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Alina hated the moods she got into some days.
It had been six months since she had found her coat again, and it hadn’t even been taken from her by force. She shouldn’t feel the irrational panic she felt when she woke sometimes.
And yet she did, shooting up out of bed after another shadowed nightmare where it had been torn from her and cut her off from the sea forever, grabbing her coat from where she had carefully folded it on the nightstand-
Folded it on the nightstand.
That made her pause.
Her coat would not be within her reach if it had been taken.
Breathe. Look at three things in the room to remind you that you are here of your own free will.
Like Genya had told her, it did help.
As she breathed, she looked around. Her pelt was one, the weight the most reassuring thing in the world right then.
The giant teddy bear in the corner she had been gifted last week was another one. That thing took up half of the room, and she was still surprised they managed to get it into the car.
And finally…
“Alina?”
He
wouldn’t be here if she had been taken by force. He wouldn't be sitting on the edge of the bed, concern clear in his face and in his selkie eyes if that were the case.
“Sasha, I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I shouldn’t-”
Aleksander, that wonderful man, had his arm around her shoulder before she could say anything else. “Shh. Do not apologize,” he said softly, his free hand coming up to cup her cheek and making her look up at his dark eyes. “We can spend the morning in the sea- or you can, if you wish to be alone. There are fish in the area, more than enough for us- or you- to have for breakfast. Whatever you wish, Solnishka.”
How had she been lucky enough to have this man in her life? Whatever she wished he would accept. That was the most precious gift anyone could ever give her.
“Both of us,” she said, smiling at him, “but no fish today. Perhaps we could go to that new pancake restaurant in town?”
Aleksander gave her one of his smiles that she was so fond of, especially as these ones only seemed directed at her. She hadn’t thought she’d ever have a partner like this before. “Of course. Anything you wish, lyubov moya.”
My love.
No matter how many times she heard that endearment, it always warmed her heart.
After a slow, lingering kiss, the two of them dressed and left their home, the beach house Aleksander had shyly showed her just over a month ago- a house with four small bedrooms.
He hadn’t had to say aloud what he hoped their relationship would lead to- a hope that she very much shared.
Gathering their things did not take long at all, and soon they were wading into the surf, their coats in their arms.
Alina took a deep breath and in one fluid motion covered herself with hers.
She would never be able to find the words to explain how the change felt. The only way she could describe it was that it was right, that it felt like coming home.
Soon enough, they were both swimming beneath the waves, comfortingly nudging each other before lazily swimming off, always near enough to each other to touch.