.~*Chapter Twenty-Six*~.
She shook her head and looked down. "I... I just feel so useless. I can't do anything on my own. I don't even know what to do if I am given free time! I'm worthless! Just another little lady having to do as she's told. Well you know what? I'm tired of holding back! I'm tired of being proper! I want to be me! I want to climb trees and yell and scream! I want to have real friends who aren't proper! I want a life! And I want to kiss you and not feel like I'm dishonoring anyone!"
Méngméng froze, her eyes wide. She hadn't meant to let that slip. He probably thought of her as a foolish, unprofessional child now. What would he do to her now?
He stiffened, his fingers in the air holding a dressing over her injuries, and looked at her. Did she just say she wanted to kiss him? Surely he had misunderstood her.
Thinking things couldn't possibly get any worse, she muttered to herself hatefully in Chinese, squeezing her eyes shut and her ears flat against her head. She was such a stupid immature pig!
"Don't you say another word against yourself, missy," he said, shaking his head. He glanced around, twitched his ears, listening, and turned to look at her longingly, bestowing on her lips a gentle kiss, silencing her muttering.
Her eyes widened in shock before she retaliated, closing her eyes slowly and letting out a soft moan. "Alec..." she murmured, lifting her halfway bandaged arms around his neck and deepening the kiss.
FLASHBACK INTERRUPTED
"Can you feel the love tonight?"
Zeb and Méngméng, who had been staring into each other's eyes as they recanted their story, blinked. "Uh, Beary?" Zeb asked, looking at him in confusion.
"Hm?"
"What are you doing?"
"I didn't want your story to go without love music. Okay, okay, I changed my mind and didn't want to listen to you talk about having sex, considering where your paws currently are." Beary gave them a hard stare.
The duo glanced at each other and jumped back, both blushing furiously.
Beary snickered. "Way to go. Glad you're wearing pants today, Zeb, because that's not something I want to see." He looked away, blushing himself. Why did he act like everything was perfectly fine? Had he simply accepted things? Or did his mind not care any longer? Had it simply tuned things out? Made him pacifist? Immune? He used to flinch away from this sort of thing. Hell, even this morning on the bus he had freaked out because of this very thing!
Smores whined and licked his paw.
Zeb, noticing that Beary was getting worked up, moved away from Méngméng and took calming breaths, thinking about something else. "I'm sorry, Beary. We were out of line."
Méngméng agreed, her head bowed low. "Forgive our... abrasiveness."
"It's... It's all right. I... I've seen worse." He sighed and covered his face with his paws.
"Maybe we should stop... I mean, things are pretty straightforward from here. Méngméng and I..."
"No, please. Just... please."
The older bears glanced at each other worriedly, but nodded and went on, skipping over the sex and going into what happened afterwards, telling him how Méngméng had sleepily asked Zeb to marry her, how Zeb had realized what he had done, and their words of love, declaring their hearts to one another.
FLASHBACK RESUMED
"We could run away," she murmured, "but that'd be cowardly. I... I want to make it official. Let's just forget about the world for a while. It's just you and me right now. Just us."
He shook his head. "No... No, we mustn't do this again, Méngméng. Just... I..." He pulled her into his arms and just held her against him, breathing in her scent.
"Am I yours, Alec?" she asked softly after a while.
He smiled at her, kissed her head, and whispered into her ears. "Yes..." He licked her fur and rested his chin on her head. What else could he tell her? How was he going to fix this? Why did he feel so happy, but so damn scared?!
A smile graced her features as she drifted off to sleep in his arms. "Love you..."
He listened to the steady beat of her heart. What was he going to do? He had really screwed up this time, so why did it feel so right? And Ursute seemed to approve, judging by the marks that had appeared on their paws, but what of her family? His? They wouldn't understand.
He needed to talk to Ted or Henry, or even Helen as soon as possible. He'd understand if they sent him to jail for what he had done. Kicked him out of the band. Leave him homeless. He deserved it. But, he also wanted to stay by her side. He knew he loved her, though they'd only known each other three months. There was just something that led to this, other than lust.
What was he going to do?
He needed a drink.
.~*~.
When Méngméng awoke, she found herself on a clean bed, in her pajamas, and without Zeb in sight. Confusion filled her as she sat up, gasping at the pain in her lower body. What had happened? Where had he gone? Had it been just a dream? If so, she wished she had never woken up.
"Are you all right, little one? You took a tumble down the stairs and hurt your tailbone," Helen Taylor said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Got yourself a little scratched up, too. I'm not sure how you burned your paw. Did you leave your Tao amulet near the fireplace again and picked it up?" That's what Zeb had told her had happened when he had called her frantically, saying the little she-panda had fallen. He had told her that he had cleaned her up the best he could, and had had her bed sheets changed due to blood getting on them. Seeing no reason to disbelieve him, she had accepted his analogy.
Méngméng blinked and looked at her paw, which was now bandaged. Had that been what had happened? Helen wouldn't lie to her, right? "Oh, I see. I'm sorry if I've worried you. Where has Alec gone?"
"After he brought you back up here, he cleaned you up and changed your sheets and everything since he had to use them as bandages at first due to your cuts. You're lucky you weren't hurt worse and that he was right there for you. From there, I don't know quite where he went. Henry and Ted went looking for him. As for your guard, I'm not sure why he wasn't here."
Méngméng nodded, making a mental note to thank him later. "Oh. All right. Thank you, Mrs. Taylor. My guard? Shen I told to take a break. That I was safe."
"I see... Well then, get some more rest now, and I'll bring you up some soup in a bit."
.~*~.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Ted screeched, holding Zeb by the shoulders, fur bristled with anger. "WHAT THE F*CK WERE YOU THINKING?!"
"Don't you realize what you've done!? What could happen!?" Henry snarled. "You'll be lucky if her f*cking father doesn't get you put away for statutory rape! I don't believe you Alec Seillean!"
"She's only thirteen, for Pete's sake! You know better than this! What did I tell you? I told you to not get involved with her! Why did you do this?! I thought you were more responsible than this! Did you at least use protection?!"
"N-No..." came the meek reply of the cowering auburn bear.
Ted didn't hold back as he slug him across the face, sending him the floor. "You frickin fool! What if she gets pregnant?!"
"I know!" He let out a pained cry and backed down away from him, his English slipping into Gaelic, calling out for a Tyra.
Ted's eyes widened as he looked down at his clenched fist. "H-Hey, A-Alec, I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to... Gah!" How could he be angry at him and yell at him if he was like this? He looked to Henry for help, wondering if he shouldn't just leave. He had promised to keep Alec safe, but how could he uphold that if the kid did something so stupid?
Henry shook his head and knelt down next to the fiddler. "Take it easy. No one's going to hurt you beyond that. You're all right, Alec. Get up." He tried to calm him down, stroking his back. The fiddler was still a child by their standards, after all. He was still a little behind, mentally, compared to the others as well. "We might be pissed with you, but we're not going to hurt you," he stared, silently finishing with a 'yet.'
Zeb flinched away and whimpered, sobbing and trembling. He was freaked out, ashamed, yet at peace with what he had done. He couldn't explain it.
That was when Ted noticed that Henry's paw was coming away bloody. "Sister Patrium, what did you do to your back, kid?" He knelt down for a closer examination and found the claw marks, plus five deep puncture wounds on his shoulders. He sighed softly. "I take it she did enjoy it, given these marks. I'll get some cleaner."
Henry looked at his bloody paw and went back to gently stroking his back. "I'm sorry, little one. It's okay..." No it wasn't, and he knew it. How could he have allowed this to happen? How could things have developed so fast right under his nose?
Zeb shivered and curled up now just sniffling and huddling close to Henry, still trembling. He hadn't meant to lose control. How had one kiss led to that?!
Ted returned shortly, muttering silently to himself. He was fairly worried. What if Zeb got sent to jail? As he knelt down and began cleaning, he frowned when he noticed the birthday bear rubbing his paw. "Hey, what's wrong with your paw? Did it get bit?"
He shook his head, hissing when a particularly sore spot was touched. "No...?"
Henry frowned and looked at the kid. "Does it sting? Like you accidentally touched something hot?" The nod he received made his ears go back. "Uh, Zeb? Can I see it? I won't yell, I promise."
"Pr-Promise?"
"I said I wouldn't. I promised, kid. Let me see."
"O-Okay…" He held up the stinging paw.
Ted's eyes widened in shock. "Is that... what I think it is?" Well, that certainly explained a lot.
"Mhm, I thought so..." Henry sighed, looking at it. He held his own paw up, showing off the two Celtic-style triangles on either side of a heart and crown. "It seems Ursute has given the rare honor of a blessing. They're supposed to be together."
"And what of their ages? She is only thirteen, Henry. You know her parents will not respect this. Nor will the law. He... He's going to end up in jail if this gets out."
"And the fact that she's a princess only adds to the tension."
"P-Princess?!" Ted and Zeb both exclaimed, shocked.
"Mhm. She's Chinese royalty, in line for a throne currently being fought for in politics." Henry looked down at the fiddler. "Why did you do this? Why did you let her... why did you allow yourself to become entangled?"
Zeb looked away tears rolling down his face.
"How many times have you gotten together? Kissing or otherwise? I'm wondering if you just got caught up in the moment. You're not used to having, well, a female companion around that's your age... well, close enough, anyway. Gods, this is so screwed up. Henry, what are we going to do?" Ted asked.
"I don't know. I really don't know right now."
"What about Méngméng? Who's with her now?"
"She's with Helen." Zeb gulped. "Please don't tell her!" He feared the wrath of Mama Taylor, after all.
"Helen has every right to know, kid. As do Méngméng's parents. And what about Méngméng? What is she to do?" Ted sighed softly. "What are you going to do? Both of you are way too young to marry. And what if she has an arranged marriage? The Chinese do that at times. I heard that adulterers are thrown in jail."
That made Zeb freeze.
"Are you going to move to China to be with her? Is she going to move here? Gods... what were you thinking...?"
Zeb started to move back again, his ears flat, whimpering.
"Hey, calm down. We just need to sit down and figure this out. As for the girl... we have to tell her parents. Alec, I may not be happy about what you've done, but I will stand by you. You are my brother, in a way, and I will take care of you. Both of you, if the need calls for it." He sat down beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
The auburn bear flinched slightly and leant against him.
"I promise, kiddo. I promise."
Henry rubbed the bridge of his snout nervously, wondering how they were going to get out of this pickle. "We need to go see Méngméng. Now."
Zeb shook his head "Not now… please."
"Now, Alec Seillean. You need to talk this over. You also need to discuss the future. We need to know this isn't a one-time thing."
He clamped his paws over his ears. "I know! I know that! I know I need to, but I'm scared of what will happened when I do!"
"You did this, and now you need to face the consequences. Both of you do. Now get off your butt and hurry up, young bear!"
Ted nodded. "Come on, kid. Let's go."
.~*~.
Méngméng blinked sleepily as she came to once more, fresh from a lovely nap. Her dream of Zeb long forgotten, she lifted herself out of bed and greeted the sun outside the window. There was a strange happiness in her voice as she sang a song in Chinese about fields of gold. There was a skip in her step as well.
Helen raised an eyebrow and smiled gently. She had never seen the child so happy before. It filled her heart with joy. Her ears perked as she heard a light knock at the door. Putting down her sewing, she went over and opened it. "Henry!" She waited for a kiss and frowned when she was all but shoved aside. Confused by this, she looked at the three newcomers in confusion.
The she-panda, however, continued to dance about the room, and upon spotting Zeb, she grabbed his paws, beckoning him to dance with her like they used to as playmates. Just to joke around and have fun.
But he wouldn't budge. Wouldn't even meet her eyes.
"Uhm, Lady Méngméng..." Henry began, stopping when he realized he had no idea what to say.
She paused and looked at him, wondering why her teacher was so upset. Was he angry at her? "M-Master Zoober? Have I done something wrong?"
Ted coughed and nudged the Celtic bear.
"N-No," he swallowed. How was he to start?
She let out a soft whine and backed away. He was lying to her. His eyes were full of pain and fear! She put her paws on his cheek and pulled herself up close to him, sniffling. "Alec? What's wrong? Talk to me." She gave him a friendly nuzzle, expecting him to crack a smile and tell her nothing was wrong. She never expected him to react like this.
"I..." He could feel his body wanting to respond with a kiss, if not more. He had to get her away from him! More harshly than he meant to, he shoved her away. "S-Stay away from me!"
Méngméng fell back with a startled cry, her eyes wide and full of fear. What had she done wrong?!
"ALEC!" Helen growled, hurrying to the she-cub's side and checking her over. "You're going to hurt her tailbone even-"
"She didn't hurt her tailbone! We had sex!" Zeb cried, visibly shaking.
Both Méngméng and Helen stayed where they were, startled.
"It... It wasn't a dream?" the she-cub whispered, thinking back on it. Why had her dream just turned into a nightmare? Why did he now hate her? "You said I was yours..."
"I-I-I didn't mean it! I don't want you! You're just a child! I never should have done what I did!"
"B-But I... I..." Her whole world was crashing down around her. Her very soul was beginning to crack under her broken heart. "I thought..."
"You thought wrong! I don't want you! I don't want this! I'm declaring it void!" Zeb was now acting on pure fear of what would happen to him. At that point, he was more afraid of himself getting punished than her. If he were calmer, things would have been much different.
One could almost audibly hear Méngméng's soul shatter.
Ted's eyes widened. This wasn't supposed to be how it went! "Ah, f*ck."
Henry was shocked as well. "Alec! Now you wait just one damn minute! There is no need to be a complete asshole!"
"What is going on?" Helen demanded, furious. "First you say you have sex, and then you say you don't want her?! I thought you were better than that, Alec Seillean!"
Ted nodded, but had a feeling that his friend was acting more on fear than anything. Gripping the fiddler by the ear, he dragged him into the bathroom and shoved him onto the toilet. "Now, talk. What the hell is going on?"
Zeb looked at him, startled, but began to talk, his voice shaking. "She's a pr-princess. No doubt her family has promised her to another. What do you think is going to happen when they find out? To the band? To me? To her? To Henry and Helen?" He took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm trying to protect both of us! You know how some cultures view females, for goodness sake. If a mother has a girl for the first baby, often they are allowed to have another so as to have a boy! The girls are often sent away, or left in the street to die! The fact that she's no longer pure is more a danger to her and..." He looked down, "and to me. I don't want to hurt her, but it's for the best."
"So you do love her... enough to let her go," Ted murmured. "Well, I can understand that, kiddo, but it was a terrible thing to do. How you went about it. Don't forget you still have to talk to her parents. Or... perhaps we could, I don't know... not tell them. No. Bad idea. Very bad idea. They have a right to know, and it'd be worse for both of you to hold it off. You know that, right?"
Zeb nodded. He knew exactly how bad it could be, considering how the guards had reacted after what had happened when they first met. "I'll be hung, drawn, and quartered for this."
"You know we won't allow that, Alec. We're going to protect you. Both of you. Things are going to work out in the end, I promise. No harm will come to you."
"But her Dad will..." His ears flopped down and he sighed.
"You honestly think Henry is going to allow that?"
"I..." He didn't know. He'd called out that day, but no one came to help him while he was being arrested. "I don't know. He was livid with me. You both are."
"Well, finding out that you've slept with a thirteen-year-old, you can understand our anger. Things have spiraled out of control, it feels like. We just don't want you getting in a lot of trouble, and now that you have, we aren't sure what to do."
"Maybe I should just leave, then you don't have to worry about me, no one has to worry about me then."
"That's a cowardly thing to do. You have a responsibility, kid. A job. A family. You're just going to abandon us? After all we've done for you?"
"It would mean you don't have to worry about me. Cleaning up my messes. Having to deal with the people who have a problem with me. I know I have a job, but right now, I don't think that it matters too much, considering the lethality of the situation right now." He was breaking down inside. It hurt so much.
"Come on. Don't do this, kiddo. I know you're younger than you pretend to be, and that you're scared. I understand. I do. But you have to face this, kiddo. This is a part of life. We all have these challenges." He pulled him into a hug, knowing this is what he needed at the moment. "Let it all out, little one." He blinked and looked up at him. Zeb was almost a head taller than him. "Well... perhaps I'm the little one."
"I may be taller, but am definitely not as uh… fluffy as you," He mumbled.
"Yeah. I'm just a regular ol Teddy Bear." He blinked. "Wait. Was that a crack about my weight?! I know I've let myself go a little, but still!" he mock-cried.
"Did I just hear you admit that you are a teddy bear?" He wiggled an ear, laughing.
"Don't spread it around, kid. I have a reputation to uphold."
"As a big fluffy teddy bear?" he smirked, perfectly comfortable and feeling a little calmer now that Ted was holding him.
Ted playfully scowled at him, cuffing him over the ear. "Now, listen, Alec. We'll get through this together. I will go with you to talk to the girl's parents. Yes, you still have to talk to them. It would be wrong to keep this quiet. And... and you need to talk to Méngméng. Please. I'm fairly certain you've broken her heart. I thought that was supposed to be Tennessee's job. You know, the "Heartthrob"."
"Nothing to be certain about. I know I have hurt her." He looked down, flicking the ear that had been cuffed. "How can I talk to her when I've pretty much destroyed her? She'll push me away, not that I don't deserve it for being an asshole to her."
"Just try. This is part of growing up, kiddo. And I'm not denying you were an asshole, because you were. Either way, you need to talk to her. Now would be the better time."
"She will run away from me. She won't want to talk to me. How can I talk to her? How do I start?"
"Well..." He lifted Zeb's paw for him to see the mark. "Somehow, I think the words will come to you."
He looked at the mark and whimpered. He knew for sure that Ursute and the other gods were no doubt looking down on him. He could almost feel Ignis' spear at his throat for what he did.
"Now go on. I'll clear Henry and Helen out. You and Méngméng need to decide what your next course of action will be. If you choose to declare it void, you must both declare it. Whatever choice you make, it must be together."
"All right, but I really would like someone with me. I don't know if I can say it right," he whispered, confidence failing him.
Ted raised an eyebrow. "No one can say what's in your heart, kiddo. Only you can." He not-so-gently pushed him out the door with a grin on his face, and then left with Henry and Helen – though, he had to help Henry drag the angry she-bear out of the room.
Méngméng was curled up in the window seat, staring out at the rain. Her ears were back slightly, and before Zeb even had a chance to speak, she spoke to him. "I'm sorry that I wasn't enough for you. I'm sorry for getting you into this mess. I'm sorry for not controlling myself better, like I was raised to do. I'm sorry for everything." Her voice was soft and full of sorrow. "Don't try telling me that I have nothing to be sorry for. I have plenty. But I have no regrets in making love to you."
Zeb took a deep breath. "I have no regrets, either," he lied. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a total bastard to you. You are more than enough for me. You're beautiful, and I don't deserve you. I know what we did was wrong, and what I've said to you is cruel. If anyone should be sorry, it's me." He got down on his knees and bowed low, his nose on the ground. "I was afraid, and I took my fear out on you, and it wasn't right. I should never have done that."
"Why are you afraid, though? I don't understand? I... I thought we could get through this together. I... I thought we might... might..." She broke off, shaking her head. He was right. She was too young to marry, not to mention they had only known each other for a short time. She turned to him, frowning when she saw his position. "Why are you bowing? Please, rise... You... you may sit by me if you'd like."
"Because that is how a respectful gentleman should act, especially in front of a Lady," he said quietly, rising to his feet and sitting beside her, a good five inches between them. "I'm afraid of what could happen, what your parents would think. They'd be upset, wouldn't they?"
"Perhaps, but they have no need to know. Unless I am pregnant, then they will find out. But I shan't tell them it was you. I will tell them that it was a stranger at a concert. Broke through security and drugged me." She put a paw on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "No harm will come to you. I swear."
"What if you do turn out to be pregnant? What if they do a test, and the child comes out looking like me? They'd know for sure. And if you tell your parents about that, it would put us all in danger. It would say that we'd let our guard down over you and let you get hurt." He looked down into her eyes, worry in them, and he put his paw on her cheek, not to move to kiss her, just gently stroking her fur and soft skin.
She sighed, leaning into his paw. "I don't know. But I'll do anything to make sure you're safe. Even if we are no longer together. And if I am pregnant? What then? You cannot come to China to live. You'd be unhappy. And I cannot remain here, as I am, as you said, only thirteen." She sighed softly. "No use worrying about it now. What's done is done. We'll figure it out. I promise. And you are right. We should declare it void. At least for now. Perhaps someday we can... I don't know. A lot of things can happen."
"One day, but for now it is for the best. When we're older, we may yet cross paths again. Ya never know." He gave her a small smile.
She nodded and purred softly. "Someday. Seems so far away, doesn't it? Perhaps in another life, I would have waited. But, it is as if some force was drawing us together. Perhaps this was the plan of the gods. But why have us get together now, when so much trouble could arise? Why not wait until we are both of legal age?"
He thought for a moment. "It does say, if I remember correctly, that the mark can come at any time, place, or age. If I'm not mistaken, the gods Ferrarius and Nocte Aeterna found they bond mark when they were mere cubs, younger than we are."
"I suppose that is true. I fear others will not see it that way." She shook her head and frowned softly.
He nodded and looked down.
She gripped the paw on her cheek, using her other paw to lift his chin. "I swear, I'll protect you. No harm will come to you. I am still in your debt, after all."
"I don't want your protection. I... I want something I can't have... Not yet." He looked into her eyes, his own full of a love he could see reflected in her own. Why did things have to be this way?
She leaned forward, gently kissing his lips. "I know," she whispered upon pulling away. "I want you, too. At this point, however, we are two destined lovers who met too early. Someday, I will find you again and we can be together, if you still want me."
"If it takes until I'm old and gray, I will wait for you. For now, we are too early; it's too soon." He gently kissed her back, nuzzling and holding her paw. "I hope that Ursute guides us back to one another someday. When that will be, I don't know, but I am sure it will happen."
She smiled gently and moved closer, leaning against his warm body. "Mrs. Taylor told me it is your birthday today. That you are now nineteen? Or twenty-four. Something like that. I... I'm confused."
He put a finger on his lips, thinking. "I'm really only nineteen, but no one but Helen, Henry, Fred, and Ted know. Fred's probably forgotten, and Tennessee never knew." He sighed. "I guess that tells you how old I was when I first arrived in America, huh?"
She calculated that and gasped. "You were only nine! Ten when the band began, then! How did you pull it off?"
He chuckled. "I guess people took me as older because I looked it. When I was very young, I learned how to work hard. I had to help my Aunt and Uncle on the farm as my Uncle needed help a lot of the time. Hard work like that, I guess, ages you. Sun and wind weathering, leathery paw pad from working hard all day, does a lot."
She looked at her own soft pads, frowning slightly. "I've not done much in my life except sit around, acting like a perfect little princess. Other than my martial arts training, I do not have much to do that I like."
He looked down at her soft paw pads and gently stroked one over with his fingertips, his own pads very different in feeling to hers.
"Well, they allow me to do ink painting, too." She shrugged and shook her head, getting up. "Either way, I think we've hidden ourselves in here long enough. I fear they may barge in, thinking we're together again."
Sure enough, just as she finished her sentence, the door was kicked in.
Zeb instinctually pulled her behind him, ready to defend her. His fur puffed right up like a cat that had been spooked, his ears back.
Méngméng let out a bark of laughter at this. "In case you've forgotten, Alec, I can protect myself."
Ted, Henry, and Helen marched in, examining the room before their eyes fell on the duo.
Helen's eyes narrowed. "I trust nothing has been going on?"
"We've just been talking. We've decided to declare it void. Perhaps in a few years, when we are older, we may yet find each other once more," Méngméng said, taking on the demeanor of someone much older than herself. "We are both sorry for causing so much trouble, but neither of us hold any regrets. I will not tell my father of what has taken place. It is none of his business. However, should I end up pregnant, I shall handle speaking to him in a calm manner." She gave each of them a low bow. "I thank you for your help in this matter, and I apologize if we have in any way disrupted your day."
Ted and Helen were both left utterly speechless.
Henry however looked at Zeb and raised his eyebrow before going over to him and giving him a quick short jab in the stomach with a finger which made him deflate like a punctured balloon.
Méngméng doubled over with laughter, unable to keep up her facade any longer. "Buahahaha!"
Helen merely shook her head. She was still fuming, and would discuss this later with her husband. But for now, it appeared that the duo had worked things out maturely. "Now, come along. All of you. We have a dinner to get to."
END FLASHBACK
"And, well, that's the story."
"Wait, what? That's it?" Beary blinked, confused.
"Well, there is more, but things are getting late. Perhaps another time," Méngméng explained.
"Aw, come on!"
Zeb laughed. "Okay, okay. Well, three months later, Méngméng found out she was pregnant..."
Reviews are welcome! I really do hope you've enjoyed so far!
Flashback resumed in next chapter! Again, Zeb and Mengmeng's current [not past] relationship grows over the summer as they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. Once I finish it, I'll be uploading!
