Chapter 120
Six days awake
Nadia was halfway through helping Valkyrie get changed into her pyjamas when she saw from Valkyrie's bedroom window her parent's car coming up the drive. The anxiety kicked in quickly like it always did, but for Valkyrie's sake, she didn't let it on.
The first night had been easy because Valkyrie had just let her put the clothes on her, lifting the first leg, then the other, and so on. Maybe somewhat awkward for herself to be around her naked girlfriend in that way, but Valkyrie hadn't cared, and it wasn't something she felt she should feel awkward about, so she'd just done it. It felt a bit weird though. She was with Valkyrie in a way that was moving towards a sexual relationship. Looking after her when she was like a child just made it weird no matter what. Even though she wasn't viewing her in that way… it didn't make sense and Nadia knew that, it just made her uncomfortable.
Tonight, Valkyrie insisted she could do it herself. It had been half an hour, but finally, blessedly, she had pulled her bloody trousers on.
"Alright, into bed," Nadia said softly, pulling the thick covers back. With agility that told nothing of the countless things Valkyrie had knocked over that day, she jumped into the bed and swung the covers over herself. "Good night Valkyrie."
"Night night Nadia," Valkyrie murmured. "Have fun with your parents."
Nadia nearly gave away that she was shocked Valkyrie recognised the car, but then smiled and nodded, closed all the curtains and shut the bedroom door behind her. She took a deep breath and then went into Tanith old bedroom, her new one since Valkyrie was in her own and she could hardly sleep next to her as the situation was, and quickly changed her top to one that hadn't been food splattered from baking with Valkyrie, brushed her hair out, and went down the stairs.
Anton had let her mum and dad into the house. Neither looked happy, but they didn't look mad, which make her irrationally hopeful. She hadn't spoken to them at all since she'd left the house two weeks ago.
"Nadia," her mum exclaimed when she caught sight of her, before rushing forward and wrapping her into a tight hug. Nadia hugged her back. She'd really missed them. "I was getting worried about you."
"It's fine Mum," she said, giving her an automatic smile. "Really, I've just been busy."
"Doing so much you can't even text me?" She asked disappointedly before waving her hand as if she was trying to make Nadia forget she'd even asked that question. "How is Valkyrie?"
"She's doing well," Nadia reported, leading her mum to the sofa. Mr Vinay followed behind and they all sat down. Anton left the room. "She was in the hospital unconscious for nine days and then she was awake but she's not quite all there, I suppose. It's been really hard, but she's getting better every day. This was only her second day home but she should be recovered within two or three more days we hope. Maybe even sooner."
"That's wonderful," Mrs Keena said, and Nadia could see the worry and genuineness in her eyes. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine," she lied. "Worried, tired, maybe a little scared sometimes. But it's all working out now. Valkyrie actually recognised your car coming up the drive and knew who you were."
"Does she remember you?" Mr Vinay asked.
"Not yet," Nadia said, trying not to sound sad. She felt as if her whole life was trying not to sound sad or anxious or anything she really was nowadays. As soon as Valkyrie was properly recovered, she was going to use her as an emotional dumping ground, and then let Valkyrie do the same to her. "But it's only a matter of time. We know that she remembers the majority of her feelings towards the people she knows a lot better than any memory, but she usually refuses or doesn't have the attention span to explain her memories so we don't know exactly how well she is connecting to her long term memory at the moment. It's getting better, and so are her motor skills and stuff, but she still needs time. We can tell she, well, has feelings for me, but she doesn't remember that we are dating."
"I'm sure it'll work out," her mum said. "We were hearing stories about Mr Pleasant and Mr Wreath over the last week and with you not calling, we thought coming to talk would be a good idea."
"That's okay," Nadia nodded.
"Nadia, sweetheart, we really need to discuss your schooling," Mrs Keena said tentatively. Nadia's stomach dropped. They got to the point quickly. "With all that's going on, you do understand why we're worried, don't you? We want you safe, and they're saying the Sanctuary's in trouble international. We don't want you getting involved in something like that, and with you being so close to Valkyrie and the Dead Men, we think it'd be safer for you to come back to India."
"I'm not going back to India," Nadia told them firmly. "I need to be here for Valkyrie. Even when her memory comes back and she's acting like normal, it's going to be a difficult adjustment. And with the Dead Men busy and working, I've been helping around the house to make it easier for them. I'm needed here. I'm not getting involved like you think, I'm just helping."
"You're needed at home," her mum argued. "You're meant to be studying, playing games, having sleepovers and spending time with your family, not cooking and cleaning for your girlfriend and her host family."
"They're not my hosts," she said, her own anger welling her. She hadn't been able to really let her emotions out in a while and knew it was going to get dangerous quickly but was already too angry to care. "I'm here to help, I'm not bossed around. I want to do this."
"It's not your job."
"So? Am I not allowed to help?"
"Yes, you are, but not like this," her mum snapped. "You need to come home soon. We're leaving the country. All of us."
"What?" Nadia said after a moment.
"We're moving to India," Mr Vinay told her, putting a hand on Mrs Keena's knee. They looked at each other and Nadia couldn't see any conflict in their gaze. At least that part was getting fixed. "We all need a new start. If we all move then you can commute to school like the other girls that live nearby and spend time with us at home like you used to. I know that means leaving Valkyrie for a time, but we think it's worth it to be away from the problems here."
"I'm not leaving Valkyrie," Nadia pressed. "And I'm not moving anywhere."
"But you've always wanted to go to India," Mum claimed.
"I haven't wanted to live here since I was eleven," she half-shouted. "I'm not leaving Ireland!"
Her dad sighed heavily, and Nadia's anger shot up. "You don't have a choice. We've let you run riot since you've come back from school, but when it's time, you're coming with us to India even if we have to drag you. We won't go until Valkyrie has her memory back, so you will have time to explain everything to her, but after that, we will be leaving."
"I'm not going with you," she said firmly, gripping the sofa. "I'm staying with Valkyrie."
"This isn't up for debate," her dad warned just like he would when she was a little kid. "You said three days for Valkyrie to be better, so we will be back in four. Make sure you're ready."
Mr Vinay seemed to think that was the end of that and stood up. Feeling the anger bubbling, Nadia stood too, clenching her fists angrily. "I'm not coming with you. You can't make me."
"We can and we will," he denied, holding a hand out for his wife. They stood side by side and gave her the same look they always did when she didn't do what they wanted. She'd always caved before, but this time was different. She wasn't going anywhere. Not after the pain of last time. Even if she didn't deserve it.
"I'm not leaving," she said, voice rising.
"Don't shout at me," her mum snapped quickly. "We can argue about school and other things later, but there is no way we're letting our only child stay in Ireland when there's so much unsettlement going on here. So long as you're with the Dead Men you're a target, surely you understand that? You'll be coming with us in four days or you can just pack up and come with us now. Your choice."
"I'm almost eighteen!" She half-shouted. "You can't force me to move! What are you going to do, call the Cleaver's to come get me?"
"If you shout at me one more time–"
"You'll do what, Dad? You'll hit me? Why not, I'm tired of you always saying the same things," she shouted, following him out into the entry hall. "I don't want to live with you anyway!"
"Calm down, Na–"
"No I fucking won't!" She screamed, swearing at her parents for the first time in her life.
If she had thought her father would be the one to snap, she had been wrong. Without ever seeing it coming, her Mum slapped her thin shoulder so hand she stumbled away.
"Don't you ever swear at us!" Her mother screamed. "What did we do to deserve your disrespect? We've raised you with every luxury and advantage a child could have, and this last year had just been one argument after another. I'm sick of it!"
"Only because–"
"Don't even start!" She threatened, getting into her face, her red hair practically frizzing the angrier she got. "If you think I'm going to put up with this anymore, you can think again. We were happy to let you stay here for another four days without any supervision, without any safety precautions. Do you know how many people have gone missing recently? How many people, how many of our friends, your childhood friends, have gone missing? They're all dead, Nadia, and we don't want you on that list too."
"You still can't make me leave!" She shouted and shoved her mother back.
All the tensions they'd had over that year broke in that moment, and her mother slapped her so hard around the face Nadia fell to the floor. There was a moment of silence as they all became very shocked at what her mother had done before Nadia resolutely stood herself back up and glared at her mum.
"Pack your bags," Mum told her quietly.
"No," Nadia whispered again.
"Fine."
Her mum grabbed her wrist and pulled, trying to yank her from the house as her father opened the front door. She screamed and yelled for help, and heard footsteps around the house coming for her, but they sounded so far away.
Trying to be smart, Nadia used her magic to push Mrs Keena away, which worked, and turned on her dad to give him a Shock, but he was quick enough to jump out of her way, wrap an arm around her and pick her straight up. Unwilling to really hurt her parents, Nadia began crying, asking for help, but they were still too far away.
Out of the house, Nadia had never felt more alone or vulnerable in her life. Crying, she shouted for Valkyrie, wishing her girlfriend would swoop in, but knowing she wouldn't, couldn't. She wriggled and struggled in her father's grip but she just didn't have the strength to fight him, and he shoved her into the back of the car, hitting her head on the top in the process.
Being quicker than she thought she could be, Nadia crawled to the other side of the car and jumped out, hearing her dad shout her name, but she rushed around her teary mother and jumped up the step into the house, almost running into –
"Valkyrie!" Nadia exclaimed.
"What's – I don't–" Valkyrie tried, her eyes wild and dazed. Her father came through the door, and Valkyrie face morphed immediately into anger and without seeing her fist, Valkyrie punched him in the face, pushed him back and slammed the door in his face.
Nadia expected her dad to just try and open it, but it seemed her parents had given up, both a happy and incredibly gut wrenching moment for Nadia. Valkyrie stood there, unmoving, and Valkyrie family filled the entryway at last, even Tanith. Unsure of what had even happened, Nadia gently put a hand on Valkyrie's arm.
"Valkyrie? Are you okay?" She asked tentatively.
Slowly, Valkyrie turned to face them. Something in her eye had changed. Confusion was there, of course, but the mature, intelligent, hard look was back.
"Valkyrie?" She asked again, her heart skipping. "Talk to me."
"I– I'm so confused," she muttered with perfect accuracy. "Oh, god, my head hurts so bad. I remember– I was so scared and I was at Kenspeckle's. How did I get here?"
With a sob, Nadia jumped on Valkyrie, holding her muscular body tightly and feeling all the pain and so much excitement and joy well up all at once. "You're back," she kept saying and felt Valkyrie kiss her hair and stroke her back.
Before long, Tanith and Valkyrie's brothers were in on the reunion, hugging Valkyrie, kissing her, and not a single eye was clear of tears.
"I love you so much," Nadia cried into Valkyrie's shoulder.
"I love you too baby," Valkyrie whispered, pushing the group into the parlour while keeping a strong grip on Nadia. "Don't worry, everything will be okay."
We're back! Now it can get really fun again ;)
Lonelygirl702: Thank you so much for your reviews! Your wishes for her recovery have come true, but who knows what will happen next, dun dun dun! I'm glad you like the Idiots, they're fun to write, I want to dedicate more time to them in the one-shot compilation that I have for this fanfic, but I haven't written much for it. Like, I wrote one story for it, I need more! For anyone that reads this other than you, it's said in that one that Nadia's Chosen name had been Sakina. I want to write way more, all ideas are welcome should you, or anyone else, have any. I think I might try and get one up today... we shall see! Thank you again :)