How We Change

"-And that's when Mama fought the bar-barb-" Troy struggled with the word.

"Barbari-ants." Marcy helped. He nodded and continued.

"Woah, it sounds like Mama and Mæ̀ had some pretty cool adventures together." Sasha said before tickling him. He giggled and tried to roll away. She stopped as she yawned. Sunlight was pouring across the bed now. Marcy looked over at Anne who was still fast asleep despite their toddler crawling all around them for the better part of the morning. Sasha picked him up and held him on her lap as she kissed the top of his head. "Can you tell me another cool story, buddy?" She asked, giving him a gentle squeeze. He screwed up his face as he thought.

"Didn't you go to frog land, Mom?" He asked, looking up at her. Sasha avoided his eyes as she chewed her lip. Marcy put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Mom had some scarier adventures but I can tell you about when she saved me from an evil hive mind." Marcy said, wiggling her fingers dramatically.

"That story may be a little too scary even for me." Sasha said, touching the scar on Marcy's chin.

"I- You're right." Marcy said, taking Sasha's hand and kissing it. She pressed her head against Sasha's. "How about you share a fun time you and Grime spent together?" Sasha thought for a minute. Troy scrambled off the bed to grab his green toad stuffed animal. He awkwardly climbed back up and pushed the stuffie into his mom's hands.

"Captain Grimesy!" He said and looked at her expectantly. Sasha turned the stuffed animal over and stared into its mismatched button eyes. She smiled weakly.

"Okay, so this one time Captain Grime and I went hunting for a Scorpileo that had been chasing toads off one of our main supply routes." Sasha said as she set the scene.

"We're looking for a what again?" Sasha asked as she examined the footprints in the muddy soil.

"A Scorpileo Lieutenant. A fearsome beast with long claws, deadly fangs, a venomous tail, and an unquenchable thirst for-'' Captain Grime began dramatically.

"Yeah, yeah, another giant bug. I got it." Sasha waved dismissively.

"You know, It wouldn't hurt to let others finish their sent-" Grime said reprovingly.

"That's really cute or whatever but I don't have to pretend to be polite around you like I do with the other toads." Sasha interrupted again. "So where did they say the sightings w-?"

"Sasha!" Grime huffed, "You don't have to keep up this tough act with me." Sasha narrowed her eyes and shot him a look.

"Act? What act?" Sasha demanded as she pointed at him threateningly. Grime pushed her finger away.

"This!" He gestured as she puffed herself up. She blushed and turned away.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied and started to look for more tracks.

"While I appreciate your aggressively unnecessary bravado I can't help but think there is some kind of self-destructive emotional baggage fueling it." Grime said and stopped as Sasha drew her sword and pointed it at him.

"I don't have-" She started to growl but was caught off guard as the Scorpileo pounced on her.

"Lieutenant!" Grime cried as he leapt forward drawing his own sword.

"I don't need your help!" She snarled as she struggled to free herself from its heavy paws. She managed to pull her sword arm free and slashed at it recklessly. The sword sliced part of its chest and it roared in pain. Sasha used the distraction to wriggle out from under its paws. It roared again and swatted at her before she had time to react. She slammed against a tree and slid down it. The Scorpileo advanced and Grime hurried forward to place himself protectively between Sasha and the beast. Sasha winced as she tried to get to her feet.

"I'll hold it off until you are ready." Grime said, glancing over at her with concern. The Scorpileo swiped at Grime and he slapped its paw away with his sword. He rolled to one side and lunged for its flank. It spun around hissing as Grime drew it away from Sasha. She used her sword to help herself get back on her feet. She glared at the beast as she watched it swiping at Grime as he hopped out of the way.

"I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help!" She roared as she charged it from behind. She leapt onto its back and drove her sword into its head. It let out one last sputtering hiss as it collapsed. Sasha was panting as she yanked her sword back out. Grime rushed forward.

"Lieutenant-" He began in a half worried half frustrated tone.

"See? I told you that I didn't need you. I can take care of myself." She spat before she felt a sharp pain in the back of her shoulder. She turned to see the Scorpileo's stinger puncturing her armor. She felt a burning sensation begin to spread out from the wound. Grime yanked the stinger out and held out a hand for Sasha. She slapped it away and tried to stand. She fought back tears as she fell back to her knees. "I don't want- I don't need…" She started as her voice cracked. Grime wrapped an arm around her and lifted her to her feet. She leaned heavily on him.

"I know you don't, Lieutenant." He said gently, "But I need you." Sasha suddenly hugged him as she started to cry. He patted her on the back.

"I'm not weak." She whispered through sobs.

"Who said you were?" Grime asked seriously as he frowned. Sasha avoided his eyes as she wiped her own. Grime ground his teeth together. "Are they why you feel like you have to handle everything on your own?" Sasha nodded. Grime suddenly spat in the dirt. "They are fools." He growled with such ferocity that Sasha was taken aback. She hugged him tightly.

"-And then we made it back to Toad Tower. We were celebrated as heroes and they had some sort of antivenom. I recovered pretty quickly after that." Sasha finished as she ruffled his hair. Marcy sniffled loudly and Sasha glanced at her with concern.

"That was a fun time?" Marcy asked as she wiped away her tears. Sasha blinked.

"Yeah? We fought a giant beast together and bonded." She shrugged as she smiled down at the stuffed version of Grime. She handed it back to her son.

"You got hurt and Grimes helped?" Troy said hugging it.

"Yup." Sasha said and leaned over to kiss Marcy on the cheek. Anne started to stir and Sasha got up. "I'll get started on breakfast. Maybe Mæ̀ can tell you a story next?" She said, picking him up and plopping him down in Anne's lap as she started to prop herself up. She rubbed her eyes groggily.

"Hey kiddo." Anne mumbled sleepily. "Mæ̀ is doing what now?" She asked as Sasha left the room.

"We're telling stories about our time in Amphibia." Marcy said, kissing her on the cheek. Anne stretched and yawned.

"Oh, if you want to hear some really fun stories you should ask Mama about the time she was a pirate." Anne said with a grin. Marcy blushed.

"I wasn't a pirate. I was a privateer hunting pirates." She corrected Anne while smiling. "It was pretty exciting."