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Seraphina paced the bridge nervously, her heels clicking against the stone. She had asked Maria to meet her there as if she was going to get rejected; she really did not want to do it in the house they shared with the others at this time. It would be mortifying. She chittered to herself as she paced, hands fussing the rose between them slowly as she rolled it between her palms to keep them from overheating. She had the rose and a piece of jewelry she had forged by hand as was a custom for her kingdom. She didn't know what else to do to show Maria how she felt, yes it was technically how proposals were supposed to go but it wasn't that big of a deal. She took a shaky breath, looking over the side at the water going under the bridge when she heard a familiar step pattern and voice.
“There you are ‘phina. I got your note, what's going on?”
Seraphina took another breath, turning to look at her best friend. The purple-furred hedgehog was standing further down the bridge but quickly made her way over to her best friend when she saw Seraphina's face. She wrapped her hands around her waist, pulling her to her chest and hugging the slightly shorter cat tight who wrapped her arms around Maria's shoulders tightly.
“Woah! Woah, hey what's going on princess? Come here baby, you look like you're about to cry. Did someone say something to you?”
“No, no it's nothing like that I just….I'm scared….”
“Scared? What's got you scared princess?”
“There's something I need to do but I'm so scared of the result.”
“Scared it'll go a bad way?”
“Terrified it will.” Maria nodded, gently rubbing Seraphina's back as she hid her face in her neck. They were quiet for a few minutes before Seraphina shifted and pulled back just a bit to look at her best friend.
“‘ria there's something I need to tell you. I-”
Before Seraphina could finish speaking Maria gently lifted her chin and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She froze before tightening her arms around Maria's neck and kissing back firmly. It didn't matter how much time had passed as they stood there, the sound of the river and the birds were the only passage as the two held each other and kissed. It didn't end until Seraphina pulled away because she ran out of breath.Panting softly she searched her best friend's face, trying to find an answer in her actions.
“You-”
“Yeah…Seraphina when I got stuck here I'll be honest, I hated every minute of it. I couldn't stand the fact that I was away from you. I didn't know if you were safe, I didn't know if you were okay, I didn't know anything other than the fact that all I could do was pray to Chaos that you were safe. Every minute of every day I was thinking about you because I couldn't get you out of my head.”
“I was asked to weave your shroud. You were gone for so long Mother was sure we had lost you. That you were stuck back in your dimension with your Pa and Dad. They wanted me to find a new guard.”
“What? Why would-”
“I-I couldn't do it!”
Seraphina interrupted Maria, her ears back as she held the hedgehog tightly. The tears had started to fall, the rose forgotten on the ground as she moved her hands to cradle Maria's face.
“I've been weaving during the day and undoing all the work at night. I gave the new guards I was supposed to choose from a challenge I knew none of them could complete but it's not just because I don't want a new guard.
Maria, you're my best friend. You've been at my side for everything just like I've been at yours and as we got older and I learned I like girls and only girls I've realized it's not just the fact I like girls. I like one girl and that girl is you. I'm in love with you, I'm pretty sure I've been in love with you since we were five and you saved me from the river.”
“‘phina…”
“Let me finish. Maria Iva Hedgehog-Robotnik, I am in love with you. I've been in love with you for years and I don't want to spend another year wondering if you like me back. So this year I'm asking you to be not only my Valentine but my girlfriend.”Seraphina picked up the rose and jewelry box, presenting both to her. Her hands shook as Maria let go of her, taking the box and rose. Carefully she put the flower in her quills and opened the box to pull out the armbands. She smiled and quickly put them on before pulling Seraphina back into another kiss and dipping her best friend just a bit as arms laced around her neck again.
“Yes. Seraphina Rose the Cat I have been madly in love with you since your twelfth birthday party. I didn’t realize it at first, with everything going on I’ve been trying to ignore them but being away from you for those weeks…I realized just how much I love you. I will always be your Valentine. Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend as long as you’ll be mine.”
“I already am.”
Maria smiled as she pulled her love close and kissed her again, the two just enjoying their time alone together before they returned home and shared the good news.