The meal was ending, and Gigi’s stomach was full to bursting. Her face was tired from smiling and laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed dinner with her family this much. It was their first meal as a real family. Drake had finally recovered enough to stand, although walking was still difficult. She gently held him up as he used her shoulder as a crutch, and they made their way to the dining room.
Gena and Grenn were so excited. They ran up and hugged him, almost knocking him over, but Gigi kept him up. Even Gerinna looked relieved to see him on his feet. Gigi noticed that Giada disappeared into the kitchen when they arrived. She made a note of it but didn’t mention it.
Gigi held his hand while they ate, keeping her other hand mainly on her mead goblet. She was on her third refill and beginning to feel the warming effects of inebriation. Then she caught an icy glare from his sister Giada. She appeared to be moving her salad around her plate while giving Gigi a venomous stare. However, when Gigi caught her, Giada quickly retreated her gaze to her plate.
Did I do something? What is her problem? Gigi frowned. She didn’t remember doing anything to antagonize her. She took another drink and turned back to the rest of the table.
“So what really happened out there?” Gena asked wide-eyed. “We didn’t get to see any of the fighting. Ariana told us to stay inside,” the little goblin said with disappointment.
“I thank the gods for that woman,” Griselda said, shaking her head.
“I’m not sure it’s a good story for the dinner table,” Drake laughed.
“Ahhh, come on! That’s no fair!” Grenn whined.
Gigi giggled. “We can tell you when you’re older.”
“Come on! I want to know too!” Gerinna chimed in.
“Well…I guess you could say my past finally caught up with me,” Drake admitted nervously.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Giada asked tersely. Gigi frowned and looked at her sister, who was cooly eyeing Drake. “Does that mean that attack was because of you?” Giada crossed her arms.
“Drake didn-” Gigi tried to interject.
“I’m asking him,” Giada snapped.
Anger was beginning to mount in Gigi. Why is she picking a fight now?
Drake nodded. “They were,” he said solemnly.
“I KNEW IT!” Giada smacked her hand on the table and stood up. “How are you all so happy that Drake is a wanted criminal? He almost got the village destroyed just by being here! Ever since I learned about who you were, I knew we would pay for it.”
“Giada!” Griselda Scolded.
“What?! It’s the truth!” Giada put her hand to her temple. “Am I crazy? Do you all not see how dangerous him being here is?!” She motioned to Drake.
Drake scratched the back of his neck. Appearing to be thinking of what to say. Gigi wanted to say so many things at the moment. Yet, she wanted to allow him to defend himself before she tried to step in again.
He took a deep breath and met her glare. “To Paxia, I might be a traitor, but that was never my home. This is my home. You, Giada, are my family.” He sighed and took a deep breath. “Yet, you are right. Me being here does put you in danger.” A stormy look came into his blue eyes. “It is my duty and honor to protect you all. My gifts belong to the people of Poppy forevermore,” he said with stony conviction. “Whoever comes, I’ll stop them.” He looked over at Gigi. “We’ll stop them. I promise.” Gigi looked back at Drake and felt her anger melt. This was why she loved him so much.
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Giada stared at him, dumbstruck, clearly unsure of what to say. “Do you mean that?” Giada asked.
Drake laughed. “I already died once for my family,” he grinned.
“You died out there?!” Giada asked incredulously.
“Well, Gigi saved me from the water, then Ariana started my heart back up, but yeah, pretty much.”
Giada nodded, visibly uncertain of what to say next. “You really consider me family?”
Drake laughed, “Of course, you’re Gigi’s sister. Why wouldn’t I?”
Gigi blanched at the word. Sister! Ha! Giada hated Gigi, and she felt the same way. It annoyed Gigi how naturally Giada took to being a baker and living in Poppy. She wasn’t just good at it. She loved it. Life had always been so easy for her. She was her mother’s pet, always shopping with her and listening to her go about the best ingredients. In contrast, she got screamed at and given the worst work.
Giada looked over to Gigi. The feelings were returned by the expression she wore. “Well,” Giada Sighed. “Maybe I misjudged you…A little.” She picked up her plate. “Sorry for ruining dinner,” she said gloomily. Then she departed with her dish to the kitchen.
“What’s her problem?” Gigi asked under her breath.
“Why don’t you go ask her?” Drake offered. “I know you aren’t close, but holes can be patched. She’s still your sister.”
His guilt trips were one aspect of her lover she didn’t admire. Yet, she knew there was truth in his words. Gigi believed things probably could have been better between her and Giada. They didn’t need to be perfect, but she could live with better. She sighed. He had been right about Gena. It hadn’t been hard to mend that tear, and now it was like they had a new relationship. She looked over to her youngest sister, who was currently pinching Grenn. Gigi smiled.
“Alright,” she acquiesced. She stood and kissed him.
“Good luck, green bean,” he whispered to her. She laughed.
***
Gigi walked into the kitchen to find Giada defeatedly washing dishes. She opened her mouth to say something but didn’t know how to approach it. She was also a tad drunk, so her words were slower than usual. She was going to speak from the heart and hope for the best.
“Giada-”
“What, Gigi,” Giada asked with disdain.
Gigi faltered. Her sister was still mad at her. Why is that surprising? “Can I help you wash the dishes?”
Giada scoffed. “What if I said no?”
“Look, can we talk?”
Giada said nothing. She stopped washing dishes and turned to her sister. “I’m listening.”
“I know you don’t like Drake, and we don’t have the most incredible history. These last few months have taught me something…” How could she best put it into words? “I wasn’t who I wanted to be,” she stepped forward, “so I took it out on you and everyone else.”
“I’m sorry,” Gigi said, her ears lowering. “You didn’t deserve that, none of you did.” She grabbed her wrist and looked at the ground sheepishly. “If I’m being honest, I was so envious of you for so long. You belonged here. You knew exactly what you wanted to do. You were excited for life.” Gigi smiled for a moment but then frowned. “I was so impressed and so lost. I was a bad sister.” Gigi looked up at Giada to find eyes on the brink of tears. “I should have treated you better,” Gigi said, then felt the tears on her cheeks. Am I crying?
“I thought you looked down on me,” Giada admitted. “That you thought I was just a boring ‘good girl.’ The one who just sucks up to Mom.”
Gigi shook her head. “Nope. I saw someone who was just a whole lot closer to reaching her dream than I was.”
Giada burst into tears and tackled her sister with a hug. She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but it felt good. Giada stepped back and took a deep breath. Her eyes and shoulders lifted.
“He might not be perfect, but I think Drake is a good person for you.”
Gigi’s ears fluttered. “You mean it?”
“I do,” she nodded. “I’m pretty sure he’s the one who told you to come talk to me since you have never done this before.”
Gigi laughed nervously. “Well, what can I say? He’s a good influence on me.” Gigi grabbed her sister's hand. “You should come back out for dessert.”
Giada smiled. “That sounds nice.”
Together, the two sisters left the kitchen and rejoined their family. The family enjoyed their pudding around the table in front of a roaring fire. After dinner, Drake put on a shadow show, telling the story of a little goblin named Gena, the fastest girl in all of Quist. The real Gena kicked the ground and squealed in delight.
She looked around at her siblings, her mother, and finally, her love. It felt like a star was burning in her chest. This is perfect. Gigi leaned into him as he told his tale. He’s getting good at this.
She shouldn’t have had that fifth goblet. Gigi could feel sleep pulling at her as the story unfolded. Her eyelids grew heavy. Closing occasionally, she caught something about winning a race. Then she was looking up at the ceiling of their bedroom.
Gigi turned her head to see Drake gently snoring. He carried me to bed! That was a service she could get used to. No more waking up cold on the couch. She laid her head on his chest and sighed.
“I love you,” she whispered.
***
A week passed, and both Gigi and Drake were beaten and bruised, but they were back on their feet. At that time, a mighty snowstorm dumped its frozen rage onto Poppy. The lovers didn’t mind, though. It just meant they got to be closer to each other to beat the cold. One frigid morning, they were at the stables as Drake put more blankets on Glorp, who didn’t care much for the cold.
Gigi waited until his back was turned, completely unsuspecting. Then she took one mittened hand and scooped up a mighty ball of snow, packing it down. Her coat restricted her movement, but she was confident she could still aim with the best of them. She shut one eye and lined up her shot, then let the snowball fly as it rocketed to the back of Drake’s head.
It exploded on impact, spewing white powder in all directions. A thin smile cut across the former soldier’s face. He ducked down with fluid, practiced movement, then scooped up his snowball before hurling it back at Gigi. She dodged it and giggled. The two exchanged glancing blows as they laughed.
Gigi took refuge behind a tree for cover. She looked back and didn’t see Drake anywhere. With a frown, she turned back around. There he was. She let out a tiny gasp of surprise. He pointed up before using the darkness amongst the branches to shake loose the entire foundation, causing a small avalanche. The snow poured on top of the goblin, causing her to lose her footing and slip into white fluff below.
Drake let out an uproarious laugh. Gigi grunted in frustration before bolting out of the drift and tackling her man to the ground. They collapsed into the snow together in a flurry of powder and giggles.
Hours later, they found themselves in the same position in front of the flaming hearth in her room. This time with less clothes and more blankets. Their wet jackets and gloves warmed by the fire as they made love. Nothing else mattered to them but one another. The warm embers of each other’s hearts were all the heat they needed. Their love was their fire that cast out the darkness. They had found their flame.
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