Annais’s father was a brick house of a man. Seeing the tiny Annais beside him made Piers question if they were related at all.  But the way she yelled “Daddy!” and jumped into his arms seemed to confirm it.  The man was equally delighted to see her, scooping her up and swinging her around.

“Oh, my li’l Princess Annie!  I missed ya, girl!”  

“I missed you too!” she cried.  “So, so much!”

Once placed back on her feet, she took Piers’s hand and pulled him forward a little.

“Daddy, this is Piers,” Annais said.  She gestured over to Marnie.  “And his sister, Marnie.”

Piers looked up at the man, who was the polar opposite of him when it came to appearance.  He looked the part of a business man, based upon his crisp white suit.  But the bolo tie, cowboy hat, and boots tied into his roots. Piers couldn’t help but wonder what a guy like him must have looked like to this man.  He couldn’t imagine a warm reception for a skinny, pierced, borderline-androgynous punk who has absolutely been banging this man’s one and only daughter for the past year.  He stuck out a feeble hand, which the man accepted to pull him into an embrace of his own.

“Nice ta finally meet ya, son!”

“Nice t’ meet you too, sir,” Piers managed to say as the air was being squeezed out his lungs.  He released him, held Piers by the shoulders and took a good look at him.

“‘Sir,’ listen ta him!” he said with a booming laugh. “Aw, y’ ain’t gotta act all formal around me, son.  It’s Wyatt.”

He patted Piers’s shoulder before looking to Marnie. “An’ ain’t you cute?  Nice to meet ya, sweetie.”

He stuck out a hand for Marnie to shake.  She was visibly relieved that she missed out on the bear hugs.  Annais’s dad looked back at Annais and Piers.

“Well now, heard y’all got engaged.”

Annais scoffed.  “Who told you?  I wanted to surprise you!”

“Sweetheart, it was broadcast on live TV.  Me an’ yer mama were watchin’ it when it happened.”

Annais poked her bottom lip out and crossed her arms.

“You should’ve acted like you didn’t know so I could tell y’all.”

“Quit sulkin’ an’ let me see that ring.  I know ya wanna show it off.”

Annais’s frown immediately faded and she placed her hand on top of her father’s.

“Isn’t it perfect?” she cooed.  “I couldn’t have picked a better ring myself.”

Piers had to admit, he was proud of his ring.  He’d saved his part of their Star Tournament winnings, and even teamed with Raihan some more recently to be able to splurge. He wanted a ring for her that would match her other jewelry and wouldn’t clash with her aesthetic.  Black gold with a ruby was the only choice.  It wasn’t traditional, but they weren’t traditional.

“Well, don’t that just suit ya,” Annais’s dad said, holding her hand to take a look.  “Little ruby to match yer hair.”  He turned his attention to Piers.  “Pretty ballsy of ya to do that in front of so many people.  Y’ were 100% confident she’d say yes, huh?”

Piers grew flushed and nodded.

“Uh… Sorry for not askin’ for your blessin’ first,” he said, reaching up to fidget with his necklace.

“Well, son,” Wyatt crossed his arms.  “Ya still gotta beat me in a Pokémon battle if ya want my Annie’s hand.”

Piers reached for his Pokéball without a second thought, and the man burst into laughter.  “I’m just pullin’ yer leg!  Annie, this boy would die for ya, wouldn’t he?”

“I think he would, but he better not,” she said, blushing.

“He would,” Marnie confirmed.

Piers was getting more embarrassed by the second.

“Didn’t even think kids still asked for blessin’s these days.  Hell, I ain’t the one you’re marryin’.  Why does it matter?”

Piers forced a smile and nodded.

“But if ya feel like ya need it, this is me givin’ it to ya,” her father said.  “I know how happy ya make Annie.  Wouldn’t take that from her, not that she’d let me.”

“Thank you,” Piers said, his smile becoming more genuine.

“Well!  I’m sure you’re all tuckered out from the flight, an’ everythin’ that happened beforehand.  Let’s mosey on home, eat some supper, and get settled.  I’m sure yer mama’s wonderin’ what’s holdin’ us.”

“Wait… Didn’t she come with you?” Annais asked.  “I figured maybe she was in the bathroom this whole time.”

Wyatt shook his head.

“Jeep only seats 4.  Already gonna be a tight fit with all your luggage.”  

“You drove the Jeep?” she said.  “What happened to your truck?”

“It’s fine,” he said.  “Your mama said I should.  Said ya probably missed yer baby.”  

“Yeah… I guess I have.”

Wyatt looked over the pile of bags.  “Are all these yours, Annie?”

“No, sir.  Half of them are his,” Annais said.  “And one is Marnie’s.”

Annais and Piers together were a mess.  Neither of them could pack light, especially for an extended stay.  Piers picked up Annais’s two leather suitcases, Wyatt picked up two carry-on bags, and Annais grabbed the last one.  Marnie just trailed behind with Morpeko on her shoulder as they walked from the gate to where Annais’s father parked her vehicle.

“Can’t believe he’s so sparkly and clean,” Annais said when she saw it.  “Usually he’s a muddy mess.”

“Ain’t been driven since the last time y’came to visit,” Wyatt said.  “Been sittin’ pretty in the garage waitin’ for ya to come home.”

“This is your car, Ann?” Marnie asked when they approached car.  “Wow.”

Piers laughed.  Annais’s Jeep was so ridiculous, but somehow suited her.  Bright red, huge gaudy tires, an obscene number of lights, edgy despite being rural.  “Y’never told me y’drove a monster truck, love.”

“It’s perfect for hunting Pokémon in any terrain,” she said, patting the hood.  “I took it on solo expeditions all the time.”

“Not much on space though.  We’ll see what we can fit back here,” Wyatt said as he opened the tailgate.  “Might have to hold some.”

“That’s fine,” Piers said as he put a suitcase in back. “Y’know, haven’t been in a car in years.”

“Don’ think I’ve ever been in a car,” Marnie added. “We always use th’ flyin’ taxis or monorail.”

Annais froze as realization kicked in.

“Hah, must be nice havin’ that sorta public transportation,” laughed Wyatt as Annais’s face paled.  “We don’t have enough people around here for all that.”

She pulled Piers slightly to the side when the other suitcase was loaded.

“I-I totally forgot.  I’m sorry, Nez.  Will you be you okay?” she asked softly.  “Do you want the front seat?  Or do you want me back there with you?  If he picked us up in the truck, I could sit beside you and Marnie.”

“I’m fine, Ann,” he assured her.  “We gotta get there somehow, yeah?  Me an’ Marn will be fine in the back.”

She reached for his hand and squeezed it.  “It’s not too long of a drive, I promise.”

“I’ll be okay,” he said with a smile.  “Thank you.”

She gave him a nod and looked back to check on the status of the luggage.  Her father had managed to get every bag but one squeezed behind the back seat.  He held the last one.  With the cargo space filled, Wyatt dangled keys in front of Annais. “So, y’wanna drive, or it been too long?”

She held out her hand, and her father dropped the keys in her palm.

“Don’t worry, y’all,” Wyatt said to Piers and Marnie. “She’s only flipped it once.”

Annais frowned.  “Please don’t scare him, Daddy.”  She looked to Piers, worried.  “That was one time when I was off-roading.  It won’t happen.”

“Oh… She really ain’t that bad of a driver,” her father corrected, sensing that his daughter wasn’t thrilled with his joke. “I just like to tease ‘er about it.”

“It’s fine,” Piers said.  He rubbed her arm.  “Ann, y’should know by now I trust you.  No one gets outta a mess better’n you.”

“Me too,” Marnie chimed in.  “You’re good at everythin’.”

“Aha, well… I’ll be extra careful,” she said.  With that, she opened the driver’s side door and took the step up into her seat.  Piers was amused that a girl as short as her had a car so tall.

Wyatt motioned for Piers and Marnie to follow him, then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door.  He pushed the seat up.  “Alright, file in.  Piers, y’might wanna sit behind Annie if ya don’t want your knees up to your chin.”

Piers crawled into the back seat first, seating himself behind the driver’s seat which Annais had already adjusted so she could reach the pedals and wheel.  He was surprised at how roomy it was in the back.  Marnie crawled in and sat beside him.  Wyatt fixed the passenger seat so he could get in, with the remaining bag in his lap, then shut the door.

Once Annais cranked the car up, she immediately adjusted the radio and air settings to her liking.  The man chuckled and shook his head as she shifted into gear.

“Annie told me you’re a musician,” Wyatt said looking back at Piers.  “Will I ever hear ya on one of these here stations?”

“Ah…”  Piers scratched the back of his head.  “Been told songs pop up on the underground punk or dark wave channels from time to time.”

“Might have to listen out for ya,” he said.  “What’s the name?”

“He’s a solo act now,” Annais told him.  “But he was with a band, too, The Maximizers.  He’s really good.  We could never hang out around Galar without people recognizing us.”

“People usually recognize the bloody champion, love,” Piers teased.

“Before I was even the champion, people knew your name,” she said, thinking fondly about the first time he helped her out.  “If it wasn’t for a humble singer singing his humble song, we might not have had the chance to stop that mess or have a championship tournament at all!”

Piers face flushed.  “Suppose you’re right…”

“Did I tell you about that, Daddy?” Annais asked. “How he came to my rescue?”

“Annie, I don’t think the boy has been able to breath over the past year without ya tellin’ me about it,” Wyatt joked.  “Don’t worry.  She talks about you just as much, Marnie.”

Marnie looked up, now blushing herself.

“Heard you’re probably gonna be the next champion.”

Marnie responded with a nod, causing him to chuckle.

“Little shy, aincha?  Remind me of Annie when she was that age.  What kinda Pokémon is that?”

“Morpeko,” she said.

“It’s electric type,” Annais added.  “And dark.”

“Electric!” Wyatt repeated.  “Now, that’s my type!  My own partner’s an Electivire.  Wouldn’t look as cute sittin’ on my shoulder though…  Maybe he did when he was an Elekid.”

Piers wanted to laugh, immediately able to notice a resemblance between the man and his Pokémon of choice.  He knew he wasn’t one to judge though, considering he admittedly looked like a malnourished Obstagoon.

“Y’were a gym leader too, yeah?” asked Piers.

“Yessir,” Wyatt grinned.  “Ran it for about 15 years ‘til Annie got old enough to handle it in my stead.  Figured it’d give ‘er a way to channel some of that energy.”

Annais laughed.  “Whole car full of retired gym leaders.”

“Well, it’s nice to have somethin’ in common…” Piers said.

“Mhm.”

As a comfortable silence (other than the metal Annais didn’t appear to be listening to) fell over the group, he stared outside the window.

“It’s beautiful out here,” he noted as he watched the moonlit countryside pass by.  “Lookit that, Marn.  The stars are so bright.”

“Carolus might not have much,” said Annais.  “But it does have a nice, quiet view.  If we had room, it would’ve been a perfect night to take the top off.”

Piers took a moment to process the words that came out of her mouth.  What was this about taking her top off?  Did she really dare to be so suggestive towards him in front of her own father?

“… Pardon?” he said.

“Oh!” she exclaimed.  “I-I mean off the Jeep, Nez!  The top… It comes off the car.  Not…  Oh, my God.”

“Ah…” Piers’s face burned.  “That.”

Wyatt howled with laughter.  Even Marnie snickered a bit, leading to Piers burying his face in his palms.  Her father was certainly going to get the wrong idea about him at this rate.  He wasn’t going to embarrass himself further. From now, he was just going to quietly take in the scenery.

And what scenery there was to see.  Carolus was a lot more picturesque than Annais ever described it.  There were rolling hills and dense forests, fields of crops and wildflowers.  There weren’t many signs of civilization outside of a house or two every so often.  It reminded Piers a bit of Turffield, if Turffield was a lot less inhabited.

“‘Ere it is,” Wyatt said as Annais stopped in front of a gate.  After pressing a button from a remote on her visor, the gate opened for them.  “Our humble abode.”

Piers thought to himself there was absolutely nothing humble about the abode in question as they drove down the winding driveway to approach it.  It was dark out, but the massive white farmhouse was illuminated in the soft yellow glow of multiple porchlights.  To him, it looked like something that would be seen in a period drama.  Two stories, a large veranda that wrapped around the front and side of the house, not to mention there was a few buildings in the sprawling fenced yard behind it.  Did they have multiple houses on the property?  Piers couldn’t remember ever seeing anything like it.  He’d even been to Leon’s family’s house before, and it was nothing compared to this.

“This is somethin’ else,” he said aloud.  “Is it historic?”

“Yeah!” Wyatt exclaimed.  “About a hundred years old, give or take.  The barn, or nursery’s older’n that.  Built by a farmer originally from Unova who wanted a whole lot more room for his livestock.  We moved ‘ere roughly 30 years ago now, an’ renovated the whole thing before Annie was born.  It was certainly a fixer upper, but I think we got it to our likin’.”

Piers nodded.  He couldn’t fathom living in a place with so much room.  Even the three-car garage that Annais pulled into seemed bigger than his flat.  When Annais said her family never had to worry about money, she wasn’t kidding. Piers had no idea how long one would have to work to afford such a place.  Even if he did sold-out shows every night, this would be entirely out of the question in Galar.

“Did you ever get the air fixed?” Annais asked her father, parking the car.

“Annie, there was never anythin’ wrong with the air,” he said.  “You’re just hot-natured.”

“Ah, so that’s a no…” she laughed, then sighed. “Nez, at least you’ll be comfortable. It’s always hot as hell in there.”

Wyatt shook his head.  “Your mama thinks it’s always drafty.  Can’t please either of ya.”

“I mean, you’d please me if you let me get a window unit for the bedroom,” Annais said.  “But Mama said it’d ruin the beauty of the house.”

“Y’know, they got the little portable ones now,” Wyatt said. “Might could sneak one of those in there if ya plan on visitin’ more often.”

“Get one and I might,” she laughed and switched off the engine.  

“Well, that wasn’t bad at all, Ann,” Piers complimented while patting her shoulder.  “We’re here in one piece.”

She glanced behind her shoulder to Piers, beaming and visibly relieved that he was okay.

“Y’ get carsick?” Wyatt asked.

“Ah…  Somethin’ like that,” Piers replied, not wanting to go into details in front of his sister and a man he hardly knew.

“Shucks.  Had I known, I coulda brought ya somethin’ for that.  Oh, well.  Maybe next time.”

Annais and her father opened their doors and exited the vehicle.  Wyatt adjusted the passenger seat to let the others out the back.

“An’ I thought your cottage was big,” Piers joked, meeting Annais at the tailgate.

Annais rolled her eyes.  “I never understood it.  It’s not like we have a huge family or a whole heap of friends to entertain,” she said, under her breath, just loud enough for Piers to hear.  “It’s just a big fucking hassle to keep clean.”

Piers laughed.  “So, I guess you won’t be hurt if we never end up in somethin’ like this.”

“If you want to live in an eyesore like this, I’m sure it’ll be willed to me one day.  But that involves leaving Spikemuth,” she said.

“I’m fine, love.”

She opened up the tailgate and grabbed two of the bags, handing one to her father when he met them.  Piers reached for the other two that he was holding before.

“Is that everything?” Annais asked.

“Should be,” Piers said.

She nodded, closed the door, and they all filed out of the garage, down the paved path that led to the house’s entrance.  The night was unusually quiet to Piers.  He was used to sounds of the city, but he didn’t mind it.  The Nincadas buzzing and infrequent howl of Mightyenas in the distance vaguely reminded him of nights camping during the summer of his Pokémon challenge.  He could see himself easily getting inspired by the change in scenery.  He couldn’t wait to have a moment to write.

The walk to the house wasn’t as long as it looked, and they made it to the front in no time.  The delicious smell of something cooking welcomed them as they stepped foot indoors.  Inside looked just as grand and rustic as the outside.  The house kept its historic charm, appearing as if it hadn’t aged in the century since it’d been built.  There was an abundance of wood paneling trimming the foyer, but it looked shiny and new instead of weathered and dated.  It was far different than any home he had entered in Galar.

“Cheyanne!” Wyatt called out upon closing the front door. “Look what yer Purugly dragged in!”

A woman appeared in the room, and immediately took to throwing her arms around Annais.  Piers could tell from a mile away that this woman was her mother. Same red curly hair, same short stature and body type.  Honestly, she looked like if Annais was dressed up like a stereotypical housewife. Her age wasn’t visible; Piers didn’t know how old she could have been.  He couldn’t help but think if Annais aged like her mother at all, he was going to be a very lucky man.

“There she is!” the woman said, squeezing her.  “My prodigal child!”

“Hi Mama,” Annais said.  There was certainly less energy than Annais had when seeing her father. Annais’s mother let her go and then looked to Piers.

“Oh, well, isn’t he even more handsome in person?” she said.  She held Piers’s arms as she looked him over.  “Just look at those steely eyes!  That jawline! All this thick hair!  And he even looks taller than he does on TV.”

Piers began to blush at the compliments.  Her voice was so much like Annais’s, but the pitch was a touch higher and with a bit of a haughty air.  Annais favored her father’s down-to-earth tone.

“Thank you, Mrs. Amaryllis,” he said as she fawned over him.  “Can certainly see where Ann gets ‘er looks.”

Was that weird to say?  He was trying to be nice.  She did look just like Annais, after all.

“Oho!  Don’t flatter me!” she laughed, much to Annais’s disdain.  “An’ don’t call me Mrs. Amaryllis, sweetie… That makes me feel so old!  You can call me Cheyanne.”

Piers was amused that such a shy girl like Annais could come from two loud, bubbly people.  It was even stranger to him that she was so alternative compared to these two.

“Y’know, you look just like those vampire boy toys Ann used to have all over her room when she was a girl.  Are they still on your wall or did you move them?”

Annais turned red.  “Mama!”

“What?  You proved us wrong, Ann!  You never grew out of it, just like you said.”

“Us,” Wyatt laughed.  “Don’t group me in.  I always knew she wouldn’t settle for a regular joe from around here.”

“I can’t believe you said that to him,” she mumbled, folding her arms.

“It’s fine, love,” Piers assured her.  “Suppose I do look a bit like a vampire boy toy.”

Annais swatted at Piers for siding with her mother, who laughed at him being a good sport.

“Do you dye your hair, or does it grow like that?” Cheyanne asked, reaching for his ponytail without asking.

“Ah… The bangs do grow in white.  Always have… Strange genetics from my mum’s side,” he said. “Bleached the back to match.”

“That’s so interestin’,” she said.  “Think I’d look okay with some white streaks? Startin’ to see gray here an’ there, and I’m wondering if I should just go for it.”

“Could go for a peppermint look,” Piers joked, getting a good chuckle from the woman.

“Mama quit flirting with him!” Annais whined.

“I am not flirtin’, Annais!  I’m just makin’ friendly conversation,” she responded. “Can’t I get to know my son-in-law?”

“Cheyanne, you got dinner ready yet?” Wyatt butted in. “I’m sure these kids are ravenous after the trip from Galar.  I know I am.”

Annais looked to her father with a grateful smile.

“Why, yes.  I do,” her mother said.  “Annais’s favorite… Shrimp an’ grits.”

Annais gasped.  “Really?”

“Your father demanded I make it,” Cheyanne said. Wyatt beamed as he watched Annais perk up.  “Said they don’t have it in Galar and that you complained you missed it on the phone once.”

“We certainly don’t,” said Piers.  “I don’ know what that is.”

“I know what shrimp are,” Marnie added.

“It’s country food,” Wyatt explained.  “No better way to explain it than eatin’ it.”

“Righto,” Piers said.  “I’m starved.”

“You look starved, sweetie,” Cheyanne laughed, patting Piers.  “Does that daughter of mine not cook for you?  Ann, I know you’re not much of a housewife, but you’re going to have to do better since the two of you are gettin’ married.”

“Mama, I swear to God.”

“Annais Renée!”  Her full name came out as a horrified gasp from Cheyanne.  “You better not!”

“Leave Annie an’ the boy alone.”  Wyatt sounded exasperated at this point.  “I’m gonna show ‘em upstairs to put these bags up. Go ahead an' set that table. We’ll be right back.”

With a huff, Cheyanne left the room.

“Piers,” Annais said, grabbing his arm when her mother was out of hearing distance.  She was panicking; he could see it in her eyes.  “I am so sorry.”

“Ann, it’s fine,” he assured her.  “This isn’t anythin’ I ‘aven’t ‘eard before…”

She sighed, letting go of him to fold her arms. “Still…”

“Annie,” Wyatt whispered.  Annais turned to look at him.  “I know she gets under your skin.  But please, try to put it aside an’ not to let it ruin your time back. You’ve waited so long, an’ I don’t want it to be overshadowed by a clash of personalities.”

“Practice that Galarian stiff upper lip, love,” Piers suggested with a wink.  “You’re one of us now, yeah?”

Annais cracked a grin.

“Hah!” laughed Wyatt as he playfully smacked Piers’s back.  “Listen to ‘im, Annie.  Good head on this one's shoulders.  I like ‘im already.”

“Would I bring someone home you wouldn’t like?” Annais asked.  She picked up the bag.  “Let's get this stuff upstairs so we can eat before I starve Nez to death.”

Piers chuckled and shook his head, grabbing the set of suitcases and following her.

“Annie, are you an’ Piers okay in your room?” Wyatt asked as they ascended the stairs.  “Bed big enough or is one of ya wantin’ to room in the guest bedroom?”

Marnie giggled a bit.  “Y’should see how they sleep at home.”

“Easy, Marnie,” Piers groaned.

Wyatt turned to the the girl with a smile.  “How’s that?”

“My brother has this tiny little bed.  It’s about too small for him already,” she told him. “I remember when they were sick like a month or so back, I saw them sleepin’ on it together.”

“… It’s cozy,” Piers muttered.  “Ann likes to cuddle.”

“Piers likes to cuddle,” Annais clarified.  “Even in the big bed at my cottage.”

“Think I still have a picture of it,” Marnie said to Wyatt, digging in her pocket for her phone.

“Marnie!” Piers exclaimed.

“You took a picture of us?” Annais asked in disbelief.

“Yeah,” Marnie said not looking up from her phone.  “Had to show Gloria how ridiculous y’ are.”

She quickly flipped through a camera roll full of pictures of Morpeko, other Pokémon, and sweets before locating it.  She giggled upon seeing it again before showing it to Annais’s father when they reached the second floor.  The sight of the image caused him to burst into laughter. Piers and Annais peeked around him to see.

“Oh my God,” said Annais, hiding her face.

“Y’all wanna sleep on the old daybed instead and let Marnie take the full size one?” Wyatt joked as he stopped in front of a pair of doors.  “Might be more comfortable.”

“No,” Annais assured, opening one of them.  “We’re fine.  It’s way hotter here than it is in Galar anyway.  Nez, we’re in here.”

“Whose bags are these?” Wyatt asked.

“This one’s mine,” Marnie said, taking one of them from him.  “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, sweetie.”  He opened the door across from Annais’s.  “You’ll be right here across from them.”

“That one’s Piers’s.  I’ll grab it,” Annais said, taking the other one from Wyatt’s hand.

Piers followed Annais into the room with her suitcases.  She walked in and sat his bags near a desk in the corner.

“You can run along,” Annais said.  “I need to go first.”

She ducked into the bathroom without giving Piers a moment to respond.  He shook his head, sat her suitcases down beside his, and walked back out into the hallway.

“She okay?” Wyatt asked.

“She’s uh, usin’ the loo,” Piers said.  “I think.”

“The other one’s down the hall there if either of you need it,” he pointed out to Piers and Marnie.

“… I do,” Marnie said and walked down the hall. “Um, this one, yeah?”

“Yeah, that’s it.  The other door’s a guest bedroom.  Me or Ann can give y’all a full tour in the mornin’.”

Piers looked around the hall while waiting on the girls.  The wall of framed photographs caught his eye.

“Are all these Ann?” Piers asked, causing her father to nod.

“Yep.  Wish there were more.  She quit takin’ pictures when she got older though.”

“Well, seems Marnie’s got a more recent one you can put up,” Annais said as she walked out the bedroom.

This got a good chuckle out of Wyatt and Piers.

“I cannot believe her,” Piers said.

“It was cute,” replied Annais.  “Wish she didn’t show Gloria though.”

“Yeah.”

“Who’s Gloria?” Wyatt asked.

“Her little friend,” Piers said.

“God.” Annais laughed.  “Why’d you say it like that, Nez?”

“Friend, or friend?” her father asked.

Annais lowered her voice, “She totally has a crush on her.”

“Ann,” Piers said with a frown.  “Y’know she’s too young for that.”

“She does though.”

“Nothin’ wrong with havin’ a little crush,” Wyatt said.

“Nuh-uh.”  Piers folded his arms.  “No datin’ for her.  Not yet, anyway.”

“How old were you when you had your first relationship, Nez?  You didn’t crush on little girls your age?”

“… It doesn’t matter.  I didn’t have anyone watchin’ out for me.”

Before the conversation could continue, Marnie returned from the bathroom.

“Alright, gang’s all here.  Let’s eat ‘fore it gets cold.”

The table was set by the time they made it back down.  The aroma of food was even stronger now, causing Piers’s mouth to water.  Annais sat down, and he grabbed the seat beside her. Marnie took the seat at the edge of the table closest to Piers.  Across the table sat Annais’s father, and her mother sat her own bowl across from Annais and beside him.

“Oh, looks like porridge,” Marnie said.

“Smells amazing,” Piers added.  “What’d you say this was?”

“Shrimp and grits,” said Annais.  “Don’t worry, Nez.  It’s not spicy.”

“Well now, don’t be shy.  Go ahead an’ dig in,” Cheyanne said.  She gestured at the two pitchers at the end of the table.  “What can I get y’all to drink?  Water?  Tea?”

“Tea,” both Piers and Marnie answered immediately.

“Mama, you need to clarify,” Annais said.  She looked at the siblings.  “It’s sweet iced tea.  Not the same stuff from Galar.”

“What?  You drink tea cold?” Marnie asked.  Annais nodded.  “That’s odd.”

“Marnie,” Piers chided.  “I’ll still try it.”

“I’ll have water,” Annais said.

Marnie added, “Me too.”

Cheyanne poured the tea first, making a glass for Piers, her husband, and herself.  After thanking her, he took a sip of the drink.  This tea was certainly different from back in Galar.  It wasn’t bad, but he didn’t know how to feel about it. Calling it sweet was an understatement. He’d probably get water next time to prevent himself from going into diabetic shock.

Once Annais and Marnie had their glasses of water, Annais began to dig in and everyone else followed.  Piers immediately decided he liked the meal.  The flavor was incredible.  It was smoky, creamy, cheesy.  He was worried to try something new at first, but now could easily see why it was Annais’s favorite.

“You like it?” Annais asked, upon noticing that Piers wasn’t picking at it.  He nodded.

“It’s delicious,” Piers said.

“Yeah,” Marnie exclaimed.  “I wish we had this in Galar!”

“I think we could get all the ingredients except for the grits,” said Annais.  “Maybe I can smuggle some back.”

“Hell,” Wyatt started.  “If you asked, we could’ve shipped some to ya if ya wanted it so bad.”

“But it wouldn’t be the same as if Mama made them,” Annais said.

Her mother sighed.  “You really should learn to cook, Annais.  I’m worried about you.”

“I… I can cook,” Annais frowned.  “I just prefer yours.  It was a compliment.”

“Oh.”  Cheyanne looked over at Piers.  “Piers, have you had her cooking?”

Piers nodded.  “Yeah, she cooks for us.”

“Her soups are the best,” Marnie added.

“Yeah.  She makes a great casserole too,” said Piers.  “Even her takes on Galarian dishes are class.”

“Ya got nothin’ to worry about, Cheyanne,” Wyatt assured her.  “You raised ‘er good enough.”

Piers watched as Annais’s smile faded and she ate with less enthusiasm.  He brought his foot next to hers in hopes of comforting her.  Footsie was hard when both parties were wearing boots, but not impossible.  His plan seemed to work; he caught her blushing as she reached for her glass of water.

In the silence, Wyatt spoke up, “Mind if I ask ya somethin’, son?”

Piers looked up from his bowl.  “Go ahead.”

“Did all that hurt?” asked Wyatt, gesturing to his face.  “Ann didn’t cry when she got ‘er nose done, but the rest of that looks more sensitive.”

Piers held a hand over his mouth, shaking his head as he tried not to laugh with a mouth full of food.  “Nowhere near as bad as my tongue,” he said when he got it down.

“Your tongue is pierced?” Cheyanne asked.  “I hadn’t noticed.”

Piers opened his mouth, but Annais put a hand over it.

“If he shows you, you gotta promise not to act weird about it,” Annais said.  She cast her eyes to her mother, then father.  “We’ll go right back to Galar if you’re mean.”

“Aw, Annie, no tongue ring’s gonna scare me,” said Wyatt.  “Let’s see it.”

“It’s not a ring.”  Annais pulled her hand away from her mouth and let Piers stick his split tongue out.

“Oh my!” Cheyanne gasped.  She leaned in closer to get a better look.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” chuckled Wyatt.  “I didn’t even notice.  Y’don’t talk funny or anythin’.”

“Yeah, it’s kinda hard to tell unless I bring attention to it,” Piers said.

“Why’d ya go an’ do that?” Annais shot her father a glance.  “Annie, I ain’t bein’ mean.  I’m just curious.”

“Just thought it looked cool, to be honest,” Piers shrugged.  “Had no one to talk me out of it either.”

“That’s certainly something,” Cheyanne said. “I’m sure it has its ah… advantages.”

Annais glared.  Piers sensed she was getting upset and sat a palm on her thigh.  She relaxed her shoulders, taking a breath before resuming eating.

“He can do tricks.  Watch,” Marnie said, holding up a shrimp to Piers.

“Marn, we shouldn’t play with our food.  It’s rude.”

“Nah, go ahead,” Wyatt encouraged.  “I wanna see this.”

Piers shook his head, then grabbed it from her fork with his tongue.  Despite her mood, Annais couldn’t help but giggle at this with Marnie.  It never got old.

“I ain’t tough like you an’ Annie, I guess,” Wyatt chuckled.  “No piercings, no mods, only got one tattoo.  That’s about all I could stomach.  It ain’t even a big one like Annie’s.”

“Oh yeah?” Piers asked.  “What’s it of?”

“Hol’ on,” Wyatt said.  “I’ll show ya.”

Annais lowered her head as her father stripped away his suit jacket, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned his shirt.  Cheyanne looked embarrassed, continuing to eat as Wyatt managed to get his arm free from his dress shirt.  

“He doesn’t get to show it off often,” Annais told Piers.

He flexed his bicep, revealing a tattoo of three stick figures.  Under it was a very crude ‘i luve you!!!!’  It was clearly traced from a child’s art and handwriting.

“It’s the three of us,” Wyatt said, pointing at it and beaming.  “Annie drew it for me when she was four.”

Piers was tickled.  “Aw, mate!  That’s one of the sweetest tattoos I’ve ever seen.”  He picked up his glass to take a sip.  “Might have to borrow the idea one day.  Think I still have space for it.  Right, Ann?”

“Might be space on your ribs.”

Cheyanne perked up for the first time since dinner started.  “So, you are thinkin’ about havin’ kids?  How soon?”

“Can’t we get married first, Mama?” Annais said with an edgy laugh.

“You aren’t gettin’ any younger, Annais,” her mother reminded.  “You don’t want to be too old of a parent; you’ll be out of touch.”

Annais’s expression soured.  She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut short.

“I think they’ll be fine,” Marnie spoke up in Annais’s defense.  Both Annais and her mother looked up and over to the girl.  “I mean, she’s pretty much adopted me already.  She’ll be a cool mum.  Our mum was older than Ann when I was born.  Right, bro?”

Piers nodded.  “She was about to turn 32.”

“Ann’s the fun one.  Piers ‘as always been outta touch anyway,” Marnie joked.  “He may look like a punk, sing like a punk, but he’s the youngest old man.”

“Oi!”

Marnie caught eyes with Annais.  It was faint, but she offered her a smile.  Annais gave her a slight nod of appreciation.

“There ya go,” Wyatt said.  “Y’can use Marnie here to live out your Nana dreams ‘til the kids settle down.”

“I suppose,” she sighed.  

There wasn’t much banter as dinner continued. A few questions here and there, but Annais had quit contributing to the conversation.

“Everyone done?” Cheyanne asked, rising from her seat. “Want any more?”

“No thank you,” Piers said.  “I’m stuffed.”

“I wish, but I can’t eat another bite,” said Marnie.

“Annais?” Her mother tilted her head.  “I made plenty in there for you.”

Annais shook her head.

“How about some dessert?” she asked as she gathered the empty bowls.  “There's red velvet cake.”

“No thanks,” Annais said.

“What? I thought it was your favorite.” her mother responded.  “Are you on a diet?  Or are you pouting?”

“I’m just full.”

“You do look like you’ve lost weight since bein’ in Galar,” she said.  “Being in front of the cameras all the time will do that, I suppose.  Or not cooking for yourself.”

Piers was the one beginning to get upset now, since Annais had gotten past the point of arguing back.  She had shut down.  He knew Annais had lost weight, and not on purpose.  The weeks leading up to her decision, she wasn’t taking care of herself at all.  Piers had to force her to eat when he saw her, which wasn’t often since she had been so busy.

“Me an’ her’ll share a piece,” Piers spoke up in an effort to derail the current topic.  “I’m not terribly hungry either, but I wouldn’t mind a taste.  Marn, y’want any?”

“Yes, please.”

Cheyanne nodded and left the room with the dirty dishes. Less than a minute later, she returned with a cake.

“How much do ya want, sweetie?” she asked Piers first.

“A small one, please,” Piers said.  “I’d hate to waste.”

“Same,” said Marnie.

Cheyanne cut two small slices and sat them in front of the siblings.

“Annais, are you sure you don’t want your own?”

“I’m fine.”

Her mother frowned and cut a slice for Wyatt instead.  After she sat down with her own piece, everyone began to eat.  Piers cut a small section with his fork and held it up for Annais.

“Not hungry, Nez,” she said.  Piers ate the bite himself.  It was a great cake, tasted homemade, the cream cheese icing was divine, but it was extremely rich.  He didn’t know how much he could eat either.

“Nez,” Annais’s mother repeated, causing Piers to look up out of instinct.  He cursed himself immediately upon realizing it wasn’t Annais who said it.  “What’s that mean?”

Annais’s face grew darker.  “It’s… a nickname.”

“I figured that much, sweetie,” Cheyanne said. “Is it part of his middle name? What’s your middle name?”

“Victor Peterson,” Piers said quietly.

“It’s Piers Victor Peterson… Sterling, right?” she asked, causing Piers to nod.  “That’s quite a name.  Where does Nez come in?”

“It’s nothing, Mama,” said Annais.  “Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s just some nonsense Ann made up,” Piers added to cover for her.  “It sounds silly.  I think it’s cute.”

Her mother frowned, unsatisfied with the answer.  

“Is it Galarian?” she asked Marnie.  Marnie shook her head.

“Whole time I thought that was just somethin’ people around ‘ere say.”

Cheyanne looked to her husband, who shrugged.  “If I look it up on that website, it’s not going to show something filthy, is it?”

“What?  No!” exclaimed Annais.

“No, it’s not going to show something?” she asked. “Or no, don’t look it up?”

Annais sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

“Fine.  You win. I called him ‘Your Highness’ one time to be an ass, and it stuck,” she revealed.  “Until it eventually just became Nez.  It was a cute inside joke between us.”

“Wait.  That’s what it means?” Marnie whispered to Piers in disbelief.  Piers exhaled and nodded his head.  “Oh.”

“Really?  Why was that such a big secret, Annais?” her mother asked.

“Why did it matter so much?” Annais retorted. “Thanks for dinner.  I didn’t sleep on the plane.  I’m going to bed.”

Annais got up from the table and stormed off into another room.  Silence filled the dining room in her absence.  Piers didn’t know if he should follow her, or stick around just in case.

“I don’t know why your daughter acts-…”

“Cheyanne,” Wyatt said, cutting her off.  “That’s enough.”

She scoffed.  “From me?  Why didn’t you say anythin’ to her?  Y’just let her talk to me any old way!”

“I said enough,” he snapped back.  

Cheyanne resumed picking at her slice of cake. Piers glanced over his shoulder, wondering if he could excuse himself and Marnie.  He worried about Annais.  Just as he was about to speak up, her mother did instead.

“I hope she doesn’t have those anger issues around you, Piers.”

“Cheyanne!” he barked.  “Why won’t you drop it?”

“What did I even do?  I don’t know why she hates me so much.”

“She doesn’t hate you.  The girl already had a rough night before comin’ here,” he said.  “Can y’ imagine what it took for her to make a decision and step down like that? Y’know how timid she is!  Y’ wouldn’t be able to do what she did tonight. Hell, what she’s been doin’ the past year!”  He pointed in the direction where Annais had left.  “That ain’t the same girl who left us, Cheyanne.  She’s done a lot of growin’ up.  One look at ‘er and y’can see she’s been under constant stress.  An’ she came back home to escape that for a while. She’s missed us- you included. Least y’ could do is act like ya missed her, too.”

“I did miss her, Wyatt!  She should know that!”

“Did you tell her that?  No.  Y’ could’ve went to pick ‘er up with me, but ya insisted she’d rather drive the damn Jeep. Y’ don’t think she realized that? To top it off, ya gotta embarrass ‘er in front of the rest of ‘er family?  These two probably know ‘er better’n you do at this point, an’ ya feel like one-uppin’ ‘er in front of ‘em?  Houndin’ ‘er about personal things over dinner when she’s obviously upset?  Y’ ever think that’s why she never brought anyone home? You’ve gotta quit makin’ our daughter feel like an outcast before she leaves an’ never comes to see us ever again.”

Annais’s mother was quiet.  Everyone was after Wyatt finished.  Piers didn’t want to make things more awkward, but he couldn’t sit around like this anymore.

“… ‘Cuse me.  I’m gonna go check on her,” Piers said, rising from his seat.  “Thank you for the meal.  Um, should I take my plate…?”

“Just leave it, sweetie,” Cheyanne said.  She looked up and over at Marnie, revealing her eyes were brimming with tears.  “Y’ can too. I’ve got it.”

Marnie stood up as well.  “It was delicious.  Thank you.”

Cheyanne just nodded as the siblings left the room.

“… Piers,” Marnie whispered as she followed him up the stairs.  “D’ya think Ann is gonna want to leave?”

Piers shook his head.  “I’m gonna talk ‘er down.”

“Our mum wasn’t like that, was she?”

“Nah,” he said.  He paused at the top of the stairs.  “She… She an’ me were more like Ann an’ her pop.”

“An’ our pop?”

“He was just like Ann.”  Piers chuckled, ushering her to the rooms.  “You’d think he was the fun one.”

Marnie blushed.  “Aw, no hard feelin’s, bro.  I was just tryin’ to make ‘er feel better.”

“I know,” he said with a smile, stopping in front of the bedroom where Marnie was going to stay.  “An’ I know she appreciates it.  We’ll be across the hall.”

Marnie gave him a nod of acknowledgment and opened the door to her room.  “Night, Piers.”

“Night, Marnie.”

After a little wave, Marnie disappeared into the room, closing the door behind her.  

Piers took a few steps to the room where he would be staying.  After a deep breath, he pushed open the door.  Annais was collapsed face down on the mattress.  He stepped inside, shut the door behind him, and approached the bed. He didn’t say a word as he sat beside her on the mattress and began stroking her hair while she continued to cry. He wasn’t sure that anything he could say would make her feel better.

“I’m sorry, Nez,” she whispered, muffled behind her arm.  “I tried to have a stiff upper lip.”

“It’s okay, Ann,” he said.  “A lot has happened tonight.  I’m proud you held it together as long as you did.”

“Does Marnie think we’re gross?” she asked softly.

Piers chuckled.  “Marn thinks very highly of you, Ann.  She wouldn’t speak up like that for just anyone, not even herself. A kinky little pet name isn’t changin’ that.  ‘Sides, it’s not even that kinky…  An’ she shouldn’t know what kinky is.  She calls us gross all the time an’ doesn’t mean it.  You lettin’ ‘er weird older brother kiss you is really gross.”

Annais sniffled.  “I hope Daddy doesn’t think I’m a freak either.”

“You’re overthinkin’ the nickname thing, love,” Piers told her with a soft chuckle.  “‘Your Highness’ isn’t necessarily sexual.  It can be sarcastic too.  You said you were bein’ an ass.”

Annais took in a big shaky breath before rolling onto her side.  “Did I overreact, Nez?”

“I don’ think you’re that worried about the name. I think it was just the tippin’ point. Y’ don’ like to feel silly or scrutinized in front of others.”

“I guess.”

Annais pulled herself off the mattress and sat upright.  Piers held his arms out for her, and she fell into him.  As he held her, his eyes skimmed the room.

“So, this is where ya grew up,” Piers said, changing the subject.

“I mean, I lived here until two years ago,” she said and rubbed her eyes.

“But ya still grew up here.”

Annais shrugged.

“Surprised your folks aren’t weird about letting us share a room,” he mentioned.

“Piers, we’re in our mid-twenties.  We’re engaged.  They know we’re going to want to sleep together.”

“Yeah but… I dunno.  Figured they still wouldn’t want that under their roof.”

Annais sniffled, sitting up while fighting back a smile.  “What? Do you plan on coring me out in my childhood bed?”

“‘Course not.  Not with all these fine lads watchin’,” Piers said, rubbing the head of one of her stuffed animals.  Annais laughed.  “Alright. Which one of these was your favorite?”

Annais blushed, shaking her head.

“Come now.  I know y’ must have a favorite.”

Annais immediately picked up the jumbo green substitute doll.  “I wanted to take him with me to Galar so bad, but my mama talked me out of it. Said it was childish and it’d take up too much room.”

“Aww,” Piers said, petting the soft and fuzzy fur. “Want me to sneak it back home for you, love?”

Annais held it tight.  “Maybe…  Or maybe not… I have you to cuddle now.”

Piers smiled.  She sat it back down in the pile.

“An’ those nights you stay at home?” he asked.

“About that…” she said.  She averted her eyes, staring down at the heap of plushies.  “It’s something else that’s been bothering me. I’ve been wondering what to do when we get back to Galar.”

Piers’s eyes lit up, but he kept his excitement under wraps to let her elaborate.

“What’s on your mind, love?”

“I… might not want to go back to Ballonlea.”

A big, goofy grin spread across Piers’s face. “Y’wanna move in with me?”

Face turning red, she nodded.  “I mean, I’m not champion now.  I’m not bound by League etiquette.  It’s no secret we’re together anymore.  I’d like to… i-if that’s fine.”

“Oh, Ann!  Y’bloody know I’ve been waitin’ for this.”  Piers wrapped his arms around her.  “Hell, you’ve practically been livin’ at my place more than you were yours.  Spikemuth’s considered you one of their own for a while.”

“The cottage has a pretty high value,” Annais continued.  “If I sold it, we’d have plenty of money if you did happen to want to get a bigger flat in Spikemuth, or a townhouse.  Cost of living is way lower there.  That cottage money would get us something really nice.  Not that we need to do that immediately or anything.  But, y’know… One day, we might want more room…”

Piers’s already wide smile grew.  The mere implication of starting a family with Annais had his heart so full it could explode.  He squeezed her tighter and rocked her.

“But uh… Let’s not bring it up to Mama,” she said. “I do not want her nagging me about it more than she already does.”

Piers nodded, letting Annais out of his grip. “‘Course not.  An’ sorry if I made things uncomfortable.  I was just tryin’ to carry a conversation.”

Annais shook her head.  “It’s not you.  She’s just so...”  Annais waved her hands around and scoffed.  “Much. I don’t know.  She always pries and acts like I can’t do anything.”

“Y’missed your pop gettin’ onto ‘er,” Piers said.

“What?” Annais exclaimed.  “Daddy actually said something to her?”

Piers nodded; his face grew serious.

“No way.  What’d he say?”

“A lot.  Basically told ‘er that you were under a lot of stress an’ that she needed to go easier on you.  An’ that she needed to show she missed ya instead of lettin’ ya guess.  I think he made her cry.”

Annais frowned and shook her head.  “He doesn’t usually get riled up, especially in front of others.  She must have really upset him.”

“He did say he didn’t want her to cause you to leave an’ never come back.”

Her gaze fell to the ground.

“If I wasn’t afraid of Galar right now, I would have considered it,” Annais said.  “Or maybe spending the rest of the vacation in Johto or somewhere.  It’s not that I don’t love them, both of them. I-I just got out of one stressful situation.  I’m just so tired.  I’m tired of battling.”

“I know, love.  I do believe it’ll be better in the mornin’.  I think after bein’ called out, she’ll ease up.”

A yawn rose from Annais.  “I hope so.”

“You’re exhausted.  It’s been a long night…” Piers brushed back her hair as he said this.  “I think y’should switch out into your jams. Only way we’ll know if tomorrow is better is if we get to it.”

She nodded, standing up.

“I’m going to take a shower first,” she said. “I didn’t get to in Wyndon.”

“Good plan.”

A bit of a blush appeared on Annais’s face, paired with a coy smile.  “Does my fiancé want to join me?”

Piers let out a soft laugh and shook his head. “Lovely offer, but I don’ wanna be caught naked with you by your parents, especially not on night one.  That’d be a bad first impression.”  When he caught her smile slipping, he added, “Your fiancé would love to sit an’ chat with you though.”

“I’ll settle for that.”

Annais rummaged through her bag, getting her pajamas before walking into the bathroom.  Piers followed along behind her.

“What’s in there?” Piers pointed at another door once they were inside the bathroom.  

“Hm?  Oh.  Big closet.”  Annais opened it up and let him peek in.  Inside was tons of shelving, drawers, and even a vanity.  “We can do our hair and makeup at the same time without being on top of each other.  One of us in there, one of us in here.”

“Christ.  They let you have the master suite?” Piers asked.  Annais shook her head and closed the door.

“No, I think it’s called the princess suite or some shit.  The master’s on the first floor,” she said as she cut on the faucet.  “You should see my parent’s bath.  It’ll make you sick.”

“Your pop said he’d give us a tour in the mornin’,” said Piers while Annais stripped away her clothes.  “Maybe I’ll see it then.”

“Well, wear comfortable shoes,” she joked.  “The nursery in the back is cool.  And we have the gym back there, too.  I should’ve asked if Vicia is coming by tomorrow.”

“Your cousin?”

“Mhm.”

Annais stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain. Looking around, Piers was surprised as fancy as this bathroom was, there was no bench or seating.  The shower had a seat in it, but he couldn’t very well sit on that while she was in there.  He closed the lid of the toilet and sat on it instead.

“Ann?”

She peeled back the shower curtain to glance at him.

“I’m proud of you, y’know.”

Frowning, she pulled the shower curtain back closed. The sound of the shower water hissing was all Piers heard.  He rose to his feet and peeked behind the curtain himself.

“I mean it, love.  Everything you’ve done since yesterday has been so brave.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” she mumbled, looking away from him.  “I feel like I’m running away from everything and letting it win.”

“Nah, knowing when to walk away is smart. You’re not letting it win; you’re letting it know you’ve got better things to do than bother with it.  It’s braver to me to step down than suffer through it.  Or walk away instead of takin’ the piss.  You’re bein’ a punk about it.  Tellin’ it to bugger off cos you’re not fuckin’ with it anymore.”

Piers’s last bit cause a laugh to rise from Annais.

“Thanks, Nez.”

“Now, gimme a kiss, love.  It’ll make y’ feel better,” he said.  “Don’ think we’ve had a proper chance to kiss again since we got engaged.”

“That last one was such a good one though,” she said.

“Every one is a good one with you, Ann.”  He puckered his lips and brought his face as close as he could to her without being under the stream of water. Giggling, she met him for a quick smooch.  She accidentally splashed his face a bit as the shower water ricocheted off her face to his, causing him to recoil before bursting into laughter.

“Even that one?” she asked.

“Especially that one,” he answered, leaning his face in for one more.  She kissed him, a bit longer this time.  He didn’t mind that his face and bangs were getting soaked, because he felt her smile against his lips.  “An’ that one, too.”

“I think you’re right,” said Annais as he pulled away.

“This one of those old houses where if I flush, you’re gonna get scorched?” Piers asked, lifting the toilet seats.  He unbuckled his belt.  “Your mum’s tea went right through me.  Shower isn’t helpin’.”

“Oh my God.  How romantic,” she muttered.  She shut the shower curtain when she realized he wasn’t joking.  “We were having a moment!”

“Yeah, an’ I held it the whole time so I could cheer ya up.”

“You won’t shower with me, but you’ll piss right beside me?  Either way your pants are down, Nez.”

“Oi, least I’m not piddlin’ in the bloody shower,” he said.  “Can I flush or nah?”

“Go ahead,” she said.  

After he was done, he flushed, immediately causing Annais to hiss.

“Ann!”  Piers peeled back the curtain in shock, only to find her standing there, perfectly fine and grinning from ear to ear.

“Just kidding!”

“You cheeky cunt,” he said.  He stuck his hand under the shower stream and splashed her, resulting in her squealing. “Quit that, or they’ll really think we’re foolin’ around in ‘ere.”

“Mmm, harder,” she softly moaned.  “Ooh, Nez.”

“Ann!” Piers shot her a bewildered look.  “For Chrissakes!”

“What are you so scared about?” she laughed.

“Me?  Aren’t you the one who was worried about your folks thinkin’ you’re some kinda pervert?”

She shrugged.  “If they already think it, why not?”

“You’re a bloody mess, Ann.”

“Your mess,” she said, flashing her ring.

Piers ran a hand through his damp hair, closed the toilet seat, and sat back down.

“I love you,” she teased.

“Yeah, yeah.  Sure actin’ like it.”  A moment passed and he quickly, quietly added.  “But I love you too.”

Annais cut off the shower and peeked out.

“Can you hand me a towel?”

“Where are they?” he asked.  “The Neverland closet?”

This quip had Annais snorting.

“No,” she laughed.  “Should be under the sink.”

Piers looked in the cabinet below the sink and found a stack of fluffy towels.  “These?”

“Yes, please.”

He brought one to her.

“Thank you, Nez,” she said, making a kissy face. He sighed and pecked her lips as he handed it over.

As Annais dried off, Piers picked up her clothes from the floor and placed them in the hamper.  When she tossed her towel in the hamper, Piers handed over her nightgown and bottoms.

“All set?” he asked when she was dressed.  She nodded, and the two of them left the bathroom.

“If I were by myself, I’d just sleep in the middle of these,” she said as she moved the plush toys off her bed and sat them on an old cedar chest at the foot.

“I can put our things up while you do that,” Piers offered as she cleared off the bed.  “Don’ think you wanna be livin’ out of suitcases for a month.”

Annais paused and looked to him with a frown.

“… Can you hold off until the morning?” she asked. “Maybe after breakfast?”

He offered her an understanding nod.  “Of course, love.”

When Annais finished, she pulled back the blankets and settled down in the bed.  Piers sat beside her on the mattress.

“Are you going to be able to sleep?” she asked, yawning before continuing.  “I know you feel weird when you’re not home.”

“Ann, I’m with you,” he assured her.  “I’ll sleep as well as I would anywhere.  I might sit up for a bit longer though.”

“To write?”

“Yeah, after I shower.”

“There’s notebooks on the desk,” she said.  “Most of them are empty.  You can use them if you need to.”

“Any ones I should avoid?” he joked.  She shook her head.

“Nothing I haven’t told you about before, I’m sure. Think there’s old vampire erotica I wrote in some of them if you want a good hard laugh.”

Piers grinned, “Of the boy toys?”

Annais could not contain her snort of laughter at this.  “Yeah. The boy toys.”

“Hmm… Might skim them to get some ideas,” he teased, leaning down to nip at her neck.  “Don’ wanna get too randy though.”

“I assure you, you won’t.”

Piers kissed her lips.  “Get some rest, Ann.”

“Nez, can you lay with me?” she quietly asked. “Before you go to shower?”

Piers did not protest this request at all.  He joined her by her side and threw an arm over her.

“Gotta say,” he spoke after getting comfortable. “I prefer our arrangements at home.”

Annais nodded.  “Should I sell my bed too?  With the cottage?”

“Nah,” he said.  “I already look like I have back problems.  If we keep it up in that little cot every night, I will.  An’ like you said earlier, we might need the room… One day.”

“Right,” she said.  Another yawn came from her.  She snuggled closer to his chest.  “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Piers rubbed her back, humming softly to her. It didn’t take long for her to doze off, and he even drifted for a little power nap of his own.  When he came to, he kissed her forehead before reluctantly pulling himself away so he could shower.

His shower wasn’t nearly as entertaining as hers. His mind recounted the events of the past day, how much their situation had changed.  He didn’t think a little ring would change much other than other’s opinions of them, but somehow, he was even more connected with Annais than he was when he woke up the day before.  He finished washing his hair quickly so he could try to get all these emotions on paper.

Piers didn’t bother with any of Annais’s old notebooks.  He wasn’t necessarily wanting to be distracted.  If he was going to read her stories, he wanted to do it where he could read them aloud to her and watch her reaction.  Instead, he fished a little notepad out of his jacket pocket.  Flipping through for a clean sheet, he smiled upon seeing the little song he had sang for Annais hours earlier.  On the next page, he began furiously scribbling.

-

A soft knock on the door pulled Piers away from the lyrics he was looking down at.  He rose from the desk, thinking it must have been Marnie.  When he cracked open the door, he was greeted by Annais’s father.

“Hey,” Wyatt said softly.  “Saw the light on an’ thought y’all were awake.”

Piers shook his head.  “Just me.  Ann passed out a little while ago.”

Wyatt nodded.  “Y’ want a beer?”

Piers found himself nodding too before he realized it and ended up following the man out the room.  Wyatt was quiet as he walked down the hall.  When they went down the stairs, he returned to his chatty self.

“She gettin’ more sleep these days?” Wyatt asked.

“Ah…  She had been, up until more recently.  The league stuff really took a toll on ‘er.”

Wyatt frowned.  “Yeah, I could tell.  I hope she’s finally able to relax again now.”

“I think bein’ back here for a while should help.”

“I hope so…”

Piers followed Wyatt into the kitchen, where the man grabbed a six pack, and then out the door that led to the veranda.  The night had cooled significantly since their arrival, but it was still warm.  Piers tied up his damp hair so it wasn’t clinging to him.  Wyatt stopped at the white wicker furniture, setting the booze on top of the table.

“Wanted to apologize about supper,” Wyatt said, handing Piers a longneck after removing the cap for him.  “Just… Never been without ‘er that long before…  Didn’t want ‘er to go away again.  The thought of it got me fired up.  ‘M sure you an’ yer sister ain’t used to any bickerin’ like that.  Don’t want y’all to think that that’s how it is ‘round here.”

“I didn’t get that impression at all,” Piers said. “‘Sides, Ann probably told me as much about you as she told you about me.”

Wyatt grinned, taking a swig of his beer.

“Her mother isn’t a bad woman,” Wyatt said, his grin fading.  Rather than taking a seat, he leaned against the banister.  “She’s as nervous as Annie; she just doesn’t show it like she does. She’ll shy away from situations where she thinks she’ll be in the way…”  The man sighed.  “Wouldn’t go to the airport cos she felt like Annie wouldn’t want to see ‘er… Not realizin’ that made it worse.  She’s always been so hard on ‘erself an’ the girl…”  He sighed.  “Sorry, I know you didn’t accept the beer just to hear an old man make excuses.”

Piers shook his head.  “No, it’s fine.  Really gives perspective.”

Wyatt offered Piers a grateful smile.

“Y’know… I see a lot of myself in ya, Piers.”

Piers knit his brows.  The two appeared to be as different from each other as two people could possibly be.  “… Really?”

He nodded as he finished his beer.

“Yessir.  Don’t judge by my appearance, son.  Hell, had I grown up a few decades later, I probably would’ve looked just like ya an’ Ann. Less tattoos though; that shit hurts. Don’t really like needles.”

The mental image made Piers laugh.

“Y’know, Annie told me…  About ya…  Yer family.”

Piers stiffened, clutching his bottle as he felt his chest get tighter.  The last thing he wanted tonight was pity.  He didn’t want to be rude to Annais’s father, but that was a touchy subject.

“No, no.  I ain’t gonna hound ya on it,” Wyatt said, immediately picking up on the shift in body language.  “Believe me.  I know ya don’t wanna talk about that, let alone with a stranger.  Just wanted to say, I’ve been there.  I understand.”

“D’ya?” Piers asked with a frown and a hint of disbelief.  The man bobbed his head slowly.

“My situation was just a little different though. See, I didn’t have a pa myself,” Wyatt said.  “Had to be the man of the family real early an’ take care of my ma.”

“Yeah?” Piers allowed himself to untense.  “Guess we do have somethin’ in common.  Other than our fondness of Ann, of course…”  This caused both of them to chuckle.  “What happened with your mum?”  He paused, realizing that he wouldn’t like to be asked that himself.  “… I mean, if ya don’ mind me askin’.”

“Nah, ‘course not.  I brought it up,” he said.  “My ma… she was a good woman, beautiful woman, hard-workin’ woman.  But a bit of an outcast, too.  See, she didn’t have the most lucrative career.  It put bread on the table.  That’s it.  Even if that’s all it could do, she did it.  Not a lot of people looked up to ‘er cos of it, but I did.  Got into countless fights cos of it.  Didn’t have a lot of friends cos of it.  But she was the strongest, kindest person I’d ever known.  That kinda life wasn’t easy on ‘er.  She got sick from it when I was young, but tried to ignore it to provide for me.  It got to the point where she couldn’t work no more.  I felt somethin’ had changed, but she still never told me.  I only knew cos I ended up hearin’ ‘er cryin’ and prayin’ about it late at night.  I started battlin’ with my Elekid to try an’ take care of ‘er.  What else is a thirteen-year-old to do?  That wasn’t earnin’ me much though.  People learned to quit battlin’ with me.  I started offerin’ to help people out around their yards…  Well-off people, like Cheyanne’s family.  People who didn’t know much about people like me. They had a buncha girls, no sons to help around a big house like that.”

Piers listened, letting the man continue.  He figured he needed someone to talk to, and didn’t mind lending an ear.  He wondered if Annais had ever heard any of this.  If she did, she never mentioned it to him.

“Chey took a likin’ to me.  She liked havin’ a boy ‘er age around the house an’ started showin’ off, tryin’ to get my attention.  But I was kinda preoccupied, y’know?  She had wanted to be a nurse, so she ended up helpin’ takin’ care of my ma for me on the side.  Started by goin’ to visit ‘er, bringin’ ‘er food an’ stuff to ask ‘er about me.  Once she befriended ‘er, Ma let ‘er help out more. That really got my attention.” Wyatt sipped his beer as he fondly remembered this.  

“Her pa took a likin’ to me too, probably cos she was so keen on me.  Chey tattled on me to ‘im.  Told ‘im I was thinkin’ of quittin’ school to have more time to work.  See, she’s always been kinda nosy.  She means well by it; even if it doesn’t seem like it.  Usually either cos she worries or she wants to be included.  In my case, it was a blessin’.  Her pa offered to pay me as if I worked full-time for the part-time work I did, as long as I kept my grades up.  Y’best believe I worked my ass off day an’ night tryin’ to keep my end of the deal. I’m grateful.  Cos of him, I didn’t have to give up my dreams or my Ma.”

He took a deep breath.  He looked out across the yard before continuing.

“Y’know, for a while, I didn’t think I had a future. It just wasn’t somethin’ I thought about.  But when he gave me that chance, I decided I wanted to be a businessman like him.  I was gonna study real hard and learn from him.  I didn’t know what I wanted my business to be, but I know I wanted to be able to help others like he helped me.  And when I got to be a businessman, I’d get a big house like him.  An’ I’d be a real good son an’ husband an’ father like he was for the family I wanted to have.”

“Guessin’ you were successful?”

“Yessir,” Wyatt beamed.  “He helped me out, but didn’t hand it to me.  He had his own business; never once offered to let me join ‘im.  I think he knew I didn’t want the easy way.  Me an’ my Elekid… Well, reckon he evolved by the time I was that age.  My Electabuzz an’ me, we started off fixin’ some wirin’ around that old house.  Decided we liked it, so we started doin’ it for others.  Turned out to be pretty good at it.  Good enough to make enough money to care for my ma, an’ get married, an’ buy this heap.”  He laughed as he gestured at the house behind him.  “It may look expensive, but you shoulda seen it when we got it.  Cheyanne wanted ‘er house to be better’n her old man’s… Nicer’n anything her sisters would live in.  That woman’s where Annais gets ‘er competitive streak.  She helped me turn this thing into the beauty it is today.”

“An’ your mum…?” Piers asked.  “Was she okay?”

“After me an’ Chey got married an’ got this place fixed up, she lived with us here for a little while longer.  Chey continued to take care of ‘er.  Gave up on the bein’ a nurse thing.  My ma was gettin’ worse, an’ she wasn’t takin’ it well.  Didn’t think she could go through it again with anyone else. But in their free time, they started the daycare in the yard back there to distract themselves.  Chey still does it,” Wyatt said.  “My ma, we took care of her best we could, but she wasn’t doing good.” He lowered his head.  “She ended up passin’ just before Annais was born.”

“Ah…”

“Sure, I was tore up at the time.  Who wouldn’t be?  But she had been sick so long.  I can’t say I never saw it comin’.  I like to think I gave ‘er as good of a life as a son could.  She was a fighter.  She ended up livin’ way past what they expected of ‘er.”  Wyatt finished his second bottle.  “Between the two of us, I always wondered if she left when she did just to make room for Annie.”

With a tilt of his head, Piers asked, “Why’s that?”

“Ma was so happy when she found out Annie was on the way.  So excited for me.  She knew it was the last major goal of mine.  She passed peacefully about a month an’ a half before she was born.  One of the last things she told me was to take as good of care of Annais as I did her, and my daughter would love me as much as her son loved her.  I dunno. I thought about that a lot, I still do. She said ‘loved’ at the time, like she knew she wasn’t gonna be around.  Loved… I still love my ma.”

Piers nodded, blinking as he felt a sting in his eyes.  That last line from Wyatt hit close to home.  

“She was a proud woman.  She hated feelin’ like a burden an’ I had already spent so much of my life carin’ for her.  Cheyanne too at that point.  I wouldn’t put it past ‘er, movin’ on so she wouldn’t take attention away from ‘er granddaughter.”  Wyatt cracked open another bottle and laughed.  “Always thought she left when she did knowin’ we wouldn’t have much time to mope about it either.”

“She sounds like a good woman,” Piers said.  “What was ‘er name?”

Wyatt smiled wide.  “Renée.”

“Renée…”  Piers looked up.  “That’s who Annais is named after, yeah?”

“Yep.”  Piers could see Wyatt was blushing.  “Gotta say, she does a helluva job livin’ up to her namesake, too.  Not that I believe in reincarnation or nothin’, but I do think she ended up with my Ma’s pride an’ fightin’ spirit.”  His smile faded into a frown.  “Though, I do wish she could tone back that pride.  It’s hard for ‘er to let people see she’s hurtin’…  I think that might be another reason why Cheyanne is so tough on her.  If my ma would’ve taken care of ‘erself sooner, or let someone else, she might still be with us.  She doesn’t want it to happen again.”

Piers nodded.  His story was a lot to take in, but it did shed a bit of light on the situation.  It also helped Piers feel far more at ease around Annais’s father.  He envied him.  He wished he could speak of his family as freely as he did.  It took everything for him to even tell Annais.  But he couldn’t deny, she had been making it easier.  Telling Annais helped him be more open with Marnie.  Keeping things from her wasn’t protecting her like he had originally believed; she deserved to know them too.  Maybe one day, he’d get through it around others without crying.  Maybe when he was this age, he’d quit feeling like that broken little boy every time they got brought up.  After a moment of reflection passed, Piers spoke up again.

“She was right, y’know.”

Wyatt looked over at him, “What’s that?”

“She was right,” he said again.  “Renée.  Annais loves you as much as you love your mum.  I’m sure she’s proud of how you raised Ann.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Wyatt said with a smile. “Piers, I know your life hasn’t been the easiest either.  I have a lot of respect for ya.  About that blessin’ business, I mean it.  You have it.  I don’t think Annie could’ve ended up with a more perfect person for ‘er.  I hope she’s just as good to ya as ya are to ‘er.”

“Yeah,” Piers said, closing his eyes and swallowing the lump that formed in his throat.  “She takes care of me as much as I take care of ‘er.  She’s an angel.”

Wyatt snorted.  “Aw, I’m sure she wouldn’t want ya callin’ ‘er somethin’ like that though. Doesn’t quite fit with that aesthetic of ‘ers.”

“Right,” Piers laughed aloud.  “She’s still a cheeky angel, whether she likes it or not.”

“Want another?” Wyatt asked, pointing at the empty bottle that Piers had a death grip on.

“Hmm… Yeah.  Help me sleep when I get back up there,” he said.  Wyatt cracked open another and handed it to Piers.  “Thanks, mate.”

“‘Course.”

“Oi…”

“Hm?”

“Renée’s her middle name,” Piers said, taking a sip.  “Where’d ‘er first name come from?”

“Cheyanne’s side of the family got a li’l namin’ convention for the gals.  ‘Er mother’s named Annabelle.  Then, there’s Cheyanne, an’ ‘er sisters, Annita, Morgann, an’ Johanna.”

“Shit,” Piers muttered.  He downed the rest of his bottle, drawing concern from the man he was with.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ann never told me that,” Piers frowned.  “I ‘ad a baby’s name this whole bloody time an’ I might need to change it.”

Wyatt burst into laughter, causing Piers to laugh too.

“Well, what ya got?”

“Always wanted to name a little girl Junie,” Piers revealed, scratching the back of his neck.  

“Junie?” Wyatt repeated.  He handed the last full bottle to Piers, who accepted it without question.  “I like that. Where’d it come from?  Your ma’s name?”

“Nah, ‘er name was Myrtle.  They called ‘er Tilly cos she said Myrtle sounded so old,” Piers laughed.  “I couldn’t do it, y’know.  Name my baby after them...  Think it’d hurt me too much…”  He rubbed his stinging nose before gulping down more beer.  “But Junie, I dunno…  Mum liked that name.  Said she was gonna name me that if I was a girl or if I ‘ad a twin…  Is that odd?  To use a name that could’ve been mine?”

“Nuh-uh, it’s cute.  Think it’s a good, subtle homage.”

“Oi,” Piers whispered.  Wyatt leaned in closer.  “Didja notice?”

“Notice what?”

“Junie an’ Piers.  It’s Juniper.”

“Oh hell, son.  That’s clever!  You tell Annie that?”

He shook his head and had another swig.  “Worried if she noticed, she’d laugh an’ say no…  Not that we’ve had that conversation yet.”

“Nuh-uh, I think she’d like that play on words,” Wyatt insisted.  “She’s silly like that too.  You ever think of a middle name?”

“Nah.”  Piers shook his head.  “Didn’t want to lay claim to the whole name.  Always imagined my future wife wouldn’t like that too much.  Don’ ‘ave a boy’s name either, really.  No preference there.  Just not Rhys or Junior.  Cannot bloody stand Juniors.  Those blokes never go by their first name.  Just let ‘em be their own man.”

Wyatt was cracking up as Piers got chatty.

“A little girl could still be Junie Anne or somethin’ like that,” Wyatt suggested.  “That’s if Annie wants to even follow that convention.  She’s known for doin’ ‘er own thing.  I mean, ‘er cousin, Vicia, ain’t got an Ann in her name.”

“Oh, I like the sound of Junie Anne,” Piers said. “But it’ll be up to Ann when the time comes.”

“She likes ya a lot, I think y’ could convince ‘er.”

“Oi, maybe y’ could put in a good word for me?” Piers said, nudging the man.  “I’ll suggest the first, y’ suggest the middle.  As ‘er favorite people, I think we got a chance, yeah?”

“Deal,” he said, sticking his hand out.  Piers accepted and they shook on it.  “Least I could do.”

As the two were laughing amongst themselves, the opening of a door cut them off.

“Wy, you out here?” Cheyanne asked, appearing around the corner.  “Oh, Piers…” She stiffened upon seeing him, then lowered her head.  “Sorry for earlier.”

“He’s really not the one y’need to be apologizin’ to,” Wyatt said.  Cheyanne sighed.

“She was sleepin’,” she said.

“Might want to talk to ‘er before breakfast,” Piers suggested.  “Don’ think she’s gonna do anythin’, but she told me to hold off on unpackin’ ‘til the mornin’.”

Cheyanne choked up.  “So, she really does wanna leave.”

“Nah, I don’ think that’s true or we’d be gone already.  I think hearin’ it from you will convince ‘er to stay.  You just ‘ave to be explicit with ‘er.”

She responded with a slow nod.

“Can I tell y’somethin’?” Piers asked.  “I know I’m a bit pissed now, but hand to God it’s the truth.”

Cheyanne looked to Wyatt, who shrugged.

“Go ahead.”

“Ann thought I hated ‘er at first.”

“What?” Cheyanne asked.

“Yeah,” Piers admitted.  “It was love at first sight for us, but she wouldn’t make a bloody move an’ I didn’t know if she was just bein’ nice or not.  I fucked around… Oi, pardon my language… I uh, fooled around so long an’ was so scared she thought I hated ‘er.  Cos I wasn’t explicit with her.  She needs to things to be confirmed.  Gotta communicate with ‘er.  Even after we got together, took me forever to figure it out.  She can be so bloody stubborn with ‘erself.  She’ll doubt even the most obvious things ‘til they’re confirmed.  Tell ‘er the obvious.  Tell ‘er y’ miss ‘er an’ that y’ love ‘er.  Tell ‘er you’re worried sick about ‘er.  Promise, if ya take the first step, she’ll meet you.” He finished the last of his beer. He then gestured at Wyatt while continuing to look at Cheyanne.  “Y’know… After meetin’ ‘im, I’d bet it’s cos he’s so loud an’ honest about everythin’.  He’s such an influence on ‘er, wager she wants everyone to be as expressive with ‘er as he is.  Thanks, mate.  Makin’ us bloody work for it.”

Cheyanne and Wyatt both stared at Piers for a moment before devolving into laughter.

“Christ, Chey.  I love this kid,” Wyatt exclaimed, patting Piers on the back.  “Think I’d adopt ‘im if he wasn’t already marryin’ my girl.”

“Piers, I can see why you’re a musician,” Cheyanne said, smiling and folding her arms.  “Your attention to detail is incredible.  You really know how to read a room.”

Piers tugged on his choker and averted his eyes. “… Y’gotta quit flatterin’ me.”

Wyatt glanced at his watch.  “It’s late, we should turn in if we’re gonna even be up for breakfast.”

“Righto,” he said.  “Thanks for the beer, mate.  Glad I was up.”

“Hard time sleepin’?” Wyatt asked.

“Nah,” he shook his head.  “Was writin’ somethin’ so I wouldn’t lose it.”

“Oh! You gonna let us hear it?” Cheyanne asked.

Piers grinned.  “Maybe if ya come to my weddin’.”