Timeline - January 31st, 2121 | ( 1 month later)

The warriors moved gracefully across the battlefield, their steps perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of their attacks. Each movement was a dance, a well-coordinated performance against the forces they confronted.

They drove, slashed, and killed their enemies, pummeling them into the ground that early morning, the sunrise had given them a new day, and today was going to be spent in blood.

The warriors pressed on, their movements precise and relentless, and for every step made, one of them had been beside the other defending them. Since the carnival, the Sorceress had remained elusive, granting the warriors an unexpected reprieve. The monsters they faced now were different, terrorizing towns on the outskirts of a micro-city far north of them.

Jesse's combat boots collided with the woolly chest of her enemy, channeling an enormous amount of energy within her fingertips. With a calculated release, she unleashed the built-up force in a powerful attack, effectively eliminating her enemy from the battlefield.

As the chaos of battle continued, the red-haired surveyed the field with a vigilant gaze. Demonstrating remarkable agility, she moved swiftly, engaging with foes and defeating them with precision. Her presence on the battlefield was marked by a relentless determination to overcome any enemy, bouncing between the youmas and swiftly neutralizing each threat she encountered.

Toni diligently maintained his focus on Jesse amidst the chaotic battlefield. Acknowledging the numerical disadvantage they faced, he strategically moved to her defense whenever she was momentarily distracted, swiftly intervening and eliminating enemies to shift the balance in their favor.

Similarly, Richie vigilantly kept an eye on Mya and Jasmine, ensuring their safety throughout the tumultuous battle. Positioned closer to Jesse, Matthew actively was relentless with monsters alongside her. However, his attention was singularly fixed on a specific individual, fully aware of her capability to fight and defend her self, yet he held an inherent responsibility to safeguard her well-being.

She was his to protect, and the seemingly fearless woman was enjoying herself on the battlefield that morning, effortlessly dispatching the youmas. When she claimed it was due to wedding stress, he scoffed. To him, all she had been doing for the past month was indulging in mimosas and trying on wedding dresses on every available day off.

Blue steel eyes observed as his fiancée gracefully moved around the battlefield, displaying increased agility due to her training. Her every movement was flawless, from her continuous calls to attack the enemy to her unwavering determination to defeat Isis. In those moments, he realized why he couldn't have loved anyone else but her.

Eko pivoted on her heel, acknowledging his watchful eyes, and redirected her attention toward him, playfully winking at the man she loved deeply. She then resumed her lively dance across the field. Today, she had places to go, a cake to taste, and endless lovemaking to be done in the shower when they returned home.

Her thoughts must have mirrored his own, for Matthew smiled wickedly, and his attention returned entirely to the battlefield, where a monster charged at him. In one swift move, he beheaded it.

Jasmine found herself caught between three monsters, and the rest of the warriors were blindsided by the sudden emergence of new threats. In mere seconds, Eko bounced across the field, twirling around her friend, defending her with every skill she possessed.

Cockily winking at Jasmine, Eko didn't anticipate the next move. One of the monsters charged out of nowhere, crashing into both Eko and Jasmine, sending them flying across the field.

Finally, they rolled to a stop after being thrown to the ground. Eko lay face down as the sounds of battle surrounded her.

Jasmine's senses slowly returned as she groggily pushed herself up from the ground. Her eyes immediately sought out Eko, who still lay face down in the dirt. The battlefield's chaos continued around them, the clash of swords, and the roars of monsters forming an unsettling symphony.

The aqua haired warrior reached out to gently shake Eko's shoulder, calling her name amidst the chaos of warriors shouting and clashing swords with monsters. The battlefield's symphony of violence continued around them.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy rippled through the air, catching their attention. Eko and Jasmine turned to witness Matthew unleashing a formidable attack that obliterated the monsters in its path. The residual energy lingered in the air, a testament to the immense power he wielded. As the surviving monsters hastily retreated to the shadows, Eko's sky-blue eyes locked onto Matthew, a mix of admiration and pride in her gaze.

"See, a piece of cake!" Eko grinned over at Jasmine.

Jasmine's aqua locks fell into her face as she scowled at one of her best friends and her cockiness. She then flopped her body back to the ground, took in an enormous amount of needed air, and relaxed from the fight.

"I'm way too hungover for this," she muttered, her voice groggy, forcing Eko to giggle. Her auburn hair clung to her face, matted with a mixture of dirt and sweat.

Eko sat up, smirking, both girls covered in dirt, their clothes disheveled from the intense battle. For the first time, she observed as the man strolled over to her, his tall, imposing figure cutting through the battlefield chaos.

Her expression shifted when she saw how confident and powerful he looked, his muscular build accentuated by the grime and battle scars. While their friends chatted around them, Eko couldn't help but focus on his commanding presence. Mya helped Jasmine to her feet, but before she could fully recover, the obnoxiously smug man that Eko called her fiancé extended his hand. Eko could already tell he was savoring the moment.

Eko huffed and took his hand as she stood, her smug smile disappearing completely at the hint of a smartass remark on his lips.

"Couldn't keep up this time, babe, could we? A little bit drunk and slow on our feet, huh?"

"Oh, shut up!" she retorted playfully, giving him a gentle shove that made him step back. Laughter erupted around them, a welcome distraction from the battlefield's chaos.

"Speaking of cake and all, I need you at Adore's Cake House in about an hour," she informed him, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.

He met her grin with one of his own, then caught her chin, pulling her into an unexpected kiss. "No," he murmured, leaving her momentarily stunned. As he stepped back, Eko's hands instinctively found her hips.

"What do you mean, no?" she asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and irritation.

"No, as in, take the girls and keep drinking. I've got meetings," he replied, his businesslike tone sharply contrasting with the chaos around them.

"Matthew!" Eko feigned mortification. "This is our wedding cake!"

"Yeah, babe," he chuckled as his sword vanished from his hand. The others joined them, dusting off or trying to remove blood and grime from their clothes. "All eight tiers of the cake!" he continued. "Is there a reason we need so much?"

Eko turned her head toward Jasmine, who was drenched in blood, her eyes wide as if caught in a spotlight. "Jasmine, oh my god, tell him. Tell him how many people we're up to!"

With a glint of humor in her eyes, Jasmine replied, "Oh, um, Sookie said we've hit 900. How do you know that many people?"

The group struggled to contain their laughter, a mix of amusement and mortification evident on their faces.

Matthew's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What?"

"Exactly!" Eko snapped. "I don't think the cake will be enough—"

"Nine hundred people?" His voice rose in disbelief. "How?"

"You told me to plan a wedding!" Eko retorted, jabbing a finger at him.

"Plan a wedding, sure. But not a circus! Are you inviting all of Allegiant?" Matthew shot back, exasperation in his voice.

"I thought it'd be rude not to at least invite the headmasters and teachers since we're holding it on the grounds," Eko explained defensively.

"Eko, no. You, Jasmine, and Sookie—seriously, cut the list in half!" Matthew demanded, his frustration evident. "Actually, no! A hundred people max; no way am I getting married with worldwide coverage or anything like that." With a decisive wave of his hand, Matthew's powers enveloped him, and he vanished.

"This is our wedding!" Eko protested, and when he had disappeared she turned to the group. "People expect perfection! It's already all over socials, honestly!" Then she vanished in pursuit of him.

The group's jaws dropped in shock.

"Oh, she's not even kidding," Jasmine said, shaking her head. "Some fan club girl made a countdown timer to the wedding, but they've called it a funeral instead."

Brushing her hair back from her shoulders, she noticed a small chip in one of her nails. "Oh god, I seriously need a shower and a manicure," she muttered, then looked at the group, still too stunned to speak. "We should head back to shower. Eko will be all over us about the cake tasting soon. I bet you any money!"

Mya, Richie, Jesse, and Toni exchanged exasperated glances as they watched Jasmine disappear almost instantly.

"We should get going," Mya said to Jesse. "Jasmine's right. Eko will definitely want us for the cake tasting. Plus, it gives us time to shop for the Gala—how is it only a month away?"

Jesse sighed deeply. "How did we go from no venue, hiring a wedding planner, to having nine hundred guests and an eight-tier cake? Matthew's going to have a heart attack. A literal heart attack again."

With another sigh, she vanished. Toni nodded to Richie and Mya before disappearing as well. Left alone, Richie and Mya shared a silent moment, locking eyes.

"Remember how chaotic things were for us?" Richie asked, raising an eyebrow. "You were ready to just elope."

Mya smiled softly. "A beach in the middle of nowhere did sound perfect, didn't it?" She shook her head, her gaze dropping to her intertwined fingers. "Do you ever wonder what it might have been like... if?"

"A lot more these days than others," Richie whispered. He turned to face her, and they stood there, watching one another, lingering as the moment stretched longer than either had expected.

"So," Richie began, unsure of where to go next. They had been in one of the better parts of their relationship for the last month, and he would give anything not to rock the boat.

"So," Mya smiled, blushing slightly before shaking her head. "I, uh, heard that you're seeing someone."

"You... wait, what? Who?" Richie asked, taken aback.

Mya waved her hands dismissively. "Not my business, sorry. I totally overstepped." She felt utterly awkward about it, and it wasn't like he hadn't slept with, seen, or dated other women in the past few years. This was no different, and like then, it wasn't her business. It felt odd that she cared now, even if it was just a twinge in her chest.

"No, no, no," Richie shook his head adamantly. "Definitely not seeing anyone."

"Hey," Mya tried to mask her lingering feelings. "It's totally fine if you are. I only brought it up because of Mac. She mentioned when she was over that you were at dinner with someone, and..."

"No, no, no, that was Sookie," Richie clarified.

"You're dating Sookie?" Mya's brows furrowed. "You don't think it's awkward dating their wedding planner, like if—"

"No," Richie laughed, scratching the back of his head. "She was asking about doves. Eko wanted doves to be released after the vows."

"W-what?" Mya laughed.

"I know, right?" Richie chuckled. "Pretty sure she also wanted peacocks for some bizarre reason."

Mya burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as Richie joined in. The sound of her laughter was the second best thing he loved in this world after his own daughters.

Before they could say anything else, Jesse appeared, hands on her hips, staring at the two who immediately stopped laughing and looked at her.

"You both need to hurry up. She's losing her mind, and we need to go to the wedding cake place, like right now. Sookie double-booked us this afternoon with the bridesmaid dresses," Jesse said, exasperation clear in her voice.

"That's our cue then," Mya smirked, exchanging a glance with Richie. Jesse shook her head before her powers wrapped around her, teleporting her back to the office at Allegiant.

Jesse had gone from one flirt fest to two screaming lunatics debating the guest list.

"Are you actually kidding me? We are not inviting Hightower. He can get fucked for all I care. He's a downright fucking cunt who tries to bar my funding at every chance. No!" Matthew's voice rose, leaning into his desk, standing up instead of sitting down. He had all intentions of finishing the email he was working on, but Eko kept going at him.

"Matthew, he's on the board with the royal council. You can't just invite all the high table and not him!" Eko argued, her frustration growing.

"I'm not inviting any of them, YOU ARE!" he retorted, looking up at her with exasperation.

"Ugh, it's a social event as well, babe."

"It's our fucking wedding, Eko! I don't feel like being on call and working when I am marrying you!" Matthew snapped.

"Okay, touché for that!" Eko conceded, "but—"

"Jesse, take her. For the love of God, just take her!" Matthew pleaded, rolling his head towards Jesse, who stood with her arms crossed over her chest.

Just then, Toni appeared in the office, and all heads turned to him. "Oh, what?" he muttered, looking at everyone. "What did I walk into?"

"You know what? Toni will be more fun than you both. Let's go, Toni!" Eko declared.

"Woah, woah, woah! Let's go where?" Toni asked, clearly not feeling enthusiastic about the situation. Right on cue, Richie and Mya arrived, both caught off guard by the tension in the room.

"We're going!" Eko announced. "Jesse, you stay here and fix him," she said, pointing at her fiancé, who just scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Toni, Richie, Mya, we're going to eat some cake! These two are being complete sour pusses."

With that, Eko stormed towards the exit of the office, grabbing Toni's wrist and dragging him with her. His face was a picture of helplessness, his eyes wide as Richie and Mya, laughing, followed suit.

Once the silence finally surrounded them, Jesse looked over at Matthew, who was smirking at her, and she instantly felt the tension in the air begin to dissipate.

"Now that the children are gone, wanna go kill some youmas?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in mischievousness.

"You are such an ass!" Jesse smiled, shaking her head. "Is that what you call a meeting now?"

"In or out, Jesse?"

"Like I'll say no to that. Your future wife is stressing me out enough as it is with this wedding," Jesse replied, teasing him before breaking into a smile. In an instant, both of them disappeared from the office, leaving behind the chaos of Isadora.

They spent the afternoon hunting, chasing anything that could soothe the roaring beasts in their chests. It was a much-needed escape, a bonding time that felt almost brotherly and sisterly. Both of them needed this break from their responsibilities, just like the old days. Though brief, it brought them a sense of respite from the demands of their world. Jesse and Matthew knew how to compartmentalize their lives, and in these moments, they understood each other deeply, finding solace when everything else felt too heavy.

***** *****

Richie and Toni sat bewildered by the spectacle unfolding around them. Mya, Jasmine, and Eko were deep in conversation with Sooki and half the baking house staff, eagerly sampling an endless variety of cakes, each one more extravagant than the last. Eko, of course, hadn't hesitated to drop her fiancé's name to ensure they got the royal treatment, and Sooki had gone above and beyond to deliver.

The kitchen was alive with the sweet scent of buttercream, sugar, and freshly baked sponge, mingling in the air as cake samples piled high. While the girls were immersed in their tasting adventure, the two men were relegated to a corner, each staring at a table crowded with tiny plates of cake. At least fifteen different varieties waited for them to sample, though they'd barely made it halfway through. Richie, fork in hand, eyed his current piece of cake with a mix of awe and dread.

"Mate, there's only so much cake one man can eat," Richie muttered, leaning back in his chair, clutching his stomach. "I swear I'm gonna catch diabetes just from looking at this."

Toni chuckled, pushing away the remnants of his own cake. "You're telling me. I can't even remember what these are anymore."

Just then, Charlotte, a young ginger haired, eyes like the depth of honey, who had been helping with the tasting, returned with two more plates, her half-smile betraying her sympathy for the men's suffering.

"They told me to bring these over," she said, setting the plates down in front of them.

Richie let out a groan. "Oh god, Charlotte, what now?"

She grinned, clearly enjoying their misery, they weren't going to be last men that were dragged into taste testing for a wedding. "That one you're holding is Fairy Floss Bonanza."

Richie's jaw dropped, his fork frozen mid-air. "You're not serious?"

Toni snorted, shaking his head as he picked up the next forkful of cake. "Man, we're never getting out of here alive."

The girls, meanwhile, were laughing and chatting, blissfully unaware of the sugar-fueled torment happening just a few feet away.

"Well, I brought these over," Charlotte nodded toward the plates in front of Toni and Richie, "because Eko wants these for the kitchen tea."

Toni eyed his plate suspiciously, holding up his fork as if it might attack him. "Do I even want to know what flavor this is?"

"Double Cookie Dough," Charlotte replied with a grin.

Richie's eyes lit up as he shook his head in disbelief. "Fuck, beats red velvet any day of the week."

"What's wrong with red velvet?" Charlotte laughed, feigning offense.

"See, that's exactly what I told him!" Toni jumped in, smirking as he took his fork and sliced into the cake. "Red velvet is classic! How can anyone not love it?"

Charlotte's eyes lit up as if she had just discovered a hidden treasure. "Oh my god, you know what's even better?"

Toni raised an eyebrow, curious. "I don't know, Lottie, what could possibly be better than that? I mean its practically a staple of a desert to have." Digging his fork into the cake.

"Rocky Road," she declared, eyes widening in excitement. "But not just any Rocky Road—I'm talking double chocolate layers with those big, fluffy marshmallows. Not the tiny ones they usually toss in."

As Charlotte and Toni continued their conversation, Richie couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in the air as he ate his cake. Toni, who was usually all business, was now leaning in a little closer to Charlotte, his smile more genuine, his laugh a bit more natural. Charlotte, for her part, seemed to respond with ease, her eyes lighting up every time Toni spoke.

"Okay, I'm intrigued!" Toni grinned, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth about Rocky Road. His fork was still poised in mid-air as Charlotte gave him a teasing look.

Their banter was light, but there was an unmistakable spark between them. Richie watched as Charlotte casually touched Toni's arm while making a point about cake flavors, and Toni didn't flinch—he smiled, his fingers brushing a stray crumb from her cheek without missing a beat. For a split second, they both blushed, and Richie nearly dropped his fork.

Was Toni actually flirting?

Richie blinked, his brain struggling to process the sight of his friend acting like a lovestruck schoolboy. There was a warmth between Toni and Charlotte that hadn't been there before, and it was impossible to ignore. The way they were leaning into each other, their shoulders almost touching, how they laughed a bit louder and smiled a little brighter—it was like watching magnets being drawn together.

Richie looked down at his cake, wondering if he had missed something in the frosting, and with the shift of people coming and going, suddenly, Mya joined the table, taking the seat next to Richie. She waved a hand in front of his face, noticing his distracted expression. "Hey, what's with that look?"

Richie raised an eyebrow, looking from the cake, then to seeing Toni and Charlotte, now at the other end of the shop, flirting openly as they helped clean up the dishes.

"Urm, have you ever known Toni to flirt? Like openly flirt in broad daylight?"

Mya's face scrunched up as she thought about it. "Um... no, like- he dates Richie, you do know that, he's just like... more... personal and lowkey about it. Why?"

Richie pointed toward Toni and Charlotte, who were clearly lost in conversation, their attention entirely on each other. "Because I think it's happening right now."

Mya turned her head, her eyes widening in disbelief when she spotted Toni, completely absorbed in his conversation with the young ginger haired. Charlotte was smiling up at him, her gaze soft, and Toni—stoic, keep-it-to-himself-Toni—was actually smiling back.

"No way!" Mya gasped, her tone both shocked and amused. "No, no, no. What about Jesse?"

Richie sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Aiden, Mya. We still have that moron to deal with. You remember the guy that doesn't leave her side these days?"

Mya groaned, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, I thought Aiden was leaving! Jesse told me he was thinking about moving again, which spelled the end of their relationship. And now this? Oh, come on!"

Richie shrugged nonchalantly. "Charlotte will come and go, just like the other girls. It's not a big deal. The guy likes to actually date."

"Exactly. This is worse, Richie. Unlike you and Matthew, who just fuck the fanclub, Toni actually gets into real relationships!" Mya exclaimed, rolling her eyes.

Richie pointed his fork at her with a smirk. "Matthew's domesticated now, sooo that theory is out the window."

"And so were you, at one point," Mya shot back, her eyes narrowing in playful challenge. "Then you went back to the fanclub... sooo, the theory is still out the window."

"I liked being domesticated," Richie said with a softer smile, a genuine warmth creeping into his tone. "It was the best part of my life."

Mya froze, her playful teasing evaporating as his words hung in the air. Richie's smile faltered, sensing the shift. He hadn't meant to make things awkward, to stir up something heavier than he intended.

"Look," Richie said quickly, trying to ease the tension, taking another bite of cake to fill the silence. "This could be nothing, right?" He glanced over at Toni, who was still chatting and flirting with Charlotte in the distance, his tone tinged with hesitation.

Mya swallowed hard, trying to push down the sudden wave of anxiety rising in her chest. She nodded, her eyes flickering back to Toni and Charlotte in the kitchen. Charlotte was talking excitedly, her hands gesturing as she spoke, and Toni leaned casually against the kitchen bench, laughing at something she said.

"She looks like Jesse," Mya muttered, her voice low, almost to herself. "Just with orange hair instead of red."

Richie grimaced, realizing he'd been thinking the same thing. "She's way too young anyway," he added, trying to dismiss the unsettling resemblance.

"She's like twenty, Richie. Three years isn't a big deal," Mya replied, her voice betraying more concern than she wanted to show.

"Fuck," Richie groaned, rubbing his hand over his face in frustration. "She really does look like she could be Jesse's younger sister. You know, if she had a sister." He glanced at Mya, his tone more serious now. 

"This is not good," Mya muttered, her voice sharp with concern. "We need to stop this before it goes any further. Aiden's leaving soon, and we can finally push these two idiots together. You've seen how Jesse's been different with Toni since the whole thing with Xero."

Richie nodded thoughtfully, his mind already turning over the situation, but before he could respond, their attention shifted to Toni and Charlotte, who were walking back, laughing and clearly enjoying each other's company.

Mya let out a half-laugh, the awkwardness of the situation starting to get to her. Richie shot her a sideways glance, trying to gauge what she was up to. She turned to Toni with a bright, almost too cheerful smile. "So, Toni, you ready to head out? We've got a packed agenda today. Eko, Jaz, and Sooki are waiting next door, and we need to get going."

Toni grinned, seemingly unfazed. "Yeah, no problem," he said, turning back to Charlotte. "I'll pick you up at eight tonight?"

Charlotte's face lit up with a smile. "I'd really love that," she said, her tone sweet. Richie and Mya exchanged a look, both taken aback by how smitten Toni seemed. He looked like a lovesick puppy, completely caught up in the moment.

As Charlotte waved goodbye and headed back to the kitchen, Mya turned to Toni, her eyes wide with disbelief as she pointed between him and Charlotte. "What was that?" she asked, her tone incredulous.

"Oh, that's Lotti, the cake baker or whatever you call them," Toni replied casually, like he hadn't just arranged a date in front of them.

"Yes, we know that," Richie added, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But you're seeing her tonight?"

Toni raised an eyebrow, immediately on the defensive. "What, I'm not allowed to see someone now?"

"No, no, no," Richie and Mya quickly shook their heads in sync, both eager to downplay their surprise.

"By all means," Mya added with a forced casual tone. "We're just... surprised. You know, you're usually more... reserved about this kind of thing."

Toni shrugged, nonchalant, as he twisted open a water bottle. "New year, new resolutions," he said with a grin. "Besides, she seems nice. What's the worst that could happen?"

Richie opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Jasmine's voice echoed through the shop, interrupting them. "Let's go, guys! We need to head to Zeke's!"

Toni was the first to leave, completely unbothered by the conversation, while Richie and Mya exchanged a glance. They didn't need to say anything to know they were both thinking the same thing.

"If you don't say anything, I won't," Mya whispered as they followed Toni out of the shop.

"Lips are sealed," Richie agreed, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his voice. "At least, not until we know if it's an actual thing. They could just have dinner and realize there's no chemistry, right?"

"Totally! Absolutely," Mya nodded quickly. But then, as if a thought struck her, she grabbed Richie's arm, making him stop and look at her curiously.

"And, uh... if it's not?" Mya asked, her voice softer now, a hint of concern creeping in.

Richie sighed. "Well, that requires Jesse to care, and right now, she's knee-deep in Aiden, so I think we're good."

"But..." Mya hesitated, her face softening into a look of concern. "He loves her. He's her lobster." She pouted, referencing their favorite show.

Richie groaned, rolling his eyes. "God, you watch Friends way too much during your night shifts."

"It's my comfort show," Mya said with a laugh. "And Sawyer doesn't mind it."

"Only because the kid never grew up watching TV, so he finds everything funny," Richie teased, though there was an unmistakable warmth in his voice. Mya playfully stuck her tongue out at him, and he smirked.

"What am I going to do with you?" Mya teased, shaking her head, but her smile held a quiet understanding—a shared moment that didn't need more words.

Because that's how happiness starts after a period of sadness, happiness doesn't just jump back into your life. It grows back slowly in the crevasses of your soul, like small plants which sprout in cracked concrete. It creeps softly up to you until eventually, it's walking by your side, so quietly you barely even notice.

"I don't know, Flick," Richie said, calling her by the nickname he hadn't used in years. "I guess whatever you want." His smile was soft, knowing she understood exactly what he meant, even if he didn't say it out loud.

Her hand lingered on his arm for just a moment longer than necessary, and Richie knew—whatever was growing between them had never really died. It was just waiting for the right moment to bloom again. All he needed was patience. Patience, and time, to get his family back.