It soon came time for the funeral of June McCann. The team elected for a simple burial. It would be better that way.

The entire event happened without a hitch.

One of the people in attendance of the event that afternoon was rather curious.

Amaya had also shown up. And stayed for the whole thing. How very curious.

The matriarch had made it clear that she had no interest in June McCann. At all.

So... Why even attend the funeral of the person who destroyed your marriage?

Emily was elected to ask this of Amaya once other people began departing. She caught up with her by the parking lot.

"Hey, Amaya." Emily said to her friend.

The other woman immediately realized something was up, just from the tone. But she would play along. For a minute.

"Hi, Emelise. It's good that some many people showed up for June, huh?"

"Mhm. It's more than we expected."

Amaya fetched her sunglasses from her purse and tucked them into her hair. A social cue to speed it up.

Emily cleared her throat. "I… uh… Have a question."

Amaya nodded in a direction over Emily's right shoulder. "Would this be why the delegation is hanging back?"

JJ, Will, Primrose, and Virginia could be seen congregated together some feet away. Each was trying too hard not to appear overly-conspicuous about it.

"They... and I are wondering why you came here today." Emily responded. "It's absolutely no secret that June wasn't your favorite person."

"I'm not stone cold." Amaya said smoothly to her.

"You chipped in for the funeral of your home-wrecker, Amaya."

She didn't miss a beat. "It was the right thing to do. And I just want to put this to bed."

Emily studied her. "Do you think this is over?"

"I am choosing to believe so."

Ambiguous to a fault, thought Emily. "So long as you're sure…"

"Yes, my dear. I'm sure about it."

"Okay." Now Emily was just surprised that Amaya had called her by such a personal term of endearment.

Amaya hugged her. "I'm off to go get my baby girl. We have a shopping trip on the docket for little girl clothes due."

Emily laughed. "I take it that AJ grows fast?"

"Very. Zion, too." Amaya finally put her sunglasses on. "See you around, my dear."

Emily waved. "Bye."

And Amaya headed to her vehicle. Emily returned to the others.

Virginia could just hold back a laugh. "She shut you down?"

"In an alarmingly polite way." Emily admitted.

"What did my mother say?" Will asked her.

"That she isn't stone cold. But what really surprises me is that she helped chip in to pay for her home-wrecker's burial."

JJ suddenly remembered a vital piece of information. "Amaya was actually one of the biggest backers. I saw that list."

"Well... She also said that chipping in is the right thing to do. Putting this mess to bed seems to be her main agenda. Amaya's reply, when I asked her if she thinks this is over, was a very interesting one."

"Do tell." the LaMontagnes pressed together.

"And I quote, 'I am choosing to believe it is.' Does this woman delight in the tango of ambiguity?"

"Like you wouldn't believe." deadpanned Virginia.

Primrose asked, "But do we all agree that Amaya knows way more than she's been letting on?"

"Absolutely." her company declared as one.

"And Cruz—he's a good man?"

"Straight arrow." Emily said immediately.

"To a fault." confirmed Will.

JJ's answer was very strong. "Loyal."

Virginia laughed softly. The others' answers had all been at the same time. In perfect unison. These people were something else.

"I guess that's that." Primrose mused. "Nothing is over. We are just stalled for now. Keep me in the loop if another discovery is had?"

Will nodded. "You bet, Prim."

She bobbed her head in thanks. "Adieu."

And so the sergeant also made her exit.

Will checked his watch and sighed. "We also have to go."

JJ griped, "It's grocery day. Not our favorite."

This was Friday. Being in the office wasn't required until Monday again. Everyone had come to the funeral on their own time.

Virginia nodded in understanding. "Emily and I also have mundane things to get to, as well. Catch you around?"

JJ nodded. "See you around."

Here the LaMontagnes left, too.

"Are we so totally boring," Emily joked to Virginia as they headed to the van. "That we can't even tell them what you're going to do in the morning?"

Virginia chuckled. "Nah. I like to keep things like tattoo parlor appointments just between us. 'Shock and awe' is my favorite factor."

"Very nice." Emily checked her own watch. "We still have time before we told my parents we'd get Zion from them. And our groceries won't be delivered until tomorrow afternoon. Want to go do something?"

As no one in attendance of the funeral had had any great attachment to June, people were already moving on.

"Yes." Virginia said seriously. "I just want to hold you and give kisses to Eden. What do you say?"

Emily was putty, but she still kissed Virginia. "Yes. Let's go."

Virginia kissed Emily's hand. "By the way, we won't ever be totally 'boring' because of the places we've been, but… I'm sure we'll have some moments like those."

"You mean when we're married?"

"Yep!" Virginia made tracks for the trunk of her car.

"But we aren't even engaged!" Emily called after her.

Virginia didn't looked back, but her tone was completely singsong. "Not yet!"

Emily just shook her head in wonder.

But… She also found herself wondering (not even for the first time) how to discreetly learn a person's ring size. Maybe JJ could help.

It didn't take long for Emily and Virginia to wind up mostly naked together in bed when they returned home. No sex was had.

They just delighted in holding each other.

Eventually, Emily found herself propped up against the headboard. Virginia laid between her girlfriend's legs and pressed gentle kisses to her middle.

Showing physical affection to Emily was one of her favorite things to do. Trading kisses and exploring each other's bodies was a fun way for them to get to know each other even more. Plus... Emily knew that Virginia saw these private times as an opportunity for her to work on her self-worth. She had been doubting hers after the break-up. Virginia was making her whole again.

"You're quiet." Virginia commented after a length of no words from her other half. "What's going on in your head?"

"I was thinking about how the 'm' word was dropped earlier." Emily confessed.

Virginia propped herself up on her elbows. "Tell me your thoughts on that, Mila. Anything goes."

Emily's heart did a flip. Marriage was a topic they talked about from time to time. Only in passing, though. 'Anything goes' bore a heavy weight.

"I absolutely want to get married." Emily told her. "We've already gone through several major hoops in a very short amount of time. Now… There's just one left at the moment."

"Finding out if our parents will get along." Virginia realized. "And I've already been hanging around yours for a large chunk of my life. To my knowledge, my mother hasn't met your parents. Yet."

"Really? How have they not crossed paths?"

"God only knows. They seem to always just miss each other. It's a little funny at times, but we need to fix it."

"I agree." said Emily. "Why don't we have them over dinner with us and Zion soon? AJ should also come."

"All so we can finally clear this current hoop?" guessed Virginia.

"Mhm. After that, we can start talking about things like a timeframe. What do you think?"

Virginia replied, "You have yourself a deal. Care to entertain another thought? One of mine?"

"Yes." Emily sat up a little straighter. "Anything goes. Like you said."

Virginia let out a breath she'd been holding. "Any ideas on when you want to be engaged?"

Emily was honest. "No. But the idea gives me joy."

Virginia caressed Emily's inner thigh with her knuckles. "I wouldn't object if you proposed, but… Would you object if I did it? At some point?"

"No. My pride won't be wounded, if that's what you're asking. Actually… I had a dream last night that we proposed to each other at the same time."

"Hm. Knowing our luck, that could actually happen." Virginia felt amused. "Tell me what your thoughts are on super public proposals?"

Emily shook her head. "Not a fan. I've always believed that events like that should be at home. Or around close family and friends in a non over-the-top way."

"Alright." Virginia said. "I don't even like being sung to on my birthday."

"Noted for future reference. Do you like the idea of a simple proposal, or one that's elaborate? Perhaps involving a hidden ring in or on dessert?"

"Also not a fan. Ideas like that are a little cliché to me because I spend a lot of time around food or chocolate. And I have seen a lot of rom-coms. But as for the rest," Virginia said seriously. "I don't know. Never been proposed to before. There's just one thing I want to add to all of this."

"Hmm?" was all Emily could manage because Virginia was yet touching her in a tantalizing way.

"I know you'll have a hard time of getting on one knee in some months, but if I did it at any point, I won't be able to get up again without great difficulty. My legs don't work that way." Virginia ended her words in a jovial wink.

Emily laughed once more. Virginia never got down on herself about being different. This led to moments where she'd crack a joke or two about it.

"Don't worry." she told Virginia. "I won't hold that against you."

What little worry Virginia had been feeling lifted itself off her shoulders. How she loved this woman.

"Good. I love you." she went on with giving Emily intimate kisses. "And thank you for not treating me differently because my legs don't work well, or because I'm younger than you, or because people all over the world know my literature. It means everything."

Emily beckoned to her. "Come here. Please."

When Virginia crawled over, Emily pulled her close into her hold. She also slipped a hand in between her girlfriend's legs to feel her. And to return the favor of what Virginia had been doing. Moments like this were pure bliss.

Virginia let out a contented sigh as she leaned against Emily. She had expected some kind of turnabout like this. But it was always fun.

Emily pressed a kiss to Virginia's brow. "You good?"

"Oh, yes." Virginia said in contentment.

"Listen: the facts that you've got literary fame and that your legs are how they are just happen to be facts about who you are as a person. So is the fact that you're younger than me. I love you for you."

Emily lowered Virginia's tank top and kissed her chest gently.

"I love your soul, your heart. Everything." Emily leaned back again and placed a hand over Virginia's heart. "Those are just a few of the things I love about you. I see you for who you are. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Virginia let out a soft happy mewl. "Thank you again. I love you. So much."

Emily kissed her again. "You're very welcome. I love you, too."

The couples' bubble burst before long. It was time to get dressed, look presentable, and go collect their son.

Virginia joined Emily at the door. She had been waiting.

"I've taken care of the cat now. Her litter box is clean. River also has fresh food and water." Virginia slipped her purse into a storage bag on her wheelchair and fetched her keys from another spot. "My hands are very clean."

Emily helped Virginia into her coat. "Have what you need?"

"Everything is in order…"

"Good. Then what's got you so flighty?"

Virginia had been distracted for the past few minutes now. She smiled vaguely at her lover.

"I just have this feeling that something is up." Virginia said. "What is, who knows? But I can't shake it."

Emily opened the from door and stepped out to the reception area. "Well, you had better try."

"Or else what?" Virginia exited the penthouse and locked the door up tight. "You'll do something silly?"

"I won't, but Elizabeth and Fitzhugh? They will notice it. Both of them together are capable of all sorts."

Virginia chuckled as they head towards the lift. "Sounds like the voice of experience."

"Tokyo 1990, Ace." a visible shudder coursed through Emily's body as the memory came back. "I fell into a koi pool. My parents laughed at me because it was my own fault, but they both made sure to say 'We told you so,' before helping me out."

"And just what were you doing that caused you to fall into a koi pool, Mila?"

But she didn't answer.

Instead, she just moved faster towards the elevator.

But Virginia didn't fail to notice that the other woman's face was burning.

One of the Prentiss' household staff let Emily and Virginia into the homestead upon arrival. They also took their coats and bags. But as Emily had grown up for awhile in this place, the couple was quickly left to their own devices. And… The staff had a bigger matter to take care of.

Just as Emily helped Virginia drying off her wheels, a familiar face came skipping into their view.

"Hi!" Zion hugged his mothers. "I'm having fun!"

"Excellent." Virginia praised.

"Care to share why?" Emily asked.

Zion began to nod but then became startled when he realized he was alone. His playmate hadn't caught up.

The little boy called over his shoulder, "Hey! Come on!"

Zion's parents were mystified. To make up a prestrend playmate was far from his normal wheelhouse.

Imagine their surprise when AJdashed in.

She gave a delighted squeal of surprise when she took in the sight of the newcomers. In the blink of an eye, AJ had also climbed on to her sister's lap and was hugging her tightly. She even blew a kiss to Emily. As if she'd already known they were coming.

Virginia hugged her sister. "AJ, how are you here?"

"Mama drove." AJ answered blankly.

While Virginia did everything she could to not laugh at her sister's brute honesty, Emily changed tack at top speed.

"Sweetheart, where is mama?" Emily asked her.

AJ pointed in the direction of what Emily knew to be the main sitting room.

"There. With Nana Lizabeth and Papa Fitzhugh."

"Got it." Emily said. "Thank you, little hen."

AJ blew her another kiss.

At this point, Zion also climbed on to Virginia's lap. He was ready for a quick ride. Virginia looked to Emily, eyebrows raised. But Emily could only shrug. This was a twist she had no hand in.

So they arrived to the next room to find both of Emily's parents together. With Amaya. All three of them were seated and having tea.

Amaya greeted her daughter merrily. "Hello, duckling!"

The author was too surprised even to protest the use of her childhood nickname. "Hi…"

Emily sputtered, "What…? How…?"

Elizabeth remained as cool as a cucumber. "As I recall, Virginia once gave us Amaya's number."

"As a 'just in case' measure." added Fitzhugh.

"But that was a very long time ago!" Virginia protested.

Elizabeth shrugged. "Then it's just our luck that Amaya's number never changed."

Virginia made the timeout signal. "What is happening?!"

Emily laughed. "They're almost 'Parent Trapping' us, is what."

Her parents promptly handed Amaya twenty dollars apiece.

"Wow." Fitzhugh said in surprise. "You called it. Emelise made a Parent Trap reference. That's incredible."

Amaya smirked and pocketed her winnings.

Emily looked from one parent to the next. "Is that what's happening? Are all three of you here so we can have dinner together?"

"Gold star for Emily," her father said. "But it was your mother's plan."

Emily turned to her. "Is that so?"

Elizabeth rose regally. "Yes. Because it's high time that all of us were together in one spot for a meal. Nothing about this charming family you two created is conventional. Is it?"

"No…"

"Then this is us," Fitzhugh chimed in as he and Amaya also stood. "Helping things along in our own way. Dinner is almost ready."

He turned to Amaya.

"Come on. Let's go check on things."

Amaya followed him away. So did the children.

Emily looked warily at Elizabeth. "Mother, what do you have planned?"

Elizabeth looked mischievous. "Oh… Just a surprise or two."