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Ciri was sitting in the living room, waiting for her mother to come back from another one of her evenings out and she was undeniably reaching the end of her patience.
Triss had been gone for a week now and the soft smile that had been etched on her mother’s face for weeks seemed to have left with her.
Ciri could tell something had happened between the two but she didn’t know what exactly or why it had led to such a mess. Well, maybe she did know a little because she wasn’t blind and Yennefer and Triss weren’t always discreet. Ciri remembered how her mother used to be around Geralt when things were going well and she had seen Triss make heart eyes at her dad enough times to know how her friend behaved when she was smitten so when the two started to act that way toward each other, Ciri knew something had changed. Still, she needed more details.
If she had to be honest, their possible entanglement had surprised her at first. She had always believed that Triss and her mom would move past their quarrel and be friends again, but lovers? That was unexpected. It was true that Triss and Yen had always been comfortable around each other but when Ciri saw them in the garden, when she saw the way they were looking at each other, she knew there was more than friendship between them, more than just meaningless intercourse too…
That night, after going back to her room, Ciri had lain awake, wondering if the two were hiding the shift in their relationship from her or if they were just unaware of it. She had made peace with the fact that her adoptive parents would never be together again and she had seen Geralt bring a few women home since their break up but this was different and so Ciri had kept asking herself how she would feel if her mother were to fall in love with someone else and that someone was her best friend, a woman Ciri considered family. She remembered eventually falling asleep with more questions than answers.
After that day, Ciri started paying attention to all their interactions, their fights, and their lingering looks and realized that it wouldn’t bother her if her mother were to be with Triss because they both exuded happiness in each other’s company and it was hard to be mad at that.
The last couple of days Triss had spent with them had also made Ciri understand that whatever was happening between the redhead and her mom was more serious than she had thought but the sadness Ciri had seen in her friend’s eyes when they were talking in her room had stopped her from pressing for more details.
That sadness, she could see it in her mother’s eyes as well but Ciri was done holding her tongue, she was done watching Yennefer leave the house every night, after putting the girls to bed, to try and drown her sorrow, even though it would never work. Her mother had dismissed her worries many times until now but it ended tonight.
Tonight, she would get her answers.
The front door opened slowly but the calm and quiet enveloping the house didn’t last as Yennefer bumped into the side table in the foyer and cursed.
With a sigh, Ciri rose from the sofa and stood at the end of the foyer with her arms crossed. “You’re back.”
The sound of Ciri’s voice startled Yennefer slightly but she schooled her expression quickly. “Darling, why are you still up?” She asked with a bit of a slur.
“I was waiting for you; I was hoping we could talk…” Ciri trailed off when her mother came closer and she noticed a scratch on her face and a tear in her dress. “Did you get into a fight?” It wouldn’t surprise Ciri to be honest, when her mother was like this, she tended to start out fights just so she could get rid of her frustration.
Yennefer straightened up. “I asked them to leave me be, they should have listened.” She sniffed and tugged on her gloves.
“I think I remember you telling Lucya that this was not Skellige and you should use your words, not your fists,” Ciri commented, amused despite herself by her mother’s attitude.
“Please.” Yennefer huffed. “I’m not starting brawls like you or your si… Lucya, I was merely defending myself.”
“Mhhh mhhh,” Ciri hummed, unconvinced. “Whatever you say.”
“Well, I’m going to bed.” Yennefer declared after clearing her throat.
Ciri frowned. “What about our talk?”
“Not now,” Yennefer turned her back to her. “Be a dear and help me untie my dress, would you.”
“You know…” Ciri wasn’t about to give up that easily. “If Triss were here, she would be delighted to do it for you.”
Yennefer turned around so fast that she almost stumbled and held on to Ciri to keep herself steady. “What is that supposed to mean?” She bristled.
Ciri could tell that she had hit a nerve and it took all her willpower not to scream at her mother to stop pretending and just talk to her but she was trying to be more mature about those things so instead, she replied calmly. “I know.” She locked eyes with her mom. “I know.”
“You know nothing.” Yennefer hissed.
“It’s alright.” Ciri reached out and cupped her mother’s cheeks gently. “I just want you to be happy. We’ll talk tomorrow and you can tell me everything. Well, not everything because there are things better left unsaid,” She grimaced, she didn’t want to know the details of her mother’s sex life. “But anyway, you can’t keep doing this.”
“I’m the mother here.” Yennefer scowled as she pulled away from Ciri’s touch.
“Yes,” Ciri snorted. “But you don’t always know best when it comes to yourself.”
Yennefer stared at her daughter; her lips parting as if she wanted to speak up but then she pursed them. “I am not doing this. Goodnight.” She stormed to her room without a second glance.
Ciri let out a sigh, it could have gone worse…
The next morning, Ciri decided to take care of the girls so they could be ready for the day and go play outside while she talked to her mom.
After helping Mina and Lucya choose their outfits and get dressed, they all made their way to the kitchen, careful not to wake Yennefer who tended to sleep in lately since she trusted Ciri to handle the girls.
“We have a lot of fruits,” Ciri declared as she opened the pantry. “How about a fruit salad and some toast this morning?” She grabbed two handfuls of fruits and put them on the counter.
“Are you going to cut them in shapes like Triss?” Lucya perked up.
“Uh,” Ciri looked down at the food and the knife in front of her. Without magic, there was no way she could pull it off. “No, sorry.” She sent her an apologetic smile.
“Oh…” Lucya pouted and dropped herself on the chair, leaning forward to lay her head on the table. “I miss her.”
“Me too,” Mina said quietly as she sat down next to her.
“I know, I do too.” Ciri sighed. She had spent most of the week trying to cheer up the girls and hadn’t really stopped to think about how much she missed her friend as well, especially in the morning. It was the moment of the day when it was just the two of them chatting while Triss was making breakfast for everyone and it was always peaceful. Then, everyone would join them at the table and it would feel like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. Not knowing what else to say, Ciri started cutting the fruits.
“You’ll visit her soon.” Yennefer’s voice sounded at the door at the same time.
“She should be here!” Lucya exclaimed as she lifted her head up.
Yennefer heaved a sigh. “We’ve talked about this, several times, Triss has her life in Kovir.”
“Then we should go there!” Lucya replied petulantly.
“Can’t you call her and tell her we miss her?” Mina asked. “Perhaps she could eat dinner with us tonight.”
“I…” Yennefer cleared her throat. “Not today, darling, I’m sorry.”
“I want us to be together, it’s dumb!” Lucya hopped off her chair and left the room, stomping her feet as she did.
Ciri watched her mom’s reaction and if she wasn’t sure before, it was clear now by the look in her eyes that her mother missed Triss very much and was as heartbroken as the redhead had been when she left. What in Gods’ names had happened between them? Before she could say anything, Yennefer spoke up.
“I’ll be at the shop; I shall come back for the girls’ lesson this afternoon. Be good.” Yennefer kissed Ciri’s cheek and Mina’s forehead before leaving the room.
Ciri had to stop her because it was not what she had planned. Hurriedly, she put the bowl of fruits in front of Mina and said “I need to speak with M… Yennefer.” She corrected herself. Her mother had told her about the adoption process but she was still afraid to jinx things by calling the girls ‘her sisters’ or Yen ‘their mom’ too soon. “I’ll be right back.” She rushed after her mother. “Mom, wait!” But it was too late, Yennefer had already stepped into her portal.
She growled, another failed attempt.
After dinner, the girls asked Ciri to read them a story. They were still a bit cross with Yennefer for not asking Triss to visit and even though Ciri didn’t want to take that special moment away from her mom, the nod Yennefer gave her let her know that it was fine so she followed the girls to their room.
Yennefer joined them half an hour later with a tired smile on her face. “Time to sleep, my darlings.” Surprisingly, the girls didn’t argue and just settled more comfortably in their bed. “Good night.” She kissed their cheeks before leaving the room.
As soon as her mother was gone, Ciri climbed out of bed, put the book on the nightstand, and wished the girls goodnight. After closing the door, she hurriedly made her way to the master bedroom before her mother could leave the house.
When she entered the room, Ciri found Yennefer standing next to an open portal while putting her cloak around her shoulders. “Really?” If Ciri didn’t know her mom was hurting, she would have laughed at her childish behavior. “You know I can follow you, right?”
Yennefer glanced at the portal, then at her daughter, and back at the portal again before sighing. She lifted her hand and closed it with a look of resignation.
Ciri sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her. “Come on, sit down and talk to me.” Unsurprisingly, her mother didn’t listen.
“Why are you so adamant about this?” Yennefer crossed her arms defensively. “This is my life and I do not wish to…”
“And I don’t like to see you sad.” Ciri interrupted gently, not wanting her mother to get angry. “Tell me what happened with Triss.” She heard her mother click her tongue so she rushed to add “Remember, honesty, always.”
Yennefer deflated a little and after heaving another sigh, she sat next to her daughter. “I…” She touched her Obsidian star. “Triss…”
“Were you two together?” Ciri questioned, hoping it would help her mother share her struggle more easily.
“Yes and no,” Yennefer replied.
Ciri waited for her mother to say more but when nothing came, she pursed her lips, it looked like she would have to keep pushing if she wanted answers. “How did it happen?”
“I’m not even sure, it just happened organically, I suppose.” Yennefer shrugged.
“Do you love her?” Ciri asked and a long pause followed before her mother nodded. “Then why aren’t you going after her?”
“Please, you are not a naïve little girl anymore, you know what happened between us, with you, with Geralt, with…” Yennefer waved around. “Everything.”
“I forgave her, why can’t you?” Ciri knew things weren’t perfect and she was also aware that Triss and her mom had a lot of things to figure out, but it didn’t mean their relationship couldn’t work. The two of them had been through so much and if they could find solace in each other, they should.
“I did,” Yennefer assured her. “It doesn’t change the fact that a relationship with her would be bound to fail and I am not willing to lose her friendship over this.”
“You could have both!” Ciri insisted. “I know it didn’t end well with Geralt but Triss isn’t him and she isn’t the woman she used to be a decade ago.” She loved Geralt but they all knew what he was like with women, even her own friends, Bea was a good example of that. She might not know Triss as well as her mother but she knew that, when it came to love, she and Yennefer both wanted the same thing.
Yennefer blew out a puff of air. “Why are you so invested in this?”
“I told you; I want you to be happy and for some reason, Triss seems to be the one making you happier than I’ve seen you in a long time,” Ciri explained. “The two of you, with the girls, with us, it just works, and I don’t think you should pass on a chance at happiness just because you’re scared.”
“That’s absurd,” Yennefer scoffed. “I’m not scared.”
“Yes, you are,” Ciri put her hand on top of Yennefer’s. “That’s why you focus on all the bad.”
“Since when are you an expert on love?” Yennefer inquired, glancing at her daughter as she played with her fingers.
Ciri shrugged, not taking offense at her mother’s words. She had confided in Yennefer about her past affairs with men and women and with her help, she had understood that what she had thought was love wasn’t, but she didn’t need to experience it to know that what Triss and Yennefer had for each other was love. “I might not know much, but I knew Grandmama loved Grandpapa Eist, I know Geralt and you loved each other at some point and I can tell Triss loves you now.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.
Without a word, Yennefer stood up and moved to the dressing table, touching the Iris Triss had gifted her moons ago. “And what if it isn’t enough?”
“Then you’ll find a way to be friends again, like you two always do,” Ciri answered confidently. “But you understand each other, I have a feeling you’ll make it work.”
“And you would be fine with us being together?” Yennefer turned to look at her daughter, watching her face closely.
“Yes,” Ciri assured her as she stood up. “So, stop being a silly goose and go get her back.”
“I need more time,” Yennefer stated but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
Ciri nodded, she knew she wouldn’t get more out of her mother after this, so she pulled her closer and gave her a tight hug.
“You’ll always come first, you and the girls.” Yennefer murmured in her ear.
“I know.” Ciri knew the bond she had with Yennefer was unbreakable and she didn’t feel threatened by the girls’ presence or a new lover in her mother’s life, especially not when it was Triss. She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my duckling.”
It took another week and a letter from Triss for Yennefer to gather up her courage and teleport to Kovir but when Ciri didn’t see her come back, she knew things would be alright for the two of them.