@kimotea, here is the other half of your commission! It’s short, but I hope it’s okay! 

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Kallista took a deep breath, staring at herself in the mirror. “What do you think, Dad?” She whispered, smoothing her hands over the silky white and black dress. “Do you think she'll like it?”

She turned, her long red curls flowing over her shoulders. Beautiful flowers were woven through her hair, hand-picked by Orfi. Her father smiled, wrapping her in a gentle embrace.

“You look beautiful, Kallista. I'm sure she will love it.”

Kallista began to hear soft music being played from nearby. “It's time. Are you ready?” Kallista's father asked softly, taking one of Kallista's gloved hands. She nodded, swallowing a little bit. She was full of anticipation; Kallista tried to focus on walking at her father's pace, resisting the urge to sprint full force into the grove that had been set up for them.

Slowly the two made their way to the entrance of the grove. Among the seats were friends and family; Orfi, Sorrow, Bo and Nico. Kairon and Hope, as well as their children also sat in the crowd.  Rilyrr's brother Kyo stood next to her at the altar, while her mother sat next to Kallista's father, when he sat.

Kallista locked eyes with Rilyrr, and she felt her heart stop beating for a moment. “She's fucking beautiful.” Kallista whispered under her breath as she took in Rilyrr. Kallista took in Rilyrr, standing under the altar, a few flower petals landing on her crisp black suit. The white ruffled undershirt, the silver accents lining the suit, the way Rilyrr shuffled slightly next to her brother all set Kallista's heart on fire. Carefully, Kallista gave Rilyrr a tiny smile. She got one in return.

Kallista's eyes didn't leave Rilyrr, except when she glanced at the small purple Tiefling who was playing the guitar, as well as the tall Goliath man standing nearby. After what seemed like an eternity, Kallista finally reached the altar, standing in front of Rilyrr and Kyo.

Kallista's father stepped forward, taking Kallista's hand and placing it into Rilyrr's. Rilyrr gave her hand a gentle squeeze, which Kallista returned.

Standing behind the altar was a human looking man that Kallista didn't fully recognize, who seemed to be the one leading the ceremony. “You look beautiful, Kallista.” Rilyrr whispered, giving her a bit of a wider smile now.

“You look absolutely stunning.” Kallista replied. “You take my breath away every time I get the pleasure of looking at you.”

The two giggled slightly before turning their attention back to the man under the altar. He began to speak, but Kallista barely payed him any attention. All she could focus on was the beautiful woman standing next to her. She stared at Rilyrr, memorizing her face. The face she was blessed to be with for the rest of their lives.

“Do you, Kallista, agree to be bonded to Rilyrr for the rest of your lives?”

Kallista couldn't hold back a beaming smile, as well as her tears. “It would be my honour.”

“Do you, Rilyrr, agree to be bonded to Kallista for the rest of your lives?” The man repeated, now turning to Rilyrr.

“I do.” Rilyrr agreed, tears in her eyes.

Kallista slipped on the beautiful red and silver ring onto Rilyrr's finger, placing a gentle kiss over top of it. Rilyrr did the same.

“Okay. You're married!” The man pronounced.

Rilyrr quickly pulled Kallista against her, cupping her face and kissing her deeply. Kallista happily returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around her wife.

The crowd cheered, and the pair couldn't help but giggle again as Orfi tossed a handful of flowers over the two of them.

“I love you, Rilyrr.” Kallista whispered.

“I love you, Kallista.” Rilyrr responded.

“Ready for our dance, my lovely wife?” Kallista teased, taking Rilyrr's hand.

“I am, my darling wife.”

Kallista and Rilyrr made their way to the “dance floor”, and began to dance.

“I have died every day waiting for you.” Kallista sung to Rilyrr softly as they danced. “Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years.”

Kallista carefully ran her hand through Rilyrr's hair, willing her hand not to shake. The events of the day had shaken her to her core, though she tried not to show it. Kallista closed her eyes, trying not to give in to her fears. The image of Shavari's mangled body, the searing anger she felt when Orfi revealed that she was the cause of Shavari's death, the overwhelming fear as she began to be pulled towards the ocean.  

Kallista couldn't stop her body from shaking. She slowly untangled herself from Rilyrr and sat up, covering her mouth with her hands to muffle the sobs that would inevitably come. She closed her eyes again, trying to focus on the steady sounds of Rilyrr's breaths. She tried to count the moments between each of her breaths, but her mind instead focused on the moment she was enveloped by the whirlpool.

Kallista wrapped her wings around herself as she slid to the floor and began to sob.

“Kallista?” Kallista was barely able to hear the soft and sleepy sounding voice. She flinched as Rilyrr gently placed her hand on Kallista's back. “Are you okay?”

“I-I'm fine.” Kallista responded, wiping the tears off her face.

“What's wrong?” Rilyrr murmured, wrapping her arms around the Angel. “Do you want to talk about it?”

At first, Kallista shakes her head. The two stay quiet for another moment before Kallista speaks. “Rilyrr. I don't want to do this anymore.”

“I know, Kallista.”

“But I have to keep going. No matter what. I made a promise that I need to keep.” Rilyrr strokes Kallista's hair, letting her speak. “But I'm so scared. I almost died again.” Rilyrr's grip on Kallista tightens slightly. “I couldn't escape the whirlpool. All I could do was struggle against it as it pulled me down towards the ocean. I couldn't swim, I couldn't fly, I couldn't even reach you to ask for help. I just needed to cool off.” Tears fell once again. “And I feel bad for how I treated Orfi; I shouldn't have attacked her like that. But she can't just.. She can't just leave us to die every time one of us does something she doesn't agree with. What if she does that to you?” Kallista leans her head into Rilyrr's shoulder. “I don't want to lose you.. You're all I have, Rilyrr.”

The two sit in relative silence, the only noise the lapping of the waves against the boat and the occasional sniffle from Kallista. After a few moments, Rilyrr speaks again. “I know things are hard right now, Kallista. I'm here for you. I can only hope that soon they get better.” She murmurs, gently placing a kiss on Kallista's tear stained cheek.

“Do you wanna go sit up top for a little bit?”

“Sure.”

Kallista got up, offering Rilyrr a hand. With a gentle smile Rilyrr took her hand. The two quickly put on a robe to protect themselves from the cold. They quietly ascended the stairs and made their way across the deck of the ship towards front. The two nodded in acknowledgement to the few crew members on deck before settling at the tip of the boat, leaning against the side.

Kallista stared out at the dark water, swallowing hard as the taste of salt water filled her mouth. “Did I ever tell you what happened with my mother?”

“No, I don't believe so.”

Kallista turned her head towards Rilyrr, studying her face. “I fucked up.” She said, looking fowards once again. “And she made me pay for it. I can't tell you exactly what it was, but it was worth it.” Kallista seemed lost in thought. “And she promised to give me back my father too. I couldn't refuse. I offered whatever she wanted in return for my father, and for keeping a secret.” Rilyrr gave Kallista a slightly puzzled look, but let her continue speaking. “I offered one of the most important things an angel has.”

“Your wings.” Rilyrr breathed.

“Yeah.” Kallista stretched the tips of her wings, wincing slightly. As if the mere memory was hurting her. “She's probably going to use them in some type of experiment like she did on Kairon. But that doesn't matter.” She gave Rilyrr's hand a gentle squeeze. “Because the two most important people I have in my life are safe.”

Rilyrr couldn't help but smile. “What.. happened?” She asked, glancing at Kallista's white-tipped wings.

“She took them off me.” Kallista murmured, her voice barely audible over the roaring wind. “At first, she used a knife or a sword. I don't remember exactly what it was. I tried not to look.” Kallista carefully extended her wings as she pulled Rilyrr against her side. She wrapped her wings around the two of them, providing more shelter from the cold air. “It.. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. But.. Then she took my other wing.” Kallista shuddered slightly. “She got overexcited, I think. She ripped it out with her bare hands. No tools. Just her nails.”

Rilyrr's face was a mixture of horror and anger.

“I could... I could feel it. Every nerve being ripped from my back, the pain as she gripped them and held them still. It.. It was too much for me. I passed out from the pain. I thought.. Honestly, I thought I was dead.”

Rilyrr wrapped her arms tight around Kallista, managing to keep her tears at bay. “So.. How did you get your wings back?”

“Freyja came to me, actually. She gave me an option to help my father, which I took. He's in her realm once again, restored as an Angel of Freyja.” Kallista couldn't help but give a melancholy smile. “And Freyja.. She made me her Champion. In return for everything I've done, everything I've sacrificed, she promised that when I died and stayed dead, I would be reuinted with my father in her afterlife. She placed the mark on my head and restored my wings.”

“I'm glad you're back, Kallista. I don't want to lose you either. You're so important to me.” Rilyrr cupped Kallista's face and leaned up, placing a tender kiss on her lips. “I love you, Kallista.”

Kallista stared back at Rilyrr, before cupping her face and returning the kiss.

“I love you too, Rilyrr. Please don't ever leave me.”