Kawaii-Cherri: Honestly, you've given me one of the highest compliments I could have ever hoped to receive. Thank you so much. I hope i never let you down, including this chapter. So much love to you.

ChaoticGracexoxo: I hope I've not made you wait too long. Sorry about the cliff hanger, i'm pretty sure this chapter isn't such an asshole in that regards.


Chapter 39: Chosen scars.

The sound echoed across the square and Maru clapped her hand to her mouth, not expecting such a reaction from Rina. Sebastian on the other hand, didn't begrudge her, in his eyes it was fair. He coughs and turns his head back towards her, brushing his wet hair out his eyes as he touches his sore cheek. 'Alright, yeah, deserved that-' he began.

'No! You don't get to speak,' Rina scolded with a choked-up voice. Turns out it was both rain and tears that dripped from her face. She sniffs and looks at him, shaking her head a little. 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you,' she babbles, 'but you deserved it. You absolute idiot!'

'Pheebs-'

'No! Every time shit gets complicated, one of us assumes shit and then it all goes to hell,' she says bluntly. She was shivering, wearing only a dress and cardigan but with a big pair of farm boots and small side bag. It was her style to a notch and he could see that her knees were bleeding, she had fallen over at some point. Clearly, she had run from the train station, which made him realise that Maru was probably texting her and that's why he was brought outside. To avoid a scene. 'For the love of Yoba, we communicate and go on about having healthy boundaries and shit and yet, neither one of us actually fucking talk to the other, properly!'

'Pheebs, I-'

'No… no, Sebastian…' Rina said, cutting him off. Soundlessly, he slips off the leather jacket that he had over his hoodie and offers it to her. Rina wanted to refuse but she was freezing. Draping it over her shoulders she then continues to speak. 'Sebastian… what you did…' she said, trying to phrase her words.

'I did what I had to, Pheebs. I'd do it all over again. It wasn't fair to you and this way, you're free from all that bull shit. Free to make your own choices and if that means that you don't want to see me again, I'll understand,' Sebastian replies, ignoring the fact that she told him not to speak. Rina grabs him by the collar and he is fully expecting her to scream obscenities at him when he's pleasantly surprised.

Rina crushes her lips against his, standing on her tiptoes and ignoring the burning sting on her knees from the rainwater. After a brief second of shock, she feels Sebastian reciprocate, wrapping his arms around her waist as he lifts her up. Their kiss is frantic and desperate, clutching to one another as if it was only a dream. Water cascades between them both, streaming down their faces and mingling their hair together but neither of them care as they explore each other's mouths. Only when the initial heat from the rush wears off do they break apart. He looks deep into her eyes, 'was… that a goodbye?' He asks, holding her up with one arm while his other hand brushes her hair from her face.

She shook her head, 'Sebastian,' she said, her lip quivering. 'I heard everything. Everything that you said to Abigail,' she reveals. Sebastian's eyes widen and he looks at Maru who wears a sheepish smile.

'She was on the phone to me when I came to get you,' she explains. 'I didn't hang up in time,' Maru apologises.

'So, you-' he began, looking at Rina once more, who had bit her lip, her arms tight around his shoulders. He was going to put her down but she didn't seem cooperative in letting him go to do so. 'Pheebs… I…' he attempted to explain and felt his mouth go dry. 'What I said, I-'

'Tell me you meant every word!' She shouts over him. Her fingers dig into his shoulders and when he looked at her, he could see that her lip was shaking. 'Tell me… Sebastian… tell me that everything that you said to her… you meant every word. That everything you said was true and wasn't just another… another lie. Another attempt to save face…' she felt her tears stream down her cheeks as she shook. Her heart beat painfully in her chest as she forced herself to look at him. 'Tell me the truth. Bastian. Please.'

It was like he went limp against her and he simply nods for a moment before it became clear that she was going to need a lot more than that. Breathing in deeply, he looks at her. 'Yes. Yes, Pheebs… everything I said to Abagail was true. I love you… romantically. Painfully. That every day that you've been gone has been a new personal hell. I want you in my life. I want you to be my wife, to be the mother of our children, to grow old with me and tease me mercilessly about my dancing and how you caught me talking about your butt in another language. I want to be able to lie in bed and feel like my life is complete as I brush your hair out your eyes while you sleep, knowing that you're mine and that we've promised to get through whatever comes, together.'

Maru stands quietly to the side, not wanting to breathe in case she disturbs and ruins this moment. The declaration from her brother made her eyes water and she wished there was a way she could simply vanish and give them their moment alone. Rina sniffed and opened her mouth and Sebastian shook his head, 'I can't tell you when I realised that I love you, Pheebs… just that… I do,' he mutters. 'I don't expect you to feel the same way after all that's gone on and how I've lied-'

'I love you, Sebastian!' Rina blurted, holding onto him for dear life. Her eyes were closed tight and it was clear from where he held her that she was shaking and it wasn't from the cold. 'I am so in love with you and I have been for, I don't know how long. Before we got married,' she babbled, finally opening her eyes, and looking at him. 'I'm so sorry,' she whispers. 'I was so scared to tell you because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I just wanted to be with you and so when you asked me to be your wife, I was so worried that you wouldn't want to do it if you knew the truth. I'm a terrible person and I'm so sorry,' she sobs, burying her head into his shoulder.

He can do nothing but hold her tightly as he processes the information. She had done exactly what he had and lied about her feelings, worried that he wouldn't reciprocate. Eventually he put her down and she holds onto his damp hoodie tightly. He cups her face with his hands, 'you're… in love with me?' He asks, hope high in his voice. Rina nods, closing her eyes once more as she can't bear to look at him, her guilt drowning her. 'Oh… Yoba, Ophelia,' he whispers, causing her to open her eyes. 'Ophelia, I love you with all my heart,' he said quietly, a small smile appearing on her features.

'And I love you. I am in love with you. Not this whole… best friend kind of love, I mean, like actual, romantic love-' Rina babbled until she was cut off, Sebastian catching her lips in a kiss once again. His hand holding the back of her head as he pulled her close. Maru was trying not to cry and subtly wiped under her eyes as she looked away. Overwhelmed by it all.

'I thought I had lost you,' Sebastian said, a crack in his voice as he spoke. 'Oh Yoba, Pheebs… you're my world… I can't… I don't want to imagine another day without you in my life. I tried; I tried so many times to tell you but it never came out right.'

Rina's hands shook as she reaches up and attempts to brush his wet fringe away from his face, stroking his cheeks and her thumb gently caressing his bottom lip. 'Every time I heard you say it, I couldn't let myself believe it was more than just between friends, Bastian. Because to think that you did love me and that I had been lying to you was more guilt than I could bear,' she admitted. 'But now? Now I can tell you. I love you, Sebastian Vance. I am not going anywhere unless you want me to,' she assures, kissing him once more.

Maru squeals in delight and the pair laugh as they look over at her. 'Oh Yoba, I'm sorry!' She said as she covered her mouth with her hands again. 'I'm sorry!' She repeats. 'I'm just so happy!' Maru said as she stamped her feet in joy. Then a thought hits her. 'Oh, hey! I just thought. That annulment was illegal, yeah?' She points out.

'Yeah?' Sebastian laughs as he holds Rina close to him. Afraid that she would simply vanish.

'Well then that means you're both still married!' Maru said as she claps her hands. 'I mean, the wedding was completely legal. Like you said, Seb, it's not illegal to marry your best friend after all!'

Rina laughs as Sebastian looks down at her, he wore an embarrassed expression. 'I mean… that's fine with me?' He said hopefully, making Rina snort as she gives him a rather pointed look.

'Divorce you in hopes of finding someone better? No thanks, I'd rather take my chances with you,' Rina teases lightly. The rain started to become heavier and there's a moment of quiet as everything sinks in.

Sebastian picks Rina up, this time bridal style, causing her to squeak and Maru to laugh. He looks at his sister, 'uh, rain check on the whole night?' He jokes but at the same time, serious.

Maru nods, 'don't worry, none of us expected you to join,' she teases. 'Just let me know when you're home,' she said honestly as she begins to back up, making her way to Sam's. Sebastian nods and smiles at Rina as Maru leaves, his heart thunders in his chest.

'Your place or mine?' Rina asks softly, teasingly as she brushes his fringe aside. In the end, they decide to go back to his old home, knowing that the place was empty. Rina's farm needed to be aired out and sorted before they stayed a night there, Sebastian and Marnie had only been able to do so much while she was gone. He unlocks the door and lets her in, Mochi was asleep on the counter and immediately perks up when he smells Rina enter. 'Oh, my sweet baby,' she coos in delight as she picks him up, aware that she was soaking. 'I've missed you,' she says over his yowling for attention. They take some time and give him attention and make sure that he's fed before Sebastian becomes worried about the fact that she could risk a cold or infection.

He sends her to the bathroom with some spare clothes he had from all the times she used to stay over and looks for some plasters and things for her knees. Once she had changed, she came out quietly and he could see that she had tears in her eyes. 'Pheebs,' he said softly as he got up. He had changed and dried his hair, making sure the room was warm for her.

She stood, wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of her own cotton pyjama shorts. 'I'm sorry, it's just a lot… I haven't seen you in months and while it feels like nothing has changed… so much happened-'

To calm her down, he walks over and hugs her tightly, kissing her head as he pulls her into the embrace. 'You're still you, Pheebs. I love you,' he says softly. 'Nothing has changed about the way I feel about you or the way that I want you in my life.'

'Apart from the fact that when I left, I was under the impression that we were… just friends,' she points out.

Sebastain has the good grace to look embarrassed. 'Well… we still are… but also, more. I mean, looking back on it all, the way we act around one another. The intimacy, the conversations, the-'

'Sex?' Rina supplied making him laugh and nod. 'Yeah… I guess we were really only lying to ourselves huh,' she whispers, feeling better when he nods in agreement. She nods and sniffs lightly.

Sebastian steers her towards the bed and makes her sit down as he looks at her knees. 'What happened?' He asks, changing subject for the moment.

'Wet leaves,' she mumbles, wincing as he places a plaster on the freshly clean graze. She can't help but grin as she notices that the plaster has little dinosaurs on a yellow background. 'Cute,' she teases.

Sebastian chuckles, 'I couldn't find the pink unicorn ones that Maru has for Jas, so I had to take the ones for Vincent instead,' he teases lightly, placing a gentle kiss on the side of her knee. He looks up at Rina and smiles, 'I've missed you,' he admits.

She leans down and encourages him onto the bed with her, 'I would be worried if you hadn't,' she teases back, lying on his arm as he pulls her close.

'Oh!' Sebastian said as he pulls away for a moment. 'Your necklace,' he explains as he shows her the chains from under his collar and Rina realises that he is indeed wearing his own mermaid necklace and her one as well. 'Do you want yours?' He asks softly.

Rina smiles with tears and nods, 'only if you propose like you should have with a mermaid necklace,' she teases lightly. Sebastian laughs and gives her an embarrassed smile.

'Ophelia, will you become my wife once more?' Sebastian asked as he held out the necklace to her in his hands. Rina giggles and nods, pulling her hair aside so that he can lean forward and clip the chain back where it belonged. Rina felt the reassuring weight fall against her neck and she exhaled in peace.

'Finally,' she said softly. 'I feel like me again,' she reveals, making Sebastian wear an adoring smile. 'Remember the first time we shared a bed?' She asks, getting a nod in reply. 'I saw your tattoo across your shoulders and I had some very conflicted feelings that morning,' she admits, making him chuckle.

'Well imagine how hard it was for me to see you in nothing but one of my t-shirts, insisting that I put my arm around your waist to feel for your breathing. Honest answer? All I could feel was the weight of your… chest,' he said, feeling silly. 'Barely slept that night.'

Rina giggles and their fingers entwine as they lay next to each other, 'we really need to talk about this whole situation, don't we?' She says softly, looking at their hands.

'We do,' he agrees.

'Can… it be tomorrow?' Rina asks, looking up at him. Her intention was very clear in her voice and with the way her body was pressed against his. Sebastian felt his mouth go dry and all he can do is nod. The conversation could wait, it would be just to iron out all the little details anyway. The most important thing was that they were finally on the same page in regards to their feelings. She bit her lip, 'I have something to show you,' she reveals. Sebastian raised a brow as she sat up, with a little shyness, Rina pulled off the t-shirt, leaving her torso nude. He could see instantly that she had a tattoo, it curved under her left breast and when she placed her arm behind her head, he could see the orchid vine clearly. 'It's a… Bastian Orchid,' she mumbles, her blush spreading from her cheeks downwards. 'I thought that even if you hated me, I would still want a reminder of how special you are to me. It's something I wouldn't change.'

Gently, he sits up and moves her arm, kissing her sweetly before smiling. 'You're not the only one,' he admits as he too pulls of his top. Where Rina's was in colour, his was in black and white and on the left side of his chest. A blooming blossom that had little dew beads, making it look almost real, held by a statue of a familiar goddess. Rina smiles, her eyes welling up. 'Guess we're both fools,' he mumbles with a shy smile.

'Oh, Bastian,' she says, leaning forward and kissing him deeply, her fingers trailing over the new tattoo. 'It's beautiful.'

'As is yours,' he says through the kiss, his own hand pressed against hers, holding her tightly, his thumb grazing the underneath of her breast. 'I love you, Ophelia,' he murmurs, causing her to moan at the words, desire burning in her navel.

'I love you, Sebastian,' she replies, her weight now against him as they fall back into the bed. Their sex life had always been frequent and pleasurable for them both but it had been months and everything felt new once more. Having confessed their feelings to one another added another layer of tentativeness, a worry that they would each do something wrong. Sebastian kisses her as if she was his only reason for living, his teeth nipping her lip, tongue moving against hers. Rina can't help but mewl, digging in her fingers across his shoulders, dragging her nails against his skin.

Sebastian said her name under his breath, having it catch in his throat as she teases him, firmly but gently pulling at his hair while they kiss. 'Oh, fuck, Ophelia,' he moans, the weight of her breasts against his chest, the curve of her waist under his palms. There was a throbbing of need under his clothes and he knew she could feel it. 'I need you,' he pants, feeling that his whole body thrummed like a wire.

Rina grins, biting her lip as she looks deep into his eyes. Without saying a word, Rina begins to pepper kisses down his jaw, along his collarbone and further down his stomach. Sebastian's heart quickened as her deft fingers easily pulled away his bottoms, smiling at him as he raises his hips to help. She took his breath away almost instantly as she began to use her tongue and mouth to tease him, holding him tightly at the side of his hips as she moved. Sebastian swore, the heat and feeling of her slick lips against the length of him was immensely pleasurable. He pants, groaning as she increases the pressure and speed. Rina looks up at him, through her hair with hooded eyes, watching as he tilts back his head, his hands becoming lost in her hair. Spurred on by his reaction, she kept the pace, making sure to taste every inch of him, twirling her tongue around his tip and with long, broad strokes while she sucked.

'Ophelia,' he moans, biting his lip. 'If you….' he tries to warn her, the feelings of desire and ecstasy beginning to peak. Rina's fingers tighten their grip and it becomes clear that she has no intention of moving. The thought that her mouth was going to be around him as he reached climax causes his pleasure to increase and within moments, it hits; making his hips buck as it tears through him, dragging a moan from his lips at the same time. Rina takes it in her stride and holds him while he finishes, only pulling away once he's clean.

She grimaces and pulls a face, making Sebastian chuckle and wear an apologetic expression. He passes over the water bottle he keeps by his bed and she takes a gulp before smiling at him cheekily. 'Enjoy yourself?' She teases lightly making him laugh breathlessly once more.

'You didn't need to do that,' he says softly as she moves closer and kisses the corner of his mouth.

'I know, I wanted to,' she assures. It was something that she had done before but never to the finale, they had always gotten too impatient. This time though, there was no need to rush.

He sighs heavily in relaxation, 'I'm going to need a couple minutes,' he teases, making her giggle. 'In the meantime,' he says before pulling her down flat against the bed. 'Your turn,' he says with a wicked grin. Rina's face flushes and despite her light hearted protests, he knows better. With a swift movement he removes the rest of her clothing and moves down the bedding, kissing the inside of her thighs as he makes his way to her aching, wet heaven.

Rina gasps as she feels his tongue delve deep, teasing with flicking strokes as he tastes her. One of his hands grips her hip while the other reaches up and takes her breast in his fingers, rolling her nipple. Skitters of pleasure run across her skin as she arches her back into his touch. He knows her body well and take his time bringing her to the very edge of her climax. Her moans and small cries of his name encourages him. Sebastian licks every fold and sensitive part between her thighs, occasionally suckling on her swollen, throbbing clitoris. Rina's fingers grip the sheets as she pants, heat flushing across her chest and face as he moves. 'Sebastian,' she moans, biting her lip, keeping her eyes closed as she focuses on the feeling of his mouth against her. He spends a long time showing her his devotion, until her legs start to tremble and her breathing becomes heavier and more laboured. He nips at her clitoris, flicking it with his tongue as his fingers slide into her warmth, moving with pace as he beckons her, hitting her spot. Her moaning becomes louder and she tightly grabs his hair, holding him against her as she feels her orgasm come closer. 'Oh, fuck… just like that,' she moans, begging him.

He continues moving, relishing the taste of her desire as his fingers move in rhythm. She can't help but cry out his name as her body tenses, her climax hitting hard and cascading throughout her body. Although she had reached her peak, Sebastian didn't stop, hearing her breathing quicken once more. She was completely soaking and her entire being trembled against him. It isn't long before she cries out again, pulling at his hair as another hits. Only after she begs him to move; the third that he had caused making her a little too sensitive to enjoy anymore, does he oblige. Gently he kisses along her shaking thigh, up her stomach until he's able to pull her into his arms. Rina breathes heavily and he enjoys the way she clings to him, her breasts rising and falling heavily. He tilts her head up and kisses her deeply, relishing in the fact that he could taste himself on her mouth and she, his.

Sebastian had had enough time for his body to recover and once more he was aching for her touch. 'Do you need a minute?' He asks softly, as she snuggles into him. 'You're shivering,' he adds concerned.

Rina giggles, 'yes, I'm fine, no worries,' she teases as she runs her fingers along his collarbone, making him twitch and chuckle as he grabs her hand. Rina gently guides his face towards her and they kiss softly, lovingly, with all the time in the world. After a while, Rina feels the coals of her lust stirring and inflaming once more. With an easy movement, she wraps a leg around his waist and he shifts his weight. Leaning over her, between her thighs he kisses her neck, making her moan. 'Please, Sebastian,' she whispers, biting the top of his ear, gently.

With a painstaking slow movement, he thrusts his hips against hers, sliding deep and hard into her warmth. Sebastian can't help the moan that broke from his lips at the sensation and Rina inhales sharply, a breathy gasp as she arches against him. Slowly he begins to move and devours the way her moans and body react to each thrust. Rina runs her nails down his shoulders and back; causing him to thrust harder and deeper, angling her hips so that he could bury himself completely. 'Oh, fuck, Yoba,' Sebastian groans. He leans forwards losing his hands in her hair, pulling and making her mewl. Rina tightens her legs around his waist, her thighs clenching around him. 'Fuck,' he says breathlessly into her ear, 'fuck, I love you, Ophelia,' he moans.

She inhales sharply and kisses him deeply, digging her fingertips in as she bites his lip. 'I love you, Sebastian,' she whimpers in pleasure. 'Yoba, I need you,' she begs more, 'please.'

'Ophelia,' he pants, feeling his climax come close. Rina moans, spurring him on as he thrusts into her slickness, her heat and tightness as she envelopes him. 'Oh, Yoba,' he groans as it hits him like a lightning bolt, causing him to completely stiffen as he buries himself deep into her. Sebastian murmurs her name as he holds her close, holding her in his arms and feels her kissing the side of his neck as they both tremble. Falling onto his side, they lie beside one another, panting heavily.

'Fuck,' she giggles, brushing her hair out her face, smiling at him. 'I've missed you,' she muses, running a finger down his chest.

He chuckles and kisses her once more, 'you have no idea how much I've missed you,' he agrees. Sebastian wraps his arms around her and pulls her close once more, 'if I weren't already married to you, I would ask you right now,' he says softly. Rina laughs lightly and shakes her head, 'I'm so glad you're already my wife.'

'You're stuck with me,' she teases lightly.