Chapter Text
10-year-old Sasha was running. She had been running ever since she looked up the meaning of the word after the conversation she overheard. She was still in her school uniform. She wasn't sure if her face was wet with tears from her blue eyes or from the downpour. She wasn't sure of anything. She just wanted to get away. She fell to her knees when she saw the house she wanted to come to. She was tired. Very tired.
"Sasha?"
There was someone calling out to her. She grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up. It was kind. Sasha opened her wet eyes. It was Mrs. Boonchuy. She started crying again. She grabbed Miss Boonchuy's shirt and did not let it go until she sat on the living room sofa.
"Hey, hey sweetie. It's okay now. Please talk to me. Did someone hurt you?"
She shook her head. "T-they d-di—" she said between her sobs. It couldn't stop. Footsteps came from the stairs.
Anne. Of course it's Anne.
"Mom? I heard some noises. Did dad— Sash! Why are you— Hey, hey are you crying?"
She couldn't talk. She whined. Anne sat next to her and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her to her chest. Mrs. Boonchuy said something to her daughter and went to the kitchen, but Sasha could not hear what she was saying. All he heard at that moment was Anne's heartbeat. And the reassuring words she whispered in her ear. She could feel that someone was her side. Unlike her parents who left the money and the nanny with her. Her tense body began to relax. Her sobs turned into whimpers. Her crying had completely stopped until Mrs. Boonchuy sat down next to her again. She looked at the Boonchuys with guilty eyes.
"I-I'm sorry for disturbed you."
Anne shook her head as she patted her back. Her eyes looked concerned.
"Talk to us. Maybe we can help." Oum said. Her voice was soft and understanding. Unlike her mom.
"You can't help."
She took a deep breath and looked at her trembling hands. Her wrists were wrapped in bandages. Her nanny had told her not to take them out again. She turned her gaze to Anne's gentle amber eyes.
"They said I was a mistake. They'll divorce."
~•~•~•~
Anne had never imagined that she would feel the same as when she died with a single word.
She woke up at 8.00, as usual. Her hand went to the other pillow, but the side of the king-sized bed was empty. Sasha had already left the house, leaving early and returning late on busy days. She stretched and rubbed her eyes. The sunlight streaming through the window painted the room a golden hue. As Anne reached for the phone on her nightstand, she saw the note attached to it.
Pancakes at table. Reheat the milk. ♡U
She beamed. Sometimes she would compare them middle school days with the present and marvel at how much they had both changed. Of course they would change, years had passed. But still...
She took the note and caressed it. It was one of the tiny sticky papers in her file. She put it back on the nightstand and stood up.
Another sign that I won't regret my decision.
It was Anne's day off. She finally got the opportunity she had been waiting for a month.
After washing her face and changing her pajamas, she went downstairs and opened the plate on the table. Pancakes topped with strawberry syrup and decorated with red berries. How could Sasha know what she wanted every morning before she even woke up? She put the milk on the stove and looked at the messages on the phone as she waited for it to warm up. There was no significant news. She hadn't received an urgent call from work either. Everything was fine for now. She brewed her coffee and sat down at the table to enjoy a quiet breakfast.
Delightful as always. It was neither too much nor too little sugar. Of course, it wasn't as hot as when it was first cooked. But it didn't need to be hot either, judging by the way Anne was muttering happily as she ate. She was humming a song while washing the dishes when the doorbell rang.
It was Marcy.
Of course. It was almost 10.
"Oh frog, Mar-Mar, I'm sorry! I completely forgot the time."
"Hey, hey calm down. It's ok. As long as we follow the plan, you need to rest. You don't always have a free day. Enjoy it. Oh, but if you want to enjoy it after the sun goes down, that's not my department." She winked.
Marcy was still grinning as Anne ignored her own flushed cheeks and headed toward the kitchen. Teasing Anne and Sasha about their relationship was one of Marcy's favorite passtimes. She followed her.
"So... did you choose the ring?"
Anne placed the plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table and sat across from her childhood friend. Her hand went into her pocket and took out a small box.
"Yup. At first I thought it might be something basic, like my mom and dad, but then... I didn't want it to be mundane. After all this time, you get me? Then, as I was walking around the jewelry store, I thought why not and—"
She mumbled as she opened it. Marcy gasped when she saw the pink and blue stone rings inside the box. Like their Calamity Stones.
"Aww, Anne! That's a really sweet idea. I'm sure Sasha will love it too when she sees it."
"Thanks, Marcy."
Anne's face looked happy and relieved. Marcy wondered how obsessed she was with that one week. Actually, it wouldn't work if they weren't so crazy about each other. Heh, love must be a really weird thing. She stood up and dragged Anne towards the stairs.
"If you are not prepared, you will have to give the ring at home."
Yeah, Marcy decided. No wonder why it's so popular.
~•~•~•~
Sasha had closed her shift after her 9th patient that day. She drank the last sip of coffee in her thermos and turned to the folder in front of her.
Rick Harrison. Male. 15 years old. Single. High school student. He came with his family at the request of the counselor at the school. The counselor's note is that he terrorized the school. However, behavioral changes were found when he was with his family. Discussed with the family. They have a perfectionist nature. The effect on the child should be investigated.
She sighed. Another family issue. Parents needed to turn some attention away from themselves and their pride and towards their children. She thought about this every time a child walked through the door. When every heartbroken child began to tell her, her own heart was breaking with them. But as a doctor, she had to be strong, confident, and loving. That's why she had to hold out until Anne re-wrapped her shattered heart at home. The door knocked.
"Sash?"
This time she didn't have to go home.
"Woah, hi babe. You didn't say you were coming. Is there a problem?"
Anne came over to her desk and kissed her cheek.
"No, not at all. I just wanted to visit you. And... I was thinking maybe we could go on a tiny miny date."
Sasha tried to laugh with her sore throat, but only a small groan came out.
"Can't wait."
She scribbled a small note on the cover and closed the file. She stopped when she felt her girlfriend's fingers on her shoulder. Her tense shoulder loosened with each touch. She sighed. Anne placed a small kiss on her temple and rested her chin on her shoulder.
"You're tired." she whispered.
"Maybe a little. But I can still stand on my two feet."
"Does this mean we can still go on a date?"
""Come first, milady."
An hour later, Sasha's outfit had changed and they were sitting on the beach. The sun was starting to set, its light painting the sea and Anne's face golden. She smiled.
"Okay, spill it Boonchuy. We don't come to this beach often. Whose birthday did I forget?"
Anne laughed. Her voice was more beautiful than anything she had heard since morning. She stood up and held out her hand to Sasha.
"I have a little surprise for you."
Sasha took the hand, though she was confused.
"There's more to our anniversary, Anne."
"Not like that. Close your eyes."
"Wha— Anne, you know I'm not keen on to—"
"Please?"
Here it came. Come on, how could Sasha say no to that look?
She closed her eyes and waited. She could hear rustling and bag opening sounds. Could she have forgotten her own birthday? No, there was still time. Could it be the anniversary of the Frogvasion? No, wouldn't Marcy be here too if that were the case?
"You can open now."
No matter how hard Sasha tried, she could never be ready for the sight before her.
Anne was in front of her with a big smile on her face, holding a small box in her hand. When she opened it, the pink and blue rings inside were revealed. Calamity Stones. Sasha couldn't speak. Anne took her left hand and caressed.
"Sasha Waybright. We've been through more than a normal couple. Especially in Amphibia. We have gained different experiences from all of them. I was worried that our bond would fade while this was happening, but no. You taught me that when two people love each other, no matter what happens, that bond gets stronger rather than broken. I would love for this to continue, if not forever, at least until the Guardian comes for me. So, will you— Sasha?"
"I..."
She was starting to step back. Tears were flowing from her eyes, but Anne knew her well enough to know that they weren't tears of happiness. She thought her heart had stopped. She felt her eyes began to water too.
"I can't."