZI: 1 R3M3MB3R TH3 W4Y SH3 F3LT, B3C4US3 ON3 T1M3, 4LL H3R M3MOR13S C4M3 FLOOD1NG B4CK

TEREZI: 1 3V3N GOT TO S33 WH4T H4PP3N3D WH3N SH3 D13D

TEREZI: SH3 4ND 4NOTH3R VR1SK4 GHOST F1N4LLY FOUND 34CH OTH3R

TEREZI: 1T M4D3 M3 SO H4PPY G3TT1NG TO F33L TH4T, 4S 1F 1T W4S ON3 OF MY OWN M3MOR13S

Hmmmm...I suppose remembering all that made her want to look for Vriska, at least to feel again that happiness, because she feels Vriska and she have a connection of some sort. They do, that’s got to be admitted. Now she’s been unable to find Vriska and likely never won’t.

JOHN: you SAVED everyone!

JOHN: you’re the only reason we were able to defeat lord english and win the game at all!

JOHN: if it weren’t for you, me and roxy would have just floated around in paradox space like a couple of losers with no idea what to do!

JOHN: even worse, i might have tried to fix things MYSELF!

TEREZI: OH D34R GOD

JOHN: yeah!!!

Now that I think about it...he’s right. It was Terezi’s guidance what made the best canon timeline happen, without her it’d all have ended in the Game Over timeline. She did save everyone. Maybe things with the fight with Lord English would have gone better if she had been around to give them advice of some sort. If only.

It’s possible the reason why John has been staying in this car circling the black hole isn’t only because he doesn’t want to leave Terezi behind, but also because he doesn’t feel like Earth C is for him. Which is a sentiment I’m not sure I understand, I have to admit. They worked so hard to achieve it and he’s not happy with his life there. It’s strange.

TEREZI: WH4T 3ND3D UP H4PP3N1NG W1TH ROXY?

JOHN: i...

JOHN: dunno.

JOHN: we just sorta stopped hanging out regularly.

JOHN: then she got close with callie and i felt too awkward to try to figure out where our relationship stood.

TEREZI: R34LLY?

TEREZI: HMM

JOHN: what?

TEREZI: 1 JUST 4SSUM3D TH4T BY NOW YOU TWO M1GHT H4V3 GOTT3N TOG3TH3R

JOHN: really?

JOHN: why?

TEREZI: NO R34SON. JUST 4 HUNCH

TEREZI: 1 DONT TH1NK 1T WOULD H4V3 WORK3D OUT THOUGH

Right, it was a couple that had potential to happen. I wonder if it’d have worked out if they really had stayed together. Roxy seemed to really like him, it’s possible John going antisocial and depressed pushed her away. That’s tragic. Still, makes me wonder how that’d have been like if it had actually happened.

Now that he admitted he missed Terezi a lot, he asks her to come home with him. Better that than staying near the black hole doing nothing, no?

TEREZI: 1

TEREZI: 1M NOT R34DY Y3T

JOHN: when WILL you be ready?

TEREZI: 1 DONT KNOW

TEREZI: M4YB3 N3V3R

TEREZI: 1F YOU H4DNT FOUND M3, 1 PROB4BLY WOULD H4V3 D13D R1GHT?

TEREZI: 1S TH4T WH4T 1 W4NT?

JOHN: um, obviously not, dummy!

JOHN: if you wanted to die so bad you wouldn’t have...

JOHN: ...eaten all that disgusting shaving cream and tobacco!

I’m not very certain this is any good. Terezi hardly can be any healthier after eating all the shaving cream and tobacco. It could be she knows that and is just...eating stuff she knows she shouldn’t. But hey, Terezi decides John’s right, she’s not really looking for death. To me it seems she was looking for a meaningful relationship – doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic -- and thought Vriska would be the one to give it to her. Now John’s here, and he’s sincere about missing Terezi, so he’s a good option.

She seems afraid to let go of John, not even for him to get real food. She really is desperate for something meaningful.

now that he dwells on it, he can feel the ache again, both from the tooth piercing his flesh and, more insidiously, from the poison it has been delivering into his bloodstream.

For days. Least effective lethal poison ever.

Terezi isn’t really interested in leaving that tooth embedded into John and is ready to do some surgical operation with her katana. Hah! Oh boy, on paper this sounds like a pretty lousy idea, but it’s as good as it can get when they’re floating in a car around a black hole. May as well give it a try and hope he doesn’t die. Better plan than John’s ‘let’s let the tooth come out on its own’, plan.

She can’t even see/smell/hear anything because his shirt is over the wound! It’s almost laughable. That aside, how is the nasty wound from a poisonous tooth in John’s chest less gross than the description of he eating meat? I’m still scarred about that.

Terezi’s ready to do surgery with her sword, while John gazes poetically at her face and describes her as feminine. He’s really into her, seriously! The go-ahead is given, Terezi gets ready to dig in.

TEREZI: HMMM

TEREZI: 1TS LODG3D 1N TH3R3 PR3TTY GOOD

TEREZI: BR4C3 YOURS3LF 3GB3RT, TH1S 1S GO1NG TO ST1NG

John’s taking this admirably well already, for someone getting a sword between his ribs to take out a tooth I’m pretty sure is the size of a fist. I wouldn’t blame him if he passes out from the pain.

Once the tooth is out, now they have to stop the bleeding. She takes off John’ clothes, John is dizzy, Terezi is doing all the work here. She’s doing well, at least until John pulls her closer and gives her a kiss, because getting toxic teeth extracted from your chest makes you horny, I guess. Golly, John, you could have waited until she was done, at least!

Not that she’s not into it. She’s going into this with enthusiasm, she even lets John take off her shirt. You know, pretty amazing that in one plot there’s a whole lot of political nonsense, and on the other plot John and Terezi are getting romantic in a car. The disparity is so jarring, guys, I almost can’t believe it’s the same webcomic.

TEREZI: OH MY GOD YOUR BLOOD SM3LLS D3L1C1OUS

JOHN: woah.

JOHN: um, wow.

JOHN: ok...

JOHN: i think you’re really pretty, in... the light of the dead universe?

Smooth.

This page ends with them getting even more intense with their snogging. This went in some rather intense directions! When I started reading these epilogues none of this was even close to what I expected. Oh well.

I’ll continue next time.

Next time: next update

[5hfanfiction]

Love Will Remember

Chapter Thirty Eight: Wedding Planning

             Partial Smut Warning (A/N) Forgive me for I am awkward when it comes to writing this. Read at your own risk.

“I can’t believe we’re finally getting a Camren wedding!” Maggie squealed as she threw herself on the couch beside her girlfriend.

After last night’s shenanigans, the group had assembled into Lauren’s penthouse to discuss everything that had happened. After a few breakdowns, especially when Lauren discovered that the reason Camila couldn’t come back to her was that she physically couldn’t. Everything seemed to have been going rather well. Now, they were onto planning the wedding at 4 in the morning.

“I know right. It’s about damn time these two tied the knot,” Ally agreed from the floor. “I should probably check up on Will and Elena. I’ll be right back,” she dug out her phone and went onto the balcony to call her husband.

Camila was currently sitting in her fiancée’s lap, while the woman’s arms  were wrapped tightly around her waist. It was though, if Lauren were to let go, the woman would slip out of her grasp and she’ll never see or hear from her again.

“When will you be giving the people what they want?” Dinah asked Maggie. Everyone and their mothers knew not to ask the restauranteur this question, but the women weren’t exactly acquainted so she didn’t know.

Maggie sat up on her elbows, while Ariana kinked an eyebrow at her. “Oh that’s not going to be happening anytime soon. Marriage is a no no for me.”

“Oh really? So you have no intentions of marrying me? What’s the point of us dating then?”

Dinah snickered in her corner of the room. “Ooh you’re in trouble.”

Maggie sat upright and gulped. “That’s not what I meant! I mean yeah I never wanted to get married before but I mean, spending the rest of my life with you doesn’t sound like a bad idea! You know, you can be Mrs Lindemann one day,” she rambled.

“Your name is a mouthful,” Mendes commented which caused Maggie to roll her eyes. “If anything, I prefer Grande but that’s also a dumb name. Ew.”

The restauranteur groaned loudly and buried her face in her hands. “That’s not the point! My point is, marriage was never a thing to me because for years, I had to watch my parents argue over pointless bullshit. For years, I watched my dad cheat on my mom and when he came back home to us, he acted as though nothing was wrong. He didn’t physically abuse us, but the verbal abuse was enough to fuck with my head and make me feel as though, I wasn’t shit,” she ran a hand through her hair. “So maybe yeah, I never wanted to get married. But you’re not like that Arii,” she took her girlfriend’s hand in hers. “It’s still the early stages of our relationship, so can’t we just see how this goes? I love you and you love me. Isn’t that enough for right now?”

Ariana nodded and pulled her girlfriend in for a kiss. Their lips brushed together. Not innocently, like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. When it seemed as though the kiss wasn’t going to end, Dinah threw a pillow in their direction.

“Okay that’s enough, some of us have virgin eyes.”

Camila snorted. “Really Dinah? You’re like the biggest whore I know.”

The Polynesian clutched her chest and gasped. “Wow, Mila. You cut me deep, you cut me so deep.”

“But you didn’t deny it,” the Cuban laughed when her best friend flipped her off.

Lauren cleared her throat and slapped Camila’s thighs gently for her to stand up. “Anyway, guys it’s getting late, and I think you should head out,” she looked over her shoulder and shouted. “That means you too, Ally. You can carry the food with you.”

The oldest of the group stepped out of the kitchen with a bowl in hand, she swallowed and smiled. “I’m sorry, I was starving,” Lauren laughed. “But she’s right. Let’s go and give the newly engaged couple some alone time. If you know what I mean.” She winked.

“ALLY!” The couple exclaimed at the same time.

She laughed. “I’m just saying. From what I know, you two need to be reacquainted, it’s been three years after all,” the woman winked again.

The CEO ushered out the women quickly to avoid hearing anymore of the conversation. She shot the door and locked it immediately as the last person left. 

“Well, that’s that,” Lauren laughed awkwardly. “Can we talk?”

Camila nodded sceptically from her position on the couch. “Are you breaking off the engagement? You don’t like me, do you? Fuck, you probably don’t even like me. You just said yes, out of pity. Right?” She started rambling. “I’m so stupid. Of course, you wouldn’t want to marry me, I don’t even deserve you. You’re so perfect, and I’m just…shit.”

Lauren shook her head furiously and sat next to her fiancée, pulling her onto her lap. “No no, Camz it’s not that. Shh. I’m not calling off anything. And I do love you, more than anything, so please don’t doubt my feelings for you,” she placed a light kiss on Camila’s lips. “I’m the furthest thing from perfect and you’re the furthest thing from shit. You’re the most amazing, beautiful, smart, funny, talented woman I’ve ever had the opportunity of falling in love with. I may not deserve you, but I want you. You have no idea how much I want you.”

The brunette sighed. “What’s there to even love about me, Lauren? Nothing,” her eyes glistened over. “I hurt you! I did something I didn’t want to ever do. I broke your heart and here I am, back as though nothing even happened.”

“What’s there to love? Camila, what kind of dumb question is that?” The older woman scoffed, she titled her fiancée’s face to look her in the eyes, as she ran her thumb to catch her tears. “I love your passion when it comes to what you love, I love the way you value people’s feelings, I love the way you love love. But most importantly, I love the way my heart speeds up with just the mere thought of you. I love how I can fall more in love with you just by hearing your laugh. Or when you randomly sing terribly on purpose. I love when you go to any store for a few items, you come back with shit we don’t actually need,” Camila giggled softly at the mention of her shopping habits. “Lastly, I love when I can’t see myself doing something without wishing you were there. How I can’t watch a romance movie without wishing we were cuddling in bed. I love how you make me feel, Camila. And well, if that’s not something to love, then I don’t know what is.”

Camila connected their lips, after that whole speech, what else was there left to say? People would’ve assumed that the sparks they felt when they last kissed years ago, would’ve been long gone, but if it seems as though it had increased the years they were apart.

Pulling back from the kiss, breathless, they rested their foreheads together.

“You ignite a flame within me, that I didn’t think was ever possible,” Lauren lightly kissed the brunette on the lips. “Let me show you how much I love you. How I’ll always love you,” she looked for any sort of hesitation and found none.

(A/N) Prepare to cringeeee 🙈

Lauren led them to her bedroom. A room where no other woman ever had the privilege of venturing into since Camila’s disappearance. She couldn’t find it within herself to go with someone. There wasn’t any time for the brunette to even observe the bedroom, because before she knew it, Lauren attached their lips and pulled her body to hers. Their bodies fit so perfectly together, you could’ve said that they were practically made for one another.

Lauren’s hands found their way to Camila’s back and then slowly began tracing small patterns underneath her shirt. Her breath hitched in her throat when she felt the coldness of her fiancée’s hands on her hot skin.

Lauren took that moment to quickly lift her up, with Camila wrapping her legs around her waist as she was carefully carried over to the bed.

It had been so long since either of them had been intimate, but Camila had increasingly felt more nervous as Lauren’s body hovered over hers. 

She was always very insecure and shy when it came to this. She was the last person who had touched her, not just physically but emotionally, and the last person who she had touched. So there she was, feeling as vulnerable as ever, because she may not want to do this again. What if after this, Lauren wouldn’t want to be with her anymore? Could she possibly blame her?

Would you even want to have a lifetime of terrible sex?

“Camz, what’s wrong?” Lauren whispered into her ear, noticing her discomfort.

The brunette sighed loudly, “I haven’t…you know…did this in years,” she muttered then buried her head into the pillow beside her. “I might disappoint you.”

Lauren’s mouth opened but she quickly shut it and tilted her head to the side, “So you mean to tell me, three years in a coma and you never found someone else?” She asked cheekily.

Camila shoved her fiancée away, and sat up. Her inexperienced mind felt incredibly insecure and tiny in this moment, “I’m being serious, Lauren. Do you want to have a lifetime of terrible sex?!.”

Lauren laughed loudly and sat beside her. She grabbed Camila’s hands before she kissed her knuckles and locked eyes with her. “Do you really think I’m going to care about the sex when I have you back? Sure, it’s important, but I remember having a lot of fun when I was with you.”

Camila chuckled sarcastically and huffed against Lauren’s shoulder, “Why? I don’t even remember how to do some things,” she shifted her head into her hands and cursed quietly before telling her what she always deeply feared, “I’m probably going to be shit at all this…as usual.”

Lauren turned Camila’s body so that she was looking into her eyes again and she shook her head ‘no’ before placing a kiss on her lips, “You’re not going to be shit, Camila. And if you’re not comfortable doing this, we can hold out until after the wedding if you want.”

“No…” she interrupted Lauren, and straddled her. Camila’s hands went instantly behind her neck and started to play with her fiancée’s hair. “I do. I really want to do this with you. I just don’t want to disappoint you.”

The CEO smiled and ran her tongue along the brunette’s jawline. “Camila Cabello,” she sighed. “You will never disappoint me. As long as it’s with you, I’ll never be disappointed.”

Lauren kissed the brunette again and then laid her down on the bed. Her body being held up by her hands which were placed by Camila’s shoulders. She leant down and kissed her again, but this time more passionately and desperate. Lauren pulled back and looked at the woman underneath her intently, to make sure that she still wanted to do this.

Camila nodded and reassured her, when she started undoing the buttons on her white shirt. She tugged the shirt off and then quickly undid her bra; tossing it carelessly to a side of the room. Lauren gasped softly when she saw her. It felt as though it was forever since she saw her like this.

Self consciously, Camila’s hands came up to cover herself. Lauren gently took her hands and moved them away from her chest.

“You don’t have to hide from me, Amor. I love you and I accept every single thing about you,” Camila couldn’t help but blush lightly. It all seemed like deja vu; like their first time all over again.

With that Lauren slowly kissed down Camila’s collarbone until her head was directly above her breasts, and her lips were tracing small kisses along the curve. Her back arched when she felt Lauren’s lips come in contact with her breasts. She couldn’t help the small moan that left her lips, when her fiancée’s lips wrapped around her nipple and began gently sucking on it, while she played with the other.

After alternating, Lauren’s lips travelled further down her chest, kissing and nibbling in the soft skin. She was now kneeling between Camila’s legs and playing with the button of her pants. She looked up at her expectantly and all the woman could’ve done was nod, because as usual, Lauren had left her breathless.

Before Lauren could do anything else, Camila grabbed her body and brought her back up; to pull her into a deep passionate kiss. As their lips molded together perfectly, and their tongues danced together, Camila undid the zip of her fiancée’s dress and she quickly got out of it. To her surprise, Lauren had not been wearing a bra. She bit down on her lip hard when she felt their breasts brush together. Camila’s hands travelled down to the button on her pants and yanked at them aggressively.

Lauren chuckled against Camila’s lips, “A bit eager, are we, Amor?”

She shook her head but moaned loudly when the older woman began kissing down her body, and skilfully pulled her pants off of her body, leaving Camila in only her underwear.

Lauren attacked her lips and started moving downwards again, she kissed her throat, down to the valley of Camila’s breasts. She settled herself between the brunette’s legs and stroked her thighs gently.

Camila’s heart started to beat wildly in anticipation. Lauren made her way down to the other woman’s stomach. She kissed every inch of her body, trying to familiarize herself to it again.

“Baby, please,” Camila begged and looked down at her with pleading eyes.

“I’ll give you what you want in a minute,” Lauren locked eyes with her. “Just let me appreciate every single part of your body,” she casted her eyes back onto Camila’s body. “Let me kiss every inch of you. Let me show you how much I love you. How much I want you,” she murmured against Camila’s skin.

Lauren slipped her fingers in the waistband of her panties, slowly pulled them down, and tossed them aside to where their clothes laid on the floor.

“Tell me what you want,” Lauren breathed out sensually.

Camila let out a low moan at the sound of Lauren’s raspy voice. “Make me yours, Amor.”

Lauren looked at Camila once more asking for permission, seeing no hesitance, she slowly pushed herself inside.

The brunette couldn’t help release a throaty and loud moan when she felt her walls clamping around Lauren.

(A/N) Okay I’m sorry. I have to stop there. If anyone actually knows me while reading this, knows I’m too awkward. Plus I like being a tease so 👻

***

“Okay, so we’ll go with Camila, given that we’re technically her best friends,” Dinah pointed to her and Maggie. “It’s bad luck to see each other in the wedding dress before the wedding.”

“And we’ll go with Lauren to ensure that she doesn’t choose a black dress,” Mendes laughed and elbowed her friend gently. “Come on, Mani, let’s head out.”

Ariana and Ally remained behind. The two had only spoken briefly on few occasions but were never stuck together.

The nurse rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. “So, I guess it’s just the two of us, huh?”

“It sure looks like that,” Ally chuckled. “Do you want to go look at cakes? I mean I could’ve probably made one, which as I mention it now, does seem like a really good idea, but we can always go look at them. See if they can make better ones than me.”

Ariana nodded. “Sure,” they started walking around aimlessly until they stumbled upon a bakery. “Listen, I’m not too big on these things. If it was up to me, I probably would’ve bought a couple dozen cupcakes or whatever,” Ally laughed. “But I think after everything they’ve both been through, it should be special even though Camila is a pretty chill person.”

The baker greeted them when they entered the bakery and handed them a pamphlet with various wedding cakes to look at. He also brought out some samples not too long after for them to taste.

They went through various samples with Ariana being obsessed with each flavour but Ally had been a bit more critical.

“I really like this one,” Ally pointed.

Ariana choked. “That’s fucking huge. But it looks nice. It’s extravagant but at the same time, not over the top. What flavour did you like best? Because they’re all really amazing to me.”

“I really like the pink champagne. It has a nice aftertaste,” Ally said after she took another bite out of the cake. “It’s really moist. It’s also going to tick Lauren off because she doesn’t like pink,” the older woman laughed.

Ariana snorted. “Wow and to think we all thought you were the sweet one,” she shook her head laughing. “I guess this will be our contribution to the wedding?”

Ally nodded. “Let’s go buy this and wait around for these losers.”

After hearing the price of the cake, Ariana almost had a heart attack, but she still paid for it nonetheless because Camila was her friend and she wanted the day to be special for the couple.

***

Maggie, Dinah and Camila had been through various stores looking for that one perfect dress. Much to the bride’s protests, her friends insisted on looking for perfection.

“Okay, so Camila, help us out here,” Maggie whined as she held up two dresses. “Did you ever have an idea of your dream dress?”

The brunette shook her head 'no’. “I always thought it would’ve been spontaneous. We probably would’ve gone to Las Vegas, I would’ve been wearing some ripped jeans, my favourite blue flannel and black boots. Romantic, huh?”

Dinah smacked her. “You’re no fun! Plus, that’s the gayest outfit I’ve ever even heard about.”

Camila rubbed her head and laughed.

“Wait, Camila?” Maggie furrowed her eyebrows. “Are you even gay? Or Laurensexual? Cause I mean, we’ve never done the whole label thing before.”

“And we never will,” the brunette stuck her tongue out at her friends. “I’m not gay, but I’ve never been opposed to dating guys either. I guess it doesn’t matter to me. I just love love.”

“Ew,” Dinah made a weird face. “Love can suck my dick.”

Camila rolled her eyes. “You’ve just been done dirty by all the douchebags you’ve dated CheeChee. You’ll find Mr Right one day, your person, all you’ll be like 'Where have you been all my life?’ And then you’ll be one of those annoyingly cute couples.”

Maggie laughed loudly and shoved a dress at Camila. “Okay, whoever willingly puts up with Dinah for the rest of their life deserves an award. Honestly.”

“Puta,” Dinah shoved the restauranteur. “I fucking hate you, my god.”

Camila laughed and went into the changing room to try on, what felt like her millionth wedding dress. “Please don’t kill yourselves out there. I can’t afford to lose my best friends.”

“Camila? Can you kindly tell Margaret who you actually like more?” Dinah asked from outside of the changing room. “Tell her it’s me, the captain of this ship, the one who dried your tears constantly over the time I knew you.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “You don’t call me that! It’s an old woman’s name,” she whined. “And we all know Camila likes me more! I’ve stuck by her side for three years. It’s me. Right, Camzii?”

The changing room door opened and the moment Camila stepped out, both Dinah and Maggie’s jaws dropped. The dress she had on complimented her figure perfectly. She blushed profusely.

“Do you guys like it?” Camila asked shyly. “I mean, I like it but is it a bit too much? Do you think Lauren would like it?”

Her friends took a moment or two to collect themselves until one of them finally spoke up.

“This…this is the dress. This is so you, Camzii,” Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off the woman. “Fuck, I’ll marry you now if I could.”

Dinah laughed. “Don’t let Ariana hear you say that,” she turned to look at her friend again. “Damnit, Mila. You look so beautiful. I’m trying so much not to cry right now, but oh my goodness. I never expected I’ll live to see the day.”

They pulled Camila into a group hug for a few seconds.

“So…are you saying yes to the dress?”

Camila shook her head and smiled. “I’m saying yes to the dress.”

Dinah kinked an eyebrow and tapped at her chin. “So now that we found your dress, I think we need to address an important matter,” Camila stared at her blankly. “Who is going to be your maid of honour?”

Maggie snorted loudly and threw her hands up in defence. “As much as I love Camila, and believe that I’m her best friend, I’m not trying to start world war 3 with you, Deenah Jane. That position is all yours.”

Camila laughed and threw an arm around Maggie. “Thank you for being the bigger person, Mags. I love you,” she kissed the woman on the cheek.

The dancer pouted and crossed her arms. Though she was internally screaming at the fact that she’ll be Camila’s maid of honour. “So I’m the maid of honour by default? Then I don’t want it.”

“Cheechhhh,” Camila whined and took her friend’s hand. “Maggie, I’m sorry. But the position was always going to be Dinah’s,” the restauranteur nodded in understanding. “You’ve been there with me since the beginning. You were the first person I let in besides Lauren. You’re the first real friend I ever had. It’s not by default. This was always going to be yours.”

Dinah smiled and pulled her into a hug. “Ugh, I love your stupid, annoying ass so much. Come on, let’s go pay for this.”

***

“I hate everything,” Lauren stated. “Find me something in black. Something that matches my soul and I think we would be able to agree on something.”

Normani scoffed. “Stop being so damn difficult! Why didn’t I stay behind with Ally and Ariana?! You’re being so annoying. Pick. A. Damn. Dress!”

Lauren smirked. “I don’t want your opinion,” Normani rolled her eyes. “I’ll pick a dress only if it’s black.”

Mendes smacked her boss upside the head. “If you don’t pick a dress right now, you annoying piece of shit, I swear to god, I’ll…I’ll,” she weakly threatened.“

"You’ll what?” Lauren crossed her arms and kinked an eyebrow In superiority. “Let me have it, Mendes.”

She sighed. “I’ll tell Camila.”

“We both know, Camila wouldn’t even care about the dress I’m wearing,” Lauren pointed out. Which was actually true. Her fiancée was never a big fan of extravagant gestures and anything too flashy, so she knew Camila wouldn’t have any issue with what she was wearing. “But fine, for you sake, I’ll look at some of your options.”

Normani threw her hands up. “Ugh. Finally! The lord is good.”

“Amen,” Mendes agreed. 

The two women went looking through various racks to find the perfect dress for their friend. They didn’t have much to go on besides the colour black but they definitely wasn’t going to let her wear black to her own wedding.

“Okay I have two options,” Mendes held up two dresses to Normani. “Which one? Or should be let her try the two?”

The journalist surveyed the dresses, “I guess we’ll have her try them on and we’ll see from there.”

They headed back to look for their friend, and to their surprise, she had just stepped out of the changing room in her pick of a wedding dress. A woman had been standing with a clipboard in hand admiring the dress.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Normani breathed out. “You happen to have some taste after all.”

Lauren chuckled. “I just was rummaging through some of the racks and this lovely lady here came up to me and offered her expertise.”

The blonde woman stuck her hand out and greeted the women. “Hello. I’m Pnina Tornai,” she shook Lauren’s friends hands. “I was informed that Miss Jauregui was here and I know that she’s such a huge fan of my work. I couldn’t just not meet her and offer my expertise.”

Mendes and Normani high fived one another.

“And you managed to get her to settle on a dress? You’re a miracle worker,” Mendes cheered.

Pnina laughed softly. “Well what can I say? I know my way around dresses. I just need to make minor alterations for the bride and you can come back a month before the wedding.”

“Well that’s that. We’re getting this dress! No ifs or buts,” Lauren laughed at her friends’ reactions.

Pnina smiled when she watched Lauren looking at her reflection in the mirror. She stood behind her. “Lauren?”

The CEO looked at her.

“Are you saying yes to the dress?” The designer asked with a smile on her face.

The woman laughed. “Yes. I’m saying yes to the dress.”

Lauren thanked Pnina for her assistance and went around looking through various racks with her friends to choose the perfect bridesmaid dresses. They were a lot easier to please when it came to choosing. When they were done, they made the necessary payments and went to regroup with the others.

***

After making their purchases, the group reassembled at a nearby restaurant. Camila, Dinah, Maggie along with Ariana and Ally were already seated at a table with their various meals in front of them.

“Wow, Camz. I can’t believe you’re eating without me,” Lauren gasped as she took a seat next to hear fiancée. She placed a kiss on her cheek before grabbing something out of her plate.

Camila laughed. “I was actually planning on waiting, but Dinah forced me to eat without you. She’s the culprit,” she pointed a finger at her friend.

The dancer shook her head 'no’. “Oh don’t be blaming me, Miss I’m-Starving-Lauren-Can-Kiss-My-Ass.”

“I never said that! I just said I was starving,” Camila pouted. “Babe, I’m sorry.”

Lauren laughed. “It’s fine, Amor. Don’t worry about it,” she signalled for the waitress and placed an order.

They sat, chatted and laughed. It had been quite sometime since the group had felt as though it was complete. It now had an addition of two.

When we can honestly ask ourselves who means the most to us, we find ourselves thinking back to those who stuck with us through all the bullshit that life threw at us. All the crappy moments of our life, where someone sat by our side, held our hands, dried our tears. Life is an awful place not to have a friend.

“I’ve missed this,” Camila spoke up randomly causing everyone to look at. “It’s just being here with you guys, makes life just feel like it’s finally going to be something worth looking forward to. I have my best friends in the world,” she looked at her friends, “and the love of my life here with me,” Camila looked at Lauren lovingly. “Can life get any better?”

“Aww! Camzii, stop you’re being too cute. I think I might just cry,” Maggie clutched her chest. “Life can get better if I had dessert though.”

Ariana rolled her eyes at her girlfriend. “I think what my girlfriend here is trying to say, is that we’re really happy that the universe seems to be working in your favour. We’ll always be here for you,” she reached across the table and grabbed Camila’s hands. “We love you.”

***

Well guys, the book is coming to an end. There are two more chapters and an epilogue then it’s adios Love Will Remember 👋

Hope ya enjoyed the chapter 🦋 Wattpad: Commander_Camren