Two Hours Later:

Quig started the station wagon and kept his eyes on the road.

Guards stood at the port.

"It's, so I don't run," Grew-Ella said. "If you're uneasy about this, I'll take the blame and the badges, and you can annul it, but please don't do it until after the custody trial."

"Don't be ridiculous; you're not going to be forced into a workhouse, and I was honest that the bracelet is still for you. I made one for all my friends," Quig said loudly.

"I remember," she said.

"Our marriage protects me from reject status, and you can use my address to foster Magpie, sorry, I mean our address."

"Quig, you'd do that for me?" She stared at his mouth, but her eyes moved and focused on the darkened road.

"I adore you and Magpie needs a family instead of the children's home or the workhouse..." Quig paused. "Sleep on the cot or take the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor, but to be honest, if you ever decided to make our relationship romantic, I'd be thrilled."

"I don't think either of us needs to sleep on the floor because it's immature." Grew-Ella glanced out the window at billboards mocking her. "Yes, we'll keep up appearances, and we can act romantic in private too, but I can't tell you I love you, at least not, right now."

"If that is what you want." Quig's fingers dug into the white steering wheel; the plastic flaked off.

"You're attractive, but it's complicated." Grew-Ella's shoulders slumped.

"Sometimes, I think you're flirting with me," Quig said.

"The NDA controls what I say, not how I say it, but there is another loophole." Grew-Ella clutched her legs. "If I'm married for a full seven days to a broken elite. I'm able to tell my husband what is in it. I have this document angel working to make my life better. Actually, Rodrick handled the agreement."

"My sister and Chase told me about the NDA's existence. Is there anything else you can tell me?" Quig asked.

"Well, Rodrick managed to slip in a line that no one has the power to annul my marriage after seven hours, and they all signed." Grew-Ella breathed deeply. "Thank you for thinking of me as someone worthy to save."

Her phone message system buzzed, and she checked over her emails.

*

Dear Grew-Ella,

Your sister told me you're marrying Quig. He comes from a prestigious family and your mother is garbage like you.

If Quig backs out, I can hold your contract and use surgery to mold you into a woman worthy of me. You'll never be queen, and you were a mistake. All women need to look the same.

Love,

Your Friend,

Silvan-Mack,

P.S. If you share this email, I'll toss your sweet Quig into a workhouse. I needed his family to join my organization, but you ruined everything your sister and I worked for.

*

Grew-Ella deleted the message. No matter how many times she changed her phone or blocked Silvan-Mack, the messages always got through, but she was arrested the last time she tried to tell anyone.

Quig turned down the road in the direction of her apartment. "Grew-Ella, I promise I won't date other women until you divorce me, but it's a sin marrying someone you know will leave you."

She played with her hair and her wings fluttered. "I won't date anyone, either, and I'm not planning on divorcing you. It would be bad for our status, and we're both lonely, so we need to be married forever. Quig, I want to treat this as an authentic marriage." Grew-Ella formed a heart circle with her finger. "But we need to change the first vow from I love you to eternal friends or something like that. Oh, we'll have to kiss in front of the guests. We need to make the government confused if we're in love or not." She rocked back and forth.

"Even I'm confused," Quig admitted. "Though I'd love to kiss you. Can we practice?" He slid his arm around her.

"Yes, we need to do a couple's kiss for the reception." Grew-Ella peered out the passenger side window. "Dot hasn't shown up, and you're right, we should attempt a couple of awkward practice kisses." She touched her wrist and felt the rapid beating of her heart.

Quig grabbed her and mashed his mouth into hers. They clanked their teeth together. His slobber dribbled down her chin and neck. "Glad we didn't do that in public. My first ex-girlfriend always mocked my kissing. Not that she could feel anything due to obsessive amounts of lip filler."

Grew-Ella closed her eyes, kissed him, missed his lips, and landed on his nose. "That was my fault."

He giggled and made a silly noise on her cheek. His lips fumbled against her mouth. "I'm awful at kissing."

She kissed Quig repeatedly. "You're bad in a good way."

"Don't lie to spare my feelings." Quig broke into laughter and kissed her again.

She hugged him. "Quig, you're the best, worst kisser. Chase and I kissed, but only on the cheek. Zoreon kissed me a dozen times, and they were terrible. Honestly, it sounds old-fashioned, but I prefer saving my kisses for the man I'm going to marry or am married to. Zoreon was a mistake, and he doesn't understand why I won't take him back. Like I'd pick a man who tried to kill my mother and my best..." She kissed Quig again. "I'll defend myself."

"It wasn't your fault, and we all make mistakes."

"I just turned 19, and he was 37, and the only reason it didn't go farther is I caught him with my sister. Phyllis busted his mouth when he tried to force me to go back to him. She didn't always hate me. Zoreon was my first boyfriend, but my status was too low, and men with high status don't love women like me. He wasn't the only elite who tried to take advantage of me."

"But I love you," Quig said.

"I know..." Grew-Ella paused.

Quig changed the subject back to the original conversation. "I thought you'd have to praise Zoreon's kisses and him."

"He doesn't own the original contract, but that is another reason he wants me to sign, is for the confidentiality agreement. Talking about kissing is ironically not covered by the NDA. His tongue reached so far back into my throat, I choked. He battered my tonsils and laughed about it." Grew-Ella kissed Quig, and her thin but soft lips lingered against his mouth for a minute. She yanked herself away and kissed him again.

"The last kiss works, but I would enjoy one more," Quig's voice cracked.

"We need to fool them." She kissed him.

Flashes of light blinded them, and Paparazzi bolted when Quig and Grew-Ella exited the station wagon.

Quig waved at Dot. "You should tell us the next time you send paparazzi," he said.

"What were you doing?" she asked.

"Practicing kissing, we'd prefer our kisses don't appear awkward at the wedding reception." Grew-Ella blushed and hid her hands behind her back.

Dot spoke. "Chase sent them."

Sounds of crashing tables and glass came from the direction of Grew-Ella's apartment. Dot ran across the street and dragged Quig's brother-in-law out the front door.

The man reached for his weapon, but Dot snatched the electric sword, breaking it in her hands. She slugged the man twice.

"I'll have the squad arrest you!" He tried to shove her back; but fell on his face, and his body shivered from withdrawals.

"You're not a real squad member, and I'm a time agent, and can zap you out of existence." Dot showed off her temporal watch.

He trembled more and sweat poured down his face. "Zoreon sent me to arrest Grew-Ella."

Dot placed her hand on her hip. "Her arrest has been canceled, and you didn't have a legal warrant." She grabbed the man, ripping his suit. "Little man, you're going to hop into a taxi, and we'll pretend this didn't happen because I don't wish to zap Betsy, too."

"But I am in debt and I need to stop this wedding, or I can't sell..."

Dot pointed at her watch and whispered in his ears. "Zoreon is dead, and he can't help expunge any of your arrests like he has done in the past, and my brother is already married. I can have you arrested for breaking into Grew-Ella's apartment."

He broke away from her; and matched her soft tone. "I'm not stoned today. Ida threatened me over money, and Quig's mom decided to pay for his legal fees. The only way I can get custody is if I hand Grew-Ella to Zoreon, but it's too late now." The man laughed. "Phyllis will take Betsy and finish what Zoreon started, but at least now Betsy will go to a nice home. Elite children are hard to come by." Quig's brother-in-law fled.

"Can you actually erase someone?" Grew-Ella asked.

Dot examined the watch. "I think there is a code for it somewhere, but I don't remember the numbers," she admitted.

They walked inside the sketchy apartment.

Grew-Ella's possessions were piled on the floor, smashed, torn, and damp. Stuffed animals sat on a shelf.

Quig picked up a toy pig dressed in a muted green pioneer-style dress with a matching bonnet, and the plush emitted an odd buzzing. He flung the plaything against the wall, and they fled the apartment.

"They added listening devices," he said.

Grew-Ella didn't say another word until they climbed into his station wagon. "The government can't steal from my teacher's account, but I'm furious they shattered my hot chocolate cups. My mom sculpted them for me as a Gotcha Day gift. Luckily, I still have my favorite one." Her lip trembled, and her eyes turned downward.

Quig climbed out. "Grew-Ella—I forgot to ask my sister something." He met Sot halfway across the street. "I spent six months planning my last wedding."

"Don't worry, I'm messaging the right people. You can reuse the items you bought for your last attempt, and I'll provide flowers that didn't sell as a gift."

Quig dialed Yoleta, but she wouldn't answer.

He spoke to his sister. "Can you call Yoleta and request that her security team send Grew-Ella's non-trashed items to my apartment? I know she's up, but I think she blocked me for rejecting her pick. If she can't fix the cups, I'll order new ones. Grew-Ella's going through a lot right now." He glanced back at the drab and decaying apartment complex.

"Even though I think Yoleta is terrible, I'll make sure she also picks you up tomorrow to take Betsy to school. You'll need the added protection, and she won't hit on you, now that you're married."

Grew-Ella ran to Quig and hugged him. "Could I stay with you tonight?"

Quig glanced at his buzzing phone. "It's your place too, and we'll get your things at my mom's. Mom Avery is back at her place and keeps texting me because Ruby just dropped off Betsy, and she won't go to bed until she knows you're safe," Quig said softly.

Grew-Ella blurted, and her cheeks turned red. "Quig, we could practice more kissing; I mean, only if you want to."

"Aww, I'm glad you two finally made a love connection, but you need to get back to your apartment." Dot shoved them into Quig's station wagon and climbed up front. "I'll drive and make sure squad members are stationed at the elevators and stairs. Some of them believe in unique beauty."

"All we need to do is hide a few more hours, and they can't annul our marriage," Quig said.

Dot sped across the street with tanks in pursuit. Grew-Ella's going through so much right now, and I want her to feel like she hasn't lost her home too." He glanced back at the drab and decaying apartment complex.