Dian sprang away from Waltz, and both were sporting blushes and hard cocks. I lifted my hand to block their bodies, while I found some twine and tied the stacks of baskets together. I dragged them out of the room.

"Sorry about that, you may continue. I won't be back for a couple hours." I said, then shut the door on their astonished faces.

I really wanted to laugh at their funny expressions, but I had a job to do. I opened the door to Gavin's room and dragged the baskets inside. He glanced over, and his jaw dropped. I giggled while I shut the door.

I pointed to the mass of clothes on his bed, and he turned around. His jaw nearly hit the floor. "Holy shit," he whispered.

I untied the twine and dropped it near the door, since I would need it later. I unstacked the baskets in a sea around the bed. I began the sorting process, which had me throwing socks into the baskets furthest away. Gavin looked over while I did that, which had him cheering and marking down my supposed points. I laughed, waving him back to his work.

It took, as I expected, around a couple hours to go through and sort each colored load; darks, lights, and mixable. There were also ones for delicates, too. The fifteen baskets were heaped up, so I knew it was going to be a heavy process. The twine may not survive, but I had to try.

I carefully stepped over to the door, then snatched the ball off the floor. Clearly, I will have to take a couple trips.

I started by the door, but realized I couldn't open it inwards. I pouted, then crouched down and shoved the basket back. They scooted inches away, but that wasn't enough. I lifted the light-colored sock basket and then the door was able to open. I put the basket outside and tied the string to it, then dragged the next one out.

The process continued until I ran out of twine. I had seven baskets tied together like a laundry caravan. I closed Gavin's door, then grabbed one handle to the basket in the lead. I started to pull it across the marble floors, so I did my best not to slip. They were heavy, but they slid pretty well on the large tiles.

"Holy crap, Ann! What are you doing?" Briar rushed over, so I grinned at him.

"I'm going to wash Gavin's clothes."

"Eh?" Briar looked puzzled. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I want to. Are you gonna help me? 'Cause if not, I gotta keep moving."

Briar frowned, but took one side further down and pushed it forwards. I almost fell, but caught myself. Briar quickly apologized, but his gaze had been directed below the shirt. I blushed and tugged it down more.

"So what have you been up to?" he asked, a slight twinge of strain in his voice.

"Hanging out with Gavin. His room was so messy, though. I asked to clean it, so he let me. I have never seen so many clothes in all of my life. Piles and heaps everywhere!"

"Why are you wearing that shirt?"

"Because Gav got jealous of Zaire."

Briar coughed a bit. "O-oh, okay."

I opened the door to the laundry room and caught the two at it again. They blushed, but Waltz kept going even when Dian paused. His dragon wings were out, which confirmed my suspicions of his species. Waltz was definitely a faerie, too. His wings were sheer; a bright green, and a shimmering blue with black accents. They looked like butterfly wings.

Briar blushed, but I kept dragging the baskets in even when he stopped outside. I checked the machines and set the dials. I was going to work the available nine, excluding the one unavailable one that Dian and Waltz were using for their lovemaking.

I untied the baskets and dumped their contents into the correct washing machines, then put the exact amount of soap, and or bleach. I left the room with the twine in hand and shut the door.

Briar caught up with me and grasped my arm. "Wait, wait, hold up. Why weren't you embarrassed?"

I looked up into his eyes. "I am guessing that's what sex is, am I right?"

He blushed a bit and nodded. "Y-yeah."

"I'm looking forward to that day." I smiled, knocking my hip against his thigh. "It looks like it feels good."

Briar leaned down and swept me up into a kiss that made me weak. I nuzzled his jaw, then rested my head on his shoulder.

"Briar, I want to love everyone here. Not just as family, but as individuals. Please don't feel jealous, because I have more than enough love for everyone. Briar, I already like you quite a bit, so will you allow me to love you as I will with Zaire, Gavin, and the others?"

Briar hugged me tightly. "That's perfect, Ann. Thank you. I was worried you were going to choose one person, and that he might not be me."

I pecked his lips as he let go. "Then you accept?"

His broad grin was enough of answer for me. I parted ways with him after a quick thank you kiss, then returned to Gavin's room. He was singing again, so I quickly tied the baskets together and put the lightweight straggler on top of another and dragged them out of the room.

When I closed the door and began hauling the baskets again, Angel was in front of me with an expression filled with desire and need. I allowed him to sweep me up into his arms. He kissed me firmly on the lips, my body tucked into his side.

"Sweetheart, I heard your proposal to Briar."

"And?" I asked softly.

"I accept." Angel smiled, far brighter than ever before. "I would love to be loved by you, and love you in return."

I blushed and pecked his lips. "I'm glad."

"Good, now what are you up to?"

"Laundry for Gavin. His room was so messy, Angel. Even he had to wade through the stuff! But no more." I giggled happily, hugging his neck. "I have more work to do, but maybe we can play later, unless you want to help?"

Angel hummed. "I have an appointment to make, but I'll search for you later, sweetheart. Is that okay?"

I nodded with a happy smile. "I hope it goes well. Here's a kiss for good luck." I pecked his lips as he put me down.

Angel's sky blue eyes brightened again. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"You're welcome, handsome." I winked, which made him laugh while he walked away.

I put my nose back to the grindstone, again passing by Dian and Waltz in their throes of pleasure to start up the other machines. Apparently a good amount of time had passed (or maybe the machines were enhanced by magic), so I was able to take the socks out and into the dryers.

Once most of the clothes were taken care of, I used the empty baskets for the socks and underwear that just came out of the two dryers I was using for the light versus dark. I'm sure they're enchanted. Otherwise it would be impossible to wash and dry them that quickly.

Waltz and Dian finished up while I was putting the shirts into the dryer. Waltz hopped over to me while his wings faded into oblivion.

"Whatcha doin', Annie?" asked Waltz, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Gavin's laundry." I grinned, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "Sorry to bother you during your time with Dian. The cleaning really needed to be done."

Waltz shook his head, that broad smile showing no sign of faltering. "It's okay. I've peeked into Gavin's room once and could barely see to the floor, and that was two years ago. He never cleans it."

"Ooh, wow. That's amazing. I'm glad I can see the floor now." I giggled, starting to pair the socks on top of the dryer. I tossed the pairs back into the basket while we talked. "Why didn't you leave with Dian?"

Waltz huffed, leaning over my shoulder. "Does that mean you don't want me here?"

"I do want you here, Waltz. I just thought you wouldn't want to talk to me again so soon after I barged in on you two."

Waltz wrapped both arms around my waist. "Eh, Dian's more shy than me about it. I don't mind having sex in front of people. It's fun to watch them react."

"Ooh, well, I was startled. Did it feel good?"

He squeezed me, hugging my waist. "Yeah, sex with Dian is the best. He makes me feel happy."

He swallowed thickly when he admitted that, because we both knew what it meant. I stopped pairing the socks, and turned around in his arms to hug him back. Waltz hugged me tighter and curled around me, burying his face into the hollow of my throat.

"Waltz, you don't have to pretend to be happy when you're not with Dian."

"All I've ever done is pretend, Annie." he whispered, his grip getting tighter. "It's the only thing, other than sex with Dian, that keeps me alive."

I sighed softly. "I have something to tell you, Waltz."

"Okay," he murmured. "I'm listening."

"The day before yesterday, when I came here, we played outside. You remember that, right?"

Waltz nodded, his ash-blond hair brushing over my cheek. "I felt happy, and I wasn't pretending. It was so different, but I liked the change."

"When we collapsed in a heap and most of us were asleep, Alexandre dropped by. He was surprised to see us."

Waltz dipped his head. "I was so exhausted, but still in tune with you. I could feel you moving and wanted you to stay with me—with us."

I hummed, hugging him tighter. "I stayed."

"I know, I could sense it."

A small smile formed. "I thanked Alexandre for giving me another chance at life, Waltz." I whispered, my breath rough and raspy as tears began to gather.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Waltz pulled away, but cupped my cheeks, keeping my body close to his own. His pretty hazel eyes were filled with confusion.

"I was going to kill myself."

Waltz sucked in his lips, his eyes filling with tears. "Why?"

"Because my life wasn't worth living before I came here. I wasn't allowed to love anything or anyone, because I was told I didn't deserve anything I already had. I didn't deserve the basement closet where I was locked in at night, nor the thin blanket I slept with on the floor. I didn't deserve warm water. I didn't deserve to eat the one piece of moldy cheese, and the small old apple with a slice of stale bread that I was tossed every day after a hard day's work. When she deemed that I was worse than usual, I was tossed outside in the rain.

"She would threaten my survival on a daily basis. I often wondered what it would feel like to just slit my throat and be done with it all, so that I wouldn't have to take any more beatings. To kill myself was my greatest desire, but I kept myself going with the hopes that my mother would love me like she used to before it all began fifteen years prior. But I gave up on my eighteenth birthday, after I saw that flyer on the kitchen table, because I knew she would never love me again as she had from before I turned three. All that waiting was useless; just a stupid pipe dream." I felt my tears soaking into my skin while I wiped my eyes, sniffling loudly.

Waltz cuddled me to his body, his fists clenched in the borrowed shirt belonging to Gavin.

"D-did you do it?"

"No, because I came here." I grinned through my tears. "It was the best birthday I ever had since I turned three years of age."

Waltz's breath hitched. "Your birthday was that day?"

"Mhm, so thank you. I'm now grateful to not only Alexandre for that simple flyer, but to you and the rest. I felt so welcome, even though I was so shy, and even though you tried to be happy for me that day, like everyday—that meant a lot, even if you didn't know it."

Waltz pressed his lips to my temple. "I'm happy to hear that."

"I know." I smiled tearfully, staring at his beautiful wings. "I know, Waltz."

"Annie, I have this feeling that you can make me happy—truly happy, from the inside out. Is it too much to ask—?"

I pulled back to cup his cheeks. "I will tell you this now, as I have with Zaire, Gavin, Briar, and Angel. And I will tell Dian, Damon, Blaine, Rose, and Alexandre, too. Maybe even Matteo if he wants that. I want to love you all, and not just as family. I want to share the love I have been given, and let it spill back to you as much as I can. It's overflowing, Waltz. Will you allow me to love you?"

Tears slid down his cheeks, his hazel eyes bright with happiness with the gold flecks sparkling brilliantly. "I-I'd like that. I have a good feeling about this, Annie. I know it in my heart, and gut, that you are the missing puzzle piece we all knew was needed but never received until now."

"So, I guess that's a yes?" I asked, palming my eyes with a laugh on my lips.

He hugged my waist and kissed me firmly on the lips. "It's a yes."