Chapter Text
It had been a few years since Abe left to fight the hollows, he'd sent letter as regularly as possible, all entailing his successes or lack thereof depending on the circumstances. However his last letter mentioned the consequences of aging, along with Abe now finding a reason to settle down. While Abe had made a dent in the number of hollows and wights, until the world was rid of all of them, peculiar children and adults alike would never be fully safe. They needed to be gone, fully and forever. This is the thought process that led Adaline to leave the beautiful loop her beautiful lover had created. But before she left she needed to tell the kids, she needed to tell Alma. Which led her to now, after the kids had gone to bed, standing with Alma in the kitchen, trying to find the words. "You can't leave." Alma said breaking the silence. "How'd you- it doesn't matter. Alma I'm so sorry." Adaline said, finally looking at the younger woman. "You have nothing to be sorry for, you're not leaving." Alma dismissed coldly. "You know I have to." Adaline hoped for an easy departure, despite knowing this is exactly how it would go. "No, you don't, you can stay." Alma sounded desperate for the first time in her long life. "Alma the kids aren't safe until all the hollows and wights are gone, you aren't safe. I need to make sure no child will ever get harmed again. I need to make sure my family is safe. I will come back, I'm incapable of leaving you forever. I love you so much." Adaline tried to reason with the ymbryne. Alma however, was not having it in the slightest. "No, you don't get to say you love me and the kids as a reason to leave. If you love them, if you love me, stay. Protect us from right here. What about the kids? What do I tell them? What about Claire? Huh? What happens when you break that poor girls heart? Yes, I am a parent figure to all the kids, but you know you're the closest thing Claire's ever had to a mom! And what about me!?" Alma whisper yells at to not wake the kids. "Alma-" Adaline tries to sooth before getting cut off. "No, you'll be fine, you'll be okay. But what about me!? What am I going to do!? You made me fall in love with you! I tried so hard not to, but you made it so hard not to, and now you're leaving." Alma's voice goes now above a whisper but still not quite a shout. "Alma I'm coming back, I wont be gone forever." Adaline's weak attempt at comfort only seems to further enrage the younger woman. "You're going on a suicide mission, you can't come back when you're dead!" Alma yells finally at her breaking point. "40 years since you stepped into my loop, 39 years since we've been together, we are happy, our family is happy! Why isn't that enough!?" Alma's bod finally gives out as she sinks to the ground, Adaline quickly catching her and guiding her safely. "It is enough, it has always been enough, it will always be enough. Alma, you and the kids are everything. I need to know you and the kids can never be hurt again. I'm so sorry little bird." Adaline gently said against her loves hair. After sitting on the kitchen floor for an unknown length of time, Adaline managed to get Alma upstairs and in their room for bed. Finally settling in Adaline's arms for possibly the last time, Alma needs her to make one final promise. "I need you to promise me something." Alma spoke softly, voice still horse from crying. "Anything my love, anything." Adaline agreed before even knowing what she was saying yes to. "Leave before I wake up." the ymbryne pleads. Adaline stays silent for a moment before kissing Alma on the head. "Okay, I promise." Adaline promises and pulls Alma closer against her chest.
The next morning Alma woke to find Adaline had kept her promise, she left before Alma had woken up. Suppressing tears, Alma looked over to Adaline's pillow at a small note. One that read: Alma LeFay Peregrine, I love you and I will come back.