Disclaimer: I don't own any of the properties belonging to NRS and Warner Brother's studio, nor do I own any of the characters you recognize in the Mortal Kombat Fandom. Only the plot and original characters belong to me. Thank you!

Author's Note: ... So hi again! Another sequel, but this will be much, much lighter in tone. I'm normally a sucker for happy endings and stuff, so here we are. For those familiar with my previous works, this story begins right from where the end of Chapter 31 of Repair, Rebuild, Renew ends. This will feature Cassie and my O.C along with the occasional CageBlade and Jakeda fluff in there as well. If you are wanting more CageBlade from me, you can check out my stuff: either on AO3 (same penname as here), and you can also keep up with my CageBlade origin stories, especially because I'd be referencing things from there in this one. I hope you guys enjoy.

Also to be noted... I'm ignoring MK11 story mode, just saying.

Uncertainty

Save for the hoots of an owl just outside the window…

It's quiet in Cassie's room. She's awake, lying on her side and watching her boyfriend Yuri-Nato Ogawa sleep. He's snoring quietly, something she giggles and shakes her head at. His eyes move under his closed eyelids and she stares at his long eyelashes in awe. Unable to resist, she runs a soft index finger down the length of his nose, lightly tapping the end affectionately. He inhales deeply and she cringes. "Oops," she whispers to herself.

When he settles again, she smiles. She couldn't remember a time before now when she was just… blissful. It's been a long time coming for her, and she knew it. But she's simply happy again, even when he lets out a particularly gnarly snort in his sleep. She covers her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles. Her bed lightly shakes with her quiet laughter before she bites her lips. Clearing her throat, she settles back into her pillow.

Closing the short distance between them, she rubs her nose against his nose affectionately. She then presses her lips to his in quick succession, once, twice, three times. On her fourth go, she's surprised when he responds back by pulling her even closer to him and letting their lips linger. With an inhale, she throws an arm and a leg over his neck and waist respectively. And with a soft moan, she parts her lips. "Whoops," she mutters against his lips.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through her bare body and settling right between her legs. She blushes helplessly. They pull away and his silver eyes are now trained on her green orbs. "What's on your mind?" he wonders.

She blinks at him. "I was thinking about you," she confesses.

He hums, contemplating her answer. "What about me?"

She shrugs. "Just thinking." She caresses his cheek with her thumb. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You didn't," he assures her, adjusting his hold on her.

"You sure?" she asks him apprehensively. His reply comes in the form of him breathing kisses into her neck, causing her to moan softly. She stiffens when she thinks of something. "Oh… shit."

Yuri pulls away and stares at Cassie. "Something wrong?"

She bites her lip again. "Shit… I just realized that we… we uh… didn't use protection," she mumbles the last part. He furrows his eyebrows, agreeing with her assessment. "I mean… because I'm not on birth control."

"I understand," he says. He loosens his hold and she shifts around in her bed, pulling at the drawers of her small nightstand and discovers her small box of condoms. "Well, I'm tested and everything."

"I know," she tells him, frowning at herself, "I trust you. I'm clean as well." She internally screams at herself, questioning why she even brought it up. With a sigh, she rolls over onto her back, staring at the ceiling. He lies on her pillow on his stomach, tilting his head to face hers.

After a few moments of disturbing silence, he speaks again, regarding her previous concerns, "Do you want to?"

"Well," she starts, "I'm obviously not seeing anyone else at this rate." She turns her head to face him. "Are you?" she teases.

He chuckles. "Hell no. I don't normally like people to begin with."

She laughs at him. "Jeeze," she mocks him, "you sound like a lone wolf."

"I can be," he reasons.

"But you like me though, right?" she beseeches him playfully.

He tosses an arm around her again, turning them over so she's on top of him. "Cassandra," he lulls, "do you even need to ask?"

"Mmm hmm."

He lightly grabs the back of her neck and brings her in for a kiss. "Fine, if you insist. I love you, Cassandra. Very much."

"Me, too," is her knee jerk reaction. She cringes when he eyes her. "I mean, I love you too Yu-Yu."

She tucks her head under his neck, and he caresses her back, rubbing it in soft circles. "I must say, it delights me when you call me that, especially because no one has ever nicknamed me as such before," he confesses.

She smirks. "Because no one is as clever as me," she jests.

He places a sweet kiss to her forehead. "This is true," he agrees, and her conceited smirk grows. "Brat."

"Wow," she laughs, "so mean."

"It's all in the name of love, my dear."

It's the beginning of a new month. Cassie and Jacqui take a rare day away from the base. "It's official," Cassie says, taking a bite of her fry as Jacqui sits in front of her, sipping her strawberry flavored milkshake as they eat lunch at their favorite burger joint. "I'm so in love with that dude."

Shaking her head, Jacqui also takes a fry, dipping it in ketchup before putting it in her mouth and chewing slowly and deliberately. "'Course you are," she brags, and Cassie rolls her eyes. "Welcome to the club, sis."

Cassie laughs, shaking her head and taking a long drink from her own banana flavored crafted beverage. "It's crazy, you know. I did not think it'd happen like this."

"The universe works in such mysterious ways, doesn't it?"

The girls nod in agreement, and Cassie sips at her drink some more before putting it down and saying, "I'm low key waiting for his next move."

"What do you think would be his next move?"

Cassie levels a look with her best friend. "What did you tell me before when I told you he came through with the save that helped Mom get her job back?"

"Ohh," Jacqui laughs, and the hidden meaning behind that one word causes Cassie to choke on her drink and blush. "Well I mean, I said you should fuck him—"

"Done, and done," Cassie says.

Jacqui leans forward. "Spill the deets."

Slapping a hand on her head, Cassie laughs. "I mean… y-you know…" she stumbles over her words.

"That good?"

"Honey, you have no idea," she confirms.

Wanting to see her normally calm, cool, and collected best friend squirm some more, Jacqui teases, "I don't… which is why you should tell me."

"Jacqueline!"

Jacqui bursts into laughter as Cassie's face flushes even more. "Tell me, or else it's just gonna get worse."

Cassie covers her face. After taking a few moments to collect herself, she clears her throat. "Well, first of all, I knew his tongue game would be there," she starts, making an 'ok' sign with her hands. Jacqui places a fist under her chin, smiling impishly at her. "Um," she tries to ignore Jacqui's leering look, "y-yeah, he's really good at it, oh my God."

"Uh huh," Jacqui coaches.

"And um… Jesus fucking Christ, Jacqui, he's just good at it, okay? This is weird. I don't ask for details about you and Takeda, do I?"

"Yes, the fuck you did! You wanted to know everything, and I told you because I love you," Jacqui defends herself. With a frown, she smartly adds, "That, and you threatened to molly whoop my ass. So, I'm returning the favor. Tell me everything or get your ass beat."

Cassie throws her head back and laughs, covering her mouth. "This needs to be a conversation over drinks. At a bar."

Jacqui wraps up her burger in the paper. "Let's go then."

Half an hour later, the two girls are already two shots of tequila in. "Okay," Cassie resumes her story from before, "so he did this thing with his tongue where he…" She whispers the rest in Jacqui's ear, and Jacqui's eyes go wide. As Cassie continues the story in private, Jacqui's jaw slowly drops. "With ice," she finishes, taking a sip of her water.

"Ice?"

"Mmm hmm," Cassie reiterates.

"Shit," Jacqui marvels, "I gotta try that. Unless you want that to be your personal thing?"

Cassie shrugs, noncommittal. "You can try it. It was hella fucking sexy. One thousand percent will do again."

Jacqui gestures to the bartender for another round. "Damn. Okay, what else?"

Tucking their heads low, they continue their conversation when a guy strides in and takes a seat next to Cassie on her right, blatantly eyeing her. She whips her head in his direction and he smirks at her. "Hey," he greets with a gravelly voice, surveying her.

"Hi," she says, turning her attention back to Jacqui. "Anyway," she continues.

"Can I buy you and your friend a drink?"

Both girls turn to him now. "Nope, we're good," Jacqui answers him sharply. They eye each other, speaking silently now.

He orders himself a whiskey straight. "That's cool. Just being friendly."

Jacqui rolls her eyes with a sigh. Deciding against her initial thoughts, she takes her shot and drains it. Cassie does the same before signaling to her friend that it's their last. Just in case. "I wanna marry him."

"That implies that you want to get married," Jacqui tells her.

Cassie shrugs again. "Yeah, and?"

"Shit," Jacqui marvels, "you really do love him, huh? I've never heard you say that before."

Cassie blinks. "Yeah… I do. I wanna marry him and have all of his beautiful silvery eyed babies." She looks up to the ceiling. "Jesus, help me."

"I do remember also saying you should marry him, but I mean… I was kidding… sorta." Jacqui turns to Cassie and says, "You, Cassandra Carlton Cage, want to get married. Huh."

"Literally, all he has to do is ask," Cassie agrees. She takes another sip of her water. "It doesn't even feel like it, but I know we've technically only been dating for nearly four months—"

"And it's been almost a year since y'all met," Jacqui adds.

Cassie nods. "Mmm hmm. But honestly Jacqui… he's the one. I know it both in my heart and deep in my soul. He's the real deal, I swear. He's… Yuri is it." She grimaces. "Ew, who put these onions here?" she jokes, wiping her eye. She sniffs. "I didn't think I'd get to this point in my life, Jacq."

Patting her shoulder, Jacqui nods. "I know. Yuri's a good guy. Way better than any of the other dudes you've ever dated." Cassie nods and shrugs again. "So… all he has to do is ask, eh?"

"Yep. And I'll be patient for once. I'll wait until he's ready."

Ya hear that, Taquito? Jacqui thinks in her head, directing her thoughts to her boyfriend, Takeda. She said she'd say yeah if he asks. Refocusing on Cassie, Jacqui says, "And I'll get ready to be doused in pink."

Cassie chuckles. "I'll try not to make it stupidly bright."

At dinner a week before Valentine's Day at the Cage residence, Cassie sits with Yuri and her parents. Utensils scrape along their plates as they all eat in relative silence. But because he couldn't help himself, Johnny begins humming an aimlessly merry tune, causing Sonya to roll her eyes at him. "Really, Johnny?" Sonya asks him after he starts whistling and tapping his fingers against his plate.

He ceases his actions and frowns at his wife. "C'mon Sonya, let me have some fun," he teases her.

Yuri raises an eyebrow at the older couple but keeps to himself, biting back a silent laugh. Cassie shakes her head affectionately. "You guys are hilarious," she tells her parents.

"Hardly," is Sonya's dry response, and Yuri chokes on a sip of his water, thoroughly amused. His action earns her attention, and she wonders, "So, what are your plans for next week, kiddos?"

Cassie tilts her head to the side at Sonya. "Next week?" She looks at Yuri who shrugs. "We have plans?"

Gasping, Yuri jokingly inquires, "You've forgotten already?" He throws a dramatic hand to his heart and Sonya laughs. "I am offended!"

She turns to him slowly. "What the hell are you talking about?" Cassie stares at her dad. "Dad… dude, what— Mom!"

"Next week is Valentine's Day," she gently reminds Cassie.

She rolls her eyes. "I mean… I know that. I'm only celebrating it with ninja dude because his birthday is coming up."

Both Sonya and Johnny perk up. "It is?" they both ask.

Yuri nods. "My birthday is on Saturday."

"Shit," Johnny yelps. "As in… the day before?"

Cassie grins, throwing an arm around her boyfriend. "Right? He's a special boy. He popped out the day before V-day. Pretty awesome, huh?" Before he's able to answer, she peppers his cheek with kisses. "You're legit the only reason why I'll respect V-day from here on out."

"This bloody holiday has been used to market the idea of love being celebrated only on that day when that isn't how it works," he grouses miserably. Sonya and Cassie coo at him as Johnny chuckles. "A joke," he pouts.

"Aww c'mon babe," Cassie soothes him, "I know that's not how it works. Because usually, fuck Valentine's Day, am I right?"

"You're not wrong there," Sonya agrees.

"Exactly. But for you… I'll accept it. We won't even call it that. We'll just say your birthday. Deal?" As an added measure, Cassie holds out her hand for Yuri to shake, which he does before pressing her knuckles to his lips. Her other arm goes around his neck and she asks, "So… are we going to din-din or what?"

He nods. "I'll even dress up a bit, so—"

"Wear something fancy, got it," she finishes his sentence for him. She kisses his cheek again. "Love you," she says.

"I love you too, dear," he counters. They kiss and Johnny not so subtly clears his throat. They pull away. "Oh… may we be excused?" Johnny dismisses them and they push their chairs back as it gently scrapes against the floor. "Lucky muffin, come along."

Their white Maltese sits up from her nap, panting happily. "Fluffy butt, we're gonna go upstairs to bed. You ready?" She barks then follows her owners up the stairs.

Johnny and Sonya watch them leave before turning back to each other. "Real subtle there, baby," Johnny lightly chides his wife.

"Oh, shut up," Sonya teases him back. She turns her head again when she hears the door to Cassie's room shut softly. "So… did he ask you?"

He nods, grinning. "He's gonna do it on Saturday."

"That's exciting," she says. She gathers the plates, stacking them on each other as she continues, "She's gonna lose her mind and I can't wait to see it."

"Can't believe it," he starts, standing up and pushing each chair back towards the table, "my little princess… our little princess… ready to get married. Who'd have thunk it?"

"I didn't" she replies honestly. "She's normally a goddamn commitment-phobe. Wonder who she got that from?" He whistles innocently, ignoring her humored jab. "Mmm hmm."

"Shush, Sonya," he tells her, and she laughs brightly, causing a smile to form on his face. "I'm excited though. She deserves the world, and I've done my best to give her that while you saved it. Now it's up to him to continue that for her."

"And he will. I have faith in him."

"Me, too."

They're silent for a while as he follows her to the kitchen to put the dishes in the dishwasher. "I remember our proposal, as unconventional as it was."

He shrugs. "I didn't want you to be the one who got away."

She walks up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder and nudging him lightly. "I'm right here, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are," he agrees, pulling her closer to him before capturing her lips in his. They kiss for a long while, breaking apart only because he thought of something. "Don't leave me again, baby. I missed you."

"I won't," she promises. "And let's try not to have long fights like that again. Five years of fighting is…" She does some quick mental math. "Eighteen hundred and twenty-five days too long."

He stares at her incredulously. "Amazing… you just did that in your head?" She nods, grinning sheepishly. "Damn, I love you, baby."

"I love you too, honey."

"Oh, so you don't mind me calling you baby anymore, huh?" She shakes her head. "And it only took… what, twenty-six years?"

"Ugh, don't make me regret this, John," she warns him.

He pouts. "Not Johnny?"

She rolls her eyes. "Johnny," she corrects herself. She kisses him again, properly snaking her arms around his neck and her fingers through his hair. "I love you," she says breathlessly when they pull apart again.

"I love you, too."

"Thank you," Yuri graciously says as the waiter places his seafood poh taek soup on the table a couple of days later. Across from him sits his best friend Maeliana Kojima-Park, smiling at her musman curry and blackened rice as it's placed in front of her.

"If you need anything else, please let me know," the waiter tells them. They nod and she goes to check on another table.

"Well, this is a very nice place, Natu," Maeliana praises him. She brushes her lightened brown hair back with one hand as she picks up her spoon. She dips the back of her spoon in her curry before putting it in her mouth. Marveling at the taste, she nods appreciatively. "Beautifully done."

"Told you," he gloats. Maeliana rolls her eyes and scoops some rice with her spoon before dipping it back into her meal. "Cassandra introduced me to this place, and I have been obsessed ever since."

She smiles through her food. After chewing, she says, "She has exquisite taste." She smiles at Yuri. "So, I have yet to speak to her in person. Why is this?"

"She's a busy woman, in charge of her own teams," he tells her.

Raising an eyebrow at him, she shakes her head. "I must meet her. I insist. You are purposely hiding her from me and it's unacceptable," she teases him.

With a scoff, he defends himself, stating, "I am not. Both of your schedules are not aligning the way they should."

"Well, this is true. I'm trying. I will be in town for the month. So, happy birthday my dear brother." They eat in silence before she speaks again. "You're asking for her hand, correct?"

"Indeed," he answers.

"I hope she accepts the proposal. I haven't seen you happier since… well, it's been a long while. I am glad you've finally found someone for you."

"She's absolutely amazing, wonderful, brilliant, and lovely in every sense of the word," he gushes with a loving grin on his face. She beams, genuinely happy for her best friend. "She's the best." With a sigh, he adds, "I just hope I'm good enough for her, too."

Frowning, Maeliana puts down her spoon and turns to Yuri. "Why would you ever think you aren't?"

He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "American girls can be very shallow. And it intimidates me."

"Agreed."

"She… Cassandra has been used to a certain lifestyle for a long time, complete with whom American society would dictate she should be with. I obviously do not fit the normal criteria, so… it's something that plagues me quite often."

"As that may be true, she does not strike me as such. Shallow, I mean," she tells him. She pats his hand softly. "If she did not want to be with you, I'm sure she would have made that clear, no?"

He nods. "This is true. But I still worry because… what if it has all been for naught?"

She folds her hands in front of her after pushing aside her food. "It wouldn't be. I promise. She's an honest woman; she has made her intentions quite clear to everyone, including yourself. So, fret not, Natu."

They eat in silence again with him deep in thought. After they're done, he quietly says, "I love her, and I am in love with her. I didn't think I would feel this way about anyone again… not since—"

"I understand," she says, not wanting him to finish the sentence. She'd been there for him as he reeled from the betrayal of his ex-girlfriend a couple of years prior. Constanza left a gaping, untrusting hole in his heart after it was revealed that she was involved in an attack against him where he barely escaped with his life, something he hadn't told Cassie before. Not yet.

If it wasn't for Maeliana and her husband, his other best friend Geo, he wouldn't be able to tell the story. Since then, he'd been untrusting of women seeking his attention romantically… until he laid eyes on Cassie. And he'd fallen as hard for her as she did for him. But doubts still linger in the back of his mind, even though Cassie hadn't given him a reason to feel that way.

He sighs, wiping his mouth on his napkin. "What happens next if she tells me no?"

She bites her lips. "Let us think positively, hmm? What will happen when she tells you yes?"

He shrugs. "Then we stay together."

"Natu," she calls him. He looks up to see her staring at him with conviction. "Natu… she will say yes. And Geo and I will be at your wedding. And we better be your children's emergency guardians."

This causes him to laugh lightly. "Yes Lia, I promise."

She places a gentle hand over his again. "She loves you. I do not have the same abilities as you, but I know it's true."

He nods, accepting her answer. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, of course! I say this because I love you brother."

"I love you too, Lia."

When Yuri gets back to Cassie's room in the house, he sees her lying on her bed in her bra and shorts typing something furiously on her tablet as Lucky snoozes next to her. Though Lucky perks up when she realizes he's home. Not looking up from her work, Cassie greets him with, "Hey babe, how was dinner with Maeliana?"

He closes the door gently and picks up Lucky to ruffle her fur. "It went well, though we both missed you."

"I know… I had a lot of work to take care of today… the same shit I'm still working on," she explains, frowning at the screen. Scooting closer to the wall, she pats the new space next to her and he comes over to her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Does the restaurant receive both of your stamps of approval?"

"It does," he gushes. "Lia was very impressed. She's extremely hard to please."

"Oh," she snorts, "so like a female version of you, yeah?" She laughs when she glances over to see him scowling. "Aww babe, I meant that in the nicest way possible."

"Brat," he teases, swiftly delivering a short but sharp slap to her butt. She squeaks. "You deserved that."

"I doubt it," she chuckles again. After a few more minutes, she huffs and closes her tablet. "That's it, I've had enough of this." She sits up on her bed and embraces him lovingly. "I missed you today though."

"I've missed you too, my love," he returns the sentiment. He yelps. "Ouch! Muffin, why?"

"Lucky," she starts soothingly, taking the puppy from him, "why are you biting at your daddy? That's not very nice. You hurt his feelings, so say you're sorry."

She picks up the puppy and brings her closer to his face. Lucky licks his face affectionately. "You are forgiven." She barks once and Cassie puts her on the floor.

Now having more space, she leans in to kiss him, but he catches her on the neck instead, pressing soft, lingering kisses on her skin. She groans, appreciating the feeling. "Babe," she sighs.

"Want me to stop?" he asks, pulling away. She shakes her head. "Cass," he says.

"No, but please change your clothes," she tells him.

"Right, I apologize." Getting off the bed, he takes off his clothes. He's left with his boxer briefs and he checks in with her. "Better?"

"Much. Thanks, babe," she praises him. He climbs back on the bed, crawling to her as she reclines until he's on top of her. She immediately wraps her arms around his neck, and he situates himself between her on his knees. He takes the initiative to wrap her legs around his waist before snaking his hands up her back and pulling her to a sitting position. "Ooh," she squeals, "this is new."

"To whom, yourself?"

She gapes. "I mean, jeeze, it just might be," she jokes with him. She tugs him and they kiss, rubbing themselves against one another. His hands crawl up her back, looking for the clasp of her bra. "Front clasp," she mumbles through his lips. Noted. He undoes her bra and she shrugs it off her shoulders before struggling to swipe it off her bed. It startles Lucky enough to find her corner of the room to sit quietly in.

He leans back slightly to inquire, "Are we okay with… protection?"

She nods. "I got an IUD, so that won't be an issue for like, three years unless I take it out," she tells him.

"Is that sufficient enough?"

"Yeah," she tells him.

He nips at her neck and pinches her nipples. "Want me to stop?" She hums negatively. "Do you love me?"

"Very much," she breathes in his ear. "But right now, you're making me talk a little too much."

He chuckles. "Sorry," he apologizes.

"Are ya?"

Yuri outright laughs at Cassie pestering him before sinking her back onto the bed. "I apologize deeply," he groans deep into his chest, "and I hope you can forgive me."

She swears she hears one of her parents in their room. "I will if you shush," she whispers, her heart pounding in her chest. She hears their door open just as he's already eased her shorts down her legs. "Babe," she whispers frantically when he rubs her with two fingers. She barely swallows down the salacious moan ready to leave her lips when she feels his tongue on her center. "I don't wanna… be too… mmm."

I'm not talking anymore, he sing-songs in her head, not missing a beat.

She covers her mouth with both hands, whimpering softly before throwing daggers at his inner thoughts. You're a jerk.

Am I?

She jolts as he grips one of her legs under the knee. "Yes," she squeals before holding her mouth closed again. His mouth works faster and probes deeper when she holds his head. The mysterious parent bangs their foot on the creaking trick step, and she bursts into loud giggles before stopping herself by biting her lips. Fuck.

"Cass?" Sonya calls out. Yuri pulls away from her and she struggles to sit up. "Cassie, are you okay?"

"Yep," she grunts, "all good."

"Okay," Sonya responds apprehensively. "Good night."

Two fingers enter Cassie and she chokes out, "Night," before staring at Yuri wide-eyed. "Yuri!" she hisses at him. He resumes his previous movements and she's rendered speechless again. She's surprised she hasn't drawn blood yet at how hard she bites at her lips as she finds herself close to the edge. With a muffled moan, she shudders and jolts as he finally detaches himself from her. "Oh… my God."

"Hmm?"

"I'm gonna kick your ass," she whispers. He nips at her again. "Fuck."

"Very well then," he says with a chuckle.

She shakes her head at him after he lies next to her. "I'm gonna get you back," she vows, pouncing on top of him and lightly pinning his shoulders to the bed. "Seriously, you're a freak."

He frowns. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Huh?" she asks, slightly startled by the seriousness of his voice. "No, I meant that in a good way." Unconvinced, he scrunches his eyebrows in a half-grimace. "Yu-Yu… wow, I felt your vibes change just now. Did I say something wrong?" She sits on top of him, studying his face.

His earlier conversation with Maeliana plays in his mind, but he tries to shake it off. "You haven't. I was just thinking about something."

She lies back down and caresses his face with both hands. "Yu-Yu… I… I worded it wrong. I don't mean freak like a freak show," she tries to console him. "I meant it like, filthy but… you know, i-in a sexy kinda way. Like… 'kay, I won't say it like that again," she backtracks furiously.

He runs his hands up and down her bare back. "Thank you, my love. And I'm sorry. My mind just went elsewhere."

"Hey," she says softly, "just don't shut down on me, okay? You know I'm here for ya." She smiles at him and it's hard for him not to return the favor. "I owe you an apology. How can I make it up to you?"

He guides one of her hands down to his hardened member. "I might have a way."

She giggles. "Oh, so you want me to give you a hand?" He half shrugs. "I'll do one better," she says as she lowers herself down his body.

A/N: Let me know what you guys think so far! I'm aiming to definitely do much more rapid-fire updates now that I've got a little more time on my hands. Thanks!