Chapter 1
The house was quiet, the dolls were in there perspective places in which they slept in there little beds made by Marcella while still in there toy form.
Marcella was fast asleep while holding on to the camel with wrinkled knees after having a good day in hanging out with the toys and getting into mischief while papa wasn’t home, which obviously tired Marcella and everyone else out, but either way, everyone had fun at least.
Everyone was asleep, nothing in sight but just Marcella’s soft breathing as she is tucked in bed.
All but one.
Raggedy Ann wasn’t sleeping, as it turns out she pretended to be asleep this whole time and after she lifted her head up and checked to make sure everyone was asleep, she then quietly stepped out of the small, doll-sized bed as she then immediately transformed into her much taller toy form you could say, the same way she transformed after coming to life and meeting Marcella for the first time with the help of the candy heart that was sewed on her.
Speaking of Marcella, raggedy Ann took a good look at Marcella in making sure she was fast asleep and as she looked at Marcella and saw how content she was while holding onto the camel with her, raggedy Ann couldn’t help but smile, knowing that not only was it a sweet moment in which the camel felt loved while being held and still asleep, but also knowing that Marcella was not tossing and turning and even looked all calm while sleeping, meaning she wasn’t having a nightmare as it seems.
Ann was happy that at least Marcella was well content and safe as she slept which is good.
Ann then looked towards the empty, small, doll-sized bed in which yum-yum slept in but wasn’t there as it seemed, looks like she already left very early, perhaps now waiting for Ann in their favorite spot.
As it turned out, yum-yum planned a date night with raggedy Ann in which obviously her dear partner didn’t refuse and thought it would be nice to hang out at the meadow, the same place they opened there hearts to eachother.
Plus, they wanted to just spend a little one on one time with each other, away from the crowd and what not but with a very good reason.
The reason being is that their relationship to this day still remains a secret from the rest of the dolls including Marcella, except teddy and raggedy Andy as really they already knew raggedy Ann had feelings for that pretty bat lady, so there was no way of hiding it from them besides the fact that Andy still rolls his eyes or gags at all the lovey-dovey stuff Ann and yum-yum get to or what Ann says when talking about yum-yum of course.
As for teddy, well, let’s just say they don’t really mind but they are sort of wiling to give relationship advice despite not having any experience with it but still knowing very well about things when it comes to romance and how it worked and how to make it work.
But besides Andy and teddy already knowing Ann and yum-yum’s relationship, the rest of the dolls and Marcella don’t even know, which worries Ann at times since she knows she can’t keep her and yum-yum’s relationship a secret forever yet she also worries what they would perhaps think.
But there is no time to think about that, for time will tell when she and yum-yum will feel ready to tell everyone about their relationship, for now, Ann’s gotta date to catch.
As Ann carefully steps out of the bedroom and gently closes the door of Marcella’s room, she then silently steps through the house as she tries to make sure not to wake up Marcella’s father, taking in every step she makes in being as quiet as a mouse.
She soon gets to the back door of the house that leads to the backyard in which once she steps out, she looks around in making sure no one was around, even making sure the few houses from the left and right side of Marcella’s home has lights turned off from a distance.
Once the cost was clear, Ann steps out of the house as she gently closes the door and then quietly but quickly started following the path that would lead her to the meadow.
While Ann walked, she could see the deep, deep woods from a distance and even looked up at the sky and seeing how much stars there were tonight, even having the moon fully out and shining.
It’s unclear as to what time it was but it definitely was nighttime, perhaps even being very late too.
As Ann gets closer to the meadow and soon reaches the top of the hill, there she sees the meadow, where there were few trees that resided in the huge grassy fields, wild flowers just casually standing by, and the pond sitting ever so slightly with fireflies flying about and the sounds of frogs croaking.
Strangely enough though, yum-yum isn’t here it seems, luckily, Ann might have a good idea of what yum-yum might be doing or planning to do at least.
Ann goes down from the hill as she then looks around for yum-yum and proceeds to call out to her,
“yum-yum I know you’re here! And don’t try to scare me again like last time cuddles”
Ann then hears a swift-like sound coming from above somewhere, and as she smiles, she then proceeds to turn around quickly and immediately yum-yum lands on the ground before scaring Ann with her little boo but instead, Ann doesn’t get scared or anything and just surprises her with a little boop on yum-yum’s nose and softly giggles.
Yum-yum tries not to let the little gesture from Ann, in which her nose was softly poked, get to her though.
“Did I scare ya?”
“Not even close sugar, I knew you’d be here of course.”
“Hm, well I’m glad that you came at least, nobody saw you or heard you sneak out?”
“No, I was as quiet as a mouse. How’d you sneak out though?”
“Oh it was easy, sometimes bats are also quiet too you know~”
Ann rolls her eyes but softly smiles at yum-yum’s attempt at a joke.
“so, what shall we do?”
“Anything we want doll face”
Ann then thinks for a moment.
She didn’t really bring anything with her like a picnic basket or anything and the whole date wasn’t planned out any further.
But as long as Ann and yum-yum were together, they could do whatever together and still enjoy their company even if it’s not one of those picnic dates.
Ann then catches glimpses of the fireflies fluttering about in which she felt as if it fit the mood of the atmosphere very well since they were both out in the middle of the night.
And that’s when Ann gets an idea.
“Maybe… we can dance underneath the moonlight?”
Yum-yum looks at Ann with her shiny, yellow eyes as she chuckles,
“Oh? But this time on the ground unlike last time where I danced with you in the sky?”
Ann softly blushes and giggles at Yum-yum’s comment, she never forgot the day they went to the meadow to hang out, only to confess to one another after sharing a kiss while dancing in the sky in which yum-yum was holding Ann the whole time while flying.
Oh how beautifully she danced and how she looked as the moon shined on her, Ann would never forget that beautiful moment as she truly would cherish it forever.
“Well, yes… I’ve been sort of thinking it would be nice to dance with you just like how you did when you and I were in the sky once and since I think the mood currently is nice and calming, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hm, well I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Take the lead Annie.”
Yum-yum extended her hand out for Ann to take in which she gladly accepted as she gently held yum-yum’s hand with her mitten hand and she gently places her other one on yum-yum’s waist.
Yum-yum places her hand on Ann’s shoulder while her other one was held by Ann’s and she smirks at Ann while waiting patiently for Ann to take the lead, waiting to see how well of a good dancer a little rag dolly can be of course.
Ann softly blushes and gulps, hoping that she gets this right and doesn’t mess this up.
She then gently begins to move and sway alongside with yum-yum as she took the lead and made sure that she took every step as gentle and graceful as needed.
“Well, I see the little rag dolly really knows how to charm a bat I see~”
“Oh, I just thought it would be nice to return the favor, seeing how you danced with me last time while being in the lead hehe”
“Hm, fair enough Annie”
Ann and yum-yum were both smiling at eachother while they continued to dance away through the night.
Oh how sweet this moment felt.
The fireflies flew around the fields, almost giving a shiny and beautiful feel, the sound of crickets could be heard somewhere hiding among the tall grass, and the frogs continued their croaks in the pond they resided in.
But the best part was how the moon was shining tonight, oh how beautiful it shined on both of them.
It’s almost as if they were under a spotlight and were preforming an act to an audience.
The audience obviously being the creatures that resided in the meadow funnily enough perhaps.
Ann the whole time, while taking the lead of the dance, stared at yum-yum and admired her features.
Her dark shimmering hair that had the two yellow streaks from her left and right side and how it reached to the tips of her bat ears, her sharp shiny fangs, her beautiful eyes.
Oh how Ann could look at her forever and admire every aspect of yum-yum’s beauty.
She even admired the way yum-yum was of course, she loved how mischievous she can be at times yet can even show love and affection sometimes if you just got to know her better.
Ann even admires how brave and bold yum-yum can be, she loves how confident and loyal yum-yum can be, even loving how soft she secretly can be even if she doesn’t show it to others much except for Ann.
Oh, yum-yum was just a treasure that Ann truly cherished.
As they continued to dance, as they swayed and spun around, Ann slowly dips yum-yum and she picks her back up but her smile suddenly but slowly falters and her dancing was beginning to slowly end to which yum-yum notices.
Ann then stops as she continued to look towards yum-yum’s eyes, almost as if she was hypnotized and was lost deep within such gaze.
“Everything alright Annie?”
“Oh! Yes just… it’s just…”
Ann gulps as she feels the warmth of her cheeks making its way and the fluttery feel of her candy heart as well.
“Your just stunning is all”
Yum-yum now wasn’t the only one whose cheeks also have gotten warm but she softly smiles towards Ann as she looks at her with a soft look.
“Oh Annie, you’re too kind. I think you’re quite lovely yourself too.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Ann smiles softly again while her and yum-yum look at eachother with kind eyes.
It’s unclear as to what took over Ann though as she then proceeds to softly kiss yum-yum’s lips with a small smile creeping in while still kissing her softly.
Her mitten hand now holding yum-yum’s cheek as yum-yum’s was placed on Ann’s shoulder.
It was gentle yet tender to say the least.
They soon separate as they continued to look at each with smiles, one being soft and the other a smirk.
“Hehe, I see the little rag dolly is quite the romantic~”
Ann giggles at yum-yum’s comment as she then comments,
“Well let’s see how romantic I can be then!”
And she then proceeds to plant kisses on yum-yum’s face all over.
Leaving yum-yum chuckling and soon laughing uncontrollably as Ann then proceeds to tickle her, causing for both of them to fall on the ground of the tall, grassy field while laughing together.
As they both lay on the ground and the laughter dies down, both of them look right back at eachother with smiles on their faces and then holding eachother’s hands.
Oh how Ann would always admire yum-yum’s beauty and admire how smart and courageous she was.
As for yum-yum, she loved the way Ann was at times.
All happy and fun to be around with her quirky side, sure she might be bossy when it came between Ann and her brother Andy but that’s just what yum-yum likes about her of course.
As the two held hands and continued to look at eachother, Ann scooted herself a bit closer to yum-yum as she then began to look at the sky.
“There sure are a lot of stars out huh”
“Yes indeed”
Yum-yum looks up at the stars and admires the beauty that came from the night sky.
When she was just a yellow canary, she’d always look out the window in her little gilded cage since it was close near the window of Marcella’s room.
She’d watch the sun rise every morning and would look out at the stars and moon that came out, truly yum-yum loved the night sky everytime she’d look out towards the dark skies of the shining stars and moon.
Guess you could say that’s where her bat like appearance came from wouldn’t you say?
“You know what star is right now shining bright?”
“Hm, no. Which star?”
“You silly!”
Ann giggled as she then proceeded to tangle herself in a hug with yum-yum.
“Oh Ann, your too sweet but please don’t try to tickle me again or else I’d have to bite you”
“Oh!”
Ann’s face turned red from such comment as yum-yum smirked and then proceeded to laugh as she also embraced Ann and they were both now hugging together on the grassy floor.
“Don’t you worry sweet thing, I wouldn’t do such a thing”
“Phew that’s good to hear”
“…or would I~”
“Um…”
Ann’s face was made into a shocked worried look which makes Yum-yum start laughing historically as she starts reassuring Ann in promising not to bite this time.
After all, she would never do such a thing to her little sweet rag dolly, instead she would plant her sweet kisses on her face to show Ann her sweet side and love towards her.
Which is exactly what she started doing.
After yum-yum reassured Ann about not biting her, which again she’d never do, and they just laughed it off afterwards, they still continued laying on the ground as they still were embracing with their arms fully wrapped around eachother, sort of like cuddling if you will.
yum-yum then took Ann’s face gently only to start planting little pecks on her face, leaving Ann’s face covered with black lipstick.
Oh how goofy Ann smiled and how her face felt warm from yum-yum’s romantic gesture, it was almost too much for Ann’s candy heart to handle such sweetness.
Ann couldn’t handle her little giggles from yum-yum’s little kisses either but she soon stopped after yum-yum finished the little smooches she left by giving Ann a kiss on her lips.
That right there left Ann almost as if she was lost from all the love and sweetness that was given to her by yum-yum, like she was hypnotized or something.
Oh but she couldn’t contain her little giggles of course.
“Oh cuddles, you’re too sweet. Why give me that much affection hm? Did you really miss our little lovey-dovey times alone together that much?”
“Well you could say that, after all, when there’s people around, you might as well give your partner a kiss secretly without them knowing cause you miss them so much”
“Huh, well I guess everyone’s gonna find out now that we’re together cause of the lipstick that’s on my face hehehe”
Yum-yum rolls her eyes but the smirk on her face never left, luckily, Ann brought a handkerchief that she brought just in case.
She then sat up, with the embrace between her and yum-yum unfortunately over, and Ann gives yum-yum the handkerchief as she began to wipe off Ann’s face to remove any trace of black lipstick.
Despite yum-yum constantly wearing black lipstick as a form of her fashion choice of course, she was never told by Ann to remove it cause she loved yum-yum just the way she was, whether she wore lipstick or not.
It still doesn’t help the fact that she still has to constantly wipe them off from Ann’s face every time she kisses her face from risking getting discovered by the other dolls that they are in a relationship.
It’s true though that they must hide their relationship since, truthfully speaking, it’s strange seeing between two individuals who are girls being in love with eachother then being with a man that people probably expected them to be with like how it’s ‘normally’ done.
Just like in those dumb fairytales, where the prince, a hero, also steals the princess’s heart, the damsel, and gets together in the end.
But Ann and yum-yum were different.
When Ann was first created, before she was even given to Marcella and was planned to be given to her as a birthday gift till she started getting even more terribly ill and was given raggedy Ann to her very early on which is how they met, Ann never had any strong connections or affection towards any boy doll that would catch her eye like most men would for other women.
Especially considering that there rarely even were any boy dolls in the house since the only boy doll that was around was raggedy Andy.
Instead, whenever Ann had the chance in coming alive when no one was around or was asleep, she’d go explore the house very quietly and would even stumble upon the art portraits made by Marcella’s father of pretty women in places of the house like the living room or attic.
Marcella’s father was quite the artist to say the least.
He’d make art that almost seemed as if they came from a fairytale book, which made sense since he mostly made them for either Marcella’s mother when she was still around as small gifts of love or would even paint little funny things like fairy’s or talking little creatures for Marcella to have as simple little gifts when she was just a little girl.
She’d even watch her father paint in his drawings and would stare at him doing it for hours on end, even trying to draw like him on paper, leaving Marcella’s papa both amused but happy for his daughter’s creativity and even keeping her little drawings.
Yes, papa was quite the creative man, which made sense why since he once worked as an artist that would draw portraits for people whenever they commissioned him with something and later on get paid.
He even sold most of his own art portraits he made all for financial reasons too.
As for the portraits that featured men in suits and such, Ann wasn’t exactly interested in them because what drew her the most were the pretty women in dresses with the prettiest of hair and faces and eyes she’s ever stumbled upon before.
Most of these portraits featured women that Marcella’s papa drew out of commissions in which he’d later on give to them and get paid afterwords.
But eventually, all these portraits completely disappeared one day, already seeming to have been sold and never seeming to return again.
Even though that may have sadden Ann a bit since she no longer can admire such beautiful portraits anymore, she still had at least the memories of the portraits stuck inside of her Cotton filled head.
Remembering their hair colors, the patterns on there dresses and oh how they made Ann feel all fuzzy and sweet inside by just looking at them, wishing that perhaps they’d be real and be a doll like raggedy Ann so she could kindly go up to them and ask them their names and perhaps even get to know them better.
And to be honest, if she’d choose any of the portraits of a pretty women that she would get to know and perhaps even fall in love with, it’d be the one that always caught raggedy Ann the most attention and was considered one of her favorites which was non other then a portrait of a beautiful woman with golden curls and a yellow dress with beautiful blue eyes and lips that looked almost as pink as a rose.
What’s funny was that she almost reminded Ann of a porcelain doll if she were real, not to mention even sort of looked like one too.
But she never saw that beautiful portrait again after that, as it was already sold and given away to someone.
As for yum-yum, she simply never had feelings for another women before but, when she came back alive again, Ann was the one that brought yum-yum the love and acceptance that she hasn’t possibly felt before.
She, alongside Marcella, gave her and Redfang a chance of life and giving it a second chance for them to maybe grow together as friends.
Which of course not only did it work and Redfang and yum-yum managed to sort of get used to their new home and new friends, but yum-yum also found someone that truly cared and loved her unlike that no good rat or course.
And that someone was raggedy Ann, which made yum-yum fall for the dolls kindness and sweetness which led to yum-yum opening up to her more and becoming even more than friends in the process.
Yes they were in love and they weren’t ashamed of that.
Yet they knew that perhaps one day, the tea would have to be spilled to the rest of the group, especially Marcella eventually.
For secrets can’t be held forever you know.
As yum-yum wipes off the black lipstick markings from Ann’s face and finishes the last one which was on her lips, yum-yum’s expression changed almost to a sad look to which Ann notices.
Once yum-yum finishes, Ann tilts her head curiously as she looks at yum-yum with a sympathetic look.
“Something on your mind sugar?”
“Oh well I suppose I was just thinking… when do you think we might tell the other dolls and Marcella about us?”
Ann’s face widens for a second, she slowly looks down and then at the pond as her mind ponders at the question yum-yum asked her.
“I… I don’t know yum-yum… but I do know that we can’t just hide like this forever, I mean… the more we keep hiding the more it’s gonna gobble us up even more, because secrets can be overbearing sometimes to keep. But I do know one thing… I don’t want to hide anymore Yum-yum..”
Ann hugs her legs as she curls herself up like a hedgehog and yum-yum, with a sad yet empathetic expression, moves herself closer next to Ann as she wraps her wing around her with Ann placing her head on the bats shoulder.
“I understand raggedy Ann, I don’t want to hide anymore as much as you. I may be a bat but we can’t stay out in the dark for far too long either.”
As Ann Hums at yum-yum’s response, showing she understood what she meant and said, she then turns towards yum-yum as she then asks her an important question.
A question that raggedy Ann even feared asking herself about it and never seeming to bring it up out of fear and dejection… until now.
“Yum-yum… if we told Marcella about us… would she t-throw us out?… would she t-throw… m-me out?”
Tears began to appear around Ann’s button eyes as yum-yum looks at her with worry and sympathy for her little rag dolly that fears being thrown away all because of them loving another girl like yum-yum.
Yum-yum responded by placing her hand on Ann’s face, trying to wipe away the tears that were beginning to pour down while her wing warmly wraps around Ann’s body.
“Oh Annie, don’t say such a thing. I know Marcella, I’ve been her pet bird before you know, and I know she’d never throw you out like that, because your her best friend, her wonderful little rag dolly that saved her from death. She’d never throw you out.”
“B-but what about y-you?… I don’t want y-you to b-be thrown aw-away”
“Oh Annie.”
Yum-yum fully embraces Ann with a hug as she wraps her wing around her protectively and she gently soothes her yarn hair while Ann continued to softly cry on yum-yum’s shoulder, hugging her back in the process.
“Annie, she’d never throw me or you out. Because, like I said before, your her best friend and I was once her pet bird that would sing whenever she felt sad most days. I think she’d still love both of us no matter what, heck I mean just look at camel, he has wrinkled knees and he now lives with both you, the rest of the dolls, and Marcella all because he was loved no matter his wrinkled knees because Marcella including you accepted him just the way he was.”
Ann looks up at yum-yum, her tears still falling but seeming to fade slowly as she continued to listen and yum-yum continued to wipe her tears away, as if she was trying to get rid of the sadness and dread that enveloped Ann.
“And as for me and Redfang well, Marcella gave me and Redfang a second chance despite our rocky history, and she still had hope in us changing for the better and… well look at us now, Redfang’s gets to hang out with his new friends and act like a happy, free dog at times yes and as for me… well, I finally got the chance to get to know the people around me better, the same people who accepted and helped me through such tough and confusing emotions… and that I owe it all to you and Marcella.”
Ann, still paying attention to yum-yum the whole time while her tears were completely wiped by yum-yum, seeming to have now stopped crying but with still an expression that showed sadness yet amazement at yum-yum’s words.
“You want to know the best part about coming back to life?”
“W-what?”
“I got to meet you and you ending up as my little precious rag dolly.”
Ann’s eyes softly widen, she felt all nice and fuzzy inside that even made her candy heart skip a beat.
She was amazed at yum-yum’s words of affection and truth, truly she was a lucky rag dolly after all.
As Ann sniffed and a smile began to slowly creep up towards her face, she then took yum-yum’s hand that was placed on her face and held it tightly as she began to speak.
“Oh yum-yum, if what you say is true… then you could say this rag dolly sure managed to help find YOUR candy heart hehe”
Yum-yum, despite finding the joke corny, softly smiled at Ann as Ann then proceeds to kiss yum-yum’s hand like how gentlemen would do when greeting a fine lady.
“Oh raggedy Ann, what am I gonna do with you?”
“Nothing, cause I’m very hard to get rid of cuddles”
Ann winks at yum-yum after making that comment but either way, they continued to sit down together as they got comfortable and cuddled closely together with yum-yum’s wing wrapped around Ann as was originally placed.
As they stared out into the distance, yum-yum then made her last statement.
“Don’t worry Annie, whatever happens, we will still have eachother. And I promise you, Marcella will still love us no matter what, as for the dolls? That’s their problem if they find it weird of course, accept for teddy and raggedy Andy, they already know and won’t ever tell a single living thing. But if they do, they’ll have to face my fangs hehehe~”
Ann softly giggled at yum-yum’s little remark as she cuddles up even closer to yum-yum with both of them watching the stars and moon shine so beautifully in the dark, inky sky.
There thoughts filled with nothing but love for one another and a sense of ease and comfort.
“Thank you”
“Anytime doll face. Did I also forget to mention that I love you?”
“Same here cuddles hehehe”
“Oh Annie, never change.”
“Never will sugar, cause I’ll always will be the same rag dolly you know and love forever!”
“Hehehe. Thank you by the way, for coming here for our alone time”
“Oh I’ll always be free just for you darling”
As yum-yum chuckles at Ann’s remark, they go back to their usual cuddling while watching the stars and moon together that shined brightly at them. Thinking away with there thoughts, with sounds of talks and laughter filling the night air, with them even leaving small gestures of sweetness at its wake.
Looks like this date night turned out well in the end, wouldn’t you say?
—————————-《☾》-—————————
The date had to come to an end of course, since the sun would eventually rise up and wake everyone up and Ann and yum-yum didn’t want people to just wake up with two empty beds that had yum-yum and raggedy Ann originally in it, almost as if they have disappeared but in reality, they just had their date night after all.
Thankfully it was still just 7 hours before sunrise so Anna and yum-yum managed to sneak back into the house with obviously nobody hearing or seeing them.
Once they reach the door of Marcella’s room, they took one last glance at eachother, knowing that they would have to pretend none of that happened once everyone wakes up.
Ann kisses yum-yum’s cheek gently as she smiles at her as well does yum-yum.
They both say ‘sleep tight’ to each other as they then open the door and step through Marcella’s room while quietly closing the door.
Once they have checked that no one’s awake or is missing somehow, they then turn back to their original doll forms as they crawl themselves to bed quietly.
They get themselves nice and comfy and once they gave eachother a last loving, ‘goodnight’ glance at eachother, they soon cover themselves up with the blankets and try and fall asleep after closing their eyes.
That sure was a fun night for them as it seemed, and even though they don’t know what the future will hold for them and their secret relationship,
Perhaps that maybe… just maybe… things will turn out ok for them
Everything will be ok.