Work Text:
Cleo and Pearl smile at one another as they hear the first knock at the door. They both go to answer it and are greeted with Martyn slamming into Cleo's arms.
Pearl and Ren glance at each other, grinning and giving hugs before looking back at the laughing embrace of their partners.
"You're still stronger!" Martyn accuses as Cleo squeezes back tighter.
"I'm a farmer, city boy. Get good and maybe you'll beat me someday," they chuckle, releasing him from the hug.
He smirks before turning to give Pearl a lighter embrace as Ren got his chance with Cleo.
"So, who else is here?" Martyn askes.
"Actually you're the first-" another knock interrupts Pearl but sense the door was still open Pyro pops their head in with a slight grin, catching Ren and Martyn high five at their success of beating everyone else.
"Party has arrived," he announces, coming in, carrying a bottle of wine and followed by Abolish who simply waves, but is quickly tackled by Martyn and Ren with a hug.
Cleo smiles, giving Pyro a squeeze. "So what's the news?" They ask, letting go and letting Pearl get a hug in.
He flushes, looking embarrassed. "Whatever could you mean?"
"Oh, come off it," Pearl pouts, poking Pyro's chest playfully. "You wrote the letter this year. That means big news."
"I think you're looking too deep," He says with a slight grin, glancing away.
"I'm sure..." Cleo trails off, catching sight of a glint on Pyro's finger. "Wait, is that-"
Martyn gets a hold of Pyro before they can finish their question and right then Shelby's voice calls Cleo's attention away as two bats fly in and shift back into Drift and Shelby who pull both Pearl and Cleo into a tight hug.
"I've missed you," they sqeal together, practically bursting with joy.
It then becomes a flurry of embraces as people call out in greetings, especially as Owen and Legs arrive with a bouncing Scarlett who instantly runs into Shelby's arms who gladly picks her up and spins her around as they giggle.
Shelby was clearly the favorite aunt though Scarlett would dance around that fact endlessly, blushing if anyone pointed it out.
"You've gotten bigger!" Shelby announces, grinning at the little girl. Others chim in agreement, encouraging the bright grin on Scarlett's face. Sense she aged slower, it made her day to have people point out she was still growing up.
"I'm officially eight in a month!" She beams.
"Less than, princess," Legs chims in, smiling as people coo in excitement for their youngest member.
"Right! I lose track sometimes," she giggles as Shelby finally puts her down and Abolish makes his way over, accepting his squeeze with a brighter grin than he gives most. He had a soft spot for Scarlett especially since she plainly called him the cool uncle.
Owen smiles as everyone loves on his daughter, leaning into Legs affectionately before Shelby pulls the two into a hug.
It still shocks Owen from time to time that she was willing to hug him now, but he enjoyed it, putting a hand on her shoulder when she pulls back. "How are you?"
"Great! Things are always fun when your girl is around," she smiles, glancing back at Scarlett who is babbling at Pyro and Abolish as they make sure she's doing alright as a young curee, like they did every year.
"And how's the book?" Owen asks, glancing over as well, smiling gratefully.
Shelby looks back at him, a mischievous smile gracing her lips as she brings a finger to them. Owen gasps, understanding, but right at that moment Sausage announces himself, making a decidedly dramatic entrance by jumping from the ceiling which he had flown up to in bat form.
"I have arrived!" He calls, feet hitting the floor before he bows. Martyn and Ren are the first to tackle him while everyone else laughs.
Everyone catches up on hugs, but are interrupted by an knock on the door frame which takes them all off guard.
"I hope we're not too late," Apo says, coming in with Cherri.
There's a very quick moment of surprised silence before the crowd of cured and vampires cheer, greeting them happily, excited to see Apo and her wife after the long absence of the past few years.
Apo finally gets to Pyro, not letting go of his shoulders when they finish their hug. "What's the news?"
Pyro's eyes widen. "Wha-"
"Not even a second, darling?" Cherri asks with a laugh, giving Cleo a hug. "Letting everyone get settled?"
"No, I'm curious too," Cleo remarks, the rest of the group hushing as they pick up on the words.
"How did you know?" Pyro asks, begrudging.
"Cherri pointed out how you wrote the letter this year. It was the deciding factor by the way."
Pyro's ears flicked as they did sometimes when excited, they're eyes getting bright at the idea of his news being so important to Apo.
"See, big indication you have news," Pearl chims in and the rest of the group chatters in agreement, a few mumbling in realization.
"Am I truly so easy to read?" Pyro asks, almost pouting.
There's almost a collective "Yes."
"Should have made Abolish write it," he mutters.
Abolish chuckles, walking over to Pyro, and putting an arm around their waist. "I think that still would have been obvious, love. I think we should tell them."
Pyro sighs. "I wanted to do it over wine."
"Too bad," Apo says, removing her hands and poking them in the shoulder instead. "Spill, Pyroscythe." That gets another round of group agreement.
Pyro sighs, but begins to take on a silly grin. He glances at Abolish knowingly before revealing their left hand, Abolish follows in suit. "We're engaged."
Everyone's gazes focuses on the dark steel bands on the couple's ring fingers. A loud squeal breaks the momentary quiet as Shelby bounds up to Pyro and Abolish and gives them a supernaturally strong squeeze, which nearly takes Abolish out as Pyro simply laughs joyfully.
"Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods!" She yells, bouncing when they release their hold, just to grab their hands and looks at the the beautiful rings.
"It's about time," Apo sighs, but is also smiling when Pyro meet her gaze.
"Honesty," Cleo agrees, wrapping an arm around Pyro's shoulders.
"Says you," Martyn scoffs playfully, eyeing Cleo and Pearl as he comes and slaps lightheadedly Abolish on the back.
Pearl chuckles and shrugs. "Marriage isn't for us."
"But it is for Pyro and Abolish. At the core, they're so traditional. Our little nobles," Cleo teases.
Both Pyro and Abolish roll their eyes, but they're smiling brightly. Abolish pulls Pyro a little closer, placing a light kiss on his shoulder.
"Well, come on now!" Pearl announces. "To the dining hall, we need the details!"
"Yeah, who proposed?" Drift asks, coming up to Shelby's side as people begin to shuffle to the main hall.
They continued small conversation from there. Everyone getting to tell their news and reveal gifts.
The ecstatic reaction to Shelby revealing her book was finished was a delightful thing that left her a giggling mess at all the praise and congratulations they got.
Everyone was surprised when Sausage started handing out the books he had personalized for them and felt greatly touched.
And the constant "we're glad you came" to Apo and Cherri was as sweet as can be, warming Apo's heart and melting the coldness that still clung them after all these years.
All and all, everything felt right. A family brought together. Most all resentment left in the past, leaving happiness and care for one another.
It was perfect.
A happy little ending.