Chapter Text
“I can't believe she's really doing it,” Sasha remarked. She looked around. Anne's parents had gone all out decorating Thai Go for her and her girlfriends' fourth anniversary. And if the rumors were true, Marcy had helped them without setting anything on fire.
“For real,” Anne agreed. Sasha was wearing a tuxedo, mainly because Anne and Marcy never got tired of telling her how dashing she looked in elegant male clothing, while Anne had decided on a traditional pha sin. Normally she preferred practical clothes, but since it was their anniversary AND they were in a Thai restaurant, it felt fitting. She felt a little bad – her parents had been supportive about their unconventional relationship from the start, it somehow felt wrong that they had gone to such length decorating Thai Go, even though her mother's love for decorating somehow justified that, AND that they had steadfastly refused to at least let her pay for the food. At least Marcy, whose idea it had been to celebrate their anniversary here, was helping in the kitchen. And at least she hadn't heard things breaking yet. “And I can't believe my parents agreed to let her help in the kitchen.”
“That's not very nice, Anne,” her father, who had just entered the main dining area and poured wine into their glasses, chided softly. “Marcy HAS been helping out once in a while, remember? And she HAS become more experienced over time.”
“Nonetheless, we know that there have been quite some broken plates over the years, Mr. Boonchuy,” Sasha countered. “We are deeply grateful that you still allow Marcy to help out when she is not busy with writing or book promotion, but we'd feel much better if you allowed us to pay for the damage.”
“Nonsense,” Anne's father declined, trying his best to look offended. “You are the two people who made our daughter happier than she has ever been. That is worth far more than a few plates.” Anne blushed and her father bowed down and added in a whisper: “Besides, Oum is watching her, and she had become quite good at it. She has been able to save two plates already today.”
Anne snorted. “That sounds right,” she commented. “So what are we eating today? Why are all of you so secretive?”
“Maybe they are making Amphibian delicacies,” Sasha guessed. “You know, nostalgia and stuff.”
“Eh, not quite,” Anne's father denied. “As interesting as it would be actually watching you eat such things, Marcy decided on a wedding banquet.”
“A banquet?” Anne's eyes grew wide. “Dad, we aren't even married! This must have been expensive! You shouldn't have!”
“Really?” He looked at her, suddenly being unusually serious. “We shouldn't celebrate our only daughter's continued happiness, Anne?”
Anne blushed and looked down. It looked adorable, and Sasha had to admit that she was touched too. Not for the first time she wished that her own parents were focused on their daughter's happiness as much as the Boonchuys were. “We ARE deeply thankful, Mr. Boonchuy,” she added. “But you have done so much for us already over the years. Anne often brings up that we should repay you sometime.”
“Nonsense, dear.” Anne's mother had exited the kitchen, carrying two bowls with undoubtedly delicious content. “You shouldn't feel bad, and ESPECIALLY not today. Today you should celebrate.”
Marcy was standing next to her. In the kitchen she had worn an apron which Anne had bought for both of them mainly for sexy cooking sessions at home after Sasha and Marcy's sex at work debacle. But now she had gotten rid of it and her evening gown was looking great. She was carrying a single bowl for safety reasons and smiling at both of them. “Come on, girls,” she said. “Let's eat. I swear you won't die from it.”
“We're still alive,” Anne commented, leaning back. She looked very satisfied.
“See? I told you so. You guys worry too much,” Marcy said, emptying her glass of wine. The first part of her plan – making the eating part of the evening a comfortable experience – had been successful. Not that this had calmed her nerves at all, although she hoped that she had been able to hide it. Not even Sasha had caught on, at least she thought so.
“Really?” Sasha asked, raising her eyebrow. “Can you guarantee that we'd still be alive if the Boonchuys hadn't helped you cook all of this?” She pointed at the now empty bowls in the middle of the table.
Marcy blushed. “Well … no,” she admitted. “But it's much more likely that you'd have just gotten sick rather than died. Don't be overly dramatic, Sasha.”
Sasha snorted. “If you say so.”
“But the dinner turned out really well,” Anna interjected, putting her hand on Marcy's and smiling encouragingly. “Really – I know Mom and Dad helped, but the dishes were really good and we didn't hear anything break.”
Marcy grinned. “Yeah … it's good that I've lowered the stakes that much,” she joked. “I was REALLY nervous I'd mess up.” And because of another thing she had planned …
“No, Anne's right, it was great,” Sasha agreed. “Though I thought you did it because of the breakthrough with your parents.”
“That too.” Marcy smiled, remembering last weekend. Her parents, especially her father, had been against her relationship with Sasha, and after hearing about Anne they had broken contact for more than a year. Her mother had reached out again because she hadn't wanted to lose her daughter for good, but repairing their relationship had taken nearly four years in total … and last weekend they had traveled to Ohio to meet again in person. It had been a “walking on eggshells” experience, with very stiff conversations, but there had been no shouting and, most important, even though Marcy's father had made it clear that he did not condone their relationship and probably never would, he had decided that he did not want to lose his daughter either, and that they, but especially he needed to learn to tolerate each other. It was probably the best Marcy could hope for – her relationship with her parents had never been as close as Anne's with her parents, although she loved and had missed them, and it would remain strained even now, but she was allowed to visit them again! It had been the happiest weekend in the whole year, and she had spent much of it crying tears of joy. “I haven't felt so relieved in quite some time.”
“That was pretty obvious,” Anne replied dryly. “Considering how often we had to change clothes because they were wet with tears.”
“I know. I'm sorry.” Marcy took Anne's and Sasha's hands and beamed at her girlfriends. “This dinner was not just because of our anniversary … it is a means of me thanking you. For everything. For supporting me during these four long years – financially AND emotionally. For encouraging me when I wanted to quit writing. For being the best, most considerate girlfriends I could have wished for.”
“Awww, Mar-Mar ...” Sasha raised their joined hands and kissed Marcy's knuckles. “You are our GIRLFRIEND. You don't need to repay us for anything. When we help you, we do it because we WANT to.”
“True,” Anne agreed, standing up and putting a quick kiss on Marcy's cheek. “And about financially … as far as we know the Azura series has become a moderate success since you've agreed to sign books during this convention, with room to grow still. We knew that this was a long-term thing. And we're so proud you pulled through.”
“Well … you two deserve at least as much credit for that as I do,” Marcy admitted, blushing slightly. “I remember at least a dozen times when I was out of ideas, close to a burnout or overworked. And if you hadn't encouraged me and been patient with me … I doubt I could have finished even ONE book.”
“And now you already have two,” Anne reinforced. “And even some hardcore fans. I distinctly remember you telling us about this mother of a young girl who was absolutely infatuated with your book and who had told her mom to ask questions about Azura even YOU had never thought about, since she had been grounded. What was the name of the girl … Lucy?”
“Luz, I think,” Sasha corrected. She smirked. “You really missed out by not going to the con with us, Anne – Mar-Mar had to use every ounce of her imagination to come up with answers quickly. But I have to say – you didn't break, Marcy. Even two years ago I think you would have fled after the first ten questions, but you stayed calm and patient.”
Marcy looked up again. All the love she felt for these two women poured into her next words. “That is all thanks to you … both of you. You have taken care of me in more than one way … guided me … helped me grow. I've grown to love you in ways I didn't even know were possible. I didn't feel that it was enough to tell you how much I appreciate all you have done for me, Anne, Sasha … I wanted to SHOW you how much I love you.”
“Oh Marce ...”
“Marcy ...”
The two of them stood up and hugged her. Sasha was the first one to kiss her, Anne followed immediately after. All of the had become frequent and experienced kissers in the last years, but still, today it felt special. Their love for each other had reached its peak long ago, at least she couldn't imagine another level beyond this one, but the romantic atmosphere of their anniversary dinner still made the two kisses a tiny bit sweeter she thought.
“You don't owe us anything, Mar-Mar, you hear me?” Sasha declared, ruffling Marcy's hair softly. “Your presence has enriched OUR lives just as much as we may have yours.”
“Besides,” Anne added, cupping Marcy's cheek, “helping you makes us feel GOOD.” She grinned. “If anything, Sasha and I are incredibly selfish.”
All of them chuckled.
Anne leaned back. “Ahhh,” she sighed. “Four years. Can you believe it, guys?”
“Hardly,” Sasha answered. “There hasn't been a day in the last four years when I woke up and wondered if I was still dreaming or if I really had somehow found the two most wonderful girlfriends in the world.”
“Awww, Sashy,” Marcy cooed. She knew very well that Sasha had bad mornings just like everybody else, and that her tomboyish girlfriend liked to be overly dramatic in her flirting to make her girlfriends laugh, but she couldn't deny that it worked. Four years later and she DID still feel flattered. “You're such a charmer.”
“True,” Anne agreed and leaned towards Sasha, grinning. “When did you become such a softie, Sash?”
Sasha pushed herself forward and suddenly her and Anne's face were VERY close. “The moment you two reentered my life,” she breathed before preventing Anne's answer with a kiss. Marcy liked watching her girlfriends kiss each other. It nearly always had a playful, daring quality and had inspired quite some scenes between Hecate and Azura in her webcomic, although so far she had only teased her viewers – and readers – with a kiss between the two. As they were rather obviously inspired by her girlfriends, she was reluctant to share the feelings between the three of them with the world. The two separated again. “Why, don't you like me when I'm like this?” Sasha asked Anne, smiling cheekily.
Anne licked her lips. “I think I do,” she answered. “Though I'd like to have a second opinion, if Marcy is willing.”
“Very much so,” Marcy agreed and puckered her lips in anticipation of Anne's meeting them. It happened just a moment later and as always, she immediately melted. The trust and gentle happiness of two former childhood friends flowed freely between them, mixing with and intensifying their feelings as lovers. This didn't mean that they didn't trust Sasha, far from it, if Marcy was asked which bond between her and her girlfriends was stronger she would have not been able to answer, but her and Anne having been each other's first ever friend gave their current relationship a unique, soft quality. They of course had shared wild, passionate kisses too in the last four years, but these gentle declarations of love seemed to be more … natural between them.
“Who's the softie now?” Sasha interrupted the kiss, chuckling. She loved watching her girlfriends as much as teasing them … and Marcy didn't mind that.
She looked at the blonde, smiling. “You are, Sash,” she declared. “I dare you to prove me wrong – show us your toughness by resisting my feminine wiles.” She puckered her lips again, her eyes tempting her Caucasian girlfriend. Who made Marcy suffer for a few moments. Sasha just looked at her cockily, as if she was actually debating whether she should accept the dare, but then she grabbed Marcy's neck and pulled her closer.
“Hell no,” the blonde whispered before finishing their kissing circle by pressing their lips together firmly. Oh how much Marcy had grown to love Sasha's lips on her own. While she would most often associate Sasha with protectiveness and grounding in contrast to Anne's gentleness and trust, it didn't mean that Sasha's combative spirit didn't show in their kisses at all. This kiss was full of thankfulness, yet also passion, Sasha's lips aggressively moving against Marcy's, showing the young Asian that Sasha was confident that Marcy would not shy away anymore, that her hard-won self-confidence would allow Marcy to “fight” her girlfriend head-on. And it was true. Sasha, and also Anne, had been good and patient teachers, allowing Marcy to bloom into a self-reliant adult … well, most of the time at least. Marcy was beginning to lose herself, not knowing anymore where the moan she heard came from …
“Stop it, you two,” Anne commanded them. Their girlfriend grinned at them when they separated, blushing slightly. “I get what you want, I really do … but I think we should wait until we're home to unleash our desires, don't you think?”
“Heh! True,” Sasha agreed, shoving her hair back to hide her embarrassment. Even after all this time, she valued self-control greatly, and teasing and tempting her to give into passion had brought Marcy and Anne much joy over the years. “Since the Boonchuys told us that they'd do the dishes tomorrow, we're free to go, right? So how about we head home?
“Alrig...”
“Wait!” Marcy interrupted the two and stood up quickly. She briefly pressed her lips together. “There … is still something I need you to see.”
Anne frowned. “We're still not done?” she asked. “Marcy, the dinner was more than enough ...”
“It's just a small thing,” Marcy lied and ran back into the kitchen, nearly stumbling over her own dress and shouting: “I hope you'll love it though.” She picked up the small chest she had commissioned months ago and stared at it. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down her heart, to no success. This was it. She turned around and walked back into the main room, avoiding the gazes of her girlfriends until she had put the chest onto the table.
“Marcy ...” Sasha was obviously floored as she stared at the exact replica of the Calamity Box. “What …?”
“Do you like it?” Marcy asked shyly. The anxiety was killing her.
“It's … beautiful,” Anne replied, her eyes glued to the Box as well. “But … you shouldn't have. This must have been expensive ...”
“Yeah … but I wasn't quite honest with you,” Marcy admitted, which made both of her girlfriends look at her in surprise. “The Azura series is in no way Harry Potter, but the check I got a few months ago was bigger than I told you. Both of you mean so much to me … and I knew our anniversary was coming up, so I decided that I wanted to surprise you with this.”
Sasha caressed the wood of the Box reverently. “That's amazing, Marce,” she mumbled. “But why the Box? I KNOW you – you could have bought a picture or anything else really, but you decided on THIS on purpose.”
“It's true,” Marcy admitted, fidgeting. “Please … open it together. Then it will become clear.”
Sasha and Anne looked at each other, probably wondering why Marcy was being so secretive. True, it was their anniversary, and convoluted surprises weren't an unknown quantity in their household, but they probably had also noticed Marcy's nervousness. Then however they focused on the Box again and opened it. Their eyes grew wide. They looked at Marcy who had gotten down on her knee, looking back at them. Then they looked at the velvet cushion inside of the Box and the two silver rings lying on it, one with a rose-colored and one with a blue gemstone.
“Anne Boonchuy,” Marcy started, her voice quivering slightly. She swallowed. “Sasha Waybright. The four years we have spent together were undoubtedly the happiest time in my life. Both of you helped me grow so much … Anne, you encouraged me to write about Azura and you always comforted me and added new ideas when I felt that it was too much … Sasha, without you patiently helping me through my trauma I would probably still live with my parents, and I'd have likely studied something and work in a field that would not nearly be as fulfilling as what I'm doing now. Both of you have helped me without complaint in the period when I wrote my first book and didn't earn any money, and both of you have also forgiven me for all the hick-ups on our way, like the one in Sasha's office. I have thought long and hard about this decision, and I have found that I don't just WANT to spend the rest of my life with you … I can't even IMAGINE living without you anymore. I know that we cannot legally marry, at least currently, and that us living together is already very pleasant, but I have found that it is not enough for me anymore. The last four years have shown me that I want certain people in my life, but that I would not be able to function without you two. You two are my inspiration, my security net when I'm going too far into my fantasy worlds, my drive to experience things I'm not familiar with and my comfort which makes our apartment a true home …” She took a deep breath. “Anne … Sasha … I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So … do you want to marry me?”
The only noises in the room were Anne's sobs. The young Thai had put her hands over her mouth to stop them, but tears were flowing freely and it seemed to take all of her strength to keep an emotional explosion at bay. Sasha was more composed, but her white knuckles on the hand that had grabbed the back of the chair next to her betrayed her true state of mind, as did the obvious wetness in her eyes. Both of them were staring at Marcy in shock. Marcy herself on the other hand was completely calm … she had been a nervous wreck in the last days, but now that she had spoken the words … there was no going back and the ball was in her girlfriends' court. Now all she could do was wai...
“YES!”
She had been looking at Sasha and Anne had moved so fast that she had just finished turning her head when Anne hit her like a truck, embracing her and making both of them fall to the ground. Marcy grasped for air while Anne was just sobbing into her evening gown. Not that Marcy minded. Instinctively she hugged her emotional girlfriend back, fighting back her own tears.
“I-I … yes, Marcy, a thousand times yes!” Anne stammered, trying to regain control over her raging emotions while also trying not to crush her girlfriend. “I wa-want to marry you!”
“Anne ...” Suddenly, after this long speech of hers, Marcy couldn't find any more words. Some author she was! So she just rubbed Anne's shaking back until she became aware of the other love of her life kneeling next to them patiently. Sasha was smiling fondly although she too was crying.
“Anne,” Marcy groaned again. “Sasha ...”
That made Anne aware of her surroundings again. She sat up, ending the embrace and looking guiltily at Sasha, who didn't seem to mind. Marcy sat up too and allowed Sasha to take her hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb gently.
“Marcy … you obviously have thought about this long and hard,” Sasha began. “But you are aware that this could reopen the conflict with your parents again, aren't you?”
Marcy smiled and caressed Sasha's cheek. Even now, in this moment, Sasha was concerned about HER. She loved them. Both of them. So much. “I am,” she confessed. “I don't think it will happen … but if it does, then you two are more important to me than even them. I mean it, Sasha.”
A bright smile appeared on Sasha's face and her hand found Marcy's cheek too. “Then yes,” Sasha breathed, staring at her girlfriend lovingly. “Yes, Marcy, I want to be your wife.” Then she kissed her. It was another wonderful kiss, but it was interrupted quickly by Anne, who hugged them both.
“I can't believe it,” the young Thai cried. “I can't believe you did that … Sasha … I mean, we … this is not a good proposal, but … do you want to marry me too?”
Sasha and Marcy separated and Sasha looked at Anne, smiling again. “Of course I want to be your wife too, Anne,” she answered, putting a quick kiss on Anne's mouth. “I highly doubt Marcy would be against that.”
“Of course I wouldn't be!”
“And we will have a proper proposal too, I promise,” Sasha continued. “But I'm with Anne, Marce … I can't believe you did all of this without us noticing.”
All of them laughed. Mainly because they felt that they would burst from happiness without letting a bit of it out.
“It was hard,” Marcy admitted, joining the group hug and feeling happier than ever. She hadn't REALLY doubted it, but right now it still felt unbelievable that these wonderful women had both said yes. It was a magic moment, more magical than the Calamity Box had ever been. “But I meant every word I said. I want to be with you two. All the way.”
“And we want to be with you,” Anne replied, putting a kiss on Marcy's hair. She sighed. “You know … Sasha and I had a surprise for you too at home to thank you for the dinner. But I feel that it can't hold a candle against yours.”
“Oh?” Marcy asked, looking at them surprised. “You do?”
“Yes, we do, you master of secrecy, you,” Sasha confirmed, rubbing her nose against Marcy's playfully. “We should sit down again and talk about this before we go home, to calm down a bit … I agree with Anne, our surprise seems very lackluster after your bombshell, but now more than ever you deserve to be pleasantly surprised too.”
Marcy was curious now, but she had nothing against spending a little more time hugging and talking to her now fiances before going home. Because surprise or no, every moment with Anne and Sasha was a pleasant moment in her opinion.
Great, now she was nervous again! Marcy pursed her lips. She was sitting on their bed in their new apartment, waiting for her gi... fiances. They had told her to wait for them in the bedroom, because they needed to prepare the surprise. Marcy didn't think that she needed a surprise. She would have been perfectly happy to just fall asleep with Sasha and Anne, being a bit tired if she was honest, but the two of them seemed so eager to surprise her back and she didn't want to disappoint them. Then her thoughts were cut short as the door opened. She looked up. And her jaw fell down again.
“It seems like our surprise worked, dearest Hecate,” Anne declared, smiling cheekily. She was wearing a full Azura costume, witch hat, magic wand and all – and she was looking absolutely fabulous.
“I guess it was,” Sasha replied. While she only had a single face, not more than that like the character she was portraying, she too was carrying a wand, a wig and a VERY revealing outfit. Marcy blushed. True, she had designed Hecate to wear a sleeveless dress most of the time, in contrast to Azura's uniform dress, but THIS dress showed quite a bit of Sasha's trained body. Maybe it was because of the unsuspected cosplay, but Marcy felt like she would have an anime nosebleed soon. “But it seemed like our dear Marcy is a bit overwhelmed, Azura.”
“Then let's help her.” Anne walked over and sat down next to Marcy, putting her hand on Marcy's, who could only stare at her. “We are both very impressed with you, Marcy,” Anne told her. “Hecate and I did not expect you to change our fate like this.”
“That's true,” Sasha added, sitting down too and putting her hand on Marcy's shoulder. Marcy let out a whimper. This … this was a dream come true! “We were very pleasantly surprised, Marcy. Tell me, is there anything we can do to make YOU feel better in return?” Sasha put her hand beneath Marcy's chin and lifted it gently. Her intense gaze drilled into Marcy's eye sockets. “And I mean ANYTHING?”
“I ...” Marcy swallowed and somehow found her voice again. “I … have admired both of you for so long. Your strength, your courage, your desire to help people like me … I think I have fallen in love with you. I know that you two love each other, but … maybe … just for tonight …?”
Sasha grinned at Anne. “Do you hear that, Azura?” she asked. “She does not want riches or magic or something like that. She wants US.”
“A very wise choice,” Anne said, turning Marcy's head towards her. Marcy liked the glimmer in Anne's eyes very much. “Then you shall have us, Marcy. And maybe not just for tonight.”
Marcy closed her eyes when Anne moved in for the kiss. She had been wrong. She DID enjoy this surprise, and she wanted more of it! She moaned into Anne's mouth, but it was replaced by Sasha's mouth before tongues could get involved.
“We will make you feel very good, Marcy,” Anne whispered into her ear, and Marcy could hear that Anne was beginning to undress.
“Indeed,” Sasha growled, pausing the kiss for a second. “Let our magic flow through you.”
Marcy grinned and allowed Sasha to push her on her back. Oh, she was going to enjoy this ...