11/14/14
Eien
It has been 6 months since Nephenee and Heather were married.
Six months and the land of Tellius shines brighter than ever before.
Out of mostly familiarity but also finding no reason to leave the new married couple still resides in Ohma, now living in Heather's home.
Nephenee however still works at her family's farm, going into town sometimes bringing along her brother's to sell crop and the like.
After a particularly lucrative day out, Nephenee returned home, opening the door and sighing in relief having finished her rather hefty workload.
Dropping her bags and fetching a glass of water she found Heather lying on their bed, looking at the ceiling.
"Heather? Are you alright?"
After letting loose a long groan she nodded "Yeah…fine…"
Smiling, Nephenee sat next to her "What's wrong?"
"What did you do all day?"
"You know…harvested some vegetables and took some of Ma's pies into town...Lon and Kay came along while Mak hung back to help Ma. Did our business bit and all that…and here I am, why?"
Heather looked at Nephenee who wore a very confused expression.
"Do you know what I did all day?"
"Um…"
"This!" The rogue gestured at the bed "…and the day before that and the day before that…I just…I haven't been doing anything and it's killing me!"
Putting a hand on her wife's head Nephenee giggled "You know you are always welcome to come along with me, you've done so a few times and enjoyed it."
"To be honest I just like being with you Neph…but I still feel like I should be doing more…believe it or not I've never actually had a job."
Sitting up, Heather looked over at Nephenee "Any suggestions?"
Nephenee looked outside, the sun already began its descent, it would be dark soon…but…
"Let's go for a walk."
In town the two strolled past several storeowners setting up lamps on the side of the road to attract nighttime attention.
Every so often a few people would call out to them. It was no surprise that almost everyone knew the couple and life in Ohma has been quiet but beautiful.
"We stop at a few of these places whenever we're together, I'm sure if the owners need a hand they wouldn't mind hiring you."
Heather shrugged "I guess…I just don't-"
"Heather, when was the last time some guy…what is it you say? Ogled you? Everyone knows we're married you don't have to worry about that anymore."
Heather nodded as the pair came to a stop, letting a cart pass by them. The memories of when Heather was sometimes mocked for how she truly was were distant, something she herself couldn't quite believe. No one looked at them oddly anymore; no one questioned them or stood against them. They were like anyone else.
Heather told Nephenee many times early on that it didn't matter what anyone else said but she didn't believe that they would reach a point where no one cared. It felt good.
"Maybe serving at any sort of eating place or bar isn't interesting enough…there are some inns or…"
Unknown to Heather, Nephenee stopped walking and talking, looking elsewhere.
After a few more feet the rogue asked "Or what? Neph?"
Turning she noticed that Nephenee was looking at a small gathering of people, a few adults watching the town children running around playing one of the many games they always did.
"Neph?"
Looking back at Heather she shook her head and made her way over "…uh…now what was I saying?"
The two eventually found themselves sitting down, enjoying ice cream as they did many, many times before. Night had fallen but Heather still felt no closer to an answer than when she woke up.
"Neph…thanks for the help but…I just can't figure this out."
After a while, Heather looked over to see Nephenee was once again looking elsewhere.
"Neph? You know, today isn't the first day you've done this."
"Done what?"
"Just…got lost looking at some other sight…are you sure that YOU are alright?"
Nodding Nephenee finished her ice cream before standing up "We should head back."
"You go ahead; I'd rather be out a bit more than just lying in bed again."
Walking over to her, Nephenee kissed her "See you at home."
After she left, Heather looked around the town, still some people out but it was as quite as any other time of day.
Walking past a few trees she looked out to the rising moon.
"Hello."
Turning, Heather spotted a young girl looking at her. Nearing Heather's waist the girl wore a green cloak over her blue shirt and had auburn hair reaching the back of her neck.
"Oh…hello, should you be out alone?"
"I'm not scared of the dark."
Heather smiled "Neither am I…"
"You don't look like you finished your ice cream."
Heather noticed that the girl was right; she'd been so preoccupied she forgot about it. Something she'd never done before especially not for her favorite flavor from her favorite place.
"What, did you want some?"
"I don't wanna make you feel like it's wrong to not give me any."
Heather chuckled, she wasn't sure if it was a guilt trip or not, but it was well said.
"You-"
Then she felt something and couldn't help but laugh again, gently she put one of her hands on the young girl's before kneeling down.
"W-what is it?"
"Luckily for me, I don't carry money in my pockets, unluckily for you, even if I did, I felt that. You're good but I have years of experience doing just that."
"Just what?"
Patting the girl on the head, Heather gave her the remaining ice cream.
"Stealing does not an honest soul make."
The girl looked at the ice cream then back at Heather "I know…"
"I was in your place once, I had reasons for why I started stealing but it was still stealing. Though to be honest I haven't done it in what feels like years. At the same time I actually haven't started working for wages and I feel like something is missing in my life."
The girl continued staring at Heather who was looking elsewhere "You are…you are the one married to that nice farm girl, right? I've seen you two around town."
Heather looked back and nodded "Yep, isn't my wife pretty?"
"She is."
As Heather smiled the young girl sighed "I don't deserve this. I tried to steal from you."
Heather shook her head and pushed the ice cream back "Keep it. Think of it as a reward for reconsidering your actions if you want to. It may be hard but you can change yourself, Goddess knows I have."
"Thank you…and…do you have any idea about what might be…missing?"
Heather sat down and leaned against the tree, the girl sitting next to her.
"No…my wife was trying to help me find a job today but it just…doesn't feel like that's what it is."
As the girl licked the ice cream, Heather looked over to her. The smile on her young face as she enjoyed the taste stirred something in Heather. A very powerful feeling she didn't know she had, as she thought it over, Nephenee's behavior earlier came to mind as well. Something became extremely clear.
"Was she…"
The girl looked over at Heather "What?"
"I think I got something…"
"Really? Did I help?"
Heather smiled at her "You sure did. Enjoy that and I'll see you around."
Standing Heather started to leave before hearing "Thank you."
Looking back she saw the girl stand and bow her head "Thank you for the advice."
"Don't mention it."
Coming to another stop, Heather realized something even more obvious "Sorry, what was your…name…?"
But the girl was gone.
Sitting on her bed, Nephenee stretched. She had to admit she wasn't doing her best helping Heather today. She was distracted by her own personal desire.
It was something she didn't think much about but for some reason, this last month and maybe even before that, the thought had been nagging at her head much more than ever before.
"Maybe I should tell-"
"Nephenee!"
Looking over she spotted Heather who just got in, as the woman closed the door behind her, Nephenee stood.
"What is it?"
"I hope you know that I know you've been off for at least a month."
Nephenee smiled "I should know better than to try and hide something from you."
"I had a little help tonight and I think I know what you want and heck maybe even what I want."
Heather approached the bed and sat down, followed by Nephenee.
"You've been looking at them all day…thinking about one of your own. I don't know why it took me so long to realize but, I understand…you want a child."
Nephenee blushed and looked away "I…I didn't want to say anything…I-"
"Neph…you know that I love you. I'd do anything to see you happy and tonight I think I finally understood how…special a kid could be."
Looking back at Heather, Nephenee asked "So…are you fine with it?"
"Yeah, of course…I also think that deep down; I wanted one as well..."
"So…"
"We can always adopt one, when you think we are in a good position, we can go."
With a smile, Nephenee embraced Heather.
The next day, Heather and Nephenee decided to tell Ora about what they were planning.
Suffice to say she was ecstatic about the idea of having a grandchild. Nell was in Toha at the moment and Nora was taking some of their crop to Melior so it would be a while before either of them came back.
That said, Lon, Kay and Mak were interested in the idea of having another sibling of sorts
In town together, Nephenee was thinking about their future trip.
"Do you already have a dream child in mind?"
"I don't know…any child will be perfect to me…I mean some people have issues with misbehaved children but as long as you raise them right and show them love, it will all be fine in the end."
"We're pretty good examples, you came from a wonderful family and you turned out incredible…I should know."
Nephenee giggled before seeing Heather's face change "Heather…"
"My…ugh…dad was a pretty big reason why I became so dishonest and stole for my living…"
"That's in the past Heather…"
Nephenee came to a stop, followed by Heather. That wasn't Nephenee's voice that made that comment.
Turning the pair spotted a young girl, Heather recognized her.
"It's you, from yesterday…were you following us?"
"I'm pretty good; you didn't even notice me till I said something."
Heather did not want to admit she was getting rusty or try to make the excuse of being preoccupied, shrugging she patted the younger girl's head "Good job."
"Oh is this who you were talking about?"
"Yep."
The girl passed between them, the three now walked in sync through town.
"So were you two talking about adopting?"
"Eavesdropping?"
The girl smiled as Nephenee nodded "Yes. It must sound like an odd concept but-"
"Not at all, I think you two would make great parents."
"Based off what?"
The girl shrugged "I don't know…I just…feel it."
"Thank you…that…means a lot." Nephenee stated with a smile, as the girl looked at her, she returned the smile.
Without thinking the three wound up making the rounds in town, picking up supplies for the trip and talking amongst each other before returning home.
"So, you two are going to adopt from Melior?"
Heather nodded "Yep, Elincia cares for all within her borders, there are many homes for orphans and such down there, even the oft abandoned children."
Nephenee shook her head "So sad that someone would do that to a child."
The girl nodded "Yeah…wait…Elincia? Not Queen Elincia? Almost everyone who talks about her gives her the Queen title."
Heather and Nephenee glanced at each other before looking at the girl "We fought alongside her during a few wars…Nephenee more than me honestly."
"Really!? You two are war heroes! WOW!"
The two couldn't help but laugh at the excitement and sparkle in the girl's eyes.
"You must have so many stories! I'd love to hear them!"
"When we have the time, right now we have to prepare for a pretty long trip."
The girl nodded at Heather "Well, I can't wait to hear them, I'll see you two when you get back."
As Heather waved goodbye before returning to work, Nephenee noticed the girl walk past the dirt road, not at all heading towards town.
"Where are you going?"
"Huh? Home."
"Where is home."
The girl remained silent, kicking dirt and muttering "Wherever…"
Heather stopped packing and began walking towards the girl "Are you…all alone?"
"…yeah…"
Heather couldn't believe it; she mentally smacked herself in the face, what other reason would a kid this young resort to stealing?
"I didn't know…"
"It's alright; I don't want to tell it to everyone. I've been doing fine on my own."
Nephenee approached and smiled "I can definitely see that."
"Well, I have to head out, got some places to stop by."
"You're staying here today."
The girl tilted her head at Heather "But-"
"Stay with us for at least a meal." Nephenee added.
The girl looked between the two of them, part of her thought to just go off on her own but they were offering and she could see in their eyes how honest they were.
She ended up staying the rest of the day, eating lunch with them and hearing a few stories from Nephenee about the Mad King's War. She was amazed by Nephenee's retelling about how Elincia and the Radiant Hero Ike asked personally for Nephenee and her friend Brom's support of the future Queen.
She also expressed interest in hearing the story about how they met and fell in love. Heather had no issue but warned her it may take a while, it wasn't exactly a short story.
However night had come and despite her maturity the girl was still a girl and fell asleep.
Leaving her in their bed, Nephenee and Heather stood outside.
Looking at one another…
Sitting up and stretching the girl couldn't believe how much fun she had last night. Then realizing it was over, she became sad. She could hear the couple outside as well as a horse, they were preparing to leave.
Exiting the home she saw them, initially she wanted to just walk away without saying anything before Heather called to her.
"I have to apologize…we never asked your name, hope it didn't seem rude."
"No…it wasn't…and…Jane…my name is Jane."
"Well, Jane. Have you ever been to Melior?"
"No…why?"
Nephenee joined them "We have room for one more if you want to come along, we'd love to have you."
Shaking her head, Jane turned away "You are going to adopt a kid, I don't want to get in your way."
Smiling, Heather turned Jane to face her "No, we're just going to Melior to see one of Nephenee's sisters, take in the sights, maybe stop by to see Elincia or some of our other old comrades. You know, taking a trip. We'd love to have you."
"But…what about-"
"We've already made a decision about that, Jane."
The girl looked at Nephenee then at Heather as she spoke.
"We want to adopt you."
"M-me?"
The couple nodded.
"I don't…I mean…I'm not small…I already…"
She shook her head "I don't think-"
The couple kneeled in front of her with Heather speaking "You are a wonderful and strong child…and you wormed your way into our hearts whether you meant to or not and whether we realized it was happening or not."
"We both reached the same end last night…we want to adopt you, Jane. We want you to be our child. Our daughter."
Jane looked between the two of them, incapable of speaking. Finally she burst out crying and embraced the two of them, her new parents.
"So I'll really get to meet the Queen?"
As Heather sat next to Jane she nodded "Elincia always makes time for people, be they any other citizen or old comrades."
Nephenee joined them and made the motion for the horse to proceed, tightening her grip on the reins.
As they began to move, Heather put an arm around Jane "I'm sure you'd like to hear more about our stories."
"Yeah."
"Well we'd also like to hear about you, all the time you've spent on your own."
"…are you sure?"
"We're a family now." Nephenee stated "No matter how sad or dark anything is, we'll share it with each other."
Jane looked at both of them again "Alright…though I would like to say something first."
"What?"
"What do I do when I want attention from one of you?"
Nephenee and Heather looked at each other oddly "What do you mean?"
"Well, if I just call out 'mom' how will you know who I'm talking about?"
Looking at each other again the couple began laughing with Jane joining in.
"We'll figure something out." Heather stated.
As Jane leaned against Heather, Nephenee looked over at them and Heather could feel that source of emptiness that small feeling of loss and confusion she had just a few days ago was gone.
Nephenee leaned over and kissed her "I love you Heather."
"I love you too…"
She then looked down at Jane "…as for you…you are…quite the take."
Cerulean Gold
5/14/14 - 11/14/14