Numbing zephyrs

Cruella never really liked cuddles, until at 3:00AM one morning she was sitting on the balcony feeling depressed about everything that had happened with the Baroness and her mother. Jasper also happened to be awake as he can't sleep. He eventually decides to get up and make a cup of tea. He walks down the hall to see light under Cruella's door. He almost knocks but then decides that it would be better if he brought her a cup of tea. Jasper had been working on making a tea brew. He had been drying out rose petals, Daisies, Chamomile, Lavender, Hibiscus, mint, and lemon zest. He decided that whatever Cruella was doing at 3:00AM, she deserved Jasper's special blend. He prepared it with care, Over the years he had noticed that Cruella would wait a bit for her tea to cool down before she drank it, so he filled the mug ⅗ with boiling water, let the flavouring sink in a bit, then added ⅕ of cool water, leaving ⅕ left so when he walked upstairs it wouldn't spill all over the floor. He also brought sugar for cruella and honey for him. He walked carefully upstairs and went to her room. When he knocked, there was no answer. "I'm coming in '' he said and when he walked in, he found he was alone. No sign of the black and white hair he liked so much. He left the room and started walking around the manor looking for her, as he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep until he knew that she was in bed, getting some rest after her busy days preparing for fashion shows and taking over the fashion world. Jasper checked every room (which took 10 minutes as the house is very big) and eventually decided to check the balconies. He found her on the balcony outside the study on the third floor. She was sitting on the bench, the wind blowing slightly around her, like a zephyr, making her hair flow behind her, and as it was night, her flowing hair cast the most amazing shadows. She was staring out onto the ocean, where the moon reflected on it to make a beautiful shine glistening up from the sea's depths. To Jasper, it was a beautiful sight. But then he remembered why he was actually there. "Hey Cru," Cruella jumped, "sorry I didn't hear you coming." Cruella said to him, looking away. "Anyway , I brought you some tea. I noticed your light was on so I went to find you after making some tea. Its a blend I made myself, homemade" ''Thanks." Cruella turned to him slightly, but kept her head down, not wanting Jasper to see the blush on her cheeks and the tears in her eyes. "Anyway, what brings you outside at this hour? Shouldn't you be sleeping or making a florist shop with all those flowers from that anonymous lover?" Cruella asked. Jasper had been getting dozens of bunches of flowers every day from an anonymous lover, to the point he decided to start a florist which donated all its money to an animal pound, which Cruella always thought, though never said it, was very sweet. "I might ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" "can't." "me neither. So I decided to get tea and saw your light and now here I am." "Thanks. It's cold. The tea, but a nice gesture." "Well I couldn't find you, and this house is big so I tried to search the whole house and turns out you are on the balcony so that took 10 minutes'' "How very dedicated of you" Jasper blushed, unsure what to say so they sat in silence.

Cruella and Jasper sat in silence for about 10 minutes. It was cold, so Jasper got up and grabbed some blankets from the couch and when he came back outside, he caught Cruella furiously wiping her face. "You ok?" Cruella almost jumped in fright. "I thought you went to bed!" "no. I'm not going to leave you out here on a cold night! It may even snow later! I went to get blankets." "oh ok" since Cruella made no effort to take the blanket he offered to her, he decided to wrap it carefully around her, Cruella kept her head down the entire time. "There. Your nice and warm now. You never answered my question, you ok?" Cruella didn't answer, so they both sat there for another 10 minutes.

"Cru, Like I said on the balcony at John's house, I know you're in pain, and I need you to know that I'm here for you. I always will be, but I need you to TRY not to take it out on us." he took the empty cup from her hands and wrapped the blanket more tightly around her. At that she finally lifted her head up and looked into Jasper's eyes "Thanks, I really appreciate it. But I'm not weak. Cruella isn't weak." "I never said you are! Having emotions doesn't make you weak! Never forget that!" Cruella let out a quiet sob and Jasper carefully wrapped his arms around her. Cruella and Jasper had never really hugged over the years, and every time they tried it felt too awkward and uncomfortable. Besides, Cruella had always found them uncomfortable and merely a gesture, but this time she surprised him, and curled up against him like a puppy. Jasper, Blushing, yet content, rubbed her back and they cuddled. Cruella had always admired Jasper, he was always loyal and merciful towards her, and no matter how many times she hurt him, he never gave up. It wasn't like she wanted to hurt him, as Jasper said, she kept accidentally taking her emotions out on him. He was also very sweet, and although she never said it, she couldn't imagine anyone better to spend the rest of her life with then him. Jasper couldn't imagine his life without her. After the whole overthrowing-the-evil-mother few months were over, Jasper started feeling very guilty about how mad he was with her, especially since it wasn't really her fault. He felt awful that the girl he had grown quite fond of was almost lost forever, and he was mad for the duration of that. But as she snuggled against him, he felt more and more relieved. She was here, next to him, and had finally opened up a little. And they had talked.

After a few minutes of Cruella snuggling against him and Jasper rubbing her back, she finally sat up and said "I'm so happy you're here" "I wasn't going to leave you alone." "That's just one of the things I love about you, you're loyal and sweet. I'm... not." "You have qualities that nobody else possesses. If everyone was the same the world would be incredibly boring. Then there would truly be no need for existence. I'd figured you'd know that" Cruella sighed. "You are so wise. I love that about you." Jasper blushed "Thanks?" Cruella snuggled against him. His hugs were warm and gentle, somewhat reminding her of the tea he gave her. The perfect thing after a long and busy day at work, changing the fashion world for the better. As she hugged him, Jasper started getting more and more butterflies in his heart. He wanted so terribly to tell her he had feelings for her, but he didn't want to lose her. 'OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE!! I KNEW YOU'D DATE AT SOME POINT! Awwww" Artie burst out onto the balcony. Jasper and Cruella immediately stood up. "ARTIE! Why are you awake at 3:00AM???" "It's 4:30, time certainly has been flying for you two cuties. I'm up early because I need to go to France to meet my baby niece. I'll be back in two days. BUT YOU TWO ARE SO CUTE!" By this time Cruella and Jasper were both blushing furiously, doing everything they possibly could to avoid each other's eye contact while still seeing glances at each other. "We...um.. Aren't" "BUT YOU MUST! Don't deny it! Horace and I have been watching you subtly flirt for months! And seriously Jasper, how many people know where you live to send you that amount of flowers, they are all quite obviously from Cruella!" Cruella rubbed her eyes in embarrassment, "anyway i'd better go. YOU TWO NEED TO DATE so hurry up. It's all too obvious. Anyway I'd best be off to France goodbye." Artie left, making sure to shut the door to the balcony after him, leaving them both on the balcony.

After a moment of silence, Jasper said "I..um..you should go to bed." looking away, Not wanting to see whatever emotions were on Cruella's face. "Jasper. I find this is the perfect time to tell you how Artie is correct in every way. I hope." Cruella gathered the courage to turn to him, and Jasper turned around too. The air was getting colder and colder, but their hearts were getting warmer and warmer, and before they knew it, Their faces were only a few inches apart. Both looking sweetly into each other's eyes, searching every piece of love there was. Their faces got closer and closer, Hearts getting warmer and warmer, and finally, Jasper leaned forward and gently kissed her. At first they both jumped back in shock, but then snow started to fall, and Cruella beamed and she grabbed him and kissed him back. It was like Lightning had been combined with sunshine, flowery tea, Leather wallets and chicken soup . All the good things they both enjoyed put together. The best, most happy and content feeling they had ever felt.

Eventually it started snowing and they stopped kissing and looked to the sky. "What a beautiful night" Jasper muttered, "Indeed it is", Cruella replied. Jasper gave her a big hug and kissed her on the head, then together, hand in hand, they walked back inside.