"Mama! Mama!" Rachel smiled at the two extended arms that asked for a lift and she obliged, realizing that soon enough, she wouldn't be able to do it anymore.

"Alright, young miss... Bath time." The change of humor was immediate and Rachel chuckled when the panic-filled her daughter's eyes and began extended her arms towards her father and calling for him.

"Dada! Dada! No baff!" Little Isabel demanded to her father, who was chuckling along before grabbing her and, to her dismay, taking her to the bathroom.

"Bath before the story, Isabel..." Rachel watched in astonishment how her daughter seemed to consider the deal before stop squirming in his arms and allowing her parents to give her a bath.

"I can't believe I still get surprised every time you pull that trick..." Rachel admitted, looking at her husband directly to his eyes. Those blue eyes smiled along with his lips, almost teasingly.

"What can I say? I have the talent..." Octavian replied, earning a slight shove from her, still chuckling. Both parents enjoyed bath time as there were no water splashes. It was as if Isabel knew she had to be nice. Once she was changed and tucked in bed, Rachel watched from the door how Isabel's eyes dropped in tiredness while Octavian began reading her a story.

She didn't last until the first page.

"I'll wake up if she does tonight..." Rachel smiled at Octavian who finally was showing the signs of tiredness himself. He smiled gratefully and hugged her tight before guiding her to bed. While changing in her nightclothes, Rachel did what she does every single night: thank for her new life.

The first ten months she spent in her foster house was tough. It was every man and woman for itself. She had no one except for little Puck. She couldn't even console herself about Octavian, she didn't know how he was, there was no contact between them. She didn't know if he was even in good health, nothing.

She survived, though, and her surprise was big the day he showed up at the door and immediately kneeled down. Her answer was nothing other than a big fat 'yes', but asked him to wait until she was legally old to do so because she didn't want anyone thinking she was brainwashed or anything. Octavian's smile simply got bigger listening to her.

Weekends were especially theirs. No work, no school, no one that would interrupt them. It was great to be able to go out without looking over their shoulder through the first couple of times they couldn't fight the urge to do so. Whenever one would do it and the other caught it, they would laugh and hug each other closer.

One week after her eighteenth birthday, they went to City Hall and got married. Simple and quick- Puck was their only witness -, though Octavian insisted on having a honeymoon to remember. They visited Italy and Greece, liking it so much they vowed to come back every five years to celebrate. As soon as they came back, Rachel enrolled in night college and began working in the mornings, despite that Octavian assured her it was not necessary.

However, something was missing.

They tried for years until they realized they were the problem. So, the medical tests came back and they knew for certain. The news didn't shock them as much as they imagined because they were more concern about comforting the other. It was only the second day of comfort when Rachel began laughing and saying that, as long as they were together, she was happy. Octavian couldn't agree more and showed it to her.

They considered medical procedures but it was discarded right away. A year later, after many interviews, several surprise inspections and tons of paper forms to fill, baby Isabel came along to live with them and neither parent couldn't be more excited. And neither had minded the long process, as they were considering doing it all over again.

"What are you thinking about?" Octavian pulled her closer to him, nuzzling her hair.

"Oh, nothing... everything..." That prompted a chuckled from her husband.

"Very specific, Rach..."

"Actually, where's Puck?" She wondered, knowing the little guy liked to sleep at their feet.

"Asleep with Isabel." She relaxed and sighed before looking at him.

"We need to go to the supermarket tomorrow..."

"Need anything specific for this weekend's picnic?"

"I can't think of something right now... I'll write it down and let you know..."

"Hmm... That reminds me, did you get my suit from the dry-cleaners?"

"Tomorrow after dropping Isabel to daycare, have to deliver a painting too..."

"You take the van, I'll take the bus to work..."

"You sure?" Feeling him nodding, she smiled at his almost asleep husband. "I love you."

"Love you too..." She kept smiling and relaxed on his embrace. She didn't mind the monotony because she knew they were special, made for each other. She didn't even mind the household talk because she knew they complemented each other. If she had the opportunity to talk to her younger self, she doubted she would have believed her. But she wouldn't change the ups and downs.

To think this all started with a promise through a garden wall.

I and ReeReeWithAngst want to thank every single one of those who stayed till the end, despite our hiatus on this story and our life commitments, we made it! We hope we can regale you with another Octachel soon, but know it meant a lot for us that you're reading this!

Good morning/afternoon/evening, my fellow readers!

A little later than usual, but I'm here to deliver! I hope you are enjoying this first Sunday of September... Despite reading and writing a lot of demigod stories, I'm sure that not only me was waiting till the last minute to get their Hogwarts' letter? I'm still waiting for that day! I'm only upset I couldn't be with the hoards of muggleborns in King's Cross! So jealous!

Anyway! This week's update!

Between Two Worlds - A Solangelo Story: 1 chapter! Thanks for the support of this story, brings me lots of joy!

Garden Wall (collab with my friend ReeReeWithAngst): 1 chapter! Last chapter! I hope you guys had liked it!

I hope you enjoy this weekend and I'll see you next!

xoxo, SilverHuntresses