Power Play-An FTRS/RAR AU

Part 8: Happily Ever After

Thanks for reading this, y'all! Your support and feedback have been awesome. Sorry for the lame-ish ending; endings are my weak spot. My other fic readers can attest to that haha.

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HEATH

Heath squeezed Devin's hand, as if reassuring himself that she was still beside him. It was a habit he was developing; that and, of course, stealing little kisses now and then. He'd learned many things about Devin that he couldn't have known otherwise; she would pick a fight with anyone within a hundred miles, and was wildly flustered by his constant flirting. His persistent kissing sometimes left her blushing, which of course only led to his own laughter.

Devin returned the gesture with a smile. Heath returned his gaze to the scene before them. The two of them, along with all their friends, had chosen a sparkling Monday night to sit outside of the council's castle and stargaze. All eleven of them shared an enormous picnic blanket, enjoying the cool night air and the sounds of buzzing fireflies. Eager for a chance to practice her gift of animal communication, Devin instructed the fireflies to perform a show for the group, which they did gladly. They laughed, told stories, told jokes, traded smiles, and soaked in the feeling of comfort and peace.

More than anything, Heath was rejoicing in the knowledge that he and Devin were safe and happy (at least for the time being). For years he had been terrified that something would happen, and she would finally start to hate him. After all, it was all he deserved.

But it was the opposite. She loved him, still. And she'd never spoken a word about the past. Only her hopes for the future. Heath hoped it would stay that way. He was doing his best to banish the guilt, but it stayed, persistent and sickening.

Probably sensing his train of thought, Devin leaned over and kissed him decisively on the cheek. Her brazenness was new. Usually Heath was the one to make the move. He sensed that the whole revolution thing had given her newfound confidence, which he found comforting. Heath smiled and kissed her cheek. He expected Raina to coo in adoration beside him, but she didn't. Just smiled.

The group around them muttered and chatted in low, happy tones, but he only had focus for Devin and her comments.

At least, until Heath heard a yelp from his left side, followed by Gilly's voice saying, "Don't even think about it, Jaxon Porter."

"Grimm, just go ahead and start macking already." Ollie yelled.

The assembled party laughed.

Heath snickered. He felt Devin's laughter making her tremble with delight. He loved her laugh, prompting him to kiss her cheek again. She batted him away playfully, blushing.

"We should be saying that to Heath and Devin," Sasha said, "they're probably going to keep on flirting anyway. You guys make me sick. Hey!" That last word was directed toward Logan after he kicked her.

"Yeah, go ahead!" Ollie added. "Y'all are practically engaged anyway."

Heath met Devin's eyes with a wide grin. Devin blushed and smacked him while the others laughed. Despite that, Heath still pressed a firm kiss on her forehead, ignoring Ollie's giggles.

Heath was on top of the world.

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JAX

Gilly lay beside him, holding her expression of false annoyance perfectly. Jax played with a stray piece of her hair absently, ignoring the raised eyebrow she shot his way.

Ollie said something to Kayla that prompted her to giggle uncontrollably. Heath was muttering something that sounded like a lengthy apology to Devin, who was clearly not really paying attention, too absorbed in staring at their interlocked hands as if they weren't really there. Sasha and Logan were whispering good-natured banter (it was all they seemed to do, in Jax's opinion, other than Logan occasionally nervously doing something as she cheered him on). Jocelyn seemed to be listening as AG told her some story. Clearly it was a good one, because she was paying close attention with a non-judgemental face. Raina was staring at the sky absently.

Everyone seemed to be chatting among themselves, rather than the group discussions he'd come to cherish. But Jax didn't mind. He met Gilly's eyes with a smirk.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, burying the importance of the question behind suggested sarcasm.

"About as far as I can throw you." She shot back, the corners of her mouth lifting into an amused beam.

"Smart." he put his hands behind his head, shifting his position. "I don't trust you either, for the record."

"I figured as much."

"Not gonna murder me, are you?"

She curled herself underneath the crook of his elbow. "Tempting."

"Hopefully not too much." He trailed his lips along her cheek.

She smacked him lightly. "Stop it."

Jax pretended to sulk, playing with a lock of her hair. "I go through all this trouble to bust you out of jail, and you won't even let me kiss you. Nonsense." He chased her with his lips. She pushed him again, but this time they were both smiling.

She cuddled into him again. "Only if I get something out of it."

"The experience is a reward itself." 

"In your dreams." Gilly nestled himself closer beside him. "Jaxon."

"I will murder you."

OLLIE

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Ollie looked around with a smile. It made him grin to see his friends paired up and admiring each other. Jocelyn and AG. Gilly and Jax. Heath and Devin. Sasha and Logan. And, of course, lonely single Raina, who had insisted time and time again that she didn't like anyone and she was perfectly happy that way. But Heath had confided in him that courting was near and dear to Raina's heart, and she couldn't fool Ollie.

"So, Raina." he said, "What happened to Josh?"

She glared at him. "What?"

"You know. Josh. The guard. The one you couldn't stop staring at the whole council meeting yesterday. Don't worry, the feeling was mutual, I'm sure. He didn't look away from you once either."

The others broke into smiles and laughter. AG seemed as if she was trying to make a conscious effort to hold in some kind of secret, her smile light and fragile. Heath turned an impressed grin to his sister.

Raina blushed and buried her face in her hands. "You are a terrible friend."

"Agreed."

Kayla rolled her eyes. He smirked at her, and she smacked him.

Good times.