The moment the two of them stepped inside the enormous church, shivers were send down Yang's spine, her hands started to tremble slightly and her throat turned dry. True, the size of the building had blown her away, but this feeling hadn't been caused just because of it.

Everywhere she looked, she saw people walking around, every single one of them walking around with an aura of purpose surrounding them. All of these people knew exactly what they wanted to accomplish during their lifetime, responding to the call of their fate with their heads held up high, and nothing could stop them from fulfilling it.

What about her?

She was just a college student, although the word thrill seeker described her better. Yang wanted to travel the world, be wrapped up in as many adventures as possible, and being a journalist just managed to align with that. And if she could help her country, her people with her work…. It was a win-win, you know?

Doubts lingered on the back of her mind. Would she ever be considered good enough to be someone's wife? She had never been able to envision the path she wanted to travel in the future, and now she was on the brink of getting married to someone she had met only a few hours ago.

However, it only took one glance to her right to reassure herself again.

Blake stood next to her, and her presence immediately calmed Yang down, the anxiety of earlier returning to the dark hole it had appeared from. The blonde had no idea how her partner managed it, but she consistently seemed carry herself with such confidence, Yang couldn't feel anything else than safe.

I am going to marry this girl.

Yang smiled widely at the thought, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Blake caught the blonde's gaze on her, lilac eyes glinting with affection, and couldn't help but smile too. Yang's eyes seemed to be dancing in the bright lights of the church, awakening butterflies in her stomach.

The girl always succeeded in brightening every room she entered, either with her stupid jokes and puns that, even though they were terrible, always made her laugh, or with her cheerful personality. It was like she had her own personal sun following her around wherever she went, and she couldn't say she disliked the company.

The blonde had pulled the other girl with her to the nearest church, only a five minute walk, and during their march Yang explained everything to Blake.

"I don't know, and I know I just met you, but I really like you, and – I want to marry you." She had stuttered, her drunk mind not able to express herself that good anymore. The one thing Yang knew for sure at that moment was that she wanted to make Blake her wife as soon as possible.

Blake laughed out loud, the alcohol running in her veins clouding her judgement. "Okay." Her walking partner gasped in shock, surprised by the easy way she just got permission for something this big, but the moment their eyes met, a single feeling flooded their hearts: happiness.

While Yang was looking for someone who had the authority to perform their marriage, Blake went on a totally different quest: finding a toilet somewhere hidden in the huge building.

Dark clouds were slowly forming above the church, the threat of a storm encouraging all the people still outside to rush whatever business they had to finish, and return home. Not exactly the weather you wished for when you were getting married, but it didn't decrease the excitement in her heart, the spring in her step, although it could almost be called skipping, indicating just how much joy the blonde felt right now.

A priest in a dark robe standing just across from her caught her eye. "Hey!" He acknowledged her presence with a nod, gesturing her to come closer.

He had dark black hair, his look held together with way too much gel, a piercing gaze and if she hadn't know he was a priest, she would have guessed he was the typical 'bad boy', who beat up people in the streets and then crossed away on his motorcycle.

Dark green eyes scanned her body, his gaze lingering a second longer than would be considered polite. "Can I help you with something, beautiful lady?"

Ugh. Yang internally rolled her eyes. Seems like even priests could be perverts.

"Ehm yes, I want to marry." The priest raised his eyebrows, clearly confused. "Today." She clarified, effectively shocking the person standing in front of her even more.

"I am sorry? You want to get married today? You do know this kind of things take a lot of planning ahead and can't be arranged last minute." He explained.

Why do people always have to make things so complicated?

"Are you sure you can't make an exception?" The blonde asked in her sweetest voice, leaning in so that the priest had the chance to stare down her shirt.

Of course he did, the pervert he was, and she could see him swallowing thickly. Well, it wasn't like she could actually blame him.

Time to deliver the finishing blow.

"Please?" By this point Yang knew she had won the fight, and the priest hurried off, mumbling something about getting the needed material.

Blake walked up to her, an amused smile decorating her face. "You sure know how to get what you want, Xiao Long." The blonde grinned, and sent a playful wink towards her partner, who only fake sighed in response.

I am getting married

(…)

Sunlight crept through the small openings of the curtains, interrupting Blake in her peaceful slumber. She opened her eyes with an annoyed groan, her hand slipping to her side in an attempt to steal some of Yang's warmth… only to discover the girl was gone.

Where has she gone?

Waking up in a strange apartment was disorientating and most of all utterly confusing. She had no idea where her blonde companion could have gone, and above that she also had no clue where she could find things like the bathroom or the kitchen.

Blake decided to wander through the apartment in an attempt to find her partner, while trying to pull down the orange tank top which just refused to stay in its place, revealing way too much skin. The black short actually fit her quite well, and she had taken a liken to the comfortable material supporting her with every step she took.

Might as well get one myself

The clanging of a pan disrupted her thoughts, immediately drawing her attention to the room at her right, probably the kitchen. Remembering the panicked look on Yang's face when she discovered the mess she made before heading out, caused the corners of her mouth to quirk up in an amused smile.

Most of the times she didn't like being around people for too long. They sucked energy, were loud and kept her from reading, one of her most loved activities. However, with Yang everything felt… different. It was if the girl didn't take energy from her, but instead charged her internal battery with every smile she sent her way, every time she touched her, even if it was just a touch of fingertips.

Yes, she liked spending time with Yang Xiao Long, more than she had anticipated she would.

The blonde's apartment was divided in two sectors: the living area (the living room and bedroom) in which she could come to her senses again, take a moment of peace away from people demanding stuff non-stop, and the 'practical' area (the kitchen and study room) in which Yang could actually get some work done, whether this work was cooking or studying.

The apartment maybe wasn't that big, and they would definitely have to change the colour patterns, but it made her feel comfortable and at ease, as if she was actually safe somewhere for once.

But what Blake loved the most about it were the beautiful handcrafted wooden doors in front of every room, protecting it from curious looks and unwelcome guests.

While admiring the expertise of the crafter, Blake stopped in front of the kitchen door, patiently studying the several patterns carved into the wood. The lines sketched across the door seemed to tell a story only those who actually payed attention to them could see, the small details of every curve indicating a change of the pace of the tale.

She could have stayed there for a long time, and she would have, if Yang hadn't stormed through the door with way too much dishes clasped into her hands.

Yang yelped, a sound Blake would have laughed at, if Yang wasn't holding several fragile plates, that threatened to fall on the ground any minute now. The worst part of that would be that she wouldn't get the chance to eat all the food the plates were carrying.

"Wow, you are already awake. Damnit, I wanted to surprise you with breakfast." Her partner mumbled in a disappointed voice, and a pang of guilt struck her in her heart.

Blake raised one eyebrow. "That is all only for breakfast? I don't know if I can handle eating that much."

Secretly, she adored the blonde for wanting to bring her breakfast, but she would never show it. It would cause way too much teasing, and the raven haired girl wouldn't lose this tease war.

Until her last breath she would fight to win this war, for her country, for her people and for justice!

Her partner looked down to all the food she had prepared, nervously laughing. "Uhm yes, I wanted to make breakfast for you, but then discovered I have no idea what you like, so I made a huuuuge variety of dishes. We could probably feed a small tribe with all this food.", Yang answered with a smile, her lilac eyes sparkling with joy, not at all bothered by Blake's comment.

Blake couldn't help but laugh too, the sight of the blonde already enough to make her happy. "Well, fortunately I am starving." She winked, grabbing some of the plates Yang had been holding and then ran off to the kitchen table with the blonde on her heels.

"This is not a fair competition, you got a head start!" Yang complained, cautiously setting down the plates on the table, making sure nothing would spill, which was judging by the amount of food an extremely difficult task.

"I don't know what you are talking about." The raven haired girl answered innocently.

Yang glared at her, but not affected at all, she stuck out her tongue at her in response, earning herself a cheerful giggle. However, a soft squeak escaped her mouth when her partner threw her on her back, running around the room with her like she weighted nothing.

"Please, have mercy oh great Yang Xiao Long!" Blake begged the blonde, her voice low and raspy, putting up the illusion that she had been deadly wounded and was completely at the mercy of her opponent.

Her toes gently hit the ground, and Blake savoured the steadiness of it, happy to be in control of her own movements again. "The begging saved you today, but you will not be excused that easily next time, Belladonna."

"I am very afraid."

Yang tapped her jokingly on the noise, something she had always done with her disobeying dog. The memory drew out a small smile. "You should be. Well, that was enough fooling around for this morning, let's eat."

They ate accompanied by small talk, the subject changing from the different sorts of food displayed on the kitchen table to childhood stories from Yang and her sister. The blonde's childhood sounded like one filled with joy, just a happy family enjoying each day life had given to them.

Blake loved listening to Yang, the sound of her voice alone enough to interest her. However, something, or more like a question, was burning in the back of her mind, demanding her attention.

She sighed just as Yang finished her story about how she and Ruby stole the contents of her father's tool box, hiding every single tool in another part of the house so that their dad would have to spent hours searching for all of them.

Biting her lip because of the nerves tingling at the back of her neck, she cleared her throat.

"Don't you regret it? Choosing to talk to me that night?"

Yang's head shot up in surprise, her eyebrows knitted together in a frown. "No, not really. Why would I?"

"It would have saved you a lot of trouble, wouldn't it?"

"Nah, I would still choose you." The frank answer made Blake's face glow red, and the soft look in the sparkling lilac eyes send shivers into every cell of her body.

She silently wondered if Yang would always have this 'high school crush' effect on her.

(…)

"What do you mean by 'we can't help you'!" Yang exclaimed, slamming her fist on the counter to emphasise her words.

The young woman sitting behind the desk flinched at the hard sound, making Yang immediately regret her outburst. She knew she could be heated sometimes, but her intention was never to actually hurt people.

"Like I already told you, miss Xiao Long, the only person who has the authority to perform such an action is the priest who also sealed the marriage. Unfortunately, mister Cardenal has just taking his leave, and started his trip around the world. He won't be coming back until next year, I am afraid."

Yang grunted. Why did this stuff always happen to her? Please Gods, what has she done to anger you?

"Yang? Could we please talk?" Blake asked. "Alone?"

She nodded. "Of course." Turning towards the employee assisting them, she apologized for her outburst and informed her they needed some time to deliberate. Her partner instantly grabbed her hand, dragging her over to some deserted chairs in the corner of the room.

Whatever this conversation was about, it was serious.

"What's up, Blake?" Yang asked, a bit hesitant. She had no idea what was going on. They had both agreed to take immediate steps to attempt to cancel their marriage as soon as possible, and eventually decided to drive to the nearest government building.

Maybe Blake had some doubts about the honesty of the staff?

The raven haired girl let out a shaky breath. "I am already getting married."

Wait, what?

"I don't get it Blake, you are… engaged?"

A wet tear landed on the back of her hand, the sudden feeling startling her. Tears were rolling down Blake's cheeks, spilling freely onto the ground and their intertwined hands.

"I am so sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. But it is even worse." Panic was the only emotion Yang could read in Blake's eyes, and it was scaring her to death.

"I am getting married within two weeks."