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y/n held a sleeping pril. she smiled down at her, her heart warming at the sight. pril’s hand around y/n’s finger tightened as she cooed in her sleep.
“sshhh, little syulang (flower), you’re safe.” y/n gently bounces her in her arms.
ao'nung watches fondly. his heart ached for his mother. he missed her in a way words couldn’t describe. he loved his new sister. he would do anything for her, including laying down his own life.
y/n looked at ao'nung and smiled. “she’s fine, ao'nung, do not worry.”
ao'nung comes behind her and wraps his arms around y/n. “she’s finally asleep. you’re a natural at this y/n.”
“no i do not think so, i think it is because she just ate.” y/n laughs.
“pril really takes to you, i think she might think you are her mother.”
“i hope not, her mother was a fighter, she fought to bring her into this world.” y/n’s mind drifts to ronal’s final moments.
she had helped deliver pril. she held the babe as she connected ronal’s bond with hers. she gave ronal her child. “hold her.”
“thank you, y/n. thank you.” ronal says, exhausted.
“she is beautiful, what is her name?”
“she… she is pril!”
“pril is a good name,” y/n soothes her.
“y/n… if your heart sings for ao'nung, follow it. please. and promise me, you’ll protect pril.”
y/n began to tear up. “i promise you ronal.”
her eyes drop and pril begins to cry as she feels her mother pass.
tears suddenly come to y/n’s eyes. she looks at the child in her arms. she wish she could’ve saved her mother. ronal should be here.
“why are you crying y/n?”
“oh, i am sorry. here give me a moment,” y/n walks over to pril’s woven basket and gently lays in her in it. pril whines and y/n gently shushes her. the child falls back into her stupor.
y/n sits down beside the basket, still eyeing pril. she can’t deny a certain protectiveness over her. y/n reaches for ao'nung. he grasps her hand and kisses it softly as he sits across from her.
“i was just thinking about what your mother said before she died.” y/n wipes her eyes.
“and what did she say?”
“she said that if my heart sang for you, i should follow it.”
ao'nung eyes suddenly full with tears. “so she approved then, of us?”
y/n nods.
ao'nung gives a sad smile and kisses y/n’s hand. “i want to be yours, i want to be your muntxatan (husband), i want to take care of you. i want you to be the first thing i see in the morning and the last thing i see before i go to sleep y/n.”
y/n looks deep into his eyes and saw no lies. he was being truthful.
“i also want to give you as many children as you want, but that’s beside the point.” ao'nung adds with a smirk on his face. y/n laughs.
“i want that too, i know we’re still young but… i often dream of a future with you ao'nung. my mother and father approve of this union, yes, but, i didnt know for the longest time of you would ever want me back.”
“how could i not want you? you are strong, amazing with a bow, i’ve never seen anyone swim and fight with an ilu like you. you have kind heart. you’re beautiful…”
y/n feels her face get warm and looks down at her lap. “what of your sempul? (father)”
ao'nung shrugs. “we can ask him, together. i’m sure your father and most certainly mother would back us up in this.”
y/n can’t help but nod. “this is true. i think my parents knew before i did.”
“knew what?”
“that i love you. that i see you, ao'nung…” y/n says. she runs her thumb over his still bruised knuckle.
“i love you too y/n. i only want you.” he leans in. y/n meets him halfway.
the two are gentle as they finally share their first kiss. warmth spread through y/n. this felt right.
ao'nung’s heart felt like it would burst out his chest. he can’t believe the girl from the forest would love him back. he swore to never harm her in this moment.
the kiss was soft, they pull away slowly. ao'nung presses his forehead against y/n’s. “i’ve never felt this way before.”
“neither have i. it’s still new to me i must admit.”
“surely there was someone back at home whom you had your eye on.” ao'nung says.
y/n pulls back and shakes her head no.
“no? then the other boys must have been all over you.”
y/n cant help but laugh. “again no, i spent most of my time with my family. you know how shy i am ao'nung.”
“yes i do. this is one of those things that attracted me to you.”
y/n raises a brow. “really? i thought it would be a least a bit annoying.”
“you could never annoy me y/n. sure you were a hard shell to crack at first, but once you did, i fell. hard.”
“pick yourself back up,” y/n jokes.
“only if you help me.”
“of course i will.”
pril interrupts as she whines in her sleep. ao'nung quickly goes to the other side of her basket and gently rocks it and shushes his little sister. he looked at her with such a pure love in his eyes.
“she’s so small,” he comments.
“she is. so strong already though, like her mother. like her brother.” y/n smiles down at ao'nung. he quickly pecks y/n on the lips, pulling back with that smirk on his face.
“you cheater.”
“i would never cheat on you y/n.”
“no that’s not-“ y/n begins laughing, ao'nung joins her. “that is good to know.”
“your heart is safe with me. i promise.”
“thank you ao'nung. your heart is also safe with me. never will i betray you.” y/n vows.
the two share a look and then look down at pril. ao'nung speaks again.
“so, how many babies do you want?”