Chapter 20: The Final Night
"No."
"Come on, just five minutes."
"Again, no."
"San-Li please," Other Fred begged her. "I just need five minutes to talk to her. Just let me apologize or something."
"Are you sorry for kissing her?"
"Well...no, but-"
"Then don't apologize."
San-Li poured hot water into two mugs then poured it out again. She then wrapped an assortment of tea leaves in two silk bags, tied them off, and dropped them into the mugs followed by more hot water.
"I told you this would happen." San-Li mumbled. "This is why I told you and Kairi to leave her alone. You and Fina are too immature to handle what you're feeling. Especially since you won't commit to your feelings to her."
"I won't commit?" Other Fred stared at her. "Fina's the one who freaked and ran off. Besides, she's the most mature person I know."
"She freaked because she's conflicted." San-Li sighed and stirred the tea. "All her life Fina has been conditioned to serve one person and put her needs last. Then she meets you, someone she genuinely likes, but it conflicts with the fact she's only supposed to be devoted to Joe. And, you know, the fact that you had a girlfriend the entire time she was falling for you. She probably even blames herself for you two breaking up."
San-Li finished making the tea and carried the mugs upstairs to her room with Other Fred following close behind. She froze when she saw Kairi and Alternate Fred waiting by the closed and locked door. Kairi was obviously trying to listen while Other Joe was in the room trying to talk to Fina.
"Kairi!" San-Li snapped. "Get the hell away from that door or I'll cut your tongue out so you can't run that big mouth of yours!"
Kairi jumped away from the door and Alternate Fred clenched his fists. "Don't talk to my girlfriend like that!"
"She says whatever she wants to Fina, I say whatever I want to her." San-Li pushed past them and knocked on the door.
Other Joe stepped out and closed the door behind him. "Ugh, I can't get her to transform back into a human. She'll barely let me touch her."
"That's what I'm here for." San-Li went into the room and the door locked behind her.
Other Joe shot the others an angry look before heading downstairs. Kairi started to say something, but Alternate Fred gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. Kairi pouted and they left to go downstairs. Other Fred sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He sat down with his back to the door and waited. At first all he heard was San-Li's voice, but after about an hour he could hear Fina's softer voice. Even now with all this drama the sound of Fina's voice brought a small smile to Other Fred's face. But there was a layer of sadness in it that he hated. All he wanted to do was hug her until gave him that bright, carefree smile of hers.
"Wow." Other Fred blinked in surprise. "I think I am in love with her."
Fina sipped gingerly at her piping hot tea. She and San-Li sat cross legged across each other on the bed. Her head hurt and her eyes burned from crying. But more than that she felt embarrassed. She should have never lost her temper like that or freaked out. Kairi was only trying to help and it was her fault for not handling the situation better. She was so glad she had someone like San-Li to talk to.
"I'm sorry." Fina said quietly. "You were right. I was behaving immaturely."
"It's not totally your fault." San-Li mumbled. "You've let Warp Wizard after Warp Wizard have complete control over you for so long that you forgot how to feel for yourself."
Fina shrugged. "That was never a problem you know that."
"Yeah until that bone head hottie came along." San-Li chuckled. "Just admit that you're head over heels for him and figure out for yourself what you're going to do about it."
"But what about-"
"Stop trying to rationalize it away." San-Li frowned. "We both know that he barely gives two craps about Jodie and why should your immortality hold you back? You aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The only question is what do you want, not what's best for everyone else."
Fina pursed her lips in thought. She was absolutely crazy about Other Fred, but she didn't want to hold him back from meeting someone else. But San-Li was right, she couldn't go on stuck in the middle like this.
San-Li downed the rest of her tea and hopped off the bed. "And before you make any decisions, you and Other Fred need to talk. A real, actual talk. No avoiding the subject."
"If he'll even talk to me." Fina muttered. "He must think I'm a child."
"Doubt it. He was ready to punch Kairi in the face earlier for you."
San-Li opened the door and Other Fred fell onto his back with a noise of blinked up at Fina and a light blush spread across his cheeks, Fina stared back at him and felt her own cheeks heat up.
"I need to talk to you!" They said at the same time and blushed harder.
Other Fred quickly stood up. "Can we take a walk or something? I really want to talk to you."
"Yeah, we should talk." Fina wrung her hands. "But...I'm not really ready to see the others yet."
Other Fred smiled, a mischievous glint coming into his eyes. "Wanna sneak out the window then?"
Fina giggled and nodded. He excitedly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the window. San-Li smiled as he carefully helped Fina out the window.
"A bonfire!" Sydney said excitedly. "We should totally have a bonfire party!"
"Ah! Wonderful! That will be a perfect way to end our last night together." Joleena snapped her fingers and a pen and notebook appeared. "Tell me exactly what we'll need so I may obtain it."
"Well, definitely firewood, a lot of it, lots of food, lots of music..."
"Don't forget marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for s'mores." Alternate Fred put in. "And definitely hot dogs. Lots of hot dogs."
Everyone was sitting around the living room planning for their last night at the beach house. Now that Fina had been found and most of the drama was over, they wanted to focus on making their last night together special and fun. They all made suggestions and Joleena wrote down everything. Everyone except for Kairi that is. She laid on the couch with her head in Alternate Fred's lap, staring sadly at the ceiling.
"So if we're going to have music on the beach we have to make sure we can really hear it." Skyler pointed out.
"An integrated amplifier system paired with bluetooth speakers should do the trick." San-Li said coming down the stairs. "I can install them if I can pick the music."
"San-Li!" Kairi lept off the couch and ran to her. "Is Fina okay? Can I talk to her? Is she mad at me?"
San-Li shot her a look and sat next to Other Sam. "Yes. No. And if she isn't, she should be."
"So where is she?" Other Joe asked.
"Don't worry about it." San-Li waved her hand dismissively. "Let's get back to planning this party. We could all use it after all that we've been through."
"Agreed."
They walked along the beach well unto the sun disappeared and it got almost too dark to see. Fina and Other Fred didn't hold hands or wrap their arms around each other, but they walked closed enough that their bare arms constantly brushed together keeping a light blush on their faces.
While they walked they talked about everything, leaving nothing hidden about their feelings. Even though it was partially embarrassing, it was also pretty liberating. And they had also agreed not to repeat anything they said to the others. They were their friends sure, but quite frankly it wasn't their business.
"Think we should head back?" Other Fred said softly. "They're probably going nuts wondering where we are."
Fina sighed and smiled up at him. "I guess so. But I wish we could spend the night out here."
"Are you saying you want to spend the night with me?" Other Fred teased with a small wink.
Fina blushed and playfully hit his arm. "You know that's not what I meant!"
Other Fred laughed and gave her a playful push. "I know, I just like teasing you. You look so cute when you're all flustered."
She blushed harder and looked away with a smile. They headed back to the beach house with a comforting silence between them. Other Fred cleared his throat nervously and reached his hand toward hers. Fina hesitated for a moment, but then slowly grabbed his hand.
"Your hand is really soft." Other Fred said quietly.
"And your hand is really warm." Fina whispered.
He caressed the back of her hand with his slightly calloused thumb. It made Fina kind of sad to think that when they got closer to the beach house they would have to let go. Sure enough they rounded a dune and the house began to come into view. There was also a bright glow on the beach and the distant sound of music. Fina stopped walked and Other Fred turned his head to look at her.
"You okay?"
"Um," Fina bit her lip. "Can I ask you to do something for me?"
"Anything."
Fina felt her face grow hot. "Can you kiss me please? One more time?"
Other Fred's eyes widened and he looked away. Fina was just on the verge of taking it back when he turned back towards her and slowly leaned forward until his lips were gently pressing against hers. Her eyes drifted shut and she felt warmth spread throughout her body. They pulled apart slowly and when she opened her eyes he was smiling at her.
"Cool." They said at the same time.
Even walking as slow as possible, they eventually had to reach the others. Other Fred gave Fina's hand a soft squeeze before reluctantly letting it go. Their friends had set up a giant bonfire complete with a large table filled with food and loud music. But the best part was that everyone seemed to finally be getting along, talking like normal people. Kairi was the first to notice them approach and immediately ran over.
"Fina! Please don't be mad. I'm so so sorry that I messed with your love life, but I was only trying to help-"
"Kairi..."
"I was just trying to make sure you were happy-"
"Kairi..."
"But the most important thing is that I don't want to lose your friendship because I think we could totally be best friends and-"
"Kairi!" Fina grabbed her shoulders and smiled at her. "I'm not mad at you."
"Really?" Kairi pouted and looked at her with puppy dog eyes. "Are you sure?"
Fina smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. "One of the best things about being immortal is that you learn to forgive."
Alternate Fred walked up to them and studied his Other.
"So..." Alternate Fred held out his hand. "We cool?"
Other Fred smiled and shook his hand. "We're cool."
Fina and Kairi linked arms and they all went to rejoin the others who were watching them expectantly.
"So, is everything good?" Other Joe asked cautiously.
Fina and Other Fred looked at each other and smiled. "We're good."
"So that means you're dating right?" Kairi said excitedly.
"Nope." Fina shook her head.
"We're going to do things our way and that's all we're going to say about it." Other Fred added.
San-Li made a noise of exasperation and moved away. "I swear you two drive me to drink."
"Not all of us are as blunt as you, San-Li." Fina laughed.
"I don't think anyone is." Sydney laughed.
"How long do you think they'll stay mad at each other?" Cade mumbled to San-Li.
"I honestly don't know." San-Li chuckled and took a sip of her drink. "My Sam's usual docile."
"And I didn't know my Sam was emotional enough to hold a grudge." Cade laughed. "It's like seeing a grumpy koala."
Both Sam's huffed irritably. "We're sitting right here you know."
The girls just looked at each other and laughed. The four of them were sitting together, the girls lounging against their respective boyfriends who still refused to speak to each other. Finally San-Li rolled her eyes and whispered something in her boyfriend's ear.
"Alright fine," Other Sam sighed and looked at his Alternate. "I'm sorry for calling Cade frigid and boring. She's actually a pretty cool person and I can see why you like her."
"And..." Alternate Sam said pointedly.
"And," Other Sam smiled apologetically. "I really am sorry for punching you in the face. Honestly, I don't know what came over me but that's no excuse."
"Thank you, I accept your apology." Alternate Sam didn't say anything further until Cade nudged his arm. "Ow! Okay, okay, I'm sorry for insinuating that San-Li wasn't smart. That was rude of me to talk about your girlfriend like that. It's clear that you guys are really happy and I should respect that."
"Thank you. And I accept your apology as well."
The two Sams nodded at each other and were slightly less frigid after that, but they still weren't besties or anything like it. But the girls only smiled and gave each other knowing looks. Other Sam tilted San-Li's face towards his and gave her a small kiss before wrapping his arms tightly around her shoulders, nestling his face in her hair.
When San-Li noticed Cade watching them she gave her a small encouraging nod. A light blush spread across Cade's face but she gave San-Li a small nod in return. She turned towards Alternate Sam and paused before cupping his face and pulling him in for a gentle, but firm kiss on the lips. When they pulled apart they were both blushing but smiling.
"Way to go Red." San-Li chuckled.
"What can I say?" Cade shrugged. "I had a great motivator."
"Do you think we'll ever see each other again?" Alternate Anna asked. "I hate that this vacation is ending just when everyone is getting along."
"I'm sure we will." Joleena smiled. "There could be many dimensional convergences out there. And who knows? Maybe one day one of us will be able to figure out how to do it."
"I'm sure you could, sweetheart." Other Joe kissed her temple. "You're the most amazing sorceress in existence."
Alternate Joe scoffed and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. "Yeah well, Sydney used to be a time goddess."
"Not again," Skyler mumbled.
"Yeah could you guys not do this again?" Sydney shook her head and tilted Alternate Joe's face towards her own. "I love you and I'm happy that you love me too, but you need to kill it with the bragging. It's très ennuyeux."
Joleena smiled. "Excellent pronunciation, Sydney. And I quite agree, but we shouldn't let our immature boyfriends ruin what's left of our vacation."
"Agreed." Sydney smiled and they held up their pina coladas in a toast to each other. "Til we meet again, Joleena."
"And let next time be much more fun."
A/N- That's it, that's the end of this crossover. If you liked it leave a review.
Also, check out my other stories. In chapter 15 of Life, Friends, Family, and Love Fred finally proposes to Fina and also check out the teaser/prologue of Chaotic Light.