They celebrated well into the night.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the ex-Parasites of the Bird's Nest let themselves loose. Even after breaking away from APE's grip, building a life for themselves in the desolate world had been a long, arduous task, and parties like this were rare, save for the private ones Squads threw for their members on various Birthdays.

So, not a single one of them wasted the time given. Especially not Squad 13.

Ichigo and Goro used the given time to let themselves have the deepest sleep they'd had in months. Zorome and Miku had gorged themselves on the Nest's owned supply of homegrown alcohol before disappearing into an adjacent room for the rest of the day (and following night), Mitsuru and Kokoro quickly doing the same, since Ai was being watched by Nana and Hachi along with the other children. Futoshi was talking to one of his fellow cooks, swapping recipe with her. Naomi and Ikuno were dancing between the tables, one among the many couples that did the same.

As for the two partners who had spurred the whole event to happen in the first place?

Zero Two was enraptured by the many honey-slathered foods that littered the tables around her, taking her pick of what she wanted before chowing down, often offering (read: coercing) Hiro to partake. Said Stamen, despite his earlier reluctance to eat something covered in honey, soon got over such foolish fears upon realizing that honey was infinitely better than before, for some odd reason.

Not that he cared, mind you. The pleased look on Zero Two's face would have been reward enough.

At the same time, both Klaxo Sapiens were regaling those around them with stories of their time in space, quickly gathering a rather large crowd, to Zero Two's surprise. She'd never been one for crowded places (despite the uncaring facade she used to put up in those kinds of situations, a facade that her Darling had quickly torn down), and she was even more surprised that people didn't really seem to care for the fact that she was now completely red, save for a few harmless questions. She felt… included? No, that wasn't it.

She felt like one of them. A Parasite, part of a larger picture, a larger family.

It was nice, she realized. She quite liked the feeling.

And then came the time where the lights dimmed, and Kokoro emerged from wherever she had been with Mitsuru (Zero Two had an inkling of an idea) to gentle shake awake Delphinium's pilots. Upon getting up, and realizing that it was time, Ichigo squeezed Goro's hand gently before making her way to the podium at the end of the room, walking up the steps and grabbing the microphone situated on it before turning around to address everyone.

"So," she started with teasing smile, "I was going to begin this with a eulogy and a thanks for our two saviors, but, hey, wouldn't you know it, they're still alive and kicking!"

Even over the quiet that had emerged, some still broke out into light laughter at that, the two 'saviors' included, and Ichigo continued on.

"The eulogy isn't needed, thank goodness, but the thanks is." Then Ichigo focused her gaze directly on the two, her teasing smile turning into a genuine one. "You two… You guys are the reason we're still alive. You guys are the reason we have all of this-" she waved her hand around her, "-and sacrificed yourselves to give it to us. You don't know how much that means to me. To us.

So, thank you, for everything."

The silence persisted for a moment more before someone raised a glass filled with drink.

"I'll fuckin' drink to that!" she cried, and then there was a roar as many did exactly that, sharing a toast in gratitude, much to the mortification of the two being toasted.

Hiro might have protested, but he didn't think anyone would hear him over the din. But…

Leaning over, he let himself fall into Zero Two's lap, an action she did not seem to mind, and smiled up at her. "You deserve every piece of praise you're getting, you know that?" he told her, and his partner smiled back.

"So do you, Darling."

Things began to wind down around one in the morning, which was, consequently, when the Squad Leaders ordered the alcohol (which had somehow halved sometime during the night) locked away for the night- a wise decision, in hindsight, seeing as the beverage was a difficulty one to make with their limited resources. With the alcohol taken away, the food all but finished, and the weariness of the party catching to most people, friends began to bid each other farewell and return to their beds, Squad 13 included, though not before one last group hug, seeing as Zero Two and Hiro both slept in the Bird's Nest proper and not in the Parasite City.

It was in this after-buzz of happiness that the two pilots of Strelitzia stumbled their way through the halls of the Bird's Nest, leaning on one another. Their first tastes of alcohol had admittedly done a number on the, Zero Two would admit, which meant neither she or her Darling could walk without the other's help.

She was in no way loathed to maintain their contact. Any excuse that let her hold Darling was a good one (save if he's injured or dying or- Nope, nope. Happy thoughts, Zero Two.)

Shoving the dark thought away, the Klaxo Sapien focused on guiding her Darling, one step at a time, towards where she was pretty sure they slept. Alcohol was weird, though she could handle it better than her Darling could.

Zero Two ran her gaze across her Darling's face, giggling at the sleepy expression he bore. Pecking his cheek with a kiss, Zero Two hummed. "Almost there, Darling. Just a few more steps."

A slurred groan was the only response Zero Two received, and she giggled again. Darling really can't hand that drink, huh… I guess we'll have to do without it when we…

...get…

Married.

Zero Two almost halted at the thought, her mind taking its sweet time to process the thought before returning it with a burst of joy, and she grinned. There was no war, no conflict, no strife between her or her Darling,w as there? There was nothing stopping them from getting married.

It was all she could to keep from vibrating on the spot.

Marriage. Marriage. Husband. Wife. Darling.

...Me?

...But, it was a little to late to talk to Darling about it. That conversation deserved cleared minds, and for that, they needed to sleep.

So, finally reaching their room, Zero Two waved the door opened and lugged her Darling through.

As soon as they entered, the door closed behind them.

Were she sober, Zero Two might've noticed that the usually five-second delay had not occurred, which meant that someone had manually closed the door. Were she sober, which she was most definitely not.

So, when a unknown party gently took darling from her, she only raised a mild cry of protest before the black-and-blue tendril picked her up as well and deposited her on their mattress, saving them both the short walk to the bed. With her Darling besides her and the soft mattress beneath her, Zero Two fell asleep almost immediately, and she did not stir, not even when the tendril from before flung a blanket over them.

…

In the dark corners of the room, Nabaari watched their peaceful slumber with a small smile.

A/N: A short, fluffy chapter, because I needed to. And hey, look at me, keeping a decent upload schedule. Truly, 2021 is a time of strange occurrences.

Remember to R&R, everyone. Comments are a beauty to read.