KOTLC Sokeefe One-Shots, Alternate Endings, etc

No Regrets (Oralie POV)

Oralie sat down, but this time sat next to Kenric on the couch. "Are you sure you don't want to go lie down and rest?" She asked him.

But he shook his head. "No. Honestly I'd rather just sit here with you." He took her hand in his. "I love you, Ora. I'm so glad I get to say that now."

"I love you too," she breathed. Tears started to fill her eyes again.

She just couldn't help it.

And Kenric seemed to understand.

He had tears in his eyes too.

And he pulled her into his arms again, kissing her.

And it was different, somehow, than the kiss at Aeternum had been.

Something about the way he was kissing her now made her very glad they were alone.

Eventually, they broke apart. But the fire in Kenric's eyes told her he hadn't really wanted to.

"I don't want to push things too far, too soon," he said in a husky voice, breathing fast. "No matter how tempting it is." He gave her a mischievous grin.

"Oh yes, moving too fast...it took us how many decades to get to where we are now?" Oralie rolled her eyes.

But also appreciated his desire to proceed carefully.

She was glad he was home and wanted to spend the rest of her forever with him, without a doubt in her mind.

But it was also all really overwhelming and confusing.

Because he was dead. They all believed he was dead. She'd grieved. She'd attempted to move forward, continued to live her life.

Saved the worst of the grief for when she was alone at home each night where no one could see, no one would know.

The constant tears, the nonstop battle against survivor's guilt, the almost all-consuming regret for not being with him when she had a chance.

And then suddenly...there he was.

And she was so happy.

But so terrified to trust it. For all she knew, she'd lost her mind, maybe it had broken at last, and eventually Sophie would come along and heal her and she'd learn that Kenric had never really come home.

But she knew the longer he was there, the easier it would be for her to believe it and trust it.

"Although, let me be clear," Kenric continued. "I want you to marry me. And soon."

Oralie laughed. "Well if that isn't the most romantic proposal I've ever heard. It sounds a lot like what you said at Aeternum."

He shrugged. "We said we'd be together from now on. I'm telling you now that the moment everyone knows I'm alive, I'm picking out the biggest, most sparkly ring for you that I can find. Maybe I can even find a pink one. And then I'm marrying you."

"And then, find somewhere new to live." Oralie looked around at her castle.

She loved this castle.

But she loved Kenric more.

He grinned at her. "Maybe somewhere...slightly less pink."

She narrowed her eyes. "That'll take some convincing. You know I love pink."

Kenric chuckled softly. "Some convincing?" He leaned in until their lips were almost touching. "I'll see what I can do."

And then he was kissing her again.

And his hands felt like they left a trail of fire in their wake as they moved from her waist to the small of her back, pressing her in closer to him.

So very close.

And for a moment, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop, able to let go of him.

But she was also sure, thanks to her Empathy, that that was precisely what he was going for.

And sure enough, that was the moment he pulled away and chuckled again.

"Okay," Oralie said with a slight tremble in her voice. "Maybe just a little less pink in our home."

He smiled at her. "Do you have any idea how nice it is to finally, after decades and decades of trying to pretend I wasn't in love with you, be able to take you into my arms and kiss you?"

"Yes, I think I do."

So he kissed her again.

"Did I tell you how they restored my memories?" he asked her after pulling away.

"No, you just told me how they'd found you and pieced together what must've happened, and then got you home and restored your memories. How did they do it?"

"They explained it to me after I woke up. Apparently they'd been trying different things--trying to find some sort of trigger that would make my memories come back. But nothing was working. And then--and this is where I sort of remember--Sophie pushed a memory into my mind. Her memory, but it was of you and me. That last day, at Fintan's healing, right before..."

"And that's what brought you back?"

He nodded. "They thought showing me a memory of you would bring me back. And it did, Ora. It's you, it's all you."

More tears slid down her cheeks--happy tears this time--and he sweetly brushed them away before pulling her in for another kiss.

She wondered how on earth she'd kept herself from him for so long.

But she couldn't regret it either.

She'd foolishly chosen to stay on the Council, even though she knew perfectly well that she and Kenric were falling for one another.

But then...when this mysterious Mr. Forkle had privately asked her to consider aiding Project Moonlark...

She knew she had to. Things were wrong with their world--though at the time she hadn't realized just how wrong--and this project could be the spark of change the world needed. And he'd promised absolute secrecy.

Which she both appreciated and hated at the same time.

To have a child, and not get to watch her grow up? And then when she came home, to not be able to reveal herself?

Well...she didn't blame Sophie for hating her when she found out.

She would have felt the same way if the roles were reversed.

But still. Ever since Sophie appeared, she'd watched from afar. Been proud of who Sophie was becoming. Glad to have been a part of it all. Did her best to protect Sophie when the Council was in disagreement.

So she couldn't regret staying on the Council. She'd done it for Sophie.

But she would leave it now, and make a life with Kenric, and have no regrets about that either.