Life, Death, and Time - A Books Of Beginning Collection

Oneshot: The Dragon's Nest

Background: Michael and Wilamena are dating. This is after the war and TBR. 

Content: Fluff. Wholesomeness. Humor. Young Romance. Michael x Wilamena.

Michael was looking for his girlfriend (and that was still a new and deeply strange thought. He, Michael Wibberly, had a girlfriend). He and his sisters were spending a long weekend with her and her family, and they had actually been having a lot of fun. Now he was planning on asking her to take a walk in the forest with him, just the two of them. Since Emma was off talking to the archers and Captain Anton, and Kate was searching for a snack, this was the perfect time for a little romance. Maybe they would even hold hands as they walked, and she would give him a kiss on the cheek. Michael blushed at just the thought of it. Though before that walk could happen, he had to find Wilamena. He assumed she would be in her bedroom. He didn't expect on finding her in a nest on the floor.

"Wilamena," he tilted his head confusedly, "what are you doing?"

The sheets and multicolored blankets had all been pulled from the bed and turned into a large, circular nest shape, filled with the elf princesses' pillows. She sat in the center of it all, humming to herself as she wrote something down. 

"Oh, just writing down a little song I thought of," Wilamena answered. 

"I mean, what's with all the blankets?" He clarified.

Wilamena smiled, "why, this is my nest, of course."

"Your nest?"

"Yes, bunny, my nest," the elf princess replied, "here, come join me in it." She scooted over to make room for him, then held up a hand and said, "wait! Grab that pillow from the chair over there, and bring it to add to the pile first."

Michael did as he was told, feeling rather confused as he tossed her the lilac covered cushion. Wilamena artfully arranged it with the other pillows she was leaning against, then patted the ground next to her, "okay, now come join me."

Michael threw himself into the mess of sheets and blankets and padding, squishing himself beside Wilamena so their sides were pressing into each other. This close, he could smell the subtle perfume of the elf princess, something that reminded him of lavender and sunshine. Her hands were so soft when she brushed against his, and her smile lit up the world. Michael found himself star struck, all his normal logical reasoning thrown out the window. What was he going to say, again? Something about a walk...

"Why are we in a nest?" He blurted, then blushed at how silly he sounded, his cheeks flaming red.

To his surprise, Wilamena blushed too, though her cheeks were a lot more rosy with subtle pink. She fiddled around with the hem of her shirt before saying, "well, I was in the body and mindset of a dragon for a great many years?"

Michael's face changed to sympathy. He knew how confining and suffocating her imprisonments had felt. He also knew it wasn't the easiest thing to talk about. So he made his voice as gentle and soothing as possible when he said, "yes, and I know it was incredibly hard for you, and that looking back isn't easy. But I'm here for you and what you need to heal."

To his surprise, she giggled, "oh dear, no, this isn't- this isn't like that. It's just, it's kind of silly, actually. But after so many years as a dragon, there are still a few habits left over. That's all."

"Habits?"

"Like making nests to sit in while reading or resting," Wilamena clarified. 

"Ohhhh," Michael realized exactly what she was telling him, "that's actually - well, it's quite a comfortable habit, nesting, to be honest. And it's interesting that that's the habit you retained. Are there any others?"

"Yes, actually," the princess said, smiling a bit. She found Michael's obvious curiosity very cute, "I've never been a big fan of the cold, but I like it even less now, and I definitely enjoy the heat more. I also grow out my nails longer than before, so they're more talon like."

"And you're really interested in jewelry and shiny things," Michael theorized, "because dragons are very interested in gold."

Wilamena blushed again, "oh, no, that's actually just an elf thing. Or maybe a me thing. Either way, I've always liked things that sparkle."

Michael shrugged, "that's perfectly okay then. So, you wanna show me that song you wrote?"

It was possible that somewhere along the way he completely forgot about that walk they were going to take. But it didn't really matter. The 'dragon's nest' was comfy, and he and Wilamena were already holding hands. 

"Oh I do!" She exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek and eagerly grabbing the notebook she was writing in.

Michael felt his face heat up. He had to remind himself not to faint. There was no doubt that he had faced much hardship in his life, but this - being with Wilamena - it felt like a fairytale. The kind of fairytale where the beautiful princess and the powerful dragon were one and the same, and ended up rescuing the knight multiple times, that is.

It wasn't like the stories he had read as a child, and he was certain he wouldn't have it any other way. 

..............................

At some point the young couple lost track of how long they had been talking, but well into the night they ended up falling asleep beside each other in Wilamena's nest of blankets. Michael's head rested on Wilamena's shoulder, his glasses dangling precariously off his face. He was drooling a bit as well. The elf princess, for her part, had her neck twisted at an odd angle and a silly smile stuck on her face. Both were in a deep sleep and didn't hear the enthusiastic laughter directed at them by none other than Emma, of course.

"They look so stupid!" The twelve year old girl howled. Beside her, Kate sighed heavily, seriously regretting going with Emma to search for their brother. 

"Do you have a camera? We need to get a camera! I'm gonna take a picture," Emma was bouncing on the heels of her feet now, giggling with mischievous intent.

"Emma no," Kate scolded, in her most 'long suffering parent' tone.

"But Kate," the younger girl whined, "he's drooling. This has gotta be immortalized forever." 

Kate massaged her temples with one hand, "you are not taking blackmail photos of Michael and Wilamena."

"I wouldn't even use them against Wilamena though. Just Michael," she protested.

"Somehow, that doesn't make it better."

"But-"

"Emma, no. Let's just wake them up from their, um, blanket nest, before they miss breakfast," Kate said.

Emma grumbled a bit, but gave in. Luckily for her, even though she missed getting that picture, she managed to get an even better one of Michael falling in the dirt after he tried to climb into a tree to pick a beautiful flower for Wilamena. The picture ended up framed and put on the Wibberly's wall. Michael was never able to live it down. 

A/N: Michael and Wilamena are actually really cute, and Emma teasing Michael will never not be funny, so here's a little taste of that.