★ The Dragon And The Fairy [G/T] ★

VIII - The Confession

Annabelle felt a flutter in her chest every time she thought about it. The kiss. It had happened so unexpectedly, leaving her in a whirlwind of confusion. She had only been trying to hang up laundry in the tree when everything changed. Her mind raced as she contemplated her next move. What am I going to do? That's it. She decided she would run away. Surely, there was another tree with a conveniently sized hole where she could build a new home. I'll pack right now!

Just as she was about to take off, she heard a familiar voice. "Anna?" The sound startled her so much that she crashed straight into Jaxx's nose. He didn't flinch or show any sign of pain; instead, he gently lifted her from his nose, cradling her in his palms. Annabelle couldn't meet his gaze, keeping her head down as embarrassment washed over her.

"Did something happen a few days ago? You've been distant ever since," he observed, concern lacing his tone.

"NO!" she squeaked, flapping her wings in a panic before darting out of his hands. She zipped into her house and flew to the very top of her tree, her closet. Silence enveloped her as she realized Jaxx had left. May as well change into pajamas, she thought, trying to shake off the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

Meanwhile, Jaxx entered Annabelle's home, searching for her. "Come on, Anna, just tell me," he urged, recalling the ice cream incident that had left him feeling sick and disoriented. He remembered taking her home and then waking up in the air, somehow flying back on his own. It felt like a haze, and now he sensed something was wrong.

Climbing the staircase to a room he'd never visited, he threw open the door. That's when he saw her. Annabelle stood there, her back to him, clad in nothing but a dress she was about to put on, holding it up to cover herself. Time froze as he stared, his heart racing. She seemed to react in slow motion, letting out a shocked shriek.

"YOU HORRID WOMANIZER! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!" she screamed, rushing toward him and slamming the door. He could hear her sobs echoing through the wood, and it tore at his heart.

"Ann—" he started, but she cut him off.

"GO HOME!" she cried, her voice trembling with tears. In that moment, he did the only thing he could think of: he kicked down the door, charging inside. There she was, curled up in a ball on the floor, looking scared and vulnerable. Relief washed over him when he saw she had at least put on a nightdress.

"Let me go!" she screamed, but he wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close. She struggled against him, but he refused to loosen his grip. Annabelle began to sob, shaking just as she had when they first met, frightened of the Rat King.

"I'm so sorry, Anna. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said softly, feeling her tremors against his chest. He searched the room for something—a robe, anything—for her to wear so they could talk properly. He found a bathrobe and helped her into it, cradling her once again.

"Please, just let me explain," he urged, trying to soothe her as she cried into his chest. He found a comfortable spot to sit and held her close, hoping to calm her.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled through her sniffles, her head downcast. "The problem is that you were sick, and you did something—"

"What did I do?" he asked, genuinely confused.

Without warning, she grabbed his cheeks and pulled him in. Their lips met in an electric kiss, and Jaxx's eyes widened in shock. But before he could react, she pulled away, her eyes filled with anguish.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE DYING, JAXX! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT WHEN YOU SAID YOU DON'T LIKE ME LIKE THAT!" she exclaimed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Jaxx felt his heart drop. "What does kissing mean in fairy law?" he asked, desperate for understanding.

"It only happens when someone is dying to say goodbye! If you were dying, you could've told me!" she cried harder, and Jaxx's mind raced. He realized she had misunderstood his feelings during his illness.

"Look, kissing doesn't mean that in dragon language, and I'm not dying, Anna," he said gently, brushing a stray hair from her face. "In dragon culture, it means love."

She looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with tears. "What kind of love?"

"The kind that married fairy couples have," he explained, trying to convey the depth of his feelings. Her expression shifted from sorrow to confusion, and he knew he needed to clarify.

Taking a deep breath, Jaxx looked into her eyes. "Anna, I love you. I want to live with you and marry you one day." Her eyes sparkled with surprise, her cheeks glowing softly as she processed his words.

"I love you so flipping pancakes much, Anna," he added, bringing her to his lips again. He showered her with gentle kisses, pouring all his emotions into each touch. After a minute, he pulled back, gazing into her tear-streaked face.

"Will you be mine, Anna?" he pleaded, his heart racing with hope.

She stood up, wrapping her arms around his lips in a gesture of affection he would never forget. "I'm already yours, Jaxx," she whispered, and in that moment, everything felt right in their world.