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“You have to check up on old ladies who live in the woods, Catra!”
That’s Adora’s reasoning. But really, Catra knows that Adora just likes visiting Madame Razz. Adora likes how carefree the woman seems, while simultaneously carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, a dichotomy Adora probably wants to learn for herself. And Adora likes how motherly the woman can be, not having had one of those for most of her life. And of course, she likes the connection to Mara, even if Razz often calls her by the wrong name. Or at least, this is all what Catra suspects as the real reasons why Adora visits the old woman in the woods so often.
She is fine to let it be Adora’s thing. They’re working on having some time apart, on not having to be with each other every moment of every day to feel safe. So Catra is okay with Adora going off into the woods for a few hours every so often to talk to her wacky old lady friend.
That is, until Adora starts inviting her along. At first she brushes it off, reminding Adora that this is supposed to be about them spending time apart. And Adora accepts that response, at first. But the more regular these visits to Madame Razz become, the more Adora asks - and eventually whines and begs - her to come for a visit.
It isn’t until Adora finally explains how much Razz means to her - confirming Catra’s speculations - that Catra gives in. Because how is Catra supposed to say no to that? She can barely so no to Adora as it is.
So she finds herself being dragged through the Whispering Woods in search of an old woman’s cottage one summer afternoon.
“Don’t you know where this place is?” she asks. “We’ve been walking forever.”
Adora splutters and brushes her off in the way she does when she’s clearly bluffing. “Pfft, of course I know where it is. Madame Razz just likes her privacy, okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” Catra says with a roll of her eyes, not actually that upset. All things considered, she doesn’t mind being in the Whispering Woods as much as she used to. She’s about to say something more to annoy Adora, when the blonde cuts her off.
“There it is!” she shouts excitedly, pointing to the cottage now in view just beyond some trees on the left. “But I knew that, obviously,” she adds.
Catra raises an eyebrow with a smirk and bumps her shoulder into Adora’s, silently saying, “Yeah, sure you did.” Adora takes advantage of the proximity to grab her girlfriend’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Catra’s smirk turns into a genuine smile, small but soft.
“Madame Razz!” Adora calls as they approach the cottage. “Madame Razz, I have someone with me that I want you to meet!” She pulls open the cloth hanging in the doorway just as Madame Razz steps up to the door.
“Adora, dearie!” the woman exclaims, reaching up to pat the girl’s cheek. “Come in, come in!” she practically pulls Adora inside, who in turn pulls Catra.
“Madame Razz, this is my girlfriend, Catra,” Adora is practically beaming with pride, in a way that makes Catra self conscious.
“Yes, hello, Catra dearie!” Razz reaches out a hand as if to pat Catra’s cheek too, but seems to think better of it and places her hand on top of Adora’s, which is still laced tightly with Catra’s. “But who did you want me to meet?” Razz peers out the door curiously.
Adora falters. “Uh, Catra. My girlfriend. Right here,” she gestures to the woman she’s still holding hands with. Catra is thoroughly puzzled.
Razz pats their conjoined hands again before turning around to rummage in her kitchen. “Ha, don’t be silly! I already know Catra, she visits me all the time! Sometimes we play cards. Sometimes we knit. Sometimes she brings Melog and Finn. Ah, I do love your company, dearie,” she says, turning back and meeting Catra’s eyes softly.
Catra pales, and Adora can feel her tense up. She had warned Catra about Razz’s tendency to get lost, but she understands that it’s still a shock to encounter it firsthand. She rubs her thumb soothingly over the back of Catra’s hand.
“I - I don’t know anyone named Finn,” Catra stutters, but her mind flashes to some unearthed memory of growing up in the Horde, she and Adora and their teammates, practically babies themselves, not yet broken by the world and still full of hope, playing a game of make believe in which she and Adora had a baby together. Adora had suggested the name Finn for their imaginary baby, and the name had always stuck around in the back of Catra’s mind. She quickly pushes this memory down, unable to face its implications right now. Instead, she asks, “How do you know about Melog?”
“No, no, I suppose it’s too early for Finn to be here. But they say I’m the crazy one!” Razz answers. “I told you dearie, you bring Melog on your visits. Now, what have you done to your hair?” she asks, and Catra bristles. “I like the ponytail much better,” the old woman adds, and Catra relaxes, assuming she’s talking to Adora, whose hair is not in it’s signature ponytail, for once. After all, this is the first time they’re meeting. Razz never saw her hair before Horde Prime cut it all off.
Adora assumes Razz was talking to her as well, saying, “Right? Me too. But everyone keeps telling me to wear my hair down more often. Apparently it’s bad for your scalp to wear tight ponytails all the time, but I find that hard to believe.”
Razz doesn’t answer, but gives them both a curious look that lingers a moment too long, making Catra wonder if the old woman really had been addressing her when she asked about her hair. The moment passes when Razz enthusiastically claps her hands together, all but shouting, “Well! Let’s get going, then!” She turns to the wall, grabbing her cloak off a hook and throwing it over her shoulders.
“Going where? We just got here, Razz.”
The old woman recognizes Catra’s voice, but it’s different than it was just a few moments ago. Softer. More relaxed. When she turns back to face her visitors, she’s met with a surprise. They’re still holding hands, but now Catra is standing on Adora’s right, whereas she was on the left before Razz turned her back. Her hair is longer, pulled up in the ponytail Razz just asked her about. Adora’s hair is still down, but it’s longer too, and she now wears a simple golden diadem. Their clothes are different, and Razz recognizes the golden pin that used to adorn Adora’s jacket now pinned to the front of Catra’s shirt. The most marked shift, however, is the big catlike creature sitting at Catra’s feet.
“Melog!” Razz exclaims, reaching to scratch the creature’s ears. Melog gives a pleased trill. “And she asks me how I know you. Ha! You visit me all the time, don’t you?” She asks them, and they rub against her legs affectionately.
“Is this a bad time, Razz? Are you going somewhere? Catra and I stopped by to share some exciting news with you,” Adora explains.
“I’m not going anywhere. Why would you ask that?” The old woman eyes her skeptically.
“Because you just put on your cloak and said ‘let’s get going,’” Catra points out, not unkindly.
“Yes! We’re going berry picking, aren’t we? You want me to make you a pie for the special occasion, yes?” Razz asks.
“Oh!” Adora’s eyes widen. “Oh, Razz, do you already know?” She smacks the side of her head, saying “I’m such an idiot. Of course you already know!”
“Huh? Know what, dearie?” Razz narrows her eyes at Adora, clearly confused.
“Know that Catra and I are engaged!” Adora exclaims, touching her golden headband, and now Razz understands where it came from, as well as the meaning of Adora’s pin on Catra’s shirt.
Catra thinks she sees tears well up in Razz’s eyes. She asks gently, “You didn’t know, did you?”
“How could I know, silly girls? This is your first time telling me!” Adora’s eyes widen again at this and she lets out a soft ‘oh!’, but Razz continues, “I’m so happy for you, my dearies. You have such a happy life ahead of you. A well deserved life.”
Adora rushes forward to hug the old woman, though she’s careful not to hurt her. Even Catra steps forward to wrap an arm around Razz’s back. When they step back from the hug, Adora adds, “We came by to tell you the news, and invite you to our wedding! I mean it’s not all planned yet, and it won’t be happening for a while, which you probably knew, but we definitely want you to be there, so this is us inviting you, and-“
Catra elbows her fiancee in the ribs to stop her rambling, finishing her thought for her. “And we wanted to ask if you’d do us the honor of making a pie for the ceremony. We’ve heard that you’re supposed to have cake, but we both agree that your pies are special. But it seems like you already knew that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, dearie,” Razz replies. Adora and Catra just stare for a moment, confused.
“But, you said you knew we wanted you to make a pie for the special occasion. What were you talking about?” Adora asks, brain clearly melting.
“You brought Melog to visit me, of course! This is a special occasion! Melog loves my pies. So does Finn.” Razz peers around the happy couple before her like she expects to find this mysterious Finn person hiding behind them. Catra’s face flushes, but she brushes it off. Adora doesn’t even acknowledge it, used to Madame Razz’s nonsensical comments.
Melog makes a happy noise that doesn’t even need translation from Catra, clearly saying that they do indeed love Razz’s pies. Their enthusiasm prompts a laugh from Catra and Adora. As their laughter dies down, Razz adds, “And of course I’ll make the pie for your special occasion, too. But it’s too soon for that. One pie at a time. Now, let’s really go. These berries won’t pick themselves, you know!”
Razz strides to the door, grabbing a basket on the way out, not bothering to look back to see if her visitors are following. As she enters the clearing in front of her home, she hears only one set of footsteps behind her, plus one set of pawsteps.
“Come on, dearies!” She calls. She turns to look over her shoulder, and stops in her tracks when she see Catra and Melog catching up to her. Melog looks the same as ever. Catra looks softer, in all senses. She has a glow about her. Razz’s eyes land on her loose fitting black tunic and the comfortable shoes that she doesn’t usually wear. For an old woman who lives in the woods, she’s sharper than they give her credit for.
“Ah, I see.” she says, mostly to herself. Then, louder, she asks, “Catra, dearie, where’s Adora? She was just here a minute ago.”
Catra smiles indulgently. “No, she wasn’t, Razz. I came ahead today, remember? Adora will be here soon. But I wanted to talk to you first. I wanted to- to ask you something.”
“Ah, dearie, I don’t think I can answer that question,” Razz says softly.
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask!” Catra says, indignant. Razz doesn’t respond, just raises an eyebrow. Catra huffs and sits down on a nearby rock, and Melog lays at her feet protectively. Her hand plays over the hem of her tunic. Finally, she continues, hesitant. “You’ve mentioned them before,” she says, refusing to say their name. Razz knows who she’s talking about. “I know you’ve met them. And I just… I want to know…”
Razz stops her there. “I can’t tell you what they’re like, Catra. They get to decide that for themselves. I can only tell you that they’re perfect the way they are, and that they love my pies.”
Catra laughs a watery laugh. She hadn’t realized until now that she is crying. “No, that’s not what I wanted to ask. Adora and I, we didn’t exactly have a mom. At least, not one who loved us. We only had Sha-“
“We don’t have to talk about her,” Razz cuts her off, lips pursed.
“Right,” Catra sighs. “My point is, we didn’t have a great example to look up to. I mean, we want this,” she clutches the fabric of her shirt tighter, her voice getting soft, “We really want this. But… I’m scared. I don’t want to mess this up. Just, tell me I won’t mess this up?” it comes out sounding like a question.
Razz smacks her gently on the arm. “Of course you’ll mess up!”
“That’s not comforting,” Catra pouts. Razz smacks her again and she lets out a disgruntled, “Hey!” Melog turns red for a moment, before assessing that there’s no real threat.
“Of course you’ll mess up,” Razz repeats, more somber this time. “But that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. You’re only a person, and people make mistakes all the time. You learn from your mistakes, and you do better the next time. What matters is that you love them. And I can already tell - not from the future, but from right now - I can tell you love them.” Razz cups Catra’s cheek in her hand and wipes away her tears with her thumb. Catra leans into the touch, mimicking the movement by cupping her own hand over the tiny bump of her belly.
They stay that way until the tears stop falling from Catra’s eyes. Gently, Razz pulls away from her, standing up fully. “Come along, now. We don’t want to have nothing to show for our work when Adora arrives!”
And of course, at that very moment, Adora herself comes stumbling out of the woods. “Razz! There you are!” she huffs, completely disheveled. She fixes her jacket and pulls a twig out of her hair as her eyes roam over the scene in front of her - Catra still sitting on the rock with Melog protectively at her feet. Adora notices her wife’s eyes are red from crying; she sends her a look that silently asks, “Are you okay?” and breathes a sigh of relief when Catra nods.
Actually, Catra can’t help but smile. “After all these years, you still get lost every time, huh?” Catra asks, standing up from her spot and walking over to her wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. Adora reciprocates, wrapping an arm around Catra’s shoulders.
“I wasn’t lost!” Adora denies, before conceding, “The woods are just confusing, okay? But I see you got here alright. Did you have a good talk with Razz? Did you tell her…?” she trails off.
“No, of course not. I wouldn’t tell her without you, dummy!” Catra pushes against Adora’s side playfully. She’s not technically lying - she kept her conversation with Razz vague enough for plausible deniability. Catra feels a little guilty for it, but then again, Razz has mentioned Finn to her several times in the past, so she had to have known this was going to happen eventually. Is it really a surprise if the person already knows?
“Well, are you ready?” Adora asks, eyes soft, and Catra smiles warmly. She actually does feel a lot better after talking to Razz.
“Yeah, I am. Hey, Razz!” Catra calls, looking across to the other side of the clearing. But Razz is not there. In the time they’ve been talking, she must have wandered off. Catra and Adora share an amused look.
She went that way Catra hears, in that indescribable voice in her head that could only belong to Melog. The creature points with one paw toward the right, and Catra can see a trail leading off into the woods. She thanks them and pulls Adora along with her, following the path. Melog stays where they are, laying in a ray of sunlight.
They walk for a few minutes, occasionally calling out for the old woman. Catra knows the routine by now; Razz will be found when she wants to be found, so she might as well just enjoy the walk in the woods with her wife. The forest is beautiful here, and magic hangs in the air all around them. They come to a rise that overlooks a winding river and lush green trees, with islands floating in the air in the distance. They pause to take in the view. Some days, Catra still can’t believe how beautiful Etheria really is.
Catra sniffles, and Adora looks over at her with concern. “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you crying?”
Damn hormones, and damn overprotective wife, Catra thinks, but there’s no sincerity behind the thought. “I’m fine, just feeling, I don’t know, emotional I guess. I’m just glad that this is the world they’ll get to live in. They won’t have to grow up the way we did.”
Adora laces her fingers through Catra’s, gently pulling her so that they face each other. “You know, this is the world we get to live in, too,” she says.
“Sappy,” Catra responds with a roll of her eyes, but her smile is bright and warm. Adora kisses her deeply, filling her with love, then pulls away to lean their foreheads together. It still feels the way it did in the beginning, when magic sparkled thickly in the air and everything was green and fresh, when Horde Prime had just been defeated and they had just kissed for the first time, in the Heart - it fills Catra with breathless butterflies and warm love like honey in her veins. And this time, one of Adora’s hands comes to rest along the soft curve of her belly, coaxing a purr from within her chest. Catra feels complete in a way she never would have thought she could, just a few years ago - their little family of three all together and basking in pure love.
She still worries, of course, that she’ll mess things up. But at least she knows that the world is a much softer place, now, and that their baby will not have the childhood they had. And she knows too that Adora will be with her through everything. It took her a long time to accept that, to let go of her fear that Adora would leave, or that she would push her away again. She doesn’t know how she knows - maybe the baby helped ease that fear, or the vows they made to each other when they got married, or maybe it was something else entirely - but in any case she no longer has any doubts about the depth of Adora’s love, and her ability to return it.
She has no idea how long they stay like that, in a little bubble of love and happiness. But eventually, Adora pulls away, leaving their intertwined fingers as their only point of contact. “C’mon,” she says, heading toward the path again. “I really want to tell Razz our good news!”
They continue to follow the path for a few more minutes, only for it to lead them in a circle back to the clearing where they started, in front of Razz’s house. Except, now Razz is there, kneeling on the ground in front of Melog, lazily scratching their ears. They look quite pleased about this. A basket full to the brim with bright blue berries sits on the ground next to the door of the cottage. They must have been gone for longer than Catra realized.
“Adora, Catra, there you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Razz says sternly, not even turning away from Melog to see them.
“You don’t look like you’ve been looking for us,” Catra says with a laugh. She has the feeling that if Razz were closer, she’d get a smack on the arm for that comment.
“Razz, we’ve been looking for you!” Adora plows on. “We want to talk to you.”
“Hm? You’re talking to me right now, dearie.” Razz responds, playing with Melog’s face in her hands.
“Yes, but we have something important to tell you,” Adora explains. “Some exciting news. We, well… Catra?” Adora allows her wife to be the one to say it. Razz finally stops playing with Melog, turning around to face them. Her eyes are sparkling - of course, because she already knows. Thankfully, Adora doesn’t see this - she’s too busy looking at Catra.
“We’re having a baby,” Catra says, almost shyly - it still feels so strange to say out loud. Then, breathlessly, “I’m pregnant!”
Razz’s reaction is loud and exuberant. “Finally!” she all but yells. Then she squeezes Adora’s face in her hands and presses an overwhelming number of kisses to her cheek, before turning and doing the same to Catra. A few years ago, Catra would have had a panic attack if anyone had done that to her. A few years before that, she would’ve scratched the person’s face off. Now, all she does is laugh and playfully wipe at her cheek once the old woman releases her. Things sure have changed - she sure has changed.
“What do you mean, ‘finally’?” Adora asks with a laugh.
“I’ve been waiting for so long. I told you before, dearie,” Razz meets Catra’s eyes, “I love when you bring them to visit. Ah, here, I have things for you to take. I’ve made so many things for the baby to wear.” She turns toward her cottage.
“You have?” Catra is surprised to hear this. She’s spent a lot of time here, with Razz teaching her how to knit, yet she’s never seen Razz make anything baby sized. And although Razz has known about their baby for a long time, Catra never expected the woman to make something for them so far in advance. It touches her heart.
“Of course I have!” Razz calls over her shoulder, as she rushes through the doorway into the cottage and opens a little cabinet in the corner. “There’s not much for an old lady to do in the woods besides knit and bake, you know!”
The cabinet is empty, bare of all the clothes knitted for baby Finn. They haven’t been made yet.
“You said I knit with you, sometimes. But I don’t know how to knit,” Catra’s voice is guarded, hesitant - maybe even scared. Razz turns away from the cabinet to look at her. She stands in the kitchen, holding Adora’s left hand like a lifeline. Her hair is short. The pin Razz as come to think of as Catra’s is still fashioned to Adora’s jacket, and the golden headband is noticeably missing from her blonde hair.
Razz supposes she’ll have to wait a little longer to meet Finn. Or, rather, for Finn to meet her.
“Eh, so I’ll teach you then,” she waves it off. “Just remind me to get more yarn.”
The rest of their visit passes as normally as any visit with Razz could, and Adora is grateful, because she doesn’t want to overwhelm Catra. Razz waves them off as they step out of her cottage a few hours later, full to bursting with the best pie Catra has ever tasted. She kisses Adora’s cheek, saying, “Goodbye Adora dearie, I’ll see you soon!” She turns and smiles fondly at Catra, but doesn’t make any move to touch her. “Goodbye Catra dear. It was so nice for you to meet me.”
Adora giggles, “Don’t you mean, ‘it was nice to meet you’?”
“No,” she says matter of factly, then goes right back to addressing Catra. “Now, come back to visit soon. Bring Melog next time. And don’t forget the yarn, so you can learn how to knit.”
Catra doesn’t know how to respond, so she simply nods and says, “Uh, yeah, it was nice for you to meet me too.” Then Razz practically shoos them away into the woods, toward home.
Adora takes Catra’s hand again as they walk. “So,” she asks, “what did you think of Madame Razz? I know she’s… a lot to take in. And she can seem a little out there, but she’s sweet. And she’s always been there when I needed her.”
Catra takes a while to collect her thoughts before answering. “She’s… nice. I can see why you like her. I think I might take her up on the knitting thing. I mean, everyone keeps saying I need a hobby now, so, why not try? And I think she really wants to meet Melog.”
Catra thinks the Whispering Woods get ten times brighter with the way Adora beams at her. “I think that would be great! You trying a new hobby, and spending more time with Razz. She’s really great, once you get to know her. It just takes time.”
It just takes time. Adora doesn’t know how right she is about that.