As the Boonchuy Minivan drove up to a fancy building in an otherwise bland looking neighborhood,
both Olivier and Sprig looked at building as it passed by them while the Boonchuys parked in an alley.
"whoa..."
spoke Olivier, in awe at what he saw.
As the Boonchuys, Olivier and the disguised Sprig exited the minivan,
they walked around and approached the front doors of the Thai Go building...and then stopped.
"What is it, dear?" asked Bee, confused.
"I just thought of something..." spoke Oum, as she looked to Olivier.
"Oliver...why don't YOU do the honors. It is your first day."
Olivier froze, feeling a little overwhelmed. "are you...sure?"
"yes...go ahead, dear." said Oum, with a smile.
Olivier pulled out the spare keys that Anne's mother had gifted to him this morning.
His hands shook, but he then felt Anne place her own hand upon his shoulder.
"go for it, dude." said Anne, softly.
Olivier smiled weakly...and then slowly inserted the key.
He turned it, making a loud CLICKING noise as the door unlocked.
Olivier then opened the door, and entered the building with the Boonchuys (and, Sprig.)
"oh my titaaaan..." Again, Olivier and Sprig were in awe.
The interior of the restaurant looked even grander than the exterior did.
"It looks...it's almost like the Emperor's Palace. only a LOT nicer looking."
Both of Anne's parents blushed at this comparison.
"why, thank you Oliver." said Oum. "that is sweet of you to say."
Olivier and Sprig took some time to explore large dining room.
Anne was also taking in the atmosphere, since it was the first time in MONTHS she had been here.
She actually did miss the place. despite the hard work she had to do here,
Anne had practically grew up in this restaurant, just as much as her own home.
Coming back here was like coming back home all over again.
"OKAY, let's get everything set up to receive new customers." spoke Bee.
"The chairs need set, the tables set up and food needs prepared."
"On it, dad!" said Anne, as she was about to start working.
"Anne, WAIT. aren't you forgetting something?"
Anne looked at her mother...who was putting on a green apron and red bandana over her hair.
"OH!, riiight...I almost forgot." said Anne, in realization.
"what?" spoke Olivier, puzzled.
"We have to wear Bandanas and aprons while working. Restaurant policy." explained Anne.
"That was never a problem with Stumpy." spoke Sprig.
"STUMPY never had to deal with the Health Department." countered Anne.
Anne then grasped Olivier's hand. "come on, Ollie. I'll get you dressed for work."
Olivier blushed bright red as his girlfriend led him away.
Anne's parents smiled at this, both having a warm feeling watching them.
"I have a feeling our restaurant will be in good hands when we retire." said Bee.
Oum smiled. "yeah...I think so, too."
In another room, Olivier stood still as Anne (who was already in uniform) tied a green apron around him.
She then grabbed a red bandana. "now, hold still...this might be tricky with you."
Anne put the Bandana over Olivier's hair, carefully tying it over where his missing ears would be.
Understandably, this was hard to do. as usually the Bandana's fabric were squeezed between the ears.
That way it would still stay on, even if the knot came loose for any reason,
but Olivier's lack of any ears meant she had to tie it tightly over his scars where the upper ear would be
(but not so tightly that it was uncomfortable. and Anne was aware how *sensitive* his scars were to touch.)
"is...that alright?" asked Anne.
"a little bit..." spoke Olivier. "the material feels soft, so it doesn't hurt."
"thank FROG for Thai Silk." said Anne, relieved.
"So...how do I look?" asked Olivier.
Anne stood back, and examined Olivier's appearance...and she couldn't suppress her smile.
Olivier looked mighty handsome wearing her family restaurant's 'work uniform.'
"you look Amazing." said Anne, her tone genuine.
"thanks." said Olivier, smiling.
Anne then approached Olivier. "Oliver...can we talk for a moment?"
Olivier grimaced, having a feeling that this wouldn't be a fun chat. "s-sure...what about?"
Anne paused for a moment, briefly looking away.
She then looked at Olivier, her eyes locking with his. "I know about last night."
Olivier winced, looking pale as a ghost. "you...d-do."
"yes. I heard what you said to my parents...I heard EVERYTHING." continued Anne.
"I won't even ask what your dream about me was about. It must've been BAD to rattle you like it did."
Olivier frowned as the memory of Anne getting stabbed in the neck replayed in his mind.
He quickly banished that thought away (along with every other traumatic memory that he wished he could forget.)
"...but, I want you to know something." continued Anne (her tone now STERN.) "I am *NOT* made of tissue paper.
I am every bit the survivor that you are, and I don't need you to protect me from every stray gust of wind."
Olivier winced at Anne's apparent anger. "I know...and, I'm sorry. It's just that-"
"I know...you love me." said Anne (speaking much softer, now.)
"but our relationship works both ways: I love you, too...AND, I am also afraid to lose you."
Anne then breathed out sharply.
"oliver...you know how when we fuse into Olivanne, our MINDS merge as well as our bodies?"
"yeah.
"Well, I think that had some lingering effects." explained Anne.
"I sometimes..."Remember" things that I know never happened to me.
I have memories about the Boiling Isles, your..."Owl House", and even that Hexside School of Magic."
Initially, Olivier was is disbelief over that statement.
However, he also recalled how he also sometimes 'remembered' things he shouldn't, either.
Memories of living in California, going to the 'Saint James Middle School', and even of Sasha and Marcy.
"...and with those memories, I-, I've sometimes had my own nightmares about you." continued Anne.
Olivier looked at Anne, now concerned. "what sort of nightmares?"
Anne looked at Olivier. a sad expression on her face. "I saw you being turned to stone." said Anne, finally.
"That freak in the gold mask turned you into a statue...and all I could do was watch."
Olivier reacted in shock at this...but he wasn't TOO shocked.
He was well aware of how Emperor Belos preferred method of "punishing" wild witches
was via 'Petrification Ceremonies' (which were really just another word for "Public Execution.")
It was what all witches feared, and even Olivier's own mother (who tended to laugh in the face of danger)
feared this fate befalling Olivier if he kept seeing Lilith, who was a high ranking member of the Emperor's Coven.
And while Olivier had found Emperor Belos to be scary, he never really feared him.
Back then, he assumed his powerful mother and Aunt with connections with the Emperor would protect him.
That no matter what, he would be safe...Such were the delusions of an optimistic child.
Olivier now bore actual scars that only proved how wrong he was to believe such nonsense.
"and, worse. he...He-" Anne teared up, struggling to say the words. "he smashed you into pieces."
Olivier turned pall at this, an ill feeling in his stomach. "holy..."
Anne cried a little. "I held a stone fragment of what used to be your face...and I cried.
I cried harder than I ever had before. you had been TAKEN from me...and I would never get you back."
Olivier finally put his arms around Anne, and hugged her. "i'm...I'm sorry. I had no idea."
Anne put her arms over Olivier's shoulders, looking up at him.
"Ollie...while I adore how much I really mean to you.
I hope you won't do anything crazy in order to protect me from whatever."
Anne then embraced Olivier, hugging him tightly. "I can't bear the thought of losing you, either.
Even if I got Sasha and Marcy back. Living my life without you in it would feel...Empty."
Olivier frowned. Unsure if he could do what Anne was asking of him.
but...he would TRY to.
Olivier placed his hands on Anne's cheeks, cupping her face.
Anne looked up at Olivier as their eyes locked, staring into each other.
"I will stay by you. Even when we fall." sung Olivier, his voice soft.
"I will be the rock, that holds you up, and lifts you high so you stand tall.
I won't let you go, No one can take your place.
a couple fights, and lonely nights, Don't make it right to let it go to waste
I won't let you fall. I won't let you go...
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there.
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there."
Anne reached out, and cupped Olivier's face just as he was doing with her.
"I will hold onto everything we've got." sung Anne, softly.
"A quitter, a regretter, and forgetter is Everything I'm not.
I'll take care of you, and love you just because.
You and I are better than forever, Nothing can stop...us.
I won't let you fall. I won't let you go...
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there.
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there."
Anne and Olivier held each other, seemingly slow dancing in place.
Time appeared to freeze still as the two lost themselves in their moment together.
"We can be the generation who learns how to love." sung Anne.
"Mistakes and empty promises, Will never be enough." sung Olivier.
(("To tear apart the giant hearts that beat inside us now.")) sung the two, together.
(("Let's conquer the percentages, and rise above the croooowd...
I won't let you fall, I won't let you goooo...
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there.
No matter where you are, no matter where you are, I'll be there."))
Anne and Olivier touched their foreheads,
closing their eyes as they let themselves 'feel' the moment.
"I'll be there..." sung Olivier.
"I'll be there..." sung Anne.
Finally, the pair opened their eyes and at last parted.
"olivanne against the world?" spoke Olivier, softly.
Anne looked at Olivier...she then smiled, and kissed him softly on his lips.
"olivanne against all worlds." said Anne. "now, come on...we have a restaurant run."
Olivier smiled at his girlfriend. "lead the way, partner." Anne smiled again, and took Olivier's hand.
The pair then walked together out of the room, and back in the dining lobby.
"Finally." spoke Oum. "I was about to come check on you-"
The Boonchuys (and, Sprig) all looked at Olivier. "WELL, now...Who is THIS handsome man?!" joked Oum.
Olivier blushed awkwardly.
"MOOOOM...don't embarrass him." said Anne, playfully.
"Do I really look alright?" asked Olivier.
"Like part of the family!" said Bee (which unintentionally annoyed Sprig.)
"Alright, let's get started." said Oum. "Anne, Oliver. Prepare those tables."
"Got it, Mom!" said Anne, as she walked to a table with chairs stacked onto them.
Olivier joined his girlfriend as they set the chairs down from the tables.
Anne gave him a wink, and a smile (making the witch boy blush bright red in response.)
BUT, the tender moment was quickly ended when Sprig jumped onto the table.
He then proceeded to LICK the tabletop with his long, sticky tongue.
Anne then grabbed Sprig, holding him by his shirt collar.
"DUUUDE..." growled Anne, slowly getting aggravated.
"what?, I'm helping to clean the tables." said Sprig, matter-of-factly.
"that is NOT how you-"
Olivier drew his finger across the thick, gooey substance that now coated the table.
He grimaced as the substance stuck and stretched from the table to his finger like mucus.
Olivier then proceeded to spray A LOT of disinfectant on the table, and wiped it up.
"If you want to help Sprig, then set the rest of the tables down." said Olivier.
"Aaand...?"
"just set the tables down." said Anne. "and, NO MORE TONGUE!"
Anne's parents looked at Anne. "what did you just say?"
"NOTHING!" exclaimed Anne, wincing nervously.
Olivier blushed beet red upon realizing the context of what Anne said.
a few minutes later, Bee set up a boombox and pressed a button.
After which, the silence of the restaurant was pierced by soft, exotic sounding music.
"what's this?" spoke Olivier, stopping for a moment.
"Our mixtape of Traditional Thai music." spoke Oum. "It helps to add to the atmosphere.
We want our customers to really FEEL like they are in Thailand, without actually being there."
"I get it." mused Olivier, aloud. "so, it's like Bard and Illusion magic combined together."
Anne's parents stared blankly for a moment. "uhh...I suppose that is accurate." said Bee.
With the chairs set down, Anne grinned mischievously as she then grabbed Olivier from behind.
"AH-ANNE!?" exclaimed Olivier, startled.
"This is my family's jam..." spoke Anne. "...wanna dance?"
"ANNE, we're still working-"
"Just a quick one." continued Anne.
Olivier glanced at Anne's parents...who both had amused expressions.
"oh, go ahead. We still have time." said Oum.
Before Olivier could say anything, Anne pulled him in close.
With their hands linked, Olivier stared with wide eyes at Anne, who looked back at him with determined eyes.
their faces so close their noses were touching.
The pair began dancing, with Anne leading. At first, Olivier was being 'puppeted' by the girl,
but he soon followed her lead and smiled as he too danced along with her to the tranquil music.
Anne's parents smiled at this. Feeling nostalgia of their own teen years when they were dating.
Even Sprig (despite is current troubles) felt happy to see this,
as it reminded him of other times he'd see Anne and Olivier dance in Wartwood.
Anne and Olivier smiled as then embraced each other while dancing in place.
Their bodies spinning around...faster, and faster.
...Until-
((*FWRASH!*))
There was a flash of light that momentarily blinded Sprig and Anne's Parents.
When their vision returned...The Boonchuy's eyes nearly popped at what they saw.
Their daughter, and her boyfriend had suddenly disappeared.
And in their place was a much older looking person who looked biracial,
had hair styled like Olivier's, but was just as frizzy and moppy as Anne's hair.
(Once more, this stranger was wearing a green apron and red bandana like them.)
"WHAT IN-!?"
"ANNE!?, OLIVER!?"
Olivanne was still twirling, oblivious to what was going on.
BUT when they saw the look that Anne's parents were giving them...they stopped, and fell down.
Upon falling...Olivanne flashed white, and defused back into Anne and Olivier.
The pair quickly got up, both having awkward expressions like they had been caught doing something bad.
"Okay I know how this looks, but..." began Anne, trying to explain.
"did...Were you two just fused together like Stevonnie from Steven Galaxy!?" spoke Bee, astonished.
Olivier grimaced. "Well, I-"
"yeah." confessed Anne. "we were...and, we HAVE...been doing that for awhile."
Oum's mouth was gaped open. "...HOW?"
(("MAGIC.")) said Olivier and Anne in unison.
"Oh, that makes sense." said Bee. "also (exclaiming) THAT IS SO COOL!"
Oum rubbed her temples, groaning stressfully. "I think I need some Thai Tea."
[End of Part Twenty-Five]