Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. There is also discussion of fertility issues. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: Here's one that is a little bittersweet.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); RAVEN (2023); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); In a Flash; Green Ribbon; The 3rd Rule; Zed Era; Ship Sails
Ministry Challenges: FSF [Day 05] (Cho/Marietta)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [138](Train); Items [34](Crochet Hook); Colors [139](Soot)
Other Challenges: Zee Monthly [Day 07](Darling)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (n/a)[WiMed1 (Locked in Together)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death);Fire [x3](Family Matters); Garden [The Zoo (Zebra); Mixed Bag Senary (Flower Shop AU); Eat Your Heart (Beverage); Bonsai (Omegaverse)]; Hang [Phrase 3] (n/a); Soup [O](Omegaverse)
Representation(s): Cho Chang/Marietta Edgecomb; Omegaverse AU
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Sweetest Burn; Saucy Buns; Yarnspinner; Second Verse (Clio's Conclusion; Found Family; Nontraditional; Not a Lamp); Chorus (Tomorrow's Shade; Jet Fuel; Hot Stuff; Stitchin' Time; Sailor Delight)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: SS (Schooner; Sanctuary); TY (n/a); Wings (Bower); Share (Ameliorate)
Word Count: 468 words

(^^)
Family Made
(^^)

The train ride back to the Welsh town that held their flower shop was a long one, and the two women had nothing to do but pass the time with idle conversation and crafting while ignoring the elephant filling their little compartment. Marietta was sitting with her quilt, stitching and patching together pieces of fabric until a colorful pattern began to form. The sun shone through the window and it warmed Marietta's hands as she worked. It felt like hope.

Across from her, her wife Cho was crocheting a small stuffed zebra. Her hands twirled the variegated cream and soot colored yarn in a graceful dance. The gleam in her eyes spoke volumes about her joy and anticipation for the journey ahead. She had no doubts that the procedure had worked, for both of them. These crafts would just be the first of many they would make.

But for Marietta, the journey was bittersweet. Her anxiety was too great. Hope felt just out of reach, a thing she dare not do. She was filled with a worry that was all too familiar and she couldn't shake it, no matter how much she tried to focus on the task in front of her.

As the train carried them onward, Marietta couldn't help but to remember the countless trips to the hospital in London that she had taken with her mother before she passed away. She wished things could be different, that she could hear her mother's voice one more time. Maybe her mother would have some words of wisdom that would sooth Marietta's fears about the lengths that two omegas had to go through to start a family.

The sun slowly began to set, and Marietta sighed. She allowed her sadness to take over, the stitches and fabric coming to a stop as she dropped them onto her lap. She pulled out her thermos of tea to take a sip, only to startle when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and it was Cho, smiling gently at her.

"Come and join me, darling," she said. "I think it's time we both finished what we're working on."

Marietta nodded and the two women began to work side-by-side. Marietta's sadness slowly faded away and a small smile crept onto her lips. Cho's warmth was a comfort to her, surrounding her with love once again.

The night sky outside the window was now filled with stars and the two women had finished their projects. They looked at each other, proud of what they had accomplished. Then, Cho spoke in a soft voice.

"It will all work out fine. You'll see."

Marietta smiled and nodded. She knew that, even if the invitro didn't take, she would still have a family in her wife. And maybe that would be enough.