❤️I know we don't know each other well, but feel free to talk to me if you're going through a tough time, or if you just want to talk to distract yourself ❤️
Thanks for the reblogs and coments!
Brienne of tarth/Larissa Weems
Shadows of the night (Brienne)
You can't change who you are (Brienne)
Part 1 Part 2
The promise we couldn't keep (Brienne)
Fire will rain tonight
I need a favor (Brienne)
Part 1 Part 2
Taxi driver (Larissa) 🔞
Melissa Schemmenti
Too old for this s**t
A Blessing from God
A night to remember?
Part 1 Part 2
I'd do it all over again if you're with me
Prequel
The most wonderful time of the year?
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
The Schemmenti Sisters 🔞
Let me remind you 🔞
The perfect gift 🔞
I'm here to help
Since words are not enough to explain how much I love you, let me show you
Summary:Mel being a perfect partner and a amazing mother earns her the title she deserves ❤️
AN:Probably this would be the last part of this unless someone send me another idea about this! But thanks so much for the support and the sweet comments!
Because her body clock had been trained by years of teaching children who treated sunrise like a personal challenge.
For a few quiet seconds she simply lay there, blinking sleepily at the ceiling while warm morning light slipped through the curtains.
Then she became aware of two things at once.
First:
You were half on top of her again.
One leg tangled with hers, your face buried against her shoulder, one hand lazily curled beneath her shirt like at some point during the night your sleeping brain had decided physical proximity still wasn’t enough.
Second:
Every inch of her body ached.
Not badly.
Just enough to remind her exactly how the previous night had gone.
Melissa closed her eyes briefly, remembering you laughing against her mouth in the kitchen, your hands grabbing at her waist, the sound of her own voice embarrassingly wrecked in her ears.
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
Then your lips brushed sleepily against the mark at the base of her throat.
And she realized a third thing.
Oh no.
Very carefully, Melissa lifted her phone from the nightstand and switched to the front camera.
The screen illuminated her sleepy face.
Messy red hair.
Swollen lips.
And several very visible marks blooming along her neck and collarbone.
Melissa stared in silent horror.
Behind her, your sleepy voice mumbled against her skin-“Good morning to you too.”-
Melissa turned slowly.
You were awake just enough to look smug.
The sight of you, hair wild from sleep and smiling lazily against her shoulder, should have softened the crisis.
It did not.
-“Look what you did.”-
You blinked at her neck dramatically-“Hm. Terrible. A mystery truly"-
-“People at school are going to see these"-
You smiled without a shred of remorse-“Then maybe they shouldn’t stare at your neck"-
Melissa dropped back onto the pillow with a groan while you laughed softly beside her-“You are impossible"-
-“And you liked it"-Melissa covered her face with one hand. The worst part was that you were absolutely right.
With laziness and sleepy limbs, you moved completely on top of her, your face hiding on her boobs, giving small kisses to her skin
-"How are you feeling?" - you asked softly
-"Like it should be ilegal having to go to work after date night" - she mumbled and you laughed softly against her soft skin. Her hands went to your back to hug you under the covers and you hissed in pain. When the redhead lifted the covers, she saw what she had done to your naked back the previous night, scratches and cuts all over your back
Melissa froze.
You, meanwhile, had the audacity to look only mildly inconvenienced.
The redhead stared at the angry scratches running down your back, some faint, some very much not faint, and her entire face turned scarlet in under three seconds.
-"OH MY GOD"-She yelled. Your shoulders started shaking immediately with laughter against her chest.
-"Good morning to you too, cariño" - you murmured
-"I attacked you" - she said worried
-"You were enthusiastic" - you kissed her chest
-"I drew blood!"-she was shocked of herself
-"Tiny bit" - Melissa looked genuinely horrified now, fingertips hovering carefully over one of the marks like she’d discovered evidence at a crime scene.
-"Why didn’t you say anything?!"-You finally lifted your head enough to grin lazily at her.
-"Because every time I tried to speak, you kissed me again and my survival instincts failed" -That did not help.
Melissa dropped backward onto the pillows with another mortified groan, hiding her burning face behind both hands this time.
-"I cannot be trusted" -
-"Incorrect," - you said immediately, catching one of her wrists to pull her hands away from her face -"I trusted you with my life actually. Look at me. Still alive."
She narrowed her eyes at you.-"Barely" - You laughed softly and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.
Melissa’s expression softened despite herself, though concern still lingered in her eyes as she carefully brushed her fingers over your back again, gentler this time.
-"Does it hurt?"-The sincerity in her voice melted you instantly.
-"Only a little," - you admitted -"Mostly when dramatic redheads poke the evidence" - you joked
-"I’m serious" - You hummed thoughtfully before nestling back against her chest, completely comfortable despite the scratches.
-"Honestly? I kind of like it, the soft sting of it makes me revive the night" - Melissa made the most scandalized sound you had ever heard in your life.
-"You are Insane" -
-"And you’re very pretty when you’re concerned about me" - She tried so hard not to smile.
Failed catastrophically.
A few seconds later she was stroking your hair beneath the blankets while you stayed sprawled half on top of her like an oversized affectionate cat, both of you warm, aching, sleepy, and devastatingly happy.
Then Melissa sighed dramatically toward the ceiling.-"We really have to go be responsible adults now, don’t we?"-
You groaned into her chest immediately-"Don’t say horrible things before breakfast"-One of your legs slipped between hers looking for more warmth, not wanting to get up, but the change of position made pressure on both of your crotchs and you moaned at the same time-"Fuck" - you murmured too sensitive-"Did I went too rough yesterday?" - you asked looking at her, Melissa made a strangled sound somewhere between a groan and a laugh, immediately grabbing your shoulder as both of you froze from the sudden oversensitivity.
-"Jesus Christ—" - she whispered, eyes squeezed shut. You buried your face dramatically against her chest in defeat.
-"Okay. Okay. Nobody move ever again" - That only made her laugh harder, though she winced right after. Your question softened the moment instantly.
Melissa opened her eyes and looked down at you, seeing the genuine concern behind your sleepy expression.
-"No" - she said quietly, fingers sliding through your messy hair -"No, baby. I’m okay."-You still looked unconvinced. Her smile turned gentler-"I’m sore because apparently we lost all self-control somewhere around the kitchen counter" - You groaned weakly against her skin.
-"In my defense, you’re extremely distracting" -
Melissa snorted softly, then carefully brushed her thumb along your cheek.
-"And you?" - she asked -"Are you okay?"-You considered it seriously for a second.
Every muscle in your body felt melted. Your back looked like you survived combat. Your legs barely trusted gravity anymore. And somehow you had never felt happier in your life.
-"I feel like I got hit by a truck driven by a very beautiful redhead" -Melissa laughed so suddenly she had to hide her face against the pillow.
Then her expression softened again as she looked at you sprawled sleepily over her body, still instinctively seeking closeness even while both of you ached. Her fingers traced lightly down your spine, much more carefully this time.
-"We should probably shower before work" - she murmured reluctantly. You immediately tightened around her like an offended octopus.
-"Counterproposal: we quit society and stay in bed forever"-
-"Tempting"-
-"We can raise Gaia in the wilderness."-
-"You cried last month because a moth flew into the kitchen"-You lifted your head indignantly.
-"That moth had malicious energy"-Melissa dissolved into helpless laughter beneath you, sunlight spilling across both of your tangled bodies while the quiet joy between you settled deeper and deeper into something permanent.
-"What if we call in sick?" - you offered, you wanted it to sound like a joke but you were truly thinking about it
Melissa looked at you for a long second after that. You could practically see the war happening behind her eyes. Responsible teacher. Responsible mother figure. Responsible adult.
Versus: Warm bed. Girlfriend wrapped around her like a sleepy vine. No pants. No emails.
It was honestly a brutal fight.
Her fingers absentmindedly played with your hair while she pretended to think seriously about it.
-"You realize" - she said slowly -"that as an educator I should encourage responsibility and commitment" -
You nodded solemnly against her chest.-"Very true"-
-"And as your landlord, I should probably discourage reckless behavior"-
-"Excellent point"-
Melissa narrowed her eyes-"You are agreeing suspiciously fast" -
-"Because I’m trying to manipulate you with maturity"-That earned a laugh warm enough to light the entire room.
Then she sighed dramatically toward the ceiling-"God, staying here with you sounds dangerously perfect"-Your heart did an embarrassing little somersault at that.
You tilted your head up just enough to look at her.
-"We could spend the whole day here," - you murmured dreamily -"order food, watch terrible movies, make Gaia deeply uncomfortable with how affectionate we are—"-
-"That child would roast us alive" -
-"True. She’d call us cringe and ask if we need supervision."-Melissa snorted, already imagining it. Then her expression softened while she looked down at you, all sleepy affection and tangled limbs and genuine longing written openly across your face.
And suddenly she understood this wasn’t really about skipping work. It was about not wanting the bubble to burst yet. Not wanting to leave the first morning that truly felt like yours together.
Melissa’s thumb brushed your cheek softly.
-"How about this," - she whispered -"we be responsible adults today..."-You groaned dramatically-"...but tonight" - she continued, smiling now -"we come straight home, order something unhealthy, steal all the blankets, and continue discussing our very serious future as an old married couple" -
Your entire face lit up instantly-"With matching rocking chairs?"
-"Obviously" -
-"And twenty dogs?"-Melissa pretended to think.
-"I’ll allow six before I start fearing for civilization" -You kissed her immediately for that answer alone, smiling so hard against her lips that Melissa couldn’t stop laughing into the kiss.
Then you hid on her chest. Again
-"Final offer, we call in sick, we cuddle all day, we order food, we make a blanket fortress with Gaia, and we pretend like the rest of the world doesn't exists...pleaseeee" - you pouted-"is Friday, we could have a long weekend... Don't you have a guy who can make us false doctors notes? You have a guy for everything..."-
Melissa stared down at you in absolute disbelief. Not because of the cuddling proposal. That part was dangerously tempting. But because you were currently sprawled across her chest with messy hair, sleep-heavy eyes, visible scratch marks on your shoulders, and a full dramatic pout while trying to negotiate like a cartoon villain whose evil plan was “blanket fort with snacks.” Her heart stood absolutely no chance.
-"You are aware," - she said carefully, fighting a smile -"that you’re weaponizing cuteness right now" -
You blinked innocently-"I have no idea what you mean"-
-"Liar" -
You only burrowed deeper against her, arms tightening around her waist.-"Come on, Lisa..." - your voice turned extra pleading now -"We can build a blanket fortress so advanced NASA gets concerned" -
Melissa laughed despite herself.-"And what exactly would Gaia think when both of her parental figures randomly skip responsibilities on the same day?"-
-"That we finally achieved enlightenment" -
-"Mmhm" -
-"Also" - you added thoughtfully -"it would be educational" -
Melissa looked horrified already-"How?" -
-"Structural engineering. Blanket physics. Advanced couch cushion architecture. The important lesson about choosing happiness and the importance of proper rest when you need it"-She was fully laughing now, shoulders shaking beneath you. Then you delivered the final blow-"And imagine Gaia’s face when she realizes we’re girlfriends now and emotionally unstable enough to build indoor civilizations" -
Melissa covered her eyes with one hand, defeated-"We are absolutely corrupting that child" -
-"With whimsy" -
-"With chaos" -
-"With love" - you corrected softly, looking up at her again. That one landed directly in her chest. Melissa’s entire expression melted. God. You always did that.
One second you were begging for forged medical documents like a sleepy raccoon, and the next you said something so sincere it unraveled her completely. She leaned down and kissed you slowly.
-"For the record" - she whispered against your lips -"I absolutely do not have a doctor-note guy."
You gasped dramatically-"Who even are you?"-
-"However..." - she continued, clearly trying not to smile -"I may know a teacher who deserves one irresponsible happy day after falling in love" -
Your eyes widened instantly-"Lisa" -
-"And I may know another idiot who’s going to spend the next eight hours attached to my side like human glitter" - You practically tackled her with affection after that, laughing into her neck while Melissa held you close beneath the blankets, already accepting her fate.
You kissed her smiling like an idiot
-"Beside, we need to have a conversation with Gaia that I'm sure it will take hours with all her questions... I can ask a doctor's note from one of my coworkers..."-you whispered, the wheels turning in your head. Melissa looked at you with increasing concern as you visibly started plotting. Not normal thinking. Not reasonable adult thinking. The very specific kind of thinking that had probably gotten you into trouble since childhood.
-"I know that face"- she said slowly.
You blinked innocently up at her-"What face?"-
-"The face that says your brain just committed to a terrible idea emotionally before consulting logic" -
You gasped dramatically-"Excuse you. This is a beautiful idea" -
-"You’re trying to forge a sick note for cuddle purposes" - her voice was deep with sleep and it was doing dangerous things to your brain
-"For family bonding purposes" - you corrected-"That’s basically therapy"-
Melissa laughed so hard she nearly snorted, immediately hiding her face in your hair out of embarrassment. The sound made your chest warm embarrassingly fast. God, you could get addicted to that laugh.
-"Baby" - she said between giggles -"Gaia is going to interrogate us like a tiny FBI agent the second she realizes we’re home on a school day" -
-"I know." - your grin widened -"That’s part of the fun" - Melissa shook her head fondly, fingers tracing lazy shapes against your shoulder beneath the blankets. Then her expression softened again.
-"She’s really going to be happy, isn’t she?" - she asked quietly.
You didn’t even hesitate-"Yeah" - Something vulnerable flickered across Melissa’s face at that.
Because despite all the jokes, despite how natural this already felt between the three of you, part of her had still been scared. Scared of changing the balance. Scared of stepping too deeply into something precious and accidentally hurting it.
You must have noticed the shift immediately. Carefully, you tilted her chin up so she had to look at you-"Hey" - your voice turned gentler-"she already loves you, Lisa. This isn’t us forcing something new into her life"-Melissa’s eyes softened instantly.-"This is just us finally catching up to what she figured out months ago" - That made her laugh quietly through the emotion threatening her again
-"Honestly? That child’s emotional intelligence is terrifying" - she murmured
-"It’s because she was raised by two disasters with big feelings" - you nodded
-"One disaster" - Melissa corrected softly, poking your side -"I was very composed before meeting you" - You smiled against her lips before kissing her slowly again.
-"Sure you were" - You sat on her hips, the blanket slipping off your body, fully naked and happy on top of her
-"So that's a yes? We stay in today?"-you asked. Her brain stopped working the moment your naked body was on fully display on top of hers
Melissa’s entire train of thought derailed instantly. Completely.
One second she had been trying to maintain the illusion of being the responsible adult in this relationship. The next, you were sitting comfortably on her hips with sleepy hair, flushed skin, and absolutely no concern whatsoever for the devastating effect you had on her nervous system.
The blanket pooled around your thighs while morning light traced along your skin in soft gold.
Melissa stared. Openly. Hopelessly.
Her hands landed automatically on your hips like her body had made a decision before her brain could participate.
-"Lisa?" - you asked again, fighting a smile now -"Your eyes just went completely blank" -
-"I’m thinking"-she said, you could see how she was literally drooling
-"No you’re not" - That earned a weak offended sound from her. Then you shifted slightly on top of her and Melissa’s head fell back against the pillow with a quiet groan.
-"See? This is workplace sabotage."
You burst into laughter immediately-"So that’s a yes to staying home?"-
Melissa looked up at you again, trying very hard to remember how functioning thoughts worked while you sat there smiling down at her like temptation itself. It was a losing battle. Finally she sighed dramatically, sliding her hands slowly up your thighs.
-"You realize" - she murmured -"that if you keep looking at me like this, neither of us is surviving this morning productively" -
Your grin widened.-"That still sounds like a yes."
Melissa tried to hold onto dignity for three more seconds. Failed spectacularly. -"Fine" - she whispered, pulling you back down into her arms -"we stay home" - You celebrated immediately by kissing her like you’d just won the lottery.
Which, honestly, considering the way Melissa laughed into your mouth while holding you close beneath the morning sunlight, maybe you had.
You sucked her swollen lips into your mouth on the middle of the kiss, earning a soft moan that made you shiver. If you two weren't as sore you would have eating her for breakfast, lunch and diner all over again
-"Can we make breakfast together?" - you asked on top of her lips rolling your hips lightly against her, whimpering on her lips, the hands on your hips tightened in warning
-"By together you mean I cook and you sit on the counter asking for kisses?" - she asked with a raspy voice
You laughed softly against her mouth, still dizzy with affection and lingering warmth while her voice scraped low and sleepy beneath you. God. That voice alone could ruin your entire morning.
-"That sounds extremely collaborative to me" - you whispered, stealing another kiss.
Melissa’s fingers dug a little deeper into your hips when you rolled against her again, not enough to hurt, just enough to remind you both that your bodies were still deliciously oversensitive from the night before.
-"Careful" - she warned softly, though her own breath hitched a little -"you’re playing a dangerous game for someone who complained five minutes ago about not being able to feel their legs"-
-"But my mouth still works, that's enough" -That pulled a helpless laugh from her.
You stayed there another moment anyway, foreheads touching, both smiling stupidly into the quiet morning light like two people who still couldn’t fully believe this was real now. Official. Yours.
Melissa brushed a thumb along your cheek.
-"Breakfast together sounds nice" - she admitted softly -"But only if you promise not to distract me every thirty seconds."-
You gasped dramatically.-"You ask impossible things of me."-
-"I’m serious."-
-"And I’m deeply committed to being annoying in the kitchen."-
Melissa rolled her eyes fondly before tugging you down for another slow kiss.
-"Fine" - she murmured against your lips -"but if I burn the pancakes because you’re flirting with me, that becomes your emotional responsibility."-You smiled immediately.
-"Worth it."-
-"We should probably clean the counter deeply after all that happened yesterday in the kitchen" - she murmured thinking. You immediately buried your face against her shoulder laughing.
-"The poor counter went through a lot emotionally" - Melissa snorted softly, fingers absentmindedly combing through your messy hair-"Fuck you looked so delicious yesterday" - you kissed her neck
-"I’m serious. There are probably fingerprints everywhere."-
-"Lisa, we live there. I would hope there are fingerprints."- She pinched your side lightly for that.
-"You know what I mean."
You lifted your head just enough to grin at her-"Honestly? That kitchen deserves a medal" -
Melissa covered her face with one hand, already losing the battle against laughter again-"I cannot believe this is my life now"-
-"Your life now includes a very hot girlfriend and pancakes"-
-"Romance" - That finally broke her completely. Her laugh filled the room warm and bright while she hid her burning face against the pillow.
You watched her with the softest expression imaginable. Because this right here, this ridiculous sleepy conversation tangled in sheets with sunlight spilling across both of you, somehow felt every bit as intimate as the confessions from the night before.
Melissa noticed you staring after a moment.
-"What?" - she asked shyly. Your thumb brushed gently across her cheek.
-"Nothing," - you whispered fondly -"I just really like making you laugh" -you whispered giving baby kisses in her jaw.
Holding you with one hand, she stretched to the nightstand grabbing her phone, sending a text to Ava letting her know that she was "sick". The redhead never asked a day off, not even when she had that nasty fall outside the school, so even if the principal didn't believe her that it was because she was "sick", after all she did said you two would be up all night, she allowed the redhead the day off.
Melissa stared at the screen after sending the message, still looking mildly stunned by her own behavior. You watched her from where you were practically draped across her side, chin resting lazily on her shoulder.
-"Did you just commit academic fraud for me?" - you whispered dramatically.
Melissa laughed under her breath, locking her phone and tossing it back onto the nightstand.
-"Please. If Ava questions it, she’ll just assume I finally caught the plague from one of the kindergarteners."-your hand was doing lazy circles on her thighs
-"Or" - you added thoughtfully -"she’ll remember telling us we’d be up all night and connect the dots immediately"-
The redhead groaned instantly, covering her face-"God. She absolutely will" -You started laughing so hard the mattress shook beneath both of you.
-"Lisa, she’s going to look at your neck on Monday and know everything" -
-"Stop talking" -
-"She’s an educator. She observes patterns" - Melissa grabbed a pillow and smacked you weakly with it while trying not to laugh herself.
-"You’re enjoying my humiliation far too much" -
-"Counterpoint" - you said, catching the pillow and pulling her closer again -"you look adorable when scandalized" - That earned you a fond eye roll before Melissa melted back against you with a sleepy sigh.
For a quiet moment, neither of you spoke. The sunlight had shifted warmer now, painting gold across tangled blankets and rumpled sheets. Somewhere outside, the world was already moving forward with normal responsibilities and schedules and noise.
But here? Here there was only warmth. Shared laughter. The soft weight of your girlfriend in your arms.
Girlfriend. The word still sent ridiculous happiness blooming through your chest. Melissa must have noticed your expression because she smiled softly.
-"What are you thinking about?"
You kissed her temple lazily-"Just that this is the first morning I get to call you mine without pretending it’s a joke" - The redhead’s entire face softened instantly. Then she leaned closer, pressing one lingering kiss to your mouth before whispering:
-"Good. Because I plan on being very annoying about belonging to you now" - You smiled against her lips kissing her again, slowly slowing your kisses down, following the pattern of hickeys with softer kisses.
A phone started ringing with an upcoming call on the bedside table, Melissa stretched her hand and grabbed the phone picking up while you were still sharing kisses on her skin
-"Hello?"-she asked smiling because of you
-"Why are you answering mama's phone?" - the voice of your daughter on the other side made her open her eyes, without paying attention she had grabbed your phone thinking it was hers and she picked up. Melissa went completely still. You, meanwhile, had not yet processed the danger. Still half asleep, you kept pressing lazy kisses along her shoulder and neck while she stared into absolute middle-distance horror with your phone pressed to her ear.
On the other end, Gaia sounded deeply suspicious already-"...Mama?"-Melissa opened and closed her mouth once. Nothing came out.
You finally noticed the abrupt tension in her body and lifted your head slightly.
-"Everything okay, baby?"- Gaia gasped loudly through the speaker. Silence. Absolute catastrophic silence.
Melissa looked at you with the expression of someone watching their own funeral procession approach slowly from the distance.
You blinked. Then your eyes dropped to the phone in her hand. Then realization hit. Your soul briefly left your body.
Gaia recovered first.
-"WAIT" - her voice became increasingly louder and more delighted with every word -"WHY IS MELISSA IN YOUR BED?!"-Melissa made a strangled sound and immediately covered her face with one hand.
-"Correction, I'm in her bed" -You, traitorously, started laughing. Not a graceful laugh either. The kind that shook your entire body while Melissa stared at you in betrayal.
-"This is not funny" - she hissed under her breath while Gaia practically vibrated through the phone speaker.
-"It's a little funny..."-you smiled peaking the redhead's lips
-"MAMA!"-You finally took pity on the situation enough to grab the phone gently.
-"Good morning, tiny FBI agent" -
-"YOU SAID YOU WERE SICK!" - She yelled
-"Technically true. I’m love sick" - Melissa physically collapsed into the pillows behind you with a groan so dramatic Gaia burst into delighted cackling.
-"OH MY GOD YOU’RE GIRLFRIENDS!"-You looked back at Melissa, who was now hiding her entire burning face in a pillow while her red hair exploded everywhere dramatically.
And suddenly you started laughing all over again because honestly? This was exactly how your daughter finding out was always going to happen.
You sat on the bed laughing, your back full of scratches making the redhead feel guilty
-"If you are girlfriends now that means now you will sleep together and I will have the other room only for myself?"-she asked exited
You laughed so hard you nearly dropped the phone.
Melissa, however, looked deeply betrayed.-"THAT is your first question?!" - she exclaimed, still hiding beneath the blankets up to her nose.
Gaia gasped dramatically-"What? This changes the entire room economy" - You wheezed.
Melissa pointed accusingly at the phone.-"She gets this from you."-
-"Incorrect," - you said proudly -"she’s naturally gifted" -
Gaia hummed thoughtfully on the other end.
-"Soooo... does this mean I can decorate the other room however I want?"-
Melissa stared at the ceiling like she was reconsidering every life choice that had led her here.
-"We haven’t even had coffee yet and I’m already negotiating custody of furniture" -You crawled back toward her across the bed, grinning helplessly while wrapping one arm around her waist.
-"Careful, love. She smells weakness" -
-"I HEARD THAT!" - Your daughter yelled on the other side
-"You were meant to" - Gaia giggled loudly, clearly delighted beyond reason by the chaos unfolding.
Then her voice softened a little.-"Wait... are you happy?"-The room quieted instantly.
Melissa looked at you. You looked at Melissa.
And suddenly all the embarrassment and teasing melted into something warm enough to ache. You smiled softly before answering.
-"Yeah, bug. Really happy."
There was a tiny pause. Then Gaia made the most satisfied little sound imaginable.
-"Knew it" - Melissa laughed quietly at that, finally relaxing against your side while you kissed the top of her head-"Can we still build blanket forts if you’re in love now?"-
You and Melissa answered at the exact same time-"Obviously" -That made Gaia cheer loudly through the speaker while Melissa buried her smiling face against your shoulder, your laughter mixing together beneath the soft morning sunlight.
-"If I don't have school because Melissa is 'sick'"-you could hear the sarcasm on her voice-"will you come pick me up?" - she asked. Your hand was drawing lazy patterns on the redhead's back
-"Yes bebe, we will have breakfast and we will go pick you up" - you said softly
-"Can we go to the park after?" - she asked and you looked at Melissa
-"We can go to the park..."-the redhead said softly holding your waist
-"And the arcade?" - your daughter asked and you laughed softly
-"You are milking this... Melissa is sick" - you teased laughing.
Gaia gasped with the pure outrage of a tiny lawyer being denied her constitutional rights-"Exactly. She’s sick. Sick people need joy"-You immediately lost the fight against laughter again. Melissa, traitorously, nodded against your shoulder like Gaia had made a compelling medical argument.
-"She does have a point..."-You looked between the two of them in betrayal.
-"You’re teaming up against me already? We became girlfriends last night..."-
-"Healthy relationships require collaboration" - Melissa replied with suspicious seriousness.
Gaia chimed in proudly-"And arcade games."
You groaned dramatically-"I’ve created monsters."
-"No" - Melissa corrected softly, fingers squeezing your waist beneath the blanket -"you created a family" - That one hit you directly in the chest. Your expression melted instantly while Melissa looked slightly startled by her own wording again, like the thought had slipped out naturally before she could overthink it.
Gaia, however, sounded delighted.
-"WAIT does this mean we can have matching Halloween costumes now?"-You laughed helplessly. You remembered Melissa's Scarlett Witch and you bit your lip remembering that, that was the first time you felt attraction to her, even if you didn't said anything on that moment.
Melissa buried her face against your shoulder trying not to laugh too loudly
-"Yes bebe, we can" - you whispered kissing the redhead briefly. Then Gaia cleared her throat dramatically through the speaker.
-"So the arcade?"-
You sighed like a defeated warrior-"Fine. Park and arcade" - Gaia cheered so loudly you had to pull the phone away from your ear.
Melissa laughed warmly against your skin while your fingers threaded through her red hair, the three of you already slipping so naturally into this strange lovely little shape together that it felt less like something new and more like something finally found.
-"Go brush your teeth and pack your stuff, we will be there in an hour or so" - you said to the phone-"Te amo bebe"
-"I love you both" - she said exited before hanging up
-"We need to get up and shower" - you said lazy.
For a moment after the call ended, neither of you moved. The room stayed quiet except for the faint buzz of the disconnected phone and the soft sound of Melissa breathing against your shoulder.
Then she whispered-"She said both" - You looked down at her immediately.
Melissa’s eyes looked suspiciously glassy again, her fingers still curled loosely against your waist beneath the blankets.
-"Yeah" - you murmured softly -"she did" - The redhead smiled in that fragile overwhelmed way she got whenever happiness arrived too suddenly for her to fully trust it yet.
Then, because the universe refused to let either of you stay emotional for longer than thirty seconds uninterrupted, you shifted slightly and both of you winced at the soreness radiating through your bodies.
-"Right" - you groaned dramatically -"we are unfortunately mortal"-Melissa laughed against your collarbone.
-"And apparently not nineteen anymore" - she murmured
-"Speak for yourself. Spiritually I’m still young and athletic" - You tried to sit up. Your legs immediately threatened mutiny.
Melissa watched you collapse halfway back onto the mattress with the slow satisfaction of someone witnessing karma happen in real time.
-"Athletic," - she repeated.
-"I hate this house" - Melissa dissolved into laughter again while you buried your face into her stomach dramatically.
After another reluctant minute tangled together beneath the blankets, you sighed.
-"We really do need to shower before Gaia gets here" - Melissa hummed sleepily without moving-"Want to shower together?"-
Melissa looked at you knowingly-"That depends. Is this a real shower or one of your suspicious showers?"-
You gasped in mock offense.-"Lisa. I would never" - Her eyebrow lifted immediately.
Both of you remembered the kitchen counter at the exact same time-"...you know what," - you admitted thoughtfully -"that’s fair" -
After the shower, a shower with just kisses, you went downstairs to make breakfast, not without cleaning everything very well before.
You put on some music and Mel cooked for you
The kitchen felt entirely different in daylight.
Softer somehow. Less like the scene of your collective loss of self-control and more like a place already learning the shape of shared mornings.
Though admittedly, every time Melissa walked past the counter both of you avoided eye contact for at least three seconds. Just in case.
After and amazing breakfast and a few more kisses, you went to pick up your daughter, Melissa using a high turtle neck sweater to avoid letting your daughter see the mess of marks you left on her.
The second Melissa stepped out of the car, Gaia ran to her, being picked up by the redhead immediately, trying to play with her necklaces like she always did, but narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the high turtle neck. Not dramatic suspicion. Professional suspicion. The kind detectives in crime shows had right before uncovering government conspiracies.
You watched from the distance, resting against the car on your side to avoid putting stress on your messed up back, already trying not to laugh.
Gaia slowly looked Melissa up and down. Then at the turtleneck. Then at Melissa’s very obvious attempt to avoid eye contact. Then back to the turtleneck.
-"It’s like twenty degrees outside" - she said carefully. Melissa froze mid-step.
-"I..." - the redhead cleared her throat -"I was cold this morning" - Gaia’s eyes narrowed further.
You physically had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from losing it.
Then your daughter looked at you
-"Mama" - she said with narrowed eyes
-"Hm?"-you smiled, stepping closer to them to kiss her forehead
-"Melissa looks guilty" - Melissa made a wounded sound beside you while you burst out laughing immediately.
-"Traitor" - she muttered under her breath.
Gaia gasped.-"WAIT. How do I have to call you now that you are girlfriends?"-she seemed concerned
You both went quiet for a second. Melissa hugged her a bit tighter. And there it was again, that soft emotional expression she got every time reality caught up with her happiness.
-"You can call me whatever makes you comfortable, sweetheart" - she said gently.
Gaia thought about it with terrifying seriousness.
-"Can I still call you Melissa?"-she nodded.
-"Absolutely princess" - the redhead would never pressure her to do anything she didn't want to.
Then your daughter’s gaze drifted back to the sweater again. A beat passed. Another. And suddenly her eyes widened with horrifying realization. Melissa visibly panicked.
-"You know what?" - you interrupted quickly, open the car door-"who is ready to go to the park and eat ice-cream?!"
-"SHE BIT YOU?!" - Gaia shouted triumphantly from the backseat . Melissa turned more impossible red. You nearly drove into another dimension from laughing.
When you arrived to the park, you expected to at least have 2 min of peace, but as soon as you lay down the blanket and the basket, your daughter sat in front of you looking at both of you
-"I have questions" - she said
You stopped in the middle of taking the things out of the baskets as if someone had announced a hostage negotiation.
Melissa, beside you, whispered-"Why is she sitting like a tiny therapist" - Because Gaia was sitting like a therapist. Legs crossed. Hands folded. Expression devastatingly serious. The park had somehow transformed into an interrogation chamber. You pointed accusingly at your daughter.
-"This feels illegal" - Melissa immediately started laughing into her sleeve while you looked deeply betrayed
-"Question one" - Your daughter said and groaned already.
-"There are numbered questions?!"-you frowned
-"Focus, Mama" - Melissa was fully pink now from trying not to laugh too loudly. Gaia looked between both of you with exaggerated seriousness-"How long have you been in love with each other?" -
Silence. You and Melissa immediately pointed at each other.
-"She first" -
-"Absolutely not" - you denied
Gaia squinted.
-"Cowards" - your daughter murmured.
Melissa covered her face while you wheezed beside her. Then slowly, the redhead lowered her hands and smiled shyly-"I think..." - she glanced at you softly -"probably before either of us admitted it" - You looked at her with such immediate tenderness Gaia made a disgusted sound.
-"Ew. Okay. That answer was cute. I hate this already" - she made a puke sound.
-"You started the interrogation" - you said
-"And I regret nothing" - Then she leaned forward dramatically-"Question two. Were you flirting all those times in the kitchen when you thought I wasn’t noticing?"-Both of you froze. Gaia gasped loudly-"OH MY GOD YOU WERE" - Melissa looked seconds away from evaporating into thin air. You tried dignity. Failed catastrophically.
-"In our defense," - you said weakly -"we thought we were being subtle" - Gaia stared at both of you with the exhausted disappointment of a war veteran.
-"Mama. Melissa literally made you heart-shaped pancakes" - You blinked. Melissa blinked. Gaia spread her hands helplessly-"You two were one slow song away from a romantic movie montage" - she said stating the obvious
-"If I buy you ice cream, can we stop this?" - Melissa asked and your daughter nodded
-"Deal, but one last thing... I want a baby brother" - she said and run away to the ice-cream truck. The silence afterward was so immediate and violent it could have shattered glass. Melissa choked on absolutely nothing. You stared at Gaia.
Gaia stared back with complete confidence, like she’d just requested extra ketchup instead of detonating a conversational grenade in the middle of the park
-"Come on Mel! I want cookie ice-cream!"-she yelled from the distance. Melissa remained completely frozen beside you on the blanket. Absolutely motionless.
Somewhere in the distance, children screamed happily near the swings, birds chirped, and Gaia continued yelling about cookie ice cream like she hadn’t just emotionally flashbanged two adults in broad daylight.
-"Mel!" - she shouted again from beside the truck -"Before the good flavors disappear!"-she jumped up and down.
The redhead slowly turned toward you. Very slowly. Like a haunted Victorian doll gaining consciousness. You were trying so hard not to laugh your entire face hurt.
-"Baby brother?" - Melissa repeated faintly. Then she covered her face with both hands-"Oh my God" - That finally broke you.
You folded forward laughing helplessly while Melissa stared at the sky like she was personally asking the universe for strength.
-"She said it so casually," - Melissa whispered in disbelief -"like she was asking for a goldfish" - she whispered
-"To be fair" - you wheezed -"she probably thinks babies are easier than goldfish" - Melissa looked at you with betrayal in her eyes.
-"Why are you finding this funny?!"-she asked offended.
-"Because your face right now is incredible" - you laughed
-"I’m having a crisis" - she said scared. You reached over, still laughing softly, and squeezed her knee affectionately. Melissa exhaled hard through her nose before finally mumbling
-"I can’t even process being your girlfriend yet and apparently Gaia already has a five-year family development plan" -That only made you laugh again. Then your expression softened. You leaned closer, brushing your shoulder gently against hers.
-"Hey" - you said quietly -"you know she doesn’t mean pressure, right?"-you looked at her, Melissa’s eyes immediately softened too. Because she did know. Gaia wasn’t asking out of expectation. She was dreaming out loud. The way children do when something makes them feel safe enough to imagine a future inside it. Melissa swallowed softly.
Then from the ice cream truck-"MELISSAAA SCHEMMENTI!!!" -The redhead sighed dramatically.
-"I fear I’ve become emotionally attached to a tiny extortionist" - she murmured getting up
-"Too late now" - you teased gently -"she already adopted you" - Melissa smiled despite herself. Then she looked toward Gaia standing impatiently by the truck, sunlight catching the edges of her curls while she waved frantically for her to hurry up. And something impossibly tender unfolded across Melissa’s face. Something warm. Terrified. Hopeful. Like part of her heart had already started building a home there without asking permission first.
You noticed immediately. Of course you did. Your fingers slipped gently through hers.
-"Come on, love" - you whispered softly -"your kid is waiting".
After they bought the biggest ice cream possible, they came back to you.
The park had settled into that golden sleepy hour where everything felt softer around the edges. Children’s laughter drifted through the breeze. Someone nearby was playing music too quietly to recognize. The grass smelled warm beneath the blanket.
Gaia sat a few feet away cross-legged, entirely focused on destroying the largest ice cream cone legally available to a child. Chocolate streaked one cheek, cookie crumbs clung to her shirt, and every few seconds she hummed happily to herself while watching other kids race across the playground.
Melissa looked at her with helpless affection-"She’s wearing more ice cream than she’s eating" - You laughed softly from where your head rested comfortably on Melissa’s thighs.
-"That’s part of the experience" -
Melissa rolled her eyes fondly before scooping another bite from the cup between you both-"Open" - You obeyed immediately, smiling lazily when she fed you the spoonful. The redhead’s fingers brushed your lips accidentally in the process and both of you paused for the tiniest second. Still not used to this. Still a little dazzled by it. Girlfriend.
The word kept echoing quietly through both your heads like a song neither of you wanted to end. Melissa smiled down at you softly.
-"You look very pleased with yourself" - she whispered, her thumb tracing your bottom lip.
-"I am" - you admitted shamelessly -"I’m lying in my beautiful girlfriend’s lap while our daughter commits crimes against ice cream cones" - That made her laugh under her breath.
Your hand drifted lazily along the back of her knee while she kept feeding you little bites between conversations, absentmindedly caring for you in the most natural way imaginable.
-"Mama" - Gaia said without looking away from the playground.
-"Hm?"-you asked
-"You’re smiling at Melissa weird" - she pointed. You burst into laughter instantly. Melissa nearly dropped the spoon.
-"What does that even mean?" - she asked, scandalized. Gaia shrugged casually, still covered in chocolate.
-"Like in movies before people kiss in the rain" - You physically had to sit up because laughing on Melissa’s lap had become impossible-"Can we play baseball?" - your daughter asked exited, hands full of ice-cream.
-"Wash your hands first, I don't want you getting Lisa's bat dirty" - your daughter nodded running exited running to the faucet on the park to get cleaned.
You turned grabbing the redhead's jaw with your hand and kissed her deeply and slowly. Melissa melted instantly into the kiss. Not surprised. Not hesitant. Like she had already learned your gravity and her body simply followed it naturally now. Her hand slid up your wrist to hold it there against her jaw while your mouths moved slowly together beneath the warm afternoon sunlight, sweet with melted ice cream and lazy happiness.
For a few seconds the entire park blurred away. The noise. The children running. The music in the distance.
There was only the soft sigh Melissa made against your lips when you kissed her deeper.
Then-"EWWWWWW" - Both of you broke apart laughing immediately. Gaia stood a few feet away now, hands finally clean, staring at both of you with exaggerated horror-"You guys are kissing in public like teenagers" - Melissa hid her face against your shoulder instantly, laughing helplessly while you grinned shamelessly at your daughter.
-"And yet you interrupted us instead of looking away" - you raised your eyebrow.
-"Because I live here now," - Gaia answered dramatically, pointing between both of you -"This affects me emotionally" - You snorted.
Melissa finally lifted her head enough to smile at Gaia warmly-"I thought you wanted baseball" -
Gaia gasped-"RIGHT! So stop kissing" - she pointed at the both of you. Immediately she grabbed Melissa’s wrist and started dragging the redhead toward the open grass.
-"Mama come too" - she yelled at you and you got up from the blanket
-"Baby I suck at baseball, you know that" - you complained grabbing a ball
-"I can teach you" - the redhead offered immediately. She loved baseball, you knew that, she was an Eagles fan, she had a favorite collection of bats and she played with Gaia in the free time.You looked at Melissa with immediate suspicion.
-"Teach me?" - you repeated slowly -"Last time I tried, I almost hit myself with the bat" -
Gaia nodded gravely-"It was really embarrassing"-
-"Thank you for the support bebe" -you said. Melissa laughed warmly beside your daughter while the two of them dragged you farther across the grass anyway.
The sun painted gold along Melissa’s hair, turning the red into copper fire while she carried the bat easily over one shoulder. Comfortable. Confident. Entirely in her element now. God, she looked beautiful like this. Relaxed enough to shine.
-"Okay" - Melissa said, stopping in an open patch of grass -"first rule: stop looking at the bat like it personally offended you"-she pointed at you
-"It knows what it did" -
Gaia groaned dramatically-"Mama focus"-You stuck your tongue out at her before Melissa stepped behind you gently.
And immediately your brain stopped functioning. Her arms slid around yours to adjust your grip on the bat, chest warm against your back, her voice low near your ear while she repositioned your hands carefully
-"Relax your shoulders," - she murmured softly.
You swallowed-"I was relaxed before you got this close" - your voice came more pleading that what you expect, her front was pressing your scratchs on your back reminding you of last night.
Gaia made the loudest disgusted sound in human history-"NO FLIRTING DURING SPORTS!-
Melissa burst out laughing against your shoulder while you grinned shamelessly.
Then the redhead tapped your stance lightly with her foot-"Feet apart a little more" - You obeyed.
-"Good," - she praised automatically. And for some reason that simple little praise hit you directly in the nervous system.
Melissa noticed instantly.
So did Gaia unfortunately.
Your daughter narrowed her eyes.
-"...Why did mama make that face"-she squinted her eyes
-"No reason" - Melissa answered too quickly.
-"Suspicious..."-
You were still trying to recover while Melissa stepped away, smiling to herself now.
Then Gaia tossed the ball gently toward you. You swung. Missed spectacularly. The momentum spun you halfway around like a cartoon.
Melissa laughed so hard she doubled over immediately.
-"BABY!"-she laughed at you
-"I hate this sport... If we were playing fútbol I would be kicking your butts" - you murmured
-"You don't know how to play football..."-Melisa said and you looked at her squinting
-"Not football! I said fútbol! Like Messi!" - you yelled to her
-"Oh yes, she would be kicking our butts, that's why I don't wanna play with her" - your daughter agreed-"Again!" - Gaia demanded enthusiastically.
Twenty minutes later the three of you were breathless and laughing.
Gaia had grass stains on her knees. You had nearly dropped the bat six separate times. Melissa was glowing with happiness so obvious it almost hurt to witness.
At one point Gaia managed to hit the ball surprisingly far and sprinted after it triumphantly across the grass.
Leaving you and Melissa alone for a moment. The redhead moved beside you, smiling softly while taking the bat from your hands.
-"You’re improving" - she kissed your cheek
-"Liar" - you replied and kiss her briefly
-"A little..."-You laughed quietly before your gaze drifted toward Gaia in the distance. Then back to Melissa. And suddenly the sight of them together hit you all over again.
Melissa teaching Gaia patiently. Cheering for her. Laughing with her. Existing beside both of you like she had always belonged there.
Your chest tightened painfully with affection.
Melissa noticed the change in your expression immediately.
-"What?" - she asked softly. You stepped closer, brushing your fingers against hers around the handle of the bat.
-"Nothing," - you whispered with a helpless smile -"I’m just very in love with you right now" - you smiled kissing her again before your daughter could complain.
After you couldn't run anymore and you were covered on mud and grass, you decided to go home to take a shower before going to the arcade.
While you were showering yourself and your daughter, someone knocked on the door
-"I got it!" - Mel said coming down the stairs. When she opened the door, Barbara and all her friends from Abbott were there outside the door-"Barb?" - the redhead asked, the hand of her friend went immediately to the forehead
-"How are you feeling? Do you have any fever?" - her friend entered the house followed by the rest without waiting for permission.
Melissa froze in the doorway like a deer caught in the world’s most judgmental headlights.
Barbara’s hand was still pressed dramatically to her forehead while the rest of the group poured into the house carrying bags, drinks, and the chaotic energy of people who had absolutely decided this was a medical emergency social event.
Behind Barbara, Ava walked in holding iced coffee and sunglasses indoors like she owned the property already.
Jacob carried what appeared to be three different soups.
Janine had flowers.
Gregory looked deeply concerned but also vaguely resigned, like this exact situation happened to him weekly.
Melissa blinked rapidly.
-"...Why are all of you here?"-she frowned. Barbara looked scandalized by the question.
-"Melissa Schemmenti, you never take sick days" - the older pointed dramatically at her.
-"Exactly. You’re like one emotional breakdown away from becoming a ghost teacher haunting the school forever" - Jacob nodded solemnly.
-"We thought you might be dying" - Ava said smiling knowing the truth behind this.
Melissa opened her mouth. Closed it.
Then from upstairs came your voice-"Gaia stop spraying me with water!"-you laughed
-"YOU STARTED IT" -Followed immediately by shrieking laughter.
The entire group went silent. Slowly. Painfully slowly. Everyone turned toward Melissa. Ava’s sunglasses lowered down her nose with devastating precision. Barbara’s eyes widened just slightly. Gregory looked upward in realization like a man solving advanced calculus. Janine physically gasped. And Jacob? Jacob looked thrilled.
-"Melissa" - Ava said slowly, already smiling like a shark sensing blood in the water -"why does your sick day sound gay" - she smiled
Melissa’s soul left her body instantly-"It’s not what it sounds like" - she said quickly
At that exact moment you came downstairs. Hair damp from the shower. Wearing sweatpants and one of Melissa’s oversized Eagles hoodies. Looking entirely too happy and domestic for the situation. You stopped dead seeing the group in the living room.
The group stared back. Ava made a sound like she’d just won the lottery.
-"OH MY GOD"-Barbara looked between both of you once. Twice. Then her expression softened into immediate understanding so complete it was almost maternal-"Thank you Jesus! FINALLY!"-
Melissa covered her face. You looked at the redhead. Then at the teachers. Then back at Melissa. And slowly your grin spread.
-"...So," - you said carefully -"funny story... We didn't sleep last night" - you said smiling and Ava clapped
Melissa made a sound so offended and embarrassed at the same time that the entire room immediately lost composure.
-"I knew it! I told yall" - the principal smiled. Then she looked at the neck of the redhead covered in hickeys that right now they weren't covered with a piece of fabric because of the recent showered, then back at you-"Daam Melissa, you are living with a wild animal?"- Ava said
-"You should see what she did to my back before calling me wild animal" - you murmured under your breath
-"AVA!" - Ava was already crying laughing.
-"I’m just saying!" - she pointed dramatically at the visible marks along Melissa’s neck -"Girl, were you fighting for your life?!"-she joked.
You physically had to turn away because laughing directly in Melissa’s face felt dangerous for your long-term survival. Barbara, meanwhile, looked deeply entertained despite trying to maintain dignity.
-"Lord have mercy," - she muttered, though the smile pulling at her mouth betrayed her completely.
Janine’s jaw was hanging open-"YOU TWO ARE TOGETHER?"-
From upstairs Gaia yelled proudly-"THEY’RE IN LOVE!" - she said trying to change in her room but also be part of the conversation.
Melissa closed her eyes like she was accepting death at last.
Gregory quietly took a sip of coffee like none of this surprised him anymore.
Jacob looked emotionally invested to a frankly concerning degree.
-"Honestly," - he admitted -"this explains so much"-
-"THANK YOU," - Ava shouted immediately -"I thought I was hallucinating the tension for months" -
Melissa pointed at all of them accusingly-"Why is everyone acting like this was obvious?!"-
Every single person in the room stared at her.
Silence.
-"Melissa, the only two idiots that didn't knew you like each other, were each other" - the principal said.
The redhead looked betrayed beyond words. You finally stepped beside her, still smiling helplessly, and slipped an arm around her waist.
-"In her defense" - you teased softly -"she thought heart-shaped pancakes were subtle" - Ava physically bent over laughing.
Barbara clutched her chest.
Janine looked ready to ascend spiritually.
And Melissa? Melissa buried her burning face into your shoulder while muttering-"I’m moving to another country" -
Your daughter came running down the stairs looking at all the people at your house happily
-"Are you coming to the arcade with us?" - she asked exited, her t-shirt inside out because of her excitement
-"Baby they came to see Mel and her sickness"-you teased
-"It was your idea!" - Melisa said looking at you and you smiled kissing her cheek.
-"Do you want to stay, I can make some pizzas and we can watch something" - you asked watching at rest of professors in your living room, you knew Mel loved to have people at home and you knew that everyone, specially Barbara were dying to ask more details about all that happened after the previous night together.
The entire room went quiet for exactly one second. Then absolute chaos erupted.
-"PIZZA NIGHT!" - Jacob shouted immediately.
-"I knew this sick day was fake" - Gregory muttered into his coffee.
Ava pointed dramatically between both of you.
-"You cannot casually invite us into your lesbian domestic fantasy like this and expect me to leave" - she sat at the couch.
Melissa groaned into her hands.
Barbara, however, looked deeply pleased. The kind of pleased only someone who had spent months watching two idiots orbit each other at work could look-"That sounds lovely, sweetheart," - she said warmly.
Gaia gasped so loudly you thought she might achieve flight-"YES. WE CAN ALL PLAY GAMES!" - Your daughter jumped up and down.
You slid your arm fully around Melissa’s waist while she leaned automatically against your side now, no hesitation left in it anymore. Comfortable. Like she belonged there.
Ava noticed immediately and pointed again.
-"Look at them. They already stand like a married couple at Home Depot arguing about paint samples" -
-"That is weirdly specific" - you said.
-"Because it’s true" - she nodded
Melissa turned pink again while you laughed softly against her temple.
Then Gaia marched into the center of the room with all the confidence of a tiny event coordinator.
-"Okay. Mister Eddie, can you help me bring chairs from the kitchen, please? And cushions!"-Everyone actually looked at her.
Your daughter spread her hands dramatically.
-"Games now. Pizza later with movie. Romance bullying all day!"-she said smiling.
Ava wiped imaginary tears from her eyes-"I never wanted kids, but I like this one"
Barbara smiled fondly toward Gaia before looking back at Melissa. And there it was again. That soft knowing look. The one that said I see how happy you are.
Melissa caught it too. For just a second her expression shifted, something vulnerable and overwhelmed flickering there beneath the embarrassment and teasing. Because this entire thing still felt unreal. The warmth. The ease. You beside her smiling like she hung the moon itself. Gaia already weaving her into the shape of family so naturally.
Barbara noticed immediately. Of course she did. She stepped closer and squeezed Melissa’s hand gently-"I’m very happy for you, baby" - Melissa’s eyes softened instantly.
Then before the emotion could fully settle, Ava clapped loudly-"Okay enough feelings. I need details. Which one of you made the first move?"-
You and Melissa looked at each other. Then simultaneously pointed at the other again. The room exploded.
After answering most of the questions without giving too many private details, you went to the kitchen to make the pizzas, hearing the way they joked about stuff and played with Gaia.
It felt weird they way that you just went from being just you and your daughter to having a whole family and friends at home, so full, so loud, so nice.
The kitchen glowed warm beneath the soft yellow lights while you worked the pizza dough between your hands, the house was alive. Not politely occupied. Alive.
Laughter spilled from the living room in waves. Someone shouted dramatically about boardgame cheating. Gaia’s voice cut through the noise every few seconds at maximum volume, immediately followed by Melissa laughing in that breathless helpless way that had already become one of your favorite sounds in the world.
You paused for a moment, flour dusting your fingers. And listened.
Barbara was telling some story in the living room while Janine interrupted every ten seconds in outrage. Jacob was apparently trying to teach magic to Gaia while Mel explained how the trick worked. Ava had made herself comfortable on your couch like an evil glamorous cat claiming territory.
And Melissa? Melissa sounded happy. Not careful-happy. Not nervous-happy. The real kind. The kind that loosened her voice and made her laugh louder than usual. Your chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because for so long it had only been you and Gaia. Your small routines. Your quiet dinners. The constant low hum of survival mode wrapped so tightly around your life you’d almost forgotten people could simply... stay.
That homes could sound like this. Full.
You looked toward the living room doorway just in time to see Melissa sprawled on the carpet with Gaia beside her, both of them arguing passionately over arcade strategy while Barbara laughed from the couch.
Melissa looked up mid-conversation. Found you watching. And smiled instantly. God. That smile. Not the flirtatious one. Not the teasing one.
The soft one that reached her eyes slowly like sunlight spilling across water. The kind that said there you are. Something warm and enormous bloomed painfully behind your ribs.
Melissa must have noticed the shift in your face because her expression softened too.
-"You okay?" - she called gently over the noise.
You looked around the house again. At the mess. The noise. The people already reaching into the kitchen for drinks without asking. Gaia laughing so hard she nearly fell sideways onto Melissa’s shoulder.
Family.
The word still felt too big to touch directly. But somehow it was already here anyway. You smiled quietly before answering-"Yeah" - your voice softer than before -"I think I am."
Your face was soft, like full of feelings. Mel left Gaia with Barbara and went to the kitchen with you, holding your waist from behind and resting her face on your shoulder
-"What is going on that mind?" - she asked softly.
You exhaled slowly, leaning back into her warmth without even thinking about it.
Melissa’s arms tightened around your waist automatically, her chin resting on your shoulder while the noise from the living room blurred into a soft comforting hum behind both of you.
For a moment you just stayed therna Her heartbeat against your back. Flour on your hands. The smell of pizza dough and tomato sauce filling the kitchen. Home. The thought hit so suddenly it almost hurt. Your fingers stilled over the counter.
-"Nothing bad," - you whispered quickly, already feeling Melissa tense slightly behind you in concern -"Promise."
She relaxed immediately, pressing one soft kiss against the side of your neck, it made you shiver lightly-"Then what is it?"
You swallowed softly. How could you even explain this feeling? The strange ache in your chest from realizing happiness had arrived quietly while you weren’t looking.
You glanced toward the living room again.
Gaia was showing Barbara something dramatically with her hands while Ava argued with Jacob about movies. Gregory was helping Janine untangle something from her purse. And right in the middle of all of it sat Melissa’s sweater and youra tossed carelessly over the couch like you already belonged here. Like if you were meant to stay. Your eyes burned unexpectedly.
-"I think..." - you laughed softly at yourself, embarrassed by the emotion clogging your throat -"I think I got so used to surviving that I forgot life could feel like this" - Melissa went very still behind you. You kept speaking quietly. -"For so long it was just me and Gaia trying to make things work, you know?" - your hand covered one of hers around your waist -"And I loved our life. God, I did. But everything always felt... temporary somehow" - Melissa’s grip tightened. You leaned your head gently against hers-"And now you’re here"-Your voice cracked a little on the last word.
The redhead melted instantly. She turned you carefully in her arms until she could see your face properly, her own expression already full of that overwhelming tenderness she never managed to hide from you anymore.
-"Honey..." - she whispered.
You laughed weakly-"It’s stupid. I'm getting emotional over pizza..."-you joked
-"No" - Her hands slid up to cradle your face gently, thumbs brushing beneath your eyes before tears could fully gather there-"No, don’t do that," - she murmured softly -"Don’t make your heart smaller just because it’s full."-That almost ended you completely.
Your face crumpled into helpless emotional laughter while Melissa smiled through suspiciously shiny eyes herself.
Then she kissed you. Slow. Warm. Certain. The kind of kiss that didn’t ask permission to stay forever because it already had.
When you separated, you hid your face on her chest, hugging her waist and keeping her close to you, enjoying the warmth and smell of her skin
-"You know... I've been thinking about what Gaia said earlier... Do you want to have more babies?" - you asked softly and she tensed a little-"Not right now... I mean in the future, is something you would like?" - you murmured
-"I always wanted babies... But after my divorce I thought I was too old for it and the chances of a successful pregnancy at my age were not good, so I left that dream behind..."-she whispered softly and felt how your hands tightened around her waist
-"I just wanted to know... We already have Gaia..."-you whispered against her chest
-"But I grew up with many siblings... And even though we fight a lot, I really love them... And it would be nice if Gaia has someone else to play with... I mean if you want" - she whispered and kissed your head. Your chest tightened painfully at the softness in her voice.
Not because of the words themselves. Because Melissa sounded like someone carefully unfolding an old dream she had already taught herself not to touch anymore. You lifted your head slowly from her chest just enough to look at her.
The kitchen lights painted gold across her freckles and damp red curls, and suddenly she looked younger somehow. Vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.
-"Lisa..." - you whispered softly. She smiled a little, shy now under your gaze.
-"I know it’s complicated" - she admitted quietly-"And expensive and scary and probably something very far away if it ever happened at all. I just..." - her fingers brushed gently through your hair -"I used to imagine a loud house" - You swallowed hard-"And Gaia is loud" - she laughed making you laugh-"but now that you both are here, that fantasy that was buried on the past has resurfaced" - she said softly and you kissed her lips again.
Behind you both, the living room exploded into laughter again. Gaia shouting something about cheating at Mario Kart while Ava defended herself dramatically. A loud house. You looked toward the noise instinctively. And then back at Melissa. At the woman standing in your kitchen, holding you like she had already started building a life around you without realizing it. Your hands tightened gently at her waist.
-"You know" - you murmured softly -"when Gaia was born I was terrified" - Melissa’s expression softened immediately-"I was young and broke and exhausted all the time. And everyone kept talking about how motherhood changes your life forever like it was supposed to sound scary" - You laughed quietly to yourself-"But nobody told me that sometimes the scary part isn’t loving someone too much" - Melissa listened silently, thumbs brushing little comforting circles against your skin-"It’s realizing your heart can keep making room" - That made her eyes shine instantly. You smiled weakly-"So... if one day, far in the future, we decided we wanted another baby?" - you shrugged softly -"I think I’d like that, very much" - you whispered. Melissa’s breath caught. Really caught. Like the answer had slipped past every wall she’d carefully built around that dream.
-"Yeah?" - she whispered.
You nodded-"Yeah."
The redhead stared at you for one fragile overwhelmed second before pulling you into her arms so fast you laughed softly against her shoulder. Then she hid her face in your hair.
And quietly, almost embarrassed by how much hope lived inside the words, she whispered-"I think you’d look very beautiful holding our baby" - she kissed your forehead
-"Poor you when you have to deal with my crazy hormones and weird cravings" - you said smiling
-"Poor me?" - she repeated incredulously -"Baby, you’re already dramatic when you’re hungry"-
You gasped in mock offense.-"I am not dramatic"-
From the living room Ava yelled without hesitation-"YES YOU ARE"-Both of you burst into helpless laughter.
Melissa kissed your forehead fondly before speaking again-"You’d absolutely wake me up at three in the morning crying because we don’t have the right brand of pickles" - she said, her strong Philly accent escaping more thick now that she was relaxed
-"Wrong" - you corrected seriously -"I’d cry because the pickles looked at me with bad energy" - you nodded
-"See? This is exactly what I mean"-she pecked your lips
You grinned shamelessly against her lips-"And you would still go buy me pickles."
Melissa’s entire expression softened instantly-"Without shoes if necessary."
That warmth bloomed in your chest again, huge and impossible to hold quietly. You tucked yourself closer against her, hands sliding beneath the back of her shirt just to feel her there. Real.
Melissa smiled down at you with that same overwhelming tenderness that always made it look like she couldn’t quite believe you existed either.
-"Honestly," - she murmured softly -"I think you’d be adorable pregnant"-
You immediately buried your burning face against her shoulder-"I regret bringing this up."
She laughed quietly, hugging you tighter.
-"No you don't" -
-"...Maybe a little"-Melissa tilted your chin up gently until you looked at her again.
-"Can I tell you something awful?"-she asked
You narrowed your eyes suspiciously-"That introduction is concerning"-
The redhead looked entirely too pleased with herself now-"The second Gaia asked for a sibling, part of my brain immediately imagined a tiny baby with your hair" - Your soul left your body. Completely. Gone. You stared at her in stunned silence while Melissa dissolved into laughter at your expression.
-"Lisa..." - you whispered weakly.
-"I know"-she laughed softly
-"You can’t just say things like that" - you murmured
-"Why not?" - she teased softly, brushing her nose against yours -"You started the future family conversation" -
You looked at her for another long emotional second before muttering-"You’re evil" -
Melissa smiled against your lips-"And yet you’re still going to marry me someday" - she said it without thinking, without remembering why that seemed a bad idea in the past.
You froze. She froze. Both of you blinked at each other.
Then simultaneously-"Well now we have to discuss that too..."-you laughed on her lips nervously
-"But another day... We have guests that are waiting for the pizza"-she said nervously too. You let her go but you didn't step away
-"And by the way... I think this future hypothetical baby will be easier than Gaia..."-you said smiling and she lifted an eyebrow-"...I mean, with those milkers any baby will be happy" - you said joking looking at her breast and she hit your arm. Melissa stared at you in absolute disbelief for half a second before smacking your arm again harder-"Ow!" - you laughed immediately, nearly folding in half.
-"You are unbelievable" - she narrowed her eyes shyly
You looked deeply pleased with yourself anyway-"I’m just thinking practically" - you smiled
-"You are objectifying me in my own kitchen" -
-"Incorrect" - you corrected shamelessly -"I am appreciating you respectfully" - you nodded
Melissa tried to stay offended. She really did. But the smile fighting at her mouth ruined the whole performance.
-"Respectfully?" - she repeated.
-"Very respectfully" - The redhead rolled her eyes while your gaze drifted teasingly downward again, you let out a sing, she was delicious.
Melissa immediately grabbed your jaw and forced your face back up-"Eyes up here, menace" - You burst out laughing. Her hold was tight, but loving at the same time, you pecked her lips
-"WHY ARE YOU TWO SO QUIET?" - Gaia shouted suspiciously.
Melissa answered instantly-"WE’RE HAVING A NORMAL CONVERSATION"-
Ava yelled right after-"That sounded guilty as hell" - she was right.
You laughed into Melissa’s shoulder while she groaned dramatically toward the ceiling. She looked back at you then, still smiling despite herself, cheeks pink from laughing and embarrassment. And God. You adored her. Not just the beautiful parts. Not just the flirting and kissing and soft moments in bed. This too.
Melissa in your kitchen arguing with you about hypothetical babies while your friends destroyed your living room in the background.
Messy. Warm. Ridiculous. Real.
Your expression must have softened again because Melissa’s eyes gentled instantly.
-"What?" - she asked quietly.
You wrapped your arms around her waist again and kissed her softly.
-"Nothing," - you murmured against her lips -"I’m just really happy you exist... I love you Lisa" - you kissed her again
-"I love you my menace" - she whispered on your lips, you would never get tired of hearing her say that.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Melissa started to see herself more as in Gaias mom than in her teacher.
Gaia stopped introducing her as Miss Melissa entirely.
It became:
"Mel, where are my shoes?"
"Mel, mama burned the garlic bread again."
"Mel, do you think raccoons have feelings?"
As if loving Melissa had become stitched naturally into the structure of everyday life.
The dinosaur ballerina room had been the beginning of the end. Melissa had tried, initially, to convince Gaia toward “something more cohesive.” That lasted approximately seven minutes. Now bright pink dinosaurs in tutus covered one entire wall of the carefully designed Italian-style house like a glittery act of rebellion.
You still remembered standing in the doorway watching them paint together. Gaia completely covered in green paint. Melissa with a pink handprint accidentally smeared across her cheek. Both of them arguing passionately about whether a T-Rex could realistically perform ballet.
-"Balance is important" - Gaia had insisted seriously.
-"Baby, its arms are six centimeters long."
-"Dreams are bigger than arms, Mel" -
Melissa had looked at you after that with such helpless love in her expression that you nearly proposed on the spot.
Then came the tiny mouse door. You had come downstairs one evening expecting peace and instead found Melissa crouched beside the staircase with paintbrushes scattered around her while Gaia supervised like a tiny construction manager.
-"...What is that?" - you had asked carefully.
Melissa looked up proudly.
-"A door for Ratón Pérez" - There, painted perfectly into the wall near the stairs, sat a tiny arched green door no taller than your hand, complete with miniature flowers and absurdly detailed gold hinges.
You blinked slowly.
-"You painted a fully functional mouse entrance into your house."
-"Our house" - Gaia corrected immediately from the floor.
Melissa smiled shyly at that while touching up tiny stars around the frame.
-"Well," - she murmured softly -"I didn’t want him struggling to get inside" - Your heart had almost burst open right there beside the stairs.
Because that was the thing about Melissa. She loved with infrastructure. Not loudly. Not performatively.She loved through details.
Packed lunches cut into little shapes. Extra sweaters waiting by the door. Nightlights replaced before they burned out. Tiny magical mouse doors painted into walls because someday Gaia would lose another tooth and Melissa wanted wonder to have somewhere to enter from.
And the strangest part?
It all became so normal so quickly.
Like she had always belonged there.
Like the house itself had been waiting for her laugh to echo through it before it could finally sound complete.
And then it came how comfortable Melissa felt on her rol as new mom when Gaia needed her the most. Helping even when you didn't knew how to.
One day Gaia came home devastated after a rough day at school. Nothing catastrophic. Just one of those childhood days where emotions felt too big for a little body to carry properly.
You found her curled on the couch refusing to speak. Before you could even figure out what to say, Melissa quietly disappeared upstairs.
She came back wearing one of Gaia’s dinosaur blankets like a cape.
-"Attention" - she announced seriously -"I have been informed this house is suffering from a severe sadness emergency" - Gaia blinked despite herself. Melissa climbed onto the couch dramatically-"Luckily I am a licensed feelings detective."
You watched from the kitchen trying not to smile while Gaia fought visibly against laughing-"That’s not a real job" - she crossed her arms
-"Wrong. I studied at emotional university."
-"That sounds fake" - she pouted trying to fight a smile
-"It was very expensive" -
By the end of the night Gaia was giggling so hard she hiccuped while Melissa performed increasingly ridiculous “investigations” into the case of the missing happiness.
And then there were the small things.
The quiet things.
The ones that mattered most.
Melissa brushing Gaia’s hair gently before school while listening with complete seriousness to long stories about playground drama.
Gaia automatically reaching for Melissa’s hand in crowded places.
Movie nights where somehow the two of them always ended up asleep against each other before the credits rolled.
The way Melissa never forgot things.
Favorite snacks. Spelling test days. The exact stuffed dinosaur required during thunderstorms.
One evening you came home late from work to find the living room lights dimmed low.
Melissa sat on the couch grading papers with reading glasses slipping down her nose while Gaia slept across her lap completely sprawled out, one tiny hand still tangled in Melissa’s sweater.
The television played softly in the background.
Neither of them had noticed you yet.
And for one fragile second you simply stood there in the doorway looking at them.
Your girls. The thought arrived so naturally now it no longer startled you.
Melissa looked up eventually and smiled immediately when she saw you. Soft. Sleepy. Home. Then she carefully mouthed-"She waited up for you." - Your chest ached so hard it nearly became unbearable.
Because all your life love had felt like something people threatened to leave with. But this? This stayed.
This painted mouse doors into walls and burned pancakes on rainy mornings and held your daughter through bad days like she had been born for it.
This built a home around you gently enough that one day you looked up and realized you were no longer surviving inside your life. You were living in it.
Melissa never had kids until now, she was happy to see how your daughter trusted her, how she was Gaia's mother even if your daughter called her Mel and no mama. She was happy to give her all the love your daughter deserved without asking for anything in return.
The redhead said to herself she didn't needed to be called mama, until the day it happened and she realized how much she was needing that
-"Lisa love, I'm going to put the car on the garage because it's about to rain, Gaia is watching Bluey, be right back" - you let the redhead know while she took a shower.
After a few minutes she heard the door of the bathroom open and she assumed it was you, but a tiny voice came instead
-"Mom can I speak to you?" - Gaia asked sitting on the closed toilet behind the shower curtain. Melissa frowned not being able to see your daughter
-"Baby your mama is parking the car, she will be right back" - she let your daughter know
-"I wasn't looking for mama, I was looking for you, that's why I said Mom, and not mama"-she said simply.
Everything inside Melissa stopped. The shower still ran softly around her. Rain tapped faintly against the windows outside. Somewhere downstairs, the muffled theme song from Bluey floated through the house.
But for one suspended heartbeat, the world narrowed entirely to that tiny voice outside the shower curtain.
Mom.
Melissa’s throat tightened instantly. She sat there frozen beneath the warm water, staring blindly at the tile while her heart beat so hard it almost hurt.
Outside the curtain Gaia shifted slightly on the closed toilet seat-"Mel?" - she asked softly now, suddenly nervous from the silence -"Did I say something bad?"-
That snapped Melissa back immediately.-"No, baby" - her voice came out rougher than expected, making her clear her throat quickly-"No, sweetheart. You didn’t say anything bad" -Her hands were shaking. God. She had spent months telling herself she didn’t need it. Didn’t need the title. Didn’t need the word. Because love was already there. Because Gaia already felt like hers in every way that mattered. But now that it had arrived anyway, so small and casual and sincere through a bathroom door, Melissa realized the truth immediately:
Part of her had been quietly aching for it all along.
She reached over blindly to shut off the water.
-"Can I open the curtain?" - Gaia asked carefully.
Melissa laughed weakly through the sudden burn behind her eyes.
-"Give me one second, bebé" - Gaia has seen Melissa like that before, with kids you have no privacy, but the redhead didn't wanted to look sad in front of her. She wrapped herself quickly in a towel before pulling the curtain open slightly.
Gaia sat there in dinosaur pajamas swinging her legs anxiously. The second Melissa looked at her properly, her entire face softened. Because Gaia looked worried now. Like maybe she’d crossed a line without meaning to.
Melissa crouched immediately in front of her despite still dripping water everywhere.
-"Hey," - she whispered gently.
Gaia looked at her carefully-"You’re not mad?"
Melissa made the tiniest broken sound of disbelief. Then she pulled your daughter into her arms so fast Gaia squeaked softly in surprise-"Baby" - Melissa whispered against her hair, voice trembling now -"I could never be mad about that" - Gaia hugged her back instantly. Small warm arms around her neck. Complete trust.
And that was what finally shattered Melissa completely. Tears slipped free before she could stop them. Quiet ones. Overwhelmed ones.
Gaia pulled back immediately-"Why are you crying?!"-she grabbed the redhead's face with her tiny hands.
Melissa laughed through it helplessly, wiping quickly at her face-"Because I’m emotional and dramatic apparently" -
-"Mama says that too" - That made Melissa laugh harder.
Then Gaia tilted her head thoughtfully-"You really liked it?"-Melissa looked at her for a long moment.
At this little girl who had wandered into her life carrying dinosaur backpacks and glitter and loud opinions about pancakes. The little girl she loved so fiercely now it scared her sometimes.
And softly, honestly, Melissa answered-"I think it might’ve been one of the happiest moments of my whole life" -
Gaia’s face lit up instantly. Then, with the devastating confidence only children possess, she smiled and said-"Well yeah. You’re my mom" - Gaia hugged her mom tightly again. Getting wet with the water on the redhead's head-"You won't leave us, right Mom?" - she asked hidden in the redhead's neck
-"What do you mean baby? I could never" - the redhead asked worried
-"My dad left us when I was a baby... And mom says we didn't need him to be happy... And sometimes I dobut that when I saw other kids having a dad, but then you arrived and you made us happy, you showed me that I didn't need a dad... But I do need you to be happy, so I need you to stay with us... Forever"-Gaia whispered with teary eyes.
Melissa felt her heart break and heal at the exact same time. The tiny wet arms around her neck tightened with every word, like Gaia was trying to hold onto her before she could disappear too. And God. Children carried fear so quietly sometimes. Not loudly. Not dramatically. They tucked it into little corners of themselves and kept growing around it until one day it slipped out in soft trembling whispers in the middle of ordinary moments.
Melissa held her closer immediately. Water from her damp hair soaked into Gaia’s pajamas, but neither of them cared.
-"Hey" - Melissa whispered shakily, pulling back just enough to look at her properly -"Look at me for one second, bebé" - Gaia did reluctantly, eyes glossy and scared in a way no child should have to be.
Melissa’s chest ached. She cupped Gaia’s cheeks gently in both hands-"Your dad leaving had nothing to do with you. Nothing." - her voice was steady now despite the tears burning behind it -"And it doesn’t mean everybody leaves" -
Gaia swallowed hard.-"But people say forever and then go away anyway" - That one nearly destroyed her.
Melissa inhaled slowly before resting her forehead carefully against Gaia’s-"Then I won’t just say it" - she whispered softly -"I’ll show you" -Gaia’s lip trembled immediately. Melissa smiled through tears now-"I’m going to stay for all the important things, okay?" - she murmured -"For bad school pictures and birthday cakes and fevers and dinosaur rooms and heartbreaks and embarrassing teenage phases."-That earned the tiniest watery laugh. Melissa brushed damp curls gently away from Gaia’s face-"I’m staying for movie nights and graduations and every lost tooth Ratón Pérez needs to collect" -
Gaia clung tighter instantly-"Promise?"
Melissa didn’t hesitate even for a second-"I promise" - The little girl broke completely then, burying her face into Melissa’s neck while quiet crying finally escaped her. Melissa held her through it without a second thought, rocking slightly where they sat on the bathroom floor together.
And somewhere between one heartbeat and the next, Melissa realized something enormous:
This wasn’t just loving Gaia. This was motherhood. Not biology. Not titles. Not paperwork. This. Holding a frightened child and making them feel safe enough to believe in permanence again.
After a long moment Gaia whispered shakily against her skin-"I love you, Mom" - Melissa closed her eyes.
And for the second time that night, her heart completely gave out inside her chest-"I love you my baby daughter... And I will be here every step, forever" - she whispered into her daughter's hair.
Gaia made the smallest sound against her neck. Not quite a sob anymore. Something softer. Relief.
The kind children release only when they finally believe they’re safe. Melissa kept holding her there on the bathroom floor long after the tears slowed, fingers moving gently through tangled curls while the rain tapped steadily outside the windows.
Downstairs, the television still played quietly to an empty living room. Upstairs, wrapped in towels and warmth and promises, a family was stitching itself together thread by thread. Gaia eventually pulled back just enough to look at Melissa again, cheeks pink and damp.
-"Even when I’m annoying?"-she asked softly
Melissa smiled immediately-"Especially then" -
-"Even when I become a teenager?"-Melissa pretended to think about it very seriously.
-"...That one might require prayer" - Gaia laughed watery little hiccup-laughs that made Melissa’s chest ache all over again.
Then your daughter reached up and touched Melissa’s face carefully, wiping away the tears still stuck there with tiny fingers-"You cry a lot for a grown-up" -
Melissa snorted softly-"You and your mama did this to me" -
-"Good" - The answer came so quickly and confidently that Melissa burst into helpless laughter again.
Then Gaia tilted her head thoughtfully-"Can I ask something else?"-
-"Always" -
-"If you marry mama someday..." - she hesitated shyly -"Can I be Schemmenti too?"-Melissa’s breath caught so sharply it physically hurt. Because children really did say life-changing things with the same tone they used to ask for cereal. Gaia hurried to continue when Melissa froze again-"You don’t have to! I just thought maybe because there would be two moms and..."-
-"Baby" - Melissa interrupted softly. Her voice broke completely this time. She pulled Gaia close again immediately, kissing the top of her head over and over while tears slipped free despite her best efforts-"You can have all the names you want, whatever makes your heart happy," - she whispered shakily -"I will answer every single time to all of them"-Gaia hugged her tighter with a relieved little sigh.
And downstairs, the front door finally opened.
Your voice echoed through the house-"Why does it sound suspiciously emotional up there?"-
Melissa laughed weakly through tears while Gaia grinned against her shoulder.
Then your daughter shouted back proudly-"Nothing! I was just talking to mom!"-You heard the way that Gaia refer to Melissa and you froze for a second, understanding all the sobbing upstairs. Carefully you went to where they were, cuddling on the floor of the bathroom. You looked at Melissa first, because you knew your daughter liked to drop bombs like that and be completely normal after
-"You Okey?" - you whispered entering the bathroom and crouching in front of them. Melissa looked up at you immediately. And that was all it took. Because the second her eyes met yours, fresh tears spilled over again. Not distressed tears. Not bad ones. The overwhelmed kind. The kind that came when happiness arrived carrying more weight than your heart knew how to hold gracefully.
Gaia, meanwhile, sat perfectly content in Melissa’s lap like she hadn’t just altered the emotional architecture of the household forever.
-"I think I broke her a little," - your daughter admitted thoughtfully.
You laughed softly despite the tightness in your own chest. Then you reached forward instinctively, brushing damp red curls away from Melissa’s face-"Baby?" - you whispered again gently.
Melissa shook her head once, smiling helplessly through tears-"She called me mom" - she pouted softly.
Your expression crumpled immediately. Because hearing it was one thing. Seeing what it meant to Melissa was another entirely. You looked down at Gaia. Your little girl, still in dinosaur pajamas, sitting safely tucked against the woman she trusted enough to hand her heart to.
Then back at Melissa. The love in the room felt almost unbearably large.
You exhaled shakily before leaning forward and kissing Melissa softly. Slow. Tender. Grateful. When you pulled back, your forehead stayed resting against hers-"You deserve that word" - you whispered quietly.
Melissa broke all over again. A tiny wounded emotional sound escaped her while Gaia looked between both of you with the exhausted patience of a child dealing with dramatic adults.
-"You guys cry a lot" - You snorted through tears immediately.
-"You literally started this" - you tickle your daughter
-"By accident! I just wanted to ask her to stay with us!" - she said between laughs.
Melissa laughed weakly, still holding Gaia tightly with one arm while the other reached automatically for your hand. And there it was again. That feeling. Not the sharp frantic happiness from the beginning. Not the terrified hope. Something steadier now. Roots digging deeper. You sat down beside them on the bathroom floor without caring about the cold tile or the damp towels everywhere.
Then both your girls immediately leaned into you automatically, like gravity. Gaia against your shoulder. Melissa against your chest.
Home.
Your daughter sighed happily between both of you before announcing-"Okay now I’m hungry again" - The three of you burst into laughter at the exact same time.
Summary:Mel being a perfect partner and a amazing mother earns her the title she deserves ❤️
AN:Probably this would be the last part of this unless someone send me another idea about this! But thanks so much for the support and the sweet comments!
Because her body clock had been trained by years of teaching children who treated sunrise like a personal challenge.
For a few quiet seconds she simply lay there, blinking sleepily at the ceiling while warm morning light slipped through the curtains.
Then she became aware of two things at once.
First:
You were half on top of her again.
One leg tangled with hers, your face buried against her shoulder, one hand lazily curled beneath her shirt like at some point during the night your sleeping brain had decided physical proximity still wasn’t enough.
Second:
Every inch of her body ached.
Not badly.
Just enough to remind her exactly how the previous night had gone.
Melissa closed her eyes briefly, remembering you laughing against her mouth in the kitchen, your hands grabbing at her waist, the sound of her own voice embarrassingly wrecked in her ears.
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
Then your lips brushed sleepily against the mark at the base of her throat.
And she realized a third thing.
Oh no.
Very carefully, Melissa lifted her phone from the nightstand and switched to the front camera.
The screen illuminated her sleepy face.
Messy red hair.
Swollen lips.
And several very visible marks blooming along her neck and collarbone.
Melissa stared in silent horror.
Behind her, your sleepy voice mumbled against her skin-“Good morning to you too.”-
Melissa turned slowly.
You were awake just enough to look smug.
The sight of you, hair wild from sleep and smiling lazily against her shoulder, should have softened the crisis.
It did not.
-“Look what you did.”-
You blinked at her neck dramatically-“Hm. Terrible. A mystery truly"-
-“People at school are going to see these"-
You smiled without a shred of remorse-“Then maybe they shouldn’t stare at your neck"-
Melissa dropped back onto the pillow with a groan while you laughed softly beside her-“You are impossible"-
-“And you liked it"-Melissa covered her face with one hand. The worst part was that you were absolutely right.
With laziness and sleepy limbs, you moved completely on top of her, your face hiding on her boobs, giving small kisses to her skin
-"How are you feeling?" - you asked softly
-"Like it should be ilegal having to go to work after date night" - she mumbled and you laughed softly against her soft skin. Her hands went to your back to hug you under the covers and you hissed in pain. When the redhead lifted the covers, she saw what she had done to your naked back the previous night, scratches and cuts all over your back
Melissa froze.
You, meanwhile, had the audacity to look only mildly inconvenienced.
The redhead stared at the angry scratches running down your back, some faint, some very much not faint, and her entire face turned scarlet in under three seconds.
-"OH MY GOD"-She yelled. Your shoulders started shaking immediately with laughter against her chest.
-"Good morning to you too, cariño" - you murmured
-"I attacked you" - she said worried
-"You were enthusiastic" - you kissed her chest
-"I drew blood!"-she was shocked of herself
-"Tiny bit" - Melissa looked genuinely horrified now, fingertips hovering carefully over one of the marks like she’d discovered evidence at a crime scene.
-"Why didn’t you say anything?!"-You finally lifted your head enough to grin lazily at her.
-"Because every time I tried to speak, you kissed me again and my survival instincts failed" -That did not help.
Melissa dropped backward onto the pillows with another mortified groan, hiding her burning face behind both hands this time.
-"I cannot be trusted" -
-"Incorrect," - you said immediately, catching one of her wrists to pull her hands away from her face -"I trusted you with my life actually. Look at me. Still alive."
She narrowed her eyes at you.-"Barely" - You laughed softly and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.
Melissa’s expression softened despite herself, though concern still lingered in her eyes as she carefully brushed her fingers over your back again, gentler this time.
-"Does it hurt?"-The sincerity in her voice melted you instantly.
-"Only a little," - you admitted -"Mostly when dramatic redheads poke the evidence" - you joked
-"I’m serious" - You hummed thoughtfully before nestling back against her chest, completely comfortable despite the scratches.
-"Honestly? I kind of like it, the soft sting of it makes me revive the night" - Melissa made the most scandalized sound you had ever heard in your life.
-"You are Insane" -
-"And you’re very pretty when you’re concerned about me" - She tried so hard not to smile.
Failed catastrophically.
A few seconds later she was stroking your hair beneath the blankets while you stayed sprawled half on top of her like an oversized affectionate cat, both of you warm, aching, sleepy, and devastatingly happy.
Then Melissa sighed dramatically toward the ceiling.-"We really have to go be responsible adults now, don’t we?"-
You groaned into her chest immediately-"Don’t say horrible things before breakfast"-One of your legs slipped between hers looking for more warmth, not wanting to get up, but the change of position made pressure on both of your crotchs and you moaned at the same time-"Fuck" - you murmured too sensitive-"Did I went too rough yesterday?" - you asked looking at her, Melissa made a strangled sound somewhere between a groan and a laugh, immediately grabbing your shoulder as both of you froze from the sudden oversensitivity.
-"Jesus Christ—" - she whispered, eyes squeezed shut. You buried your face dramatically against her chest in defeat.
-"Okay. Okay. Nobody move ever again" - That only made her laugh harder, though she winced right after. Your question softened the moment instantly.
Melissa opened her eyes and looked down at you, seeing the genuine concern behind your sleepy expression.
-"No" - she said quietly, fingers sliding through your messy hair -"No, baby. I’m okay."-You still looked unconvinced. Her smile turned gentler-"I’m sore because apparently we lost all self-control somewhere around the kitchen counter" - You groaned weakly against her skin.
-"In my defense, you’re extremely distracting" -
Melissa snorted softly, then carefully brushed her thumb along your cheek.
-"And you?" - she asked -"Are you okay?"-You considered it seriously for a second.
Every muscle in your body felt melted. Your back looked like you survived combat. Your legs barely trusted gravity anymore. And somehow you had never felt happier in your life.
-"I feel like I got hit by a truck driven by a very beautiful redhead" -Melissa laughed so suddenly she had to hide her face against the pillow.
Then her expression softened again as she looked at you sprawled sleepily over her body, still instinctively seeking closeness even while both of you ached. Her fingers traced lightly down your spine, much more carefully this time.
-"We should probably shower before work" - she murmured reluctantly. You immediately tightened around her like an offended octopus.
-"Counterproposal: we quit society and stay in bed forever"-
-"Tempting"-
-"We can raise Gaia in the wilderness."-
-"You cried last month because a moth flew into the kitchen"-You lifted your head indignantly.
-"That moth had malicious energy"-Melissa dissolved into helpless laughter beneath you, sunlight spilling across both of your tangled bodies while the quiet joy between you settled deeper and deeper into something permanent.
-"What if we call in sick?" - you offered, you wanted it to sound like a joke but you were truly thinking about it
Melissa looked at you for a long second after that. You could practically see the war happening behind her eyes. Responsible teacher. Responsible mother figure. Responsible adult.
Versus: Warm bed. Girlfriend wrapped around her like a sleepy vine. No pants. No emails.
It was honestly a brutal fight.
Her fingers absentmindedly played with your hair while she pretended to think seriously about it.
-"You realize" - she said slowly -"that as an educator I should encourage responsibility and commitment" -
You nodded solemnly against her chest.-"Very true"-
-"And as your landlord, I should probably discourage reckless behavior"-
-"Excellent point"-
Melissa narrowed her eyes-"You are agreeing suspiciously fast" -
-"Because I’m trying to manipulate you with maturity"-That earned a laugh warm enough to light the entire room.
Then she sighed dramatically toward the ceiling-"God, staying here with you sounds dangerously perfect"-Your heart did an embarrassing little somersault at that.
You tilted your head up just enough to look at her.
-"We could spend the whole day here," - you murmured dreamily -"order food, watch terrible movies, make Gaia deeply uncomfortable with how affectionate we are—"-
-"That child would roast us alive" -
-"True. She’d call us cringe and ask if we need supervision."-Melissa snorted, already imagining it. Then her expression softened while she looked down at you, all sleepy affection and tangled limbs and genuine longing written openly across your face.
And suddenly she understood this wasn’t really about skipping work. It was about not wanting the bubble to burst yet. Not wanting to leave the first morning that truly felt like yours together.
Melissa’s thumb brushed your cheek softly.
-"How about this," - she whispered -"we be responsible adults today..."-You groaned dramatically-"...but tonight" - she continued, smiling now -"we come straight home, order something unhealthy, steal all the blankets, and continue discussing our very serious future as an old married couple" -
Your entire face lit up instantly-"With matching rocking chairs?"
-"Obviously" -
-"And twenty dogs?"-Melissa pretended to think.
-"I’ll allow six before I start fearing for civilization" -You kissed her immediately for that answer alone, smiling so hard against her lips that Melissa couldn’t stop laughing into the kiss.
Then you hid on her chest. Again
-"Final offer, we call in sick, we cuddle all day, we order food, we make a blanket fortress with Gaia, and we pretend like the rest of the world doesn't exists...pleaseeee" - you pouted-"is Friday, we could have a long weekend... Don't you have a guy who can make us false doctors notes? You have a guy for everything..."-
Melissa stared down at you in absolute disbelief. Not because of the cuddling proposal. That part was dangerously tempting. But because you were currently sprawled across her chest with messy hair, sleep-heavy eyes, visible scratch marks on your shoulders, and a full dramatic pout while trying to negotiate like a cartoon villain whose evil plan was “blanket fort with snacks.” Her heart stood absolutely no chance.
-"You are aware," - she said carefully, fighting a smile -"that you’re weaponizing cuteness right now" -
You blinked innocently-"I have no idea what you mean"-
-"Liar" -
You only burrowed deeper against her, arms tightening around her waist.-"Come on, Lisa..." - your voice turned extra pleading now -"We can build a blanket fortress so advanced NASA gets concerned" -
Melissa laughed despite herself.-"And what exactly would Gaia think when both of her parental figures randomly skip responsibilities on the same day?"-
-"That we finally achieved enlightenment" -
-"Mmhm" -
-"Also" - you added thoughtfully -"it would be educational" -
Melissa looked horrified already-"How?" -
-"Structural engineering. Blanket physics. Advanced couch cushion architecture. The important lesson about choosing happiness and the importance of proper rest when you need it"-She was fully laughing now, shoulders shaking beneath you. Then you delivered the final blow-"And imagine Gaia’s face when she realizes we’re girlfriends now and emotionally unstable enough to build indoor civilizations" -
Melissa covered her eyes with one hand, defeated-"We are absolutely corrupting that child" -
-"With whimsy" -
-"With chaos" -
-"With love" - you corrected softly, looking up at her again. That one landed directly in her chest. Melissa’s entire expression melted. God. You always did that.
One second you were begging for forged medical documents like a sleepy raccoon, and the next you said something so sincere it unraveled her completely. She leaned down and kissed you slowly.
-"For the record" - she whispered against your lips -"I absolutely do not have a doctor-note guy."
You gasped dramatically-"Who even are you?"-
-"However..." - she continued, clearly trying not to smile -"I may know a teacher who deserves one irresponsible happy day after falling in love" -
Your eyes widened instantly-"Lisa" -
-"And I may know another idiot who’s going to spend the next eight hours attached to my side like human glitter" - You practically tackled her with affection after that, laughing into her neck while Melissa held you close beneath the blankets, already accepting her fate.
You kissed her smiling like an idiot
-"Beside, we need to have a conversation with Gaia that I'm sure it will take hours with all her questions... I can ask a doctor's note from one of my coworkers..."-you whispered, the wheels turning in your head. Melissa looked at you with increasing concern as you visibly started plotting. Not normal thinking. Not reasonable adult thinking. The very specific kind of thinking that had probably gotten you into trouble since childhood.
-"I know that face"- she said slowly.
You blinked innocently up at her-"What face?"-
-"The face that says your brain just committed to a terrible idea emotionally before consulting logic" -
You gasped dramatically-"Excuse you. This is a beautiful idea" -
-"You’re trying to forge a sick note for cuddle purposes" - her voice was deep with sleep and it was doing dangerous things to your brain
-"For family bonding purposes" - you corrected-"That’s basically therapy"-
Melissa laughed so hard she nearly snorted, immediately hiding her face in your hair out of embarrassment. The sound made your chest warm embarrassingly fast. God, you could get addicted to that laugh.
-"Baby" - she said between giggles -"Gaia is going to interrogate us like a tiny FBI agent the second she realizes we’re home on a school day" -
-"I know." - your grin widened -"That’s part of the fun" - Melissa shook her head fondly, fingers tracing lazy shapes against your shoulder beneath the blankets. Then her expression softened again.
-"She’s really going to be happy, isn’t she?" - she asked quietly.
You didn’t even hesitate-"Yeah" - Something vulnerable flickered across Melissa’s face at that.
Because despite all the jokes, despite how natural this already felt between the three of you, part of her had still been scared. Scared of changing the balance. Scared of stepping too deeply into something precious and accidentally hurting it.
You must have noticed the shift immediately. Carefully, you tilted her chin up so she had to look at you-"Hey" - your voice turned gentler-"she already loves you, Lisa. This isn’t us forcing something new into her life"-Melissa’s eyes softened instantly.-"This is just us finally catching up to what she figured out months ago" - That made her laugh quietly through the emotion threatening her again
-"Honestly? That child’s emotional intelligence is terrifying" - she murmured
-"It’s because she was raised by two disasters with big feelings" - you nodded
-"One disaster" - Melissa corrected softly, poking your side -"I was very composed before meeting you" - You smiled against her lips before kissing her slowly again.
-"Sure you were" - You sat on her hips, the blanket slipping off your body, fully naked and happy on top of her
-"So that's a yes? We stay in today?"-you asked. Her brain stopped working the moment your naked body was on fully display on top of hers
Melissa’s entire train of thought derailed instantly. Completely.
One second she had been trying to maintain the illusion of being the responsible adult in this relationship. The next, you were sitting comfortably on her hips with sleepy hair, flushed skin, and absolutely no concern whatsoever for the devastating effect you had on her nervous system.
The blanket pooled around your thighs while morning light traced along your skin in soft gold.
Melissa stared. Openly. Hopelessly.
Her hands landed automatically on your hips like her body had made a decision before her brain could participate.
-"Lisa?" - you asked again, fighting a smile now -"Your eyes just went completely blank" -
-"I’m thinking"-she said, you could see how she was literally drooling
-"No you’re not" - That earned a weak offended sound from her. Then you shifted slightly on top of her and Melissa’s head fell back against the pillow with a quiet groan.
-"See? This is workplace sabotage."
You burst into laughter immediately-"So that’s a yes to staying home?"-
Melissa looked up at you again, trying very hard to remember how functioning thoughts worked while you sat there smiling down at her like temptation itself. It was a losing battle. Finally she sighed dramatically, sliding her hands slowly up your thighs.
-"You realize" - she murmured -"that if you keep looking at me like this, neither of us is surviving this morning productively" -
Your grin widened.-"That still sounds like a yes."
Melissa tried to hold onto dignity for three more seconds. Failed spectacularly. -"Fine" - she whispered, pulling you back down into her arms -"we stay home" - You celebrated immediately by kissing her like you’d just won the lottery.
Which, honestly, considering the way Melissa laughed into your mouth while holding you close beneath the morning sunlight, maybe you had.
You sucked her swollen lips into your mouth on the middle of the kiss, earning a soft moan that made you shiver. If you two weren't as sore you would have eating her for breakfast, lunch and diner all over again
-"Can we make breakfast together?" - you asked on top of her lips rolling your hips lightly against her, whimpering on her lips, the hands on your hips tightened in warning
-"By together you mean I cook and you sit on the counter asking for kisses?" - she asked with a raspy voice
You laughed softly against her mouth, still dizzy with affection and lingering warmth while her voice scraped low and sleepy beneath you. God. That voice alone could ruin your entire morning.
-"That sounds extremely collaborative to me" - you whispered, stealing another kiss.
Melissa’s fingers dug a little deeper into your hips when you rolled against her again, not enough to hurt, just enough to remind you both that your bodies were still deliciously oversensitive from the night before.
-"Careful" - she warned softly, though her own breath hitched a little -"you’re playing a dangerous game for someone who complained five minutes ago about not being able to feel their legs"-
-"But my mouth still works, that's enough" -That pulled a helpless laugh from her.
You stayed there another moment anyway, foreheads touching, both smiling stupidly into the quiet morning light like two people who still couldn’t fully believe this was real now. Official. Yours.
Melissa brushed a thumb along your cheek.
-"Breakfast together sounds nice" - she admitted softly -"But only if you promise not to distract me every thirty seconds."-
You gasped dramatically.-"You ask impossible things of me."-
-"I’m serious."-
-"And I’m deeply committed to being annoying in the kitchen."-
Melissa rolled her eyes fondly before tugging you down for another slow kiss.
-"Fine" - she murmured against your lips -"but if I burn the pancakes because you’re flirting with me, that becomes your emotional responsibility."-You smiled immediately.
-"Worth it."-
-"We should probably clean the counter deeply after all that happened yesterday in the kitchen" - she murmured thinking. You immediately buried your face against her shoulder laughing.
-"The poor counter went through a lot emotionally" - Melissa snorted softly, fingers absentmindedly combing through your messy hair-"Fuck you looked so delicious yesterday" - you kissed her neck
-"I’m serious. There are probably fingerprints everywhere."-
-"Lisa, we live there. I would hope there are fingerprints."- She pinched your side lightly for that.
-"You know what I mean."
You lifted your head just enough to grin at her-"Honestly? That kitchen deserves a medal" -
Melissa covered her face with one hand, already losing the battle against laughter again-"I cannot believe this is my life now"-
-"Your life now includes a very hot girlfriend and pancakes"-
-"Romance" - That finally broke her completely. Her laugh filled the room warm and bright while she hid her burning face against the pillow.
You watched her with the softest expression imaginable. Because this right here, this ridiculous sleepy conversation tangled in sheets with sunlight spilling across both of you, somehow felt every bit as intimate as the confessions from the night before.
Melissa noticed you staring after a moment.
-"What?" - she asked shyly. Your thumb brushed gently across her cheek.
-"Nothing," - you whispered fondly -"I just really like making you laugh" -you whispered giving baby kisses in her jaw.
Holding you with one hand, she stretched to the nightstand grabbing her phone, sending a text to Ava letting her know that she was "sick". The redhead never asked a day off, not even when she had that nasty fall outside the school, so even if the principal didn't believe her that it was because she was "sick", after all she did said you two would be up all night, she allowed the redhead the day off.
Melissa stared at the screen after sending the message, still looking mildly stunned by her own behavior. You watched her from where you were practically draped across her side, chin resting lazily on her shoulder.
-"Did you just commit academic fraud for me?" - you whispered dramatically.
Melissa laughed under her breath, locking her phone and tossing it back onto the nightstand.
-"Please. If Ava questions it, she’ll just assume I finally caught the plague from one of the kindergarteners."-your hand was doing lazy circles on her thighs
-"Or" - you added thoughtfully -"she’ll remember telling us we’d be up all night and connect the dots immediately"-
The redhead groaned instantly, covering her face-"God. She absolutely will" -You started laughing so hard the mattress shook beneath both of you.
-"Lisa, she’s going to look at your neck on Monday and know everything" -
-"Stop talking" -
-"She’s an educator. She observes patterns" - Melissa grabbed a pillow and smacked you weakly with it while trying not to laugh herself.
-"You’re enjoying my humiliation far too much" -
-"Counterpoint" - you said, catching the pillow and pulling her closer again -"you look adorable when scandalized" - That earned you a fond eye roll before Melissa melted back against you with a sleepy sigh.
For a quiet moment, neither of you spoke. The sunlight had shifted warmer now, painting gold across tangled blankets and rumpled sheets. Somewhere outside, the world was already moving forward with normal responsibilities and schedules and noise.
But here? Here there was only warmth. Shared laughter. The soft weight of your girlfriend in your arms.
Girlfriend. The word still sent ridiculous happiness blooming through your chest. Melissa must have noticed your expression because she smiled softly.
-"What are you thinking about?"
You kissed her temple lazily-"Just that this is the first morning I get to call you mine without pretending it’s a joke" - The redhead’s entire face softened instantly. Then she leaned closer, pressing one lingering kiss to your mouth before whispering:
-"Good. Because I plan on being very annoying about belonging to you now" - You smiled against her lips kissing her again, slowly slowing your kisses down, following the pattern of hickeys with softer kisses.
A phone started ringing with an upcoming call on the bedside table, Melissa stretched her hand and grabbed the phone picking up while you were still sharing kisses on her skin
-"Hello?"-she asked smiling because of you
-"Why are you answering mama's phone?" - the voice of your daughter on the other side made her open her eyes, without paying attention she had grabbed your phone thinking it was hers and she picked up. Melissa went completely still. You, meanwhile, had not yet processed the danger. Still half asleep, you kept pressing lazy kisses along her shoulder and neck while she stared into absolute middle-distance horror with your phone pressed to her ear.
On the other end, Gaia sounded deeply suspicious already-"...Mama?"-Melissa opened and closed her mouth once. Nothing came out.
You finally noticed the abrupt tension in her body and lifted your head slightly.
-"Everything okay, baby?"- Gaia gasped loudly through the speaker. Silence. Absolute catastrophic silence.
Melissa looked at you with the expression of someone watching their own funeral procession approach slowly from the distance.
You blinked. Then your eyes dropped to the phone in her hand. Then realization hit. Your soul briefly left your body.
Gaia recovered first.
-"WAIT" - her voice became increasingly louder and more delighted with every word -"WHY IS MELISSA IN YOUR BED?!"-Melissa made a strangled sound and immediately covered her face with one hand.
-"Correction, I'm in her bed" -You, traitorously, started laughing. Not a graceful laugh either. The kind that shook your entire body while Melissa stared at you in betrayal.
-"This is not funny" - she hissed under her breath while Gaia practically vibrated through the phone speaker.
-"It's a little funny..."-you smiled peaking the redhead's lips
-"MAMA!"-You finally took pity on the situation enough to grab the phone gently.
-"Good morning, tiny FBI agent" -
-"YOU SAID YOU WERE SICK!" - She yelled
-"Technically true. I’m love sick" - Melissa physically collapsed into the pillows behind you with a groan so dramatic Gaia burst into delighted cackling.
-"OH MY GOD YOU’RE GIRLFRIENDS!"-You looked back at Melissa, who was now hiding her entire burning face in a pillow while her red hair exploded everywhere dramatically.
And suddenly you started laughing all over again because honestly? This was exactly how your daughter finding out was always going to happen.
You sat on the bed laughing, your back full of scratches making the redhead feel guilty
-"If you are girlfriends now that means now you will sleep together and I will have the other room only for myself?"-she asked exited
You laughed so hard you nearly dropped the phone.
Melissa, however, looked deeply betrayed.-"THAT is your first question?!" - she exclaimed, still hiding beneath the blankets up to her nose.
Gaia gasped dramatically-"What? This changes the entire room economy" - You wheezed.
Melissa pointed accusingly at the phone.-"She gets this from you."-
-"Incorrect," - you said proudly -"she’s naturally gifted" -
Gaia hummed thoughtfully on the other end.
-"Soooo... does this mean I can decorate the other room however I want?"-
Melissa stared at the ceiling like she was reconsidering every life choice that had led her here.
-"We haven’t even had coffee yet and I’m already negotiating custody of furniture" -You crawled back toward her across the bed, grinning helplessly while wrapping one arm around her waist.
-"Careful, love. She smells weakness" -
-"I HEARD THAT!" - Your daughter yelled on the other side
-"You were meant to" - Gaia giggled loudly, clearly delighted beyond reason by the chaos unfolding.
Then her voice softened a little.-"Wait... are you happy?"-The room quieted instantly.
Melissa looked at you. You looked at Melissa.
And suddenly all the embarrassment and teasing melted into something warm enough to ache. You smiled softly before answering.
-"Yeah, bug. Really happy."
There was a tiny pause. Then Gaia made the most satisfied little sound imaginable.
-"Knew it" - Melissa laughed quietly at that, finally relaxing against your side while you kissed the top of her head-"Can we still build blanket forts if you’re in love now?"-
You and Melissa answered at the exact same time-"Obviously" -That made Gaia cheer loudly through the speaker while Melissa buried her smiling face against your shoulder, your laughter mixing together beneath the soft morning sunlight.
-"If I don't have school because Melissa is 'sick'"-you could hear the sarcasm on her voice-"will you come pick me up?" - she asked. Your hand was drawing lazy patterns on the redhead's back
-"Yes bebe, we will have breakfast and we will go pick you up" - you said softly
-"Can we go to the park after?" - she asked and you looked at Melissa
-"We can go to the park..."-the redhead said softly holding your waist
-"And the arcade?" - your daughter asked and you laughed softly
-"You are milking this... Melissa is sick" - you teased laughing.
Gaia gasped with the pure outrage of a tiny lawyer being denied her constitutional rights-"Exactly. She’s sick. Sick people need joy"-You immediately lost the fight against laughter again. Melissa, traitorously, nodded against your shoulder like Gaia had made a compelling medical argument.
-"She does have a point..."-You looked between the two of them in betrayal.
-"You’re teaming up against me already? We became girlfriends last night..."-
-"Healthy relationships require collaboration" - Melissa replied with suspicious seriousness.
Gaia chimed in proudly-"And arcade games."
You groaned dramatically-"I’ve created monsters."
-"No" - Melissa corrected softly, fingers squeezing your waist beneath the blanket -"you created a family" - That one hit you directly in the chest. Your expression melted instantly while Melissa looked slightly startled by her own wording again, like the thought had slipped out naturally before she could overthink it.
Gaia, however, sounded delighted.
-"WAIT does this mean we can have matching Halloween costumes now?"-You laughed helplessly. You remembered Melissa's Scarlett Witch and you bit your lip remembering that, that was the first time you felt attraction to her, even if you didn't said anything on that moment.
Melissa buried her face against your shoulder trying not to laugh too loudly
-"Yes bebe, we can" - you whispered kissing the redhead briefly. Then Gaia cleared her throat dramatically through the speaker.
-"So the arcade?"-
You sighed like a defeated warrior-"Fine. Park and arcade" - Gaia cheered so loudly you had to pull the phone away from your ear.
Melissa laughed warmly against your skin while your fingers threaded through her red hair, the three of you already slipping so naturally into this strange lovely little shape together that it felt less like something new and more like something finally found.
-"Go brush your teeth and pack your stuff, we will be there in an hour or so" - you said to the phone-"Te amo bebe"
-"I love you both" - she said exited before hanging up
-"We need to get up and shower" - you said lazy.
For a moment after the call ended, neither of you moved. The room stayed quiet except for the faint buzz of the disconnected phone and the soft sound of Melissa breathing against your shoulder.
Then she whispered-"She said both" - You looked down at her immediately.
Melissa’s eyes looked suspiciously glassy again, her fingers still curled loosely against your waist beneath the blankets.
-"Yeah" - you murmured softly -"she did" - The redhead smiled in that fragile overwhelmed way she got whenever happiness arrived too suddenly for her to fully trust it yet.
Then, because the universe refused to let either of you stay emotional for longer than thirty seconds uninterrupted, you shifted slightly and both of you winced at the soreness radiating through your bodies.
-"Right" - you groaned dramatically -"we are unfortunately mortal"-Melissa laughed against your collarbone.
-"And apparently not nineteen anymore" - she murmured
-"Speak for yourself. Spiritually I’m still young and athletic" - You tried to sit up. Your legs immediately threatened mutiny.
Melissa watched you collapse halfway back onto the mattress with the slow satisfaction of someone witnessing karma happen in real time.
-"Athletic," - she repeated.
-"I hate this house" - Melissa dissolved into laughter again while you buried your face into her stomach dramatically.
After another reluctant minute tangled together beneath the blankets, you sighed.
-"We really do need to shower before Gaia gets here" - Melissa hummed sleepily without moving-"Want to shower together?"-
Melissa looked at you knowingly-"That depends. Is this a real shower or one of your suspicious showers?"-
You gasped in mock offense.-"Lisa. I would never" - Her eyebrow lifted immediately.
Both of you remembered the kitchen counter at the exact same time-"...you know what," - you admitted thoughtfully -"that’s fair" -
After the shower, a shower with just kisses, you went downstairs to make breakfast, not without cleaning everything very well before.
You put on some music and Mel cooked for you
The kitchen felt entirely different in daylight.
Softer somehow. Less like the scene of your collective loss of self-control and more like a place already learning the shape of shared mornings.
Though admittedly, every time Melissa walked past the counter both of you avoided eye contact for at least three seconds. Just in case.
After and amazing breakfast and a few more kisses, you went to pick up your daughter, Melissa using a high turtle neck sweater to avoid letting your daughter see the mess of marks you left on her.
The second Melissa stepped out of the car, Gaia ran to her, being picked up by the redhead immediately, trying to play with her necklaces like she always did, but narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the high turtle neck. Not dramatic suspicion. Professional suspicion. The kind detectives in crime shows had right before uncovering government conspiracies.
You watched from the distance, resting against the car on your side to avoid putting stress on your messed up back, already trying not to laugh.
Gaia slowly looked Melissa up and down. Then at the turtleneck. Then at Melissa’s very obvious attempt to avoid eye contact. Then back to the turtleneck.
-"It’s like twenty degrees outside" - she said carefully. Melissa froze mid-step.
-"I..." - the redhead cleared her throat -"I was cold this morning" - Gaia’s eyes narrowed further.
You physically had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from losing it.
Then your daughter looked at you
-"Mama" - she said with narrowed eyes
-"Hm?"-you smiled, stepping closer to them to kiss her forehead
-"Melissa looks guilty" - Melissa made a wounded sound beside you while you burst out laughing immediately.
-"Traitor" - she muttered under her breath.
Gaia gasped.-"WAIT. How do I have to call you now that you are girlfriends?"-she seemed concerned
You both went quiet for a second. Melissa hugged her a bit tighter. And there it was again, that soft emotional expression she got every time reality caught up with her happiness.
-"You can call me whatever makes you comfortable, sweetheart" - she said gently.
Gaia thought about it with terrifying seriousness.
-"Can I still call you Melissa?"-she nodded.
-"Absolutely princess" - the redhead would never pressure her to do anything she didn't want to.
Then your daughter’s gaze drifted back to the sweater again. A beat passed. Another. And suddenly her eyes widened with horrifying realization. Melissa visibly panicked.
-"You know what?" - you interrupted quickly, open the car door-"who is ready to go to the park and eat ice-cream?!"
-"SHE BIT YOU?!" - Gaia shouted triumphantly from the backseat . Melissa turned more impossible red. You nearly drove into another dimension from laughing.
When you arrived to the park, you expected to at least have 2 min of peace, but as soon as you lay down the blanket and the basket, your daughter sat in front of you looking at both of you
-"I have questions" - she said
You stopped in the middle of taking the things out of the baskets as if someone had announced a hostage negotiation.
Melissa, beside you, whispered-"Why is she sitting like a tiny therapist" - Because Gaia was sitting like a therapist. Legs crossed. Hands folded. Expression devastatingly serious. The park had somehow transformed into an interrogation chamber. You pointed accusingly at your daughter.
-"This feels illegal" - Melissa immediately started laughing into her sleeve while you looked deeply betrayed
-"Question one" - Your daughter said and groaned already.
-"There are numbered questions?!"-you frowned
-"Focus, Mama" - Melissa was fully pink now from trying not to laugh too loudly. Gaia looked between both of you with exaggerated seriousness-"How long have you been in love with each other?" -
Silence. You and Melissa immediately pointed at each other.
-"She first" -
-"Absolutely not" - you denied
Gaia squinted.
-"Cowards" - your daughter murmured.
Melissa covered her face while you wheezed beside her. Then slowly, the redhead lowered her hands and smiled shyly-"I think..." - she glanced at you softly -"probably before either of us admitted it" - You looked at her with such immediate tenderness Gaia made a disgusted sound.
-"Ew. Okay. That answer was cute. I hate this already" - she made a puke sound.
-"You started the interrogation" - you said
-"And I regret nothing" - Then she leaned forward dramatically-"Question two. Were you flirting all those times in the kitchen when you thought I wasn’t noticing?"-Both of you froze. Gaia gasped loudly-"OH MY GOD YOU WERE" - Melissa looked seconds away from evaporating into thin air. You tried dignity. Failed catastrophically.
-"In our defense," - you said weakly -"we thought we were being subtle" - Gaia stared at both of you with the exhausted disappointment of a war veteran.
-"Mama. Melissa literally made you heart-shaped pancakes" - You blinked. Melissa blinked. Gaia spread her hands helplessly-"You two were one slow song away from a romantic movie montage" - she said stating the obvious
-"If I buy you ice cream, can we stop this?" - Melissa asked and your daughter nodded
-"Deal, but one last thing... I want a baby brother" - she said and run away to the ice-cream truck. The silence afterward was so immediate and violent it could have shattered glass. Melissa choked on absolutely nothing. You stared at Gaia.
Gaia stared back with complete confidence, like she’d just requested extra ketchup instead of detonating a conversational grenade in the middle of the park
-"Come on Mel! I want cookie ice-cream!"-she yelled from the distance. Melissa remained completely frozen beside you on the blanket. Absolutely motionless.
Somewhere in the distance, children screamed happily near the swings, birds chirped, and Gaia continued yelling about cookie ice cream like she hadn’t just emotionally flashbanged two adults in broad daylight.
-"Mel!" - she shouted again from beside the truck -"Before the good flavors disappear!"-she jumped up and down.
The redhead slowly turned toward you. Very slowly. Like a haunted Victorian doll gaining consciousness. You were trying so hard not to laugh your entire face hurt.
-"Baby brother?" - Melissa repeated faintly. Then she covered her face with both hands-"Oh my God" - That finally broke you.
You folded forward laughing helplessly while Melissa stared at the sky like she was personally asking the universe for strength.
-"She said it so casually," - Melissa whispered in disbelief -"like she was asking for a goldfish" - she whispered
-"To be fair" - you wheezed -"she probably thinks babies are easier than goldfish" - Melissa looked at you with betrayal in her eyes.
-"Why are you finding this funny?!"-she asked offended.
-"Because your face right now is incredible" - you laughed
-"I’m having a crisis" - she said scared. You reached over, still laughing softly, and squeezed her knee affectionately. Melissa exhaled hard through her nose before finally mumbling
-"I can’t even process being your girlfriend yet and apparently Gaia already has a five-year family development plan" -That only made you laugh again. Then your expression softened. You leaned closer, brushing your shoulder gently against hers.
-"Hey" - you said quietly -"you know she doesn’t mean pressure, right?"-you looked at her, Melissa’s eyes immediately softened too. Because she did know. Gaia wasn’t asking out of expectation. She was dreaming out loud. The way children do when something makes them feel safe enough to imagine a future inside it. Melissa swallowed softly.
Then from the ice cream truck-"MELISSAAA SCHEMMENTI!!!" -The redhead sighed dramatically.
-"I fear I’ve become emotionally attached to a tiny extortionist" - she murmured getting up
-"Too late now" - you teased gently -"she already adopted you" - Melissa smiled despite herself. Then she looked toward Gaia standing impatiently by the truck, sunlight catching the edges of her curls while she waved frantically for her to hurry up. And something impossibly tender unfolded across Melissa’s face. Something warm. Terrified. Hopeful. Like part of her heart had already started building a home there without asking permission first.
You noticed immediately. Of course you did. Your fingers slipped gently through hers.
-"Come on, love" - you whispered softly -"your kid is waiting".
After they bought the biggest ice cream possible, they came back to you.
The park had settled into that golden sleepy hour where everything felt softer around the edges. Children’s laughter drifted through the breeze. Someone nearby was playing music too quietly to recognize. The grass smelled warm beneath the blanket.
Gaia sat a few feet away cross-legged, entirely focused on destroying the largest ice cream cone legally available to a child. Chocolate streaked one cheek, cookie crumbs clung to her shirt, and every few seconds she hummed happily to herself while watching other kids race across the playground.
Melissa looked at her with helpless affection-"She’s wearing more ice cream than she’s eating" - You laughed softly from where your head rested comfortably on Melissa’s thighs.
-"That’s part of the experience" -
Melissa rolled her eyes fondly before scooping another bite from the cup between you both-"Open" - You obeyed immediately, smiling lazily when she fed you the spoonful. The redhead’s fingers brushed your lips accidentally in the process and both of you paused for the tiniest second. Still not used to this. Still a little dazzled by it. Girlfriend.
The word kept echoing quietly through both your heads like a song neither of you wanted to end. Melissa smiled down at you softly.
-"You look very pleased with yourself" - she whispered, her thumb tracing your bottom lip.
-"I am" - you admitted shamelessly -"I’m lying in my beautiful girlfriend’s lap while our daughter commits crimes against ice cream cones" - That made her laugh under her breath.
Your hand drifted lazily along the back of her knee while she kept feeding you little bites between conversations, absentmindedly caring for you in the most natural way imaginable.
-"Mama" - Gaia said without looking away from the playground.
-"Hm?"-you asked
-"You’re smiling at Melissa weird" - she pointed. You burst into laughter instantly. Melissa nearly dropped the spoon.
-"What does that even mean?" - she asked, scandalized. Gaia shrugged casually, still covered in chocolate.
-"Like in movies before people kiss in the rain" - You physically had to sit up because laughing on Melissa’s lap had become impossible-"Can we play baseball?" - your daughter asked exited, hands full of ice-cream.
-"Wash your hands first, I don't want you getting Lisa's bat dirty" - your daughter nodded running exited running to the faucet on the park to get cleaned.
You turned grabbing the redhead's jaw with your hand and kissed her deeply and slowly. Melissa melted instantly into the kiss. Not surprised. Not hesitant. Like she had already learned your gravity and her body simply followed it naturally now. Her hand slid up your wrist to hold it there against her jaw while your mouths moved slowly together beneath the warm afternoon sunlight, sweet with melted ice cream and lazy happiness.
For a few seconds the entire park blurred away. The noise. The children running. The music in the distance.
There was only the soft sigh Melissa made against your lips when you kissed her deeper.
Then-"EWWWWWW" - Both of you broke apart laughing immediately. Gaia stood a few feet away now, hands finally clean, staring at both of you with exaggerated horror-"You guys are kissing in public like teenagers" - Melissa hid her face against your shoulder instantly, laughing helplessly while you grinned shamelessly at your daughter.
-"And yet you interrupted us instead of looking away" - you raised your eyebrow.
-"Because I live here now," - Gaia answered dramatically, pointing between both of you -"This affects me emotionally" - You snorted.
Melissa finally lifted her head enough to smile at Gaia warmly-"I thought you wanted baseball" -
Gaia gasped-"RIGHT! So stop kissing" - she pointed at the both of you. Immediately she grabbed Melissa’s wrist and started dragging the redhead toward the open grass.
-"Mama come too" - she yelled at you and you got up from the blanket
-"Baby I suck at baseball, you know that" - you complained grabbing a ball
-"I can teach you" - the redhead offered immediately. She loved baseball, you knew that, she was an Eagles fan, she had a favorite collection of bats and she played with Gaia in the free time.You looked at Melissa with immediate suspicion.
-"Teach me?" - you repeated slowly -"Last time I tried, I almost hit myself with the bat" -
Gaia nodded gravely-"It was really embarrassing"-
-"Thank you for the support bebe" -you said. Melissa laughed warmly beside your daughter while the two of them dragged you farther across the grass anyway.
The sun painted gold along Melissa’s hair, turning the red into copper fire while she carried the bat easily over one shoulder. Comfortable. Confident. Entirely in her element now. God, she looked beautiful like this. Relaxed enough to shine.
-"Okay" - Melissa said, stopping in an open patch of grass -"first rule: stop looking at the bat like it personally offended you"-she pointed at you
-"It knows what it did" -
Gaia groaned dramatically-"Mama focus"-You stuck your tongue out at her before Melissa stepped behind you gently.
And immediately your brain stopped functioning. Her arms slid around yours to adjust your grip on the bat, chest warm against your back, her voice low near your ear while she repositioned your hands carefully
-"Relax your shoulders," - she murmured softly.
You swallowed-"I was relaxed before you got this close" - your voice came more pleading that what you expect, her front was pressing your scratchs on your back reminding you of last night.
Gaia made the loudest disgusted sound in human history-"NO FLIRTING DURING SPORTS!-
Melissa burst out laughing against your shoulder while you grinned shamelessly.
Then the redhead tapped your stance lightly with her foot-"Feet apart a little more" - You obeyed.
-"Good," - she praised automatically. And for some reason that simple little praise hit you directly in the nervous system.
Melissa noticed instantly.
So did Gaia unfortunately.
Your daughter narrowed her eyes.
-"...Why did mama make that face"-she squinted her eyes
-"No reason" - Melissa answered too quickly.
-"Suspicious..."-
You were still trying to recover while Melissa stepped away, smiling to herself now.
Then Gaia tossed the ball gently toward you. You swung. Missed spectacularly. The momentum spun you halfway around like a cartoon.
Melissa laughed so hard she doubled over immediately.
-"BABY!"-she laughed at you
-"I hate this sport... If we were playing fútbol I would be kicking your butts" - you murmured
-"You don't know how to play football..."-Melisa said and you looked at her squinting
-"Not football! I said fútbol! Like Messi!" - you yelled to her
-"Oh yes, she would be kicking our butts, that's why I don't wanna play with her" - your daughter agreed-"Again!" - Gaia demanded enthusiastically.
Twenty minutes later the three of you were breathless and laughing.
Gaia had grass stains on her knees. You had nearly dropped the bat six separate times. Melissa was glowing with happiness so obvious it almost hurt to witness.
At one point Gaia managed to hit the ball surprisingly far and sprinted after it triumphantly across the grass.
Leaving you and Melissa alone for a moment. The redhead moved beside you, smiling softly while taking the bat from your hands.
-"You’re improving" - she kissed your cheek
-"Liar" - you replied and kiss her briefly
-"A little..."-You laughed quietly before your gaze drifted toward Gaia in the distance. Then back to Melissa. And suddenly the sight of them together hit you all over again.
Melissa teaching Gaia patiently. Cheering for her. Laughing with her. Existing beside both of you like she had always belonged there.
Your chest tightened painfully with affection.
Melissa noticed the change in your expression immediately.
-"What?" - she asked softly. You stepped closer, brushing your fingers against hers around the handle of the bat.
-"Nothing," - you whispered with a helpless smile -"I’m just very in love with you right now" - you smiled kissing her again before your daughter could complain.
After you couldn't run anymore and you were covered on mud and grass, you decided to go home to take a shower before going to the arcade.
While you were showering yourself and your daughter, someone knocked on the door
-"I got it!" - Mel said coming down the stairs. When she opened the door, Barbara and all her friends from Abbott were there outside the door-"Barb?" - the redhead asked, the hand of her friend went immediately to the forehead
-"How are you feeling? Do you have any fever?" - her friend entered the house followed by the rest without waiting for permission.
Melissa froze in the doorway like a deer caught in the world’s most judgmental headlights.
Barbara’s hand was still pressed dramatically to her forehead while the rest of the group poured into the house carrying bags, drinks, and the chaotic energy of people who had absolutely decided this was a medical emergency social event.
Behind Barbara, Ava walked in holding iced coffee and sunglasses indoors like she owned the property already.
Jacob carried what appeared to be three different soups.
Janine had flowers.
Gregory looked deeply concerned but also vaguely resigned, like this exact situation happened to him weekly.
Melissa blinked rapidly.
-"...Why are all of you here?"-she frowned. Barbara looked scandalized by the question.
-"Melissa Schemmenti, you never take sick days" - the older pointed dramatically at her.
-"Exactly. You’re like one emotional breakdown away from becoming a ghost teacher haunting the school forever" - Jacob nodded solemnly.
-"We thought you might be dying" - Ava said smiling knowing the truth behind this.
Melissa opened her mouth. Closed it.
Then from upstairs came your voice-"Gaia stop spraying me with water!"-you laughed
-"YOU STARTED IT" -Followed immediately by shrieking laughter.
The entire group went silent. Slowly. Painfully slowly. Everyone turned toward Melissa. Ava’s sunglasses lowered down her nose with devastating precision. Barbara’s eyes widened just slightly. Gregory looked upward in realization like a man solving advanced calculus. Janine physically gasped. And Jacob? Jacob looked thrilled.
-"Melissa" - Ava said slowly, already smiling like a shark sensing blood in the water -"why does your sick day sound gay" - she smiled
Melissa’s soul left her body instantly-"It’s not what it sounds like" - she said quickly
At that exact moment you came downstairs. Hair damp from the shower. Wearing sweatpants and one of Melissa’s oversized Eagles hoodies. Looking entirely too happy and domestic for the situation. You stopped dead seeing the group in the living room.
The group stared back. Ava made a sound like she’d just won the lottery.
-"OH MY GOD"-Barbara looked between both of you once. Twice. Then her expression softened into immediate understanding so complete it was almost maternal-"Thank you Jesus! FINALLY!"-
Melissa covered her face. You looked at the redhead. Then at the teachers. Then back at Melissa. And slowly your grin spread.
-"...So," - you said carefully -"funny story... We didn't sleep last night" - you said smiling and Ava clapped
Melissa made a sound so offended and embarrassed at the same time that the entire room immediately lost composure.
-"I knew it! I told yall" - the principal smiled. Then she looked at the neck of the redhead covered in hickeys that right now they weren't covered with a piece of fabric because of the recent showered, then back at you-"Daam Melissa, you are living with a wild animal?"- Ava said
-"You should see what she did to my back before calling me wild animal" - you murmured under your breath
-"AVA!" - Ava was already crying laughing.
-"I’m just saying!" - she pointed dramatically at the visible marks along Melissa’s neck -"Girl, were you fighting for your life?!"-she joked.
You physically had to turn away because laughing directly in Melissa’s face felt dangerous for your long-term survival. Barbara, meanwhile, looked deeply entertained despite trying to maintain dignity.
-"Lord have mercy," - she muttered, though the smile pulling at her mouth betrayed her completely.
Janine’s jaw was hanging open-"YOU TWO ARE TOGETHER?"-
From upstairs Gaia yelled proudly-"THEY’RE IN LOVE!" - she said trying to change in her room but also be part of the conversation.
Melissa closed her eyes like she was accepting death at last.
Gregory quietly took a sip of coffee like none of this surprised him anymore.
Jacob looked emotionally invested to a frankly concerning degree.
-"Honestly," - he admitted -"this explains so much"-
-"THANK YOU," - Ava shouted immediately -"I thought I was hallucinating the tension for months" -
Melissa pointed at all of them accusingly-"Why is everyone acting like this was obvious?!"-
Every single person in the room stared at her.
Silence.
-"Melissa, the only two idiots that didn't knew you like each other, were each other" - the principal said.
The redhead looked betrayed beyond words. You finally stepped beside her, still smiling helplessly, and slipped an arm around her waist.
-"In her defense" - you teased softly -"she thought heart-shaped pancakes were subtle" - Ava physically bent over laughing.
Barbara clutched her chest.
Janine looked ready to ascend spiritually.
And Melissa? Melissa buried her burning face into your shoulder while muttering-"I’m moving to another country" -
Your daughter came running down the stairs looking at all the people at your house happily
-"Are you coming to the arcade with us?" - she asked exited, her t-shirt inside out because of her excitement
-"Baby they came to see Mel and her sickness"-you teased
-"It was your idea!" - Melisa said looking at you and you smiled kissing her cheek.
-"Do you want to stay, I can make some pizzas and we can watch something" - you asked watching at rest of professors in your living room, you knew Mel loved to have people at home and you knew that everyone, specially Barbara were dying to ask more details about all that happened after the previous night together.
The entire room went quiet for exactly one second. Then absolute chaos erupted.
-"PIZZA NIGHT!" - Jacob shouted immediately.
-"I knew this sick day was fake" - Gregory muttered into his coffee.
Ava pointed dramatically between both of you.
-"You cannot casually invite us into your lesbian domestic fantasy like this and expect me to leave" - she sat at the couch.
Melissa groaned into her hands.
Barbara, however, looked deeply pleased. The kind of pleased only someone who had spent months watching two idiots orbit each other at work could look-"That sounds lovely, sweetheart," - she said warmly.
Gaia gasped so loudly you thought she might achieve flight-"YES. WE CAN ALL PLAY GAMES!" - Your daughter jumped up and down.
You slid your arm fully around Melissa’s waist while she leaned automatically against your side now, no hesitation left in it anymore. Comfortable. Like she belonged there.
Ava noticed immediately and pointed again.
-"Look at them. They already stand like a married couple at Home Depot arguing about paint samples" -
-"That is weirdly specific" - you said.
-"Because it’s true" - she nodded
Melissa turned pink again while you laughed softly against her temple.
Then Gaia marched into the center of the room with all the confidence of a tiny event coordinator.
-"Okay. Mister Eddie, can you help me bring chairs from the kitchen, please? And cushions!"-Everyone actually looked at her.
Your daughter spread her hands dramatically.
-"Games now. Pizza later with movie. Romance bullying all day!"-she said smiling.
Ava wiped imaginary tears from her eyes-"I never wanted kids, but I like this one"
Barbara smiled fondly toward Gaia before looking back at Melissa. And there it was again. That soft knowing look. The one that said I see how happy you are.
Melissa caught it too. For just a second her expression shifted, something vulnerable and overwhelmed flickering there beneath the embarrassment and teasing. Because this entire thing still felt unreal. The warmth. The ease. You beside her smiling like she hung the moon itself. Gaia already weaving her into the shape of family so naturally.
Barbara noticed immediately. Of course she did. She stepped closer and squeezed Melissa’s hand gently-"I’m very happy for you, baby" - Melissa’s eyes softened instantly.
Then before the emotion could fully settle, Ava clapped loudly-"Okay enough feelings. I need details. Which one of you made the first move?"-
You and Melissa looked at each other. Then simultaneously pointed at the other again. The room exploded.
After answering most of the questions without giving too many private details, you went to the kitchen to make the pizzas, hearing the way they joked about stuff and played with Gaia.
It felt weird they way that you just went from being just you and your daughter to having a whole family and friends at home, so full, so loud, so nice.
The kitchen glowed warm beneath the soft yellow lights while you worked the pizza dough between your hands, the house was alive. Not politely occupied. Alive.
Laughter spilled from the living room in waves. Someone shouted dramatically about boardgame cheating. Gaia’s voice cut through the noise every few seconds at maximum volume, immediately followed by Melissa laughing in that breathless helpless way that had already become one of your favorite sounds in the world.
You paused for a moment, flour dusting your fingers. And listened.
Barbara was telling some story in the living room while Janine interrupted every ten seconds in outrage. Jacob was apparently trying to teach magic to Gaia while Mel explained how the trick worked. Ava had made herself comfortable on your couch like an evil glamorous cat claiming territory.
And Melissa? Melissa sounded happy. Not careful-happy. Not nervous-happy. The real kind. The kind that loosened her voice and made her laugh louder than usual. Your chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because for so long it had only been you and Gaia. Your small routines. Your quiet dinners. The constant low hum of survival mode wrapped so tightly around your life you’d almost forgotten people could simply... stay.
That homes could sound like this. Full.
You looked toward the living room doorway just in time to see Melissa sprawled on the carpet with Gaia beside her, both of them arguing passionately over arcade strategy while Barbara laughed from the couch.
Melissa looked up mid-conversation. Found you watching. And smiled instantly. God. That smile. Not the flirtatious one. Not the teasing one.
The soft one that reached her eyes slowly like sunlight spilling across water. The kind that said there you are. Something warm and enormous bloomed painfully behind your ribs.
Melissa must have noticed the shift in your face because her expression softened too.
-"You okay?" - she called gently over the noise.
You looked around the house again. At the mess. The noise. The people already reaching into the kitchen for drinks without asking. Gaia laughing so hard she nearly fell sideways onto Melissa’s shoulder.
Family.
The word still felt too big to touch directly. But somehow it was already here anyway. You smiled quietly before answering-"Yeah" - your voice softer than before -"I think I am."
Your face was soft, like full of feelings. Mel left Gaia with Barbara and went to the kitchen with you, holding your waist from behind and resting her face on your shoulder
-"What is going on that mind?" - she asked softly.
You exhaled slowly, leaning back into her warmth without even thinking about it.
Melissa’s arms tightened around your waist automatically, her chin resting on your shoulder while the noise from the living room blurred into a soft comforting hum behind both of you.
For a moment you just stayed therna Her heartbeat against your back. Flour on your hands. The smell of pizza dough and tomato sauce filling the kitchen. Home. The thought hit so suddenly it almost hurt. Your fingers stilled over the counter.
-"Nothing bad," - you whispered quickly, already feeling Melissa tense slightly behind you in concern -"Promise."
She relaxed immediately, pressing one soft kiss against the side of your neck, it made you shiver lightly-"Then what is it?"
You swallowed softly. How could you even explain this feeling? The strange ache in your chest from realizing happiness had arrived quietly while you weren’t looking.
You glanced toward the living room again.
Gaia was showing Barbara something dramatically with her hands while Ava argued with Jacob about movies. Gregory was helping Janine untangle something from her purse. And right in the middle of all of it sat Melissa’s sweater and youra tossed carelessly over the couch like you already belonged here. Like if you were meant to stay. Your eyes burned unexpectedly.
-"I think..." - you laughed softly at yourself, embarrassed by the emotion clogging your throat -"I think I got so used to surviving that I forgot life could feel like this" - Melissa went very still behind you. You kept speaking quietly. -"For so long it was just me and Gaia trying to make things work, you know?" - your hand covered one of hers around your waist -"And I loved our life. God, I did. But everything always felt... temporary somehow" - Melissa’s grip tightened. You leaned your head gently against hers-"And now you’re here"-Your voice cracked a little on the last word.
The redhead melted instantly. She turned you carefully in her arms until she could see your face properly, her own expression already full of that overwhelming tenderness she never managed to hide from you anymore.
-"Honey..." - she whispered.
You laughed weakly-"It’s stupid. I'm getting emotional over pizza..."-you joked
-"No" - Her hands slid up to cradle your face gently, thumbs brushing beneath your eyes before tears could fully gather there-"No, don’t do that," - she murmured softly -"Don’t make your heart smaller just because it’s full."-That almost ended you completely.
Your face crumpled into helpless emotional laughter while Melissa smiled through suspiciously shiny eyes herself.
Then she kissed you. Slow. Warm. Certain. The kind of kiss that didn’t ask permission to stay forever because it already had.
When you separated, you hid your face on her chest, hugging her waist and keeping her close to you, enjoying the warmth and smell of her skin
-"You know... I've been thinking about what Gaia said earlier... Do you want to have more babies?" - you asked softly and she tensed a little-"Not right now... I mean in the future, is something you would like?" - you murmured
-"I always wanted babies... But after my divorce I thought I was too old for it and the chances of a successful pregnancy at my age were not good, so I left that dream behind..."-she whispered softly and felt how your hands tightened around her waist
-"I just wanted to know... We already have Gaia..."-you whispered against her chest
-"But I grew up with many siblings... And even though we fight a lot, I really love them... And it would be nice if Gaia has someone else to play with... I mean if you want" - she whispered and kissed your head. Your chest tightened painfully at the softness in her voice.
Not because of the words themselves. Because Melissa sounded like someone carefully unfolding an old dream she had already taught herself not to touch anymore. You lifted your head slowly from her chest just enough to look at her.
The kitchen lights painted gold across her freckles and damp red curls, and suddenly she looked younger somehow. Vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.
-"Lisa..." - you whispered softly. She smiled a little, shy now under your gaze.
-"I know it’s complicated" - she admitted quietly-"And expensive and scary and probably something very far away if it ever happened at all. I just..." - her fingers brushed gently through your hair -"I used to imagine a loud house" - You swallowed hard-"And Gaia is loud" - she laughed making you laugh-"but now that you both are here, that fantasy that was buried on the past has resurfaced" - she said softly and you kissed her lips again.
Behind you both, the living room exploded into laughter again. Gaia shouting something about cheating at Mario Kart while Ava defended herself dramatically. A loud house. You looked toward the noise instinctively. And then back at Melissa. At the woman standing in your kitchen, holding you like she had already started building a life around you without realizing it. Your hands tightened gently at her waist.
-"You know" - you murmured softly -"when Gaia was born I was terrified" - Melissa’s expression softened immediately-"I was young and broke and exhausted all the time. And everyone kept talking about how motherhood changes your life forever like it was supposed to sound scary" - You laughed quietly to yourself-"But nobody told me that sometimes the scary part isn’t loving someone too much" - Melissa listened silently, thumbs brushing little comforting circles against your skin-"It’s realizing your heart can keep making room" - That made her eyes shine instantly. You smiled weakly-"So... if one day, far in the future, we decided we wanted another baby?" - you shrugged softly -"I think I’d like that, very much" - you whispered. Melissa’s breath caught. Really caught. Like the answer had slipped past every wall she’d carefully built around that dream.
-"Yeah?" - she whispered.
You nodded-"Yeah."
The redhead stared at you for one fragile overwhelmed second before pulling you into her arms so fast you laughed softly against her shoulder. Then she hid her face in your hair.
And quietly, almost embarrassed by how much hope lived inside the words, she whispered-"I think you’d look very beautiful holding our baby" - she kissed your forehead
-"Poor you when you have to deal with my crazy hormones and weird cravings" - you said smiling
-"Poor me?" - she repeated incredulously -"Baby, you’re already dramatic when you’re hungry"-
You gasped in mock offense.-"I am not dramatic"-
From the living room Ava yelled without hesitation-"YES YOU ARE"-Both of you burst into helpless laughter.
Melissa kissed your forehead fondly before speaking again-"You’d absolutely wake me up at three in the morning crying because we don’t have the right brand of pickles" - she said, her strong Philly accent escaping more thick now that she was relaxed
-"Wrong" - you corrected seriously -"I’d cry because the pickles looked at me with bad energy" - you nodded
-"See? This is exactly what I mean"-she pecked your lips
You grinned shamelessly against her lips-"And you would still go buy me pickles."
Melissa’s entire expression softened instantly-"Without shoes if necessary."
That warmth bloomed in your chest again, huge and impossible to hold quietly. You tucked yourself closer against her, hands sliding beneath the back of her shirt just to feel her there. Real.
Melissa smiled down at you with that same overwhelming tenderness that always made it look like she couldn’t quite believe you existed either.
-"Honestly," - she murmured softly -"I think you’d be adorable pregnant"-
You immediately buried your burning face against her shoulder-"I regret bringing this up."
She laughed quietly, hugging you tighter.
-"No you don't" -
-"...Maybe a little"-Melissa tilted your chin up gently until you looked at her again.
-"Can I tell you something awful?"-she asked
You narrowed your eyes suspiciously-"That introduction is concerning"-
The redhead looked entirely too pleased with herself now-"The second Gaia asked for a sibling, part of my brain immediately imagined a tiny baby with your hair" - Your soul left your body. Completely. Gone. You stared at her in stunned silence while Melissa dissolved into laughter at your expression.
-"Lisa..." - you whispered weakly.
-"I know"-she laughed softly
-"You can’t just say things like that" - you murmured
-"Why not?" - she teased softly, brushing her nose against yours -"You started the future family conversation" -
You looked at her for another long emotional second before muttering-"You’re evil" -
Melissa smiled against your lips-"And yet you’re still going to marry me someday" - she said it without thinking, without remembering why that seemed a bad idea in the past.
You froze. She froze. Both of you blinked at each other.
Then simultaneously-"Well now we have to discuss that too..."-you laughed on her lips nervously
-"But another day... We have guests that are waiting for the pizza"-she said nervously too. You let her go but you didn't step away
-"And by the way... I think this future hypothetical baby will be easier than Gaia..."-you said smiling and she lifted an eyebrow-"...I mean, with those milkers any baby will be happy" - you said joking looking at her breast and she hit your arm. Melissa stared at you in absolute disbelief for half a second before smacking your arm again harder-"Ow!" - you laughed immediately, nearly folding in half.
-"You are unbelievable" - she narrowed her eyes shyly
You looked deeply pleased with yourself anyway-"I’m just thinking practically" - you smiled
-"You are objectifying me in my own kitchen" -
-"Incorrect" - you corrected shamelessly -"I am appreciating you respectfully" - you nodded
Melissa tried to stay offended. She really did. But the smile fighting at her mouth ruined the whole performance.
-"Respectfully?" - she repeated.
-"Very respectfully" - The redhead rolled her eyes while your gaze drifted teasingly downward again, you let out a sing, she was delicious.
Melissa immediately grabbed your jaw and forced your face back up-"Eyes up here, menace" - You burst out laughing. Her hold was tight, but loving at the same time, you pecked her lips
-"WHY ARE YOU TWO SO QUIET?" - Gaia shouted suspiciously.
Melissa answered instantly-"WE’RE HAVING A NORMAL CONVERSATION"-
Ava yelled right after-"That sounded guilty as hell" - she was right.
You laughed into Melissa’s shoulder while she groaned dramatically toward the ceiling. She looked back at you then, still smiling despite herself, cheeks pink from laughing and embarrassment. And God. You adored her. Not just the beautiful parts. Not just the flirting and kissing and soft moments in bed. This too.
Melissa in your kitchen arguing with you about hypothetical babies while your friends destroyed your living room in the background.
Messy. Warm. Ridiculous. Real.
Your expression must have softened again because Melissa’s eyes gentled instantly.
-"What?" - she asked quietly.
You wrapped your arms around her waist again and kissed her softly.
-"Nothing," - you murmured against her lips -"I’m just really happy you exist... I love you Lisa" - you kissed her again
-"I love you my menace" - she whispered on your lips, you would never get tired of hearing her say that.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Melissa started to see herself more as in Gaias mom than in her teacher.
Gaia stopped introducing her as Miss Melissa entirely.
It became:
"Mel, where are my shoes?"
"Mel, mama burned the garlic bread again."
"Mel, do you think raccoons have feelings?"
As if loving Melissa had become stitched naturally into the structure of everyday life.
The dinosaur ballerina room had been the beginning of the end. Melissa had tried, initially, to convince Gaia toward “something more cohesive.” That lasted approximately seven minutes. Now bright pink dinosaurs in tutus covered one entire wall of the carefully designed Italian-style house like a glittery act of rebellion.
You still remembered standing in the doorway watching them paint together. Gaia completely covered in green paint. Melissa with a pink handprint accidentally smeared across her cheek. Both of them arguing passionately about whether a T-Rex could realistically perform ballet.
-"Balance is important" - Gaia had insisted seriously.
-"Baby, its arms are six centimeters long."
-"Dreams are bigger than arms, Mel" -
Melissa had looked at you after that with such helpless love in her expression that you nearly proposed on the spot.
Then came the tiny mouse door. You had come downstairs one evening expecting peace and instead found Melissa crouched beside the staircase with paintbrushes scattered around her while Gaia supervised like a tiny construction manager.
-"...What is that?" - you had asked carefully.
Melissa looked up proudly.
-"A door for Ratón Pérez" - There, painted perfectly into the wall near the stairs, sat a tiny arched green door no taller than your hand, complete with miniature flowers and absurdly detailed gold hinges.
You blinked slowly.
-"You painted a fully functional mouse entrance into your house."
-"Our house" - Gaia corrected immediately from the floor.
Melissa smiled shyly at that while touching up tiny stars around the frame.
-"Well," - she murmured softly -"I didn’t want him struggling to get inside" - Your heart had almost burst open right there beside the stairs.
Because that was the thing about Melissa. She loved with infrastructure. Not loudly. Not performatively.She loved through details.
Packed lunches cut into little shapes. Extra sweaters waiting by the door. Nightlights replaced before they burned out. Tiny magical mouse doors painted into walls because someday Gaia would lose another tooth and Melissa wanted wonder to have somewhere to enter from.
And the strangest part?
It all became so normal so quickly.
Like she had always belonged there.
Like the house itself had been waiting for her laugh to echo through it before it could finally sound complete.
And then it came how comfortable Melissa felt on her rol as new mom when Gaia needed her the most. Helping even when you didn't knew how to.
One day Gaia came home devastated after a rough day at school. Nothing catastrophic. Just one of those childhood days where emotions felt too big for a little body to carry properly.
You found her curled on the couch refusing to speak. Before you could even figure out what to say, Melissa quietly disappeared upstairs.
She came back wearing one of Gaia’s dinosaur blankets like a cape.
-"Attention" - she announced seriously -"I have been informed this house is suffering from a severe sadness emergency" - Gaia blinked despite herself. Melissa climbed onto the couch dramatically-"Luckily I am a licensed feelings detective."
You watched from the kitchen trying not to smile while Gaia fought visibly against laughing-"That’s not a real job" - she crossed her arms
-"Wrong. I studied at emotional university."
-"That sounds fake" - she pouted trying to fight a smile
-"It was very expensive" -
By the end of the night Gaia was giggling so hard she hiccuped while Melissa performed increasingly ridiculous “investigations” into the case of the missing happiness.
And then there were the small things.
The quiet things.
The ones that mattered most.
Melissa brushing Gaia’s hair gently before school while listening with complete seriousness to long stories about playground drama.
Gaia automatically reaching for Melissa’s hand in crowded places.
Movie nights where somehow the two of them always ended up asleep against each other before the credits rolled.
The way Melissa never forgot things.
Favorite snacks. Spelling test days. The exact stuffed dinosaur required during thunderstorms.
One evening you came home late from work to find the living room lights dimmed low.
Melissa sat on the couch grading papers with reading glasses slipping down her nose while Gaia slept across her lap completely sprawled out, one tiny hand still tangled in Melissa’s sweater.
The television played softly in the background.
Neither of them had noticed you yet.
And for one fragile second you simply stood there in the doorway looking at them.
Your girls. The thought arrived so naturally now it no longer startled you.
Melissa looked up eventually and smiled immediately when she saw you. Soft. Sleepy. Home. Then she carefully mouthed-"She waited up for you." - Your chest ached so hard it nearly became unbearable.
Because all your life love had felt like something people threatened to leave with. But this? This stayed.
This painted mouse doors into walls and burned pancakes on rainy mornings and held your daughter through bad days like she had been born for it.
This built a home around you gently enough that one day you looked up and realized you were no longer surviving inside your life. You were living in it.
Melissa never had kids until now, she was happy to see how your daughter trusted her, how she was Gaia's mother even if your daughter called her Mel and no mama. She was happy to give her all the love your daughter deserved without asking for anything in return.
The redhead said to herself she didn't needed to be called mama, until the day it happened and she realized how much she was needing that
-"Lisa love, I'm going to put the car on the garage because it's about to rain, Gaia is watching Bluey, be right back" - you let the redhead know while she took a shower.
After a few minutes she heard the door of the bathroom open and she assumed it was you, but a tiny voice came instead
-"Mom can I speak to you?" - Gaia asked sitting on the closed toilet behind the shower curtain. Melissa frowned not being able to see your daughter
-"Baby your mama is parking the car, she will be right back" - she let your daughter know
-"I wasn't looking for mama, I was looking for you, that's why I said Mom, and not mama"-she said simply.
Everything inside Melissa stopped. The shower still ran softly around her. Rain tapped faintly against the windows outside. Somewhere downstairs, the muffled theme song from Bluey floated through the house.
But for one suspended heartbeat, the world narrowed entirely to that tiny voice outside the shower curtain.
Mom.
Melissa’s throat tightened instantly. She sat there frozen beneath the warm water, staring blindly at the tile while her heart beat so hard it almost hurt.
Outside the curtain Gaia shifted slightly on the closed toilet seat-"Mel?" - she asked softly now, suddenly nervous from the silence -"Did I say something bad?"-
That snapped Melissa back immediately.-"No, baby" - her voice came out rougher than expected, making her clear her throat quickly-"No, sweetheart. You didn’t say anything bad" -Her hands were shaking. God. She had spent months telling herself she didn’t need it. Didn’t need the title. Didn’t need the word. Because love was already there. Because Gaia already felt like hers in every way that mattered. But now that it had arrived anyway, so small and casual and sincere through a bathroom door, Melissa realized the truth immediately:
Part of her had been quietly aching for it all along.
She reached over blindly to shut off the water.
-"Can I open the curtain?" - Gaia asked carefully.
Melissa laughed weakly through the sudden burn behind her eyes.
-"Give me one second, bebé" - Gaia has seen Melissa like that before, with kids you have no privacy, but the redhead didn't wanted to look sad in front of her. She wrapped herself quickly in a towel before pulling the curtain open slightly.
Gaia sat there in dinosaur pajamas swinging her legs anxiously. The second Melissa looked at her properly, her entire face softened. Because Gaia looked worried now. Like maybe she’d crossed a line without meaning to.
Melissa crouched immediately in front of her despite still dripping water everywhere.
-"Hey," - she whispered gently.
Gaia looked at her carefully-"You’re not mad?"
Melissa made the tiniest broken sound of disbelief. Then she pulled your daughter into her arms so fast Gaia squeaked softly in surprise-"Baby" - Melissa whispered against her hair, voice trembling now -"I could never be mad about that" - Gaia hugged her back instantly. Small warm arms around her neck. Complete trust.
And that was what finally shattered Melissa completely. Tears slipped free before she could stop them. Quiet ones. Overwhelmed ones.
Gaia pulled back immediately-"Why are you crying?!"-she grabbed the redhead's face with her tiny hands.
Melissa laughed through it helplessly, wiping quickly at her face-"Because I’m emotional and dramatic apparently" -
-"Mama says that too" - That made Melissa laugh harder.
Then Gaia tilted her head thoughtfully-"You really liked it?"-Melissa looked at her for a long moment.
At this little girl who had wandered into her life carrying dinosaur backpacks and glitter and loud opinions about pancakes. The little girl she loved so fiercely now it scared her sometimes.
And softly, honestly, Melissa answered-"I think it might’ve been one of the happiest moments of my whole life" -
Gaia’s face lit up instantly. Then, with the devastating confidence only children possess, she smiled and said-"Well yeah. You’re my mom" - Gaia hugged her mom tightly again. Getting wet with the water on the redhead's head-"You won't leave us, right Mom?" - she asked hidden in the redhead's neck
-"What do you mean baby? I could never" - the redhead asked worried
-"My dad left us when I was a baby... And mom says we didn't need him to be happy... And sometimes I dobut that when I saw other kids having a dad, but then you arrived and you made us happy, you showed me that I didn't need a dad... But I do need you to be happy, so I need you to stay with us... Forever"-Gaia whispered with teary eyes.
Melissa felt her heart break and heal at the exact same time. The tiny wet arms around her neck tightened with every word, like Gaia was trying to hold onto her before she could disappear too. And God. Children carried fear so quietly sometimes. Not loudly. Not dramatically. They tucked it into little corners of themselves and kept growing around it until one day it slipped out in soft trembling whispers in the middle of ordinary moments.
Melissa held her closer immediately. Water from her damp hair soaked into Gaia’s pajamas, but neither of them cared.
-"Hey" - Melissa whispered shakily, pulling back just enough to look at her properly -"Look at me for one second, bebé" - Gaia did reluctantly, eyes glossy and scared in a way no child should have to be.
Melissa’s chest ached. She cupped Gaia’s cheeks gently in both hands-"Your dad leaving had nothing to do with you. Nothing." - her voice was steady now despite the tears burning behind it -"And it doesn’t mean everybody leaves" -
Gaia swallowed hard.-"But people say forever and then go away anyway" - That one nearly destroyed her.
Melissa inhaled slowly before resting her forehead carefully against Gaia’s-"Then I won’t just say it" - she whispered softly -"I’ll show you" -Gaia’s lip trembled immediately. Melissa smiled through tears now-"I’m going to stay for all the important things, okay?" - she murmured -"For bad school pictures and birthday cakes and fevers and dinosaur rooms and heartbreaks and embarrassing teenage phases."-That earned the tiniest watery laugh. Melissa brushed damp curls gently away from Gaia’s face-"I’m staying for movie nights and graduations and every lost tooth Ratón Pérez needs to collect" -
Gaia clung tighter instantly-"Promise?"
Melissa didn’t hesitate even for a second-"I promise" - The little girl broke completely then, burying her face into Melissa’s neck while quiet crying finally escaped her. Melissa held her through it without a second thought, rocking slightly where they sat on the bathroom floor together.
And somewhere between one heartbeat and the next, Melissa realized something enormous:
This wasn’t just loving Gaia. This was motherhood. Not biology. Not titles. Not paperwork. This. Holding a frightened child and making them feel safe enough to believe in permanence again.
After a long moment Gaia whispered shakily against her skin-"I love you, Mom" - Melissa closed her eyes.
And for the second time that night, her heart completely gave out inside her chest-"I love you my baby daughter... And I will be here every step, forever" - she whispered into her daughter's hair.
Gaia made the smallest sound against her neck. Not quite a sob anymore. Something softer. Relief.
The kind children release only when they finally believe they’re safe. Melissa kept holding her there on the bathroom floor long after the tears slowed, fingers moving gently through tangled curls while the rain tapped steadily outside the windows.
Downstairs, the television still played quietly to an empty living room. Upstairs, wrapped in towels and warmth and promises, a family was stitching itself together thread by thread. Gaia eventually pulled back just enough to look at Melissa again, cheeks pink and damp.
-"Even when I’m annoying?"-she asked softly
Melissa smiled immediately-"Especially then" -
-"Even when I become a teenager?"-Melissa pretended to think about it very seriously.
-"...That one might require prayer" - Gaia laughed watery little hiccup-laughs that made Melissa’s chest ache all over again.
Then your daughter reached up and touched Melissa’s face carefully, wiping away the tears still stuck there with tiny fingers-"You cry a lot for a grown-up" -
Melissa snorted softly-"You and your mama did this to me" -
-"Good" - The answer came so quickly and confidently that Melissa burst into helpless laughter again.
Then Gaia tilted her head thoughtfully-"Can I ask something else?"-
-"Always" -
-"If you marry mama someday..." - she hesitated shyly -"Can I be Schemmenti too?"-Melissa’s breath caught so sharply it physically hurt. Because children really did say life-changing things with the same tone they used to ask for cereal. Gaia hurried to continue when Melissa froze again-"You don’t have to! I just thought maybe because there would be two moms and..."-
-"Baby" - Melissa interrupted softly. Her voice broke completely this time. She pulled Gaia close again immediately, kissing the top of her head over and over while tears slipped free despite her best efforts-"You can have all the names you want, whatever makes your heart happy," - she whispered shakily -"I will answer every single time to all of them"-Gaia hugged her tighter with a relieved little sigh.
And downstairs, the front door finally opened.
Your voice echoed through the house-"Why does it sound suspiciously emotional up there?"-
Melissa laughed weakly through tears while Gaia grinned against her shoulder.
Then your daughter shouted back proudly-"Nothing! I was just talking to mom!"-You heard the way that Gaia refer to Melissa and you froze for a second, understanding all the sobbing upstairs. Carefully you went to where they were, cuddling on the floor of the bathroom. You looked at Melissa first, because you knew your daughter liked to drop bombs like that and be completely normal after
-"You Okey?" - you whispered entering the bathroom and crouching in front of them. Melissa looked up at you immediately. And that was all it took. Because the second her eyes met yours, fresh tears spilled over again. Not distressed tears. Not bad ones. The overwhelmed kind. The kind that came when happiness arrived carrying more weight than your heart knew how to hold gracefully.
Gaia, meanwhile, sat perfectly content in Melissa’s lap like she hadn’t just altered the emotional architecture of the household forever.
-"I think I broke her a little," - your daughter admitted thoughtfully.
You laughed softly despite the tightness in your own chest. Then you reached forward instinctively, brushing damp red curls away from Melissa’s face-"Baby?" - you whispered again gently.
Melissa shook her head once, smiling helplessly through tears-"She called me mom" - she pouted softly.
Your expression crumpled immediately. Because hearing it was one thing. Seeing what it meant to Melissa was another entirely. You looked down at Gaia. Your little girl, still in dinosaur pajamas, sitting safely tucked against the woman she trusted enough to hand her heart to.
Then back at Melissa. The love in the room felt almost unbearably large.
You exhaled shakily before leaning forward and kissing Melissa softly. Slow. Tender. Grateful. When you pulled back, your forehead stayed resting against hers-"You deserve that word" - you whispered quietly.
Melissa broke all over again. A tiny wounded emotional sound escaped her while Gaia looked between both of you with the exhausted patience of a child dealing with dramatic adults.
-"You guys cry a lot" - You snorted through tears immediately.
-"You literally started this" - you tickle your daughter
-"By accident! I just wanted to ask her to stay with us!" - she said between laughs.
Melissa laughed weakly, still holding Gaia tightly with one arm while the other reached automatically for your hand. And there it was again. That feeling. Not the sharp frantic happiness from the beginning. Not the terrified hope. Something steadier now. Roots digging deeper. You sat down beside them on the bathroom floor without caring about the cold tile or the damp towels everywhere.
Then both your girls immediately leaned into you automatically, like gravity. Gaia against your shoulder. Melissa against your chest.
Home.
Your daughter sighed happily between both of you before announcing-"Okay now I’m hungry again" - The three of you burst into laughter at the exact same time.
Summary:your children asked you to read the book you recently published, and you and your wife decided to have a trip down to memory lane to remember how you met.
A/N:this story is long, but is worth reading. If you like goth, enemy to lovers, teasing, jealousy, funny and all of that, please read and enjoy this.
And yes. I'm alive
A/N:this story is for my witchy wife for all the blessings she has brought into my life . I wouldn't be able to continue without you by my side. Thank you for reminding me how much I love to write. I love you so much @neverfindmegone Happy birthday 💕🎊
You were sitting on the couch of your home, your favorite spot, the one next to the window. The soft sunrise rays, sneaking through the curtains, were caressing your face. Your body was covered by the warmest blanket of your house. Your glasses fogged by the warm cup of coffee that was warming up your hands. The book you were reading rested on your lap, leaning towards you on your bent knees.
The soft sound of the wind and singing birds outside filled the silence around your home.
Usually you always woke up earlier than everyone to read alone in the silence for a few minutes, but this time was difrent, the book that was on your lap was a story you knew from memory, that you lived, but this time was there, trapped between those pages, that you wrote.
After much consideration, you decided one day that your life was crazy enough to put in a book, a fantasy one, because no one would have believed you if you said it what happened was true, so you did. And it had much more success that you were waiting for it.
Before you could continue with your reading, you heard laugher and tiny but fast running steps coming to you
-"Mama!"-Your little boy came running to your spot, barely giving you time to put the book and the mug on the coffee table before he jumped on your lap, opening your blanket and hiding in your chest-"Good morning mama" - he said with a sleepy voice and crazy hair slipping between your blanket
-"Good morning my baby"-You squeeze him in your chest-"What are you doing up this early? You don't have school today" - you asked
-"Good morning love, they woke up because I forgot to take off the alarm for the weekend. I'm sorry"-your wife said with the same crazy hair as your son, holding your sleepy baby daughter in her arms
-"Good morning my beautiful ladies" - you replied, smiling and kissing your wife as she sat by your side
-"Story time mama?" - your little boy asked peaking trough the blanket to give you the best puppie eyes that he could master
-"I thought story time was at night, not early in the morning..."-you replied smiling at him an trying to press down his crazy hair but having cero success
-"Please mama! Is the weekend and you were already reading, you even have your glasses... Pleaseeee"-he insisted and you nodded, unable to say no to those shiny eyes. Your wife smiled and carefully put your sleepy daughter in the bassinet that was in the living room. Getting up to make breakfast
-"Which story do you want baby?"-he pointed at your book without doubt
-"The Witch and the Mighty soldier!"-he said exited and rested his face against your chest again, closing his eyes but paying close attention to your voice. You laughed softly because he always picked that one. You started without grabbing the book, because you already knew the whole story by memory.
As soon as you started your tell, a fog blocked your mind from the present, transporting you to that time
The environment around you changed, you were no longer in the warmth of your home, now you could feel the humidity emanating from the mossy forest floor. You could hear the sound of the river passing near the small town and the distant conversation of the vendors.
After a few more steps, you turned your face attracted by a very familiar force. You noticed an old house between the trees, a black house with lilac flowers around it. A house that was well known in the small town and had signs around it that said "beware of the witch". Around the house you could find some remains of bones, forming an almost perfect circle surrounding that place, like if you were near a fae trap.
Many years ago, in a small, isolated village, there lived a magical being, a witch, more powerful than all the other witches who had ever walked that land. Not only was she more powerful, but she was also bolder and smarter than the others. She liked to deceive and steal from the poor villagers of the village and liked to deceive other witches with false promises to take away their powers. This witch knew no limits, no mortal limits or limits beyond mortal, for many years she controlled and terrorized families, armies and anyone who crossed her land. Anyone who crossed her path or tried to stop what she wanted, suffered the same terrible fate, to perish.
Every year that the witch went by without finding a person strong enough to stop her, her power, her riches and her arrogance grew stronger.
She was a lonely being, but she had earned it. No one wanted to be around her because she wouldn't allow it.
The families of the village offered her food and wealth in exchange for the witch not attacking them. But after years and years of sacrifices, the villages had nothing more to offer. Their crops were not enough to feed the people and the witch, and since they gave all the riches to her, they no longer had the means to buy more supplies to grow new crops.
Almost exhausted, with very little hope, they decided to send villagers to neighboring towns seeking help from their strong armies. By explaining that whoever could kill the witch would keep all the profits and riches, many brave and some greedy soldiers decided to go and fight her. But their mortal weapons were no match against the witch's strong and powerful spells, and soon they perish too.
What the townspeople did not know was that that lonely witch, full of power, had an empty heart and soul, she sought with riches and magic to fill that void, but every night she went to sleep more and more sad and cold.
After several failed attempts, no one continued to try to defeat the powerful witch, and the attacks of the armies ceased.
Seeing that no one was facing her anymore and bored in her solitude, the witch began to visit isolated villages, almost certain that no one would recognize her. She traveled for days, almost a week, visiting different places with bars and beautiful women, each time moving further and further away from her home and the small town where she lived.
The parties and drinks helped the witch to forget her loneliness for a while, but when night stretched too long and laughter faded into silence, the emptiness always returned.
Until one day, just like all the others, the witch entered a bar, looking for distraction and alcohol.
Warm light spilled from iron chandeliers, painting the room gold. The air smelled of spiced wine and cedar smoke. Music drifted lazily from a violinist in the corner, and the low hum of conversation wrapped around her like a familiar spell.
No one looked at her twice. Just another beautiful stranger in a dark cloak. The witch made her way to the bar, ordered the strongest wine they had, and let her gaze wander over the crowd. Merchants with flushed cheeks. Laughing couples. A gambler losing badly at cards.
And then she saw you.
You were sitting alone at a table near the back, half-shadowed by candlelight. Your gloved hand circled the rim of your glass. Your hair spilled over one shoulder like ink, and even if your face was calm, your sharp eyes were fixed on the witch with unnerving certainty. No admiration or fear, but recognition.
The witch felt it instantly, a prickling at the back of her neck. Interesting. Most people looked at her with hunger, fear, or desire. You looked at her as though as if you were solving a puzzle. You raised your glass slightly.An invitation.
The witch should have left.
Instead, curiosity curled through her chest, warm and dangerous. She took her wine and crossed the room.
-“Do I know you?”- she asked, stopping at the table.Your lips curved into something too knowing to be called a smile.
-“No"- you said smoothly-“But I’ve been hoping to meet you"-The witch arched a brow
-“And why is that?”-she asked and you leaned back in your chair, studying her openly now.
-“Because"- you said, your voice low enough to disappear beneath the violin’s song-“I had begun to think no one could possibly be as beautiful as the stories claimed"-The witch laughed, surprised by it, bold. Most flirtation wilted before reaching her, this one had teeth.
She set down her glass and sat across from you.
-“Careful”-she murmured.-“Flattery from a stranger is usually a sign of poor intentions"-Your gaze darkened, though your smile remained.
-“Then it’s fortunate"-you said-“That I never claimed mine were good"- you were screaming internally "holy hell it worked", trying act normal while laying bait with flirtation.
For the first time in centuries, the witch felt something sharper than boredom. Interest.
And across the table, hidden beneath your black leather gloves, your fingers brushed the silver chain coiled at your wrist. At last.
Even if you were living the story again just like the first time while you were telling it, the bubble of storytelling broke and you came back to the present a little confused to see your wife's magic go away
-"What happened?"-you asked turning to look how your wife was lifting your baby daughter from the bassinet
-"They are both asleep" - she whispered pointing at your baby boy asleep in your chest curling and smiling-"it's still early, let's take them to bed" - she suggested and you nodded, getting yourself up from the couch with your boy in your arms and going to their rooms to carefully leave each of them in their beds.
Once you made sure they were still asleep and the baby monitors were working, you closed the door to turn around and find your wife smiling at you
-"What is that for?" - you asked raising an eyebrow
-"Let's go to the room? I wanna hear how the story goes" - she said exited and you rolled your eyes smiling walking to the room
-"You know how the story goes, you were there..."-you replied getting into bed with her. As soon as you lay down, she grabbed your waist hugging you close and hiding her face in your neck
-"Please... I like how you tell stories and you like how I transport us there with my magic fingers" - she said moving special two specific fingers on her hand and you laughed giving her a kiss on her forehead
-"You are nasty" - you said
-"You love me like that" - she replied and transported you right where you left your story. Again at that bar.
The witch tilted her head, studying you with amused suspicion.
She was curios, it was something unusual about you. Not fear. Not worship. Not even the trembling hunger she was used to inspiring. You looked at her as though if were already known, every sharp line of her face committed to memory long before tonight.
It should have unsettled her. Instead, it thrilled her.
-“What is your name?”- the witch asked.
You lifted your glass, her eyes never leaving yours.
-“Elaine”-the lie fell from your lips, smooth as silk.
The witch smiled faintly. She knew a lie when she heard one, but chose not to challenge it-“And yours?”-you asked having a zip of your drink
-“Would you believe me if I said I’d forgotten?”-
You laughed softly, the sound warm enough to melt frost.
-“No"-you replied
-“Good”-she smiled
The violin in the corner swelled into something slower, sweeter. Around you, the tavern blurred into soft noise and amber light. For a while, you two talked.
The witch found herself telling stories she had not spoken aloud in decades. Not truths exactly, but fragments of them dressed in prettier clothes. Tales of distant cities, strange storms at sea, kingdoms that no longer existed.
You listened as though each word mattered.
When you spoke, you offered little of yourself, only enough to keep the conversation alive. Clever remarks. Dry humor. The occasional look that lingered just long enough to suggest possibility.
The witch had known countless beautiful women. Most tried too hard. You did not try at all. That was what made you dangerous.
Hours slipped by unnoticed. The candles burned lower. And then, when the witch reached for her wine, your hand brushed hers. A simple touch. Barely there. But cold lightning raced up the witch’s arm. You froze, just for a breath, as though startled by your own boldness.
Then you smiled, smaller now. Almost shy. A performance so flawless even the witch nearly believed it.
-“Forgive me"- your murmured. The witch’s lips curved.
-“For what?”-she asked. Your hands remained touching on the table. Your pulse fluttered beneath her fingers. Real. Not acted. Interesting.
-“For wanting to know... ”- You said quietly-"...If you’re as impossible to touch as you seem"-The witch laughed, low and genuine. There it was. Desire. At last. She turned her hand, lacing your fingers together.
-“You could find out"- she said and your breath caught. That part, at least, was not pretending.
The witch rose first, setting coins on the table. She looked down at you through half-lidded eyes and offered her hand
-“Come with me"- She asked, no, she demanded, and for the first time that evening, uncertainty flickered across your face.The witch noticed, misread it as nerves. And smiled wider. Slowly, you took her hand.
The room seemed to hush around you as you crossed toward the stairs leading to the tavern’s rented rooms above. You palm was warm, your grip steady, but beneath your glove your wrist ached where the silver chain rested hidden against your skin. Months of hunting. Years of stories. A lifetime spent chasing monsters. And now the most feared witch in the kingdom, the highest reward was leading you willingly into darkness. The trap was set.
She pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside. The wood groaned softly before the latch clicked shut behind yoy, cutting off the music below as if the world itself had fallen silent. Your entire body went taut. Every nerve stood awake beneath your skin. Though the witch did not touch you, you could feel her there, close enough for warmth to gather at you back. The brush of her breath against the nape of your neck sent a shiver down your spine. Now. It had to be now.
You would never have another chance like this.
A weaker part of you, the foolish mortal part you thought duty had long ago strangled, wanted to turn around and forget every order you had ever been given, wanted to find out if the stories whispered in taverns were true, if the witch’s touch really could make a woman forget her own name. But desire was a luxury you could not afford, and the reward waiting for the woman who delivered the witch alive was worth far more than one reckless night.
Slowly, carefully, you turned to face her.
The witch was smiling. Not the cruel smile of the legends, nor the amused smirk she had worn downstairs. This one was softer. Trusting. And for the first time in three years of hunting her, you hesitated.
The witch noticed, of course she did.
Her smile curved, slow and knowing, as she stepped closer. Candlelight caught in the dark spill of her hair, painting bronze across the sharp line of her cheekbones. She moved with impossible grace, like something woven from smoke and moonlight rather than flesh.
-“You look frightened”-she murmured. You forced yourself not to retreat.
-“I’m not.”-The witch tilted her head, studying you with infuriating patience.
-“No"- she said after a moment, her voice dropping lower-“You’re nervous.”-She was close enough now that you could smell wine on her breath, sweet and spiced. Beneath it was something colder, stranger, like winter air before the first snowfall. Beautiful, deadly, and entirely within reach. The thought steadied you.
-“I’ve simply never been alone with someone so infamous before"-you said. The witch laughed softly.
-“Infamous..."-The word seemed to amuse her-“Is that what they call me in these parts?”-she ask and you said nothing.
The witch reached for you, fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from your face with unbearable gentleness. The touch burned hotter than silver ever could.
-“And what do they say?”-the witch asked.
Your throat tightened. "That you are cruel.
That villages starve so you may feast.
That men have crossed mountains to kill you and returned as ash on the wind.
That your kiss leaves women ruined for every mouth that follows" you though, but instead you said, almost breathlessly,-“That no one survives long enough to know you"-your voice was soft, barely a whisper. For a heartbeat, something shifted in the witch’s expression.A flicker, gone too quickly to name. Then she smiled again, though there was sadness tucked into its edges now.
-“What a lonely story they’ve written for me"-The words struck deeper than you expected.
This was the monster you had imagined a thousand times in a thousand forms. A creature of greed and cruelty and black-hearted hunger.
But standing here, close enough to touch, she looked less like a monster and more like a woman who had forgotten what kindness felt like.
Dangerous, you reminded yourself.
Dangerous because she can make you pity her.
The witch’s fingers drifted lower, tracing the line of your jaw.
-“You’re thinking too loudly"-she said and you caught her wrist. The witch’s eyes widened slightly. Neither moved.
Silver waited, hidden in the lining of your sleeve. One sharp twist and the enchanted chain would lock around that elegant wrist, severing the creature’s magic before she could speak a single spell.
This was the moment. The years of tracking. The ruined towns. The promises made to kings and desperate mothers and starving children. Everything had led here.
-“Do it"- the witch whispered. You froze. The witch smiled faintly-“You’ve looked at me all night as though you’re waiting for permission"-Her free hand came to rest lightly against your chest, right above the frantic hammering of your heart - “Well?"-Her voice was velvet over steel-“What is it you want from me?”-she raised an eyebrow with her question.
You should have moved, should have snapped the silver into place and ended this.
Instead, before you could stop yourself, you leaned forward and kissed her. The witch stilled in surprise, then she kissed back. Slowly at first, curious as if testing whether this was real. Then deeper, one hand sliding into your hair, the other curling at your waist. Heat crashed through her and you. For one impossible, reckless moment, you forgot every oath you had ever sworn. Forgot the reward. Forgot the chains. Forgot the kingdom waiting for its monster. There was only this.The witch’s mouth, warm and yielding against you, making you wonder if her kisses had any kind of spell or why they felt so magical.
The small breath she gave when you pulled her closer, the terrible, breathtaking realization that she did not want this to be a lie, and that was exactly why you ended it.
You tore yourself away, breathing hard. Before the witch could speak, silver flashed between you. The iron chain snapped shut around both wrists with a sound like breaking glass. The witch gasped.
Magic exploded through the room in a violent pulse, rattling the windows, snuffing every candle into darkness.
And when the light returned a heartbeat later, the witch was on her knees. Her wide, disbelieving eyes lifted to meet yours. No fury. Not yet. Only hurt.
Your chest caved under the weight of it.
-“I’m sorry”-you whispered.
The witch stared at you for a long, terrible moment. Then she laughed. Sharp and empty as shattered crystal.
-“Oh”-she said softly. And now her smile was the cruel one from the stories. - “So that’s what this was"-The witch’s eyes darkened, no longer with passion but with betrayal. For the first time in centuries, she had allowed herself to be vulnerable, and had been repaid exactly as she had always feared-"The moment they remove my chains, you will be the first one to die"-the witch said, no as a threat, but as a curse, with her last bit of magic she cursed you and you smiled letting a dry laugh out
-"Then I will tell them to keep them on until the fire turns you into ashes" - your voice was dry but your face didn't matched the venom in your voice, you stood frozen for a moment, unable to move.
Then her body gave out. The silver chains had already stripped her of her power, and the poison you had paid the bartender to slip into her wine finally took hold. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Morning came cold and colorless. The witch woke to iron light spilling through the curtains and a sharp burning at her wrists. Silver.
For one stunned heartbeat, she did not understand. Then memory returned in fragments. Wine. Laughter. Her hands buried in dark hair. A kiss that had tasted like surrender.
And across the room, seated silently in a chair, clad now in full armor with a sword and pistol resting across her lap, was Elaine. No. Not Elaine.
You lifted your eyes to meet hers, and all softness was gone. The witch’s voice came low and dangerous.
-“Who are you?”- she asked and your jaw tightened.
-“Captain (Y/N)”-The name struck like thunder.
The hunter who had spent three years tracking her.
The witch stared, then laughed once, sharp and disbelieving-“Well...”-Her eyes glittered-“You certainly earned your reward"-Pain flickered across your face, brief enough that most would have missed it.
-“I did what I had to”- You replied and the witch smiled, cruel again, though hurt coiled beneath it like a wounded serpent.
-“Did you?”-her words and the way she looked at you was venomous. You said nothing, and somehow, the silence hurt more than the chains.
Her gaze followed as you rose from the chair, fastening your sword and pistol to their holsters. The armor made you seem taller somehow, broader, colder. Hollow. Just as she felt.
-“Get up"-Your voice was dry and commanding, deeper than it had been the night before.
Nothing like "Elaine’s".
You seized the iron restraints at her wrists and hauled her to her feet, draping dark cloth over the silver so they would not draw attention. Without another word, you opened the door and descended the stairs, sure she would follow. And though every part of her wanted to remain where she was, to let humiliation root her to the floor, she followed. Because for the first time in centuries, the witch wanted answers more than revenge.
The road stretched on for days, and if you had hoped silence would make the journey easier, the witch quickly proved otherwise. Chained at the wrists and seated before you on the horseback, the witch seemed to take cruel delight in every shift of movement that forced your bodies closer, every jolt in the road that pressed your hands tighter around her waist. For hours she said nothing, until the quiet had settled into something almost bearable. Then, tilting her head just enough for her dark hair to brush your throat, she murmured
-“You held me much more tenderly the other night”-your grip tightened at once, and the witch smiled to herself, unseen.
Later, when you stopped to make camp, the witch stumbled theatrically over a tree root and fell neatly into the your arms. For one suspended breath neither of you moved. Your hand was firm at her waist, her face only inches away, close enough for the witch to feel the sharp hitch of your breath
-“Careful"-the witch said softly, her lips curving-“Anyone might think you’re worried for me".Rolling your eyes you shoved her upright so abruptly she nearly laughed
-“Walk”-you replied
-“There she is”-the witch purred, dusting herself off- “I was beginning to miss the woman who tied me up"- That earned her a dark look, though the flush climbing your throat betrayed you. The witch said nothing more, but her smile lingered long after.
That night, as you sat across the fire in brittle silence, she watched your rigid posture, the way exhaustion bent your shoulders when you thought no one was looking. Then, very quietly, the witch lifted her bound hands and let a whisper of magic slip through the silver’s bite, just enough to turn the wind from your side outside the camp. When you looked up sharply, the witch only arched a brow and smirked
-“Don’t flatter yourself, darling. If you freeze to death, I’d have to walk to my own execution"-
You said nothing to that, though your jaw tightened as you adjusted another log into the flames. Orange light leapt across the hard lines of your face, catching for an instant in eyes that looked far too tired for a woman your age. The witch watched you in silence, her smile fading into something unreadable. There was no triumph in your expression, no satisfaction at finally having captured the kingdom’s most feared creature. Only exhaustion, heavy and constant, as though this victory had cost far more than it was worth. Interesting.
-“You wear disappointment beautifully” - the witch said at last. Your gaze lifted sharply.
-“What?”-you asked and the witch tilted her head, as if thoughtfully admiring you
-“I had expected more celebration. Perhaps a song. A smile, at the very least. You’ve spent three years chasing me across half the kingdom, and now here I sit, conveniently chained by your fire. You might try looking pleased"-A flicker of irritation crossed your face.
-“I’m not here to celebrate"-your voice was hollow
-“No?”-The witch leaned forward, the silver at her wrists glinting in the firelight-"And here I thought ruining my evening was your life’s ambition"
You rose abruptly and crossed to where the horses were tethered, pretending to check their straps. The witch smiled faintly. There it was again. Retreat. She was learning your.
The discovery sent a curious warmth through her chest, one she refused to examine too closely.
When you returned, you stopped just beyond the firelight and held out a piece of bread and dried fruit. The witch looked at it, then at you.
-“How touching. Are you feeding me, Captain?”-she fluttered her eyelashes at you flirty
-“Take it”-you voice was clipped, but there was strain beneath it.
The witch accepted the food slowly, letting her fingers brush your bare skin.The reaction was immediate. A sharp inhale. The slightest stiffening of your shoulders. The witch’s lips curved.
-“Still sensitive, I see"- Your jerked your hand back as if burned.
-“Eat"-you said
-“As you command"- She bit into the fruit with deliberate slowness, her dark eyes never leaving your face. A flush climbed your throat at once. Delicious. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the witch swallowed and said lightly
-"Tell me something, Captain" - Silence- “When you kissed me…”-you went utterly still. The witch’s smile sharpened - “Was that part of your training?”- The fire cracked between you two. Your face revealed nothing now, every trace of warmth shuttered behind cold discipline.
But when you spoke, your voice was lower
-"No" - The answer landed harder than the witch expected. For the first time since waking in chains, her breath caught. It had been real, then. At least for a moment. A dangerous kind of hope stirred before she crushed it flat beneath practiced cruelty.
-“How unfortunate for you"- she said smoothly-“I’ve had better, many way better kisses and funnier nights"-she said and that struck painfully.
As a knight, love , kisses and fun nights didn't had much time in your life. The last time you kissed someone was your girlfriend and that was years ago before she passed away in battle, so the way she downplayed your first kiss in years, hurt more than it should have.
The pain flashed across your face before you could hide it, quick and raw as a knife slipping between armor plates.The witch felt it in herself at once, sharp and ugly. Regret. The realization unsettled her more than the chains ever could.
Without another word, you turned and disappeared into the darkness beyond the fire.
The witch stared after you, the bitter taste of victory lingering on her tongue. And for reasons she could not name, it felt very much like loss.
By the sixth night, the witch noticed. You always waited until you thought sleep had claimed her. Then, with quiet hands and careful precision, you would kneel beside the bedroll and lengthen the silver restraint by another inch or two, just enough for comfort. Never enough for escape. Always enough for mercy.
The first time, the witch had assumed practicality, a prisoner too exhausted to sleep was troublesome by morning. The second time had felt deliberate.
By the sixth, there could be no mistaking it. You cared.
The thought settled somewhere sharp and warm beneath the witch’s ribs, where she refused to examine it too closely. She said nothing.
Instead, she pretended to sleep as those careful fingers brushed her wrist, pretending not to notice how gently the you worked to avoid waking her.
That morning, neither spoke of it.
By midday you reached the nearest village.
It was small and busy, the market square alive with voices and horses and the smell of fresh bread drifting from nearby ovens. You needed supplies, and though you kept the witch’s silver chain hidden beneath dark cloth, your grip on the restraints remained firm as you entered the tavern.
The witch endured the stares with practiced indifference. Then she saw her. The barmaid was young and pretty, with bright eyes and an easy smile that sharpened the instant it landed on you.
-“Well”- she said, leaning against the counter as she filled your order-“You’re a handsome thing under all that armor"-You barely glanced up
-“Just the supplies"-The girl laughed softly
-“All business? Shame"-Her hand lingered unnecessarily over your arm as she passed over the satchel, fingers brushing your glove.
The witch went still. Something ugly and immediate twisted low in her chest. Ridiculous. Possessiveness was for mortals with too much time and too little pride. And yet there it was, hot as poison.
You shifted back slightly, polite but distant.
The barmaid smiled wider.
-“If you’re staying the night, I finish my shift at moonrise"-she offered with sweetness on her voice. The witch laughed. The sound cut through the room like glass. You both turned toward her.
She smiled sweetly.
-“Oh, forgive me. I was only wondering whether your standards are always this poor, Captain, or if travel has made you desperate"-your expression hardened at once. The barmaid frowned.
-“I beg your pardon?”-you asked
The witch tilted her head, all velvet cruelty.
-“My mistake. I thought we were all sharing our poor decisions openly"-you seized her arm hard enough to silence whatever retort followed.
-“Outside"-You said upset, the witch allowed herself to be dragged from the tavern, still smiling. Only once you reached the alley behind the stables you released her.
-“What was that?”-you yelled. The witch lifted a brow.
-“Jealousy, apparently. It’s a revolting experience. I cannot recommend it”- you froze. For a moment, neither moved.
-“You were jealous?”-you asked quietly. The witch laughed once, sharp and mocking.
-“Don’t flatter yourself"-she tried to disminish the comment, but her pulse had quickened, and judging by the way the you eyes darkened, you had noticed.
The air shifted between you. Something electric.
Dangerous. You stepped closer. The witch held her ground.
-“You don’t get to mock me for things you feel yourself"-you said, your voice low.
The witch’s smile sharpened.
-“And what exactly do you imagine I feel?"-she asked and you reached for her wrists. Not roughly this time. Slowly. Your fingers traced the silver restraints, then slid higher, brushing bare skin. The witch’s breath caught.
-“There" - you murmured. Your infuriatingly steady gaze lifted to hers-“You always go quiet when you’re lying"-Your replied, the witch’s heart stumbled.
She recovered quickly, leaning close enough for ypur mouths to nearly touch.
-“Careful, Captain"-she whispered-"You’re beginning to sound as though you know me" - she mocked and your hand tightened at her wrists.
For one suspended breath, neither moved.
Then the witch kissed you. Hard. All the days of bitterness and hunger and furious wanting crashed into it at once.
You answered instantly, shoving her gently against the stable wall, one hand cradling her jaw as if afraid she might break. The kiss burned. Not soft like the first. Not false.
This one tasted of anger and relief and all the things neither had dared say aloud.
When you finally broke apart, both breathing hard, you rested your forehead against hers.
-“This changes nothing”- you said hoarsely.
The witch smiled, though her pulse thundered.
-“No"- she murmured. But you both knew she was lying. And this time, neither of you pretended otherwise.
You wrecked.
The walk back through the village was silent.
The witch kept her face composed, every inch the elegant predator, but inside her pulse still raced from the alley, from the taste of your mouth still lingering like heat on her.
Beside her, you seemed infuriatingly calm. Too calm.
You reached the small general store near the edge of town again just as the owner was preparing to close. You stepped inside, purchased what you needed, then lingered at the counter while the old man bundled your supplies.
-“Well”-you said lightly, as if continuing some harmless thought- “it seems we’ll be delayed"-The witch glanced over. You were fastening your gloves with deliberate care, not looking at her-“The inn still has rooms available"-you continued walking to the room- “And the barmaid finishes her shift at moonrise"- The words struck like flint. The witch stopped walking.
You turned, and though your expression remained perfectly composed, there was something dangerous flickering in your eyes, teasing.The realization hit all at once. The witch narrowed her gaze.
-“You’re crueler than I gave you credit for"-she said and you shrugged, impossibly casual.
-“She seemed eager enough. It would be rude to disappoint her”-The witch gave a soft laugh, though there was no amusement in it.
-“By all means, Captain. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to discover your most seductive quality is prolonged silence"-A corner of your mouth twitched.
-“Jealous again?”-you lifted your eyebrow and the witch’s breath caught. Damn you.
She turned sharply and resumed walking toward the inn, chin high enough to suggest indifference she did not feel. Behind her, she could hear the your measured steps following.
The room you were given was small, lit only by a single oil lamp that painted gold across the narrow bed and rough wooden walls.
You closed the door behind both of you. Neither spoke. The silence stretched.
You removed your gloves one finger at a time and said, almost idly
-"You know, if you dislike the arrangement, you could always ask me to stay" - you offered and the witch laughed. Sharp. Disbelieving.
-“You are insufferable"-she rolled her eyes
-“And yet here we are”-you began loosening the silver restraints, lengthening them as you always did before nightfall. Your hands were practiced now, careful where the metal had rubbed the witch’s skin raw. The tenderness of it undid something small and dangerous in her chest.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then, before pride could stop her, the words slipped free
-“Stay"-she whispered and you froze. The witch’s face remained composed, cool as ever, though her pulse thundered in her throat. Slowly, you looked up. The teasing had vanished from your expression
-“What?”-you asked. The witch swallowed hard enough to hate herself for it.
-“Don’t make me repeat it.”-For one terrible second, she thought you might smile, might mock her, might make light of this humiliation.
Instead, you reached up, your fingers brushing a dark strand of hair behind the witch’s ear with unbearable gentleness. And quietly, so softly it was almost reverent, you said:
-“Alright"-The witch forgot how to breathe. Your hand lingered against her cheek. Neither of you moved closer. Neither pulled away.
The space between you burned hotter than any fire.
The room had gone impossibly quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to hold its breath with you. The witch stood close enough for you to feel the warmth of her skin, close enough that one careless movement would close the space between you forever. For a long moment neither moved. Your hand hovered near her face, trembling with restraint, as though even the smallest touch might shatter whatever fragile thing had grown between you on the road. The witch noticed, of course she did, and her usual sharp smile softened into something almost unbearably tender
-"You’re staring again"- she whispered, her voice low enough to feel like a touch itself. You swallowed hard, your pulse hammering
-“I’m deciding whether this is a mistake"-you replied. The witch moved closer, until your breath mingled, until you could smell rain and smoke and the faint sweetness of wine still lingering on her lips
-"And?”-she murmured. The answer never came, because the witch kissed her first, slow and deliberate, as if giving you every chance to pull away. But you only made a broken sound against her mouth and kissed her back with all the hunger you had spent days trying to bury. It should have felt reckless, stolen, wrong, and perhaps it did, but beneath the urgency there was something softer, something that made the witch’s chest ache with its unfamiliarity. You touched her like she was precious, like every brush of skin was a question you were afraid to ask aloud, and your her fingers ghosted over the silver marks at the witch’s wrists, you froze. For one terrible second the spell broke, reality crashing back between you. The witch’s breath caught. Then, quietly, almost pleadingly, she whispered
-“Don’t stop"-Something in your face shattered at those words. You kissed her again, gentler this time, reverent enough to make the witch’s throat tighten, and as you pressed your forehead to hers, eyes closed as if you could not bear to look at what you were doing, the witch understood with sudden, devastating clarity that this was not desire alone. This was longing. This was grief. This was love arriving at the worst possible moment, asking to be let in anyway.
For a moment, putting distance between you, you rose from the bed. Your legs trembled beneath you, almost threatening to give out entirely.
The witch let out a slow, quiet sigh. Her dark eyes still burned with desire, but something sadder lingered there too, some old familiar hurt settling behind the heat. For a heartbeat, she thought this was how it would end. That same retreat she had come to expect whenever things became too real, too dangerous, too honest to bear.
She thought you would turn away from her. Withdraw into your armor and your duty and whatever walls had kept your heart hidden all this time. But instead, beneath her watchful gaze, your trembling hands rose to the clasps at your shoulders.
The first piece of armor hit the floor with a heavy metallic thud. Then another. And another. Slowly, uncertainly, as though each movement cost you something, you stripped away every layer that had made you Captain, every polished plate and buckle and barrier that had stood between you and the world. Under the dim amber light, your skin looked impossibly vulnerable, marked faintly where leather straps had pressed too tightly, your breath uneven as your hands shook at your sides.
The witch stared. For once, she had no clever remark ready. No teasing smile. Only silence, thick and trembling with understanding.
This was not seduction. This was surrender. When at last your hands stilled, you looked at her with a kind of naked terror she had never seen on any battlefield.
-“If I stay..."- you said softly, your voice rough enough to crack-"there may be no going back for me"- your words struck her harder than any blade ever had.
The witch’s expression softened, something fragile and aching passing across her face. Slowly, she pushed herself upright and crossed the small distance between you. Her fingers lifted, feather-light as they brushed your cheek.
-“You should go, then"-she whispered. The lie of it sat between you. She wanted you to stay. Gods, she wanted it with a hunger that frightened her. But centuries had taught her what hope cost. And if she let herself believe this was real, if she let herself need this… It would destroy her.
Your breath hitched. Then, with a quiet desperation that made her heart lurch, you caught her wrist and pressed your lips to her palm. The touch was reverent enough to make her knees weaken.
-“I don’t want to go"- you confessed. The witch closed her eyes. For one terrible, beautiful moment, she let herself feel it. Then she opened them again and cupped your face in both hands, still bounded by the chain but with more room to move, her thumbs brushing the warmth rising in your cheeks.
-“Then stay”-she whispered. You kissed her before she could say anything more.
Not with the desperate hunger of before, nor the sharp edge of anger that had marked your first stolen kisses. This was slower. Deeper. A kiss shaped like choosing.
And as your hands found her waist and drew her close, as her fingers slipped into your hair and held you there like something precious she had already begun mourning, the whole world beyond that room seemed to fall away.
For that night, there was no captain. No prisoner. No kingdom waiting to tear you apart. There was only this. And the fragile, impossible love neither of you had meant to find.
Without breaking the kiss, you guided her backward with your hands at her hips, gentle but unyielding, until the backs of her knees met the edge of the bed and she sank onto the mattress with a soft gasp. The sound went straight through you. Opening your legs you sat at her lap
Your breath caught against her mouth, and for a heartbeat you nearly pulled away, startled by how easily she undid you.
But then her fingers found your hips, not to stop you, only to hold there lightly, as if reassuring herself that this was real, and something inside you gave way completely.
When her tongue brushed against your lips in quiet invitation, your breath hitched into a helpless little sound that made her smile against your mouth. You opened for her. And in doing so, gave her more than permission. You gave her trust. The realization seemed to strike her all at once. You felt it in the way she stilled for half a breath, as though suddenly afraid to move too quickly and break whatever fragile thing had passed between you.
Then she kissed you again. Slower this time. Not with hunger sharpened into conquest, but with unbearable care, as though she were learning every trembling answer your body gave her and committing each one to memory.
You let yourself melt beneath her. For years your life had been discipline. Steel buckles fastened too tight, commands barked without question, every choice shaped by duty until there had been no room left for softness.
And now here she was, undoing all of it with nothing but patience and the brush of her lips.
Your hands found her waist, then higher, tracing the warm curve of her back as if you needed proof that she was here, that this was truly happening. The witch shivered beneath your touch. The reaction startled you enough to draw back. For one suspended moment neither of you moved.
The world beyond the thin walls of that room seemed impossibly far away.
No kingdoms. No chains. No dawn waiting to tear this apart. Just the two of you, suspended in the fragile mercy of now.
Then her hand rose to cradle your face, her thumb brushing slowly across your cheek.
There was something heartbreakingly soft in the way she looked at you.
-“You should hate me”-she whispered. Your throat tightened.
-“Maybe I do"-A faint, sad smile touched her mouth. You kissed it away before she could believe it, making her smile.
-“Can you take off my chains? I wanna work my magic"-she teased, trying to lighten the mood. You laughed, your hands drifting to her wrists as if to grant her wish. For a moment, her expression softened with expectation. Then, instead of freeing her, you pushed her gently back onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath her as you pinned the restraint to the bedframe, the sharp metallic click echoing through the room. Her eyes widened in shock
-“Let’s see what your pretty mouth can do…”- you said with a slow smile, savoring the stunned look on her face. You leaned closer, close enough for her to feel the warmth of your breath against her skin, and tilted her chin upward with two fingers. The moonlight spilled across her face like silver paint, catching the curve of her mouth as it twitched into a defiant little grin-“Still think you’re the one in control?”-you murmured.
Her laugh came low and velvet smooth, though you caught the hitch beneath it
-"You talk too much" - she replied fighting against the chains
-“Do I?”-You traced the edge of her wrist where the restraint held firm, then let your touch drift away entirely. The absence of it was louder than contact could ever be.
She shifted against the sheets, dark hair spilling around her like ink across paper, and for the first time since this little game began, her confidence flickered. Just enough to make your pulse quicken. You leaned down until your lips hovered beside her ear.
-“Then make me shut up"-you whispered, biting softly at her ear.
Her eyes darkened, ignited by the challenge. Her magic slipped through the restraints and made your skin burn, not with pain, but with heat.
The intensity made you desperate. You stripped away the little clothing you had left, letting it fall in a careless heap on the floor.
This time, the witch was the one left spellbound, watching, admiring, savoring every inch of your body. Her gaze was that of a hungry animal stalking its prey, sharp and unrelenting, until it fell upon the battle scars scattered across your skin.
Suddenly, you felt far more naked than bare before her. It felt as though she were staring straight into your soul. So you looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
-“Stunning"-she said, the honesty in her voice catching you off guard. You felt heat rush to your cheeks, a blush blooming across your skin as you finally looked back at her. She was smiling.
Not the sharp, teasing smile she wore like armor, nor the wicked smirk that usually danced on her lips when she had the upper hand. This one was softer. Real.
And somehow, that made your chest tighten more than any spell ever could.
Her eyes drifted over your scars again, not with pity, not with curiosity, but with reverence, as though each mark was a verse in a story she wanted to memorize. Slowly, she lifted her chin, her smile never fading.
-“They’re beautiful"- she whispered. Then her lips curved into a teasing smile-“Come to bed and end this torture, or I’ll break the frame to free myself and drag you here instead"-The soft plea in her voice sent warmth rushing through you.
Without another word, you obeyed.
You climbed onto the bed and settled over her, straddling her hips. The moment your body met hers, that familiar heat flared between you again, stealing the breath from your lungs.
Leaning down, you captured her lips with yours.
The kiss was hungry and desperate, all restraint dissolving the instant your mouths met. A quiet sound escaped you as her warmth surrounded you once more, dizzying and impossible to resist.
She laughed proudly again your lips, sending a vibration trough your body
-"I can feel your wetness on my hips... I like to see that I have this effect on you"-she was about to tease further but her desire didn't let her-"Please sit on my face" - she begged out of air-"Let me taste you, I've been dreaming about this since the first time we kissed" - her chest rose with every breath she took and the chains sounded against the bed frame every time she desperately moved trying to get you closer.
You kissed her one more time, painfully slow, riding your wetness on her hips and she moaned in your mouth, biting and sucking your lips desperately, until you heard a crack wood sound, followed by the feeling of her hands on your ass and then your hips, grabbing possessively your skin, digging her nails on the soft flesh.
The chain that bounded her hands was still on, digging softly against the skin of your back too, creating a cold contrast with the heat of the situation, but the bed frame where the chain was held was broken.
She grabbed your hair with one hand pulling your head back gently making you break the kiss
-"Ride my face now, next time I won't ask nicely" - her voice was deep, hungry. Her lips went straight to your neck, to your pulse point, bitting gently and then soothing the bite with her tongue,making you whimper and press your core against her body. You nodded unable to find the words.
Carefully you open your legs on top of her face, resting your knees as a support on each side of her head trying not to let your weight crush her face. You core was contracting against nothing, you could feel it, and by the moan Agatha let out when she saw your pussy, she could see it too.
You lowered your face gently, grabbing the bed frame to steady yourself, even nervous and full of anticipation you were trying to be gentle to her face. But the witch didn't wanted to wait anymore, her mouth was salivating and the non existent patience went out the window. Her hands grabbed possessively your thighs, one arm curling around each leg, pulling you down completely on top of her face.
The sudden contact against her face made you let out a squeal at the same time Agatha moaned against your pussy, like if she was tasting the most tasty forbidden fruit
-"Agatha!"-you screamed in surprise and she bit the side of your thigh making you shiver and lift your hips a little
-"First time I hear my name come out of your lips and I'm already obsessed... Keep making those pretty noises, I want everyone, specially the whore of the bar, to hear who is making you see stars tonight" - she made you sit again on her face, her tongue was lay out flat, being able to lick your whole pussy in one swipe. Her nose was pressing down on your clit and the sharp puffs of air that she let out made your pussy tickle.
Since it had been a while since you had last been sexualy with someone, your body, especially your private parts, were very sensitive to any stimulus. Without mentioning that you've never sat in someone's face like you were doing right now, you wouldn't deny that it felt amazing, but the sensation was also too much at the same time
-"Agatha, Agatha, Agatha" - her name was coming as a prayer from your lips, you wanted to ask her to slow down a little bit, but your mind, fogged by the sensation, was not able to form any other thought than her name -"Please..."-you begged, barely above a whisper, with tears on the corner of your eyes.
The witch, rather than slowing, took it as permission to keep going. You were unraveling on top of her, every wall you had ever built crumbling piece by piece. Your fears, your caution, even the promises you had once made to yourself dissolved into the haze consuming your mind, until there was nothing left but sensation. Nothing but her. And she loved it.
She loved knowing she was the one undoing you, the only reason your careful control was slipping through your fingers.
Her nails dug deeper on your skin, grabbing your thighs with desperation, breaking the skin a little, making a mixture of pain and pleasure travel all over your body.
Your hips moved back and forward, riding her face, feeling how her tongue explored every inch of your lips, your clit and eventing she could find. You could feel the way she was gasping for air, and you tried to lift your hips to let her breathe a little, but the witch complained with a tiny whimper lifting her head to not let you pull away, and then she pulled you back down on top of her.
Your hips kept moving more frantically this time, your ears where ringing and your vision was getting blurry. Your hands were pressing the headboard making your fingertips hurt but unable to let it go. You could feel your own heartbeat on your head, like if something was pounding the door asking to let them out.
Agatha's movements were becoming more sloppy and desperate, you could even feel her teeth every time she sucked your pussy trying to get as much of you as she could.
Your whimpers and moans were becoming shorter but more frequently, shutting down the creaking sound of the wooden bed, your boobs where bouncing because of the frantic movement of your hips and your legs were trying to close together. The witch was moving her mouth in ways that you thought it wasn't humanly possible and your body was about to give up.
Agatha was consumed by you, you were using all her senses, your thighs were pressing the side of her face, forbidding her to hear anything more than the rumble of her own heart and the way your wet pretty pussy collided against her face. Her mouth and nose were inside your sex, all she could taste and smell it was you, the salty of your juices and the tangy but sweet taste of your body. She couldn't breathe very well but not even for a moment she thought of stopping or pulling you away from her. Her eyes were intoxicated trying not to miss a single reaction of your body. Her hands were digging your skin, feeling your warmth and shivers. Her forehead was damping with your and her own sweat mixing.
Agatha noticed the way that your body was moving, the way you were almost screaming and moaning, and the way your pussy was clenching every time her tongue dipped a little on your entrance and she knew you were about to break.
Her tongue dipped completely inside your entrance at the same time that her mouth closed around it, sucking your pussy. Your body froze for a second before your back arched and you started shivering and having spasms on top of her, having the most strong orgasm in your life and screaming her name in a way that made your throat hurt.
Agatha kept her movement steady making your orgasm last while she looked at you. There was something darkly intoxicating in the way her eyes watched you come apart, drinking in every trembling breath, every shiver that ran through your body as though committing each reaction to memory. Not out of cruelty. Not even out of triumph.But with the quiet satisfaction of someone witnessing a miracle they had never expected to touch.
When you felt yourself on the verge of collapse, your body still trembling from the force of it, you gathered what little strength remained and pulled yourself away. With a shaky breath, you slumped on top of her instead, letting the full weight of your body rest against hers. You buried your face in the curve of her neck, breathing her in, the scent of sweat and lingering heat wrapping around you like a spell more intimate than any magic she could conjure.
For a moment, neither of you spoke. Agatha’s arms slipped around you carefully, as though afraid you might break if she held too tightly. With a soft flick of her fingers, the covers drifted over your bodies, cocooning you both in warmth.
Then she smiled. It was small and quiet, but impossibly radiant, she was licking her lips savoring your taste still on her. Not even her magic, wild and ever-shifting as it was, could have erased it.
There was something almost disbelieving in that smile, as if she still could not quite accept that you were here, tangled with her like this, real and breathing and hers to hold, if only for tonight. Her lips brushed your temple with so much tenderness that made you shiver again.
-"I will return the favor, just need a moment" - you said weakly with your eyes closed and she laughed under you
-"It's Okey... You can barely move... Besides, it wasn't a favor, it was my pleasure" - she said looking at you- "You are delicious" - you blushed under her gaze.
-"I feel like I'm high" - you whispered -"You are very good"-you kissed her chest and she smiled enjoying the confortable silence and the sound of your breathing.
Afterward, in the quiet that followed, you lay tangled together beneath the thin inn blankets, both still catching your breath. The moonlight spilled pale across the bed, tracing silver over flushed skin and tangled sheets.
-“Why did it have to be true?”-you whispered, more to yourself than to her.
The witch, resting atop you now with her head against your chest, lifted her face to look at you. Her dark hair spilled across your skin like ink, and she smiled faintly at the sight of your flushed cheeks and thoroughly ruined hair.
-“What is true?”-she asked softly, her fingers tracing invisible patterns against your stomach. You let out a slow breath.
-“That your mouth could work wonders. Magic, even.”-Her smile widened. You groaned and buried your face in the curve of her neck, breathing in the salt-warm scent of her skin-“I think that may have been the best orgasm of my life"-you muttered. A low laugh vibrated beneath your lips.The witch shifted, rolling you gently onto your back so she could look down at you properly-“I feel like I’m under a spell"-you admitted, your voice heavy with sleep and something far more dangerous.
-“I’m glad I live up to the tales"-she teased. You gave her thigh a light slap.
-“Always insufferable"-Her smile softened. But then she noticed the way your expression drifted, your brow furrowing with thought. She always noticed.
-“What is it?”-she asked. You hesitated before answering.
-“This is one of the only times you’ve behaved as the stories claim"- She stilled. You lifted your head enough to meet her eyes-“We’ve traveled together for more than two weeks. You’ve been infuriating, sarcastic, impossible to endure…”-That drew the ghost of a smirk from her-“But never cruel. Never vicious.”-The smirk vanished-“You’ve had opportunities to hurt me"-you continued quietly-"I know your power still works, at least a little. You could have escaped. You could have killed me"-You swallowed-“You never even tried."
For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she looked away. When she spoke, her voice was softer than you had ever heard it.
-“There is one tale no one knows"-Your body tensed beneath her. She drew in a slow breath-“Long ago, I fell in love with another witch. The first green witch"-Her lips curved faintly, though there was no joy in it-“She was Death herself"-The room seemed to still around her words-“We had a son. He was never meant to live. He was destined to be stillborn"-Your breath caught-“When he was coming, I ran from her. Foolishly believing I could hide him even from Death"-A humorless smile touched her mouth-“She found us anyway"-Her fingers trembled where they rested against your skin-“I begged her not to take him. And she loved me enough to give me time"-Her voice cracked. Barely-“But he was always sick. Always fading. And I became desperate enough to believe power could save him"-Your chest tightened-“I lured witches to me with stories. Death would take their bodies, and I took their magic. Again and again and again…”-Her eyes closed-“And still it was never enough.”-The silence that followed was unbearable-“The first night I failed to kill one…” - she whispered -“…Death came for him"-Your throat tightened painfully-“I lost my son. And I hated myself for ever loving the thing that would take him from me"-Her voice was empty now. The kind of emptiness carved only by centuries of grief-“The armies came later. The hunters. The thieves. I killed them because they came to kill me, or to steal what little remained"-Slowly, she looked back at you. There were no tears in her eyes. That somehow made it worse-“It was never pleasure"-You could feel your whole body rigid beneath her. The stories. The years of hunting. Everything you had believed. Rotting away. The witch studied your face carefully, as if memorizing it.Then, very quietly, she asked:
-“May I ask something of you?”- You nodded, though your throat was too tight for words. Her fingers curled faintly against your skin-“I know I deserve no kindness from you"-The softness of her voice made your chest ache-“But when we reach the capital…"-She hesitated. And for the first time since you had met her, she sounded afraid-“Don’t let them take me alive, kill me" - Your breath stopped-“Please"-The word barely existed-“They will not kill me cleanly. They will strip me apart for what I carry"-Her lips trembled around the next words-“My life has been an endless punishment already"-Then she looked into your eyes with a terrible, fragile hope-"Please… let it end with mercy" - her voice was a plea and her eyes looked so sad at yours, you nodded, not able to give a verbal response.
She let out a breath smiling softly and hugged you tightly closing her eyes and kissing your forehead one more time.
And there, with her weight still warm against your body and her heartbeat trembling beneath your hands, something inside you began to break.
The next morning, you woke long before the sun dared touch the horizon. The world beyond the cabin windows was still swallowed by darkness, the sea a black endless hush beneath the ship. Even the wind seemed to have quieted, as though the world itself held its breath.
Carefully, you slipped from the bed. Agatha stirred faintly behind you, a soft sound escaping her lips, but she did not wake. For a moment, you froze. Then, slowly, you began to dress.
Each movement was deliberate, almost ritualistic. The fastening of your shirt. The pull of leather over skin. The familiar weight of your coat settling over your shoulders like armor. You did it all in silence. You did not look at her. Because you knew if you did, you would not be able to leave. Your heart and your mind had been at war all night. Your mind was cruelly practical, reminding you of what waited in the capital.
The soldiers. The judgment. The promise you had made.
Don’t let them take me alive.
The words had haunted every breath since she’d spoken them.
You knew what you had to do.
And yet your heart, traitorous and desperate, whispered of impossible things.
Run. Turn the ship around. Take her somewhere no kingdom could ever find you. Let the world choke on its own hatred while the two of you vanished into some quiet corner of it, where mornings could begin with her tangled in your arms and end with her laughter filling the dark.
It was a foolish dream. A beautiful one. And it was killing you.
Behind you, the bedsheets shifted. You closed your eyes.
-“Leaving without a goodbye?”-she joked stretching. Her voice was thick with sleep, soft enough to shatter what little resolve you had left.
Slowly, you turned.
Agatha sat half-upright in the bed, the blankets pooled around her waist. Her dark hair spilled wild across her shoulders, her face still warm with sleep and impossibly unguarded in the dim light. For one terrible second, she looked like peace. And that hurt more than anything.
You tried to summon your usual sharpness, the steady authority your crew trusted, but your voice betrayed you when it came.
-“You should eat"-your voice was dry and you pointed at the bread and tea on the table. A faint smile touched her lips.
-“You’re avoiding my eyes"-she said and your throat tightened. Agatha’s expression softened as she studied you. Then understanding settled over her features, quiet and devastating-“The capital"-she whispered, today you will be reaching the capital. You said nothing. She lowered her gaze, and when she spoke again, her voice was almost unbearably gentle-“You’re already mourning me"-The truth of it struck like a blade. You stayed looking at the floor. The bed creaked, Agatha's body stood in front of you, covering you with her shadow. Two of her fingers landed on your chin raising your gaze so that you could look into her eyes, a bright smile was present on her face
-"Don't be sad... I don't regret what happened yesterday" - her hand rested on your cheek- "Thank you for reminding me what happiness feel like"-your heart broke completely and all you could do was staring at her eyes.
Outside, the first light of dawn began to bleed across the horizon and the clouds gathering on the sky. And somewhere in the distance, the capital waited.
Like an executioner sharpening its blade.
The capital had always looked cruel from a distance.
Its pale towers rose through the storm like the bones of something long dead, sharp and unforgiving against the blackened sky. Rain poured over stone walls and iron gates, washing the streets in silver as thunder rolled above like the warning of some ancient god.
You had spent years dreaming of returning here in triumph. Instead, you arrived in chains of your own making.
The soldiers closed in around you two the moment the gates opened. Steel rang against steel. Boots thundered against slick cobblestones. Torches hissed beneath the rain, their flames bowing in the wind.
Agatha stood at your side, her wrists still locked in the enchanted cuffs, her dark hair plastered to her face by the storm. Exhaustion carved shadows beneath her eyes, but there was something regal even in her ruin, something untouchable.
The commander stepped forward, his face hard as carved granite
-“At last"- he said. His gaze settled on Agatha with naked hunger. Not desire. Worse. Ownership.
Your stomach turned. Around you, dozens of rifles rose. There would be no escape.
-"Deliver your prisoner Captain, you fulfilled your duty, a feast is waiting on your name and all the beautiful women and riches that you heart can desire are ready for you"-you could hear your own heart hammering in your chest and your ears, your hands tightened against the wet chain and you lifted your eyes to look at the which. Slowly, Agatha turned her head toward you. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then understanding passed between you, quiet and devastating. Agatha’s expression emptied. Not anger. Not panic. Only the hollow stillness of betrayal.
Her lips parted, and when she spoke, her voice was so soft you nearly missed it beneath the rain.
-“So this is how it ends..."-The words struck harder than any blade. Your throat tightened. Agatha looked away first, her face going cold, as though she could not bear the sight of you. And you felt something inside you splinter.
The commander’s voice cracked through the silence-"Now commander"
Your hands trembled. Every promise you had ever made pressed against your ribs like broken glass.
Don’t let them take me alive. Agatha had asked for mercy. And you had given your word.
You stepped forward. Agatha flinched at your touch. That small movement nearly destroyed you.
-“Please”- Agatha whispered, her voice breaking for the first time-“Don’t make me watch you become like them, end me now"-she begged, you bent close enough that only Agatha could hear.
Rain streamed down yoht6 face like tears you refused to shed, and then you whispered
-“I made you a promise"-Agatha’s breath caught. The world seemed to stop. Then came the click. The cuffs sprang open. For one impossible heartbeat, nothing happened. Agatha’s eyes widened in realization, remembering her curse "The moment they remove my chains, you will be the first one to die" -"Captain, no…”-the cuffs fell to the ground, the heavy metal hit the ground, and a second latter the sound of a gunshot shattered the sky.
Heat exploded through your chest. For an instant, you felt only surprise. Your hands were to your chest, red tinted your fingertips, the warm blood staining your clothes. You lifted your eyes to see the witch, quickly turning pale and then your knees gave way. You fell forward into Agatha’s arms. The witch caught you with a strangled sound, her hands flying to the blood already blooming hot and dark across your uniform.
Agatha stared down at you, horror swallowing every feature. The curse had triggered the moment the cuffs released. The bullet had only made certain there would be no miracle.
-"(Y/N)...”-she gasped. Your trembled into the faintest smile. You lifted a shaking hand and touched Agatha’s cheek, your fingers already cold.
-"Don't be sad... Thank you for reminding me what happiness feel like" - you repeated what she said to you that morning and your hand fell, all the light left your eyes.
For a moment, the world held still. No thunder. No rain. No breath.
Then Agatha screamed. It was not the scream of a woman. It was grief given sound. Raw and ancient and terrible enough to split the heavens. The first soldier burst into ash before he could lower his rifle. The second crumpled as his shadow tore itself free and devoured him whole. Then the slaughter began. Darkness erupted from Agatha in waves, swallowing the square in screaming black. Stone cracked. Steel melted. Men vanished mid-breath, their bodies unraveling into nothing beneath the force of her rage.
The commander tried to run. Agatha raised one trembling hand. His body froze. Slowly, impossibly, he turned to face her. Her eyes blazed violet with ruin itself.
-“You took..."-she said, her voice deathly calm- “the only mercy this world ever offered me"-Her eyes were dark purple, almost black. He opened his mouth to beg. Agatha closed her fist. And he came apart like dust in the wind.
Silence followed. The rain returned. Soft now. Almost gentle.
Agatha dropped to her knees in the wreckage, gathering you into her arms. Blood soaked through her dress. She did not care. Her fingers shook as she brushed damp hair from your still face.
You looked peaceful. As though you were only sleeping. Agatha bowed her head and pressed her lips to your brow. The kiss lingered.
When she finally pulled away, her tears fell freely, vanishing into your skin. Her voice cracked on the word.
-“Stay...”-But the storm gave no answer.
For several long minutes, Agatha did not move.
The small stones bit into her knees through the soaked fabric of her dress, but she barely felt them. The rain fell endlessly around her, cold against her skin, while your body lay limp and heavy in her arms. She you her tighter with every passing second, as though enough desperation might force life back into you.
Then she heard it. Soft footsteps against the gravel. Barely there. But unmistakable. Agatha’s breath caught.
No.
Not her.
Not now.
-“Agatha…”- The voice was achingly familiar. An old love. The one person she had once trusted beyond reason. The one she had grown to hate more deeply than anyone in all her endless life.
Slowly, Agatha lifted her tear-streaked face. Death stood before her. Beautiful and terrible as ever, cloaked in darkness that seemed to drink the rain before it could touch her. Agatha’s arms tightened around your body.
-“Not her”-she whispered, her voice breaking.
-“Not again"-The words dissolved into a sob.
She bowed her head, clutching you closer, as though she could shield you even now-“I beg you…”-Pain flickered across Death’s face.
-“Nobody has received more mercy from the wheels of time than you, Agatha"-she said softly-“We cannot keep doing this"-Agatha shook her head violently.
-“I’ll give you anything"-Her voice cracked, frantic and raw-“The bodies you want, the souls, the blood, whatever price you ask. I will bring it to you, I swear it"-Her tears fell freely now, vanishing into your rain-soaked hair-“Just bring her back. Please"-she begged
Death’s expression twisted with sorrow.
-“I need to take her"-The words struck like a blade. Agatha went still. And then, with terrible certainty, she looked up.
-“Take my life instead"-Death’s eyes widened. There was no hesitation in Agatha’s voice. No fear. No bargaining left. Only truth-“Let her live,” she whispered- “Take me instead"-The rain hissed against the broken stones.
Death stared at her in stunned silence. Agatha had always been selfish. She had clawed and lied and killed to preserve her own endless existence. She had feared death with every ounce of her cursed soul. And yet here she knelt, offering immortality itself without a second thought. For you.
Something shifted in Death’s expression. Not pity. Understanding. Slowly, she knelt before her old love and reached trembling fingers toward Agatha’s cheek, brushing away a tear.
-“When next I come for you"- Death said quietly-“I wonder if you will regret this"-Agatha looked down at your still face and smiled through her grief.
-“Never"-For the first time in centuries, Death smiled back. Then she rose turning away.
And as she vanished into the storm, Agatha felt it. The terrible, ancient weight of immortality slipping from her body like chains falling away.
She still had some power left, but her heartbeat stumbled into fragile humanity.
And beneath her trembling hands, another heartbeat answered. Agatha froze. Heat returned to your body in a sudden rush. A sharp breath tore into your lungs. Your fingers twitched.
Your her eyes fluttered open, dazed and heavy, finding Agatha’s face through half-lidded confusion. For one breathless moment, neither moved.
-“Captain..."-Agatha choked.Your lips parted as though to speak, but exhaustion claimed you before words could come. Your eyes slipped closed again, and you fell into a deep, living sleep. Agatha laughed. A broken, disbelieving sound, half sob and half prayer.
She gathered you against her chest and pressed trembling kisses into your damp hair, tears falling freely at last.
She was mortal now. For the first time in longer than memory, her life had an end waiting somewhere ahead. And she had never felt more alive.
Because when that ending finally came, it would find her exactly where she wished to be:
At your side.
When you finished telling the story of your life, the magic fade away, and Agatha was in the middle of your legs, resting her head on your stomach looking at you with love and adoring eyes
-"What if we add some more chapters at our story, my Captain?"-she offered and you smiled, knowing that you still had a few more minutes before your children woke up.
-"I would love to, my witch" - she got up crawling closer to your lips to kiss you, with the same passion and love since the first time.
miss pinkthrone445 i need to say i am so invested in practical magic i have a request about this story if you’re willing to. i’d love to see melissa as a bottom if there is a smut, in my mind melissa would be perfect for the reader and i’d love to see gaia calling melissa mother too, can be in a few years if you think it’s too soon but it would be adorable
~The Practical Thing~ Part 4
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Pairing:Melissa Schemmenti x Reader
Gender:Fluff, Smut
Warnings:⚠️ALL OF THEM⚠️ strap on, insults, detailed sex, degradation, praise kink, oral(Mel receiving), nudity, all of that.
Summary:your push the redhead until the point where she can't hide her feelings for you anymore.
AU:Thanks for the request! I hope you love it! I couldn't add the Gaia part but I will put it on the next part because this one became too long 😅 and I want to add a sweet long scene on the next one.
And by the way my name is Roh 😅 Miss remind me when I had to teach and made me feel old hahaha.
If you want amazing Melisa's gifs like this one, go to @babytakeittothehead!
After all the mess that happened in the morning, Melissa went to school with Gaia and you got ready for your first day at work.
After a few hours of work and getting used to the new kitchen in the hospital, you went to have lunch, you were sitting on the dining table when your screen light up with the name "Lisa ❤️" on it. You pick it up smiling
-"Hello gorgeous" - you said and hear a little strangled noise on the other side, she cleared her throat
-"Hey..."-she was nervous, you could tell even on the phone
-"Hey..."-you repeated smiling more
-"Hey..."-she said again and you laughed
-"Is everything okey Lisa?" - you asked
-"Yes... I just wanted to know how is your first day going?" - she asked and you leaned back in your chair, smile curling wider as you balanced the phone between your ear and shoulder.
Around you, the hospital cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chaos. Trays clattered. Someone laughed too loudly near the vending machines. A tired-looking nurse was aggressively negotiating custody of the last blueberry muffin. And somehow, with Melissa’s voice in your ear, all of it blurred into harmless background static
-“It’s good”- you said softly- “Busy. The kitchen’s bigger than I expected. Everyone moves like they’re in some kind of culinary military operation"- That earned a quiet laugh from her. The sound did ridiculous things to your insides.
-“I imagine you’re adapting suspiciously well"-she said and you smiled.
-“I’m charming them through fear"-you joked
-“I’m sure"-There was a pause. Not awkward. Just full. You could picture her perfectly. Probably sitting at her desk after lunch break, one hand tucked under her chin, cheeks pink for absolutely no reason except that she was talking to you. The thought warmed you.
Then her voice came again, gentler this time-“And… are you okay?”-That made you blink.
The question was so simple. So Melissa. Not How’s work? Not Did you make a good impression? Just: Are you okay? Like what mattered was whether the day had been kind to you.
You smiled slowly-“Yeah, Lisa"-A tiny exhale of relief crackled through the speaker. Good. Then, because you were constitutionally incapable of letting her stay comfortable for too long, your grin sharpened-“You miss me already?”-The line went very, very quiet.
-“…No.”-Too fast. You laughed immediately.
-“That was the least convincing lie I’ve ever heard"-you teased
-“I do not lie"-she replied
-“You absolutely just did"-
-“I was pausing thoughtfully"-
-“You panicked"-
-“I did not panic"-she sounded offended
-“Lisa, I could hear your blush"-That got her. A soft, strangled little noise came through the phone, followed by silence that absolutely reeked of red cheeks and internal screaming. You were grinning so hard your face hurt.
Finally, Melissa spoke again, voice smaller now-“…Maybe a little"-The words landed warm in your chest. For a second, you forgot to tease. Forgot the cafeteria, forgot your lunch, forgot everything except the quiet honesty of her voice.
Your smile softened.
-“Well"- you said gently-“that’s good...-You looked down at the hospital badge hanging around your neck. At the half-eaten lunch in front of you.
At your phone, where her name glowed with that ridiculous little heart you’d shamelessly added this morning while she’d been upstairs getting dressed. And your chest tightened with something sweet and terrifying-“Because I miss you too..."-Silence. Not empty silence. The kind that happens when something true lands and both people feel it.
When Melissa finally spoke, her voice was so soft you almost missed it-“You do?”-You smiled helplessly.
-“Lisa" -That was all it took. You heard her sharp little inhale. The one she always made when you said her name like that.
Then, very quietly, like she was confessing something to herself as much as to you, she said-“I’ve checked my phone six times hoping you’d text.”-Your heart did an undignified little somersault. You laughed under your breath.
-“That’s deeply adorable"-you bit your lip playing with your badge
-“Please never say that out loud"-she said embarrassed and you laughed-"You know... They invited me for a few drinks tonight" - she said and you nodded even if she couldn't see you
-"Gaia is staying at her friend tonight, she has a pijama party" - you coment - "Can I sleep on your bed tonight while you are out?" - you teased, you loved her bed way more than yours and it smell like her-"So I can catch up with the rookie on your tv" - you lied about the reason
-"No" - she said sharp and for a moment you thought your forwardness made her upset-"Because you are coming with us" - she said surprising you
-"Lisa... They are your coworkers and friends, I don't think they want to go with a student's mom" - you said softly
-"They are all going with their dates, and you are not a student's mom, you are my date tonight"-she said before she could realize the way that she had said it. For a second, you forgot how words worked. The hospital hallway blurred around you. Nurses passed. Phones rang somewhere down the corridor. Someone rolled a rattling supply cart by. And all of it faded beneath the quiet, impossible weight of what she’d just said.
"You will be my date tonight". Not come along if you want. Not it’d be easier if you were there. Not even they said I could bring someone. Your date. Your heart kicked hard enough to hurt.
On the other end of the line, Melissa had gone very still. Like now that the words were out there, she was bracing for them to land badly.
You could picture her perfectly. Standing in her classroom, one hand tight around her phone, cheeks burning, trying to look composed while internally preparing for death. The thought made your smile bloom helplessly across your face.
-“Lisa"-That sharp inhale again. The one you were rapidly becoming addicted to. When she answered, her voice had gone smaller.
-“Yeah?”-You leaned against the chair, grinning like an idiot.
-“That was painfully smooth"-Silence for a moment.
-“What?”-she asked
-“You asking me out"-A strangled little noise. Then the immediate panic.
-“I wasn’t trying to be smooth"-she said nervously
-“Which somehow makes it smoother"-you replied
-“I hate talking to you"-You laughed.
-“No, you don’t"-Her silence said everything. Warmth unfurled through your chest. Then, softer, because teasing only got you so far before honesty demanded its turn-“You really want me there?”-The question lingered. Melissa didn’t answer immediately. And when she finally did, her voice was quiet enough that you almost missed it
-“Yes"-Just that. Simple. Certain. And somehow more intimate than any flirting. You closed your eyes for half a second, letting that settle somewhere deep. Then your smile sharpened.
You lowered your voice, letting a little trouble curl through it-“If I’m your date tonight…”-The line went completely silent. You could practically hear her blushing-“…then I’m wearing that black dress"-The sound she made belonged in a museum archive under Catastrophic Nervous System Failure. You bit your lip to keep from laughing. When she finally managed words, they came out embarrassingly high-pitched.
-“The one with the slit?”-You froze. Then grinned wickedly.
-“You remember the slit?”-Absolute silence.And then, very faintly:
-“…I have eyes"-she murmured. That did it. You laughed so hard you had to brace yourself against the table.
-“Lisa"-you whispered between laughs
-“Stop saying my name like that"-she said between her teeth.
-“Like what?”-you said flirting softly.
-“You know exactly what"-You absolutely did. And apparently she knew you knew, which somehow made everything hotter. You let her suffer for exactly two seconds before softening again.
-“I’ll wear it"-you said and hear another sharp inhale. You could practically see her grip tightening on the phone.
Then, because Melissa apparently had decided courage was a renewable resource today, her voice dropped low and careful-“Good"-The single word hit like a hand at your waist. Your smile vanished. Replaced by something warmer. Hungrier. Interesting. Melissa must have realized what she’d done because she immediately rushed on, flustered again-“I mean, not because of the slit. Obviously. You just look very nice in black. Professionally speaking"-You burst out laughing again.
-“Professionally?"-you teased
-“Yes"-she replied quickly
-“That’s fascinating, because the way you’re breathing right now sounds wildly unprofessional"-The tiny gasp she gave you was criminally satisfying. And then, to your delight, you heard Gaia in the background.
-“Mel! Are you talking to Mama?”-Melissa immediately panicked.
-“No"-she replied, too quickly, Gaia’s voice sharpened with six-year-old suspicion.
-“You’re doing the voice"-she pointed at the redhead. You nearly choked trying not to laugh.
-“What voice?”-Melissa hissed.
-“The one where you sound all weird and smiley"-
-“I do not have a weird smiley voice"-she answered back
-“You do when Mama flirts with you"-There was the unmistakable sound of frantic scrambling. Probably Melissa trying to cover the phone while Gaia pursued the truth like an investigative journalist. Then Melissa came back breathless and mortified.
-“She’s impossible"-You smiled so hard your cheeks hurt.
-“She gets that from me"-you replied
-“Yes"- Melissa said dryly-“That’s exactly what terrifies me"-You laughed again, warm and helpless. Then your lunch break alarm buzzed from your phone. Reality. Cruel, inconvenient reality. You sighed.
-“Go. Don’t let me distract you"-Too late for that. Still, you stood and gathered your tray. Then paused. A reckless little smile tugged at your mouth.
-“Hey, Lisa?”-
-“Yes?”-You lowered your voice just enough to make it intimate. The kind of voice that always ruined her
-“Try not to miss me too much. I need you functional enough to kiss later"- The sound she made could have powered small cities-“Lisa...?”-you asked again
-“Goodbye"-she said sharply
-“Wait, sweetheart, I still need details"-you laughed
-“Seven o’clock. Be ready"-she was nervous and replying fast and dry now
-“Will there be kissing?”-you teased. The line disconnected instantly. You stared at your phone for half a second. Then burst out laughing right there in the middle of the hospital cafeteria.
And somewhere across town, you knew with absolute certainty that Melissa was blushing so hard she was probably visible from space.
After your day at work, you picked Gaia up from school while Melissa was trapped in one of those endless teacher-principal conferences that always could have been an email.
You got your daughter ready for the pajama party, double-checked the overnight bag, listened to an extremely serious explanation about which stuffed animal was emotionally qualified to attend, and finally dropped her off at her friend’s house.
By the time you got home, your stomach was fizzing with nerves. The house was quiet. Too quiet. No Gaia singing nonsense songs from upstairs. No Melissa moving around in the kitchen. Just stillness and the low hum of anticipation hanging in the air like static before a storm.
You showered longer than necessary, letting the hot water beat against your skin while your thoughts spun in useless circles. This was ridiculous.
You were a grown woman, you had dates before. Obviusly, you didn't got pregnant by the holy spirit.
Besides it was Melissa. Melissa who corrected people’s grammar under her breath. Melissa who color-coded grocery lists. Melissa who got flustered if you looked at her too long while she was making coffee.
And somehow the thought of her taking you out tonight had your pulse behaving like it had recently escaped prison.
When you finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel, your eyes landed on the black dress hanging from your closet. The dress. The one with the slit. The one she’d remembered. Your face heated instantly.
-“Dangerous woman"-you muttered, getting dressed.
The fabric slid over your skin like ink. Smooth and cool and sharp in all the right ways. You styled your hair, kept your makeup soft but deliberate, then stood in front of the mirror for a long second just looking at yourself.
You looked good. Confident. Beautiful, even.
The realization settled warm in your chest.
And then you heard the door at Melissa’s room open. She had arrived while you showered. Your stomach dropped. Melissa was home.
You heard her heels click softly across the floor.
A pause. Then silence. Probably her realizing your room door was closed and that if she knocked, this would officially become real.
You smiled to yourself. Cute. Very cute. Right on cue, your phone buzzed. "Lisa ❤️" You answered immediately.
-“Chicken"-you murmured. A strangled sound came through the speaker.
-“I am not a chicken"-You grinned.
-“You’re standing outside my door calling me instead of knocking like a Victorian suitor"-Silence.
-“How did you know I was outside your door?”-she asked mortified.
-“You breathe louder when you’re nervous"-The indignant gasp she gave you was deeply satisfying.
-“Open the door"-she said softly. A beat. Then a knock. You crossed the room, pulse racing, and opened it. And forgot every coherent thought you’d ever had. Melissa stood there, hand half-raised from knocking.
God.
She was wearing deep green, it matched her eyes. Simple, elegant, devastating.
The fitted blouse traced every graceful line of her body. Her leather jacket on, matching her eyeliner. Her hair was down in soft waves, her lipstick darker than usual, her cheeks already faintly pink.
And she was staring at you. Not politely. Not academically. Staring. Her eyes dragged helplessly down the length of your body, catching on the slit of the dress before rising again. Her breath caught. Neither of you spoke. You leaned lightly against the doorframe, smiling slow.
-“Well?”-Melissa blinked. Opened her mouth. Closed it.
-“The slit"-she finally said and you laughed. That seemed to restart her brain enough for mortification to flood her face-“Oh my God, that is not what I meant to say"-Your grin widened.
-“No? Sounded important"-you teased
-“It is not important"-she quickly replied
-“Lisa, you brought it up"-Her entire face turned scarlet. You were enjoying this far too much.
Then, to your surprise, something shifted in her expression. The embarrassment remained. But beneath it, there was resolve. Melissa stepped forward.
Close enough that her perfume wrapped around you, soft and expensive and hers. Her fingers rose slowly to your bare shoulder, brushing your skin with featherlight certainty. The touch sent heat spiraling down your spine. When she spoke, her voice was low and steady.
-“I was nervous all day"-That stole your smile. Her eyes held yours-“I kept thinking about tonight. About seeing you in this dress. About taking you out and introducing you as mine"-Your breath caught sharply. Melissa’s own cheeks deepened, but she didn’t look away. Brave girl-“I know this is new"-she whispered-“And I know we’re figuring it out"-Her thumb stroked once over your shoulder-“But I want to do this right"-Something warm and dangerous bloomed in your chest. You reached up, catching her wrist gently.
-“Lisa"-That little inhale. Her favorite weakness. You smiled softly-“You already are"- Her face melted into something helpless and relieved and so tender it nearly ruined you. Then she smiled. Small. Real.
And because apparently she’d decided courage was her personality now, she leaned in and kissed you. Slowly. Deliberately. The kind of kiss that tasted like promise. When she pulled back, her forehead rested lightly against yours.
-“Ready for our date?”-she whispered. You smiled against her mouth.
-“Very"-you kissed her one more time, briefly, trying not to mess her lipstick, a bunch of careful little kisses.
When you arrived at the bar almost everyone else was already there, your hand was tightly grabbing the redhead's, all the teachers and their respective partners where there, sitting together, chatting happily. Melissa’s hand tightened around yours as you stepped inside. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to betray her nerves.
The bar was warm and low-lit, all amber lamps and polished wood and the easy hum of Friday-night conversation. Somewhere near the back, a lazy jazz playlist drifted through the room while glasses clinked and people laughed over each other’s stories.
And there they were. A long booth with many tables near the windows, crowded with teachers and their dates.
Ava spotted you first. Naturally. Her entire face lit up with the unholy delight of a woman who had waited months for this exact moment.
She shot to her feet so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
-“Well, well, well"-she announced to the entire table, loud enough that half the bar probably learned Melissa had a love life. Every head turned. Melissa visibly considered death. You squeezed her hand reassuringly. Ava’s grin widened to dangerous levels-“Look who finally stopped emotionally slow-cooking each other"-Several people laughed.
Melissa made a sound of pure suffering and tried to hide behind your shoulder. You almost laughed at that. The woman had spent all week teaching thirty children and terrifying substitute teachers with a single look, but one mildly feral colleague mentioned you and suddenly she was defenseless. Cute. Very cute.
Ava swept dramatically toward the two of you, eyes sparkling as she took in your black dress and Melissa’s very obvious inability to stop staring at you. Then she gasped theatrically.
-“The slit"-Melissa actually choked. You burst out laughing.
-“Oh good"- you said brightly -“so she’s been talking about it"-
-“She absolutely has"-Barbara said
“BARB! You are supposed to be on our side"-The shriek that escaped Melissa made nearby patrons glance over. Ava looked delighted.
-“You should’ve heard her this afternoon. ‘Do you think black is too much? What if she wears the dress? What if she looks beautiful and I perish in public?’”-Ava imitated the redhead's voice.
You turned slowly to Melissa. The poor woman looked seconds from spontaneous combustion. Your smile softened-“She said that?”-Melissa covered her face with her free hand.
-“I’m transferring schools"-she murmured. You laughed helplessly and tugged her hand, gently pulling her closer until your shoulders brushed.
Then, because she looked so adorably wrecked you couldn’t resist, you leaned up and kissed her cheek. Right there in front of everyone. Melissa froze. Her entire body short-circuited.
The table erupted. Actual cheers. Someone wolf-whistled. Ava clutched her chest like she was witnessing fine art.
And Melissa… God. Her face. Red from throat to hairline, eyes wide, completely stunned by the casual public affection. You smiled against her skin before pulling back.
-“There"-you murmured for only her to hear-“Now they know you’re taken"-The effect was immediate. Melissa blinked at you.
Something shifted behind the embarrassment. A spark. A quiet little straighten of her spine. And then, to your utter delight, she turned her head and kissed you properly. Not your cheek. Not a flustered peck. Your mouth. Slow enough to make your pulse jump. Certain enough to make the whole table lose their collective minds.
Your hands went to her waist pulling her closer and her manicured hand went to the back of your neck.
When she pulled back, her lipstick was slightly smudged and her expression held the faintest edge of triumph. The look she gave you practically purred: two can play this game.
Your stomach dropped pleasantly.
Janine was screaming. Not metaphorically. Actually screaming into her boyfriend’s shoulder-“I HAVE WAITED HALF A YEAR FOR THIS"- Melissa ignored her. Her eyes stayed on yours. And then, still pink-cheeked but suddenly bold in a way that made heat curl low in your stomach, she brushed her thumb over your knuckles and said quietly-“Come sit with me"-Not us. Not the group. With me. Like there had ever been any doubt where you belonged tonight.
You let her lead you to the table, her hand still wrapped securely around yours. And she let you enter the booth, siting by your side on the edge of it, leaning close enough that her knee pressed warm and deliberate against yours under the table, you realized something quietly wonderful.
Melissa might still blush like a Victorian heroine every time you flirted. But apparently, once she decided something was hers, she had absolutely no intention of letting go.
After a few drinks and minutes talking to the others, Jacob arrived with her brother Caleb, you didn't knew them much, but you knew they used to live in Melissa’s house. You liked that, you wanted to be very friendly with them and share funy stories of living with the redhead, that was until Caleb went straight to her, hugged her from her waist tightly, more than necessary, saying-"How are you, baby girl? I missed you so much"-You were not a jealous person without reason, but you were posesive, and that bother you more than it should. The shift in your mood was instant. Sharp as a paper cut.
One second you were half-listening to Ava tell some ridiculous story about a substitute teacher who’d accidentally locked himself in the supply closet, Melissa’s knee warm against yours under the table, your fingers lazily tracing circles against the back of her hand.
The next, Caleb had crossed the room. And wrapped his arms around her. Too familiar. Too easy. Too practiced. “Baby girl, missed you so much."
The words landed wrong. Not because they were obscene. Not because Melissa looked uncomfortable. She didn’t. She laughed softly in surprise, her hands lifting automatically to his shoulders as she hugged him back. Comfortable. Natural. Like this had happened a hundred times before. And that bothered you more than it had any right to.
A hot, ugly little twist coiled low in your stomach. Possessive. You hated that feeling. Hated how quickly it arrived, primitive and irrational and impossible to reason with. Because you knew this wasn’t fair. Melissa wasn’t yours to claim. Not officially. Not yet.
And she had a whole life before you and Gaia burst into it with your chaos and your flirting and your impossible timing.
Still. Watching him touch her like that made something territorial rear its head inside you.
Apparently your face betrayed more than you thought, because Ava’s chatter slowed. She looked from you to Caleb. Then back to you.
And immediately grinned. Oh no. That was the grin of a woman who had just found premium entertainment.
-“Well, this should be fun"- she murmured into her drink. You ignored her.
Across the table, Caleb finally let Melissa go, his hands lingering at her arms as he looked her over with a broad smile.
-“Daam Mel! You look incredible"-he looked her up and down and you squeezed your glass.
Melissa smiled politely-“Thanks, Caleb. You too”-
Then his eyes slid to you. Assessing. Not rude. Just curious.
You offered a pleasant smile. The kind that said I’m perfectly friendly and also fully capable of ending you if necessary.
He smiled back.Then looked at Melissa again.
-“You never answered my texts"-he said. Interesting.
Melissa’s posture shifted almost imperceptible. A little straighter. A little cooler-“I’ve been busy"-That should’ve ended it. Should’ve.
Instead Caleb laughed lightly and rested a hand on the back of her chair. Familiar again. That same easy possession.
-“Too busy for your old roommate?”-he teased. There it was. That twist inside your ribs tightened. You sat very still. Very composed. Because you were not about to make a scene over what could easily be harmless nostalgia. You were an adult. You could handle this.
And then Caleb smiled at her and said-“Still keeping my room warm?”-The table went dead quiet.
Melissa’s face changed instantly. Gone was the polite smile. Gone was the faint social softness she wore with colleagues. Her expression cooled into something sharp enough to cut glass.
-“No"-she said evenly. The single word cracked through the air. Caleb blinked. Apparently he hadn’t expected resistance. He laughed awkwardly.
-“Relax, I’m kidding"-he said nervously, Melissa didn’t smile. Didn’t soften. Didn’t laugh. She simply looked at him with calm, terrifying teacher-face. The kind that probably made entire classrooms rethink their life choices.
-“You moved out eight months ago, Caleb"-she said, voice smooth and perfectly clear-“My tenant lives there"-Her tenant. The words hit your chest like a struck match.
Then Melissa turned her head. And looked directly at you. Not subtly. Not accidentally. Deliberately. Her eyes softened the instant they found yours.
And then, she reached behind you, resting her hand on hour shoulder bringing you closer. Warm. Certain. Claiming. When she looked back at Caleb, her expression was still polite. But her thumb stroked your shoulder once. Deliberate enough that he couldn’t miss it.
-“And"- she added calmly-“she’s here tonight as my date"-Melissa smiled.
The twist in your chest evaporated instantly, replaced by a slow bloom of warmth so bright it nearly made you dizzy. Because there had been no hesitation. No awkward clarification. No softening of language to make things easier. Just simple, public certainty. She’s here as my date.
Caleb recovered quickly enough to force a smile and step back.
-“Well”- he said, awkwardly adjusting his jacket - “good for you, Mel"-he wasn't flirting with Mel, it was his way of being with everyone, but Mel noticed that the interaction made you uncomfortable and that's why she acted that way, and Caleb understood that his behavior wasn't appropriate now that she was dating.
Melissa nodded once.
Conversation slowly restarted around the table, the tension dissolving. Ava looked seconds from exploding with satisfaction. But you barely noticed any of it.
Because Melissa was still holding you close. Still tracing slow little circles over your naked shoulder. And when you leaned closer, lowering your voice so only she could hear, she turned immediately toward you. Your smile was slow and dangerous.
-“Baby girl?”-you murmured. Melissa’s eyes widened. Then narrowed. A flush climbed her cheeks. You leaned just a little closer. Close enough for your breath to ghost over her ear-“That’s unfortunate.”-Her breath hitched.
-“Why?”-You smiled.
-“Because now I’m going to spend the rest of the night finding much better things to call you"-The sound she made was small, scandalized, and utterly wrecked. And judging by the way her grip on your hand tightened, Melissa had absolutely no objections.
By the second drink, you had made a fascinating discovery. Melissa had tells. Tiny, deliciously specific tells. And once you noticed them, the entire night became an experiment. A very fun experiment.
You leaned comfortably against her shoulder while the conversation drifted around the table, one hand curled loosely around your glass, the other resting warm on her thigh beneath the edge of the tablecloth. Not enough to scandalize anyone. Just enough to keep her aware of you. Always aware.
Melissa was trying very hard to focus on Barbara's increasingly dramatic retelling of some school board disaster, nodding politely in all the right places.
But every time you shifted closer, every time your breath brushed her neck as you leaned in to “listen better,” her entire spine would go taut.
The first time you tested a nickname, it happened almost by accident.
Ava had asked if Melissa wanted another drink. Before she could answer, you tilted your head against her shoulder and murmured softly into her ear-“What do you think, beautiful?”-Melissa nearly inhaled her own tongue. Her glass clinked loudly against the table.
Ava stopped mid-sentence. Jacob’s eyebrows shot up. And Melissa turned to stare at you, face instantly pink. Interesting. You smiled innocently.
-“Too much?”-you asked. She opened her mouth. Closed it.
Then managed a strained-“No"-Oh, this was going to be fun.
A few minutes later, while everyone was distracted by Caleb trying and failing to explain craft beer to Ava, you let your fingers drift lazily over Melissa’s knee and leaned in again.
-“How’s your drink, darling?”-The effect was immediate but different. Not the sharp freeze from beautiful. This one made her swallow hard, her lashes lowering for half a second before she answered.
-“…Good"-Softer reaction. Still potent. Noted.
You smiled into the side of her neck. Melissa shivered. Her perfume wrapped around you, warm and expensive and unmistakably hers, and you let yourself breathe her in just long enough to make her realize exactly what you were doing.
Her hand twitched against her glass. You could practically hear her trying not to combust. Then she turned just enough to hiss under her breath:
-“What are you doing?”-You blinked at her with exaggerated innocence.
-“Existing, honey"-That one. That one nearly killed her. Melissa made the tiniest strangled sound and visibly forgot how to sit normally. Her knees pressed together. Her shoulders squared like she was physically bracing against impact. Her cheeks burned crimson all the way to her ears. Bingo. You bit your lip to stop yourself from laughing.
There it was. The winner so far. Honey. You had more ideas in mind but this wasn't a place to taste them.
The realization lit you up with wicked delight. You leaned closer still, your lips nearly brushing the shell of her ear.
-“Well now"- you whispered, voice low enough that only she could hear-“looks like we found your favorite.”-
Melissa’s breath caught so sharply it was practically a gasp.
Across the table, Ava looked up. Her eyes narrowed. Then slowly widened with delighted understanding. Ava knew. And because the universe hated Melissa specifically, Ava immediately grinned and said loudly:
-“Mel, you’re awfully red. You okay?”- Melissa jerked upright so fast she nearly knocked over her drink.
-“Fine"-The single word came out embarrassingly high-pitched.
The table went silent for exactly one beat. Then Jacob snorted. Then Ava burst into delighted cackling. Even Caleb looked amused.
Melissa looked like she was considering witness protection. And you? You smiled sweetly, reached up to smooth a strand of hair behind her ear, and said in your gentlest voice-“She’s okay. Aren’t you, honey?”-The sound Melissa made this time belonged in a locked archive.
The entire table lost it. Actual tears of laughter from Ava. Jacob wheezing into his drink. Even the bartender looked curious.
Melissa slowly turned to you, face incandescent.
And then, to your absolute delight, something in her expression shifted. A spark. A decision. Without warning, she reached for your chin and turned your face toward her. Then she kissed you. Right there. In front of everyone. Not shy. Not flustered. Not a quick little peck to save face. Slow. Certain. She wanted to dominate the kiss and you let her, giving her a false sense of confidence. You whiperd at her mouth softly, smiling at her lips. That was the kind of kiss designed with very clear educational objectives.
The whole table erupted. You barely heard it. Because Melissa’s fingers were steady against your jaw, and her lipstick was warm against your mouth, and when she finally pulled back, she stayed close enough to steal your breath with what she whispered next-“Careful"-Her voice was low. Smooth. Dangerously composed. And her thumb traced once across your lower lip before she smiled-“If honey does that to me…”-Her eyes dropped deliberately to your mouth. Then rose again. The faintest edge of triumph in them-“Imagine what I’ll do when I figure out yours"-she smiled and you pecked her lips again. You laughed softly, dangerously confident, caressing her jaw with your nails barely scratching, your eyes looked dangerous
-"It's funny that you think you are the one in control here...honey" - your voice was low, seductive. You knew that if anyone saw from the outside, the way of dressing and the way she talked, would make people think she was the top one in the relationship, and you had no problem to let people belive that, but you had to remind the redhead who was truly on charge.
For half a second, Melissa looked almost smug. That tiny victorious spark still glowed in her expression from the kiss she’d just used to flip the entire game on its head. Then your nails skimmed lightly along her jaw. Barely there. Just enough to make her breath catch. And the moment your voice dropped around that soft little honey, her confidence flickered.
There it was. That beautiful crack in her composure. You watched it happen in real time. The slight widening of her eyes. The subtle hitch in her breathing. The way her lips parted just enough to betray surprise before she pressed them together again, trying to recover. Cute.
You smiled slowly, your gaze never leaving hers.
The noise of the bar faded into a distant blur. The laughter at the table. The music drifting lazily overhead. The clink of glasses. None of it mattered.
Not when Melissa was looking at you like that. Flushed and sharp and trying so hard to pretend she wasn’t affected. Her chin lifted. Brave thing.
-“Confident”-she said, her voice impressively steady considering the pulse fluttering wildly in her throat beneath your fingertips. Your thumb traced once across that pulse point. Melissa swallowed.
-“Not confident"- you murmured-“Certain"-That landed. Her breath stuttered.
And for all her elegant posture and poised little jackets and those impossible heels that made her look like she belonged on magazine covers, Melissa had always betrayed herself in the smallest ways. The tension in her shoulders. The pink blooming slowly up her neck. The way her fingers tightened around the stem of her glass when she was trying not to squirm.
And right now?
She was gripping that poor glass for dear life.
You leaned closer. Close enough that your mouth nearly brushed the corner of hers. Not kissing. Just threatening to. Her lashes fluttered.
Waiting.
Wanting.
And you smiled against the anticipation building in her-“Lisa"-you whispered. That sharp inhale. Always. God, you loved that sound-“You really thought one public kiss meant you’d suddenly taken over?”-Her cheeks deepened.
She held your gaze, stubborn even now-“You looked pretty affected"-You laughed softly. Low. Warm. The sound made her shiver.
Then your fingers slipped from her jaw to the side of her neck, your touch feather-light and devastatingly deliberate-“You know what I think?”-
Her voice came out smaller now-“What?”-You leaned in until your lips brushed her ear.
And then, quietly enough that only she could hear-“I think you’re being very brave for someone who’s about an hour away from forgetting her own name"-The effect was immediate. Melissa’s entire body went still. Not relaxed stillness. The kind of stillness people fall into when every nerve suddenly lights up at once. Her breath left her in a tiny, helpless rush. You didn't specify on how, but Melissa's mind filled the blanks. J
Across the table, Ava was very obviously pretending not to watch while absolutely watching. Jacob had gone suspiciously silent. You ignored both of them.
Your attention stayed exactly where it belonged. Melissa turned her face toward yours, just enough that your noses nearly brushed. Her eyes were dark now. Focused.
And when she spoke, her voice had gone quiet in a way that made your pulse jump-“That’s a bold claim"-You smiled.
Then, slowly, you reached for her drink and plucked it from her hand. Effortless. She let you. Interesting. You set it on the table behind you and leaned back just enough to look at her fully. To let her feel the loss of your closeness. Melissa’s expression betrayed the tiniest flash of disappointment before she caught herself. There. Proof.
You let your smile sharpen-“Then come here"-you said softly. No teasing. No challenge. Just calm certainty.
Melissa hesitated for exactly one heartbeat. And then she moved. Leaning in immediately, like she’d been waiting for permission. You met her halfway, catching her mouth in a slow kiss that stole every clever response she might have had.
The kind of kiss that wasn’t hurried or hungry. Worse. Patient. Confident. A kiss that said I know exactly what this does to you.
By the time you pulled back, Melissa looked dazed. Her lipstick slightly smudged. Her breathing uneven. And her eyes? Completely wrecked.
You brushed your thumb lightly over her lower lip, fixing the smear. Then smiled sweetly-“That’s what I thought, honey"-you said.
For a moment she could only stare.Then, very faintly, almost too soft to hear, she whispered-“…rude"-You laughed.
After a few more moments of teasing her, you got up from the table, leaving your empty glass there, you got out from the booth resting lightly your ass on the lap of the redhead since there was "no other way" to get out of the booth. The hands of the redhead shook, fighting against herself not to grab your hips.
Melissa watched you go like a woman witnessing her own destruction in real time. Still flushed from your kiss. Still visibly trying to remember how breathing worked.
And then you had the audacity to settle yourself onto her lap on the way out of the booth, your weight warm and brief and devastatingly deliberate. The contact lasted maybe two seconds. Two seconds too long for her sanity.
Her hands twitched hard at your hips, fingers flexing with visible effort as she fought every instinct screaming at her to grab and keep you there. She didn’t. Barely. And somehow that restraint made it hotter.
When you got out of the booth you extended your hand to her
-"Do you wanna dance?" - you offered smiling but you could see how nervous she was. The invitation alone nearly did her in. She wanted to say yes. But if she stood right then, she was ninety percent sure she’d collapse directly into your arms and provide Ava with enough blackmail material to last until retirement.
She loved to dance, but she was afraid of standing up with how waby her legs were.
So instead, she reached for her drink with what she prayed looked like composure.
-“Let me finish this"-You smiled. That knowing, dangerous smile that said you understood exactly what you’d done to her. And liked it
-“Take your time"-you murmured, leaning in for one more kiss. Deep enough to make her clutch the edge of the table. Soft enough to promise more-"I will wait for you at the dance floor" - you said giving her one more deep needy kiss and a wink, swinging your hips more than necessary while walking away.
You went to the DJ booth and asked for an latin song, one that you knew it was Melissa's favorite since she saw you sing it at home.
On your way back to the dance floor you scanned the crowd and grabbed a guy, who clearly knew how to dance and stayed close enough for the redhead to see and enjoy the show.
Melissa sat there for exactly three stunned heartbeats before downing the rest of her drink in one heroic swallow.
The table erupted-“Oh, she’s gone"- Ava announced gleefully.
Jacob was openly wheezing into his glass.
Even Caleb looked impressed.
Melissa ignored all of them, setting her empty glass down with grave dignity while trying very hard not to think about your mouth.
Then the music changed. The opening notes drifted through the bar. And Melissa froze.
"Yo la quiero a morir". Her favorite.
The song she’d once mentioned offhand while cooking dinner months ago, when the radio had played some terrible remix and she’d sighed dramatically about people ruining classics. You’d remembered.
The realization hit like a blow to the chest. Slowly, she looked toward the dance floor. And nearly stopped functioning entirely.
Because there you were. Laughing softly with your dance partner, moving with effortless confidence as the rhythm picked up around you.
And God. You could dance. Not politely-sway-at-a-wedding dance. Not awkwardly-follow-the-beat dance.
Dance.
Your body moved like the music belonged to you, every turn smooth and deliberate, every shift of your hips perfectly timed. You had the latin "sauce" in your veins as you said, that swing that you were born with.
And your partner was clearly excellent too, matching your rhythm with easy precision.
The whole thing should have been elegant. Instead it was devastatingly sensual. Because every few moments, your eyes lifted.
And found hers. Not your partners. Hers. You were dancing for her. Smiling brightly for her. Teasing her from across the floor with every fluid step.
Melissa forgot every strategy she’d ever had for self-preservation. The jealousy came first. Sharp and irrational and immediate. Watching someone else’s hand settle at your waist. Watching your body move close to his. Watching him grin at something you whispered. It lit something hot and possessive in her chest.
And then came the second realization. You were doing this on purpose. You little menace. The thought should have annoyed her. Instead, it made heat curl low in her stomach. Because this wasn’t casual. This was deliberate. You were calling her out. Inviting her to stop watching and come claim what was hers.
Across the table, Ava noticed the shift instantly.
Her delighted grin widened to dangerous levels-“Oh"- she breathed.
Jacob followed her stare. Then he laughed-“No way"-
Melissa rose to her feet. The table went silent. No shaky legs now. No uncertainty.
The deep green blouse fell perfectly around her as she smoothed one hand over it, calm and precise and suddenly terrifyingly composed.
Ava actually gasped. Because everyone at that table knew that look. That was Melissa’s decision made face. The same one that made twelve-year-olds immediately confess to passing notes in class.
She crossed the bar floor in those impossible heels like she owned every inch of it. And when she reached the edge of the dance floor, she didn’t hesitate. She stepped directly between you and your partner. One hand finding your waist possessive. The other reaching for your hand.
Your partner took one look at her expression and laughed, backing away with a delighted little salute. Smart man.
Melissa’s eyes never left yours. Her mouth curved slowly. Not flustered. Not shy. Dangerously sure.
-“You’ve had your fun"- she said softly. Her hand tightened at your waist. Then she pulled you flush against her. The sudden contact stole your breath.
-"The fun is barely starting now that you are here"- you whispered smiling,. And then Melissa moved. Perfectly. Fluid and confident and devastatingly skilled.
Your eyebrows shot up. Well. That was new. She smiled at your surprise, guiding you effortlessly into the rhythm.
-“You thought I couldn’t dance?"-You laughed, breathless.
-“You let me tease you”-you whispered
-“I let you underestimate me" - God. The confidence in her voice. The quiet heat in her eyes. It hit differently now.
And when she leaned close enough for her lips to brush your ear as she guided you through a turn, her voice dropped low and smooth:
-“You wanted to remind me who’s in charge, honey?-A shiver raced down your spine. Melissa’s smile sharpened. Then her hand slid lower at your back, pulling you impossibly closer as she murmured-“Careful what lessons you start teaching"-she said with a deep voice
-"Fast learner I see, let's see how you follow the lesson" - you raised your leg, bending your knee, letting your leg scape trough the slip of the dress, the open part rising a lot, but without letting see something that it shouldn't be in an open place.
Melissa had exactly half a second to register what you were doing. And then your leg slid free through the slit of the dress. Slowly. Deliberately. The fabric parted like a secret being shared. Smooth skin caught the low amber light as your knee bent, your thigh pressing carefully against the outside of hers as the movement folded naturally into the rhythm of the dance.
Nothing improper. Nothing anyone could reasonably call scandalous. And yet. The effect on Melissa was immediate. Her breath vanished. Her step faltered for exactly one beat before instinct took over and she recovered, guiding you smoothly through the turn like the stumble had never happened. But you felt it. The brief tightening of her hand at your back. The sharp flex of her fingers. The pulse jumping wildly beneath the elegant line of her throat.
You smiled. There you are-“Honey"- you murmured, your lips brushing near her ear as your body settled against hers again. Your teeth gently bit her ear. Melissa swallowed. You could practically hear her trying to reassemble coherent thought.
And then, just enough to test her, your leg shifted higher. Not enough to cross any line. Just enough that the contact became unmistakable. Warm. Intentional. A challenge.
Melissa’s entire body locked for half a heartbeat.
Her eyes lifted to yours. And for the first time all night, they didn’t widen or dart away. They darkened. Steady. Focused. The teacher was adapting.
Her hand at your back flattened, broad and sure, anchoring you closer as she guided you through another turn.
This time when you came back against her, she let the movement carry your body flush to hers for a breath too long. Deliberate.
The song swelled around you, all aching brass and slow devotion, and Melissa guided you across the floor.
When she turned you again, your back brushed against her front, your breath catching as her hand settled firm at your waist to steady the movement. Pulling you close. So close.
Then she bent just enough for her mouth to hover beside your temple, her chest pressing your back-“You’re blushing"-
You laughed softly-“Wishful thinking”-
Melissa hummed. The sound curled low and pleased. Then she drew back just enough to meet your eyes.
The final notes of the song melted through the room like warm honey. Slow. Heavy. Lingering. And instead of pulling away, you pressed back against Melissa completely. The reaction behind you was immediate. A sharp inhale. Her entire body tightening for one stunned heartbeat as the curve of your back fit against her front with dangerous perfection. Like something designed specifically to ruin her. Your hand slid backward, fingers finding the soft hair at the nape of her neck, guiding her closer.
Melissa came willingly. Of course she did. Her hand spread across your stomach, warm and possessive now, holding you against her as if she’d forgotten anyone else existed. Maybe she had.
Your head tilted slowly to the side, exposing your neck, eyes drifting shut as you felt her breathing there. Uneven. Nervous. Wanting.
The warmth of her body behind yours sent slow heat curling through every inch of you while your hips kept moving with the dying rhythm of the music. Provocative. Careless. Close. Too close for Melissa’s sanity.
You felt the moment she lost another piece of control. Her fingers flexed against your stomach. Her breath caught again. And then her lips ghosted against your neck. Barely there. Not even a kiss. Just the softest brush of warmth that sent a shiver racing down your spine. A tiny sound escaped her afterward, almost embarrassed. Like she hadn’t meant to get that close.
You smiled slowly without opening your eyes-“There she is"- you murmured softly. Melissa’s grip tightened instinctively. The dance floor around you had blurred into shadow and music and distant movement. Other couples still swayed nearby, but they felt impossibly far away.
Because Melissa was trembling. Not from fear. From restraint. The realization settled warm and thrilling in your chest. You turned your face just enough that your lips nearly brushed her cheek.
-“Still think you’re in control, honey?”-Her breathing faltered again.
Then, after a long second, you felt it. Melissa’s forehead lowering carefully against the curve of your shoulder. Not surrender. Not defeat. Something softer. More dangerous. Trust.
The hand on your stomach slipped a little higher, fingertips barely grazing beneath the edge of the fabric at your ribs before she caught herself. Her breath shivered out against your skin.
-“You are…”- she whispered, voice strained and quiet-“…very hard to survive"-You laughed softly. The sound vibrated between both your bodies.
Then you turned in her arms just enough to finally look at her. Melissa’s lipstick was slightly ruined. Her cheeks burned pink. Her eyes looked dark and overwhelmed and fixed helplessly on your mouth. Beautiful.
You brushed your thumb softly beneath her jaw.
-“And you"-you whispered back- “look like you need another drink”-That finally broke her.
Melissa laughed breathlessly, leaning forward until her forehead dropped against yours, shoulders shaking with helpless amusement.
The walk back to the table after getting drinks had finished whatever remained of Melissa’s composure. You could feel it in the way she stayed close behind you. In the warmth of her hand at the small of your back. In the dangerous silence she’d fallen into after the dance.
And honestly? You were enjoying it immensely.
You settled back into the booth with infuriating calm, crossing one leg slowly over the other as the slit of the dress slipped open again, exposing the smooth line of your leg beneath the warm amber lights. Then you leaned against Melissa’s shoulder with a deeply satisfied smile and took a sip of your drink like you hadn’t just psychologically dismantled a woman on the dance floor.
Melissa sat beside you looking… wrecked. Not messy. Melissa never looked messy. But disheveled for her? Devastating.
Her lipstick slightly faded. A few strands of red hair loose around her face. Her breathing still faintly uneven. And her hand resting possessively on your bare knee like she physically could not convince herself to let go.
Her nails pressed lightly into your skin every few seconds without her seeming to realize she was doing it. Cute.
The whole table had noticed too. Ava looked moments away from ascending to another plane of existence. Jacob was openly staring into his drink like he’d just witnessed a nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough. Even Caleb had gone oddly quiet. Because apparently nobody at that table had ever seen Melissa lose her cool before.
And here you were. Curled against her shoulder while she sat rigid beside you like she was one heartbeat away from either kissing you senseless or passing out.
You smiled into your glass-“What?”-you asked innocently when you noticed everyone staring.
Ava pointed dramatically at Melissa-“You broke her"-
You frowned-“I did not"-Melissa made a tiny sound beside you. The entire table turned toward her. She froze.! You bit your lip hard to stop yourself laughing.
Ava’s eyes widened-“Oh my God, she can’t even speak"-
-“She can speak”- you defended lightly, patting Melissa’s thigh. The redhead inhaled sharply through her nose. That absolutely did not help your case.
Jacob burst into laughter.
Melissa closed her eyes briefly like she was praying for strength.
You tilted your head up toward her, smiling sweetly-“Lisa, honey, they think I traumatized you"- Wrong move. "Lisa" "Honey". The nickname hit her like a physical impact. Her fingers tightened, her nails digging hard enough on your knee to make you suck in a tiny breath.
Melissa’s eyes snapped to yours instantly. Immediate concern replacing the dazed haze-“Sorry"-Soft. Automatic. The apology melted something warm in your chest.
You smiled gently and slid your hand over hers where it rested on your leg, threading your fingers between hers to soothe the instinctive guilt already flickering across her face-“It’s okay"-you murmured.
The look she gave you afterward nearly ruined you completely. Tender. Overwhelmed. Still a little dazed from the dance. God. No wonder you couldn’t stop teasing her.
Across the table, Ava clutched Jacob’s arm dramatically-“Look at her face"-she whispered loudly-“That woman is gone"-Melissa groaned softly and dropped her forehead briefly against your temple.
You laughed under your breath, turning your face just enough that your lips brushed her hairline.
-“There she is"-you whispered. Melissa huffed out a helpless little laugh against your shoulder.
Then, before anyone could recover from that display, Ava leaned forward with dangerous interest-“So"-she announced, eyes glittering-“which one of you made the first move?”-Melissa straightened immediately and you just smiled into your drink.
Mel spend most of the rest of the night with her head in the crook of your neck and her hand on your knee. You were chatting with the rest but her breathing on your neck was doing dangerous things on your system and every second that passed you were paying less and less attention to anything else but her.
-"Lisa..."-you whispered and patted her thigh gaining a low hum in your neck that made you shiver-"Can we go home?... I need to be with you... Alone" - you murmured slowly
Melissa went completely still against you. Not tense. Worse. Attentive. Every inch of her focus narrowed instantly onto your voice, onto the quiet plea tucked beneath the words.
The rest of the table blurred into background noise. Ava was still talking. Someone laughed near the bar. Glasses clinked somewhere behind you. None of it mattered.
Not when you’d whispered that into her ear in that soft, needy voice that went straight through her nervous system like lightning through copper wire. Her hand tightened on your knee. Slowly. Carefully. Like she was restraining about fourteen different impulses at once. You felt her inhale against your neck. Then exhale shakily.
When she lifted her head from the crook of your neck, her cheeks were flushed warm from the drinks and the dancing and you, but her eyes... Her eyes had gone dark. Focused.
You swallowed. Interesting.
Melissa brushed her nose lightly against your jaw before speaking, her voice low enough that only you could hear it-“You have to stop saying things like that in public"-The words should’ve sounded teasing. Instead they sounded strained. Barely controlled.
Your pulse jumped. You turned your head just enough to meet her gaze-“And if I don’t?”-
Her throat moved in a hard swallow. Then, to your delight, honesty won-“…then I’m not responsible for my behavior"-
Heat unfurled through your stomach. Oh. Oh, that was new.
Before you could answer, Melissa straightened slightly and looked toward the table with surprising composure-“We’re leaving"-
Ava blinked. Then her eyes widened with delighted horror-“Already?"-Melissa did not look at her. Smart. Because one glance at Melissa’s face and the entire table would probably burst into flames.
-“We have an early morning" - she said smoothly. You bit your lip hard enough to hurt. Liar.
Jacob looked between the two of you, then wisely lifted his drink in silent support of whatever catastrophic decisions were about to occur.
Ava, meanwhile, looked seconds from levitating-“You two are absolutely not sleeping tonight"-Melissa choked on air. You laughed into your hand.
Then the redhead stood abruptly and reached for your coat before you could recover, helping slide it carefully over your shoulders with hands that lingered just a little too long. Possessive again. You liked that. Very much.
As soon as you stood, Melissa’s hand found your lower back automatically. Not hesitant anymore. Not shy. Like touching you had already become instinct. The realization sent another dangerous wave of warmth through you.
You said your goodbyes in a blur of teasing and dramatic reactions, but Melissa barely spoke through any of it. She just stayed close. Too close. Quiet in a way that told you her thoughts had drifted somewhere deeply distracting.
And honestly? So had yours.
By the time you stepped outside into the cool night air, your nerves felt electric.
The city lights shimmered gold against the pavement, the distant sounds of traffic humming softly around you, but the moment the bar door closed behind you, Melissa turned toward you fully. Her hand slid from your back to your waist. Firm. Intentional. You looked up at her.
And immediately forgot how teasing worked. Because the expression on her face was devastating. Not flustered now. Not overwhelmed. Hungry. The realization sent a sharp pulse through your stomach.
Melissa stepped closer until the cold night air disappeared entirely between your bodies. Then her fingers tilted gently beneath your chin-“You know"-she murmured softly, eyes fixed on your mouth-“you’ve spent all night making me nervous on purpose"-
You smiled slowly-“And?”-
Her thumb brushed your lower lip. The touch was so soft it almost hurt.
-“And now"- she whispered-“I want my turn"- Your breath caught. Melissa’s eyes flicked up to yours. Then, before you could recover enough to answer, she kissed you. Deep. Certain.
The kind of kiss that made the whole world tilt sideways for a second.
Without breaking the kiss, you pushed the redhead backwards until her body reached the hood of her car. Melissa hit the side of the car with a soft thud, breath leaving her in a shaky gasp as your hips pinned her there. Her hands grabbed instinctively at your waist. Hard. Not polite anymore. Not careful.
The cool metal of the car contrasted sharply with the warmth radiating between your bodies, and the kiss had left both of you visibly wrecked.
Her lipstick was ruined now.
Your breathing was uneven.
And Melissa looked at you like she was balancing on the last thread of her self-control.
When you pulled back just enough to speak, her chest rose and fell sharply beneath the deep green fabric of her t-shirt. Your eyes drifted for a second to her cleavage until you forced your eyes up.
-“Are you okay to drive?”-you whispered, still close enough that your mouths brushed when you spoke-“Or too many drinks?”- Melissa stared at you for one dangerous second.Then another. Like the question itself had to fight through static to reach her brain.
You felt her fingers flex against your hips-“…I had two glasses of wine over three hours"-she managed finally, voice rougher than usual.
Your brow lifted teasingly-“So medically functional?”-That earned the smallest breathless laugh. Barely there.
-“Barely"-Cute.
You smiled and brushed your thumb softly beneath her jaw, but before you could tease her again, Melissa’s expression shifted. Focused. Her hands slid slowly from your hips around your waist, pulling you closer until there wasn’t space left between either of you.
-“You know what’s unfair?”-she murmured. You hummed softly. Her eyes dropped briefly to your mouth-“The fact that you still look composed"-
You laughed under your breath-“Oh honey, I’m hanging by a thread"-Melissa visibly enjoyed hearing that. Her cheeks pinkened again, but this time there was confidence threaded through the embarrassment. A dangerous development.
Her fingers traced slowly up your back beneath your coat, sending warmth spiraling down your spine.
-“Good”- she whispered.
The single word hit low in your stomach. You leaned closer again, noses brushing lightly.
-“Drive us home, teacher"-Melissa inhaled sharply at the tone. Then, before opening the passenger door for you, she stole one more kiss. Quick this time. But full of promise.
And as she finally pulled away, forehead resting briefly against yours, she whispered with a shaky little smile-“You are absolutely not sleeping in your own room tonight"-Your heart kicked hard against your ribs.
You smiled slowly-“Good, I wasn't planning on to"-
The whole drive home her hand was in yout bare thigh, not moving just there, she was driving more focused than ever, still under the limit, but going as fast as possible. Your leg was going up and down, no nervous, exited. Like if you never in your live were more awake than this moment. For a moment, you were able to focused on something else, enough to send a message to the mom hosting the pijama party to see if your daughter was okey, receiving a reassuring text that she was already asleep.
-"Our kiddo Okey?" - her voice was rough around the edges but with concern, you smiled,"our kiddo", lifting your head from the phone to look at her
-"Yes, our kiddo is Okey"- you replied. Melissa’s thumb stroked once against your thigh at your answer. Small. Absentminded. But the tenderness in it nearly undid you more than all the kissing had.
"Our kiddo".The words lingered warm in your chest while the city lights slid across the windshield in blurred gold streaks.
Melissa kept one hand on the wheel and the other on you. Like she physically needed the contact. Her fingers rested against your bare skin just beneath the slit of the dress, warm and steady and dangerously grounding. You could feel the restraint in her. The effort it took to keep driving normally instead of pulling over somewhere dark and forgetting civilization existed.
Honestly? You respected the discipline. Barely. Your leg bounced lightly with restless energy, excitement humming through your bloodstream so intensely you felt electrically awake.
Every red light felt personal. Every slow driver ahead of you a direct enemy. Melissa exhaled softly through her nose as if reading your thoughts exactly.
-“Patience"-she murmured, eyes still fixed on the road.
You turned toward her slowly-“Interesting thing to say while speeding"-you teased
-“I am not speeding"-You looked at the dashboard. Then at her. Melissa’s cheeks pinkened faintly-“…I’m efficiently transporting us home"-You laughed softly. God, she was cute.
The sound made the corner of her mouth twitch upward despite herself. Then her hand tightened slightly on your thigh. Not possessive. Needy. And that was somehow worse.
You watched the motion of her throat as she swallowed. Her voice came quieter this time-“I really like hearing you say that"-
Your brow lifted-“Say what?”-
Melissa glanced at you briefly before looking back at the road immediately, like holding eye contact right now was too dangerous-“Our kiddo"-The words landed deep. Warm enough to ache.
Your expression softened instantly.
Outside, the city kept moving around you in soft neon smears and passing headlights, but inside the car the moment became strangely quiet.
Intimate in a completely different way. Not heated. Not teasing. Just real.
You shifted closer in your seat, your hand sliding gently over hers where it rested on your thigh.
-“She already thinks of you that way"-you murmured. Melissa’s breathing caught softly. You smiled a little-“She talks about you constantly everywhere, you know"-That finally made Melissa glance toward you fully for a second.
-“Really?”-You laughed quietly.
-“Lisa, yesterday she told an entire nurse station that your grilled cheese should legally be considered medicine"-The redhead snorted softly before she could stop herself. You melted a little at the sound-“And last week"-you continued, smiling now-“she informed one of my friends that you’re ‘the prettiest teacher in the world but also kind of dramatic"-Melissa gasped in mock offense.
-“I am not dramatic"-
You stared at her. Melissa stared back with astonishing sincerity for someone who had nearly died earlier because you called her honey in public. Then both of you burst into laughter. The tension loosened for a moment after that. Not gone. Never gone.
Still simmering hot beneath the surface every time her hand flexed on your thigh or your eyes drifted to her mouth. But softer now too. Warmer.
And when the car finally turned onto your street, Melissa exhaled quietly, almost like she’d been holding her breath the entire drive. Her house came into view. Home.
The porch light glowed softly against the night. Melissa parked a little crookedly. You noticed immediately. So did she.
-“I’m distracted"- she admitted before you could tease her.
You smiled slowly-“I know, honey"- The nickname hit just as hard as before.
Melissa closed her eyes briefly and dropped her forehead against the steering wheel with a helpless little groan. You laughed softly beside her, your hand traveled to the nape of her neck, scratching lightly her scalp with your nails for a few seconds, earning a relaxed hum from her.
Then she turned toward you again. And the look on her face stole the breath from your lungs. No audience now. No coworkers. No teasing table full of teachers. Just her. Flushed and tired and wanting you with an honesty so open it almost hurt to look at. Her fingers curled around yours tightly.
-“We’re home"- she whispered. The words sounded less like information. More like an invitation.
When you got out of the car, you let her open the door even if you had your key on your pocket.
While she was trying to fit the key on the keyhold you hugged her from behind, fully pressing you front to her back, your arms hugging her waist completely. Your mouth went to her neck, leaving slow wet kisses there.
Melissa missed the keyhole entirely. Twice. The soft curse she muttered under her breath made you smile against her neck as your body pressed fully to her back, your arms wrapping around her waist with slow, deliberate affection. Or torture. Probably both.
The second your mouth touched her skin, Melissa’s entire body reacted. A sharp inhale.
Her head tipping back instinctively against your shoulder. The hand holding the keys tightened hard enough to make them jingle.
You kissed her neck slowly, unhurried, warm and wet and lingering just enough to make her breathing lose rhythm completely.
The night air was cool around you, but her skin beneath your lips felt burning hot.
-“You’re making this very difficult"- she whispered breathlessly.
You smiled against her throat-“I know"-Another kiss. Slower this time. Melissa shivered visibly in your arms. The keys slipped slightly in her fingers. You laughed softly-“Teacher"- you murmured, voice low against her skin-“focus"-That earned a tiny, scandalized sound.
-“You are literally kissing my neck while I’m trying to unlock the door"-she complained
-“And yet I believe in you"-Melissa let out a helpless laugh that dissolved into a shaky breath when your lips brushed just beneath her ear.
God. You could feel her pulse racing there. Fast. Wild. Your hands tightened lightly around her waist as you pressed one last kiss beneath her jaw-“Come on, honey"-you whispered teasingly. - “Use your critical thinking skills, or I will have to fuck you out here against the door"-the idea was a threat, but it sounded so yummy. Melissa finally got the key into the lock with the determination of a woman defusing a bomb. The door clicked open.
And before she could even fully push it inward, she turned in your arms. Fast. Almost desperate. Her hands found your face immediately, kissing you the second your back hit the door behind you. The keys dropped somewhere onto the floor. Neither of you cared. The kiss was hungry in a way the others hadn’t been.
Weeks and months of restraint unraveling all at once in the dark quiet of your shared home. You could taste wine and mint and Melissa herself as she pressed closer, her hands sliding into your hair while your own gripped her waist instinctively. The door slammed shut behind you with your ass pressing against it.
Somewhere upstairs, the house creaked softly in the silence. Empty tonight. No tiny footsteps. No interruptions. Just her mouth on yours and her breathing already uneven as she kissed you again and again like she was trying to make up for every moment she’d spent holding herself back.
When you finally broke apart for air, Melissa stayed close, forehead against yours, both of you breathing hard. Her lipstick was completely ruined now. You were pretty sure yours was too. She laughed softly at the sight of you, still a little breathless.
-“You are dangerous"- You smiled slowly, brushing your nose lightly against hers.
-“And you invited me on a date anyway"-Melissa’s cheeks flushed warm again, but this time she didn’t look away. Instead, her hands slid down your arms until her fingers intertwined with yours. Then she kissed the corner of your mouth once, soft compared to before.
-“Come upstairs"-she whispered. You laughed against her lips.
-"We are not going to the room, not yet" - you pulled her hand to the kitchen, she looked at you confused. The dark hallway light caught the surprise on her face first. Then the realization. Then a slow wave of pink climbing all the way up her throat when your voice dropped low and needy like that. God. You were going to end her.
-“I’ve been watching you cook for months"-you murmured, tugging her gently closer across the kitchen tiles-“looking perfect without even trying…”-Melissa laughed softly in disbelief, already blushing hard enough to make the freckles across her nose stand out warmer beneath the light.
-“You have fantasies about me making soup?”-You stepped closer until her lower back brushed the kitchen counter.
-“Yes"-The immediate answer stole the amusement from her face completely. Your hands slid slowly up her arms-“You have no idea what you look like in this kitchen"-you whispered-“Hair tied up. Half asleep. Stealing bites while you cook. Calling me sweetheart without realizing it…”-your thumb brushed her lower lip. Melissa swallowed hard. You let your hands drop, your fingertips slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, warm against her waist-“And every morning I’ve had to stand there pretending I wasn’t thinking about kissing you against this counter"-her skin was soft under your hands, the soft rolls of her stomach against your warm palms.
Her breathing turned visibly uneven. The kitchen suddenly felt much smaller. Quieter. The only sound was the soft hum of the refrigerator and Melissa trying unsuccessfully to act unaffected while you looked at her like that.
-“You’re very unfair"-she whispered.
You smiled slowly-“And yet you’re still here"-Melissa’s hands found your hips instinctively, thumbs brushing lightly against the fabric of your dress as she looked at you with that same overwhelmed tenderness that kept undoing you tonight.
-“Because I’m apparently obsessed with you"- she admitted softly. The honesty in her voice hit harder than flirting ever could.
Your expression softened instantly. Then you leaned in and kissed her again. Slow at first. Warm. Your mouths moving together lazily while your hands curled against her waist and hers tightened at your hips.
Melissa kissed like someone savoring something she’d wanted for a very long time. Careful at first. Then less careful every time you made that soft pleased sound against her mouth. You felt her smile briefly into the kiss when your fingers tangled in the fabric of her shirt.
-“See?”- you murmured against her lips-"Exactly this"-Melissa laughed breathlessly.
-"What?”-
-“This kitchen"-You kissed the corner of her mouth-“You standing here looking beautiful"-Another kiss beneath her jaw-“You getting all shy when I flirt with you"-Melissa made a tiny protesting sound while blushing even harder-“And this"- you whispered, smiling against her skin as her hands instinctively pulled you closer again-"You pretending you don’t secretly love when I distract you" - That finally earned you a playful little glare.
-“You are distracting on purpose"-
-“Obviously"-Melissa shook her head helplessly, smiling despite herself. Then she leaned forward until her forehead rested lightly against yours, eyes soft and impossibly fond.
-“Well"-she murmured, fingers tracing slowly along your waist-"good thing this is your kitchen too now"-your kitchen, of curse it was, it was since the first say you moved in and made that whole house seem like without you the place had no heart at all.
-"I will make you feel so good, that every time you cook here and think of us, you will squeeze those pretty thick thighs together"-her face blushed under your intense gaze
-"I... I haven't done it with a women before" - she confessed nervously blushed-"but I want to learn..."-you smiled and caressed her face
-"Let me be your teacher then... You just have to do what I say and not to think of anything else, am I clear Honey?" - you asked and she nodded looking helpless into your eyes-"First lesson, use your voice" - your thumb caressing carefully her bottom lip-"use it, tell me if you understand" - you grabbed her jaw softly looking at her eyes
-"I-I understand" - she said barely audible-"I have to do what you say and not to think on anything else" - you pecked her lips smiling
-"Good girl" - you replied and she whimpered with needy eyes, you lifted your eyebrow finding interesting that she had a praise kink-"Use that pretty mouth, I wanna hear you, tell me if you like or not what I'm doing..."-you kissed her neck while you spoke-"or if you need me to stop or need more..."-your kisses traveled to her cleavage, the redhead let her head fall backwards, whimpering, arching her back so her chest was on full display to you, holding herself against the counter-"I want to hear you all night long" - your hands slipped under her t-shirt, pressing her breast with both hands on top of her bra. You were squeezing a bit rough, moaning just like her, enjoying the soft flesh under your hands-"Fuck Lisa you have an amazing body"-you were practically drooling, leaving wet kissed on her neck.
The redhead was moaning, pressing her thighs together but not being able to form not a single coherent thought.
You bit the neck a few times, soothing the bite with your tongue
-"Arms up" - you commanded and she opened her eyes to look at you a bit lost- "don't tell me that I already fucked you dumb when I just started" - you joked lightly, kissing her lips softly and pulling her lip into your mouth
-"I swear I'm trying to think something but I'm... Not working" - she said blushed as you lifted her arms carefully and took her t-shirt off, her hair a bit messy and her eyes shiny
-"It's Okey, I'm here..."-you opened her bra and toss it on the floor, taking a step back, licking your lips and moaning at the sing, her full breasts, her perky rosy nipples, her messy breathing making them go up and down, her arched back, her soft pale rolls, her rosy cheeks, her messy hair cascading on her shoulders, her thick thighs pressed together... God... You could come just looking at her.
-"Stop looking at me like that" - she said embarrassed trying to cover her body with her hands, feeling more naked beside the lack of clothes. You stepped a little closer, slow enough for her to retreat if she wanted, but she didn’t. Her hands trembled where they tried to hide pieces of herself, like fragile curtains against a storm already inside her chest. Her cheeks burned crimson, every inch of her suddenly too exposed under your attention.
You smiled softly this time, none of the teasing sharpness from before.
-"What face?"-She swallowed hard.
-"Like I’m..." - her voice faltered -"like I’m something pretty" - The room went quiet for half a heartbeat. Just breathing. Just tension humming between both bodies like a violin string pulled too tight.
You reached for her wrists carefully, giving her enough time to pull away. Instead, her fingers loosened under yours, carefully you moved her hands away so she didn't cover her body anymore.
-"You are pretty" - you whispered -"You are stunning, that’s the problem, hard not to stare"-Her breath hitched instantly. And somehow that look in your eyes became worse for her than being completely naked-"You are a piece of art that deserves all the admiration and adoration Lisa, please never doubt that" - you said seriously, wanting her to belive you.
Melissa's exeses never talked to her that way, never looked at her that way, never hold her and kiss her that way. Never made her feel this way. She knew she had an attractive body, but one thing is attractive and other beautiful, deserving of admiration and adoration.
Melissa felt her chest tighten so suddenly it almost hurt. Not because of desire this time. Not entirely. Because she believed you. The words settled inside her carefully, slipping through cracks that had been left open for years by careless hands and half-hearted love. Beautiful. Admired. Adored. Nobody had ever spoken about her like she was something precious instead of merely wanted. Her eyes searched yours as if trying to catch the lie before it could wound her later.
But there wasn’t one.
You looked at her like people look at cathedrals in silence. Like moonlight spilling across stained glass. Like something capable of stealing breath from a room without even trying.
Melissa laughed softly then, nervous and overwhelmed all at once, her gaze dropping again.
-"You say things like that so easily..." - she whispered.
-"No," - you replied gently, brushing your thumb against her cheek -"I say them because they're true" - That almost undid her.
She leaned into your touch instinctively, like her body already knew safety before her mind could accept it. Her shoulders relaxed little by little beneath your hands, the tension melting away in fragile pieces.
-"Nobody ever..." - she stopped, embarrassed by how emotional she suddenly sounded. You didn’t rush her. Melissa inhaled shakily.-"Nobody ever made me feel beautiful before" - The confession barely existed above a breath, you kissed her forehead.
-"Let me treat you as you deserve, my beautiful lady" - you whispered. "My", the word, the soft possession, the true behind it, Melissa was yours completely even if you didn't touched her fully yet.
You kissed her lips, her neck, biting licking, going down slowly leaving a wet trail. Her hands tangled gently at your hair, forming a ponytail with her hand.
Your mouth found her breast, you gave a long swipe to her niples with your tongue and then blowed cold air on the wet surface, making them more perky as if it was possible. Melissa's body shiverd under you and she let out a soft moan
-"That sensation is new" - she said to herself laughing softly. You smiled, you let one of your thighs slowly find a space between her legs, resting against her core, and with one hand you grabbed her right breast and with your mouth you sucked the other, introducing the most you could to your mouth. Your tongue danced around her niple, soft wide circles around it, let your theet scrape against the tip of them, sucking them in, bitting them gently, giving small cat licks. You were moaning against her chest with your mouth full.
Melissa let her core grind against your leg at the same pace that you were moving your tongue, insulting low with her eyes closed, her hand still holding your hair.
When you noticed that her breast got too sensitive, you let it go doing suction until it released it from your mouth with a loud pop. To change to her other breast and do the same pattern.
The cold air against her wet breast soon was covered by your hand, massaging softly.
When you finished with both breasts, you kissed between her chest, going down to her stomach, leaving bites and marks all along the way.
You removed your leg from the redhead crotch when you noticed that her rhythm became sloppy, earning a whimper of complain from her lips and a soft pull at your hair that made you laugh softly. Your hands went to her hips, she opened her eyes looking at you with her breathing messy, lips swollen, eyes tearful, the marks along her body were starting to appear against her pale skin
-"Why did you stopped?" - she asked with a whiny voice, protesting, complaining, making her boobs bounce a little bit. She looked at you, how swollen your lips were because you sucked her boobs so much, you had a dumb smile on your face and your hair was messy
-"You are complaining?" - you asked raising your eyebrow amused, this whiny needy side of her was new
-"I was close..."-she whispered giving you puppy eyes and you laughed grabbing her jaw and kissing her pout a bit rough, making her moan on your lips. When you separated she chased your lips but you pushed her back with a hand on her chest, pressing her against the counter
-"I'm not letting that the first time you come is humping my leg Lisa"-you said softly and you dropped to your knees, unzipping her pants, looking up with adoration in your eyes-"The first time I don't want to waist a single drop, you will come on my face" - Melissa's face turn a deeper shade of red, bitting her swollen lip and admiring with dark eyes and heavy breathing how you got rid of her pants, but leaving her high heels on-"This stay on"-you pointed at her shoes looking up, you intended to look face, but her covered sex was in front of you, her panties drenched, the part were the fabric was wet a darker shade than the rest, you could also see a few curly hairs and your mouth started salivating. Her body looked so sexy like that that made your legs press together, you knew your panties were ruined too, but you wanted to focus completely on her first
-"Fuck Schemmenti" - your voice came out deeper, rough with desire. Your carefully grabbed one of her legs, kissing from her calf to her thighs and repeating the same with the other leg. Before she could relax because of your soft kisses, you kissed her pussy on top of her panties, sucking the wet fabric a bit into your mouth, moaning happily and letting your head fall back for a few seconds with your eyes closed and licking your lips like if you just had tasted the first drop of rain after a drought, you looked like if you were high.
Mel blushed laughing softly-"Oh sweetheart, don't exaggerate" - she said shy and you opened your eyes
-"Lisa you taste amazing" - your eyes were dark and your breathing uneven, you were still licking your lips. Before she could protest further, your hands were to her panties, with a sharp pull they snapped falling into the ground, broken. Melissa looked at you with her eyes open big-"Open"-you gave little pats with your hand on her thighs
-"You just snapped my panties" - she said surprised and you pat her leg again, a bit rougher this time lifting an eyebrow
-"Behave and open, I won't repeat again" - you said and she immediately separated her legs-"Good girl" - you said.
She was shaved but not completely, on top of her pussy she had short curls that were drenched with her juices, you moaned for yourself. With two of your longer fingers you followed the shape of her outer lips, gathering her wetness on your fingers, immediately you put your fingers inside your mouth, moaning at her taste.
The redhead let out a whimper at the contact. She was never this sensitive, never this wet, never this pampered, this worshiped.
-"Look at that drenched pussy" - you said bitting your lip. You parted your lips and gave a long swipe inside her pussy, making her moan and bite her lip, her hips moved against your face and your hands went to her ass, digging your nails into the soft flesh.
She was trying to hold herself and hold her moans and you stopped, getting up and looking at her upset
-"You are a brat" - You said, you chin glowing with her wetness. Melissa look at you confused
-"I'm just having difficulty holding myself standing" - she said nervously with shaky legs
-"You are holding back, I want to hear you Lisa... I want you, not a control version of you, you don't have to hold back for me"-you kissed her, making her taste herself on your mouth, your tongue entering her mouth, rough, dizzy, deeply, not letting her breath until she relaxed her body on your arms-"Good girl" - she smiled at your praise-"Now let me eat you properly, and don't dare holding your moans" - Melissa barely had time to register anything before you turned her around and pushed her body against the counter, the cold surface playing a sharp contrast on her hot skin, specially her boobs, and her ass up. Her hands grabbed the edge of the counter and she moaned as she felt your hand come in contact with her ass
-"Fuck!" - she moaned as her body jerked forward with the spanking, your hands massaged the tender skin smiling at the mark of your hand in her ass
-"That's what I want to hear, good job" - you dropped to your knees. Her ass on full display in front of you and her wet pussy dripping, clenching against nothing. Since you made her bend over and her torso was pressed against the top of the counter, Melissa was barely being able to touch the floor with the tip of her feet. She was helpless at your mercy. Your palms grabbed her ass, separating her ass cheeks and digging your nails on the soft flesh, earning more moans and insults from her mouth, but she didn’t told you to be softer.
Your mouth glued to her pussy again, because of the way she was bend over, it was like if she practically was almost sitting on your face.
You tongue was lapping and licking against her pussy, specially paying attention to her clit. Turning the tip of your tongue around it and sucking it relentlessly. Her ass was against the rest of your face, covering your eyes. All you could do was moan and enjoy the perfect meal you had in front of you.
Your hands changed the placement, they moved from her ass, going in front of her legs, your two longer finger found her clit, separating her folds and moving in lazy circles, enjoying how hard it was against your fingers
-"You fucker"-she moaned grasping the counter for dear life, insults were the only thing that her brain was being capable of forming between moans.
Your tongue slipped inside of her entrance and the redhead rocked her hips against your face, faster every time. Your fingers picked up the pace and your tongue entering as much as possible inside her
-"Fuck, don't stop please" - she begged between heavy breathings-"I... Mhhh... You..."-she spoke without knowing what she was saying, her body began to have spasm on top of you. Your neck was getting sore of looking up to eat her pussy, your lungs begging air and your knees were burning against the floor, but you had not intention of stopping now.
You were eating her pussy relentlessly and she was breaking on top of you.
You gave a long swipe in her whole pussy and moved your fingers in fast circles around her clit. Melissa came on your open mouth, dripping like raw thick honey on your lips, her entrance getting tighter which each spasm.
All you could hear was a mix of curses, moans and whimpers plus your name coming from her lips. Her hips moving against your face on automatically while she was still riding her wave.
You drink every drop she gave you until you noticed she got to sensitive at your touch. Careful you got up from the floor, you could see your reflection on one of the pans hanging from the wall. Half your face was red because of her ass against your face, the other half from your nose down was shiny with her juices, you laughed softly, hugging her carefully, covering her naked body with yours completely. Kissing her back, neck and shoulders tenderly, saying soft praises.
-"You taste divine" - you whispered with your breathing messy earning barely a soft hum, her eyes were closed, she was still gripping the counter for dear life, but the rest of her whole body was completely relaxed, limp, only holding up because of the counter, her breathing a mess and her face resting on top of the cold marbel. You kissed her forehead, she was lost, you even dobut if she was still in this earth-"Lisa... Are you Okey?" - you whispered on her shoulder. Melissa barely reacted at first when you said her name.
Her lashes fluttered softly, her lips parted around an uneven breath, and for a second she looked wonderfully dazed, like someone pulled from a beautiful dream far too soon.
The cold marble beneath her cheek contrasted with the warmth of your body covering hers, your kisses still lingering across her skin like fading sparks.
Then slowly, she turned her head just enough to look at you. Her expression melted instantly at the concern in your voice
-"Mhm..." - she answered weakly, though the sound came out closer to a sleepy hum than an actual word. You smiled against her shoulder, brushing another soft kiss there
-"That didn’t sound very convincing, pretty girl" - A tiny laugh escaped her, breathless and embarrassed. She hid her face for a moment against her arm before mumbling:
-"You just... make my brain stop working... I never had an orgasm like that" - The confession was so honest, so unguarded, that it pulled a quiet grin from you immediately.
Melissa finally loosened one hand from the counter and reached back for you blindly, searching for your arm, your hand, anything to stay connected-"Don’t move," - she whispered, eyes closing again -"I like being here" - that soft devastating trust settling heavier and heavier between your bodies, turning the entire kitchen into something warmer than home.
You smiled holding her close, close as possible
-"Let me take you to bed, you are warm because of all of this, but you are completely naked and I don't want you to get sick" - you kissed her back softly
-"No...I still have to return the favor" - she murmured still dizzy
-"This was my pleasure, not a favor. Tasting you was a reward for me as it was for you, so listen to me and move that yummy ass so you don't get sick"-you said patting her ass lightly. Her chest warmed, not because the sex or you, because what you said, what you did. With men she was lucky if they had foreplay that she liked, more lucky if she got to come before her boyfriend did and decided he was too tired to keep going until she came too. If she wanted oral she had to give it first. But you not only teased her until she couldn't handle her desire anymore, but you focused on her needs without waiting for her to do the same immediately after, without wanting anything on return more than being the one to make her feel this way.Melissa’s breath caught at the playful smack, a startled little sound escaping her before she buried her burning face against her arm again.
-"You’re impossible..." - she mumbled weakly, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her completely. You laughed softly behind her, arms still wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close enough that she could feel your heartbeat against her back.
But inside Melissa, something much quieter was unfolding. Something dangerous. Because this wasn’t just desire anymore. It wasn’t the dizzy pleasure still lingering through her limbs or the warmth blooming under every kiss you left on her skin. It was care. The kind she had spent years pretending she didn’t need. You touched her like her pleasure mattered. Like her comfort mattered. Like she mattered even after the breathless moments faded away. No score to settle. No silent expectation. No selfish countdown toward your own satisfaction. Just patience. Affection. Tenderness wrapped inside teasing words and wandering hands.
Melissa had dated people who treated intimacy like a transaction dressed in pretty clothing. Give to receive. Perform to deserve softness afterward. But you…You looked almost proud simply because she felt good.
That realization settled into her chest so heavily it nearly made her emotional all over again.
Slowly, she turned in your arms, still boneless and flushed, her fingertips sliding lazily up your shoulders.
-"You know..." - she whispered, eyes glossy and warm -"you make me feel spoiled in the best possible way"-You kissed the corner of her mouth.
-"Good," - you murmured -"That means I’m doing it right" - you kiss her softly. She laughed softly, carefully trying to send up, but when she tried to put weight on her legs, they wabbled a little and you held her tighter against your body. Melissa let out a tiny gasp followed by embarrassed laughter when her knees betrayed her completely.
-"Wait, wait—"- she grabbed your forearms instinctively, still giggling breathlessly -"my legs are protesting"-
-"Protesting?" -you repeated with a grin, tightening your arms around her waist before she could wobble again-"Baby, your legs unionized"-That pulled another helpless laugh out of her, soft and warm against your chest.
She tried once more to stand properly, only for her thighs to tremble again almost immediately. You caught her effortlessly, holding her flush against you while she hid her burning face in your shoulder.
-"This is humiliating..." - she murmured, though her voice carried more amusement than actual shame now. You kissed the top of her head.
-"No, this is adorable... Bambi"- you teased
-"You’re enjoying this too much" - she bit your shoulder, earning a whimper from you
-"I absolutely am"-Melissa groaned dramatically at your teasing, but she melted closer anyway, completely unwilling to leave the safety of your arms. Her body felt heavy with exhaustion and lingering warmth, every muscle loose and languid beneath your touch. You slid your hands carefully under her thighs.
-"Come here"-you whispered
-"What are you doing—"-Before she could finish, you lifted her effortlessly against you. Melissa squeaked softly, arms instantly wrapping around your neck while another surprised laugh escaped her lips.
-"You really weren’t kidding about taking me to bed, huh?"-
-"Not even a little," - you murmured, carrying her away from the kitchen -"I refuse to let my beautiful lady freeze to death dramatically on marble countertops. The obituary would be very embarrassing for both of us" - Melissa laughed so hard she had to bury her face against your shoulder, her heart feeling impossibly full while you carried her like she was something precious.
When you arrived to her room, you let her on the bed carefully. Melissa sank into the mattress with a soft exhausted sigh, her hair spread across the pillows like spilled copper beneath the dim light. You took your time laying her down gently, as though handling something delicate despite the trembling trust she had already placed in your hands.
And there she was. Flushed skin marked by your affection, lips swollen from kisses, breathing still uneven. The poised, carefully composed woman who carried herself so elegantly through the world now looked wonderfully undone beneath you. Not ruined. Revealed.
Your fingertips traced along her thigh with unbearable tenderness before your lips followed, scattering slow kisses across her skin. Her stomach fluttered instantly beneath the attention.
Melissa watched you through heavy eyes, almost shy again under the intensity of your admiration. Because you looked at her like artists look at masterpieces they know they’ll never fully capture. Carefully. Reverently. A little in awe.
-"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen" - you whispered. The words hit her harder than all the teasing had. Her breath caught softly, and for a moment she could only stare at you, vulnerable in a way that had nothing to do with nudity anymore.
-"You really mean that..." - she whispered. You looked almost offended by the question.
-"Melissa," - your thumb brushed lovingly over her knee -"I don’t think you understand how impossible it is to look away from you" - A faint broken laugh escaped her lips, emotional and overwhelmed all at once. She reached for you immediately after, fingers curling around your wrist as if she needed grounding. Needed proof.
And when you leaned down again, kissing her slowly this time, Melissa kissed you back with a softness so full of trust it nearly felt sacred.
Between soft kisses, that still tasted as her, and wandering hands, your smile turned teasing again
- "How tired are you? Because I'm not done with you" - you gave wet long kisses to her neck
Melissa shivered beneath the slow trail of kisses, her fingers tangling weakly in your hair while your mouth lingered at her neck.
The teasing in your voice made warmth bloom across her face all over again.
-"You’re cruel..." - she whispered, though the tiny smile pulling at her lips ruined any real complaint. You hummed against her skin, your hands wandering lazily along her waist, memorizing her all over again.
-"That didn’t answer my question"-Melissa let out a breathless laugh when another kiss made her shoulders tense pleasantly.
-"I can barely feel my legs," - she admitted softly.
-"And yet?" - you murmured knowingly. Her eyes fluttered open just enough to look at you. Completely wrecked. Completely affectionate.
-"And yet if you keep kissing me like that" - she said, voice quieter now -"I’m probably going to let you do whatever you want" -
The confession hung warm between you. You smiled then, softer this time beneath the teasing.
Your forehead rested against hers for a moment while your thumb stroked slowly across her hip.
-"Good girl" - you whispered -"all I want is to keep making you feel adored" - you kissed a wet trail from her lips to her stomach, resting your head on the soft flesh, following the patterns of her stretch marks with soft fingertips like if you were pointing at a galaxy -"What do you think of toys?" - you asked and she looked at you a bit blushed
-"I-I love them" - she said a bit nervous and you smiled wicked
-"Wait here" - you gave a quick peck on her lips and ran to your room. The redhead waited a bit confused, now being able to feel the cold of the room that your body wasn't against her. Melissa pulled the sheets halfway over herself instinctively once you disappeared from the room, though the warmth lingering across her skin still made her feel deliciously exposed. Her pulse hadn’t settled yet. Not from the kisses. Not from your hands. Not from the way you looked at her like she was worth worshipping. She could still feel the ghost of your fingertips tracing along her stretch marks with such tenderness it almost made her emotional all over again. Nobody had ever touched those parts of her like they were beautiful. Most people ignored them. Some hid them behind compliments that felt rehearsed. But you traced them like constellations. Like stories written directly onto your favorite sky.
Melissa exhaled shakily, letting her head fall back against the pillows, cheeks still warm from your praise and that dangerous little good girl whispered against her skin.
Then from the other room she heard drawers opening, objects shifting around, and your voice calling-"Don’t fall asleep on me yet!"-She laughed softly despite herself.
-"No promises!"
A second later you returned with that same playful spark dancing in your eyes, carrying something behind your back while Melissa immediately narrowed her gaze suspiciously.
-"Why do you look so pleased with yourself?" - she asked, already laughing a little.
You climbed back onto the bed slowly, leaning down to steal another kiss before answering.
-"Because," - you murmured against her lips -"I have ideas..."-you pulled a double strap from behind your back with shiny eyes, she blushed impossible more, her body went rigid and she couldn't stop looking at it.
-"Where did you got that?" - she asked nervously
-"Don't worry, it's brand new, I bought it this afternoon when I came back after you told me that we would have a date today" - you said exited looking at her, she swallowed hard looking at your eyes
-“You bought a strap-on before our first official date ended?”-You shrugged innocently.
-“I believe in preparation"-That earned a helpless laugh from her. And a deeper blush.God, she blushed beautifully.
-"Confident munch on how the night would end?" - she joked laughing a bit nervously. Melissa looked at the strap like it had personally declared war on her nervous system. Not horrified. Just catastrophically flustered.
The toy rested in your hands while you stood there trying and failing to hide your excited grin, and Melissa, still ruined lipstick and messy hair, looked one heartbeat away from short-circuiting permanently.
-“I wasn’t sure tonight would end like this"- you admitted more softly-“But I was hoping"-Melissa’s expression shifted immediately at the honesty in your voice. Warmth replacing some of the panic. Then her eyes flicked nervously toward the toy again.
-“You really bought that today?”-you nodded-“For me?”-You smiled slowly.
-“For us"-The answer visibly hit her right in the chest. Melissa swallowed hard. Then laughed softly at herself, shaking her head.
-“This is insane"-she murmured
-“You kissed me in public, asked me to dance, then pinned me emotionally against a car with eye contact alone”- you pointed out-"We passed insane hours ago" - Melissa snorted helplessly. Fair.
You let the toy down beside you without pressure, your fingers brushing gently against hers.
-“You don’t have to be nervous"- you murmured. Melissa looked at you with immediate disbelief.
-“You came into the room holding a strap-on like a final boss"-You burst out laughing. The sound made Melissa smile too, some of the tension melting from her shoulders-“I’m not nervous because of that"-Your expression softened.
-“No?”-Melissa shook her head once. Then looked at you in a way that turned your stomach warm.
-“I’m nervous because it’s you"-The confession landed somewhere deep and dangerous in your chest. You stepped closer automatically, your hands sliding softly to her waist beneath the covers. Melissa’s breath caught again.
-“You know what I like about you?”-you whispered. She blinked slowly denying with her head-“You always tell the truth eventually"-Melissa laughed softly through her nerves, forehead falling briefly against yours.
-"That’s because you bully it out of me" - she laughed
-“Correct"-you nodded and kissed her forehead
-“You’re impossible"-she murmured
-“And yet"-you smiled against her mouth-“you’re still looking at me like that"-Melissa tried very hard not to smile. Failed immediately. Then her eyes drifted one more time toward the toy on the bed before snapping back to yours with visible panic.
-“…I can’t believe you just casually own one of those now"-You grinned wickedly.
-“Oh honey"-your eyes went dark. Melissa already looked alarmed-“This is actually the second one I almost bought... But is not the only thing I got from the sex shop"-The sound she made afterward was so strangled you laughed against her lips.
You pulled the blanket off from on top of her and sat between her legs smiling, massaging her thighs with your fingers, close to her crotch but without touching her further. The redhead moved her hips a little against the bed closing her eyes.
-"If you want to, we can leave the toy for other day... Or I can bring some smaller..."- you suggested and she opened her eyes frowning
-"Oh no, you brought it, we are using it"-Your grin widened immediately at her stubborn answer, delighted by the determination behind it despite the blush spreading all the way down her neck.
-"There she is," - you teased softly, thumbs stroking along her thighs, higher-"my brave girl" - Melissa rolled her eyes at the nickname, though the tiny sound she made when your hands squeezed her legs betrayed her completely.
-"Don’t tease me too much or I’ll change my mind" -she tried to say upset but a crack in her voice betrayed her.
-"Liar" -You leaned forward just enough to brush your nose on her neck , your voice dropping conspiratorially-"You’re curious"-That earned a sheepish little smile. Because she was. Not only about the toy resting somewhere beside you on the bed, still hidden from view, but about you. The ease in your confidence. The way you spoke about pleasure without shame wrapped around it. The way every teasing remark still carried care beneath it like silk lining hidden inside velvet.
Melissa had spent so long treating desire like something negotiated carefully, cautiously. With you, it felt playful. Safe. Wanted.
You kissed her again, slower this time, while your fingers continued their lazy path over her skin.
-"We go at your pace," - you murmured against her lips -"always" - you fingers teased her folds softly. Her expression softened instantly at that.
Then, of course, you ruined the tenderness by adding-"But for the record, your ‘we are absolutely using it’ speech was extremely hot" - Melissa buried her face in the pillow with a groan of embarrassment while you laughed warmly above her, the sound filling the room like candlelight.
Your kisses spread against her full face and neck while your fingers worked on lazy patterns on her pussy, following every wet fold with the tip of your fingers, earning soft moans from her full lips. Melissa was wet again, even she was surprised of her own body because she never got this wet, but you were making her feel like a horny teen. Her hips moving slowly against the stroke of your fingers.
You could feel your own wetness against your panties too, they were a mess, completely ruined, uncomfortable.
Your free hand grabbed her jaw making her look at you without stopping your lazy pattern on her sex
-"Be a good girl and take my clothes off" - you said looking at her eyes making sure she understood your words. Melissa’s breath caught softly at the tone in your voice. Not harsh. Demanding. Certain.
She looked up at you for a second longer, cheeks warm beneath your attention, then nodded slowly before shifting closer on the bed, sitting on your hand. The mattress dipped under her weight as she settled carefully against you, still a little shaky, still flushed from every kiss and compliment you’d poured over her tonight.
Her fingers reached your back for the zipper, pulling it down without being able to see it, then her hands reached for the straps of your dress first, hesitant only for a moment, knowing that was the only thing holding the piece of clothing on your body.
You watched her quietly while she pushed the fabric downward, your hands resting lightly on her thighs, grounding her there.
Melissa smiled shyly when she finally pulled the straps down, the dress pooled at your waist, your chest bare in front of her eyes.
The hands of the redhead shook by her sides unsure if she could touch you. She wanted to, but she didn't knew if she could, without being able to look to other side than your perky nipples and full breasts, her mouth drooling.
You stand up on the bed, taking your hand away from her pussy, letting your dress fall all the way down, standing only in panties in front of her-"Take them off" - your voice was deeper. With shaky hands she hooked her fingers on the thin straps of the piece of clothing, looking at you with needy eyes. Her fingers slowly pull them down, her nails scratching your legs on the way down, a strand of your arousal stretched from your pussy to your damped panties. You let out a soft moan closing your eyes breafly resting your hand on top of the redhead that was kneeling in front of you to not fall. The panties had been wet and roughly pressing against your pussy all night and feeling the soft release and the wind against it made you whimper.
-"There," - she murmured, voice soft with accomplishment, looking up to you with adoration, she looked so good on her knees for you. You opened your eyes smiling softly
-"Such a good listener" - you teased gently. She rolled her eyes, though her expression melted the moment your hands brushed comfortingly along her jaw again-"Pass me the strap" - you demanded breathing roughly, bitting your lip, like if you were holding your sanity by a thread.
Mel sat on her knees looking at your pussy with need, her hips were moving against nothing, eager, she was too focused to hear anything you said. Your hand carefully grabbed her hair pulling is softly to make her look at you.
She had her brows together and she was pouting, you smiled
-"What do you want Lisa, talk to me"-her hands twitching at her sides, grabbing the sheets of the bed on a tight fist, just a whimper left her lips as she looked at your body-"Do you want to taste?"-you asked looking at how her pleading eyes looked at your pussy with desire and she licked her lips nodding-"Words Melissa" - her full name sounded rough on your lips and your hand grabbed her hair tighter, she whimper
-"Yes please, let me taste you" - her voice was barely above a whisper, embarrassingly whiny-"look how wet you are" - she said needy, bitting her lip
-"You can taste Lisa...you are a good girl, so pretty waiting for permission" - your voice was roug around the edges. Melissa didn't waist one second, her mouth went straight to your pussy, licking your whole pussy like a starving woman
-"Fuck Lisa" - you moaned pulling her hair tight on your hand, she whimpered against your pussy, giving rough licks with her tongue flat, her nose crashing against your clit. Your feet on the bed were not very stable to handle the rough mouth of the redhead for much time, her hands went to your ass digging her nails there to bring you closer to her mouth.
You moved your hips against her face breathing heavy, riding against her face. One of your hands still holding her hair in a tight fist while with the other you squeezed your breasts roughly. You were very sensitive and Melissa was not being careful at all, you could feel her teeth and nose bump from time to time against your pussy and her tongue circling on your entrance, sucking desperately.
You could feel every nerve of your body running with electricity and your legs starting to shake, you were very close
-"Lisa... Lisa, stop" - you were trying to say between moans, but the redhead didn't wanted to listen-"LISA" - your voice came more sharp this time but she said no moving her head and kept licking your pussy roughly. You pulled her hair backwards making her separate from your pussy, her nails dug deeper in your ass as protest making you hurt-"I told you to stop, it wasn't a question" - your breathing was a mess, and she was licking her lips like if she couldn't get enough of your taste, her chin and nose shiny from your juices, she had blown pupils, her hair still in your hand, and she was smiling, like if she were completely drunk-"Give me the strap" - you asked again, she just looked at you smiling dizzy, you grabbed her jaw with your free hand-"Melissa don't he a brat" - she grabbed the strap and looked at you with pleading eyes
-"Can I put it inside you?"-she begged still licking her lips with heavy breathing, her hands playing with both heads of the double strap-"please..."-her green eyes shining under the light
-"Fine... But behave" - you warned her and she nodded. Carefully she coated the strap with the juices of your pussy before guiding it to your entrance, pushing gently, licking her lips and moaning when she saw it disappear inside you completely. You moaned closing your eyes getting used to the stretching of the thick faux dick inside of you, even if went inside easily because of how wet you were, it was bigger than what you expected.
Melissa's hand was on the other end of the strap, she looked at you with dark eyes and she smiled bitting her lip. You knew that look, she was about to do something to tease you, but you slapped her hand away
-"Don't you dare" - you secured the straps on your hips and Melissa whimpered looking at you, her mouth hanging a bit open, you could see her mouth filling with saliva. Her breathing making her boobs move up and down slowly. You sat down on the bed by her side and grabbed her hips, lifting her from the bed gently-"you will be a good girl and ride my strap, you will fuck yourself dumb, right?" - Melissa nodded and stranded your lap without sinking down, just holding herself on her knees, her hands went to your shoulders and you rested yours on the side of her ass.
Your pussy was clenching around the strap inside you and she was a complete masterpiece on front of you
-"Fuck sweetheart you are so hot" - you put two fingers under her jaw bringing her face closer to yours, your lips barely brushing hers. Melissa tried to kiss you but you moved away just an inch-"get that fucking greedy count on my strap" - you whispered on her lips and kissed her, earning a moan on your lips and a bite from her mouth. The redhead kissed you with greediness, sinking down slowly on your strap. Her eyes closed and slipping moans on your lips, your hands tightened at her hips, guiding her until she sinked down completely, taking a second on top of your hips, her face hiding on your neck. The weight of her hips on top of yours made you dizzy, feeling the strap inside you more deeply - "You Okey beautiful?"-you asked softly gasping for air, kissing her temple, she nodded
-"You feel good... So good" - she said with a whiny voice - "You are stretching me so well"-she kissed you slowly. Your tongue got inside her mouth moving slowly against hers and you moved your hips, lifting them and her in the process
-"Do you feel like you can ride me or do need my help?"-you said on her lips-"I can bend you over and fuck you until you can't walk... Again" - Mel whimpered on your lips
-"I wanna make you proud"-she moaned moving her hips slowly on top of you
-"What a good girl you are" - your hands on her hips made her move in longer strokes in and out, each time that she sank down on your hips it made pressure against your clit making you shake-"Fuck Lisa"-now, more adjusted to it, she began to move faster, her boobs bouncing with each stroke and her wet pussy slapping against yours making clapping noises each time that your hips collided.
You started to move your hips against her, trusting deeper inside her, helping on every bounce she took, her boobs bouncing so hard it was causing a yummy pain on her body. You could hear the wet clenching sound of her pussy against yours.
Her hands went to your back, digging her nails on your skin, scratching and breaking the flesh trying to hold herself on top of you
-"Fuck,Fuck,fuck,yes"-she was fucking herself dumb on top of you, her eyes going to the back of her head, her breathing a mess, her movements becoming more sloppily with each stroke, curls and boobs bouncing-"I'm close, I wanna be yours, wreck me" - she mumbled, her legs barely holding her weight
-"You are such a whore" - your words made her clench impossible harder, her legs barely reacting, your hips doing most of the work colliding against her wide open pussy. Her wetness was dripping from her pussy, thick, warm, white, contrasting against the red strap, dripping all the way down to your own cunt.
Her tight pussy trapping your strap inside of her, barely letting you move. Her body started shaking on top of you, moving desperately screaming your name and coming all over you, you were sure your back was bleeding on how her nails scratched your back.
You kept moving with a few strokes more coming with her, your vision went black, you couldn't breath for a moment but you kept moving slowly your hips, helping the orgasm last as much as possible for both of you.
Melissa let go one more sensitive whimper and she hid her face on your neck, her legs clenching against your hip, her breathing a mess, her eyes were full with tears.
When you came back to your senses you hugged her protectively, trying to remember how to breathe properly
-"You Okey?" - you whispered and she nodded against your neck. Melissa melted against you the second your arms wrapped around her.
Not dramatic anymore. Not overwhelmed in the dizzy desperate way from before. Just soft. Completely, beautifully soft.
Her face stayed buried against your neck while both of you tried to catch your breath, the room filled only with uneven breathing and the quiet rustle of tangled sheets.
-"Fucking amazing" - she answered after a minute. That pulled a tired laugh from you immediately.
You kissed her temple tenderly, brushing damp strands of red hair away from her face before carefully shifting her beneath you. Even in the haze afterward, your movements stayed gentle, attentive.
You took the toy out of her carefully, it was coated on thick white strands, Melissa whimpered softly at the sudden emptiness, instinctively clinging tighter to your shoulders for a second before relaxing again when you kissed her forehead.
-"I know, baby," - you whispered soothingly -"I got you" -
The toy hit the floor forgotten a moment later after you pull it out of you, your end as messy as hers.
Right now, holding her mattered more. You pulled the blankets around both of you before gathering her close against your chest, her bare leg slipping automatically between yours while your fingers traced lazy comforting patterns along her back.
Melissa sighed so deeply it sounded like exhaustion finally leaving her body.
-"You cuddle like you’re trying to fuse bones with me" - she mumbled sleepily.
-"Correct" - you replied. That earned a weak little laugh. You smiled into her hair, breathing in the scent of her shampoo mixed with warm skin and the lingering traces of perfume. The room felt calmer now, golden in that quiet aftermath where affection became almost unbearably intimate.
After a few moments, you tilted your head slightly.
-"Need water? Snacks? A doctor? A medal for surviving me?"-you teased, she could barely move, and honestly, you too.
Melissa snorted softly against your chest.
-"Maybe the medal" - she teased back
-"Gold star too" - you kissed the tip of her nose
-"As long as you hold me while I receive it"-Your arms tightened instantly around her.
-"That can be arranged" -you whispered.
Melissa was drifting off, you felt sticky but your legs were tingling of exhaustion now that the adrenaline was melting away, you didn't trusted your extremities to get up
-"Lisa?"-you whispered, earning a low hum from her-"I need you to be mine..."-you whispered and she laughed against your neck
-"You want more? You need to let me catch my breath at least"-she said surprised and you hugged her tighter
-"I can barely move" - you joked-"I'm talking that I need you to be mine, I need to be yours. I can't go to be with someone else after all of this. And I don't mean the sex only, I can't go to be with someone else when you treat your daughter as yours, when your lips have burned into my skin, when all I do is think of you every time we are apart"-your heart was beating against her hand, like if it was trying to escape-“Lisa…”-you started again, your voice quieter now-“I promise I’m not letting myself get carried away by the alcohol or the whole…”-You gestured vaguely between your bodies, both of you still breathing a little unevenly- “…this...I know this is complicated"- you admitted softly-“You’re my landlord and Gaia’s teacher and we live together and technically we’ve been flirting like two idiots for months without actually saying anything—But I also know that when you said our kiddo in the car, it felt so right it scared me a little... And I know I don’t want to keep pretending this is casual when it isn’t"-Your voice shook slightly now-“I don’t want to call you at lunch and wonder if I’m crossing lines. I don’t want to kiss you and then act vague about what we are...I want to be yours"-Melissa had been smiling sleepily against your throat at first, still floating in that soft exhausted haze after everything between you.
But little by little, as your words kept spilling out against her hair, the teasing disappeared from her expression completely. She lifted her head slowly to look at you. Really look at you.
Your flushed cheeks. Your nervous rambling. The way your heartbeat thundered wildly beneath her palm like it genuinely feared her answer.
And suddenly Melissa understood something devastating: You weren’t confessing because of the intimacy. You were confessing because you loved her. The realization hit her so hard her eyes immediately burned.
-"Hey..." - she whispered softly, brushing her fingers against your cheek to calm you a little -"hey, breathe for me, sweetheart" - You laughed nervously at that, but your arms tightened around her waist anyway, as if you physically couldn’t risk letting her drift too far away while waiting for her answer.
Melissa swallowed hard. Then she smiled. Not the teasing smirk she used when she wanted to hide. Not the careful polite smile she gave the rest of the world. This one was unbearably tender.
-"Do you know what the worst part is?" - she murmured.
Your stomach dropped instantly-"What?"-
-"That I’ve been trying not to ask you the exact same thing for weeks."-You stared at her.
Melissa laughed softly through the emotion gathering in her eyes and rested her forehead against yours.
-"You think you’re the only one who hears your voice in their head all day?" - she whispered -"The only one pretending this feels casual when it absolutely doesn’t?"-Her fingers slid gently through your hair while she spoke-"You and Gaia already feel like home to me. Somewhere along the way it stopped being just flirting and became..." - she smiled shakily -"this terrifying wonderful thing where I started wanting permanency" - Your eyes closed briefly at the word. Permanency. God.
Melissa kissed you slowly then, not heated this time, not desperate. Certain. When she pulled back, her nose brushed yours lightly.
-"So yes" - she whispered -"I’ll be yours" - Your breath caught sharply. Melissa’s smile widened immediately at your expression.-"Actually" - she corrected softly, voice thick with affection -"I already was. I think we’re just finally admitting it out loud" - you laughed against her lips. And for the first time all night, the overwhelming feeling blooming in your chest wasn’t desire. It was relief. Warm and enormous and bright enough to make your eyes sting while Melissa pulled you impossibly closer beneath the blankets, like she planned on staying there forever. Melissa’s thumb brushed gently beneath your eye before you even realized tears had gathered there.
-“And Gaia…”-Her voice turned softer somehow-“That little girl already feels like part of my heart walking around outside my body"-That almost ended you completely.
-"Welcome to parenthood" -You buried your face against her neck with a shaky laugh, hugging her tighter. Melissa held you immediately. No hesitation. No fear in it anymore. Just warmth. Home.
After a long quiet moment, she kissed the top of your head and whispered-I’ll be yours... If you’ll still be mine when we’re arguing over groceries and Gaia’s school projects and whose turn it is to kill the spider in the bathroom"-You laughed through the emotion still choking your chest.
-“I’ll be yours when we’re a thousand years old”-Melissa’s entire face melted.
-“That was disgustingly smooth"-she teased you
-“You love it"-you teased back
“I unfortunately do... I love you and your way of being so much”-she said before she could think about it, you looked at her with wide eyes.
For a second, neither of you moved.
The words seemed to linger in the air between your bodies, warm and fragile and terrifying in the way only honest things could be. Melissa’s eyes widened immediately after she said it, like her own mouth had betrayed her. A blush rushed across her cheeks.
-"I..." - she laughed nervously, suddenly hiding part of her face against the pillow -"Well. That slipped out dramatically" - You were still staring at her like she’d just reached into your chest and rearranged entire organs by hand. Because she said it so naturally. Not forced. Not accidental exactly. Just true.
Your voice came out quieter than before-"You love me?"-Melissa peeked at you through red curls, visibly embarrassed now but unable to take it back.
-"I was trying to sound mysterious and emotionally composed" - she mumbled -"but apparently I chose violence instead" - That finally made you laugh properly, wet-eyed and breathless. Then you kissed her. Slowly at first, smiling helplessly against her lips while one of your hands cradled her face like something precious. When you pulled back, your forehead rested against hers.
-"Say it again" - you asked. Melissa groaned immediately.
-"You’re unbelievable" - she rolled her eyes
-"Lisa..."-The way you said her name nearly melted her into the mattress. She looked at you for another long second before her expression softened completely, every last bit of teasing falling away.
-"I love you," - she whispered properly this time.
The room went still. And there it was again. That enormous bright feeling inside your chest, too big for your ribs, too overwhelming to hold quietly.
You kissed her forehead, then her nose, then both cheeks in quick succession until she started laughing again beneath you.
-"You are literally sparkling right now" - she teased softly.
-"I am having a normal reaction to being loved by the hottest woman alive" - Melissa snorted at that, but her eyes turned glassy anyway. You brushed your thumb across her cheek carefully.
-"I love you too" - you whispered -"So much it actually scares me a little" - Her entire expression melted. Then, with the gentlest smile imaginable, she pulled you back down into her arms beneath the blankets, both of you tangled together while the night slowly softened around your shared heartbeat.
-"How we will tell the news to Gaia? That now we are girlfriends?" - she asked worried and you laughed barely able to see her under the blankets
-"Love, she knows that we love each other even before we realized that"-Melissa stared at you for a second after that, somewhere between emotional and offended.
-"Excuse me," - she said, narrowing her eyes playfully -"I thought we were being subtle" - You laughed immediately.
-"Lisa, our daughter literally draws us holding hands in half her pictures" - The redhead covered her face with both hands in horror while you wheezed against the pillow beside her.
-"No she does not" - she complained
-"Then you are not checking her homework properly...last week she asked me if your favorite flowers were still peonies because she wanted to ‘help me when I marry you someday'"-Melissa slowly lowered her hands, looking utterly scandalized.
-"Why are children psychic"-she asked surprised
-"I don’t know. Tiny emotionally omniscient cryptids" - That pulled a helpless laugh out of her despite herself.
Then her expression softened again, quieter now.
-"You really think she’ll be okay with this?"-You looked at her like the answer was obvious.
-"Melissa, Gaia already runs to you first when she scrapes her knee. She asks for you when you work late. She steals your sweaters and calls you when she can’t sleep." - your smile turned impossibly tender -"She adores you" -Melissa’s eyes immediately glossed over again.
-"And you know what’s even more disgusting?" - you added thoughtfully.
-"What?"-
-"That she’s going to be completely insufferable about being right" - Melissa burst out laughing.
-"Oh my God, she is" - You nodded solemnly.
-"We’re never hearing the end of it. She’s going to walk around the house like some tiny relationship prophet" - Melissa curled closer against your chest, still smiling.
-"Honestly?" - she murmured sleepily -"I think I can live with that" - You kissed the top of her head softly.
-"Good. Because you’re stuck with us now" - For the first time in a very long time, Melissa didn’t feel trapped by those words.
Summary:Melissa got very confortable of having you both on her home, slipping effortlessly into the perks and traditions of having a family, and also the perks of being your roommate.
AU:I'm having so much fun writing this fluffy story that I will definitely write a next chapter. Thanks for all the support!
After being interrogated by Ava, you joined Melissa's group again, no kid spoke a work but all of them looked at you with knowing faces, since all of them knew about the kiss thanks to your daughter.
You stepped by the redheads side trying no to blush, resting against the rail, just like she was, letting your hand barely brush hers
-"Cheater" - you murmured
You let your shoulder settle lightly against the rail beside hers, careful, casual enough that no teacher could accuse either of you of anything except perhaps standing suspiciously close near prehistoric reptiles.
Your fingers brushed hers again. A tiny, accidental-looking contact. Melissa’s hand twitched. But she didn’t move away.
-“I didn’t cheat"-she said, still smiling at the children clustered around the fossil display-"I won"-The confidence in her voice nearly made you laugh. Nearly. Because her ears were bright red. And because she still refused to look directly at you, which made her attempted composure about as convincing as a velociraptor applying for tax exemption.
-“Won what, exactly?”- you asked softly.
That got her. Her breath caught just enough for you to hear it. Still she kept her gaze fixed ahead, where Oliver was loudly explaining to another student that he could “absolutely fistfight a medium-sized dinosaur if emotionally prepared.”
Melissa cleared her throat -“The argument"-
-“What argument?”-you lifted an eyebrow
-“The one where you insisted cheek kisses didn’t count"-she replied. You leaned a little closer. Close enough to catch the faint floral trace of her perfume beneath the sharper museum air.
-“And your solution was to publicly kiss me in front of an entire school trip?”- Finally, finally, she glanced at you. Just a quick sideways look. But it was enough.
Her eyes were bright with embarrassment and something warmer underneath, something trembling at the edge of becoming courage.
-“You were being insufferable"-she mumbled between her theet.
You smiled-“And?”-
-“And…”-She hesitated. Her fingers shifted again, this time deliberately sliding against yours where your hands rested along the rail. Not holding. Not quite. Just enough to make your pulse stumble-“And I really wanted to"- That hit harder than the kiss had. Simple words. Quietly spoken. But they landed in your chest like something sacred.
You stared at her. Melissa immediately looked away again, clearly horrified by her own honesty.
-“Oh God"- she muttered-"Forget I said that"-
-“No"-The word came out sharper than you intended. She blinked, startled, and looked back. Your voice softened-“Don’t do that"-The noise of the museum faded around you for a moment.
Children laughed somewhere to your left. A docent was explaining the migration patterns of ancient herbivores to exactly no one listening. Gaia was definitely pretending not to watch from across the room with all the subtlety of a fireworks display. But all of that blurred at the edges. There was only Melissa.
And the way her face gentled when she realized what you meant. Your fingers turned, carefully threading through hers. This time fully. Not hidden. Not accidental. Just there. An answer.
Melissa inhaled sharply. You smiled, smaller now.
-“Don’t take it back"-you whispered. Her hand tightened around yours. The tiniest squeeze.
Then, after a long second, she gave you a look that was still shy and still nervous but steadier somehow.
-“I really did want to kiss you"-she said with bright green shiny eyes. Your entire body warmed.
-“Good"- you murmured. Her brow lifted.
-“Why?”-she asked. You leaned just close enough that only she could hear
-“Because I’ve been trying not to kiss you for weeks, and frankly it was becoming a hazard at home"- That did it. Melissa laughed.
Not the careful, polite laugh she gave colleagues.
Not the startled one she tried to smother when you teased her. A real laugh.
Bright and delighted and impossible not to love.
Several children immediately turned to stare, apparently shocked that Miss Melissa was capable of joy
-"You are imposible" - she said laughing and you smiled
-"I hope you have more kisses to shut me up, because I have a lot more coments like that to tease you" - you said smiling, caressing her hand with your thumb
-"No no, I'm wining, you are the one that has to even the score, so now you have to kiss me" - she replied, being the hussler that she was
-"Okey... At least we agree that we have to keep kissing" - you said smiling confident and she turned to look at you-"it's good thing that now the ball is on my curt, that means I can get really close..."-you leaned more closer to her, your breading inches away from her lips-"tease you..."-you blowed a little bit of air on her lips, the redhead wet her lips dropping her eyes to look at your mouth-"and make you all nervous..."-you smiled giving your best seductive eyes-"and choose when to kiss you, making you wander when I will finally close the distance"-you bit your lip, teasing her. She knew you were playing with her, you had her wrapped around your finger and she loved every minute of it.
Before any of you could lean closer or say anything else, you heard a loud thud, followed by a scream and a cry.
Your mom instinct kicked in immediately and you went to the middle of the conmotion, finding your daughter and another kid on the carpet of the museum ground, the kid was covering his forehead and your daughter her mouth
-"What happened?" - you asked worried, kneeling by both kids, Melissa did the same by your side
-"We were playing to be dinosaurs, Gaia was a pakilosaurus, her favorite, she said she like how they are tiny but strong, me personally I like more stegosaurus, they have the spiky tail, and he" - the boy that was explaining to you pointed to the other boy on the ground-"he chossed to be a Velociraptor, but Velociraptors always traveled on pack, specially at hunting, so they two were also Velociraptors..."-while the kid took his sweet time to explain, your daughter and the other boy were crying
-"Cut to the ending" - Melissa said frowning seriously
-"Okey... They started to chase us, Gaia was running behind that dinosaur squeleton, when she turned around the corner, Lucas was coming from the other side and they crushed" - the boy finished explaining.
Melissa was checking if the forehead of the boy was intact, and more than a bump he didn't had.
You were checking on your daughter, trying to convince her to stop covering her mouth so you could check if everything was Okey, when she removed her hand, you could see a tiny gap on the front of her mouth, a tooth, that you were aware that was lose, got knocked out because of the collision.
Melissa's face depend in worry, she knew Gaia had a lose tooth because your daughter showed it to her a few days ago, but she never had kids, so she didn't knew how bad this was
-"Do you want to take her to the hospital? I can call an uber" - she said nervously while your daughter sobbed in your arms
-"Are you Okey baby?" - you asked your daughter, talking strands of wet hair because of the teeth away from her face, beside the missing teeth you didn't saw anything else to be worried about.
-"No... It hurts" - she cried hiding in your neck but giving her best puppy eyes to the redhead
-"Let's go to the hospital" - Melissa stood up worried and you grabbed her hand, still holding your daughter with the other arm, stopping her on her tracks. You knew your daughter, and it was just one more bump to the thousand she already had previously, she wasn't a very calm kid
-"Does it hurt baby or you got scared?" - you asked and she looked at you
-"It hurted... But not anymore, I just got scared" - she said with her wavering voice, eyes full of tears but not crying anymore. You looked up at the redhead and smiled softly
-"Don't worry Lisa, she is okey" - Melissa let out a breath she didn't knew she was holding, she had a thousand accidents around the school, but she felt responsible of Gaia in a different way and she panicked for a second.
The other boy was already up, looking at your daughter worried with the little bump on his forehead- "We will find your teeth so the fairy can bring you money, we will be like paleontologist and find a bone!" - he said determined and after two seconds you had an army of 20 little kids looking for a missing tooth.
Your daughter was cuddle up in your chest, you stood up with her in your arms. Melissa caressed your daughter's back softly
-"You know, I've heard, that if you lose your theet in a museum, the fairy brings you more money because they think is a piece of art, so that's good" - she tried to lighten the mood and your daughter looked at her
-"At my home it'sss not a fairy, it's a moussse" - she explained with rosy cheeks and the air escaping between the new gap
-"A mouse?" - the teacher asked confused
-"Yes, at Latin housesss, Perezzz the moussse comes for your teethhh. We even had a tiny door in our old apartment, at the stairs, that he ussed to enter to pick up my teethhh... Will he come to Melsss houssse mama?" - she asked at you worried- "he doesn't have a door there..."-she pouted and the heart of the redhead broke -"Don't worry baby, I already made the change of address and explained how he could get into my house" - the redhead said and your daughter smiled lightly, stretching her hands to be picked up by the redhead -"Thankssss Mel"-she closed her eyes and hid on the redhead neck.
Melissa’s breath caught as Gaia reached for her.
It was instinctive, the way she opened her arms.
No hesitation.
No awkward little pause of is this okay?
Just immediate certainty, like some part of her had already learned the shape of your daughter’s weight and knew exactly how to hold her.
Gaia melted into her at once, tiny arms wrapping around Melissa’s neck, her damp cheek pressing into the soft skin there. The redhead adjusted her automatically, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other holding her.
And just like that, your entire world tilted.
You had seen Melissa with children, of course.
She was a teacher. Good with scraped knees and lost homework and playground tears. Calm under pressure, sharp when needed, endlessly patient in ways that somehow made her sternness feel safe.
But this was different.
This wasn’t Miss Melissa soothing one of her students.
This was Melissa holding your daughter like she belonged there. Like she had every right to comfort her. And God help you, the sight hit somewhere dangerously deep.
Gaia gave a little sniffle against Melissa’s throat.
The redhead immediately dipped her head, voice softening into something achingly tender.
-“There you go, sweetheart. Big brave girl"-Your daughter sighed shakily, already calming.
Across the exhibit hall, the search party of twenty tiny amateur paleontologists had spread out dramatically across the carpet.
Oliver had somehow commandeered a museum brochure and was using it as an official search grid map.
Lucas was on all fours near the velociraptor display muttering, “No fossil left behind.”
Ava leaned against a pillar watching the whole thing unfold with an expression of deep spiritual satisfaction. Then she caught your face. And her grin turned absolutely feral. You knew that look. That was the look of a woman who had just been handed gossip powerful enough to sustain her through winter.
She strolled over slowly, folding her arms.
-“Well”-she said, eyeing Melissa holding Gaia-“That’s certainly not helping my betting odds"-
You blinked-“What?”-
Ava gave you a pitying smile-“Oh sweetheart, if she’s already doing the soothing-mother-neck-bounce? You’re cooked"-Your face ignited.
Across from you, Melissa heard that and went scarlet so fast it was almost impressive-“Ava"-she snapped.
Ava only looked delighted.
Gaia, half-dozing against Melissa’s shoulder now that the immediate trauma had passed, cracked one eye open and mumbled sleepily-“What’sss cooked?”-
Ava grinned wider-“Your mom"-
You made a strangled noise.
Melissa looked like she might actually pass out.
And then, somehow, Gaia smiled.
A slow, sleepy little smile against Melissa’s neck-“Good"-Silence. Absolute, cathedral-level silence. Your heart forgot how to function. Melissa stopped breathing altogether. Even Ava blinked.
Gaia, apparently satisfied with the emotional devastation she had unleashed, sighed and tucked herself closer into Melissa’s arms.
-“I like when she blushesss"-she murmured, already drifting-“It meansss she likess us"-Something inside Melissa cracked open so quietly no one else would have noticed. But you did. You saw it in the way her arms tightened around Gaia. The way her expression softened into something almost fragile. The way her eyes lifted, slowly, to yours.
And there it was again.
That look.
That terrifying, wonderful look of someone standing at the edge of a life they had not planned for and wanting it anyway.
Then one of the children shouted triumphantly from under the triceratops display-“FOUND THE TOOTH!”-
The spell shattered.
Twenty children erupted into cheers like they’d just unearthed the crown jewels. Gaia startled awake enough to clap weakly against Melissa’s shoulder.
Melissa laughed, breathless and shaky and real.
And before she could stop herself, before practicality could rebuild its walls, she looked at you and smiled with so much naked affection it nearly brought you to your knees.
After everyone gather their stuff and got ready, you all got into the buses and went to school, the hole ride Gaia slept peacefully on the redheads chest, cuddle up with her face still red from the crying.
When you got to the school, Mel put Gaia into the busterseat with amazing care, she didn't even woke your daughter.
As soon as the car stopped at the house, your daughter drifted awake, remembering the scare that she had and her eyes got teary again
-"Hey hey kiddo" -Mel opened the back door and Gaia clinged again to her playing softly with her necklaces- "What do you think if I do that soup that you love with a lot of cheese?" - she offered and your daughter looked at her with shiny eyes
-"How much cheese?" - she asked pouting. You knew that what happened was traumatic for her, but she had gotten worse bumps and run after 10 min to keep playing, you knew she was being extra needy and sweet because the redhead was weak to those eyes.
You watched the whole exchange from the doorway, keys still in your hand, and had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling too hard.
Gaia was absolutely working her. It was almost artful. That wobbling lower lip, those glassy little eyes, the tiny sniffle timed with surgical precision. If emotional manipulation were an Olympic sport, your daughter would have a sponsorship deal by age ten.
And Melissa was helpless against it. Completely, catastrophically helpless. The redhead stood there with Gaia clinging to her neck, still wearing that soft worry from the museum, and the second your daughter whispered-“And a movie?”- Melissa folded like a lawn chair in a hurricane.
-“Yes, sweetheart, of course. We can watch Hoppers, your favorite”-she said with her strong Philly accent and you rolled your eyes, since the movie came out it was all she wanted to watch and you already knew it by memory.
Gaia’s eyes lit up instantly. The tears vanished with suspicious speed. You narrowed yours.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Melissa, still too flustered by the aftermath of the day to notice she was being professionally hustled by a six-year-old, carried her inside like Gaia weighed nothing at all.
Your daughter immediately nestled deeper into her shoulder with a tiny, theatrical sigh of contentment.
You shut the front door behind you, shaking your head.
-“Gaia"-you said getting no answer.
You followed them into the living room to find Melissa carefully lowering her onto the couch.
Gaia immediately stretched both arms up.
Silent demand.
Melissa blinked-“What?”-Your daughter wiggled her fingers.
-“Blankie"-And just like that, Melissa was off retrieving the dinosaur blanket from Gaia’s room.
You folded your arms. When she disappeared down the hallway, Gaia cracked one eye open and grinned at you. The little traitor.
-“Are you serious right now?”-you stared. She smiled wider, gap-toothed and shameless.
-“She is really sweet"-Gaia smiled.
You crouched beside the couch-“You’re milking this"-Gaia gasped in scandalized innocence.
-“Mama"-she put a hand on her chest
-“Do not mama me"-
-“I losst a toof"-she pointed her mouth
-“You lost a tooth that was already halfway out"-you stated, Gaia’s expression turned deeply philosophical.
-“Pain is relative"-You had absolutely no comeback to that.
Melissa returned then, blanket in hand, and Gaia’s eyes instantly filled with suspiciously convenient moisture again. The redhead gave your daughter her favorite teddy bear and made a little burrito with a blanket
-"Are you comfy? I will get the soup ready" - the redhead kissed your daughter's forehead and put the movie on the TV
-"You know she is taking advantage of you, right?" - you asked and Melissa locked at you offended
-"Don't say those things about my baby" - she said "my baby" so casual that you barely had time to register it-"she deserves all the pampering, she went trough something traumatic" - the redhead hugged your daughter one more time before getting up from the couch, your daughter smiled at you from her little cocoon-"Help me cook" - the redhead grabbed your hand pulling you to the kitchen. The second Melissa’s fingers curled around yours and tugged, your brain politely excused itself from the conversation. Gone. Fully clocked out. No forwarding address.
You let her pull you into the kitchen in a daze, stumbling only slightly over the rug while she marched ahead with determined little strides, still all brisk competence and righteous offense on Gaia’s behalf
-“Honestly"-she muttered as she opened the fridge-“accusing an injured child of manipulation"-
You leaned against the counter, smiling helplessly-“Injured?”-Melissa shot you a glare over her shoulder.
-“She lost a tooth"-she gave you a serious look that was more hot than mad
-“She lost half a loose tooth and weaponized the other half for emotional leverage"-you raised an eyebrow
-“That is called resilience"-the redhead defended your daughter and you laughed. Melissa pointed a wooden spoon at you like a threat-“Mock all you want. She is brave and sweet and deserves soup"-you lifted your arms in surrender. From the living room, Gaia’s muffled voice floated out from beneath her blanket burrito-“And extwa cheesse!”-
Melissa’s expression softened instantly-“And extra cheese"-she called back.
You folded your arms, watching her move around the kitchen. She knew where everything was now.
Not hesitantly, like a guest trying to be helpful.
Naturally.
Opening the right drawers without thinking. Pulling out Gaia’s favorite little bowl with the cartoon fox on it. Reaching automatically for the cheese grater you always forgot existed.
The sight caught somewhere behind your ribs. Dangerous territory. Melissa stopped complaining so long ago about the changes that you forgot that she even had done it. She must have felt your staring, because after a moment she glanced back
-“What?”-
You blinked-“Nothing"-
Her eyes narrowed-“That’s a lie"-
You smiled-“You’re domestic"-The words slipped out before you could stop them.
Melissa froze. Just slightly. Her fingers still resting on the soup pot. Then color rose slowly into her cheeks-“I’m making soup"-
-“Very domestically"-you whispered
-“That isn’t a thing"-she rolled her eyes
-“It absolutely is"-you replied. She huffed and turned back to the stove, but the pink in her ears deepened. Cute. Very cute.
You pushed off the counter and wandered closer, drawn by instinct stronger than good judgment. Melissa was focused on stirring now, shoulders relaxed, her hair in a ponytail and her glasses on top of her head.
You stopped just behind her. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her back. Close enough that if either of you shifted an inch, you’d touch.
Melissa’s stirring slowed-“You’re hovering"-
-“You pulled me in here to help..."-you state
-“I did" - she was with her back at you
-“Your instructions are unclear"-She exhaled, suspiciously unsteady. Then, without turning, she held the spoon out behind her.
-“Stir"-You looked at it. Then at the inches of space between your bodies. A wicked little idea sparked. Instead of taking the spoon, you stepped closer and reached around her, your hand covering hers on the handle.
Melissa went completely still. Your chest brushed her back. Her breath hitched. There it was again. That electric little silence. You lowered your mouth near her ear
-“Like this?”-The spoon nearly slipped from her fingers.
-“Yes"- she whispered. You smiled against the curve of her hair and guided the motion slowly, stirring together. Melissa was trembling. Just slightly. Enough for you to feel. Enough to send a warm rush through your entire body.
-“You’re nervous”- you murmured.
-“No, I’m not"- You leaned a fraction closer.
Her pulse fluttered wildly beneath the skin of her throat.
-“Lisa"-you whispered
-“Stop that"-her voice was deeper than normal
-“Stop what?”-you raised an eyebrow
-“That voice"-You laughed softly.
-“What voice?”-you asked
-“The one you use when you know exactly what you’re doing"-You definitely laughed then, the sound low against her ear. Melissa made a tiny, helpless sound that almost made your knees buckle. Then she turned her head just enough to look at you over her shoulder. And suddenly your faces were very, very close.
Close enough to count eyelashes. Close enough to feel shared breath. Melissa’s lips parted. Her eyes dropped to your mouth. And stayed there.
The kitchen seemed to narrow around you.
The soup bubbled softly on the stove, forgotten.
The movie played faintly in the next room.
And for one suspended second, it felt inevitable.
Then Gaia’s voice rang out, loud and scandalized -“MEL, THE CHEESSE IS BURNING"- Melissa yelped and lurched forward.
You burst out laughing. The soup was fine. The cheese was not even in the pot yet.
From the living room came the unmistakable sound of your daughter cackling under her blanket. Melissa stared toward the couch in betrayed horror-“That little menace"- You were still laughing when she turned, smacked your shoulder with a dish towel, and pointed toward the living room -“Go deal with your evil genius"- You caught her wrist before she could pull away.
Just lightly. Melissa looked at you. You were both still smiling. And before either of you could think too hard about it, you lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. Slow. Deliberate. Her breath caught.
-“That counts too"-you murmured.
Then you let go and escaped to the sound of Gaia’s delighted shrieking, leaving Melissa frozen in the kitchen with pink cheeks and absolutely no idea how she was supposed to recover from that.
When the food was ready, perfect as always, you ate watching the movie, your daughter was cuddle up on the side of Melissa leaving you on the other side,feeling cold, jealous if your own daughter that took your favorite spot.
When the movie was over you rise to your feet
-"Let's go baby, I will give you a shower" - you were going to lift her but she clinged to the redhead
-"Nooo... I wanna be with Mel" - she pouted
-"I have to shower too baby, let your mom shower you while I shower on my room and then I will read you a bedtime story, deal?"-the redhead already knew all the things your daughter loved, and storytime with the voices that Melissa made, was on her top 5. Your daughter nodded and let go of her for you to pick her up.
After the shower and getting into both of your pijamas, you knocked the door of Melissa's room gently
-"Come in" - the redhead answered and your daughter opened the door running inside, climbing into the big bead and getting under the covers.
Melissa looked up when you stepped inside. And for a second, neither of you said anything.
The room was warm, lit only by the soft amber glow of the bedside lamp. It painted everything gentler at the edges. The books on her nightstand. The half-folded cardigan draped over a chair. The ridiculous floral mug she refused to throw away because Gaia had once declared it “fancy princess tea equipment.”
And Melissa. God. Without the sharp armor of work clothes and lipstick and immaculate control, she looked softer somehow. Realer.
Her damp hair curled faintly at the ends, dark against her bare face. The fine lines near her eyes were visible now, the ones carved there by years of smiling and worrying and living. Her oversized Philly shirt slipped off one shoulder just enough to reveal the delicate slope of collarbone before she absently tugged it back up.
The sight hit you harder than all the flirting had.
Because this wasn’t polished or composed or meant to impress. This was Melissa as she was when no one else was looking. And somehow that felt more intimate than the kiss.
Your staring must have lasted a beat too long, because color rose slowly into her cheeks.
You blinked yourself back into your body-“Nothing-
She narrowed her eyes-“That’s your lying voice"-
You smiled softly-“I was just thinking"-
-“Dangerous"-she lifted an eyebrow
-“Very"-you replied and that earned a tiny smile.
Then Gaia bounced dramatically beneath the blankets-“Stowyyy"-
Melissa laughed under her breath and climbed into bed beside her. Gaia immediately snuggled into her side with the unquestioning certainty of a child who had already decided exactly where she belonged.
And there it was again. That quiet little ache in your chest. The one that came every time you saw them together and some reckless part of your heart whispered keep this.
Melissa patted the empty side of the bed-“You too"-
You blinked-“What?”-
Gaia groaned like your confusion was personally offensive-“Mama, come on"-
Melissa looked suddenly flustered, as if she hadn’t expected to say it out loud, but she recovered quickly enough to arch one brow.
-“She’s right. Unless you plan to stand there all night looking ominous"-You laughed under your breath and crossed the room.
The mattress dipped as you climbed in on Gaia’s other side. Immediately your daughter wriggled until she was somehow stretched across both of you like a tiny bridge of chaos, one leg thrown over your lap and her head pillowed on Melissa’s shoulder. Efficient hostage-taking.
Melissa opened the book. You recognized it instantly. Gaia’s favorite. Peter Rabbit, also Melissa's favorite.
It became your daughter's favorite when the redhead made her read it a few months back at school.
Melissa began to read. And, unfairly, she was excellent at it. Her voice shifted for every character, it was easy to follow the story because she made a difrent tone for each animal and emotion. Gaia giggled all the way trough the book.
You mostly watched Melissa.
The way her mouth curved at the funny parts.
The concentration in her brow when she prepared one of the dramatic voices.
The warmth in her expression whenever Gaia laughed.
At some point, Melissa glanced up and caught you staring.
Her voice faltered-“What?”-
You didn’t look away this time-“You’re beautiful"-The words slipped out before caution could tackle them.
Silence dropped instantly. Even Gaia stilled. Melissa froze, eyes wide. A flush bloomed slowly across her face, softer than the embarrassed scarlet of earlier. This was different. Tenderer. More dangerous. You felt your own face heat.
-“Well"-you muttered, suddenly fascinated by the blanket-“that was horrifyingly honest"-you played with the piece of fabric on your hands-"nice quality sheets" - Melissa let out a breathless little laugh. Then, after a long second, she closed the book and set it aside. Your pulse jumped.
Slowly, carefully, she reached across Gaia and took your hand. Her fingers laced through yours with quiet certainty. When you looked up, she was already watching you.
No teasing now. No games. Just Melissa, soft-faced and brave in the lamplight.
-“You make it very hard"-she said quietly.
Your throat tightened-“To do what?”-Her thumb brushed your knuckles.
-“To remember why I thought this was a bad idea"-The words should have stung. Instead, somehow, they didn't. Because she was still holding your hand. Because her eyes were warm and steady and full of things she hadn’t said yet.
And because after another heartbeat, she smiled.
Small and helpless and real.
-“Luckily"- she whispered-“I’m getting less practical by the minute"-Then she leaned across Gaia’s sleeping form and kissed you.
Slowly this time. No wagers. No audience. No winning. Just the quiet, deliberate press of her mouth to yours like she was finally allowing herself something she’d wanted for far too long.
And when she pulled back, her forehead rested lightly against yours. Neither of you spoke. There was nothing left to tease about.
Only the soft breathing of your daughter asleep between you.
And the impossible, wonderful fact that somehow, somewhere between museum disasters and soup and stolen kisses, home had changed shape around all three of you.
You smiled a little blushed and looked at your daughter, by the soft snore and the lack of teasing at your kiss, she was deeply asleep
-"I will take her to our room" - you whispered but the redhead didn't let your hand go
-"She is already asleep... Let her sleep here..."-she whispered and kissed Gaia's forehead
-"Okey, but when she kicks you at night, don't come knock on my door" - you teased and she smiled
-"Stay too..."-she spoke softly and you looked at her relaxed features -"Please..."-you got up from the bed going to your room and the redhead sighed, thinking that maybe she pressed too far, but when you came back with a sharpie, a piece of paper and the tooth that Gaia lost inside a tiny transparent box, she smiled again
-"I will stay, but first, we have to do our duties" - you said looking at the paper in your hands-"Do you wanna do it?"-you asked and she nodded surprised
-"Can I put the money too?" - she asked and you nodded looking happily to her excited face. Melissa’s face softened into something almost impossibly gentle. The kind of softness that only appeared when she forgot to guard herself.
She shifted carefully so she wouldn’t wake Gaia, making space on the bed as you climbed again in bed, sitting in front of her with your little collection of mouse-business supplies.
The sharpie.
The folded paper.
The tiny tooth resting in the box like a pearl the universe had awkwardly misplaced.
Melissa looked absurdly delighted.
And that alone nearly undid you.
It was such a small thing. Such a silly little ritual.
But she looked at it like you’d just invited her into some ancient and sacred family ceremony.
Which, in a way, you had.
You handed her the paper and uncapped the sharpie.
Her fingers brushed yours as she took them, and she smiled down at the blank page with a concentration usually reserved for grading final exams-“What do I write?”-she was serious now
You leaned closer to her face and the piece of paper, lowering your voice to a whisper even though Gaia was deeply asleep between you, one tiny hand fisted in Melissa’s shirt.
-“Introduce yourself properly. Pérez appreciates professionalism"-Melissa huffed a laugh.
-“Of course he does"-
-“Very serious mouse"-you replied. She bit back another smile and bent over the page, tongue peeking out just slightly in concentration.
God. You were in actual danger.
You watched as she wrote in her neat, elegant script:
"Dear Señor Pérez,
Gaia lost this tooth today at the museum after an extremely brave encounter with a velociraptor.
Please excuse the unusual delivery address. I’ve recently arranged safe entry to the house and can personally guarantee excellent access to the bedroom.
She was very brave and only cried a little.
Please compensate accordingly.
Respectfully,
Melissa Schemmenti"
You read over her shoulder and snorted softly-“‘Respectfully’?”-She looked scandalized.
-“It’s a formal correspondence"-You laughed under your breath.
-“Lisa, he’s a mouse"-you said pointing the obvious
-“He’s a professional mouse"-You were still smiling when she glanced up at you. The expression lingered for half a heartbeat too long. Something warm shifted between you. Then Melissa’s cheeks pinked and she looked away first, clearing her throat-“What now?”-she waited
-"You have to write down the reply of the mouse and put the money inside that note" - you replied.
Melissa blinked at you. Then her entire face lit up. Not the composed, polite smile she gave colleagues. Not even the flustered, blushing one she kept accidentally giving you. This was pure delight. The kind that made her look years younger, all bright eyes and barely-contained excitement.-“Seriously?”-
You smiled, already knowing the answer-“Gaia always gets a reply"-Melissa looked scandalized.
-“Why did you not tell me this sooner?”-
-“Because watching you discover increasingly absurd details about our household mythology is currently one of my favorite hobbies"-That made her blush. But she was already reaching for the sharpie again, fully invested.
-“Move, you are covering the light with your head"-she whispered urgently. You obeyed, laughing softly, and watched as she smoothed a fresh sheet of paper over the blankets with all the gravity of a woman drafting international legislation. Her brow furrowed. The little line appeared between her eyes. Cute. Dangerously cute. You propped your head on one hand and admired her shamelessly while she muttered to herself-“He’s a professional mouse… probably formal… but approachable…”-her glasses barely holding on the tip of her nose and her hair cascading on one side of her face
-“You’re overthinking the mouse"-you whispered
-“This is diplomacy"-she whispered back. You snorted. Melissa shushed you without looking up. Then she began to write. Slowly. Meticulously. Even changed her handwriting because the "mouse" should had a difrent way of writing than her. Her tongue peeked out again in concentration, which was frankly unfair to your cardiovascular system.
When she finished, she handed you the page with quiet pride.
In the difrent but still elegant script, it read:
"To the exceptionally brave Miss Gaia,
I must personally apologize for the delay in my arrival. Museum claims require additional verification due to the increased artistic and historical value of the tooth.
After careful review, I am pleased to report that your bravery has earned premium compensation.
I would also like to formally thank Miss Melissa for her excellent change-of-address documentation and outstanding hospitality arrangements. Very professional work. Five stars.
Please continue taking excellent care of your smile.
Warm regards,
Señor Pérez, Esq.
Licensed Dental Retrieval Specialist
Pérez & Co. Since 1947"
You stared at it. Then slowly looked up at her. Melissa looked nervous all of a sudden.
-“Well?”-You were silent for exactly one dramatic second before declaring
-“Lisa"-Her breath caught-“That mouse is going to propose by Christmas"-The scandalized little sound she made nearly woke Gaia. Melissa smacked your arm with the paper.
-“You’re impossible"-You laughed and caught her wrist before she could hit you again. The room stilled. Your fingers around her pulse point. Her breath warm and shallow. The note crinkling softly between your hands. Melissa’s eyes dropped to your mouth. Then rose again, slower this time.
-“You really call me Lisa when you’re being soft with me"- she whispered. The words landed somewhere tender. You hadn’t even realized you were doing it. Your thumb brushed lightly over the inside of her wrist.
-“Do I?”-She nodded.
And because apparently tonight had become a festival of terrifying honesty, she added, very quietly-“I like it"-That hit harder than any kiss so far. Your chest tightened.
Melissa must have seen it happen, because her expression softened instantly. Then she did something devastatingly simple. She leaned forward and rested her forehead against yours. No teasing. No challenge. Just closeness.
-“You should kiss me again"-she whispered. You smiled against her skin.
-"And why would I do that?" - you teased
-"Because I did an excelent work as a mouse?"-she smiled
-“Cheater"-you whispered
-“Maybe"-
-“You’re abusing your lead"-you lifted your eyebrow
-“I’m practical"- she murmured. You laughed softly. You grabbed her face carefully with both hands, your lips brushed hers once. Gentle. Then again, slower.
And when you kissed her properly, she sighed into your mouth like she’d been waiting all day for permission to stop pretending she wasn’t falling for you.
Between you, Gaia snuffled in her sleep and muttered something about velociraptors owing her money. You smiled against her lips and carefully separated from her.
The redhead gave you both notes with the money inside of the "reply". You put it carefully under the pillow your daughter was using and looked at the redhead
-"Move, let me be in the middle of you both, Gaia kicks" - you said using as excuse your daughter's rare behavior to be closer to the redhead
Melissa blinked at you for half a second.
Then one eyebrow lifted. Slowly. Knowingly. It was a look that said I absolutely know what you’re doing here.
And the worst part was how the corner of her mouth twitched, like she was trying very hard not to smile about it.
-“Gaia kicks?”- she repeated.
You kept your face perfectly innocent-“Violently"-Melissa glanced down at your daughter, who was currently starfished across the mattress in deep, angelic sleep, one tiny socked foot resting harmlessly against your thigh. Then she looked back at you. The silence stretched. Her expression sharpened with suspicion.
-“Interesting"-she murmured-“Because I seem to recall you surviving approximately six years of this alleged nightly violence"-You gasped softly.
-“Are you accusing me of dishonesty?”-you raised an eyebrow
-“Yes"- Bold. Very bold for someone whose cheeks were still pink from kissing you ten minutes ago. You clutched your chest in mock offense.
-“Lisa. I’m wounded"-That finally cracked her. She laughed, quiet enough not to wake Gaia but bright enough to make your stomach flip.
-“There’s room"-she whispered, scooting back against the pillows and lifting the blanket.
An invitation. Your pulse immediately betrayed you. You tried to keep your composure as you carefully shifted Gaia, sliding into the middle. Your daughter gave a sleepy little grumble, then instantly draped herself across your stomach like an affectionate octopus and resumed snoring.
And just like that, you were there. Melissa on one side. Gaia sprawled over you. The warm weight of both of them pinning you gently into place. It should have felt ridiculous. Instead, it felt so right it made your chest ache. Melissa settled again beside you, the blankets rustling softly. For a few moments, neither of you spoke.
The house was quiet around you. The kind of late-night stillness that made every breath feel louder. Then, carefully, her hand found your waist holding you lightly, grabbing Gaias hand in the process
You looked down as how the blanket shifted with her movement. When you looked back up, she was already watching you.
There was something shy in her face now. And open.
-“I know this is fast"-she said softly. The honesty in her voice made your throat tighten. Melissa glanced down at Gaia, smiling faintly as your daughter gave a tiny sleepy snort. Then she looked at you again-“But when you’re here…”- Her thumb brushed your stomach in top of your blouse - “And she’s here…”-Her voice caught.
For a second, she looked almost embarrassed by what she was about to admit. Then she said it anyway-“It feels like something I’ve been missing for a very long time"-That landed somewhere deep enough to steal your breath.
You stared at her. At the vulnerable courage in her face. At the way she was giving you this truth with no shield, no teasing, no careful escape route if you didn’t want it. And God. You wanted it. So badly it frightened you. Slowly, you squeezed her hand.
-“You know what’s terrifying?”-you whispered. Melissa shook her head. You smiled, small and helpless-“I know exactly what you mean..."Something in her face softened all at once. Relief, maybe. Or recognition.
She shifted closer then, carefully so she wouldn’t disturb Gaia, her head came to rest lightly on your shoulder. The contact was so simple it nearly undid you. You turned and kissed the top of her hair.
Melissa sighed. A sleepy, content little sound that sent warmth spiraling through your ribs.
-"Sleep well Lisa..."-you whispered closing your eyes, being able to feel your daughter's heartbeat and the warmth of the redhead next to you, calming you more than ever.
At the next day you woke up finding your daughter deeply asleep, her hair messy and missing one sock, sprayed on the bed with only half body cover by the covers. The redhead was no in bed anymore, but your back was carefully covered like if she tucked you in when she got up.
The smell of toast told you that she was in the kitchen. You got up to brush your teeth and then went downstairs carefully not to make noise, finding the redhead cooking breakfast while murmuring a song softly. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had rosy cheeks. Carefully you stepped behind her and hugged her waist, resting your head in her back. She made a little surprise noise and then relaxed again
-"Good morning..."-she said softly
-"Good morning Lisa... Your bed is amazing, is way better than mine, and it smells so nice, just like you" - you whispered, voice full of sleep
Melissa went completely still in your arms.
The wooden spoon stopped moving. For one suspended second, the only sounds were the soft hiss of the stove and the faint pop of bread in the toaster. Then she exhaled. Slowly.
And relaxed back into you.
-“Good morning"- she murmured again, quieter this time. You smiled against the soft cotton of her shirt and tightened your arms just a little around her waist. She was warm from the kitchen heat, still carrying traces of her soap beneath the smell of toast and coffee. Dangerously cozy. Her ponytail brushed your cheek when she tilted her head back slightly-“You’re very affectionate before caffeine"-
Your sleepy laugh rumbled against her back-“Maybe your bed spoiled me"-Melissa made a tiny sound that could have been amusement or flustered panic. Probably both. You felt the blush before you saw it, heat rising beneath your cheek where it rested between her shoulder blades.
-“Careful"- she said softly- “You’re laying it on suspiciously thick for someone who stole my side of the bed and all the blankets"-You gasped in theatrical offense, lifting your head enough to look down at her
-“I did no such thing"-Melissa turned just enough to glance at you over her shoulder. The look she gave you was devastatingly unimpressed.
-“You were cocooned like a burrito"-she said
-“That sounds fabricated"-Her lips twitched.
-“And yet I still tucked you in"-That hit harder than it should have. You blinked. Melissa must have realized what she’d admitted, because her cheeks deepened instantly. She turned back to the stove with intense concentration, as if the eggs had suddenly become diplomatically sensitive.
Cute.
Very cute.
You rested your chin on her shoulder this time, shamelessly invading her space to peek at the pan.
-“Lisa"-She hummed-“That’s absurdly domestic of you"-Her hand tightened around the spoon.
-“Stop calling me domestic like it’s scandalous"-she said
-“It is"-you stated
-“It’s breakfast"-she said simply
-“You tucked me in"-you repeated and her stirring faltered.
-“That was…”-She hesitated. You smiled against her skin.
-“What?”-The red rose of her blush climbed all the way to her ears.
-“You looked cold"-The simplicity of it nearly ruined you. No flirtation. No game. Just quiet care, offered so naturally she probably hadn’t even thought twice about it.
Something warm and fragile unfolded inside your chest. Without thinking, you pressed a slow kiss to the side of her neck.
Melissa dropped the spoon. It clattered dramatically onto the stove. She made a strangled little sound and whipped around so fast you had to catch her by the waist to steady her.
Her face was crimson. Absolutely crimson. You stared for exactly half a second before dissolving into helpless laughter.
-“Oh my God"-you laughed still holding her waist against your body
-“You cannot just do that"- she hissed, scandalized.
-“Do what?”-you looked at her, grabbing a little tighter
-“You know exactly what"-she said, unaware of where your hands were
-“I kissed you, we have kissed before"-you reminded her
-“You kissed my neck"-You blinked innocently.
-“Yes"-Melissa looked genuinely betrayed by your audacity.
-“You’re impossible in the mornings"-she said between her teeth
-“Funny"-you murmured, stepping closer, pushing her lightly until her ass reached the counter-"I was about to say the same about you" - you held her waist and looked at her eyes. Her breath caught. You were close now. Very close. And she had nowhere to go. You had her between your body and the counter. Close enough to smell coffee on her breath and see the tiny freckles the sun had coaxed across the bridge of her nose.
Melissa’s eyes dropped to your mouth. Then rose again. The kitchen narrowed around you. The moment stretched. And you kissed her, no soft like the previous times, this was deeper, hungrier, neddier.
Melissa gasped against your mouth. Not from fear. From surprise. The kind that came when something long imagined finally became real and landed harder than fantasy had prepared you for. For half a heartbeat she froze, caught somewhere between instinct and disbelief.
Then she kissed you back. And God. It was nothing like the careful little pecks you’d traded before. Nothing like the teasing brushes of lips designed to fluster and retreat.
This was six months of restraint collapsing all at once. Every almost-touch in the hallway. Every late-night conversation over tea when neither of you wanted to say goodnight. Every glance held half a second too long across the kitchen table. Every quiet ache of wanting and waiting and wondering if the other felt it too. It was all there.
Melissa’s hands found your shirt in a desperate little clutch, fingers curling tight in the fabric as if she needed something solid to hold onto. Yours tightened at her waist, instinctively pulling her closer until there wasn’t room for breath between you.
She tasted faintly of coffee and sleep and something entirely, devastatingly Melissa.
The kiss deepened, slow only in the way hunger can be when it has been starved too long.
And then she made a sound. Soft. Helpless. The kind of sound that nearly unraveled you on the spot.
Your control cracked. One hand slipped higher along her side, slipping under her t-shirt, your thumb brushing her stomach. The contact made her shiver sharply, and suddenly Melissa was the one pressing forward, rising onto her toes, chasing you with a quiet urgency that made your pulse detonate.
She wanted this. Not politely. Not cautiously. Wanted it enough to forget herself.
The realization hit like lightning.
You kissed her harder slipping your tongue into her mouth, pressing your hips against hers, her nails went to the nape of your neck, scratching lightly.
Melissa’s breath hitched and she let out a soft moan into your mouth. Her fingers slid upward into your hair, tugging just enough to make heat shoot down your spine.
And there it was. That impossible point where thought disappeared completely. No teasing. No games. No wondering. Just her. Warm and trembling and kissing you like she’d spent months trying not to imagine exactly this.
-"OH MY GOD!"-Gaia's voice made you separate immediately earning a little complain noise from the redhead, for a moment you thought she was downstairs with you, but the scream came from upstairs. You looked at Melissa, gasping for air just like you, your hands were still on her hips and hers on your hair,
She stayed close. Forehead resting against yours, breaths coming quick and uneven. Her lips were flushed. Her cheeks burned crimson.
And her eyes… God. You had never seen her look at you like that before.
Open. A little stunned. And full of something so nakedly tender it made your chest ache.
For a moment neither of you spoke until you remembered your daughter's scream
-"Bebe everything Okey?"-you asked and Melissa let out a breathless little laugh, still dazed.
-"Ratón Pérez brought me a hundred dollars!!!" - Your daughter screamed from Melissa's room and you looked at the redhead
-"You gave her a hundred dollars?!!"-you yelled and whispered at the same time in surprise, without letting her hips go-"It’s a tooth, not a down payment" - you said
-“She lost it in a museum"-she was still breathing uneven. You blinked.
-“What?”-
-“She was very brave. During a culturally enriching event"-Melissa looked deeply serious-“That’s premium-tier compensation"-You stared at her for a second and then laughed.
-"She will grow so spoiled now"-you murmured and pecked her lips again.
-“Well"-she whispered with her lips full and a silly smile. You smiled, just as wrecked.
-“Well?”-She opened her eyes fully and looked at you with something halfway between wonder and accusation.
-“That was very unfair"-You brushed your nose lightly against hers.
-“How?”-
-“You’ve clearly been practicing kissing"-The laugh that escaped you was soft and helpless.
-“Lisa, if I’d had anyone to practice on, the pining would’ve been much less dramatic"-That made her smile. A real one. Bright enough to light the whole kitchen.
Then, because apparently she had not yet decided your sanity deserved mercy, she lifted one hand and traced her thumb slowly across your lower lip. The gesture was so intimate it almost stole your breath again.
-“I thought"- she said quietly-“that if we ever did this…”-She hesitated. Color deepened in her face. You waited. Melissa’s lashes lowered-“I thought I’d be more nervous.”-
Your hand gentled at her waist-“Are you?”-She thought about it. Then looked up and smiled, soft and sure and so beautiful it hurt.
-“No"-The word settled warmly between you. A promise disguised as an answer. And before you could say anything, before the moment could tip into too much honesty too fast, a sleepy little voice drifted from upstairs
-“Why isss there so much kissing and no breakfast?”-You both jolted apart so fast it was almost athletic.
Gaia appeared halfway down the stairs, hair wild, clutching her teddy bear and the hundred dollar bill on her hand, wearing exactly one sock and the expression of a tiny exhausted landlord disappointed in her tenants. She squinted at the two of you.
Then at Melissa’s thoroughly kiss-swollen mouth. Then at your equally incriminating face. A slow grin spread across hers and shuffled the rest of the way downstairs in search of toast
-"We are going to be late for school" - your daughter grabbed butter to put on her toast looking at Melissa and sat at the table-"And you are the teacher..."-The kitchen went dead silent. Melissa froze halfway to the toaster.
You were still leaning against the counter, thoroughly kissed and thoroughly disheveled. And Gaia, apparently unaware she had just detonated the last remaining fragments of adult dignity in the room, calmly buttered her toast with the focus of a tiny surgeon. Then she looked up again. At Melissa. Waiting.
The redhead blinked once. Twice.
And then, with the slow horror of a woman remembering every professional responsibility she had spectacularly neglected in the last fifteen minutes, her face drained of color.
-“Oh my God"-You bit your lip.
Gaia took a very deliberate bite of toast-“You’re late"-Melissa’s head snapped toward the stove clock. The sound she made could only be described as pure existential collapse.
-“No no no no no"-She flew into motion. Absolute chaos. The woman who usually moved through mornings with elegant efficiency was suddenly everywhere at once, darting between counters, shoving plates together, nearly dropping the orange juice, muttering increasingly distressed fragments under her breath-“How is it seven -thirty? Why is it seven-thirty? School starts in twenty minutes, why is time a construct—”-You folded your arms and watched, smiling helplessly.
Gaia climbed better onto her chair and kept eating with perfect serenity. Apparently this was excellent entertainment.
Melissa spun toward you, scandalized-“Why are you just standing there?”-You blinked innocently.
-“I’m appreciating your leadership under pressure"-Her jaw dropped. Then narrowed.
-“This is your fault"-she pointed at you
-“My fault?”-you lifted an eyebrow
-“Yes"-she said with red swollen lips, you licked yours looking at her
-“You kissed me back"-you said
-“That is irrelevant to logistics!”-You laughed. That did not improve her mood. Melissa pointed at you like an outraged prosecutor.
-“You. Shoes. Now"-Then she pointed at Gaia-“You. Socks. Both feet"-Gaia looked down at her single sock. Thought about it. Then calmly took another bite of toast. Melissa made a noise of such profound frustration that you nearly doubled over.
-“Lisa..."-you said gently, crossing the kitchen toward her. She was still flustered, cheeks pink, hair slipping loose from her ponytail, every inch of her adorably unraveling. God, she was beautiful like this. You reached up and caught the strand of hair falling across her face, tucking it behind her ear. Melissa stilled instantly. Her breath hitched-“There"- you said softly.
The room quieted around you. Just for a second. Melissa looked up at you, still pink and breathless and far too easy to kiss again.
You smiled. Then leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. Professional. Efficient. A strategic morale boost.
Her eyes widened. You stepped back before she could recover.
-“Now"-you said lightly-“go be terrifyingly competent. I’ll get Gaia ready"-Melissa stared at you for one stunned heartbeat. Then, slowly, she narrowed her eyes.
-“You’re insufferable"-she murmured and leaned in, caught your collar, and kissed you again.
Fast. Sharp. Enough to leave you blinking when she pulled away. Then she turned on her heel and marched upstairs to finish getting dressed like she hadn’t just short-circuited your entire nervous system. You stared after her. Gaia crunched toast thoughtfully. Then she nodded toward the stairs with deep approval.
-“She’s sasssy"- You looked at your daughter. Then laughed.
-“She really is"-you replied. Gaia smiled around another bite.
-“Good. You need someone who can handle your drama, Mama"-And with that devastatingly accurate observation, she hopped down from her chair and marched off to find her second sock, leaving you alone in the kitchen to wonder exactly when your six-year-old had become the wisest person in the house.
18+ mdni, mommy kink, praise kink, bathroom sex, accidental voyeurism, plot? what plot? (pwp), no y/n, pet names, older woman younger girl, light dom/sub, fingering
a/n sorry in advance, i needed to get this off of my mind (part 2 now up!)
you blamed melissa and her old italian doors that didn’t close properly. or you blamed just melissa, for the way things turned out tonight.
the night had started out swell. a small gathering at melissa’s place, you arriving significantly later than the others to not risk being alone with the redhead. ava constantly eyeing you to make a move on mel. janine and gregory shamelessly flirting. jacob’s clumsiness. mr. johnson telling barbara stories that you tried so hard to concentrate on but nothing worked. she was there, with all her glory, swaying around in the comfort of her home and more radiant than ever.
how was it possible? the effect she had on you, her casual remarks that you were sure pre-calculated to drive you insane. ava kept pushing, putting ideas in your head that swam in dangerous waters. ideas about how melissa was down, just like you. ideas that led you to say careless things.
and melissa was not keeping her distance, sitting especially closer to you on her huge couch, letting your thighs touch occasionally. the bumping of a knee, her scent blinding you and she would smirk over, as if you could take your eyes off of her. and the shirt she was wearing… ugh. you wondered about her bra underneath. was it laced? something deep in color, that would pop against her glowy skin. something that barely covered anything and maybe if she moved around too much a nipple would tug out of the fabric and- no. bad though. bad thought.
but it wasn’t like melissa’s presence was helping. the way she kept whispering into your ear all the while barb talked about her night out with gerald. and melissa would lean over, “what do you think hon’? you figure gerald treats her right in the bedroom?” your face had heated up instantly, knocking the air out of your lungs. then as if it wasn’t enough she had placed a hand on your thigh, squeezing gently. you struggled to breath, trying hard to look at barbara. but the words had spilled out of your mouth in an instant.
“you have nice fingers.” you told her and only her, voice so low against her ear. was she blushing? or was it just the light hitting her features? “thanks hon,” she said confidently but then murmured quietly,
“i’d like ‘em better in you.”
“what?”
“what?”
melissa pretended like she didn’t say a thing. but you heard her, you did. so now you were excusing yourself off to the bathroom. melissa gave you a wink as you lifted off the couch and scurried upstairs, to the bathroom.
࿐ ࿔*:・゚
you hurriedly pushed the door behind yourself, failing to notice the slight gap left ajar. your hands found the edge of the sink, looking up to see your face in the mirror. you looked truly disheveled, your hair a mess. your were gripping the ceramic so hard that your knuckles hurt. you huffed out a breath and pushed away, letting your back rest against the wall. blissfully unaware of the slight gap between the door. you needed her, desperately, more than the blood in your veins, the air in your lungs. and no matter how hard you tried, nothing worked.
you came here to collect yourself, not to think about melissa’s beautiful tits any further. you whined out loud, hitting your head at the wall repeatedly. you rubbed your thighs together with a whimper and felt yourself get wetter by the second. if only she were here right now, the things you would let her do to you. you trailed a single hand down your top, grazing your nipples through your shirt and unbuttoning your pants. just a little bit, you thought. it wouldn’t hurt.
your fingers found your clit, slipping under your panties and you let out a moan. fuck. you rubbed the bud a little harder. gathering your wetness and pressing as your mind wandered to her. her hair pulled up in a ponytail, bangs framing her face. her neck, the skin you would beg to touch. then to her cleavage, her perfect breasts swaying. “unghh- mel… need you-” you realized the words leaving your mouth a little too late. your eyes were still closed and you slipped two fingers in your soaking cunt, spreading your legs from where you stood.
melissa had looked so beautiful tonight and now you were in her bathroom rubbing your clit. her fingers had gripped your thigh and now you had two of your own in your mouth to shush out the whimpers and the dirty words. “i’d like them better in you.” she had said and now your head was tilting back, eyes shut as you swallowed your moans in the narrow space. you kept pumping in your wetness, trying to grind on your clit but it wasn’t working. you were so riled up but nothing was helping. you groaned out loudly and slipped your fingers out with visible annoyance. but then your eyes trailed open and you caught sight of the slightly open door. and behind it stood in the darkness… melissa. with a huge smirk on her lips.
shit. shit. shit.
you scrambled to close the door fully, leaning against it and embarrassed was not a word strong enough to describe how you felt. how long was she standing there? did she see you-? did she hear? did- ugh. it was of no use to stand here, propped up by the door inside melissa schemmenti’s bathroom with your fingers still wet and the ghost of her name still hanging off of your lips. so you straightened up, buttoned your pants and opened the door. you had thought she’d be gone by now.
but no, melissa was still standing there, with the same grin. but now there was a change to the way she held herself, the way her eyes glinted with lust. like she could eat you alive and was barely restraining herself. you tried to open your mouth for her to move over but she pushed you back in the small room. she locked the door with a hurry and pressed your back to the same wall you were just against.
she doesn’t kiss you, lets her breath blow on your lips. you want to close the distance this very second. but you feel her body, pressing against you with insistence, her hands don’t touch you just yet. she lets them hang by her sides as she corners you against the wall. you can’t stand it, your heart straining in your chest and her cleavage is on full display right before your eyes. you need to touch her.
“how long have you been standing there?” you ask, a dare in your words. “hmmm… let me think.” she speaks and her voice is so rough, so raspy your knees buckle. so she pushes a single leg between your thighs and lets you grind on it. you try not to moan but she hasn’t even touched you yet. she continues her sentence, “somewhere between ‘mel- need you mommy’… and now.” shit. did you let that slip? now she knows how fucked up of a mind you have. you think she will leave, keep you all hot and horny in the confinement of her bathroom. you’re wrong, terribly.
instead she invades your space further and kisses you. it’s rough, urgent, filled with want, need. she lets her lipstick smear all over your mouth. you grab her by the waist, by her thighs, any place your hands reach. it’s desperate in all the ways you need her. she pushes her thigh between your legs even further and you hump on it, hanging onto any friction she gives and you moan, deeply into her mouth. she hums in return, your voices swallowing each other, tongues tangling and her spit mixes with yours. you need her shirt off. right now. but you don’t know how she would feel. if she would want to keep going.
your hands play with the hem of her shirt, a burgundy one that’s too well fitting. she chuckles in that breathy voice again and you would let her do anything, anything she wants. and when she speaks, you’re sure she is going to be your end. “are you sure about this sweetheart?” she asks and you will get on your knees and beg if it comes to that. you nod, biting your lip. “darling i’m old enough to be your mother.” you moan at that. “it doesn’t matter mel. i want you i need-” you’re so needy as you pull down the hem of her shirt once again. “aww pretty girl, you want to see my tits?” she smirks, giving in a little. you nod frantically and when she tugs it off you can’t help the drool slipping out of the side of your mouth. she has a lace edged black bra that covers her breasts, barely. it’s like all of your late night fantasies coming true. except she’s way more beautiful in real life.
you hear melissa chuckle. she holds your chin up with one hand and your mouth parts. she licks her lips and leans in further. “baby we need to stop this while i can still control myself.” her voice so raspy, laced with her control that is slipping away and you can see it in the way she holds herself. her exposed chest and neck rising up and down with every breath and you just want to suck one of her nipples into your mouth. you need her to keep going. “please, please mel i need you- i need you so bad-” and she grins further, squeezing your jaw harder and you struggle to breath. “you’re so cute when you beg pretty girl.” she unbuttons your jeans with one hand, keeping the other against your throat now.
“i’m gonna help you with that little problem of yours now sweetheart.” she gestures towards your crotch and if only she knew how wet you are. “then you’re gonna make mommy come. how does that sound sweetie, hmm?” she keeps squeezing your throat and you moan out, looking at her forest green eyes. you nod but that’s not enough. “words baby. i need to hear you.”
“yes- yes please touch me-” you gasp and your hands are digging at the side of her hips now. she tsks quietly as she unbuttons your jeans fully. “such a needy girl. now take them off.” she says, tugging at your pants. you comply quickly, sliding the material down your legs and shove it on the floor. you look up at her now, eyes begging. she brings her hand forward and cups your sex through the fabric of your panties. her eyes widen when she realizes how wet you are, basically dripping and moaning and she hasn’t made any real contact. “fuck- you’re so wet hon’. that all for me?” you whimper and nod frantically, “yes, yes all for you mommy.”
she chuckles wickedly and pulls your panties to the side. you don’t know where to put your hands and melissa closes the distance between your lips once again. she licks your bottom lip as her fingers rub on your clit. her other hand pulling the hair at the base of your neck. it strains lightly and you moan into her mouth. the feeling of her fingers now teasing your entrance, her lips ghosting over your face, her breath against your cheek. it’s all too much.
you spread your legs wider and plead, “please- mel-” your voice so desperate. she silences you with a kiss, granting her tongue access into your mouth and she slips a finger in, finally. “spread them wider baby.” she whispers into your mouth, you can die this very second. you let one of your legs wrap around her body, holding it up and melissa smiles into the kiss. she adds in a second finger and they curl, hitting just the spot and you can’t help the loud moan escaping your lips. “sshhh you gotta be quiet for me now sweetie. it might be my house but we can’t afford a scandal now can we?” she teases you, even now when she’s burried deep inside and you laugh, a half-moan. “you know ava will never stop talking about it right?” and she doesn’t even slow down her motions, pumping in and out of your pussy while you whimpered for her in her small bathroom, pressed against the wall.
melissa’s fingers works in you and you just can’t keep your hands off of her anymore. both of them trailing up mel’s sides and up at her chest to grab at her breasts. melissa chuckles, “it’s okay hon’, you can touch them.” you groan and it turns into a whimper when the palm of melissa’s hand finds your clit. you try to ride her fingers put she’s got you pinned. so you keep your mind on her breasts instead. and they’re so close to your face, you free a nipple from the fabric, watching it harden with the cool air. you lower your head and suck it into your mouth, melissa’s fingers halt for a single second, you can feel her jaw open, resting on the top of your head. and you’re so close to her you can practically hear her heart beat.
you bite down on her nipple now and she moans, curling her fingers deeper in you. you’re getting closer, the tight nerves coiling in your belly and you can feel it. you leave bite marks all over her chest now, grasping, kneading the soft skin and you can feel her breath in your veins. melissa’s palm keeps pressing against your pounding clit and one, two, three more strokes in your wetness and you’re coming. pure pleasure taking over as you moan against melissa’s cleavage. she slows down her fingers, gently extracting them and when her palm nudges your clit you buck, still sensitive from your lingering orgasm.
you keep your spot on her chest and lay a cheek on top of one of her tits, looking up to meet her green eyes, glinting. melissa’s fingers tangle in your hair and she smiles at your dumb expression. your lips and chin covered with her dark red lipstick, red marks blooming against her own chest and she trails her thumb against your bottom lip. “how do you like my fingers now baby?” she asks you, voice sultry and you have to bite your lips. “much better.” you say and she pushes her wet fingers through your lips. you look up at her with innocent eyes, as if you’re not naked from the bottom half. and you suck on her fingers, cleaning them up, hollowing out your cheeks.
her eyes widen and you can see the want in her eyes. the need to have you, claim you further. “knees. now.” she orders and you immediately lower yourself onto the floor. the cold concrete hits your knees but it doesn’t matter. what matters is that melissa is calling you a good girl now and you can’t even help yourself when you thighs squeeze. “already so needy for me huh?” she asks, noticing your motion. she eyes towards her own pants, silently urging you to take them off. you make quick work, taking them off alongside her panties. and she just stands there, with all her glory, eyes looking down at you and you can feel your throat go dry at the sight of her. her wetness shining through her dark curls at the apex of her thighs, the stretch marks covering the side of her thighs and you hold onto them. your fingers itching onto her and she grabs you by the hair. “make me feel good and then we will think about it baby.” she says all the while guiding your face towards her dripping pussy.
and you feast. your lips make instant contact with her perked up clit and melissa spreads her legs further. you grab onto her thighs with force as your tongue spreads her folds, ravishing her taste and melissa raises one of her legs to rest it on your shoulder. the motion cages your head between her and the wall and it’s everything. you can suffocate in between her thighs and still be thankful. melissa can’t stop moaning as you suck onto her folds and your tongue teases her entrance. “oh, good girl.” she whimpers, holding onto your head, “keep going baby. just like that- fuck-” she starts grinding on your face and you let her use your tongue however way she likes. she’s getting closer by the second, you know it and you let your nose brush her clit now. she curses loudly at that, something in italian.
you switch between licks of your tongue through her entrance to sucking on her clit, testing the water. you want to put your fingers in her but if you take your hands away from her thick thighs there is a high chance mel would fall. so you keep going, stroking your fingers up and down her legs best as you can, hoping you’re making her feel good, fervently sucking at her clit and the quenching noises that come out are loud. on top of you you can see melissa’s other hand that is not holding your head play with her own nipples. you moan at the sight and the vibrations trail up her spine. she whimpers, “oh hon’- mhhm- don’t stop please-” and you can’t even think about it.
it takes a few more laps of your tongue against her wet pussy until she comes with a muffled out scream of your name. you ride her through it, licking lightly against her, engraving her sweet taste in your mind. then she pushes your head away lightly and you help her put her leg back down. “fuck-” she huffs, “i haven’t done anything this crazy in years tesoro- come up here.” and she pulls you up to her, leaning into your body once again. you kiss her hard, letting her taste herself on your mouth and she hums.
“been such a good girl for me, huh hon’?” she teases you. you smile at her cutely, whatever you say beautiful. you’re worried about this being a one time thing until melissa grabs you by the waist, pecking your lips one last time and saying, “now get dressed baby girl, we have people waiting downstairs to be sent out the house…” she gives you a wicked grin, “because i’m not letting you leave my bed tonight- or walk in the morning.”
you can feel your lungs squeeze with excitement with the implications her words hold.
࿐ ࿔*:・゚
the two of you walk downstairs with mel’s hand wrapped around your waist. the first thing you hear is ava whopping in excitement. “damn girl i knew you were down bad but this is bad.” she says once you’re by her side, wiping at the still visible lipstick stains next to your lips and jaw. melissa made sure there was still some left there, just for good measure. and just cause she liked the way it sat against your skin.
you look over to her now, sitting next to barbara who looked very much pleased about the situation too. melissa gives you a devilish smirk that reminds you too much of the one she just gave behind closed doors and you know that you’re in for a long night.
࿐ ࿔*:・゚
i kept accidentally changing tenses but this isn’t grammar class soo… you could say i kept it postmodern
Summary:Melissa and you continued your slow burn and teasing, so slow that almost everyone, your daughter, Bárbara and all the teachers at school, decided to step in, spraying fuel in every chance they got to see if your slow burn became a fire of passion.
AN:I'm thinking of doing part 3,but I'm not sure if I already hit the limit with this one or if you would like part 3,let me know 😅
Thanks for all the sweet comments and support on the previous one, it definitely made me write faster 😂💕
Melissa has spent the whole night pretending she was totally fine, absolutely not waiting like a Victorian wife whose husband has gone to sea.
She had told herself that at least fourteen times over the last two hours. She was simply… awake...
On the couch...
Still fully dressed...
With the television on mute and a stack of ungraded spelling tests in her lap she had not looked at once.
That was not waiting! That was multi-tasking. Efficient, practical multitasking.
If Barbara were here, she would have laughed in Melissa’s face.
The apartment was quiet without Gaia there. Too quiet. Melissa had not realized how much of the house’s warmth came from the little sounds the two of you made. Your footsteps crossing the kitchen. Your soft humming while washing dishes. Gaia’s chatter floating from her room.
Without it, the place felt strange. Temporary. Like it was holding its breath.
Melissa checked the clock. Again.
10:47.
Then immediately scowled at herself. You were at a professional dinner, not being held hostage.
For all she knew, you were having a wonderful time, smiling that soft smile across a white tablecloth while some polished hospital director realized how lucky they’d be to hire you.
And if she or he happened to be handsome, charming, and the kind of man who noticed your laugh and wanted to hear it again, well. That would be—
The front door opened.
Melissa sat bolt upright so fast she nearly launched the spelling tests across the room.
You stepped inside, cheeks pink from the cold, your coat slipping from one shoulder as you fumbled to close the door behind you. And you were smiling. Really smiling. The kind that reached your eyes and made them shine.
Melissa’s chest tightened. Good interview, then.
That should have relieved her completely.
Instead, the ugly little voice in her head whispered: Or good date.
Then your eyes landed on her and your smile widened.
-“You waited up"-Not a question. Something warm and pleased flickered across your face.
-“I was awake"- Melissa immediately crossed her arms. You laughed softly as you slipped off your shoes.
-“Sure"-The sound curled through her chest like steam. She hated how much she liked making you laugh.
-“Well?”-she asked, trying for casual and missing by several emotional miles-“How’d it go?”-You stared at her for half a second. Then your face broke open completely. That bright, disbelieving joy people wore only when life had surprised them by being kind.
-“I got it"-Melissa froze. And then she was moving before she could think. She crossed the room in three quick steps and pulled you into a hug. Hard enough that your breath caught. The force of it startled both of you.
Melissa was not a spontaneous hugger. She barely tolerated side-hugs from Jacob. But you fit against her like she’d been reaching for this exact shape for months. Warm. Solid. Real.
You made the smallest surprised sound before your arms came around her automatically.
And then you were hugging back. Tight. Melissa could feel your smile against her shoulder.
-“You got it?” - she repeated, her voice muffled against your hair. You laughed, breathless and bright.
-“I got it"- The joy in your voice hit her straight in the heart. She pulled back just enough to look at you. You were beaming. Actually glowing.
And Melissa thought, with sudden painful clarity, that she would do almost anything to keep seeing that look on your face.
-“It’s full-time”-you said, words tumbling out now-"Benefits, regular hours, enough to finally save again, and they loved my proposal for specialized meal plans for the kids in recovery and...”-Melissa was smiling so hard her cheeks hurt-"...we will even have medical and dental cover!"-you yelled exited
-“That’s incredible"-You laughed again, shaking your head like you still didn’t believe it.
-“I kept waiting for them to change their minds"-you confessed
-“They’d be idiots to"-The words came out sharp with certainty. Your smile faltered. Softened. You looked at her for a beat too long. Melissa’s pulse stumbled.
-“You always say things like that”-you said quietly
-“Like what?”-she frowned softly
-“Like you believe in me"-The room went still. Melissa’s throat tightened unexpectedly, because of course she believed in you, how could she not? You were the strongest person she had ever met. You had built warmth out of almost nothing. Made joy for Gaia out of struggle. Walked through humiliation and uncertainty and still somehow stayed gentle. Believing in you was the easiest thing Melissa had ever done.
She swallowed.
-“Well"-she said, suddenly unable to meet your eyes-“someone has to be the voice of reason around here"-You laughed under your breath.
Then, before Melissa could prepare herself, your hand lifted and settled lightly against her cheek. The touch was feather-soft. Intentional. Melissa stopped breathing.
-“Thank you"- you whispered-"You are very sweet" - your voice was soft, full of feelings behind it. Her heart slammed against her ribs. You were so close. Close enough that she could feel your warmth, smell your perfume faded now into something softer and wholly yours. Her eyes dropped to your mouth before she could stop them. And when she looked back up, your breathing had changed. A tiny hitch. Your eyes darkened slightly. Melissa’s pulse roared. The space between you felt charged. One inch. Half an inch. If either of you leaned...
Then your phone rang.
You jumped apart so fast it was honestly embarrassing. Gaia’s name flashed across the screen. For one stunned second, neither of you moved. Then you grabbed the phone, breathless and pink-cheeked.
-"Ho-hola bebé" - Melissa stood frozen in the middle of the living room, every nerve ending screaming.From the phone came Gaia’s delighted little voice
-“Did you kiss Miss Melissa yet?”-You closed your eyes. Melissa made a strangled noise that might actually have been her soul leaving her body. And Gaia, tiny menace that she was, cackled so loudly her friend’s mother could be heard laughing in the background.
Melissa decided, then and there, that your daughter was absolutely Ava's spiritual successor. And she was in very serious trouble.
While you answered the phone, your hand reached behind you automatically. Searching. Finding. Your fingers slipped around Melissa’s hand and held on, as naturally as if you had done it a thousand times before. Melissa’s entire body went rigid. Heat rushed up her neck so fast it was almost painful.
You didn’t seem to notice. Or if you did, you gave no sign. You were too busy balancing the phone between your shoulder and cheek, your thumb absently brushing over Melissa’s knuckles as Gaia’s tiny voice chirped through the speaker.
-“Weren’t you supposed to be asleep at this hour?”- you asked, slipping effortlessly into your best mom voice. The kind Melissa had heard before, warm but gently firm, threaded with a love so obvious it made something ache pleasantly in her chest.
Gaia giggled.
-“I just wanted to say goodnight"-Even without seeing her, you clearly knew that expression. The giant brown eyes. The exaggerated pout. You smiled despite yourself.
-“Manipulative"-you murmured
-“That’s a big word"-she replied
-“It means you’re trouble"-you explained
-“I learned from you"-your daughter said immediately. Melissa snorted. You rolled your eyes, laughter soft in your voice.
-“Goodnight, bebé. Te amo"-you replied smiling
-“Te amo too"-Gaia said softly. Then, louder-“Goodnight, Miss Melissa!”-Melissa startled, still very much short-circuiting from your hand wrapped around hers.
-“Uh… goodnight, kid"-Gaia laughed triumphantly and hung up.
The apartment fell quiet again. And suddenly, with no tiny voice filling the space, the reality of what was happening settled over both of you. You turned back toward Melissa. Still holding her hand. The movement pulled her half a step closer. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of your body through the thin space between you. Close enough that if either of you leaned in, there would be no pretending anymore.
Your eyes dropped. To your joined hands. And widened slightly.
-“Oh"-Melissa’s pulse immediately attempted escape. She should let go. You should let go. One of you should absolutely, definitely let go. Neither of you moved. A soft flush rose in your cheeks. Melissa was certain she had never seen anything more dangerous.
Then you looked up, and there was something shyly amused in your expression. Like you were embarrassed. But not unhappy.
-“So…”- you said, your voice suddenly softer than before. Melissa stared at your mouth. Then violently redirected her attention to your eyes
-“Yeah?”-Your fingers tightened just slightly around hers. A tiny unconscious squeeze.
-“Do you want to watch a movie?"-You offered. Melissa’s brain, which had been functioning at roughly eight percent capacity, blue-screened completely.
A movie.
Right.
A normal roommate thing.
People watched movies all the time.
Without obsessively noticing how warm the other person’s hand was.
Without wondering what their lips would feel like.
Totally normal.
-“Sure"-she said, and was quietly horrified by how breathless she sounded. Your smile deepened. Still soft. Still pink-cheeked. Still not letting go.
-“Okay"-you answered. Neither of you moved.
Melissa’s practical brain screamed GO TO THE COUCH, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT.
Instead, she stood there frozen while your thumb brushed once more across the back of her hand.
And then, because apparently the universe had decided she had suffered enough dignity for one night, you gave her hand a tiny tug toward the couch. Melissa followed instantly. Like a lost cause. You glanced back over your shoulder and caught her obeying without hesitation. Your smile turned brighter. Teasing.
-“Oh my God"-Melissa muttered.
-“What?”-pretending innocence
-“You’re enjoying this"-she narrowed her eyes. You laughed softly.
-“Maybe a little"-You confessed. That sound wrapped around Melissa’s ribs and squeezed.
Because there was something different in it tonight. Lighter. Braver.
As if whatever had almost happened before Gaia’s interruption had changed something between you.
You reached the couch and finally let go to grab the remote. The sudden loss of contact felt ridiculous in how immediate it was.
Melissa stared accusingly at her now-empty hand. Her fingers actually missed yours. This was getting medically concerning.
-“What do you want to watch?”-you asked, settling beside her. Close enough that your thigh pressed lightly against hers. Melissa forgot every movie ever watched. You noticed her staring and smiled.
-“Melissa?”-you asked. She swallowed.
-“Yep?"-Your smile widened. And then, with impossible casualness, you leaned into her side and rested your head lightly against her shoulder. Melissa stopped breathing. Again.
-“Oh" - you murmured, already getting comfortable-"And just so you know…”-
-“Know what?”- Her voice came out embarrassingly thin. You tilted your face just enough for her to catch the tiny smile curving your lips.
-“You were right" - you smiled more
-“About what?”-she lifted her eyebrow
-“I did want you to think I looked nice tonight”-Melissa’s soul immediately left her body and ascended into the Philadelphia night sky. And beside her, very pleased with yourself, you pressed play, while Melissa internally combusted trying to process how casually you climbed into her personal space like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Melissa did not absorb a single second of the movie. Not one. She couldn’t have told anyone the title, the genre, or whether there had been actual dialogue at all. For all she knew, the television was just projecting abstract shapes and emotionally charged background music.
Her entire awareness had narrowed to one impossible fact: You were tucked against her side. Your hair smelled faintly like jasmine and whatever shampoo you used, something soft and warm that made Melissa’s brain feel like it had been wrapped in static.
And your hand kept slipping into hers so naturally that it was driving her insane. Not tentative. Not shy. Just absentmindedly familiar, as if this were something the two of you had done every night for years. As if your fingers already knew where they belonged.
Melissa’s pulse had not dropped below catastrophic levels once.
Halfway through the movie, you shifted suddenly and sat up-“I have to pee"-you whisperd and Melissa nearly jumped out of her skin. The words were so ordinary, so absurdly normal after the emotional warfare currently happening in her chest, that her brain short-circuited.
-“Okay”-she said, much too quickly. You smiled, clearly amused by her stiffness.
-“Relax, Lisa. I’ll be back"-your voice was lower than usual but not a whisper, completely relaxed.
"Lisa"
Melissa froze. No one called her Lisa. Maybe Mel... But Lisa? No, not unless they had known her for years, or loved her enough to earn it.
Hearing it in your voice, soft and thoughtless and affectionate, did dangerous things to her heartbeat. Before she could process any of that, you disappeared down the hallway.
Melissa sat motionless for exactly three seconds. Then she shot upright and started pacing.
-“Oh my God"-Her whisper came out strangled. This was absurd. You were her roommate. A very beautiful, very kind, catastrophically warm roommate who had apparently decided Melissa’s personal space was optional.
This was not sustainable. Barbara would smell the yearning on her from three zip codes away.
Melissa dragged both hands down her face and exhaled sharply. She needed to calm down. Act normal. Be normal. Simple.
So naturally, she panic-made popcorn.
By the time the microwave beeped, she had almost convinced herself she was back in control.
Then you came back. And every coherent thought immediately abandoned ship.
You had changed into her old oversized Eagles t-shirt. The one that had gotten mixed into your laundry weeks ago and that you had sheepishly admitted was “accidentally very comfortable.” Melissa had told you to keep it.
At the time, it had felt like no big deal.
Now, seeing it hanging loose over your frame, brushing the tops of your bare thighs, your glasses sliding slightly down your nose, your hair messy from retying it, your feet bare against the hardwood floor…
Melissa nearly dropped the popcorn bowl.
You somehow looked even more beautiful like this. Not dressed up and glowing under restaurant lights.
Just soft.
Real.
Home.
And that was infinitely worse.
You noticed her staring and raised an eyebrow-“What?”-Melissa’s survival instincts kicked in
-“Put on pants"-she pretended to frown. You looked down at yourself. Then back at her, deeply offended.
-“This is a shirt"-you pointed at yourself
-“Exactly"-she raised an eyebrow
-“It covers everything"-you pointed at your thighs and the mouth of the redhead went immediately dry when she followed your finger
-“It absolutely does not"-she cleared her throat. You grinned. The slow, teasing kind that made Melissa’s stomach drop.
-“You’re flustered"-you lifted an eyebrow smiling, too amused with yourself
-“I’m Italian"-Melissa snapped-“This is just my face"-That made you laugh. God, that laugh. It should honestly come with a warning label.
Still smiling, you crossed the room and settled back onto the couch beside her.
Close. Then closer. And before Melissa could prepare herself, you curled into her side, resting your head just beneath her shoulder, almost against her chest.
Melissa went rigid. Her entire body locked like she’d been suddenly taxidermied. She had no idea what to do with her hands. One hovered awkwardly over the popcorn bowl. The other remained trapped at her side like it had forgotten how elbows worked. She stole a handful of popcorn just to feel useful.
Beside her, you huffed a quiet laugh.
-“Relax, Lisa"- you whispered. The name melted through her all over again-“It’s just a movie"-Melissa blinked rapidly at the screen, where someone might have been getting murdered or married or solving taxes. Impossible to tell.
Then your hand found hers. Slowly, gently, you guided it behind you. Pressing her palm against the softness of your back through the thin cotton of her shirt.
You shifted closer with a quiet sigh, settling comfortably against her chest like this was the most natural place in the world to be.
Melissa forgot how oxygen worked. Your heartbeat wasn’t loud enough to hear. But yours could absolutely hear hers. Fast and wild and humiliatingly obvious. For one awful second she was certain you’d comment on it.
Instead, you relaxed deeper into her touch. Trusting. Warm. Safe.
Melissa’s fingers twitched uncertainly against your back. Then, cautiously, she let her hand rest there. The tension slowly left your shoulders. A tiny pleased hum escaped you. That sound hit Melissa like a freight train.
And then, to finish her off completely, you murmured sleepily-“There you go"-As if she was the one being soothed.
Melissa stared blankly at the television.
Her hand remained frozen against your back, her whole body buzzing with impossible tenderness. And somewhere beneath the panic, beneath the yearning and the confusion and the sharp terrifying hope of it all, one thought landed with quiet certainty: This felt right. Dangerously, beautifully right.
A few minutes later your breathing softened. Evened out. You had fallen asleep against her. Melissa looked down carefully. Your glasses had slipped crookedly across your nose, your mouth parted slightly in sleep, your hand still loosely tangled with hers. Her chest ached. Not painfully. Just full. Too full.
Very, very gently, she reached up and nudged your glasses off. You stirred just enough to mumble something sleepy and impossible to understand. Then your face tucked instinctively closer against her chest.
Melissa’s entire soul left her body.
And from there, she knew with absolute certainty: She was never recovering from this. Not even a little.
When you woke up the next day, you were cuddle up in the couch, under a warm blanket, when you stretched you noticed the warmth in all the couch, even in the places where your body wasn't reaching, like if she were sleeping by your side all night until recently.
The smell of toast made you look to the kitchen, where the redhead was making breakfast with the same clothes as the day before, she didn't got up to change in the whole night. She could feel you looking, and her head turned to the couch, where your sleepy face was peaking
-"Good morning sleppy head" - she said, a smile plastered on her face, like if she had the best sleep of her life, and the distance from you made her regain her confidence-"We have field trip today" - she said and you blinked a few times, putting on your glasses and yawning. Her perfume was on your clothes and nose, mixing with the smell of toast
-"I'm a chaperone" - you mumbled
-"Yes you are... Come here, get some breakfast. Do you want bacon on your grilled cheese? I'm also making our launches for the trip..."- she said leaving a cup of coffee on the breakfast table just the way you liked it. The moment seemed oddly familiar, like if you did this every morning.
-"Yes please" - you got up from the couch stretching, the t-shirt raised a little exposing your thighs more. Melissa wasn't able to avoid it, her eyes dipped for half a second. Just long enough to catch the soft stretch of your thighs as the oversized shirt rode higher when you lifted your arms above your head.
Then she snapped her gaze back to the frying pan with the kind of violent self-control usually reserved for bomb defusal.
Absolutely not.
It was eight in the morning.
There was coffee brewing, toast popping, and approximately a whole elementary school full of students waiting to be herded through the Franklin Institute in three hours.
This was not the time to have a nervous breakdown over your legs.
Behind her, she heard your soft footsteps crossing the kitchen. Then your chair scraped lightly against the floor as you sat at the table.
Melissa kept her focus aggressively fixed on the grilled cheese. She could feel your eyes on her. Warm and quiet and somehow impossible to ignore.
-“You know"-your sleepy voice said, still rough around the edges from waking up- “most people just say good morning"-
Melissa flipped the sandwich with unnecessary force-“I did say good morning"-she mumbled
-“No, you said good morning sleepyhead in your teacher voice"-you replied
-“That is my normal voice"-
-“It’s your ‘I am barely tolerating your existence but in a charming educational way’ voice"-Melissa turned just enough to level a look at you. You were smiling into your coffee. Hair still messy from sleep, glasses slightly crooked, her Eagles shirt slipping off one shoulder. It should honestly have been illegal to look that soft before nine a.m.
-“I am making you breakfast” - Melissa informed you.
-“That’s true"-you noded
-“And coffee"-she added. You lifted the mug.
-“Perfectly the way I like it"-Your smile widened-“So basically this is wife behavior"-Melissa nearly dropped the spatula.
You laughed immediately, bright and delighted, and Melissa realized with horror that you had absolutely done that on purpose.
-“You did that just to upset me"- She folded her harms, you took another slow sip of coffee, eyes sparkling over the rim.
-“Maybe"-you blinked. Melissa stared at you. Really stared. At the teasing little curve of your mouth. At the way sleep still softened your face. At how comfortable you looked here, in her kitchen, drinking coffee she had made for you like this had been your shared routine forever.
Something inside her chest gave a dangerous little ache.
Because the terrifying part was not that the image felt intimate. It was that it felt normal. Like this was exactly how mornings should look.
You caught her staring. This time, neither of you looked away. The kitchen went still. Only the low hiss of the pan and the soft hum of the coffee maker filled the space between you.
Your expression shifted first. The teasing warmth softened into something quieter. Something thoughtful. Melissa’s pulse kicked hard.
Then your gaze dipped. Briefly. To her mouth. Her breath caught.
When your eyes lifted again, your cheeks had gone pink.
And Melissa knew, with sudden dizzy certainty, that she had not imagined it. You had looked. The same way she looked at you.
The realization hit so hard she almost forgot the sandwich was actively burning. The sharp smell of toast breaking into charcoal jolted her back to reality.
-“Fuck, damn it"- She cursed and you laughed as Melissa lunged for the stove.
-“Oh my God, Lisa"-you liked your lips
-“Not a word"-she said between her teeth
-“That poor sandwich had dreams"-you joked
-“It was distracted"-she replied
-“By what?”-you asked Melissa froze. You smiled into your mug again, deeply pleased with yourself-“You know"-you said lightly-“for someone who claims to be practical, you get flustered very easily"-you were biting your lip behind the mug.
Melissa set the spatula down with deliberate care and turned to face you fully.
Your smile faltered just slightly. Not from fear. From anticipation. Melissa crossed the kitchen slowly.
One step.
Then another.
Until she was standing directly in front of your chair. Close enough that your breath caught. Close enough that she could see the tiny shift in your throat when you swallowed. Your teasing expression had dissolved completely now, replaced by something wide-eyed and careful. Melissa bent slightly at the waist, bracing one hand on the table beside you and the other on the armrest of your chair, locking you against the wall and the breakfast table. Your eyes widened.
-“Still think I’m flustered?”-she asked softly. Your lips parted and you separated your legs to give her more space between them. For one suspended second, neither of you moved.
Melissa could feel your breath against her face. Could smell coffee and sleep and the faint trace of her own perfume still clinging to your hair.
Your hand lifted. Slowly. As if without your permission. Your fingers brushed lightly against the hem of her shirt. And Melissa’s heart slammed against her ribs.
Then your alarm went off. Loud. Violent. Apocalyptic.
You both jumped like the FBI had kicked down the door. The spell shattered instantly.
You stared at each other for half a stunned beat before dissolving into helpless laughter. Real, breathless laughter that bent you both in half.
Melissa straightened, dragging a hand down her face.
-“You and your daughter's timing is criminal"-Still laughing, you fumbled to silence the alarm.
-“Field trip"-you managed, your heart jumping inside your chest. Melissa groaned.
-“Right. Children. Responsibilities. Society.”-You stood quickly, still smiling, and brushed past her toward the hallway.
At the doorway, you glanced back. And there it was again. That little shy smile. The one that looked almost brave.
-“You looked cute when you got jealous last night, by the way"-you bit your lip and Melissa’s soul immediately evacuated her body.
And before she could recover enough to deny it, you disappeared down the hall, laughing softly to yourself.
Leaving Melissa alone in the kitchen, staring after you with her face on fire.
After changing, the morning moved quickly. Too quickly.
The almost-moment in the kitchen still lingered between you like the warmth left behind after someone stepped out of sunlight, impossible to name and even harder to ignore.
Melissa had vanished into her room after your little parting shot about her jealousy, muttering something about “professionalism” and “needing pants that didn’t invite lawsuits.”
You had laughed all the way down the hall.
Now, freshly dressed and still smiling to yourself, you climbed into the passenger seat of Melissa’s car while she loaded lunches and backpacks into the trunk for the field trip, even a few spare jackets for you and Gaia.
The car smelled faintly like her perfume and coffee. Comforting. Familiar.
Without thinking, you reached over and switched on the stereo. Music drifted softly through the speakers. And your breath caught. It was your playlist.
Not technically yours, maybe. But yours enough that you knew every song by heart.
The same soft Spanish ballads you hummed while cooking. The old songs your mother used to sing while cleaning. The silly upbeat tracks Gaia danced to in the kitchen while Melissa pretended to be deeply offended by “all this noise.”
A slow warmth spread through your chest.
Melissa had been listening to your music. Not just tolerating it because you lived together. Choosing it.
You sat there for a moment, smiling helplessly at the windshield.
Then your eyes drifted to the rearview mirror. And stilled. There, hanging from it, was the little necklace the three of you had made together one rainy evening when Gaia had insisted “family craft night” was a real and mandatory event.
Three unevenly painted beads strung crookedly on cheap cord.
One red.
One blue.
One yellow.
Melissa had rolled her eyes dramatically the entire time, insisting she had “actual adult responsibilities,” while carefully threading her bead anyway. You had assumed Gaia had tucked it somewhere afterward. Apparently not. Apparently Melissa had hung it here. Where she would see it every day.
Your chest tightened.
Slowly, your gaze moved to the back seat. The booster seat was there. Not the old one from your car. A new one. Installed neatly, securely. Ready. As if there had never been any question that Gaia belonged there. And tucked into the side pocket beside it were some pieces of paper, crayons and her favorite cookies, the exact brand she loved, the ones Melissa always pretended she bought “purely for emergency sugar regulation.”
Your throat tightened unexpectedly. Because none of this had been necessary.
Melissa had never mentioned buying the seat.
Had never pointed out the cookies.
Had never said look how much I thought of your daughter when you weren’t watching.
She had simply done it.
Quietly.
Practically.
The way she did everything that mattered.
A shy smile spread across your lips before you could stop it.
The driver’s side door opened. Melissa slid into the seat beside you, one hand immediately reaching to adjust the rearview mirror. Then she noticed your expression.
Her brow furrowed. -“Everything okay?”-You looked at her. Really looked. At the sharp line of her jaw still softened by sleep. At the tiny crease between her brows when she worried. At the red hair she’d pinned back too quickly, one stubborn strand already escaping.
And suddenly your heart felt impossibly full. You smiled-“Everything is perfect"-Melissa blinked. The answer clearly startled her. A faint flush climbed her neck.
-“Well"-She cleared her throat and reached for her seatbelt-“That’s… statistically unlikely, but good.”-You laughed softly.
The music continued humming between you. One of your favorite songs. One you had played absentmindedly while making dinner just last week. Melissa had claimed not to know it. Yet here it was. Waiting.
You tilted your head-“You know this one?”-
Melissa visibly stiffened-“No.”-
-"It’s playing" - you stated
-“That proves nothing"-she replied. You smiled wider.
-“Lisa...”-you lifted an eyebrow, doing the same face that you did when you knew your daughter was lying. Her ears turned pink.
You knew then. And the realization sent something bright and tender blooming through your ribs.
She had been listening because it reminded her of home. Of your home. The one the two of you had accidentally built together in quiet pieces.
You reached across the center console before you could overthink it. Melissa froze as your fingers brushed hers. Then you gently turned her hand palm-up and laced your fingers through.
Simple.
Easy.
Like you had every right.
Melissa’s breath caught.
Her eyes darted to your joined hands and stayed there.
For one impossible second, she didn’t move.
Didn’t pull away.
Didn’t breathe.
Then, slowly, carefully, her fingers tightened around yours.
Your pulse leapt.
When she finally looked at you, her expression was so open it stole the air from your lungs.
Soft.
Hopeful.
Terrified.
Like she was standing on the edge of something enormous and beautiful and had no idea whether jumping would save her or ruin her.
So you smiled gently and squeezed her hand once. A promise. I’m here. Melissa swallowed hard.
Then, because she was still Melissa, she ruined the moment immediately by muttering:
-“If Gaia sees this, we’re never hearing the end of it"-You laughed, bright and helpless.
You let go of her hand so she could start the car or you would be late to the field trip.
As soon as you arrived to the house of Gaia's friend and got out of the car, the door flew open and your daughter ran outside, with the backpack bigger than her, bouncing at her back and her teddy bear on one hand.
-“Miss Melissa!”-Gaia barreled into her legs the second she stepped outside the door. Melissa staggered, laughing.
-“What happened to hello?”-she looked down at your daughter that was clinging at her legs like a monkey.
-“This is hello"-she said with a bright exited smile
-“That seems legally questionable"-the redhead said, your daughter grinned and squeezed tighter.
The mom of the other kid also came out of the house
-“She’s been waiting by the window for twenty minutes"-she confessed. Heat climbed Melissa’s neck.
-“That’s ridiculous"-she muttered.
-“She loves you"-you said, so simply, like it was obvious. Like of course someone would. Melissa looked at your eyes and then looked away too quickly.
Her exes had liked pieces of her. The polished teacher voice. The sharp eyeliner. The version of Melissa that fit nicely into photos and knew when to laugh at their jokes. They had never liked her whole. Not the frantic overthinking. Not the stress-cleaning. Not the way she cried at dog food commercials and denied it aggressively.
But you noticed things.
Like how Melissa got headaches after long staff meetings, so you would silently set tea beside her grading papers.
Like how Melissa forgot to eat when she was very stressed, so you would leave little containers in the fridge labeled "Eat this or I tell Barbara" .
You always thanked Melissa for everything, looking directly at her like gratitude was something sacred.
It unsettled the redhead. Because no one had ever treated her kindness like it mattered.
-"Mama!"- Your daughter broke the trance that the redhead was under, letting her legs go to hug yours, you picked her up and she squeezed your cheeks excited-"I missed you Mama!"
-"I missed you my bebé" - you kissed her forehead with your cheeks squeezed-"Did you had fun?" - your daughter nodded-"Ready to go to the museum?"-you asked and your daughter let your face go to stretch her hands to Melissa, the redhead picked her up smiling at how confort your daughter felt with her.
-"Let's gooo" - your daughter screamed almost in the ear of the redhead.
After everyone got into the car, including Gaia's friend, Melissa drove to the school where the bus and the rest of the students and staff were waiting.
Once in the school, while you waited for the rest of the students to arrive, your daughter and her fried were showing you all the drawings that were outside the classroom that they had made that week, explaining you each piece of the story they had read with Melissa.
Meanwhile, the redhead was inside the classroom, she was sitting at her desk with her head between her hands looking at you and sighing.
A familiar pair of sensible heels stopped outside her door
-“Melissa"-Melissa closed her eyes. Of course. Slowly, she looked up, straightening her posture. Barbara stood in the doorway, perfectly composed, arms folded, expression mild enough to be dangerous.
-“Yes?”-Barbara’s eyes drifted deliberately over Melissa’s rigid posture, the death grip she had on her red pen, and the half-graded worksheet she had been staring at for seven straight minutes.
-“No, you’re avoiding me"-the eldest said and Melissa blinked. Barbara gave her that look. The one that made lying feel like an insult to the entire institution of education.
-“I’m not avoiding you..."-Barbara waited. Melissa wilted almost instantly-“…A little"-Barbara stepped inside and closed the classroom door behind her. The soft click sounded terrifyingly final. Then she crossed the room and sat in one of the student desks, folding her hands neatly in her lap. The posture of someone fully prepared to wait all night. Melissa hated that posture.
-“What?”-she snapped. Barbara tilted her head.
-“Tell me what’s wrong"-she asked
-“Nothing’s wrong"-the redhead replied, a bit too quick. Barbara’s eyebrows rose. Melissa groaned-“Please don’t do the face"-
-“What face?”-
-“The disappointed church lady face"-Barbara’s expression did not change.
-“Melissa"-And just like that, Melissa cracked. Not dramatically. No tears. No great collapse. Just the quiet surrender of someone exhausted from holding too much inside. She dropped her pen onto the desk and dragged both hands down her face.
-“I think I’m in love with her.”-The words hit the empty classroom and stayed there. Real now. Heavy. Irrevocable. Barbara was quiet for a moment.
-“Well..."-Barbara said and Melissa stared.
-“Well?”-the redhead asked. Barbara nodded thoughtfully.
-“That explains the eye twitching" - she pointed at her friend. Melissa made a strangled sound.
-“That’s all you have to say?”-
-“No"-Barbara’s expression softened. And suddenly she looked less like a colleague and more like exactly what she had quietly become over the years: someone Melissa trusted enough to break in front of-“You love a good woman"- Barbara said gently-“A kind woman. A hardworking mother doing her best for her child"-
-“That’s the problem"-Melissa swallowed hard.
-“That sounds like several excellent qualities"-Barbara frowned.
-“You don’t understand"-Melissa stood abruptly and began pacing-“She lives in my house because I offered her help. If I tell her how I feel, what is she supposed to think?”-Barbara’s face shifted with understanding. And that was somehow worse. Melissa laughed bitterly-“Exactly"-The words spilled out now, sharp and frantic-“What if she thinks I only offered because I wanted something? What if she thinks every decent thing I’ve done was some kind of manipulation? What if she feels cornered because she can’t afford to leave yet?”-the redhead was spiraling and Barbara listened quietly.
When Melissa finally stopped pacing, breathless and ashamed, Barbara spoke.
-“Melissa”-Her voice was very soft-“You love her enough to worry about protecting her dignity before your own heart"-Melissa looked away. Barbara smiled-“That does not sound like manipulation to me"-
Melissa’s throat tightened-“She deserves to feel safe"-she whispered.
-“She does"-Barbara rose and crossed the room, stopping close enough to rest a hand lightly on Melissa’s shoulder-“And perhaps”-she said gently- “you should trust her enough to decide for herself what your kindness means"-Melissa’s breath caught. Barbara squeezed her shoulder once. Then her voice turned teasingly dry-“Also, Janine says the entire school has placed bets on how long it will take you two to kiss"-
Melissa recoiled in horror-“What?”-Barbara’s smile widened.
-“Apparently Ava is running the pool"-Melissa stared at her. Absolutely scandalized. Barbara patted her shoulder and headed for the door. At the threshold, she glanced back.
-“For what it is worth, child…”-Melissa looked up. Barbara smiled warmly-“She looks at you the same way"-And then she left. Leaving Melissa alone in the quiet classroom, heart pounding painfully against her ribs.
“Trust her enough to let her choose.” Barbara’s words followed Melissa like a second heartbeat.
Steady.
Impossible to ignore.
For several minutes after Barbara left, Melissa remained frozen behind her desk, staring blankly at the spelling test in front of her without seeing a single word.
"Trust her enough to let her choose"
It sounded so simple when Barbara said it. Of course it did. Barbara said everything like it had already been settled somewhere in the universe and the rest of them were simply late to understanding it.
Melissa, meanwhile, had built an entire personality around overthinking herself into emotional paralysis. So naturally, she spent the next five minutes trying and failing to regulate her pulse.
When she finally stepped back into the hallway, she still felt completely rattled.
And then she saw you.
You were crouched near the classroom wall beside Gaia and her friend, carefully helping tape one of their drawings back into place after it had slipped crooked.
Your hair had fallen forward, brushing your cheek as you laughed at something Gaia was excitedly explaining.
The morning sun spilled through the tall school windows, catching your face in warm gold.
You looked peaceful. Like this belonged to you. Like maybe, somehow, this life did too.
Melissa stopped walking.
Then you looked up. And the second your eyes landed on her, your whole face changed. It was subtle. Tiny. The kind of thing most people would miss completely.
But now Barbara’s voice echoed in Melissa’s mind. "She looks at you the same way".
And suddenly Melissa saw it. That unconscious softening. That quiet little warmth blooming in your expression. The same look she’d caught herself wearing when she thought no one was watching. It hit her so hard she actually forgot how to breathe for half a second.
Your smile deepened. Warm and easy and entirely hers.
-“Lisa?”-The nickname landed differently now. Not casual. Not accidental. Chosen. Affection wrapped carefully inside four tiny letters-“You okay?”-Melissa stared at you.
And for the first time, instead of panicking and looking away, she let herself smile back. A real smile. Soft enough that your expression flickered with surprise. You blinked. Like maybe you had never seen that particular smile directed at you before.
And then Gaia, tiny menace that she was, pointed dramatically between the two of you and announced to her friend-“See? That’s the face"-Both you and Melissa froze. Then turned bright red in perfect synchronization.
Gaia’s friend gasped like she’d just witnessed a major historical event-“Oh my God, you’re right"-
Before either adult could process that horror, a voice materialized from nowhere.
-“Well, this is the easiest money I’ve ever made"-Melissa physically flinched. Of course. There, leaning against the classroom doorway like gossip itself had manifested a body, stood Ava Coleman. Her grin was pure delighted chaos. She patted Melissa hard enough on the back to nearly knock the air out of her.
-“I knew I was right. Never bet against unresolved lesbian tension, that’s rule number one of passive income"-
-“What?”-Melissa whipped around, scandalized. Ava laughed. You had already stood up, brows knitting in confusion as you looked between them.
-“Bet?”- you asked slowly. Melissa’s soul attempted immediate evacuation. Ava looked delighted.
-“Oh, honey..."-the principal said softly
-“Don’t"-Melissa hissed. Too late.
Ava turned toward you with the theatrical solemnity of someone announcing lottery numbers-“The entire school has been financially invested in when this one finally admits she’s obsessed with—”-she said until the redhead interrupted her
-“Okay!”- Melissa barked, lunging forward so fast she nearly tripped over Gaia's backpack. She physically shoved Ava sideways toward the wall. Ava cackled. Melissa’s face was now approximately the color of a stop sign.
-“Do not listen to her"-she snapped, spinning toward you with the wild-eyed desperation of someone trying to undo a car crash with positive thinking. You were staring at her. Wide-eyed. Your cheeks pink.
But not upset. If anything…You looked almost shy. Melissa’s heart stumbled.
-“Lisa..."-you said softly. Her pulse roared.
-“Don’t"-she said and you smiled. And whatever she’d expected, it wasn’t the quiet fondness in your eyes when you said-“You’re kind of cute when you panic"-Gaia made a sound so loud and triumphant it should have required a permit.
Ava doubled over laughing.
Somewhere down the hall, Melissa was certain she heard Janine shriek “I TOLD YOU SO.”
Melissa closed her eyes. This was it. This was how she died.
When she opened them again, you were still smiling at her. Still soft. Still there.
And instead of terror, something steadier settled into her chest. Barbara’s voice returned one last time. "Trust her enough to let her choose"
So Melissa inhaled. Looked directly into your eyes. And made a decision. She stepped closer. Not enough to alarm anyone. Just enough that the air changed. Enough that your breath caught.
Then, very quietly, so only you could hear, she said-“After the field trip… we need to talk..."-
Your eyes widened. For one impossible second, Melissa thought she’d ruined everything. Then your smile returned. Small. Certain. Hopeful enough to nearly stop her heart.
-“Okay" - you whispered.
And when the bus driver shouted for everyone to board, neither of you moved right away. Just one suspended moment. Two people standing on the edge of finally choosing each other.
While behind you, Ava quietly whispered to herself-“God, I’m so good at this"-
And somewhere nearby, Barbara smiled without looking up from her coffee, because she knew that some lessons, after all, were worth waiting for.
You cleared your throat and broke eye contact, observing how your daughter and all the kids ran outside getting in line to board the bus
-"I should... Count my students" - Melissa said and you nodded.
After every kid was inside the busses, you looked where to sit, finding the only empty sit beside Melissa, your daughter sitting behind her with her friend and smiling mischievously. You laughed low and sat beside the redhead
-"Jesus, this buss is freezing, aren't you cold?" - you asked to Melissa and Gaia, blowing hot air into your hands, your daughter denied with her head. Melissa immediately took off her eagles hoodie and gave it to you, getting her other coat from the backpack she had prepared earlier to use herself. You put the hoddie, already warm because of the redhead's body and smelling like her, you smiled peacefully
-"Thanks Lisa..."-you lifted your hand and the redhead froze, begging her Nana that was on heaven that you didn't attempted to kiss her on the bus full of students and people that liked to laugh on her behalf. Melissa’s entire body locked. Not stiff with discomfort. Stiff with the kind of panic that comes when every nerve abruptly decides to become very, very awake. Your fingers had barely brushed her hair, just enough to tuck the loose strand back into place, but the warmth of it lingered against her temple like it had left a mark. Then your head settled against her shoulder with impossible trust, casual and unguarded, as though this were the most natural thing in the world. As though she were. For a moment she forgot how to breathe.
Behind her, Gaia made a tiny sound that was half gasp, half delighted squeak. Her friend immediately slapped a hand over Gaia’s mouth, both of them vibrating with barely-contained chaos.
Melissa did not turn around. If she acknowledged them, she would combust on impact. One thing was the closeness at home and the other in front of everyone.
The bus engine rumbled to life beneath you, a low vibration through the floor. Outside, teachers called final headcounts, students shouted over one another, backpacks thumped into overhead racks. And somehow, inside the little bubble of your weight against her shoulder, everything felt strangely quiet.
-“Comfortable?”- she managed, her voice suspiciously steady considering her internal state resembled a cathedral fire. You made a soft sound of approval, eyes still closed.
-“Mm. Very"-That should not have affected her as much as it did. Melissa swallowed and stared rigidly ahead, clutching the strap of her bag like it had personally promised to keep her alive.
Then the bus lurched forward. You shifted instinctively with the movement, your hand catching lightly against her arm for balance before settling there, getting closer to her.
Melissa’s soul briefly exited her body to file a complaint.
She heard Barbara’s voice somewhere in her memory, smooth and merciless: "Trust her enough to let her choose"
The words hit differently now. Because you had chosen this. Not dramatically. Not for show. Just this simple, unconscious closeness. Like your body already knew something your mind hadn’t admitted yet.
Melissa looked down. Your face was peaceful in sleep or near-sleep, softened at the edges, your breath warm through the fabric of her blouse. A few strands of hair had slipped over your forehead. Without thinking, Melissa lifted her hand. Her fingers hovered there. One second. Two. Then very carefully, as though touching something sacred and fragile, she brushed the strands away.
You smiled in your sleep. Not awake enough to tease her. Not aware enough to perform. Just a small, honest smile. Melissa’s heart gave one violent, traitorous thud.
Behind her, Gaia made another muffled noise that sounded suspiciously like I knew it.
Melissa didn’t look back. Instead, after a long hesitation, she let her head tilt. Just slightly.
Until it rested, feather-light, against yours.
And for the first time that morning, she let herself stop thinking.
You didn't fell asleep, not completely, you were just relaxed against the redhead, surrounded by her perfume and her warmth.
When the bus reached the museum and came to a stop, you let out a quiet hum, wanting to enjoy her warmth a little more but opening your eyes because you knew she had to help the kids, and you had to do that too.
The low hum against her shoulder sent a shiver up Melissa’s spine. Not because of surprise. Because she realized, with sharp and immediate clarity, that you had been awake.
Maybe not fully. Maybe drifting in that soft space between sleep and awareness. But awake enough to make that sound, awake enough to linger there for one selfish little second longer before lifting your head. And that meant you had felt it. The way she’d leaned against you. The way her fingers had brushed your hair from your face. Melissa’s pulse stumbled.
You blinked slowly, lashes catching the pale morning light filtering through the frosted bus windows. For a second, you looked adorably disoriented, your cheek still faintly warm from where it had rested against her shoulder. Then recognition flickered in your eyes. The museum. The children. Responsibility descending like an overly punctual crow. You let out a tiny sigh, reluctant and soft, and straightened in your seat.
-“Right"-you murmured, voice rough with sleep-“Civilization"- The word made Melissa’s mouth twitch before she could stop it.
Behind you, Gaia practically launched herself forward between the seats, grinning with enough force to power a small city-“You were cuddling"-she said lifting her eyebrows
-“Good morning to you too"- Melissa said flatly.
Gaia’s friend leaned in beside her, eyes sparkling with scandalized delight-“For like, the whole ride"-
-“We observed respectfully"- Gaia added.
-“You absolutely did not"-you said
-“We absolutely did"-they crossed her harms. You laughed under your breath, rubbing sleep from your eyes-“Well. Sounds like we’ve created eyewitnesses"-Melissa turned to you so fast she nearly got whiplash. You were smiling. Not teasing exactly. Just warm, amused, and entirely too aware. That look did dangerous things to her nervous system.
The bus doors hissed open. Instantly the fragile little cocoon of warmth shattered into motion. Children unbuckled themselves in a blur of chatter and backpacks, teachers calling reminders over the noise.
-“If anyone licks a museum exhibit, I’m resigning!”-another teacher said.
You stood, stretching your arms overhead with a sleepy groan that absolutely should not have looked that attractive. Melissa hated the universe a little. Then your hand dropped to her arm. A light squeeze. Brief enough to be innocent. Intentional enough to not be.
-“Thanks for sharing your warmth, Lisa"-you said quietly, leaning just close enough that only she could hear-"You smell nice" - you kissed her cheek. And then, before her brain could restart, you stepped into the aisle to help herd children toward the exit. Melissa sat frozen. Her face was burning, specially where your lips kissed. Her heart was attempting escape through her throat.
Behind her, Gaia sighed the long-suffering sigh of someone forced to watch two adults catastrophically fail at being honest-“Unbelievable"- she muttered-“They’re in love and somehow still bad at it"-she said exiting the bus with her friend.
When the brain of the redhead started working again, she exited the bus checking to have all her students with her, giving each one of them a badge with their name an a phone number to call in case they get lost in one of the exhibits during the trip.
Melissa told herself she was counting students. That was her job, after all. Thirty-two children on her class. Two assistant chaperones. One field trip itinerary. One emergency contact folder tucked beneath her arm. Very professional things. Perfectly respectable things to focus on. Instead, her eyes kept betraying her. Again and again they found you at the front of the group, moving between the children with that easy brightness that seemed to gather them like sunlight gathers flowers. You pointed things out with delighted little gestures, crouching whenever one of them had a question, laughing softly when Gaia insisted she had personally discovered an ancient fossil display despite the enormous sign above it reading CRETACEOUS EXHIBIT, ESTABLISHED 2009.
And you were still wearing her hoodie. Melissa’s hoodie. The dark green fabric hung just slightly loose on you, the sleeves covering part of your hands. The hood rested against your back, your hair spilling over it, and the sight hit her with a ridiculous little burst of possessive warmth she was absolutely not prepared to examine. It looked right on you. Just like the t-shirt that you had stole from her did. Not borrowed. Not temporary. As though it had always belonged there. As if you did.
The realization landed so suddenly Melissa nearly missed when one of her students tugged her coat sleeve-“Miss Melissa?”-She blinked down. It was Oliver, badge crooked against his tiny jacket.
-“Yes?”-
He pointed very seriously at you-“Is Miss Y/N your girlfriend?”-Melissa stopped walking so abruptly that three children behind her nearly caused a pileup.
-“What?”-she asked
Oliver frowned with the grave patience of a child explaining obvious science to a confused adult.
-“She kissed your face. My mom only kisses people she’s dating. Except my grandma but that’s different because she makes lasagna"-A few nearby students perked up instantly, their little gossip-radar activating like synchronized satellites.
-“She did kiss her!”-another screamed
-“I saw!”-one lifted their hand
-“On the bus?”-they started to gossip
-"Yes"-all the small voices started to pile up
-“Miss Melissa got kissed!”-they started chanting and Melissa’s soul attempted a tactical retreat.
-“She kissed my cheek"-she hissed. Oliver looked unconvinced.
-“That still counts"-he lift his little shoulders
-“It absolutely does not"-she replied.
From the front of the line, your voice floated back, warm with amusement.
-“What absolutely does not?”-you asked. Every child within range swiveled toward you with the delighted horror of tiny traitors discovering fresh material.
Melissa considered faking her own death.
You had turned halfway around, one brow lifted, her hoodie swallowing your hands as you tilted your head. The museum’s amber lights caught in your eyes. Melissa forgot every defense she’d ever developed.
Oliver answered for her, loudly and VERY helpfully-“Miss Melissa says cheek kisses don’t count!”-he pointed at the redhead. The silence that followed could have been displayed as a historical artifact.
You looked at Oliver. Then at Melissa. Then your mouth curved. Slowly. Deliberately.
Like dawn arriving with suspiciously excellent timing.
-“Is that so?”- you asked. Melissa’s pulse detonated. And before she could form even a single coherent protest, you stepped back toward the end of the line.
The children collectively leaned in. Even Gaia looked impressed.
You stopped directly in front of Melissa, close enough that she could smell the faint trace of her own perfume still clinging to the hoodie wrapped around you.
Your gaze dropped to her lips for the briefest fraction of a second. Then rose to her eyes.
-“Good to know"- you said softly. And with the entire class watching in breathless suspense, you leaned down just enough for your lips to brush the other cheek.
The opposite side.
Perfectly even.
Perfectly calm.
Perfectly devastating.
Then you smiled like you hadn’t just set her entire circulatory system on fire and turned back toward the exhibits.
-“All right, explorers"- you called brightly-"Who wants to see the dinosaur skeleton?”-The children erupted into cheers and stampeded after you.
Melissa remained frozen in place, both cheeks burning now. Behind her, Gaia patted her arm with deep sympathy.
-“She got both sides" - she said solemnly. Then she skipped after the others, leaving Melissa alone to wonder if spontaneous human combustion was, in fact, medically documented.
After watching half of the exhibits, you all stopped to have lunch on the park outside.
Melisa gave Gaia her lunch and she went to sit with her other classmates, you sat with the rest of the chaperones and teachers, by the redhead's side.
-"Here you go" - she gave you the lunch she had carefully prepared for you and you smiled
-"Thanks Lisa" - you said brushing her hand briefly, she blushed but didn't looked at your eyes. You opened the tupperware smelling the delicious food smiling, it's the same smell of Melissa's house, that mix of spices and love-"It smells amazing, I'm so hungry" - you said happily but frowned when you saw how Melissa avoided your eyes. You placed your hand on her knee and she straightened up nervously-"Hey... I'm sorry" - you took your hand away immediately-"Look, I'm sorry if I overstepped earlier... I was just flirting, like barely, I thought we were okey doing that... But I understand if in public I overstepped, this is the first time that I tried something like this on public and I get if you don't like..."-you explained nervously, the last thing you wanted was to ruin things with her
-"What?" - She looked at your eyes a bit lost and frowned- "Wait... I'm not upset, I'm sorry... It's just that my mind is working overtime today" - she laughed nervously and placed her hand on your knee this time, her hand was warm and your eyes darted to it. She blushed and she took her hand away
-"Hey... It's Okey, it's just me Lisa" - you rested your head on her shoulder smiling and looking at Gaia.
-"I know it's you... That's the thing, that's is you... You make me nervous and you make my mind spin" - she explained nervously.
For a moment, the sounds of lunch around you seemed to blur into something distant.
Children laughing across the grass.
Wrappers crinkling.
Teachers chatting nearby about schedules and attendance sheets and whether the museum gift shop was ethically designed to bankrupt chaperones.
It all faded beneath the quiet weight of Melissa’s words. You stayed very still against her shoulder. Not because you were uncomfortable. Because if you moved too quickly, this might vanish like steam off morning glass. Slowly, you lifted your head to look at her.
Melissa was staring determinedly at the park ahead, cheeks burning crimson, every line of her posture screaming I would like to be buried immediately, thank you. It was devastatingly adorable.
And very, very brave. Your mouth curved into something softer than your usual smile.
-“Lisa"- you said quietly. That got her attention. She turned, nervous and uncertain and so achingly earnest it squeezed at something deep in your chest. You reached for her hand. This time carefully. Slow enough for her to pull away if she wanted. She didn't. Her fingers trembled as they settled against yours, but she let you lace them together there on the grass between you. The contact sent a warm little jolt up your arm. You smiled.
-“Well"-you murmured, your thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles-“that’s wildly convenient"-
Melissa blinked-“What?”-You leaned closer, lowering your voice just enough to make the moment feel like a secret folded between you.
-“Because you make me nervous too"-Her breath caught. You gave a tiny laugh, shy enough to be real-“I’ve just had more practice pretending otherwise"-The expression on her face shifted all at once.
Shock first.
Then disbelief.
Then something bright and almost unbearably tender.
-“You do not get nervous"-she whispered and gave you a little soft push. You snorted softly-“There’s something wrong with you”-she said softly.
You blinked-"Excuse me?”-She squeezed your hand.
-“You’re wearing my hoodie, eating the lunch I made for you, publicly ruining my ability to function…”-Her smile widened just a little-“And somehow that’s still not enough for you that you have to keep teasing me?”-You laughed, bright and helpless.
-“No"- you admitted smiling-"Never, I will tease you for as long I live" - you made an evil laugh. Melissa’s cheeks deepened in color. Then, with a courage that looked newly born and slightly terrified, she leaned in. You stopped laughing, thinking that she would kiss you in front of the whole school.
She leaned more, just enough for her lips to brush your cheek. Soft. Quick.Certain.
When she pulled back, she looked as shocked as if someone else had possessed her body and made the executive decision.
The world stopped for a second.
And Melissa, face blazing but smiling, finally met your eyes without looking away.
-“There"- she whispered-“Now we’re even"-you rolled your eyes blushing and this time you pushed her gently
-"Asshole" - you whispered blushed, filling your mouth with food and she laughed
-"Language! They are children present!" - she joked and you rolled your eyes again
-"You curse more than me" - you replied - "and by the way, that one doesn't count as a kiss"
Melissa froze. Then her eyes narrowed.
A dangerous little spark lit behind them, the kind that usually preceded one of her devastatingly precise comebacks.
Around you, lunch continued in cheerful chaos.
Gaia was trying to trade apple slices for someone’s pudding cup with all the ruthless efficiency of a tiny stockbroker. A few teachers nearby were deep in debate over whether the museum café’s coffee counted as a human rights violation.
And right there in the middle of it, Melissa turned fully toward you, one brow arching.
-“That one doesn’t count?”-she repeated. You kept eating, very deliberately casual, though your ears had gone pink.
-“Nope"- She stared. You chewed with theatrical innocence-“Seemed more like… polite acknowledgment"-Her mouth fell open.
-“Polite acknowledgment?”-she asked
-“Mm-hm"-You nodded sagely and took another bite of the lunch she’d made, which was frankly excellent and only strengthened your courage-“Very tasteful. Strong technique. Respectable cheek contact. But not enough emotional commitment to qualify"-Melissa looked personally betrayed by the audacity.
-“You are impossible"-she murmured
-“And yet"-you said sweetly-"you packed me lunch"-The color in her face deepened. You smiled, victorious. Then Melissa did something alarming. She smiled back.
Not flustered. Not embarrassed. Sharp. Calculated. The kind of smile generals probably wore right before sieges.
Your confidence wobbled-“Lisa?”-She stood in one smooth motion, brushing imaginary grass from her skirt.
-“Gaia"- she called lightly. Your daughter looked up instantly.
-“Yes?”-she asked
-“Would you and your friends like five extra minutes in the gift shop after the next exhibit?”-the redhead asked and Gaia’s eyes widened like someone had just offered her a small kingdom.
-“YES"-she jumped exited and Melissa smiled serenely.
-“Wonderful. Then I’ll need you to keep the other children occupied for just a moment when we head back inside"-she explained. Gaia looked between the two of you. Then slowly, with the dawning expression of a child witnessing elite tactical warfare, she grinned.
-“Oh"-yor daughter smiled and walked away. You frowned.
-“What does that mean?”-you asked, neither of them answered. Which was deeply concerning.
Melissa sat back down beside you with impossible composure and resumed eating her lunch.
You stared. She ignored you. Two could apparently play this game, and Melissa had just unlocked her final form. The next twenty minutes were agony. She acted completely normal. Too normal.
She chatted with the other teachers, reminded students to finish their lunches, even laughed at some joke Barbara made from across the lawn.
Not one glance in your direction. Not one blush. Not one stammer. You were unraveling.
By the time lunch ended and everyone began filing back toward the museum entrance, your nerves were fizzing like live wires.
Something was coming.
You could feel it.
Gaia caught your eye as she passed and gave you a thumbs up that somehow felt threatening.
You barely had time to process that before Melissa appeared at your side. Silent as snowfall. Her fingers curled lightly around the sleeve of her hoodie where it hung on your wrist. You turned toward her.
-“What are you…”-She rose onto her toes looking at your eyes, because of the high heels she never took off, she was a bit taller than you-"Lisa..."-she huged you by your waist, pulling you closer to her body, softly and carefully, involuntarily making you dip a little and kissed you.
Not your cheek.
Not a teasing little brush of contact.
Your mouth.
Soft and warm and deliberate, lasting just long enough for your brain to spectacularly short-circuit.
Then she pulled back.
Barely an inch.
Close enough that her breath still ghosted across your lips.
Her face was crimson, but her eyes were bright with triumph.
-“That"- she whispered, voice trembling with adrenaline and satisfaction-"counts"-And then she turned and walked calmly toward the museum doors like she hadn’t just set the entire universe on fire.
You remained rooted to the path.
Absolutely motionless.
Blue-screened beyond recovery.
Behind you, Gaia’s delighted shriek split the afternoon air-“SHE GOT YOU MAMA!"-
You stood there for a few minutes, your fingers went to your mouth and you could feel the sticky of Melissa's lipstick there. The kiss was practically a peck, no tongue or anything involved, but it burned, it burned where she hold your waist and it burned where her lips touched. A shiver run trough your body, like if not having her close made the world 10 degrees colder.
-"Girl! Come on, come inside! We need to know details to see who won the bet!" - Ava's voice brought you back to reality and you put the hood of the hoddie on and your hands in your pockets, turning impossible red and walking inside the museum, not being able to control the little smile on your lips.
You had always thought Melissa was practical.
It had seemed obvious at first.
She was all sharp blazers and sharper timing. The kind of woman who remembered deadlines without checking calendars, who alphabetized student emergency forms and somehow made even reprimands sound elegant. She wore heels to field trips, for God’s sake. Practicality had seemed stitched into her like the clean seams of her coats.
It had intimidated you a little, if you were honest.
Practical people didn’t make room for chaos.
And you had arrived in her life carrying an entire weather system.
A daughter with scraped knees and loud opinions. Half-unpacked boxes. Exhaustion stitched behind your eyes. A smile you used too easily to hide how tired you were.
You had assumed Melissa tolerated you the way practical people tolerated storms. Patiently. Carefully. Waiting for the skies to clear.
But somewhere between shared dinners and sleepy late-night conversations in the kitchen, between Gaia absentmindedly calling her family and Melissa pretending not to hear because the truth of it made her eyes go soft, you had realized something startling: You had been completely wrong.
Practical people did not fall for their tenants.
They did not blush when you stole bites from their plate.
They did not secretly pack extra food because they’d noticed you skipped breakfast.
They did not lend you hoodies and then stare when they looked right on your body.
They definitely did not kiss single mothers outside museums while thirty-two children nearly lost their minds in the background.
And Melissa, apparently, was not practical at all.
I wanna start saying you are one of my favorite writers. I have a prompt for you if you like it.
The reader has a daughter and they are in some kind of social risk and they suddenly don’t have a home anymore. Mel likes both of them very much, invites them to her spare room and finds herself falling in love for the reader because the reader is a better partner than Joe or Gary ever were. Buuuut she knows she can’t fall for the reader ‘cause she doesn’t want to take advantage of her.
I thought of you for this prompt because I’m obsessed with you longer stories. And thank you ❤️
~The Practical Thing~ Part 1
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Pairing:Melissa Schemmenti x Reader
Gender:Fluff, Fluff and more fluff
Warnings:none, (Smut on the future)
Summary:on the request
AN:thank you for the sweet request and comment. I hope you are still here to see it. Life has been kicking my butt lately and I had lost my desire to do anything, but I'm back and I loved doing this request!
Melissa Schemmenti had always considered herself a practical person. Practical meant buying generic cereal even when the box looked depressing. Practical meant keeping the plastic covers on the couch to make it last longer. Practical meant pretending she did not care when her students’ parents forgot conferences because she knew most of them were working two jobs and barely sleeping. Practical meant never mixing business with her personal life.
Which was exactly why, standing in her classroom doorway at six-thirty on a Thursday evening, staring at one of her student’s mothers trying very hard not to cry while helping her daughter zip a too-small winter coat, Melissa knew she was about to do something profoundly impractical.
-“I'm sorry...”-Melissa said carefully trying to get your attention. You looked up too fast, as if you had been startled out of thought. You were beautiful in the quiet kind of way people often missed at first glance. Not polished or deliberate, just warm. Your hair pinned up messily, tired eyes, soft mouth. The sort of face that looked made for smiling even when it was strained with worry.
-“Yes Miss Schemmenti?”-You looked up, Melissa hesitated.
Her house had an extra room, and for the last year it had become a graveyard for old exercise equipment and things she swore she would donate someday. It was empty enough.
And your daughter, Gaia, was sitting cross-legged by the cubbies drawing flowers on the back of a math worksheet because she was too patient to complain that her mom had spent the whole pickup quietly arguing with someone over the phone in rapid-fire Spanish.
Melissa had caught enough to understand.
Rent. Late again.
Please, just one more week.
-"Are you okey?" - she asked and you nodded rubbing your eyes.
-"What?" - you were not used to have someone caring how you were, so it took you by surprise - "Oh yes... I know I'm late to pick her up and that I haven't been coming to the last few meetings... I'm just working some extra hours, but I will be here the next one, I promise..."-you didn't wanted to say that you had lost your job and that you won't be busy the next days because you were not able to do extra hours anymore. But you limited your answer to a promise.
-"Look... I don't mean to pry but I heard..."-before she could gather the courage to say what she was planning to say, your phone rang and you opened your eyes like remembering something.
-"I'm sorry Melissa, Gaia has a dentist appointment and we are getting late...Can we talk another time?..."-you were calling your daughter with hand gestures. Your baby girl grabbed her color pencils and ran to you holding your hand and looking at the redhead with a bright smile
-"Yes... Don't worry...I will see you another day..."-the redhead said grabbing her bag and seeing how you picked up your daughter
-"Bye Miss Schemmenti" - you said hurried
-"Bye bye miss Schemmenti, see you tomorrow!" - Your little kid waved her gloved hand and you left, disappearing behind the green doors into the cold day
A couple more days passed, and Melissa could not stop thinking about you. About the strain in your voice during that phone call. About the way your fingers had trembled while buttoning Gaia’s coat. About the way you had smiled anyway, as if warmth could be forced into existence through sheer determination.
She noticed things after that. Little things.
The way Gaia always arrived clean and neatly dressed, even if her shoes were beginning to pinch at the toes. The careful way her lunches were packed, always homemade, always portioned with precision. Sometimes just a sandwich cut into perfect little triangles, an apple sliced so it looked abundant, a few crackers tucked carefully into a napkin.
And every morning, Melissa made sure there were snacks waiting in her desk drawer.
-“Miss Schemmenti, can I have one of the strawberry bars?”-Gaia asked one morning, peeking up at her with wide brown eyes.
-“Absolutely not"-Melissa clicked her tongue dramatically. Gaia’s little face fell.
Then Melissa reached into the drawer and placed two bars in front of her-“One is clearly for quality control"- Gaia giggled.
-“Thank you"-she said saving one in her pocket-"One for mama, this are her favorite ones too" - that squeezed the redhead's heart
-“Don’t tell the other kids”-Melissa warned-“I have a reputation to maintain”-she joked. Gaia nodded solemnly, as though entrusted with state secrets.
Melissa watched her skip back to her desk and felt something twist in her chest.
The kid was bright. Sweet. Too observant for her age.
She couldn't ignore the innocent conversations that your daughter had with other children, who although they were not rich, had gone out on weekends to nice places and your daughter was excited to say that on her weekend you had enough to buy you a ice cream to share with her.
And one Friday afternoon, while the class colored quietly, one kid was teasing Gaia about her lack of color pencils. Melissa immediately came to help
-"Hey, that's no nice, I will talk to your parents about your behavior by the end of the day when they come pick you up" - she said frowning and crossing her arms. The kid immediately went quiet and resumed his coloring lesson.
-"Gaia, if you want I have colors on my desk" - she offered and your daughter denied with her head
-"I like mine, I don't have the big box of coloring pencils but this works..."-she said and looked up to the redhead - “My mom cries in the bathroom so I won’t hear”-Melissa’s stomach dropped. She crouched beside her desk carefully.
-“Gaia…”-The little girl shrugged, still drawing.
-“It’s okay. She thinks I don’t know"-Melissa swallowed hard.
-“She loves you very much"-the teacher stated
-“I know"-Gaia finally looked at her, serious beyond her years-“She just gets sad because money makes grown-ups weird"-Melissa blinked.
Then, despite herself, she laughed softly.
-“That is… disturbingly accurate"-Gaia smiled. Then she leaned closer and whispered
-“I think she likes you"-Melissa nearly choked on air.
-“What?”-she blinked a few times. Gaia returned to coloring as if she had not just detonated Melissa’s nervous system.
-“She smiles when she says your name and she likes the strawberry bars that you send"-Melissa stared at the top of her dark little head, speechless. Children were terrifying.
That evening, pickup ran late again.
The classroom had emptied, the halls gone quiet except for distant janitors and squeaking wheels from someone’s cleaning cart.
Gaia sat by the window, drawing little stars on fogged glass. And then you appeared.
Hair damp from melted snow, cheeks pink from the cold, breathless and apologizing before the door had even fully opened.
-“I’m so sorry, our car broke and I had to take two buses and one was delayed and...-you were gasping for air trying to speak
-“You’re fine"- Melissa said quickly. You stopped. Actually stopped. As if the words had stunned you. Most people accepted your apologies because they expected them. They treated your lateness like proof of failure. But Melissa said it like she meant it. Like your being late did not make you lesser.
Your shoulders softened.
-"Thank you," - you said quietly. Gaia launched herself at your legs, and you bent to gather her close, kissing the top of her head. The tenderness of it hit Melissa square in the ribs.
Before she could lose her nerve, she blurted
-“I have a room"-You looked up, confused, you frowned
-“What?”-you looked scared, like she was offering something that shouldn't be offered in front of a child
-“In my house-” Melissa clarified, immediately flustered-“Not like a weird serial killer thing. Jesus, why did I phrase it like that?”-she scratched her head nervously. A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. Melissa’s face flushed brighter-“There’s an extra room"-she rushed on-“It’s mostly old junk and a treadmill nobody has respected since 2019, but it’s yours if you need it"-she offered. You froze. The air shifted. Melissa’s pulse thundered-“I overheard enough the other day"-she said more gently now-“And before you get embarrassed, don’t. Life is expensive, Philly landlords are criminals, and sometimes people need help"-she whispered with soft eyes.
Your mouth parted, but no sound came. You looked down at Gaia, who was already half-asleep against your coat. Then back at Melissa. Your eyes shimmered.
-“You barely know me"-you whispered, Melissa gave a small shrug.
-“I know your daughter says please and thank you without being reminded. I know she shares her crayons when other kids forget theirs. I know she talks about you like you hung the moon"-Your breath caught-“And I know good people sometimes get hit with bad luck"- Melissa finished softly.
Silence. Then your face crumpled. Not dramatically. Not loudly. Just the quiet collapse of someone who had been carrying too much for too long. Melissa moved before thinking. Her arms wrapped around you instinctively, awkward at first, hesitant. Then you broke.
A trembling breath left your chest as you leaned into her, your free hand clutching the front of her coat. Melissa held on tighter. Her heart hammered wildly. You were warm despite the cold. Smaller than she had imagined. Real.
-“It’s okay"-she murmured, surprising herself with how much she meant it-“You’re okay"
For the first time in months, standing there in an empty classroom with your daughter half-asleep between you and the scent of snow still clinging to your coat, you believed it.
-"We got kicked out today" - Your voice came out weaker than you expected, trembling as you pulled back just enough to wipe at your tears with the sleeve of your coat. The words tasted humiliating. You hated how small they made you feel. Melissa stayed still in front of you, her hands hovering at your waist for half a second as if she wanted to pull you close again but was not sure she was allowed to. You took a shaky breath-“I lost my job because the restaurant closed. I was trying to gather money for rent cooking meals for some hospitals, but…”-Your voice broke, and you swallowed hard before continuing-“They didn’t give me more time. When I got back after dropping Gaia off here, all our things were outside the apartment"-Melissa’s face changed. Not pity. Something sharper. Anger, hot and immediate, on your behalf. You looked down, unable to bear the kindness in her eyes-“I put everything in our car, and then the car broke down halfway to the repair shop"-You let out a hollow little laugh that sounded nothing like amusement-“It’s still there, full of our stuff. And on the bus ride here, all I could think about was where Gaia and I were going to sleep tonight"-The shame hit harder saying it aloud.Your throat tightened -“I don’t want to impose. I know having a kid in your home is… a lot. A huge change. And I know this is insane, but…”-You laughed weakly through fresh tears-“I don’t exactly have the luxury of saying no"-Your voice cracked completely. You pressed your lips together, trying and failing to hold yourself together-“I… I don’t know what to say"-
Melissa’s expression softened. Her own hands shook slightly at her sides, and for some reason that steadied you. Then she gave that tiny crooked smile of hers, the one she always wore when she was trying to sound cooler than she felt.
-“Say yes before I overthink it and become a coward"-A laugh escaped you before you could stop it. Small and watery, but real. Melissa’s shoulders loosened at the sound, and something in her face brightened.
For the first time in what felt like forever, your chest loosened enough to breathe.
-“Yes, Miss Schemmenti”-you nodded, the words came out soft. Your cheeks warmed under her gaze-“Thank you"-
The way she looked at you then made your pulse stumble. Not polite concern. Not obligation. Something gentler. Something that made your skin feel suddenly too warm inside your coat.
Melissa cleared her throat and looked away first, her own cheeks pinking.
-“Please"-she said, grabbing her purse from her desk- “if we’re going to live together, you should call me Melissa"- The name felt strange and intimate sitting on your tongue.
-“Melissa"-you repeated quietly. Her breath caught. Just for a second. Then she recovered quickly, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear and forcing a practical little nod.
-“Right. Good. Great. Cool.”-You smiled despite yourself. She looked adorably flustered-“Now"-she said briskly, slipping back into her usual sharp efficiency-"tell me where the shop is. We’ll grab your stuff from the car, and then we’ll go home" - Home. The word hit unexpectedly hard. Your eyes stung again. Melissa noticed immediately and groaned dramatically-“Nope. Absolutely not"-You blinked-“No more crying. I’ve hit my emotional support quota for the week, and Barbara says if I absorb any more feelings I’ll become a guidance counselor"-she said looking for her car keys. A startled laugh burst from your chest. Melissa looked deeply pleased with herself-“Better"- she said.
Gaia, who had been half-asleep against your side through most of the conversation, suddenly lifted her head and blinked up at Melissa.
-“Does your house have snacks?”-Melissa gasped in mock offense.
-“Excuse you. My house is basically seventy percent snacks"-Gaia’s face lit up. You laughed, really laughed this time, and Melissa felt the sound settle somewhere dangerous beneath her ribs, but she tried not to pay attention to it.
Two weeks later, Melissa was learning that living with another person was like suddenly discovering your house had acoustics.
You hummed while making coffee in the mornings, old Spanish songs Melissa didn’t know but found herself replaying in her head all day.
Gaia left tiny glittering trails of crayons and stickers wherever she went, as if she shed art supplies instead of skin cells. And Melissa, who had spent years coming home to silence, found herself lingering after work just to hear them.
At first some things were "difficult", not necessarily problematic, but yes funny encounters of getting used to live with someone else. The first month settled into domestic collisions.
For example:
1-Melissa likes the house warm enough to survive Philadelphia winter.
You grew up with “put on another sweater, heating is expensive.”
You keep secretly turning it down. Melissa keeps turning it back up. This escalates into sticky notes on the thermostat: “Stop touching this. We are not reenacting the Ice Age.”
Your reply: “We are not funding PECO’s CEO’s yacht.”
2-Melissa had a system. You reorganize the kitchen logically for cooking. Now she can’t find anything. She opens a drawer.
-“Why are the spatulas with the measuring cups?”-she frowns
-“Because they are both cooking tools?”-you reply
-“That is psychotic"-
Gaia picks sides like it’s a custody battle-“Mom’s right, Miss Melissa"-Absolute betrayal.
3-Melissa Accidentally Becomes “Mom Mode” without realizing when Gaia spills juice.
-“Okay, no panic, paper towels, blot don’t rub, we can fix this"-Melissa says immediately. Then freezes because why did that come out so naturally?
You just stare at her, weirdly touched.
Later Gaia casually tells someone at school - “Miss Melissa knows mom stuff"-and Melissa short-circuits for a week.
4-Melissa does her laundry. You do yours. One day they get mixed.
She unfolds a very lacy bra that is aggressively not hers. You walk in making eye contact. Silence so loud it deserves its own soundtrack.
-“This is structurally impressive"-she murmurs and you laugh so hard you cry.
5-One night you got up at 2 AM for water because your thermos was empty. Everything was pitch black and you were not using your glasses, clumsy you slammed against something soft, very soft, Melissa's chest, was like a clowdy pillow. Her smell was very nice and she was warm, you were still half asleep, not processing that you should separate. Melissa turns on the light and you blush, separating and going without saying nothing else to get your water.
During the next couple months, those interactions kept progressing, the awkwardness becoming something familiar and confortable now.
1-One Saturday morning she wakes up to music drifting from downstairs. You’re cleaning the kitchen, singing softly in Spanish, hair messy, wearing one of her oversized old t-shirts because your laundry is still drying.
Melissa comes downstairs for coffee and just… stops. Completely frozen. You notice and smile.
-“Good morning"-you whispered. Melissa forgets how language works
-“Yep. That is… statistically morning"-Then she walks directly into the fridge door while your eyes followed her.
Gaia witnesses everything.
-“Miss Melissa has a crush"-she declared and Melissa nearly dies on the spot.
2-The Accidental Matching Outfits. You both come downstairs wearing black sweaters and jeans. Same silhouette. Same shoes. Gaia gasps like she has witnessed prophecy.
-“You match! That means you’re married in cartoons"-she claps and Melissa chokes on her coffee.
You turn bright red. Gaia spends the rest of the day introducing Melissa as “my almost-stepmom.”
3-Melissa has been thinking about her leftover lasagna all day at work. She comes home. Opens the fridge to find it gone. Absolute betrayal. She storms into the kitchen.
-“Who ate my lasagna?”-Gaia points at you immediately. No loyalty. No hesitation. You freeze mid-bite. Melissa stares, scandalized-“That was labeled"-she frowns
-“It said ‘don’t touch.’ I thought it was sarcasm"-you looked at her with your cheeks full
-“I'm Italian. That’s how we express seriousness"-You laugh so hard you snort. Melissa is doomed because she finds it adorable and she can't keep her mad face up.
-"I made more lasagna, don't cry" - you said pointing to the warm one on the oven
4-Melissa Learns You’re Touchy Without Realizing. You’re naturally affectionate. A hand on her shoulder when passing. Fixing her collar absentmindedly. Brushing lint off her blazer
5-Melissa gets sick and insists she’s fine. She is clearly not fine. Still trying to grade papers while looking like Victorian tuberculosis. You take one look and confiscate everything.
-“Bed"-you point to the stairs
-“Absolutely not"-she frowns like a little kid
-“Melissa"-you raised an eyebrow like you did with your daughter
-“…That tone feels illegal"-she murmurs getting up the stairs to her bed. You tuck blankets around her and make soup. She’s so unused to being cared for she gets weirdly emotional about it.
Later Gaia whispers to you while you cook
-“She likes when you boss her around"-you look at Melissa and she just pretends to be asleep but the blush on her cheeks betrays her.
And after a little more time, things change from familiar to family.
1-Melissa hears you defending her at pickup
-“Miss Schemmenti is kind of intense"-another parent complains
You immediately smile politely stepping into the conversation
-“She’s dedicated, smart, and she cares more about these children than anyone in this building. Some people mistake competence for intensity"-nobody dears to fight you, Melissa overhear from her car. No one has ever defended her like that. That night she stares at the ceiling until 3 a.m. Catastrophic feelings unlocked.
2-Grocery shopping. Melissa hated grocery shopping on Sundays.
Not because of the store itself. She liked lists. She liked organization. She liked crossing things off with aggressive efficiency and silently judging people who blocked entire aisles while contemplating yogurt. What she did not like was crowds.
And she especially did not like crowds when Gaia had somehow convinced you both to come along, which meant Melissa was currently navigating the produce section while your daughter zigzagged ahead in her little pink coat like a caffeinated hummingbird.
-“Gaia”- you called, steering the cart with one hand-“lento bebe"
-“I am slow!”-she yelled
-“You are literally running"-you replied
-“That’s just fast walking"-she always had an answer to everything, Melissa snorted before she could stop herself.
-“See? Miss Melissa agrees with me"-Gaia whipped around triumphantly.
-“I absolutely do not"-if the redhead learned something on the time living together was that Gaia didn't needed someone on her side to win
-“Traitor"- Gaia informed her solemnly narrowing her eyes. Melissa placed a hand over her chest.
-“After everything I’ve done for this family"-The word slipped out before she could catch it. This family. You heard it too. She knew because your hands paused on the shopping cart handle for half a second, your knuckles tightening slightly before you looked down to hide the little smile tugging at your mouth. Melissa’s stomach flipped. She immediately redirected her attention to a pyramid of oranges as though citrus had become critically important
-“Those are definitely overpriced"-she muttered. You laughed softly beside her. God, that laugh, it was becoming a problem, a dangerous, daily sort of problem.
Family...You had settled into her house with alarming ease over the last months. There were little signs of you everywhere now. Gaia’s drawings taped to the fridge. Your cardigan hanging over the kitchen chair. The scent of your perfume and whatever impossible magic you did to plain rice lingering in the walls.
Melissa had spent years cultivating her solitude into something neat and controlled. And now your shampoo was in her shower. And somehow that felt less like intrusion and more like something her home had been waiting for.
-“Melissa?"-Your voice pulled her back. She turned too quickly. You were holding up two jars of pasta sauce.
-“This one or this one?”-Melissa stared blankly. Not at the sauce. At you. At the tiny crease between your brows while you concentrated. At the way your hair had escaped its clip in soft strands around your face. At the domestic normalcy of this exact moment. Like this was just what the two of you did. Like there was nothing strange about standing here together deciding between basic tomato and roasted garlic while your daughter attempted to climb into the lower rack of the cart behind you. Her chest tightened.
-“Melissa?”-You tilted your head-“Are you okay?”-She blinked. Right, words.
-“The left one"- she blurted. You frowned at the labels.
-“The plain tomato one"-you frowned
-“You love garlic"-you whispered confused
-“I have evolved"-she replied. You smiled, warm and amused.
-“Sure"-you left the sauce, then, before she could process what was happening, your free hand reached up and brushed lightly at her cheek. Melissa froze. You held up your fingers, showing a faint streak of red.
-“Gaia got marker on you this morning"-The touch had lasted barely a second. It still sent heat rushing all the way down Melissa’s spine.
-“Oh"-Very articulate Melissa. A+ response.
You smiled, clearly oblivious to the fact that your casual tenderness had just short-circuited her entire nervous system, and dropped the sauce into the cart.
Behind you, Gaia popped up dramatically-“Can we get cookies?”-she looked at you
-“No"-both of you said instantly. Gaia gasped. Then narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
-“You sound married when you do that"-Melissa nearly aspirated. You turned bright red. Gaia grinned like she had personally orchestrated this.
-“Interesting"- she sang, and disappeared toward the cereal aisle before either of you could recover. For one long second, neither of you moved. Then your eyes met. And to Melissa’s horror, you both started laughing. Real laughter. The kind that made your shoulders shake and left your cheeks aching. By the time it faded, you were both standing a little closer than before. Not touching. But close enough for Melissa to feel your warmth through her coat. Close enough that if either of you leaned in even slightly, everything would change. Neither of you moved. Then Gaia’s voice echoed from three aisles over.
-“Mom! Miss Melissa! There’s a man licking the avocados!"-The moment shattered instantly. Melissa closed her eyes
-“Why is that a sentence I have to hear?”-You were still smiling as you started toward your daughter
-“Welcome to parenthood" - And Melissa, following close behind with the cart and a smile she could not seem to suppress, realized something terrifying. That the word no longer scared her quite as much as it should have.
3-Melissa starts to gets jealous of literally nothing
You thank the mechanic fixing your car and smile politely. Melissa, standing beside you:
Why is she smiling at him?
Does he deserve that smile?
She is immediately disgusted with herself.
4-A rude cashier dismisses you when your card declines. Before you can even react, Melissa appears. Sharp posture. Dangerous calm.
-“Try that attitude again and I’ll explain customer service to you using very small words"-she said, you stare. Cashier folds instantly. Later, outside, you smile at her.
5-The moments that your daughter decided to play Cupid.
You’re reaching for something on a high shelf. Melissa reaches too. She plants one hand against the wall to steady herself. Now she’s accidentally caging you in. Faces inches apart. Breathing catches. Nobody moves. Then Gaia walks in.
-“Are you guys kissing?”-You both leap apart like the house is on fire. Gaia sighs dramatically-“Okay. Later then"-Walks away.
Melissa had dated enough terrible men to know the warning signs by heart. It was almost impressive, really. If there had been an Olympic event for consistently choosing emotionally unavailable men with mediocre opinions and deeply unnecessary confidence, she would have qualified for nationals.
There had been Chris, who called her “intimidating” every time she disagreed with him, as if her having thoughts of her own was an aggressive act.
And then there was Ethan, who had once looked genuinely inconvenienced when she got the flu. She remembered shivering under three blankets, feverish and miserable, while he stood in her bedroom doorway holding his phone and asking if she really needed him to cancel poker night. Melissa had broken up with him two weeks later.
Then Joe, cheating husband.
Gary that didn't listen to what she wanted.
And then Rob, who the only thing that she saw attractive on him, was his job. And he thought that his work was way more important than hers and his relationship.
The thought drifted through her mind now as she stood in her own kitchen, staring at you. It was almost midnight. She had gotten home late after parent conferences, exhausted and already bracing herself for the usual ritual of silently microwaving leftovers and grading papers until her eyes crossed.
Instead, the kitchen light had been on. You were standing barefoot by the stove in one of those soft oversized sweaters that always made Melissa’s brain briefly lose signal.
Your hair was half-down, loose around your shoulders. And you were making soup. Not because she had asked, not because you expected anything. Just because, apparently, you had noticed she looked tired that morning.
-“There you are"-you said softly when she stepped inside, whispering because Gaia was already asleep. The smile that spread across your face was immediate and unguarded, like seeing her had genuinely improved your night. It did something strange to Melissa’s chest.
-“There’s soup"-you said, nodding toward the stove-"And before you protest, yes, you’re eating.”
Melissa automatically opened her mouth to argue. You gave her a look. Not annoyed, not impatient, just calmly certain and somehow that was worse. She obeyed, which was humiliating.
She sat at the kitchen table while you poured a bowl and set it in front of her, along with a spoon and the good crackers Melissa pretended she was saving for special occasions.
-“You didn’t have to do this"-she said. You shrugged, like the answer was obvious.
-“You work hard"-That was it. No grand performance. No expectation of praise, just a simple statement of fact. You work hard. Melissa stared down at the steam curling from the bowl. Something about it made her throat tighten unexpectedly. Her exes had always made care feel transactional. If they remembered something she liked, it was because they wanted credit for remembering. If they did something kind, it arrived with an invisible invoice. Later, there would always be some moment where the cost was collected.
A favor expected, a guilt trip, a reminder that she owed them for basic decency.
But with you, kindness just… existed. It moved through your hands as naturally as breath.
You packed her lunches if she forgot. Folded the blanket over her if she fell asleep on the couch. Left sticky notes on the coffee maker when she had stressful mornings.
"Good luck today. You’ll do great."
"Don’t forget your scarf. It’s freezing."
"Gaia says your eyeliner is 'slay.' I was told this is a compliment."
You gave without keeping score. The realization hit her so suddenly it stole her breath. This was what comfort was supposed to feel like, not anxious, not performative, not the constant, exhausting work of making herself smaller so someone else could feel bigger. Just this. Warm soup. Soft kitchen light. Your sleepy smile as you leaned against the counter, watching to make sure she ate.
Melissa looked up before she could stop herself.
You blinked.
-“What?”-you asked. She had been staring. A lot, apparently. Her face heated instantly.
-“Nothing"-Your eyes narrowed slightly, amused.
-“You’re doing the thing"-you pointed to her face
-“What thing?”-she narrowed her eyes this time
-“The one where your brain is clearly spiraling but you’re pretending it isn’t"-you already knew every face that she made
-“I do not spiral"-You smiled. Melissa’s stomach flipped.
-“You alphabetize your spice rack when you’re stressed"-you state
-“That is called efficiency"-she replied
-“That is called distress-organizing"-you retorted. She opened her mouth to defend herself and then stopped when you laughed. God. That laugh. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t polished or practiced. It was warm and breathy and real, and it filled her kitchen like it had always belonged there. And just like that, Melissa understood something terrifying.
Every relationship she’d ever had had felt like trying to squeeze herself into clothes that didn’t fit. Too tight in the wrong places. Always aware of the discomfort. Always waiting to breathe again. But this? This felt like finally coming home and changing into something soft. And that was infinitely more dangerous.
Because Melissa Schemmenti had spent years learning how to survive discomfort. She had absolutely no idea what to do with peace.
Melissa didn't wanted to accept that any kind of feelings, besides appreciation were involved, she wasn't scared of loving you because she doubts her feelings. She was scared because she respects you too much to ever want you wondering if her kindness came with strings attached. That guilt would eat her alive.
Melissa did not tell Barbara. That alone should have been enough to alarm her.
Barbara Howard had somehow become the unwilling keeper of every emotional disaster Melissa had ever stumbled into. Usually because Barbara possessed the deeply irritating ability to look at Melissa for three seconds and immediately know when something was wrong.
Which was exactly why Melissa had spent the last three weeks avoiding being alone with her.
No lunch breaks in the teacher’s lounge alone, no lingering after meetings, no going out together, no opportunities for Barbara to narrow those knowing eyes and gently dismantle every carefully constructed lie Melissa had prepared.
Because if Barbara asked, Melissa would tell her.
And if she told Barbara, then it would become real. And Melissa could not afford real. It was easier this way.
If she kept the feelings quiet enough, buried deep enough beneath routine and practicality and carefully timed exits from shared rooms, maybe they would shrink. Maybe they would dissolve into something manageable. A harmless crush. Temporary. Controllable.
That was what she told herself, anyway.
It was what she told herself every morning when she heard your soft footsteps downstairs and had to physically stop herself from smiling before she even saw you. What she told herself every time you laughed at one of her dry little comments and looked at her like she’d said something genuinely brilliant. What she told herself every time Gaia casually called her Miss Melissa in that affectionate little voice that somehow made her chest ache.This was temporary. It had to be. Because the alternative was unbearable.
Her plan worked, for a few days at least, until one night Gaia slept at a friend’s house.
Melissa had never considered herself the jealous type. Possessive, maybe. Judgmental, certainly. Selective with her affection to the point of emotional constipation, absolutely.
But jealous? No.
Jealous implied irrational attachment. And irrational attachment required first admitting she had some kind of attachment to begin with, which was obviously absurd and deeply inconvenient.
So when she came home Thursday evening, juggling two overstuffed grocery bags and mentally composing tomorrow’s lesson plan, she was entirely unprepared for the sight waiting in her living room.
You were standing by the hallway mirror, adjusting a small silver earring. And you looked…
Melissa’s thoughts stopped functioning.
You were wearing a dark green dress she had never seen before. Nothing flashy, nothing dramatic. Just soft fabric that skimmed your body perfectly, elegant in that quiet effortless way that always seemed to follow you.
Your hair was down, falling in waves around your shoulders. A little makeup, just enough to catch the warm apartment light. You looked beautiful.
Not the tired, practical kind of beautiful Melissa had memorized over the past months. Not your messy-morning-hair, oversized-sweater, flour-on-your-cheek kind of beautiful.
This was deliberate. Intentional. Date beautiful.
Melissa’s stomach dropped so suddenly it almost felt physical.
You turned and smiled when you noticed her.
-“There you are"-Your smile was warm, distracted, a little nervous. Not for her. For whoever was waiting for you.
Something sharp twisted under Melissa’s ribs.
-“Hi"-she managed. Her voice came out weirdly flat. You tilted your head.
-“Everything okay?”-you asked
-“Why wouldn’t it be?”-Too fast. Too sharp. Your brow furrowed slightly. Melissa immediately wanted to throw herself down the stairs. She set the grocery bags on the counter with more force than necessary.
-“You look…”-she started. Good. Beautiful. Impossible. Like whoever was taking you out tonight had better appreciate exactly how lucky they were-“…different"- Excellent recovery.
You blinked. Then smiled softly, smoothing your hands down the dress.
-“Oh. Thank you.”-That tiny smile wrecked her. You looked nervous. Excited nervous. Melissa hated this mysterious person instantly. She opened cabinets aggressively, putting groceries away with enough force to suggest she was personally punishing the canned goods.
-“So"-she said casually, which would have sounded casual if she hadn’t just nearly decapitated a box of pasta against the shelf-“big plans?”-There was a pause behind her
-“Sort of"-you replied
Sort of? Not a denial. Her stomach sank lower. You hesitated.
-“I don't want to say anything yet, until it's something sure...”-That somehow made it worse.
Because of course you wouldn’t tell her. Why would you? You were roommates. Friends, maybe, if Melissa was being wildly optimistic. You didn’t owe her explanations about your love life. The thought hit with surprising force. A hot, ugly little ache she was deeply embarrassed to feel.
-“Oh"-She kept her back to you-“Cool"-Silence. The kind that stretched too long. Then your voice came, softer, your leg was bouncing on the floor, the hill of your shoe making it sound louder, you were nervous.
-“Melissa"-She turned before she could stop herself. You were watching her carefully now, reading her. You’d gotten annoyingly good at that.
-“What?”-her question was sharp. You studied her face for a long moment, and she had the terrible feeling you could see every stupid, yearning thought written there. Then your expression gentled.
-“It’s not what you think"-you whispered. Her heart gave one humiliating leap. Dangerous. Hopeful. She shut it down immediately.
-“I’m not thinking anything"-she almost pouted
-“Melissa"-your voice came more serious this time
-“I’m not"-she repeated and you stepped closer.
Just enough to make her pulse kick.
-“It’s a job interview"-you confessed. The words landed so suddenly Melissa actually blinked.
-“…What?”-she asked lost. You let out a tiny breath of laughter, nervous and relieved all at once.
-“It’s dinner with the director of a new pediatric rehabilitation center. They’re opening next month, and one of the nurses I used to cook for recommended me for their in-house meal program"-you blushed lightly because of the nerves. Melissa stared. Your smile turned shy-“If it goes well, it could be full-time. Benefits. Real stability"-For one suspended second, all she felt was relief. Bright and dizzying and immediate. Not a date. Not someone else.
Then guilt followed close behind. Because the strength of that relief told her exactly how badly she’d wanted it to be true. And that was… information she absolutely did not know what to do with, a stable job maybe would mean that you would move out, and she didn't wanted you to leave.
-“That’s amazing"- she said, and this time her smile was real. Your whole face softened.
-“You think so?”-you played with your rings nervously
-“Obviously"-Melissa stepped forward without thinking and fixed the collar of your coat where it had folded awkwardly. The motion was automatic. Domestic. Her fingers brushed your neck. Both of you froze. The apartment suddenly felt very quiet. You looked up at her. Too close.
Close enough for Melissa to notice the tiny hitch in your breathing.
Close enough to smell your perfume, soft and warm and dizzyingly familiar underneath.
Her hand lingered for half a second too long. Then she jerked back like she’d touched fire.
-“There"-she said, voice thinner than usual-“Professional"
You smiled, but your cheeks had turned pink.
-“Thank you"-You bit the inside of your cheek,her closeness making you feel more nervous that the interview itself. Neither of you moved.
Then Gaia’s voice crackled suddenly from your phone where she was on speaker with her friend’s mom, you forgot you had called her.
-“MAMA?”-You jumped.
-“What?”-you asked, your heart hammering on your chest
-“Miss Melissa says you look nice"-Melissa nearly died.There was delighted cackling from Gaia and her friend in the background.
-“Oh my God"-Melissa muttered.
Your laughter spilled out bright and helpless, filling the room. And just like that, the tension broke.
You reached for your purse, still smiling.
-“I should go"-You pointed the door, Melissa nodded.
-“Yeah"-she replied, you hesitated at the door.
-“Would you wait up?”-you asked. Her heart stuttered-“For interview updates"- you added quickly, though your smile turned a little shy.
Not entirely innocent. Melissa swallowed.
-“Yeah"- she said softly-“I’ll wait up"-And after the door clicked shut behind you, Melissa stood alone in the quiet apartment.
A/N: Watched Suspiria and Whiplash back to back a few days ago, and this is what bloomed in my brain afterwards! Larissa is strict, authoritative, bordering on cruel. Reader is eager to please, pushing her own boundaries for a crumble of praise from the woman she has an unhealthy obsession with. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do! <3
Morning rehearsal begins before the sun has properly decided to rise. The academy sits in a kind of blue half-light when you arrive, all long corridors and sleeping radiators, the windows filmed faintly with winter condensation. Somewhere upstairs, a piano stumbles through scales. Someone laughing too loudly in another studio gets shushed almost immediately.
Studio A smells of rosin, sweat, and old wood polished so many times it has developed a shine like still water. The mirrors along the far wall catch every movement with exhausting honesty. Girls are already stretching at the barre when you enter, their warm-up knits hanging from narrow shoulders, pointe shoes discarded in pale satin heaps beside dance bags.
No one speaks much before Larissa arrives.
You are three minutes late.
Not late enough for another instructor to notice, perhaps, but Larissa notices everything. You have learned this the way dancers learn most things, through repetition and humiliation.
The studio door opens behind you just as you tie your hair back, and the room stills with almost embarrassing immediacy. Conversations taper off. Spines straighten. Someone hurriedly removes their phone from the barre and tucks it away.
Larissa steps inside carrying the cold with her.
Snowmelt glimmers faintly at the hem of her black wool coat. One leather-gloved hand rests atop the silver head of her cane, though she hardly seems to need it. She moves with the same sharp composure she brings to everything else, as though even pain has been instructed to behave properly in her presence.
She surveys the room once. A practiced sweep. Inventory rather than greeting.
Then her eyes settle on you, moving from your face to your half tied bun.
“You were late.”
The words are not loud. They do not need to be. Larissa speaks the way surgeons cut. Neatly, without wasted force.
Heat climbs immediately into your face. “I’m sorry, Miss Weems.”
“You apologize as though it alters time.”
Around you, no one looks directly at either of you. The dancers at this academy have perfected the art of witnessing someone else’s destruction discreetly.
Larissa removes her gloves finger by finger and lays them atop the piano. “Don’t be late again.”
“Yes, Miss Weems.”
The pianist receives Larissa’s coat with the solemnity of someone accepting ceremonial robes, and then rehearsal begins.
“Barre.”
The room obeys at once.
That is the frightening thing about Larissa. Not that she is cruel—though she can be—but that obedience forms naturally around her, instinctive as breath. She does not command the room so much as arrange it around herself. Even silence seems curated in her presence.
The music starts softly. Slow warm-up exercises first. Pliés and tendus repeated until the body loosens from sleep. You settle your hand against the barre and try to ignore the lingering embarrassment beneath your skin, though embarrassment under Larissa’s gaze has a tendency to become physical. Your shoulders tighten. Your breathing shortens. Every movement begins to feel observed.
Perhaps because it is.
Larissa walks between the dancers while the pianist plays, correcting posture with economical precision. A lifted chin here. A pressed shoulder there. Her criticism is rarely theatrical. She doesn’t shout unless absolutely necessary. The disappointment in her voice is usually punishment enough.
“You look lazy,” she tells one dancer flatly. “I assume this is accidental.”
The girl flushes crimson and straightens immediately.
Larissa moves on.
You feel her approaching before you see her reflection in the mirror. Your body always notices first. Some humiliating instinct. Your spine lengthens unconsciously, your stomach tightens beneath your leotard.
“Shoulders.”
The word lands directly behind you.
You correct instantly.
“No,” Larissa says, and there is the faintest trace of irritation in it. “You’re stiffening, not opening.”
Her hand settles between your shoulder blades before you can try again. Warm even through the fabric. Firm enough to feel instructional rather than comforting, though your body has long since stopped understanding the distinction.
“Here.”
Pressure against your spine forces you upright. Not rigid. Supported.
Larissa’s hand remains there a moment longer than strictly necessary, and the awareness of it spreads through you like fever. She smells faintly of sandalwood and something colder beneath it, something clean and expensive that belongs in opera houses and nowhere near a studio full of sweating dancers.
“You collapse inward whenever you lose confidence,” she says quietly enough that only you can hear. “The audience will notice.”
You swallow. “I’m trying not to.”
“I know. Try harder.”
The words settle strangely inside you. Not praise. Not kindness. Worse, perhaps. Recognition.
Larissa steps away, and cold rushes back into the space she occupied. You hate the immediate feeling of loss almost as much as you hate the relief.
The exercise continues.
Outside, snow drifts softly against the windows. Inside, the room warms with effort. By the end of barre, strands of hair have escaped slick ballet buns and the mirrors are beginning to cloud faintly at the edges where bodies have brushed too close.
Larissa watches all of it.
“Swan Lake is in eight weeks,” she says during center work, clipboard balanced lightly against one arm. “At present, most of you dance as though this information has failed to concern you.”
No one speaks.
“You are technically proficient,” she continues, pacing slowly across the studio floor. “Unfortunately, technical proficiency without emotional discipline is how mediocre dancers convince themselves they deserve principal roles.”
Her gaze drifts across the room.
Lingers on you.
Moves away again.
The relief is immediate and shameful.
“Auditions for Odette will be next Friday,” Larissa says. “I suggest you begin behaving accordingly.”
The atmosphere changes at once. Competition arrives quietly but thoroughly, sliding itself beneath the skin of the room. Girls stop smiling at one another quite so easily. Corrections begin to sound personal. Every stumble becomes visible.
You can feel it happening inside yourself too, ugly and desperate. The role has rooted itself somewhere deep in your chest ever since the production was announced. Odette. White silk and tragedy. Fragility sharpened into precision.
You want it badly enough to embarrass yourself.
Perhaps you already are.
The rehearsal becomes brutal after that.
Larissa works the same turn sequence for nearly forty minutes, stopping the music every time someone falters. Again and again and again until fatigue begins unraveling technique altogether. Ankles shake. Breathing roughens. One dancer nearly slips during a landing and catches herself hard enough to bruise.
Larissa watches impassively.
“You are tired,” she says. “How devastating.”
The girl lowers her eyes.
“Again.”
No one argues.
You dance until your calves burn violently beneath your skin. Again until your toes feel blistered raw inside the pointe shoes. Again until the studio begins narrowing strangely at the edges from exhaustion.
Larissa’s attention settles on you more and more frequently as rehearsal drags on. You have never decided whether this is fortunate.
“You anticipate the turn before you trust it,” she tells you after stopping the music mid-combination. “Why?”
“I thought—”
“There is your first mistake.”
A few dancers laugh behind you.
Heat flashes across your face, but Larissa is already moving closer, her expression sharpening rather than softening at your embarrassment.
“You think too much while dancing,” she says. “I can practically see the calculations happening behind your eyes. Ballet is not mathematics.”
You nod quickly.
Larissa sighs through her nose, dissatisfied. “Again.”
You reset position.
The pianist begins once more.
This time you force yourself not to think about Larissa watching. Not about the mirrors. Not about the audience that will eventually fill velvet seats and decide, in a matter of minutes, whether you are extraordinary or forgettable.
You turn.
Land cleanly.
Continue.
The sequence finishes without error.
Silence.
Larissa studies you for one long moment. Her face gives almost nothing away, but you have become disturbingly skilled at reading the tiny shifts in her expression. The slight easing around her mouth. The near-invisible softening in her eyes when something pleases her despite herself.
“Better,” she says at last.
The single word settles into your bloodstream like alcohol.
Praise from Larissa is dangerous. Too rare not to become holy.
You spend the next twenty minutes chasing the sound of it again.
—
During the break, Isabelle collapses dramatically beside you against the mirrored wall, her tights already laddering slightly at one knee.
“I think she enjoys this,” she mutters, gulping water. “Not ballet. Human suffering specifically.”
You smile faintly, unwinding the ribbons from your ankles. “You say that every rehearsal.”
“And every rehearsal I’m right.”
Across the room, Larissa stands near the piano speaking quietly with the accompanist. Winter light spills pale across her profile from the windows behind her, turning the edges of her hair almost silver. Even exhaustion seems elegant on her.
Your gaze catches there too long.
Isabelle notices immediately. Of course she does.
“Oh, you’re doomed.”
You look away at once. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I really don’t.”
“She humiliates you publicly ten times a day and you look at her like she hung the moon over the theater district.”
You feel your stomach drop hard enough to hurt.
“Keep your voice down.”
Isabelle snorts softly. “Please. She probably noticed your crush before you did.”
“No, she didn’t.”
As if summoned by the conversation itself, Larissa looks up.
Her eyes meet yours across the room with terrifying immediacy. Not accidental. Never accidental.
You look away first.
Cowardly.
Necessary.
“Break is over,” Larissa says.
The room moves instantly.
—
Partnering rehearsal begins badly and deteriorates from there.
The White Swan pas de deux requires a kind of trust that exhaustion makes difficult. Girls miss cues. Hands slip. Timing fractures apart under pressure. Larissa’s patience thins visibly as the afternoon drags on, though her anger remains frighteningly controlled.
“You dance like frightened prey animals,” she says after one particularly clumsy sequence. “Odette is not fragile because she lacks strength. She is fragile because the world insists upon breaking her.”
No one responds.
Larissa gestures toward center floor. “You. Demonstrate.”
Of course she means you.
You step forward while the others retreat slightly toward the mirrors. Your partner takes position behind you, one hand hovering carefully near your waist.
Larissa circles once around the pair of you, gaze sweeping critically over every line of your posture.
“Chin,” she says.
You lift it.
“Higher.”
Her fingers settle briefly beneath your jaw, tilting your face upward with careful pressure. The touch is entirely practical. Professional. Yet your pulse reacts with humiliating speed anyway, stumbling unevenly beneath your ribs.
Larissa’s thumb lingers for the briefest moment before she steps away.
“There,” she says. “Odette does not beg to be loved. She expects it.”
You spend the next several seconds trying to remember how breathing works.
The music begins.
You dance.
Or attempt to.
Larissa watches with such unwavering intensity that your awareness of her becomes almost physical. You can feel her attention moving over every imperfect angle before she even speaks.
Halfway through the turn sequence, your balance falters.
“Stop.”
The music cuts abruptly.
Silence folds over the studio.
Larissa approaches slowly, her cane tapping once against the floorboards.
“You’re afraid of the turn.
“I’m not.”
“You are,” she says calmly. “You anticipate failure before your body has even moved.”
Shame burns beneath your skin.
Larissa steps closer. Too close.
Her hands settle against your waist to correct your alignment, firm enough that you can feel the exact span of her fingers through the thin fabric of your leotard. Your body goes painfully still beneath the contact.
“Feel where your center actually is,” she murmurs. “You keep abandoning it.”
The warmth of her palms lingers long after she steps away.
“Again.”
This time the turn lands perfectly.
Larissa’s expression shifts almost imperceptibly. Not satisfaction exactly, but something adjacent to it.
Then she says, “Now do it consistently,” and the moment disappears.
—
By the end of rehearsal, your right foot is bleeding.
You noticed it nearly an hour ago when pain sharpened suddenly beneath your toes, warm wetness gathering inside the pointe shoe. You continued dancing anyway. Most dancers would. Ballet has a way of teaching people that the body is negotiable.
The studio empties slowly around you once Larissa dismisses the class. Girls limp toward the locker rooms carrying dance bags and exhaustion alike, complaining softly about bruised arches and strained calves.
You sit on the bench and begin massaging your thighs.
“You’re staying again?” Isabelle asks.
“I need to practice.”
“You need a priest. And medical intervention.”
You smile faintly. “I was off during the turns.”
“You were exhausted.”
Larissa noticed.
The thought arrives instantly, shamefully warm.
Isabelle studies you for a moment, concern dimming the usual amusement in her face. “She’s harder on you than everyone else.”
“That’s because she thinks I need improvement.”
“No,” Isabelle says quietly. “I think it’s because she sees more in you.”
Before you can answer, the locker room door opens.
Silence follows immediately.
Larissa steps inside. “Everyone out.”
No one argues.
Within moments, only the two of you remain.
Larissa waits until the door closes behind the last dancer before looking at you fully.
“You stayed after rehearsal yesterday.”
“Yes, Miss Weems.”
“And the night before.”
You nod.
“Why?”
The truthful answer catches painfully behind your ribs.
Because your attention feels like oxygen.
Because when you look at me, I stop feeling ordinary.
Instead you say, “I need to improve.”
Larissa watches you in silence for several long seconds. The fluorescent lights flatten the room harshly, but they do strange things to her eyes, turning them pale enough to look almost silver.
“You confuse suffering with discipline,” she says eventually.
“I don’t.”
“You do.” Her voice remains calm. “You romanticize your exhaustion. You wear it like proof of devotion.”
The accuracy of it leaves you briefly speechless.
Larissa has always possessed a terrifying ability to reach directly into the softest parts of people and press there without hesitation.
“You think destroying yourself for ballet makes you exceptional,” she continues. “It does not. It makes you interchangeable.”
The words hurt because they are true. Worse because some part of you still wants to impress her by surviving them.
Larissa sighs softly then, almost tired. “Studio.”
You obey at once.
Of course you do.
The mirrors look different at night. Less honest, perhaps. The darkness outside the windows turns them strange, reflections layered over shadow until bodies appear ghostlike at the edges.
Rain taps softly against the glass while you tighten your ribbons.
Larissa stands near the piano watching.
“You favor your left foot when tired,” she says.
You glance up too quickly. “I’m fine.”
“That was not an invitation to lie.”
Heat creeps into your face.
Larissa gestures once toward center floor. “Show me the turns.”
Your muscles ache violently now that rehearsal has ended. Fatigue settling properly into the joints and tendons. Still, you rise.
The music begins softly from the stereo.
You dance.
One turn.
Then another.
Halfway through the third, pain slices sharply through your foot and your balance wavers.
“Stop.”
You freeze immediately.
Larissa crosses the room without hurry, though something sharper has entered her expression now.
“You’re injured.”
“No.”
Her gaze drops toward the faint stain spreading through the satin of your pointe shoe.
Then back to your face.
“You are a very poor liar.”
Before you can answer, Larissa crouches before you.
The movement startles you enough that your breath catches outright.
Her hands close carefully around your ankle, professional and efficient in a way that only worsens things. She unties the ribbons slowly, fingertips brushing occasionally against your skin with absent precision.
You stare helplessly at the pale crown of her hair beneath the dim lights.
Larissa removes the shoe, the blood-speckled padding earning a quiet exhale through her nose.
“There it is.”
Humiliation floods you immediately. You feel absurdly close to apologizing.
“You continued dancing on this,” Larissa says.
“I could still dance.”
“That was not the question.”
Her hand remains lightly wrapped around your ankle, warm and steady.
Rain gathers harder against the windows.
“You are reckless,” she says quietly. “And you mistake recklessness for ambition.”
The words settle heavily between you.
Then her thumb brushes once against the inside of your ankle, thoughtless perhaps, and your entire body reacts like struck wire.
Larissa notices. Of course she notices.
Her eyes lift slowly to yours.
A pause opens between you, sharp enough to split skin.
Then she releases you and stands.
“Again,” she says.
You stare at her. “I can barely stand.”
“Yes.”
No sympathy. No softness. Only that terrible unwavering expectation.
“You want Odette,” Larissa continues. “You want greatness. Yet the moment pain becomes inconvenient, you expect permission to stop.”
“I didn’t ask to stop.”
“No,” she says softly. “You asked to be admired for continuing. You wanted me to see, to notice that you endured the pain. And you thought that I would allow you to stop.”
The words land cleanly because they are true.
Outside, rain streaks silver down the darkened windows. The studio has gone almost black beyond the overhead lights, the mirrors no longer reflecting properly. Only fragments now. A shoulder. A hand. Larissa’s pale face suspended faintly in glass.
Your foot throbs violently inside the ruined shoe.
Every muscle in your body aches.
Still, when Larissa repeats, “Again,” you straighten instinctively beneath the command, and hate the part of yourself that feels proud for obeying.
Summary:your children asked you to read the book you recently published, and you and your wife decided to have a trip down to memory lane to remember how you met.
A/N:this story is long, but is worth reading. If you like goth, enemy to lovers, teasing, jealousy, funny and all of that, please read and enjoy this.
And yes. I'm alive
A/N:this story is for my witchy wife for all the blessings she has brought into my life . I wouldn't be able to continue without you by my side. Thank you for reminding me how much I love to write. I love you so much @neverfindmegone Happy birthday 💕🎊
You were sitting on the couch of your home, your favorite spot, the one next to the window. The soft sunrise rays, sneaking through the curtains, were caressing your face. Your body was covered by the warmest blanket of your house. Your glasses fogged by the warm cup of coffee that was warming up your hands. The book you were reading rested on your lap, leaning towards you on your bent knees.
The soft sound of the wind and singing birds outside filled the silence around your home.
Usually you always woke up earlier than everyone to read alone in the silence for a few minutes, but this time was difrent, the book that was on your lap was a story you knew from memory, that you lived, but this time was there, trapped between those pages, that you wrote.
After much consideration, you decided one day that your life was crazy enough to put in a book, a fantasy one, because no one would have believed you if you said it what happened was true, so you did. And it had much more success that you were waiting for it.
Before you could continue with your reading, you heard laugher and tiny but fast running steps coming to you
-"Mama!"-Your little boy came running to your spot, barely giving you time to put the book and the mug on the coffee table before he jumped on your lap, opening your blanket and hiding in your chest-"Good morning mama" - he said with a sleepy voice and crazy hair slipping between your blanket
-"Good morning my baby"-You squeeze him in your chest-"What are you doing up this early? You don't have school today" - you asked
-"Good morning love, they woke up because I forgot to take off the alarm for the weekend. I'm sorry"-your wife said with the same crazy hair as your son, holding your sleepy baby daughter in her arms
-"Good morning my beautiful ladies" - you replied, smiling and kissing your wife as she sat by your side
-"Story time mama?" - your little boy asked peaking trough the blanket to give you the best puppie eyes that he could master
-"I thought story time was at night, not early in the morning..."-you replied smiling at him an trying to press down his crazy hair but having cero success
-"Please mama! Is the weekend and you were already reading, you even have your glasses... Pleaseeee"-he insisted and you nodded, unable to say no to those shiny eyes. Your wife smiled and carefully put your sleepy daughter in the bassinet that was in the living room. Getting up to make breakfast
-"Which story do you want baby?"-he pointed at your book without doubt
-"The Witch and the Mighty soldier!"-he said exited and rested his face against your chest again, closing his eyes but paying close attention to your voice. You laughed softly because he always picked that one. You started without grabbing the book, because you already knew the whole story by memory.
As soon as you started your tell, a fog blocked your mind from the present, transporting you to that time
The environment around you changed, you were no longer in the warmth of your home, now you could feel the humidity emanating from the mossy forest floor. You could hear the sound of the river passing near the small town and the distant conversation of the vendors.
After a few more steps, you turned your face attracted by a very familiar force. You noticed an old house between the trees, a black house with lilac flowers around it. A house that was well known in the small town and had signs around it that said "beware of the witch". Around the house you could find some remains of bones, forming an almost perfect circle surrounding that place, like if you were near a fae trap.
Many years ago, in a small, isolated village, there lived a magical being, a witch, more powerful than all the other witches who had ever walked that land. Not only was she more powerful, but she was also bolder and smarter than the others. She liked to deceive and steal from the poor villagers of the village and liked to deceive other witches with false promises to take away their powers. This witch knew no limits, no mortal limits or limits beyond mortal, for many years she controlled and terrorized families, armies and anyone who crossed her land. Anyone who crossed her path or tried to stop what she wanted, suffered the same terrible fate, to perish.
Every year that the witch went by without finding a person strong enough to stop her, her power, her riches and her arrogance grew stronger.
She was a lonely being, but she had earned it. No one wanted to be around her because she wouldn't allow it.
The families of the village offered her food and wealth in exchange for the witch not attacking them. But after years and years of sacrifices, the villages had nothing more to offer. Their crops were not enough to feed the people and the witch, and since they gave all the riches to her, they no longer had the means to buy more supplies to grow new crops.
Almost exhausted, with very little hope, they decided to send villagers to neighboring towns seeking help from their strong armies. By explaining that whoever could kill the witch would keep all the profits and riches, many brave and some greedy soldiers decided to go and fight her. But their mortal weapons were no match against the witch's strong and powerful spells, and soon they perish too.
What the townspeople did not know was that that lonely witch, full of power, had an empty heart and soul, she sought with riches and magic to fill that void, but every night she went to sleep more and more sad and cold.
After several failed attempts, no one continued to try to defeat the powerful witch, and the attacks of the armies ceased.
Seeing that no one was facing her anymore and bored in her solitude, the witch began to visit isolated villages, almost certain that no one would recognize her. She traveled for days, almost a week, visiting different places with bars and beautiful women, each time moving further and further away from her home and the small town where she lived.
The parties and drinks helped the witch to forget her loneliness for a while, but when night stretched too long and laughter faded into silence, the emptiness always returned.
Until one day, just like all the others, the witch entered a bar, looking for distraction and alcohol.
Warm light spilled from iron chandeliers, painting the room gold. The air smelled of spiced wine and cedar smoke. Music drifted lazily from a violinist in the corner, and the low hum of conversation wrapped around her like a familiar spell.
No one looked at her twice. Just another beautiful stranger in a dark cloak. The witch made her way to the bar, ordered the strongest wine they had, and let her gaze wander over the crowd. Merchants with flushed cheeks. Laughing couples. A gambler losing badly at cards.
And then she saw you.
You were sitting alone at a table near the back, half-shadowed by candlelight. Your gloved hand circled the rim of your glass. Your hair spilled over one shoulder like ink, and even if your face was calm, your sharp eyes were fixed on the witch with unnerving certainty. No admiration or fear, but recognition.
The witch felt it instantly, a prickling at the back of her neck. Interesting. Most people looked at her with hunger, fear, or desire. You looked at her as though as if you were solving a puzzle. You raised your glass slightly.An invitation.
The witch should have left.
Instead, curiosity curled through her chest, warm and dangerous. She took her wine and crossed the room.
-“Do I know you?”- she asked, stopping at the table.Your lips curved into something too knowing to be called a smile.
-“No"- you said smoothly-“But I’ve been hoping to meet you"-The witch arched a brow
-“And why is that?”-she asked and you leaned back in your chair, studying her openly now.
-“Because"- you said, your voice low enough to disappear beneath the violin’s song-“I had begun to think no one could possibly be as beautiful as the stories claimed"-The witch laughed, surprised by it, bold. Most flirtation wilted before reaching her, this one had teeth.
She set down her glass and sat across from you.
-“Careful”-she murmured.-“Flattery from a stranger is usually a sign of poor intentions"-Your gaze darkened, though your smile remained.
-“Then it’s fortunate"-you said-“That I never claimed mine were good"- you were screaming internally "holy hell it worked", trying act normal while laying bait with flirtation.
For the first time in centuries, the witch felt something sharper than boredom. Interest.
And across the table, hidden beneath your black leather gloves, your fingers brushed the silver chain coiled at your wrist. At last.
Even if you were living the story again just like the first time while you were telling it, the bubble of storytelling broke and you came back to the present a little confused to see your wife's magic go away
-"What happened?"-you asked turning to look how your wife was lifting your baby daughter from the bassinet
-"They are both asleep" - she whispered pointing at your baby boy asleep in your chest curling and smiling-"it's still early, let's take them to bed" - she suggested and you nodded, getting yourself up from the couch with your boy in your arms and going to their rooms to carefully leave each of them in their beds.
Once you made sure they were still asleep and the baby monitors were working, you closed the door to turn around and find your wife smiling at you
-"What is that for?" - you asked raising an eyebrow
-"Let's go to the room? I wanna hear how the story goes" - she said exited and you rolled your eyes smiling walking to the room
-"You know how the story goes, you were there..."-you replied getting into bed with her. As soon as you lay down, she grabbed your waist hugging you close and hiding her face in your neck
-"Please... I like how you tell stories and you like how I transport us there with my magic fingers" - she said moving special two specific fingers on her hand and you laughed giving her a kiss on her forehead
-"You are nasty" - you said
-"You love me like that" - she replied and transported you right where you left your story. Again at that bar.
The witch tilted her head, studying you with amused suspicion.
She was curios, it was something unusual about you. Not fear. Not worship. Not even the trembling hunger she was used to inspiring. You looked at her as though if were already known, every sharp line of her face committed to memory long before tonight.
It should have unsettled her. Instead, it thrilled her.
-“What is your name?”- the witch asked.
You lifted your glass, her eyes never leaving yours.
-“Elaine”-the lie fell from your lips, smooth as silk.
The witch smiled faintly. She knew a lie when she heard one, but chose not to challenge it-“And yours?”-you asked having a zip of your drink
-“Would you believe me if I said I’d forgotten?”-
You laughed softly, the sound warm enough to melt frost.
-“No"-you replied
-“Good”-she smiled
The violin in the corner swelled into something slower, sweeter. Around you, the tavern blurred into soft noise and amber light. For a while, you two talked.
The witch found herself telling stories she had not spoken aloud in decades. Not truths exactly, but fragments of them dressed in prettier clothes. Tales of distant cities, strange storms at sea, kingdoms that no longer existed.
You listened as though each word mattered.
When you spoke, you offered little of yourself, only enough to keep the conversation alive. Clever remarks. Dry humor. The occasional look that lingered just long enough to suggest possibility.
The witch had known countless beautiful women. Most tried too hard. You did not try at all. That was what made you dangerous.
Hours slipped by unnoticed. The candles burned lower. And then, when the witch reached for her wine, your hand brushed hers. A simple touch. Barely there. But cold lightning raced up the witch’s arm. You froze, just for a breath, as though startled by your own boldness.
Then you smiled, smaller now. Almost shy. A performance so flawless even the witch nearly believed it.
-“Forgive me"- your murmured. The witch’s lips curved.
-“For what?”-she asked. Your hands remained touching on the table. Your pulse fluttered beneath her fingers. Real. Not acted. Interesting.
-“For wanting to know... ”- You said quietly-"...If you’re as impossible to touch as you seem"-The witch laughed, low and genuine. There it was. Desire. At last. She turned her hand, lacing your fingers together.
-“You could find out"- she said and your breath caught. That part, at least, was not pretending.
The witch rose first, setting coins on the table. She looked down at you through half-lidded eyes and offered her hand
-“Come with me"- She asked, no, she demanded, and for the first time that evening, uncertainty flickered across your face.The witch noticed, misread it as nerves. And smiled wider. Slowly, you took her hand.
The room seemed to hush around you as you crossed toward the stairs leading to the tavern’s rented rooms above. You palm was warm, your grip steady, but beneath your glove your wrist ached where the silver chain rested hidden against your skin. Months of hunting. Years of stories. A lifetime spent chasing monsters. And now the most feared witch in the kingdom, the highest reward was leading you willingly into darkness. The trap was set.
She pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside. The wood groaned softly before the latch clicked shut behind yoy, cutting off the music below as if the world itself had fallen silent. Your entire body went taut. Every nerve stood awake beneath your skin. Though the witch did not touch you, you could feel her there, close enough for warmth to gather at you back. The brush of her breath against the nape of your neck sent a shiver down your spine. Now. It had to be now.
You would never have another chance like this.
A weaker part of you, the foolish mortal part you thought duty had long ago strangled, wanted to turn around and forget every order you had ever been given, wanted to find out if the stories whispered in taverns were true, if the witch’s touch really could make a woman forget her own name. But desire was a luxury you could not afford, and the reward waiting for the woman who delivered the witch alive was worth far more than one reckless night.
Slowly, carefully, you turned to face her.
The witch was smiling. Not the cruel smile of the legends, nor the amused smirk she had worn downstairs. This one was softer. Trusting. And for the first time in three years of hunting her, you hesitated.
The witch noticed, of course she did.
Her smile curved, slow and knowing, as she stepped closer. Candlelight caught in the dark spill of her hair, painting bronze across the sharp line of her cheekbones. She moved with impossible grace, like something woven from smoke and moonlight rather than flesh.
-“You look frightened”-she murmured. You forced yourself not to retreat.
-“I’m not.”-The witch tilted her head, studying you with infuriating patience.
-“No"- she said after a moment, her voice dropping lower-“You’re nervous.”-She was close enough now that you could smell wine on her breath, sweet and spiced. Beneath it was something colder, stranger, like winter air before the first snowfall. Beautiful, deadly, and entirely within reach. The thought steadied you.
-“I’ve simply never been alone with someone so infamous before"-you said. The witch laughed softly.
-“Infamous..."-The word seemed to amuse her-“Is that what they call me in these parts?”-she ask and you said nothing.
The witch reached for you, fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from your face with unbearable gentleness. The touch burned hotter than silver ever could.
-“And what do they say?”-the witch asked.
Your throat tightened. "That you are cruel.
That villages starve so you may feast.
That men have crossed mountains to kill you and returned as ash on the wind.
That your kiss leaves women ruined for every mouth that follows" you though, but instead you said, almost breathlessly,-“That no one survives long enough to know you"-your voice was soft, barely a whisper. For a heartbeat, something shifted in the witch’s expression.A flicker, gone too quickly to name. Then she smiled again, though there was sadness tucked into its edges now.
-“What a lonely story they’ve written for me"-The words struck deeper than you expected.
This was the monster you had imagined a thousand times in a thousand forms. A creature of greed and cruelty and black-hearted hunger.
But standing here, close enough to touch, she looked less like a monster and more like a woman who had forgotten what kindness felt like.
Dangerous, you reminded yourself.
Dangerous because she can make you pity her.
The witch’s fingers drifted lower, tracing the line of your jaw.
-“You’re thinking too loudly"-she said and you caught her wrist. The witch’s eyes widened slightly. Neither moved.
Silver waited, hidden in the lining of your sleeve. One sharp twist and the enchanted chain would lock around that elegant wrist, severing the creature’s magic before she could speak a single spell.
This was the moment. The years of tracking. The ruined towns. The promises made to kings and desperate mothers and starving children. Everything had led here.
-“Do it"- the witch whispered. You froze. The witch smiled faintly-“You’ve looked at me all night as though you’re waiting for permission"-Her free hand came to rest lightly against your chest, right above the frantic hammering of your heart - “Well?"-Her voice was velvet over steel-“What is it you want from me?”-she raised an eyebrow with her question.
You should have moved, should have snapped the silver into place and ended this.
Instead, before you could stop yourself, you leaned forward and kissed her. The witch stilled in surprise, then she kissed back. Slowly at first, curious as if testing whether this was real. Then deeper, one hand sliding into your hair, the other curling at your waist. Heat crashed through her and you. For one impossible, reckless moment, you forgot every oath you had ever sworn. Forgot the reward. Forgot the chains. Forgot the kingdom waiting for its monster. There was only this.The witch’s mouth, warm and yielding against you, making you wonder if her kisses had any kind of spell or why they felt so magical.
The small breath she gave when you pulled her closer, the terrible, breathtaking realization that she did not want this to be a lie, and that was exactly why you ended it.
You tore yourself away, breathing hard. Before the witch could speak, silver flashed between you. The iron chain snapped shut around both wrists with a sound like breaking glass. The witch gasped.
Magic exploded through the room in a violent pulse, rattling the windows, snuffing every candle into darkness.
And when the light returned a heartbeat later, the witch was on her knees. Her wide, disbelieving eyes lifted to meet yours. No fury. Not yet. Only hurt.
Your chest caved under the weight of it.
-“I’m sorry”-you whispered.
The witch stared at you for a long, terrible moment. Then she laughed. Sharp and empty as shattered crystal.
-“Oh”-she said softly. And now her smile was the cruel one from the stories. - “So that’s what this was"-The witch’s eyes darkened, no longer with passion but with betrayal. For the first time in centuries, she had allowed herself to be vulnerable, and had been repaid exactly as she had always feared-"The moment they remove my chains, you will be the first one to die"-the witch said, no as a threat, but as a curse, with her last bit of magic she cursed you and you smiled letting a dry laugh out
-"Then I will tell them to keep them on until the fire turns you into ashes" - your voice was dry but your face didn't matched the venom in your voice, you stood frozen for a moment, unable to move.
Then her body gave out. The silver chains had already stripped her of her power, and the poison you had paid the bartender to slip into her wine finally took hold. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Morning came cold and colorless. The witch woke to iron light spilling through the curtains and a sharp burning at her wrists. Silver.
For one stunned heartbeat, she did not understand. Then memory returned in fragments. Wine. Laughter. Her hands buried in dark hair. A kiss that had tasted like surrender.
And across the room, seated silently in a chair, clad now in full armor with a sword and pistol resting across her lap, was Elaine. No. Not Elaine.
You lifted your eyes to meet hers, and all softness was gone. The witch’s voice came low and dangerous.
-“Who are you?”- she asked and your jaw tightened.
-“Captain (Y/N)”-The name struck like thunder.
The hunter who had spent three years tracking her.
The witch stared, then laughed once, sharp and disbelieving-“Well...”-Her eyes glittered-“You certainly earned your reward"-Pain flickered across your face, brief enough that most would have missed it.
-“I did what I had to”- You replied and the witch smiled, cruel again, though hurt coiled beneath it like a wounded serpent.
-“Did you?”-her words and the way she looked at you was venomous. You said nothing, and somehow, the silence hurt more than the chains.
Her gaze followed as you rose from the chair, fastening your sword and pistol to their holsters. The armor made you seem taller somehow, broader, colder. Hollow. Just as she felt.
-“Get up"-Your voice was dry and commanding, deeper than it had been the night before.
Nothing like "Elaine’s".
You seized the iron restraints at her wrists and hauled her to her feet, draping dark cloth over the silver so they would not draw attention. Without another word, you opened the door and descended the stairs, sure she would follow. And though every part of her wanted to remain where she was, to let humiliation root her to the floor, she followed. Because for the first time in centuries, the witch wanted answers more than revenge.
The road stretched on for days, and if you had hoped silence would make the journey easier, the witch quickly proved otherwise. Chained at the wrists and seated before you on the horseback, the witch seemed to take cruel delight in every shift of movement that forced your bodies closer, every jolt in the road that pressed your hands tighter around her waist. For hours she said nothing, until the quiet had settled into something almost bearable. Then, tilting her head just enough for her dark hair to brush your throat, she murmured
-“You held me much more tenderly the other night”-your grip tightened at once, and the witch smiled to herself, unseen.
Later, when you stopped to make camp, the witch stumbled theatrically over a tree root and fell neatly into the your arms. For one suspended breath neither of you moved. Your hand was firm at her waist, her face only inches away, close enough for the witch to feel the sharp hitch of your breath
-“Careful"-the witch said softly, her lips curving-“Anyone might think you’re worried for me".Rolling your eyes you shoved her upright so abruptly she nearly laughed
-“Walk”-you replied
-“There she is”-the witch purred, dusting herself off- “I was beginning to miss the woman who tied me up"- That earned her a dark look, though the flush climbing your throat betrayed you. The witch said nothing more, but her smile lingered long after.
That night, as you sat across the fire in brittle silence, she watched your rigid posture, the way exhaustion bent your shoulders when you thought no one was looking. Then, very quietly, the witch lifted her bound hands and let a whisper of magic slip through the silver’s bite, just enough to turn the wind from your side outside the camp. When you looked up sharply, the witch only arched a brow and smirked
-“Don’t flatter yourself, darling. If you freeze to death, I’d have to walk to my own execution"-
You said nothing to that, though your jaw tightened as you adjusted another log into the flames. Orange light leapt across the hard lines of your face, catching for an instant in eyes that looked far too tired for a woman your age. The witch watched you in silence, her smile fading into something unreadable. There was no triumph in your expression, no satisfaction at finally having captured the kingdom’s most feared creature. Only exhaustion, heavy and constant, as though this victory had cost far more than it was worth. Interesting.
-“You wear disappointment beautifully” - the witch said at last. Your gaze lifted sharply.
-“What?”-you asked and the witch tilted her head, as if thoughtfully admiring you
-“I had expected more celebration. Perhaps a song. A smile, at the very least. You’ve spent three years chasing me across half the kingdom, and now here I sit, conveniently chained by your fire. You might try looking pleased"-A flicker of irritation crossed your face.
-“I’m not here to celebrate"-your voice was hollow
-“No?”-The witch leaned forward, the silver at her wrists glinting in the firelight-"And here I thought ruining my evening was your life’s ambition"
You rose abruptly and crossed to where the horses were tethered, pretending to check their straps. The witch smiled faintly. There it was again. Retreat. She was learning your.
The discovery sent a curious warmth through her chest, one she refused to examine too closely.
When you returned, you stopped just beyond the firelight and held out a piece of bread and dried fruit. The witch looked at it, then at you.
-“How touching. Are you feeding me, Captain?”-she fluttered her eyelashes at you flirty
-“Take it”-you voice was clipped, but there was strain beneath it.
The witch accepted the food slowly, letting her fingers brush your bare skin.The reaction was immediate. A sharp inhale. The slightest stiffening of your shoulders. The witch’s lips curved.
-“Still sensitive, I see"- Your jerked your hand back as if burned.
-“Eat"-you said
-“As you command"- She bit into the fruit with deliberate slowness, her dark eyes never leaving your face. A flush climbed your throat at once. Delicious. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the witch swallowed and said lightly
-"Tell me something, Captain" - Silence- “When you kissed me…”-you went utterly still. The witch’s smile sharpened - “Was that part of your training?”- The fire cracked between you two. Your face revealed nothing now, every trace of warmth shuttered behind cold discipline.
But when you spoke, your voice was lower
-"No" - The answer landed harder than the witch expected. For the first time since waking in chains, her breath caught. It had been real, then. At least for a moment. A dangerous kind of hope stirred before she crushed it flat beneath practiced cruelty.
-“How unfortunate for you"- she said smoothly-“I’ve had better, many way better kisses and funnier nights"-she said and that struck painfully.
As a knight, love , kisses and fun nights didn't had much time in your life. The last time you kissed someone was your girlfriend and that was years ago before she passed away in battle, so the way she downplayed your first kiss in years, hurt more than it should have.
The pain flashed across your face before you could hide it, quick and raw as a knife slipping between armor plates.The witch felt it in herself at once, sharp and ugly. Regret. The realization unsettled her more than the chains ever could.
Without another word, you turned and disappeared into the darkness beyond the fire.
The witch stared after you, the bitter taste of victory lingering on her tongue. And for reasons she could not name, it felt very much like loss.
By the sixth night, the witch noticed. You always waited until you thought sleep had claimed her. Then, with quiet hands and careful precision, you would kneel beside the bedroll and lengthen the silver restraint by another inch or two, just enough for comfort. Never enough for escape. Always enough for mercy.
The first time, the witch had assumed practicality, a prisoner too exhausted to sleep was troublesome by morning. The second time had felt deliberate.
By the sixth, there could be no mistaking it. You cared.
The thought settled somewhere sharp and warm beneath the witch’s ribs, where she refused to examine it too closely. She said nothing.
Instead, she pretended to sleep as those careful fingers brushed her wrist, pretending not to notice how gently the you worked to avoid waking her.
That morning, neither spoke of it.
By midday you reached the nearest village.
It was small and busy, the market square alive with voices and horses and the smell of fresh bread drifting from nearby ovens. You needed supplies, and though you kept the witch’s silver chain hidden beneath dark cloth, your grip on the restraints remained firm as you entered the tavern.
The witch endured the stares with practiced indifference. Then she saw her. The barmaid was young and pretty, with bright eyes and an easy smile that sharpened the instant it landed on you.
-“Well”- she said, leaning against the counter as she filled your order-“You’re a handsome thing under all that armor"-You barely glanced up
-“Just the supplies"-The girl laughed softly
-“All business? Shame"-Her hand lingered unnecessarily over your arm as she passed over the satchel, fingers brushing your glove.
The witch went still. Something ugly and immediate twisted low in her chest. Ridiculous. Possessiveness was for mortals with too much time and too little pride. And yet there it was, hot as poison.
You shifted back slightly, polite but distant.
The barmaid smiled wider.
-“If you’re staying the night, I finish my shift at moonrise"-she offered with sweetness on her voice. The witch laughed. The sound cut through the room like glass. You both turned toward her.
She smiled sweetly.
-“Oh, forgive me. I was only wondering whether your standards are always this poor, Captain, or if travel has made you desperate"-your expression hardened at once. The barmaid frowned.
-“I beg your pardon?”-you asked
The witch tilted her head, all velvet cruelty.
-“My mistake. I thought we were all sharing our poor decisions openly"-you seized her arm hard enough to silence whatever retort followed.
-“Outside"-You said upset, the witch allowed herself to be dragged from the tavern, still smiling. Only once you reached the alley behind the stables you released her.
-“What was that?”-you yelled. The witch lifted a brow.
-“Jealousy, apparently. It’s a revolting experience. I cannot recommend it”- you froze. For a moment, neither moved.
-“You were jealous?”-you asked quietly. The witch laughed once, sharp and mocking.
-“Don’t flatter yourself"-she tried to disminish the comment, but her pulse had quickened, and judging by the way the you eyes darkened, you had noticed.
The air shifted between you. Something electric.
Dangerous. You stepped closer. The witch held her ground.
-“You don’t get to mock me for things you feel yourself"-you said, your voice low.
The witch’s smile sharpened.
-“And what exactly do you imagine I feel?"-she asked and you reached for her wrists. Not roughly this time. Slowly. Your fingers traced the silver restraints, then slid higher, brushing bare skin. The witch’s breath caught.
-“There" - you murmured. Your infuriatingly steady gaze lifted to hers-“You always go quiet when you’re lying"-Your replied, the witch’s heart stumbled.
She recovered quickly, leaning close enough for ypur mouths to nearly touch.
-“Careful, Captain"-she whispered-"You’re beginning to sound as though you know me" - she mocked and your hand tightened at her wrists.
For one suspended breath, neither moved.
Then the witch kissed you. Hard. All the days of bitterness and hunger and furious wanting crashed into it at once.
You answered instantly, shoving her gently against the stable wall, one hand cradling her jaw as if afraid she might break. The kiss burned. Not soft like the first. Not false.
This one tasted of anger and relief and all the things neither had dared say aloud.
When you finally broke apart, both breathing hard, you rested your forehead against hers.
-“This changes nothing”- you said hoarsely.
The witch smiled, though her pulse thundered.
-“No"- she murmured. But you both knew she was lying. And this time, neither of you pretended otherwise.
You wrecked.
The walk back through the village was silent.
The witch kept her face composed, every inch the elegant predator, but inside her pulse still raced from the alley, from the taste of your mouth still lingering like heat on her.
Beside her, you seemed infuriatingly calm. Too calm.
You reached the small general store near the edge of town again just as the owner was preparing to close. You stepped inside, purchased what you needed, then lingered at the counter while the old man bundled your supplies.
-“Well”-you said lightly, as if continuing some harmless thought- “it seems we’ll be delayed"-The witch glanced over. You were fastening your gloves with deliberate care, not looking at her-“The inn still has rooms available"-you continued walking to the room- “And the barmaid finishes her shift at moonrise"- The words struck like flint. The witch stopped walking.
You turned, and though your expression remained perfectly composed, there was something dangerous flickering in your eyes, teasing.The realization hit all at once. The witch narrowed her gaze.
-“You’re crueler than I gave you credit for"-she said and you shrugged, impossibly casual.
-“She seemed eager enough. It would be rude to disappoint her”-The witch gave a soft laugh, though there was no amusement in it.
-“By all means, Captain. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to discover your most seductive quality is prolonged silence"-A corner of your mouth twitched.
-“Jealous again?”-you lifted your eyebrow and the witch’s breath caught. Damn you.
She turned sharply and resumed walking toward the inn, chin high enough to suggest indifference she did not feel. Behind her, she could hear the your measured steps following.
The room you were given was small, lit only by a single oil lamp that painted gold across the narrow bed and rough wooden walls.
You closed the door behind both of you. Neither spoke. The silence stretched.
You removed your gloves one finger at a time and said, almost idly
-"You know, if you dislike the arrangement, you could always ask me to stay" - you offered and the witch laughed. Sharp. Disbelieving.
-“You are insufferable"-she rolled her eyes
-“And yet here we are”-you began loosening the silver restraints, lengthening them as you always did before nightfall. Your hands were practiced now, careful where the metal had rubbed the witch’s skin raw. The tenderness of it undid something small and dangerous in her chest.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then, before pride could stop her, the words slipped free
-“Stay"-she whispered and you froze. The witch’s face remained composed, cool as ever, though her pulse thundered in her throat. Slowly, you looked up. The teasing had vanished from your expression
-“What?”-you asked. The witch swallowed hard enough to hate herself for it.
-“Don’t make me repeat it.”-For one terrible second, she thought you might smile, might mock her, might make light of this humiliation.
Instead, you reached up, your fingers brushing a dark strand of hair behind the witch’s ear with unbearable gentleness. And quietly, so softly it was almost reverent, you said:
-“Alright"-The witch forgot how to breathe. Your hand lingered against her cheek. Neither of you moved closer. Neither pulled away.
The space between you burned hotter than any fire.
The room had gone impossibly quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to hold its breath with you. The witch stood close enough for you to feel the warmth of her skin, close enough that one careless movement would close the space between you forever. For a long moment neither moved. Your hand hovered near her face, trembling with restraint, as though even the smallest touch might shatter whatever fragile thing had grown between you on the road. The witch noticed, of course she did, and her usual sharp smile softened into something almost unbearably tender
-"You’re staring again"- she whispered, her voice low enough to feel like a touch itself. You swallowed hard, your pulse hammering
-“I’m deciding whether this is a mistake"-you replied. The witch moved closer, until your breath mingled, until you could smell rain and smoke and the faint sweetness of wine still lingering on her lips
-"And?”-she murmured. The answer never came, because the witch kissed her first, slow and deliberate, as if giving you every chance to pull away. But you only made a broken sound against her mouth and kissed her back with all the hunger you had spent days trying to bury. It should have felt reckless, stolen, wrong, and perhaps it did, but beneath the urgency there was something softer, something that made the witch’s chest ache with its unfamiliarity. You touched her like she was precious, like every brush of skin was a question you were afraid to ask aloud, and your her fingers ghosted over the silver marks at the witch’s wrists, you froze. For one terrible second the spell broke, reality crashing back between you. The witch’s breath caught. Then, quietly, almost pleadingly, she whispered
-“Don’t stop"-Something in your face shattered at those words. You kissed her again, gentler this time, reverent enough to make the witch’s throat tighten, and as you pressed your forehead to hers, eyes closed as if you could not bear to look at what you were doing, the witch understood with sudden, devastating clarity that this was not desire alone. This was longing. This was grief. This was love arriving at the worst possible moment, asking to be let in anyway.
For a moment, putting distance between you, you rose from the bed. Your legs trembled beneath you, almost threatening to give out entirely.
The witch let out a slow, quiet sigh. Her dark eyes still burned with desire, but something sadder lingered there too, some old familiar hurt settling behind the heat. For a heartbeat, she thought this was how it would end. That same retreat she had come to expect whenever things became too real, too dangerous, too honest to bear.
She thought you would turn away from her. Withdraw into your armor and your duty and whatever walls had kept your heart hidden all this time. But instead, beneath her watchful gaze, your trembling hands rose to the clasps at your shoulders.
The first piece of armor hit the floor with a heavy metallic thud. Then another. And another. Slowly, uncertainly, as though each movement cost you something, you stripped away every layer that had made you Captain, every polished plate and buckle and barrier that had stood between you and the world. Under the dim amber light, your skin looked impossibly vulnerable, marked faintly where leather straps had pressed too tightly, your breath uneven as your hands shook at your sides.
The witch stared. For once, she had no clever remark ready. No teasing smile. Only silence, thick and trembling with understanding.
This was not seduction. This was surrender. When at last your hands stilled, you looked at her with a kind of naked terror she had never seen on any battlefield.
-“If I stay..."- you said softly, your voice rough enough to crack-"there may be no going back for me"- your words struck her harder than any blade ever had.
The witch’s expression softened, something fragile and aching passing across her face. Slowly, she pushed herself upright and crossed the small distance between you. Her fingers lifted, feather-light as they brushed your cheek.
-“You should go, then"-she whispered. The lie of it sat between you. She wanted you to stay. Gods, she wanted it with a hunger that frightened her. But centuries had taught her what hope cost. And if she let herself believe this was real, if she let herself need this… It would destroy her.
Your breath hitched. Then, with a quiet desperation that made her heart lurch, you caught her wrist and pressed your lips to her palm. The touch was reverent enough to make her knees weaken.
-“I don’t want to go"- you confessed. The witch closed her eyes. For one terrible, beautiful moment, she let herself feel it. Then she opened them again and cupped your face in both hands, still bounded by the chain but with more room to move, her thumbs brushing the warmth rising in your cheeks.
-“Then stay”-she whispered. You kissed her before she could say anything more.
Not with the desperate hunger of before, nor the sharp edge of anger that had marked your first stolen kisses. This was slower. Deeper. A kiss shaped like choosing.
And as your hands found her waist and drew her close, as her fingers slipped into your hair and held you there like something precious she had already begun mourning, the whole world beyond that room seemed to fall away.
For that night, there was no captain. No prisoner. No kingdom waiting to tear you apart. There was only this. And the fragile, impossible love neither of you had meant to find.
Without breaking the kiss, you guided her backward with your hands at her hips, gentle but unyielding, until the backs of her knees met the edge of the bed and she sank onto the mattress with a soft gasp. The sound went straight through you. Opening your legs you sat at her lap
Your breath caught against her mouth, and for a heartbeat you nearly pulled away, startled by how easily she undid you.
But then her fingers found your hips, not to stop you, only to hold there lightly, as if reassuring herself that this was real, and something inside you gave way completely.
When her tongue brushed against your lips in quiet invitation, your breath hitched into a helpless little sound that made her smile against your mouth. You opened for her. And in doing so, gave her more than permission. You gave her trust. The realization seemed to strike her all at once. You felt it in the way she stilled for half a breath, as though suddenly afraid to move too quickly and break whatever fragile thing had passed between you.
Then she kissed you again. Slower this time. Not with hunger sharpened into conquest, but with unbearable care, as though she were learning every trembling answer your body gave her and committing each one to memory.
You let yourself melt beneath her. For years your life had been discipline. Steel buckles fastened too tight, commands barked without question, every choice shaped by duty until there had been no room left for softness.
And now here she was, undoing all of it with nothing but patience and the brush of her lips.
Your hands found her waist, then higher, tracing the warm curve of her back as if you needed proof that she was here, that this was truly happening. The witch shivered beneath your touch. The reaction startled you enough to draw back. For one suspended moment neither of you moved.
The world beyond the thin walls of that room seemed impossibly far away.
No kingdoms. No chains. No dawn waiting to tear this apart. Just the two of you, suspended in the fragile mercy of now.
Then her hand rose to cradle your face, her thumb brushing slowly across your cheek.
There was something heartbreakingly soft in the way she looked at you.
-“You should hate me”-she whispered. Your throat tightened.
-“Maybe I do"-A faint, sad smile touched her mouth. You kissed it away before she could believe it, making her smile.
-“Can you take off my chains? I wanna work my magic"-she teased, trying to lighten the mood. You laughed, your hands drifting to her wrists as if to grant her wish. For a moment, her expression softened with expectation. Then, instead of freeing her, you pushed her gently back onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath her as you pinned the restraint to the bedframe, the sharp metallic click echoing through the room. Her eyes widened in shock
-“Let’s see what your pretty mouth can do…”- you said with a slow smile, savoring the stunned look on her face. You leaned closer, close enough for her to feel the warmth of your breath against her skin, and tilted her chin upward with two fingers. The moonlight spilled across her face like silver paint, catching the curve of her mouth as it twitched into a defiant little grin-“Still think you’re the one in control?”-you murmured.
Her laugh came low and velvet smooth, though you caught the hitch beneath it
-"You talk too much" - she replied fighting against the chains
-“Do I?”-You traced the edge of her wrist where the restraint held firm, then let your touch drift away entirely. The absence of it was louder than contact could ever be.
She shifted against the sheets, dark hair spilling around her like ink across paper, and for the first time since this little game began, her confidence flickered. Just enough to make your pulse quicken. You leaned down until your lips hovered beside her ear.
-“Then make me shut up"-you whispered, biting softly at her ear.
Her eyes darkened, ignited by the challenge. Her magic slipped through the restraints and made your skin burn, not with pain, but with heat.
The intensity made you desperate. You stripped away the little clothing you had left, letting it fall in a careless heap on the floor.
This time, the witch was the one left spellbound, watching, admiring, savoring every inch of your body. Her gaze was that of a hungry animal stalking its prey, sharp and unrelenting, until it fell upon the battle scars scattered across your skin.
Suddenly, you felt far more naked than bare before her. It felt as though she were staring straight into your soul. So you looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
-“Stunning"-she said, the honesty in her voice catching you off guard. You felt heat rush to your cheeks, a blush blooming across your skin as you finally looked back at her. She was smiling.
Not the sharp, teasing smile she wore like armor, nor the wicked smirk that usually danced on her lips when she had the upper hand. This one was softer. Real.
And somehow, that made your chest tighten more than any spell ever could.
Her eyes drifted over your scars again, not with pity, not with curiosity, but with reverence, as though each mark was a verse in a story she wanted to memorize. Slowly, she lifted her chin, her smile never fading.
-“They’re beautiful"- she whispered. Then her lips curved into a teasing smile-“Come to bed and end this torture, or I’ll break the frame to free myself and drag you here instead"-The soft plea in her voice sent warmth rushing through you.
Without another word, you obeyed.
You climbed onto the bed and settled over her, straddling her hips. The moment your body met hers, that familiar heat flared between you again, stealing the breath from your lungs.
Leaning down, you captured her lips with yours.
The kiss was hungry and desperate, all restraint dissolving the instant your mouths met. A quiet sound escaped you as her warmth surrounded you once more, dizzying and impossible to resist.
She laughed proudly again your lips, sending a vibration trough your body
-"I can feel your wetness on my hips... I like to see that I have this effect on you"-she was about to tease further but her desire didn't let her-"Please sit on my face" - she begged out of air-"Let me taste you, I've been dreaming about this since the first time we kissed" - her chest rose with every breath she took and the chains sounded against the bed frame every time she desperately moved trying to get you closer.
You kissed her one more time, painfully slow, riding your wetness on her hips and she moaned in your mouth, biting and sucking your lips desperately, until you heard a crack wood sound, followed by the feeling of her hands on your ass and then your hips, grabbing possessively your skin, digging her nails on the soft flesh.
The chain that bounded her hands was still on, digging softly against the skin of your back too, creating a cold contrast with the heat of the situation, but the bed frame where the chain was held was broken.
She grabbed your hair with one hand pulling your head back gently making you break the kiss
-"Ride my face now, next time I won't ask nicely" - her voice was deep, hungry. Her lips went straight to your neck, to your pulse point, bitting gently and then soothing the bite with her tongue,making you whimper and press your core against her body. You nodded unable to find the words.
Carefully you open your legs on top of her face, resting your knees as a support on each side of her head trying not to let your weight crush her face. You core was contracting against nothing, you could feel it, and by the moan Agatha let out when she saw your pussy, she could see it too.
You lowered your face gently, grabbing the bed frame to steady yourself, even nervous and full of anticipation you were trying to be gentle to her face. But the witch didn't wanted to wait anymore, her mouth was salivating and the non existent patience went out the window. Her hands grabbed possessively your thighs, one arm curling around each leg, pulling you down completely on top of her face.
The sudden contact against her face made you let out a squeal at the same time Agatha moaned against your pussy, like if she was tasting the most tasty forbidden fruit
-"Agatha!"-you screamed in surprise and she bit the side of your thigh making you shiver and lift your hips a little
-"First time I hear my name come out of your lips and I'm already obsessed... Keep making those pretty noises, I want everyone, specially the whore of the bar, to hear who is making you see stars tonight" - she made you sit again on her face, her tongue was lay out flat, being able to lick your whole pussy in one swipe. Her nose was pressing down on your clit and the sharp puffs of air that she let out made your pussy tickle.
Since it had been a while since you had last been sexualy with someone, your body, especially your private parts, were very sensitive to any stimulus. Without mentioning that you've never sat in someone's face like you were doing right now, you wouldn't deny that it felt amazing, but the sensation was also too much at the same time
-"Agatha, Agatha, Agatha" - her name was coming as a prayer from your lips, you wanted to ask her to slow down a little bit, but your mind, fogged by the sensation, was not able to form any other thought than her name -"Please..."-you begged, barely above a whisper, with tears on the corner of your eyes.
The witch, rather than slowing, took it as permission to keep going. You were unraveling on top of her, every wall you had ever built crumbling piece by piece. Your fears, your caution, even the promises you had once made to yourself dissolved into the haze consuming your mind, until there was nothing left but sensation. Nothing but her. And she loved it.
She loved knowing she was the one undoing you, the only reason your careful control was slipping through your fingers.
Her nails dug deeper on your skin, grabbing your thighs with desperation, breaking the skin a little, making a mixture of pain and pleasure travel all over your body.
Your hips moved back and forward, riding her face, feeling how her tongue explored every inch of your lips, your clit and eventing she could find. You could feel the way she was gasping for air, and you tried to lift your hips to let her breathe a little, but the witch complained with a tiny whimper lifting her head to not let you pull away, and then she pulled you back down on top of her.
Your hips kept moving more frantically this time, your ears where ringing and your vision was getting blurry. Your hands were pressing the headboard making your fingertips hurt but unable to let it go. You could feel your own heartbeat on your head, like if something was pounding the door asking to let them out.
Agatha's movements were becoming more sloppy and desperate, you could even feel her teeth every time she sucked your pussy trying to get as much of you as she could.
Your whimpers and moans were becoming shorter but more frequently, shutting down the creaking sound of the wooden bed, your boobs where bouncing because of the frantic movement of your hips and your legs were trying to close together. The witch was moving her mouth in ways that you thought it wasn't humanly possible and your body was about to give up.
Agatha was consumed by you, you were using all her senses, your thighs were pressing the side of her face, forbidding her to hear anything more than the rumble of her own heart and the way your wet pretty pussy collided against her face. Her mouth and nose were inside your sex, all she could taste and smell it was you, the salty of your juices and the tangy but sweet taste of your body. She couldn't breathe very well but not even for a moment she thought of stopping or pulling you away from her. Her eyes were intoxicated trying not to miss a single reaction of your body. Her hands were digging your skin, feeling your warmth and shivers. Her forehead was damping with your and her own sweat mixing.
Agatha noticed the way that your body was moving, the way you were almost screaming and moaning, and the way your pussy was clenching every time her tongue dipped a little on your entrance and she knew you were about to break.
Her tongue dipped completely inside your entrance at the same time that her mouth closed around it, sucking your pussy. Your body froze for a second before your back arched and you started shivering and having spasms on top of her, having the most strong orgasm in your life and screaming her name in a way that made your throat hurt.
Agatha kept her movement steady making your orgasm last while she looked at you. There was something darkly intoxicating in the way her eyes watched you come apart, drinking in every trembling breath, every shiver that ran through your body as though committing each reaction to memory. Not out of cruelty. Not even out of triumph.But with the quiet satisfaction of someone witnessing a miracle they had never expected to touch.
When you felt yourself on the verge of collapse, your body still trembling from the force of it, you gathered what little strength remained and pulled yourself away. With a shaky breath, you slumped on top of her instead, letting the full weight of your body rest against hers. You buried your face in the curve of her neck, breathing her in, the scent of sweat and lingering heat wrapping around you like a spell more intimate than any magic she could conjure.
For a moment, neither of you spoke. Agatha’s arms slipped around you carefully, as though afraid you might break if she held too tightly. With a soft flick of her fingers, the covers drifted over your bodies, cocooning you both in warmth.
Then she smiled. It was small and quiet, but impossibly radiant, she was licking her lips savoring your taste still on her. Not even her magic, wild and ever-shifting as it was, could have erased it.
There was something almost disbelieving in that smile, as if she still could not quite accept that you were here, tangled with her like this, real and breathing and hers to hold, if only for tonight. Her lips brushed your temple with so much tenderness that made you shiver again.
-"I will return the favor, just need a moment" - you said weakly with your eyes closed and she laughed under you
-"It's Okey... You can barely move... Besides, it wasn't a favor, it was my pleasure" - she said looking at you- "You are delicious" - you blushed under her gaze.
-"I feel like I'm high" - you whispered -"You are very good"-you kissed her chest and she smiled enjoying the confortable silence and the sound of your breathing.
Afterward, in the quiet that followed, you lay tangled together beneath the thin inn blankets, both still catching your breath. The moonlight spilled pale across the bed, tracing silver over flushed skin and tangled sheets.
-“Why did it have to be true?”-you whispered, more to yourself than to her.
The witch, resting atop you now with her head against your chest, lifted her face to look at you. Her dark hair spilled across your skin like ink, and she smiled faintly at the sight of your flushed cheeks and thoroughly ruined hair.
-“What is true?”-she asked softly, her fingers tracing invisible patterns against your stomach. You let out a slow breath.
-“That your mouth could work wonders. Magic, even.”-Her smile widened. You groaned and buried your face in the curve of her neck, breathing in the salt-warm scent of her skin-“I think that may have been the best orgasm of my life"-you muttered. A low laugh vibrated beneath your lips.The witch shifted, rolling you gently onto your back so she could look down at you properly-“I feel like I’m under a spell"-you admitted, your voice heavy with sleep and something far more dangerous.
-“I’m glad I live up to the tales"-she teased. You gave her thigh a light slap.
-“Always insufferable"-Her smile softened. But then she noticed the way your expression drifted, your brow furrowing with thought. She always noticed.
-“What is it?”-she asked. You hesitated before answering.
-“This is one of the only times you’ve behaved as the stories claim"- She stilled. You lifted your head enough to meet her eyes-“We’ve traveled together for more than two weeks. You’ve been infuriating, sarcastic, impossible to endure…”-That drew the ghost of a smirk from her-“But never cruel. Never vicious.”-The smirk vanished-“You’ve had opportunities to hurt me"-you continued quietly-"I know your power still works, at least a little. You could have escaped. You could have killed me"-You swallowed-“You never even tried."
For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she looked away. When she spoke, her voice was softer than you had ever heard it.
-“There is one tale no one knows"-Your body tensed beneath her. She drew in a slow breath-“Long ago, I fell in love with another witch. The first green witch"-Her lips curved faintly, though there was no joy in it-“She was Death herself"-The room seemed to still around her words-“We had a son. He was never meant to live. He was destined to be stillborn"-Your breath caught-“When he was coming, I ran from her. Foolishly believing I could hide him even from Death"-A humorless smile touched her mouth-“She found us anyway"-Her fingers trembled where they rested against your skin-“I begged her not to take him. And she loved me enough to give me time"-Her voice cracked. Barely-“But he was always sick. Always fading. And I became desperate enough to believe power could save him"-Your chest tightened-“I lured witches to me with stories. Death would take their bodies, and I took their magic. Again and again and again…”-Her eyes closed-“And still it was never enough.”-The silence that followed was unbearable-“The first night I failed to kill one…” - she whispered -“…Death came for him"-Your throat tightened painfully-“I lost my son. And I hated myself for ever loving the thing that would take him from me"-Her voice was empty now. The kind of emptiness carved only by centuries of grief-“The armies came later. The hunters. The thieves. I killed them because they came to kill me, or to steal what little remained"-Slowly, she looked back at you. There were no tears in her eyes. That somehow made it worse-“It was never pleasure"-You could feel your whole body rigid beneath her. The stories. The years of hunting. Everything you had believed. Rotting away. The witch studied your face carefully, as if memorizing it.Then, very quietly, she asked:
-“May I ask something of you?”- You nodded, though your throat was too tight for words. Her fingers curled faintly against your skin-“I know I deserve no kindness from you"-The softness of her voice made your chest ache-“But when we reach the capital…"-She hesitated. And for the first time since you had met her, she sounded afraid-“Don’t let them take me alive, kill me" - Your breath stopped-“Please"-The word barely existed-“They will not kill me cleanly. They will strip me apart for what I carry"-Her lips trembled around the next words-“My life has been an endless punishment already"-Then she looked into your eyes with a terrible, fragile hope-"Please… let it end with mercy" - her voice was a plea and her eyes looked so sad at yours, you nodded, not able to give a verbal response.
She let out a breath smiling softly and hugged you tightly closing her eyes and kissing your forehead one more time.
And there, with her weight still warm against your body and her heartbeat trembling beneath your hands, something inside you began to break.
The next morning, you woke long before the sun dared touch the horizon. The world beyond the cabin windows was still swallowed by darkness, the sea a black endless hush beneath the ship. Even the wind seemed to have quieted, as though the world itself held its breath.
Carefully, you slipped from the bed. Agatha stirred faintly behind you, a soft sound escaping her lips, but she did not wake. For a moment, you froze. Then, slowly, you began to dress.
Each movement was deliberate, almost ritualistic. The fastening of your shirt. The pull of leather over skin. The familiar weight of your coat settling over your shoulders like armor. You did it all in silence. You did not look at her. Because you knew if you did, you would not be able to leave. Your heart and your mind had been at war all night. Your mind was cruelly practical, reminding you of what waited in the capital.
The soldiers. The judgment. The promise you had made.
Don’t let them take me alive.
The words had haunted every breath since she’d spoken them.
You knew what you had to do.
And yet your heart, traitorous and desperate, whispered of impossible things.
Run. Turn the ship around. Take her somewhere no kingdom could ever find you. Let the world choke on its own hatred while the two of you vanished into some quiet corner of it, where mornings could begin with her tangled in your arms and end with her laughter filling the dark.
It was a foolish dream. A beautiful one. And it was killing you.
Behind you, the bedsheets shifted. You closed your eyes.
-“Leaving without a goodbye?”-she joked stretching. Her voice was thick with sleep, soft enough to shatter what little resolve you had left.
Slowly, you turned.
Agatha sat half-upright in the bed, the blankets pooled around her waist. Her dark hair spilled wild across her shoulders, her face still warm with sleep and impossibly unguarded in the dim light. For one terrible second, she looked like peace. And that hurt more than anything.
You tried to summon your usual sharpness, the steady authority your crew trusted, but your voice betrayed you when it came.
-“You should eat"-your voice was dry and you pointed at the bread and tea on the table. A faint smile touched her lips.
-“You’re avoiding my eyes"-she said and your throat tightened. Agatha’s expression softened as she studied you. Then understanding settled over her features, quiet and devastating-“The capital"-she whispered, today you will be reaching the capital. You said nothing. She lowered her gaze, and when she spoke again, her voice was almost unbearably gentle-“You’re already mourning me"-The truth of it struck like a blade. You stayed looking at the floor. The bed creaked, Agatha's body stood in front of you, covering you with her shadow. Two of her fingers landed on your chin raising your gaze so that you could look into her eyes, a bright smile was present on her face
-"Don't be sad... I don't regret what happened yesterday" - her hand rested on your cheek- "Thank you for reminding me what happiness feel like"-your heart broke completely and all you could do was staring at her eyes.
Outside, the first light of dawn began to bleed across the horizon and the clouds gathering on the sky. And somewhere in the distance, the capital waited.
Like an executioner sharpening its blade.
The capital had always looked cruel from a distance.
Its pale towers rose through the storm like the bones of something long dead, sharp and unforgiving against the blackened sky. Rain poured over stone walls and iron gates, washing the streets in silver as thunder rolled above like the warning of some ancient god.
You had spent years dreaming of returning here in triumph. Instead, you arrived in chains of your own making.
The soldiers closed in around you two the moment the gates opened. Steel rang against steel. Boots thundered against slick cobblestones. Torches hissed beneath the rain, their flames bowing in the wind.
Agatha stood at your side, her wrists still locked in the enchanted cuffs, her dark hair plastered to her face by the storm. Exhaustion carved shadows beneath her eyes, but there was something regal even in her ruin, something untouchable.
The commander stepped forward, his face hard as carved granite
-“At last"- he said. His gaze settled on Agatha with naked hunger. Not desire. Worse. Ownership.
Your stomach turned. Around you, dozens of rifles rose. There would be no escape.
-"Deliver your prisoner Captain, you fulfilled your duty, a feast is waiting on your name and all the beautiful women and riches that you heart can desire are ready for you"-you could hear your own heart hammering in your chest and your ears, your hands tightened against the wet chain and you lifted your eyes to look at the which. Slowly, Agatha turned her head toward you. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then understanding passed between you, quiet and devastating. Agatha’s expression emptied. Not anger. Not panic. Only the hollow stillness of betrayal.
Her lips parted, and when she spoke, her voice was so soft you nearly missed it beneath the rain.
-“So this is how it ends..."-The words struck harder than any blade. Your throat tightened. Agatha looked away first, her face going cold, as though she could not bear the sight of you. And you felt something inside you splinter.
The commander’s voice cracked through the silence-"Now commander"
Your hands trembled. Every promise you had ever made pressed against your ribs like broken glass.
Don’t let them take me alive. Agatha had asked for mercy. And you had given your word.
You stepped forward. Agatha flinched at your touch. That small movement nearly destroyed you.
-“Please”- Agatha whispered, her voice breaking for the first time-“Don’t make me watch you become like them, end me now"-she begged, you bent close enough that only Agatha could hear.
Rain streamed down yoht6 face like tears you refused to shed, and then you whispered
-“I made you a promise"-Agatha’s breath caught. The world seemed to stop. Then came the click. The cuffs sprang open. For one impossible heartbeat, nothing happened. Agatha’s eyes widened in realization, remembering her curse "The moment they remove my chains, you will be the first one to die" -"Captain, no…”-the cuffs fell to the ground, the heavy metal hit the ground, and a second latter the sound of a gunshot shattered the sky.
Heat exploded through your chest. For an instant, you felt only surprise. Your hands were to your chest, red tinted your fingertips, the warm blood staining your clothes. You lifted your eyes to see the witch, quickly turning pale and then your knees gave way. You fell forward into Agatha’s arms. The witch caught you with a strangled sound, her hands flying to the blood already blooming hot and dark across your uniform.
Agatha stared down at you, horror swallowing every feature. The curse had triggered the moment the cuffs released. The bullet had only made certain there would be no miracle.
-"(Y/N)...”-she gasped. Your trembled into the faintest smile. You lifted a shaking hand and touched Agatha’s cheek, your fingers already cold.
-"Don't be sad... Thank you for reminding me what happiness feel like" - you repeated what she said to you that morning and your hand fell, all the light left your eyes.
For a moment, the world held still. No thunder. No rain. No breath.
Then Agatha screamed. It was not the scream of a woman. It was grief given sound. Raw and ancient and terrible enough to split the heavens. The first soldier burst into ash before he could lower his rifle. The second crumpled as his shadow tore itself free and devoured him whole. Then the slaughter began. Darkness erupted from Agatha in waves, swallowing the square in screaming black. Stone cracked. Steel melted. Men vanished mid-breath, their bodies unraveling into nothing beneath the force of her rage.
The commander tried to run. Agatha raised one trembling hand. His body froze. Slowly, impossibly, he turned to face her. Her eyes blazed violet with ruin itself.
-“You took..."-she said, her voice deathly calm- “the only mercy this world ever offered me"-Her eyes were dark purple, almost black. He opened his mouth to beg. Agatha closed her fist. And he came apart like dust in the wind.
Silence followed. The rain returned. Soft now. Almost gentle.
Agatha dropped to her knees in the wreckage, gathering you into her arms. Blood soaked through her dress. She did not care. Her fingers shook as she brushed damp hair from your still face.
You looked peaceful. As though you were only sleeping. Agatha bowed her head and pressed her lips to your brow. The kiss lingered.
When she finally pulled away, her tears fell freely, vanishing into your skin. Her voice cracked on the word.
-“Stay...”-But the storm gave no answer.
For several long minutes, Agatha did not move.
The small stones bit into her knees through the soaked fabric of her dress, but she barely felt them. The rain fell endlessly around her, cold against her skin, while your body lay limp and heavy in her arms. She you her tighter with every passing second, as though enough desperation might force life back into you.
Then she heard it. Soft footsteps against the gravel. Barely there. But unmistakable. Agatha’s breath caught.
No.
Not her.
Not now.
-“Agatha…”- The voice was achingly familiar. An old love. The one person she had once trusted beyond reason. The one she had grown to hate more deeply than anyone in all her endless life.
Slowly, Agatha lifted her tear-streaked face. Death stood before her. Beautiful and terrible as ever, cloaked in darkness that seemed to drink the rain before it could touch her. Agatha’s arms tightened around your body.
-“Not her”-she whispered, her voice breaking.
-“Not again"-The words dissolved into a sob.
She bowed her head, clutching you closer, as though she could shield you even now-“I beg you…”-Pain flickered across Death’s face.
-“Nobody has received more mercy from the wheels of time than you, Agatha"-she said softly-“We cannot keep doing this"-Agatha shook her head violently.
-“I’ll give you anything"-Her voice cracked, frantic and raw-“The bodies you want, the souls, the blood, whatever price you ask. I will bring it to you, I swear it"-Her tears fell freely now, vanishing into your rain-soaked hair-“Just bring her back. Please"-she begged
Death’s expression twisted with sorrow.
-“I need to take her"-The words struck like a blade. Agatha went still. And then, with terrible certainty, she looked up.
-“Take my life instead"-Death’s eyes widened. There was no hesitation in Agatha’s voice. No fear. No bargaining left. Only truth-“Let her live,” she whispered- “Take me instead"-The rain hissed against the broken stones.
Death stared at her in stunned silence. Agatha had always been selfish. She had clawed and lied and killed to preserve her own endless existence. She had feared death with every ounce of her cursed soul. And yet here she knelt, offering immortality itself without a second thought. For you.
Something shifted in Death’s expression. Not pity. Understanding. Slowly, she knelt before her old love and reached trembling fingers toward Agatha’s cheek, brushing away a tear.
-“When next I come for you"- Death said quietly-“I wonder if you will regret this"-Agatha looked down at your still face and smiled through her grief.
-“Never"-For the first time in centuries, Death smiled back. Then she rose turning away.
And as she vanished into the storm, Agatha felt it. The terrible, ancient weight of immortality slipping from her body like chains falling away.
She still had some power left, but her heartbeat stumbled into fragile humanity.
And beneath her trembling hands, another heartbeat answered. Agatha froze. Heat returned to your body in a sudden rush. A sharp breath tore into your lungs. Your fingers twitched.
Your her eyes fluttered open, dazed and heavy, finding Agatha’s face through half-lidded confusion. For one breathless moment, neither moved.
-“Captain..."-Agatha choked.Your lips parted as though to speak, but exhaustion claimed you before words could come. Your eyes slipped closed again, and you fell into a deep, living sleep. Agatha laughed. A broken, disbelieving sound, half sob and half prayer.
She gathered you against her chest and pressed trembling kisses into your damp hair, tears falling freely at last.
She was mortal now. For the first time in longer than memory, her life had an end waiting somewhere ahead. And she had never felt more alive.
Because when that ending finally came, it would find her exactly where she wished to be:
At your side.
When you finished telling the story of your life, the magic fade away, and Agatha was in the middle of your legs, resting her head on your stomach looking at you with love and adoring eyes
-"What if we add some more chapters at our story, my Captain?"-she offered and you smiled, knowing that you still had a few more minutes before your children woke up.
-"I would love to, my witch" - she got up crawling closer to your lips to kiss you, with the same passion and love since the first time.