Belated Christmas/New Years gift wrapped up in one for a good Roleplay partner of mine - Zuyuri.

Aqua woke, warm and comfortable. She yawned, scrunching her nose as she did. For some reason, she didn't feel well rested. Her body ached all over. What on earth had she been doing last night? She frowned, intent on burrowing deeper into her covers for a few more hours of shut eye, however, she froze when she realized the bed wasn't hers. She slowly sat up. This wasn't her hotel room. This wasn't even her room. As she sat up, the covers shifted and she gasped in horror upon realizing she was bare. Hastily, she grabbed the sheet and covered herself but as she tugged, she found that the blankets didn't come freely. Someone shifted beside her, groaning in protest.

"Oh no…"

Faded memories came back to her. They were bitter and sat just as poorly on her tongue as the taste of alcohol on her tongue. She had been upset and had gone out drinking. She never went out drinking unless she was in a very good mood but her coworkers had been insistent, telling her that she needed a night out. To unwind so to speak. Apparently, she had unwound herself right into the arms of a stranger. She would have to have a word with her so called friends once her head stopped pounding. First thing first, she needed a drink and to splash some water on her face.

She slowly crept out of bed. Maybe if she was quiet enough she could avoid the person entirely. Sure, it was a walk of shame, but she hadn't intended to go home with anyone at all. She was too tired to really care about manners. Not like she had been properly taught how to deal with a one night stand. She wasn't the type. But if the way she felt was any tell, they had been quite active the night before. Her friends would think this is hilarious. The uptight Aqua letting go of all inhibitions and going nuts in one night.

She managed to find the bathroom, as well as her clothes, which she slowly gathered up and took with her. The quicker she could get this over with the better. She looked in the mirror as she shut the bathroom door behind her. She looked just about as awful as she felt. Red rimmed eyes from crying and lack of sleep. Her hair was mussed. Her skin was blemished with red marks and welts. She curiously reached out to touch one when she saw a flash of silver on her hand. Slowly she looked down. A ring. She cast a panicked look to the bedroom where her… partner… from the night before was still sleeping.

She didn't have the ring the night before. She knew that much. She dressed as quietly as she could before stepping out of the bathroom. The man in the bed was handsome. She was quite surprised someone like him looked twice at a girl like her. His lean figure was deceptive because he was sinfully fit. Well formed muscles buried into the sheets. His skin was blemished with love bites and hickies like hers. His white hair was tussled. Since he was still sleeping she couldn't guess what color eyes he had. Nor did she want to be around any longer than she had to unless it was as she feared. His hands were reaching out to the spot where she had been sleeping, as if he had noticed her departure and was seeking out her warmth.

Ignoring that, she reached for his hand, taking it within hers. He had a ring on his finger, just like hers. She felt extremely ill at the sight of it. It couldn't be true. They were in Vegas, but she honestly couldn't have been that drunk. Right? But she couldn't remember the night before. She had gone out with coworkers for a trip to get away from work. She had been upset that one of their other coworkers - a viper of a woman named Larxene - had gotten the promotion that Aqua had been vying for. Being passed up stung. Not only that, but she found out that her boyfriend Luxord cheated on her all because she wouldn't 'put out'.

Elsa had suggested the trip. Originally it was going to be just Elsa and Terra going, but the couple agreed Aqua needed to get away before she had a breakdown. Her blonde coworker then invited a few more of their friends so she wouldn't feel like a third wheel. The plan backfired. Instead, Aqua felt like a fifth wheel. Ventus and his girlfriend Moana had been flirting incessantly. It hadn't helped Aqua's aching heart.

"Good morning."

Alarmed Aqua looked down. The man was awake, regarding her with complete and utter amusement. She was still holding his hand. She dropped it as if she had been electrocuted. This only encouraged a smirk from her bed companion. Pearly white teeth flashed at her. She wanted the ground to swallow her up. Anything would have been preferable than spontaneous combustion from embarrassment. She knew how this looked. They had slept together and she was holding his hand when he woke up. She smoothed her hair back, struggling for words.

"This is the part where you say good morning back," he teased.

"I-"

Her tongue seemed to stop working. Rings didn't mean anything. It might have been a prank. It had to be. He had a mischievous air about him. She would be furious and humiliated for jumping to the conclusion but it was better than the alternative - having married a complete stranger. It wasn't real until it was confirmed to be real, until there was no deniability. But if it was true... She shuddered.

"Want to stick around for breakfast?" he asked, filling the silent void she created.

She gave a dim nod, not trusting herself to speak. The man grinned and climbed out of bed. He had the decency not to laugh at her when she blushed horridly before looking away. To her chagrin, he only put on a pair of boxers as he prepared to head into the kitchen. He seemed so at east that she assumed it was his home or his hotel room? Like a lost puppy, she followed him. She loathed herself for going home with a stranger. She didn't even know his name. That was probably the worst part. She was terrified if that was the case.

"First hook up?" he asked.

"I-wha-what?"

Now he laughed. It was a deep, rich sound that might have been pleasant if not for the blood pounding in her ears. She wasn't smiling. Yes. She felt pleasantly sore. More satisfied than she had been in the past, but the positives were being heavily outweighed by the negatives. How could be so relaxed? Did he not know? Was he playing it off? Was it a sick joke to him?

"You don't strike me as the type to do this sort of thing," he shrugged. "You are cute though."

Staving off another blush she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. They had to discuss last night. She dreaded it but they had to be serious. She was scared of what this meant. Who the man was, what they did, the whole night could set her up for some terrible things later down the line. And she was the one with the lapse in judgment. Sure, the guy seemed nice, but it could very well have been an act.

"Do... you remember anything about last night?" she asked.

The man paused before flashing her a sheepish smile. She didn't return the gesture. She felt like crying. He didn't know either. It certainly wasn't a good sign. Not when an alcohol fueled night in Vegas was involved. She wanted to turn back time. Pretend this never happened but they couldn't. What if he didn't use protection? What if he was some kind of criminal? Awful thoughts rattled around in her head.

"Not one bit. I'm sorry." he admitted, "Do you?"

She shook her head. Frustrated tears pooled at the corners of her eyes. This apparently alarmed the man because he surged forward, cupping her face in his hands. She had to resist the urge to lean into his touch. He was being too kind despite the circumstances. Shouldn't he be trying to kick her out of his home? Laughing at the girl who was too drunk to remember how she got there? It was the stereotypical one-night-stand thing to do.

"Hey, it's okay... Why don't we... talk this out? Okay?"

He smiled at her, when she nodded once again. He let go of her face to guide her over to the couch. She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to make herself smaller. Was she ready for this? No. She had no choice. They did something the night before. It might have been a good idea at the time but now they were sober and had to deal with consequences of their actions.

"Can I get you something to drink first? Coffee? Tea? Water?" he asked.

"Tea?"

He smiled kindly and rose to his feet before going to get tea. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. He came back a few moments later with two piping hot cups of tea. The wafting scent of mint swirled around them. It should have been calming but her stomach churned in protest. When she was handed the cup, she decided to nurse the mug between her hands though the man took a hearty sip. He was calm about it. It made her wonder if she wasn't just another notch in his belt considering the way he was being so casual about their hookup.

"How about we start over?" he suggested. "My name is Jack."

"I'm Aqua."

His smile made her chest clench. His kindness - in it's own way - was almost as cruel as if he had tossed her out of his house the moment she woke up. He was being far too understanding. Far too willing to make sure she was in a good mind set before sending her off. He was willing to go out of his comfort zone and make sure she was happy. It made her feel selfish considering she was a few breaths away from a true meltdown.

"Now, Aqua, why don't you tell me what has you upset?"

He spoke as if coddling a child - a little girl having a panic attack. Though, this wasn't the same as a kid bullying another on the playground. This had more serious repercussions. She looked down at the mug. Easier to talk to it than to look Jack in the eyes and tell him what she assumed happened. She willed herself not to cry. She was made of stronger stuff than this. But waking up the way she had left her nerves raw and jagged around the edges.

"I can't remember last night at all," she uttered. "And we have rings."

"Rings?"

Aqua spared a hesitant glance his way, gazing from behind her lashes, fearing his response. He looked to his hand. Finally realizing that he too had a ring on. He stared at it mutely for a moment, taking in all of the tiny details of it before it truly sank in. He seemed to go as pale as a sheet - something she thought impossible since he was already ghostly pale as it was.

"Oh... shit..."