Work Text:
“Mio - you’re here?!” Suletta exclaimed, a surprised smile appearing as she set her backpack on the coat rack and began untying her shoes.
Suletta was wearing a shirt that one of the students at the school had made for her, which bore a sea of colorful handprints scattered randomly around the front and back; her teacher name badge still hanging from her neck like a medal of honor.
Miorine couldn’t have been prouder of Suletta and what she had achieved with opening her schools, and now that she was teaching in one of them, Suletta seemed to be exactly where she was supposed to be.
“I went into work earlier so I could get home at a decent time for a change,” Miorine explained once Suletta had been able to settle in a little.
“You came home early to see our little Jun bug?” Suletta asked. “Oh - that is sooo cute!”
Miorine felt her cheeks warm from embarrassment, “last night you were both in bed when I got home. Anyway, if I don’t start getting home earlier she’ll start to forget the sound of my voice.”
“She could never forget that!” Suletta said in disbelief, shaking her head fiercely and offering a small loving kiss as she made her way over to the living room and joined Miorine on the soft gray baby blanket. “Jun loves you with all her heart.”
The pair watched in awe as Jun pulled the block out of her mouth, spit creating a trail from her lips to the block, and then her hand as she began chewing on her knuckles instead.
Miorine pulled Jun’s hand away carefully and placed a pacifier into her mouth instead. “That’s better,” Miorine said. She turned to Suletta and raised her eyebrows teasingly, although she spoke in a serious voice, “when did we agree on the nickname Jun bug?”
“Umm - I - “
“I’m kidding, silly. Call her whatever you want,” Miorine said, then she realized the number of possibilities that opened up, especially as Suletta’s expression indicated she was already thinking of numerous nicknames she could call their daughter. “ Almost whatever you want.”
Nobody could convince Miorine that Mio-Mio was a good nickname, even after Suletta had made another attempt at saying it a few days ago, but a part of her was fond of it when it was said by the person she loved more than anything in the world, even if she couldn’t bring herself to admit it.
The truth was Miorine had actually been warming up to Jun bug and Jun bee, maybe it was the fact that the nicknames came from Suletta, or that Jun was so tiny and adorable that Miorine found it fitting.
“Ba!” Jun exclaimed.
Miorine grabbed one of the blocks sitting near Jun that bore a large M carved and painted onto the wood.
“Do you see this one? It says mmmm - mmmm for mommy,” Miorine said holding it out with her hand as Jun snatched it up.
“Do you like that word? Mommy?” Suletta asked, Miorine reached for Suletta’s hand and gave her a loving squeeze, as Suletta returned the gesture.
Suddenly, Jun started crawling over to Suletta, plopping into Suletta’s lap seconds later and tugging at her hair as Suletta gave Jun small kisses on her forehead. Suletta’s happiness turned to disgruntled as Jun started to pull.
“Oh no - leave mommy’s beautiful hair alone - “ Miorine said, helping Suletta to loosen Jun’s grip, who looked instantly grateful for the assistance.
Finally, Jun gave up and collapsed into Suletta’s arms, who began rocking her gently, her bright red hair getting lost in Suletta’s making it difficult to tell what strands of hair belonged to who.
“See, she completely forgot about me now that you’re around,” Miorine said with a joking tone, she didn’t want Suletta to know it truthfully bothered her, especially when she was so happy with how strong Suletta and Jun seemed to have bonded with one another already. “Maybe I should go get dinner heated up - we have some chinese food from last week - “
Just then, Jun reached her hand out towards Miorine. Suletta moved her closer and clapped her hands as Jun continued reaching out to Miorine and transitioned to Miorine’s arms without an ounce of fussiness.
“I’ll take care of dinner,” Suletta said at once. “You should stay right there!”
They shared another kiss, “I love you Suletta Mercury-Rembran.”
“Well, I think I love you even more, Miorine Mercury-Rembran,” Suletta said, Miorine was sure she would never tire of hearing that.
“You love to challenge me,” Miorine laughed. “But, let’s call it a tie this time.”
“I think I would be okay with that,” Suletta said as she stood up fully and made her way to the fridge. It was strange, even though Suletta was in the same room, Miorine always felt a twinge of disappointment when she left her side.
Miorine’s heart melted suddenly as Jun reached her hands up to touch Miorine’s cheeks.
“Up up, up we go!” Miorine cheered, gently holding her up into the air, then bringing her back down as Jun giggled.
“She loves you so much, and she’ll only love you more and more,” Suletta said. “I think you’ll be the one she goes to first with her problems, when she starts talking more.”
“No way,” Miorine said. “I think she’ll go to us both. I like to think we’ll make a great parenting team.”
“We sure will!” Suletta said.
“Speaking of which, I think she’s ready for her other mommy,” Miorine said. Suletta stopped in her tracks, maybe the smell had hit her too.
Miorine had changed Jun’s diaper at least three times since she got home, and she wasn’t afraid to enact the equal number of changings rule they had come up with together.
“I’ll be right back,” Suletta said. “In the meantime, start thinking about what game you want to play.”
Mondays were game night, when they were both at home to take part in it, and Miorine always had a soft spot for game night.
“That’s not a real word, is it?” Suletta asked, staring at the combination of tiles Miorine had laid out onto the board.
“Yes, we use it a lot at the office,” Miorine said. “Go ahead, look it up.”
Suletta grabbed her phone, though the look on her face said she already knew Miorine was probably right.
“But - I don’t know most of those words - “ Suletta said, her face falling in disappointment.
“Well there’s no rule you can’t use a word your opponent doesn’t know,” Miorine said. “Besides, every time we play something that involves any bit of luck, you win 9 times out of 10.”
Miorine was easily the sourest loser out of them both, as she got quite competitive when playing games with Suletta, but Suletta wasn’t above feeling frustrated sometimes.
“But that’s not every time,” Suletta said with a frown, though she smiled soon after as she seemed to think about it for a moment, “Still…I had a blast playing this with you, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
“Hey and who said we could only play one game? The night is young, and we both know we’ll be getting half the amount of sleep we should be getting anyway,” Miorine said. Jun had fallen asleep in the bassinett almost as soon as the game had started, which only meant one thing. “I think we should play that one game you like so much - “
“You mean - Wii Bowling?” Suletta’s arms were raised in excitement as her entire face seemed to have lit up.
Suletta would always be a dork, even if Miorine couldn’t always relate to it, she would never stop loving that about her.
The dorkiness only seemed to grow stronger as the menu screen popped up and Suletta had already assumed her bowling position, “the game hasn’t even started yet,” Miorine said with amusement.
“I know, but I like to feel ready, it helps me focus,” Suletta said, swinging back and forth as if she were warming up for a long race.
As the game began, Jun had already woken up, and there were several breaks where Suletta and Miorine had to take turns helping her with whatever she needed. At least by now, they were able to recognize her cries much better than when she had first been born, and Miorine was thankful for the quality time together with their daughter.
After a few rounds, Suletta and Miorine were both yawning, and Jun had fallen asleep contently in Miorine’s arms - Miorine could hardly believe her daughter was real, it was like she was going to wake up some time and it would have all been a dream. Miorine couldn’t have been happier with the life she was living now.
“Just think, she’ll be a part of our lives forever,” Suletta said, wrapping her arms around Miorine as they gazed at the beautiful miracle before them.
“Our little Jun bug,” Miorine said.
“But - I thought you didn’t like that name,” Suletta whispered.
“I think I’m coming around to it,” Miorine said, holding Suletta closer.
“Come on, let’s go get some sleep,” Suletta said. “Tomorrow, we’ll get to do this all over again.”