Mama Mia (Here I go again) (Chapter 1: Does your mother know)
Word Count: 5.1k
Warnings: Unplanned Pregnancy (not explicit)
Summary: With an unplanned pregnancy affecting her ability to return home, Yuu decides to stay in Twisted Wonderland to raise her child. The problem however, was that she was unsure who the father of her child was. It could be the second prince of the Sunset Savannah, Leona Kingscholar. Or perhaps the actor and model, Vil Schoenheit. Or even the prince of Briar Valley, Malleus Draconia. Whichever the case, Yuu decides to take on the responsibility alone- and raise her daughter Yume, without the father knowing.
None of this would come to light though until her daughters 10th birthday party...
Notes:
Im supposed to be working on Eternal Youth rn- but lowkey got writers block and just wanted to write something fun/comical and light with no stress/worries. Not writing this to be my most amazing piece of liturature- but to just have fun. Enjoy!
“Are you certain of this? Everything you have worked towards- your goal since you’ve came to this land, has been to return home. And now, we are so close- nearly at the finish line.” Crowley said. His voice sounded like he pitied her- and even through he was commiserating with her new set of circumstances, it did little to make her feel better.
Because the truth was; she wasnt sure of her decision. Every single day, she teetered on the edge of wondering if she was doing what she felt was right or if she was making a mistake. More often than not, in the back of her head, she was close to changing her mind. Just him asking her that, reminding her of her home- the life she had left behind- made a lump form in her throat- words unsaid that were urging to leave her mouth. She breathed in deeply- calming her nerves as she composed herself, swallowing down the lump. It would do no good to doubt everything now that it was all said and done. She couldnt change what has happened.
So- she decided to hear out what her options were now. It was all she could do… “And… if I do decide I want to go home? What then?” She pursed her lips- thinking about adding more onto her question- clarifying her worry- but it was unneeded as Crowley gave her a small, but sad smile.
“Well… your child will be part of this world. It will have no place in your past life.” Crowley replied. “In short; it will be impossible for the child to accompany you back to your world- if you choose to return still.”
She knew this- knew this would be his response, had expected it- and yet still; she had held out hope. Hope that she would be wrong… but it was foolish for her to think that she could take one last reminiscence of this world. A world she had come to love just as deeply as the one she had came from. How long had it been since she had come here? 6 years? Almost 7? After she had graduated from Night Raven College, she had stopped keeping track.
And then… she had made a mistake- Well, really, three mistakes. In hindsight, who would have ever predicted this is what would happen? Her mother, certainly- who had warned her against having unprotected sex. And now, she would deal with the consequence- for she knew, even if her mind went back and forth, she could never abandon her child here.
“I… I cant then.” Yuu said with finality, the last of her doubt and hope leaving her mind. It was as if letting go of it all- and now, being able to mourn her old life- that she was able to have much more clarity. She could breath, she could truly now live and accept the world around her as hers now- because it wouldnt just be her world, but her childs home. She looked to Crowley, at peace with it. “Thank you… for atleast trying… I suppose now, all I can do is make the best life I can for myself and my child.” she looked down at her stomach- which concealed her fate, and would only grow over the next couple of months.
The next question in her mind was where she would even go. She had resided on Sage’s island ever since she had been brought to this world- knowing no other home. But it wasnt like she could raise a child on a school campus.
There was a pause of silence before Criowley asked: “And what of the father? Would I be overcrossing a boundary to ask weather the child's father is present?”
That was a difficult question- where would she even start with that. “No…” She replied. “The father will not be involved.” It wouldnt be fair- especially when she didnt even know who the father was. But she wouldnt admit that- especially not to Crowley! She had not even told Grim the truth… He didnt need to know anything other than that she wouldnt be returning home because she was pregnant. That was it.
“Well, luckily for you- My generosity know’s no bounds! And because of all of the assistance and dedication you’ve offered the school over the years you have been here, I will grant another gift.” Yuu frowned- confused on what he was referring to. She knew she had stopped a multitude of disasters over the past couple of years she had been here- especially in her first year when she had stopped seven overblots- but what gift could he give her that would make a difference?
She decided to take the bait. “Oh yeah? And what is that?”
“Well, the school owns a couple of buildings within town- some of which we rent out. Now- I know you do not have the funds currently to rent, however perhaps we could come up with another compromise?” A compromise…? “There is currently a storefront for a cafe, which closed down around a decade ago and hasnt reopened since. Well… its been popular demand that it be brought back- however, I was never able to find someone to manage the store… until now. How would you like to run the cafe?” Yuu was speechless- her mouth opening and closing as she tried to figure out what to say. “I would grant you funds for food and necessities ofcourse- and there is an apartment above the storefront that you can board in… I ask that you just consider it.”
There wasnt much to consider through. It was the best option she had heard in a long time; she would live in a familiar place, relatively safe- she would be able to have a job, a place to live, a stead source of income… it was all she could ask for really. So- she didnt need time to consider it- she knew what her answer was. “I accept.”
────•⋅⊰༻ 9 years later ༺⊱⋅•────
“Yume- you’re gonna be late!” Yuu called upstairs- receiving no reply back.
In a month, it will have been 10 years since her daughter had been born. 10 years of living on Sage’s Island and running the coffee shop for Crowley. 10 years of ups and lows- and coming to grieve, mourn and unteather herself from her old world. It had been easier than she imagined when Yuu not only had herself but her daughter and Grim to think of now. “Grim-” Yuu’s companion poked his head up from the blanket where he rested on one of the many booths in the coffee shop area downstairs. He blinked grogily and let out a yawm- as she pointed up. “Please go get Yume- she is going to be late for school if she isnt down in the next two minutes.”
“Yume! You’re gonna be late!” Grim repeated, yelling upstairs as well, and Yuu put her hands on her hips with a look of irritation.
“Thanks Grim- I could have done tha-” But then there was the sound of small footsteps on the stairs, the sound of a child running down the stairs.
“Im coming!” A high pitched voice called out, and sure enough, in entered her daughter- dressed with her backpack on her back. She had dressed herself, and though she was a little younger than 10 years old, she looked neatly put together. “Im ready to go.”
“Good! Say goodbye to Grim and lets go-” Yuu said as she rushed towards the door. Yume took her time though as she approached their companion.
“Bye Grim!” Yume reached down and gave a big hug to Grim- who accepted it graciously and patted her back the best he could with his paws.
“Bye kid- go and learn something.” He gave another yawn, stretching his back in a similar manner to a cats after Yume let him go.
“I will!” She chirped and ran towards Yuu, running out the door. Yuu pointed at Grim, expectantly.
“Im taking her to school. When I get back, you better be awake and the machines better be running. We open in less than an hour and they need atleast 30 minutes to get hot and going.” She reminded him, but he squashed her worries as he leaped down and walked towards the kitchen.
“Im going, im going.” He grumbled. Yuu smiled, closing the door behind her. She knew he didnt like to wake up early, and yet, without fail for the last few years, he has woken up early to help her set up the shop- even if with a few complaints every now and again. Yuu walked up ahead, finally catching up to Yume, who’s short legs had made it such a far distance without her. Once she finally caught up, Yume held out her hand to Yuu, to hold her hand as they walked- which Yuu took.
“Mama-” Yume started, and Yuu let out a hum that she was listening as they walked the quiet streets. It was early enough in the morning that there was hardly anyone else out and about- especially students from the nearby schools- but not so early that there was no sun. The only people who occupied the streets were the locals and other store owners who were setting up before opening. “My birthday is coming up!”
“Yes it is dear.” Yuu replied. A dog crossed their path, with its owner following behind with a leash. They halted before continuing their walk.
“I know what I want for my birthday…” Yume’s voice drifted off- unsure of herself. Yuu looked down to her daughter, now intrigued.
“And what would that be?”
“I want to know who my father is. I want him to come to this birthday…” Yume asked, and Yuu stopped in her tracks- startled. She knew this would come one day, the day her daughter grew up and would understand the difference between her peers having a two parent household, compared to her own household of just Yuu and Grim. Maybe when she was 5, that was enough, but now… and Yuu could not fault her for it either.
“Well, that is…” she didnt even know where to start, or how to respond. “Your father… loves you very much- but wont be able to come.” Yuu lied- because she couldnt admit just yet that her father- whoever he was- did not know she existed. But Yume wouldnt just leave it at that- she pressed the issue, her own curiosity now outgrowing the answers that Yuu had always supplied her daughter with. That her father was ‘a busy person’, or that ‘he would meet her one day’. But it was no longer good enough.
“But why not? Why cant he come? And dont say its because he is busy- how can he be so busy he cant make time for me?” Yuu pursed her lips. She could see how distraught her daughter was about this- and so, this time, she decided to tell her something equivalent to a truth.
Yuu stopped, pulling her daughter off to the side of the sidewalk, as she crouched down to look her in her eyes. Eyes that looked exactly like her own. Perhaps if Yume even had a hint of her father’s features in her, Yuu would have been able to determine who he was, but fate would have it that she looked like a replica of her mother. “He is a very, very important person Yume. Many people look to him, depend on him, and… well, we need him a little less than other’s do.” It wasnt a lie- it was the truth no matter who she thought of. “Besides, dont be too bummed. Uncle Ace and Deuce are making a special trip to come and celebrate with us!” She could see the disappointment still evident on her child’s face- so she rubbed her shoulders up and down to soothe her. “Im sorry- Is that okay?”
Yume was quiet for a short while, before breathing out and nodding. “Its okay, Mama.” She said. “I understand…”
────•⋅⊰༻♥༺⊱⋅•────
However, there is the thing about children: though they might say one thing, they dont mean it. And with Yume- even though she had told her mother she understood- she did not. In her mind, what could be more important that a birthday? Especially her 10th birthday. There was nothing more important than that- and so, she decided that if her mother would not treat this with the urgency is required, then she would.
At first, she was faced with the biggest problem; who was her father? Her mother had never given her a name, a homeland, anything that hinted at who he was exactly to narrow down the search. So, Yume turned to the next best thing after the internet- her mothers private journals. It was brilliant really- and if her mother wouldnt be angry at her for snooping through her belongings, she might have been proud of Yume for being so smart.
Yume opened a box with dust that had gathered on it that had been sitting in the storage room for as long as she could remember. It was a box of belongings that her mother had stored away years ago- things from her years at Night Raven College. On top of the box, in black marker, was a list of things that were tucked away; uniforms, old books, and journals. Journals that possibly contained all the answers to her neverending list of questions that had accumulated since she was 5.
There were only three journals really- not a lot- and there was little written in each of them. The first was written like a fantasy book- perhaps a story her mother had written when she was younger. A story about someone being tossed into a world where they did not belong, and defeating magic that corrupted a persons being- things of fiction. It was then in the next journal, after her mother had graduated from school that Yume found something more tangible in terms of answers; she found names. She recognized some of the names; her uncle Deuce and Ace, her uncles Epel, Jack and Sebek… and then there were some names she didnt recognize. Three names in particular that came up multiple times.
The first was Vil Schoenheit- a name that was very familiar to Yume. He was in some of her favorite movies- and appeared on Television more times than she could count. If he was her father, it would make sense what her mother had said about him being an important person- and Vil Schoenheit most certainly was a very big and important person.
The next was Leona Kingscholar. She did not recognize him, and so she did what everyone did; she looked up his name. There, she found he was the second prince of the sunset savannah. She gasped, giggling excitedly at the idea. That would also make him an ideal candidate- another important person who would hypothetically be too busy to make it to her birthday party. And if he was her father- that could make her a princess! Another loud giggle, as she clutched her tablet-
“Hey, whats all the laughter about?” Grim asked, causing Yume to let out a yelp and cover her tablet and the journal with a nearby pillow.
“Nothing!” She answered quickly. ‘Im just… watching a funny video!”
Grim looked at her, suspicious of her answer, before shrugging and walking into the kitchen. After she could hear his footsteps become further and further, she let out a sigh of relief. She grabbed the journal from underneath the pillow once more and opened it, continuing to read until she found the last name.
Malleus or ‘Hornton’- No last name, and when she looked up the first two names, nothing for Malleus or ‘Hornton’ was found. The closest thing she could find was that the name Malleus came from Briar Valley- an area with little known about it, and therefore, her search was limited. But even so… it was a start.
At the end of the journal, after some passages of her mothers experience at being pregnant with Yume- was three letters. They were unsealed, dusty as well with some of the ink being faded- but still legible. Yume opened each letter, reading the contents. All three contained the same exact message- just with the names swapped out between Vil, Leona and Malleus’s. Each being confessions- the confession that Yume existed.
Suddenly, Yume didnt feel too good. These letters… it made it seem like her dad didnt know she existed… and maybe thats why he never came to anything, never visited, was not around… because the truth was that he didnt know she was alive.
Well- no longer would that be the case! He needed to know, whoever which one of them he was. She sprang up, running to her room and taking out all of her art supplies. She grabbed three empty invitation cards, and started working. Each one, she decorated with a careful hand- placing stickers and drawing with her markers animals and party balloons. On each one, she wrote a message-
“You are invited to Yume’s 10th birthday party! Please come, I would love to meet you. Love, Yume.” She spoke outloud as she wrote. She shoved her creations into the already written envelopes- and sealed them closed with tape. The addresses that were written on them were from 10 years ago- so hopefully they would receive it. And when all three were finished and closed, she looked at them with a huge grin. “There! Now he will have to come and meet me!” She said victoruously.
She ran downstairs, putting on her shoes as Grim sat nearby, loafed on the couch. “Where you off to kid?”
“To the postbox- I have a few letters to deliver-” She said, however left out who they were for.
“Okay- sounds good. Just be careful..” And Grim laid his head back down. He had grown to love home life with Yume and Yuu- especially on their days off of work or when it wasnt busy in the cafe.
“I will be.” She assured him and ran out the door quickly. A couple of streets down and she made it to the postbox, slipping the letters in. Now, there was no turning back. But Yume was ecstatic as she skipped back to her home- thinking about herself in a princess dress and not having to attend school anymore because she would be too important as well…
────•⋅⊰༻♥༺⊱⋅•────
“Happy Birthday Yume!” Yuu exclaimed as her daughter walked downstairs, and she engulfed the girl into a huge hug, placing kisses on her forehead and anywhere else on her face she could. “Awww, my baby is 10 years old- you are getting too old!”
“Mama-” Yume giggled, pushing her mom off of her, but failing. “Come on- youre heavy!”
Yuu laughed, letting up off her daughter and backing up. “Well, thats not very nice- especially since Im the one who got you a surprise… One I think you’ll really enjoy-” Yume perked up at that- as she remembered what she had done. “I also have a surprise for you!” She said, bouncing up and towards the kitchen as she followed Yuu.
“For me? But its your birthday Yume- you didnt need to get me anything…” Her mother replied, and Yume shook her head.
“Its a surprise for the both of us- but I think its one you’ll really like.” The girl said, as she watched her mother start to get out some of the decorations. “Here, let me help!”
Yuu smiled, looking down as she handed Yume some deflated balloons. “Do you think you can blow some of these up and hang them on the fence?”
“You can count on me!” The girl took the balloon pack and ran outside without her shoes on. Yuu thought to call out and correct her, but instead, just scoffed and gave a small grin as she shook her head. Sure she might get dirt and mud on her, but it could all be washed away- it was all temporary, but making sure her birthday was an enjoyable one was her priority.
It wasnt until later on in the day that Yuu was fussing over her daughters appearance- after the decorations were set up, and almost all of the food was finished, Yuu started getting herself and Yume dressed. Her daughter had picked out a pretty turquoise dress, and had been the one to decide what her hair style would be- and Yuu, well, all she could do was obey her daughters request.
Just as they were wrapping up getting ready, there was a knock on the door, and Yume got up. “I got it!” Yuu watched as her daughter opened the front door, jumping up and down. “Uncle Ace! Uncle Juice!” In the doorway were her old classmates and friends. The past ten years had significantly changed the both of them, as they had gotten taller and their boyish features had filled out into more sturdy looking ones- stronger jawlines, and both were much more sure of their own magical abilities.
In both of their arms were boxes- presents with colorful paper and beautiful ribbons- wrapped so nicely that she doubted that the both of them had decorated them as so. “Hey kid- Happy Birthday!!!” Ace said, and Yume jumped to hug both him and Deuce. “You’ve grown a lot- how long has it been since we last seen you- a couple months now?”
“Its Uncle Deuce-” Deuce said exasperatedly. When Yume was two and still learning words and who people were- Ace had made a one off joke and referred to Deuce as ‘Uncle Juice’- and ever since then, it had stuck. Yume now knew his name was Deuce- but still lovingly referred to him as Uncle Juice occasionally. “And, I believe its been nine months since we last seen each other-”
“Almost a year now?!” Yuu asked. “It felt like its only been two or three months- not nine- wow… we are getting old…” Yuu laughed- and Ace and Deuce joined in.
“Not that old- but we certainly are aging… And you too Yume, youre 10 now!” Deuce said.
Yume nodded her head. “Yup- Im getting older too!” She said. “Oh! Uncle Ace, Uncle Deuce- I helped decorate!”
Ace looked around and nodded- “Yeah I can tell- I like what you did with the place-”
“The decorations are outside, idiot.” Deuce side eyed Ace- and the red head looked shocked.
“Y-Yeah I knew that! I was just complimenting Yuu and Yume’s interior decoration skills as well!” Yume laughed, and Yuu beamed at the sight. Seeing all of her loved ones here, and ready to havea good time made her feel like everything that had happened had been worth it.
“Thank you, Ace. Now, how about we all go outside to admire Yume’s decoration skills and start this party?” Yuu asked- and they all agreed.
────•⋅⊰༻♥༺⊱⋅•────
It was about an hour later- when the party truly started- that the food was brought out. Ace had some things on the grill after insisting he could barbeque the best out of the three of them, however was slowly regretting it as smoke rose from the grill.
“Is it supposed to be smoking that much?” Deuce asked- though he knew the answer to that- it probably shouldnt be.
“Yeah! Yeah- thats what gives the meat all the flavor- dont you know?” Ace asked- poking at one of the steaks that were grilling. Yume rubbed her eyes and shook her head.
“The smoke is hurting my eyes Uncle Ace-” She whinned- and he quickly closed the grill.
“Well- lets just close that and let it cook then, huh?” He asked hypothetically, as he decided to just leave the meat to cook. As he did so, Yuu came back out with a bowl that had lettuce and other ingredients in one hand, and another bowl in the other that was already prepared.
“Here-” She set down the premade bowl. “Here is the macaroni salad I made last night. And- I still need to put the salad together-” She set down the second bowl filled with the uncut lettuce head and other things. “Aaannnddd- I have your surprise inside! Let me go get it.” And Yuu went back inside.
Ace looked to Deuce and Yume- “Suprise? Dont we do presents after cake?” He asked, and Deuce and Yume nodded.
“Yeah- but this isnt a present- its a surprise.” Deuce stated- and it didnt help with Ace’s confusion. It wasnt until Yuu came outside with a giant cake box in her hands that it clicked into place for Ace and Deuce.
“Well… my surprise for you was that I got you an ice cream cake- Your favorite!” She opened the box. “We cant eat it until later- but I couldnt wait to show you it- and look! It has your favorite animal on it- a bunny!” Yuu pointed. Sure enough, there was rabbits drawn in gray frosting on the borders of the cake, that was lined with purple frosting.
“Oh wow! I love ice cream cake and bunnies- im so excited!!!” Yume looked- standing on her tiptoes to see the cake better. Before she could say anything esle though, there was a knock at the front door- a knock that was unexpected. Yuu looked around, confused. Everyone who was invited was there already- could it be Crowley? He had never popped in unannounced before- not without telling her atleast. “Who could that be?” She muttered under her breath and sat the cake down gently on the table. She wiped her hands on her pants, and got ready to go get the door before she was stopped.
“I-I’ll go get it!” Yume shot up, raising her hand as she volunteered.
Yuu raised an eyebrow, now suspicious. “Did you invite someone?” She asked her daughter, as she sprinted from her chair to the porch back door to head back inside.
“You could say that… Its your surprise!” She exclaimed, and without waiting, ran inside. Before opening the front door, she breathed in a deep breath, preparing herself. This was something she had been waiting for for years now- all culminating to this one moment. This would change her life forever- and so, she unlocked the front door and opened it.
Standing in front of her were three individuals. The three she had been expecting… “You came! You all came! I wasnt sure if you would get my letter, but im so happy-” She gasped- stars practically in her eyes as she looked up to all three of them.
They all looked down at her- as if they could not believe she existed as well- like she was an alien or something odd but interesting nonetheless. “Your letter? So, your the one who wrote out this invitation and sent it to us?” One of the men’s ears twitched as he held up her the invitation she had written out, as well as the letter with her mothers handwriting behind it.
“Yeah! I invited you- but the letter is from my mom.” She explained.
“You are Yume then? Correct?” The tall man with black hair asked. He was the tallest of the three of them- black hair with green on the tips. He wore a black coat with a royal purple waist tie- it was a fancy outfit, but hardly fit the occasion. His ears were pointed- a trait she had seen on only a few people- mainly, a few students from the nearby schools. He must be fae- she concluded. Yume nodded exuberantly at his question- excited he had remembered her name.
“Thats right! I’m Yume-” She extended her hand out as much as she could- but with all of them being rather taller than her, they had to bend down in order to properly grasp her hand and shake it. “Its nice to meet all of you.”
“Where is Yu-” The brown haired man stopped and hesitated, before clearing his throat. “Your mother?” She looked at his appearance- His hair wasnt exactly combed, but it wasnt messy either- with braids throughout. He wore a leather jacket with a lose shirt underneath that was a golden color. Beaded jewlery decorated his neck in bright colors- she recognized it and her eyes brightened.
“You must be Leona Kingscholar- Second Prince of the Sunset Savvanah.” She replied, not answering his question. She then turned to the tall, blonde man that was combed back. He was impeccably dressed- a silk shirt, black pants, gold braclets and necklaces- a true super star. He even seemed to sparkle like he did in all his movies- it was almost blinding. “And you- you are Vil Schoenheit! You were in ‘Moonlight Horizons- one of my favorite movies!”
“You have immaculate taste then.” Vil smiled and folded his arms over one another. “But I also must wonder- where is your mother?” Vil pulled from his inner pocket her invitation as well that didnt have even a fold- kept perfectly flat. “And does she know about this?”
Yume looked at the invitation, and gave a sheepish grin. “Yeah- she knows about the letter- she’s the one who wrote it after all.” She replied. She left out though that her mother had written that letter more than a decade ago- and that she had not sent it, but Yume had. “Yeah, she knows. Please- come in! She’s in the backyard and would love to see you.”
They looked to one another, as if they were only then questioning if they were going to listen and follow a child into her house. However, it seemed their curiosity won out, as they followed her, through her apartment and into the backyard just as she said.
Yuu’s back was turned, as she prepared a salad for the table before the party started. She was just placing the ingredients into the bowl before she was interrupted.
“Umm- Yuu?” Ace turned to his friend nervously. She looked up from the task at hand.
“Yeah? What is it?” When she did look up finally, she saw the terrified and perplexed faces of not only Ace, but Deuce and Grim as well- as they pointed towards the apartment door. She spun and looked- and immediately wished she had not.
In front of her stood three figures from her past that she had not seen in a decade- all following behind her daughter- or rather… the daughter she had had with one of them. They all looked to her, expectantly- and looking almost as they had all those years ago.
Malleus was the first to speak; “Child of man, it is good to see you.”
“Long time no see, Herbivore.” Leona nodded- though he looked less pleased.
And Vil- he held onto a letter- her letter that she had written, and held it up to her, waving it. “Potato- we have much to discuss.”
They knew. And they knew she knew….
This was gonna be a long party.
Next Chapter:
Chapter 2: Chiquitita
