Now I Believe
Pairing(s): Ram/Ruby (romance)
Other Pairing(s): Slade/Trudy (romance)
Words to use: mischievous, angel, beautiful
Sentences to use: "I have probably fallen for the worst person I ever could imagine on this planet, but I would rather be with that person than anyone else."
Must Include: one couple playing matchmaker for the other, and a double wedding perhaps along the line
Rating: PG-PG13
Now I Believe
((Sequel to Screaming Infidelities))
Five years had passed since Trudy and Slade officially became a couple, which was two months after they had first slept together. Amber and Jay had since broken up, Jay was killed in a battle soon after. Amber was hit hard, but soon found happiness with of all people, Lex. The mall was a strange place that day when they announced their relationship.
It took awhile for Amber and Trudy to become friends again and a lot of straightening out from Lex on Amber’s side. The blonde had actually truly become a much better person since Lex strangely. He grounded her, made her human. Lex himself was still Lex, but much happier and slightly more grown up. No one thought it would last this long and scoffed the idea at first, but as time went by they saw the good it did and how well they were off. Together they had a daughter, Ava, and on her first birthday, Lex proposed to Amber.
The Techno’s, well what was left of them after the final battle, had scattered in the city, some forming a mix between a militia and police to keep the city safe from crime. Their tribe had long ended after Mega’s death. The Mall Rats, much to Ebony’s dismay, had burnt the hotel base itself to the ground. Months later Danni returned to the city half dead, finally managing to escape both the Chosen and Techno prisons. Along with her she brought Patsy and Ved. All three had side effects of their stay. Turned out Patsy and Ved were together behind Cloe’s back when things were going south between Cloe and Ved. Cloe herself died during the escape. Danni, strange enough, had gotten together with Tai-san.
Salene and May outed themselves a year back, apparently they had been seeing each other secretly for months before then. Ryan returned a month after that, bringing along his new wife, Moon, and son, Jacob. They stayed for two months before heading off again back to the countryside, which they called home, though they still visit every few months. Jack and Ellie spent some time apart before taking the plunge and getting married, soon after they had a daughter whom they named Ava. It had been an interesting past few years to say the least. Every one in the mall had practically paired off except a few. Two of them including the ex Techno lord and the former Liberty barmaid.
kept in a locket, tucked in your collar
close to your chest.
Make it a secret
shown to the closest friends...
Trudy felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist as she cleaned the dishes from lunch. She smiled and leaned against Slade, letting out a happy sigh as he kissed her neck. Things had been relatively smooth after the Techno’s fall from power and despite the occasional brawl between tribes, things were peaceful. Lost people were slowly making their way back to the city over the years.
“You’re planning something...” he muttered into the crook of her neck. “What have I told you about meddling?”
“Me? Never... I don’t meddle. I’m being an angel and behaving nicely as expected.” Trudy said innocently. Slade gave her a look. “Fine. I’m meddling.” she let out a heavy sigh and turned around to face him. “It’s Ruby and Ram.”
“What about them?”
“They’re totally in love with each other. Have been for four years at least. Four years.”
“So?”
“So? So we have to help them.”
“Oh no... I am not getting caught up in one of your schemes.”
“It’s not a scheme. It’s a matchmaking.” Trudy crossed her arms and tried to sound honest about her actions, but the mischievous smile playing on her lips could not be helped. “Come on, Ram’s your best mate. Don’t you want to see him happy? I know May and me are dying to see Ruby smile that special smile. And we both know they’re practically perfect for each other. You can’t tell me you don’t see it. Even Lex sees it and you know how oblivious he can be.”
“Ok, I’ll give you that one.” Slade laughed, helping Trudy finish cleaning the dishes. “Come on, let’s continue this conversation in a more private place. Who knows what’ll happen if Gel overhears the conversation.”
“God forbid.” she laughed, drying off her hands. Gel might of grown up over time, but she was still the blabbermouth she had always been and would always be. To be anything else would simply not be Gel. The two headed back to their room where they talked of Ruby and Ram’s business for about ten minutes before working on their own affairs. Tomorrow they’d begin the matchmaking.
the sun will still shine then
at this time of year.
We'll head to the inlet
and we'll share a bottle there.
The next day went by pretty slowly. Trudy decided that she’d speak to Ruby to find out what was really going on with her feelings for Ram while Slade dealt with Ram about the same subject. Both agreed that Ruby and Ram would have to come together themselves and realize their feelings, it was just Slade and Trudy’s job to get them to admit the feelings. Trudy needed a deeper insight into Ruby so May ended up getting involved, since she after all was Ruby’s best friend.
“Hey Ruby.” Trudy took a seat next to the blonde who was busy reading. Liberty had been destroyed during a raid headed by Mega when he was searching for Ram so Ruby, along with Lottie, moved into the mall. She slowly adjusted to city life but you could tell that she’d rather be back in Liberty with her saloon. Trudy always believed Ruby belonged in old cowboy times, feminine but tough. No wonder May hung out with her.
“Hi.” Ruby rested her puzzle book down on her lap.
“Excited about the wedding?” Trudy asked.
“Do I have to say yes?”
“Only when Amber is around.”
“Then not too much.” Ruby answered honestly. She then went back to her work, never really up to chatting with anyone other than May or Ram. Twenty minutes of delicate hinting went by and Ruby was showing no sign of knowing so Trudy decided just to drop the bombshell. If she wanted to get anywhere with this mission then it had to be done.
“Do you love Ram?”
Silence...
Ruby froze, the grip on her pencil tightened so much that Trudy was surprised it didn’t snap like a twig. Her eyes flashed so many emotions all at once. Confusion, surprise, fear... Just to name a few, and something else. Something very familiar. That glimmer she saw in Slade’s, Lex’s, Amber’s, Salene’s, May’s, and so many others eyes. Love. Ruby slowly looked up to her, looking as if she were trying to find out how the other woman knew. No words needed to be exchanged, the blonde’s actions spoke loud enough for the both of them.
Trudy squeezed Ruby’s shoulder and smiled.
“Your secret is safe with me. I wont tell a soul. Though I do think they is someone you should tell.” Trudy then left Ruby to her thoughts and went to check on her daughter and leaving Ruby to her thoughts. Slade watched the exchange, a small smile playing on his lips. He already worked things out with Lottie, who was like a daughter to everyone in the tribe, including him. Together they thought of something so incredibly genius, ok, it was actually Lottie’s idea, no one would ever consider even trying it because they would skim right over it.
where they tether the boats
the rich men revere.
They're so important,
they hire our fathers to steer...
Ram was in the basement, working on, of all things, a boat. His room was down there to so it was safe to say he lived down there. He had been building it ever since the city settled down. After all, he had nothing better to do with his time now that the base was destroyed. At least the temptation for now was gone. It had taken him awhile to adjust to life without his machines and he went through his share of withdrawals, one nearly getting him kicked out of the tribe. He would of too if it hadn’t been for Slade and Ruby. That had set him straight. But he didn’t give up machines completely. That would mean going to the countryside and joining the Ecos, something Ram would never do. Not to mention even if he did quit cold turkey like he had tried at first, it would be just as dangerous and double the temptation. After all, Ram was no fool. And by the look of the boat, he wasn’t too bad of a craftsman either.
“Hello Lottie.” he greeted the girl who had been hiding up on the steps.
“How do you do that?” the budding brunette asked. She was seventeen now and becoming a fine woman, even her style was showing it. Around when she turned fifteen Ruby gave her a make over, melding a girlie style with a tomboy one. The results were very impressive. So impressive that Lottie stuck with it. Now her once long hair was cut short to her chin and styled in a mixture of curls and spikes. Her taste in clothes was still colourful and rough around the edges, still a child of Liberty at heart. Ram himself had also taken to this style of dress. Not so colourful as Lottie of course, but then anything was more colourful than his old Techno uniform.
It had taken him months to give it up and go with a new style. Though the response that he got when he arrived in the café wearing a mix of Darryl and Slade’s clothes... was simply priceless. He only other thing that had gotten that much attention was when May and Salene announced their relationship. Or the first time everyone saw them kiss, now that had been funny. Ram himself had seen it coming though. After all, he didn’t need cameras to know what was going on with other people in the mall.
“Why do you always spend time down here?” Lottie asked, pulling up a seat on the other side of the boat. It was huge. Ram had gotten the lumber from scavenging, something the young Lottie had even helped him with. Of course he only took her along because she followed him in secret and he knew that he couldn’t trust her to go back to the mall without taking her himself and by the time he discovered her they were already a good whiles away. It had been the first time they ever had connected. Lottie was only thirteen back then.
“It helps me think. And it’s quiet... usually.” Ram cast an annoyed glance at Lottie. She had certainly inherited Ruby’s traits because she was fearless. He had in fact become her uncle-like figure. And as much as he’d protest about it, he liked being able to watch over her like a father sometimes though he’d never admit it. It just wouldn’t be Ram.
“What’s your real name?” Lottie never hinted, she was incredibly blunt like that. Ram groaned. She had been asking him that for years now and he never told her. It was his secret. Everyone else decided not to bother with it, but not Lottie. She was far too stubborn.
“Why are you so interested?”
Lottie just shrugged in response. She let it go for now, moving onto a different subject that she had been thinking about. “You gonna go to the wedding?” Amber and Lex’s wedding was in five days.
“Yeah. Not like I have a choice.” Ram rolled his eyes. If it were up to him he’d just continue making his boat but everyone had ganged up on him. He made them promise he didn’t have to wear a suit. One bright side was that he was able to use the line, ‘Now Lex, take it from someone who’s had three wives too...’, Ram had been lucky to duck the smack coming at him. Surprisingly it wasn’t Lex who had tried to hit him, it was Amber.
Time passed, three hours to be exact. The two-passed chit chat, nothing major, just catching up on the world and occasionally even what was going on with the other members of the mall. A fun topic was Lottie’s current boyfriend, Chad. She and Sammy dated a little, but found out they really were only friends. Then it was time for her to go. As she headed up the stairs, she turned back to Ram.
“Ruby’s been looking for you.”
“Ok.”
“Hey Ram?”
“Yeah, Lottie?”
“She loves you too.”
Ram just watched her as she disappeared out the door, speechless. He turned back to his boat, but for the next hour only Lottie’s words rang through his head. Why did it affect him so much? Surely he had gotten over whatever little crush he may of had on her a long time ago. He wasn’t in love with her. This was Ram after all. The ex Techno Lord and former public enemy number one. People like him didn’t fall in love or at least keep it.
So why was it bothering him so much?
where we'll spill our guts
and we'll name our fears,
I'll give you this picture
keep it and don't be scared.
The wedding day finally arrived. It was a beautiful ceremony led by Salene who wedded them, since she was close to both of them. Lex wanted to perform the ceremony himself but everyone strongly rejected the idea.
May, Salene, Lottie, and Trudy had been roped into being bridesmaids while Slade was Lex’s best man. Brady got to be the flower girl and Bray Jr got to be the ring bearer. Ruby was on babysitting duty with Ava. She didn’t mind though, anything to get out of actually being in the wedding. She wasn’t very keen on parading around with someone she didn’t really know. But seeing Lottie up there, all dolled up and glowing was nice. The girl was just like a daughter to her.
The bridesmaids dresses themselves were silver velvet creations done in a halter style with a gold brooch in the front. Ruby was shocked that Amber hadn’t gone for a more froo froo approach, probably because of the girls’ begging. She had only gotten a partial story from May. Ram was sitting in the back in a white tunic and black vest with black pants. The two had been dancing around each other ever since Trudy and Lottie talked to them. Ruby quickly got up with Ava in her arms and took a seat next to Ram. She gave him a sly smile before looking forward. He just smirked and also turned his attention to the front of the room.
Once everyone was in position they wedding commenced.
Amber, who had been rid of her zulu knots ever since she got with Lex, had her hair put up into a pinned up ringlet style that cascaded gracefully on to her shoulders bare shoulders. Attached to the back of her hair was a light blue veil that extended down all the way to the end of her.
She walked slowly down the aisle, Trudy escorting her as the maid of honour and the one to give her away. The two women hugged when they finally got to the altar where Lex was waiting in a pair of navy trousers, a white tunic, and blue vest with details hand sewn in by Salene. His long black hair was pulled into a neat ponytail. He looked extremely dashing, even May said so.
“The two will recite their vows together.” Salene told the guests. Slade and Trudy smiled as Amber and Lex joined hands for their vows.
“I, Amber, take you, Alexander”
“I, Alexander, take you, Amber.”
“To be my friend, my lover, the father of my child and my husband.”
“The mother of my child and my wife.”
“I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity. Wherever life may bring us next.”
“May I have the rings?”
There was a unison ‘awww’ when Bray Jr handed Salene the rings. She then handed the rings to Lex and Amber, praying that they’d get it right unlike in the rehearsal. Lex went first.
“With this ring,” Lex slipped the ring onto Amber’s finger. “I be wed.”
“With this ring,” Amber was in tears at this point as she put the ring on his finger. “I be wed.”
Salene looked back out to the guests. “If anyone does not agree to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.” everyone looked around, seeing if someone had the stones to speak against them. Lex looked like he would jump the person if they did. Thankfully, there were no rejections.
“By the power vested in me, I announce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
The place erupted in cheers as Lex pulled Amber to him and kissed her passionately. Everyone stood up and applauded, setting off poppers and throwing confetti. The group scattered, putting the chairs back and starting the party. As Trudy brought out the cake and set it on the table, she felt a small nudge at her side. It was Slade.
“Hey.” she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. Slade’s grin was like that of the cat from Alice in Wonderland. He kept glancing from Trudy to some place behind her. Confused, she followed his gaze and soon broke out the same grin at the sight. Ruby and Ram in the dark corner of the back of the room, kissing like fiends. Trudy did her best to suppress a laugh as the two broke apart and glanced around quickly before hurrying out of the room and down to the basement.
“A toast!” Lex called out from atop the ledge of the fountain, gathering everyone’s attention. “A toast to my beautiful third wife and hopefully my last!” Amber gave him a small slap, but only out of humour. “Back to the subject! Now where was I?”
“A toast!” everyone shouted out.
“Oh yes.” Lex once again raised his glass. “A toast to my wife, Amber. I have probably fallen for the worst person I ever could imagine on this planet,” which was followed by a glare. Lex just smirked and pulled Amber onto the fountain with him, wrapping his arm around her waist. He looked straight into her eyes with the most pure sincerity he had ever shown before finishing, “but I would rather be with that person than anyone else.”
If Amber wasn’t crying before, she certainly was now. A few more words were spoken before the music was turned up and everyone danced the night away.
“Hey Ruby?” Ram murmured, half asleep with an arm draped protectively over the blonde. Ruby smiled, turning over onto her side.
“Yeah Ram?”
“Will you be here when I wake up?”
“Of course.” she whispered, kissing him softly. Pulling the covers up, she laid her head back down onto his chest and let sleep over come her. “Of course...”
it's the most genuine thing
that I’ve ever seen.
I was so lost,
but now I believe...
The End