Meanwhile, Cherry and Leonie are standing in the middle of the road.
"Look! We've already been through everywhere Cherry knows!"
"No…none of it suited Anja…"
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Cherry, please bear a little more…"
"Leonii, let's just go somewhere near and buy a random chocolate bar! If it's you, I'm sure Anja will eat it!!!"
"What?!"
"Even if it dirt chocolate…Cherry thinks Anja will still swallow the whole box."
"Stop…stop saying nonsense!"
"Cherry's not!"
Leonie is searching on her phone to see if there's any place she can buy chocolate around here.
"Uh…!"
"What's wrong?" Cherry comes closer to take a look at Leonie's phone: "Oh dear… that's gonna take us two bus trips from here…"
"Uhm…"
"Does it have the type of chocolate that Leonii wants?" Cherry tilted their head a little but not too much, their hat might fall and reveal their poms poms ear?!
"I…I don't know…"
"Hm…" Cherry went deep in thought for a moment before they realized, wait, everything was not that hard after all: "Hey, Leonii…how about we give our owner a call?"
"Our boss?!"
"Yeh!"
"B…but…"
"Cherry doesn't know why, but they seem to understand us a lot. Maybe we can ask them about what Anja likes her chocolate to be!"
"Uhm…"
"Come on, Leonii! We don't have much time! The shop you just found might closed if we don't get there on time…"
"I…" Leonie swallowed her fear and said: "Alright! Let's catch a bus!"
"That the spirit, Leonii!"
They quickly run over to the nearby bus and get on one of the ones that will lead them to the chocolate shop.
"Come here!" Cherry takes Leonie to the back seat of the bus, which is Cherry's favorite because when the bus bumps, anyone seat on the back seat will be affected by it and it feels like they're flying up for a moment or two.
Another part that Cherry likes is sitting near the window, but Cherry decided to let Leonie sit at the window this time.
"Alright…one hour on this bus and another hour on the other bus, right Leonii? Leonii?"
Leonie doesn't look at Cherry, but looks down at her feet. Her head is full of troublesome thoughts now that she is actually taking a bus to…to buy some chocolate for Anja!
Why did I agree to this? I can just run over to some random shop and buy it and go straight back home! Why do I have to annoy Cherry to help me like this? I bet they feel tired of it right now!!!
Why do I have to make things so complicated…why…all the god dam time…what is wrong with you, Leonie, you can't even decide on one dam chocolate…and now here you are taking a two-hour bus just to buy some! Can I just get down and…no, no, it's already too late!
But chocolate is chocolate anyway… will Anja like it...UHHHH, I should just buy some simple chocolate and call it a day, I'm not even that good, why should Anja like my gift…why should Anja like someone like me!
"Hey." Someone grabs both of her shoulders and shakes her off: "Put yourself together."
Cherry looks at her in the eyes, those circular pink eyes always look weird to Leonie; the closer you look, the more you start to realise there is a lack of light in their eyes. How do those eyes even work, Leonie sometime wonder.
"Cherry knows Leonii is thinking of something really bad right now."
"How did you…"
"The hobbies and how a body reacts never lie." Cherry raises their hand and gives Leonie a small flick on her forehead. "There just one Valentine's, one chance in a year, Leonii. Work a bit hard for it won't hurt!"
"Yeah…yes…" Leonie hesitately nod.
"Cherry will give the owner a call and help you ask…"
"No…Uhm…I mean, let me do it…"
Cherry opens their eyes in surprise and cracks a big smile after that: "Yes, it's all yours. Today, both of us will work a bit hard, but if everyone likes it, it's worth it, right?"
"Yeah…you right…" Leonie looked at her hand, squeezing together. "Let's…work hard…" and find chocolate for Anja…
She wanted to see Anja happy…
Chocolate to make…Anja happy…
Leonie never knew someone could look at her with such precious eyes…she always been hard on herself, even unconsciously or not, she harmed herself…
She was never good at talking…she was never good at making friends…
All her life, she been a little wolf digging holes and hiding herself in them. Maybe someday, I'll dig my own grave, she thinks to herself…no…not one… a lot…and a lot of time she's been making bad decisions…
Her father's disappointed eyes haunted her when she made those bad choices…even though her mother said, 'Your dad simply wants the best for you.'
The more choices she makes, the more she starts to get confused… Is this a good choice…Am I doing the right things?
Nothing seems clear anymore…maybe…maybe if I just… disappear…fall apart one by one…
Each day, a part of her broke down…
And she was wondering how far can I go from here before I can't walk anymore…
"Hey Leonie!" A friend of her ask her: "There's a new maid shop on the corner of the street near the campus, I was planning to go there, the shop seems cute, wanna come with me?"
Maybe they just ask her out of pity because she seems alone, she feels tired…she just wanted to go home…but somehow she ended up going.
"Hi, little wolfy! What can Cherry help you with?"
This shop is weird…
Is small, yes, and it is also short-staffed. There are only two butlers and one maid?
And the maid has such a weird outfit…she thought most of the maids should wear a dress, isn't that how most of maid's coffee uniforms are?
"I would like to have soda cream, please," her friend ordered something, and the butler with two black cat-like ears nodded.
"I will bring it to you soon. Thank you for ordering." He then walks away and leaves us with just this pink maid to hang around with.
Since the shop is new, but it wasn't a very famous shop, it seems like there not much guest around.
"Well, guess Cherry will be here to entertain you now!"
"Uh…ok?" Leonie fixed her hair with a confused face. What do maids usually do to entertain guests? Fan serve?
"Oh, first and foremost, Cherry wants to let you know that Cherry is an alien scientist! So believe in Cherry science fact or face death, ok~!"
Her friend laughed and asked, "What role do you play in, Cherry? I thought you were a cute moe-type maid."
"Oh." Cherry shakes their head: "We don't do that here!"
"What?" Her friend frowns a bit: "I know it's a bit rude, but I thought, like, usually at the maid coffee they would play by a different maid style, right? Like a cute maid or cold maid or…"
"Oh no no." Cherry shakes their head violently, but their face is still smiling: "That is just on paper, Cherry will do as Cherry wants! But indeed, Cherry is a cute maid."
"Ah…is it because of the short-staff?" her friend asked again.
Cherry smiles still don't change, but their tone seems slightly different, as if a bit heavier: "At this maid coffee, it does not say out loud to the customer, but we get to do what "we" want, alright? Dear customer?"
No sweat talk, no "master", "princess", "lady". Just a straightforward "customer".
Leonie can feel that Cherry is drawing a line between the customer and them from the very beginning, but that line hits harder, making the line they drew visible. Leonie can see it.
Cherry stands their ground: "Our owner made this place not to serve the customer, but for us to be ourselves."
That line seems weird and funny. They always said "Customers are above all", that's how all restaurants and coffee shops work if you want to get more customers.
But not "all", not anymore…
"Cherry is cute, Cherry knows that. Cherry works here to be able to dress cutely and be themselves every day."
Their maid uniforms are full pink from top to bottom, their sleeves are long and so long that it can cover up their hand. They wear a weird red-ish horn on their head with four heart pins, each two on both sides….
Yet why does it feel so…free…it feels so fun and full of joy. Like a handmade toy with all your love and hope in it, even if it looks ugly…
"You're cute too, customer. You're too adorable to make Cherry mad." They said as the raise their hand and flicked on her friend's forehead.
"Ow!"
"Have a good meal, customer! You did bring some entertainment to Cherry today! Thank you."
Cherry walked away to welcome new guests as Leonie was stunned at what they did just a moment ago.
She blinked and got confused, then went deep in thought.
That maid…is weird…
They sound like they are mocking her friend…
"Haha…"
But for some reason, her friend doesn't seem upset at all.
"What's wrong? Leonie."
"No…it's nothing…"
Does that maid not be scared of accidentally upsetting their customer?
'Not to serve customers, but to be yourself'…
"You must be surprised…Yeah, this maid coffee is a bit different than usual…"
Leonie just remembered she hadn't ordered anything yet. That's why the side of her table is empty, she picks up the menu nearby while listening to her friend chatting.
"That maid is funny. Maybe I should ask them to serve us again."
"Yeah…"
"Leonie…" her friend frowns when she looks at her: "I know you're a hard-working student, but you barely talk much when people around you…work yourself up a bit…they don't like a grumpy girl like you at all."
"Yeah…sorry…"
"How are you even going to get a boyfriend, girl. Did you know in our class we even have someone who already has a family? Like, I saw their kids last week at our campus gate…"
Leonie doesn't feel like listening…
When the butler brings her friend soda cream over, Leonie just randomly points to a food in the menu, maybe pudding will be fine…there is not much on the menu…
"Oh…" the butler seemed a bit panicked: "I understand that our menu hasn't had a lot of items yet…of course, there will be more added in the future…" They whispered to themselves for a bit before turning back to Leonie: "Are you sure you want to order that?"
"Yes." Whatever…let's just eat something and go home…
The butler wanted to say something, but then he closed his mouth and just grabbed the menu and walked away with a sad pair of eyes.
The small purple cat hanging on his side looked even more happier than him.
"Also, wanna go to the party this weekend?"
"Yes?" Leonie ask in hesitated: "But I don't know any other there…I don't think…"
"It's fine, it's fine!" but her friend waved the spouse in denial: "You'll need to make new friend, Leonie, they're cool people. I sure you'll fit in in no time."
"No…thanks…"
"Why not?!"
"I…I…" mean her friend eyes staring at her, the word suddenly stuck in her throat.
I know she just trying to help me…
I know…I know it's my fault…She was just doing it for me but…
Leonie feel terrible, inside out, she feel like vomit…her tummies swished and her eyes burning…
Why am I like this…
Why can't I be a helpful person…
Why am I…such a…
Clicked!
A sound of someone putting the dish down like smashing it to the table.
The yellow pudding with no caramel is right in front of Leonie.
As she look up from the hand that held the pudding dish, it was a familiar face, looking back at her…those weird eyes…lacking of such light…
"Yo!" That pink maid smile a bright smile: "You called?"
"Yes?"
"You call for me? Little wolfy?"
"Ah?!" Leonie panicked, I call for them??? What? When? I…
The maid slowly pointed at the pudding on the table: "You should have asked Lulu or Toto about the rules. This is my food, that mean I will be the one serving it to you~"
"What! So lucky, I wanna be served by Cherry too." A customer from a different table started complaining.
"Now now! Cherry will come to you soon, for Cherry can not multiply themselves so please wait patiently."
Again, Cherry draws the line clear; they speak with confidence and joy. They do not care about what other thinks…
"So…what do our little wolfy want? Play a game?"
Such a strange nickname… It's a bit uncomfortable, but something tells Leonie that she can speak up for it this time.
That Cherry will hear her, and will accept what she says: "Sorry…but…"
"First of all, no, sorry." Cherry puffs their cheek up: "Unless you do something wrong, you don't need to sorry Cherry. Ok, next, what do you want to say?"
It's hard, but Leonie's ear can clearly catch it when Cherry shifts their voice. When they're happy and in the mood, it's different; when they're serious, it's different.
"My…my name's Leonie."
"Alright. Is it ok if I call you Leonii?"
"Uh…It's a bit strange…"
"Ok, Leonie then!"
Then her friend asked: "Hey, Cherry, since you said you're a scientist, can you tell us something interesting?"
"Uh? Alright~ What do you wanna know?" Cherry covers their mouth with their long sleeve: "Usually it would take some cast for you to learn it, you know? But Cherry will let you know for free."
This is Cherry's style of work after all. Science is their thing!
"Did you know~ That the Earth's atmosphere is a five-layer gas and retained by the Earth's gravity?"
"Yeah?" her friend nodded.
"So how does a spaceship from out of space go back to Earth without burning its way to the core?" Cherry takes out a small pen from their pocket. "Like this, if Cherry swings it really hard, there will be a force impact on the pen, and then if Cherry can make it fall on the high sky, it will start heating up and boom! It will catch fire before the pen can land onto the ground!"
"So…?" her friend asked again, curious.
Leonie also feels a strange interest in the way that Cherry talks, like telling a fun story between friends, more than scientific knowledge.
"The spaceship goes back…" Cherry switches the pen in their hand and points the pen tip down: "Orbit the Earth, around and slowly enter the atmosphere, and then they cut out…" they open the pen cap, take the cover out, throw them all away and leave only the ink stick inside on their hand: "Other unneccesary part will be cut out, leave only the part that have human in it. And then that part will pop out a parashoot and the human inside slowly return to their Earth motherland."
"Ah…I see…" Her friend still seems to be a bit confused.
She also thinks it's a very random topic…but still, for some reason, she listened to it until the end.
And at that moment, Cherry tone shifted again, but still a smile on their face: "So ever think of a spaceship from out far far far away! Land into Earth without any perpare going to look like? It's going to make a big impact! And leave a big hole in the ground, and everyone in it dies!"
"Uh…alright?" Her friend even looked more confused.
"A high changes you can actually survive if your spaceship make of some other material or different function, but other than that, death will welcome you. Ok! So that's the science fact for today~ You're welcome to come back at anytime, Cherry welcomes you to learn more about science every day!"
Her friend clapped her hand: "Oh…interesting, indeed."
"You can even come over when Cherry has night shift, but Cherry thinks the others won't let it happen." Cherry then said goodbye to them before walking away to go entertain another guest.
Something about it makes Leonie feel strange, that maid talks so freely, they talks like they don't care if anyone likes or dislikes it at all.
She ate a spoonful of pudding…and a weird, salty flavor took over her mouth.
To be able to be free from thought and choices…and just be happy no matter what other thinks…
But she didn't stop, and ate another spoon…
I want to be like that too…
Like Cherry and how everyone is. To become someone normal, not overthinking and worrying all the time, must be nice.
This pudding is salty…as salty as how her heart feels right now…
At that moment, she never knew that this maid coffee would become her second home…but here she is…
Leonie, the wolf maid.
Leonie opened her eyes again. They're still on the second bus now, just one more hour to go, Cherry sitting next to her, seems like they're counting their finger for some reason.
"Oh, do Leonii feel better now?" They asked.
"Yes…"
"Just calm down and do a little breathing, if that doesn't help and Leonii feels overwhelming again, then maybe some exercise, run around the bus one or two times~?"
"Cherry…" Why do they always have the weirdest ideas in their head?
"So…did Leonii think of what kind of chocolate to buy for Anja yet?"
"I think I'll just buy something small…" Leonie is not that rich to buy something too fancy, and…she thinks maybe something cute for Anja, something cute…She remembers how Anja always looked at her with those adorable sheep eyes and smoke started flying out from her head…
Oh, Leonii face is so red!" Cherry giggles: "Love is wonderful, isn't it!"
"Cherry!"
"Sorry, sorry~!"
"Hm…" now that she thinks about it: "Sorry. I kinda got you into this."
"No, no. Don't sorry Cherry, Cherry already said Cherry will go with you to buy some chocolate too."
"But…" Cherry can just buy some chocolate somewhere near and get home at this point…
"No but!" Cherry points their finger at Leonie: "Cherry goes because Cherry wants. Leonii knows Cherry won't go if they don't wanted right?"
"Ah…yes."
Cherry is weird, very weird! But one thing Leonie has to admit, she learn a lot from Cherry, she learn a lot from everyone in the coffee shop.
To be who you are, and if you don't know yet, learn to become something you want to become.
"Let Cherry guess, Leonii must be in a panic because Leonii realized too late that Valentine's is tomorrow?"
"How did you…"
"With a person worrying about a lot of things like Leonii, of course, it's easy to forget the date sometimes." Cherry said in a soft voice. There are time when Leonie find Cherry acts even more natural than the rest of the maids.
As if hardship had already crushed them down to the core of the Earth, before any of us had ever known what the Firog coffee shop is. Maybe Belen knew. Cherry told Belen a lot about themselves; she saw them chatting outside of the coffee shop, talking about stuff like fish and food.
But one time Leonie overheard their conversation.
'Do I miss my planet? Uhm…' Cherry laugh and shock it off: 'No…I don't care…I just miss my friend…and my cousin. That planet is going down soon anyway. Everything about it is on the verge of dying; it is even worse and more polluted than Earth.'
At first, Leonie takes the line "Cherry is an alien scientist" as a joke because of Cherry joyfull and silly personality, which can be something Cherry said as a joke.
But the more they work together…this is too much for it to be just a joke…
"Uh? What are Leonii thinking so deeply about?"
"Ah!"
"We're already here, let's get down first."
"Right!"
They both get down from the bus stop and walk over to the chocolate store. Leonie was hesitant at first, but she held her breath and texted her boss, Froggy, about what she thought Anja would like her chocolate to be for Valentine's.
"What does she mean, everything is fine?!"
"That's what Froggy said?"
"Even…even grass chocolate??? I can't do that!"
"I mean…Anja is a sheep after all…" Cherry whispers to themselves: "Maybe some type of legumes…legumes chocolate…uhm…"
"Legumes?"
"Yeh! Pea. Mostly pea, but clover is also a part of the legume family."
"Clover…" Leonie opened her eyes wide, wait…clover?!
"Hm~ Looks like you have an idea."
"Yes…h…how about clover shape chocolate!"
"Oh! Leonii, you're a genius! But that's not a grass shape chocolate though…"
"What…?"
They both stopped and stared at each other.
No, no…wait a bit, Leonie wants to give Anja clover chocolate because it is a small shape, but it is for goodluck right? Like…small clover chocolate…
Cherry blinked their eyes: "Ahh…so Leonii was thinking about the clover, mean good luck thingy…"
"Then what did you think it was?"
"So…like, Cherry said clover is a legume, right?"
Leonie nodded her head slightly.
"But legume isn't grass…clover isn't a type of grass…clover is more related to pea than grass."
T… that's what Cherry was worried about?! This guy…
"It's fine…" Leonie covers half of her mouth, so Cherry can't see that she is almost cracking into a smile right now.
"Are you laughing at Cherry?!"
"No…no I'm not…" She tries to turn her face away.
"I saw that!"
"No, you saw nothing…"
They enter the shop, and Cherry walks over to ask the staff if they have pink chocolate cube.
"My apologies…we only have milk chocolate, black chocolate and caramel chocolate small cube. For the pink chocolate you ask for, we only sell by bar."
"Oh…" Cherry thought they should buy the chocolate bar home and cut it out into small cubes and wrap them in paper themselves.
'Cherry is thinking of something weird to do again…' Leonie thinks as she looks at Cherry deep in thought.
"Maybe Cherry should buy the bar home and cut it out themselves…"
Isn't that too much effort…
The staff seemed to be worried for Cherry as she told them to wait and went to the back to ask about something.
Then she came out, saying that: "We do have the chocolate cutter for the customer to taste the sample…would you like me to use it to cut the chocolate out for you?"
"No, it's ok! You go help my friend out! Cherry will cut it themselves. Can you show Cherry where the cutter is?"
No…Cherry, that's not how it works…Leonie bit her teeth with a bitter face.
"I'll buy the chocolate, right? Cherry pays for it so Cherry can cut it into what way that Cherry wants."
Cherry stands their ground stronger.
The staff look panic for a bit but then another staff laugh at Cherry and told her co-worker to go help Leonie out, she will help Cherry with the cutting part.
"Alright…uhm, customer, what would you like to buy?"
"Ah! Uhm…Do you have shaped chocolate?"
"Yes, we do. It's Valentine's tomorrow, right? So there are some heart shaped chocolate you might like."
"Excuse me, do you have clover-shaped?"
"Oh…uhm…special shapes usually over here…oh…look like we run short on the clover shape…"
"Uh…" Leonie's face turns dark, gods…we're out of time…what should we do…but I really wanted that chocolate for Anja…
"Want some?" Cherry came over and gave Leonie a small pink chocolate cube.
"Ah, thank you." Leonie felt a bit better after putting that chocolate into her mouth. No, Leonie, you can't give up now…
Think…there has to be another way, right?
Work hard for just a day in a year…this is your only chance, Leonie!
"Cherry!"
"Yes?" Cherry stops from putting the chocolate into their mouth and looks straight into Leonie's eyes
"Our coffee store has a clover-shaped tray, right?"
"Uh…if Cherry remembers right, we do have it somewhere in the back of the store…Froggy has a lot of cute shapes tray to make cake, so Cherry thinks there should be one?"
"Thank you." Leonie run over to buy some green chocolate and decided to visit the shop to make it herself.
"Wait, Leonii, you head back to the store?"
"Yes…sorry for trouble you Cherry…"
"It's ok! I need to head back too…Cherry will go with you!"
"But…"
"No but! Cherry don't have night shift tomorrow anyway, wake a little won't hurt."
"Alright…"
Both of them run like never before and instead of talking the bus Cherry recommended them to book a taxi for faster.
"Don't worry! Cherry will use papa pocket money, hehe!"
Leonie just hopes Cherry's father doesn't lecture them about this after the trip.
Get into the taxi Cherry opens their phone up and texts their dad right away.
"Thank you…"
"No need, Leonii. Going out with you is fun!"
"Heh…is that so." She smiles a bitter smile.
"Leonii…focus!" Cherry slaps their hands together "Focus on making chocolate for Anja! Nothing else!"
"Ok…focus! Making…chocolate…for her…"
'She red like a tomato again…' Cherry feels slightly worried, will little Leonii be fine tomorrow…
Then Cherry's phone shook violently: "Ahh, yes? Yes…I was planning to go with Leonii to make some chocolate, I will be home late…papa go to bed! Waiting is bad for papa! Yes, Cherry also got chocolate for you and sis and brother too!"
Cherry have a sister and brother?
"Uh? Is Leonii curious?"
"No, it's fine I…"
"Cherry does have a sister and a brother!"
"Ah…is that so…"
"But Papa and this brother and sister are my adopted ones."
"What?"
"Basically, Cherry's real relative is somewhere far away, and papa pick up Cherry when Cherry falls down to this place."
Leonie opened her mouth, she was about to ask…are you really an alien…? But she didn't say it out…
"You must be thinking of that, right?" Cherry then tilted their head to a side, with a mischievous smile growing from their mouth: "What do you think?"
One thing about Cherry is that they will never lie, never…it's either that they are not telling you about the full picture or let you know everything about it, anything but lie.
Cherry's teacher taught them to be truthful scientists in this terrible and sticky world.
Never lie, but learn not to tell them everything, it is more fun that way.
Both of them stepped down from the taxi; it only took them half an hour, way faster than the bus.
Leonie knocked on the door to see if there was still anyone in the shop.
And the door slowly opened with a little bell sound
"Yes?" Two pairs of ears pop out.
"Lulu! Toto! You two still here?" Cherry asks in surprise.
"Well…it's Toto night shift today…" Lulu tells a half lie half true.
"Oh…I see" Cherry nodded and not asking anything further about that topic: "Can we come in? I need to help Leonii make some chocolate."
"For Anja, right?" Toto whispered.
Cherry nodded again.
"Alright, come in." Toto opens the door wider. Toto gave Lulu a side eye as if saying, 'I told you something would happen tonight.'
'Yes… indeed, your guess was right.' Lulu blinked back in surprise.
'I know these kids well.'
'Yes' Lulu thinks to himself, Toto does care about them…it's just a little hard to see it but she clearly does care…hehe.
Guess they do fit for the babysitter job after all…
Cherry and Leonie start their search in the kitchen as Toto was about to come over to help them, Lulu stops her right away.
'Toto…remember to ask first…'
'Right…can't really give it to them right away…'
'Cherry will be suspicious of us again…'
'Dam…they and Anja are really terrifying at this…'
Toto and Lulu have the power to make others forgetful of their presence.
Passing like a shadow, the helper of this shop. Yet they still get caught by Cherry and Anja sometimes.
Yet Cherry and Anja never care; they smell something, but never mind digging things up deeper.
Cherry likes this place and generally wants to be here.
The same as Anja, she has someone she loves, and that's the only thing she wants to learn about. Not Toto and Lulu's suspicious actions.
There is nothing that Toto and Lulu did that caused anything bad; the two are simply here as Fih and Froggy's friends and helpers, that's what they are in the eyes of the maids.
By how friendly and close they are to their boss, and Toto and Lulu mostly go together anytime you spot them in the shop.
Toto and Lulu think the other didn't know yet, but the two go together to share information.
Lulu keeps an eye on Cherry and Belen, while Toto keeps an eye on Leonie and Anja.
If anything gone bad, they will call Fih and Froggy right away.
And…if not, Fih and Froggy will haunt them in their dreams…well…not really haunted, but Fih and Froggy will ask them about it.
They love their maids staff with all their heart after all.
"Do you need help…" Toto was about to join in, but at that moment, it looked like Leonie already found it…
"Oh, it's here, Cherry!"
"Good job, Leonii!"
Toto bites her lip as Lulu comes over to push her out of the kitchen.
'It's alright, let them handle this…'
'Uh! Fine…!'
Leonie and Cherry melted the chocolate and poured it into the trays
Then Leonie put it in the fridge.
"I think we'll make it on time!"
"Yes…" Leonie smiled with relief in her heart.
Gave each other a happy look in their eyes…after all this, it was worth it isn't it?