Kjelle and I haven't stopped kissing. She tastes like onion rings and lemonade. Her arm is around my waist and I wrapped a leg around hers. I want to take everything off. But I have to ask first.

"Mmm, hey Kjelle?" I pull away to ask. Her eyes flutter open, making my heart throb.

"What's up Severa?" She sounds infuriatingly calm, but the way she's giving me come-hither eyes gives her away.

"Umm...do you like...like me?"

Kjelle scoffs and rolls her eyes. "If I didn't, would we be so tangled up in each other like this? In a pool, no less?"

I giggle and bite my lip. "I guess not…"

She laughs. "Come on, let's continue this in bed." With that, she picks me up bridal style, to my surprise, and carries me out of the pool, my feet splashing all the way.


We're sitting in the backseat of my car, kissing, reminiscing about our lives together, our future dreams. Anything to delay giving Sumia back to Chrom and her kids. I just told her about the latest ceramic I've made, when she says, "I love how ninety percent of the dishware you and Severa use is made by you!"

I laugh and nod. I have my good arm around her shoulders. The other one has an ice pack on it. After we finished kissing back at the park, Sumia got up to get her beret and our stuff from the other bank and led me to find the park's first-aid clinic. Then we spent the rest of the day wandering around. And yes, we did do the swan boating. Just seeing her light up looking at them was enough motivation for me.

Eventually, I check the time. It's 9:17 p.m. Way past Sumia's curfew. The twins have been calling the past hour, asking for her help with astrology⸺they want to make a comprehensive natal chart. And Cynthia...well, she just loves cuddling with her mom. I sigh. "It's getting pretty late…" And we've been parked here for the last forty-three minutes.

Sumia pouts. "Noo, five more minutes!" She nuzzles her face into my neck.

I kiss the top of her head. "You've been saying that for the last fifteen minutes."

She looks up at me, eyes dull and sad. "I know…but let's do this again soon, okay? I can't be without my other half for too long." She brightens up at the last part, looking like such an adorable puppy.

I kiss her sweetly. "Definitely." Sumia of course takes her time getting out of the car, picking up her purse as if it weighed fifty pounds, stretching her arms. When she finally gets out, she leaves the car door open and takes her time stretching her legs, warming up for greeting her family again. "Get inside safe," I call.

Sumia grins. "Don't drive off until you see me inside." Then she turns away and bounds up to her front door, the yard already decorated for 4th of July. She doesn't even have to take out her keys; Chrom opens the door and she jumps into his arms. The small seed of anger is ready to germinate, but I squash it down. Enjoy it. They deserve it. I smile at them and wave when Chrom sees me.

"Hey Cor!" he says once he lets go of Sumia, waving back. "Did you have fun?"

"Yo Chrom! Yeah, you bet. Take care of her."

He laughs his big laugh. "Always. Come inside sometime, alright? Don't be a stranger." I chuckle and accept his invitation. The married couple turns away from me to go inside, but I'm able to hear Chrom ask, "Why were you two outside for so long?" before the door shuts.

I sit in the backseat a while longer, checking my phone for any updates from Severa. She's stopped telling me where she was once she got to the mall with Kjelle. I wonder what they're up to...