11/02/14

It has been a while hasn't it? Oh geez, last update was 7/21? That's longer than I thought...a lot got in my way, writer's block, lots of gaming, TV shows starting and ending, job searching and a little thing called Smash Brothers for 3DS.

I can not say anything for that game that hasn't already been said. BTW if you are interested on my youtube channel CondorK is my live reactions to the recent 50-Fact Extravaganza, check it out, had a lot of fun recording it can't wait for Smash Wii U.

Back on topic I was finally able to finish this chapter, it's been 50% complete for over two months now...maybe more but I was finally able to sit down and write the second half...damn that second half.

Can't say it enough but it's great to be back and I hope everyone is glad that this story is ending this month, I 100% guarantee that! ...I'm so screwed...

Homecoming

"Tanith. Sigrun. Once again, I can't thank you enough for all this."

Sigrun smiled as she embraced Heather "Don't mention it."

"Your company will truly be missed. Both of you." Tanith added as her gaze moved to Nephenee.

"I honestly wish we could stay another day." Nephenee stated as Heather moved to her side.

"Sounds good but there are quite a few people back home who need to see that." The rouge pointed at the ring on Nephenee's finger, bringing a smile to the Halberd's face.

"We've said it before but we truly couldn't be any happier for the two of you." After Sigrun spoke, Nephenee walked towards her for a goodbye hug.

"Don't forget our invitations."

Heather grinned "Who do you take us for, Tanith?"

After a few more words the return ship to Toha arrived. Bidding farewell to Sigrun and Tanith, Nephenee and Heather boarded the ship, still waving to their dear friends.

Now on their way home, the couple was very excited at the prospect of returning home and revealing their engagement to their friends and families.

"So what do you think Marcia will say?"

Nephenee shrugged "I'm not sure…maybe she'll join Mia in bouncing up and down with a massive smile."

Heather laughed "Probably…and your family will probably suffocate you with congratulations."

Nephenee looked past Heather to see two rather familiar people on the boat.

"Who are you looking at?"

Nephenee tilted her head slightly "I think they were a newlywed couple I met back in Begnion."

"Really? Well go say hi while I fetch us a snack."

After Heather left, Nephenee approached the pair thinking to herself "Strange…in any other situation I'd be too shy and embarrassed to talk to people I barely know…but now I feel like I can do anything."

"Bryant? Tae?"

"Who-"

"Nephenee?"

The couple smiled and shook hands with Nephenee as Bryant spoke "What are the odds that we left Begnion at the same time?"

Tae: Very small to say the least.

Nephenee: We're heading back to Toha then taking a trip from their home to Ohma…where are you two going?

Bryant: Gallia. Long story short: we've always wanted to visit.

Tae: Have you been?

Nephenee: Several times though always while I was in service…it's a nice place.

Bryant: Ah yes, service…you fought in the Dawn War?

Nephenee: And in the Mad King's War before that.

Tae: Wow…I never would've guessed.

Nephenee: I can't believe it myself sometimes.

At that moment Tae gasped, causing Bryant to jump "What is it?"

Silently, Tae gestured towards Nephenee's hand where she wore the ring Heather gave her.

"Well the odds get even smaller. You got engaged while you were in Begnion?"

Nephenee nodded with a wide smile "Yep. I had a wonderful time to say the least."

"Well if you don't mind we'd like to meet him." Bryant stated.

Nephenee fell silent, bringing worry to Bryant and Tae's faces.

"What's wrong?"

Bryant laughed "I think I know. I'm sorry Nephenee; we are still acquaintances of sorts. I'd understand if you're not comfortable."

Nephenee turned to see Heather walk back out, gesturing some food towards her.

"Actually…"

"You can do this. You're engaged now, everyone will know."

"…you already met her."

Bryant and Tae raised their eyebrows in unison and glanced at each other before looking back at Nephenee.

"Met…her?"

"Met…who?"

"My fiancée…it was very brief but you saw her before you left for your hotel. She's right over there."

The couple looked past Nephenee to see Heather, who noted them looking her way and smiled before waving.

Bryant and Tae looked to each other again with the man speaking.

"Your fiancé is…a woman?"

"Yes. We met during the Crimean Rebellion and fought together through the Dawn War…after that we-"

"Oh…I see." Tae stated in a very…relieved tone.

"You…see?"

"Yes. I must say Nephenee; you strike me as a smart person. Surely you realize that what you might've felt during the war was just a spur of the moment thing right?"

"Most people do many things they'd never do when faced with the possibility of death." Bryant added.

Nephenee gave the couple an odd look "What? No, it's nothing like that…we fell in love…just like you. We met, we got to know each other, fell in love, dated and she proposed. Didn't the same thing happen between you two?"

Tae glanced Heather's way again as Bryant spoke "Nephenee. How many…couples like that do you see around?"

"Like…what?"

"A man with a man or a woman with a woman…it's as rare as a Beorc and a Laguz, maybe even more so. It's not normal is what I'm trying to say and not even sensible. As my wife said I believe you to be a smart person maybe you're just…confused in this one instance."

"She does look somewhat manipulative, you have to admit." Tae commented, earning a nod from Bryant.

"Manipulative? Heather? No…she didn't-"

"It has been quite some time. Listen Nephenee, we really like you and if you wouldn't mind disembarking with us at Gallia we could help you."

As Tae's mouth began moving and Bryant nodded in affirmation, everything fell silent. Nephenee looked between the couple before her, everything about them seemed…different now. She felt a sort of aura from them that reminded her of the sensation she got when Rae was near her.

"You're wrong."

"Now Nephenee-"

"No. You're wrong…I can't believe what I am hearing from you two. There is nothing odd about me or Heather. We're the same as the countless couples in this world. We're two people who love each other with all their hearts, so much so that we've gotten engaged. I love her and she loves me, why can't you understand that?"

Bryant frowned "Nephenee…you really need-"

"Don't you dare say what I think you are about to say."

Now it was Bryant and Tae's turn to see Nephenee in a different light. The woman before them was not the shy, gentle spirit that everyone knew. She wasn't the woman who laughed and smiled around Mia and Marcia or blushed at Heather's glance. She was the woman who fought in two wars and killed countless soldiers. The flare in her eyes was back and the determination in her voice was clear.

"Say nothing else…I made the mistake before of running away from someone like you…not this time. No matter what it is you think of me or people like me…you're wrong. We are the same as you…no…in fact, we're better. We know your love is love and our love is love…if anyone needs help. It's you."

Not waiting for a response Nephenee turned away and walked back to Heather. The rogue noticed Nephenee's drastic change, her eyes moved to the now silent and shocked couple.

"Neph?"

Breathing in deeply, Nephenee closed her eyes before smiling and looking back at Heather. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding the Halberd took her food from Heather "I'm sure."

Smiling, Heather turned to look out over the railing at the ocean as Nephenee moved over, shoulders touching.

"Heather?"

"Yeah, Neph?"

"I love you."

The rouge once again looked at Nephenee who was staring at her. Heather leaned in and kissed her before whispering.

"I love you too."

Toha

The couple now stood in the busy streets of Toha, the port behind them and the ship boarding for another trip, they were glad to be home or at the very least, almost home.

"Neph, did you send your family a letter that you would be arriving?"

"Yes…why?"

Before Heather could speak the other woman was tackled by her brothers.

"Mak! Lon! Kay! Oh it's great to see you all again."

"Yay Neph's home!" they all yelled in unison as Nell and Nora drew near.

"I didn't think you would all come to greet us." Heather stated. Nell shrugged "Our mom convinced us to come."

"She was pretty determined to make us come out here…and I guess it was for the best, it's been quite a while." After Nora finished she hugged Heather, followed by Nell as Mak turned his head.

"Hey sis…when did you get that?"

The other boys looked to see Mak gesturing towards the ring on Nephenee's finger.

Nell and Nora looked over as well, both gasping before looking at Nephenee who wore a brilliant smile.

"You."

"Got."

"Engaged, yes." Nephenee finished for them causing her sisters to jump and scream before hugging her tightly.

Lon looked at Heather "Engaged? You are marrying our sister?"

"That's right, which will make me your sister-in-law."

Kay shrugged "You were already like a sister to us."

Heather smiled, she and her mother practically moved into Nephenee's home months ago. The boys got so used to her the occasional 'sis' slipped out when they were talking with her.

Kneeling down she extended her arms to hug the three boys.

Together the seven made the trip from Toha to Ohma in a carriage, talking about the time the newly engaged couple had in Begnion with their friends.

Ohma

Finished with her daily routine, Ora came to a stop at her kitchen window, looking out over the hill. She found herself doing that a lot today; she was very excited but also very anxious.

She looked in the direction of what has now become Glae's room before looking back at the window. Various ideas and methods ran through her head, none of which seemed as sensible as she wanted them to be.

As she turned away she heard familiar voices, quickly looking back she spotted her children as well as Heather approaching the home, smiling and laughing.

She couldn't help but let a few tears fall as she exited her home and made her way to them embracing Nephenee "Hello dear."

"Hi mom…I'm home."

Ora then looked to Nephenee; still smiling she embraced the other woman.

"How was your trip?"

"Perfect." Heather stated as Nephenee cleared her throat.

Ora turned in time to see Nephenee bring her arm up. He mother's eyes focused on the ring causing an overwhelming sense of joy to flood her entire body.

She hugged her daughter again, unable to say anything save for "I'm so happy for you…congratulations."

After a bit of conversation, Ora asked that Nell and Nora take the boys elsewhere for a few minutes.

The sisters looked at each other and nodded before leading Mak, Lon and Kay away.

Nephenee and Heather stood before Ora who breathed a heavy sigh before looking at them. "I am truly happy for you Nephenee…and Heather, you made quite an entrance into my life, seeing how close you and Nephenee were I have to admit I was a little…upset I didn't actually get to see the courting but…you two are perfect together."

"Thank you, Ora." Heather stated causing the other woman to smile before a sad expression came over her.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Ora looked at Nephenee a bit before turning to Heather "It's not right…you two are so happy right now…"

"Ora…what…what happened?"

"I do."

"And do-"

"Of course I do!"

"Heh…even in such a situation…yet I can't feel any anger for you…despite your words, your wit and venom…I always loved you…"

"Mom!"

Opening her eyes, Glae spotted her daughter, the one thing that was always familiar to her was becoming less so. Then she spotted Nephenee, struggling for a bit a smile came to her as she remembered the last talk she had with Heather.

"Mom, what Ora said-"

"Heather. Did you do what you set out to do?"

Losing her voice, Heather nodded, Nephenee approached and showed Glae the ring "She did…it was the most beautiful moment of my life."

"I'm so glad…to hear that."

Heather shook her head "You'll see it. You will see us married…you-"

"Yes…"

Heather breathed in deeply, trying to figure out what to say. It was just as Ora had said, Glae had become incredibly weak, and for the last few days she became incapable of moving by herself. Most daily tasks were a chore for her and Ora could see that she was slipping, she had seen it before and she knew this was it.

"Heather. Nephenee. I wish for nothing more than…a life full of love and happiness for you…it is something you both deserve after everything you've been through…"

"Mom…"

Glae placed one of her hands on Heather's before looking at Nephenee "I wish I knew what it would be like to call you my daughter…but seeing you, hearing you speak…I know you are a beautiful treasure…a wonderful person and I am honored that I could leave Heather in your hands."

Wiping tears from her face, Nephenee smiled "T-thank you…I...I…"

Glae smiled at Nephenee who couldn't think of what to say "Don't worry dear...I know everything you wish to say...look to the future…and Heather."

"Mom…this…this isn't…we're engaged, our wedding, you-"

"I've seen it."

Heather looked up at her mother to see an unfamiliar certainty in her eyes.

"I've seen it and it was beautiful. It will be a day…you will never forget."

As Glae closed her eyes, Heather smiled despite the tears streaming down her face. "I love you…mom."

"I love you too. Heather."