"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

Eva exhaled deeply before she sat up in bed, opened her tired eyes and turned on the lamp. She then turned over to shake Elaine softly awake. Elaine's sobbing form instantly recoiled from her touch but Eva continued to shake her more firmly, Elaine's eyelids suddenly flew open and she started to dry heave. Eva rubbed her back as she sat up and cried more "Shhh... it was just a dream, you're safe, it was just a dream."

Elaine was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder since she was kidnapped in Norway, this had become a routine thing at night. Eva pitied her younger sister, she couldn't imagine the feeling of being kidnapped and feeling helpless. Ivar on the other hand and disagreed and told Elaine she was weak and that she should be grateful because she went untouched, that others had it worse. Elaine replied with her own insults while Eva told them to both shut up.

Ivar now awake sat up and looked at Eva's tired face, he was still sleeping on his makeshift bed on her floor. He rubbed a hand over face before he looked back over to the two sisters, this time when he did hazel eyes were already set on his. He sent her a small smile which she returned, he then looked at Elaine who had calmed down and rolled his eyes, to which Eva just sighed.

Ivar hated that Elaine had moved her mellow dramatic ass into Eva's bed. Bedtime was his quality time with his Eva and Elaine had disturbed it. Eva knew how he felt but she was more worried about Elaine and if she would ever recover from her PTSD. Once Elaine had gone to sleep again Eva looked over at Ivar, who had also laid back down in bed.

Eva couldn't help but love his peaceful face as he slept, she couldn't believe such a handsome brute could put up with her. As she stared Ivar could feel her burning gaze on his face, without opening his eyes he moved the blanket and patted the empty space on the bed next to him. Eva couldn't help the lifting of her cheeks as she left her bed for his.

Snuggled into his chest as he wrapped a large arm around her petite body. She looked up at his handsome face through her lashes.

"Hi" she whispered.

"Hi" he replied, eyelids still closed.

Eva just smiled in response and closed her own eyes, relaxing into the comfort he was offering. Ivar kissed her head, loving the feeling of her in his arms.

"Your birthday is in two days" he broke the silence.

Eva opened her eyes a peered at his face in amusement, he was smiling down at her eyes wide open.

"You remember?" surprise evident in her voice.

"Of course, Love" he smiled "How can I forget when Freya keeps on reminding me."

"She visited you again?"

"She did, and she said it was the last time she would disrupt my dreams of you"

Eva chuckled at that, "What did she say this time?"

Ivar sighed, his eyes softening a little, "I have lived your way of life, would you like to experience the Viking way of life?"

Eva tilted her head, she knew Ivar deliberately dodged her question but let him off this time, "Sure, I would love to be a shieldmaiden if but for one day."

"Sleep my love, for tomorrow you will truly be mine" he grinned.

<><><><><><><>

"What are we doing here?" Eva sighed.

"Do you ever shut up?" Joseph retorted "Stop being a brat, you'll see Ivar soon enough alright. You're lucky, you get to see your man every damn day, I haven't heard from my girlfriend in a week!"

"Whose foolish idea was it to leave those two together anyway?" she cried "and It's not my fault you're in a long-distance relationship, Joseph!"

"Ivar's actually, who would have thought he would willingly want to stay in her presence" he laughed

"I'm scared that they'll tear each other's throats out!"

"Calm down, they'll be fine" Joseph squeezed her shoulder "Elaine knows the emergency number if anything goes wrong too."

Eva slapped his hand off her shoulder and continued walking into the liquor store, Joseph said that Ivar sent them on an errand run but they were on a timed schedule. She wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she was more worried about her sister and Ivar together alone for the next few hours.

Joseph then redirected her out of the liquor store and into a salon, when he released her she turned to him with a confused look on her face.

"What are we doing here? are we getting pedi's together?" she asked exasperatedly.

"Don't be ridiculous, we have no time for that" he rolled his eyes when he walked over to the hairdresser and pointed at Eva "this is her."

The hairdresser had dead straight turquoise hair that faded into a deep black-blue to the tips of her hair. She was of Asian culture and definitely full of character despite her makeup being all dark.

"Wow you're beautiful," she said to Eva "come on then, let's get you ready for your man."

Eva quickly thanked her as she was pushed into a chair, Joseph said to text when she was done as he was going to do the errands on his list.

After two hours she was finally done, and Tasha the hairdresser did an incredible job. Eva had never seen her hair in such a beautiful style before. Tasha filled in Eva that she was to do Viking's hairstyle on her, that was her orders from the boss. Eva knew straight away that the boss was none other than Ivar.

Tasha had complimented her hair saying that she kept it healthy and it was very thick so she could do many things with it, and she really did. Eva's hair was in a half up half down hairstyle, the hair that was down was curled into loose waves down her back with small little braids and silver beads here and there. The top of her head she had a large thick fish braid framing the right side of her face, while on the left it was framed by a largely twisted braid to join at the of her head to flow down her back in beautiful waves. Tasha had shown her how and where to place the flower crown on her head later when she would receive hers.

Eva was had never felt so beautiful before, but with that said she left the salon while texting Joseph she was at the car. It was nearing to eleven a.m. and Eva was getting hungry, Joseph hadn't messaged back. As Eva decided to go find some fast food when a car pulled up in the parking space next to her. A beautiful blonde girl with sparkling blue eyes turned to her and waved animatedly at her, Eva turns to look behind if she was waving at someone else but saw no one else there. She turned back and waved back confused at who this girl was. The girl started to wind down her window and so Eva did as well.

"Hey girlfriend, love the hair!" she compliments.

"Thanks, I guess" Eva replied still in shock.

"I'm new in town, just pulled up now actually, do you know any nice places to eat? I'm starving"

"Sure, you can join me. I was just heading out to get something to eat" Eva offered.

"I love this place already, friendly people, beautiful scenery" The blonde gushed.

Eva just chuckled before leaving the car to lead the girl to the local bakery.

"They make the best pies if you're not on a diet" Eva shrugged.

"Who has time to diet?" Blondie pulled a face "I love pies, I think we're going to be best friends."

Eva and the blonde girl had hit it off instantly, the blonde girl was talking Eva's ear off and making her laugh. Eva was having fun that she totally forgot she was on a time schedule and didn't check her phone. Not only that they forgot to exchange names.

"Sorry, I forgot to ask what your name was, I'm Eva" she offered her hand.

"Oh silly me, my name is Ri..."

"EVA!!! are you crazy? I've been looking for you everywhere?" Joseph yelled.

Eva jumped at Joseph's voice and found him at the door over the blonde girl's shoulder. Eva instantly went red with embarrassment.

"We're not on time schedule and Ivar's promised to cut my balls off and use them as stress balls if we're late" he cried.

Joseph was in such fear that he rushed over to Eva yanked her out of her chair and pulled her to the exit that he didn't even notice the blonde girl sitting in front of Eva. Eva was trying to sort out her thoughts and before they reached the door she pulled out of his hold.

"Joseph calm down you idiot!" Eva snapped "You just rudely interrupted my conversation with..."

"Joey bear is that you?"

Eva and Joseph's attention turned to the bubbly voice that started to shriek in happiness

"Riley?" Joseph replied as he finally took in the blonde girls appearance "Riley?!"

"It's me, baby!" she yelled as she ran and jumped onto him.

"What the heck is going on?!" Eva muttered, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Joseph hugged her back then they pulled back and started kissing.

"Ugh, Yuck" Eva responded and turned her head to look away.

"What are you doing here Riley?" Joseph said as he gently put her on the ground but wrapped an arm around her.

Riley grinned at him "I cut contact with you for a week so that our reunion would be a much better surprise, so surprise Joey bear!" she exclaimed as she kissed his cheek.

Joseph couldn't help the lovesick smile that lingered on his face, Eva had never seen him so happy before even though he was always happy. So it was true, he wasn't lying when he said he had a girlfriend and that he wasn't gay.

"Joey bear?" Eva teased "At least we know you weren't lying about being gay."

"My man is far too manly to be gay" Riley winked "Have you not seen his shoe size, Eva?"

Eva gagged in response which made Riley laugh, but Joseph tried to whisper quietly in Riley's ear "You're in for a big surprise when you see her man" but Eva heard it loud and clear.

"Cheer girl knew a beautiful woman like yourself wouldn't be single."

Eva couldn't help but appreciate how beautiful a couple Joseph and Riley really made, she was so happy that Joseph had someone as like Riley to compliment him. She couldn't help but think of Ivar and if people thought the same of them being together.

"Hey babe, I have a favour to ask, but we better get on our way or Ivar will kill me," Joseph said as he ushered them all out of the bakery.

<><><><><><>

"So he's not gay after all" Elaine smiled as she helped Eva into a beautiful white dress "Riley is so beautiful and cool, how did he pull her?"

"Ugh can you just zip me up, I think Ivars already not happy we're not on time," Eva said in frustration.

"Calm down, you'll see your man soon enough," Elaine said as she zipped her up.

"Pass me the flower crown please"

Once Eva was done she looked at herself in the mirror, and she couldn't recognise herself.

"You look amazing, sister" Elaine said whilst dapping at a tear to keep her makeup whole.

A beautiful confident girl looked back at Eva in the mirror, she was wearing a beautifully simple white laces gown that hugged her curves and her arms until the elbows where it became loose and draped nicely. The dress kept modest as it flowed to her ankles, instead of shoes Ivar had chosen elegant barefoot lace sandal. To top it off the beautiful flower crown was filled with light pink roses and white buds and lush green leaves.

The girl in the mirror beamed a beautiful smile back at Eva, Eva thought back a year ago to when she felt alone, ugly and unloved. She definitely felt her heart had become so much bigger in such a short amount of time, and she was happy and the person in the mirror was living proof.

"Let's go get you hitched, Sis!" Elaine said as she led Eva to where her beloved Ivar the boneless was waiting on his beautiful bride.