Summary: Diana has memories of her mother... Fortunately Akko's with her this time to help pick up the pieces. (spoilers for episode 20 for those following the Netflix release)
Heads up, this isn't my usual... Considering this concerns Diana and her mother... and it isn't fluff the whole way through... yeah...
It ends with fluff though.
"Mother! Mother!" Diana yelled through her own laughter as she ran through the halls of the Cavendish Manor. With her eyes shining brightly, a wide smile on her face, Diana burst through her mother's bedroom door.
Bernadette smiled softly upon seeing the joy on her child's face. She slowly moved to sit up on her bed.
"Diana, dear, has something hap-"
"Mother look!" Diana ran up to the right side of her mother's bed holding up what looked like a white bunny.
Bernadette chuckled. "That is a very cute rabbit."
"It isn't a rabbit!" Diana giggled. "It's a squirrel!"
Bernadette's eyes widened.
"A squi-"
Suddenly, the rabbit disappeared in a puff of smoke. In its place, a squirrel stood.
"I transformed it mother!" Diana announced, admiring the squirrel in her hands. "Isn't that grea-" Diana looked up at her mother and saw tears had begun falling from her eyes. "Mother! Are you okay?"
"O-Of course." Bernadette said shakily through her own laughter. "Diana. You did this?"
"Yes! I transformed the squirrel using magic!"
"Come here." Bernadette called out, gesturing Diana to get on the bed.
Diana slowly pulled herself up next to her mother. The moment she sat on the bed, she found herself wrapped in her mother's embrace.
"Th-This is wonderful dear. You can use magic again."
Diana hugged her mother tightly.
"Why are you crying?" Diana looked straight into her mother's eyes. The gaze was much softer than when she had burst into the room.
"Oh, do not worry about this at all." Bernadette rubbed the side of Diana's head. "These are tears of joy."
"My magic made mother happy?"
"Yes, you and your magic made your mother very happy." Bernadette smiled warmly as she rest her head atop her child's.
"Yay!" Diana exclaimed, hugging her mother even more tightly.
"Would you like to demonstrate your magic for me?" Bernadette softly asked.
"Yes!"
Diana immediately hopped off the bed, jumping to a spot in front of her mother's bed. She raised her wand up in the air dramatically, eyes set on the squirrel she had brought into the room.
"Metamorphie-
-Freyre!" Diana yelled out.
Her broom immediately took flight under her.
"Mother! Look!" Diana called out, "I can fly!" She twirled around through the sky, her laughter filling the air.
Bernadette sat on a mat in a field of flowers as she looked up at her daughter and smiled. It had been far too long since she had seen her daughter flying in the air, without a care in the world.
"Lady Bernadette"
She heard the voice of their head servant call for her.
"Yes Anna?"
"The visitors will be arriving shortly." Anna answered, offering a hand to the Cavendish head.
"Ah yes, thank you for informing me." Bernadette took the offered hand and attempted to pull herself up.
However, the strength in her legs quickly gave out, causing her to stumble forwards.
"Lady Bernadette! Are you alright?" Anna hurriedly asked, barely managing to catch Bernadette from her fall.
"Mother!" Diana cried out, quickly flying down to her mother and Anna.
"I- I am fine." Bernadette panted. Her face tensed as she attempted to stand back up.
"My lady, perhaps it would be best if we were to send our visitors away." Anna suggested, her brow furrowed as she watched Bernadette struggle to stand.
"Mother… You need to rest." Diana softly said, grabbing hold of her mother's hand.
"Do not worry." Bernadette sent Diana a soft smile. "I am fine." She then turned her attention to Anna. Their maid. Their friend. "Anna."
"Yes my lady?"
"The meeting will continue as scheduled." Bernadette answered, voice firm.
"Mother!"
"Do not worry Diana." Bernadette squeezed her daughter's hand. "I will be okay."
"Mother…"
"Mother!" Diana cried out, sitting beside her mother's bed, squeezing her mother's hand.
"Diana, dear. Come closer." Bernadette weakly said.
"I am here mother." Diana placed her head on her mother's hand, trying to fight back the stinging in her eyes. "I am right here."
"Oh sweetie." Bernadette smiled weakly, squeezing her daughter's hand. "Don't cry. Everything will be alright."
"But mother…" Diana shook as she held her mother's hand tighter.
"Shhh. It will be okay… Diana, please come closer." Bernadette whispered.
Diana obliged, moving closer towards her mother.
As she leaned on the bed, Diana fought to control the convulsions that spread throughout her body.
To control the numbing sting that spread through her veins with each heartbeat.
"Diana… you will be… a great witch. I know you will. You… will be the future of the family… able to restore its… and magic's former glory."
Diana choked up, tears continuing to well up.
"But… before you do that… Diana… Never forget what i-is truly import-important…" Bernadette struggled to continue speaking.
"Lady Bernadette! Please don't strain yourself." Anna called out from the side.
Bernadette ignored her friend's warning.
She knew there was not much time left anyway.
"Always r… remember Diana… to always do what you think is right…" Bernadette breathed out. "And lastly… please never forget to do what it is that makes you happy."
Diana felt her eyes sting, tears threatening to break past her control.
Happiness?
Who could even think about happiness at a time like this.
"Diana, sweetie… come closer so that I can see you."
Diana positioned herself so her face was above her mother's.
The very sight caused another wave of pain to spread through her being.
Seeing her mother so pale… so tired… so weak… was too much.
A tear had managed to poke through, running down Diana's face as she began to lose control of her own shaking, the gnawing at her heart growing far too strong for her to contain.
Bernadette brought a hand up to wipe the tear from her daughter's face.
"Don't cry Diana… It… It will be okay." Bernadette smiled slightly.
Diana struggled to keep herself in check.
After all, she knew her mother would never want to see her cry.
She bit the inside of her cheek, hoping to stop whatever shaking coursed through her.
"Now… could you give your mother one more smile?"
Diana shut her eyes tightly and tightened her jaw, trying to fight back another wave of tears.
She took a shaky breath, hoping it'd be enough to steady her…
Just enough to grant her mother one last smile.
Diana forced herself lips to curl up. Forced herself to open her eyes. To look her mother in the eyes.
"Thank you." Bernadette whispered out. "I love you Diana."
"I… love you too mother." Diana answered back, continually fighting back her own sobs.
Bernadette closed her eyes and allowed herself to rest.
"… Mother?" Diana called out, no longer seeing the slight rise and fall of her mother's chest.
"Mother?!" Diana cried out, laying her head on her mother's chest, hoping beyond hope to hear a heartbeat.
Finally, Diana's control broke.
Her heart ached.
Her body shook erratically.
Her vision blurred. The tears she had been trying to hold back burst free all at once.
"Mother!" Diana screamed. "Don't leave me please!" She squeezed her mother's hand as tightly as possible.
"Lady Diana!" Anna shakily called out behind her.
"Mother!" Diana cried out. "Please! Don't leave me! Please! Please!"
"Lady Diana!"
"Please!" Diana's voice grew hoarse as she continued to scream out her plea.
"-dy Diana!"
"Please" Diana whimpered, collapsing over her mother.
"Diana!"
"DIANA! WAKE UP!"
Diana's eyes shot open.
She felt herself covered in a cold sweat, tears welled up in her eyes, as per usual whenever she had this sort of dream.
What was different, however, was the tight embrace she found herself wrapped in.
She looked down and saw a pair of red eyes staring softly back at her, its owner's brows furrowed.
"A-Akko?" Diana squeaked through jagged breaths.
"Diana. What's wrong?" Akko asked, the slightest quiver in her voice.
Diana opened her mouth, but found herself too choked up to continue speaking.
Instead, Diana wrapped her arms around brunette witch... Not trusting herself to not break in a loud sob.
She focused on taking in the warmth of Akko's embrace. The safety she felt in Akko's arms.
She focused on the being in front of her… the being with her… hoping to calm herself.
"Diana…" Akko whispered, tightening her hold on the blonde. "Shh… It'll be okay."
Diana involuntarily trembled upon hearing those words.
The memory was still too fresh. The wound still too real.
Akko calmly rubbed Diana's back placing soft kisses on her shoulder, hoping that whatever was troubling her would come to pass.
At least enough for her to talk about it.
Diana continued to hold onto the brunette, taking in her warmth… breathing her in.
For seconds.
For minutes.
For what could have been hours.
It didn't matter how long it took. Diana just wanted to focus on the safety she felt in this girl's arms, on the love and care she felt from the girl in her arms.
Until finally…
"I… It was just a dream Akko…" Diana whispered out.
"Diana… that was a bit much for just a dream." Akko chided silently, before lightly placing another kiss upon the blonde's shoulder. "Do… Do you wanna talk about it?"
The question hung in the air.
Akko, wanting to know, yet not wanting to push.
Diana, thinking about what she wanted to do... whether she wanted to hide it, an act she had grown accustomed to, or tell Akko, someone she had grown to love and trust.
After a long period of silence, Diana finally spoke, her voice still slightly hoarse.
"It… It was about my mother."
"Oh." Akko held the blonde closer to her. "Do… you want to tell me more about the dream? … You don't have to if you don't want to… but…"
Diana laughed quietly, a sound that quickly quieted her girlfriend's rambling.
"Yes, I will tell you about it…"
Diana began to recount the memories she had witnessed again to Akko.
The joy of her first spell cast after having lost the ability to use magic. A joy both she and her mother had shared.
The way her mother insisted on keeping the Cavendish household running, despite her ever declining health.
… And her mother's own death.
Diana felt a thumb brush her cheek, and with it she felt the coolness of the air on her dampened skin.
When had she started tearing?
"Are you okay Diana?" Akko whispered.
"I… I believe I am." Diana answered back, equally as quiet.
"Your mom though... she sounded like a wonderful person." Akko said softly.
"She was. I loved her dearly." Diana said, clinging slightly closer to Akko.
"Can you, uhm, tell me more about her? Since I… uh… never got the chance to meet her? You know, if that'd be okay." Akko asked softly as she bit her lip.
Diana smiled upon hearing her girlfriend's question. She placed a soft kiss upon Akko's forehead.
"If that is what you want."
Akko nodded quickly.
"Then I would be happy to."
Diana continued to tell stories of her mother to Akko. Stories of happier memories with her mother.
How her mother had been the first person to teach her how to use magic.
How she had managed to send Diana to Japan for a weekend to see Shiny Chariot.
She talked about the way she always helped out those in need.
How she had always smiled upon witnessing Diana's own joy.
The slightest grimace her mother made before eating something unappetizing… before pretending it tasted delicious so that Diana would eat it too.
The way her eyes lit up whenever she told Diana stories of their past… of their ancestor Beatrix.
How she had always encouraged Diana to be herself and do what she enjoyed… much like Akko did now.
And somehow, in between each little story she told Akko, Diana found her smile growing wider and wider.
Usually when she had this dream, she was left with this empty feeling in her chest that stayed with her throughout the day… perhaps even the week. While she could hide it, the feeling would constantly eat away at her, making it difficult to focus on any task that did not allow her to wallow in her own tears.
But… being with Akko like this… telling her about her mother… she could feel the happy memories of her mother filling her chest. She could feel her girlfriend's love and understanding, a feeling that always brought a smile on Diana's face, filling this emptiness.
As the two talked on through the rest of the night, Diana even found herself able to laugh audibly.
Every move Akko made. Every little shake she felt as Akko giggled.
Every movement and nervous laugh Akko made as her arm fell asleep under Diana's weight.
The way Akko looked into her eyes, listening intently to her story.
The way Akko gently rubbed circles on her back when she had started growing too emotional.
The feeling of Akko's warm breath against her skin.
The reassuring beat of Akko's heart.
Every second in this moment helped mend the wound reopened from her dream.
And as Diana began to finish her tale, she began to feel a steady, familiar warmth hit her back.
She turned to see the sun had risen, rays of light shining through her window.
"Guess we talked all night huh?" Akko laughed.
"I suppose we did… Would you like to get out of bed?" Diana asked quietly.
Akko hummed before tightening her grip on her girlfriend.
"Nope!" Akko chuckled. "We don't have classes today… and I'm still kind of sleepy… and I still want to hold you. What about you Diana?"
Diana smiled, her face beginning to redden. She hid her face in the crook of Akko's neck.
"I was thinking the same thing."
"Hey uh… Diana?"
"Yes Akko?"
"Do you think you could close your curtains?" Akko quietly asked, eyes squinting. "The sun's kinda…blinding me."
Diana laughed heartily before grabbing her wand on her desk. She waved it, immediately closing the curtains.
"Better?"
Akko nodded quickly. "Much."
"Then shall we go back to sleep?"
Akko hugged Diana in response, nuzzling into her shoulder.
Diana smiled as she felt the gentle touch of Akko's cheek.
"Oh yes... Akko?"
Akko hummed in response.
"I wanted to thank you for waking me up… and for everything last night."
"It was no problem Diana! Thank you for sharing… I know it must've been difficult."
"It was quite easy once I started actually." Diana corrected. "At least, it is when I am with you."
Akko felt herself blush. Knowing there was no point in hiding it, she let out a giggle that had begun to form in her chest.
"Also" Diana continued, as she tightly embraced her girlfriend. "I love you Akko."
Akko looked up, straight into Diana's blue eyes.
"I love you too Diana." Akko smiled brightly.
Both girls stared into each other's eyes, growing entranced.
Until a certain brunette suddenly yawned aloud, causing both girls to break into fits of laughter.
"I suppose we should sleep now." Diana laughed, wiping a tear that had formed as she laughed.
"Yeah." Akko smiled.
"Good night." Both girls said together before finally falling asleep, tightly held in each other's arms.
Yeah so I wanted to try and write something... not completely fluff. And this was the first thing that came to mind. First attempt doing something not completely fluff, so please tell me how it went (even though I ended it with fluff anyway lol).
I hope the dream sequence was organized well enough, what with the sudden scene shifts without breaks.
I don't think I know the difference between a one-shot and a drabble lol. Also, there is one line about being distracted in this little drabble/one-shot! That counts right? Ahahaha, I realized I didn't wanna make another collection if I made drabbles not related to distractions... so I took over this one (since really, the title is a reference to me being distracted.)
Jeez, Child Diana is precious.
Anyway, Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed it.
