Chapter 21

In the morning when I woke up, I was facing Ianite's side and she was facing mine. We were fairly close, but not too close. She was still asleep. I smiled gently. I brushed her hair out of her face and laid my hand on her cheek.

"Love, it's time to wake up." She smiled, opened her eyes, and looked at me.

"'Love' huh?", she said quietly.

"Yep. 'Cause you are my love and nothing will change that."

"And you're my love too. You know, I should apologize for getting angry with you and arguing. I apologize Lucky, will you forgive me?"

"Forever and always." I gave her a quick kiss, then sat up slowly, keeping in mind my shoulder.

"I'm going to have to get used to that. The kissing.", Ianite said as she sat up as well. She got the bandages and stuff around.

"Would you prefer we don't in front of the others?" Ianite paused what she was doing and took a minute to think about that one.

"I'm... not sure... I think we'll see when the time comes." I nodded as she started replacing the bandage patches on my legs. She moved on to my arms, working methodically. I just watched in silence as she worked. "Lean forward please. I'm gonna start on the back of your shoulder." I did as she asked of me. She unwrapped the bandages then started cleaning the healing wound. "I think within the week this should be closed, then you could just have a patch on the front of your shoulder."

"Dude! That's such good news! Oh, I so can't wait." Ianite giggled. She finished the back and got to the front. She looked at it, then she gently brushed the tips of her fingers against the undamaged skin of the outside of my upper arm, careful not to touch the wound.

"It's starting to heal. It'll scar pretty badly though." She looked at me. I smiled gently.

"Yeah, it will, but it'll be quite the war story." She grinned.

"Of course you'd think that." I chuckled as she got to cleaning the wound and bandaged me up. "Good to go." She took care of the dirty bandages and patches and got washed up as I went into the kitchen. Debbie and Ernest were already in there, drinking coffee.

"Good morning Lucky. Do you drink coffee?", Ernest asked.

"I haven't tried it before, but I'm up for trying it." Ianite came in behind me.

"Coffee? I'll take a cup if that's alright."

"You drink coffee?", I asked, surprised.

"There are many things you don't know about me." Ianite looked at me with a loving teasing look. I grinned.

"Ok there, smart aleck. I hope to learn everything about you that I can during our long lives together." We sat at the table and Debbie set down a cup of coffee in front of us.

"Now, you could have coffee black, with cream, with sugar, or cream and sugar." I nodded. I tried it black... I did not like that. I definitely put cream in it. It became a caramel brown color. That's a nice color, then I tried that. Better... but it still needs something. I put two teaspoons of sugar in. Almost. I put another two in. Perfect. Ianite had put a little cream and one teaspoon of sugar in hers. She looked at mine.

"Wow, that's lighter than I thought you would go."

"Oh? What, you thought mine would be black?"

"I mean..." I grinned.

"Because I'm feisty you thought I would prefer my coffee black?" She smiled sheepishly. I chuckled and shook my head. "So, Debbie, Ernest, Ianite and I were talking yesterday and we both feel like you're grandparently toward us. Would you like to be our honorary grandparents? We'd love to come visit once in a while as well whenever we have the time. I have missions and stuff to do with the others, as well as being High Priestess and well, you know Ianite's a goddess so she usually has goddess things to do."

"We'd be honored to be your honorary grandparents.", Ernest said.

"You two are so sweet. Thank you for asking us." Ianite and I smiled. We talked over coffee, telling them about us, and how we met. After coffee, I looked at Ianite.

"Well, should we help clean up and then head back to the others?" She nodded. We stood and helped Debbie clear up the dishes and clean out the coffee maker. After we finished, I grabbed my bed, Ianite changed the sheets with Debbie's help on the elders' spare bed, then we hugged the our honorary grandparents goodbye.

"Goodbye Ernest, Debbie. Thank you so much for your help and hospitality.", I said.

"Yes, thank you so much. Thank you for taking care of my feisty lover here. Thank you for everything you've done for us and for letting us stay the night. We'll be seeing you again."

"You're very welcome. We'll be eagerly awaiting your next visit. Take care you two.", Debbie said.

"Take care of yourselves. Tell me everything you've gotten up to in the time between now and your next visit.", Ernest said. We smiled.

"We will.", I said, taking Ianite's hand. We went out of the village and rounded the hillside where I mined my cave, then I let go of Ianite's hand and she disappeared. Then I was teleported to her. We're at Adventure Island. The others were all there! I looked at Ianite, a little scared. She gave me a gentle look.

'Hear them all out. I'm sure you'll be just fine.' I took her hand and laced our fingers. I also kept really close to her.

"Lucky." Mianite sounded pissed.

"Well, look who came back. The runaway Priestess." Tom had his arms crossed.

"Guys come on. Give her a break." Sparky had an empathetic look. Oh, thank goodness, someone is level headed enough.

"Lucky, why did you run? Why did you abandon Ianite like that?", Karl asked, disappointed. Oof, I don't like that feeling of being disappointed at.

"You abandoned my sister, and now you return?"

"Lucky, are you sure you're up for being High Priestess?", Dec asked. Ok... I'm getting annoyed at all these accusing comments.

"Lucky, I believe in you, please tell us you won't do this again." Orion had a pleading look.

"Ah, she's a flighty one. She'll do it again." Hermod looked at me suspiciously. I began shaking my head. I'm not happy. I let go of Ianite's hand, balled my hands into fists, and stepped forward.

"Will you all just not? I'm back. I've learned. I've apologized. I've asked for forgiveness from Ianite. She's forgiven me. Love is complicated. Love is never going to work out in the 'happy ending' way that fairy tales make you believe. Ianite and I worked out our issues with my stupid decision. I will never do that again. We're completely cool with each other now. Just..." Ianite came in front of me before I could explode at the others. She laid her hands on my shoulders and came close. She got on her tiptoes and leaned her face closer to mine, locked her eyes with mine and said under her breath,

"Lucky Fire. Reign in your emotions. I understand you're upset, but you don't need to blow up at them. Tell them what you want to say, but tell them calmly. You can do it. I believe that you can have a gentler tone of voice." She smiled gently. "I've experienced your gentle side. Show them that you can keep your emotions in check. I believe in you. You can do it." She kissed my cheek, stood next to me, and took my hand. I took a deep breath.

"Just... give me a chance to explain everything to you. Why I thought I was 'doing the right thing'." I told them everything. I also told them of Debbie and Ernest, of their kindness and hospitality. Of Debbie's advice to Ianite and I, and how I took her advice to heart. After I finished catching them up, "I also apologize to all of you. For everything and for losing my temper a little just now. Will you all forgive me?" Sparky, Karl, Orion, and Dec all smiled and came up to me, shaking my hand and forgiving me. Mianite, Dianite, Tom, and Hermod all stood back. They looked at each other. Mianite and Dianite stepped forward.

"Can we trust you?", they asked. I put on a determined face.

"You have my word that I have learned my lesson. I will never run away from Ianite, even if I think it's the right thing, ever again. I love your sister so much. I never intended to hurt her. I was a fool, I admit. I have learned from and seen the error of my ways." They looked at each other, nodded, then grinned at me. They shook my hand and forgave me too. I grinned back at them. Now for Tom and Hermod. Tom took a deep breath and came forward.

"Lucky, if all three gods, especially Dianite, can forgive you, I guess I could too. I became suspicious of you after hearing what you did. But you say you've learned your lesson, I think I can believe you. I forgive you Lucky. Thank you for being humble. It seems Ianite really does help you try to be better." We shook hands and I smiled. Now for Hermod.

"Ah, fork it. I fergive you too Lucky. Everyone else has." He grinned at me and shook my hand. I grinned back. "Thank you everyone. It makes me happy to know you like me again."

"Well, we never really disliked you after what you did, but more... not trusting your judgement.", Sparky said.

"Fair enough. So, Dec, can I still be the High Priestess... or have I lost that right?"

"You may, but be warned, you'll start off as an Apprentice Priestess instead. You need to work your way up now that you've done what you did." I nodded sadly. Ianite put her arm around my waist and laid her head against my arm gently, as it's the side that the hole through my shoulder is on. I laid my cheek against the top of her head as I put my arm around her waist.

"Lucky, I'll give you this: if you do well in your days as Apprentice, I'll let you get promoted to Priestess sooner than we planned. You need to prove that you can handle it and that you can make better choices though. Also you'll need to listen to Dec and do as he says. Think you can do that?", Mianite asked.

"Of course. I'll work hard to make it up the ranks." He nodded.

"Then so be it. You work hard, listen to Dec, make better choices, and you'll be climbing the ladder to High Priestess in no time." I smiled and looked at Ianite as she looked at me.

"I'll make you proud my lady. In 4 days' time when I get sworn in, I'll do everything I can to make it up the ranks."

"I don't doubt it, but don't overdo it. We know you're excited to show us you're determined to prove yourself, but there is a line." I nodded, I understood what she meant.

"Now, business. I've located the Water stone. It's a fair distance off. Lucky, your wounds are getting better, I see. You may participate. It won't be too difficult of a task for you. You're not going to be very active.", Dec said. I nodded, excited. Dec then gave us the low down on what we need to do and he'll be showing us where to go. As Sparky, Tom, and Karl got their things around, I got out my Ender chest and got my gear out. I'm really excited for this. Finally I can participate in a mission again and do things with the others. After I'm geared up and got my inventory situated, Ianite embraced me.

"Good luck and make me proud my champion." I smiled and embraced her back.

"Thank you, and I will my lady. I love you Ianite. I'll see you later." She smiled.

"I love you too." I went to the shore to wait for the others. I won't kiss her in front of the others, not unless she's ok with it. Right now, she's not entirely sure, so I respect that. She said goodbye to Sparky and wished him good luck and wellness as well. After Mianite and Dianite did the same for their heroes, we boarded our boats. Now, off on an adventure!