Work Text:
It was an accident.
It was nothing but an accident, but still, Kronii’s throat hurts from crying.
Her body feels numb. She doesn’t even feel the pain in her arm, not caring about it being trapped in a cast. The pain of it doesn’t compare to how much her heart hurt. She could be on fire. She is on fire, and it burns. It hurts.
Tears start forming at the edge of her eyes again. She’s sitting on the floor, sitting against the counter in a dark kitchen. Moonlight shines through the back door, curtains open, exactly how it was when they left. She didn’t want to come home like this. She didn’t want to come home without her.
She clenches her teeth, and a small crying noise emits, but it’s not from her. Instead, it snaps her out of her fuzzy thoughts, causing her to look down.
A baby cries.
She lifts up her arms, starting to cradle the newborn, ignoring the way her eyes sting. The baby is so tiny, she wasn’t supposed to be born yet. They told Kronii that the baby couldn’t wait to meet her parents, and looking at her bright blue eyes, Kronii understands.
“I’m so sorry,” Kronii whispers, craning her neck down as she lightly touches her forehead against the newborn’s. “I’m sorry, Ame.”
Amelia, Ame for short, reaches out. Small hands, too small , reach out and lightly pap Kronii’s cheeks. She gives a weak, pathetic laugh, wet and interlaced with tears. Just like her blue eyes, Amelia reflects that, her pout turning into a smile.
Kronii’s eyes widen before she melts, trying to hug Amelia as gently as possible.
“Ame,” Kronii cries. Amelia might have Kronii’s eyes, but – “You have Fauna’s smile.”
Amelia doesn’t know who that is.
“Kronii!” Fauna shouts, jumping onto Kronii’s back and wrapping herself around her wife.
“Shi- Fauna!” Kronii yelps. She drops the broom she was holding, her hands naturally flying to grab Fauna’s legs as she stabilizes herself to not let Fauna fall. “What on earth is up with you?!”
Fauna grins, craning her neck over Kronii’s shoulder. “It worked!”
The taller woman’s eyes widen as she looks at her wife, mouthing a silent echo before whispering in disbelief. “It worked? Are you- are you sure?”
“Yes, love,” Fauna kisses her cheek. “I’m sure.”
“Holy shit…” Kronii shakily exhales as she stares forward before closing her eyes as she smiles, starting to bounce around. “We’re gonna be parents!”
“Ah! Kronii!” Fauna holds tighter, as if she was riding a bull at a rodeo.
“This is it! We’re gonna have a kid!”
“Kronii!!”
Despite her shouting, her words are intertwined with a laugh. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but she can’t help herself, only able to hold on tighter as she yelps from being bounced around like a backpack. It’s only until after Kronii nearly slips on the broom she had dropped earlier, suddenly grounded back into reality as she sets Fauna down.
“You okay?” Her wife asks, still somewhat laughing from being bounced around.
“Yeah, I just- I’m so dumb, I need to be more careful! You- you’re gonna- oh my god- we’re gonna be mothers!”
“Yes,” Fauna nods, draping her arms over Kronii’s shoulders to pull her in for a hug. Hands naturally find her waist, despite it being visibly obvious that Kronii’s brain was occupied. Yet, the subtle gesture of Kronii reaching out for her always gives Fauna butterflies in her stomach, no matter how long they’ve been together.
God, she loves her wife.
There’s not a second Fauna doesn’t think about her, and she’s so happy to be sure that Kronii feels the exact same way. She knows this in the way Kronii will naturally hold her, even if her brain is occupied or if she’s asleep, in the kisses Kronii peppers her with, even if she was upset or busy, even if Kronii has wet paint on her back.
Fauna knows Kronii loves her, because when Fauna told Kronii she wanted to have a family with her, Kronii put everything into making Fauna’s dream come true.
What Kronii doesn’t know, however, is that having a family isn’t Fauna’s dream. Kronii is Fauna’s dream, and there’s no one else she’d rather go through life with.
“Fauna,” Kronii finally says, swallowing nervously. “What if I’m a bad mom?”
“...Are you serious?”
“Yeah! I just- you’re so amazing and perfect, and you’ll be a wonderful mom, but I…” She pulls Fauna closer to drop her head onto her shoulder, hugging her wife tightly. “Fauna, I make kids cry.”
God, she loves her funny little (big) wife. Fauna hugs her tighter, brushing her hands through her hair as she turns her head to peck Kronii on the ear.
“First of all, that was one kid, and secondly, you didn’t make him cry. He fell off a slide and you helped him, remember?”
Kronii grumbles. “No.”
“Kronii,” Fauna sighs, leaning back to press her forehead against Kronii’s to calm her down, staring into her eyes. It was a habit they picked up before they even started dating, a habit that led them to their first kiss, and a habit that they even did as they put rings on each other’s fingers. “If I had any doubt that you’d be a bad mom, I wouldn’t put you through this.”
“You’d leave me?”
“No-” She scoffs again. Her wife is too silly for her sometimes. “We just would wait a little longer until we’re ready.”
“What if we’re not ready?”
“Do you think we’re not?”
Kronii’s eyes flicker between Fauna’s, unsure of which one to stare at as she taps against Fauna’s hip nervously. They’re telltale signs, the biting of her lip, her subtle fidgets, not being able to stay completely still despite not moving at the same time. Fauna loves all of it, but still…
“Kronii.” Fauna calls out again, scratching the back of her neck before twirling the baby hairs on the back of her head around her finger. “Talk to me, love.”
“I think you’ll be a great mom.” Kronii eventually mumbles, but meaning it with her entire heart. “Probably the best.”
“Yeah?” She grins, leaning in to mouth against Kronii’s lips. “Right next to you.”
Kronii can’t argue about it. She has no choice, because Fauna’s kissing her, and Kronii’s so weak to it. She’s melting and her knees buckle, dropping her body just enough to be able to grab Fauna tighter, almost like she was trying to become one with her wife. When they finally break, Kronii’s breath, her eyes, her hands are still shaking, but only out of pure-
“Love.” Kronii exhales. “I love you so much.”
Fauna smiles and it’s intoxicating . “I love you too, wife.”
“Wife,” She echos before starting to pepper Fauna’s face with kisses. “My wife, the love of my life, the apple of my eye-”
Fauna rolls her eyes with a smile as her cheeks start lighting up with a blush. “Oh boy, here we go again.”
“My everything-”
“Ah, don’t tickle me- Kronii!!”
“Okay, be honest.” Mumei stares at Kronii and Fauna as she takes a seat next to her fellow friends.
“Yes,” Fauna tries to answer prematurely. “We’re sure we’re having a baby.”
“What?” Bae jerks her head back, confused. “No, we’re not talking about that.”
“Then, what are you-”
“Which one of us is gonna be the fairy godmother?!” Irys finally shouts, almost hitting the others on her side of the couch and causing Bae to smack her arm away.
“Dude!”
“Y’know it’s not fairy godmother, right?” Sana laughs from the armchair. “It’s just godmother. And it’s also obvious what the answer is. It’s obviously me-”
“No one.” Kronii answers, and all of their friends drop their jaws.
“What?!” “You’re kidding?!” “I didn’t know you hated us that much!” “What did we do?!”
“Nothing,” Fauna laughs, taking Kronii’s hand and intertwining their fingers together. “It’s just… you guys know that’s for religions and stuff, right?”
“No,” Irys scoffs with a know-it-all grin as she leans back, crossing her arms. “There was an entire show about that stuff.”
“Oh my god,” Bae puts her head in her hands. “It’s not fairies, Irys!”
“You don’t know that. I could be a fairy-”
“ Fairly delusional.”
“Hey!”
“Either way,” Fauna clears her throat to cut in. She squeezes Kronii’s hand a little tighter, causing her wife to look over a little worried. “I did want to ask something of you guys.”
“Anything,” Sana leans forward. “You know we have your back, Faufau!”
Fauna smiles before looking down. “I… want this baby, and I really do want them to have the best life they can.”
“They will,” Kronii lowers her voice, nudging Fauna with her shoulder. “You’ll be one of their amazing moms, remember?”
“Still,” Her smile grows weaker. “If something happens to us-”
“Nothing’s gonna happen-”
“Kronii.” Fauna looks over, and Kronii shuts her mouth, staring at her wife’s eyes, switching between them. “If something does happen…” She looks to their friends, who have stopped playing around, worried about Fauna. “I just want you guys to help take care of them.”
“Of course,” Bae reaches over Mumei to the part of the couch Kronii and Fauna were situated on, taking Fauna’s free hand. “You don’t even need to ask, Fauna.”
“I know-” Her voice cracks, and Kronii holds her hand tighter. Mumei ends up reaching over too, putting her hand over Bae’s as she scoots in closer. “I just- I needed to say it. I mean I- I trust you guys, I do! I just-”
“It’s okay.” Mumei tells her, offering a slight smile with a nod. “We get it.”
“Plus,” Sana gets up from the armchair, instead sliding into Kronii’s side to put her arm around the couple. “Nothing even needs to happen for us to be there.”
“Yeah!” Irys grins, standing up to situate herself in front of Fauna as she kneels on the floor. “Call us for anything. Babysitting, going to the store, getting food, babysitting-”
Bae rolls her eyes. “You listed that already.”
Irys shrugs. “Just making sure. I want Fauna to know we’ll be here for anything and everything.”
“I know,” Fauna smiles, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. “Thank you- I love you guys, I really do.”
Mumei sets her head on Fauna’s shoulder. “We love you, too.”
“I’m glad-” She sniffles. “If something happens-”
“Stop saying that.” Kronii squeezes her hand again and Fauna looks over. “Nothing’s gonna happen.”
“Kronii-”
“It won’t.” Kronii tilts her head, lightly bumping Fauna’s forehead with her own. “I’ll protect you.”
“I know you will, love.” Fauna closes the distance, giving Kronii a chaste kiss before breaking off as she laughs weakly, tears still embedded in her voice. “Anyways, now that that’s settled- Let’s go get food!”
“We can order,” Kronii offers. “Then I can go pick it up.”
“I can come with,” Sana adds, elbowing Kronii, who immediately elbows back in a mini competition for jutting each other in the arm. “Ow! Why are you so bony-”
Fauna nods. “Go ahead then, but uh, Mumei, can I talk to you in private for a second?”
“Yeah!”
“Everything okay?” Kronii cuts in, once again intertwining Fauna’s fingers with her own before Fauna pulls back as she stands up, Mumei following.
“Mhm! Go ahead and start ordering! We-”
“-Need to eat.”
Kronii stares at the floor, not listening at all. Mumei sighs, crossing her arms as she looks to Bae, who shrugs as she bounces the baby lightly in her arms to calm her down.
“At least sit on the couch or something.” Irys speaks from the dining table, setting it up with the food. “Your butt’s gotta be numb by now.”
“She’s right,” Mumei lightly taps Kronii’s foot with her own. “Come on. Up.”
Kronii still doesn't respond. She had barely moved since they got there. The only time she did actually do something was when Amelia needed a diaper change, and even then, it was like she was on auto-pilot, not talking to anyone else.
“Alright, enough moping.” Sana sighs, crouching down to scoop Kronii into her arms.
Usually, Kronii fights it. Like a stray cat who doesn’t want to be touched, she tries to wiggle out, limbs flying around as she tries to escape. This time, though, there’s barely a reaction. She goes almost limp in Sana’s arms, letting herself curl up.
“Where should I put her?” Sana asks. “Couch or dining table?”
“Couch,” Mumei answers, shaking her head. “I’m worried she’ll just fall off the chair if we try sitting her upright.”
“I’ll get her food.” Bae mumbles as she joins Irys by the dining table.
As Kronii’s set down on the couch, she does completely as expected, and falls limply onto her side. Her eyes, dull and missing passion, stare ahead at the blank television screen where they used to watch Fauna’s favorite show together. She barely focuses, only enough to see her reflection. Pathetic.
Noise blurs around her. It’s all fuzzy and it doesn’t matter - none of it matters anymore. Plates clatter, people talk, and a baby cries.
A baby cries.
“Ame.” Kronii speaks. Her voice cracks, unused from not being able to say I love you every morning and every night. Still, she calls out, and after there isn’t a response, she sits up.
The chatter dies out quietly, but she doesn’t care. Years ago, she’d always care about the eyes on her, but then she only cared about one pair of eyes on her. She only cared if Fauna was looking at her, wanting to do anything to make her smile. Now, she just lets her feet guide her forward, stumbling and uncaring about her friends watching her.
The only thing on her mind is going to Amelia’s crib, reaching down to comfort the baby. The crying stops.
“Well, would you look at that,” Sana softly scoffs. “At least we know she’s taking care of the baby.”
“Ame.” Kronii calls out again, finally looking at her friends. “Her name is Ame.”
“We know, Kronii.” Mumei tries to be gentle as she offers a reassuring smile. “It’s short for Amelia.”
“I know.” Kronii nods, looking back at the baby. Amelia has decided that Kronii’s fingers were like a new teething toy, despite not having any teeth. “I just… I want her to know.”
Irys tilts her head. “You want her to know her name?”
“I want her to know Fau-” Her voice cracks. “Fauna- gave it to her- oh god-”
Suddenly, she collapses to the floor, sliding against the crib, sobbing and shaking. Her legs had given out, given up on her, and she doesn’t blame them. Her friends rush over to help, crowding around her to try and lift her back up, but Kronii waves them off.
“Amelia-” Kronii croaks. “She’s- she’s crying- she needs to eat-”
“It’s okay,” Bae whispers, hooking Kronii’s arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay, Sana’s got it-”
“No, I have to-”
“Kro, it’s okay. Look- look up, see?” Bae bounces her arm a bit to try and get Kronii to react. “Look, Sana’s going to feed her right now.”
Kronii looks up. Her vision is slightly blurred once more, and her legs feel weak, but Irys comes around the other side to grab her arm, helping her stand. She’s pathetic. Then Amelia looks at her.
It’s not much, but her strength comes back. She looks at Amelia smiling, grabbing for her bottle before she starts sucking on it. Sana grins, cooing at Amelia as she feeds her. Kronii weakly laughs, as she nods, dropping her head and letting her friends guide her back to the couch.
“There we go,” Bae eases her back down. “Everything’s okay.”
“Everything’s not okay,” Kronii scoffs, shaking her head. “It’s so far from okay.”
Mumei sets a plate of food down on the coffee table. “Kronii-”
“It’s not!” Kronii suddenly shouts. “Why is everyone pretending like it’s fine?! It’s taking five of us to take care of a baby, and her actual mom is- is-”
“Is you.” Mumei interrupts. “You’re her mom too, Kronii.”
Kronii winces, tears starting to fall from her eyes. “How am I supposed to be her mom like this?”
“Hey,” Bae nudges her arm, trying to play around. “You kept her alive so far.”
A weak laugh. “Yeah. That’s true…” Her lip quivers, and she looks up at Bae, eyes wet and desperate. “Then why couldn’t I do the same for Fauna?”
She collapses again, and Bae catches her into a hug. Kronii can’t even hold her back, so Bae does all the hugging for them, wrapping her arms around Kronii as tightly as she can.
“Fauna will be okay,” Bae does her best to calmly tell, but even she can’t deny her voice shaking, eyes welling up with tears. “She’s fine, she’s gonna be okay-”
“Then why -” Kronii tries to lift up her hands to hug Bae back, but her hands shake too wildly. Instead she sobs into Bae’s shoulder, grabbing her jacket as her body tenses up, her soul vibrating as it struggles to hold on. “ Why won’t she wake up?!”
“Kronii!” Sana shouts, trying to push Kronii back down. “Don’t get up!”
“What- what is this-” Kronii looks around, panicking about all the things hooked up to her. “Where-”
“You’re in the hospital.” Sana presses on her shoulders to press her back down. “There was an accident.”
“Fauna-” Kronii gasps, trying to sit up again. “I need- where is she- I need to get to her-”
“She’s fine, just relax-”
“But-”
“The best thing you can do to help her is to lay back down and relax, okay?”
Kronii winces, giving up and laying back down. “Is she- Where is-”
“She’s asleep.” Sana tells her. “Bae and Mumei are with her right now, and Irys is with the baby.”
“Wait, you left Irys with a baby?” Kronii asks, her head falling to the side to look at her best friend before her eyes widen. “OH MY GOD- THE BABY-”
“Down! Lay back down!”
“No- I have to- I have to get to Fauna-”
“You have to stay-”
“Sana, please!” Kronii shouts, grabbing Sana’s wrists. Tears well up in her eyes as her chest heaves with desperation. Her lips quiver, muscles tense and shaking as she holds onto Sana. “ Please. ” She begs. “I need her.”
Sana stares. It’s not just Kronii that was shaking, but her own hands as she tried to hold her best friend down.
“I know you need her, Kronii. But she can’t- you can’t visit her right now.”
Kronii winces. “Why? How- how bad is it? Sana, is she even alive-”
“She’s alive.” Sana cuts her off. “She’s alive, I promise.”
“Then why ?”
Sana gulps. Slowly, she pulls some of the pressure off of Kronii, rubbing her shoulders. “Kronii, what I’m- I’m going to tell you-” Her voice wavers and she can tell Kronii’s heart immediately drops. She’s always been the strong friend, the shoulder to cry on, but instead she has to be the one to break the news.
“Sana?” Kronii asks, putting her hands on her best friend’s. Kronii eyes flicker everywhere. The room is too bright and the machines are too loud, but she fights everything to stay focused. “Sana- what happened to Fauna? Did- did she give birth…?”
“Kinda…?” Sana grits her teeth before sighing. “Promise me you’ll wait until you’re ready to see her.”
“Am I not ready now?”
“Hi, Fauna.” Kronii whispers as she takes a seat next to the bed. “I’m sorry I stopped visiting for a while, I was taking care of the baby.”
She chuckles, fixing her chair a bit nervously before leaning forward and messing with her hands.
“Actually, I mean, Sana and the others are at home right now, taking care of Ame-” Her voice cracks before she clears her throat. “Except Mumei. She drove me here. I haven’t- I haven’t really tried driving since the- the-”
She watches her own hands shake. Her mouth tastes like copper, and it takes her a moment to realize she had sunk her teeth into her own lips hard enough to draw blood. Bringing her thumb up, she wipes the blood off and laughs it off to try and ignore it.
“Anyways.. The doctors are trying to talk to me again. Everyone’s trying to talk to me, it’s all a lot, y’know. I mean, they should know by now, I don’t really listen, right? The only person I’d listen to is-”
She looks over and her breath catches in her throat.
Fauna lies still. Unconscious. Sleeping. Debatably alive. Debatably dead. But there are signs. There’s the faint color in her cheeks, the rise and fall of her chest, the way her eyes could flutter open at any second but they don’t- they don’t and they haven’t, and instead Kronii’s own eyes start to fill with tears.
She falls forward, grasping at Fauna’s hand to desperately intertwine their fingers.
“Fauna, they’re- they’re telling me to give up-” She gasps out. “That you’ve been asleep too long and there’s- it’s unlikely- you won’t-”
Her voice chokes up, tears free falling onto bed sheets.
“A month is too long. I- I know you need your rest- you’re always telling me sleep is important-” A wet laugh, “and I get it now! I get it- I just- God PLEASE- please this is too much - just wake up! Wake up and you can go back to sleep right after, sweetheart-”
As her knuckles turn white, she realizes she had been holding onto Fauna’s own hand too tight. Looking down, she mouths an apology, gently lifting Fauna’s hands as they tremble in her own, delicately placing a kiss upon her knuckles.
“I’m sorry, love.” She mumbles, closing her eyes and letting tears fall. “My wife, the love of my life, the apple of my eye…”
Her eyes open, and still, Fauna is the exact same as she had been for a month. Kronii’s legs almost give out as she stands up to hover over Fauna, a weak attempt in pressing a kiss to her forehead, but if there’s one thing she can do right, it’s love Fauna.
“My everything.”
If fairytales were real, Fauna would wake up. Sparkles would float around them and they’d make eye contact, and Kronii’s eyes would light up immediately as the spark returned. They’d smile at each other stupidly, and Kronii would definitely cry tears of happiness – something she hasn’t done in a long time – but she’d freely sob, letting it all out as they’d kiss even more to seal the deal.
But they’re not real.
Fauna stays asleep.
Kronii collapses.
The chair squeaks against the floor as she falls down once more, curling into herself as she cries, gasping for air. Mumei runs in, but all she sees is a blur of brown hair, and the next thing she knows, she’s in the car on the way home, looking out the window as they pass by a park.
Fauna smiles as she looks around, comfortable as she sits between Kronii’s legs, resting her head on her wife’s stomach. On her side, she can feel Kronii playing with her fingers absentmindedly. The weather is perfect, a clear day with clouds every now and then, almost like a painted picture. The air blows softly and ever so often, the leaves above them brushing against each other in the wind.
In the distance, there’s children on the playground, laughing and screaming as they chase each other around. On the field, a child plays with their dog, and on the sidewalk, a kid begs for ice cream.
Fauna laughs through an exhale, shaking her head slightly. It’s subtle, such a minimal thing, but it’s enough for Kronii to notice.
“What’s up?” Kronii asks as she looks down, trying to follow Fauna’s gaze. “Did you want ice cream or something? I’ll buy.”
“Maybe later.” Fauna hums, finally intertwining their fingers together so she can pull Kronii’s knuckles to her mouth for a small kiss. “Thank you, though.”
Kronii hums, running her thumb across Fauna’s bottom lip. “What’re you thinking about then?”
Looking up, Fauna sees her wife. A small fang pokes out of her gentle grin, eyes shining with pure adoration, and hair seemingly floating in the wind. She loves her. She loves everything about Kronii, to her, Kronii is-
“Perfect.”
“Hm?” Kronii tilts her head like an adorable puppy. If Fauna wasn’t already head over heels in love and married to her, she’d probably ask for her hand in marriage right then and there. “What’d you say?”
“It’s perfect.” Fauna grins, pushing herself to sit up and turn around to peck Kronii on the lips.
“I agree.” Kronii smiles, leaning in for another kiss. “But what are we talking about?”
“This.” Fauna looks around, gesturing. “The weather, this date, you . It’s perfect.”
“Oh, yeah, I definitely agree then.” Kronii smirks toothily, and Fauna just can’t stop falling in love. “I am perfect, thank you.”
“Hush,” Scoffing, Fauna pushes her back a bit, only for Kronii to bounce back with a laugh, continuously going forward until she headbutts Fauna with another kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Kronii responds, opening her eyes to look into Fauna’s with clarity, never wavering. “You make me so happy, Fauna. If we weren’t already married-” A chuckle, “I’d probably ask you right here and now.”
“That’s funny.”
“What? That I love you?”
“No,” Fauna closes her eyes as she leans into her, resting her cheek on Kronii’s shoulder. “That I was thinking the same thing.”
“Yeah?” Kronii laughs as she wraps her arms around her wife. “Should we get married again then?”
“Gosh, no. That thing was already so stressful. ”
“But,” Kronii kisses her forehead. “So worth it.”
Fauna hums an agreement, slightly moving her face to bury herself more into Kronii as she lets herself relax, but something still prods at her mind. She opens her eyes, looking out into the distance as she watches families play with their kids, and bites her lip as she finally works the question out of her throat.
“Should we have a kid?”
She can feel Kronii physically pause, stiffening as she processes the question.
“Like… right now…? Because we’re kind of in the middle of a date-”
“Not like that, Kronii!” Fauna sits up, pushing her wife again again her cheeks turn red from laughing.
“Then what do you mean?” Kronii grins, still awfully proud of her own joke.
“Well, I just want your opinion!” Her laughter dies down as she holds both of Kronii’s hands in her own. “Like, if we should start thinking about it or…?”
“We can, yeah.”
“... Are you just saying that to get me to be quiet?”
“No-” Kronii scoffs, “I’m saying that because whatever you want is what I want. So if you wanna think about having a family, then we can. Or if you know you want a family, then we can do that, too.”
Fauna bites her lip. “You sure? It’s a pretty big change.”
“I’m sure.” Her wife nods. “All I’ve ever wanted in life is you, and I have you. Now, I’m like, 99% confident I can handle anything that comes my way.”
“Is the 1% spiders-”
“It’s spiders.”
“Ma,” Amelia calls out, lightly tapping her mom’s cheeks again.
“Blah.” Kronii sticks her tongue out in response, making the toddler squeal with laughter before she puffs up her cheeks. Once again, Amelia reaches out, slapping Kronii’s cheeks just for Kronii to stick her tongue out, laughing once more.
“She really loves you.” Irys chuckles, watching from the couch.
Kronii and Amelia were currently situated on the floor, Amelia was sitting next to Kronii’s face as Kronii’s head was propped up with a pillow, laying on her back. The others were around the dining table, trying to set everything up.
“Thank goodness for that, right?” Kronii scoffs, closing one of her eyes as Amelia’s hand covers it, getting a little too curious. “I hope she knows I love her, too.”
Rolling her eyes, Bae scoffs lighthearted. “I’m pretty sure she does, Kro. I mean, you tell her every night.”
“And morning,” Mumei perks up.
“And like every second of the day,” Sana adds.
Kronii chuckles quietly, eyes softening as she stares at Amelia’s familiar smile. “Well, yeah. I have to also cover for Fauna.”
The room goes quiet, but it’s not like how it was a few months ago. Fauna remains a sore subject, especially around Kronii, who took it the hardest. Yet, it’s not an uncomfortable silence. It’s not a silence at all, listening to Kronii mumble little noises to Amelia, who responds with delight as a hand tickles her sides.
There’s a difference, though. Despite it being a year, Kronii still talks as if she knows Fauna will wake up soon. Her friends don’t argue against it, rather trying to stay hopeful that once again, Kronii will get to laugh in their face about how she’s right.
For now, though-
“Alright, we’re ready!” Sana speaks up, causing Amelia to look over. Kronii follows her gaze, but only for a second as she looks back at her daughter before picking her up.
“Okay, Ame,” Kronii huffs as she stands up, Amelia settled in her arms. “You ready for your first birthday?”
“We’re sure babies can eat cake, right?” Irys asks as she approaches from behind Kronii.
Bae elbows her. “You just wanna eat it all for yourself, don’t you?”
“What? No!” Irys crosses her arms, face turning slightly red. “But I’m not gonna turn down a piece.
“I mean, you can have some when Ame’s done,” Mumei hums, getting a tiny plastic pinwheel. “But I’m not sure if you’ll still wanna eat it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a smash cake.” Sana explains, pulling out a chair for Kronii to sit as Amelia stands on her lap, arms around her for support. “It means Ame can go crazy on it!”
“Aw, what the heck?”
“What’s wrong?” Bae snickers. “Don’t want cake punched by a baby?”
“No, now I wanna smash a cake.”
“Your next birthday then.”
“I want two cakes then! One for eating and one for smashing-”
Sana perks up, a sinister grin on her face. “Like how I smashed your mo-”
“Okay!” Kronii cuts in, bouncing her legs to distract Amelia from the cake in front of them. “Let’s hurry up. I wanna bring Fauna a piece before visiting hours are over.”
Irys pouts as she sits down. “Fauna gets a piece and I don’t?”
“I set a slice aside for her already,” Mumei crosses her arms as she drapes them around Irys’ shoulders, resting her chin on top of her head. “Kronii asked me beforehand.”
“First of all, you have a pointy chin. Secondly, I didn’t know we were asking, I thought we were all just gonna get cake-”
“Wait,” Bae cuts in. “I thought the visiting hours for the place she got moved to are, like, whenever?”
“Yeah, but I think it’d be awkward to show up with a piece of cake at 2am. Plus… I don’t know. It’s technically the anniversary of when she fell asleep, too.”
The room gets quiet once more, save for Amelia’s babbling.
“What?” Kronii looks up. “You guys didn’t know or…?”
“Of course we knew,” Bae walks towards her friend, putting her hand on her shoulder and rubbing it. “We just um… we didn’t know if we should bring it up to you?”
“Guys, I’m fine.” Kronii tries to laugh it off, bouncing Amelia with her legs again. “I haven’t broken down in front of her in like… two months.”
“But it’s been a year , Kronini.” Sana awkwardly crosses her arms to hug herself. “Most people-”
“We’re not most people.” Even Amelia goes quiet, turning around to look at her mom, who gives a forced smile before Kronii continues talking. “Look, I know Fauna might not wake up, and I know it’s up to me to make that choice, but I just…”
Her smile drops, and Amelia reaches out.
“Mummy?”
Tiredly, Kronii smiles once more, bringing Amelia in for a hug.
“Let’s talk about it later.” She pulls Amelia back to turn her around, tickling her sides to cheer up the baby. “We have a birthday to celebrate!”
“Right!” Mumei cuts in first, bringing in the pinwheel to stick it on top of the cake. “I got her this instead of a candle. Something tells me we probably don’t want her around a fire.”
“Good thinking,” Kronii chuckles. “Irys, I hope you’re fine with baby spit getting all over this cake.”
“Dang it…” Irys groans, accepting the loss of cake. “Whatever, let’s just sing and get it over with.”
“Happy…”
“-Birthday.” Kronii smiles as she takes her seat next to Fauna. “It’s her first, so Sana and Mumei got her a smash cake or something. It was crazy, there was cake everywhere,” She chuckles. “Oh! And I got you cake, too! Not from Amelia’s cake, but I asked Mumei to get an extra slice.”
Once again, there’s no response.
It’s a different location than the hospital they first landed in, this building more equipped for long term care. Still, Kronii deals with tough conversations on whether or not she should let Fauna go, but she doesn’t. Instead, she intertwines their fingers once more.
“It’s weird, right?” Kronii chuckles. “It’s been a year since I’ve heard your voice… I haven’t forgotten it though. You um- I have a voicemail on my phone from you. I don’t know if you’ll remember this but you were grocery shopping, and you needed to call me to ask what kind of cereal I wanted.”
She squeezes Fauna’s hand.
“I’ve never felt so happy to not have cereal.” Smiling with tears forming in her eyes, she leans down to kiss Fauna’s knuckles, staring at her wife for a bit before sighing.
The view doesn’t get old. She could never get tired of looking at Fauna, but internally, she begs any possible mystical being above that was listening, watching them. She begs Fauna, with her entire being, to just open her eyes, to squeeze her hand, to do anything.
Fauna stays asleep.
Kronii weakly laughs and kisses her hand again.
“Well, if you’re not going to eat this cake, then I’ll probably give it to Irys. She’s kinda upset she didn’t get any earlier, considering Ame spat on it by accident and then punched it by not accident.” She laughs at her own joke.
“I think she has your strength honestly! I know we joke about me being the stronger one, but I mean it. You definitely slap harder than me, and- dude- baby grips are strong as shit-”
She sits up suddenly, covering her mouth. “Right. Language, sorry. I know, I know, you don’t mind, but y’know… Not a good habit with a baby around or something. Don’t want her picking that up… But you gotta be honest, it’d be really funny to see a kid running around yelling f-”
“-UCK!” Kronii suddenly shouts as the crib falls apart on her foot.
“Kronii, sweetheart,” Fauna laughs from the doorway. “I told you to let me help with that.”
“Noo way,” Kronii chuckles, hissing through her words as she waves a hand back to try and find a chair to sit down into it with a sigh. “You’re kind of growing a baby in you.”
“And you’re growing a bruise.”
“One of these is a bigger deal.”
“My boo has a boo-boo, it’s a pretty big deal-”
“Don’t say that!” Kronii laughs, reaching out to welcome Fauna into her lap as they hug each other.
“Oh, you give me every nickname in the world, but I can’t call you my boo?”
“Exactly, I’m glad you get it,” She nods before smirking playfully. “Boo.”
Fauna rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe you. You hurt my feelings.”
“Sorry, boo -” Kronii chuckles as Fauna pushes her by the shoulder. “How can I make it up to you?”
“Let me help-”
“Nope.”
“Kronii!!”
Kronii shakes her head. “Not allowed. Before you say anything- I know you’re getting nightmares, Fauna. If you wanna help, I really would prefer you to rest.”
“Boo…” Fauna pouts. “You never rest when I tell you to.”
“‘Cause I’m better.”
“Sure-”
“I’m also not keeping secrets about my nightmares.”
Fauna stiffens, visibly caught off guard. She wavers for a minute before sighing, leaning into her wife. Her eyes drift downwards, staring at their hands naturally intertwining, Fauna’s own fingers playing with Kronii’s wedding band.
“Fauna…” Kronii mumbles into her forehead via kiss. “Can we please talk about it? Or at least can you tell me why you don’t want to tell me?”
“You’ll just get worried…”
“I am worried, sweetheart.” Kronii leans back to tilt her head down, properly meeting her wife’s eyes. “But I’d rather us worry together.”
Fauna scoffs, meeting Kronii’s lips with her own in a chaste kiss before she pulls back, resting her cheek on Kronii’s shoulder as she cuddles into her. “When did you get so…”
“Not stupid?” Kronii chuckles, huffing when Fauna nods. She nudges Fauna’s head with her cheek. “When I started listening to you.”
“So you’re saying I’m better-”
“I’m saying I love you.” Kronii cuts her off before she can give another clever reply. “So what’s got you all worried?”
Fauna takes a deep breath, finally intertwining their fingers and settling down. She contemplates closing her eyes, but everytime she does, the faint memory of a nightmare comes back. She’s not used to having nightmares, she’s used to comforting Kronii; She doesn’t know how to be comforted.
But Kronii is different.
Kronii’s been with her long enough that she knows how to hold Fauna, to squeeze tightly when Fauna feels like she could slip away at any given moment. She knows that Fauna loves kisses embedded into her forehead, and the corners of her eyes and she knows that Fauna loves burying her own face in Kronii’s neck.
Kronii knows how to comfort Fauna, how to let her relax when she needs it most, and right now, she needs it.
“First of all,” Fauna whispers, pressing her forehead against the side of Kronii’s neck. “I know they’re just nightmares, and I know you wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t what?” Kronii asks, lowering her voice and trying to be as gentle as possible, though she knows she’s not built for being soft .
Fauna shrugs, weak and insecure. “Abandon me.”
“Mum.” Amelia calls out, waddling over to her mom’s legs to hug them as she looks up. Her eyes are wide, and she’s not verbally saying it, but Kronii can tell she’s begging to be picked up.
“Alright,” Kronii sighs, crouching down momentarily to carry her daughter. “Up we go. What’s up, bumblebee?”
Amelia grins at the nickname, one that she’s fully accepted ever since they gave her a bee onesie, and with that, a new favorite thing.
“Sanana-” (promptly pronounced like Banana, mind you) “-Said that- that we can- we’re getting a doggy.”
Kronii looks up, and sees Sana nervously sweating. “Did she now?”
“I didn’t!” Sana waves her hands. “I said to ask her mom!”
“Wow,” Bae shakes her head from the side. “Arguing with a kid? Not a good look for you, Sana.”
“You’re the one that made her ask me!”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
Kronii rolls her eyes as the two bicker, looking back down at Amelia who stares at her expectantly.
“Sorry, Ame. We can’t get a dog-”
“BOO-” Amelia immediately shouts before Kronii reaches up to ruffle her hair.
“Right now, you rascal. There’s still a few really big things we have to worry about.”
“Like mooming?”
Kronii looks up at Mumei, who grins from the couch. “What did you teach her-”
“Nothing!” Mumei holds back a laugh. “She means moving and you know it!”
“Why do we have to moom anyways?” Amelia asks, and Kronii has to ignore the small laughter coming from the brunette in the background. “What’s wrong with our old moom?”
Kronii chuckles. “It’s not our old moom , it’s our old house-”
“House.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with it.” She shrugs. “We just um… We have to move in with our friends to make life easier, don’t you like seeing our friends more often?”
Amelia looks around to see Mumei taking a break on the couch and Sana in the kitchen grabbing water. Meanwhile, Bae and Irys are carrying in a new box, arguing about who’s left they’re following, unaware that they’re talking about the same left, and that they’re meant to go the opposite direction.
“Yeah!” Amelia nods, waving over to Sana who starts walking over. Her head naturally falls onto Kronii’s shoulder, hugging her mom as she kicks her legs. “They’re my favorite people.”
“Nice,” Sana grins, offering her hand for a little high five. Amelia’s hand is so small that her hand barely covers Sana’s palm, and it’s adorable. “Alright then, Ame. Question for you: which one of us is your favorite?”
“Oh, this I gotta hear.” Mumei gets up from her spot on the couch, walking over to push Sana aside. “I love when Ame says my name.”
“Uh-huh,” Bae scoffs, stretching out her arm after lifting heavy boxes all day. “She’s obviously gonna say me.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Irys asks as she approaches.
“We’re talking about who Ame’s favorite is.”
“Oh, I know. I just mean it’s kind of silly that you’re all acting like it’s not me.”
“Ah, that’s right.” Bae clicks her tongue with a mischievous smile. “Of course she’s gonna love the one that matches her IQ.”
“Yup!- Wait-”
Bae snickers again before looking at Amelia. “So, kid. Who’s your favorite? I mean we know it’s definitely not Irys-”
“Mum.” Amelia says bluntly, tightening her tiny hands in Kronii’s shirt. “My favorite favorite is Mum.”
Sana reacts first, crossing her arms and shaking her head. “See that? That’s how you know Faufau gave birth to this kid.”
“That’s true.” Bae nods, waving it off and starting to walk away to get more boxes. “Kronii is her mom, too, after all.”
Irys tilts her head, reaching out to let Amelia grab her fingers. “I wonder out of the four of us- ow- ow- OW-”
Mumei swats Irys’ hand away with a laugh. “I think Ame would still pick Kronii, right Mum- ” Mumei suddenly pauses, her joke dying in her throat as she stares at Kronii tearing up. Slowly, everyone else notices as well, crowding around her to ask if she’s okay.
“Do you-” Kronii’s voice chokes. “Do you think Fauna would’ve been her favorite?”
“Mum,” Ame calls out first, slapping her hands onto Kronii’s face and trying to poke her eye out in a silly little attempt to wipe her tears. “Mum, don’t cry...”
“Sorry, Ame,” Kronii sniffles, shifting Amelia to one arm so she can wipe her tears. “I’m sorry, it’s just-” Amelia stares up at her, eyes that reflect her own. “Ame, you have an amazing mom, you know that right?”
Amelia nods.
“But you know I’m not talking about me… right?”
The child stills, unsure of what Kronii is talking about.
“Kronii,” Sana moves to her side to rub her back. “Maybe it’s time we start taking Ame to go see Fauna?”
“Sana has a point,” Mumei whispers, trying to be gentle. “It’s been years -”
“But what if we go see her- what if Ame sees her and it’s the last time?”
Bae bites her lip. “Kronii, you know it’s up to you if you want to let Fauna go or not. We can keep visiting her if you want, and we can keep bringing Ame, but… nothing’s changed.”
“And Ame’s grown up by now!” Irys tries to smile.” She knows our faces pretty well, maybe she can learn Fauna’s too?”
“That’s right!” Sana hooks her arm over Kronii’s shoulders. “We can tell Ame all about how her mom is amazing, y’know?”
“That’s if you’re ready.” Mumei tells her, and Kronii looks up to meet her eyes. “If you’re willing.”
“What if-” Kronii sniffles. “What if I want to, but I’m not ready?”
“Then we’ll be there. We’ve helped you take care of Ame so far, we’re not stopping anytime soon.”
“Mum,” Amelia tugs on Kronii’s shirt, bringing her attention.
Kronii sniffles, trying to regain composure once more as she smile. “Ye- yeah, Ame? What’s up?”
“I wanna see the Fauna.”
It takes a moment for it to sink in, and Kronii ends up breaking out into a weak laugh. “Okay, then,” She chuckles, still trying to wipe her tears. “Let’s go see the Fauna.”
“Hey, Fauna.” Mumei asks as she walks behind Fauna, who was pushing a shopping cart. “About that stuff you told me earlier…”
“Be more specific, Mumei~” Fauna laughs, looking over snacks. “I tell you a lot of stuff.”
“Y’know, the thing you had us all sit down for? With um… if something happens…?”
“Oh, that.” Fauna sighs, turning around. “What about it?”
“It’s just… I don’t know, I just wanna ask if you’re like… good… I guess?”
“I’m okay, Mumei.” Fauna smiles. She reaches out to grab her best friend and bring her in for a hug. “I’m fine, I promise.”
“Well, I dunno… Like, do you really trust me with that stuff?”
“Of course I do.” Fauna pulls back, holding Mumei by the shoulders to look her in the eye. “I meant what I said, and I told you because I trust you the most. It’s not because I don’t trust the others, but Mumei-”
“I don’t want something to happen to you, Fauna…”
Fauna bites her lip. “I know. I don’t want something to happen either, but just- just in case, right? Promise me you’ll take care of Kronii.”
“I promise.” Mumei nods, lifting up her hand for a little pinkie swear, just like when they were kids. “I’ll feed her and make sure she gets sun and water her and-”
“Mumei!” Fauna laughs, squeezing Mumei’s pinkie and causing the brunette to laugh as well.
“What? You love plants, right?”
“My wife isn’t a plant.”
“Your wife married a plant- ow- ow- my pinkie!”
“That’s what you get!”
The two women laugh as they separate, Mumei rubbing her pinkie a little bit as Fauna mouths an apology.
“Speaking of feeding my plant-”
“Hah!”
“Do you remember what her favorite cereal is?” Fauna mumbles, staring at the section of box cereals. “All I can remember is she ran out recently…”
“Fauna, are you seriously asking me if I remember something?”
“Sometimes you do!”
“Yeah, well, definitely not this time.”
Fauna sighs, taking out her phone. “I’ll just call her then…”
Despite saying that, after a few rings, Kronii doesn’t pick up. After another call doesn’t go through, Fauna waits out the little message.
“Kroniichiwa~” Kronii’s recorded voice comes through the speaker. “I am out right now or something, so leave a message or whatever… Do people even do those anymore? The only person I know that does that stuff is Fauna… Fauna, if this is you, I LOVE YOU- Beep. ”
“Kronii! It’s Fauna, when did you change your voicemail, sweetheart? It’s so cute…
Oh, right, anyways! I just wanted to call you and ask you what kind of cereal you wanted? I’m at the store right now and I didn’t realize I forgot to even read the box of your cereal, haha.
Um, just text me back when you get this I guess, and let me know! Or call me! Anything’s fine, just let me know~
And uh, I love you, too, sweetheart. I love you lots, okay? Don’t forget that. And before you worry- nothing’s wrong!! I just… I dunno, I love you. That’s all I really know, I guess.
Right, yeah, call me back! I love you, bye!!”
“That’s her voice?” Amelia asks, strapped into her booster seat.
“Yup.” Kronii nods from beside her, sitting with her in the back while Sana drove. Mumei was situated in the passenger seat, and Bae and Irys were once again arguing in the back row that they had to pull up the extra chairs for. “That’s Fauna.”
“Hm… She sounds really pretty…”
“She is.” Kronii smiles. “Her voice, her smile- you know, you have her smile.”
“I do?”
“Yeah.”
Amelia opens her mouth wide, trying to grin before sticking her tongue out. “I don’t think I do.”
“You do, kid.” Kronii laughs. “Trust me. I’ve stared at her smile for years, it’s kind of hard to miss when I’m looking at you.”
“...Are you sure?”
“Mhm. You have her smile, her love of animals… her heart!” Kronii brings her hand up to tickle Amelia’s stomach, causing the girl to squeal with laughter as she tries to fight it.
“Mum!! Nooo!! That tickles!!” Amelia shouts. Kronii finally pulls back, and Amelia sighs with relief as she sprawls out in the chair. “Is Mama also ticklish?”
“Nah, you get that from me.”
Amelia’s eyes light up as she gets her hands ready. “Really?!-”
“No.” Kronii scoffs, trying to hold back a laugh. “Sorry, kid. Tickling me doesn’t really do anything. Fauna freaks out though.”
“Aw, man.” Amelia crosses her arms, letting her feet swing. “Why don’t you tickle her awake then?”
“Ah… That’s not how that works.”
“You tried it?”
“Well, no, but-”
“We should try it.”
Kronii sighs, leaning back into the seat. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“...Hey, Mum?”
“Hm?”
“Can we listen to her voice again?”
“Fauna,” Kronii calls out as she hovers over her sleeping wife to kiss her forehead. “Guess what? I brought a little guest. Emphasis on little-”
“Mummm…” Amelia drawls as she tries grabbing the bed sheets for help. “Mum, I need help…”
“See?” Kronii chuckles as she reaches down to grab Amelia, setting her down near Fauna’s legs. “Shortcake.”
“She’s not short.” Bae groans, crossing her arms. “You’re just a skyscraper.”
“Yeah!” Mumei adds. “Bae’s the short one-”
“RUDE-”
“Guys!” Sana hisses at them through a whisper, prompting them to look over with a gesture of her head.
All eyes in the room stare at Amelia, who carefully crawls upwards on the bed to sit at her mom’s side.
This wasn’t the first time Amelia had seen her mom, but she was too young the first few times. However, Kronii had shown her pictures of Fauna smiling, on the way, voicemails of Fauna talking, and videos of her laughter. She seemed so lively then, but now…
“What’s wrong with her?” Amelia asks bluntly, and Kronii’s friends all stiffen. Surprisingly, Kronii remains calm, rubbing Amelia’s back with one hand as she leans forward, hovering over Fauna.
“She’s asleep.” Kronii explains. “She’s been asleep for a long time, and she won’t wake up.”
“Why not?” Amelia looks up at her. “Is she having a bad dream?”
Kronii exhales, softly smiling. “I hope not.”
“Then why doesn’t she wake up?” A small hand reaches out to try and jostle Fauna’s arm, and Kronii can feel herself wavering. “Fauna…”
A weak laugh. “No, Ame. You don’t call her Fauna.”
“Then what do I call her?”
Kronii shrugs. “Probably Mama .”
“Oh, right.” Amelia nods before trying to shake Fauna’s arm again. “Mama, wake up! It’s rude to sleep when you have guests~”
A quiet weep emits from the corner of the room, and from a glance, Kronii can see Sana bring Mumei into a hug, the shorter girl trying to hide her face, and with it, her tears.
“Mama!” Amelia calls out again, and this time Kronii can hear Bae curse quietly, looking up to stop herself from crying.
One by one, their friends in the background slowly fall, holding themselves as Amelia keeps trying to shake Fauna awake, but to no avail. Part of Kronii had hope, that maybe Fauna wouldn’t be able to resist her daughter’s voice, but the better part of Kronii knew.
This wasn’t going to work. By now, it’s almost improbable for Fauna to wake up. It’s been unlikely for too long, and Kronii can’t count the amount of conversations she’s had about having to let her go.
But Kronii refused.
“Abandon you?” Kronii asks for clarification as Fauna cuddles her. “I’d never.”
“I know, it’s just… I feel scared, Kronii.”
Kronii tries to hug her wife as best she can, trying to physically embed the idea into her that Kronii won’t let go.
“Whatever it takes,” Kronii tells her. “I wouldn’t let you go.”
“But-”
“Fauna, we’ve already been through a lot together, remember?” Kronii asks, tilting Fauna’s head upward to press their foreheads together. “What makes you think I’m letting you leave now?”
“Kronii-” Fauna cries. “I want to grow old with you.”
“And then-” Bae snickers. “They both had to call Mumei over just because there was a spider!”
The room laughs, Kronii more quietly as she rolls her eyes. “Alright, we get it! Me and Fauna aren’t good with spiders, alright? Now quiet down, it’s getting late.”
“They’re just bugs,” Amelia laughs, sitting at the edge of Fauna’s bed with her legs crossed as she listens to stories about her parents.
It felt bittersweet. Almost like they were reminiscing about someone who wasn’t sleeping in the same room as them. Still, Kronii sits in the chair next to Fauna’s bed, hand on Amelia’s back as they talk to their friends sitting in chairs scattered around the room. Blankets were draped about, everyone acting like it was a sleepover and maybe, in a way, it was.
It just so happened that Fauna fell asleep first.
Their friends continue to talk, telling stories about Fauna, most making fun of Kronii, who barely gives a reaction as she looks back to stare at Fauna. Unmoving, but still as beautiful as ever. Her chest rises and falls on its own, but she’s still hooked up to so many things, just in case.
“Oh my gosh-” Sana chuckles to herself, nudging Bae. “Do you remember the wedding shirt thing?”
“Right!” Bae laughs, slapping her own knee. “At their own wedding, Kronii couldn’t take off her jacket.”
“Wait, what?” Irys leans in. “I didn’t hear about this.”
“She didn’t want Fauna to know!”
Mumei tilts her head, already grinning. “Know what?”
“Right before the wedding, Kronii leaned against a pillar that was recently painted-”
Kronii rolls her eyes. “Oh, here we go-”
“So she had wet paint on the back of her shirt during the whole ceremony! She couldn’t take off her jacket the entire time!”
Amelia laughs, looking at her mom. “You didn’t feel it?”
“Well,” Kronii sighs, crossing her arms. “I was actually more preoccupied with getting married to my wife, thanks.” She reaches out, poking Amelia’s side and causing her to flail around with laughter.
“Wait, Mum-” Amelia tries grabbing her wrist. “Wanna go down now.”
“Huh?” Kronii blinks, starting to grab Amelia. “You alright? Need to go to the bathroom?”
“No,” Amelia shakes her head, focusing on being set down and standing when she finally reaches the ground. “But Mama keeps kicking me.”
Suddenly, the entire room pauses.
“Wh-” Kronii gasps out, hands starting to shake again as her eyes travel up Fauna’s body. Wordlessly, her friends stand up, Bae and Irys getting ready to run out the door to get a doctor while Mumei rushes forward to pick up Amelia. “Fau-”
Kronii tries to take a step forward but it’s more of her falling and catching herself on the bed. Trembling, she reaches out and grabs Fauna’s hand. She hovers over her wife, intertwining their hands and brushing Fauna’s hair out of her face.
She thought she’d be fine. She didn’t realize she’d be so desperate so quickly, immediately sent back years ago to when she had to beg Fauna to wake up. But then again, Fauna hadn’t shown signs of moving.
“Fauna, sweetheart,” Kronii’s tears fall freely onto Fauna’s face. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me, love.”
The room goes quiet, everyone watching and waiting, staring at Fauna for any sign. If she moved even a hair , they were ready.
But she doesn’t. Kronii looks up at her friends, face wet with tears as she opens her mouth to say the words she can’t bring herself to say. Instead, she closes her mouth, clenching her teeth as she fights breaking down in front of Amelia.
In the attempt to separate herself, though, something changes and she looks back down. She tugs her open hand, not holding onto Fauna…
But Fauna holds onto her.
Kronii looks up slowly, terrified that it’s all a dream, like her consistent nightmares, and Fauna will still be asleep, or worse. But when she looks up, her breath is taken away, just like the day when she had to ignore paint seeping in through her shirt.
“Fauna?” Kronii calls out, and golden eyes look up to meet hers. A hand squeezes her own, and that’s all she needs to throw herself forward.
It happens quickly, Bae and Irys rushing out to get a doctor, yelling She woke up! She woke up! Sana and Mumei are quickly at the other side of Fauna’s bed, looking at her but leaving room for Kronii to hover over her wife- God, her wife.
“Fauna.” Kronii calls, trying to pepper her forehead with kisses. “My wife, my love- my everything -”
Fauna can’t talk, she can barely process talking. Her body feels weak and everything about her feels like she just went to hell and back. But she does what she can, squeezing Kronii’s hand and refusing to let go.
Kronii. She wants to cry, but she’s too stiff to do anything. The lights feel bright and everything feels loud, but she focuses on Kronii- her Kronii. Even when doctors come in, everything they say is a blur to her. All she can hear is Kronii’s voice, something in her brain sparking when Kronii says her name.
Ah. She loves when Kronii says her name.
Fauna blinks, staring at the child who was situated on her lap.
It’s like I’m looking at a tiny Kronii… She thinks to herself, using all of her strength to weakly smile.
“Okay,” Kronii sighs, moving back to Fauna’s side to kiss her forehead. They’ve changed out the ventilators but kept some tubing around her face to be sure about her breathing, and maybe some other stuff Fauna can’t really perceive. “They’ll be back in a little bit to do more tests, but it’s basically a miracle.”
“Mum,” Amelia calls out, looking at Kronii and Fauna’s eyes soften.
She’s so grown up already… How much have I missed? Everyone’s so different…
“What’s a miracle?” Amelia asks and Kronii takes a seat next to the bed, intertwining her fingers with Fauna’s.
This feels familiar. I like this.
“Fauna’s a miracle.” Kronii grins, smiling at Fauna in that stupid way that screams I love you.
Some things don’t change.
Fauna smiles, tired from everything already. If she could, if her throat would work, she’d say I love you back, but instead she just squeezes Kronii’s hand, hoping she gets the message.
“What now?” Mumei asks, settling down on the other side of Fauna, looking over her.
“Recovery.” Sana answers with a shrug. “The hard part’s over.”
“Thank goodness,” Irys groans, sitting back down in her chair.
Bae sits next to her, fidgeting. “Do you think Fauna will be fine with living with us now that she’s awake?”
“One step at a time,” Kronii leans down, kissing Fauna’s knuckles and melting into the touch when Fauna slowly turns her hand to swipe her thumb across Kronii’s cheek, wiping a tear away. “Hear that, love?”
Here we go again. Fauna smiles.
“My wife,” Kronii whispers into her knuckles with a smile she doesn’t even think about fighting. “The love of my life-”
“Apple of her eye-” Their friends cut in with a scoff, knowing the routine by now.
“My everything.”
You have wrinkles. Fauna thinks before her eyes widen. Wait, do I have wrinkles?