Presents For All The People {Buttercup}

[Deleted]

After his visit with Della (and wasn't that illuminating), Westley had walked back to his small, shabby shallow-water boat at the docks, retrieved his pack, and walked all the way to the house in town where he knew Buttercup was staying. Their house, his and hers, he supposed - if he was still allowed there by law. If Humperdickwad hadn't changed the locks and trained guard dogs to rip his flesh from the bone if he stepped on the premises. Here's hoping that one was just an overreaction.

His pack over his shoulder, Westley tried the handle on the front door, and to his relief, found it to be unlocked. Pushing it open, he stepped inside and tossed his pack near the door, closing the door behind him as he wandered into the room. His hearing was acute, and after listening for a moment, Westley tiredly concluded that no one must be home. Buttercup was more than likely at a class or something. Well, he'd waited this long. A half an hour more wouldn't kill him.

Looking around the house a bit - it was simple, but lovely, he'd give it that; he could tell it was definitely Buttercup's handiwork around the place - Westley sank himself onto the couch, throwing his head back and letting out a sigh. It was truly good to be home, if this still was his home. And even if it wasn't, Prince Dinck would just have to come here and try to kill him the old-fashioned way. This couch was too comfortable to move at the moment.

[buttercup]

There was no single word in the English language that could describe how Buttercup felt. She was depressed, yes, but also, lonely, sad and some other things which the Princess of Hammersmith didn't have the words in her vocabulary to define. Della always told her not to let her life just stop because Westley was gone but she couldn't help it. Westley was her whole world. She knew his crew needed him and she never for one second doubted him returning to her. She'd never doubt Westley. She was afraid though by time he came back, her plan would have failed and either she would be married to Prince Humperdinck of Florin or dead. She would never live being married to Humperdinck, not ever.

The Princess of Hammersmith was making a show of planning a large expensive wedding for her and Humperdinck and it was just so tiring. She knew went she and Westley married they wouldn't need all this. Even if her plan was to disappear before the wedding, she wanted to still make him pay for all the expensive things she was picking out, only for their price. Her plan included realizing she forgot her blue necklace and, not wanting to go against wedding tradition, she would go back and get it. Upon returning to her room, she'd lock her door, quickly slip off the very puffy skirt of her wedding gown revealing a shorter, simpler skirt underneath then climb down a rope purched just for this and climbing out her window. After that she had no idea what was going to happen and she had no back up plan if it should fail.

After I climb down the rope, Buttercup thought as she reached the house she shared with Westley and turned the knob, Where would I go....and what would I do... She sighed softly sliding her bag off her shoulder...when she saw another bag was on the floor. Her eyes slowly looked up, almost not wanting to hope. Her eyes found a person she would know even if she was blind (and she'd never want to be blind because she'd never see him). She almost couldn't find her voice for a minute. "W-Westley?" she asked, her voice completely full of surprise. She dropped her bag beside his, without realizing it, and went right across the room to take her rightful place by his side. "What a wonderful surprise!." She could hardly believe he was here, in their home. She didn't know what to do first. Hug him? Kiss him? Both were long over due but she wasn't sure where to begin. She was sure it was a dream come true. At that moment, Humperdinck and the plan didn't matter. All that mattered was that Westley was home.

[Deleted]

Westley had no idea how much time had passed from the moment he'd tilted his head back onto the couch until the moment the door opened. He hadn't fallen asleep - he knew that much because he could see the ceiling - but he was certainly at rest, for the first time in God only knew how long (even if Humperdrone managed to make it short-lived).

When he looked up to see who was entering, though, he wouldnt've rested a second longer for all the gold in the world.

Before he even had a chance to stand, Buttercup had already made it to him, and he certainly wasn't about to move. What he did was sit up straighter, turning to face her, guiding a hand to brush her hair away from her cheek. "Yes, it's me," he said - which might have seemed terribly obvious to some people, but the look on her face belied no small amount of surprise, and he had to be sure she was aware she was awake. "My work there is done," he promised; "I'm home now."

For the smallest second, a thought flashed across his mind: were this a year ago, Buttercup wouldn't have hesitated to throw her arms around him, kiss him senseless, any of that sort of thing. But she did now. Humperdinck's doing? Fear? Was she being watched? Or was it possible that the prince had truly started to earn her affections...? Westley nearly shook his head, but didn't have to. Now is not the time for the insecurities of a farm boy, he mentally chided himself. You'd do well to remember you are the Dread Pirate Roberts and you will handle this. If you don't want your beloved to doubt you, don't doubt your beloved. It was surprise, that was all; he'd obviously caught her by surpise. Simple and logical as that. And that was the last he thought on the subject.

He closed the gap for her. Westley's arms found their way around her almost immediately after she sat down, pressing a kiss against the golden hair over her temple. "God, is it ever good to see you," he exhaled, letting his eyes fall shut as he held her tight. Sometimes their obstacles didn't seem so large as long as nothing kept them apart.

[buttercup]

Surprise. That was what Buttercup felt now. Pure surprise and complete and total joy. She didn't know what to do first. Hug him...kiss him....she desperately wanted to do both, and more, but she didn't know where to begin. It had been so long since they'd been together but every moment, she loved him more and more, that never changed. She had had so many dreams about him coming home to her and, because they had seemed so real to her at times, she didn't know if that moment was a dream or not. She just knew she felt complete and total joy.

The Princess of Hammersmith couldn't help but let a smile spread across her face as he brushed hair away from her cheek, his touch leaving a trail of heat on her skin. She had missed his touch so much. "Yes, it's me," Her smile grew warm. "I've had so many dreams about you coming home, Westley." she told him, "I can hardly believe you're really here. It's a dream come true." "My work there is done, I'm home now." "And I am so glad." she smiled as she responded.

"Can I be honest, dearest?" Buttercup said, her smile warm, as she took his hand, "I don't even know where to begin. We've been apart so long and there are so many different things to be said, to be done...I don't know where to start." She laughed softly and touched his cheek gently. "I feel like I'm flying with joy, though. I've missed you so much, Westley." She couldn't help but grin as his arms wrapped around her, her arms doing the same to him instantly, without even a second thought. Her eyes closed as he kissed her hair that was at her temple. "God, is it ever good to see you," She smiled, her arms holding him to her as tightly as she could. "It is so good to see you, Westley." she said softly, "I missed you dreadfully."

((Forgot before outfit AND I forgot to say on here WELCOME BACK AUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 ))

[Deleted]

((OOC: Thank you darlin'! Glad to BE back! ))


He couldn't help but grin back at her at the revelation. He'd had dreams of her too (granted, any dream a man has at sea is usually interrupted very quickly and often brought on by bad water, but none of that made a difference. The subject would've been the same either way). "Believe it," he beamed, "And I've made sure that if all goes well I won't have to go back for quite a long time. Hopefully by the time that day comes we'll be graduated and you'll be free to come with me." He'd been planning for Buttercup to see the sea his way for years now. He'd much rather go back under that pretense than another flare-up from Ryan.

"Always," he replied when she took his hand. (God, to be home again.) Westley listened while she explained, and as she did, the tiny weight that had still been on his shoulders evaporated entirely. You see? he thought to himself. She's never been one you've doubted and there's no reason to start now. She only didn't know where to begin. Exactly what you thought it was. Now don't you feel silly? Rather than getting into the minutia of scolding himself, Westley just held onto her more tightly and let out a laugh of sheer relief. "I've missed you as well. More than I could say. And you aren't alone there - but I think now I've got a fair idea of where to begin." He moved back from her just far enough to bring a hand gently under her chin and lay a long, light kiss against her lips. (How had he gone so long without it?) When he finally pulled back to look at her, he finished his thought with a grin. "Right where we left off."

Of course, there were also plenty of problems surrounding them where they'd left off. (When he'd left off, rather...oh, let's not get into that again.) As glad as he was to be home, Westley let another few inches of space come between them as the situation came back to his mind. There was a question - a few, actually, but one would do for now - that he needed to ask, and he took her hand in both of his, looking her in the eye. "...Della tells me that you've convinced Humperdinck you're going along with it. How did you manage? He hasn't hurt you, has he?" If the pompous prince had so much as breathed wrong at his princess, God help him.

[buttercup]

"Believe it, Buttercup nodded and smiled. "And I've made sure that if all goes well I won't have to go back for quite a long time. Hopefully by the time that day comes we'll be graduated and you'll be free to come with me." "Oh Westley, I could come with you?" she asked, thrilled but then added teasingly, "But I thought it was bad luck to have a woman on board." She smiled a bit. She had nothing better to do some days so she'd just read...mostly pirate stories that would make her think of Westley. She knew one day she would be joining him on his ship so she decided to read all she could on the subject of piracy and pirate ships.

"Always," The Princess of Hammersmith smiled. He was always so supportive and ready to listen to her. Not many people would do that, especially Humperdinck. Another reason to add to the list of why NOT to marry him. "I've missed you as well. More than I could say. And you aren't alone there - but I think now I've got a fair idea of where to begin."

Buttercup looked at him curiously as he moved enough to place his hand just under her chin. She kissed him back softly, almost surprised she remembered how to do that since it had been awhile. "Right where we left off." She smiled. "I like the sound of that, dearest." she told him truthfully, gasing into his perfect sea after a storm colored eyes, forgetting her worries.

"...Della tells me that you've convinced Humperdinck you're going along with it. How did you manage? He hasn't hurt you, has he?" Buttercup sighed softly. There was that. "I have." she told him, "He's buying it, thankfully, but I have no plans of doing it. I'm just makinging him think I do...and I may have a plan to get away from him day of the wedding. I'm even planning this very expensive affair to make him pay for it even if I'm not going to be there." She laughed softly then sighed. "I fear he would hurt or even kill me if he had the slightest idea that I wasn't going to go through with this..."

[Deleted]

At her surprise, Westley could only laugh - he'd nearly forgotten how good it felt to. "Of course! Do you really think I'd go back voluntarily without you?" he tossed back. They'd had this conversation at least once before, probably several times: it was a game they played, in a way. "With you, there's no such thing as bad luck, only unfortunate circumstance, which isn't your doing in the first place. And besides," he added, "I think the Revenge has already had all the bad luck it's going to get." Why not? It was as much as true anyway. "It's a promise, my darling - the moment we've graduated if you wish. I'll show you the whole world through adventure's eyes." Adventure. That word never got old.

Of course, there was a lot to handle before they could even dream of getting that far, and not even a (remarkable if he did say so himself) kiss could change that. (Because if it could, if that was all it took, Westley would probably earn himself a night in solitary confinement from kissing her ceaselessly and with no regard for the general public. Nobody needed that.)

He nodded when she confirmed. So the fool prince did think everything was going according to plan... That would give Westley more freedom to form a plan of his own. Good. Good, he could work with that. In the meantime, all they had to do was avoid being seen together in public, Buttercup and himself, to truly sell the rouse. (At home was a different story: Westley owned this house, and Buttercup couldn't very well move in with Dinkus before the wedding, now could she? Oh no, that would be against etiquette. So, they'd be perfectly free to be together as long as they were in their own house.Too perfect.) "Good," he decided...and then he laughed. Probably more heartily than he should've, but honestly, he was by no means a perfect saint. "You're...? Ha! That is brilliant." She was brilliant. Wasn't that brilliant? "Step one, we'll hit him where it truly hurts: in the pocketbook. Excellent idea; I don't think I'd have come up with that one myself." Oh, he was going to be having a good laugh about that for quite some time. "See if you can hire a horse-and-carriage. Possibly arrange for acrobats and a chocolate fountain." Childish, maybe, but very satisfying.

Not that it did a thing to subside the anger growing in Westley's eyes at the thought of that oaf even touching his beloved princess. His expression darkened a moment, and he looked down at the floor, then up again, more softened now, but his resolve was still there. "Well. I won't let that happen," he vowed. "Not now. Not ever. I swear that to you." He lightly grazed down her cheek with the back of a hand. "We will find a way out of this, love. One where only we win, not him." Even if Westley was forced to kill the moron to do it. He wasn't afraid to die if necessary - he'd done it once before, and really hadn't found it all that special. Defeat wasn't a concern.

[buttercup]

"Of course! Do you really think I'd go back voluntarily without you?" Buttercup smiled. "A Princess on a pirate ship..." she mused, "I guess I'd be a Pirate Princess then." she laughed. She hadn't laughed in so long. She was surprised she remembered how. "With you, there's no such thing as bad luck, only unfortunate circumstance, which isn't your doing in the first place. And besides, I think the Revenge has already had all the bad luck it's going to get." Her smile grew even warmer. What had she done right to deserve him? She leaned up and kissed him softly in response to his statement.

"It's a promise, my darling - the moment we've graduated if you wish. I'll show you the whole world through adventure's eyes." Buttercup had never been out of Florin really, besides coming here, so she thought it'd be interesting to see the world. "I would love that, Westley." she told him, "As long as you're by my side, of course." After so long apart, she wasn't going to let him go again, not without her. She knew that outside of their house, they couldn't be seen together, in fear of Humperdinck but she really could care less about him. Westley was home and that's all that mattered to her.

"Good," Buttercup nodded and smiled when he laughed. She missed his laugh. "You're...? Ha! That is brilliant." She laughed. "I'm glad you approve." she told him. "Step one, we'll hit him where it truly hurts: in the pocketbook. Excellent idea; I don't think I'd have come up with that one myself. See if you can hire a horse-and-carriage. Possibly arrange for acrobats and a chocolate fountain." "Those are definitely going on the list." she told him, laughing, "I've also had ordered an insanely expensive wedding gown, a specially made diamond tiara and very expensive flowers being shipped in from around the world." she laughed, "Clearly, I've been having fun with this."

Buttercup smiled softly. "Of course," she said, "For our wedding, we won't need anything so extravagant, I think. Something simple. It doesn't even matter to me really. All that matters is that I'll be marrying you and we'll be together." She keep looking towards their wedding day to keep her thoughts up. Now it especially did because he was back. "Well. I won't let that happen, Not now. Not ever. I swear that to you. She smiled softly as the back of his hand brushed down her cheek. "We will find a way out of this, love. One where only we win, not him." "I hope we do, dearest." she told him, "I can't marry myself to him. I just can't. Not ever. You're the only one I want to marry, to spend the rest of my life with." She smiled weakly, "And I'd say we have to make up that time when I tormented you and our time apart so marrying that horrible prince isn't really an option."

[Deleted]

See? Ingenius, she absolutely was. Who else would think to put the two together and invent a new rank out of nowhere like that? (This is the point where most other people would roll their eyes and scoff or something, but those people weren't madly in love, either. Westley tended to ignore those people, unless those people were violent, then Westley tended to kill them.) A smile spread over his face. "And you'll be the first of your kind," he agreed. "We'll start a new heirarchy, just ours. The king and queen of the ocean if you like." He'd give her the oceans and the land put together if he could. He'd give her the stars.

"It's a plan then," he beamed. Actually, it had always been their plan - to graduate this place together and take to the seven seas, the whole wide-open world - but it felt good to renew the plan every now and again. Especially with new obstacles cropping up right and left. Still, the longer Westley was around his princess, the more confident he became in their plan. Humperdinck was just a small trial, a meaningless bump in the road, that's all. The right trick here and there, and he'd be gone. Dealt with and done. Simple as that.

Besides, there was nothing in the world that could improve Westley's mood and resolve quite like any conversation about their wedding, his and hers. It was his favorite topic (ask any deckhand on the Revenge, who no doubt got many an earful). "I agree completely. Whatever you want, and we'll have it; it's our day after all, just you and I. We could marry on a dirt floor or in a castle and I'd be just as happy either way." Considering he'd been in both fairly frequently and the common factor in his happiness still seemed to be Buttercup, he knew his vow to be the truth.

There was another truth, though, and it was that if Humperdinck ever caused Buttercup even a shred of unhappiness (beyond the usual amount caused by the oaf prince's grating personality), Westley would gladly rip the idiot's throat out and tie him to a fire-breathing dragon with it. (It was Avalon...er, Tintagel. There was bound to be a fire-breathing dragon somewhere.) "You'll never marry him, nevermind that," Westley assured, locking his eyes on his fiancée's. "It will not happen, I promise you. If it's me you want, it's me you'll have." He gave her a smile, brushing her hair aside again. "And you need make up for nothing. I'd have endured your torments a thousand times over just to see your smile at the end."

There were also people who would call Westley 'whipped.' He'd probably kill those people too.

[buttercup]

"And you'll be the first of your kind," "Just as I was the first Princess of Hammersmith." said Buttercup with a laugh, "But this title will mean more to be then anything...even if my name is not befitting of a pirate, I don't think." Buttercup was not a name for a pirate but it was her name.

She had never been very imaginative, she even named her horse Horse because it came when she called it that. "We'll start a new heirarchy, just ours. The king and queen of the ocean if you like." She smiled. "I like the sound of that, Westley." she told him, "I would much rather be the Queen of the ocean than the Queen of Florin."

"It's a plan then," The Princess of Hammersmith smile spread into a grin. "It is indeed., darling." she told him truthfully. She couldn't imagine anything they'd see on their travels because, as stated before, she never had much of an imagination, but she knew it would be wonderful. And with Westley by her side, how could anything not be wonderful?

"I agree completely. Whatever you want, and we'll have it; it's our day after all, just you and I. We could marry on a dirt floor or in a castle and I'd be just as happy either way." Buttercup smiled. "We should marry anywhere we can, as long as it is our wedding happening." She was liking the sound of their wedding more and more.

The last shreads of her fears vanished as soon as her eyes looked with his perfect ones. "You'll never marry him, nevermind that, It will not happen, I promise you. If it's me you want, it's me you'll have." She grinned. "I do want you." she told him, "I've wanted you for so long, Westley, and nothing's going to change that." "And you need make up for nothing. I'd have endured your torments a thousand times over just to see your smile at the end." She smiled a bit. "I never want to do that to you again." she promised, "No matter what you say, I'll still feel bad about how I treated you." Her hand rested on his cheek as she looked up into his eyes, smiling a bit, "I tormented you for so many years...I should be allowed to make it up to you, darling, which would mean even more years of us together."

[Deleted]

"Exactly," Westley grinned at her. Exactly, exactly, exactly...only, it's the fact that you are the Princess of Hammersmith that's causing our little problem...ah, well. Won't worry about it now. If only there was another princess around here that Humperdinck could switch his interest to. (Westley couldn't exactly blame the pig for wanting her - Buttercup was the most beautiful girl for miles around, maybe even in the world - but the Prince still had a thing or two to learn about Finders, Keepers. Namely: Fiancés, Keepers; Losers, Humperdinck.)

"Good," he said instead. "Wonderful. And that won't matter; you can have any title you like. We'll make one up, if you wish. You and I, we can be anything in the world, even if it doesn't exist yet. That's freedom, love," he promised, holding her hands. "And one day very soon, you and I will both be free of all this Humperdinck buisiness - all you need to do is keep on with the planning and wait. Keep making him believe things are all running according to his plans. Leave the rest to me."

Now the only thing he needed to do was formulate the plan. Would bartering work? Not likely. Would he need help? Possibly. If only he weren't the only one who could fence at this school - or, rather, if he'd met any of the others who could. That would be a massive help... Perhaps he could dare ask Robin Hood...though, hadn't he just married Maid Marian? Westley made a mental note to congratulate the man whose mission he'd learned from... Agh, not now, sailor, don't get ahead of yourself. Catch up with the goings-on some other time.

He smiled softly at her suggestion. "I agree. Though, for you, it ought to be beautiful, even if there isn't much to it...beachside, perhaps?" He knew buttercup loved the beach, almost as much as she loved her horses. "Or in the gardens, out just past the stables. The one with the flowers you like so much." He could see getting married there. (Then again, this was Buttercup he was talking about. He could see getting married on the bottom of the ocean.)

These were the kinds of things he loved to hear. It made all those months of absence at sea well worth it. He laid a gentle hand along her jaw and kissed her gladly, and when he'd finished, he looked at her with a smile. "If your atonement is to love me for the rest of our lives, then I'll just have to allow you to make it up to me, won't I? Whatever you say, my love; I can't argue with a punishment like that," he laughed.

[buttercup]

"Exactly," Buttercup smiled. His grin was infectous to her and, when he smiled, hers wasn't to far behind. When he agreed with her, it made her feel smart. Those moments weren't as frequent recently. Humperdinck talked down to her mostly and made her feel like a stupid, useless girl. Westley never made her feel that way. He made her feel like she was very clever and the most wonderful girl in the world.

"Good, Wonderful. And that won't matter; you can have any title you like. We'll make one up, if you wish. You and I, we can be anything in the world, even if it doesn't exist yet. That's freedom, love," "I like the sound of that." she told him, a grin spreading across her face. "And one day very soon, you and I will both be free of all this Humperdinck buisiness - all you need to do is keep on with the planning and wait. Keep making him believe things are all running according to his plans. Leave the rest to me." "If we're planning and waiting, dearest, how will we know when it's time to...attack, so to speak?" she asked her beloved. She smiled knowingly. "He already thinks everything's going to plan. I knew to do that much." she told him, "But I didn't know what else to do...I've never had to make anyone believe anything that wasn't true before.

"I agree. Though, for you, it ought to be beautiful, even if there isn't much to it...beachside, perhaps? "Or in the gardens, out just past the stables. The one with the flowers you like so much." Buttercup considered all these things. "Each one sounds wonderful, Westley." she told him, "I think beachside would be thye most fitting place to begin our new life together. Then leave right for your ship?" She grinned, thinking of the day and and Westley would leave to sail the seven seas together as man and wife. Anywhere that garenteeed she'd be with Westley, she'd go, even if it was to the sunken city of Atlantis, where they could live very happily. Of course, where ever they were together, they would be happy.

Buttercup happily kissed him back, the touch of his hand along her jaw was electric. Again, his smile made her grin in return. "If your atonement is to love me for the rest of our lives, then I'll just have to allow you to make it up to me, won't I? Whatever you say, my love; I can't argue with a punishment like that," She laughed softly. "That is my atonement to you." she told him, "To love you until long after the day I die, till the end of the world and beyond. I am yours, Westley. Body and soul, I am yours and yours alone."

((Terribly sorry for the delay, Aud. I've been in the hospital since earlier this month. This has been sitting in a notebook, waiting for me to get near a computer to post this for you. Hope you can forgive me for the delay.))