Chapter 40- From This Point On
The next morning, Celes woke up to the sound of birds chirping and singing outside the living room window. Sunlight was pouring through on the polished wooden floors, making them gleam brightly as if they were brand new. But today, everything seemed new to her, as if her senses had been reborn...
She heard a soft moan come from beside her as Locke shifted in his sleep and pulled Celes in closer to him. A second later, he opened his eyes too, and kissed the back of her neck, tightening his grip around her waist.
"Good morning." He said softly, and she turned to face him. He reached up and pushed the hair out of her eyes, making her smile.
"Morning." She said, letting out a loud yawn, and stretched the best she could manage. Locke chuckled and embraced her tightly, which surprised her at first. They didn't talk much that she could remember the night before, and she had gotten a little worried.
"I can't think of anything better then waking up to you every morning like this." Locke said, and smiled. Celes blushed and kissed him on the nose.
"You're too sweet." She said, and pulled the blanket up over them more. "It's kind of chilly this morning...."
"I know." Locke said, and snuggled against her. "So looks like I'm going to have to use you to keep warm!" Celes giggled and they kissed, totally oblivous to the commotion going on just a few feet away from their front door.
"Terra, I'm telling you, nothing happened!" Edgar whined. "It's too early for this!"
"It's noon, Edgar." Terra said, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides, I just have to check on them. I really, really think something bad happened. I've felt this way since last night."
"But you just don't....you just don't interrupt a honeymoon!" Edgar cried, jumping up and down. "Terra, welcome to the real world! It's like barging in through a door with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on it!"
"Celes won't be angry." Terra smiled, and knocked on the door loudly.
"Sabin is lucky he didn't have to come." Edgar muttered like a spoiled child.
"Locke, did you just hear something?" Celes asked, breaking a kiss.
"Wha? No, come on Celes, you must be hearing things."
"No, I heard something! I'm not crazy, you know."
"Hee-hee, I beg to differ...OUCH!" Celes thwapped Locke and stood up, taking the blanket with her to use as a cover-up.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Locke cried. "I'm not exactly in my sunday best over here!" He jumped up and scrambled out of the living room before Celes could peek out the window to see who it was. Surprised, she blinked and opened the door.
"Ahhhh, Celes, I am SO sorry." Edgar instantly began to plead on the steps as she peered at him and Terra. Celes blinked again and pulled up the blanket a little more.
"Terra, is something the matter?" Celes asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Well, kind of, but um, Good Morning." Terra replied, and laughed nervously. "Did we interrupt something...?"
"Wha? No, of course not..." Celes trailed off and hiked up her blanket again. "We actually just woke up. What time is it?"
"Around noon." Edgar offered, still nervous about interrupting, not to mention the sight of Celes in a blanket was just a little too much for our lady-loving king. His mind began to waunder as he thought of ways to get Terra in a blanket. It was just so...
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Terra said, in a lower tone. Celes was surprised by how serious she sounded. How could anyone be so serious on such a light-hearted, happy, beautiful day...?
"Were you worried?" Celes asked, her tone also changing. She found that she could be nothing but concerned when Terra got like this. Celes jumped a little when Locke appeared, now dressed in his bathrobe. He looked down at her, confused, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"What's going on?" He asked. "Why does everyone here look so paranoid?"
"Locke!" Terra exclaimed. "So you're here too."
"Of course..." Locke trailed off, and Celes felt him squeeze her waist gently. "Where else would I be?"
".....I'm sorry." Terra said, and shook her head. "I know you may think I'm weird, but the truth is, I got a really creepy feeling last night....like some sort of...." She trailed off and looked at the ground. "...And somehow, I thought you guys might be involved. But...really, I'm just relieved you are ok."
"Me too!" Edgar added.
"....Thank you for coming then, Terra." Celes said, and held out her hand, taking Terra's. "I am greatful to know that someone is watching out for us."
"Really?" Terra asked, and looked up at her. All of a sudden, although she and Celes were only months apart in age, the distance felt like years.
"Yes." Celes said, and pulled Terra close, embracing her tightly. Edgar smirked and whispered to Locke how great the scene had suddenly become. Locke turned red and hit Edgar on the back of the head.
"Grow up!" Locke cried.
"Hey, I'm complimenting Celes too!" Edgar protested.
"That's the point!" Locke exclaimed, but they both started to laugh a little anyway.
"Would you like...to come in for breakfast?" Celes offered. "Locke can make it while I change."
"What? Why do I have to?" Locke mock-whined, but messed up her hair and told her to go ahead to the bedroom. Celes ran off, and Locke stepped back, letting the guests in.
"Well, I can see my gift was sure put to use." Terra commented, and pointed in the direction of Celes' abandoned pajamas on the floor. Locke turned red and took Terra by the shoulders, leading her straight to the kitchen. Edgar, however, went throught the kitchen and out the backdoor.
"What are you doing?" Locke asked.
"Looking at my bird!" Edgar exclaimed. "I'm sure no one paid HIM any attention last night!"
"Oh, Alex, I almost forgot about him." Locke said, and laughed nervously. "Looks like I'd better make him brekfast too."
Celes, meanwhile, was going through the closet, trying to find a sundress to put on. Her heart pounded in remembrence of last night, and blushing, she pulled a coral pink dress off a hanger and hid her face in it for a moment.
All she could think about was how wonderful it had been.
She got dressed and carefully brushed out her hair, tying it into a matching pink ribbon so that it was in a ponytail. Casting a quick glance in the mirror, she blew herself a kiss and bounded into the kitchen.
"SO, what is everyone having?!" Celes exclaimed loudly as she entered, making the normally calm Terra nearly skyrocket out of her chair.
"Terra was just telling me...what chocobos eat." Locke said dryly, as Terra went on and on about the chocobo diet. She sounded like an encyclopedia.
"Just regular birdfood works, doesn't it?" Celes cut in, and Terra smiled.
"Actually, yes, I was going to tell him that last" She smirked, and Locke nearly fell over.
"Well, that's all he's getting." He said nervously. "Truth is...we can barely afford to feed ourselves right now..." Celes looked at Locke funny, and he laughed, kissing her cheek.
"Just kidding dear!" He exclaimed, but Celes noticed his fake tone immediately. Terra didn't though, and joked that Locke just didn't want to spoil the bird as much as he wanted to Celes.
"True, true." Locke said smoothly, and yawned. "Excuse me...I'm going to get dressed really quick, now that Celes is done hogging the bedroom."
"What?!" Celes asked, and hit Locke playfully on his way out of the kitchen. Edgar came in right then, and the discussion quickly reverted to the breakfast menu.
After breakfast/lunch, Edgar and Terra offered to help clean up, and Locke and Celes brought out all their leftovers for Alex. Alex was pawing at the ground and making very loud KWEH and WARK noises, as he was hungry. Locke dropped all the food on the ground and watched Alex go at it. Before turning to go inside though, Celes grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Locke, we need to talk really quick." Celes said, a worried tone lacing her voice.
"What is it?" Locke asked, and stopped, turning towards her. "Something the matter?"
"It's....about what you said inside." Celes said nervously, clasping her hands together. "Are we....really that broke?" Locke blinked and forced a smile.
"No, we're ok, for now." He replied, and put his hands in his pockets.
"But...what about all the relics we found and sold off?" Celes asked, her hopes being dashed away by Locke's too cool attitude.
"Well...it mostly went to the wedding...and getting you new stuff to replace everything you left behind in Albrook." Locke trailed off, and Celes gasped.
"So...this is because of me?" She asked nervously, her knees shaking. Locke shook his head and hugged her tightly.
"No way, I never said that." Locke said, and held her tightly. "Lets face it...the money was needed, and thankfully, we had it. There is nothing wrong with that. But we I figured that we both knew I would be going back to work eventually...so we could keep living here..."
"Go back to work?" Celes asked softly, and burried her head in his chest. "You mean...like...leave home...and treasure hunt...like before."
"....." Locke remianed silent, and pulled away. He tilted Celes' chin up with his hand, and gazed straight into her eyes. They were watering...Everytime Celes was about to cry, he felt like crying himself.
"Lets not worry about that now, darling." He said. "Right now, it's just you, me, and Alex at home, and it will be like this for a while yet. Cheer up...I love you."
"....I love you too." Celes said, and he leaned down, kissing her gently.
"Now lets get back inside, before Edgar and Terra think that Alex ate us." Locke joked, and Celes smiled again.
"Yes, lets go."
The next morning, Celes woke up to the sound of birds chirping and singing outside the living room window. Sunlight was pouring through on the polished wooden floors, making them gleam brightly as if they were brand new. But today, everything seemed new to her, as if her senses had been reborn...
She heard a soft moan come from beside her as Locke shifted in his sleep and pulled Celes in closer to him. A second later, he opened his eyes too, and kissed the back of her neck, tightening his grip around her waist.
"Good morning." He said softly, and she turned to face him. He reached up and pushed the hair out of her eyes, making her smile.
"Morning." She said, letting out a loud yawn, and stretched the best she could manage. Locke chuckled and embraced her tightly, which surprised her at first. They didn't talk much that she could remember the night before, and she had gotten a little worried.
"I can't think of anything better then waking up to you every morning like this." Locke said, and smiled. Celes blushed and kissed him on the nose.
"You're too sweet." She said, and pulled the blanket up over them more. "It's kind of chilly this morning...."
"I know." Locke said, and snuggled against her. "So looks like I'm going to have to use you to keep warm!" Celes giggled and they kissed, totally oblivous to the commotion going on just a few feet away from their front door.
"Terra, I'm telling you, nothing happened!" Edgar whined. "It's too early for this!"
"It's noon, Edgar." Terra said, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides, I just have to check on them. I really, really think something bad happened. I've felt this way since last night."
"But you just don't....you just don't interrupt a honeymoon!" Edgar cried, jumping up and down. "Terra, welcome to the real world! It's like barging in through a door with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on it!"
"Celes won't be angry." Terra smiled, and knocked on the door loudly.
"Sabin is lucky he didn't have to come." Edgar muttered like a spoiled child.
"Locke, did you just hear something?" Celes asked, breaking a kiss.
"Wha? No, come on Celes, you must be hearing things."
"No, I heard something! I'm not crazy, you know."
"Hee-hee, I beg to differ...OUCH!" Celes thwapped Locke and stood up, taking the blanket with her to use as a cover-up.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Locke cried. "I'm not exactly in my sunday best over here!" He jumped up and scrambled out of the living room before Celes could peek out the window to see who it was. Surprised, she blinked and opened the door.
"Ahhhh, Celes, I am SO sorry." Edgar instantly began to plead on the steps as she peered at him and Terra. Celes blinked again and pulled up the blanket a little more.
"Terra, is something the matter?" Celes asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Well, kind of, but um, Good Morning." Terra replied, and laughed nervously. "Did we interrupt something...?"
"Wha? No, of course not..." Celes trailed off and hiked up her blanket again. "We actually just woke up. What time is it?"
"Around noon." Edgar offered, still nervous about interrupting, not to mention the sight of Celes in a blanket was just a little too much for our lady-loving king. His mind began to waunder as he thought of ways to get Terra in a blanket. It was just so...
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Terra said, in a lower tone. Celes was surprised by how serious she sounded. How could anyone be so serious on such a light-hearted, happy, beautiful day...?
"Were you worried?" Celes asked, her tone also changing. She found that she could be nothing but concerned when Terra got like this. Celes jumped a little when Locke appeared, now dressed in his bathrobe. He looked down at her, confused, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"What's going on?" He asked. "Why does everyone here look so paranoid?"
"Locke!" Terra exclaimed. "So you're here too."
"Of course..." Locke trailed off, and Celes felt him squeeze her waist gently. "Where else would I be?"
".....I'm sorry." Terra said, and shook her head. "I know you may think I'm weird, but the truth is, I got a really creepy feeling last night....like some sort of...." She trailed off and looked at the ground. "...And somehow, I thought you guys might be involved. But...really, I'm just relieved you are ok."
"Me too!" Edgar added.
"....Thank you for coming then, Terra." Celes said, and held out her hand, taking Terra's. "I am greatful to know that someone is watching out for us."
"Really?" Terra asked, and looked up at her. All of a sudden, although she and Celes were only months apart in age, the distance felt like years.
"Yes." Celes said, and pulled Terra close, embracing her tightly. Edgar smirked and whispered to Locke how great the scene had suddenly become. Locke turned red and hit Edgar on the back of the head.
"Grow up!" Locke cried.
"Hey, I'm complimenting Celes too!" Edgar protested.
"That's the point!" Locke exclaimed, but they both started to laugh a little anyway.
"Would you like...to come in for breakfast?" Celes offered. "Locke can make it while I change."
"What? Why do I have to?" Locke mock-whined, but messed up her hair and told her to go ahead to the bedroom. Celes ran off, and Locke stepped back, letting the guests in.
"Well, I can see my gift was sure put to use." Terra commented, and pointed in the direction of Celes' abandoned pajamas on the floor. Locke turned red and took Terra by the shoulders, leading her straight to the kitchen. Edgar, however, went throught the kitchen and out the backdoor.
"What are you doing?" Locke asked.
"Looking at my bird!" Edgar exclaimed. "I'm sure no one paid HIM any attention last night!"
"Oh, Alex, I almost forgot about him." Locke said, and laughed nervously. "Looks like I'd better make him brekfast too."
Celes, meanwhile, was going through the closet, trying to find a sundress to put on. Her heart pounded in remembrence of last night, and blushing, she pulled a coral pink dress off a hanger and hid her face in it for a moment.
All she could think about was how wonderful it had been.
She got dressed and carefully brushed out her hair, tying it into a matching pink ribbon so that it was in a ponytail. Casting a quick glance in the mirror, she blew herself a kiss and bounded into the kitchen.
"SO, what is everyone having?!" Celes exclaimed loudly as she entered, making the normally calm Terra nearly skyrocket out of her chair.
"Terra was just telling me...what chocobos eat." Locke said dryly, as Terra went on and on about the chocobo diet. She sounded like an encyclopedia.
"Just regular birdfood works, doesn't it?" Celes cut in, and Terra smiled.
"Actually, yes, I was going to tell him that last" She smirked, and Locke nearly fell over.
"Well, that's all he's getting." He said nervously. "Truth is...we can barely afford to feed ourselves right now..." Celes looked at Locke funny, and he laughed, kissing her cheek.
"Just kidding dear!" He exclaimed, but Celes noticed his fake tone immediately. Terra didn't though, and joked that Locke just didn't want to spoil the bird as much as he wanted to Celes.
"True, true." Locke said smoothly, and yawned. "Excuse me...I'm going to get dressed really quick, now that Celes is done hogging the bedroom."
"What?!" Celes asked, and hit Locke playfully on his way out of the kitchen. Edgar came in right then, and the discussion quickly reverted to the breakfast menu.
After breakfast/lunch, Edgar and Terra offered to help clean up, and Locke and Celes brought out all their leftovers for Alex. Alex was pawing at the ground and making very loud KWEH and WARK noises, as he was hungry. Locke dropped all the food on the ground and watched Alex go at it. Before turning to go inside though, Celes grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Locke, we need to talk really quick." Celes said, a worried tone lacing her voice.
"What is it?" Locke asked, and stopped, turning towards her. "Something the matter?"
"It's....about what you said inside." Celes said nervously, clasping her hands together. "Are we....really that broke?" Locke blinked and forced a smile.
"No, we're ok, for now." He replied, and put his hands in his pockets.
"But...what about all the relics we found and sold off?" Celes asked, her hopes being dashed away by Locke's too cool attitude.
"Well...it mostly went to the wedding...and getting you new stuff to replace everything you left behind in Albrook." Locke trailed off, and Celes gasped.
"So...this is because of me?" She asked nervously, her knees shaking. Locke shook his head and hugged her tightly.
"No way, I never said that." Locke said, and held her tightly. "Lets face it...the money was needed, and thankfully, we had it. There is nothing wrong with that. But we I figured that we both knew I would be going back to work eventually...so we could keep living here..."
"Go back to work?" Celes asked softly, and burried her head in his chest. "You mean...like...leave home...and treasure hunt...like before."
"....." Locke remianed silent, and pulled away. He tilted Celes' chin up with his hand, and gazed straight into her eyes. They were watering...Everytime Celes was about to cry, he felt like crying himself.
"Lets not worry about that now, darling." He said. "Right now, it's just you, me, and Alex at home, and it will be like this for a while yet. Cheer up...I love you."
"....I love you too." Celes said, and he leaned down, kissing her gently.
"Now lets get back inside, before Edgar and Terra think that Alex ate us." Locke joked, and Celes smiled again.
"Yes, lets go."