marmolady

[marmolady]

endless summer is so great to me bc its like a real story. like its so real to me. everything on playchoices to me is like okay my little fake stories that i have a silly time with but endless summer is deadly fucking serious. its real its serious literature.

[marmolady]

Day Two of trying to draw Craig and Zahra.

Their faces look okay. Like, actually not bad. I am reminded why I’ve not drawn much for ages… the human form just seems to elude me. Not much for it but to keep practicing, I guess.

My intention is to draw the whole Catalyst gang, and eventually manage a full illustration of them all together. But I really am pushing my comfort zone with this— men are HARD. I love the idea of drawing up the entirety of the three books as a graphic novel for my own personal enjoyment, but that’s so far beyond my present capabilities. Maybe a reasonable goal would be to produce an illustration for each chapter?

[marmolady]

Her Strength (Estela x F!MC)

Book/Series: Endless Summer

Main Pairings: Estela x MC/Taylor (f)

Summary: Book 1. The group is fracturing, and Taylor is fearful. How can they hope to survive the bizarre twists and turns La Huerta seems intent on throwing their way if the don't stick together? Estela is gone, taking on some dangerous mission, but is the dark-eyed loner the last piece needed for them to survive... and the key to Taylor's own inner strength?

Word Count: 3238

Reviews and reblogs are hugely appreciated!

AO3 Link

_________________________

Taylor rolled over in bed and groaned. Beside her, Furball was purring in his sleep, totally content. If only she could settle her own thoughts and fears with such ease. Everything was disintegrating. The group itself…. Estela hadn’t returned, not at nightfall, nor late at night when Taylor retreated, exhausted, to bed. She hadn’t really expected Estela to be back at the resort, her dangerous business all done and dusted in only one day, but Taylor had kept an eye out, just in case. It wasn’t just Estela on Taylor’s mind now, either. She could only hope that the ridiculous feud within the group had blown itself out overnight. Between Jake and Sean, at least, her expectations weren’t high, in fact, she could feel her stress headache returning just thinking about them.

Diego, though, greeted her, all smiles. “People fight all the time,” he said confidently. “How could anyone stay mad in a paradise like this?”

Breakfast proved Taylor’s worries well-founded. The poisonous atmosphere was only festering, and it had turned to Furball’s icy intervention to keep Jake and Sean from devolving into an all-out fist-fight. Diego, at least, remained easy company, in spite of having gone his separate way from Taylor, taking a load off while she kept up the search for answers. They ate side-by-side, trying not to get taken in by the chill that seemed to have settled over the restaurant-- which had nothing to do with Furball, who’d settled down to lap up milk from a dish at Taylor’s feet.

“Whatever you’ve gotta do to keep your head above water,” said Taylor, assuring that she wasn’t about to get all bent out of shape over any differences. She offered Quinn a smile as she sat down at their table, likely deemed the friendliest option.

Quinn briefly returned the smile, relief showing on her face. “I can’t stand the tension,” she said with a grimace. “I’d like to think we can move past our differences… have some empathy. We’re all out of our depth here, however it is we need to cope with it.”

“I just hope it’ll all blow over soon,” Taylor said. She gazed out the window, and quietly wished the twelfth student was still with the group, a steady, capable presence. Whatever Estela might have been facing out in the wilds of La Huerta, it surely put the squabbling, the egos, all into perspective. “I keep thinking about Estela,” she said wistfully. “She’s alone out there.”

She wouldn’t be getting drawn into this stupid drama.

Diego met Taylor’s eye, encouraging. He was pretty switched on to the fact that Taylor was harbouring some feelings for the most mysterious member of their group. “She seems pretty tough-- I mean, you’d have to be to run off into a sabre-toothed-tiger-infested jungle. I don’t think anyone could’ve stopped her.”

As much as Taylor might have wanted to, she’d respected Estela’s boundaries enough not to try.

“I hate that she’s cut off. If we at least had some way of keeping contact just in case…. It sucks.”

“It does,” Diego admitted. “But I reckon she’ll be fine. Just a gut feeling.”

If Taylor was a praying kind of person, she’d be begging for Diego’s gut to be right on this one. The thought of any of their dysfunctional group dying out here was horrifying, and Estela… well, Taylor had found herself caring deeply for Estela, finding herself emotionally involved-- good sense be damned.

There was just something about Estela that drew Taylor in. Perhaps at first it had been the mystery of her. Neither Taylor nor Diego recognised Estela-- though it seemed others in the group knew her from sight from the last quarter at Hartfeld. Even if Estela was just another student who’d won an exclusive tropical island vacation, she didn’t act like it. Estela set herself apart in every respect. She was on a mission, focused and serious, apparently unfazed by both the deserted nature of the resort and the presence of prowling beasts… as though whatever she was truly here for was so immense that a fantastical crisis was simply an irritating sideshow to what really mattered.

It should have set off alarm bells. Every other person regarded Estela with caution at best, seething mistrust at worst. But when Taylor’s curiosity won over and she met Estela’s gaze across the poolside, the fierce intensity was offset by something warm and soft… and returning that curiosity.

“Everyone’s so caught up in this idiotic feud… it’s like it doesn’t even register that one of us is facing God-knows-what, probably fighting for her life,” Taylor said bitterly.

Quinn placed a hand upon Taylor’s. “I don’t think that’s true, Taylor. Lila was having a real panic about it earlier. And everyone else…. I know they care. I would bet it’s actually added to the tension we’re all feeling.”

 “I reckon,” Diego said, “it’s just another thing most of us are feeling helpless about. There’s not much we can do.”

Taylor sighed. “If there was, I’d be doing it. She knew I’d go with her, help with whatever it is she feels she needs to do, but I can respect a boundary. Estela saved my life. I would be dead now if not for her-- without a shadow of a doubt.”

There’d barely even been a chance to digest what had happened before they were all fleeing back to the resort. Estela herself had been shocked by it, but planned or not, she’d put her life on the line to save Taylor’s. How could she ever repay something like that? Maybe repayment wasn’t necessary… maybe she just had to appreciate the immensity of what she’d been given, and hold onto it.

“I’m grateful she was there to keep you safe!” said Quinn. “We’re lucky to have had a real hero among us. All we can do now is trust in that inner strength of hers. Estela will come through.”

Taylor wasn’t sure Quinn had spent much time in Estela’s company; Estela had always existed on the fringes of the group, while Quinn had been forever in the thick of things, embracing each new experience and seeking close connections. But it seemed she saw her, at least enough to care.

“Thanks Quinn,” said Taylor softly.

The three of them tucked into their breakfast, with few words exchanged. And Taylor couldn’t stop gazing out into the wilds, beautiful and deadly. Somewhere… somewhere out there, was Estela thinking of her too? She tried to shake off the notion, silly as it was, but it stuck like glue.

The pull was so strong. Taylor couldn’t think of it as just a crush; it was more than that. Surely, she wouldn’t have the drive to throw herself into danger in pursuit of ‘just a crush’. Estela was certainly attractive. God, she was hot. She was tall, her figure exquisitely toned. So often, her stoicism left no room for anything to be given away, but Taylor had caught the loveliest of smiles as just for a moment at a time, something sweet was allowed to shine out from behind the hardened exterior. Whatever had built the layers of armour must surely have been painful; in those long, shared gazes, Taylor had felt unexpected warmth, trepidatious as it clearly was. Estela could not simply throw open doors and let in a stranger… but she somehow trusted Taylor with a glimpse. A shaky invitation to know and be known. Taylor couldn’t see that connection as anything less than beautiful, and she longed for it.

Taylor had quickly come to mean something to Estela, she knew it. She didn’t want to go so far as assume the interest was romantic, but whatever it was between them, it felt good. Hell, it probably was the only reason Taylor was alive to have seen the sun come up that morning. How on earth was she supposed to not fall hard and fast?

So far into the clouds was Taylor’s head when she got up from breakfast that she almost walked head-long into Raj on the way out to the poolside.

“Whoops! Sorry-- I’m a little distracted right now.”

Raj was not remotely perturbed, not missing a beat. “Hey, you’re all good! You’re just the person I was hoping to run into-- Taylor, can we talk?”

“Oh-- all right. Shoot.”

“I’m not gonna mince words,” Raj said with uncharacteristic solemnity. “I’m worried about our group. If we keep up this whole feud, we’re never gonna get off this island.” Then his eyes were alight with excitement, excitement that quickly filled his entire being, immediately drawing Taylor in. “We need a way to come together. I think I might know how to do it… but I’m gonna need your help.”

Taylor drew herself up, energised by the simple prospect of a purpose, of having a direction to bring them all back on track.

“I’m listening….”

_____________________________

Twice more, now, Estela had saved Taylor’s hide. The total was now up to three. But back there with the crab, Taylor had been strong-- both mentally and physically, even surprising herself. As a team, they’d been effective. More than that, it just felt right.

The end result of their adventure was the sprawling body of an immense crustacean at their feet.

“Well,” Estela said, “this crab won’t be causing your little wilderness safari any more problems. Let’s get you back to them.”

Taylor felt her heart sink. She understood by now that Estela needed space to undertake this secret mission of hers, but she could respect that fact without being happy about it.

“Actually, before I forget, did you have any food? We lost ours on the way.”

Estela thought for the moment, then a small smile came to her face. “I might have an idea….”

Together, they began pulling apart the meatiest pieces from the crabs colossal frame.

“God, it weighs a ton,” Taylor muttered. “We’re never gonna be able to carry this….”

“We’ll just take the legs,” Estela said, undeterred. “If I find some good-sized leaves to wrap them in, we can drag them with us. The others won’t have gone too far without you.”

For a few minutes, Taylor fumbled around with words in her head, trying to ascertain how to check in with her companion without being perceived as pushy.

Trust yourself. You know how to talk to Estela.

“Have you… have you been keeping all right out here? You seem pretty resourceful; must come in handy.”

Estela raised her eyes slightly, but continued wrestling an enormous crab leg from its socket. “I’m getting by,” she said simply.

“I guess you’d had a bag packed strategically with essentials… rations and everything.” With a pang, Taylor was brought back to Raj’s mammoth feast, the group coming together, and all that food. Knowing that Estela was only out in the wilderness-- alone and hungry-- by her own volition should have been a comfort, but Taylor still felt guilt and a deep sadness. “And you’re keeping warm overnight?”

“It’s fine. Like I said before, freedom isn’t something I can count on, not once I’m done here. I can appreciate being out in the world. It’s not always exactly comfortable, but there are worse things. The elements aren’t gonna be what makes this all come apart for me.”

“No, that’s me, isn’t it? Getting in the way. A distraction.”

Estela considered for a moment. “Maybe. I don’t know. We didn’t do so bad back there. Actually, you were great, thinking on your feet the way you did. I couldn’t have pulled that off alone.”

She looked Taylor in the face, pondering her. It was an odd feeling, Taylor noted, to be intently studied, but in this case, at least, she wouldn’t say uncomfortable.

It’s okay. I’m an open book. No hiding.

“That offer of help is still on the table,” Taylor said. “Stupid or not. It’s there if you want it.”

Estela shook her head, but smiled. “There’s no question of it being stupid. But thank you.” She fell quiet again, looking at her own hands as she wrapped the crab leg in a banana leaf. Seeming to appreciate that Taylor didn’t push, she spoke again after a little while. “It doesn’t feel like I’m getting anywhere,” she admitted, pained. “Could be my best play is to stick with the group for now… maybe I wouldn’t have to waste energy worrying about you so much.”

“You worry about us?” Taylor teased, unable to help herself.

With a huff of a laugh, Estela got to her feet and brushed herself off. “After the situation I found you dumbasses in, it’s not justified?”

Estela offered a hand to Taylor, pulling her up, and Taylor felt her heartbeat quicken. Estela’s grasp was firm, skin weathered, and it felt like strength and safety. It was that strength that she found in herself when they were together. She never need doubt what she was capable of… not when she was with Estela. She didn’t want to stop being that person.

“So…. You’re joining the dumbass squad for dinner?”

Estela met Taylor’s eyes. There was uncertainty there, and she hesitated. “I will. I can’t have you stumbling into any more trouble, can I? And I want to see this observatory.”

Taylor felt her face light up with a smile. She dared not have hoped for as much. “Better make a move, then.”

She jogged on ahead at the sound of voices through the trees. The others had… followed them into the jungle?

“Hey, Taylor’s back!” Sean cried, beaming as he rushed over.

Grace looked utterly relieved. “You’re okay!”

Then, Taylor was surrounded by hugs and claps on the back.

“Ha!” Craig laughed. “I totally would’ve bet you were dead! Mad respect.”

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Coming after you,” Jake said. “Couldn’t leave you to bail us out of danger. You’d never let us hear the end of it.”

Zahra’s eyes were bright with curiosity. “So? Did you kick some crusty crustacean ass or not?”

To which a dour-faced Michelle added, rather more gravely, “And I don’t suppose you… found any food?”

“As a matter of fact….” Taylor grinned broadly, and looked over her shoulder to Estela, dragging the enormous crab legs behind her. To her delight, her own broad smile was mirrored in Estela’s face-- the first most of the others would have seen.

They’re gonna get it. They’re gonna see her like I do. And they’re gonna bring her into the fold.

“Anyone wanna help me build a campfire?” Estela asked brightly, her pleasure in-- just for now-- being part of the team, clear upon her face.

Emerging from the forest to the rocky outcrops, bathed in starlight, that the cycle of day and night had been experienced differently by Taylor and Estela-- who’d hardly ventured a mile from the main group-- was a little unnerving, but filling bellies took precedence.

As they all tucked in, Estela remained on the edge of the gathering, but was distinctly part of it in a real way, for the first time since the plane touched down. For Taylor, it was a relief. Every instinct in her screamed that their way forward was as a unit; if her fellow students were going to come through this fantastical, mind-boggling adventure, they could only do it side-by-side.

Craig stretched out, and let go of a belch that could probably be heard back at the resort. “Ha... best crab I’ve had in my life, dude.”

“Seriously,” Michelle said, in a better mood for her hunger being sated. “Estela, you’re the best.”

“I still can’t believe you managed to beat that thing,” Grace commented, awed.

Estela nodded toward Taylor, sat cross-legged beside her. “Actually, it was mostly Taylor. I just helped a little.”

Zahra sat up straighter in surprise. “No way. For real?”

“Well, well, well,” Jake said with a grin. “Not too shabby, Princess.”

Sean looked similarly impressed. “And you kept saying I had to be the hero.”

Taylor felt her cheeks flush. “Didn’t know I had it in me,” she said, to which Sean replied simply.

“...I did.”

With the dangerous path ahead cloaked in the dark of night, the eight of them settled down to rest up before tackling it by daylight.

A biting chill swept upwards through the mountains, a wind off the sea, and Taylor found herself shivering. She hadn’t expected it to be so cold. Tentatively, she approached Estela.

“Mind if I join you? It’s a little cold.”

Estela turned and looked up, and for a long moment, seemed to mull it over before scooting sideways, making room beside her. Without saying a word, she rolled back onto her side, shifting to get comfortable.

Trying to ignore the pounding of her own heart as she did so, Taylor settled down on the smooth rocky ground, lying next to Estela… close enough to feel a little of her body heat, but not going so far as to encroach and touch her.

Again, Estela turned her head. She almost looked bemused. “Are you trying to get warm or not?”

“I…”

“Come on, already.”

Nervously, Taylor edged closer. Why was her heart in her throat like this? They were just friends. Keeping warm together. It didn’t need to mean anything. She pressed her chest to Estela’s back, and exhaled shakily, and as she did so, felt Estela burrow into her seeking closeness and finding it.

Taylor could feel the rise of Estela’s chest with every breath, could smell her hair. Could Estela feel Taylor’s heart racing?”

“Good,” Estela said. “This should preserve some body heat.”

“Heh… yeah.” God, why are you being so awkward? Then a rush of fear shook Taylor from her own self-consciousness. “Should we really be sleeping? What if something comes and….”

“It won’t happen, Taylor. Not on my watch.”

So calm and quiet, yet certain. And so easily, Taylor could believe in every word. Could she hope to offer the same comfort in return?

Taylor brought her legs up so her torso more tightly spooned Estela’s, tucked her hands in Estela’s hood and her hair… and could have sworn those breaths grew deeper, more settled. As though she was wanted there.

An unbidden image flashed through Taylor’s mind. Estela turning into an embrace, holding her. Kissing her… her neck… her lips. Instantly Taylor’s body was flooded with heat, at odds with the cool night air.

Shut it down.

That wasn’t what they were doing here. Sure, there had been an inkling that Estela might be seeing her that way…. It wasn’t happening. What mattered was that Estela could rely on Taylor as a friend. She deserved that much. A friend to rely on.

Estela sighed softly, nestling back deeper into Taylor’s chest and belly. It was warmth, and security… trust.

What Taylor wouldn’t give to kiss her…. Again, she let the thought go. Who knew where the two of them would end up, but here, cuddled up under a blanket of stars, the most important thing was that Estela didn’t have to be alone anymore. Their ragtag group was coming back together, and this time, that meant all of them.

Taylor nuzzled in, letting herself feel surrounded, comforted by the woman pressed against her as she filled her senses. She closed her eyes. How easy it was to relax when she needn’t be afraid of anything at all.

I’m here for you, Estela. You and me, we’ve got this.

[marmolady]

No Contest

[marmolady]

It's impressive how Neil Gaiman vanished from the internet. Wish Rowling would do the same.

[marmolady]

In all seriousness, this is a pretty shameless attempt at bringing back the old audience who’s sick to death of the current state of Choices— and bringing back old VIP subscribers.

Are any writers of these books even still with Pixelberry? Would the books be AI written or would an actual attempt be made to truly capture the voice of the original story and characters?

My expectations are very low… and yet I would desperately love to spend time with these beloved old friends again, even if I can only view it as an extravagant fanfic.

[marmolady]

Let’s fucking go, gang!

WHAAAA

No fucking way!!!! Please let it be ES!

[marmolady]

estela… thats it that’s the post

[marmolady]

not sure if i ever posted my psychoanalysis of Lilo on here but here we go.

Lilo is neurodivergent. She might have autism, she might have OCD, she ABSOLUTELY has PTSD. These all have very many overlapping symptoms, so it's easy to get them mixed up.

Lilo rarely brings up her parents after they die, only to protect stitch. "Dad said ohana means family." She tells stitch about what happened to her parents before he leaves. She doesn't talk about her mom until she's brought up, and compares herself to her.

Lilo feeds Pudge, and that Used to be for fun. When she forgot to feed Pudge, her parents died. She decided therefore that Pudge controls the weather, and creates intricate rituals to make sure she does it Correctly. The harder the ritual, the more effort she has to put into it. If the weather gets bad again, it's easy for her to say she must have messed up the ritual with the wrong bread or the wrong filling. Maybe Pudge doesn't like peanut butter anymore. She's taking control of the only thing she can.

She's also EXTREMELY morbid for a girl her age. I know everyone says she's just like them for real, but there's a difference between playing pretend that you're dying and telling your sister to leave you alone to die. Some kids play dead because it's a concept they can't understand and they use that to figure it out. Lilo KNOWS what death is. She experienced the death of the two most important people in her young life. She's well aware of death. She mentions Picasso's blue period, his time of severe suicidal depression. She says that that's what her painting is. This is worrisome. She knows Picasso's blue period, words like abomination, asks Bubbles if he ever killed anyone and tells Nani to leave her to die. I know some of you think that's relatively normal for a little girl, but it is not, not the way she behaves.

She makes a doll, and claims that she's sad because she only has a few more [enter time period] before she dies. Why would she make this doll have such a tragic story? Well, that's what she knows. People die. It happens. Of course she's sad, but if it's everywhere, she can be less sad about it. Her doll is going to die.

She's also well aware of pain, which is why she's so violent. She doesn't understand that people don't have to forgive you when you're mean and violent, because her sister ALWAYS forgives her, and is sometimes mean in return. This is family. It's not her parents, but this is how it is now. She's mean to Nani, and Nani is mean back, and then they eat dinner. She's mean to her friends, and they're mean to her, but they don't let her play dolls so they need to be punished. Stitch is mean to her, and she desperately tries to prove that he isn't that bad. She knows that she shouldn't be so violent, so mean, but she doesn't know how not to, and she knows that her behavior is part of the reason she might get taken away.

Lilo projects heavily onto Stitch. She likes him because he's a weird little freak, but he's also HER. he's alone. He has one person who wants him, who cares. One person who gives him chance after chance and tries to get him to be good. If she can prove that Stitch can be good, then she can be good. She can get better, and not be such a burden to Nani. If Lilo can keep Stitch, then Nani can keep Lilo.

Lilo wants to stay with Nani, but she can't stop being the way she is. She can't stop screaming, and being violent, and running away and nor doing what she's told. She has very little emotional regulation due to the trauma she's endured, and she sees that in Stitch. She can teach him to control himself. She can be good. She can stay here with her one and only sister, all she has left. She begs Nani to like her more than she would a rabbit. I'm gonna cry

[marmolady]

Are you 🫵 pissed off about the Lilo and Stitch monstrosity remake? Do you want to know how you can actually make a difference in supporting the people and ecosystems of Hawaii?

Tourism is a big issue in Hawaii (which the remake got rid of the original's commentary on because it makes foreigners look bad). I'm not gonna promote it, BUT I know that realistically, thousands of people arrive here every single day by the airplane-ful. And the majority of them aren't educated on the socio-cultural and economic impacts of tourism. SO, I'm making this post in an effort to educate visitors. If you or someone you know is visiting or moving to Hawaii (whether by circumstances in or out of your control), here are some suggestions on how you can give back!

You can donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which has been instrumental in giving aid to the displaced community of Lahaina after the Maui wildfires in 2023. They also provide scholarships to students of under-represented communities.

If you're interested in visiting Kualoa Ranch, you can do their Mālama Experience where you get your hands dirty giving back to the ‘āina (land)!

There are other organizations you can join to volunteer with, too, like Kupu and Mālama Maunalua. Check them out; maybe you can help with a beach cleanup or plant native trees! These are both non-profit organizations that accept monetary donations.

Visit the Bishop Museum to learn about Hawaiian history and culture! They also have events focused on sustainability and conservation.

If you're visiting Hilo on the Big Island, go visit the Laulima Nature Center! They're a non-profit aimed at protecting Hawaii's native species, and they even have an online store that ships to the US mainland and internationally! (After I post this, I'm gonna head on over and get myself a manu o Kū pin ♡)

A few other tips I have:

DO: Respect the locals' homes. Several beaches and hiking trails have access points in residential areas. Please be mindful to keep your voices down when passing by, and park ONLY in designated parking areas.

DO: Wear reef-safe sunscreen! Sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii because they are known to damage coral reefs.

DON'T: Approach wildlife, particularly honu (sea turtles) and 'īlio holo i ka uaua (Hawaiian monk seals). Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from turtles and at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from monk seals. If you see someone harassing animals, report them to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840. You can also contact the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

DON'T: Collect sand, rocks, or other natural items to bring home with you. This is to protect the ecosystems and also out of respect for Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians), who have cultural beliefs regarding lava rocks in particular. Taking lava rocks is extremely disrespectful.

DON'T: Litter! Please throw away your waste in proper trash cans. If you see a bin that says "ʻōpala," that's a trash can!

Many Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) are moving to the US mainland because the cost of living in Hawaii has been driven up so high (because of people moving here), they can't afford to live in their ancestral home. So, if you are going to visit or move to Hawaii, please:

- Make the effort to support local businesses, especially those owned by Native Hawaiians!

- Educate yourself and your loved ones about actual Hawaiian culture!

- Try Hawaiian food, like poi!

- Learn some Hawaiian words and don't be afraid to ask how to pronounce words correctly!

- Donate to a food bank!

- Watch films and read books written by Native Hawaiians!

My hope is that whoever sees this post will use it to educate themselves, their friends, and their families who are considering visiting.

My background is in sustainability and the environment, so that's what I know to suggest off the top of my head. If any Kānaka Maoli read this post and have suggestions to add, please do!

[marmolady]

Two animals people need to shut the fuck up about and be normal are pandas and dolphins

[marmolady]

worlds slowest fanfic author tries really really hard

[marmolady]

Fanfiction writers only want one* thing and it’s disgusting

*Comments where you explain in excruciating detail how each line made you feel

[marmolady]

My boy!

[marmolady]

Conor

Main Pairings: Michelle x Quinn

Summary: Michelle and Quinn welcome a baby boy.

Word Count: 5252

Thanks for reading!

USA, September 2031

“We really are going to have to invest in a pacifier,” Michelle commented, her voice soft so as to not wake the sleeping infant who had her little finger in his mouth. “Tag-teaming this is going to get old real fast.”

She was looking down at the tiny bundle in the hospital crib with eyes that shone with love. One day in, and little Conor Bien Nguyen-Kelly had an even tighter hold on her heart than he did on her finger.

“Thank you, babe…,” Quinn murmured sleepily, “for taking over….”

“The hell kind of doctor would I be if I didn’t let you rest after major surgery? If you’re on feeding duty, the least I can do is to help settle the little man.” Michelle smiled lovingly. “Besides… there’s something so wonderfully peaceful about just sitting here with him. Getting to know him. I’m happy. I’m really, really happy.”

Quinn looked over her sweet newborn son, dozing contentedly with his mommy’s soothing finger. It hadn’t all gone to plan, but the end result was what mattered; Conor was here, and he was safe and healthy. At eight pounds six ounces, he was bigger than Isla had been, and had rather less hair-- though there was a fine hint of auburn fuzz coming through at the back of his head.

“He’s perfect,” she whispered.

Conor was a miraculous, impossible thing; her healthy son whom she’d made, and carried, and grown. His very existence was just another gift La Huerta had given.

“Isn’t he just?” Michelle gushed softly. “He’s so like you-- not just because he’s gorgeous. He’s really got that look of you when you were a baby.”

She could just sit there looking at him for hours. It was crazy to think of all that it had taken to get him here. Interdimensional time-travel to save his mama’s life... a year trapped at the end of the world for his mama and mommy to fall in love… a little bit of resurrection of the earth and humanity as they knew it… then a sperm donor, a few visits to a clinic and a nerve-wracking pregnancy… it all brought them to this. Surely, it was only going to be easier from here on in. So long as they were seeing it out together.

“I hate that I’m leaving you,” she said, frowning, knowing she’d soon have to pass Conor back to Quinn. There was really no getting around it. Neither of them were willing to leave their older child, four-year-old Isla, in the care of anyone else at such a pivotal time in the life of their family.

“I know,” Quinn agreed, “I hate it too. But if I find myself going to a dark place, I can just look over here….” She nodded toward the crib. “…and remember that this time, my body’s given me something wonderful. And I’ll remember the end in sight. Con and I will be home before we know it.”

Michelle looked into her wife’s eyes, and her heart thrummed with love. If she could just stay there with her… but it simply wasn’t possible.

“And you’re sure you don’t want me to rope in someone else to sit with you?”

She knew that, beneath the elation, Quinn had been knocked around emotionally by the emergency delivery. For so much of her life, Quinn had needed medical intervention… she’d so longed to do this with as little assistance as possible. There had been not a moment’s hesitation when plans had to change, but Michelle sensed a hurt that would need tending to.

“I’ll just sleep,” Quinn insisted, shaking her head. “Well, sleep and tend to Little Man. Just give Isla the biggest squeeze from me.”

For all the smiles she plastered on, she missed Michelle the moment the door closed. She sucked in a breath and found tears threatening to fall.

“I love you, Little Man…. Help me get through tonight?”

She settled in and took a few deep breaths. They really would do anything for this kid. A night in hospital? That was nothing.

_______________________

USA, 2035

“Oh my god. Conor!”

The four-year-old had a wild look in his eyes, beautifully complimenting the mud-splatters from his top to his toe, and the leafy debris caught in his short red hair.

Quinn didn’t have time for this. It was an utter relief that Michelle wasn’t yet home, for after the week she’d had, the little mud monster that had become of their sweet son would have tipped her over to sobbing-on-the-floor territory.

“Mama!” he cried, quite happily oblivious to the stress of his mother. “I’m Adventurer Con! I adventured into a big swamp I made.”

On the verge of pulling her hair out she might be, but Quinn righted herself quickly. Conor was a kid, that he could embracing being a kid was a good thing. That meant mud, and scraped knees, and running late, and ornaments broken, and-- she had no doubt-- a few worry-lines appearing upon her face. She’d been his age when her many of her simple childhood joys ended, and it was something that deeply influenced her approach to parenting.

“Do you mind adventuring over to Bathroom Falls for a quick shower, honey?” she gently prodded. “Mom will be home soon, and we’ll want to get you into some dry clothes for Isla’s parent evening.”

Parent evening was no fun at all. They’d not managed to find anyone to sit for the kids, so they’d be coming along, with the promise of pizza-and-movie night to follow keeping them cooperative. Whether that was enough to convince Conor to leave the mud-monster’s den he’d dug out for himself under the backyard slide was another matter.

She needn’t have worried. Conor belly-crawled out of his home-made swamp and came running, throwing his arms around his Mama with a wet splat.

“Lovely!” Quinn chuckled, on the verge of hysteria. It seemed she’d be having a shower herself. She’d just have to make it a quick one-- after a long day at the hospital, Michelle would certainly be in need of a relaxing soak before immersing herself into her second job, that of a mother-of-two.

Conor lifted his chin, gazing up at his mama while his head rested against her belly with a laugh still upon his face.

“Heheh, now you’re a swamp ‘venturer like me, Mama!”

“I sure am! So, what’s it to be-- shower or bath?”

But he took her hand in hers. “Five minutes?”

“My darling, I’m not sure you know what ‘five minutes’ is….” Experience told her he definitely did not.

“But you know. You can count! And just have a small, teeny-weeny ‘venture with me.”

Quinn’s face fell. Oh, sweetheart, not tonight. “That sounds a lot of fun… but Mommy’s going to be very tired when she gets home; it’s important we’re all ready to go so she doesn’t have anything else to worry about.”

“I bet doctors worry a lot. If they get things wrong, people might die, or their lungs fall off, or something like that.”

“Yeah, pretty much. It’s a tough gig. So--”

“So we should wait ‘til Mommy gets back, then we can all play in the mud together! It’s a good thing to do instead of worrying.”

That little face was so earnest, his sweet nature shining through; it made Quinn melt every time. Conor would, though, need his good intentions steering in a different direction, lest poor Michelle be reduced to tears after a long day.

“How about,” she countered, “we schedule the messy play for Mommy’s day off? Between us, we can find something to do that’s so fun that the worries all fade away. Right now, though, Mommy’s just going to want to rest and relax.”

Conor pouted, but relented, grasping his mama’s hand with an unfortunate squelch of mud. “Okay. Bathroom Falls is fun too.”

____________________

USA, September 2031

Michelle opened the front door, and found herself almost bowled over by the two little girls that charged through.

“Easy, girls-- remember indoor feet and indoor voices, there is a baby in here!”

Taylor was a couple of steps after the hurricane that was the combined force of Isla and Liv. “Liv!” she hissed. “I know you’re excited, but I’m going to need you to do ‘excited’ in a calm way. You’re setting an example for Isla here, kiddo.”

“Sorry, Auntie Meech!” Liv whispered loudly.

Isla did a little dance on her toes as she reached up to hug her mom. “Mommy!” she said-- not exactly quiet, but quiet-by-the-standards-of-a-four-year-old. “We saw seven giraffes-- I counted! And there was a really big lion with a fluffy mane, and also not-fluffy lions which are girl ones, and also some baby ones!”

In no time at all, the girls were rushing out into the yard, somehow with more energy still to burn off.

“Thanks so much for this, Taylor,” Michelle gushed, putting an arm around her old friend’s shoulders. “I can’t tell you how nice it’s been to just have some bonding time between the three of us, without feeling like we’re neglecting Isla. And she has been such a gem, you know? An absolute angel. She’s so deserved a fun day out… so thank you.”

Taylor hugged her back, and kissed her on the cheek. “It was no trouble. Seriously. Miss La-la is a joy; it’s never a chore.” She glanced back over her shoulder toward the door. “’Stel’s just stopping off to pick up those few things Quinn said you were getting low on. Shouldn’t be long and we’ll leave you in peace.”

“You’re not staying for a little cuddle?” Michelle asked, quirking a brow.

“You know I’d never say ‘no’… but we’ll take your lead. I know it’s hard to find the balance between helpful and overbearing, and I wouldn’t want to unsettle him….”

Michelle was practical. So long as Liv was here, Isla would be happily occupied, which made it a hell of a lot easier to organise dinner while she and Quinn were also juggling caring for a newborn. But even aside from that, Taylor and Estela were easy company, close enough that they could lounge bras-off, hair-a-mess, and more than likely splattered with baby vomit, and not feel uncomfortable.

“Well, Quinn’s just finishing off a feed now, we were going to have some cuddles anyway before settling him down again. You know I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it.”

Taylor gave a little laugh. “Heh, true. I can’t argue with that. If we’re not intruding, yes, I’d love for us to stay a little while… so long as we’re not getting in your hair.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re staying.” Michelle knew Taylor wouldn’t argue once her foot was down. Hell, Estela wouldn’t dare argue when Michelle put her foot down. “But if you go too hard on being apologetic about it, that’ll get old quick.”

The closeness both Michelle and Quinn shared with their Catalyst family never seemed to ebb, in spite of the passing of years. Other friends came and went-- some became closer than others-- but in times of vulnerability, it always came back to the twelve of them. They’d be Conor’s aunts and uncles, just as they had always been to Isla. Right now, the new mothers-of-two could use all the non-intrusive help they could get… and their chosen family would be there for them.

In the bedroom, Quinn smiled as she watched her little Isla out the window. Isla had taken Liv into the backyard, and had roped her into a game of ‘horsey’.

“It’s not gonna feel like five minutes until you’ll be out there, giving those two a run for their money,” she said with a gentle laugh, cradling baby Conor. “But however much fun it looks, don’t you go growing up too fast on me.”

He’d been feeding well so far, which was a relief. Neither she nor Michelle had done the whole breastfeeding thing with Isla, so while much of the ‘mom to a newborn’ life was familiar, that aspect had been daunting.  Even her success in that regard, though, brought anxiety. Quinn had carried the baby, Quinn was feeding the baby… where did that leave Michelle? It was hard not to feel guilt, but she knew guilt helped none of them. Quinn resolved to take this opportunity to have a good chat with Taylor and Estela who’d been through a similar experience with Liv… they’d get it.

Conor burbled as he unlatched himself, flopping satisfied against his mother’s chest. His facial expressions made Quinn smile-- already their little guy was brimming with personality. Gently, she propped him up on her shoulder to burp him.

“There you go, sweetheart, nice big belch for Mama!”

The bedroom door squeaked as Michelle poked her head in. “Hello there, beautiful.”

Quinn smiled softly. “Good timing, darling-- someone’s just finished a big feed. I think he’ll have the energy to meet some excited aunties before he dozes off.”

She gently passed the baby to Michelle; after her surgery she had to be careful about lifting him, so teamwork was needed.

Michelle immediately cuddled Conor close and kissed his bald little head. “Come on, kid… time to start meeting the squad. Don’t worry-- we’re starting you off on some of the easy ones….”

_______________________

La Huerta, 2037

Trekking through dense jungle-- in this instance, between Elyys’tel and Colonnade Cove-- was something Michelle had begrudgingly gotten used to. What she didn’t think she’d ever get a head for, though, was doing so with her curious and exuberant son in tow. Thank god, she’d thought to herself around twenty times already, they had helpers.

At this moment, he’d wandered into a small stream to inspect the leech that had just been removed from Grace’s calf.

“You mean it was eating your blood?” Conor asked, wide-eyed. He picked up a stick to poke the slimy creature.

“Yeah,” Imogen told him, completely unfazed. “Basically a vampire slug-- but Mom can give you the actual taxonomy if you want.”

Conor didn’t know what ‘taxonomy’ meant, but he understood ‘vampire slug’. “Ew, that’s disgusting!” he cried. “Do you think we can find some more?”

“Oh no.” Michelle was quick to nip that idea in the bud. “We’re going to encounter plenty of leeches without actually seeking the things out.” She shuddered.

Thankfully, Conor was happily distracted by the simple thrill of taking on the journey itself, and with the leech sent on its merry way, he returned to his favoured place at the front of the pack, greeting the unknown head-on.

Michelle rejoined her wife, slipping her hand into Quinn’s.

Quinn smiled, and of course, Michelle had to as well. Somehow, Quinn always remained radiant no matter how ghastly the humidity, or how tough the trek. She just glowed like the flowers around them with the sheer pleasure of being free to experience a beautiful world. Michelle was more of a ‘relaxing on the beach’ person, but she’d always take moments to see the world as her wife saw it. They were a part of something truly special, why not soak it in and enjoy?

The tricky bit now, was to temper her anxiety over her whirlwind of a son. It wasn’t really fair to throw around phrases like ‘walking disaster area’ but Conor just had his way of finding any danger or trouble, then cannon-balling right in. It was a balancing act. Conor needed the space to grow confidence in his own ability to take on the world. Quinn needed to give her children the freedom she’d desperately wished she’d been able to have. And Michelle needed to make for damn sure that her treasured son did not end up like the countless kids she’d seen grievously injured or worse, day after day at the hospital.

They’d had it easy with Isla. Confident as she’d always been, she’d not much cared for heights or thrills; not so her younger brother, who’d been an adrenaline junkie from the time he could toddle.

“Conor!”

Michelle felt her blood run cold at Isla’s cry cry, any discomfort in the stifling humidity falling away as she rushed forward. “--What’s happened?”

“He’s stuck!” announced little Michael from his perch piggybacking with his arms around Sean’s shoulders. “Oh no!”

This stream wasn’t small anymore, and Conor was right in the middle, perched high on a rickety log that was slippery with moss. As he moved, he slid down toward the jagged rocks below before scrambling back with his fingers clinging as if for dear life. On the bank, Isla was watching, helpless, panic clear in her wide eyes.

Having assessed the situation quickly, Estela jumped to action. Both strong and agile, she was able to manoeuvre herself onto the log and guide Conor into her arms, but with hands now full with a heavy kid, getting down was a greater challenge.

“I’ve got ya, Katniss--” Jake waded out, braced by Craig, and offered a hand.

Michelle was right there, ready to scoop up her precious, foolish boy, and when his feet touched dry land he was almost swept up off them again as she grabbed him.

“What do you think you were doing?”

Conor, not remotely flustered, still had a self-satisfied grin on his face, as if his misadventure had been a great personal achievement.

“I just wanted to climb it, it looked fun-- it was just a little bit slippy!”

With a great wordless cry of frustration, Michelle took Conor by the arm, away from the rest of the group.

“I am so sick of this!” she hissed. “We’re lucky you weren’t hurt-- that you didn’t get anyone else hurt when they had to rescue you!”

“I didn’t mean to get stuck, Mom--”

“No, you never do, but you just don’t think! Why don’t you ever just think?”

Conor, at last, showed some remorse in his face. “I’m sorry. I thought it would be easy.”

“Con, this is our time. An actual break, the best chance we get to relax, to enjoy ourselves as a family. Do you really want to spend the whole week on La Huerta in bed with a broken leg? Do you think Mama wants to spend this time in the hospital?”

Conor’s gaze flicked down guiltily. His mama hated the hospital. “No…. I’m sorry.”

Michelle sighed, almost a groan, and she ran her hands through her hair. God, this humidity….

“You’ve got to know your own limits. Especially out here.”

Michelle had seen too much, patched up too many wounds. And she knew… she knew she, and Quinn, and all of them, had died hundreds of times over in this place. Their guard could not be down, not even all these years later, with Rourke long gone and relations with the Vaanti peaceable. La Huerta was a wilderness, unforgiving. Sooner or later, one of the kids would learn that the hard way, and Conor seemed hell-bent on being the unlucky recipient of such a lesson. This talk, like all those that’d come before it, would go in one ear and out the other.

“Are you two okay?”

Quinn, of course, was eager to put her arms around her son, and Conor was more than happy to be wrapped in a cuddle. It wasn’t that he’d been scared, but that his moms had been. He’d show them someday… he could do anything the big kids could do, take on the dangers of La Huerta, and even fight bad guys like his moms once had.

“...I’ll be more careful…,” Conor mumbled. He hated careful. Careful was too much time ‘thinking’ and not enough time ‘doing’. But he’d try. He’d really, really try.

Quinn kissed the top of his head. “And best say ‘thank you’ to Estela for getting you down from there.”

As he ran off, Michelle sighed against her wife’s shoulder. “Next time, I’ll let him stay busy searching for fucking leeches….”

________________________

USA, October 2031

Quinn threw her arms tearfully around Michelle. She held her, squeezed her, and imagined they were someplace else. Anywhere else would be better than this.

She hiccoughed. “He’s just a baby.”

Conor could not be sick… not really sick. He was little, and fragile, and he didn’t deserve to suffer for one second.

Quinn couldn’t stop it. That was life, life was sickness. Long nights holding Isla through a terrible flu had been a torture Quinn wished she’d not have to repeat… but her kids were going to get sick, and she would always, always have the nagging dread….

Conor didn’t have Rotterdam’s. Iris had assured them both that Quinn’s entire genetic structure had been purged of its trace… she wouldn’t pass on the gene to her child. They’d tested in utero all the same, paranoid. Even if they hadn’t, it had never shown up in a child so young.

Those rasping coughs had their way of making Michelle sick with dread herself. How could she reassure her wife when she knew just how vulnerable young babies were?

But she’d try. She held Quinn’s hands.

“Con’s in the best possible place. Us being as paranoid as we are, we couldn’t have responded quicker. He’s going to be okay, baby.” Lovingly, she ran her fingers through Quinn’s hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “And as for us? We’ll just have to hold on together through the rough ride.”

Exhaling shakily, Quinn put her forehead to Michelle’s. “You promise?”

“Cross my heart. I’ve got you, and I’m sure as hell going to need you to hold me up as well.”

Quinn offered a watery smile, all the courage she could muster wrapped up in it. “I’ll do my very best.”

At last, they were given the okay for cuddles. Never had Quinn been so nervous to pick up her own baby. He looked exhausted, his breathing laboured. It scared her half to death.

“I’ll take your lead,” Michelle said, and she placed a hand on her wife’s arm, her fingers brushing Conor’s soft skin, and it made her heart pang with aching love. “I can stay with him tonight, and you can hopefully get at least some sleep back home. Unless you’d rather be here?”

Quinn so desperately wanted to be with Conor, to hold him and never let him go. But….

“I think…,” she said, voice cracking, “I think if I stay here, I’ll break…. And I feel such a horrible mom--”

Michelle squeezed her, firm and insistent. She wouldn’t hear it. “You know what they said; only one of us overnight. There’s no point in making this any more traumatic than it needs to be; being in hospital is different for you and me, and that’s just a fact.”

Quinn sniffed. “I know he couldn’t be with anyone better.”

“And he’s got you as well, Quinn,” Michelle said seriously. “He’s lucky to have you.”

The little baby in Quinn’s arms could barely keep his eyes open; comforted by his Mama’s presence, he drifted peacefully to sleep for the first time since arriving at the hospital many hours ago.

“See? We’ll get through this.”

Her breath shuddering with emotion, Quinn stroked Conor’s cheek. They couldn’t protect him from everything-- if only-- but they could be there with him through it, facing every challenge.

“I know you’re scared,” Quinn whispered. “You don’t know where you are, what’s happening to you. But we’re here for you, and we love you. You’re gonna be okay, my brave little boy….”

And so will we.

________________________

USA, 2038

“How’re you feeling about it?” Quinn asked, snuggling closer to Michelle on her pillow. “At least a little vindicated?”

“Yes, well, I’m obviously not surprised. Now we’re certain what we’re dealing with, we can support him in ways that actually help.”

The pieces had finally slotted into place. ADHD, and dyslexia. Michelle had been convinced for some time, but official diagnoses took longer to reach their conclusions than did mother’s intuition.

“I just… part of me wonders if we could have been switched on to it earlier if my head wasn’t at work so much.” Michelle winced. “The usual guilt. Nothing new.”

“Hey.” Quinn cupped her wife’s face. “You’re an amazing mom. Look at the role model you are for them both-- you’re showing them determination, and compassion, and that the sky’s the limit with the right support. You’ve got that support, Chellie. You deserve to have your dreams… even if they don’t look quite as you always imagined them.

Neurosurgery had been thrown out the window as unrealistic. Not that Michelle didn’t believe she could get there, but that she knew the hours and the stress were not conducive to being the parent she wanted to be. So… she’d become a neurohospitalist. New York-- another dream-- was put aside, and the family had settled outside Northbridge, while she took up a position at Edenbrook Hospital. Actually, of all strokes of luck, they’d caught the big, beautiful house that had once been shared by half the Catalyst gang during their Senior year at Hartfeld as it went on the market; this place could not feel more home.

Michelle smiled ruefully. She couldn’t get everything quite right. Some dreams just… clashed. It had been eleven years since Isla was born, seven since Conor, and the balance was still one she fought with.

“Baby, you’ve always had Con’s back. You’ve tracked every milestone….” Quinn chuckled lovingly. “Sometimes like a woman possessed.”

“Maybe compensating for when I let him down,” Michelle sighed. The missed parents’ evenings… school award ceremonies… one time even his birthday party-- though that was filed under ‘never again’.

“No mom’s perfect,” Quinn said. “I’m the first to say I’m not.”

Michelle was quiet for a little while, just appreciating the comfort given by her wife’s embrace. She was given all the space she needed as she stumbled through her own thoughts and feelings; Quinn would never push her.

“I think I need to reconsider moving to a clinic position. The way things are at Edenbrook it’s not… sustainable. I know it’s been hard on you. Burnt-out Michelle is not much fun for anyone.”

Quinn stroked Michelle’s face. “But I still love her,” she said softly. “She’s worth taking the time to find that happy balance. She deserves to be fulfilled at work and home. Give her a break now and then.”

Then there was a thudding of footsteps from the hall.

“He’s awake,” the two women determined at once.

“Oh, Con,” Quinn uttered, shaking her head affectionately, if long-suffering. “Hopefully he’ll just grab a drink and go straight back to bed without any prompting.”

Michelle was already sitting up, ready to get on with the business of settling her son.

He’ll be an absolute zombie tomorrow if we have another bad night….

In a shared silence, they held a breath, then another… and then the thudding footsteps returned, before fell quiet.

“Nobody jinx it…,” Michelle whispered. Tentatively, still listening out, she huddled back under the covers.

__________________________

San Trobida, 2040

“I did pretty good on the plane, though, didn’t I, Mom?”

“The kid kicking the back of my chair could have learned a thing or two.” Michelle exhaled, letting it go. “You did great, Conor.”

“That was annoying,” Conor commiserated. “She must have switched seats sometime, ‘cause I had something whacking me when I was trying to sleep.”

He looked out the window, watching the scenery whiz by. They’d taken him to San Trobida a few times before, visiting family friends, so a lot of the sights and scents were familiar. In a lot of ways it was like La Huerta, but it was much louder and more peopley.

“Maybe we should move out here too,” Conor pondered out loud. A lot of his La Huerta family lived here now, and it meant they were lucky enough to visit their secret paradise more than once a year.

“I dunno,” Michelle said, “you’d leave behind some very sad grandparents….”

Conor had an answer for that. “Michael says he sees his grandmas more because they come and stay with them for weeks, not just visit for an afternoon like they used to.”

“But what about your friends?” Michelle countered. “And Isla’s. God, could you imagine the hell you’d have to pay if we uprooted her social life so you can spend your weekends goofing off in some jungle?”

The trees were getting farther apart; they were coming up to the coast. Surely, The Star of San Trobida was just a few minutes away, and with it, a reunion with Conor’s Mama and sister who’d arrived the day prior. Conor was pretty sure Isla could make new friends whenever she went, but for all the fuss she’d make about having to do so, it would be a greater challenge for him. He did already have friends here, though… Sean and Jake’s kid, Alex, was even in the same grade at school, and he could always write to the guys back in Northbridge….

But then, a thought occurred to him.

“Do they have hockey here?”

“You know, I don’t think they do.”

“Well, that idea’s out, then!”

“Con, the idea was never ‘in’. I think we’re all pretty happy with how our lives look right now. I know I am.”

Conor turned from the window and shared a smile with his mom. She looked pretty happy. They had to rearrange flights so that she could take him to the big game, and she’d been totally stressed out when she’d had to sort it all out over the phone with The Useless Travel Agent, but this had been fun.

“I’m happy,” he said. “And I was really happy you went to the game, even if we get a little less vacation.”

Michelle smiled all the broader, and squeezed her son’s knee. “Me too.”

_______________________

USA, October 2031

“It feels like we’re bringing him home for the first time all over again,” Quinn observed as she unlatched the baby capsule from the car.

Conor, though, had grown. He even had a little bit more hair coming through-- looking more like a fiery red by the day.

Isla peered up at her baby brother. “I missed him,” she said, and she reached out to touch. Always gentle, she wished she was old enough to scoop the baby up in her arms and carry him like the grown-ups did. “Did Conor miss me?”

“I’m sure he did,” Quinn said. “You tell him such great stories about the fun you have at daycare; it’s been hard for us to fill that role!”

“I do pictures for him too,” Isla reminded. “I did one of him, and Mama and Mommy, and me! And one of him and the doctors at the hospital.”

Michelle stroked her fingers through Isla’s hair. Isla didn’t know how much light her own personal sparkle brought to them when they needed it most. She’d been so cooperative during the past two weeks, weeks filled with stress and tears and worry.

“Do you want to put your drawings up on the wall in our room?” she asked. Generally, drawings belonged on the fridge, not on the neat-and-tidy bedroom wall, but the love given made for an exception.

Isla must have known the extent of the gesture coming from her Mom, because she did a little dance on her toes. “I can write on them if you help me! I want to write ‘welcome home, baby Conor, I love you!’.”

Michelle did the honours of opening the door. The four of them were home at last.

[marmolady]

I AM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS FANART

[marmolady]