Heyyyyy I have nothing to say aside from review responses.

acorntree1: Glad you find it intriguing! As I said we'll be spending a short amount of time in thier younger days so I'm trynna make it brief but not entirely rush it. I also figured Wanda and Cosmo would measure their years by godkids, seems fitting and easier.

TriceTokushu: Yeh, Big's reeeal hyped on getting on Caelia's good side, eh? And ya Jessamine's annoying, lol. I'm excited to be showing their future. I think the reason I'm only doing a few chapters on their beginning is because we essentially know that they'll be together but have no idea the events that happening the future.

Lost iin Fanfiction: Haha, Cosmo's 'hup-hup's' were definitely a debated input. Anything to fit his character. And funny how I made a fairy replica of your sis, that def turned out! Big is a sweet talker alright, guess scotch makes people either smooth or stupid, no in between, lol.

DoggyPocky: Definitely annoying what Jessamine is doing, but I can see how it'd be cute. Not gonna be cute forever though...

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Digging through the box while Cosmo also sorted through another, Wanda pondered to herself if there would ever be a time where she'd reach the bottom in a dignified way. Not through the tears she'd usually bust out with by this point. Maybe she'd been rushing in order to keep from that state, or maybe she'd done it enough already that she was numb to it now. Numb enough to the burning question that remained in the back of her mind.

Could history repeat itself?

As Wanda thought of how profusely the grandmother she'd never met pushed Caelia, it reflected a pattern very similar to Wanda. Her father had behaved the same way even if he was not even blood-relation to Jessamine. That's what always made Wanda judge the community she came from so harshly. Existing as power-hungry mad men and superficial archetypes.

Dumbly remembering who she was though, Wanda was born out of it as flesh and blood too.

"Pfft, if we don't find that snowcone machine soon." Cosmo said, green hair bobbing up and down from behind a box across the room as he sorted through item after item.

"I made some instant pudding, it's in the fridge." Wanda mentioned.

Cosmo lifted his head out from behind his barrier, looking eagerly at his wife as she returned the smile.

But she left everything else behind and married Cosmo. The most genuine, good-natured fairy there was to exist in all of the universe. No filter covered the beautiful soul he beheld that rang from the very fiber of his being. A fairy who marched to the beat of his own drum. She thought about this thoroughly as her husband chatted her ear off in looking through another one of their many boxes in the basement. Joining her on the random spree of sorting in forgetting about their movie night tasks for a brief while.

Wanda had always known she was different from the Fairywinkles. And she'd triumphed to be, but sometimes she worried that deep down she'd one-day abra-cadabra into becoming a superficial head like them. After all, she did have perfectionist tendencies and they certainly came from somewhere. Her father made a point of making sure she'd only get nothing but perfect on examinations and other life tests when growing up. And what did that earn her now? A heap of anxiety and OCD. Thanks a lot, daddy.

She wasn't like them.

There was no way.

For one, she'd fallen in love with Cosmo. And he had fallen in love with her. Not that Cosmo was much of a picky type, but if Wanda was like one of the not-so-much family that she came from, Cosmo probably wouldn't have looked her way at all. He and godparenting was the biggest proof that Wanda wouldn't somehow turn into the person she'd always tried to avoid being.

If Wanda had been given this chance, she had to be different. If Caelia had taught her daughter this, she had to be like her. Right?

Right?

. . .

Caelia exited the high front wrought iron gates of her home lot. Shrugging her gold shoulder purse on her shoulder in looking down at her outfit in another moment of consideration. Big had assured her that he had the night planned and under control, but that didn't make it easy on what she would wear. He said they were starting off with dinner, so Caelia played it safe by going straight semi-formal. She wore her curls down as per usual, accompanied by a short a-line dress of pearl pink with cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Accompanied by her white pearls and heels. In looking at the time on her phone, she opened her purse to reach for her inhaler and take her dosage.

She nervously gripped the sheer shawl she'd brought along in her hands. Awaiting where Big had said he'd pick her up. To say Caelia felt unprepared was an understatement because as proven with Big so far, she didn't know what to expect. Neither did she know what to think of him in terms of dating material at all, since she hadn't shown much interest in anyone in a long time. Not at least of anyone worth keeping around.

He had been sitting away from the crowd the first time they met at that party. But the second time they'd found each other at another event, he seemed to be a little more inner circle. It may have thrown Caelia off slightly, but he still returned his stare to her when in discussion with his brothers and fellow colleagues. As if he wanted to show interest despite all these people whisking him away to talk about the glory the Fairywinkles have been riding on. Let alone the Oakbelles every time Caelia was whisked away by conversation with her brothers and mother.

Big was still there in presence though. Something about him had an effect on the room. As soon as he entered there was a shift in feeling, not bad, but very adamant. He didn't need to say too much to be given an amount of attention, and he certainly didn't have to say too much to reel in a group of people. Like he knew the right thing to say always, and he did it so cleanly and smoothly.

In the cool orange tint of the evening, Caelia had been so occupied by her gate's entrance, she almost didn't notice the vehicle pulling up in the stone pathway. One of an eight-passenger-sized limousine in black that came to a slow stop before her. Caelia's fuschia eyes widening at the expense of what was supposed to be the first date.

The opposing door opened with Big hopping out and floating around the limo to meet her. Dressed in his finest navy blue polyester suit with a black tie and trenchcoat. A driver exited from the driver's seat as well in awaiting the two.

"Did I miss something? Are we going to a wedding?" Caelia laughed.

"C'mon, it's nothin' the both of us aren't use to." Big gestured to the limo. Caelia couldn't argue with him on that one, she'd been in quite a few for family parties that were granted bigger deals than she would personally claim them to be.

"But it's a lot nicer when ya get to share it with less people." Big said, giving her his hand. "Care to test that theory with me?"

Welp. She'd said yes this far.

Caelia took Big's hand with a shy smile, and he led her to the back seats as the driver opened the door for both of them. Caelia scooting her way in first with a nod in thank you and Big following as the driver shut the door and made way to the front once more. Seated in the vertical leather cushioning of the inside, Caelia looked around at the subtle blue of the led lights lining the interior. She smiled gently at Big's awaiting smoldering look.

Was this him on any silly date, or was this him trying to impress her? Or both? Geez, maybe it was just to flaunt his money for all she knew.

If there was anything to be expected from him tonight, she figured by now it would be a lot. A lot.

Caelia looked to the lights of the city below from the rooftop restaurant. Dazzled by the city's lights at such a high point and by the wonderful calmness yet elegance the restaurant brought. Big hadn't originally asked her if she had any plans in mind, he simply said he'd handle it and for her to wait and see. The restaurant, while full, wasn't overwhelmingly crowded for her for what she'd pride as a 'date-material' evening. The seating there that was available with the wood-metal armchairs and round white tablecloths were only a few on the open deck of the roof.

Poking at her starter salad, Caelia cleared her throat awkwardly across the way to Big. "So," she said. "Rooftop, huh?"

"Ya like?"

"It's lovely." She said, looking around. "Um.."

Big swallowed a spoonful of soup. "What?"

Caelia sometimes wished she wasn't so forward but felt like it couldn't be helped. "Big, what's the deal?"

"What'chu mean?"

"Um, try bringing a limo and being casual about it? When we text it's one thing, but you seem to give off the same energy in real life."

He considered this. He considered her. "Energy, eh?"

Caelia looked down in embarrassment. "I'm not trynna make things weird, I just haven't been willing to go on a date for a while with anyone."

"But you chose me."

"That I did."

"Why, then?"

Caelia met his gaze willingly again, trying to banter the thoughts off that maybe she made a mistake and he was just another superiority complex. She tended to associate many of the business types to be the same, which, was probably prejudice of her. The difference was that Big didn't brag in the same way many of her past 'suitors' suggested by her mother in the did. He was obviously more than the successful type, but there was barely any gloat that came from him. Big also showered Caelia in a flirty nature different than other guys, in which he seemed like he actually wanted to, and didn't feel like he was just obliged to like other men of the past.

And his smooth demeanor...and slight threatening nature to anyone who questioned him except for her...just made Caelia think. Hard. Like she wanted to reach so much deeper and discover all his dirty little secrets. Did that make him a project or an interest to her? Or both? It was just overly baffling to her how his sly nature was surprisingly pulling her closer in mind and heart. It teased her, but in a wildly overwhelming sensation. He used money, but he didn't brag about it. Even over their weeks of texting, everything he answered just had this ring to it that she'd reread his wording over and over.

"I just wanna get a read on you." She admitted. "You seem crafty, yet...humble in that sense."

He blew a quick breath past his lips. "Is that your interest?"

She shrugged her shoulders in looking away with a flushed look. "I don't know my interest...I hardly know how to behave around my mother anymore."

"If it helps," he scooted forward in his seat. "I'm not about to call you out on being imperfect. You seem special to me, sweets."

She beamed. "And what about you?"

"Me?"

"How're you worthy as the head of the family business?"

"Eldest blood." He gestured with his arms open in a smirk. Okay, maybe there was slight cockiness in him. But certainly not enough to override his flattery that so many other guys lacked.

"That aside. I know you wouldn't be allowed to have it if you were any less than capable. Or at least not ready." Caelia gave a crucial smile. "I come from a similar family, I should know."

Big swallowed a sip of his drink. "I've been working alongside my uncles for a long time, ya see. I've never not wanted to be working."

Caelia listened openly. That was one thing they had in common, then.

"They figured at my pace, putting me in charge was better for the company and name."

She leaned against the table coyly. "And I suppose you're a big talker around the guys?"

He too leaned against the table. "Better if I have a lady on my arm."

The dinner date progressed, landing into their main course meal. They continued on from just discussing how Big seemed all the more similar yet different from the people Caelia met and progressed into slight banter over their families. It was good to know he had a sense of humor in bashing 'their kind of people.' He seemed to have no problem in admitting that even his uncles were more power-hungry than bloodhounds.

Caelia had been right, he was crafty. She'd never met someone with that kind of behavior in her life ever. Not in the lines of people she met through her parents. Her friends were less like the people in her family, but they certainly didn't have the same sly ideals as Big. They were a little more exuberant and the almost 'cool' energy Big gave off was refreshing to Caelia in ways she never imagined she wanted to experience. She thought she'd be past the crushes on cool guys at this age. The feelings were high but unsure, and she was just intrigued more and more as she was reeled in by the husk of his voice and the deep of his talk.

After dessert, they'd decided to stretch their legs for the fun of it by the lounge band and singers. Some couples of the night had gathered already, and when Big offered his hand for a mellow slow dance, Caelia figured there was no harm. The date seemed to be going far more smooth sailing than she imagined. And she wanted to see what it would actually be like to have this man's hands closer to her.

Swaying to the jazz beat steadily, Caelia kept her gaze to the buttons of his navy blazer in wondering whether to look at him or not. Of course, she could feel the weight of his gaze on her and she felt if she didn't look soon maybe she'd come off as unsure as she felt. Looking up, their pink eyes met.

"Any other plans for tonight?" She asked softly.

"I was thinking drinks at a nearby Ritz." He suggested. "If you're up to it."

"Actually," she decided to protest. "As wonderful as that sounds, maybe a float down the boardwalk on the canal nearby?"

Big chuckled again. "Did your research on the area beforehand, eh?"

"I like to know where I'm going, thank you very much."

"I'll call the driver back around."

"Don't." One of her hands dared to leave his shoulder and caress the material of his jacket. "A poof over there might do us some good."

The Cozybriar Canal. Underneath the purple heavens of the night sky twinkled colorful stars across the fairy central part of the universe. The moonshine beaming gently upon the deck of the boardwalk that stretched upon a beautiful boating canal. Lined by small business shops and market windows decorated by trinket lights. The orange of the indoor shops gleaming gently against the walk boards, one of the few given sources of lights aside from the moon and lionel streetlights.

"My friend showed me these shops," Caelia said, her shawl wrapped around her shoulders as she held Big's given arm in their float. "So beautiful."

"If we bought half of these, it could be turn into a manufacturing office alone."

"Oh, haha." Caelia berated, Big smiling in getting another poke on her.

"If ya love these places so much, I won't touch 'em with a ten-foot pole."

"Good," she nodded. "I love this area. So therapeutic, almost."

"And what other places are therapeutic?"

"..A grocery store."

He chortled. "What?"

"I dunno, being in a grocery store calms me. Like a breath of fresh air from the freezer section is like nothing else."

Big shook his head. "That's some weird voodoo, Caelia." She batted his shoulder on the arm of his she held and he chuckled.

They came to a soft halt by Caelia's attention being drawn to the water past the iron barring. The water looked so refreshing, Caelia swore she just wanted to jump in, dress and heels, just to feel the cold silkiness of it against her skin. And see if she could turn the flat stillness of it into a pattern of abrupt waves. How much of a splash even. Of course she didn't wanna harm the peace of the night, but as her father had always reminded her, her thoughts spiraled like nothing else.

Caelia turned to Big in wanting to share her thoughts, but she kept from it. She was starting to realize how much she actually wanted to make an impression on this date. Based on the grocery remark, maybe she should stop spilling every thought she had like always and be a little more observant in how Big was reacting.

"I like peace as much as the trivial things."

A pit of silence in response and Big turned towards her in unlinking from her arm. "What?"

She stood taller. "I like peace as much as the trivial things."

Big's lips stretched slightly in amusement. "Ms. Oakbelle, you're a bit too odd."

"I just thought you should know that grocery stores aren't the only thing that crosses my mind." Caelia's wide eyes flicked every direction in looking for an excuse. "I can think similar to other people. I can."

Big's dark fuschia eyes seemed to be more ablaze against the dark of the night as he shortened the distance between them.

"What else is on your mind?" He asked.

She crinkled the hem of her shawl. "Lots."

"Lots?"

"More than you could know."

Why she had the sudden need to impress him was beyond her...

Big drew closer. "Have I been?"

Caelia raised her chin. "In ways as..?"

"Over these weeks," he reminded. "You didn't ask about seein' me outside any of those parties."

"So?"

"So," he came to a gentle stop where their fronts barely brushed together. Caelia's gaze was locked and sealed with his as she felt no chance of looking away. The slightly rough yet warm touch of his knuckle grazed the underpart of her chin. "You agree when I ask you out?"

"Maybe I was testing you."

"Maybe you don't trust me, yet."

"What-?"

A pair of lips attached to her's gently as the knuckle that once held her chin palmed her face. Big's eyes closed in the passion of the kiss as Caelia froze in movement with eyes wide in a moment of awkwardness. Before the setting of the kiss took its toll on her and she accepted with fluttering lids closing against her pink orbs.

Soon after he pulled away to gain her reaction. Her arms remained to her sides as they'd always been and her face remained in his soft yet firm palm circling her cheek. She looked at him with calmer eyes than before.

"Oh."

He smiled softly, as did she.

The effort he was spending on her at the beginning was a lot, maybe too much even, but it spoke something to her. Not because she wanted any of it, but because it showed the degrees of his willingness. Ways in which he didn't see the big deal in what he was offering, but he still did it all. For her. On a simple date. Even after insisting that he really didn't seem to care to spend on just about anything. But he had for her.

What kind of heavenly devotion could he, as a person, offer in morality in that case? She had to know. Especially as they melted into the evening and away from the rest of the world and into a chance of discovery.

The stars were aligned that twinkled in a perfect in-sync dance against that lined the purple night skies of their world around them. The soft breeze of the water's way hit against them gently, and although they were only floating a bit above the ground, for a moment it felt higher. What new reality had she been thrown into without realizing it?

Her hands slipped from his chest to around his neck, and his grip around her waist pulled her forward as their lips interlocked in the grand opening of a new chapter.

To be continued...

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Lol, that 'are we going to a wedding' line may have been plucked from Princess Diaries, one of my faves and I've always loved that line. Hope ya'll enjoying it so far!

~McSgwizzle