The apartment was dark except for the soft, amber light over the kitchen and the faint blue glow of the TV. As Ariel stepped inside, the first thing she saw was Holly, sprawled out comfortably on the couch. She had her Switch in hand, legs stretched out, and was wearing one of Ariel’s oversized sweaters. Something faded, soft, and about four sizes too big. The sleeves nearly swallowed Holly’s hands, and the hem brushed her knees. Ariel grinned, setting her bag down and shaking her head fondly.

  She walked over, leaned down, and pressed a gentle kiss to Holly’s forehead. Holly paused her game and looked up, a slow smile blooming on her lips. “Hey, Red. I was about to send a search party.”

  Ariel laughed, her fatigue melting a little at the sight of her fiancée so thoroughly making herself at home. “Sorry, I got stuck helping Terri debug something. Did you eat already?”

  Holly nodded, sitting up and stretching, the sweater slipping off one shoulder. “Yeah, but there’s a plate for you in the fridge. It’s the pasta, and I promise I didn’t eat all the garlic bread. Just most of it.”

  Ariel snorted, dropping her keys in the dish by the door. “You’re lucky I love you.”

  “The luckiest,” Holly replied, waggling her eyebrows. She watched as Ariel waddled into the kitchen, popping her plate into the microwave. “How was work? You look exhausted.”

  Ariel pulled her hair out of its bun, massaging her scalp. “Busy. We had so many fan questions from the trailer. Bill forwarded me forty that needed my attention. I spent the whole afternoon crafting answers, dodging NDA landmines, and then I had meetings stacked in between. Didn’t get to half my own list.”

  Holly gave a sympathetic wince. “Yikes. Classic first day back.” She glanced at the TV, paused her game, and patted the cushion next to her. “C’mere. I’ll be your emotional support cuddler.”

  Ariel grinned and, once her food was hot, flopped down on the couch beside Holly. Immediately, Holly scooted over and laid her head in Ariel’s lap, tugging the edge of Ariel’s sweater down to her nose and sighing contentedly.

  Ariel ran her fingers gently through Holly’s hair as she took a bite. “You know, seeing you in my clothes is definitely my new favorite thing. You make that sweater look way better than I ever did.”

  Holly beamed up at her, a little pink in her cheeks. “Good. I’m planning to steal all your sweaters by spring. Hope you’re ready.”

  Ariel rolled her eyes fondly. “I should’ve known. Thievery was in the cards the second I moved in.”

  They chatted for a while, Holly sharing a story about a customer who ordered a “quadruple oat milk cortado” and ended up spilling it on their dog, and Ariel relaying her victory with Terri, proud of how the new dev had stuck with it until the problem was solved.

  Holly’s eyes sparkled, pride mingling with mischief. “See? I knew you’d be a good boss. I bet Terri was thrilled.”

  Ariel shrugged, finishing the last bite of pasta. “It felt good. I just hope she gets a little more confident. I remember those days. Sometimes it just takes someone showing up.”

  Holly reached up and squeezed Ariel’s hand. “She’s lucky to have you. So am I.”

  Ariel’s heart fluttered at that, her hand squeezing back as she leaned in to brush her lips against Holly’s forehead. “Now I’m the luckiest.”

  For the first time all day, Ariel finally relaxed, the fatigue and stress fading into the background as they melted into the comfort of each other.

  They stayed like that for a long while, Holly curled up with her head in Ariel’s lap, Ariel gently combing her fingers through Holly’s hair and the TV playing quietly in the background. Ariel’s body was unwinding in small, slow increments, but her mind still buzzed with all the questions, answers, and deadlines of the day.

  She sighed softly, almost to herself. “I knew fan engagement was part of the job, but… I didn’t realize how much it would grow, you know? Jim told me during training, but it was easy to nod along back then. Today, reading through those forty questions, crafting every answer so it sounded warm and official and also like me… It took a lot out of me.”

  Holly looked up at her, concern and admiration mixing in her gaze. She shifted, sitting up just enough to knead Ariel’s shoulders with her thumbs, drawing out the tension with slow, practiced circles. “You do make it look easy, Red. But it’s a lot for one person. Have you thought any more about hiring a PR Manager?”

  Ariel closed her eyes, letting her head loll back against the cushions. “Honestly? Not really. I know I need to, eventually. But as much as I’ve changed… it still feels weird, letting someone I don’t know handle how the world sees me…or the team, or the game. It’s like handing them the keys to a part of myself I’ve just started to be proud of.”

  Holly’s hands moved up, working the knots at the base of Ariel’s neck. “I get it. But you know what Jim would say: ‘Trust is a risk worth taking, especially when the alternative is burning out.’”

  Ariel let out a short laugh. “Yeah, well, Jim also survived on black coffee and string cheese, so maybe not all his advice was as perfect as your impression of him.”

  They both chuckled, tension easing between them.

  Holly leaned closer, her cheek resting against Ariel’s arm now. “Do you think the fan questions are going to slow down at all before launch?”

  Ariel chuckled, shaking her head. “Not a chance in hell. The closer we get, the more everyone wants to know. I get it. I’d be the same way. But it’s going to get wild. I just hope I don’t get buried under it.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Holly smiled knowingly. “Then maybe you’ll have to take a chance on someone. Let them help with the public stuff, so you can focus on the magic.”

  Ariel tilted her head, looking down at Holly with a half-smile. “And if it turns out I can’t trust them?”

  Holly shrugged, her eyes full of confidence. “Then you fire them and we eat too many pastries until you feel better. You’re the boss now, Red. You get to set the rules.”

  Ariel grinned, feeling the weight in her chest lighten a little more. “You always make it sound so simple.”

  Holly winked. “It’s simple when you’re as stubborn as I am.”

  They fell quiet, the city lights glowing against the window, the sounds of their little home wrapping around them like a blanket. For tonight, the problems could wait. Ariel let herself be held by the woman who believed in her more than anyone, and for the first time that day, she truly felt at peace.

  The first full workweek of the year slipped by in a steady rhythm. Each morning, Ariel arrived at Willowbound a little earlier than usual, coffee in hand, enjoying the quiet hush before the office buzzed to life. Those extra thirty minutes gave her room to breathe: to tackle stray fan questions, prep for meetings, and clear out the always-replenishing to-do list. By the time her teams trickled in, she was already ahead of the curve, which gave her more time to check in with people and let her calm, encouraging presence set the tone for each day.

  On Wednesday just after lunch, with the studio’s usual hum as backdrop, Abigail popped into Ariel’s office. She always carried an air of casual competence, her smart navy blazer a contrast to the game art and coffee mugs that lined the studio halls.

  She leaned in the doorway, smiling. “Ariel, do you have a minute?”

  Ariel closed her project tracker and nodded, gesturing to a chair. “Always. What’s up?”

  Abigail sat, her eyes kind behind her glasses. “I just wanted to check in before the event this weekend. You ready for your big debut?”

  Ariel smiled nervously, twisting the ring on her finger. “I’m… as ready as I’ll ever be. Honestly, I’m a little nervous.”

  Abigail’s smile softened. “You’ll do just fine. You know the game inside and out, you care about your team, and the fans are going to love you. Don’t let the spotlights scare you off.”

  Ariel let out a relieved breath. “Thanks, Abigail. I appreciate it.”

  Abigail stood, and as she did, she slid two gleaming event badges across the desk. “Oh and I managed to secure a second Executive pass. One for you, one for Holly. Bring your biggest supporter.”

  Ariel beamed, holding up both passes between her fingers like prized trophies. “Thank you so much! Holly’s going to flip.”

  “Good,” Abigail grinned, “You’ll have someone in your corner out there. I’ll send you the full schedule later this week. Just be yourself. Everyone else will do the worrying.”

  They shared an easy laugh, the tension in Ariel’s shoulders easing.

  That night, when Ariel got home, she found Holly in the kitchen, bopping around to music as she prepped dinner. Ariel held up the Executive pass, swinging it back and forth with a smug little smile.

  Holly’s eyes went wide, her whole face lighting up. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Ariel nodded, holding the pass out for Holly to inspect. “VIP access, Sinclair. You, me, front row for everything. Abigail pulled some strings.”

  Holly practically tackled Ariel in a hug, peppering her with excited kisses. “I’m gonna have to figure out what magical girl outfit to wear,” she teased, eyes sparkling.

  Ariel grinned, happiness and nerves swirling in her chest. “We’ll pick something out Friday. Something fierce.”

  The rest of the week blurred in a productive hum—meetings, design reviews, moments stolen for chai and quiet reflection. By Friday evening, Ariel felt a good kind of tired, her anticipation for the event buzzing just under her skin.

  She packed up her things, sent a final Slack message to Bill about some last-minute PR notes, and left the office as dusk began to fall. Her destination: a little boutique two blocks away, where Holly was already waiting in the window, waving her phone at Ariel through the glass.

  Ariel smiled, quickening her pace, already imagining the way Holly would light up when she found the perfect thing to wear. For the first time in ages, the unknown felt less scary—more like the start of something big.

  The boutique was softly lit and smelled faintly of citrus and new fabric. Ariel stepped inside, the bell chiming overhead, and spotted Holly right away, already knee-deep in potential outfits, pastel blouses and jackets draped over her arm, a look of pure delight on her face.

  “There you are!” Holly called, waving her over. She wore high-waisted jeans and a peach sweater, but it was clear she was ready to transform for something special. “You wouldn’t believe the hidden gems in here.”

  Ariel grinned, dropping her bag on a nearby chair. “You always find the best stuff. What have you got?”

  Holly gestured to a small rack by the fitting rooms. “Suits, dresses, jackets. I’m trying everything until something feels right. You go look, too. I want to see you in something that’ll turn every head in the room.”

  They split up, combing the racks, holding up options for each other to judge from across the shop. Holly was instantly drawn to the suits, running her hands over the fabrics, pulling out a deep green velvet jacket and then a soft gray suit with a pale blue lining. She held them up in front of the mirror, considering, before picking out a few pastel blouses for good measure.

  Ariel, meanwhile, gravitated toward a section of dresses in gentle hues. Her fingers lingered on a soft mint green dress, flowing and light, with delicate sleeves and a forgiving waist. She matched it with an ivory blazer, picturing how it would look in the soft event lighting.

  Soon, their arms full, they headed to the fitting rooms.

  Holly tried on the velvet suit first, emerging with a flourish. “Too much or just enough?” she asked, spinning once.

  Ariel stifled a laugh. “You look like you own the place, but… let’s see what else you’ve got.”

  Holly ducked back in, soon reappearing in the gray suit, this time with the pastel blue lining peeking out from the rolled-up sleeves. She paired it with a soft blush blouse, and the whole effect was understated but unmistakably Holly: classic, playful, and completely her.

  Ariel gave an approving nod. “That’s the one, Hol. It’s you - confident, but still a little bit soft.”

  Ariel slipped into the mint green dress and blazer, turning slowly in front of the mirror. The dress moved beautifully with her, skimming her curves and making her feel airy and bold at the same time. When she stepped out, Holly’s eyes widened.

  “Oh, Red,” Holly said softly, “you look absolutely stunning.”

  Ariel flushed, self-conscious and proud at once. “You think so?”

  Holly nodded, beaming. “You’re going to stop hearts.”

  They stood together in front of the big mirror, Holly gently adjusting Ariel’s lapel, Ariel brushing a strand of hair behind Holly’s ear.

  “Ready to make some memories?” Holly whispered, her voice thick with love and excitement.

  Ariel smiled, leaning into Holly’s side. “With you, always.”

  They twirled one more time, laughing, before heading to the register, hands entwined; each carrying an outfit that felt like a promise for the days ahead.