a/n: hullo~ sorry, I was away from my laptop most of the weekend. Oh and yes, I changed my name. The old one was getting on my nerves for some reason..

Anyway, ThreeRainyDays and I were talking about otps and this pairing came up so here this is! We had like 90% of our otps in common. We're twins now.

(By the way, if you're looking for something great to read, please check out her stories and give her some nice comments! She deserves them. I hope you don't mind, love.)

I just want to address something for a second, feel free to skip it, I guess. probably beating a dead horse here, I don't know. When you're reading a someone's story, remember that it's something they probably but a lot of love into, and they put it here to share that love and get feedback on it. The author might not be very confident in their work, so if you like it, tell them! I assure you, we want to hear your comments. I understand that feeling of "oh, they don't care what I think." but it's not true. I love every single review I get, even if it's just a "great job, keep writing!".

Edit: I'm very sorry for any pain that I caused, for those who saw that. I'm sorry for being so callous. Also for the notification you might get about this...?

Rant over!

MissMissive: *flips out because I finally wrote in character* thank you very much, dear~

Vykktor: that's okay, all my poetry is feeble stabbing. Today was actually great, the temp was like 40 something! Maybe it worked. Still snow on the ground though.

Buddy-Bud: what a random question. I'm not sure. I had my heart broken several times.

Zarelyn: May I just say I love your name? It just sounds pretty. Anyway, I agree! I want to write it but I tried and it was...meh. perhaps you could hehe. I would love to read it.

solidarity

Nowi x Gregor

A snowball fight, worries, cuddling, and a story.

"Ha, I got you now, old man!"

Nowi jumped out from behind her hastily made snow fort (really just a pile of snow), and began to pelt Gregor with snowballs. The mercenary cried out with every hit, and eventually fell to the ground, begging for her mercy. That girl somehow coaxed a lot of strength out of her tiny arms.

"Oy, old woman is not making Gregor happy with his decision."

Nowi leaped to the top of her snow pile, laughing victoriously and flashing the silver band around her finger. "Too late, Gregor! I'm your old woman, forever!"

She continued to laugh, not noticing Gregor picking himself off the ground. A moment later, she found herself flying through the air, held aloft by his strong arms.

"You are right, of course Gregor does not regret asking Nowi to marry him. You will be perfect wife."

He crushed her to his chest. She let out a muffled squeak. "Gregor...tight..."

Gregor released her from his death grip, checked to make sure she wasn't bruised, and took her hand. "Let's go home. Gregor is wishing for nice hot cup of chocolate."

"Ooh, I love hot chocolate!"

Nowi was excited to get home, but she noticed something. Off to the side, a group of soldiers were chatting among themselves. They pointed fingers toward the couple, and occasionally made faces that wrenched Nowi's stomach. Nowi wasn't an idiot. She knew what they were talking about.

The conversation was stopped when Sully walked up to the group and smacked one of the soldiers on the back of the head. They dispersed quickly, getting back to work lest they incur the red cavalier's infamous wrath.

Nowi was wrapped in her thoughts the entire way home. She made sure to seem excitable, so Gregor wouldn't worry, but the whole time she was thinking, What if they're right?

The two of them settled into bed that night, full of hot chocolate and cookies Cherche had made with dinner. It was a rare treat, so everyone in camp was just as content.

Nowi made herself cozy on Gregor's chest. She supposed it was a dragon thing to sleep curled into a ball someplace warm, but she wouldn't know because there were no other manaketes in camp. Perhaps it was just personal preference. Her fiance's chest was a rather nice place to sleep, after all.

But this night, the manakete girl couldn't sleep.

"Gregor?"

"Yes, Nowi?" he mumbled. Gregor was already half asleep. He didn't have the energy she had throughout the day.

"Do you ever wonder if...maybe we shouldn't get married?"

Her question shocked him, because he sat straight up, tightening his arms around her. She clutched at the collar of his shirt and stared into his eyes, passionate even in the dark.

"No. What makes Nowi say such things?"

"I...well, people look at us funny. I don't mind, really. I'm used to being excluded because of how I look. But I...didn't want you to be hurt."

"Gregor thinks Nowi is very selfless for thinking of him, but also tiny bit crazy. Gregor's dragon wife is much older than him. It is known to me, and you, so why bother caring what people look like?"

"Hmm...I guess you're right. As long as you're okay with it, I'll stay with you forever!"

"Gregor would wish for not a thing more."

They were quiet and still after that, just listening to the other breathe. Eventually they fell asleep, holding each other tight.

"Everyone thought it was odd, at first. They saw an older man following a young girl about, playing games with her and lifting her up on his shoulders from time to time. But those who objected to their love missed the girl's bright smiles. They missed the wisdom that shone in her eyes, a testament to many many years of experience. The girl was no helpless innocent. She knew very well what she was doing, and how to handle herself.

"In reality, they were just two very old souls, connected to the others but still somehow separate. Together, they found an understanding the younger generation lacked. They found solidarity."

Nowi blinked. Beside her, Gregor's eyes watered.

"Father, why are you crying? It wasn't that sad," Nah's brows knit in confusion as she took in her parents' reactions to the words she had read from the paper in her hands.

"It is not that Gregor is sad...is that daughter thinks Gregor is 'very old soul'."

Nowi patted her husband's shoulder. "Hey, look on the bright side, I'm old too!"

"Wife is thousands of years old. Gregor would like to remain young tad bit longer, despite having grown married daughter."

"Ignore him, Nah! I think it's great you're writing a book about us!"

"Er, it's more a book about all the shepherds."

Nowi ignored her, then proceeded to dramatically exclaim various 'improvements' to the storyline that were really just severely embellished versions of real events.

Nah sighed, searching her mind for a suitable excuse. "I should get back to Yarne. You know how he gets when left alone too long. It was nice seeing you, Mother, Father."

Gregor folded his arms over his chest. "Yes, Gregor will have nice, short remainder of life knowing Nah sees him as old fogy."

Nowi laughed, and tackled him. "But you're my old fogy, Gregor!"

Papers crinkled as Nah folded her manuscript, keep in her eyes off her parents, who were now engaged in a tickle fight.

"Honestly, is it so much to ask to have mature parents? I might have to change that part of the story or die of embarrassment."