"I think I still need some time to think, Lacey...", Doc sighed as he looked over to her. "But... I think I'm willing to try and make this work.", he gave a small smile before she wrapped around him tightly.
Doc blinked slightly in surprise but smiled a bit bigger as he held her tenderly and softly. He knew he will have to put into all his dedication and support for this to work, but somehow, he doesn't mind as having Lacey with him, it makes him feel like he wants to do it for her, be that person she needs in her life.
And wanting to give a good first try, he decides to treat Lacey with a breakfast date, and so with steady pacing between dates and the investigation around Modesto and other places beyond Los Angeles, but not Fresno, not wanting to risk the attention of a certain bastard, for the next two weeks, Doc is growing more comfortable with dating which was a surprise to him as courtship norms were more restrictive, but seeing Lacey so happy, having that light in her eyes brighter every day, it is making Doc's heart go in flip-flops, more than he did with Catherine.
They eventually ended up with more than enough proof to expose Derek Dietl, and headed down to Tustin, to Libra Haven, the completed and furnished home of the whole group. General Monger was all too glad to help out with getting not one of the city courts, but the state court to serve Derek Dietl with a summons to come up to court.
"I think I can still get in touch with several of Derek's groomsmen to also admit what Derek said that night before the wedding.", Susan said. "I actually was going to have one of them talk to you before the ceremony, Tara... but... well, you know how that went.".
"I still don't know if I would've believed him.", Tara sighed as she rubbed her arm. "And I don't know if a court will too.", Steve said. "I think much of the witnesses and the recorded confession should be enough, but they might not be so willing to believe his friends especially under the influence. But as I said, I doubt they'll be needed.".
"All the same, I got the superior court to summon Dietl within two weeks limit, but I think the fine would make him come sooner rather than later.", Monger smirked.
Peggy asked, "How much is the fine?". Monger grinned deviously, "Since it's a criminal and civil case, and of course, requested by the government as I am technically in charge of you as your public spokesperson and all, it's gonna be $700.".
"With how much he's making at the station? I think that'll certainly get his attention at least.", Tara smirked. "I wonder if he even knows what it's about.", Bucky chuckled. "Oh, to see the look on his face when he finds so many of his ex-victims waiting for him...".
Lacey giggles, "Don't worry, I think your eidetic memory will do best, Bucky. I don't want to jinx myself, but I believe that it will go quick, well, as quickly as it could be for a court case.".
Doc smiles, "It will be interesting, that's for sure.", looking at Lacey with warmth and happiness, and Tara was happy to see that there's something very much blooming between them.
And so, the court case officially started three days afterwards, with Derek coming in, and yep, he was beyond shocked to see his past looking at him from everywhere in the podium room.
Unprepared, he caused a scene when the first witness came forward, and well, let's say that the guards were monitoring him from that moment on.
He honestly didn't believe it. When he was informed of why he was being summoned, no real details of who were the accusers until that first day. He knew it was for sexual assault, but he had guessed that it was some crazy woman who saw him on TV and was probably trying to hit him up for some cash in a settlement, certainly not the first time which this sort of thing happened.
Once he had saw familiar faces, he knew how he was sunk in deep shit and so did the public defender. The group noticed how calm and fairly confident the prosecution was being which was a good sign that Derek was probably going to go away for a long time.
After a long duration of two days, with the witnesses giving testimony and the recorder being spoken on the speaker of the conversation on the rooftop, and the evidence of the toddlers from the few women with blood matches and all, it was a huge victory for the group when the jury convicted Derek as guilty, and the judge gave the final word, sentencing Derek to jail for life, with no release.
And of course, having found out that the case was related to one of the giantesses who saved San Francisco and all, the cameras caught Derek in chains down the steps from the court building, his reputation destroyed forever, unable to hide his face.
And to make it even better, it was an early birthday present for Tara as her birthday is the next day, and of course, every witness including Lacey and Tara was given the settlement of $7,000 for all the trouble and more.
It obviously wasn't very much, but Derek didn't have much since his career still was fairly young and more money went to those who were struggling thanks to his action. Lacey and Tara didn't mind at all to give a large piece to some of those young mothers.
The young mothers thanked Lacey and Tara and understood their wishes of not taking up phone numbers with them as even if the toddlers are only half of Derek's genes, it's still strange.
As for the others who aborted their pregnancies, Tara partly understood, thanks to her dark secret, and suggested them good therapists she knew from school and all.
And for the family of the one woman who did suicide on herself, they were all too glad to see Derek go behind bars, and with the money settlement, they decided to move on to a better life in another state and all.
For the whole group, let's say it was a full-blown birthday celebration of two days down in Libra Haven as it was a combination of a baby shower as well, starting from the moment they returned home, still buzzed from the victory.
Both Tara and Lacey were at least very glad that it was all over. Derek was behind bars with little chance of getting parole for many decades in the future. They finally felt they could move on and focus on the future rather than the past. Certainly, in the case with the baby shower since Reva was very much due in the very near future.
Tara had indirectly hidden the truth of her baby being special in the court, wanting Derek to think that the baby and the baby bump itself were five months, and Reva was smart enough to size-change to be slightly smaller, yet already developed to almost 9 months old in age.
And now, she is finally able to let loose, literally, with her baby bump now growing back to its 8-month-old shape, with Reva dancing and kicking to every moment Tara opens a present or gently dances with Bucky on the floor to some music.
The group happily plays games, eats food, and of course, decorates Reva's new nursery all night and of course, the next day when it's her birthday for some adult presents and all...Of course, she didn't expect it when Bucky decided to wipe away that memory of Derek proposing to her with his own style of proposing.
"Hey, T... can I borrow you away from your party for a few minutes?", Bucky asked her. It obviously started fairly innocent; certainly, one of the last things she was expecting when he asked her away from the party. Some of the others could clearly tell what he had planned, and Steve was the only one that actually knew.
Tara smiled, "Of course. I'd use some fresh air.", and she steadily, carefully got up from her seat on the couch with Bucky's assistance, and they headed out of the current hanger house where everyone was partying and all.
Bucky lovingly held Tara with his arm as they walked, "Warm enough, my aurora?", and Tara nodded, "Yes, James, more than enough...It's nice to walk out here to breathe for a bit...Do not get me wrong, the party is incredible, and I think I ate more than enough cake to compensate for Reva here.", with a chuckle as she tenderly rubbed her baby bump, and sure enough, a kick responded to her.
"She'll be here any day now... but I hope she at least gives us a few more days; at least to relax from the party and all.", Bucky joked as he rubbed her belly. "Surely you can wait an extra day or so, can't you, Reva? After all, you should've been waiting another 3 months if you were like any normal baby.".
"She's anything but normal... that's a good thing, sweetie.", Tara whispered to her belly.
Reva danced in her belly, and Tara laughed warmly, "I think she agrees with both of us.", and Bucky chuckled, kissing Tara on the cheek, "That's our Reva, our smart cub...", sighing deeply as he glanced up at the stars, "You know, I always wondered what the stars would look like with the northern lights...".
Tara chuckled, "I thought I am your aurora, James.", and Bucky chuckled, "Oh, you are, but I just thought about dancing under the stars with the northern lights across the sky...How incredible could that be?".
Tara looked up to the stars, "I never thought about that before, but it sounds wonderful...Too bad Bea is traveling to Hawaii for some fresh greens and all...But I think we should wait for that as Reva needs to be able to handle some living first before traveling and all...".
"How about some traveling for us alone, say, a honeymoon adventure in New York City in the spring?", Bucky spoke warmly, and Tara blinked in confusion and surprise, looking back at Bucky, and gasped as her hands began to cover her mouth in shock.
Before her, holding up in his fingers as Bucky smiled and slowly knelt down, a beautiful gold ring with two tiny gemstones of blue and green side by side with one large gemstone in the middle, a rainbow quartz shaped like a heart.
"James...", Tara placed her hands against her mouth. This was something she had done before with Derek, easy, but Bucky... this was almost completely different than what had happened to her before.
"I'm sorry things aren't so extravagant to lead up to this... but, I thought simple was better here.", Bucky smiled. "Tara Murphy, would you do me the honor of taking me as your husband?".
Tara didn't hesitate to nod, giving out happy tears as she sobbed, "YES! Yes, James Barnes! I want you to be my husband!", and Bucky smiled widely as he tenderly grabbed her hand, putting on the ring, kissing her ring finger, her baby bump as Reva kicked happily, and eventually, her lips as he got up fully, gently and lovingly holding her.
Bucky just felt so good at this moment; that Tara said yes and hopefully, this would be one of the last times she would ever have to truly think about Derek. Bucky replaced the monster at almost every turn and both of them were glad for it.
Tara murmured lovingly as she looked at Bucky, "I love you with everything I got, James Barnes.", and Bucky looked at her sincerely and happily, "Really?".
Smiling, Tara whispered into his ear, and Bucky's eyes widened in surprise before smiling widely, "I love you with everything I got, Tara Murphy.", realizing that she is completely herself again, no mention of Derek no more.
And so, with that, they returned to their hanger house, announcing the news of their engagement, and everybody cheered, congratulating them, and after a very important question, Tara surprised Bucky by declaring that they will get married on his birthday in March, plenty of time for Reva to grow and be a perfect flower girl, and of course, more time to not be rushed with the wedding plans unlike last time.
Eventually, everybody scattered after such a long day of celebrating and all, with Tara and Bucky in the mood to celebrate in their own way in private which is Bucky happily allowing Tara to ride him slow and steady for they were told that it's okay to make love that way especially when the womb is more secured than ever, thanks to the Quantonium.
Every room is completely soundproof as long as the door is closed, and in the couples' hanger house, Tara and Bucky has their bedroom, with the nursery next door, and across the hallway, is Susan's bedroom, and Mo's bedroom.
Of course, it may be soundproof, but that doesn't mean it's not smell proof. Mo can smell the hormones and the scent of sex in the air, and of course, he was frustrated with himself as he and Susan has been dating all those weeks, and Susan hadn't said anything yet for that better time to do it...
He honestly thought Susan would come into his bedroom tonight as today and yesterday was really buzzing up of celebrating thanks to the whole victory, Tara's birthday, etc., but he didn't want to be dramatic and demanding, not wanting to scare Susan like that, and he struggled to be a gentleman by staying from Susan's door tonight...
Of course, to his surprise, instead it was Susan coming to his door before she let herself in, at least until after Mo told her that it was alright. "Hey, you doing alright?", she asked.
"Just trying to relax a bit after today. Was quite the party.", Mo chuckled as Susan smirked and nodded, "It certainly was... I'm... I'm happy for her... Derek's never going to fully go away, but... at least I feel confident she's able to move forward from the hell he put her through."
Mo nodded, "Especially when Bucky is intending to make all her dreams come true. Did you know that Bucky personally is going to call Kleinfield in New York for a designer to work together with Tara on her wedding dress?".
Susan widened her eyes, "No, I didn't. That's incredible! Tara always has been a fan of Kleinfield ever since she saw the first season. If I know Tara, her wedding dress will be glorious! Maybe she can do copies of it for other women with alterations and all, of course.".
Mo chuckled, "I can believe that especially when her dream is to be a fashion designer, right after seeing New York City, that is.", and Susan giggled, "Yep.", before looking at Mo, "But that's not why I am here...".
"I sort of assumed, not like I'm the one who really needs checking up on.", Mo admitted as Susan closed the door behind her. Mo had a few ideas what Susan might be wanting to talk about or reasons why she was here and now, but obviously he wasn't going to randomly guess, just in case he was wrong and might insult her.
Susan chuckled, "I know...Look, ever since that night in the kitchen, it has been in the back of my mind, and I was more focused on dating, helping Tara, and showing the boys around to get used to the 21st century...", tucking her hair over her ear.
Mo smiled, "And they were the best dates I've ever had, literally, and I feel like I am not shocked anymore at the technology and all.", and Susan smiled, "That's great. But anyway, well, I guess to quote after my mum, would you tell me the honest truth? D-did I make you crazy with my...well, hormones after every date?".
Mo hesitated for a moment before he finally nodded, "Yes... the honest truth... it's been hard. The desire... the sheer animalistic urge to mate... it's taken quite a lot out of me at times just to keep it together. To not essentially...".
"Be another Derek?", Susan raised an eyebrow as Mo nodded. Mo exhaled, "And to tell you the truth, I am half-hard, thanks to the scent of sex and hormones in the air. I know all those rooms are soundproof, but not smell proof...Bucky and Tara...well, you know...", with a blush.
Susan sighed as she rolled her eyes. "Even if it was sound and smell proof, you'd have to be blind not to see what they had planned tonight.", she chuckled as she sat down next to Mo. "But... obviously it'd be weird if we just talk about them and their love life... maybe we should change the subject and focus on us?".
Mo nodded, gulping, "That's more than fine.", smelling the slow-burning hormones in Susan, and struggled to focus on Susan's face, "I guess you didn't have a hard time after our dates...".
Susan shook her head, "As I'm not a gorilla shapeshifter like you, no, not really, but I have to admit that after some of our more intimate dates, I actually had erotic dreams about you, about us... D-do you want to know my favorite?", with an almost shy, yet bold blush/smile.