Raksha had been out for some time running some necessary errands that were needed. She had told herself, however, that she would make it back home with enough time to cook something quick so that Rama would be able to eat before he had to head off to work.
Her husband was on dad duty in the mean time, which Raksha was greatly appreciative of. It was hard being able to complete much of any errand with a one year old in toll.
The brunette couldn’t believe that she officially had a one year old. A bustling, lively, full of laughter and trouble causing curiosity one year old.
Rhea was at the stage where she was full fledge walking now. She could even run, always grabbing at something/anything that was near by and giving it as a gift to her parents. It was a sort of game for her and one that constantly had Raksha on her toes, making sure her baby didn’t grab something unsafe and that could cause harm.
Baby proofing items was actually part of her errand list and all was set and done now for Raksha to return home with enough time to spare.
It was unlocking her door and stepping in that Raksha noticed the lights all dimmed and the strong whiff of food. That was strange.... she hadn’t left anything cooking.... What was also strange was that she couldn’t hear, or smell Rhea. Neither her or her wolf could. By this point Rama had appeared from the kitchen, Raksha now looking at her husband with confused features.
It was Akela’s job to make sure that everyone in the pack was taking care of themselves. And he worried about all of them.
Mowgli -- who had lost his mother, his aunts and uncles and cousins. Who had discovered a part of himself that was terrifying and out-of-control. And unlike the wolf, which Akela could help him control, Akela did not know how to control this beast that sprouted from Mowgli’s fingers. He worried about Mowgli’s sleepless nights and how he slipped in and out of the house like a panther through the shadows.
Raksha -- because she had lost the most and given the most as well. It was one thing from a father’s perspective to lose their child, but a mother’s pain was deep and true, their bodies knew that child more than anyone. They had created and carried them. She had not been well, Akela knew, and he knew, too, that Rhea would never heal the hurt.
Rama -- oh, Rama, who threw himself into his work, who had shut himself down in order to take care of his mate, in order to keep himself together. Akela could tell it was wearing on him, and he knew that Akela’s presence caused some of that responsibility to drop from Rama’s shoulders, which was good, because Rama could not be stretching himself so thin, he was a father twice-over now.
Which was why he had instructed Rama to drop by on his day off. It was not a command, of course, but Akela meant well, and he knew Rama would not ignore such a request from his Alpha.
So, when there was a knock at the door, Akela opened it swiftly, smiling at his Beta and reaching his hands out for the baby at once. “May I see my jaan?”
It had been a long week and Raksha felt exhausted. It wasn’t so much a physical exhaustion as much as it was a mental one. Of course, a lack of sleep can do that to anyone, and it will happen with a newborn in a home, but even that hadn’t been the problem.
The problem was her daughter.
Raksha couldn’t shake the thoughts that seemed to torment her whenever her eyes fell over the now month old newborn. There was no pushing away the gnawing crawl that always slammed down on her when she felt like she had no right to be holding the small child. She couldn’t shove down the guilt far enough for what she had felt towards her daughter before.
All of it constantly weighed down on Raksha, day in and day out. It made it so hard on those days she had her daughter alone and the brunette couldn’t understand it. She loved Rhea, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her baby, but whenever she looked at her.... it hurt. Whenever there was another person around, Raksha was the first to make sure they were holding her daughter.
It was what was happening now. Rama was home, he had the day off and Raksha couldn’t be more thrilled that he had been holding their daughter all day long. That pure elation was mixed in with twisting knot of guilt because she knew she wasn’t suppose to be feeling that way. It was horrible. She was an inadequate mother, she should have never become one a second time around.
Raksha stepped out of the kitchen to find her husband on the couch Rhea fast asleep in his arms. “Did she finish eating?”
Summary: In which Raksha has some news to share to Rama and the pair decides to make some changes.
Trigger Warning: None
@ahopelessramantic
Raksha
Raksha was at home doing some dishes. Rhea was sound asleep, a feat to accomplish as having a one year old was never easy. She always wanted to fight her sleep, and if Raksha knew her daughter well, she also wanted to see her father before she fell asleep.
Of course, the pup lost the battle this time around.
The door hinge could be heard turning, and the brunette stopped what she was doing to head to he living room. Rama had stepped in, looking exhausted from work. She knew things had to be trickier than usual after the last were-wolf attack that happened in town, but she hoped the news she had to tell him would lift up his spirits.
She almost debated whether in not in telling him anything. Perhaps now wasn’t a good time… but he would find out eventually won’t he? Now was a good a time as any.
Raksha approached him, placing a gentle kiss on his lips as she smiled up at him.
“Rhea did not want to fall asleep. She wanted to see you before those eyes of her closed. It was a battlefield not letting her have her way. You have spoiled that child and you are not allowed to go in that bedroom! Let her sleep.”
She teased, giving her husband a bit of a wolfish grin.
“How was work?”
Rama
Rama was always zombified after a long shift, always immediately ready to lay down on any flat surface - fuck, even the floor - and close his eyes. But the second he got home and saw his wife and little daughter, he was energized again for at least a little while.
Though Rhea was fast asleep, it warmed his heart that she was very stubbornly wanting to see him. He felt awful he had to work so much, and had to miss out on a lot of time with her. But Rhea was his little girl for sure, complete with a strong attachment to her father.
“It was work,” Rama said with a small yawn, pulling Raksha into a hug before guiding her toward the couch to cuddle. “Not bad though. Nobody else got bit by a werewolf, so no more heart attacks for nurse Bhediya.”
Raksha
Raksha was pulled over to sit on the couch and once she sat down, she grabbed a hold of her husband so that he could rest his head on her lap. She knew he had to be over exhausted she felt the exhaustion roll off of him. With the attack that had happened recently… she was sure that only made his work the more tasking and tiring. When she had heard the news of the wolf attack, it had greatly disturbed Raksha.
Werewolves were already seen in a bad light, all deemed monsters no matter the circumstance. To now have an attack… she feared for the safety of her family, especially for the safety of her daughter. Rhea had so much life to live… she didn’t want that taken from her because of the wrong doings and opinions of others. She had lost a son because of those same evil thoughts and prejudice of many people, she couldn’t bare losing another child again.
The thought left her unsettled, especially in the light of what she had to tell her husband.
“Well, I’m glad there aren’t news of any more attacks. One is bad enough for all of us…” She spoke idly as her fingers gently passed through the dark waves of her husband’s hair.
“Do… you think it is safe for us here, Rama?” She asked, concern lacing her words. “I’m worried… if.. If it were to get more frantic… do you think that it is safe?”
Rama
Rama bit his lip as Raksha ran her fingers through his hair. He gave a thoughtful hum as he considered his answer.
“I think...we are safer here than a lot of other places. But I also think the label ‘magick friendly town’ is a bit of a misnomer.” He answered.
He took Raksha’s hands in his and pressed a kiss to the back of one. “Why the sudden question? I promised I’d protect you this time. Has something happened?”
Raksha
Raksha’s thoughts had taken a hold of her as Rama placed a kiss onto one of her hands. She had barely registered the gesture as she wondered if she could agree with her husband.
Was Swynlake really the safest choice now?
Her eyes fell over the bedroom that held their precious sleeping daughter for a moment. Perhaps Swynlake would be safe for them all but she had news that can very well change that position and she just… she couldn’t get this gnawing feeling out of her. Raksha blinked bringing herself back to the present right on time to hear Rama’s question.
“No, no I don’t doubt your protection my love. I know that you will do anything and everything to keep us safe for both Rhea and myself. I never doubt that, Rama, but it is just that…”
Raksha took a pause to look at her husband a bit of a sly smile curving over her lips as she angled her position on the couch to fully face Rama. She took one of his hands moving it now so that it touched her stomach.
“I have recently found out that I am pregnant.”
Rama
It took a moment to register. Did...she say what he thought she said? As his hand was sprawled out over her stomach, his heart tried to leap out of his chest.
Pregnant. Their dream of a big family was coming true, Rhea would be a big sister!
“When did you find out, my love?”
Raksha
Raksha smiled to see the look of shock mixed with excitement that had coated her husband’s features as she laughed a little.
“Not too long ago it had only been a couple of days, but I was waiting for the perfect time to tell you. With everything that had been going on in town, however I knew that I was going to have to let you know sooner.”
The Great Prince was gone, so was Akela, that man had been bitten and turned into a wolf along with the other girl. This wasn’t a safe time for werewolves in Swynlake anymore.
“We are not safe here.” Raksha confessed her fear quietly. “This town will be in paranoia of us and I will be pregnant during it all. I will not feel safe or calm throughout it all. I do not want that for this baby. This baby should have a positive environment to grow in both mentally and physically. I could not give that to Rhea, so I want to be able to for this baby.”
Raksha paused a moment placing her hand above his on her stomach.
“We should move, Rama.”
Rama
Rama stared down at their hands, suddenly so aware of the reality of this situation. Their alpha was gone. He’d killed one of their only allies. And now this town was out to get werewolves. Or soon will be.
Adam had separated from the pack, so while he was an ally to Rama and Raksha, who had done him no wrong, he wasn’t family anymore. They had nobody but themselves really. Shere’s friendship could not offer the protection of an entire pack. He was no longer just a beta. As of now, he was the alpha of a small pack— his wife, and their children.
Rama was not a revolutionary. He could not and would not risk his wife’s mental health to make a statement for their kind.
“I...I agree with you, my love. I have a proposal, now that you’ve brought it up.” He glanced toward the bedroom, where Rhea was sleeping, and sighed sadly.
“Will you agree to me sending you and Rhea to live with Ritu and her husband in Wales?” Rama asked.
After Ritu had found him, and after that initial emotional confrontation, the siblings had reconnected. Ultimately, Ritu’s refusal to believe the drug addiction narrative led Rama to tell the truth. To show her the truth. He transformed into a wolf in front of her, and prepared for her hyperventilating to turn to rage and hatred, but the young woman tentatively reached forward to bury her hand in his wolf’s fur instead.
‘Rama, it’s you?’ Ritu had asked him. ‘You’re in there, and you know me?’
Rama wagged his tail like a domestic dog in an attempt to answer her affirmatively.
After a good long while of Ritu petting the wolf’s fur, her eyes drifted to the folded change of clothes. Why…? Oh. ‘Do you need me to turn around so you can...not be naked?’
He gave a low, embarrassed little whimper as he lowered his head.
‘Okay, okay,’ Ritu laughed, turning her back. ‘Just tell me when it’s safe.’
Ritu had a million questions for Rama. Raksha has given him permission to reveal her to his sister if she reacted well to him. He explained how Akela saved him— but left out his name —, and how life was with their pack, and how he met Raksha and knew she’d be his mate. The siblings spent hours talking about Rama’s life as a werewolf, how mates worked, and the tragedy of losing their pack and Rahil.
Ritu had cried for her brother’s loss, Rama comforted her. She forgave him, and it was Rama’s turn to cry.
“I’ll join you in a few weeks,” he promised. “I...have a duty as a nurse to work out the rest of my schedule and give advance notice of my resignation. But you’re right. We should leave. And I want you and Rhea safe immediately. Ritu’s husband has land, remember? Your wolf can run. And Ritu will look after Rhea with you until I can join you. I’ll find work once I’m there to take care of you and Rhea.”
“I’ll miss you, but it will only be a short time. I’ll feel better if you’re in Wales with my sister while I tie up loose ends here.”
Raksha
Raksha remained silent a moment as she processed all Rama had finished telling her. She did know of the situation with Ritu, she knew that she was aware of their family and who they were, she knew of the husband’s land, she knew of it all, so none of that came as a surprise to her.
She just… she didn’t know if she wanted to leave alone without her husband.
Wales was ideal. It wasn’t too terribly far, but it was far enough. It was part of the United Kingdom and would make paper work for the family easier to obtain. As it wasn’t terribly far as well, it will be easier to move with a one year old in toll.
Her eyes fell over the bedroom door that held her sleeping one year old so oblivious to all the dangers of this world and what was going on that left her parents so worried. She squeezed onto Rama’s hand a little more knowing that even if she didn’t like the idea of separating at this moment, it was the right thing that needed to be done for their growing family. Their focus had to be their children, they couldn’t allow what happened to Rahil to happen to their current children.
Raksha shifted her head so that she was able to look and focus her attention on Rama now.
“I.. I do not like the fact that we have to separate for a time, especially with how the town is now at this moment, but you are right. Leaving so quickly from your job without the proper notification would only lead to suspicion that is not needed. You have to stay safe though, okay? That is not a request, you have to because I will not raise this family alone without you.”
Raksha leaned forward her hands moving now so that they could cup her husband’s features. She pressed a soft and gentle kiss on his lips, pulling back with a smile.
“You have to make it to Wales to be there for our new baby. We’ll be happy, and have a growing family like we always wanted. You, me and god knows how many children running wild around us, so you have to make it back. I love you, and I will go ahead with Rhea, but if you do not return, I promise I will hunt you in your grave.”
Raksha had been feeling antsy lately, and she knew a great deal of all that restlessness came with the fact that she hadn’t been able to enjoy a good and proper run. Ever since the birth of Rhea she had been home making sure she was taken care of.
Even against her own struggles with her now three month old newborn, she still made sure she was well taken cared of.
In doing so, she had given up her morning runs. It was three months without the steady feel of the forest underneath the paws of her wolf, three months without the sweet smell of pinewood, and hearing Enchantra’s calling. It was three solid months in where her wolf was now feeling the lost increasing Raksha’s fidgeting.
And so, she had dropped of Rhea with Akela a scheduled dropped off that she had properly begged for leaving him with everything her daughter will possibly need for the day.
She just wanted a run, one little run and so she went home and waited for her husband.
Raksha wanted to run with him. He needed one too... they’ve both been cooped up and she wanted to spend some time with him. She knew they lived together, had a child together, and shared the same bed.... but Raksha had been distant since the death of her son, had been pushing him away and instead of leaning on him and allowing them both to grieve together. She wanted that change. She wanted her husband.
Rama entered through the door as Raksha approached him with a smile. “You have to be tired.... coming home from work... I know. But Rhea, she is with Akela for a while and I wanted to run... or run with you. We haven’t ran together in a while... and I want that with you. Would you run with me? It does not have to be for long...”
This wasn’t an uncommon sentence because the ginger had a chronic condition that was killing her more and more each day, however, this wasn’t a cancer sick.
Or well.... it could be caused because of it. Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia killed a person’s immune system, so it wasn’t unusual for Ellie to end up with some sort of infection. However, it would be a bad, bad, BAD idea if she didn’t go and get it treated right away.
Horrible immune system meant her body wasn’t really fighting much off now, and if they didn’t fight it off.... death could be pretty close.
Not that it wasn’t anyways.... but she’ll digress.
She had came to the ER the moment she took her temperature back home and the thermometer had read 103.5 F. That was never good, and she felt horrible. She had one of the worse coughs she’d ever had before, a productive one filled with thick green mucus that filled her chest with a sharp tightening pain each time she hacked one out.
Then there was the over bearing fatigue, which honestly Ellie was use to because she often had it with her cancer, but she wasn’t so use to these chills. Her body was shaking even now as she was brought into a patient room waiting to be seen. Soon enough a nurse had entered, one the redhead hadn’t met yet (she has met most of them already). Poor guy... he’d be stuck needing to go through her pretty large chart.
Ellie smiled warily her arms hugging herself to help with her chills. “I’m sorry.... I-I have a pretty big chart... I can umm I can tell you everything that’s in there and it-it would probably go a lot faster....”
