Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I’m here Headmage.”

“Ah, Yuu~!”

Yuu hesitated, stopping from opening the door any further as she could hear the obvious cracking in Crowley’s voice. The man spoke in a dramatic if not often then hushed muttering manner, but Yuu noticed how his voice now sounded like he was…Crying? No, that didn’t seem right. It wasn’t quite like he was crying, more like he was on the verge to.

Either way, Yuu didn’t have much choice before opening the door the rest of the way to enter.

What greeted her was…A very messy office.

Crowley wasn’t the neatest person, but he certainly had kept his office in a somewhat tidy organized chaos that only he knew to navigate. She had been tasked a few times to organize his papers and books, but the way to do so was always different. The stacks of papers that were haphazardly at the edge of the desk had finally been tipped over, papers scattered on the floor and his desk. Many books were flung off their shelves and had landed in random directions. She saw that his pens had also been thrown and some were sticking to the wall.

Yuu noticed how the portraits of the Great Seven were also floating higher than where they were usually placed. The portrait of the Thorn Fairy had a book resting on the top frame and both the King of the Underworld and Sorcerer of the Sands had faint doodles around them….Her eyes widened as she finally noticed Crowley by the window, and immediately regretted in showing up.

Crowley was missing his hat and cape, his hair sticking out in random directions as if he had been running and his tie had been tugged at an angle suggesting someone had tried to yank it. His mask, oddly enough, was kept on but he was panting heavily as both his arms were hugging something in his curtains. Yuu could see whatever he was holding…Squirming.

Her back pressed against the door, and she wondered if running out was an option, but knew it wasn’t as soon as the Headmage looked at her directly.

“Ah! H-Ha ha ha, do not mind the mess Prefect! Everything is under-” Yuu slid against the wall as whatever was in the curtains began to move around more frantically, “-EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL! BE STILL YOU LITTLE FIEND!”

Whatever was in the curtain was not pleased and Yuu watched in a mix of horror and amusement as whatever was in Crowley’s arms jumped. It head butted the Headmage at his chin making him grunt in pain. The man quickly pressed both his hands over his chin and groaned, “My chin!”

Yuu blinked in surprise as the dark fabric of the curtain came undone…Revealing a child.

Her heart stopped a moment, her body tensing up as the child noticed her before promptly running straight at her with arms wide and a smile on their face.

“MAMA!”

M…Mama?

Yuu barely had time to react as she was suddenly preoccupied with a child in her arms. A child who began to happily repeat ‘Mama’ to her again and she slowly draped her arms around them, even though she was very confused. Her eyes staring down at them as she barely registered Crowley’s explanation.

He had found the child in front of the Dark Mirror, and so…He would leave her in charge of the child considering for some reason…She was their mother from what he had been told.

Her head felt dizzy, her head hitting the wall with a light thud as she kept hugging the child. At this point both the child’s and Crowley’s voice were mingling to her ears. The child continues to call her ‘Mama’ and Crowley also drawled on about this being her responsibility as he would research to return the child quickly to where they came from.

Yuu could barely keep up and by the time she managed to get her bearings she realized….If this was her child, who was the father?

She slowly swallowed the lump in her throat, her face flushing warmer as she studied the young child’s features carefully.

“…Mama?”

Yuu had to fight back from fainting in that moment.

Chapter Text

Cereza…That was her daughter’s name.

Yuu watched in silence as the little girl ran around in the courtyard, still a little stunned after leaving Crowley’s office. Her eyes gazing off into the sky briefly before returning to watch Cereza run around happily in the courtyard.

She was still trying to ground herself in the present, giving herself a valid excuse to not return to classes…And possibly just going straight back to Ramshackle.

This girl was her daughter….From the future. From a future where she would be married and have a child.

If she hadn’t been so used to strange things, Yuu wouldn’t have believed it.

But as she studied Cereza, she could see her eyes and her little nose in the girl’s face. The ginger hair though…Her fingers were gentle in combing through those curly locks as they had walked and the way she smiled up at her reminded her of someone. A flash of a certain Heartslabyul first year came to mind, one she had considered a close friend. His grin and laugh came to mind before she felt herself growing warm as she realized how close Cereza’s hair color was to the one who appeared in mind.

There was no way…There was no way that could be the case, would it? Besides, he was pretty clear that he…Didn’t have any intentions of pursuing a relationship.

It was…Surreal in an odd sense, Yuu had a feeling that returning home was near impossible at this point and her desire to return home was no longer as prominent as it had been at the beginning. The longer she remained at Night Raven College, the realization of how she would choose to remain grew stronger. Now she had the knowledge that there was a possible future where she had settled down and gotten married with someone and had a kid was-

“Mama! Mama!” Yuu stood up, getting up in time as the little girl hugged her legs and held up a flower, “Here, for you!”

“Ah…Thank you, Cereza.”

Yuu reached to take the flower, a daisy, from her daughter before the little girl gasped and held the flower to her chest.

“Wait Mama! I have a better idea!” Cereza exclaimed before motioning her to kneel, to which Yuu did. Cereza stood on her tiptoes before pushing the stem of the daisy behind her left ear before happily giggling, “Mama looks so pretty!”

Yuu gently touched the daisy, her lips twitching a bit before she noticed another daisy close by her. Plucking the flower, she gently tucked a strand of her daughter’s ginger hair before slipping the flower being her right ear, “There…Now we match.”

Cereza giggled and Yuu couldn’t help herself as she gently pulled the little girl into a hug, her eyes closing as she felt a warmth growing in her chest.

If this was her daughter in the future…She would give her so much love.

“Huh? Oi, Yuu so this was where you were. What are you doing out here?”

Yuu pulled away, looking up as she spotted Ace waving towards her, noticing her bag in his hands, “Ah…Did I forget that?”

Ace smirked and swung her bag playfully in his hands while laughing, “Yeah you did Yuu. Jeez, you’ve been hanging around Grim and Deuce too much. You gotta keep a better eye on your belongings. Good thing I was there to get it for you.”

Yuu couldn’t help herself, smiling as she fell into their playful banter, “Oh my hero. Whatever would I do without you,” she retorted before getting up from the grass. Cereza pressed against her leg as Ace walked closer. Yuu’s hand gently rested on the top of Cereza’s head, earning a pleased hum as she continued speaking to Ace.

He didn’t seem to notice Cereza yet…

“What would you like for returning my bag, you want a reward don’t you?”

Ace’s smile grew as he shrugged, “Maybe~! I mean, I could have been a big jerk and left your bag at your desk and watch you frantically search.”

“Oh, small mercies,” Yuu scoffed before holding out her hand for her bag, “Want me to take care of the hedgehogs again? Riddle’s gonna catch on it’s me doing all your chores.”

“Please, Housewarden wouldn’t think it was you anyway besides you help out enough,” Ace chuckled before halting in his steps. He finally seemed to notice Cereza who squinted at him before gasping, “Papa!”

Yuu’s heart stopped before it frantically began to beat again as Cereza confirmed her suspicions to who her father was. Her face felt hot as she watched Cereza run and hug Ace’s leg, her bag falling out of his hands as he stared at Cereza in confusion.

“W-Wait what? Wait? Y-Yuu who’s this kid?!” Ace questioned as his face began to flare red, “A-And P-Papa?!”

“Papa!” Cereza happily cheered again before eagerly reaching to take both of Ace’s hands, “Mama put a flower in my hair, and I did it for her too! It’s pretty right Papa?”

“W-Whoa wait kid I-”

Cereza didn’t pay attention to Ace’s stuttering before tugging his arm and bringing him over to Yuu, taking her hand and eagerly giggling.

“Yay! We’re together! Mama, Papa and me together!”

Yuu felt her pulse quickening as she stole a glance to Ace whose face was as bright red as a tomato…Or perhaps a cherry.

Chapter Text

“T-Theo! W-Wait a second!”

Yuu wasn’t fast enough to stop the boy from rushing into Ramshackle, his face excited as he looked at everything in the lounge.

“Wow! Mom, this place is cool!”

“Ah…Ha, right…Cool.”

Mom, that was so new to hear….But the boy Theodore, or Theo as he insisted to be called by what a still traumatized Crowley had shared, was her son. His dark black hair matched her own, but his eyes were a very bright cyan blue which made her wonder who his father was.

Blue eyes weren’t uncommon, but his were so bright, and familiar, as he excitedly talked to her during the walk to Ramshackle. Theo didn’t seem too bothered at the fact that he had been whisked away back in time, in fact it seemed as soon as Yuu appeared he instantly started to behave and clung to her.

Crowley explaining how the boy had gotten rather defensive when he didn’t say Yuu was around when he first took him to his office. The next thing he knew, the Headmage had to deal with a very angry little boy who had suddenly summoned mugs and teacups to throw at the man. Demands to have his mom right away or he would run off to find her himself.

Yuu couldn’t help laughing a bit as she recalled how Crowley had begged her to take the boy with her as soon as possible…On his knees. It was entertaining, but…

“Mom!”

“Yeah?”

Yuu paused a moment, hand resting on the door as she realized how easily she responded to his call before walking over to see Theo on the couch, holding up a dark blue teacup, “Look! I summoned it!”

“I…I see,” Yuu sat down beside Theo, hesitating a moment before allowing her hand to reach out and gently combed his bangs, “Theo…I did want to ask, why did you summon all those mugs and teacups to throw at Crowley? That was very mean.”

Theo stopped swinging his legs, staring at the cup in his hands before reaching over to set it on the table with a bit of a struggle. Yuu quickly helped him, this time allowing her arm to slip around to hug him close as her other hand took the cup to set it on the table. Theo cleared his throat, and Yuu didn’t miss how he pressed up against her side, “Because I didn’t see you, he lied and said you were there.”

“I see…”

“Are you mad at me?”

Yuu blinked, looking down at Theo as he gazed up at her, “I’m not mad, but you can’t do that. You shouldn’t hurt people with your magic. Crowley was going to call me to get you.” Theo frowned, looking down before he suddenly hugged her, “I’m sorry Mom.”

Yuu hesitated, her arm lifting off slightly from his shoulders before she wrapped him tightly in her arms. She let out a sigh as she rubbed his back, “I’m not mad,” she gently repeated as she patted him lightly, “You apologized at least, tomorrow we are going to have to apologize to Crowley, okay?”

She could feel Theo nod against her, and leaning down…She paused before pressing a kiss on the top of his head. The affectionate action came naturally to her as she continued to hug Theo and for a moment she wondered if this was how parents, real parents, were like.

She could feel her heart swelling with so much love that she couldn’t help in squeezing Theo a little tighter making him giggle, “Mom!”

“What? I can’t hug you?” she teased him, her chest hurting a little bit to how the little boy hugged her back just as tightly, “I love you, Mom!”

Ah….

“Yuu? You here?”

Yuu glanced towards the door, smiling as Deuce emerged out from behind it, “Ah, there you are. Hey what did the Headmage want you for anyway? He doesn’t ever call you out of class-”

Deuce’s eyes widened as Theo finally released Yuu before smiling widely, “Dad!”

“D…Dad?!”

Theo ignored how both Yuu and Deuce shouted the word, running towards Deuce who quickly opened his arms despite the shock on his face. Theo eagerly tried to reach up, and Deuce hoisted the boy up into his arms, “Did you beat the bad guys? How was your day? Why do you have that weird mark on your face?” Theo eagerly began to ask Deuce questions who was still frozen. Uncertainty on his face before he stared at Yuu, “Wh…Who?”

“That’s…T-Theodore um,” Yuu slowly got up from the couch and walked over. Her fingers nervously clasping tightly as she realized why Theo’s eyes were so familiar to her.

Wide cyan blue eyes stared back at her, bewildered as he looked at her then to Theo who continued to talk on and on.

“He’s um…He’s our son?”

Deuce blinked before slowly turning his head to stare at Theo’s face. His face turning red as he realized he was staring at a mini version of himself.

“…Hold him.”

“Huh?”

“Hold. Him.”

Yuu quickly complied, taking Theo into her arms before gasping as Deuce fell onto his knees.

“Deuce?!”

Chapter Text

There was one person that came to mind that Yuu knew had a bit more experience with children than herself, and that was Trey.

He was practically the ‘big brother’ of Heartslabyul and was usually the first person that came to mind as very reliable. The third year had been someone she had gotten closer to as well, and she had come to trust him a lot. He was patient and very caring, if not a tad bit cheeky when he wanted to be despite the smiles he gave her along with that deep chuckle.

Trey would be the best choice to help her.

Yuu remembered him mentioning how he had younger siblings, plural, which would come in handy as Yuu held the hands of not one….But two young children. A boy and girl who were twins.

Somewhere in her mind she was both horrified and in awe that she would have twins in the future…It was a shock, and maybe one that she would either forget or have it lingered in her head for years.

Both twins had dark green hair, not quite the same shade as Trey’s yet close to be considered the same in the sunlight. Both twins also had hazel eyes with the boy wearing glasses, and the girl without them…Though she was squinting a little making Yuu hold her hand a little bit tighter compared to her brother’s. Already the girl had almost hit a few corner during their walk and ran into a wall. Yuu couldn't help worrying about her daughter, making sure to keep a steady hold on her hand while also looking to her son who seemed to also be giving his twin looks of worry.

They all walked in silence towards the mirrors, Yuu intending to find Trey before quickly tugging the girl’s arm in time before she hit another corner again.

“Be careful,” she gently told the girl before frowning as she watched the little girl squint her eyes again before stopping.

“Mommy?”

Both questioned her in unison, and she knelt to their level. Her heart fluttering at how they called her together and she offered a small smile. Her hand moved to rest on the girl’s head as she leaned a bit closer. The girl nervously blinked at her closeness before looking away, “You’re not in trouble,” Yuu quickly assured her before the boy tugged her hand, “Sissy’s been hiding her glasses in her pocket Mommy.” His twin sister gasped before pointing at him, “Tarrant, you traitor!”

“You can’t hide your glasses and not wear them, Allison! It’s bad for you! And stop speaking like Uncle Cater!”

Yuu quickly held up her hands, stopping the argument as both twins looked away from each other. She gently patted Tarrant’s head, “Thank you for looking out for your sister.” Her son seemed to beam at the praise and Yuu smiled at him before turning her attention to her daughter, “Now Allison…”

“I don’t like wearing them.”

“…Why’s that?”

“It makes me look stupid,” Allison huffed and crossed her arms with a pout, “Kids make fun of me.”

“Well, your brother wears them,” Yuu remarked, and Allison shook her head, “Nuh uh…They look good on him. They look dorky on me.”

“…Now that can’t be true,” Yuu gently assured the girl as she huffed and dug into her skirt pocket to show Yuu the glasses. The frames were dark green and Yuu took them, holding them up to the light to examine them curiously.

“They don’t look bad…”

“Mommy, they look stupid on me,” Allison protested as Tarrant frowned at his twin’s tone, “But you need them to see.”

“The other kids make fun of me!”

Tarrant stomped his foot, "I'll beat them up if they keep doing it! But you can't keep not wearing them because Daddy said you need them to see!"

"It's not worth it if I keep getting called Four-Eyes Allie!"

“Now, now,” Yuu quickly interrupted Allison as her daughter quickly rubbed at her eyes, making her heart ache, “Oh honey….” She gently pulled the girl into her arms, hugging her tightly as she heard a faint sniffle, “Don’t listen to them…”

“Yeah, they’re stupid,” Tarrant piped up before slowly creeping closer and suddenly hugging Allison as Yuu felt a swell of pride towards how gentle and caring her son was to his twin, “Besides…Daddy wears glasses, and he’s not stupid looking.”

“It’s different…I’m not pretty with them on,” Allison grumbled as Yuu released her, “Allison…Sweetie look at me.”

Allison rubbed at her eyes again before looking at Yuu, her lower lip quivered as Yuu gently brushed her hair out of her face, “Those kids don’t mean anything okay? And your brother is right about that. You are a very pretty and smart and sweet…”

Yuu hesitated before slowly placing the glasses on Allison’s face. Her daughter’s hands rested on her skirt, gripping it before peering up at her, “See? It’s better to see me clearly, right?” Yuu asked and Allison nodded as Tarrant eagerly hugged her sister again, “We match too!”

“Yes, you do,” Yuu laughed before suddenly pulling both twins into her arms, “…You’re both wonderful. Don’t let anyone else tell you differently.”

“We won’t Mommy!”

Yuu couldn’t help the smile forming on her face as she squeezed them a bit tighter in the hug. She suddenly placed a kiss on both their cheeks earning a squeal from both.

“…What’s…This?”

Yuu blinked, looking up as her eyes made contact with wide hazel eyes behind glasses.

Trey’s mouth formed an awkward smile, his right hand awkwardly pointing to her and the twins as his left seemed to have dropped a small box at his feet….From the looks of it, it seemed to be a small cake of sorts. Yuu’s face flushing pink as she quickly tried to explain herself before Tarrant turned and happily ran towards Trey.

“Daddy! Where were you?”

Trey’s face flushed pink instantly as Allison hugged Yuu before waving to him, “Hi Daddy.”

"D...Daddy? What? Yuu...What's...What's going on?"

Yuu felt her throat tighten as Trey weakly let out a few more words before frantically reaching down, moving Tarrant away from the mess on the floor. His hands were shaking a bit as he was suddenly hugged by the boy and Allison eagerly following her brother’s actions as Yuu let her go.

Both of them were quiet, glancing at the twins and each other before-

“…Daddy isn’t going to give Mommy a hello kiss?” Allison suddenly asked innocently.

Yuu wasn’t sure what was worst, Trey’s entire face resembling the painted red roses or how quickly her heart raced and how she wanted to curl up to let the floor swallow her.

Chapter Text

Heartslaybul’s maze was quiet when there was no Unbirthday Party scheduled and it was also perhaps the best place for others to use as a means of meeting someone without the risk of someone eavesdropping on them. All Heartslabyul students were expected by the end of their first year to know the maze’s ins and outs by heart.

The exception was perhaps Yuu, the Ramshackle Prefect, and the officially titled Honorary Heartslabyul dorm member.

She had found her way around the maze quite easily after Riddle’s Overblot, whether it be the redhead’s doing or just the magic of the dorm itself for accepting her. Yuu had taken note of every hedge and rose bush with a critical eye until she became familiar enough to all the ways in and out of the maze. She was just as able to easily navigate about the confusing, whimsical layout of Heartslaybul’s with such ease like a third year Heartslabyul dorm member.

This knowledge proved useful as she frantically ran through the maze, avoiding every dead-end and stopping once at every rose bush while calling out a name.

“Erik! Erik!”

How could she have let go of his hand?!

Yuu had only let go of his hand for a moment, trying to pull out her phone in hopes of contacting the person who was the best to help her in the situation she found herself in. Cater was always glued to his phone and had it always on his person. She also knew the ginger haired third year had kept her contact information specially set so he would always know it was her when she called or messaged him.

It was sweet and had proved useful when Yuu did want to spend time with Cater. Despite his ‘Here’s Caycay let’s go~!’ front, Yuu and him had many moments where they would be quiet at times. No talking, merely just…Enjoying each other’s company. Cater would often lean against her as she peered at his phone curiously before chuckling at a few pictures he showed her. While he was energetic, those times of peace and quiet were oddly warm to them both.

Cater didn’t force himself so much and Yuu wondered if he was starting to break down his walls for her.

However, now she couldn’t spend time reminiscing on such things, she had to find her son!

Erik had been quiet, perhaps that was her first mistake believing he would stay in one place without her noticing him leaving her side. From what she had guessed about her son, Erik was still a child…And children were curious. Having been displaced in time, Heartslabyul was most certainly a place to catch his attention and curiosity in a child was enough for them to go off alone with no fear.

Yuu panted, gasping for breath as she glanced around while keeping her hand on her knees, “Oh, where could he have gone…”

Yuu could feel her breathing becoming a bit more frantic, her heart racing and her fingers digging into her palms as she called out for Erik again.

“Erik! Erik please! Where are you?!”

“…Yuu?”

She turned around, there stood Cater underneath one of the many archways of the maze with his phone out, "Hey there~! I was just looking for you, what up with that weirdo text you sent me?" Cater happily waved his phone while walking closer to her and Yuu was torn between feeling relief and the sudden rush of guilt he was here with her. If she had paid attention before sending him that message or even just kept one hand holding Erik's own then...

Cater stopped and his smile fell before a more somber expression came over his face. Immediately he pocketed his phone, running over to her side in the last few steps in, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Yuu couldn’t make out the words, the fear of losing Erik overwhelming her and a sudden sense of being a failure. Why couldn’t she have done the right thing? Why was it she messed up? By now her fingers were curled into tight fists and her lip quivered while attempting to breath as normally as she could. Cater's eyes widen in alarm before he gently rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Yuu...Yuu. I need you to breath okay? Deep, slow inhales and exhales," Cater gently told her as she hastily rubbed her eyes, "What's wrong? Take your time...I'm here."

Despite the panic still bubbling up, Yuu managed to take his words to heart and slowly did as he had instructed her to do. Her voice was still cracking a bit, but she was at least able to speak up, “I…I lost…There’s a little boy, h-his name is Erik and…” Yuu pointed to a random direction forcing herself to swallow the lump in her throat as Cater glanced in the direction before frowning.

"Erik...Huh, that's...That's kinda weird," he muttered before taking his left hand to gently lift her chin up so she could look up at him properly. His green eyes were half closed and he gave her a small smile, Yuu's heart calming down yet quickening at how close he was, “So you lost Erik in the maze, is that what happened?” Yuu nodded before wiped at her eyes again, “He’s just…A kid. I…”

She lost her child…Who did that? Even if it would be years from the present, Erik was still her son. Yuu swallowed the lump in her throat as she struggled to describe Erik, “He’s…This tall,” she shakily placed her hand to her hip, “His hair is like...curly and the color is the same as yours-”

Like how your hair is Cater. His hair is very soft too, those curls make him look like a little angel...

“-And he has green eyes…Just like yours-”

A pretty green color…

“I was supposed to look out for him, and I just looked away and-”

“Say no more, Cater’s got you.”

The third year immediately took his pen out, “Split Card! We got ourselves a kid to find, let’s find him!” Soon a bunch of Cater's copies surrounded them, a few already darting off in a certain direction as the remaining gave him a salute, "Roger that!" Yuu rubbed at her eyes, feeling some tears slowly forming and quickly blinked them away as best as she could. Cater continued to stand by her side, his arm now loosely around her shoulders and he squeezed her, “Hey, now. It’s all gonna be just fine. When has Caycay ever let you down huh?”

“Never,” Yuu laughed softly as she sniffled, “…Cater, does the name Erik mean anything to you? You said weird before."

“Huh? Uh…Not like a big deal or anything, but…It’s kinda my dad’s name?”

“Really?” Yuu blinked in surprise, feeling a sudden rush of warmth and embarrassment as she realized the implications of her son’s name. Or perhaps the possible story behind the name. This small bit of information along with how much Erik looked like a tiny Cater lookalike only seemed to solidify that Cater was-

“I found the kiddo!”

Yuu immediately turned around, her smile forming as she quickly ran over towards the copy holding hands with Erik as they walked towards them. The young boy looked up, flashing a toothy grin as he waved at her happily. In his hand, clutched tightly was a small white rose...Barely in full bloom as he called out to her, "Mama look! For you!”

“Oh, you silly boy,” Yuu laughed as she could feel herself cry as she hugged the boy tightly in her arms, “Don’t ever go off running like that again please. I was so worried.” She didn't hear anything, but she could feel Erik wiggling a little in her hug. She loosened her arms a bit, and he eagerly wrapped her arms around her before squeezing her lightly, "Oh...I'm sorry Mama. I saw the pretty roses and wanted to get you one."

"I just want to have you safe Erik, don't ever scare Mama again please?"

Silence before she felt him nod and she hugged him tightly again.

“…Mama?”

Cater spoke up behind them, his tone very confused before Yuu could feel Erik lift an arm to wave at him, "Thanks for finding me Papa."

Cater’s clones disappeared at once, the faint popping sound echoing throughout the maze until it went quiet again. Yuu could feel her face heating up, turning red as she weakly rubbed at Erik's back. Had she bothered turning she would have seen Cater’s own face turning as red as her own.

“…H-Huh!?” he nervously squeaked out, the silence in the maze broken again by how loud he sounded.

Chapter Text

“Mama, you needn’t hold my hand.”

“Well…I don’t want to lose you,” Yuu gently replied as they walked hand in hand down the path leading to the main doors of Heartslabyul’s dorm building, “Do…Do you not want to hold hands?”

The question was met with Yuu feeling a very small hand squeezing her fingers, she looked down and smiled. Two bright red twin tails swung in time with each step she took alongside her. The girl gripped her fingers a little tighter after a minute of silence before shaking her head. Yuu couldn’t help smiling a bit more as she watched those twin tails of hers swing in time with her head shake.

“No, this is perfectly fine Mama.”

Yuu couldn’t help the chuckle as she nodded, “Alright then. I just wanted to make sure.”

“Mama and I shouldn’t be separated…So we’ll keep holding hands. Yes, that is the correct course of action.”

She didn’t stop herself from laughing softly at how the girl spoke, it was so proper, and it matched her so well. Her daughter with bright red hair and mannerisms completely reminiscent of a certain Housewarden who Yuu hoped would help them.

When they had left Crowley’s office, her daughter had regarded the Headmage in a chillingly polite tone despite the obvious signs of intentional havoc created in the man’s space. Her daughter certainly did a number in his office, and even to the man himself as he shakily fell to his knees to begin picking up his scattered papers.

Everything about the young girl reminded Yuu of….Well…

The bright red hair was a dead giveaway along with those bluish-gray eyes and rather stern expression. However, Yuu noticed just how cute her daughter’s attire was from how her twin tails were carefully held up in bright pink ribbons and her pink pinafore dress had a bunny design on the front…When she had complimented how cute she looked, her daughter’s expression softened to a smile as she answered, “It’s because Mama picked it out for me!”

The beaming smile and happiness on the girl’s face made Yuu feel so much warmth burst in her chest.

Pushing the door open she and her daughter stepped in, looking around to find the lounge empty.

“Strange….”

Yuu took out her phone, glancing at the time and sighing, “Well…It would make sense. They’re all slowly getting out of class.”

But she was certain Riddle would be back on time since there wasn’t any clubs meeting today and usually his schedule would be returning to the dorms first to put his school belongings away first before promptly going about his rounds around the dorm before going to the hedgehogs. While Yuu couldn’t quite recall all the rules, she at least knew his schedule by heart.

“…Mama?”

Yuu glanced down, smiling to the young girl and squeezed her hand, “It’s alright, I think we just came in super early and he’s not here yet.” Yuu looked around before moving towards one of the larger couches, gently helping the young girl up to sit on the cushioned seat, “We can wait here.”

“Mmm,” her daughter nodded and crossed her ankles, hands on her lap as she looked forward as Yuu sat beside her. She paused a moment as she noticed a gold locket around her daughter’s neck and she pointed to it.

“Elizabeth, what’s that?”

“It’s my locket! The one you and Papa gave me for my birthday remember?”

Elizabeth opened it, scooting a bit closer to show Yuu the pictures inside and Yuu blinked in surprise at the reveal. Inside the oval locket was a picture of a family of five….Her eyes noticed Elizabeth immediately, but also the two small bundles in an older woman’s arms with bright red hair.

“It’s Diana and Delia!”

Yuu couldn’t help the soft sound of surprise that left her, her eyes slowly blinking upon recognition of the parents. The older woman…Her of course and behind her was-

“Prefect?”

Yuu lifted her head up at the familiar voice, despite the obvious firmness there was an underlining softness as Riddle walked over.

“How long had you been waiting here? Were you here to see me?”

Yuu opened her mouth, but Elizabeth cut her off as she shut the locket closed and hopped off her seat.

“Papa!”

The exclamation was received by a bewildered expression however Riddle’s arms quickly opened to prevent the young girl from falling on her face at her sudden jump from the couch. “Careful!”

“I’m sorry Papa!” Elizabeth apologized and her arms squeezed Riddle around his shoulders to give him a tight hug as the redhead suddenly turned red at the realization of the title given to him by her, “I’m so happy to see you!”

“..W…What did you call me?”

“Hm? Papa?” Elizabeth repeated and Yuu couldn’t help her smile as the Housewarden’s face slowly turned to a bright shade of red.