Growing Up Who: Aubrey and Aurora Where: International House of Estrogen, AKA Rachelle's Apartment When: Backdated to July, when Kate was first taken in by the family What: Aurora asking Aubrey to move in together Rating: Low-ish Status: Closed; Complete
"The mom's aren't here?" Aurora asked as she entered the apartment that Aubrey shared with Neely, Rachelle and Morgan. Aurora was dressed all in black tonight, jeans, tee and a faux leather jacket. While she was happy with the invite to the International House of Estrogen, she was expecting a few extra bodies in the house!
"Nope. Chelle's working, and Neels and Morgan took the new girl out to get her, you know, an actual wardrobe. Since she showed up with pretty much nothing." Aubrey gave Aurora an adoring look that inevitably turned into a bit of a leer. Aurora had REALLY filled out since they'd begun dating, and had grown from a cute, adorable "munchkin" into a beautiful young woman. She tied the Marilyn Manson shirt she wore at the midriff, exposing her tummy and the lycra shorts she wore. "Figured we could use some alone time."
Aurora whimpered. "And does 'alone time' include nakedness? Because:" she growled and lightly scratched at Aubrey's bare stomach to indicate why her mind had gone there. When they'd started dating Aurora was as timid as could be, but over the years she'd grown confident in her sexuality; as well as her wants and needs.
"It's certainly my goal..." Aubrey laughed, loving this side of Aurora that had started becoming more and more outgoing. "Still feels weird to say my girlfriend lives on a spaceship..." She said with a crooked little grin. "You're like my own little Princess Leia."
Aurora's face lit up. "I should put my hair up in buns for you sometime." It was official. Aubrey had finally corrupted Aurora. "You know, I've been learning ship's mechanic stuff lately. It's kind of fun." She nibbled her bottom lip and bounced. "You know, I did turn eighteen a while back. Hera's sweet for letting me stick around. And I feel like I do help, but... maybe, I mean..."
"This could go several places, all of which I'm already excited about." Aubrey admitted, lacing her fingers with Aurora's, gazing at her like the entire universe revolved around only her.
Aurora gave Aubrey's hand a squeeze, taking strength in that small gesture. "Well, I mean... maybe it's time we moved in together? I know we're still young and the place isn't gonna be much bigger than a shoe-box, but... we'd have each other. And that's a lot for love... ohmygod, did I just quote Bon Jovi?" Aurora face-palmed. "I swear I wanted to say this more romantically."
"Baby. Baby." Aubrey laughed, seeing Aurora flail a little. "I'd love to. LOVE to. All I ask is that we get something near the IHOE. Rachelle and Neely would be ok, but truthfully? I think Morgan would be a bloody disaster without me nearby."
"You do kinda keep her together," Aurora agreed with a giggle. She leaned forward and gave Aubrey a brief and tender kiss. "So... an apartment in Freedomtown, then?" The good thing about Galador was that they could commute just about anywhere in the blink of an eye.
"Yeah. I think Morgan would keep her shit together way better if she knew I lived like... on the same street or so as her." While some young people would find that kind of connection smothering, or annoying, or restrictive... Aubrey relished it. Morgan was so much like her birth mother, this was like having her back and she wouldn't change a thing.
Aurora nodded, understanding. Morgan was the type to fret, especially when it came to Aubrey and her mental health. "You know, we could always invite the fam over for dinner once we're settled."
"I bet they'd love that." Aubrey replied, a light bulb practically going off above her head. "You know... it could be helpful, too. If we do it really well, and totally have our shit together, they'll probably see us more as adults, and not be as panicky about it all."
Aurora gently took hold of Aubrey's hand and gave it a squeeze. "You'd think after all we'd been through they'd know that we'd be mature about any decisions we make." A beat. "Plus, we could be 'pants optional' all the time." Something she'd overheard Neely say once had stuck with her, apparently. She grinned mischievously.
Aubrey was about to make a comment about how the family knows they're mature, and that they just worry about Aubrey because of the admittedly dumb things she still did occasionally. But when she heard Aurora mention "pants-optional"? Forgive her for letting all coherent thought go buh-byes. She'd always found Aurora to be gorgeous, from the day they met... but as the girl had grown? Good LORD had she turned into a knockout! "I... I..... ohhh, that sounds nice."
"Doesn't it though?" Aurora agreed with a sugary sweet grin. She curled her fingers under the hem of Aubrey's shirt and tugged her closer. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met. You know that, right?"
"Even in a place like this?" Aubrey asked, adorably thinking that couldn't be possible. "I mean... you got Princess Leia and Captain Marvel and Black freakin' Widow walking around here."
"Mm. Maybe so, but none of them are you, Aubrey," Aurora murmured, circling her hands to the small of Aubrey's back so she could feel more of her bare skin. "Every inch of you is beautiful, body and soul." She'd never once wavered in her love for Aubrey.
"...I will never know what the hell you see in me, love." Aubrey admitted, laughing but clearly holding back tears. "I just know I never stop being grateful for it. Between you and that angel of a brother back home.... your parents must be Hall of Fame material."
"They always said 'find someone who treats the way you wanna be treated and when you get a hold of a good thing, don't ever let it go'." Clearly she'd mixed the metaphors there, but shh. "You're my 'good thing', my good person and I'll never let you go."
"You know how we've talked a buncha times about getting married one day?" Aubrey asked, deciding something in that very moment, hearing those words come so sincerely from Aurora. "When we do.... I want to take YOUR name."
Aurora grinned. "So, you'll be my Knight and I'll be yours." She really liked the sound of that. They'd been together for a few years now, but they were still young. There was no rush to get married. That 'someday' would come when they were ready for it. No sooner, no later.
"Honestly, love... you are the most insanely romantic person I've ever met." Aubrey said with a little laugh, honestly finding it to be so wonderful it should be in a movie, not real life. "I feel like I will never, EVER, deserve the love you give me... but I will never stop trying to." She said, placing a palm on the girl's cheek and looking into her eyes. "I knew you were special the day we met. I just knew it. I looked into your eyes and just... I knew."
Aurora whimpered and tugged Aubrey in to kiss her, fingertips digging insistently into her back. She'd never loved anyone as instantly and as intensely as she loved Aubrey. This girl was her 'One' and always had been. "You deserve all the good things in life," she said breathlessly. "One day I'll make you see that."