A/N: Well everyone, the end of Arc 4 is already here. The domestic life of our young couple has had many twists and turns. But now they will finally return to the world of law. Its time for femslash!

Chapter 21: On the cusp of our dream

December 22, 2030

Location Unknown

4:40 p.m.

Juniper reclined in the seat of the car, waiting for Robin to return. She thought that they had been heading back home, until Robin abruptly parked in front of a mall, then told Juniper to wait there. It was clear that the Robin had something in mind related to their anniversary.

Juniper checked car's clock, finding much to her surprise that it was already almost five. The sun was already starting to set, bathing everything in a serene orange light. Today had been very wonderful so far, but any coherent sense of time had essentially evaporated. It felt like everything was just flying by and floating aimlessly, at the same time.

It was often said that time was relative, and Juniper found that for her at least, the days just flew by when there was a much anticipated day on the horizon. Such was the case when she, Robin, and Hugh could only wait on the results of the bar exam.

August 15, 2029

Newman-Woods residence, living room

11:14 a.m.

"No, Robin, we aren't playing Pictionary."

"Awwww, why not Apollo?" Robin asked, shooting the defense attorney her best pleading eyes.

"Because going up against the artist in a drawing game is such a good idea," Apollo deadpanned.

"W-e-l-l, when it comes to sketching in pencil I'm not that good," Robin said. "So you might actually do a lot better than I can."

"Well, we still need four players to start the game, and Athena isn't here yet," Apollo said. "Where did you say she was, Juniper?"

"She's with Hugh and Myriam at Hugh's place, I believe," Juniper answered.

There was no need to say why. For the past two months, Hugh and Robin lived with the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not they had passed the bar. Even having a definitive date they could look forward to didn't help much.

Hugh responded to the pressure by becoming reticent and sullen, while Robin shouted a lot more frequently. Today, the day that the results would be mailed out to all the applicants, everyone in their group of friends had pulled together to greet whatever results would arrive to the two of them.

"When did you both get a new washing machine?" Apollo asked, poking his head out from the laundry room.

"About a week ago," Robin said. "What are you even doing in there?"

"I was looking for your bathroom," Apollo said, flustered. "But I'm almost never invited over so I don't know where everything is in this house."

He isn't? Juniper thought to herself. I mean, I'm sure we've invited him over before. I swear we have.

The washing machine that Apollo mentioned, as it happened, turned out to be the source of a lot of trouble. Their old one had broken down awhile back, and Juniper had been reassured that getting a new one wouldn't be an issue. But shortly after they had replaced it with a new one, Robin went over their finances and found that they were losing more money every month than they were taking in. It was a very concerning situation, to say the least.

"You know, Robin, since the bar exam I don't think I've really seen you," Apollo said as he exited the bathroom. "Have you been busy?"

"Eh heh heh heh, you know it!" Robin exclaimed. "Just because the bar exam is behind me doesn't mean I'm going to let up anytime soon."

Of course, no matter the circumstance Robin was still very much her usual, lively self. There was no sorrowful mood that couldn't be banished by the peals of her delightful giggling, or by the sensation of her arms wrapping around Juniper's waist. The walls of the house were adorned by some of Robin's wonderful paintings, showcasing the artist's uncanny ability to capture the pure, beautiful essence of the world and encapsulate it. The burning passion deep inside Robin's heart took so many forms. In fact, just recently...

Juniper could feel herself going red as she remembered the night she had spent with Robin near the beginning of this month. That night had most certainly been the first for such an intimate act, but it most certainly hadn't been the last. Almost as if on cue, Robin spotted Juniper and scooped her up in a hug.

"Well, if you really don't want to play something right now Juniper and I will play something while you wait for everyone else," Robin said as she squeezed her girlfriend.

"Actually, I'm starting to get the feeling now would be a good time to go take a walk..."

Before Apollo could do or say anything else, there was a knock at the door. Juniper answered to find Athena, Hugh, and Myriam on the other side, with Hugh holding a thick envelope in one hand. The mood in the room became significantly more serious.

"Come right on in, guys," Robin said cheerfully. "And join the party! The mail's not arriving for this house until another half hour anyways."

"I'm pretty sure that's an oak tree," Apollo said.

"You are correct! That's another point for us!" Athena declared jubilantly.

"We're winning!" Widget added.

"Actually, Robin and Juniper are ahead by three points, sss sss sss,"Myriam noted as she looked down at her makeshift scoreboard.

"Who asked you?"

"I think you're doing really well, Thena," Juniper said calmly so that a fight wouldn't break out. "I know I've had a lot of fun playing."

With enough people in the room a round of Pictionary had started up after all, with three teams of two. Hugh and Myriam were trailing behind in last place, as neither of them were artistically inclined. In second was Apollo and Athena, with Athena shaking the rust off her drawing skills. In the lead were Juniper and Robin, but as it turned out Robin had been serious when she had said earlier that her drawing skills weren't up to snuff, guessing incorrectly still happened.

As the next round started Robin grabbed the notepad she was using, a glare of concentration already settling on her face. The pencil in her hand scrawled furiously across the paper, shapes slowly taking form on it. Out of the corner of her eye Juniper could see the other two teams in the midst of their own task. After half a minute Juniper thought she could recognize what Robin was trying to draw.

"Um...that's a moonlit canyon, isn't it?" Juniper guessed.

"It is!" Robin exclaimed cheerfully, putting the finishing touches on her rough sketch. "That was a wonderful guess, Juniper!"

Everyone crowded around to see the drawing. "Huh, that is what you drew," Apollo said. "Any reason you had that on the mind?"

"Actually, I was thinking about where I wanted to go on vacation with Juniper this year," Robin answered. "And this seemed like somewhere super romantic!"

"That is a pretty good idea," Athena said, grinning. "Not that it's going to be better than what I come up with for Ema."

"Why does everything always have to devolve into a competition around here?" Apollo asked the room at large.

"It keeps everyone at their best, of course," Hugh said. "Or maybe you've just grown too complacent."

"That was a rhetorical- nevermind." Apollo said, exasperated but still happy.

There was the sound of a car stopping outside the house, followed by the sound of the mailbox opening and closing. Robin set down her notepad and strode out the door, as everyone else settled down. She returned with a thick envelope just like Hugh's in her hands. Hugh approached Robin with his own envelope, and both of them opened them at the same time.

Hugh's expression was impassive as he scanned the results, while Robin couldn't seem to settle on an emotion. They even read over each other's papers. Finally, the two friends turned to face everyone else.

"W-we...we passed." Hugh whispered.

"WE PASSED!" Robin shouted at the top of her lungs. "WE'RE FINALLY ATTORNEYS!"

"Congratulations!" Athena said proudly.

"Hooray!" Widget chirped.

"Well, I hope you're both ready to take cases soon," Apollo said. "I'll be waiting to see you in court."

"Looks like I'll have plenty to be writing about soon," Myriam said gleefully. "I need to prepare myself, Kahk-kahk."

In the midst of all the celebration Juniper remained silent. Her heart was overjoyed at seeing the two people that were so precious to her reach new heights. But she couldn't help but wonder what her place was in this picture. Judgeship was still so far away, and even then-

Hugh and Robin spotted Juniper and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her into the rest of the group. Juniper soon found herself squished in between Hugh and Robin.

"I don't know where to begin," Hugh said, on the verge of tears, "with how thankful I am. This isn't something I thought I could ever accomplish, but here I am thanks to you both."

"I for one know what I want to do," Robin said. "And that's head right on down to the Prosecutor's office so I can get my badge! I'm itching to get started."

"I know you are," Juniper said. She knew what they were trying to do, but it wasn't quite hitting the mark. She couldn't think of a solution to this thorny conundrum, either.

"All that's left is for Junie here to ascend the bench," Athena said. "I'm confident than mon amie can do it!"

Athena was probably right- Juniper could probably navigate the road to becoming a judge easily. But what then?

September 15, 2029

Distract Courthouse

2:00 p.m.

Even with the worry for the future a thorn inside her, the swearing in the following month was one of Juniper's proudest memories. She could still remember the way Hugh and Robin looked, dressed in their best clothing and with their hands over a bound version of the constitution. They had somehow managed to convince the officials in charge to not only let them take the oath at the same time, but even on the same book.

"I, Hugh O'Conner, do hereby solemnly swear that I will support the legal system of the state of California, and that I will fulfill the duties of an attorney and a counselor of law to the best of my knowledge and ability."

"I, Robin Newman, do hereby solemnly swear that I will support the legal system of the state of California, and that I will fulfill the duties of a prosecutor and a counselor of law to the best of my knowledge and ability."

The first thing the newly minted attorneys did was show off their new badges to Juniper. Hugh left to go to the Wright Anything Agency to apply for a position there, while Robin escorted Juniper back home. But as soon as the couple stepped outside they were approached by a trio of people: a man in a fancy dress suit, a woman holding a camera, and Myriam tailing them holding a notebook.

"And right here we have one such Prosecutor that has just been sworn in," The man said to the camera. "None other than the second top student of her graduating class, Robin Newman."

The last everyone had heard from Myriam, she claimed she was going to going to try to intern at the local news station, and by the looks of it she seems to have succeeded.

"So now that you're an official Prosecutor, what do you plan to do?" The reporter asked Robin, putting the mic right in her face.

"Prosecute cases, of course!" Robin said, winking into the camera. "I hope certain defense attorneys are ready for me, because I don't plan to go e-a-s-y on them!"

"You heard it here first," The reporter said, as Myriam furiously took notes. "Prosecutor Newman is issuing out a challenge! I can only imagine the heated battles that will result from this, and this news channel will follow this budding career with great interest."

Juniper had stayed silent throughout the interview, and made to leave. But before she could Myriam suddenly turned her attention to Juniper.

"I have a question for her, sss sss sss" Myriam said. When the reporter gave permission Myriam stared intensely at Juniper.

"As our viewers know, there are many more people making their way into the courts, and Ms. Woods here is one of them," Myriam said. "So would you like to tell the viewers what your plans are?"

Myriam, like the rest of their friends, knew about what vexed Juniper. To face her like this was just like her, and Juniper knew that she needed to answer.

"I plan to rule over cases," Juniper answered, saying the first thing that came to mind. "While supporting Robin in her own endeavors."

She could feel the familiar flame of love in her chest and a smile spread on her face as she said those words. They were the truth, after all. To bring out the best of the law system alongside everyone was what drove Juniper. Surely there was some way she could still work with Robin within the bounds of the law.

"Ahhhhh! Isn't she the b-e-s-t?" Robin said, planting a kiss on Juniper's cheek. "This is why I love her!"

In that moment, Juniper made a private wish. That even if it was just once, she would be able to stand in a court of law with her wonderful girlfriend.

December 22, 2030

Location Unknown

5:00 p.m.

"What did you buy, Robin?" Juniper asked Robin when she returned to the car.

"It's a surprise!" Robin said as she started the car. "I'll give it to you at dinner."

At this point Juniper had a pretty good idea of what Robin was planning, and she had to resist from touching the ring she still had in her purse. The feeling of being on the same wavelength as Robin was indescribable.

As they made their way back home Juniper lay back in her seat, thinking about that fateful September. As it happened, within a couple weeks of Hugh and Robin earning their badges Juniper would get her wish.

Just not in a way she could have ever imagined.

Arc 4, Of Reality and Harmony: End.

A/N: Pictionary scene inspired by the AA fic Trucy's Daddy, while the swearing in scene is from A Turnabout Toast. Both much better than this story, so go read them if you haven't. Since the very beginning of this tale, Arcs 5 and 6 have been hanging over the story. With Arc 5 starting next chapter, I think I can finally revealed what Arc 5 will be called: The Promised Turnabout. I hope everyone is prepared. Until then, this has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my corner of Romance.