So.... - Nicholas

Another day of silence, mostly. Neea was a very quiet and relaxed baby but she still had her outbursts every now and then, but that was a good thing, if she never made any noise it would be worrying in a number of ways. They only thing that was worrying was her being hysterical when he was not in the same room as her. That alone is common among most babies being away from their parents, and its suggested that you make them used to it early, but it was different now that Lucile had left completely. For now he had to stay by her side, until he could figure out something or if somehow she came back.

He was lucky that he knew Mrs.Tomkins from his earlier work, he treated her son back in the day for a severe fever, and since he never charges for children she was grateful enough to help him out with Neea. Since Lucile was gone he needed to get the milk elsewhere, he still had contacts at the hospital but if certain people in there found out he had a child things would start going bad fast. Getting it off the streets would be too risky as well, too many diseases running around, adding the fact that there were a lot of addicts as well ruled that one out. But seeing as Mrs.Tomkins offered, he tested her and everything seemed fine, so he for the time being he got the milk he needed for her. He paid her for it as well even though she tried to refuse. The reason might have seemed kind but it was more about keeping his human side alive. He had been feeling less and less human ever since he turned, which was going to happen sooner or later anyway, but he refused to give it up, Lucile and Neea always helped with that but now it was only Neea. It didn't matter, it was his battle anyway, no reason to bring it out to anyone else.

After feeding her the last meal of the day he put the bottle on a table in the room and sat down on the bed with her, it wasn't that long until bedtime, but right now he just wanted to relax a bit with her. He fiddled a bit with the bracelet he had managed to fit on her some time ago, remembering Lucia last time he saw her.. Suddenly he hears the door open up in and someone stepping inside, as soon as he hears the voice he lights up, he looks at Neea and he can tell she recognizes the voice as well, she is dead silent and just looks at the bedroom door.
He gets up and opens the door and sees Lucile standing a few steps from the outside door. He had imagined several times how this would go, if she came home, or if he found her, or a thousand other scenarios. Neea was sitting on the bed with the door halfway open so she could see them, she was smiling but seemed anxious, like she was happy but confused. His first instinct was to run over to Lucile and just hug her, tell her how much he loved her, but he didn't. "Lucile... where.. where were you?" He has a relaxed tone, he was still surprised to see her, he was happy but with a pit in his stomach. "I've been looking for you.. Moon has been looking for you.. our friends have been looking for you.." He takes a step towards her, fighting the urge to embrace her, still not knowing why he's resisting it. He had a feeling he knew where she had been but he didn't want to believe it, that the rumors and scouts were wrong, somehow.

He was right, she had gone to him.. It wasn't surprising but still hit harder when he actually heard it, like punch in the gut, a needle stuck in his heart. Was this how she felt when he did the same to her? Back in the cabin, when they barely just found each other again, he left her alone to finish him off.. just like she did. He could never be angry at her, not for anything. So then why the restraints? It felt like chains holding him back, locked in place. Was it the fact that she didn't let him know? No.. he would only stop her if she did. It could have been that she left their daughter but again wasn't that why she did it? To make her safe? Or was it a selfish reason she choice to go to him for?
So much noise in his head, thinking about everything, why did it matter in the first place?

She was here, home..

Her embrace took his breath away, even thought he didn't have one in the first place. It untied the knot in his stomach, he had missed her touch more than anything, her smell, her voice, her aura.. It took him a second but eventually he the chains came off and he embraced her back, squeezing her tight. What she said hit hard as it was like hearing his own thoughts out loud back when he left her to do the same.
He could hear the pain in her voice, in her body, almost whimpering, reminding him of a wounded or scared animal.. Yet he didn't answer her, just listening, understanding her, agreeing with her. But he was not angry at her, not for anything. For some reason that line was repeating in his head, there was a force trying to make him angry, saying he should be angry, but yet he couldn't, not for anything..

As she looked at him he saw the pain in her eyes, another needle to the heart, like it was a cushion to keep them all in place. He wanted to take pain away, so he opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out, and when she looked at Neea it was too late. The bubble had to burst.
His arms slid off her as she moved away from him, he didn't want to hold her back, letting her sit down.
Standing there he was no longer chained in place, yet he paused before following her, looking back at Neea for a quick second, then dragged a nearby chair in front of Lucile and sat down. "Lucile.." he gently moved her hands away from her face and placed his hand on her cheek, slowly wiping her tears with his thumb. "I forgive you" In his mind there was nothing to forgive, but if she felt anything like he did then there would be a lot of guilt, so hopefully forgiveness would ease that. "Stop being so hard on yourself.. I understand why you did it, but you're home now, and that's all that matters" His tone had become warmer and brighter as they spoke, like the weight had been lifted, like life was good again, maybe only for a moment, but still a good one. He leans towards her while stroking her cheek gently with his thumb, looking her in the eyes with a gentle smile then gives her a soft kiss, raising his smile a bit as he leans back.

"I love you Lucile, nothing will ever change that.."

Neea had been quiet the whole time listening for the noises her parents made, but now that it was quieter she got anxious and started talking, or trying her best to, only making some noises. Nicholas bends his head slightly to the side, hearing Neea getting restless, then looks back at Lucile, moving some hair over her ear. "Are you ready?"

// Happy one year anniversary since the last answer lmao <3

// Heck yes, happy anniversary to the best ship exsisting! <3

As Lucile got up from the sofa and walked to the bedroom he could feel how tense she was about seeing their daughter again. He understood why but also knew that it would not take long for them to be like before. Even if Lucile had been through a lot, Neea was still just a baby and time was not even a thing for her yet. If anything the time apart would just have been lonelier than before. That said though, she did develop a severe anxiety that was visible every time she was alone. Nicholas got up and walked to the bedroom door where he leaned against the frame while watching Lucile embrace their daughter. As good as it was having Lucile back with him it was a special thing seeing her with Neea, all the months of worrying just washed clean off him, bringing a warm smile to his face as he saw the happiness in them both. Neea got quiet as soon as Lucile came in the room, and now that she could see her mother up close she became more familiar, her brain working hard to connect the dots about he person in front of her. She watched her every move as Lucile came over and sat down, picking her up into her arms. But as soon as she heard the heartbeat she knew who it was, there was only two people she had heard the heartbeat from, and they were very different. Her calming voice was also one of a kind. "Aeeckh" she squeaks happily as she wiggles in her mothers arms.

It was good seeing Lucile smile again, he knew she was feeling guilty about everthing that happened, but he was going to make sure she knew it was all ok. They had all the time in the world now, plenty of time to talk about everything and to play with Neea, even do things as a family again. Going to the parks, the markets, visiting friends or even taking Neea to the meadow for the first time. Just thinking about it brightened him up. "It's good seeing you two together again" he said with a mellow voice before he walked over and sat down next to them, holding one arm around Lucile. He then leaned over and kissed the side of her head, looked down at their daughter and tickled her side gently, just enough to make do a tiny squeak. "We missed you, youknow" he said in an assuring tone, meant in a way of not forgetting her, not in a guilty way. "I suppose we have a lot to talk about.. but that can wait. Settle in, relax, is there anything i can get you?" There was always plenty of time to talk now that she was home, so all he wanted not was to me she felt at home again, and after what had to be a long journey she had to be worn out.