Amalia
They all arrive, their friends and family, loved ones from past and present both. Only one face is unfamiliar, the attractive blonde laden with far more fabric than Amalia can begin to make heads or tails of. She offers a tentative smile to Hotaru, glancing at Deimos and back again and grateful when Jigano arrives immediately after.
But it's Evie who comforts Amalia with all the practiced ease of a sister, grabbing her arm and gently coaxing her to calm down. "I have no idea what I'm doing," the Shield admits softly, her cheeks rosy with happiness and amazement. "I never thought I'd be getting married... or that I'd have so many people who cared enough to help. I wish they were here to see this." She doesn't say who they are; she doesn't have to. Not to Evie.
The last to arrive is the most surprising. Amalia hadn't held out much hope when she invited Sam; seeing him here feels like a promise that they do have a shot at a future as a family, faint as it may be. And the gift he gives catches her entirely off-guard, its thoughtful beauty utterly flooring the Shield beyond words. And so she doesn't speak, not at first: instead she throws her arms around her brother, holding him tight in their first true embrace. "Thank you," Amalia whispers to Sam, before taking the book and retreating upstairs to tuck it away safely.
When she returns Deimos is assigning roles and jobs and the bakery is becoming busy- a comforting level of bustle that the Shield finds some solace in. Snagged by Kiada she is more than happy to retreat behind the counter, into the part of the world she finds most familiar. "I thought we might make a couple options for people to try. Then whatever seems the most popular, we'll do for the reception."
But it's Evie who comforts Amalia with all the practiced ease of a sister, grabbing her arm and gently coaxing her to calm down. "I have no idea what I'm doing," the Shield admits softly, her cheeks rosy with happiness and amazement. "I never thought I'd be getting married... or that I'd have so many people who cared enough to help. I wish they were here to see this." She doesn't say who they are; she doesn't have to. Not to Evie.
The last to arrive is the most surprising. Amalia hadn't held out much hope when she invited Sam; seeing him here feels like a promise that they do have a shot at a future as a family, faint as it may be. And the gift he gives catches her entirely off-guard, its thoughtful beauty utterly flooring the Shield beyond words. And so she doesn't speak, not at first: instead she throws her arms around her brother, holding him tight in their first true embrace. "Thank you," Amalia whispers to Sam, before taking the book and retreating upstairs to tuck it away safely.
When she returns Deimos is assigning roles and jobs and the bakery is becoming busy- a comforting level of bustle that the Shield finds some solace in. Snagged by Kiada she is more than happy to retreat behind the counter, into the part of the world she finds most familiar. "I thought we might make a couple options for people to try. Then whatever seems the most popular, we'll do for the reception."
took the stars from our eyes and then i made a map
i knew that somehow we would find our way back
i knew that somehow we would find our way back
