this is a request for grahamverchereluvbot  ! sorry it took so long lmao

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GERMANY was beautiful.

Conner had forgotten what it felt like to be there as he stared out into the vast sunset. Mary's Bridge supplied him with a beautiful view, as usual. The sky was filled with purple and orange, Neuschwanstein Catle standing firmly among the clouds.

Conner and Alex had taken a pit stop here before recruiting the last of the literary army. Charlotte decided that they deserved a quick break and Alex magicked them here for a night to relive old memories.

Memories that stung.

He leaned his elbow on the railing and propped his head with his palm. Conner could still see the flicker of a person next to him, but when he turned around he knew she'd never be there.

A year ago, Conner was staring at this very sunset and this very castle, except that time there was somebody at his side. Images of a blonde girl with a purple beanie, clad in the sunset's glow, came rushing back to him.

Now that he was alone with himself and his thoughts, his feelings were all he could hear. He didn't know how much he missed Bree until now.

He could still see her beside him. She was quiet, gazing over the scenery spread out for her. They didn't talk much when they waited for Emmerich, they just stood close in comfortable silence, watching the sky grow dark.

He could still feel her shoulder brushing against his. He felt so at ease in those moments, when it was just him and her and the rest of the world was still. Her expression was thoughtful every time he peeked at her. Her brows were knitted, but her eyes were awake. They were both keeping to themselves but sharing at the same time. They'd bump sides and Conner's heart rate would increase. They'd touch fingers and he would blush.

Conner turned to look at her again. He wondered what she was thinking about. There was light haloing around her and her eyes sparkled in the sun. Every time he saw her this way, his breath would catch. She looked angelic standing there in thought. Her eyes were magnetizing and the small smile on her lips gave Conner warmth. There was a gentle breeze, and it let Bree's hair flow behind her like a cape. Conner still couldn't get over how she looked that day.

"Enjoying the view?"

Conner blinked twice, noticing her coy smile. "I— uh," He stuttered, knowing that she'd caught him staring. He darted his eyes elsewhere as Bree's own glanced at him from the side.

She laughed softly. "Man, you don't see stuff like this back home."

There was a distant look in her eyes when Conner turned back to her, neck still flushed red. "Definitely not," He replied.

Bree didn't answer Conner. Her gaze never left the streaked sky, watching as it changed when time went on. She tucked a strand of hair beneath her ear and sighed. "I'm not even sure I want to go home after this," She mused quietly, almost to herself.

He vividly remembered the crackle of his heart when Bree hooked her arm underneath his and held onto it. She put her chin on his shoulder, so close that he could feel her breathing. Conner was blushing a brilliant red but she didn't seem to notice.

Everything was right. Conner had forgotten about anything else outside that little bridge, and he encased himself in a bubble that only held him and the girl he was leaning into. He sorely missed those memories and would do anything to get them back.

Eventually, Bree let go of his arm and slipped away from him, leaving Conner feeling cold and empty. He knew that Emmerich was coming. He forced himself to only stare ahead of himself and into the sky. He was afraid that if he looked back, she'd still be there, and that he'd miss her even more.

That was then, and this was now. Conner kept his eyes on the castle and away from the spot next to him, which he presumed was now empty. Now he was standing in the same place, with the same expression, but all alone.

Conner didn't know how long he had been standing there. He lost track of time the second Bree had disappeared.

An all too real voice cut through the silence.

"Conner?"

He blinked once, then again. He didn't want to look. There was nobody there, he promised himself. He'd look and he'd find nothing but a ghost.

But there was such a pungent sound when the voice spoke that it twisted his heart backwards. Conner still didn't want to look, but maybe just this once and then he'd leave so he wouldn't have to deal with his memory any longer.

He turned his head to the vacant spot beside him.

Except it wasn't vacant at all.

There was a girl standing there, white as a sheet, staring at him as if he was some kind of miracle.

It's just your stupid memories, Conner scolded, although he'd never seen Bree look at him like that before. His heart jolted.

There were tears in her eyes as she stared at him, looking so elated yet terrified as she clenched and unclenched her fists. She didn't say anything else.

He could see the heartfelt smile creeping on her face and only then did he take her in.

Blonde, brown-eyed, and wearing a beanie. She took her hand and wiped her cheek, suddenly real.

Conner clutched the railing. He was pretty sure he was having a heart attack, or crying, or both. She looked real.

"Bree?" He croaked.

The girl gave him a genuine smile that made Conner melt.

She was real.

Now Conner was sure he was having a heart attack.

He broke out into a massive smile, unable to stop his emotions from leaking through. "You're here," He choked. He scanned her face, looking for all the details he'd memorized by heart. She was still the same, if not slightly older and even prettier (if that was possible).

Conner kept thinking his eyes were deceiving him, even when the girl he knew so well looked him up and down, barely breathing. Bree had always seemed to be so put-together, so surely if one look from him could unhinge her it had to be a dream!

Tears glistened in her eyes, but Conner had no idea what they were from. She appeared so vulnerable before him, and Conner had the sudden instinct to reach out and touch her to prove she was there.

Before he could do anything, Bree hurtled into his arms.

He froze. He felt her in his arms, but he was afraid to hug her back. What if he tried and she she'd disappear into thin air? Conner still couldn't trust his own mind.

Then he felt the warmth spreading from his chest, the warmth he only got from her. He wanted to tell himself that it was impossible or that he was dreaming, but it was unmistakably Bree.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. "Wh-what are you doing here?" He asked as Bree pressed her head into his chest.

"It's a long story," Bree sniffed. Clearly, she was tired and had been through a lot, because she was barely moving when Conner held her.

Neither of them chose to say anything else after that. They spent a long while staying there, hoping to finally take each other in after the year they'd spent apart.

Conner had forgotten why he had stopped here in the first place. He was still floored by the fact that somehow, miraculously, out of all the people in the whole world, he had managed to run into the one he'd been missing the most. Had he not come here, he'd never have seen her at all.

Bree nestled her head into the crook of his neck. "I missed you," She whispered softly, almost to herself.

Conner's heart began beating three times as fast. Those words meant more to him than he could say. Unable to help himself, he tucked her head underneath his chin and kissed the top of her head, somewhat boldly. "I missed you too." He was blushing so profusely that he could barely think. Conner had never really acted on his feelings towards Bree, and it almost scared him because of how much he wanted to now.

Bree loosened her grip on him so she could look into his eyes. Conner did the same. He kept looking over her face, searching for something to tell him he was dreaming. "Is it really you?" He squeaked.

Bree laughed. "Yeah, it is." Her gaze turned to the setting sun. "This is like déjà vu," She said to herself.

Conner followed her stare to the spires of Neushwanstein Castle. "It's been a while, huh?" He chuckled.

"A year, actually," Bree mumbled. "Maybe more."

"A whole year since we ran away from school, kidnapped an old lady, and broke the law virtually every way we could," Conner quipped.

Bree shook her head and giggled. "Oh God, don't remind me." The dimple on her cheek became more defined.

Conner was still in awe that this was happening. Everything felt so different, but all the same. The aching in Conner's heart had lessened greatly.

They fell into a surprisingly comfortable conversation, reminiscing over their past endeavours together and their most recent ones on their own. They talked for so long that they had lost count.

Once again, it was like hours had gone by. The sun had dipped in the sky and there was little light. Conner and Bree were still standing side by side, although they had stopped talking. Bree still hadn't said anything about why she was in Germany. She had time to kill before tomorrow, and no matter how much she wanted to find Emmerich, she couldn't bring herself to ruin this moment.

Conner hadn't stopped blushing despite his inner scolding. There was nothing but silence around them but Conner still found himself tongue-tied. Nobody said anything for a long time. Conner was scared that if he opened his mouth he'd say something stupid.

So he just let the night continue on. Mary's Bridge was barren by now and the only thing they could hear was the rustling wind.

"I still like you, you know."

Conner turned his neck so fast he must have gotten whiplash. Had he just misheard something? Was that his delusional mind making something up to make him feel better? Oh-my-God-did-those-words-just-come-out-of-her-mouth!!!!

Bree wasn't looking at him. She didn't trail her eyes anywhere near him. Conner did the complete opposite. "I'msorrywhat?" He blurted all too quickly.

It was then that Bree's baby browns cautiously flickered up to Conner's face and he realized how stupid he looked. "I mean— I heard you but uh— um..." Conner stuttered incessantly.

Bree shifted nervously and he nearly exploded.

She was nervous! And she liked him!

He took a deep breath and silently asked his dumb insecurities to go to hell. "I like you too," He said finally. After Bree didn't display any signs of rejection, he dropped his eyes so he wouldn't have to see her. "A lot."

Although he was shying away from her face, Conner could tell that Bree was looking at him intently. He peeked up and to his surprise, she was smiling. She nodded her head cooly, but her grin grew. "Good to know." She tried her best to neutralize her tone. "Cool beans."

Cool beans? Cool beans! Why did I just say that! I never say that!!

Conner puffed his cheeks out, letting go of some hot air. "So, do you want to... go trick some hotel concierges into getting us stuff?" He asked lightheartedly.

Just like old times, Bree hooked her arm underneath his and put her chin on his shoulder. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

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WOO I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG BUT THANK YOU grahamverchereluvbot  FOR REQUESTING THIS IT WAS PROLLY ONE OF MY FAV THINGS TO WRITE!!

if you've requested something, trust me when i say that's the next chapter up, and it won't take quite as long ;) i also changed the titles of all my past oneshots so don't be confused if u get a notification for them, they ain't new.

also MY PARENTS ARE SO PURE i know this was way too cheesy n stuff but i love them too much so if u want me to turn the dial down please say something i want y'all to like this lol

anyways, this was so fun to write! plz comment and vote yeehaw🤠
~heart