Orion sat on his bed in tears as he waited for the ceremony to begin.
He didn't want to be forced to marry anyone. He refused.
All he wanted was for Camila to love him. He wanted her more than anything and it killed him that his father refused to let him be with her.
Seeing Cami still wear the necklace hurt him as well. It was a constant reminder that he couldn't marry her like he so desperately wanted.
"This isn't fair... I'm gonna have to marry some brat while Camila falls in love with someone else... she was supposed to fall in love with me. It was supposed to be me," Orion sobbed as he punched the bed beside him.
"Your highness, the ceremony is beginning. Your presence is requested," Camila's voice came from the door and he looked up.
"I'm not going," he replied sternly, trying not to sound broken, but failing miserably.
Camila opened the door after hearing the sobs in his voice. "Orion, what's wrong?"
He looked up at her with hot tears streaming down his face. "I don't want to go! I don't want to marry any of those spoiled prissy princesses! I just wanna be happy..."
Cami hugged him tight and rubbed his back. She let him cry into her shoulder as she gently stroked the fluffy black hair on his head. "One of them might be able to make you happy. Just... just give them a chance."
"But none of them are you, Cami! I want to marry you!" Orion confessed as he clutched her tight, making her freeze as she looked at him with his head still nuzzled into her neck. "I love you and I don't want to see you love anyone but me... I know it's selfish but I can't stand this anymore. I want you. I gave you that necklace and it kills me to see you always wearing it because I still want to marry you."
Camila pulled back and looked at him, studying his tear-filled eyes. "You still want me?"
"Of course I do. I love you. I know you probably gave up on me, but you're the only-"
Cami pressed her lips to his gently and he immediately kissed her back. She felt everything in her body start on fore as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Orion pulled her up onto his lap, holding her hips against his. He didn't want to let her go. He cursed air as he pulled back, needing to take a moment. He pressed a few more kisses to her lips as he kept her close to him.
Camila couldn't help but smile as she returned the small kisses. "I do love you, Orion. I always have. I will never give up on loving you," she murmured after a moment.
"I love you too," Orion replied as he gazed into her stunning emerald eyes. "I'll go to the ceremony, but I won't be choosing anyone. I've already made my choice. Even if we can't tell anyone, I'm choosing you. It's always gonna be you."
Camila smiled as he caressed her cheek gently, leaning into his soft touch. "Thank you, Orion. I don't know if I would've been able to live with myself if I had to watch you marry someone else."
"Well you don't have to. I'll marry you one day, regardless of what my bastard of a father has to say about it," Orion replied before he kissed her again, savoring the taste of her lips.
💧
Aquaria was sat in Varian's lap as she read a book in the library, enjoying the warmth she was receiving from him.
"So when are you gonna talk to your grandma?" Varian asked as he rubbed her hips gently, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"After this. I'm enjoying my snuggles," Aqua replied happily and she giggled lightly as Varian pressed gentle kisses to her neck.
"Alright," Varian murmured before he sighed softly, leaning back against the wall with a smile on his face.
He was just happy that he got to hold his beautiful girlfriend.
As the two sat there in silence, Varian let out a soft hum.
"Do you think this is all worth it for you?" He mumbled as he thought about their situation.
Aqua turned to look at him, closing her book with a bookmark in place. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, is getting to the Ever Realm really worth all this trouble for you? You found your family and you have could be spending more time with them if it weren't for me," Varian elaborated, letting out a disheartened sigh.
Aquaria fully turned herself so she was facing Varian, still sitting on his lap. "Of course it's worth it. Your family is my family, Varian. Plus, I miss your mom too. I want to find her and bring her home."
"But you could be-" Varian started but was halted when Aqua pressed her lips against his.
The action made Varian lose his train of thought as he immediately kissed her back.
She pulled back only slightly and held the sides of his head gently so he was looking into her eyes. "It's completely worth my time. If it wasn't I wouldn't be willing to help you. Well, I guess that's not true. I would help you regardless, but still, it's not a waste of my time and I am sticking with you through this," she spoke, their lips brushing occasionally due to their close proximity.
Varian nodded quickly before claiming her lips again, mind still reeling from the first.
Aqua happily returned the almost desperate kiss as she snaked her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair.
"Thank you," Varian murmured against her lips after taking a quick breath.
Aquaria merely hummed in acknowledgement as they continued the kiss.
Varian held her hips, keeping her close to him as he allowed his muscles to relax. He then pulled back and caressed her cheek with one hand.
He had a thought that made him blush a soft red. "Um, hey, c-can we try something?"
Aqua hummed as her eyes fluttered open. "Of course. I trust you."
Varian nodded and slowly went back to kiss her soft lips. He held her close with one arm while his other hand tangled in her hair.
He mustered up his confidence and gently swiped his tongue along Aquaria's bottom lip.
This took the princess by surprise, but she parted her lips for him slowly.
Varian felt his whole face heat up as he slipped his tongue passed her lips. He let their kiss continue as they seemed to dance together while staying in place.
After a moment, they pulled away for breath and Aqua put her head on Varian's chest.
"I've uh, wanted to try that for a little while now," Varian admitted shakily as he hid his face in her hair.
"Well, why didn't you?" Aqua asked as she moved to look at him, but he only moved his head into the crook of her neck.
She couldn't help but giggle at his nervousness. He was too cute for her to handle.
"I was too scared, okay? I thought you would hate it and I don't know, I was afraid asking you would weird you out," Varian admitted as he held onto her tight, wanting to keep her close.
Aqua laughed lightly and stroked his hair. "You're a dork, Varian."
Varian huffed slightly and moved to pinch her butt, making her squeal.
"Hey!" She whined and pouted as she pushed him lightly.
This made him chuckle and bring his head up, pecking her lips.
🔱
Aquata hummed as she sat in her study and spoke with a man, a smile gracing her face.
"She returned home, yesterday. And she-"
A knock at the door cute off the queen.
"Come in," Aquata called and the door opened to reveal Aquaria peeking her head into the study.
"Oh, is it not a good time?" Aqua questioned after seeing the unfamiliar man sitting with her grandmother.
Aquata waved it off. "No, no, it's a wonderful time. Is Varian with you?"
"Yeah, I'm here," Varian spoke as he peeked in above Aqua.
"Both of you, come on in. I want you to meet someone," Aquata replied as she beckoned them forward with her hand.
The man looked at Varian and when their eyes met, he recognized the man immediately.
It was like he was looking into Benji's eyes.
"This is my husband, Poseidon. Your grandfather," Aquata introduced and Aquaria's eyes widened a bit, but she could now see the similarities.
T
he man, Poseidon, stood up and smiled at Aqua. "So you're Livli's daughter then, correct?"
"Uh, yeah. My name is Aquaria. This is my boyfriend, Varian," Aqua replied as she looked up at her grandpa.
"Wow, already got yourself a man. You definitely do look like your mother and father," Poseidon said as he looked Aqua up and down before doing the same to Varian. "You definitely have your mother's eyes."
"Why weren't you here yesterday when we came?" Aqua asked curiously and the man hummed.
"I had some business to take care of. Nothing too serious," he waved it off and smiled as he sat down again.
"Alright, now what was you came for?" Aquata asked as Aqua and Varian sat down on the couch in the Queen's study.
Aqua cleared her throat and held onto Varian's hand to get over her nerves. She wasn't afraid of her grandparents, but there was a lot riding on this request.
"Well, you see, we actually came for a specific reason. Yes, I wanted to meet you when I found out you were my grandma, but I had originally asked to come here before I knew that for a different reason," Aquaria started, looking at her grandma. "We came because we need the Queen's Pearl."
Aquata's eyes widened and she hummed as she leaned back in her chair.
"We believe that Varian's mother is stuck in the Ever Realm and we need the pearl to get there so we can bring her home," the princess explained.
"I understand, but I'm afraid the Queen's Pearl doesn't work. It was a gift given to me, yes, but the magic residing in it was gone before then," Aquata replied and Varian slumped.
Poseidon hummed and rubbed his chin. "Don't get too disheartened just yet. There is another way to get to the Ever Realm."
Both teens perked up and stared at him in surprise.
"If you can get to Neverland, Peter Pan should be able to help you get to the Ever Realm," Poseidon explained and Varian hummed.
"But we don't know how to get there," Varian replied, squeezing Aqua's hand gently.
"Why you go to the second star to the right and straight on till morning," Poseidon answered with a light chuckle.
Aqua gave a lopsided grimace. "But what does that mean?"
Aquata laughed lightly and stood up. "You have to fly of course." She went over to a bookshelf and pulled out a glass vial with glowing powder sealed inside.
"Is that-" Aquaria's eyes went wide and Varian nearly fainted.
"Pixie dust," Aquata confirmed with a smile. "It was a gift from a fairy named Tinkerbelle."
"Y-you mean... you've met a f-fairy before?" Varian asked shakily as Aquata walked over.
The queen nodded as she grabbed two boxed from a drawer beneath the bookshelf. "I have. When you get to Neverland, find Pixie Hollow. I have these to help you both, but don't drink them until you find the hollow."
Aquata handed the vial and two boxes out to Aqua, letting her take them.
"Oh, but don't forget that to fly, all you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust," Poseidon said before Varian shot up and hugged Aquata.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this helps us! I can never thank you enough!" Varian cried and Aquata gave a warm smile as she returned the hug, petting his hair gently.
"It's the least I can do. I know what it's like to lose your mother. I didn't have a chance to get mine back, so save your mom for me," Aquata said gently and Varian nodded quickly.
He sniffled and wiped his teary eyes. "I will, I promise."
"Good, now I assume you are going to want to go as soon as possible, so be safe," Aquata said as Aqua stood and joined the hug.
"We'll be safe. Thank you, grandma. And thank you, grandpa," the princess said with a bright smile.
Poseidon wrapped his arms around the three and returned Aqua's smile. "Come back any time, alright? And do me a favor, enjoy your trip."
"We will!" Aqua agreed as she pulled away from the hug.
Their goal was complete.
They had a way to get to the Ever Realm.
Varian was ecstatic and could only think of one thing.
I'm coming, mom.