A/N: This update isn't a dump this time! I've actually got the latest two chapters (as is the schedule on Ao3) posted at around the same time as Wattpad and Ao3.

So enjoy lovelies. Have a Merry (early) Christmas and a Happy New Year :D

D.L.D

Quote of the Chapter:

"Rejection looks like - me,
I suppose.
Slightly leftover
Like the last, curled sandwich
When all the guests
Have gone." - Rejection, Jenny Sullivan

Chapter Forty-Three: One way (ticket)

"Make sure to behave for Elizabeth, Zeal," Stooping down to scoop her younger brother into a tight hug, Guila placed a gentle kiss onto his cheek, ruffling his dark blonde hair. Elegantly, her own long black hair swayed with the motion as she wrapped her arms around the tiny boy's shoulders. "I promise that she'll be a good babysitter."

"I know," Zeal responded, a muffled whisper back as he buried his face within the crook of sister's neck. His own hands paled at the knuckles as he squeezed his sister back.

Stood behind them, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic at the scene. Such a sight was nothing new for her: whenever Zeal was around, the tiny tot was always glued to his older sister's hip. Whether it was in public or a simple trip to the shops, Zeal was always right behind Guila. Guila was never far away from Zeal. Those two were always a pair, a double-package deal.

Today, however, several weeks since she had made the offer to babysit, Elizabeth was finally making good on her word. As payment for Jericho's forever-open door for sob stories and trashy rom-coms, Elizabeth was giving her and Guila a free night out for game night. Bag packed for an overnight stay, Zeal prepped and both women kitted out in clothes that looked suspiciously date-like, and Elizabeth was moments away from babysitting duties. Plus an extra surprise.

Mael, asking if she was free, wanted to hang out. Deciding that he wouldn't do much harm, Elizabeth had suggested that he tag along for her babysitting adventures. With how distracted Elizabeth could be these days, slipping into dark streams of deep thoughts, she needed his presence to keep her grounded. Bouncing on her toes.

Add in an eager Diane, not too trusting of Mael and also promoting an envy game, and Elizabeth knew that tonight she'd definitely be kept on her toes. Without a doubt, she'd be babysitting the adults much more than the literal child.

Even now, before Guila had even left the building, Diane and Mael were already exchanging looks and nudges. No doubt plotting to get Elizabeth to loosen up a bit. That or to blackmail her into another platonic lunch date. Who knew Diane and Mael could be such an oppressive force when combined?

"You two sure you're not going on a date?" Diane, cheeky as ever, grinned slyly as she wiggled her brows. Nudging Jericho's side, who was dressed in a beautiful black jumpsuit, Diane smirked as she added, "You look awfully dressed up for a night down at the local pub, Jericho. Have you finally decided to make a move?"

"No-one's made a move," Guila sighed, shaking her head as she stood up from her hug. Dusting off her skirt, made of a shiny white leather material, the other woman pursed her lips as she turned to Diane. "We're simply excited to finally go out after having to cancel for..." Frowning, she lifted a hand, counting off something, "At least a good month."

"More than a month," Jericho scoffed, rolling her eyes as she folded her arms across her chest. "Now let's go, Guila! Diane keeps giving me the stink eye."

Nodding, Guila grabbed her matching white purse, gave Zeal a final goodbye squeeze, and rushed out after a stormy Jericho. Left in the aftermath, Diane, Mael and Elizabeth could only blink. Zeal, on the other hand, was squeezing firmly on Elizabeth's hand, his own small one surprisingly cold despite them being safe inside his home.

"You know those two are totally dating," Diane abruptly spoke out, turning on her heel as she headed toward the open arch of the living room's doorway. Sass exuded from her entire body as she huffed, "This isn't the first time they've planned an 'exclusive games night' without anyone else present. Jericho's been giving me flimsy excuses for months!"

"Sounds like someone's jealous," Mael responded, a small snicker shaking his shoulders as he followed her to the living room. No doubt they'd decide to watch something on the TV - a typical Diane and Mael move these days. Those two often liked to goof off together, annoying Elizabeth in the process as she tried to type up a nearly due article.

At some point tonight, somehow, some way, Diane would end up posting a picture of their shenanigans online. Instantly, King would see it; Meliodas would surely follow. Both Elizabeth and Diane knew that they would. Over the past few weeks, King had certainly become a much bigger sourpuss whenever Mael was mentioned. Meliodas... well, Elizabeth preferred to keep her distance.

"Do you know when dinner will be ready?" Zeal asked, now tugging on Elizabeth's hand as he attempted to guide her to the kitchen. Nerves seemed to roll off him in waves, making his grip iron-tight against her hand.

Blinking, Elizabeth allowed herself to focus on the boy, "Guila said that we can order in a pizza," Smiling at just the thought of it - a fresh, cheesy pizza on a cold winter's night - Elizabeth couldn't help but feel somewhat soothed. Raising a brow, she stopped in her tracks as she pulled out her phone, "So what do you prefer Zeal? Dominos, Papa John's or Pizza Hut?"

For a moment, intense thought overtook the small boy. Tiny hand placed under his chin, eyes squinting with deep thought, he almost looked like a mirror of Guila, sat at her desk as she crunched to meet an unexpected deadline. In that moment Elizabeth remembered when her mother said that siblings were said to have uncanny similarities. Had it ever been the same for her? Had Elizabeth ever shared any traits with her sisters?

Probably not. If she did she would have never fallen in love with Meliodas King.

"Dominos!" Zeal eventually cried out, excitement lighting up his brown eyes. Already the pout was in place, a hopeful, innocent thing that almost appeared too angelic on his face as he dragged Elizabeth back to reality. "Please."

"Dominos it is," Elizabeth nodded stiffly, swallowing as she opened the app up on her phone. Tipping her head toward the open arch leading into the living room, she raised a brow at Zeal. "Now how about we join those two in the living room. We can play a board game? Or, if you really want, we can watch something on Disney Plus."

"Really?" Again Zeal lit up with joy and excitement, hands balled into small fists and his face aglow with anticipation. If he were even younger, he would have been bouncing on the spot, almost radiating the same levels of dopamine as a dog that was happily wagging its tail. "Usually, Guila says I have to limit TV time. Something about rotting the brain."

Instantly, Elizabeth deflated. Oh yes. Guila always was strict on TV time - she didn't like how technology affected kids these days. With Zeal, everything was much more interactive, much more real. Days out to go to the zoo and kicking their old football out in the rain, were things that Guila made time for; TV and other gadgets were limited. Available but limited.

But, looking at Zeal's hope-filled face, Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to say no either. All that hope, built from an innocent promise, didn't deserve to be shattered. A little TV couldn't hurt too much, right? One little, teeny-tiny show?

"Well, what Guila doesn't know won't kill her," Diane interrupted, a coy grin on her face as she towered above the pair. Hands on her hips, smug expression on show, she looked as if she had something planned. Something that was probably full of mischief judging from the amount of excitement she tried to conceal beneath her grinning facade.

Already, Elizabeth could feel the wrinkles forming from stress. Hopefully - very hopefully - this entire building would remain intact by the time Guila returned home with Jericho. If not Elizabeth would be grovelling for forgiveness for the next ten tears.

"In moderation it's ok," Elizabeth responded, sending a semi-sharp glare to her best friend. Heading toward the living room, making sure that Zeal was following, she continued, "So we'll watch one movie. Zeal's choice."

So, for the next four hours, Elizabeth found herself stuck in a room with two grown children and one literal child. For the first half hour they managed to order their pizza, continually bickering over why pineapple could be on pizza and why it was also a crime. Mael and Zeal made a good argument against while Diane stuck her tongue out and said half and half worked just as well.

Another half hour was then wasted on choosing a movie, Diane performing an entire speech on why Hercules should not ever be seen by children (because Hades had scarred her as a child). Zeal, close to tears, ended up having to be consoled by Elizabeth while she hurriedly searched through the dozens of other options available.

By eight o'clock the pizza had arrived. All hell broke loose, boxes ripped open and the chosen movie playing in the background. On a positive note, Zeal did find it hilarious when Diane flicked olives at Elizabeth, telling her to try and at least catch one. Until Elizabeth did catch one - right in her mouth. Never before had she been so proud.

Then the movie was over and Zeal was asleep, a snoring child curled up with a drowsy Mael. Both of them had began to nod off during the final half of the movie, right where things were beginning to get intense between Simba and Scar. Diane, hooked to the climax, was still as a stone as she finished a semi-cold slice of pizza.

Restless, filled with a storm of thoughts, Elizabeth herself couldn't escape her own head. While everyone else was peaceful and calm, Elizabeth was stiff, lips pursed and heart racing as the final battle played out before her. Last time she had seen this, she was with Meliodas. Wrapped up in blankets, vapo rub smeared under her nose, she'd been sick that day. And Meliodas, as he used to do back then, had taken the day off to look after her.

The Lion King was a natural choice. Something light and silly but also serious enough to play off if Ban or Diane decided to pass through. Disney movies were Elizabeth and Meliodas' way of coexisting; Disney was their way of being close.

"You know, I forget how quiet it is when you're not around."

"This is giving serious movie night vibes," Diane, breaking Elizabeth's storm of thoughts, turned to her, pizza slice in hand. Illuminated by the screen she looked almost ghostly as she blinked. "It's a shame everyone's not here."

"Movie night vibes?" Yawning, Mael rubbed at his eyes as he shifted in his seat, Zeal curled up against his side. Even though he'd had a pretty good nap, he still looked as if he needed another. Shadows rimmed his eyes and the tell-tell lines of veins were subtly lit by the TV's blue light. "Is that something we do at work?"

"Oh, it's just a thing Ellie and I do with our friends," Diane brushed off, casually waving her pizza-slice-hand in the air. Taking a bite from it, she grinned as she wiggled her eyebrows, "Speaking of, you should totally come, Mael! You'd get on with everyone."

Shrugging, like any time Diane suggested an idea, Mael answered, "I could do with the social links."

"You could do with any social links," Diane responded, rolling her eyes as she nudged him with her sock-clad foot.

Now they were going back and forth, Mael now rolling his eyes as Diane went to deliver more playful jabs. Elizabeth, sunk into the back of the sofa, eyes staring at the now rolling credits, remained silent. Aside from her heartbeat, racing within its rib-crafted cage, everything about her was still. Motionless. Shocked into a stasis.

Mael. Movie night. Movie night was where Meliodas often went and movie night was something Elizabeth had been avoiding. Excuses and work commitments always trumped movie night. Elaine had never questioned it much; King always understood. Ban, privy to it all, simply told her to take all the time she needed. But Diane, willful as ever and filled with determination, was trying to force her to go. In the worst way possible.

Even in her state of temporary stasis, Elizabeth could sense it. Deep within her memories and she could still decipher the well-meaning but also forceful nudge of Diane's schemes.

"Elizabeth," Her name brought her back to the surface. Blinking, Elizabeth hummed as she looked at Mael, anticipating his question. "What do you think?"

"I mean," Elizabeth chuckled nervously as she wound her silver hair around her finger - a tell that she was dangerously against this idea. But, brushing that anxiety aside, trying to play it cool, she settled for a nonchalant shrug, "Why not?"

Why not? Why not? Mael could come, Elizabeth could join him and Meliodas could see it in the flesh. For the first time in too long, Meliodas would see her. For the first time in too long Elizabeth would be able to hold her head up high, not curl up and ball herself into the dejected, curling, leftover sandwich she was. Meliodas didn't want her. But other people did.

Perhaps, like Diane, she should use that to her advantage.

"You're sure?" Mael asked, almost in a complete deadpan. Like always, whenever he was skeptical of her true intentions, he was giving Elizabeth the eye contact. Deep eye contact, meaningful eye contact, the sort that Elizabeth knew she recognised. Something they still hadn't spoken about; something that they needed to talk about together.

No doubt Meliodas would recognise him. Meliodas had probably already recognised him. If he had then movie night would definitely be a hurdle. If not... well, Meliodas would definitely not want to talk to her again. Ever.

"I'm sure," Swallowing down the gulp in her throat, Elizabeth nodded. Just as uncertain as she was, her voice came out a quiet and timid thing, fearing the consequences of its actions, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Stares were shared all around the room, entirely missed by the sleeping Zeal. Nevertheless, all adults present caught wind of it: something was brewing within all their minds. They all had something to share; they all had something that they didn't want to share. So, instead, they picked up the remote and put on another movie.

Because, sometimes, ignoring the reality of your mind was better than a one-way ticket to misery.