How Long It's Been

by sciencegeeky

Nepeta and Karkat met for the first time when they were five years old. This tracks Nepeta and her relationship with Karkat through their lives, as well as their friends' lives.

9. Insert Witty Title Here

A/N: I have made it my goal to reply to all comments/reviews and that's why I've done that. Also, thanks to everyone who's read this because I really, really appreciate it and I seriously love you for it.

I based Meulin and Nepeta's interactions in this chapter pretty heavily on how I act when my little sister has a crush.

Chapter 9: Insert Witty Title Here

"Mom, please…just don't talk about anything that happened before I turned eighteen."

"Why not, love?"

"Because it's embarrassing and they already know!"

Your mother gives you a look. "Come on, darling. If he loves you half as much as you love him, he won't care."

"He was there. What about his dad and his brother? They might be my family someday!"

"And if they are, it won't matter that you tripped when graduating middle school."

"Just please don't embarrass me, Mom."

"I'll do my best, love."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," her mother teased, smiling. "You know I wouldn't do that to you, Nepeta."

Nepeta rolled her eyes. "Mom, I am living on my own and I've got a job. I just want a nice dinner with my boyfriend and his family."

"You know I'm teasing you."

"I do know, Mom. Can you help me out with this?" This being an onion ring and steak dish her mother brought out on occasion.

"You've got to turn on the stove, love."

"Right. That."

"Then heat up the oil, dip the onions in the flour and salt mixture and the milk twice each, then drop them in the oil, and for Pete's sake, don't spill boiling oil on yourself."

"Mom. Twenty-three. College graduate. Working on a master's degree. I can cook onion rings."

"Just don't set the food on fire, darling."

"That was once."

Her mother smiled and turned back to the marinade. It really was just once, and the fire hadn't spread to anything besides one oven mitt. Even the smoke alarms didn't go off for longer than just a few minutes. Anyways, she'd been twelve.

The doorbell rang and Nepeta nearly jumped out of her skin. "I got it, I got it!" she shouted, before her mother could answer the door. She was an adult by now, dammit; she did not need her mother to answer the door.

Of course it was just Meulin, come home to the Chicago 'burbs for two days without her boyfriend. "He's visiting with some cousins back in California," Meulin explained, at a normal volume and with that same purr in her voice. But then her tone shifted to be teasing and annoying. "So we're eating dinner with your boyfriend's family tonight?"

"Shut up," Nepeta muttered, blushing.

"Nepeta, you know I'm messing with you."

"Okay. Do not mention anything that occurred before I turned eighteen. Or anything I did that's just generally embarrassing."

"Like that time last summer when you were going to go swimming but the pool was closed so Terezi talked you into climbing the fence and you nearly got arrested?"

"MEULIN! You're worse than Mom!"

"Hey, you were a good enough little sister around Kurloz. I intend to return the favor."

"Thanks, Meu."

"Any time, Little Miss Kitty-cat."

"Don't call me that when they're here."

"I won't."

"Come on, help me cook onion rings," Nepeta prompted. She dropped her voice to a whisper and added, "I still can't cook. Don't tell Mom."

Meulin smiled. Their mother always said Meulin was a lot more like their father, and Nepeta was more like their mother, except for cooking skills. Meulin got all the cooking skills.

"Look, just dip the onions in the milk, the flour, then the milk, then the flour, and then give it to me and I'll do the boiling oil bit," Meulin instructed as they walked to the kitchen.

"You are a lifesaver, big sister," Nepeta said gratefully.

Meulin smiled. "So what've you been up to while I've been in the golden state?"

"Not much. Got a job at Hackney's and a second one at the shelter downtown. I've got an apartment near there, too. And before you can ask—yes, I live right near him."

"Hasn't he proposed yet?" Meulin teased.

"I hate you!"

"No you don't," Meulin grinned, dropping the first few batter-coated onions in the heated oil. She was definitely getting better about volume.

"What're you doing with your life?" Nepeta asked her sister, taking another onion off the counter.

"Oh, the usual. Another newspaper took my advice column and Kurloz got a promotion."

"What does he even do for work?"

"I told you, he works for that computer place."

"Right. How'd he even do that? He doesn't talk, right?"

"He hasn't said anything since junior year."

Nepeta didn't comment on that.

The doorbell rang a second time and Nepeta panicked, dropping one of the onions on the floor and not even bothering to rinse her doughy fingers before running to the door. She fumbled with the stubborn lock her mother never bothered to get fixed and swung open the door to see Karkat looking awkward, Kankri looking more awkward, and Mr. Vantas looking a little bit lost.

"Did you find out house okay?" she blurted. Dammit, of course they did! She was talking to her childhood friend!

"Yeah," Karkat nodded.

"Come in," she said. "Uh…just give me a second. Sit anywhere." She slipped into the kitchen and shot her sister a look and said quietly, "Mom, they're here!"

"That's nice, dear."

"Mom. My boyfriend and his family are here, can I please get a response?"

Her mother finished setting the oven timer and said, "I'm coming, love. Don't be so impatient."

Nepeta sighed and grabbed Meulin's wrist. "Come on," she said. "The onions are done. Mom can get the oil, or I will later."

"D'aw, feeling nervous?"

"Shut the fuck up."

Meulin smiled. "I'm your big sister. I will never stop messing with you."

"Screw you."

Meulin rolled her eyes fondly and followed Nepeta into the living room.

"Hello!" Meulin grinned. Nepeta barely pulled off the sisterly you-fucking-moron glare without anyone noticing and said, "This is my sister, Meulin. Meulin, Kankri, Karkat, and Mr. Vantas."

"Nice to meet you," Meulin said, only slightly too loud, as she shook their hands. "Nepeta's told me so much about you!"

You-fucking-moron glare again. Please nobody notice.

"Really?" Karkat says. "Like what?"

Nepeta decided that it would be prudent to jump into the conversation at this point, before her older sister screwed things up too badly. Face blazing bright scarlet, she said, "Just that you're a very nice person and that—oh yeah, Meulin, weren't you supposed to go dump the oil from the onion rings?"

"I thought you said you would."

"Yeah, well, reasons," Nepeta retaliated.

"Reasons like the car dad could never afford?"

"Exactly."

Meulin left the room, shooting an exaggerated wink at Nepeta.

"Sorry," Nepeta said, sitting in the chair just to the right of the couch Karkat and his brother were currently occupying. Thank heaven for sisters and mutual understand of obscure codes.

"S'okay," Karkat said awkwardly.

"So," Nepeta smiled. She was sure everyone could see through the façade, but hey, what the hell. "How's it been going with the new script idea?" Her face was absolutely burning by now and she was suddenly much more grateful than ever for makeup and especially concealer.

"Good," Karkat nodded frantically. Just then, there was a hissing sound from the kitchen and Nepeta winced. Meulin actually was taking care of the boiling oil.

"What was that?" Mr. Vantas asked in shock.

"Uh…we were making onion rings and we use boiling oil for that so when you dump it out it in the sink it makes all this steam and—" A loud and intrusive beeeep interrupted her. "The smoke alarms go off," she sighed. "I'll be right back. I've gotta take out the batteries."

The three Vantases nodded and Nepeta scurried to the kitchen. She hauled one of the chairs to the smoke alarm and reached up to pry the thing off the ceiling.

She left the batteries and the alarm on the counter and dug her nails into her sister's arm.

"I didn't mean for you to actually take care of the oil and set off the damn smoke alarm!"

"Nepeta," Meulin says, and she sounds serious for once. She switches to sign language and you know she's serious.

"Nep, I know you're nervous, but he loves you."

"So?"

"I doubt there's anything you or I or even out mother could do that would make him stop loving you."

"But his dad…!"

"His dad and his brother have known you since you were five, and remember, his brother is my friend. Anyways, if doesn't love you because of some dumb thing you did four years ago, he doesn't deserve you."

Nepeta smiled. "Thanks, Meu," she signed.

"Come on then. Ready to face the world?"

"You make it sound so dramatic."

Meulin grinned. "Allons-y!"

The two sisters sat on chairs in the living room with two brothers (one of whom looked like he was willing to be anywhere else but here and the other whom was avoiding his father's stare) and Mr. Vantas (who looked distinctly awkward and vaguely confused).

But conversation flowed smoothly. Maybe it was the fact that Meulin knew Kankri quite well, or that Nepeta and Meulin were sociable people, or that Kankri was very good at talking, or that, as it turned out, Nepeta's mom had known Mr. Vantas in high school (because no one had ever bothered to mention this to any of the four…whatever you call people trying to get jobs in their field), but it was not nearly as uncomfortable as Nepeta had been fearing for about a week and a half.

That is to say, everyone brought up equal numbers of embarrassing stories.

Meulin did not tell the story of climbing the fence at the pool (because there was an agreement between them to not mention anything illegal) and Nepeta did not bring up the time Meulin got drunk and prank-called a celebrity whose name Nepeta did not remember (because telling that crossed the sisterly line between funny and evil). And maybe she was imagining it, but she was sure she saw Karkat and Kankri flinch a couple times each.

"Let me help clean up," Karkat said when Nepeta stood up the clear the table.

"No, it's alright," she insisted, but he took half the plates anyways.

"Thanks," she said gratefully once she'd joined him in the kitchen. "Seriously. Thank you so much."

"What for?"

"Cleaning up. Being amazing."

He looked a bit puzzled, but pleasantly so. "You're welcome?"

"Sorry. It's just that I was really worried my mom wouldn't like you or your dad wouldn't like me."

"There is no universe in which my dad wouldn't like you. Even if he did, it wouldn't matter."

She smiled sweetly. "Pass the plates? I'll put everything into the dishwasher."

"You sure?"

"It's my house. I'll do the dishes."

When the Vantas family left, it was late, too late for Nepeta to consider taking the el train home. She'd chosen her neighborhood for both safety and a short commute, but it was past ten. By the time she got home, it would be past eleven and it just wasn't a good idea to be out that late as a girl.

"Mom, could I maybe please stay here tonight?"

"You and Meulin? I don't know if I can handle the two of you!"

"So I can stay?"

"Of course, love."

"Thank you!" Nepeta wrapped her arms around her mother tightly. When she let go, she noticed for the first time that she was taller than her mother. Not by much, an inch or two at most, but enough that she was no longer a little kid. And Meulin was even taller, about two inches taller than Nepeta. "I really mean it, Mom. Thanks a ton."

"Any time. You're always welcome here, Nepeta."

She slept better than she had in a long time that night.

But the quiet peace was disturbed the next morning when Nepeta's sister stormed into her room with her cell phone. Meulin looked furious; her hands on her hips and the firey look in her eyes was almost identical as their mother's angry face.

"Nepeta! What the hell?"

"Gog, Meulin, what is it?"

"Pardon me, but I think I'm careful with my phone for a damn reason!"

"What d'you mean? I haven't touched your phone!"

"Then who called my boss yesterday at 3 AM?"

"Not me! I was fucking asleep, Meulin!"

"Who else could've?"

"Mom?"

"Yeah fucking right!"

"Well, I didn't! You probably butt-dialed the number last night!"

"Nice try, stupid! I sleep with the phone on the other side of the room."

"I don't know, sleepwalking or some shit? Stop blaming me!"

"You've sleepwalked before; I haven't. Who's more likely now?"

Nepeta considered. "I did wake up around three fifteen…"

"You did do it!"

"Not on purpose!"

"What did you say?" When Nepeta didn't answer, Meulin shouted louder. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"I DON'T REMEMBER!"

"I'll tell Mom you stole my phone and called my boss!"

"I will tell Mom about that time you failed calculus and had to go to summer school and you gave her a friend's Photoshopped report card so you wouldn't get grounded. Don't think for a second I wouldn't."

"You bring that up, I'll bring up your Prom night."

Nepeta felt like passing out. "How did you know about that?" she asked faintly.

"I guessed."

"You absolute bitch!"

"It was obvious. A lot of people, judging by the letters people send me for the advice column, on Prom night, lose—"

"Don't you dare say it."

"Okay, fine. Anyways. You had a boyfriend and a hotel room. I guessed."

"If you bring that up, I'll…I'll tell Mom what happened the night you went deaf!"

"You don't know what happened!" Meulin sounded desperate.

"You'd like to think that!"

"I'm not even kidding, I would kill you."

"Then don't talk about my Prom!"

"Fine!" Meulin yelled, still red-faced. She pulled out her phone and grabbed Nepeta's arm, digging her fingernails into Nepeta's skin. "You don't get to leave until this is sorted out."

Meulin held the phone to her ear and Nepeta rolled her eyes, fiddling with her own phone. "Hello, Mr. Greene? Sorry to bother you. I stayed over with my sister last night and it seems she called you at around 3 AM where I am…1 AM where you are. Oh, really? She must've been sleepwalking, she does that sometimes…I agree, sir, it's very weird…I'm two weeks ahead of print, yes…thank you, sir." She snapped the phone shut. "Apparently you told him that you lost your cat named Fluffy and it must be around here somewhere."

Nepeta winced.

"Yeah, saw that one coming," Meulin laughed. "Okay, sorry for flipping out like that. My boss is just sorta scary sometimes."

"That's alright," Nepeta said. "Just don't do it again."

"I'll try not to."

But there was more to her response than that. They likely would never again live together, ever. They'd gone their separate ways and they'd never again be the kid sisters they once were.

"See you around, then?" Nepeta forced out around a sudden lump in her throat.

"I'll call if you do," Meulin teased, offering a shaky smile. Nepeta hugged her sister tightly, as if Meulin was somehow going to evaporate unless Nepeta held onto her sister with all her strength.

Meulin hugged Nepeta the same way.

"See you!" Meulin called as she left through the front door to walk to the Amtrak station a few blocks away. "Love you, Mom! Love you, Nepeta!"

"Love you too, dear!" Nepeta's mom shouted.

"Love you, too," Nepeta said as Meulin left, waving a sad goodbye.

Her mother gave her a ride to the el station and kissed her once on her forehead. "I love you, Nepeta."

"Love you too, Mom," Nepeta choked as she waved a second goodbye and climbed onto the el to go back home.

Back at her apartment, she'd no sooner set down her purse than her laptop dinged with a Skype notification. Nepeta ran her fingers through her hair and answered the call, from someone called apocalypseArisen, a name that looked almost familiar, but not quite.

"Nepeta?"

"Aradia! Oh my gog, it's so great to hear from you! So how's it been?"

"Oh, the usual. Been at the University of Chicago—"

"Wait. Chicago?"

"Yeah."

"I live in Chicago too!"

"Really? Almost all of us do!"

"No way!"

"Yes way! Sollux just opened a computer repair shop near the university and Vriska's at university too!"

"Wait—are you and Sollux a thing?"

A giggle. "Maybe."

"That's so cute!"

"Shut up! What about you?"

Nepeta blushed.

"Who is it? Is it Alex?"

The blush disappeared. "No, he dumped me halfway through freshman year."

Aradia winced. "That's rough. Who's the new guy?"

"Karkat," Nepeta blurted.

Aradia didn't answer for a long moment. "The Karkat? Our Karkat?"

"Yes, our Karkat."

"That's so sweet! Did he ask you or did you ask him?"

"He asked me with a rose and everything!"

"Okay, you two are the cutest couple in the history of forever!"

"Hello, you and Sollux? You two were best friends since, what, preschool?"

"Yeah," Aradia acknowledged, flushing pink. "I mean…he's super sweet, even if he doesn't show it."

"D'aw, so adorable!"

"What're you two doing for a living anyways?"

"I work at Hackney's nights and an animal shelter and Karkat's writing a show called Falling Stars. Sort of a sci-fi thing where embodiments of stars have to gather themselves for the galactic council, but they've been cast out from their stars and scattered all over the galaxy and two of them on Earth plus one on Mars and two Earth girls have to go get everyone together. It's seriously complex. What about you and Sollux?"

"Well, I'm still stuck at the Michael's. The craft store, not the restaurant, sorry. Sollux opened his own electronics and computer shop and it's been hard, but I'm sure he'll pull through and do well!"

"That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard!"

"Seriously, shut up," Aradia laughed. "We should plan a get-together for everyone!"

"Totally! Do we know who's around here?"

"Vriska, John, Sollux, Karkat, you, me…hm. I think Rose and Kanaya, because they're still an item, and Dave, and maybe Tavros? I think Jade's getting ready to move to Europe…"

"Europe?"

"Yeah, you know the huge lab over there for physics? Sir or whatever?"

"CERN?" Nepeta asked, remembering the all the times Emily had gone on about the prestigious laboratory overseas.

"Yeah, that one. She applied for a job there and she actually got it! She must be a hell of a genius."

"Wow!"

"I think it starts in a year, though, so we've got time. She's staying with John, I'd bet."

"Probably. So that leaves Terezi, Gamzee, Eridan, and Feferi."

"What about Equius?"

"Oh, he's just down the street from me."

"Why didn't you just say so?"

"I guess I sorta forgot. He's just always there for me, you know how it is."

"Yeah."

"Well, last I heard, Eridan is in Portland."

"No kidding! Land of Hipsters and Fog?"

"Yeah, he and Feferi."

"Are they a thing?" Aradia asked curiously.

"I don't know! It's weird—I always know. But with them…it's weird."

"Well, last I heard, Gamzee's in Chicago. But I think Terezi's at Harvard Law."

"Like she always said she'd be."

"Of course," Aradia smiled. "Anyways, that puts most everyone around here!"

"Everyone could come to my apartment! I'd love to host."

"Really? Ohmygog that would be so much fun!"

"I know! I'd love to catch up with everyone."

"So what day works for you?"

"How about…" Nepeta scanned her calendar, a habit she must've picked up from her mother. "November twenty-third?"

"Sounds good to me! I'll tell everyone. What's your apartment?"

"33 Fourth street south, apartment 3A."

"Awesome. So see you in a couple weeks?"

"See you then!"

She closed the call window and switched to music while she filled out the endless piles of paperwork that surrounded pet adoption, surgery, and animal rights court battles the shelter had to deal with. Plus the one that said she could and would foster cats in her apartment (partially chosen for pet acceptance). And the paperwork about the lease for the apartment. Not to mention another chapter of the story she published online every week or so, whose deadline she was honestly the most worried about.

It was high school and college all over again.

On November twenty-third, Nepeta made sure her fridge wasn't in its usual half-empty state and crossed her fingers that she wouldn't get called and assigned cats to foster (because the shelter was overflowing and some of the animals needed long-term care before they could be adopted). Karkat came over early to help her clean up the perpetually messy apartment, but she was still insanely nervous.

Aradia and Sollux were the first to arrive, after Karkat of course. Aradia was joyful as ever, and Sollux was his usual introverted, perpetually grumpy-looking self. There were the beginnings of laugh lines around Aradia's mahogany eyes, and a red streak in her hair. Sollux's glasses were no longer two different colors, though his eyes were, and he was no longer doing everything in twos. The two were holding hands, and Aradia swinging her arm and his as well.

"Nepeta!" Aradia exclaimed, hugging Nepeta.

"It's so great to see you!"

"I know! It's been, what, six years?"

"Longer!"

Sollux waved at Karkat. "Hi."

"Hi, asshole," Karkat shot back.

"Karkitty, be nice," Nepeta teased.

"I am being nice."

She rolled her eyes fondly and said to her friends, "Come on in. I've cleaned up and everything."

"Wow, really?" Sollux asked sarcastically.

"Yes, really. I was here," Karkat contributed.

The doorbell rang again and Nepeta dashed to answer it. This time, a good eight people were at the door: Vriska, John, Feferi, Eridan, Dave, and Terezi. Not a minute later, Kanaya and Rose and Gamzee and Tavros arrived at the door. The only ones left where Jade and Equius.

Equius arrived exactly at seven o'clock, when Nepeta had told Aradia to tell everyone to come. Jade sprinted in, a few minutes later, panting about the last of the applications and finding an apartment close enough to commute to her future workplace. And apparently getting a driver's license for a European country.

"Hi Equius!" Nepeta grinned, waving at her best friend. "How's the robot been coming?"

"Very well, thank you. I believe only the software requires more work before the entire program is complete. And you?"

"I'll be applying to foster a cat soon because the shelter is overflowing!"

"And I presume you will not keep said animal long-term?"

"Of course not, silly! It's because the poor kitty won't have anywhere else to go."

"Will the feline be treated for disease?"

"Yes, he or she'll be vaccinated and in fairly good health, nothing I can't handle."

"If you are certain." Since he moved in just down the street and go busy with a new robot for his master's degree, he'd been much more lax about interrogating her about her actions. Including (luckily) dating Karkat. She and Equius often took the el to work together, because he worked about four blocks from the shelter where she worked. It was nice for conversation, because he was her best friend, and also for safety, because she didn't live or work in an especially safe neighborhood and though she was strong and fast, she feared that if faced with another life-or-death attack, she'd freeze up.

"I'm positive, Equius. Come on, give the cat a chance."

"I am willing to 'give the cat a chance' as you put it if it does not injure you."

"How many times do I have to say it? I will be fine."

A trace of a smile passed over Equius's face and she knew he was still her best friend.

"Nepeta!" Terezi practically cackled. "How's it been?"

"Oh, it's been great!" Nepeta smiled. A sudden spike of nerves shot through her as she remembered precisely who she was dating currently. She plastered her ID card smile on her face and continued, "So, I hear you and Dave are a thing?"

"We are!" Terezi grinned. "Took a break about eight months ago, but we've been together for a while now."

"D'aw, you two are so cute," Nepeta teased.

"What about you? Who's your new lover?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Come on, you can tell me."

Nepeta wrung her hands and said, "Promise you won't get mad?"

"Of course, why would I?" Terezi responded, confused.

"Karkat," Nepeta blurted awkwardly.

"Oh," Terezi said. "Right. Him."

"Are you okay with that? You're my friend. It's okay to tell me. I won't get mad."

"No, it's not that. It was just a really rotten, like, six years of dating. For the both of us. I dunno…looking back, maybe the two of us were never really meant to be, you know?"

"Yeah. Tell you the truth, I worried a lot about you two."

"Well, I'm fine now. I'm about halfway to getting my degree. A couple buddies and I are gonna start a practice together back round here when we graduate."

"That's so cool!"

"I know, right? What about you?"

"I work part-time at Hackney's, but really I work at the animals shelter downtown. I'm working on my master's degree, but I'm probably gonna have to get a doctorate in veterinary medicine before I work at an animal hospital."

"Wow!"

"Thanks."

Rose and Kanaya joined the conversation, linked by their intertwined fingers. "Hello," Kanaya greeted. "What have you all been up to?"

"Not much," Nepeta said. "What about you?"

"I have started my own fashion design label and gained a job as a child care provider at the local preschool," Kanaya said.

"Impressive," Terezi said.

"I'm working at the clinic downtown," Rose said. "I've been placed in charge of a group of those struggling with depression and questioning sexuality."

"And you two are still together?" Nepeta asked.

"We are engaged," Kanaya answered, holding up her left hand. A thin ring with a small stone set into it glittered in the light.

"That's wonderful!" Nepeta exclaimed.

Rose smiled, her eyes shining. "Thank you."

Karkat was standing by Sollux, Gamzee, and Eridan. The other seven stood near each other, talking loudly. Tavros was standing as far as possible from Vriska, Nepeta noted, while John was right by her side. She even noticed Dave smiling, just a touch.

"Nepeta!" Karkat called. "What's the name of the place?"

"Which place?"

"The one by the Chinese place that one guy always eats that."

"Oh, that place. Darrel's."

"Thanks."

"Yep."

"Many, how much time do you two spend together?" Aradia teased.

"Enough," Nepeta joked back.

"Well I think you two are perfect for each other," Terezi said, raising her eyebrows just a touch about her candy-red glasses. Just enough that Nepeta saw and nodded back. It was all okay.

It was November twenty-fourth, and Nepeta's apartment was a mess. Her friends, though lovely people who had parted with the promise to stay in touch, were not the neatest people, even compared to her usual (very low) standards. And she had even more paperwork: one applying to foster a mother cat and her three kittens, one about a court battle over an abused dog named Becky, and one an overview of the week's work (the most useless).

She'd finished the court papers, her second task, when a Skype call came in. The silly username was Meulin's.

"Hello, Miss Mage of Heart," Nepeta teased.

"Hello, yourself, Little Miss Kitty-cat," Meulin teased back.

"Okay, what's up?" Nepeta asked. "You always text or email. And it's been, what, a month?"

"I'm engaged!" Meulin blurted, holding up her left hand to show off a sparkling ring set with an olive-green stone (was it an emerald?) and two diamonds. "Fancy-shmancy," Nepeta smiled. "When did this happen?"

"Kurloz just proposed last night!" Meulin giggled. "We were home at the apartment and we were watching a romance movie and he said he was going to get a drink so I asked if he'd get me a Pepsi and he came back and put the sodas on the table and then he said he had to go to the kitchen cuz he forgot something and when he came back he went down on one knee and he said, 'Meulin, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You're the happiest, nicest person I've ever known and you just light up my whole world. I love you to the moon and back. Will you marry me?' And…" Meulin squealed and fangirl-giggled, holding her fists up to her face and grinning hugely. "We're getting married soon!"

"Oh my gog, that's amazing!" Nepeta smiled. She was briefly surprised that Kurloz would say that; he was a man of few words. But hey, it was a marriage proposal. It was beautiful to see how much her sister and her sister's boyfriend—fiancé now—loved each other.

And now she had something like that herself.

She was supposed to meet him at his apartment that night, for movies and pizza. But she'd been looking through her tumblr account during a break at work and she was currently busy being shocked. He'd probably been too busy to notice.

"Karkat!" she called, unlocking the door.

"Wha—Nepeta. Hi," he called from the next room, where his desk was. He must've fallen asleep into his work.

"Have you been on tumblr today?"

"No. Got home from work, started writing, fucking fell asleep, apparently."

"Well, have you slept in the past two days?"

"…Yes…"

"No you haven't."

"Fine, fine. Whatever. I just slept now, didn't I? What's this about tumblr?"

"You know that show you write for, the sci-fi one?"

"Yeah, _. Why?"

"Look at this."

She handed him her phone and he read the posts.

the new episode of falling stars gave me so many feels i cant even asdfghjkl;

ok, in response to the people who like harvey, i want to prove why he's in the wrong. more under the cut.

why do so many people hate on harvey? hes just trying to do whats right for diana!

my diana/harvey FEELS from the new episode!

did you guys see this in the background? know what that is? it's the necklace from episode 1x03! the one diana gave harvey that can turn a star into a black hole, destroying whole species? carl said he destroyed it but he clearly didn't. anyone else sense plot here?

"I…I…what…" Karkat stammered, gaping as he scrolled. "I don't even…what?"

"You've got a following, silly!" Nepeta grinned, hugging him from behind (because he'd collapsed onto his desk chair) and taking her phone back.

"But it's not even that good!" he protested, completely shocked. "I mean…jeez." He paused and read another post. "Why does everyone ship Harvey and Diana? Harvey's gay as hell."

She laughed, spun around his chair, and kissed him on the lips. "Congrats, dear."

"Th-Thanks," he said, smiling in surprise. "I never thought that would ever happen."

"Well, it has, and we should celebrate!"

"What d'you mean?"

"Your show is getting popular, Karkitty! That's definitely something to celebrate!"

He properly smiled, for once. "Well, what, then? Where to?"

"Your choice. What do you want?"

"Uh…"

She kissed him again, because she was happy to see him so happy. "Whatever you like, dear."

"I'm just so tired right now, I can't even fucking think."

"Order in Italian?"

"Yeah…"

"I'll get the menu."

"Great."

She searched his messy junk drawer for the menu of the local Italian please, Holy Canoli. "What d'you want?"

"How does pasta and meat sauce sound?"

"Yeah, sure. Two canolis too?"

"Definitely."

She picked up the phone and dialed the number. "Hello? One pasta with meat sauce bowl and two canolis." She nodded once and hung up. "Karkitty! I'll be right back."

"I'll choose a movie."

She smiled, her eyes catching the light just right. "See you in a few."

"See you."

When she returned from the Italian place, he was sitting on the couch in a nest of blankets. "There's room for one more, you know."

"What happened to dinner?"

"There's also room for a Styrofoam box of spaghetti and canoli."

"Sounds good to me."

She set the food and two forks on the coffee table and climbed into the nest of blankets and pillows he'd built clearly with her in mind. The fuzziest blanket was exactly where she sat and the space he'd left was exactly the right size for the two of them to snuggle up close and share sweet kisses.

The food was finished quickly, because she'd skipped lunch because of the extra paperwork she was getting from work. She moved the takeout back to the coffee table and muzzled his neck, snuggling against him and letting his arms rest around her. One hand smoothed her hair gently and the other held hers ever so lightly, but enough that she knew he was there. Her hand rested limply on the couch as she covered one of his feet with hers. He jumped, but relaxed and continued petting her brunette locks as if he couldn't possibly be tender enough. His side was pressed so tightly against hers that she could barely tell where she ended and he began.

The movie ended, whatever it was, and Nepeta decided that at this point, it would be a much more comfortable use of their time to be kissing. So she lifted her head off his shoulder and moved her lips to meet his.

He was not at all caught off guard, she could tell. She could tell from the way he kissed back right away, and from the way his arms immediately wrapped around her so that she was pressed even closer to him. She wasn't so timid, or even nervous anymore; it was a different sort of love that was much, much more than friendship, even more than simple lust, but less than a burning, butterfly-inducing crush.

His hands played over her body, not resting for more than an instant on any one part of her. She threaded her fingers through his dark, dark hair, feeling every strand as if it would tell her some vital fact about him. She fell on top of him, her lips never leaving his, his arms still so tight around her that maybe it should've hurt, but it didn't.

But almost too soon, he broke away and sighed happily. "Nepeta," he barely mumbled.

"Hm?"

"I might actually fall asleep for once."

She smiled delicately and kissed him once more, because if he was happy, she was happy.

Years seemed to pass quicker than they ever had before and before she knew it, Nepeta was twenty-six and up for a promotion at the shelter. And, of course, still dating Karkat. But she had a funny feeling about the way he'd been acting lately. They'd always talking about marriage, bouncing around the thought like a beach ball, but he'd been both bringing up the subject and avoiding it lately. She had her suspicions, but maybe he was just under a lot of stress.

It was a nice night, the night; chilly, but not cold, and the air was clear as water. It was a Friday, a date night; they went out almost every Friday and some Saturdays. He'd said he'd meet her at this semi-formal (damn that word to hell) Mediterranean place (her favorite) downtown. She'd brushed her hair for real this time, and even taken the time to put it up. She wore a knee-length, olive-green dress that had a low back and a tight neckline and a pair of gold flats. She'd even put on her (fake) emerald drop earrings and necklace she'd inherited from her grandmother.

At the restaurant, he looked intensely nervous and fidgeted like there was no tomorrow.

"Are you alright, Karkitty?"

"Fine, fine," he said absent-mindedly. "Just…you know. Work. And the whole, 'Whoops, I accidentally wrote something that people like,' thing is actually kinds stressful because I've gotta keep up the writing otherwise people might not like it anymore."

"Karkitty, there is nothing you could do that would make your writing bad."

"I could write in a character named Wilemina the Wombat to be the min villain."

She smiled and shook her head, looking up at the ceiling just a touch. "Middle school. I don't even want to think about it."

"Exactly," Karkat affirmed.

"So how does a falafel plate to split sound?"

"Sudden subject change, but sure."

She grinned again. She was a smiley sort of person, but around him, it was a constant sort of smile. "Then let's order."

After dinner, he looked even tenser. "D'you wanna see a movie?"

"Of course, but all the theaters are closed."

"I've got movies," he suggested.

"Great. Did you drive?"

"I took the el."

"I drove. Come on, get in," she said, opening the passenger side door before sliding into the driver's seat herself. She turned the key and pulled out, headed for Karkat's apartment.

"Uh…can I just run up real quick? I haven't cleaned up or anything…"

"It doesn't matter to me, but sure," she said, locking the car and waiting in the foyer.

He buzzed open the door all of a minute later, letting her in to climb up to the fourth floor, where his apartment was. She searched her key ring for her key to his apartment (they'd been dating for four years, of course she had a key to his apartment) and unlocked the door.

The lights were dimmer than usual, and there was a huge bouquet of roses on the table in the front room. She examined the tag and it said, "Remember when I first asked you out with a rose and we were both messes at two in the morning and your old roommate shouted at us? Because I do like it was yesterday." She held one hand up to her mouth and blinked twice, holding back a tear.

She turned around and there was a candle about six feet away. Another note sat next to it. "Remember when we went to the restaurant on campus and they were out of most everything but pizza and you told me how much you loved pepperoni because it reminded you of your mother? Because I do."

She brought both hands up to her face that time, now blushing like a ripening berry. She picked up the candle and almost immediately set it down, because there was book nearby, too. It was The Fault in Our Stars. "Do you remember when we went on a study date to the undergrad library right before senior-year finals? You read half of your bio notes, then opened this book and read it all the way through in four hours. Your hair was in your face and I don't know if you noticed how lovely you looked, but I did. I still do."

She didn't know how to react anymore as she hugged the book to her chest. But when she lifted the book, the light glinted off something else. She walked closer, farther into his apartment, and saw that it was the mug she gave him for graduation so long ago.

"Remember when we graduated and you told me that since I drink so much coffee, I might as well have a nice mug? I've used this mug for my coffee every day since then. Every time I look at it, I remember how happy you were and how much you glowed. I remember you, I really do."

She barely caught the mug when it slipped from her fingers. She lost her grip on it because she saw a fifth item: a fancy china plate.

"Do you remember when I first came to your house for dinner? You were so nervous, as if anything could ever make me stop loving you! Your family cooked dinner for us and it was delicious; I don't think I've ever tried anything better. You also insisted on cleaning up, even when I protested. Even though you were so stressed, you were gorgeous and empathetic and interesting and kind and everything. Do you remember? I do."

The next item must be in the living room, she guessed. She took another step and saw it: a key. Her key.

"Remember when you gave me the key to your apartment? That must've taken so much courage. And thank you for it. You were shaking when you handed me this key, and you looked so, so nervous every time I walked into the apartment. And I still loved you, you know. Thanks for trusting me enough to give me this. Remember the time I gave you my key and you gave me yours? Because I do."

There was one more little thing placed on a table. It was a ring.

"Do you remember the time I proposed to you? Probably not, because I don't either. Not yet, anyways. But if you take four steps forward, I hope you will."

She was trembling like a baby tree in a windstorm. She picked up the ring and took four steps forward. She could barely see, but when she took the last step, a lamp flickered on. She turned to face it, surprised.

When she had turned back, he was on one knee. "Will you marry me?" he asked earnestly.

"Of course," she said without hesitating. She slipped on the beautiful ring and kissed him gently, letting the contact answer for her.

He smiled and blushed pink. She suddenly realized something. She reached down to her left ankle and felt for her anklet. "It's gone," she said aloud.

"What's gone?" he asked, suddenly concerned.

"My anklet. Back in the summer right before eighth grade, I made a wish anklet and wished that we'd get married someday. You know how they say that you wish on the wish anklet and when it falls off, your wish comes true? I had it yesterday. It fell off today."

"That's coincidental," he said, smiling broadly and kissing her so passionately that she nearly fainted right then and there.

A/N: There will be at least two more chapters because I decided not to be evil in this chapter. I'm not sure what'll happen then but it's a while away so for now here's this! Be prepared for lots of fluffiness next chapter.