Somethings stay stagnant, but humans are not the sort to be that stationary, instead meeting others is a lot like flowers. They may stand strong and well on their own, but when the bees or rather memories come along, people change, they get pollinated. Years pass and the residue, the pollen, remains with them, whether that person is no longer around or whether he or she is still in the other's life.
So, she shouldn't be surprised that sometimes she pauses and sees Zen in her own confidence, a different kind, one more uniform, one garnered from experience, and Shirayuki looks at the mirror and sees the great posture that Zen inadvertently taught her. Or she'll look up and discover that she's grown more cautious, mirroring Obi and his tendency to be ready for danger, even when it might not be evident to someone else.
Or she'll look up and find that she's just as focused as Ryuu, drawn into work without taking much of a pause for air, instead she'll be working so hard at something that she's pretty sure she sees Ryuu in her rather than her own self. Or she'll find herself listening just as attentively as Kiki, waiting for some kind of answer that others don't anticipate.
Or she'll find herself working tirelessly for someone she loves like Mitsuhide, putting that person so far above herself that some people may see her as a shadow. It's fitting, and she doesn't mind the way her heart responds gingerly with it.
And sometimes when Shirayuki finds herself worn out and feeling drained from hard work, she'll see Izana in her own quick wittedness or his own patience, carefully concealed, when he really wants to spring instead of be civil, but maintains appearances in a way that's admirable. Sometimes, she catches herself acting just like that.
And every now and again, she'll find that she's just as excitable as Kai is, finding joy in every little thing. It all brings a smile to her face as she prepares for the day, knowing that whatever happens, even in the quiet of her new royal duties or in the sometimes hecticness in the pharmacy, she isn't quite alone in all of this.
"Shirayuki?" Zen's by her side, and when she looks up, she sees her own self in the blue of his eyes, someone that isn't afraid to fight for what he loves, even if the world tries to tear them apart. She's smiling without really having an audible answer as to why.
"I'm alright, Zen." She steps away from the mirror, feeling warm and confident. Her life is as beautiful as she never could have hoped for, even as a kid. It seemed too good to picture for herself. Life pushes her, and she struggles often enough under the pressure, but even so, she's so happy here.
"Okay." Zen's smiling, taking her at her word again, "The kids were wondering where you were, and Ryuu's working on something again."
"Okay, I'll be right over." Shirayuki slipped her fingers into Zen's hand, finally after all these years, this is something she can do without the world getting angry with them, "How'd your meeting go with Izana?" It's a little less than formal, but he's technically her brother now too, by marriage.
"It went." Zen frowned; honestly, Izana could wear Zen out like nobody else could.
"Oh." Shirayuki moves over, to begin walking first to their kids to see how everything is, aware that they also changed her. She'd known herself to be loving or to fight hard for someone else, but never did she know that she could be 'this' protective, this willing to fight for them. Their happiness brings so much joy in her life, without any effort from any of their three kids.
It's just that somehow they make her a better person, a better woman, and Shirayuki never knew the joy of motherhood, until the first time that she held their daughter in her hands, snugly, just born, and somehow perfect.
She's both Zen and Shirayuki's, and that is so beautiful in a way that's hard to explain. And when time flew by, eventually she'd hold two more babies of theirs, feel that same joy and love all over again. Shirayuki's happy in her now family of five, though she doesn't know how big their beautiful family will grow in the years to come.
Life couldn't get any sweeter than this, she figures, Zen's hand in hers, years that have grown them into the two people they are today, and their children waiting to see them just a few hallways over. Shirayuki's smiling even before they round the last hallway, and she sees all three of their children waiting for her, eager to greet Mommy with a good morning, after all.