Chapter Text
After thinking it over several times, Carmilla decided that one of the things she loved the most was kisses between dreams in the morning. It was one of the best ways to wake up.
But being married to Laura was definitely at the top of that list.
Married to Laura. For five years now. Today was their fifth anniversary, and Carmilla couldn’t be happier.
Memories of the previous night came back to her; heated kissing, clothing tossed aside, the touch of warm skin and the lips of her wife kissing their way from her neck to her earlobe. But as she gradually woke up, she realized that they were clothed again.
A necessary evil with two teenagers living in the same house, but still a nuisance.
"Well, someone’s eager," purred Carmilla, delighted at the affectionate yet daring mood her wife was in that morning.
Laura nodded without saying a word. Why waste time on stupid things like talking? She had learned over the years not to waste time on words where Carmilla was concerned. She could still talk a mile a minute, but in these private moments with her wife when she could feel her firm yet so tender hands holding her in place and making patterns on her back, talking was the last thing on her mind.
She felt Carmilla shiver as she sucked gently on her earlobe and her gasp as their breaths mingled together. Laura couldn’t take it anymore and kissed her way towards Carmilla’s lips. But Carmilla was more awake now and captured Laura’s lips with her own. The moan from Laura was one of Carmilla’s favorite sounds, and she was eager to hear her do it again.
After a pause for breath and with their foreheads resting together, Carmilla finally opened her eyes. Laura, however, still had hers closed, but the smile on her face spoke volumes. Carmilla stroked the soft skin of her cheek with the back of her hand, somehow making Laura’s smile even bigger. A smile that was the mirror image of the one on Carmilla’s face.
"Happy anniversary, Carm," Laura whispered, as she took her wife’s hand in her own to kiss before interlacing their fingers together.
Carmilla’s smile grew wider. After an adoring 'Happy Anniversary, Creampuff,' she had flipped Laura onto her back and began kissing her passionately, each one more heated than the last. Those well-loved lips were another of her favorite things. As their tongues found their own pace, she slipped her leg between Laura’s thighs, hitting that spot that she knew drove Laura wild. Judging by the hitch of breath and a long drawn out moan from Laura, it definitely had the desired effect.
Carmilla was eagerly preparing her next move when she suddenly heard two familiar voices and the bedroom door open suddenly..
"Happy Anniversary… Gah Carm! It’s too early for you and Mom to be doing that. Why are the two of you always like this? Get a room!" cried Sloan
Sloan was nearly fifteen years of age and was almost as tall as Carmilla, just as thin and somehow more sarcastic. Her hair was a little shorter than when she first met Hayley, yet it seemed to have got even darker. It was curly at the ends and brushed over to one side of her face to give her what she claimed was ‘an air of mystery.’ At least, that was what she claimed anytime Laura rolled her eyes and tried to tidy it away from her face.
It was funny how a moment as embarrassing as this still made Carmilla so joyful at the same time. She rolled off Laura to her own side of the bed and pulled her into a loving embrace. Meanwhile, Laura’s face was doing its best impersonation of a tomato.
"This has been my room for the past seven years, Sloan, in case you’ve forgotten. At point in this century did your generation stop knocking?” teased Carmilla
She couldn’t have loved Sloan more if she had borne her herself, but their relationship had never changed. If anything, their affectionate banter had only increased, thanks to Sloan developing an increasingly dry wit and sarcastic demeanor as she got older.
Sloan just shook her head and smiled.
"Maybe, but this is also my house, and my mother told me that her door was always open whenever I wanted to share my ‘feelings’,” she replied with a dramatic shudder.
“Hey,” replied a highly indignant Laura. “You two suck,” she continued with a pout as Carmilla and Sloan laughed at her expression.
"Ma, it’s not my fault that both of you act like teenagers around each other and can’t be separated for more than a minute.”
Carmilla was still laughing but took the opportunity to tease Sloan by planting a few more kisses along Laura’s jawline. It was impossible for Laura to remain mad at her after that.
"You know something, Sloan? One day you too will understand why I can't be away from your mother. Kissing her… Hugging her… Loving her…" said Carmilla with each kiss, finishing with a borderline PG-13 one.
"Seriously, Carm? It’s too early for this, I’ve just had my breakfast!" pleaded Sloan. “Besides, I’d never be as mushy as you two.”
Carmilla’s jaw dropped as she released Laura. Laura was just as stunned, and Carmilla decided that Sloan wasn’t going to get away with that smug remark.
" Oh, really? Wait, Wait! What was it you said a few weeks ago when we went camping with Kirsch and Danny. And Caden? " said Carmilla, pretending to look thoughtful.
Laura put both hands to her face, trying to hold in a fit of giggles because she knew what was coming.
" Oh! I remember . Oh Caden, don't the stars look lovely tonight? Why don’t you and I go into that field together where we can get a better view?" replied Carmilla, doing her best imitation of a shy, nervous Sloan.
Caden was Danny and Kirsch’s daughter and was just a year younger than Sloan. But ever since they met, Sloan was barely able to hide a massive crush every time they were in the same room. Three years ago, Danny and her now husband/puppy Kirsch decided to adopt Caden, a young brunette-haired girl that they discovered in a camp where they were the counselors. The girl had been abandoned by her biological parents, and her grandparents had wanted nothing to do with her. She was living with a foster family who were okay, but it still wasn’t the best situation for a young girl trying to figure out her identity.
When Kirsch met Caden, he lost his heart to her at once. When he discovered that she loved sports and was a natural athlete, he was ecstatic. Kirsch and Caden went to a different sports event together every week, no matter what sport it was, no matter who was playing. Carmilla found it very touching, not that she would ever admit to it. As for Danny, she worshipped the ground that Caden walked on.
But for the moment, it was more fun teasing Sloan.
" Carm, I don’t speak like that!" said Sloan, visibly mortified.
" Oh! And there’s more. I’m Sloan, and I read Camus. I’m broody, sarcastic and nothing interests me. But every time I visit Kirsch and Danny’s home, I always make sure to bring some of Caden’s favorite Swiss chocolate. It’s also my sisters favorite, but I always refused to try it until I discovered it was my beloved’s favorite too .”
Carmilla continued in the same vein while clasping her hands in front of her and fluttering her eyelashes.
Sloan was looking positively murderous at this stage, and the stifled giggling from outside the bedroom door wasn’t helping. Laura decided to step in.
"I don’t know what you're laughing about, Hay. Oh, Science is so interesting, Jean. Please tell me all over again how rockets work. Wait, I know. I’ll get my mother to bring me to the science museum every weekend and dump her when I ‘accidentally’ bump into you. You’re so knowledgeable, my darling Jean.”
“Hey! When did this suddenly become about me? Sloan, are you the one who’s been robbing my chocolate?”
"Hayley, what are you doing still outside the room?" said Carmilla, with a sigh.
Hayley entered the room sheepishly with a tray in her hands, and her eyes clenched shut.
"Happy anniversary, Moms! Uhm... Are you dressed? I don't want to see anything that makes me have to go to a therapist in ten years because I caught my parents having sex and be told that I’m suffering from a childhood trauma. No, wait; a teen trauma, and that’s why my whole life is a mess.
“Hay, you can open your eyes. Your sister is just being dramatic again, we’re all dressed. There won’t be any need for a therapist in your future. Even though some theories say that childhood traumas are unavoidable, it’s the way we handle them in later life that matters.”
After a few months living together, Hayley began to refer to Sloan as her sister. Sloan never objected but took a little longer to do the same.
Hayley opened one eye slowly and suspiciously, causing Carmilla to roll her own. Maybe it wasn’t the best or most appropriate time for their daughters to surprise them, but honestly, she felt that they were such drama queens sometimes. And of course, they’re growing up more and more each day. Carmilla swore that she was going to be there for them more than her mother was for her at that age and treat them as mature, responsible girls.
Laura beckoned Hayley over to sit beside her on the bed. She handed over the tray to Sloan and cuddled up to Laura, listening to her ramble on about her life was going to be okay, and she wasn’t going to need medication or psychiatric care just because she saw her parents kissing. Sloan and Carmilla looked at each other and shook their heads fondly at them.
Five years of married life, seven living together and eight years since they all first met. How Carmilla and Sloan survived the two blonde whirlwinds, they’d never know.
Sloan brought the tray over to Laura’s nightstand to end the conversation.
" Mom, Hayley and I need to get ready for school or Kirsch will be disappointed if we’re late again. But we made breakfast for both of you. Happy anniversary!"
"Thank you, Sloan,” replied Carmilla with a smile. But when you say 'we,' don’t you mean you did all the work while Hayley ransacked every kitchen cupboard trying to find where we hid the cookies?
Sloan just smiled and winked which was enough to let Carmilla know she guessed correctly.
"I knew it!" she replied with a laugh as she high-fived Sloan. And for her troubles, Carmilla also received a slap on her other arm from Hayley and Laura.
" Ouch! what was that for?"
"Oh, don’t be such a baby, Carm. Besides, cooking skills are not necessarily something that you require to survive."
Sloan and Carmilla sighed because they were pretty confident that cooking was a basic necessity for human survival. But there was no point in arguing this with Laura. Besides, it was more fun to see her realize the silliness of her argument, yet still try to defend it.
They managed to keep straight faces for a few seconds at least before they burst out laughing.
Sloan was the first to get serious and put an end to her mother’s rambling. She was the only one that could do so. Hayley only made her worse, and Carmilla just looked at her with adoring eyes when she started, no matter what she was talking about or how many tangents she went on.
"Well mom, I 'd love to stay and hear more about how humanity can survive without knowing how to cook, but we’re running late."
"Oh, of course, of course! And you don’t want to miss the opportunity of sitting next to Caden during the journey," replied Carmilla.
“Carm!” groaned Sloan, trying to hide her embarrassed face.
It was wonderful to see them grow up. Carmilla didn’t want to miss a single moment of it, and yet she was fearful of the day when they’d no longer need her. It wasn’t that she was anything like Sherman Hollis; she wanted them to have the freedom and opportunities to become their own person. But whenever she looked at her daughters, she can’t help remembering two little girls that planned sleepovers without checking with their parents first. When she looked at Hayley, she could still picture that tiny hand that grasped her thumb when she held her for the first time. As for Sloan, in some way she was still that small, introverted girl that hid her lack of confidence under a hoodie that was two or three sizes too big for her.
Even she had grown into a broody, sarcastic and slightly cheeky teenager now. But Carmilla wouldn’t wish her any other way.
Carmilla felt Hayley hugging her and Laura as she kissed both of them on the cheek and told them that the last five years of their lives as an ‘official family’ had been the best of her life. Carmilla was incredibly touched and told Hayley how much she loved her while kissing her forehead. Laura peppered her cheeks with kisses which made Hayley giggle and blush cutely.
Hayley loosened her hug and went to collect her stuff for school. Sloan paused, looked at her feet, gave them a little wave and wished them a happy anniversary. Carmilla took the opportunity to reach out, grab her hand and pull her close to hug her tightly and plant kisses on the top of her head. Sloan struggled, but couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous Carmilla was behaving.
Carmilla knew Sloan wasn’t usually one for physical displays of affection, although she sometimes made an exception for her parents and sister. Currently, she was going through a phase of hiding her feelings to protect herself. Carmilla understood perfectly; she had done the same thing at her age. But she hoped that Sloan would learn to let the right people in. Just like she did, when she first met Laura and Sloan and they complemented the change in her that begun when she adopted Hayley.
She tightened her grip on Sloan and continued to rain kisses down on her as Sloan started to giggle. Laura was laughing at their fun and loved to see them so open with each other. These were some of her favorite memories of the last five years.
" Carm! No… That’s enough! I….Carm! Enough now! Oh G*d Mama, stop!”
Both Laura and Carmilla were stunned. Hayley stood in the doorway, her jaw hanging.
When they got married, neither of them wanted to impose themselves as another mother figure in their daughter's lives and let them decide what to call them. Almost immediately, Hayley started calling Laura ‘Mom.’ But after five years, Sloan had never called Carmilla anything other than ‘Carm.’ It was all right by Carmilla; she wanted to be there for Sloan, and she didn’t want her to be under any added pressure to label their relationship. Especially if she wanted to talk to her about something that she couldn’t raise with her own mother.
But today, Carmilla couldn’t help but feel her heart swell with joy at hearing that one little word.
Laura pulled both of them close and gave Sloan a kiss on the forehead while she was still lying in Carmilla’s arms, feeling a little shy and embarrassed. Carmilla appreciated the gesture as it lightened the atmosphere and put Sloan at ease. But she also knew that it was a thank you to Sloan for being brave enough to take that last step. That made her even happier.
Hayley squealed in delight and jumped on the bed shouting something like ‘family group hug.’ Carmilla wasn’t sure because Sloan was now struggling against Hayley’s embrace while Laura was trying to hug the three of them from her side. But somehow, Carmilla managed to whisper, ‘I love you so much’ and ‘Thank you, Sloan’ before kissing her on the cheek.
When Sloan finally managed to free herself, she turned to her mother to hug her too. Laura was just about holding back the tears, which was better than how Carmilla was coping as she tried to dry her eyes discreetly.
At last, the girls (even though they were a lot older now, Carmilla had always thought of them as ‘the girls') said goodbye when they heard Kirsch’s car outside. ‘Race you,’ cried Hayley as she ran out in front of Sloan who leaped up to chase her.
As she ran down the stairs, she shouted a last word of advice to them.
"Mom, if you are going to resume what you were doing, don't make so much noise. We don’t want the neighbours complaining.’
"Sloan!" responded a horrified Laura, blushing furiously.
"I’m not making any promises, Kiddo!" shouted Carmilla.
“Yuk! Gross, Mama!'
That word again. Carmilla swore her cheeks were aching from so much smiling already.
Laura got out of bed and waved from the window at Kirsch and Caden. Carmilla hugged her from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder as she watched the girls leave the house. Both of them turned and waved at their parents as they hopped into the car.
To no one’s surprise, Hayley got into the front seat beside Kirsch, while Sloan got into the back with Caden. Even from the bedroom, they could see how Kirsch glanced into his rear-view mirror and shook his head fondly at the bashful looks of the two girls in the back seat.
When he drove away, they got back into bed and Laura nestled into Carmilla’s chest as her wife began tenderly stroking her hair. When she looked up to meet her wife’s thoughtful smile, she whispered ‘Are you okay?’
Carmilla nodded without erasing the smile from her lips. Laura reached up to caress her cheek and give her a tender kiss.
“Best anniversary ever,” said Carmilla, when she could breathe again.
"Can’t argue with that,” replied Laura. She began kissing her wife again, each one rapidly becoming more heated than the last.
“Hmmm. I think that we left something unfinished, but I just can’t remember what it is,” said Carmilla between kisses and smiles.
"Well, perhaps I can jog your memory,” replied Laura with a wicked smile as she began kissing and sucking on that spot of Carmilla’s neck.