Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chaos energy could do some wild things.

It began with Tails recreating and improving on Shadow's inhibitors. Then he and researchers at GUARD were making new, safe, adaptable chaos drives for widespread energy use. Before long, chaos energy was being used in places and forms that once seemed like a fanciful dream. And as soon as those forms were readily available to everyone, not just VIPs or celebrities like her, Sonic was ready to dive in herself.

She broke out of her egg only a few years ago - began hormones, came out to everyone and the world, and started a long journey that used to go much longer for those like her. Then she was in a chaos-specialized clinic two days ago, put under, and woke up after what felt like mere seconds. And her journey looked like it was over.

Multiple separate, months-long, if not years, procedures brought down to a single afternoon at the most. She could have cried when she saw herself. In her drugged state, she probably did.

But that was two days ago. Her surgeons recommended some time to rest and make sure body and mind were sound after such drastic internal and external adjustments. At worst she was off-balance and a little dizzy the first day after, from the anesthetic more than anything. The second she was antsy. And slightly chilly.

The sun began peeking over Green Hill. She woke up in a ball in the bed she shared with her boyfriend, and felt simply incredible.

She nearly jumped out from under the sheets and threw on her favorite red, racing-striped running outfit. She darted out of the house into the wide, green-and-checker scenery, and ran at top speed to anywhere. Every loop and corkscrew, every hill - just ignited on euphoria and, at last, a freedom she felt inside and out. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so wide.

By the time she got home to her and Shadow's cabin, he was awake and setting various boxes on the counter in the kitchen. His ear flicked around as she opened the front door. He glanced over his shoulder at her with a welcoming smile. “What's the verdict?”

She merely grinned, strolled up from behind, threw her arms around his middle, and began peppering little pecks on his cheek, neck and shoulder.

“Hm-hm...” he chuckled softly, setting his hands on her arms and leaning back into her. “Easy, darling,” he purred. “Let me make breakfast first.”

“You be m' breakf'st...” she teased into his neck, unrelenting in her affection.

“What- you've 'checked things out yourself' already?”

“Oh yeah!” She perked up in eager realization. She gave him another smooch on the cheek and released him with a smile, making her way to the bedroom. “But don't start the food just yet.” She leered hungrily at him over her shoulder. “You're on call for when I'm done.”

He returned the ravenous eyes. “Whenever you're ready, love.”

She hid down the sheer giddy swirl in her belly at the lusty husk in his voice. He was going to be involved in the whole thing, whether physically there or not; she was sure of it.

She shut the door - though Shadow could probably still hear everything anyway - and wrenched open the closet to find the full-body mirror. She set it on the wall directly across from the foot of the bed, tore off her outerwear and underwear, and parked herself in front of her reflection.

Everything was just... right. Her breasts were fuller, her hips were wider, and between her legs was - well, no need to simply call it a clitoris anymore.

There she was. She, herself, and no one else. And she wouldn't change a thing.

That excited burn within her softened as she basked in the feeling of completeness, taking precedent over the want to feel carnally good. But enough of it remained for her curiosity to win out. She always had trouble enjoying touching her clit the way it used to be; how does it feel now?

Nervousness spiked, but carefully she brought a bare hand to her belly and slowly trailed it down. She spread her index and ring fingers as they approached, meeting the extra-soft outline of her new vagina, and caressed along the labia. She tensed a little at the tingle - familiar to sensitive spots she'd already had, yet brand new and inviting. As she trailed back up, she brought her middle finger to the hood of her hiding clit.

She sharply inhaled involuntarily at the pleasure. Not unlike how it felt on its very tip before, but so much more right. Not wrong or uncomfortable in the slightest. Carefully, she drew her fingers back down, savoring the slickening sting. A quiet, breathy groan crawled from her throat.

She sat down on the bed and scooted to the middle of the pillows, lying back and closing her eyes. She let her fingers glide along and around the damp, silken flesh, twitching and gasping at the bright light gathering between her legs. Her free hand drew up along her belly, to her hips and sides, to her chest, savoring every little lovely sensation. She grasped her breast between her thumb and fingers, sliding them up to the nipple and squeezing it between them. The combined, bright pleasure from top to bottom forced the first audible moan from her.

Estradiol had already made her more sensitive. She realized that she might be a little more so. And unlike doomed tries before, no part of her told her to stop.

She brought her lowered fingers to her clit and pressed against it, beginning to rub it in circles. A shuddering gasp, and the fog in her mind took over, leading her on a second run. She closed her eyes and chased the wonderful sting, her mouth hanging open in astonishment. She kneaded and pinched her breast, letting as much of her body bathe and swirl in light as she could reach. Below her clit and reaching deep into new depths, a wet heat grew and ached. For the briefest moment, she wondered what she might look like if someone were to walk in on her. Too brief to care. Long enough to get the imagination going. Long enough to make the damp itch unbearable.

He'd smirk at her, she thought, looking oh so smug. But so hungry. She was a treat for him, the way he put his mouth to good use on her body when he could. How would his lips and tongue feel now? Would they be too much? She hoped so. The fingers grasping her breast slid down her belly.

The way he so gently prised her open. He'd search for the spots that made her make the most involuntary noises, smug bastard that he was. Not enough to loosen her - he had to make her squirm. Make her moan his name. Just so he could purr hers in her ear.

'My Sonic... So cute...'

She gripped the bedsheets beneath her with her toes and wriggled atop them. Her clit suffered firmer, faster circles; her traveling fingers slid past to her slick, swollen opening. They joined her busy hand in the spiraling dance, gathering moisture as they spun. “Sh-haahds...” she whispered to the morning air. Down the hall, her lover glanced up from the kitchen table.

Her memories and desires brought him above her, beholding her with need. They were both ready for each other. He, turgid and twitching, lined up with her, and gently, considerately pushed and spread her apart. A swirling finger pressed against her opening and followed him inside.

She inhaled deeply and sharply, reaching for the breath taken away from her by the combined pleasure. Just as he took his time reaching deeper, filling her more, she slid further inside, taking in all of the new light. So nice; so right.

As he rocked his hips and massaged her from within, a second finger followed, searching for that spot behind her singing clit. Drawing back, the sudden pressure in her belly told her she found it. She let her lover work his magic on her - she rolled and squirmed inside and out with him.

Her short breath became feral groans. The aching pleasure numbed her mind - made her feel new, and distant, and alive. His thrusts hit harder. Her fingers spun faster.

It started from her belly. The burning sting of her button and the tight contraction of her inner walls wiped her lusting imagination with white light. Pleasure squeezed at her insides, and brushed across her skin like a breeze. Her shut eyes rolled back - her legs and toes lost all control. Her clit hurt from oversensitive tenderness; she released it and rode out the dizzying, relaxing wave with that good spot within instead, sliding her freed hand up to give her breast one last delightful twist.

Tingling, hot, sweaty and slick, Sonic released her limbs and sunk back into the rumpled pillows. The gentle glow dancing along her flesh seemed different to those she had shared with Shadow before. A similar, comfortable remnant of pleasure peaked, but softer and longer.

Her head lolled to the side and fell onto her partner's pillow. She'd really pleasured herself to completion for the first time. The realization brought a little smile and a breathy laugh.

...Well... hmm... 'completion?' It wasn't quite the same knockout she'd get pre-surgery. It was almost like she could go for a little more.

Down the hall and through the arched doorway, Shadow heard a hushed, inviting voice.

“Hey babe... I know you can hear me. Get in here...”

A devilish grin crossed his lips. He shut his laptop, stood from his chair at the kitchen table, and disappeared in a bright snap.

Chapter Text

The lingering heat on Sonic's face reignited as the bedroom door opened. A ruby leer peered inside, feasting on her naked form splayed across their bed. His smug smirk widened but gentled in appreciation at the blissful contentment on her face. A fang peeked out from behind his lips, and she suddenly felt just how exposed she was, wriggling into the dark blue sheets as he strolled up to her.

“You look pleased with the results,” he murmured sensually as he sat down on the side of the bed and leaned over her.

She grinned widely and eagerly, taking his hands one-by-one and slipping his gloves off from under his inhibitors. “Your turn t' enjoy 'em.”

A dreamy sigh drifted past his lips, and he gently closed the distance to hers. A soft and damp kiss, quickly turning ravenous. The two lovers' tongues reached for each other and swirled and swayed until his successfully took hold of hers and pulled it into his mouth to suckle and adore. Her impatient, gasping breaths became groans, savoring how he made her his treat. His first hand she'd freed lovingly traced her cheek, down her neck, across her breast, and taking hold at her hip, making her squirm every inch of his journey. His fingers massaged her there until his other hand was free, where it too could knead her tender chest to her throaty appreciation.

She let his gloves fall from her hands over the bed to the floor, her mind lost to his touch. The heat was already building within her once more, even hotter as he slid between her legs onto the bed. Her own fingers were free to pull him close and glide along his soft, thin fur and dig underneath to his tight musculature - her legs to slide up his and encourage all distance to close. Mutual moans and groans were joined by lusty touches, grinds and writhes. He had yet to let go of her tongue.

Finally he loosened his suckling grip and pulled back to trace his lips along the worn muscle until she was free. She fell back on her pillow in an astonished daze. No time for her to snap out of it- his lips and teeth had neck to nibble. He dove down and nipped in a trail, making her pant and giggle and scratch down his back. He laid plenty down to between her breasts. He was much more gentle with them, sliding his hands up to cup and knead, and taking one sensitive nub in his mouth. She hissed delightfully between his ears and ran her hands through and along his quills in encouragement.

The other ignored nipple was not for long - she huffed a tickled laugh before a prolonged moan was pulled from her by another firm, targeted suckle. Shadow released her only to prop himself up on his hands and smirk proudly down at her, admiring how she sunk messily and blissfully into the pillow and bed.

“You're bright red, my love,” he purred, swimming in her emerald eyes.

Her loose, hanging lips pulled into her own cheeky smile. She barely managed the words in her stolen breath, “...Tha'hh... all ya got...?”

He grinned and chuckled devilishly. He leaned back in to catch her lips in the softest kiss. As their eyes drifted closed, she twitched and grunted feeling his hand press her belly and begin to slide south. She shivered and sighed as they parted with a pop, and his fingers caressed and danced across her wet, silken newness. Once more was she staring up at him in astonishment as his fingers circled her much like she just had herself. And he beheld her the same.

“How does she feel...?” he asked breathily, eager to properly introduce himself. His tracing fingers stopped at the little bump at the top and caressed it.

“Ss-sens'tive...” she almost whispered. “Prob'ly... extra righ' now. Sso...” She bit her lip, and smiled softly. “...Be nice ta her.”

He nodded softly, then leaned back onto his knees to get a proper look. She released her legs from around him and spread them to show it: a glistening flower, warm and waiting. Tender, and all she could have asked for. Beautiful. But he wasn't there to admire this blossom from afar.

He quickly set his sights on the little button hidden under a hood of flesh. Carefully, he situated himself down on his elbows between her legs. She watched in needy anticipation as he leaned in and brought his lips to it, giving her tender clit a sweet, appreciating kiss.

Sonic's mouth slackened right back open upon feeling his warm breath on her. He pulled back with a pop and looked back at her, unable to stop the growing smirk from seeing her jaw hang loose. He brought his lips forward again, slipping his tongue through them and slowly, gently drawing it up, watching her the whole way.

Her hips twitched - her breath hitched. Studying her reactions, he circled his tongue on and around her. She shuddered at the tingle, lying back into the pillows and slipping her eyes off him and out into nothing. His confident smirk grew across his open mouth; swirling around her tenderness, he trailed further down to taste more of the flower.

She kept lightly flinching as his hot, wet tongue found new tingling spots all the way to the bottom of her folds. Then a sharp gasp as he licked all the way back up in one long, firm stripe.

He closed his eyes and slid his tongue back down, taking in her new taste and scent. Not so dissimilar to only days before. He would remember it forever, regardless. He helped himself to the slick gathering along her opening, enjoying her growing shivers and gasps, offering his own hums of enjoyment and feasting slurps. Every little bit drove her mad.

Briefly he relented, much to her dizzying disappointment, only to wet his own finger in his salivating mouth. Carefully, he pressed it against her and relished the breathy, surprised, but appreciative hum she made as she felt herself parted and entered.

Very soft. Very damp. Very warm - moreso than ever before, somehow. His blood burned hotter - surged inside his escaping, throbbing length - at the thought of it around him.

But he was patient. He traced his finger along the wet, silken walls, exploring and noting her squirms. Then he reached the place where her button escaped inside, and her soft twitch and moan told him his instincts were good. He zeroed in and massaged the spot that made her eyes flutter, and her voice turn to vapor, the most. Then she gasped and instinctively latched onto his head and quills as his mouth took suckling hold of her clit.

Squirming and writhing, caressing along his scalp, she surfed the pleasure he gave her. His hot, wet tongue circled and swirled her sensitive button, his rigid finger steady on that spot inside her that made her belly tighten. “Ohnn... Sha-ad-ss...” drifted from her throat on fragmented repeat. He only slipped a second finger inside to fill her even more. Exactly what she needed, but not enough of it.

The familiar spin and glow coasted along her body the more he worked. Her moans sharpened in overstimulation. She gripped the sheets with her toes, her hands holding him in place, and called out to the morning air as another, barely stronger wave of light hit every nerve. He watched her mouth fall open, her extremities twitch, and gradually slowed his assault to a stop as she relaxed back into the pillow.

He released her tender clit with a kiss and carefully retracted his fingers, meeting her unfocused gaze as he sat up on his knees with a little smile. Her splayed, happy form was a painting. “So cute, Sonic...” he whispered.

In her floating daze, her own smile widened in loving wonder. Her voice was but a breeze. “Gaia, I want ya, babe...” She gripped the pillow and stared up at him in absolute need. “Don't stop now...”

Another rush of desire took hold of him. He crawled over her to steal one more ravenous kiss, their tongues unable to resist another tussle. They parted to mutual dismay as he stood from the bed and reached into the nightstand, looking for the necessary preparations.

It was only a moment, but she caught sight of him at full mast past his legs, already throbbing and ready for her. By the gods, what a sight he was. He took out a bottle of clear fluid and shut the drawer, only to notice her staring at him in wanting appreciation, biting her lip as her hands trailed down to rub between her thighs.

He grinned smugly. “Such a needy girl...” he teased, popping the lid on the lube. “Didn't you just cum?”

Sonic squirmed and whined. “Mnn- it was small...” She was doing a poor job of hiding how much she enjoyed the entire thing: how he looked, what he said, the agonizing anticipation.

“Mm... Don't worry, my love...” He wet his fingers in clear slick and held them over her own occupied hands. “I'll give you everything you need...”

She released her burning flower and spread her thighs more for him, twitching as the cool liquid touched her tender opening. “Need youhh...” she exhaled. Her breaths shook as he searched and carefully pushed his fingers back inside.

He slowly twisted and spread them to thoroughly coat her insides. He leaned over her and stared deep into fluttering emeralds. “Then tell me when you're ready...” His commanding confidence faltered as he felt his length grasped and stroked.

“I w's ready when ya walked in here...” she hissed softly, caressing and messaging in-sync with his turgid throbbing. Her foggy gaze hardened dangerously. “Now fuck me, gorgeous.”

It took all of his might to pull away. He slid his fingers from her, eliciting a shudder. He poured a little more lube into his palm and stroked himself, watching her and showing off to her with a vicious fang poking out from a deadly smirk. He clicked the bottle closed and dropped it on the nightstand; she smiled eagerly, needing. Then she whooped in surprise as he grabbed her leg and pulled her to the edge of the bed, laughing breathily and sharing his challenging grin.

She laid back and spread her free leg wide, her hot glistening presented to him. Upright and wanting, he positioned himself above and between her. He pressed his slickened cock down on her clit; she sharply sucked in air through her teeth. He traced his glans down between her labia, savoring the soft dampness and twitches of her pelvis. Then he met her opening - burning hot, impatiently waiting, and almost pulling him in right away. He carefully pushed his hips forward.

Their eyes met. Hers widened as she felt his thickness enter, spreading her tenderness apart and making it tingle in a whole new, indescribably perfect way. Her held breath escaped in a gasp, then in soft panting as he kept pushing in, opening her new depths more and more, filling her like she had never felt before. He too shuddered as she sheathed his sensitive length in slippery, burning tightness. He massaged her ankle where he held her leg up, and lovingly caressed her resting thigh. “Hhh...how are you so warm...” he murmured with that husk she loved. “N' so tight around me...”

She reached up to his belly and ran her fingers through the thin fur to the tight muscles. She watched him in reverence as best she could despite her vision drifting off continuously in the delirium of pleasurable filling, her brow twitching from the intensity of stretching.

Then she flinched and groaned as he pressed against the very back of her insides. Gently, considerately, he began pulling back, never wanting to hurt her in any way, though the hand she set on his at her thigh suggested she didn't want him to leave. He wouldn't - the way her walls seemed to grip him and try to pull him back inside was too delectable to stop now.

He slowly retracted until only his tender tip was being lovingly held. The temperature was high for the both of them. Desperate need, more so. Everywhere they were connected glistened. Magical.

Eyes on each other, and an upwards twitch on her open mouth, and he began pushing back inside.

“Hhhaaahhhh...” escaped her throat on its own, more of a shapeless breath than a moan. He sighed and groaned with her, returned to those blessed depths in an unobstructed glide. They were both ready and tired of waiting.

He adjusted her held leg to rest on his shoulder, slipping his arm under the other to raise her more, and he leaned over her with a ravenous smolder. Her hanging smile and fluttering eyes only grew happier as she realized she was all his to enjoy. He retracted again, then thrust into all of her. There was the full moan.

Shadow's hips began a steady, forceful rhythm. Held down against the bed by him, Sonic rode the crashing waves of pleasure and fullness her lover sent through her body, her voice collapsing into aimless hills of sound. He panted and growled with her, his sensitive tenderness stinging and surging from her hot, slippery hold. Just a little more, though.

“You-! Hhyou can-!” Sonic struggled out between thrusts. “G-nnn! ...Lil' harder!”

Shadow clenched his jaw, understanding that he was basically given full permission, and lifted her other leg onto his shoulder as well. He snapped his hips even faster. The joyous yelp she made, and the way her head lolled back and she latched onto the sheets for stability, ended all trepidation between them.

Their little cabin filled with a seemingly endless symphony of ecstatic cries and hollers, feral pants and groans, and the creak and rattle of bedsprings. They would have to thank Tails for making sure the house was very well-insulated, for all the disrupting of wildlife they would do otherwise. They immediately knew there would much more of this from now on, after all.

Sonic soon anchored herself around Shadow's neck, locking her hands behind it and their eyes together. Two lovers lost in each other, eyes hazy, quills a mess, mouths agape, minds mush. He leaned further down to her the same moment she reached her lips up to his. They crashed into an inelegant, messy wrestling of tongues.

She found a fraction of thought as he pulled away with a slippery pop. “Ffuhh-...! Y' feel ssso goodhh!” she blathered out in shaking breaths and loving the way his taut, beautiful form looked driving into her.

He stared down at her in bliss, all of her limbs and heat around him, and the rest of her a mussed tussle of fur and quills in a valley of wrinkled bedsheets. “Youhh...” he panted out, “...'Ncred'ble...!” His eyelids shook like hers. “Love youhh...!”

“Love you...!!” she gasped, smiling wide in her paradise. Each thrust into her made her whole body sing, her ravished pussy tightening and contracting. Her crackling voice rose through the fog in her throat into louder and louder wails. She rode the ecstasy all the way up, starting from inside her, and climbing up to her brain before rushing out to the very tips of her fingers and toes. She clung tighter to Shadow as she rattled, him slowing his hips and watching her triumphantly, as she got lost in her strongest orgasm yet.

Her body and mind drifted back down, her breaths heavy and short. She released her hold on his neck and rolled her aching back onto the comfort of the bed once more, barely registering the loving caress of fingers on her leg. She reopened her eyes to see the appreciative, if just a little smug, smile of her blushing, sweating lover.

“Shhfffuhck...” she approximated one of two curses in a breath. She huffed a little laugh. “And'ya haven't cum yet...?”

He grinned cheekily and left a gentle, loving kiss on her calf. “'M ult'mate in many things, my love...”

She sighed with a chuckle and patted beside her. “Ge' down here, ya dork. My turn.”

He gently pulled out of her, still fully erect, still tender, and with a whimpering groan from them both as he slipped out. He finally lowered her legs back down to the bed, her thighs just starting to ache, and they both crawled further up to the headboard to avoid the very wide and very wet spot they'd left.

Shadow situated himself on his back between the pillows, where he just saw his lover relaxing after enjoying herself. The hungry eyes she gave him as she slinked over him on all fours suggested the same idea. He cradled Sonic's cute, naughty face in his hands and pulled her in for another feast of a kiss. They enjoyed the swirl of their tongues as she slid over his standing erection and ground her clit against it, him instinctively rolling up to meet her. It was her turn to trap his tongue in hers and suckle it as she pulled back, leaving him to loll back into the pillow and watch her straddle him in awe. Taking him in her hand, angling herself, and smiling in anticipation, she steadily sat back and filled herself with Shadow.

He held her by the thighs as they both hummed, loving how they fit together and sent electricity through their tenderest nerves. She carefully rested on his pelvis, mouth dozily falling open from the feeling of being completely full once more. Gaia below, the fullness. She thought she loved it before - it would be a need from now on.

He left encouraging caresses and squeezes on her hips as she leaned back to stabilize herself on his legs. She licked her lips, enjoying the way his length pressed against the inside of her front, finding that spot even like this. Gently to start, she began to roll back and forth on him.

Shadow's eyes fluttered dreamily at feeling his sensitive flesh pampered so lovingly, a sharp, astonished breath passing his lips. He matched her hips beneath her, forming a sensual dance that blurred her mind and loosened her tongue. “Ohhnn Shads...” she moaned and sighed.

“My Sonic...” he returned as sweetly.

But then she locked unsteady gazes with her lover, and a troublesome smirk rose on tiring lips. She flexed her powerful legs and drove down harder on his pelvis, an audible slap filling his ears. A groan of surprise and heightened, stinging pleasure flew from his throat. His half-lidded eyes snapped right open.

Her own onslaught began, thrusting herself down onto him much how he did to her not moments before. He grit his teeth and grinned viciously to his devilish lover; he knew what she was up to. “Ngh- mmbest you can do, h-hahh... hedgehog...?”

“Hh-hah!” she breathily laughed. “We'll see hhow y' feel in a minu'e...!” She smiled brightly and smugly at him trying to maintain his composure through the intense stimulation. All the while, the tightness and burning inside her kept building and building. His hands holding firm to her hips; her spot scrubbing his glans and shaft; both pairs of brows twitching and creasing. For all her bravado, neither was lasting long at this rate.

The room filled with only the sounds of their throaty breaths and damp flesh hitting damp flesh. Her confident front faltered long enough for her head to fall back, reveling in the sensation of having parts of her insides ground and massaged that she never imagined could be touched like this. “Anngh... fuckkhh...!” she slurred. The glowing pressure was returning one last time.

Shadow held her steady, keeping pace while sweat dripped down his muzzle, barely able to savor the image of his Sonic stretched back and ecstatic. “Me toohh...!” he gasped.

She righted herself just enough to reach for his quills, holding the back of his head and locking shivering eyes once more. The two lovers shared a shaky smile. Then glittering rubies and emeralds rolled back. Rocking hips became whole-body rattles. Sonic pressed down hard against his pelvis; Shadow pulled her as close as he could. Groans and wails rang out through the house.

Every nerve in their bodies flares with light. The world around them collapses into a featureless mush of each other. Fragments of their names are spoken aloud, only half-noticed by either.

In him, an explosion as his reward for excellence, shaking him cold. In her, the fourth and strongest tidal wave of ecstasy, bringing her home by being burst by love itself. And such a warm, filling treat to come with it.

The comedown is long and lingering. Sonic tips over and falls onto her lover's chest, nuzzling into the damp, matted fuzz as her fingers and toes tingle gold. His hands glide up from the indentations he left in her thighs to cradle and caress her back, the comforting breeze through his blood relaxing and exhausting him at once. Their eyes close; their panting calms.

Neither thinks this moment could be more perfect.

Sonic's eyes fluttered open. The soft glow of sunlight drifted into the room from behind closed drapes. Her lover lay beside her, eyes still closed in restful contentment.

Slowly, his opened, falling upon her splayed across the bed. Their bed. In their bedroom, in their home. His smile was immediate, if measured as blissful fatigue still nipped at his limbs. She returned it, just barely bashfully nuzzling her pillow.

“Beautiful...” he murmured.

She grinned wide, giggling softly. She struggled to her hands and knees, crawling and lording herself over him, and appreciating him the same. “Beautiful.”

His bare hand found her cheek and brought her close, sharing with her lips one of many kisses that morning, and just the first of many for a very long time. But they savored this one. Safe. A promise.

To his silent protest, she parted their lips and stared down deep into his eyes. Her usual cheek was tempered with nervous hope- with a glimmer of need. “I know the next big adventure I wanna go on,” she whispered.

“Hm?”

She lay her forehead atop his. “Marry me.”