Yumiko sighed, tightening her grip around Magna's waist momentarily as she nuzzled deeper into the back of her neck. Hair tickled her nose, attempting to smother her the further she burrowed, but she loathed the thought of releasing her hold long enough to reach up and brush it aside.

If she died of suffocation here and now at least it would be a pleasant way to go. Much better than getting devoured by the undead, or rotting away in bed from infection.

Magna shifted, urging Yumiko to tighten her hold lest she get the objectionable idea to move away, but only her arm made any such attempt: a hand sweeping back to collect her hair, move it out of the way of her face.

She pressed a smile into Magna's skin. Though Yumiko had given no sign, no indication, she'd sensed the problem nonetheless. Just as she always had in the past.

They hadn't lost that.

She waited for Magna to settle again, before sealing a grateful kiss against her shoulder. "You said that we don't fit together here. But I'd say we fit together just fine."

Magna trailed a hand up her arm. "Inside these four walls maybe."

"Then I guess we'll just have to stay in here forever."

"Not sure that's the best idea." She could hear the reluctant grin in Magna's voice. "My cupboard is pretty bare. Food situation could get dire."

"Our friends can deliver us food and keep us fed. Water too."

Yumiko was committed to the idea now.

"What about your fancy new job?"

"I'll call in sick."

"Forever?"

"Very sick."

She chuckled, turning over to face her. "With what?"

"Magnitis. Not contagious but unfortunately there's no cure as of yet."

Magna raised a brow. "Calling me a sickness? Now that's romantic."

Yumiko set her fingers on her stomach, tip toeing them up her ribs - enjoying the subtle change in her breathing, the way goosebumps instantly rose to greet her. "Treatments include staying in bed for various. . . activities. Plenty of kisses. And cuddling on the couch. Tomi can confirm the diagnosis. He owes me one after dragging his drunken arse home last night."

"Yeah, what was that about?"

Abandoning her teasing, Yumiko reached up to toy with her hair, allowing herself a moment to stall. "He's struggling with some adjustments of his own. This isn't his world either. Though, unlike you, he doesn't want to be a part of the upper class. I actually think it's his worst nightmare."

"I don't want to be a part of the upper class, Miko - I don't want there to be an upper class." She let out a frustrated breath. "I just want things to be how they were before. No-one higher or lower than anybody else. Even footing. Remember when it was just you, me and the others? We were all the same. . . we were family."

We still are.

"I remember," Yumiko murmured, drawing her closer.

"Now Luke's back at Oceanside, Bernie's dead, and you, Connie and Kelly are part of a world that I can't be."

She hadn't really thought about what it must have been like for Magna. To watch her family move off in different directions, unable to follow a single one of them. Luke had Jules. Connie and Kelly had each other. And these days, Yumiko had her brother, Eugene, Princess, Ezekiel, and Connie and Kelly.

But Magna only had them.

And they hadn't been there.

She knew that Connie and Kelly had done what they could to still involve Magna in their lives - but those lives ran separately now and, from what she'd heard, Magna's shifts weren't making the process any easier. Not to mention, it was difficult to stay connected when you lived on different sides of town, inhabited different circles. Some of the only times Yumiko had ever crossed paths with Magna had been when she was in a position to serve. To wait on her. She imagined the same was probably true for Connie and Kelly.

(and that wasn't a situation comfortable for any of them)

They had to actively go out of their way to find her, connect with her. And, from what she'd heard, Magna wasn't making that easy.

Yumiko wouldn't be surprised if the same humiliation that had kept Magna distant from her had created a divide between Magna and their friends as well.

"I'm sorry."

The words were useless. But Yumiko couldn't think of any others to say at the present moment. Any that could fix this.

Magna sighed, clasping her hand. "It's not your fault. Whatever I said earlier, I know you don't actually want things to be this way. I know that. Just sometimes it's hard to remember." She tilted her head, face turning contemplative. "Do you like it here?"

She blinked at the question.

It was a bit out of left field, considering Magna had spent most of the night resenting her for just how much she liked it. "I think we already covered that I do."

"No, I mean. . ." She sighed. "I know you like the security. The resemblance to the way things were before. It's comforting. Feels right. To you, anyway."

Yumiko nodded slowly, granting her that.

"But do you like this place?"

Did she?

Yumiko realized for the first time that she'd never actually considered the question before. Never taken the time to examine how she really felt about the Commonwealth. All she'd cared about was that it was a safe place for their people. A place with food and water and defenses. A place that contained her brother. A place with potential.

Even now, as Yumiko thought about it, she found she still didn't quite know the answer.

"I liked Hilltop more."

That much was true.

Magna smiled weakly. "Yeah. Me too."

Sharing in the expression a moment, Yumiko grazed her thumb over her upper arm, back and forth in an endless motion - not entirely sure who she was trying to soothe with the action. One of them. Both of them. "Do you remember staying at the farm? At the time I thought I'd stepped into the fires of hell. Now I miss it. Things were so much easier then. Simpler."

"That's because you still thought this had an end date. That eventually humanity would come through and the horror would be over. You'd get your world back. All you had to do was wait. And survive that wait. . . You don't believe that anymore. Haven't for a long time."

Yumiko said nothing, carding her fingers through Magna's hair. Thoughtful.

She was right, of course.

Yumiko hadn't yet landed on that as the reason but of course she was right. Only. . .

"That's not all. I didn't realize how dangerous people were back then, either. I still thought the worst threat would come from the monsters that had only just appeared in our lives. Not the monsters that had always been there. . . I didn't realize we were the monsters."

That she and Magna could include themselves in that category.

That one day, Yumiko would kill someone. And then after that she would kill many someones. And she wouldn't even know their names. Wouldn't know anything about them beyond their final moments. Beyond the fact that she had been the one to kill them.

Yes, things had been simpler back then.

Her eyes drifted up, catching Magna's. "But you did. You always knew that. All of it. Right from the start. Even the fact that there was no end date for this. That things would never return to the way they were."

She glanced away. "Yeah, well, I know better than to think someone's going to swoop in and save me. Life taught me that pretty quickly - and often. I'd be an idiot not to take the lesson to heart." Magna's brow furrowed, as she turned back to her. "Then again, you threw a spanner in that. Screwed up my understanding of everything. How things work. How the world works."

Yumiko raised a brow. "I'm sorry?"

She huffed. "You should be." Though there was a vague smile to her lips as she shifted, moving ever the slightest bit closer. "Things were so much easier when I knew I was only ever going to get fucked over. Without exception. Realizing that might not always be the case anymore scared the shit out of me. You scared the shit out of me."

Yes, Yumiko was coming to understand that.

"Sorry." Her mouth drew up slightly. "For scaring the shit out of you."

"It's forgiven. Mostly because you're hot - getting to see that every day is worth having the shit scared out of you."

"Your romantic sentiment always blows me away. Truly the stuff of fairy tales."

Magna smirked.

Yumiko shook her head with a smile before settling more comfortably against her pillow, drifting into thought. Maybe what they had was the stuff of fairytales. Old fairytales. The ones filled with horror and gore. That had eventually, over the years, evolved into something lighter. Happier.

Something comforting.

Simple.

"Do you ever wish you could go back to it?" Yumiko murmured idly. "The farm. Those days we spent there. When things were simpler."

And it was just us.

Magna contemplated the question. "Sometimes. But I think things were more simple for you back then than they were for me. I was adjusting to the bombshell of having someone else in my pocket twenty-four seven - and not actually hating it." That had been a bombshell for Yumiko as well, given that she'd always been someone who savored her space. "And you know. . . I started letting you in more back then. Started letting you touch me. That was a lot. And not exactly simple. I also. . . well, I realized after we came close to it a few too many times, I realized that I wouldn't be able to handle losing you. Before then, I tried to convince myself that I could. That I'd lost a lot of people. And I'd only known you for a short time. You weren't family. You were just my lawyer. I could lose you. . . But I realized then that I couldn't. . . Also not very simple."

Yumiko raised a brow. "It took you until then to realize that?"

She wasn't hurt. Just doubtful. Given the way Magna had acted around her before that point. Her love and over-protectiveness had been obvious for months prior to the world ending.

Magna shook her head, eyes down. "I knew before then. Deep down. Just wouldn't let myself admit it. After we had that big argument and we didn't see each other for a bit. . . I knew. But it was when I realized that I could really lose you, that you could die, just like everyone else. . . that's when I couldn't ignore it anymore."

And hidden behind the softness in Magna's eyes, she could see the trepidation.

The fear.

Understood it only too well, given that she'd been victim to it for just as long as Magna. Yumiko couldn't promise that fear would never come true. That life wouldn't take her away from Magna - rip her away.

But she could promise that it wouldn't happen by choice. Not again.

Given that the last few months had taken her away from Magna, though, even if not permanently, she had to wonder whether that fear had found itself yet more fuel to gorge on. That it had even been realized, in some small way.

When Yumiko had left that day, there'd been no guarantee that she would come back. That they would ever see each other again. She'd tried not to think about that possibility, tried to ignore it was even a possibility in the first place, but she'd known.

And so had Magna.

Until last month, she'd had to live with the reality that she might never see her again. And so had Yumiko.

And when the time had come for them to finally reunite. . . they hadn't. Instead, Magna had lost Connie and Kelly as well. To some degree.

"Remember that quote from your favorite movie?" Yumiko murmured.

"What movie?"

"The one with the little blue alien."

"Nope."

Yumiko didn't buy the act, smiling as she threaded her fingers through Magna's. "Ohana means family. And family means no-one gets left behind. Or forgotten." Magna rolled her eyes but she could feel the tension in her fingers, cradled between her own. "I may have left, Magna. But I'll never leave you behind. None of us will. This is just. . . going to take some time. But we'll figure it out. I promise."

Yumiko knew that the words had managed to pierce her defenses, could feel it in her hand, see it in her eyes. Hoped only that in doing so, they'd also been successful. That they'd reached her.

That she believed them.

"Lilo and Stitch isn't my favorite movie," Magna said, the deflection so obvious that Yumiko could only smile warmly, squeezing her hand.

She'd allow it.

"Yeah, it is. Don't deny it - you used to cry every time you watched it too."

Magna narrowed her eyes. "I did not."

"Oh, so that was just allergies, was it?"

"Yep."

"The same way you were allergic to those flowers?"

"That's rig- wait."

Yumiko laughed at the caught expression on her face as she realized the trap she'd just walked into. "You mean those flowers you deny ever being allergic to?"

Magna narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to take the advice of my lawyer and remain silent."

She snorted. "Oh, so now you want to take that advice. Not the hundreds of times I gave it to you in the past."

"Well, all the times you gave it were shit."

"Might have saved you from a few black eyes, though."

And Yumiko from numerous anxiety attacks.

Every time she'd entered that visiting room to find a new bruise added to Magna's collection, her heart had fallen into her stomach. She'd known, even back then, that they were only the bruises that Magna was letting her see as well. The ones she couldn't hide. Had known that there were likely many more, scattered under her clothes. Concealed.

She'd never been able to tolerate any hurt to Magna. Even if she pretended that she could.

Back then, that pretense had been enough. If only because Magna couldn't believe anything else. Couldn't believe that someone, let alone someone like her, would care so much. Care at all.

Yumiko swallowed at the memory, the humor from their conversation retreating into the icy chill around them.

She reached out, smoothing a thumb across the top of Magna's cheek, under her eye. Allowing the unblemished skin under her touch to vanquish the ghost of memory.

Magna gazed back at her, brow furrowing a little, clearly not understanding the shift, the reason for her sudden intensity. "You okay?"

Yumiko forced a smile, nodded. "Just got lost in thought."

"Want me to distract you?"

The question was sweetly genuine - but the slight crook of her mouth hinted at something else.

Yumiko snorted. "Do you ever stop?"

"Nope." She wriggled closer, hands finding her waist. "But can you hardly blame me? If you knew what it was like to sleep with you, you'd never stop either."

Yumiko wrinkled her nose. "I think I'm good with not knowing."

"Your loss." Fingers trailed over hip. "Also mine."

Fond exasperation filled her chest at the cheeky look in Magna's eyes. "You have a very disturbing mind."

Though at least it was a step up from the nightmarish material she'd been spewing about Sebastian.

Magna shrugged. "I prefer the term creative. Maybe a little offbeat."

"I'm sure you do." But Yumiko was grinning, suspecting that, more than anything, this was her means of distraction. And a very successful one at that.

Slowly, she moved her hand down to Magna's collarbone, skimming the sharp rise, before sinking lower towards her chest. Coming to rest over her heart.

The steady thump was the most reassuring feeling in the world. Yumiko tried to memorize the sensation. To lock it away inside her. A comfort to bring out when the fear and nightmares returned.

Though, perhaps she wouldn't need to now. Hopefully, most of her nights in the future would be spent like this. With Magna beside her, wrapped around her. Perhaps, when she woke from a nightmare in the future, she wouldn't have to reassure herself that Magna was okay, that she'd survived the cave.

She'd know.

She'd know the moment she felt her.

But Yumiko wasn't the only one who needed this reassurance. Who had fears that needed to be quelled. "Kelly told me that she barely sees you anymore."

And not for lack of trying.

Yumiko had glimpsed the hurt and confusion in her eyes, though she'd tried to hide it. She wasn't used to Magna pulling away, not in the same way Yumiko was. It was hard to think of a time that she'd ever pulled away from Kelly. Not once their bond had been established.

Connie, too, had struggled to find time with Magna since coming to the Commonwealth. Though, she didn't share in Kelly's confusion or hurt. There'd been frustration in the lines of her face when she'd talked about it with Yumiko, but more than anything a tired kind of understanding.

She'd seen Magna standing by the sisters when Tyler had attacked, possibly one of the only times she'd seen her with them. But that was to be expected. Of course she'd gravitated to them in a moment of danger. Of course she'd situated herself beside them, ready to defend if necessary.

"Connie said the same. . . They miss you."

Magna looked away. "They've been busy. I've been busy."

A part of Yumiko suspected that, consciously or unconsciously, this had been a pre-emptive move on Magna's part. An act of self-defense. And a familiar one at that.

Distancing herself. Leaving before she was left.

Yumiko had lost count of how many times she'd been on the receiving end of that same move. Sometimes Magna was aware of it, sometimes not. In this case, she was leaning more towards 'not'.

"You've also been avoiding them."

Her brow furrowed. "No, I haven't."

Yumiko bit her bottom lip, considering. She could push this. Really push it. And run the risk of getting into an argument. Shattering the precious calm between them. Or she could leave it for now and bring it up again in the future. Perhaps when Magna was more receptive to the possibility. Less defensive.

"Okay."

Seeing the lines of discomfort still edged into her face, Yumiko offered a faint smile. Moving her hand up to Magna's cheek, she gave it a momentary squeeze before allowing her touch to fall away. "Turn over. Let me hold you."

There was an instant's hesitation, before Magna shifted around, obliging the request. She caught Yumiko's hand in the process, bringing it with her and returning it to its former place upon her heart. Her hold was firm, fingers threading through hers, clenching tight.

Yumiko was grateful for it, for the feeling of Magna's chest, rising and falling under their hands. The confirmation of her every breath. Grateful for the reassurance.

Shifting closer, she tightened her hold, drawing Magna even further into her as she closed her eyes and buried her face in the back of her neck.

It was good to be home.

"Think they have it here?"

Magna's voice intercepted the peace and Yumiko raised her head slightly. "What?"

"You know," she shrugged, a bit too nonchalantly. "That movie. The one with the little blue alien."

"I don't know." Probably not. Yumiko cuddled closer, resting her chin on her shoulder. "If they do, I'll find it."

Magna squeezed her arm in acknowledgment, the slight tremble to the action making concern twist in her chest.

Yumiko could feel her heart again, faster than before. Not an anxious beat - but not a peaceful one either.

She wondered who Magna related to most in that movie: the lonely traumatized little girl who didn't fit in and who nobody understood; or the big sister, thrust into the role of parent, constantly failing in the duty (though through no fault of her own).

In the movie, things worked out. Their family was saved. The little girl had been taken but not lost.

Real life hadn't turned out that way.

"It was the last movie we watched together."

Yumiko raised her head. "What?"

"Maisie and me. It was the last movie we watched together. Hell, even Morgan sat in on the end half. . . it was the last movie we all watched together."

It took a moment for the words to sink in, for Yumiko to form a response past her surprise. "You've never told me that before."

"I know. Never told anyone. But like I said, it's this new thing I'm trying. Telling people things."

"Sounds terrifying."

"Don't make fun."

"I'm not," she chuckled. "I mean that. I struggle with telling people things too."

Though she tended to be less obvious about the fact than Magna. She'd gotten good at keeping things beneath the surface whilst giving the appearance that the waters were empty. Nothing to see. Nothing to tell.

But Magna had a way about her that made it look like she always had something to hide. Even when she didn't.

"True," Magna grunted. "Maybe that's why we work."

"So you're admitting that we work?"

She didn't say anything for a moment. "Yeah. Guess I am."

Yumiko smiled. It may only be a small victory, but she'd take pleasure in it like it was the most monumental to be had. "Glad you finally got your head on straight."

Magna huffed, but offered no objection to that.

Yumiko wound a thick lock of hair around her finger, idly watching as it curled and released. "The last movie I watched with my mother was Borat."

Magna turned over, incredulity etched into the lines of her face. "Katherine agreed to watch Borat?"

"More than that, she suggested it." Magna stared at her in disbelief. "I know. I was as shocked as you."

"Your Mum always was a little weird."

"Liking you doesn't make her weird."

"Debatable. I mean, you're the weirdest person I know and you like me more than anyone."

Yumiko rolled her eyes.

"There you go again."

"What?"

"Rolling your eyes. Are they sore? I mean, you've been rolling them a lot tonight, I figure they must be sore by now."

Yumiko shoved her. "I don't know what Kelly was talking about. You're still a little shit."

Magna snickered, fending off her hand. "Just for you."

"Aren't I lucky?"

"The luckiest." Magna sidled closer, planting a kiss on her mouth.

Yumiko closed her eyes, slowly parting her lips and drawing her in, exhaling as a hand settled lightly on her ribs, warming her skin.

So I may be the luckiest.

After too short a moment, they parted for breath.

She hummed, rubbing her nose against Magna's - strongly considering closing the gap again. "You make it hard to argue."

"I'm talented like that." Fingers idly stroked her skin, creating a trail of goosebumps as they drifted over the rise of her ribs. "I bet you hated it."

"It?"

"Borat."

Yumiko tried to keep a straight face - but crumbled. "I hated it so much."

Magna laughed. "And what about your mum?"

"Honestly, I think she was more fascinated than anything. Though she certainly laughed a great deal more than I did."

She snorted. "She had a wild side, your mum." Her eyes lit up. "Hey, did I ever tell you about the time she sprung me smoking weed in your bedroom-"

"What were you doing smoking weed in my childhood bedroom?"

"And instead of kicking me the fuck out she asked for a smoke?" Magna's grin turned dangerous. "Boy, she had some mad stories to tell when she was baked."

Yumiko felt a suitable amount of horror flood her being. "What stories?"

Magna's eyes twinkled. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Magna-"

"Relax. Only half of them were about you."

"Half-"

"Okay. Three quarters. You know I've never been good at math."

Three-

"Tell me what she said."

"Mm. . . no."

"Magna-"

"Don't think so."

Narrowing her eyes, Yumiko reached out, fingers spread like talons as she took a dive for her ribs. "Tell me what she said!"

Magna squeaked, falling onto her back. "Don't tickle me."

"Then tell me what she said!"

"Never!"