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"You know I did some thinking," Frey started as she sat down beside Auden in the pub.
"Oh beware, did you overexert yourself," Auden replied with a chuckle. In return Frey softly pushed her shoulder against the other woman.
"Ha ha, no I was thinking that I would like for you to see New York, I promised Homer I'd be back and while I don't think I can bring her here, I can at least keep my promise," Frey explained.
"And where do I fit in that?" The redhead countered smirking.
"I wouldn't want to go there without you," Frey admitted shyly. Auden did not say anything to it, she simply stroke her hand along the Tanta's upper arm twice.
"My life was not great, horrible for most times. Just before I came here the place I was crashing in was set on fire by some gang members. Homer was, is, the only good thing in New York," she continued quietly.
"When do you want to go?" Auden replied.
"I thought we could go well basically whenever you are ready, it should be Christmas season already and New York is beautiful around that time. Does it snow in Athia?"
"Yes we had snow a few times when I was really young. I hope you don't mind me asking but what is Christmas?" Auden asked just before she finished her drink.
Frey did the same and hopped off her bar stool.
"Come on, I'll show you some pictures," Frey said excitedly. Without thinking about it she grabbed Auden's Hand and pulled the other woman out of the bar and up to her room. As they entered they were greeted by various of the Tanta familiars meowing and purring happily. While Frey refilled the cat bowls Auden took her time to pet some of the rather interesting cats. As Frey was done she sat down beside Auden, their thighs almost touching.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Auden pushed her shoulder against the other woman.
"You promised me pictures."
"Yes, yes, that I did," Frey said before she pulled her phone out. As she checked it she saw that she had little over 10% battery left.
"Can you remind me to get a solar charger when we're there?" She said and judging by Auden's face even though the redhead had no idea what that would be she made a mental note to remind the other.
Frey opened her picture app and showed pictures of various places in and around Manhattan where Christmas trees were covered lightly with snow. She could see that Auden was getting more and more excited about going to New York and she caught herself, not for the first time that night and definitely not for the first time since knowing Auden, glancing down at the full lips of the other woman.
"What if I don't fit in? I mean they all wear the same clothes like you, yet so different to the ones I wear. They probably speak like you, yet so different from the way I speak," Auden said while playing with her fingers.
"Hey look at me," Frey said softly and reached for the others hand.
"You remember when I first came here? I did not fit in at all, didn't want to fit in either. But you kept trying, trying to welcome me, trying to make me fit in. I promise you, I'll do the same while we are there," she continued as she squeezed Auden's hand.
"Okay let me talk to Jo and then we should probably get clothes that fit New York more than my current ones and we're ready to go," Auden replied without taking her hand away from Frey's.
"I have an idea about the clothes, do you trust me?"
Auden's look told Frey that the black haired woman was ridiculous for doubting that even a second.
"Okay, stand up and close your eyes," Frey said excitedly. Auden did as she was told but Frey could see the worry lines on Auden's forehead. She stepped closer so that Auden could feel the energy radiating off of Frey.
"I'm here," the Tanta kept whispering as Auden felt herself being engulfed by magic. Once the magic stopped she opened her eyes she looked into Frey's. They had an unnatural golden color that slowly changed back to its natural dark brown.
"You look amazing," Frey breathed out without taking her eyes off of Auden's.
"You haven't even seen me yet," Auden replied just as quietly.
"Tanta skills," she replied cheekily. That made Auden laugh and she stepped back to look at herself in the mirror.
"They feel weird," she said as she stroke the dark blue jeans she now was wearing.
"You'll get used to them and eventually all you want to wear are jeans," Frey said with a laugh. Auden walked around the room with her jeans and the quite low cut shirt she was wearing. Frey couldn't help herself but glance at Auden's behind in the tight jeans.
"When will you tell her that you have the hots for her," Cuff teased.
"Shut it," Frey muttered under her breath.
It took Auden and Frey three days until they had everything set in Athia and confirmed with the council that they would be gone for a few days.
"You ready to go to," Frey asked Auden as they stood in front of the Torana in Junoon Castle.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Auden replied and stood up a bit straighter Frey took her hand and stepped through the portal. On the other side they reached the same storage room Frey was in when the Torana opened the first time.
"Urgh, I hate this place," Cuff complained. Frey chose to ignore it and focused on Auden. The redhead looked a little out of place and for the first time ever Frey realized how loud New York actually was.
"How are you feeling?" Frey asked after a few moments, remembering how she first felt when she reached Athia.
"Odd but okay I think," Auden said as she pulled the jacket around herself a little closer. They never let go of each other's hand.
"Ready to go outside?" Frey asked. Auden nodded and started walking towards the door even though she had no idea where she was supposed to go to.
"Quite eager," Frey laughed, yet she let herself be pulled the room.
The first stop was Judge Maya Bird as well as Homer.
"You're awfully nervous," Cuff remarked.
"Look at yourself, you hold the woman's hand you are into, are on the way to the woman who we both know you used to see as a motherly figure. It's annoying how happy you should be," it continued. Frey tried to ignore it but grunted a bit.
"I understand why you kept saying New York is different," Auden said sensing that Frey was tense.
"Yeah, I used to roam these streets for a very long time. Mostly while I was in trouble. Here is where I learned Parcour," Frey said while motioning along some of the street signs. Auden chuckled softly, "I can totally see that. You can't help yourself but be a troublemaker." Frey glared at the other woman for a moment before she grinned herself.
"You're so sappy when it comes to her," Cuff huffed.
Frey told Auden a little about her past in New York as they made their way to Judge Bird's house. She knocked softly and Auden squeezed her hand tightly.
"Hello, can I help you" Judge Bird said as she opened the door.
"Frey, is that you?" She added as she recognized the other woman. Homer came running past her and jumped into Frey's arms.
"Hey little girl, god I missed you so much," Frey said as she cuddled the cats fur, finally letting go of Auden's hand.
"Hi, I'm Auden Keen, a friend of Frey," Auden introduced herself. Judge Bird did the same and stepped aside so that the two younger women could step inside. Frey was still occupied with Homer, so Auden took the time to catch Maya up.
"When I first met her, she was the tough woman you probably have met in the courtroom. However she has changed a lot," Auden started, quite happy that Frey and her had talked about what to say.
"How did you meet?"
"Funny that you asked, I've met her in the courtroom. She was accused of trespassing. Turned out she was on her mother's property," Auden's eyes focused back on the young black woman.
"Her mother?"
"Yes, we recently found her. Unfortunately she died shortly after, but Frey and her could talk," the redhead said just as Frey was joining them.
"Thank you Judge for talking care of her and sorry for taking so long on welcoming her," she said.
"No worries, Auden told me you found you mother," Maya inquired.
"Yes, I did. I'm really glad I had the chance to talk to her," Frey said with a sad expression.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Frey replied and leaned into Auden a bit more. They stood in silence for a few moments before Homer jumped up in Maya's arms.
"Traitor," Frey muttered at the same time as Cuff.
"Wow it's rare that we agree with each other," it added.
"Come on she still loves you," Auden said with a smile.
"Also Frey, why am I not surprised that you meet your girlfriend in court," Judge Bird said.
"Girl… Girlfriend?"
"Oh I'm sorry if I got it wrong," the Judge immediately backtracked.
"No, no no it's fine," Frey replied shyly. They kept talking for a little while before they called it a day. Frey promised Homer that she would come back soon but also explained that she could not take her with them. As they stood at the door Maya asked for a word in private with Frey.
"I really didn't mean to overstep earlier, but she seems to make you happy. It seems like she's doing you good," she said honestly.
"She does," Frey replied as she smiled widely in Auden's direction.
Auden and Frey kept walking towards the Warehouse again. Just before they reached, Auden paused and looked towards Frey.
"Frey, what is a girlfriend?"
Before Frey had a chance to reply she saw Lisa and Chrissy appearing behind Auden.
"Shit," she muttered before she pulled Auden further down the streets.
"Frey," Lisa yelled after them and Frey started running while pulling Auden along with her. She pulled Auden in a side alley and shielded her with her own body. Frey hoped she was hiding them well enough so that when Lisa and Chrissy would run past this Lane they wouldn't see them.
They stood closely, could feel each other's breaths on their face. Auden looked up into Frey's, which showed the same unnatural golden glow they already had last time they stood this close.
Frey could hear them coming closer, could sense them with Cuff's help. As they were running past the alleyway she pushed herself a little further into Auden hiding her fully. Once they were gone she let out a relieved sigh.
"You wanna know what a girlfriend is?" Frey asked as she looked deeply into Auden's eyes. The glow in her own eyes still present. Auden just nodded.
Frey leaned down and pressed her lips against Auden's for a moment before she pulled back just enough so that she could say something more.
"This is what a girlfriend is," she whispered and pressed her lips against Auden's once more. When Auden reciprocated Frey opened a Torana and pushed them back through, back to Athia, back to Junoon Castle, back home.