After the sweet moment that Arturia and Diarmuid shared by the side of the road, they had decided it was time to go back home. Diarmuid had insisted that Arturia join them for dinner, and not being able to say no to Diarmuid's pleading amber eyes, Arturia had gone to the Duibhne's home for dinner that evening. They had enjoyed a nice homemade chicken pot pie that Scathàtch had allegedly spent the whole day making. After dinner, Diarmuid and Arturia had washed the dishes (with a lot of laughing and playing around; splashing water and soap on one another). Now that the dishes were nice and clean, Scathàtch was drying them off as she chatted with Arturia while Diarmuid had gone off to help Cú with something involving the barn.
"So, are you really going back?" Scathàtch raised an eyebrow as she continued to dry the plate with a pink handkerchief.
Arturia nodded, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I think it's about time I go and face them…" she mumbled. "Pretty sure they'd like to see me."
Scathàtch nodded. "Yes, I also think it's a good idea...it's about time that you talk with them if you can." She dried her hands and set a hand on Arturia's shoulder. "Thing'll work out, I promise." She smiled softly.
Arturia returned the smile before she sighed, and her lips fell back into a straight and grave line. "I'm a little worried, to be honest."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Scathàtch furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side.
Arturia nodded. "I guess...I mean, I'm worried about how my father will react…" she mumbled. "I know I hurt them, but I just...I wanted them to see how their absence impacted me. I just wanted them to understand how absent they were in my life...I wanted them to know how I felt." She ran a hand through her hair. "It was selfish of me to run away, I know, but I couldn't live my life like that forever."
Scathàtch remained silent as she leaned on the counter next to Arturia.
"What if my father doesn't want to see me anymore? What if he's too angry with me?" Arturia rubbed her face.
"You know," Scathàtch spoke, "although he might be hurt, I'm sure he'll be happy when he sees you. His daughter will be going back to him; wouldn't that make him relieved? It's been so long since he's seen you, he might be scared and worried about you...I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, Artie."
"You think so?" Arturia looked over at Scathàtch.
Scathàtch gave Arturia a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "I know so."
Arturia was glad to have such supportive people around her. She never knew how much she craved these small types of familial affection. Of course, her friends were supportive and always there for her, but they never felt quite like family. The Duibhne's had treated her so well as if she was a part of their family. They opened their arms to her and helped her on her feet, so much so that she felt she was part of them.
"Artie." Diarmuid popped his head into the kitchen, and both the women looked over at him. "Sorry to interrupt your bonding moment, but I thought maybe you'd like to watch a movie with us?" He raised an eyebrow. "Cú is dying to watch a superhero movie, and since it's kind of a family ritual…."
Arturia smiled and nodded. "I'd love to. What are we watching?"
"Captain America."
"Winter Soldier?" She raised an eyebrow, pushing herself off from the counter.
Diarmuid nodded. "Have you already watched it? It's okay if you want to go home."
"No! I'd love to rewatch it! It's one of my favourites." She ran up to Diarmuid. Arturia briefly looked at Scathàtch and mouthed a quick 'thank you' before she followed right behind Diarmuid as he led her to the living room.
Diarmuid sat Arturia down on the leather loveseat and gave her a shy smile before he disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes. On the other side of the room, Cú was laid down across the three-seat couch; his feet rested on the armrest as he was too long to fit fully.
"So, you two are getting quite chummy, huh?" Cú smirked, a sharp canine sticking out of his mouth.
"Well…" Arturia blushed. "You could say that…."
Cú fixed the embroidered pillow under his head. "Did you two kiss?" He raised a brow.
Arturia choked, and she had to clear her throat. "Why—why would you ask?"
Cú shrugged. "Diarmuid is not answering my questions, and he seems to be touchy over the subject of last night. You didn't sleep with him, did you?"
"Cú!" Diarmuid yelled as it seemed he heard that last part when he entered the room with a bowl of popcorn. "No! Oh my god, what the hell? Have some respect, god."
Cú chuckled as he caught a pillow Diarmuid had thrown at him. "Just making sure," he guffawed.
"Could you think about something other than sex for once?" Scathàtch emerged from behind Diarmuid and glared at the older brother.
Cú rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
"Yes," Arturia said, causing all the three Duibhne siblings to whip their heads towards her in shock. "We did kiss."
The two older siblings sighed in relief while Diarmuid remained frozen on the spot. His cheeks slowly saturated in colour, and with every passing second, he was starting to look more and more like a strawberry. He pushed the bowl of popcorn into Scathàtch's hands before he cleared his throat and excused himself.
Arturia stared at him with knitted brows. "Was I not supposed to tell them?" She asked just before he left the room.
Diarmuid turned back to her and shook his head. "No, it...it isn't that...I just...I'm just a little embarrassed." He rubbed the back of his neck.
Scathàtch had a bright smile on her lips, almost as if she'd been told she won the lottery, and Cú looked as sly as a fox; Diarmuid knew Cú was already finding a million ways to tease him, and Scathàtch was going to bombard him with a million questions after Arturia went back home. He dreaded what the next week was going to look like.
"There's no need to be embarrassed," Arturia deadpanned. "Let start the movie." A smile spread on her lips, and she patted the spot next to her.
Cú whistled, causing Diarmuid to glare at him as he made his way towards Arturia. Once he sat down next to her, everyone went back to paying attention to the television as the movie started. They all settled in their seats without another. It was about partway into the movie that Diarmuid's gaze had wandered towards Arturia, who was leaning forward and intently watching the fight scene.
Diarmuid couldn't help but smile at how cute Arturia looked so immersed in the movie; her brows furrowed, her face in her hands. She was seated at the edge of the couch and biting her lip in anticipation. She was so focused on the movie that it made his heart flutter. Once he noticed that Cú caught him staring, he looked away immediately.
Before he knew it, Diarmuid realized the movie had ended, and the credits began rolling.
"Ugh, I just love this movie. It's so good!" Arturia clapped her hands once as Cú flicked the lights back on. "Did you guys like it?" She asked.
Diarmuid nodded. "Of course, it was amazing." He had barely even paid attention to the movie as he had sneaked glances at her and been hyper-aware that she was sitting right next to him.
"Yes! Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan are gorgeous. I gotta say, the Winter Soldier is perfect." Scathàtch shook her head as she looked off into the distance dreamily.
Cú rolled his eyes at his sister's reaction. "It was good." He shrugged. "But, are you sure you liked it, Dia? You seemed quite distracted for half the movie."
Diarmuid shot a glare at Cú.
Arturia blinked at Diarmuid. "You were distracted?" She pouted.
"I…" Diarmuid stood from the couch. "It's getting late, and I was thinking I could walk you to the cabin? If you'd like that is." A blush blossomed across his cheeks.
Arturia stared at him for a second before she too stood up from the couch. "Yes, of course." She checked her watch and noted it was almost midnight. "Let me just go get my jacket." Upon finding it draped on an armchair, Arturia proceeded to the foyer, where Diarmuid was already waiting for her.
With a quick goodbye to Scathàtch and Cú (who had been paying attention to the television again), they exited the warm comfort of the home to walk to the cabin. Of course, it wasn't such a long walk, and Diarmuid didn't really need to walk her, but he wanted to, and Arturia also wanted to spend a little more time with him, even if it were for only a few extra minutes.
The night was rather chilly. The cold air nipped at their fingers and noses almost immediately, and it looked as if it might snow sometime soon. They walked in silence for a while, the gravel crunching under their feet with every step. There were no crickets now that winter was soon approaching. It was a very silent night.
"When are you thinking of leaving?" Diarmuid asked softly, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
"Maybe in a month? I'm still settling how I'm going to go about seeing them. I have to plan everything out." Arturia snuggled her face deeper into her jacket. She stepped to the side to avoid a stone on the pebbled floor, so their hands brushed against one another. Arturia felt her cheeks burn, and she looked away quickly.
Diarmuid sighed. "Are you planning on coming back?" He mumbled.
Arturia looked over at him; she could see a frown on his face, his cheeks bright red and his eyes evasive. "Do you think I'm going to stay in London?" She raised an eyebrow.
He shrugged. "I'm just asking."
"It all depends on how things go with my parents."
"So you might stay in London?" He sounded conflicted, between concerned and glad. He obviously wanted Arturia to make up with her parents, but he did not want to lose her so quickly after realizing his feelings for her.
Arturia giggled, and she nudged Diarmuid. "I'm kidding. I'll be coming back for sure. I'm only going to visit my parents. I am still thinking of staying here for at least another year. You know, find myself and all that sappy stuff."
Diarmuid's amber eyes lit up, and he smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."
A sly thought slithered through Arturia's mind, and she decided to tease the young man. "Why're you glad?"
He blushed. "Well." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Because I want to keep seeing you."
"Why?" She tilted her head.
It was his turn to nudge her. "You know why."
Arturia pouted her lips to the side and hummed. "No, no, I don't think I do."
Diarmuid rolled his eyes. "I want to get to know you better. I want to spend more time with you." He looked away. "I want to hold your hand," he mumbled under his breath.
"I didn't quite catch the last part…." She furrowed her brows.
"Nothing, don't worry about it," he nervously laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
Gently, Arturia brushed the knuckles of her left hand against his right hand. Slowly she took hold of his pinkie with her own; she tried to give him time to change his mind if he wanted to. Instead, he looked at her with glowing red cheeks and a soft smile.
"I want to hold your hand too," she whispered as if it were their own little secret.
"Really?" He asked.
Arturia laughed gently as she nodded. "Of course. I mean, we did share a kiss already, and I really hope you kiss me again sometime soon, but I know taking things slow is very important, so holding hands is a step in the right direction."
Diarmuid cleared his throat at the mention of a kiss, and he quickly hid his face behind his free hand.
Arturia properly intertwined her fingers with his and frowned. "Oh, I mean, you don't have to kiss me if you don't want to; I know I'm not exactly a supermodel or anything."
"No, I mean, of course, I'd like to kiss you again! I just...I'm embarrassed."
She laughed and continued walking. "Well, that makes me feel better."
He stopped walking, and she looked over at him once she was pulled back. She raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
Diarmuid's cheeks were flushed, and he took a deep breath. "Can I kiss you?"
A smile erupted on Arturia's lips at the sound of his words. "Diarmuid, you don't have to ask. You can kiss me whenever."
Slowly, they inched towards one another. Arturia's eyes fluttered closed as she raised herself on her tiptoes and squeezed Diarmuid's hand. Diarmuid had to lean down for the kiss, but he didn't mind one bit.
Arturia would have to admit that Diarmuid's kisses were probably the sweetest she'd ever experienced, even if they'd only shared two. He was so gentle with her, like a proper gentleman. His free hand reached for her cheek and cupped her face, tilting it softly. Arturia smiled into the kiss as she felt her heart swell and her cheeks burn. A little too soon for both of them they pulled away.
"I wouldn't mind getting used to this." She tittered as she looked up at him. He looked so handsome, she thought. The moonlight lit his face in a heavenly blue glow, his beauty mark looking almost like one of the stars that sprinkled the sky. His amber eyes looked like glittering jewels. To say she had a crush on him would be underestimating the situation.
Arturia wished this moment could last forever. Being under the moonlight together, in the middle of the rolling English hills, with no real worries in her mind. Is this what it meant when people felt like home? She wished she never had to leave him. She also finally understood why Grainne had been the way she was (not that her behaviour was excusable, of course). Arturia liked Diarmuid a little too much for her own good.