After they left Violet’s building, the two women hopped on another street car that took them further downtown to the train station. There, Violet and Amy were able to double-check the route and purchase tickets without any fuss. And, in anticipation of what was to come, they even went so far as to buy tickets for a return trip. One extra for Taylor, of course. The departure was for the day after they planned to retrieve her so they would need to find accommodations while they were there, but that wasn’t of much concern.  

Once the tickets were acquired, the two left the station in search of something exciting, dinner! Of course, Amy had her heart set on one thing and one thing only…

“Noodles!” She practically shouted in response to the question and Violet couldn’t help but laugh quietly in response. 

“Okay, noodles it is.” Lucky for Amy, Violet had long figured out the best spot to go around her home and that is exactly where she took them. The restaurant was small and nicely decorated, a place one might even call intimate if they were so inclined. Violet and Amy were given a table for two off to the side and left alone so their waitress could grab some drinks.

“Hey, I just realized something,” Amy said after they were seated. 

“What’s that?” Violet asked a moment later. 

“This is the first time we’re eating together like this. Across from each other at a table. It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”

Violet silently considered the question and even tilted her head as she looked across at Amy, appreciating the new view. “I can stand behind you if you like,” Violet quipped a moment later in her usual, even tone and she could see Amy’s mind try to work out if she was serious. It wasn’t until a small smile kicked up on Violet’s lips that Amy started to chuckle and bring her finger up in an accusatory manner. 

“Oh, you almost had me!”

“I believe I did have you.”

“Only for a second,” Amy protested with a mock pout on her face and her arms crossed.

“Just for a second?”

But then Amy’s expression turned into something warmer and she subtly shook her head before rolling her eyes. “No, not just a second. You have me, Violet. Forever.”

Forever. Now, that was most agreeable, didn’t it? “I quite like the sound of that, Amy. And you have me, as well.”

Amy smiled at her words and reached across the table for Violet’s hand, which she gave a moment later. The two offered each other gentle squeezes and simply stared across at each other for nearly a whole minute. However, the arrival of the waitress once more had Amy withdrawing her hand and putting it in her lap as the glasses of water were set down.

“Have you ladies decided what you want? Or shall I get your usual, Miss Evergarden?”

Amy’s eyebrows rose in surprise at the question but Violet ultimately answered with a nod.

“Yes, please.”

“And for you, miss?”

“Do you have anything spicy?” Amy asked once the waitress turned to regard her.

“We have a spiced pork broth.”

“Can I have that please?”

“Of course, I’ll have that out in a few minutes.”

Once their waitress disappeared to put their order in, Amy turned her attention back with a cheeky smile on her face. “So, you come here enough to have a ‘usual’?”

In response, Violet shrugged before taking a sip of her water. “I do. This was actually the place I wrote to you about.”

“Really? Here?” Following the question, Amy looked around the restaurant with a new appreciation. “Hmm, it’s different than I expected.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, this place looks very…homey. I like it.” Then, Amy’s attention eyes returned to Violet where she sat. “Will you take me to all the places you mentioned in the letters?”

“Of course, I will. Anywhere you want to go, I’ll take you.”

A minute later, two bowls of noodles arrived, steam gently lifting from the tops and Amy took a moment to lean forward and take in a deep breath. Her eyes closed and the smile widened on the second inhale. “This smells so good…”

“And it tastes even better.”

Once Amy took that first bite, she was seemingly lost to her meal. She only spared a few words here and there while she ate and the topic stayed firmly around the other flavors offered. There weren’t many others but, to be fair, that meant what they did have could only be described as perfect. By the time the two were finished, Amy managed to pack away two whole bowls and looked positively sleepy where she sat at the table. It was partially surprising considering the early hour but then again, it had been a long day filled with walking and emotions that ran high. 

“Ready to go home?” Violet asked when Amy’s fork finally came to rest in the empty bowl.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

The walk back to the boarding house was slow and once again, Amy had to lean on Violet to make it. When they arrived back in her room, Violet gathered up towels, nightgowns, and bathing supplies for both while Amy rested on the bed. And when she realized what Violet was preparing for, she started to look…nervous.

But still, Violet persisted and smiled despite the awkwardness. “Time to wash up, then I think we should get some rest.”

“Uh, sure. Yes, let’s do that.” Amy rose from the bed and followed Violet downstairs into the shared bathroom for the tenants. A locker room preceded a shower area complete with multiple faucets and a bath in each corner. It was still early in the night so thankfully, the two women were all alone. 

“Sorry about all this but at least we don’t have to fill the tub.”

“That’s alright! That’s a big improvement,” Amy assured her. “Do you think we could find an apartment that has a tub with a faucet?”

“Possibly,” Violet mused. “That or a shower would be nice.”

“Yeah,” Amy agreed. She also preferred to stand behind Violet, facing her own set of lockers while she disrobed. Which, made sense considering Amy’s desire for privacy at the hospital. Except, there was no running here. Still, Violet wasn’t planning to ogle even if she had a newfound curiosity for Amy’s appearance. Her memory had gotten a little fuzzy on the less important details at school and she had possessed a very different attitude toward Amy then. 

But now? The interest and anticipation of what her friend looked like without clothes had her heart beating a little faster and her cheeks feeling a little warm. Which was not something that happened often, really only ever when she thought about Amy. Violet also couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same way? She had really wanted to get Violet into a bath at the start of their time together, had she been curious too? 

Whatever the reasons, Violet eventually stripped out of her dress and slip and hung them up in a locker. She subsequently grabbed a towel but didn’t wrap herself on the way to the showers themselves, turning her head as she went. “I’ll meet you in there so take your time.” 

“Okay.” 

Violet didn’t know for sure but it felt like Amy’s eyes followed her all the way to the entrance where she hung the towel and disappeared inside. She was determined not to let her mind dwell too much so Violet moved to a shower head in the corner and started the water. Before it warmed up, she also started filling the tub so it would be filled by the time they were ready.

Violet kept her eyes to the wall in front but she could see Amy arrive at the shower head to her right in her peripheral vision, closer to the tub. She didn’t turn, only watched the visage of Amy getting ready to use the shower next to her. Again, Violet felt her heart rate increase knowing the person she loved was right there and in a similar state of undress and she did her best not to let these thoughts distract her as she finally closed her eyes and stepped beneath the water.  

“Want me to wash your hair?” The sudden question had Violet opening her eyes and turning her head ever so slightly toward Amy. Who appeared to be looking down as far as she could tell.

“Are you sure? It’s been a long day,” Violet asked in response.

“I’m sure. You deserve it and besides, this will be good practice for Taylor.”

Well, if it was to help Amy get used to being back together with Taylor then how could she say no? Especially when she very much wanted to feel Amy’s touch right now. “Alright, let me finish washing.”

“Okay,” Amy nodded before Violet faced the front and lost sight of her.

Once Violet was done with the soap, she finished rinsing and then shut off the water before moving to the bath. As she moved behind Amy, she finally chanced a longer gaze and noticed that her friend looked…gaunt. The sickness and not eating must’ve really done a number on her over the past few weeks but that was nothing some good food and sleep couldn’t solve. A pang of guilt surfaced momentarily at having Amy be the one to wash her hair but she didn’t think patronizing her was the right thing to do either.

So, Violet slipped into the tub now that it was full and patiently waited facing the opposite wall. Not even a minute later, she heard Amy’s shower turn off and wet footsteps make their way behind her.

“The hot water is nice,” Amy said, probably in a bid to defuse some of the awkwardness that had settled over them.

“It is,” Violet agreed. “And not needing any buckets is a welcome change.”

Finally, a giggle slipped free of Amy’s lips, which seemed to suck some of the tension from the room. “Right? I would love to avoid that in the future, especially if we have to bathe Taylor regularly.”

“Yes, that’s a good point,” Violet agreed. And taking care of a child would certainly be different than taking care of Amy, right? Of course, it would be. It was that comparison that occupied Violet’s mind until she felt the first touch of soapy hands in her hair. Whereupon she just closed her eyes and relaxed with arms outstretched along the edge.  

“Is the pressure alright?”

“It’s lovely.”

“Good.”

Having her hair washed like this really took her back to their time in the school and the memory of it caused a small smile to kick up on her lips, which grew once she realized that this would be the norm going forward. “That’s a pretty smile,” Amy said from off to the side.

“It is?” Violet asked. “Well, I was just thinking that this is our life going forward. That it wouldn’t be like when I left, where we were doing things for the last time. We’ll be together from now on, making new memories every day.”

Amy didn’t say anything immediately following the observation and her hands even stilled where they worked the blonde hair. After a few seconds longer than what a normal pause might be, Violet turned her head slightly. “Amy?”

In response, she felt the fingers fully come free of her hair. However, before had a chance to wonder why, Amy’s arms wrapped around her neck in a loose hold and she bent down to put her lips by Violet’s ear.

“That was beautiful, Violet. And you’re right, we’ll make so many memories together.” Before she pulled back, Amy tilted her head and left a soft kiss on Violet’s cheek before pressing their heads together slightly. The moment dragged on a little longer but Amy eventually pulled back and replaced her hands in Violet’s hair. “Alright, time to rinse, and then it’s my turn!” And what better way to start those memories than by washing her love’s hair too?

Once the two were done washing, they made their way upstairs in the two nightgowns Violet had on hand. And, because they were leaving the next morning to go get Taylor, there was no need to unpack their things. The yawn that slipped from Amy’s lips also meant that it was time for rest instead of anything else they might be able to get up to.

However, Amy stopped a few feet short of the bed and turned to Violet before she did the same. “Will you…bring one of the letters to read? I want to continue your tradition.”

“You do?” Violet asked though she wasn’t surprised. “Well, alright. One won’t hurt.” Violet turned and made her way back to the desk but paused with her hand on top of the stack. “Any one in particular?”

“Oh, I think you can guess which one.”

A small smile kicked up on Violet’s lips and she reached for the one that sat on top, the one containing her confession. Then she turned to find Amy had slipped underneath the blanket and was holding it open for Violet to join her. For a second, she didn’t move. Only took in the sight before her as if it didn’t fully register as being real. How many times had she imagined this very thing? How many times had she wanted to go sleep in this very bed with Amy in her arms? Thankfully, she didn’t have to imagine anymore.

A few steps brought her to the bed and Violet wasted no more time climbing in as well. Whereupon she was covered with the blanket…and also Amy. Even if they had more space, she came to rest curled up right on top of Violet, head in the crook of her neck and arm wrapped tightly around her torso. Violet suspected it would’ve been the same no matter how big the bed was and honestly, she would’ve been disappointed if it was any other way.

After wrapping one arm around Amy, and giving her a light squeeze, Violet opened the letter, cleared her throat, and read it from start to finish in a soft, warm voice. She noticed Amy’s eyes close after she started and a wide, contented smile settled on her face by the end.

“How could I ever hate you for saying such wonderful things, silly? I love you.”

Violet hummed in response and folded the letter before setting it on the nightstand closest to her. Which meant she could also dim the oil lamp and finally plunge them into darkness. “And I’m so lucky for it.” She followed her words with a kiss to the crown of her head and then settled down into the pillows to enjoy their shared warmth and drift peacefully into sleep.