“I never told you how lucky I was to have met you, Jules, but I’m eternally grateful the universe put us in each others paths. You are the best friend any one could ever ask for and I needed to say that because I don’t say it often enough,” Jules sniffled and pulled her into a hug. Arsinoe squeaked “Jules, your-“

“Screw the hair. You can’t say shit like that to me and not expect me to hug you. I love you too, A,” they hug until the door opens behind them.

“Oh, girls,” the warm voice of Ellis Milone fills the room and they pull way to see Jules’ family. Caragh came forward and hugged both of them close. Ellis hugged them next. “You both look beautiful.”

“You all need to get going,” Cait smiled, kissing her granddaughter’s forehead. “Come now, both of you,” Jules smiled tearily and grabbed Arsinoe’s hand, walking with her toward the door.

~

Emilia looked nervous in her suit at the end of the aisle. Arsinoe grinned at her as she walked down the aisle, her blue dress brushing around her knees. Arsinoe raised a hand and gestured for Emilia to turn around and she did so. Arsinoe pats her shoulder before standing on Jules’ side. She caught the eye of Billy and he winked at her as the bridal march started and every one stood.

Jules came down the grassy aisle with a smile on her face. She walked with Ellis, who was helping her cover up the slight difference in her gait because of the prosthetic leg, but she was still radiant. Arsinoe nudged Emilia and she turned to face her fiancee. Emilia’s eyes lit up with tears forming when she saw Jules and Jules’ face did the same.

Arsinoe smiled and took Jules’ bouquet from her as the celebrant starting speaking.

~

“Hi,” Arsinoe came and took Billy’s hand whilst he stood at the bar. He turned to her and kissed her cheek.

“Hi. You look beautiful,” Arsinoe blushes but points a finger at him.

“You should have been watching the wedding. It was sweet,” he pulls her gently into his arms so they both face towards where Jules and Emilia were sitting at the head table. He pressed a kiss in her hairline.

“Do you think we’ll ever do this?” Arsinoe shrugged, shifting his arms slightly.

“Maybe one day. I try not to think too far into the future when right now is so beautiful,” Billy smiled at her words.

“Right now is pretty good, huh?”

“It is indeed, love,” she kisses his cheek and unwraps herself, pulling him towards the dance floor. He laughs and follows her gladly.

He thinks that he might follow her anywhere if she keeps smiling at him like she is now. All bright and glowing like a thousand stars. He pulls her into a simple dance hold. The night was late and most people had moved back to tables so the dance floor was relatively empty.

“Hey, so I got to thinking while you were away and I uh… um,” his words falter him. He hasn’t been this nervous since his first time in court all those years ago and even then he hadn’t been this flustered. Arsinoe watched him and waited, a slight smile on her face.

Billy rubbed his neck and reached into his pocket, pulling the key from his pocket. Arsinoe stared at it in confusion.

“It’s a key,” Arsinoe stated.

“It is a key. It’s for you,” Arsinoe didn’t look any less confused. “I was gonna ask you to move in with me,” Arsinoe looked shocked and then she smiled wide and threw herself into his arms.

“Seriously?” She says, laughing slightly as she examines the unicorn key chain.

“Seriously. So, miss Arsinoe Queen, will you move in with me?” He asks, holding her waist.

“Yes. Most definitely. I love you,” she confirms, leaning up onto her tiptoes to kiss him gently.

Billy woke up to someone flicking him in the ear. He had fallen asleep at his desk soon after everyone in his office left except for a few hardworking first years. Billy groaned as he looked up at the person who had woken him only to be faced with the subject of his dream. He sat up and smiled sheepishly at Arsinoe as she dropped a take away bag on his desk and sat across him, kicking her combat boot clad feet up on the desk.

“Are you okay? You look exhausted. I bought dinner from Gillespie’s,” Billy stared at her and then at the take away box and then at her again.

“How? They only do sit down dinners,” Arsinoe shrugged and smiled.

“Luke Gillespie and I go way back. I’m like, his favourite person,” Billy smiled at her and stood, rounding the desk and kissing her.

“Have I ever told you how exquisite you are?” Billy asks quietly, not moving his lips very far from her own. He can almost feel the heat from her cheeks when she blushes and he smiles and grabs their dinner, passing her the pesto gnocchi and taking the penne carbonara for himself.

“So what’s this big important case you’re working your ass off on?” Arsinoe said, before eating a piece of pasta. Billy notices the paint that stains her fingertips and smiles.

“Eh, some company’s been accused of fraud  and they want us to defend them,” Arsinoe seemed to consider.

“They guilty?”

“Oh for sure, that’s why I have to work so hard. It’s my job to prove they’re not. It’s killing me. Especially with the court day so soon,” he rested his head on his hands and didn’t notice her stand and walk to sit on the desk in front of him, her hands gently moving through his hair and over his neck.

“You’ll be okay, just… breathe,” he breathed out and just let the feel of her hands sooth him.

“Where did you learn to do this?” Arsinoe let him sit up and watch her, his hands coming to rest on her waist.

“My older sister used to do that to me when I couldn’t sleep. It helped a lot,” she shrugged and rested her hands on his shoulders.

“You don’t talk about your sister a lot. Did something happen between the two of you?” Arsinoe shrugged noncommittally before moving back to her seat.

“Sisters… and um, some stuff happened but that’s a conversation for another time,” she cleared her throat and stood suddenly. “I should go, you have work. Enjoy your dinner,” Arsinoe leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, picked up her dinner and was out the door before he even had a chance to react.

~

Billy panicked over the next couple of hours. He hadn’t meant to upset her, not at all, he had just been curious.

So he picked up the phone and called her, only to be sent to voicemail. It was the best he would get, he decided before speaking into her answering machine.

“Hey, Arsinoe, just wanted to check you were okay. You seemed pretty freaked when I bought up… well when I bought up what I did and I’m so sorry. I didn’t realise you had probably never talked about it for a reason, so yeah… I’m sorry. I hope you can still come to Jane’s place with me tomorrow because I know she’s really excited to meet you. Anyway… call me or show up at my apartment tomorrow, whatever works. I… Bye,” he didn’t focus on the fact he had nearly said he loved her for the first time over a voicemail. That was a tomorrow conundrum. He put his phone down and glanced at his alarm clock. 12:21am.