A/N: So... THIS is the final chapter. This was intended to have a more 'Disney' feel to it but that kind of failed. Anyway... Here it is. Check the polyvore.
"In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." —Maya Angelou
"A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we're safe in our own paradise." –Richard Bach
"We recognize a soulmate by the supreme level of comfort and security we feel with that person. That doesn't mean that there aren't issues that remain to be ironed out. Rather, it means we know intuitively that we can resolve issues with our soul mate without losing his or her love and respect." –Linda Brady
"A soulmate is an ongoing connection with another individual that the soul picks up again in various times and places over lifetimes. We are attracted to another person at a soul level not because that person is our unique complement, but because by being with that individual, we are somehow provided with an impetus to become whole ourselves." –Edgar Cayce
"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life ... to strengthen each other ... to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories." –George Eliot
"A soulmate is someone to whom we feel profoundly connected, as though the communicating and communing that take place between us were not the product of intentional efforts, but rather a divine grace." –Thomas Moore
A pair of pale pink lips danced on a pair of rose colored lips. Two bodies, close in height, were pressed against each other. Arms encircled the opposite bodies. A tongue gently made its way into the opposite mouth, where it met with the resident tongue of that mouth. The lips stayed connected as one pale hand slid up the opposite body's back, and into its caramel colored locks; cold fingers touching the scalp. A tanner and warmer hand found its way to an opposite cheek; cupping the cold flesh. The passionate kiss was getting heated, but still the lips remained connected. Soon, the rose colored lips gently detached themselves from the paler ones, and panted for air. The cool and pale lips placed a brief kiss on a tanner forehead. A cold hand found a warmer one, and the fingers linked. Two foreheads rested against one another, the panting breaths tickling one another's flesh. One head turned away from the other person's face.
"Was that too much?" Elsa asked her brother, who was seated on her and Calypso's bed in front of them. Nico was at a loss for words. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was partially open. Elsa trusted him more than anyone she knew. He wouldn't lie to her. But he was speechless. "I'm going to take that as a yes." She sighed, and removed her forehead from Calypso's, resting her head on her girlfriend's shoulder, removing her fingers from the caramel hair. Calypso patted the goddess on the back.
"Um… Uh…" Nico finally closed his mouth, and calmed down. "I think… A little less gusto, I guess, will do the trick just fine."
"We just get lost in each other." Calypso explained.
"That's understandable, but this is your wedding." Nico pointed out. "With all of the deities and your friends there. That lasted a bit too long to be appropriate for a wedding."
"So no tongue?" Elsa asked.
"Oh god… Please no." He muttered. "I'm your best man. Please do not make me watch you practically have mouth sex with each other at your wedding."
"It's just because he's gay." The goddess rolled her eyes, talking to her fiancée.
"And because you're my sister." Nico threw in.
"Maybe I should get a straight guy to be my best man. Ooh, or Reyna. She's queer." Elsa grinned wickedly at her best friend. "She'd appreciate a good lip lock between two women on their wedding day."
"Hold on, Reyna's not gay." Nico cut in, furrowing his eyebrows. "She never…" He thought for a moment. "Holy shit, she is." Elsa nodded.
"Trust the resident lesbians." She quirked an eyebrow knowingly. "We can almost always tell. Anyway, in this case, it was her interactions with Annabeth that led me to know."
"Annabeth likes girls, trust me." Calypso assured both of them. "She just doesn't know it yet. I mean, have you seen her around Piper? And also, she has a subconscious crush on Reyna. But what really brought attention to it was the fact that she read a lesbian novel, and then read a straight novel of better quality, and she liked the lesbian novel better." She winked. Elsa grinned, and then kissed Calypso for a short moment.
"Wow. I was the only gay friend, and now everyone's queer." Nico shook his head in amazement.
"Well, I suppose that's just how things are." Elsa shrugged. "I remember talking to kids from the Youth Center, and they'd talk about how in a group of friends, each one of them would come out one by one over time, until they were just a gaggle of gays."
"This was fun… Kissing my fiancée in different ways for practice for our wedding…" Calypso grinned. "But I have to talk to Piper about my bridesmaids and men." She left with a gentle caress of Elsa's shoulder, leaving Elsa and Nico alone. The goddess sat down next to her brother, and let out a content breath.
"Are you happy?" Nico asked.
Elsa smiled. "Yes."
Obviously, she'd chosen Calypso. Despite it not being the selfless choice to let Calypso discover herself on her own, Elsa knew that she couldn't live without her. But she'd be there for her lover as she discovered who she was. Elsa would stand to the side and let Calypso fly. The two would be there to catch each other when they fell, and help the other fly and soar; becoming the best people they could be. They could not love anyone the way they loved one another, and so they could never replace each other.
That was why Elsa maintained her engagement with Calypso. She'd told her lover about her choice, and they'd cried from relief that they'd be together forever. Nico was happy about being able to have the life he'd always dreamed about. However, he and Percy had broken up (Percy'd met someone else—someone more compatible; after all, Percy and Nico were not soulmates), so it was just Nico in the world alone, though Elsa always had his back. The son of Hades was going to college in New Rome to double major in business and the Liberal Arts. Once he got his degree, he was guaranteed a job running the Youth Center Elsa had created. He was perfect for the job, and the meeting Elsa ran about it, the vote was almost unanimous. Nico would have to spend a year co-running it with the current manager in order to make sure that he knew how to run it, but there were many people running it, and the team would work together to help in tough spots. That was the only career Nico could see himself doing. Anything else just didn't fit him anymore. He wanted to help people, and give them support that he, himself, didn't have. He'd also be on call for Camp Half-Blood, just in case he was needed.
Reyna still commanded the legion. She only had one more year until she retired. She planned to get a degree in the Martial Arts studies while going to the police academy. She'd be a cop, as well as teaching Women's Self Defense classes. Annabeth was going to MIT, and become an architect, like she'd always dreamed. Piper was studying in order to join the Peace Corps. She also wanted to later become a diplomat, because she was very charismatic. Hazel and Frank had decided to stay in New Rome. They aspired to own a stable full of horses together, to train and maybe even sell. Jason was staying in New Rome too. Jason had become the pontifex maximus of New Rome, just like he'd promised. It wasn't a bad job, but he was kind of married to it, so he wasn't in any relationships. The job also kind of required him to be single, but he and Rachel had a house together to keep each other company (they actually were just friends). Percy was studying marine biology in New Rome, with most of everyone else, with the intent to work at an aquarium one day, and he was dating a legacy who went to San Francisco State University. Her name was Clarke, and she was studying game design. She and Percy were exactly alike. They were perfect for each other. (Just to clarify, Percy was bisexual.) Leo, the last time any of them heard from him, had gotten hired at a garage, and had found a family there.
The question of who got Mrs. O'Leary was an important one. Percy and Nico could not take care of her due to how large she was, so Elsa decided to adopt her. Mrs. O'Leary would be able to roam around the mountains near St. John's to her heart's content. After all, Elsa had pointed out as a joke; all lesbian couples needed at least one pet. Oftentimes, this was a cat, but in this case, they were getting their very own hellhound.
The wedding was in April… Exactly a year after Elsa had proposed, and exactly three after Elsa and Calypso had met. It was currently March.
Elsa had asked Nico, Reyna, and Hazel to be her bridespeople. Calypso had asked Piper, Annabeth, and Percy to be hers. The brides had chosen a very soft lavender colored gown for the girls to wear. It hugged the figure until halfway above the knees, and then flowed to the ground with a slit in the middle to make walking easier. There were barely visible straps from the tulle. The chosen jewelry set was earrings and a pearl, surrounded by a fancy twisted halo. Their shoes were opaque frosted flats with rhinestones around the toes and heels. They were crowned with a floral pearl and crystal headband/tiara. The boys, however, were a different story. They would be wearing the same colored shirts as the girls, but they had suits. Percy had a pale blue bowtie, and Nico had a plain black tie. (Elsa thought ties looked better on her brother.) Nico also had black pants and a black coat. But the rest of Percy's suit was white.
Nico was Elsa's best man, and Piper was Calypso's maid of honor. Elsa had Anna making a special appearance at the wedding as her flower girl, and Jason was the ring bearer. Frank was the usher. Hera would be performing the ceremony.
The wedding was being planned down to almost the last detail. It was going to be the wedding of the century. Maybe even of the millennia.
"How about you?" Elsa asked her brother, nudging him. "Are you happy?"
"I'm content." He assured her, nodding. They both smiled.
At Elsa's bachelorette party, she and Nico went to lesbian bars around the world, where the drinking age was only eighteen, and there were strippers. Nico bought Elsa multiple lap dances. The two of them were not dressed modestly. They were drinking, smoking, and having fun, so of course Elsa was in a tight little dress with transparent tights and heels, and Nico's leather jeans were tight, and he finally wore a shirt with no sleeves. They were just being teens with each other. At the end of the night, they went to their room on Olympus, where nymphs began to care for them like it was their spa. They were allowed to sleep as they were prepared for the coming events, because according to the nymphs, there was a lot to do. Normally, they might've taken that as an insult, but Elsa was getting married to her soulmate, and Nico was her best man, and that was all that mattered. Everyone else was out with Calypso—at her bachelorette party.
Elsa'd already gotten the embarrassing bachelorette party gifts. Nico had been the bearer of these, which she'd opened before they went off to their little bachelorette party. Most of the gifts she'd received were from their friends. There was skimpy lingerie, sex toys, erotica novels, and a whole lot more. Elsa had nearly cried when laughing. The wedding gifts were more serious and more sentimental, they assured her. Apparently Calypso had gotten the same treatment, except worse because they got to see her reactions to the things that she was opening. Elsa had, however, sent a card to Calypso, which read: I can't wait to see you at the altar, and marry you, the way I've always wanted. Until tomorrow, my soulmate. –Elsa
Elsa wanted to fall asleep holding hands with Nico, but the nymphs told them not to. Despite that, they woke up with their fingers linked. They didn't have dark circles or bags under their eyes, and they had no blemishes. Nico even looked like he could be god.
"You're giving me away, right?" Elsa murmured softly, looking him square in the eyes.
"Elsa, you're your own person. You're not mine to give away." Nico reminded her.
"But you're my brother." Her voice quivered. "And I don't want to take this final step without you."
"You're not taking it without me." He promised. "I have your back, Elsa." He squeezed her hand because the nymphs would get angry if he kissed her forehead. Their eyes met, black on blue.
"I'm not even nineteen, Nico." Elsa murmured. "And yet… I'm engaged and getting married to my soulmate."
"Only because you were born to be a goddess." He reminded her. "Elsa, everything's going to be ok, the second you kiss her, and she becomes immortal too."
"Yeah, but I'm going to lose you one day." She murmured softly, her voice growing sad. "Nico, I don't know how I could live without you… You're my best friend. You're so important to me. I can't… I can't lose you." She shook her head, her voice growing louder. "We have to call off the wedding. I can't marry Calypso. I can't lose you, Nico." Elsa gripped his hand tightly, her lips trembling.
"I know you're scared, Elsa." He soothed. "But you have to marry Calypso. For goodness sake, you found your soulmate, Elsa. At least one of us for sure has… But the point is, we'll figure something out. You can't call off the wedding. Remember when you breathlessly burst into my cabin to tell me that Calypso said yes to the proposal we worked so hard for?" She blushed, but it was barely visible, recalling the extravagant wedding proposal she'd put together. Her eyes traveled down to the ring that adorned her finger, and then envisioned the one that would join the Claddagh. "Do you actually want to give up Calypso?" Elsa shook her head, closing her eyes. "It's natural to get cold feet before your wedding, Elsa." He nudged her. She managed a small smile.
"I'm just counting on me forgetting any little doubt that ever crossed my mind the second I see her in front of me as we are being married to each other." Elsa mumbled.
"You don't want me to marry you." Nico gently cupped her cheek. "You just don't want me to leave you. But I won't, Elsa. We're connected. In here." He put a hand over his own heart. "I love you."
"I love you too." They hugged each other tightly, but were interrupted by Reyna entering the room, looking like she'd also had the overnight treatment by the nymphs.
"Oh, sorry. They told me to go in here." The dark haired woman grimaced, apologetic for having walked in on a private moment.
"No, it's alright. Don't worry about it." Elsa assured her, putting on a smile, and leaving her brother's embrace in order to hug her. "Thank you coming, by the way."
"You know I would come to this wedding no matter what." Reyna grinned at the blonde. "It's your big day."
"I know. Thank you, though." Elsa's smile widened. "Do you know where Hazel is?"
"She's still asleep, I think." Reyna answered. "And also, they said that you should go get your sister now?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "I didn't know you had a sister. Well, besides Hazel, but still." Elsa grinned at this.
"I'll be back really soon, I promise." She said quickly before leaving. "Make sure you get ready!"
"Anna, I'm getting married today." Elsa's eyes sparkled with joy.
"I know, Elsa. Let me just finish signing these documents, and then we can go." Anna smiled, then looked back down at the papers. Never before had the younger sister seen the blonde so happy before. She, herself, had grown more worn from being forced to grow up sooner than she wanted. Elsa and Anna were actually sources of light in the darkness for each other. They were life preservers to each other. Visiting Anna, for Elsa, was a breath of fresh air. In doing so, she'd understood that places and things weren't evil—people were. Elsa wasn't yet ready to go back to visit Boreas, but she could go back to Arendelle. She never forgot about Anna. Her sister was at the back of her mind every single day of her life. Anna had told Elsa how she'd longed for her older sister's return. She'd been terrified, and unsure of what to do when Agdar and Idunn died in the storm. But Elsa helped her learn how to run the country, and advised her. A symbiotic relationship…
"I can't wait for your wedding." Elsa informed her little sister.
"It likely won't be out of love." Anna warned her. "If I'm going to be queen, I'm going to have to marry diplomatically. It'll likely be loveless."
"You don't have to live like that." The elder of the two murmured. "You can marry for love and diplomacy, Anna. I want you to have everything you could ever want."
"You know what I want." The strawberry blonde mumbled. There was a pause between them. "Let's not get into that today. You're getting married. It's a happy day." Elsa swallowed. She could never give Anna the gift of freedom she desired. One of them had to stay in Arendelle and be queen, but it couldn't be herself.
"Are you ready to go?" Elsa asked softly.
"Yes. Let's go." Anna took Elsa's hand, standing up.
"Close your eyes." The blonde warned. The youngest sister did so, and Elsa brought them back to Olympus. She placed a hand on Anna's upper back. "You can open your eyes now." Anna did so. Elsa had been speaking Norwegian to Anna. "Nico, Reyna, this is my little sister Anna." Now she was speaking English. Anna could understand listening more English than she could speak, and she could read much more than she could listen. Elsa had asked that Hermes make sure that the ceremony was heard as whatever language was the best language of each person at the wedding. He granted her that. Elsa was now best in English, because she'd been speaking it for years.
"Hi, I'm Nico, Elsa's best man." The son of Hades stuck a hand out to Anna, smiling politely. "Elsa's told me so much about you."
"It is nice to meet you, Nico. Elsa told me all about you too." Anna replied slowly, shaking his hand.
"I'm Reyna." Said woman smiled at the strawberry blonde.
"And I'm Hazel." Elsa turned her head, grinning at her brother's younger sister's voice.
"There you are, Hazel." The goddess opened her free arm and hugged her. "Thank you so much for coming."
"My brother's best friend getting married on Olympus? Please." The brown haired girl rolled her eyes. "Like I would miss this. Especially since I'm a bridesmaid."
"The nymphs are going to need to get us all ready now." Elsa announced to the group of four around her, mainly for Anna's sake. "I think they're already irritated at us for talking to each other so long, rather than letting them get us primped and dressed."
"I don't know how you did it Elsa, but you and Calypso picked out a bridesperson color that suits everyone." Hazel commented. "Look at all of us. This shade of lavender looks good on us. Even Nico."
"Purple—or lavender, to be more accurate—is a flattering color for this group of friends." Elsa shrugged, smiling at the gowns she and Calypso had picked out for the girls. They had sweetheart necklines, and were snug from the bodice to the hips, where it fell down into a trumpet skirt of tulle with a slit in the center, though it overlaid the rest of the dress in a pleated fashion. The dress did have straps, though they were tulle. It was flattering for all of them. The dresses were paired with a pair of flats that seemed like frosted glass slippers, but diamonds at the heels and toes. The hairband perched in all of their hair (which was all in different styles due to different types of hair that looked good different ways) was like a diamond and pearl wreath of flowers, with a haloed pearl necklace and earrings to match. They all had different makeup, but it was natural, as to keep the focus on the brides.
"How do you feel Anna?" Elsa asked in Norwegian.
"It's beautiful. Everything is beautiful." Was her younger sister's reply. Elsa smiled gently. Anna was sixteen. Five more years until she became a queen… Hopefully plenty of time for her to feel ready.
The goddess turned to look at her brother. He was ready, and looked good in his suit. She gave an approving nod. Pinned to his lapel was a pale blue mini hydrangea with a tiny sprig of baby's breath. Elsa knew for a fact that the rest of the boys would be situated similarly.
She, herself, was in a gown that had been inspired by the time she'd snowed over Camp Half-Blood and built a castle at only thirteen. This one was a strapless sheath dress, made of silvery white satin. From the sweetheart neckline to the hips was a tessellation of sparkly silver and white snowflakes, with more silver than white. At the bottom of the hips, the sparkles faded into the satin. The back of the dress had a cape trailing behind it, of tulle the color of the satin. Her shoes were simple white taffeta pumps with two inch heels. Underneath her skirt were ivory lace garters covered in pearls and diamonds. Around her neck was an opal pendant, surrounded by other little gems and crystals. Her earrings were diamonds. Two little diamonds connected to each other, and then a teardrop shaped metal halo full of tiny diamonds around one large teardrop shaped diamond. On Elsa's right middle finger was the ring Nico had given her, for she never took it off. Never. On her left hand, on her ring finger, was her silver and gold Claddagh, the heart pointed towards herself.
Her hair was done in a low and artfully messy bun, with only a few small tendrils of hair lose. A braid coiled around her head like a laurel, and then loosely wove into a bun at the base of her neck. Her long white veil had a sparkly pattern at the edge, and was placed just above the braid going around her head, in the back, at its lowest point. Her silver glittering tiara, covered with tiny diamonds, a powder blue gem in the center, was placed just behind the braid at the top of her head.
"You look so beautiful." Anna breathed, smiling at her older sister. Elsa took her hand and pulled her into a hug. She was speaking Norwegian by accident.
"As will you, when you get married." Elsa promised her sister, also speaking Norwegian.
"It's not the clothing that makes you look beautiful." Anna explained. "It's the look on your face. You're marrying your soulmate. Someone dear to you. Someone you love with everything inside of you. That's why you're beautiful." Elsa hugged her tighter.
"Thank you." The elder whispered.
"Are you ready, Elsa?" Nico asked.
"Yeah." She replied in English. "I'm ready." They were guided to the end of the hallway, for everyone was already seated inside. Elsa was hidden behind her friends, because Calypso was going to go in first. She was older, after all, and it would be symbolic for her to stand at the alter waiting for Elsa. "Nico." The blonde whispered.
"What's up?" He asked gently.
"Please… Nico… Walk me down the aisle? You're my brother. It makes sense. You're letting her have me forever. You've been my rock and the closest person to me up until now. But I'm marrying her, so it makes sense for you to give me away to her." Elsa begged as she clutched her bouquet of blue and white hydrangeas and white calla lillies.
"Elsa—"
"You have to. I entered Calypso's life with you, and now it's your time to let me go. It's symbolic. It's her turn to be my rock now."
Nico sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. But you belong to yourself. Not me. I'm not putting your hand in hers."
"I know. I would never ask you to." They both managed small smiles, looking at their small group around them. Anna held a white basket of pink roses and baby's breath. There were more pink petals in the basket for her to drop onto the aisleway. Reyna and Hazel held small bouquets of blue hydrangeas and baby's breath.
Elsa was so nervous she could barely breathe. This was it. This was the day she'd finally marry Calypso. Nothing bad would ever happen to her lover ever again. Nothing would hurt her. Elsa wouldn't have to fear something happening to Calypso. Elsa would not break from losing her soulmate.
The music started. A string quartet was playing A Thousand Years Part 2. Elsa refrained from biting her lip. Nico placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her away from the entrance to the room where the ceremony would take place. He placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Breathe, mi sorella." He reminded her. She nodded, smiling nervously. He watched as Calypso's bridespeople walked in, one by one. They held bouquets of purple parrot tulips, Amnesia roses, and lavender sweet peas. Then Calypso, herself, walked into the room. Then Hazel. Nico put Elsa's veil over her face. Then Reyna walked in. "Ready?" Elsa exhaled, then inhaled.
"I'm ready." They slowly walked in, Elsa clutching her bouquet in one hand. Her other arm was linked with Nico. She slowly treaded the red velvet path to the altar, where her soulmate stood, ready to marry her. Hazel and Reyna stood off to the side, so Elsa could finally see Calypso fully. A smile sprouted on both of their faces. Calypso's dress was sleeveless with a V-neck, and a fitted bodice. The back had a a small train. The dress was white lace, and went perfectly with the white veil with the wide lace and pearl border. Calypso was also wearing a tiara—but she always looked like a princess. Anyway, this floral tiara had little rhinestones that made it into the tiara it was, wires swirling. Calypso's necklace and earrings belonged to a set. The necklace was in a branch/vine style with pearls and itty bitty diamonds, and the earrings were a few pearls together with a few diamonds below them. Calypso held a bouquet of violets, white and lavender roses, and some greenery.
Nico guided Elsa up the stairs and onto the altar. The goddess kicked her dress so that it flowed behind her, not to the side. She looked at him, and before letting him take her bouquet and stand behind her, she pulled him into a hug. Surprised, he hugged back. Elsa smiled sincerely, then handed her bouquet to him. Calypso then passed hers to Piper. The two brides stepped forwards, and held each other's right hand, fingers linked. Hera began to wrap their hands into a coocoon of satin red ribbon, leaving the ends hanging down. The soulmates squeezed each other's hands as Hera began to speak. She told the story of the soulmates that were joined bodies, and how Elsa and Calypso had finally found their other halves in each other. Elsa and Calypso's eyes did not leave each other during the entire time Hera spoke about love and commitment.
Elsa and Calypso had agreed that they would not write their own vows because they couldn't figure out how to say anything that they hadn't said before. They'd just say the important things in their toasts at the reception. Anything more, they'd tell each other during their honeymoon.
"As long as Calypso's soul existed, so did Elsa's. Her soul existed many times." Hera was saying. In her peripheral vision, Elsa saw Hades nod at that. "But their souls did not meet until this lifetime. Elsa's soul is much older than she, herself, is. She got used to the cold in those lifetimes. But now, she has found the right kind of warmth. That of love. They are fortunate to have met when they did, for if they had not, we would not be here at this joyous celebration of their love today." Hera went on and on in her ode to Elsa and Calypso's love. The brides's eyes never left each other the whole time, even when they each took off their own veils for the vows.
"Calypso, do you take Elsa as your lover, partner, and wife for all of eternity, from this day forward, to cherish and love until the end of time itself?" Hera asked. Jason held the rings out to them.
"I do." Calypso promised, picking up and slipping Elsa's wedding band onto the ring finger of her left hand. Hera picked up the side of the ribbon that was closest to Calypso.
"Elsa, do you take Calypso as your lover, partner, and wife for all of eternity, from this day forward, to cherish and love until the end of time itself?" Hera asked Elsa.
"I do." Elsa vowed, nodding. She put Calypso's wedding band onto her lover. Hera took the side of the ribbon that was on Elsa's side, then tied the ribbon into a bow.
"The brides may now kiss." Hera told them, stepping back. Elsa gently took the back of her new wife's neck, while Calypso put her palm on Elsa's cheek. They kissed, and Calypso felt a strength go into her as she became a goddess. "I now pronounce you a married couple." There was a roar of applause, but still, Elsa and Calypso did not separate from their kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, Hera cut away the ribbon that held their hands together, careful to not let the bow be untied. She handed it to Elsa.
"Keep it. It'll be a memoir of your wedding." She told them softly. Elsa and Calypso took each other's hands, and walked back down the aisle together, a freshly married couple.
Right before Elsa and Calypso walked into the reception room, they admired their wedding bands. They were simple—white gold with diamonds all around. On the inside, however, it was engraved with the words 'endless love'. Sappy and cheesy, yes, but it was also completely accurate.
The two joined hands, and entered the room together to another roar of applause and cheers. Elsa led her new wife to the center of the empty dance floor. The sound of acoustic guitars began to play over the music system. The song was 'When I Get Up' by Tegan and Sara. The brides slowdanced, foreheads pressed together, because each other was really all they needed.
After the first dance was over, 'Love Will Have Its Sacrifices' by the Soles began playing and everyone joined in on the dancing.
Elsa began to relax during a cover of 'Let My Love Open The Door', when Calypso sang along to her. The tenseness dropped from her back and shoulders during 'Girls Like Girls' by Hayley Kiyoko. However, it was finally during 'Shut Up And Dance' by Walk The Moon when Elsa finally relaxed and let out the breath she'd been holding since she was eight years old.
After the first 24 hours of the reception, Elsa and Calypso changed out of their wedding dresses to put on ballgowns. Everyone else finally had. Nico was now just in a regular tux. He'd been sitting on the sidelines, not dancing with anyone but Hazel. It kind of broke Elsa's heart, but she'd dance with him as soon as she changed into her ballgown.
Her ballgown was a nice ice blue, like most of her clothing. From the waist down, it was light blue tulle over a cream colored silk skirt. The bodice was strapless with a v-neck, and snowflake crystals. The bodice was white lace covered with one layer of the tulle used for the skirt. Elsa kept all of her rings (including Nico's) on, but replaced her jewelry with something smaller. Just a necklace and earring set with silver snowflakes and a white pearl in the middle of each. She redid her hair, a fishtail brraid coming from each side of her head, and winding into a low and loose bun/updo. Her shoes were sparkly silver with light blue crystal decorations on the toe.
Calypso's attire was on the other side of the color spectrum. She wore a dark red gown composed of soft tulle, made in a mermaid style. From a third of the way down the thighs up, the tulle was done in a wrapping style. On her sides was lace. From her knees down, the tulle simply fell to the floor normally. Her shoes were white lace heels, and around her neck was a diamond choker that rested on her collarbone. Her earrings were silver roses with little lavendar pearls in the center. Calypso's hair was in an artfully messy and loose bun. In her hair was a small tiara composed of a row of linked hearts. Each heart was composed of little tiny diamonds.
Elsa could not help but smile, seeing the full ensemble on her new wife. Dark red turned out to be a really great color on Calypso. Actually, she looked great in a lot of colors. But Elsa had never seen her wear this much red before.
"My love," The blonde murmured tenderly, taking Calypso's hand. The caramel haired girl smiled back.
"Aphrodite said that she'll tell me what I am goddess of when we get back to the ballroom." Calypso informed her wife.
"It looks like it has something to do with love." Elsa remarked.
"It does, but you can never be too sure. There are gods and goddesses for everything." Calypso reminded her.
"I know, but I love the idea of my soulmate being a goddess of something related to love." Elsa explained, grinning.
"It makes sense, especially because I married you." Calypso swung their linked hands between them. What Calypso was getting at was the fact that Elsa could never be the same again if she had lost Calypso. If it weren't for her soulmate, then Elsa would have been weak, and unloving of anyone and everything except for Nico and Anna. That was the woman that Elsa feared becoming. Calypso made her strong and loving. In that moment, they realized that while they could be whole people on their own, they were happier when they were together, and they complimented each other extremely well. Because of this, they needed each other because they became the best and strongest people they could be when they were together. To them, that was what being soulmates meant.
The two made their merry way into the ballroom once again, but separated once inside because Elsa wanted to find Nico. She quickly did, and extended a hand out to him.
"May I have this dance?" She asked.
"Of course." Nico looked up, lazily grinning at his sister. He stood from his chair and the two went to the center of the dance floor. The two of them could only hear the song 'Thank You For Being A Friend' playing.
"You were right." Elsa admitted. "I'm happiest with Calypso. I'm so thankful that I married her. Because… I don't think I could ever, in any lifetime at all, be with her and refuse any sort of ceremony dedicated to me committing to her."
"I'm glad you chose this." Nico smiled back at her. "You're so happy that you're glowing." Elsa grinned bashfully. "Elsa, you're beautiful when you're in love." He informed her.
"You're saying that only because you know me so well." Elsa rolled her eyes. "Also, remember my period of depression? I wasn't beautiful then."
"You're always beautiful to me." He assured her. "You're my best friend. I know how to see the best in you."
"Thank you for always being there for me." Elsa whispered. "I'll always keep tabs on you. I promise. And I'll drop in to visit you."
"I know you will." Elsa could only hug him, and rest her head on his shoulder as they danced together. He rubbed soothing circles into her back. He knew that she was, at that very moment, fearing the day she'd lose him forever, and wanted every last moment with him to last.
"I know what I'm the goddess of." Calypso whispered into Elsa's ear. The two were sitting on one chair together, arms around each other's waists.
"What?" Elsa inquired, truly interested.
"Soulmates." The caramel haired woman replied simply. This only made both of them grin wider.
"What special abilities do you have?" Elsa asked, excited.
"I know who everyone's soulmate is. I know how they will meet, and I know how they will be separated once and for all. I can eliminate lust in someone, but not always for sometimes lust wins over love. The curse that comes with this is that I can see what might have been, as well. What is and was may hurt, but it is not nearly as painful as what could have been." Calypso swallowed. "For example, Nico will never meet his soulmate. He died from an overdose of drugs in the 70's… You see, he never felt right having a wife, and he had nothing to truly keep him going… So he committed suicide." Elsa let out a small whimper, all happiness drained from that moment.
"I have to tell him." She found herself saying. "He… He has a right to know."
"Elsa, this is the only person who can have a clue as to who their soulmate is or was, you understand that, right?" Calypso pleaded. "Aphrodite warned me that I cannot intervene. I can only give cryptic advice to those who ask for it. And if someone is close to finding their soulmate, and already has feelings for them, only then can I remove lust for another person."
"So many people could be happy…" Elsa murmured. "So many people could find their soulmates…"
"Not all soulmates are happy." Calypso warned her. "We're just lucky. For example, Romeo and Juliet found each other, but they did not have a happy ending. Anyway, I have more power than some realize, and so I must have my hands tied behind my back. I could make things so clear for people, but I am not allowed to use my abilities to their fullest. I will probably forever be in a rivalry with Eros." She sighed. "You, my dear, are lucky. All nature gods are. That's just nature being nature. It can follow your every whim and morals will not question it. But love… That is the most complicated and powerful thing in the world."
"But can I still tell Nico?" Elsa begged. "I have to. He's my brother."
"Not today, Elsa. The knowledge should come later, at the right time." The blonde sighed, seeing that her wife was right, and buried her face into the smooth silky skin of Calypso. Her safe haven.
Elsa and Calypso lived a happy life together. Elsa made sure to spend plenty of time with both Nico and Anna; the dearest mortals to her heart. Nico told Elsa that she was now a modern legend at Camp Half-Blood, and some of the newbies at the camps proclaimed that the great Elsa, with her soulmate Calypso, must be a myth. Elsa secretly smiled to herself about that. That was one of her greatest accomplishments—becoming a legend whom the people declared must be a myth.
Nico successfully made it through college. Elsa and Calypso attended his graduation, but they had to use the mist. They kind of stuck out like sore thumbs, as they were dressed rather formally. As Elsa was technically 25 years old at the time (she'd chosen to age with Nico), she liked to dress kind of sexy, especially for Calypso.
Elsa's chosen gown was a pale ice blue sleeveless floor length dress with a slit to the ground a third of the way down her left thigh. The dress had little crystal snowflake like designs on it, and from the collarbone up, the straps were mesh, except for the edges. This also happened just above her hips, as most of the back was mesh, except for an oval of no fabric at the lower portion of her back, the bottom of which, held more layered fabric of her dress. Elsa preferred to keep most of this just for Calypso, so she wore a silver velvet cloak with a satin lining on the inside. Her shoes were kind of like glass slippers, except tiny crystals on the back of the heels, and a band of larger jewels (that reflected colors of the rainbow) on the silver toe. Elsa had taken to wearing a necklace that was a heart, and technically a locket. It had been given to her by Nico, but inside was a picture of Anna. Little angel wings in the shapes of halves of hearts covered the picture. Her earrings were little opals on bases with tiny little diamonds. Elsa's hair was in a complicated side French braid that went over the top of her head, but left a bit of hair loose. Her eyes were lined with silver. She kept her wedding jewelry on her left hand, and Nico's ring on her right.
Calypso had taken to wearing dark red. Her simple, but elegant, floor length gown had a sweetheart neckline that was connected to the thin straps of her dress that rested on her biceps. Her shoes were simple silk white heels, but overlaid with a thin layer of silver floral lace. Her hair was in a loose, messy but artistic low bun with a tiny braid running over the top of her head. Most of her hair looked pretty loose, as bangs rested by her cheeks. In her hair, she wore her tiara of linked hearts. Around her neck, to go with Elsa's engagement ring, was a gold locket with a picture of her wife inside, with a Claddagh carved onto the front, a diamond in the middle of the heart. On the back was engraved 'With these hands I give you my heart and crown it with my love.' Her earrings were oval garnets outlined in tiny diamonds, which happened to match her dress. The red was a bit off from the rubies on her wedding jewelry, but nobody ever noticed.
Anyway, the two stood like two proud mothers at the back of the hall as Nico graduated college, holding and leaning into each other. They cheered as he walked across the stage, but it wasn't heard by anyone but him.
"I'm so proud of you." Elsa hugged her brother after the ceremony.
"I'm just excited to do some good in this world, especially concerning half-bloods and homeless kids…" Nico shook his head. "Elsa, you started something amazing."
"And you will continue it." She kissed his cheek. "There's no one in the world that I'd trust more to do such a thing."
Through the years, Elsa and Calypso got to see how things turned out for their old friends. They liked predicting the future, especially since Calypso knew who all of their soulmates would be.
Annabeth and Piper dated briefly, but because Piper was very involved with her career, it did not last very well, but she did find someone who loved her for her brain, and not her body. However, Annabeth and Reyna were a successful couple and got married. Percy and Clarke didn't work out, so he dated around until he finally found the one. Jason was married to his job, which required him to remain a virgin, so his and Rachel's platonic relationship was his most successful relationship. Hazel and Frank got married and had kids together. Nico hired Will Solace as a doctor at the Youth Center because the people there did need one. Eventually, after a long time working together, the two got romantically involved. It wasn't a very serious relationship because they were both very focused on their careers.
Unfortunately, it never had a chance to get fully serious.
Nico was killed defending demigod children from monsters, late at night. Elsa sensed that he was in danger and appeared there to aid him, but she was too late, and from there, it was all she could do to protect the children who'd been seeking shelter. Once they were safe and the monster was slain, she collapsed to her knees, pulling her beloved brother's head into her lap. He was only just thirty years old…
"Nico…" She whispered, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He was not quite dead, but even she knew that there was nothing she could do, the second the monster impaled him. He would die too soon for him to get organ transplants. He'd been impaled. All she could do was hold him as he left. Elsa kissed his forehead.
"Elsa." He breathed.
"I love you so much." She reminded him, her voice trembling with sobs ready to escape her. She had no time to waste. "You—you were my first friend. You're my best friend, Nico. And as fate would have it, we have the most important friendship in the world. We went through almost everything together. And we had each other's backs whenever possible. I love you with everything inside of me, Nico. You know that." Elsa choked out a sob.
"Elsa… Mi sorella… You know what you mean to me." He whispered hoarsely. Tears streamed down the sides of his face and touched the fabric of Elsa's dress, as well as his blood had soaked through it. She didn't care though. She merely cleaned the blood off his face carefully, tears falling from her cheeks. He strained himself as he wiped away her tears. "Don't cry. I'm not scared." He breathed.
"Do you want me to sing to you?" Elsa had always been shy about really singing. But now, she knew that she had to.
"Please. Lie to me." She knew what he meant. They both knew that the world was cruel, to people, but as Nico died, she'd tell him, in her song, that everything would be beautiful. Everything would be alright. Oh god… What a lie that was…
"Just close your eyes,
The sun is going down.
You'll be alright,
No one can hurt you now.
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound." Elsa slowly sang the chorus of her chosen song slowly and almost inaudibly, but just loud enough for Nico to hear. As she sang, he closed his eyes, and his breathing grew easier and easier. At the last word, Nico relaxed fully and his chest stopped moving. Elsa's lips trembled, but she kept going, because she didn't want to admit to herself that he was dead.
"Don't you dare look out your window,
Darlin' everything's on fire.
The war outside our door keeps raging on.
Hold onto this lullaby,
Even when the music's gone,
Gone.
Just close your eyes,
You'll be alright.
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound."
Elsa stopped, as she'd finished the parts of the song she'd chosen to sing. Her body trembled as she fully took in the fact that Nico really was dead.
"Nico…" She whispered. "Nico. Mi fratello…" No answer came. She sadly wasn't expecting one. She began to sob on her brother's dead body. A body that once filled her with life from its presence. A pair of arms found their way around Elsa.
Calypso. She'd been standing in the shadows, allowing Elsa to say goodbye. She had no right to interrupt such an intimate moment. Now it was time for her to step in and comfort her grieving wife.
The caramel haired woman knelt beside Elsa, holding the blonde in her arms as she wept over Nico's body.
"No…" Elsa was whispering over and over again. "Nico… Please…" Elsa finally collapsed against Calypso and sobbed against her wife.
"I know, darling. I know." Calypso whispered over and over, doing her best to soothe Elsa. "I love you so much."
Thanatos emerged from the shadows. Calypso glared at him, shaking her head. Elsa did not need that right then.
"W-What's going on?" Elsa asked, her face a mess from tears. She turned away and looked at the god before them. "NO! Please don't take him away!" She pleaded. "Let me bury him at our castle… Please! Don't take my brother away!" She begged.
"I am not here to take him away." Thanatos assured her. "I am merely here to bring him to your desired place of burial. Hades sent me. He neither wanted nor expected his own son's death yet… Not for many years, anyway. He told me to tell you that the other gods were unsettled by you having all the love that you did, so they removed Nico di Angelo from the equation. They wish to weaken you." Elsa swallowed. "Do not seek revenge, however. That is only asking for trouble."
"What if I want trouble? What if I want his blood to have blood?" Elsa asked hoarsely.
"Elsa, dear. I know you're in pain. Darling… Your pain… It must be more than I could ever imagine. But revenge is not what you should seek. You should allow yourself to grieve." Calypso cooed softly to her wife. Elsa sniffled; a new wave of tears fell from her eyes. She collapsed, yet again, against Calypso. The goddess in red scooped her up like a groom holding a bride, and brought her to their ice castle. Calypso kissed her forehead, and drew them both a bath. In the tub, surrounded by hot water, Elsa cried until she could cry no more; Calypso holding and soothing her. Elsa's heart had broken… Nico was really gone…
Calypso held Elsa's hand as they stood in front of Nico's grave. He'd been buried in an ebony casket, lined with white velvet, by Hades himself. The blood had been cleaned up, and he'd been dressed in fine clothing. Now he was safely ten feet under the ground, placed under the protection of two powerful gods—Elsa and Hades. Calypso would also watch over it, but she could not protect it the way they could.
Despite their protection, Hades summoned an Oread called Claia to watch over the grave. She lived in the hills around Elsa's ice castle.
However, Elsa talked to Nico several times a day. She was so sad now… After she'd changed out of her bloody gown, the dress that had replaced it was a floor length black short sleeved gown. It was simple, as was her attire now. She no longer looked like the goddess of ice and snow, for she wore a black cloak with a black lace overlay. Her hair was in a plain bun. The only way anyone could tell that she was the legendary Elsa was her crown. The only jewelry she wore, apart from her rings, was a tiny pendant of two angel wings, tips pointing down, on a little silver chain. On her feet was a pair of black Greek sandals. Seeing Elsa like this broke Calypso's heart, for Elsa had once been elegant. Now, she'd lost the one person she'd always had. So the goddess of soulmates did not blame her wife. Elsa deserved plenty of time to grieve.
Elsa liked alone time a lot more now. But while Calypso gave her space, she didn't allow Elsa to be alone too much, or push away comfort very much. She let Elsa cry into her. However, when the blonde was kneeling in front of Nico's marble headstone, fresh snowdrops in hand, talking to her late brother, Calypso let her be. She did not need to interfere there. Elsa was fine; she was merely taking time to talk to him and miss him. She'd said goodbye. Calypso could not thank the universe enough for that. While it was cruel to have Elsa have to lie to him in her song as he died, it was huge gift for her to get the chance to say goodbye—a chance people did not often get.
Because Elsa got a chance that nobody else got, Will Solace, rather than praying to her, sent her horrible messages that she could not help but receive because she was a goddess. Sure, she received so many prayers from demigods who truly needed her and the ones who loved and admired her, but Will's grief was like knife into Elsa's still-healing wound.
Will never got a chance to say goodbye. He couldn't even visit Nico's grave because the son of Hades was buried in Canada. Calypso could possibly understand why Will was feeling this way, but she didn't understand why he needed to take his anger out on Elsa.
So she dropped in one day, right before he got home to his apartment in New York. She sat on the couch, arms crossed, waiting patiently. The light turned on, and inside came Will. He still worked at the Youth Center, but when he wasn't surrounded in work, he remembered Nico. It had only been a month since Nico had died.
"Hello, Will." Calypso said softly, in a deathly calm voice.
"What do you want?" He sneered. "Haven't the gods taken enough from me already?"
"I'm Elsa's wife… Calypso." She replied coolly. "Goddess of soulmates."
"What. Is my pain not enough for you yet?" Will scoffed, throwing his stuff down on the floor, and pacing in front of her. "Yeah, I loved him. Do you really need to tell me that Nico was my soulmate?"
"Don't worry. He wasn't." Calypso replied softly. Will stopped pacing and looked at her as though she'd grown another head. "Nico's soulmate died in the seventies." He swallowed.
"Then why the hell did you come here?" He asked, his voice pained.
"You have to stop praying to Elsa and saying those horrible things to her." Calypso said. This was an order, not a request. "She's in enough pain without you adding onto hers."
"What about me? I loved Nico more than she did. I deserved a chance to tell him goodbye. And yet she's the only one who gets that chance? What about everyone else?" Angry tears began to stream down Will's cheeks.
"I told them that Nico died. Well… Hazel and Reyna. They told everyone else. My wife… She couldn't do it." Calypso shook her head. "Elsa's grieving, same as you. Why would you intentionally try to cause her more pain?"
"I want my chance to say goodbye." Will said through gritted teeth. "Why did the others, and not me?"
"I was the one who brought them to our castle. The others were at mine and Elsa's wedding." Calypso explained. "I don't feel comfortable bringing you to our home."
"And yet you intrude upon mine."
"You need to stop. All of us are in pain. All of us are grieving Nico. There is no excuse for you to blame Elsa the way you are. And by the way. You never loved Nico as much as Elsa did." Calypso looked him square in the eyes.
"Prove it." With those words, Calypso stood up faster than Will could blink and her fingers touched his forehead, and suddenly his brain was flooded with the image of Elsa getting to Nico right after he was stabbed… Her protecting those children… Her pulling Nico's head into her lap… Her reminding him that she loved him… Him reminding her that he loved her… Him assuring her that he was not afraid… Her offering to sing… Him asking her to lie… Her singing… Elsa's tears… Elsa's many tears… Calypso comforting her grieving wife… Thanatos appearing… Elsa begging him not to take Nico away… Thanatos telling Elsa what had really happened… Elsa wanting to avenge him… Calypso talking her out of it… Elsa grieving later on… Elsa in black…
"Don't you dare ever say that Elsa is in less pain than you. Never say that you loved Nico more than she did… Because you're wrong… You're so so wrong." Calypso whispered harshly into his ear. "Now, if you don't stop guilting Elsa, I'm going to set Hades on you. And trust me… He's taken a liking to my wife. Oh, and, by the way… Winter's coming… And when it comes to punishments… Persephone's worse." Calypso's whisper tickled his ear like a winter wind. With that… Calypso disappeared. Will collapsed to the couch, pouring himself a drink from a bottle of vodka.
Meanwhile, the goddess had merely gone into Nico's old room (Will and Nico had decided to be roommates because it was cheaper) and began packing away all of Nico's old things. Clearly Will hadn't gone into the room after Nico had died, because there was a fine layer of dust on everything. Calypso grabbed the things she figured that Elsa might want. Nico's books—most of which he'd shared with Elsa—, his casual shirts and jackets, his music, his laptop, his sword, his pillow, his bedspread, and most of all, the framed pictures he had. Nico had a lot of framed pictures. They were all over his bookshelf and bedside table. A lot of them contained him with Elsa—them through the years. They'd had a lot of pictures taken of them by Chiron (secretly), because he'd known of the prophecy about Khione's replacement. He figured that it would be good if they remembered who they once were. The pictures of them as thirteen year olds were clearly taken from a distance and then zoomed in upon. The later ones had them posing together. Chiron apparently gave all of them to Nico. Calypso smiled sadly at her lover through the years. There were other pictures of Nico with others; some included Elsa, but others did not. No matter who was in these pictures (other than Will; he could keep the ones with him and Nico), Elsa would want them. Calypso looked around the room sadly. She'd let Elsa return later in case she wanted anything else.
Elsa cried over the things Calypso brought back from Nico's room, but they found places for everything. Elsa wrapped herself in Nico's old bedspread and laid on the couch for a little while. Calypso gave her the space she needed. The blonde missed her best friend so much. She wanted desperately to have been able to do more, but she couldn't. The best thing she could do was sing to him. Make sure he wasn't alone as he died…
His last words echoed around her head…
"Elsa… Mi sorella… You know what you mean to me."
"Don't cry. I'm not scared."
"Please. Lie to me."
His true last words were 'Lie to me.' He deserved better than that. The last thing she'd said to him was ask if he wanted her to sing. And then she sang that song… Safe and Sound… The two things that Nico only was after he'd died, in that moment.
She didn't know why, but she listened to that song a lot. It always made her cry now. But he was Safe and Sound now. Forever.
There was a void inside of her. Calypso was the only one who filled that void. The only time Elsa didn't feel like she missed her brother was when she was kissing her wife, or when they were in bed together, but not sleeping. The alone time was something she needed, because Elsa needed to learn how to get along without being 100% dependent upon Calypso. Elsa cried because she didn't know how to feel whole again, and cast the bedspread onto the couch.
Eventually, she just willed her consciousness to go somewhere… Anywhere… And she found herself in Reyna and Annabeth's apartment, of all places, though it made sense. Reyna was a very important friend to both Elsa and Nico, when they were younger. Reyna was currently the only one home. This was kind of a relief for Elsa. She didn't want Annabeth to experience what would probably happen
"I miss him." Elsa whispered, a wave of tears making its way onto her cheeks. She let out a small sob that held indescribable pain and grief.
"We all do." Reyna assured her sadly, standing up. The two women met in a tight but comforting embrace, and Elsa sobbed into her friend's shoulder.
Elsa mourned Nico for a year. Part of that was just the emptiness she felt, not knowing how to accept it and fully move on. But she talked to her friends that knew him, and that helped, because she felt even less alone. More and more demigods had begun to pray to her, because she helped them to the best of her ability. She received many sacrifices, and broke down crying because she helped so many people and inspired them. These were her first happy tears in a very long time. From there, Elsa began to help more and more people. Their gratitude made her feel better, and she finally found a life boat with a motor out of the sea of depression and sadness she'd been trapped in, with nothing but a life preserver (her friends).
She'd, after some time, gone back to exactly what she'd worn before Nico's death. Now she and Calypso were like Gomez and Morticia Addams together. They became a team, and didn't keep things from each other. They found a way to stay like lovestruck teens again, and that fire that burned for the other never died or even flickered.
Yes, Nico was dead, and yes, their other friends and family would eventually die as well. However, they would make new connections with people, and they'd be ok. It would be easier. They'd experience grief many times in their immortal lives, but the important thing was that they'd get through it, especially if they were together as a team. It was a horrible thought, but maybe they'd one day stop feeling it even… Maybe that's why gods did not get to close to mortals… They had either stopped feeling, or they didn't want to lose their ability to feel…
Winters became the times for Elsa to take everything she was feeling and finally let it out. She'd create horrible storms and feel intense relief afterwards that lasted her from spring to fall. Calypso's outlet was sword fighting—something she'd taken up over the years. It was her favorite method of fighting. Archery came in second. She and Elsa often fenced. It was a good stress reliever. A great one, actually.
They appeared as nineteen years old, because that's how old they were when they got married (well, Calypso was twenty, but they liked the age nineteen best because it was just at the point where they were technically adults, but still teenagers—right on the cusp of growing up).
However, the most important thing was that Elsa and Calypso figured out to be happy together—forever and always.
A/N: I really do like the previous chapter better tbh. This one was more rushed and just included the crucial scenes (due to the fact that I wanted it posted on time), so there's some fluff missing and shit like that. Last chapter was a lot more character-driven. I probably won't fix it, bc I will have moved on. Anyway, this trilogy was great to write, and it will always have a special place in my heart.