Queen's Princess

PART V: Chapter 31

As the firework show kept going on late into the night, I let out a yawn and slumped my head against Odessa's shoulder as she was still standing behind me, having her arms wrapped around my waist.

"Getting tired there, princess?"

My eyes widened and my head perked up, "Now that ya say that."

She chuckled, "What a way to wake ya up. But in all seriousness, are ya getting tired?"

"Yeah."

"Fear not," she said and swung underneath my legs, holding me bridal style. "Let's get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"I suppose," I said, wrapping my arms around her neck, nuzzling my face into the crook of it.

She closed the door with her foot and walked over to the bedroom, pulling away the blankets before setting me down on the bed. Standing up and turning off the light, she walked over to the other side and got in beside me. It felt different to be on an actual mattress with actual blankets.

"This is all so different and new," I said to Odessa, as she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into her chest.

"I agree, but we will get used to it."

"It just makes me think that I shouldn't take life for granted since we came from a place where we didn't have stuff like this."

"Ya do have a point there. Tomorrow, I was thinking about heading back into the Wasteland, tell my family what happened and offer them a place here. I'm going to offer your parents the same thing."

I turned and looked over my shoulder at her, seeing her eyes had closed, "Y-You don't have to do that, Dez."

The grip around me tightened, bringing me closer to her. 

"But I'm going to," she mumbled before planting a kiss on the back of my neck. 

"Alright," I chuckled, falling asleep in her embrace. For once in my life, besides the month I stayed with her after my grandparents died, I can sleep beside Odessa for as long as I want to.

My eyes opened up and Odessa's presence was no longer behind me. Peering over my shoulder to confirm she was gone, there was nothing there to greet me in the morning. I sighed and slowly sat up, smelling something coming from the other room. Getting up and walking towards the small living room, Odessa was standing by a small gas stove. She was cooking something this late in the morning?

"Morning, love," she smiled over at me, winking. 

"M-Morning, Dez," I said. "W-What are ya making?"

"Something my mum made whenever she got the chance. Pancakes."

"Pancakes?"

"Yeah. Since we have the ingredients, I figured I would make ya some. Oh, and don't forget the maple syrup, too."

"I didn't know ya liked pancakes."

"There's a lot of things I like that you don't know," she chuckled.

"That being?" I asked, watching as she carefully took the pan and flipped the pancake, seeing a nice golden brown side. 

"Don't tell anyone this," she leaned close to me. "But chocolate is a guilty pleasure of mine. Whenever I was able to get it when I lived back in here, I would hide it from my siblings since they knew how much I enjoyed it."

"Ya have that much of a sweet tooth?"

"Only for chocolate. That's really it."

I chuckled, "Never would have known unless ya didn't say anything."

"Well, now ya know."

She finished making some pancakes for us and we ate on the balcony together, even if it was small and didn't have any chairs yet, which I think Odessa wanted to get some, but we needed to get small ones due to the size. Once we were finished with breakfast, she cleaned off the plates. I was about to head inside, but Meri called my name.

"Yeah, Meri?" I asked.

"I got somethin' for ya," she called.

I walked down the stairs and reached the last balcony. I jumped over the railing and landed in front of her.

"What's up?"

"Someone who was a little cheeky last night and caught this photo of ya and the Queen," Meri said and handed a framed photo to me.

It was of last night. Odessa was standing behind me and I was leaning against the balcony. There were fireworks in the sky and both of us were looking up at them. I smiled, remembering last night.

"Thanks, Meri. W-Who took the photo?"

"Geiger."

I looked around the corner to see Geiger was hiding away. I chuckled and waved to him.

"Thanks, Geiger."

He put a thumbs up and disappeared. I thanked Meri and she headed after Geiger. I was about to jump back onto the balcony, but Odessa came down with her axe and gun along with my swords.

"Whatcha doin' down there?" she asked, reaching out to grab my arm, pulling me up onto the balcony.

"Meri came over to give us something."

"What is it?" she asked, taking the frame.

She looked at it and a smile appeared on her face, "Who took the photo?"

"Geiger did."

"He did a great job at it. I know a perfect place to put this. Hold on," she ran up the stairs and disappeared into the house. Shortly after, she reappeared and closed the door behind her.

"Where did ya put it?" I asked.

"You'll have to see when we get back," she said, grabbing Carnage and her gun before jumping over the balcony.

I grabbed my swords and jumped over, following behind her as we walked towards the gates. They opened up and we were met with the Wastelands. Odessa took a sharp breath in, her hands shaking slightly. I reached down and intertwined my hand with hers. Looking down at me, I peered into her amber eyes.

"It's different this time now," I said. "You can come back unlike the last."

She nodded, leaning down and placing her forehead against mine, "Thank you, Y/N."

I smiled and pecked her lips, "You're welcome, Dez."

"We'll be back," Odessa said to the guards as we walked out into the Wastelands, feeling that burning heat once more.

We walked to where my parents house was and my father was sitting by the motorcycle, fixing something. When we came into view, he picked his head up and smiled at us, seeing the two of us walk together hand in hand.