Like a Lady

(OMAKE)

Hughie was not home yet.

Barghest for the meantime kept on with her work as she shook the contents of her cake mixture slowly and less clumsily unlike her two other attempts before this past week. Thankfully, she had gotten the hang of it as she watched with close precision the wondrous invention that was the television, as well as the literal library of information, the internet. Through her master, she was now quite adept at it, a fast learner who at first… had a lot of issues given the free nature of content that was within that library.

Content that had her and Hughie blush due to how evocative and scandalous it was at times.

She had learned quickly how to best use the proper manners when combing through such a large swathe of information, freely given at any time and eventually she found herself looking at this tool in ways that would help her own life better. In this case, to prepare for a simple, wondrous dinner between her and Hughie. A man that she eventually came to have a close relationship with.

Doing her best to get every detail as perfect as possible, she learned a variety of things about how best to prepare a meal for herself. Her time in Britain usually had her more pampered due to her high status as a Knight, but now that she was left to her own devices, she found it odd that doing these 'mundane' trappings was a lot more enjoyable than she initially found it to be. She loved the sincerity of it all. She loved how these sets of chores and work were a perfect time spent procuring a sense of inner peace and tranquility, especially when it meant that she was doing this for someone else.

A smile graced her lips as she stopped for a moment.

Reminiscing about her, small but wonderful time in this world.

Even if it was imperfect.

Hughie was a relatively grieving man. His former mate, Robin was still dear to him, so much so that he let that rage be a part of him. That rage forced him to become a far sterner and cynical person before she arrived. He was on a road of self-destruction that became far more dangerous as the people he wished to pour his vengeance on were the same people who acted as protectors of this world. Protectors of society. The scum were vile pretenders that were more useful as prey than heroes, but that painful truth caused him to be friends with terrible people who felt the same.

She could not blame them, because she knew how that worked deep inside. She was after all, admittedly part of a broken system that did not lead to the chivalric ideas that she held onto so dearly. Queen Morgan was merely an impartial ruler, with no care for the people she governed, and that indifference bled onto each and every Fae that lived. If anything, she was a direct mirror of these scum that acted as heroes for this world. This is why when she was summoned by a new master, she fought tooth and nail to make amends for a world that was no longer hers.

To make amends and prove to the man, her master, that she was a knight.

There were bumps on the road true, with Hughie having distrust but an underlying cinder of hope that seemed to guide him from the darkness that enraptured his heart at first. That cinder was slowly turned into a healthy hearth as they began to know each other in a trusting, friendly way.

Even as the world barreled down on them due to her actions…

Some would even say outright beastly and murderous as most humans would call her due to her handling of some of the heroes in this world, Hughie was there, supporting her on. She was there to hold her back and protect her even if it was supposed to be her job in the first place.

Even as the strongest mutt, the fool who called himself the greatest hero took enormous anger at how much she and Hughie turned the world against him after exposing their secrets, Hughie nearly got himself killed, in sheer worry and concern for her well-being.

It's good that everybody left them alone afterward.

Even if she had to char and burn an entire mountain range near what they called Yellowstone.

They judged her at first, calling her a monster yet again, but through the hope that she and Hughie had between them, she was able to remember some of the more basic magic that Queen Morgan had taught to her and the forests within that area were once again blooming anew from a sprout filled with their conjoined mana.

Creating a sort of rebirth in the aftermath of the devastation left in her wake through their crusade against the fake heroes.

Their lives became a lot more peaceful after that, resorting to a home that was much more isolated from the world, where she found her days being spent with her master, his father, and best of all, with all the love and hope that she could get.

Barghest continued to stir her mixture as she looked around the kitchen and the doorway towards the rest of her new home. She had spent the whole day fixing it and decorating it, just in time before her master and the rest of their little family would unite to celebrate what the humans called "Christmas".

In fact, one of those little family members, a beautiful Great Dane, sat beside her, waiting for a treat to be thrown at him as a bonus. She smiled at the gallant creature as she patted his head.

Love was a strong word after all, especially when it came to her.

Complicated. Overtly so, given what happened with her husbands.

She did not let that negative thought proliferate within her happy heart however as she knew that this was the time for cheer. She did not need her master to fall in love with her, nor she falling in love with him. They just enjoyed each other's presence.

It did not have to transform into anything serious. Perhaps someday it can…

But given the open wounds that still lingered between them, this…

This was enough for now.

She loved her master dearly regardless, however. Love that was beyond the usual connections that couples and married pairs have but love all the same. Love formed between the bond of two people wishing for the world to just be a positive place.

A hopeful place.

"It's done." She said to herself as she readied the mixture to be placed inside the oven.

In two hours', time, it would be ready for their small celebration.

And Barghest found herself content knowing that she now had a life, worth living.

Even if it was a borrowed one.

The party was a success.

Hughie's father and he had enjoyed her small celebration. They even exchanged gifts with each other, with Barghest receiving a wonderful apron from the man's father. They shared a quiet but loving dinner together as they laughed and had fun reminiscing about the events of the past year.

It was great.

So great that she was proud to see the small glimpses Hughie had for her that they shared.

Eventually, the happiness died down for a bit as the night became late and Hughie had to help his father settle after spending the wonderful day. Barghest helped around in cleaning the aftermath of their dinner, a smile on her face was now permanent as she happily whistled in good faith for how well everything worked out in the end.

As she finished up, she found Hughie sitting at the dining table looking at her with a smile as he carried a gift in his hands. Surprised but excited, she walked towards the seat right next to him and sat as they shared a look of understanding and wholesome intent.

"You didn't think I'd leave you without a gift, right? Especially with everything… that you've done for me and my dad." He said slowly as a smile graced his face.

"The gift was spending these holidays with you, Hughie. Even if I didn't get anything, this…" she gestured around them as she reached out for his hand and squeezed it. "… this was already enough for me."

He squeezed her hand back as his face turned wistful.

Barghest, sensing the change, looked in worry. "What is it?"

"Nothing… it's just… I've been taking you for granted." He admitted with a frown to himself.

"Why do you say that?" she asked, genuinely curious but guilty about how he said that.

"I've been closing myself off from everything… after Robin, I genuinely did not know what I wanted out of my life. But… you were always there. You were always there to pick me up even in my worst moments." His face became a lot more emotional as Barghest listened, still holding onto his hand.

"…and I just didn't know how to pay you back for all the kindness you've given me."

"You don't need to, Hughie. If anything, I'm the one that's supposed to thank you."

"Barghest… you don't need to-

"But I do. I do genuinely thank you, master. You never saw me as a monster, you saw me as a person. You saw me as a person worth your love and friendship, and I can't thank you more because of that." She then leaned closer, pulling Hughie's head into her shoulder as she and him relaxed against each other.

"We both have old wounds. We don't need to take another step if we're not ready yet… but I'm content with just this for now. I'm content that I have you… and nobody else." She says slowly with all the honesty she can muster as she hears Hughie chuckle within her grasp.

"I don't deserve you." He said with an embarrassed laugh.

"I feel the same," Barghest said with a jest as they cheerfully laughed away their embarrassment.

"Merry Christmas, my beloved Knight." He said as he gave her the gift.

Barghest excitedly opened it carefully until she saw what it was.

A necklace. A gold and immaculately beautiful necklace.

She opened her mouth in surprise before it turned into a smile as she pulled it out. It was the necklace of a particular shop in the city that she always stared at due to how it portrayed a loving family and wife. She did not expect Hughie to pick it up, after all this time.

"Hughie…" Barghest started as her master grinned.

"Let's put it on," he said as he gently took the necklace from her hand and stood up behind her to place it on her neck. A second later, she was already adorned with the gift, and the chivalrous knight of Britain was now filled with so much happiness that she happily stood up from her seat and grabbed her master into a loving embrace once more.

His feet left the floor due to the height difference between them, but Hughie did not mind.

Eventually, she put him down and slowly kissed his cheek.

"Merry Christmas, my beloved Hughie."

He then offered her his hand as if to escort her, Barghest quickly took it.

They then walked together, hand in hand…

Knowing full well that it was a Christmas well-spent.

AN: Merry Christmas Y'all!