Hally woke in Missy's arms. Her wife's breathing was slow and steady, but Hally could tell she was awake. She snuggled closer, tucking her head beneath Missy's chin and nuzzling against her neck. Missy's arms tightened around her in response, holding her closer. They lay like that for a while, the world outside the bed irrelevant. Hally allowed herself to wake slowly.

It was early. Too early to move but not early enough to avoid the responsibilities that loomed ahead. They'd have to get up soon—take Lily to school, go to work—but Hally had no real desire to do 'adulting' today. She would happily remain wrapped in this embrace all day.

The silence between them was comforting, a steady hum that filled the room. Hally closed her eyes and let herself drift into the space between them. Missy followed without a word, their consciousnesses touching like fingertips grazing, then intertwining. Wrapped in one another, lingering.

She could feel her. Her wife. So vast and beautiful. A magnificent fire, a balance of chaos. This space, the space that was just the two of them, the bridge between. It was a space only for them. In the vastness of the whole universe, this space was theirs.

She'd gotten so used to the familiar noise inside Koschei's head that the new silence made it feel somehow more vast. Hally's fingertips brushed absently over Missy's clavicle, something within her flaring. The thrum of anger that anyone had dared hurt her, that Rassilon had inflicted that pain on Koschei. The noise in his head. She was really rather glad she'd been able to kill him at least once.

Missy chuckled softly, the sound reverberating against Hally's skin as her wife ran a hand up her spine.

"Now that, is a memory I will cherish forever."

The images hummed between them, vivid and visceral through Koschei's eyes. He had turned to see her after so long, bathed in white, glowing like some vengeful angel. The rage on her face struck him—how beautiful she was, she looked a little older, he'd wondered briefly how long it had been. He hadn't even seen the glint of the knife before it sliced clean through the President's throat. Blood had splattered violently across the white, streaking her face.

An angel, indeed. His angel of death.

Hally laughed softly into Missy's chest, hiding her face against her wife's warmth.

With a soft sigh, she unwound herself reluctantly, reaching for her phone on the bedside table to check the time. The screen lit up, and she groaned.

Ah, shit. It was already 7:30. They really needed to get up.

Missy's hand shot out, plucking the phone from her grasp. "You're not going anywhere," she said firmly.

Hally tried to take it back, but Missy held it out of reach, pressing her hands away with ease as her fingers worked over the screen.

"You're taking the day off," Missy clipped. "You almost got minced. I think that's a perfectly reasonable excuse. One of Lilja's many uncles can take her to school."

Hally laughed softly, shaking her head. "I can't…"

"Yes. You can. There." Missy's smirk widened as she turned the phone screen toward her. "Already done and approved."

Hally blinked at the screen. Sure enough, there was a reply from Kate, immediate and efficient, approving her day off due to injury.

"But I'm not injured anymore," Hally said, pouting as she looked up at Missy.

"Well, they don't know that," Missy cooed with a devilish grin, her eyes twinkling with something playful and yet unmistakably gentle.

Hally laughed softly, her lips curving into a smile.

"Now you can stay in bed. With me." Missy said, leaning in to kiss her nose.

"Oh, so you're skiving today too, are you?" Hally teased.

"I most certainly am," Missy replied, her tone imperious and teasing all at once. "My wife needs me." She pressed a firm kiss to Hally's mouth.

Hally relaxed into the kiss with a soft sigh. Missy had sorted everything. And, really, the idea of hiding from the world with her for a day did sound perfect. "Fine." she murmured against Missy's mouth, the word tinged with a hum of contentment.

When they eventually rolled out of bed, Missy took charge of breakfast.

"Did you mean what you said?" Missy asked, breaking the companionable silence as she moved about Hally's kitchen.

Hally glanced up at her. "You might have to be more specific…" Her lips quirked into a small smile. "Most of it was expletives…"

Missy snorted, an amused glint in her eye. "When you asked me to move in." Her eyes flicked up, blue and burning, locking with Hally's. "Did you mean it?"

Hally frowned slightly, tilting her head. "Yes… of course I meant it. I wasn't that out of it…" A coy smile played at her lips.

Missy pouted, her expression deliberately exaggerated. "The writhing and moaning said otherwise."

Hally rolled her eyes but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she paused, the weight of her next words pressing down softly between them. "Only if you want to…"

Missy cocked an eyebrow, her sharpness softened by the curve of her lips. Slowly, her expression gentled, and her face softened.

"Yes, dear," she said, her voice low and warm. "Of course, I want to."

Hally was midway through showering and getting dressed when the doorbell rang. She heard Missy answer it, voices filtering through faintly from downstairs. A few moments later, footsteps ascended the stairs, and Missy appeared in the doorway of their bedroom.

Her expression was softer than usual, a small smile playing at her lips. Her hands were restless, brushing against the doorframe as if seeking something to hold. "Darling, I invited Alina over."

Hally blinked, processing. "Oh?"

Her tone must have been sharper than intended because Missy's expression shifted, becoming semi-apologetic. "I just think it's a good idea."

"Right…" Hally paused, folding her arms. "So you're, what? Dumping me on my therapist?"

"No." Missy's jaw tightened, a flicker of discomfort passing over her face. "I was going to sit in too."

Hally raised an eyebrow. "Sit in."

"You know what I mean," Missy replied, her voice low and clipped.

"Not really. Are you suggesting you're going to sit and watch, or that you're going to take part?"

"The second one…" Missy admitted, her tone reluctant, as though the words were being dragged from her.

Hally narrowed her eyes.

"Now, now, don't get stroppy with me. Just come downstairs," Missy said, turning briskly and heading for the door.

Hally rolled her eyes but followed. "I suppose I should be grateful you warned me at all."

"Exactly," Missy shot back, her tone picking up on Hally's sarcasm.

When they reached the lounge, Alina was already seated, a calm smile on her face. She greeted them with a cheerful look that seemed only to annoy Missy further. Huffing loudly, Missy threw herself onto the larger sofa, gesturing for Hally to join her.

"Afternoon," Alina began, her eyes twinkling with quiet amusement as she looked between them.

"Hi," Hally offered, her tone polite but uncertain. She noticed the faintly amused expression on Alina's face as the therapist clocked Missy's obvious discomfort. It was more than ironic, considering Missy was the one who had asked her here.

Alina cleared her throat. "Well… what made you contact me, Missy?"

Missy's gaze snapped up to meet hers, sharp and assessing. A moment passed before she frowned. "Can't you start with her?" she said, gesturing toward Hally.

Hally cocked an eyebrow, folding her arms.

Alina smiled gently. "I think starting with the reason you asked me to come over today is the perfect place to start."

Missy scowled, fixing Alina with a glare that promised murder.

"You asked me to come," Alina reminded her, unbothered by Missy's reaction.

"Yes, I know," Missy muttered, her voice tight.

"And why was that?"

Missy hesitated, the tension between them thickening as the silence stretched out. "… Because… I thought it would be helpful. It's been helpful. Before," she said finally, her words careful and deliberate.

"And what is it you'd like help with?"

Alina didn't flinch under the weight of Missy's gaze. She held her ground, her expression patient and unwavering.

Missy didn't reply, her lips pressed into a hard line.

Hally, unable to bear the silence, cleared her throat. "Umm… well…"

Alina cut across her politely. "It's alright, Hally. You don't have to answer for her. She can take as long as she needs to answer the question."

Hally sort of died a little inside. She really wasn't sure how Alina was still alive. A staring contest ensued between Missy and Alina, tense and unyielding. Eventually, Missy shifted, seeming to decide that feigned nonchalance was the best way forward. She relaxed into the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, her expression carefully composed.

"There are things we should talk about. Things both of us need to say, I think." Missy's tone was detached, almost aloof, as though the admission didn't cost her anything at all.

Alina cocked her head slightly to one side. "And… you'd find it easier if I were here?"

Missy grimaced, baring her teeth faintly—just enough to hint at the edge of her displeasure.

Hally watched her closely, her wife's expression revealing more than Missy likely intended. There was pain there, a deep discomfort etched into the lines of her face.

A soft smile curved across Hally's lips. "We're not very good at talking… are we?"

The comment wasn't directed at Alina; it was for Missy. She turned to look at her wife, something flickering across her own expression, and then shifted closer. Curling into Missy's side, she felt a sense of comfort settle over them both.

"This…" Hally began, her voice soft, "… sometimes this terrifies me." She was speaking to Missy, her gaze steady and unwavering. "Not… her…" She laughed lightly, glancing at Alina. "…although she is terrifying." A playful smirk tugged at her lips before she turned back to Missy.

"I mean this. You and me. It scares me infinitely. I can't actually think about it for too long because when I do, I am so overcome with what I feel for you that it threatens to totally break me." Her voice trembled slightly, but she pressed on. "But I think that's what being in love is, isn't it? Letting yourself be wide open, completely vulnerable for something to hurt you. The flipside of love is grief… I think… and I'm so terrified of that feeling. I'm always so terrified of losing you. Because I know how it feels." She took a breath, it seemed to linger. "And I know you know that feeling…"

A smile broke through as she looked at Missy, noticing the glistening trail of water making its way down her wife's cheek. Hally reached up and wiped it away softly, her touch gentle.

"I think we do need to talk," Hally said, her tone calm but resolute. "Because things are different. And both of us are a little bit scared of what different looks like. And I think you asked her here because we're more honest when she's here."

She gave Missy a small, almost teasing smile. It was nearly a laugh. "Or perhaps you just want someone else to lead the conversation…" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "… maybe it's easier to navigate this under the pretense of therapy."

Alina observed them silently.

Missy blinked slowly, her throat working as she cleared it before finally speaking again. She turned her gaze to Alina, her tone steady but distant. "It crossed my mind… in that warehouse. Watching her bleed out onto the floor. That she might not wake up."

The words hung in the air, weighty and raw. Neither Hally nor Alina spoke, the silence stretching.

"That one of these days… she won't make a miraculous recovery. That she could… just… die."

Missy's voice was steady, but the undercurrent of tension coiled. The exterior of her wife was cold, angled. "She had been lying to me. I can still feel it. She's… defaulting to it."

Hally looked at her, her expression unreadable.

"Now I know it's there, I can see past it, but it's still lingering."

"Do you think you're feeling guilty for not having noticed it before?" Alina gently pressed.

"A little stupid, perhaps," Missy admitted, pouting slightly. "To accept that she was 'alright'… after all that time was… wishful thinking."

"Do you want her to be fine? Would that be easier?"

Missy frowned, her tone sharpening. "I don't expect her to be fine. It makes no difference to me. I am here no matter what."

Alina turned her gaze to Hally. "Hally… how does it make you feel, knowing you were hiding these things?"

Hally rolled her lips between her teeth. "I didn't mean to…"

"No… but you did. How are you feeling about it?"

She sighed softly, shifting uncomfortably. "I…" A frown creased her brow. "I don't like how it feels. Knowing I've lied to her. It makes me feel…" She searched for the right word. "…dirty."

Alina nodded, her expression neutral but attentive. "Had you noticed your own withdrawal?"

Hally chewed on the inside of her mouth, hesitating.

Alina didn't let the silence linger as she had with Missy. "Hally?"

"Uh… I think so. Yes… well… yes. I was… I was aware I was avoiding certain things. Well… I was avoiding you for a start…"

Alina gave her a small smile, encouraging without pressing.

"There's just… it's been a lot. And… I knew you knew I was avoiding you, which sort of made it worse. I knew I needed to talk to you, but not doing so was just easier." Hally exhaled with a tired laugh. "Frankly, I was surprised you were letting me get away with it…"

Alina shifted in her seat, her smile patient. "I was hoping you'd eventually come to me yourself."

"Lots of things just happened at once…"

Alina nodded in quiet agreement.

"And… I'm not sure… maybe I was lying to myself when I decided I felt okay about it all. I…" Hally ran a hand through her hair, feeling an almost physical resistance within herself. A deep reluctance to continue. "…I think I just want to be fine. Maybe… I don't know."

Her hearts had sped up, beating hard against her ribs. She pulled in a slow breath but the discomfort seemed to press in on her. Everything within her was screaming at her to get up and leave, to escape, to stop talking. Something about this conversation felt dangerous.

Alina hummed. "Take some deep breaths," she instructed gently, her watchful eyes never leaving Hally. After a pause, she continued. "You're right, things have rather piled up. Multiple major events occurred all within the space of half a year. You'd had almost eight years where you'd built your own life, exercised your own boundaries, and created an environment where you felt safe, in control. And then multiple things happened that perhaps… ripped that distorted view you had, apart."

Hally swallowed hard, her chest tight.

"Rescuing yourself from Gallifrey, dealing with multiple versions of your father at once. Followed by ending up back on Gallifrey to rescue your husband, only for that to not go as you'd planned. Your father regenerating, coming back home without your husband. Only for him to reveal herself before taking over the planet, hurting your father, and murdering one of your friends."

Hally inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

"Each one of those events would be massively destabilizing, on their own." Alina pressed. "Each one required you to alter your life, how you see yourself, and your future. But after each one, you barely had time to breathe before the next event smacked you in the face." Alina gave her a warm, understanding smile. "It is more than understandable that you withdrew. It is more than understandable that you chose to continue to function as normal rather than face each of those things. But eventually, you're going to need to let go of what 'normal' feels like and adapt to what has changed."

The words reluctantly sank into her, permeating through the practised layer of denial. Hally let herself sit with them, let herself acknowledge them before she tilted her head down in a nod. "Everything changed so quickly, and I… I guess I hadn't really thought it through," Hally began, her voice taut. "I'd never considered how this could work—like this—in the little… 'box' I'd made." Breath fell from her in an exhale. "But it… doesn't. It doesn't work. I've been holding onto this ideal that once he came home, it'd be easier. That it'd fix everything. That everything would be fine and perfect." She shook her head, bitterly. "But it's not. That's just not… us. It's still messy and it's still complicated and I'm just really tired of feeling like I'm trying to hold everything together at the seams."

Her voice trembled as she continued, "I feel like I'm halfway through fight or flight all the time. I'm high on adrenaline, constantly. I shake, and I don't even know why. I'm just… on edge. Exhausted. And at the same time, I'm trying to keep our daughter safe and happy, to hold it all together so she doesn't see how close I am to falling apart. I have to stop myself from exploding, from killing everything around me, and make sure I seem okay enough that Kate doesn't start thinking I'm some sort of threat…"

Missy reached out, her voice low and soft. "Darling, I am here… I can help. You're not on your own sweetheart, you don't need to keep holding onto everything as though you're the only one who can do any of it."

"I know… I know that," Hally admitted, her voice cracking. "But I'm just so, so tired, Koschei. Tired of having to be the 'parent' all the time." She shook, water stinging her eyes. "It's always been me. I've carried everything. And I know that wasn't your fault…" She winced. "… but now that you're here, I'm the bad guy. I'm the uncool parent. I'm the one she didn't talk to for months because we needed to take this slowly." A frustrated hand ran through her hair, her expression darkening. "Do you know how many times I almost blurted out why? How many times I almost told her all the shitty, terrible things you've done just to 'win' back her love?" The words came out sharp and jagged, cutting the air between them. It hurt to say them, to acknowledge the feelings that stuck to them, to voice it out loud, but now she'd started, she couldn't stop. "But I didn't. I didn't. And now I'm somehow the terrible parent? You… you waltz into her life on a magical bloody carpet, and I'm the one who has to tell her no when she wants to visit Mars or buy a lion. Because you don't."

Her voice softened momentarily. "And I know maybe I'm not being fair. I've had so much longer with her, so maybe you do just want to have fun with her, and I can't fault you for that. But she needs boundaries, Koschei. She's eight. I'm still just trying to keep her alive."

"She does a pretty decent job of keeping herself alive too, Hal. Are you forgetting where we were at her age?" Missy's tone was calm but edged. "She's capable of far more than you think. She's intelligent, curious. She needs space to explore. To learn. To figure out her own boundaries."

"I know she does," Hally shot back. "But not without considering the risk! Look, I don't want to be the bad guy all the time. Don't you think I want to have fun too? I do. I'd love to take her all over. I'd love to teach her to drive a TARDIS or climb a volcano. But I can't because I'm too busy rebuilding all the rules and boundaries that you just flaunt!"

"She doesn't need to be caged by rules," Missy cut back, her voice rising to meet Hally's.

"I'm not talking about caging her! I'm talking about balance!" Hally's voice cracked as she took a deep breath. "All this time, it's been me. Everything. Every. Single. Thing. That's not your fault, and it's not my fault, but it's the truth. I can't have you coming in and rewriting everything I've tried to do. Everything I've done has been to protect her. To help her fit in and—"

"She doesn't need to fit in," Missy interjected, her voice steely. "She's magnificent. You're trying to box her into something she's not."

"I know what it's like to not fit in!" Alina looks like she's about to cut in, because at this point Hally is sort of just shouting at Missy but she cuts over her. "To have your peers look at you like you're a freak. I know what that does! So if she has to pretend to be fifty percent stupider when she's around them, then fine!"

"She shouldn't have to hide!" Missy snapped, her glare piercing. Her eyes glittered with something—fury, defiance, something… sad.

"Alright." Alina's voice cut through the exchange, sharp and commanding. "Both of you. Take a second."

The room fell silent, the echoes of their words lingering like smoke.

Hally let out a shaky breath and looked away from Missy. Neither of them knew how to do this very well—compromise. It had been Hally all this time, taking the lead, holding everything together, and Missy wasn't stepping in gently. They were both stubborn. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to come at it from a different angle.

"I'm not saying she has to hide…" Her voice was soft, an almost-apology lingering in the air. "…but I need you to understand me, understand where I'm coming from before you just go in and completely change everything. Or at least discuss it with me. You say yes to her without even considering what I want…"

Missy's brow arched, her tone sharp but not unkind. "Why is it about what you want? She's her own person."

Hally huffed softly, rolling her jaw in frustration. She was trying to stay calm, but it wasn't easy. "Yes, I know she is. I didn't mean it like that, I just…" She stopped, exhaling slowly before continuing. "Look… perhaps your ideal way of parenting is to have no boundaries at all, to allow her to explore and be exactly whoever she wants to be, no hiding or pretending… and yes, maybe I'm operating on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, and I know that's not a good thing. What I'm saying, what I'm asking, is if we can meet in the middle. Both of us. If we can find a way of parenting her that feels right for the both of us."

The room settled into a tense silence. Alina, who was watching the pair of them intently, let them sit in it.

"I don't know how to do this, Missy." Hally's voice wavered slightly. "I don't know how to parent with you. I'm not used to anyone questioning what I'm doing. You're right—I've had all the power in this, and letting you back in… letting you be her parent… it's something I'm actually finding quite difficult." She swallowed hard, the words landing heavily. "I'm controlling and I'm selfish, and I've built all these tight, immovable boundaries when it comes to her. I'm trying to loosen them, but it'd help me if you were gentle. If you could understand that I'm not trying to be difficult. I do want this to work. I want you to be her parent too."

Hally ran her hands through her hair, sighing deeply. "I know none of this should be about me. I know that. I'm not asking you to change what you're doing because I'm finding it difficult—it's just… I don't want to get this wrong."

She still couldn't bring herself to look at Missy. Her shoulders hunched, her posture shrinking as she wiped a tear from her cheek and turned her face away from both of them. She felt small. Stupid. Selfish.

"Hally…" Alina's voice was gentle, a soft anchor in the turbulent sea. "You know that Lily is happy, and loved, and safe."

Hally nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in her throat but saying nothing.

A heavy silence settled over the room before Alina spoke again, her voice laced with care but unwavering in its truth. "But… you deserved to be happy, loved, and safe too."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, one that Hally wasn't sure she could face. She didn't move, didn't breathe. Alina pressed on gently, her tone never losing its compassion.

"You've been fighting so hard to create the perfect childhood for Lily, to give her everything you never had. But, Hally, no matter what you do for her, it isn't going to mend the pain of the little girl inside you still waiting for her parents to notice her."

Hally's whole body seemed to lock up. Her shoulders stiffened as if she'd been physically struck, her gaze clouding over. But her expression didn't shift—it froze, like a mask. She didn't move, didn't breathe. Her skin turned pale, almost ashen, and her lips parted slightly, as though to respond. But no sound came out.

"Hally…" Alina's voice softened further, as if coaxing her out of hiding. But Hally's stillness only deepened, her hands slack in her lap, her chest barely rising with shallow breaths.

Missy shifted beside her, her sharp, calculating eyes narrowing in on her wife's face. "Hally?" she said softly, uncharacteristically tentative. No answer.

"Hally, look at me," Missy tried again, her tone losing some of its usual edge. She leaned forward, her hand hovering for a moment before gently landing on Hally's knee.

That touch seemed to tether Hally, just barely, back to the present. She blinked once, a slow, mechanical motion, her eyes distant and unfocused.

"Hal," Missy murmured again, this time squeezing her knee gently, insistently. "Stay with me."

Alina sat back slightly, giving them space but not retreating completely. Her voice was calm but firm. "It's okay, Hally. You don't have to say anything. Just breathe."

For a moment, it felt like the silence might swallow them all whole. Then, with a shaky exhale, Hally's chest rose.

Missy didn't pull her hand away, her gaze still fixed on Hally. "There you are," she said softly, her voice low, almost coaxing.

Hally blinked again, her focus slowly returning. But she didn't look at either of them. She swallowed thickly, her lips trembling before she pressed them tightly together. The sofa shifted as Missy's weight moved, turning to her, curling towards her.

"Come here." Missy's voice was soft, but firm. No room for argument, no hesitation. She moved Hally gently, turning her into her arms. Missy didn't wait for her to respond; she simply wrapped her up, engulfing her in the weight of her presence. One hand guided the back of Hally's head toward her shoulder, protective and steady, as though shielding her from the room, from Alina, from the words still hanging heavy in the air.

Hally hesitated, stiff and silent, before her body gave in. She buried her face in Missy's neck, her arms moving to wrap around her wife in a desperate, trembling grip. She clung to her. As if Missy was the only thing anchoring her to the present.

Missy held her tightly, her arms unyielding and grounding. She didn't say anything. She could feel where she'd gone.

So very far away. So very long ago.

She felt it like whispers of smoke, curling into her mind. A pair of child's shoes on polished floors, the click of heels echoing in an empty room. The grand, silent house around her, vast and cold, every inch of it immaculate and impersonal.

Wide, hopeful eyes staring at the door. Waiting. Be good. Work hard. Do as you're told.

The images swirled, jagged and relentless. Raw and alive, sharp as glass against Missy's thoughts.

A tiny hand smoothing out the hem of her dress. Standing straighter. Smiling brighter. Be good. Work hard.

Eventually, they'd notice. Eventually, they'd love her.

Missy's grip on Hally tightened imperceptibly.

Falling asleep alone.

Be perfect. Then it'll change.

The sounds of parties, laughter, voices carrying from rooms she was never invited into. Mejana had so many friends for her two-hundredth birthday party.

But she was too young. One day, when she was older. When she'd worked harder, been better, been good enough. Then it would change.

Missy's jaw clenched. She let Hally grip her as hard as she needed, her hands trembling against Missy's back.

"Stay with me," Missy murmured into her hair, her voice barely audible, soft and coaxing. She brushed her hand lightly along Hally's back, steady and deliberate. "Right here. Not there. Right here, with me."

She could still feel it, though— that child, that little girl, standing in that cavernous house, so small, so desperate. Wide eyes staring at nothing, wishing, hoping, pretending.

Missy's throat burned. "Breathe," she murmured. "Just breathe. I've got you. I've always got you." Something tightened in her voice. "Darling, I love you." The promise whispered against her skin. "I love you. I will always, always love you." Her hand caressed through her hair, stroking the back of her head. "I've got you. I'm here. You've got me." Into her, she unloaded her unwavering, unconditional love. She wrapped her in it. Drowned her in it until there was no space for anything else within her.

Hally's breathing was ragged, uneven, but slowly, it started to match Missy's steady rhythm.

"You are loved, little one."

Hally's breath hitched, and into the room came the unmistakable sound of sobbing. Missy held her through them, letting her cry into her shoulder with soft noises of encouragement.

Missy didn't let go. Not until she felt Hally begin to come back to her, piece by piece.

"You don't need to be afraid, my love. Our daughter will never be anything but loved. Cherished. I promise you." Missy could feel Hally's gratitude, although she couldn't yet say it out loud. Her gratitude for Missy being here. Now.

"It doesn't have to be perfect to be a family."

Her breathing had softened, although her hands still held Missy tightly.

"I know…" The broken whisper fell her wife.

Missy watched as Hally began putting herself back together, her shoulders rising with a steadying breath. The sniff that followed was soft, almost hesitant, as she lifted her head from where it had rested against her shoulder. Hally's trembling fingers moved to wipe away the tears streaking her cheeks, each motion careful and deliberate, as if reclaiming herself piece by piece.

"We can do this together, darling."

Hally nodded.

"Trust me." Missy brought a hand up to gently cup Hally's face, her touch soft, yet grounding.

Hally nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I do… I do. Always."

The smile that spread across Missy's face was breathtaking, warm and full of affection.

There was a soft clearing of the throat, a slight tension breaking the moment. "Ok… well, the telepathic communication is making my job slightly more difficult…"

Hally let out a soft breath and looked sheepishly towards Alina, her cheeks flushing.

"Sorry…" she muttered, the apology slipping out almost instinctively.

"That's alright," Alina replied, her voice light with understanding. She gave Hally a knowing smile. "I imagine some things are easier to deal with without verbalizing them. Do you want to talk them through?"

Hally sniffed, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "No."

"That's alright." Alina smiled at them both, her warmth radiating in the quiet room. "I'm going to go and make myself a cup of tea. Would either of you like anything?"

Hally opened her mouth, seemingly about to offer to make it herself, but Missy's hands gave a gentle squeeze, and she relaxed, letting Missy answer for both of them. "Just water. Thank you."

Alina moved through into the kitchen, closing the door quietly behind herself. She left them on their own for a good fifteen minutes. Indeed, making herself a tea and drawing a glass of water for Hally but mainly, she was simply letting the pair of them have a moment alone. It was evident to her that something had shifted. Exactly what it was she wasn't sure. She assumed that whatever happened after Missy had taken Hally from the UNIT Med Bay had been good. In that, she assumed they communicated. The pair communicating telepathically could only be a good thing, after all.

Parenting together was a shift. And quite frankly she'd never expected Hally to adjust to it well.

She wondered briefly if perhaps she had pushed her a little hard.

But… then again, sometimes something had to be broken in order to be put back together again.

Again, her mind considered the possibility of Time Lords having certifiable conscious control over their regeneration. It did strike her that Missy's femininity was certainly helping. Enough that it struck her as something more than luck.

She always said they had little control over it. But Alina was unable to draw a certain conclusion. She had been known to lie.

Perhaps, a lighter topic might be useful.

Although she didn't want to give them whiplash. Hence the small break. But, Alina had a few thoughts.

When Alina re-entered the room, she found Hally had shifted to lie down, her head resting on Missy's lap. Missy's fingers moved gently through Hally's hair in a soothing, rhythmic motion. At Alina's approach, Hally stirred slightly, sitting up just enough to accept the glass of water Alina had brought her. She drank slowly, Missy's watchful gaze never leaving her.

Alina settled back into her seat, letting the quiet linger for a few moments. Hally continued sipping her water, and Alina took an occasional sip of her tea, the silence almost companionable.

Finally, Alina's voice broke the stillness, her tone light but deliberate. "I'm going to assume the sexual dynamic between the two of you hasn't shifted."

When no immediate response came, she leaned forward slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. "Specifically, that Missy remains the dominant partner."

Hally made a face, clearly uncomfortable but resigned. "Yes." There was a definite tone there, one that spoke volumes without needing to say much else.

"She's definitely become more of a brat." Missy quipped, catching the less than subtle undertone.

Hally's eyes flicked to Missy, a sharp glance that conveyed her thoughts clearly, though she chose not to respond aloud.

Alina cleared her throat, her tone measured but thoughtful. "Have you ever extended those roles outside of sex?"

Missy raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "What do you mean?"

Alina paused, considering her words carefully. "I'm wondering if you might find it beneficial to give up control in a non-sexual sense, Hally. The exhaustion you mentioned, coming from the tight control you're exercising over your life, it might benefit you to relinquish that control, at least temporarily. To give that control to Missy. To let her take that burden."

Hally's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her posture as she shifted, sitting up properly.

"Not all the time," Alina continued, not missing the shift. "It could just be for an hour. To try it, to see if it helps. It'll build trust. An hour, a weekend. I know it's difficult to find the time, especially with a child involved, but I think it could be helpful for you, Hally. Practice giving up control in a way that isn't completely sexual."

Hally blinked, her mind processing the suggestion slowly. "You mean like a weekend where I do whatever she says?"

Alina chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. "In a way, but it's more about trust—letting yourself lose that control. Knowing she'll be there. Knowing you have a safe word if you need to stop. It's likely it would cross over with sex, I'd be very surprised if it didn't. I'm not saying to separate the two, but more… find if there's a crossover that benefits you both. Take the time to fully explore how it could work for you."

Missy didn't seem averse to the idea, her expression thoughtful, but Hally still wore a guarded look on her face.

Alina smiled, sensing her hesitation. "You don't have to jump in straight away. Discuss it, see if you can put aside a time. It doesn't have to be now. But I think it will help."

Hally scrunched her face. "If you say so."

Alina let out a soft chuckle as she surveyed them, her gaze perceptive. "Something has shifted, between yesterday afternoon and now." Her tone wasn't quite a question, but it was clear she expected an answer. "You've communicated? Openly?"

Hally chewed on the inside of her mouth for a moment, gathering her thoughts before giving Alina a small, reluctant nod. "Yes."

Alina's gaze flickered between the two of them, a knowing look in her eyes.

"I asked her to move in. Permanently… well..." Hally and Missy shared a brief glance, a subtle shift in the air between them. "You know..." Missy smiled softly at Hally, a look of warmth and understanding passing between them.

Alina cocked an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity lighting up her expression. "You're not expecting her to stay...?"

Hally gave a small smile in return, a quiet sense of uncertainty threading through her words. "It's… a little complicated. Timey Wimey."

A frown slowly fell onto Alina's face as she looked between them both, her expression darkening with thought. "Are you suggesting... she's... That your timelines aren't in sync?"

Hally nodded, her gaze slightly distant as she processed the weight of her own words. "Yes. It's… exactly that. But she can stay. For a while. But things will… shift, later on."

Alina's face tightened, her jaw clicking in recognition of the situation. She hummed softly, as if piecing together the fragments of a puzzle. "I see. I... I'm glad you've spoken about it. At least." She shifted slightly in her chair. "Have you told Lily?"

Missy spoke before Hally could respond, her voice soft but firm. "Lilja is aware that sometimes her Mamaidh will be here and sometimes she won't be. She knows I'll always be near. I'll always come back."

"We haven't told her about her moving in yet," Hally added, glancing at Missy with a gentle look. "We'll do it when she gets back from school."

Missy hummed thoughtfully, a hint of something mischievous creeping into her tone. "I assume there won't be a problem with that?"

There was a subtle edge to her voice, a playful lilt that didn't go unnoticed. Alina cocked an eyebrow, recognizing the unspoken challenge in the air but choosing not to comment.

"I assume there won't be." She offered back. Alina's eyes glittered with an unreadable expression before she turned back to Hally, her voice calm yet authoritative. "Perhaps... you could let Missy take the lead on that conversation?"

Hally sighed softly. "That feels like something we should do together."

Alina nodded, a small, understanding smile on her lips. "You can still do it together. Just, let Missy take the lead. You can jump in if you need to. But trust her lead and see how it feels."

Hally scowled, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why is it just me with homework?"

Alina chuckled softly, the sound light and teasing. "Because… despite my affinity for a challenge, I don't actually have a death wish."

Missy exhaled slowly, her usual mischievous glint softened by an uncharacteristic patience. Leaning back on the sofa, her gaze never left Lily, while Hally perched beside her, radiating an almost tangible nervous energy.

"Did you have a good day at school, little one?" Missy asked casually, a faint smirk curling her lips.

Lily nodded, placing her bag down with a small thud. "Yeah. But I missed you."

Missy's chuckle was warm, full of affection. "Ah, well. Your mother and I had a rather busy day, sorting out some important matters. Things we wanted to talk to you about."

Lily tilted her head, curiosity lighting up her face. "Is it good stuff or bad stuff?"

Hally shifted beside Missy, her breath steadying as she answered with a soft smile. "Good things, sweetheart."

"I should hope so," Missy replied, keeping her tone light yet filled with that familiar sharpness. "Your mother and I had a chat, and we decided it might be... agreeable if I stayed here for a while. Properly. Not just for visits."

Lily blinked in surprise. "You mean... live here? Like, every day?"

Missy nodded, her gaze fixed on Lily's expression, watching closely for her reaction. "Precisely. What do you think about that?"

For a moment, Lily's face scrunched in deep thought, her fingers digging into the cushion on her lap. "So you'd be here in the mornings? And after school? At dinner time? Nighttime?"

"That's the general idea," Missy said playfully, her eyes sparkling. "School bags everywhere, crumbs on the floor—oh, the horror."

Lily giggled, her shoulders relaxing as the tension melted from her.

"Does the idea of me sticking around sound alright to you?" Missy's voice softened, teasing yet genuine.

Lily's smile blossomed into full sunlight. "Yes! It's brilliant!" Without hesitation, she lunged forward, pulling Missy into a tight hug.

Missy wrapped her arms around her, a satisfied smile crossing her face as she looked over at Hally. "So, little one, are we settled?"

Lily nodded, beaming brightly. "Yep!"

"Splendid," Missy said with a satisfied grin, ruffling their daughter's hair before sending a knowing look at Hally, one that clearly conveyed 'See, that went well.'

Lily smiled at her, her eyes lingering on Missy for a moment before her gaze followed hers to Hally, the corners of her mouth turning slightly. "I don't know why it took you so long anyway."

Hally shot her daughter a mildly scolding look, her brow raised in silent reproach.

Missy hummed softly, her posture shifting subtly, as if she had settled into a new thought. "How about your mother makes us some hot chocolate while we have a quick chat?"

Hally blinked, slightly thrown off by the abrupt change in direction, but nodded. "Sure. Ok..." She glanced over at Missy, seeking some kind of clue as to what this was about, but Missy simply returned her gaze with a soft, enigmatic smile.

"I'll leave you two to it," Hally added, with a lightness in her voice, though there was a tinge of curiosity hidden beneath it.

She stood, brushing her fingers lightly against Missy's in a brief gesture, and made her way to the kitchen, closing the door softly behind her. The quiet click of the door seemed to mark a shift.

As she busied herself with the mugs and the chocolate, Hally found herself momentarily distracted, her thoughts flickering back to what might be going on behind that closed door. She resisted the urge to press her ear to the wood. But she didn't, trusting whatever her wife needed to say to their daughter alone. The muffled voices on the other side of the door—Missy's smooth, commanding tone, Lily's occasional interjections—drifted to her, but the words were lost through the wall.

After a little while, the door creaked open, and Lily padded into the kitchen. "Mum?"

Hally looked over, Missy is behind her, hovering. Without a word, Lily wrapped her arms tightly around Hally's waist, pressing her face into her side.

"I love you," she murmured, her voice muffled.

Hally stilled, her hands hesitating before gently settling on Lily's back. "I love you too, sweetheart. Always."

Lily held on a moment longer before pulling back, her smile soft but sure. "Hot chocolate ready?"

"Of course."

Sundays had become a minor logistical challenge with Missy living under their roof. The solution? A carefully crafted excuse that Missy had pressing "work commitments" on Sundays, conveniently requiring her presence 'hiding' in the TARDIS. Not that Missy would ever admit it was hiding; no, this was a matter of strategy. But with her simmering animosity toward Hally's father showing no signs of abating—if anything, it had only deepened—it was simply easier to keep the two of them apart. Small steps, Hally reminded herself. Stability above all else.

But Lily's ninth birthday presented an unavoidable complication.

At least Hally had managed to negotiate a compromise: a split between a class party and a family gathering. The allure of two separate birthday parties had been too tempting for Lily to refuse. For the class party, they'd booked Laser Quest, a perfect way to run her daughter and all her classmates into subdued exhaustion.

The 'family' party, however, was a different beast. Hally had suggested a small affair, perhaps just Lily, Hally and The Doctor, then Hally and Missy could have their own small thing with their daughter another day, but Lily had other plans. She wanted, in her own words, "all my favourite adults together."

Ugh.

Hally's solution? Saturation. She invited so many people that Missy and The Doctor would be unable to make the other the centre of their attention simply due to the fact there would be a plethora of other people in attendance. Torchwood was invited en masse, plus partners and children: Gwen, Rhys, and Anwen; Owen, Tosh, and their infant son, Ryo; Jack and Ianto. Armitage was coerced into attending, alongside Hart, Alina, and at Hally's insistence, both Henry and Robert. Kate was promised future punctuality in exchange for her extended attendance, Martha brought along her boyfriend, Tom, and nearly all of Hally's department turned up, adding another dozen or so bodies to the mix.

The event was framed as a casual, pre-summer BBQ, with a "bring your own alcohol" caveat. Some had laughed at Hally's optimism in planning an outdoor party in May. But, of course, the skies were a flawless expanse of blue, the air warm with just the faintest breeze. Hally ensured it was perfect.

The Doctor arrived just as the party began, thankfully sparing Hally the awkwardness of him being early. Of course, all attending had been pre-warned. You know… That The Doctor would be in attendance, as well as his arch-frenemy.

The pair had been told to be on their best behaviour with the perfectly guilt-inducing phrase. "Don't ruin Lily's birthday."

To her relief, the day unfolded without major incident. The adults mingled, children darted between the garden and the house, and Lily spent much of the afternoon giggling with Anwen, the pair daring one another to approach Robert, who seemed utterly unfazed by their antics.

Jack, clad in a comically oversized apron, declared himself the "BBQ King" as he wielded a pair of tongs with theatrical flair. Owen hovered nearby, arms crossed, casting dubious looks at the grill.

"That chicken still looks like it's auditioning for ER," Owen quipped, poking a drumstick that was alarmingly pink.

Jack flashed him a grin. "Relax, Owen. I've been alive for centuries; I know when meat's cooked."

Ianto, rolling his eyes, discreetly took over, steering the operation toward something resembling food safety.

Hally moved through the crowd with a drink in hand, stopping beside Alina, who stood by the hedge, her arms loosely crossed as she surveyed the scene.

"This is… quite the turnout," Alina observed, her tone dry, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

Hally sighed, taking a sip of her drink. "It was this or complete chaos. Lily wanted everyone here, and I… well, I tried to mitigate the inevitable."

Alina arched a brow. "By 'inevitable,' do you mean her or him?" She inclined her head toward Missy.

"Both," Hally admitted. "At least they're avoiding each other. For now."

"Bold strategy," Alina said, her gaze flicking between the two parties. "Though if anyone can keep them from tearing into each other at a barbecue, it's you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Hally muttered, though her lips twitched with reluctant amusement.

Lily zipped past them, giggling as she and Anwen conspired. "Go on, Anwen! He won't bite!" Lily whispered loudly, pointing toward Robert, who stood by the drink table, clearly trying to blend into the scenery.

Hally cleared her throat. "I take no responsibility for my daughter terrorising your son."

The Doctor appeared at Hally's side, hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, his face creased in a mix of thoughtfulness and discomfort.

"She's really grown up," he said softly, watching Lily with something close to awe.

Hally glanced at him, her expression softening. "She has."

There was a beat of silence before the Doctor added, "You've done a remarkable job, you know. Raising her."

Hally's smile was faint, but genuine. "Thanks. Though it hasn't been just me. There's been a village."

"I see that," he replied, his tone wistful. "She's lucky to have you."

"Mum?" Lily's voice, though soft, carried a weight of sincerity that made Hally pause mid-task.

Hally turned, slightly surprised by the tone. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she met Lily's gaze. "Hey there. Having fun?" she asked, her voice light, though there was a hint of curiosity in her expression.

Lily nodded, her arms opening wide as she made her way over to Hally. Without a word, she wrapped her arms tightly around Hally's waist, pulling herself close. The warmth of her daughter's embrace was grounding, and Hally couldn't help but laugh softly, a quiet sound of affection. She returned the hug, her hands settling on Lily's back.

Her daughter seemed to have swapped out the sarcasm and scathing remarks for long, tight hugs. It was certainly an improvement. One that Hally had a suspicion she had Missy to thank for.

"Thank you," Lily said suddenly, her voice muffled slightly as her cheek pressed against Hally's side. "Thank you for both my birthday parties and all of my presents." Her arms tightened, holding on a little longer as if to emphasise her gratitude.

Hally smiled, her hearts warming at the sincerity in Lily's words. She leaned down slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "You're more than welcome, sweetheart," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion she didn't quite know how to express.

Missy cleared her throat from behind them, her expression unreadable but her eyes soft. "Don't burn the marshmallows," she said, breaking the moment as only she could.

Hally sighed but smiled. "I wouldn't dare."

Missy leaned against open patio door, her arms loosely crossed, watching Toshiko carefully introduce baby Ryo to Lily. Outside, Lily was uncharacteristically subdued, her hands hovering delicately as if afraid to disrupt the baby's peace. Her usual boundless energy gave way to something quieter, more tender.

Hally approached, her gaze drifting to the scene outside. A thought flickered to life in the shared mental space between them.

Sibling.

The word lingered like a stray breeze, gentle but insistent. Hally frowned, unsure of its origin.

She cleared her throat, breaking the quiet. "Was that...?"

Missy's head tilted slightly, her expression neutral but amused. "It wasn't me."

"Well, I don't think it was me." Hally countered, crossing her arms.

"You're the one ovulating. It was definitely you." Missy teased, her voice laced with mock seriousness.

"I… oh… oh so now you choose to track my cycle? A bit late, don't you think?"

Missy's lips quirked into a smirk. "You're the one imagining siblings."

Hally huffed, her cheeks warming. "It was just a stray thought and besides, I'm not convinced the thought didn't come from you."

"Why do you think I regenerated into a woman?" Missy asked, her tone teasing. "Certainly not to add to the population."

Hally raised an eyebrow, giving her a flat, unimpressed look. "That's the reason?" she said dryly, her arms folding across her chest. "Not your vanity?"

Missy let out a low, melodic laugh, the sound rich with amusement. She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening. "One is more than enough, darling. For now." Her voice was light, playful.

Hally hummed thoughtfully, then her expression shifted, a frown tugging at her lips. She shot Missy a pointed look. "For now?" she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and mock offense. "Excuse you."

Missy's smirk only widened at Hally's reaction, her gaze returning to the scene outside. She didn't say a word in response—her silence speaking volumes, adding more fuel to the playful tension between them.

Hally, unwilling to let it slide, scoffed lightly and crossed her arms even tighter. "Well, you can push the next one out, then," she said sharply, a teasing edge to her tone. "You can waddle around for months carrying it. See how you like it."

Missy snorted, her laugh escaping before she could stop it. "Well, when you work out how to regenerate. Into a man, no less, let me know." And with that, her wife slipped from her, moving away to ensure she'd had the last word.

Hally moved to lean against the door, her back against the glass as she pouted at the back of Missy's head. Her gaze slid from her back to Lily, who with Tosh's supervision was holding Ryo on her lap.

"Always the strong, silent type." Hart's voice semi-registered in her peripheral hearing. He and Armitage were hovering just at the edge of the patio. He tilted his head, taking in the silent man with amusement. "You truly have the whole brooding act down to a science."

She had assumed it was simply Hart, partaking in his usual sport of being an annoying shit, it wasn't until Armitage actually responded that her attention moved a little more intently towards the pair.

"Perhaps I hope one day you'll stop pushing boundaries," he finally said, his voice low and steady.

Hart's grin only widened, his eyes dancing with amusement as he took a step closer. "You could say I'm a connoisseur of interesting boundaries. Yours seem particularly well-fortified."

Hally leaned in a little closer, her curiosity piqued. She could practically hear the unspoken tension in Armitage's reply. "I don't think you're capable of subtlety," he said dryly, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes that betrayed the hardened exterior he otherwise presented.

Hart chuckled softly. He leaned in a little more, his voice dropping, almost conspiratorial. "Subtlety's overrated," he said with a shrug. "I prefer to get straight to the point."

Armitage met Hart's gaze evenly, unflinching, as if prepared for whatever was coming next. "And what's your point?" he asked, his tone neutral, though there was a quiet challenge in it.

Hart's grin stretched wider, and he stepped back with a slow, deliberate motion, tipping his glass toward Armitage in a mock toast. "Oh, you'll figure it out eventually."

As the evening descended, the garden settled into a comfortable quiet. Most of the guests had trickled away, leaving only a handful of close friends and family lingering in the cooling air. Hally stood near the patio, nursing the last of her drink, watching as her father crouched down in front of Lily. The Doctor's laugh was warm as he scooped her up, spinning her around. Lily squealed in delight, the sound ringing out against the quiet murmur of the others.

Hally's chest tightened as she watched them, a tug she couldn't quite place settling under her collarbone. It wasn't just longing. It was something deeper—an ache of what had been and what might never fully be.

A hand slid to her waist, steadying her, and a warm weight pressed against her back. Missy's chin rested lightly on her shoulder.

"How about," Missy murmured, her voice low and velvety in Hally's ear, "we put our daughter to bed and you let me make you feel better."

A small, involuntary smile curved at Hally's lips. She tilted her head slightly, her temple brushing against Missy's. "Mmm… I'd like that," she murmured, taking another sip of her drink.

Missy's smirk was audible in her tone. "Then we can properly test the new soundproofing."

Hally let out a soft hum, leaning into the embrace.

Across the garden, The Doctor set Lily down gently and straightened. His gaze flicked over to them, catching Missy's eye.

The air between them seemed to shift, charged with something unsaid yet palpable. Neither spoke, but the intensity in their locked stares said plenty. Missy's grip on Hally's waist tightened just slightly, her chin lifting as if in defiance.

The Doctor's expression was unreadable, his usual buoyancy muted by something heavier, older. After a beat too long, he broke away, his attention returning to Hally.

"Well," he said, his tone lighter than the moment before, "I should be going."

Hally smiled, the ache still lingering in her chest but softened by Missy's steady presence. "Safe travels."

The Doctor hesitated for just a moment, seemingly considering how to best tackle pulling his daughter into a hug while her wife had her arm wrapped protectively around her waist. He shot Missy a look, one that very clearly, albeit silently said 'do you mind?'. Missy took her sweet time, but she moved back a little, removing her arm to allow The Doctor to step forward and pull his daughter into a hug. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you soon."

She nodded against his shoulder, her voice quiet. "Of course. Thank you for being here."

He pulled back slightly, giving her a smile. "Of course." He opened his mouth. "I…" His eyes slid to Missy and back to her, something within him simmering. He cleared his throat, managing to say it, despite their audience. "I love you."

She squeezed his hand gently. "I love you too, Dad."

The arm slid back around her waist, the warmth of Missy pressing against her back. The Doctor took the cue and stepped back, giving Hally a soft smile before heading to his TARDIS. Missy's embrace tightened, as she pressed a lingering kiss to her temple.

Hally shifted against the bindings at her wrists, testing the restraints with a soft, anticipatory squirm. Missy had promised her stress relief, and Hally had eagerly surrendered to her wife's skilled and mischievous hands. She'd let Missy strip her bare, guide her onto the bed, and secure her wrists to the frame. The ties were snug, pulling just enough to keep her in place but with no trace of discomfort.

Missy stood over her, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. Her tone was honeyed, laced with playful cruelty. "A blindfold or a gag, darling?"

Hally pouted at her words. She wanted to see Missy, to watch every expression that crossed her wife's face. Missy was in one of her playful moods, and surrendering her vision entirely seemed like a gamble. On the other hand, a gag would rob her of speech, although, that was certainly secondary when she could simply infiltrate her mind. Although… it would mean she'd not be able to kiss her. Hally rolled her lip between her teeth.

"Can I see both first?" she asked, her voice tentative but curious.

Missy's eyes gleamed with that sharp, knowing look that never failed to make Hally's hearts race. "You can, my darling," Missy purred, moving with a deliberate grace. She plucked two items from the bedside table and returned to the bed, straddling Hally's waist with the ease of someone completely in control. Her attire remained impeccably intact, a stark contrast to Hally's naked form.

Missy held up the first item, a simple black blindfold of soft silk, its texture promising gentle darkness. Then, she presented the second: a gag, smooth black leather with sturdy buckles and a rubber ball that would sit snugly in Hally's mouth. It wasn't overly large, but she knew that after a while, it would ache.

Hally's cheeks burned as she weighed her decision. The gag wasn't unappealing, but tonight she longed for comfort, for closeness. While she wanted to see Missy's face, to trace every smile and smirk, most of all, she wanted to be able to kiss her.

"Blindfold," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, though her certainty was clear.

Missy's lips curved into a sly, indulgent smile as she leaned forward slightly. "Mmhmm. Ask me nicely for it, pet."

Hally's breath hitched, her hearts pounding against her ribs. She swallowed, meeting Missy's gaze. "Mistress, will you blindfold me, please?"

The words were soft, reverent, and full of trust, making Missy's smile deepen with satisfaction.

Missy leaned down, her lips brushing Hally's in a firm, claiming kiss before she pressed the fabric over her eyes. Hally instinctively lifted her head slightly, letting Missy secure the blindfold behind her.

"Of course," Missy purred, her voice thick with satisfaction, "since you asked so perfectly."

Darkness settled over Hally's vision, heightening her awareness of Missy's presence. She felt her wife's weight pressing against her waist, grounding and steadying. The subtle pressure of Missy's knees against her ribs. Hally exhaled a soft, shaky breath, surrendering to the darkness.

"Good girl," Missy murmured. "Let your Mistress take good care of you."

Her lips found Hally's again, soft and warm, but the kiss wasn't tender. It was commanding, intent, and hungry. Hally moaned softly into it, her bound arms tugging reflexively against the restraints. Missy shifted her hips, sliding lower to straddle Hally's pelvis, her movements deliberate and teasing.

The weight shifted as Missy's hands explored Hally's torso, her touch both reverent and possessive. She cupped Hally's breasts, her fingers kneading gently before her touch turned sharper, pinching. Hally gasped when Missy rolled her nipple between her fingers, the sensation sharp and almost too much.

"Ah!" Hally hissed, her back arching involuntarily.

Above her, Missy hummed with gentle amusement. Her lips replaced her hand, soothing the smarting skin with her warm tongue. "Something to explore another day," Missy mused, her tone playful yet calculating.

Hally bit her bottom lip, the darkness left her with no choice but to feel every sensation. Anxiety and exhilaration swirled within her. She trusted Missy completely, but that trust didn't stop the delicious tingle of nerves.

Missy's mouth claimed hers again, the kiss gentler this time, almost tender. Her hands continued their exploration, tracing Hally's curves, caressing her thighs, and brushing over her sides. Each touch left Hally breathless, exposed, and undeniably wanted.

Missy pulled back slightly, her breath ghosting over Hally's lips. "Like this…" she murmured, brushing her thumb over Hally's lower lip, "…you are absolutely breathtaking, my love."

Hally's tongue flicked out to wet her lips, her breath shaky.

"All perfectly relaxed and laid out for me, prettily," Missy continued, her voice a low, seductive purr. "Eager to take whatever I want to give you."

Hally flushed deeper, the words sinking into her like a warm caress. She flexed her fingers, testing the bindings. A soft whine left Hally's lips, her body instinctively responding to Missy's teasing touch. Missy's fingers ghosted over her mouth, and she opened obediently, allowing Missy in. A hum of approval escaped from Missy as she wet her fingers in Hally's mouth, her tongue instinctively lapping against the light intrusion.

Missy's voice carried a low, satisfied note, her words laced with playful reverence. "My God," she murmured, her tone dripping with deliberate intent, "who made you into this desperately deprived little thing?"

A small smile played across Hally's lips. "You did."

"Of course I did," her wife hummed, the curve of her smirk audible, her fingers pausing deliberately at the curve of Hally's waist.

But Hally couldn't help herself, a flicker of mischief lighting up her expression. "Although," she added lightly, "Alina would probably argue it stems from my abandonment issues. You know, my innate need to please."

Missy barked out a laugh, the sound sharp and delighted. "Abandonment issues?" she repeated, her tone incredulous as she leaned closer. "Oh, my darling girl, you've got it all wrong."

Her hand slid back up to cup Hally's cheek, her thumb brushing gently against her flushed skin. When she spoke again, her voice dipped lower, rich and brimming with intimacy. "You're mine now. You're not abandoned—you're adored. Properly, gloriously, thoroughly adored." Her weight shifted back, moving between her legs as she shifted Hally's thighs apart. Her fingers ran teasingly through her folds, marking the act of wetting them in Hally's mouth as completely unnecessary. They could both feel the slickness between her legs.

Hally moaned softly, the tension in her body melting under Missy's touch. "Lucky me," she murmured, her voice tinged with warmth and sincerity.

Missy tilted her head, her grin sharpening as she leaned in just enough for her breath to ghost over Hally's lips. "Oh no, darling," she purred. "Lucky me."

She kissed her, fierce and tender all at once, her free hand sliding down to frame Hally's body possessively. When Missy finally pulled back, Hally could feel the weight of her wife's sharp gaze, lingering on her like a physical touch. Missy's eyes roamed over her, drinking in every detail—the inevitable flush that painted Hally's cheeks, the way her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, and how her lips were slightly swollen, still tingling from the intensity of the kiss.

Missy's fingers moved deliberately, spreading the wetness across Hally's skin with a maddening slowness. Hally shifted beneath her, the bindings at her wrists biting just enough to remind her of her position. She tugged lightly at her restraints, the ache of longing twisting in her chest.

She wanted to touch her. Needed to touch her.

Her fingers curled reflexively, longing to trace the curve of Missy's face, to tangle in her hair, to anchor herself to the source of the fire coursing through her veins. But the ties held firm, and all she could do was arch slightly, her body silently pleading for more as amusement hummed from Missy's chest.

"Now," Missy said, her tone playfully commanding as she traced a finger down the valley between Hally's breasts, "I think it's time to put all that lovely eagerness of yours to good use. Don't you agree?"

Hally flushed deeper, her lips curving into a soft, knowing smile. "Anything you say, Mistress," she replied, her voice teasing but sincere. Hally's breath hitched, soft and trembling, as Missy's fingers hovered just at her entrance. The lightest of touches brushing over the desperate bundle of nerves.

"That's my good girl."

Missy shifted away, the weight of her body leaving the bed. Hally let out a soft, involuntary whine at the loss.

The room was quiet except for the faint creak of the floorboards and the soft rustle of fabric. Blindfolded, Hally strained to pick out every sound, her toes curling in anticipation as the tension built in her body. She could hear Missy moving about, the whisper of buttons slipping free, the low slide of fabric as it was peeled away from skin.

Her pulse thrummed in her ears, a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through her. The mattress dipped near her knees as Missy climbed back onto the bed, her movements slow, deliberate.

"Comfortable, my love?" Missy's voice was rich, teasing, the weight of her words pressing down on Hally as surely as her presence did.

Hally let out a soft hum of acknowledgment, arching instinctively as she felt Missy's hands glide up her thighs, spreading them gently. Her breath hitched when Missy settled herself between her legs, warm and grounding. The heat of her, the closeness, had her head spinning.

A faint, muted wet sound broke the quiet, followed by a slick, almost rhythmic movement that made Hally's breath falter. She couldn't see, the blindfold turning her world into shadow, but the noises painted vivid images in her mind. Her hearts raced as the soft, wet sounds continued, deliberate and unhurried, carrying a teasing intimacy she couldn't escape.

Missy's fingers brushed over her skin, warm and smooth, leaving trails of tingling heat in their wake. "Relax for me," she murmured, her tone low and coaxing, as though she could sense the way Hally's pulse had quickened. A subtle shift in pressure followed, something new, unfamiliar and firm pressing gently between her thighs.

Hally froze, the realization hitting her in fragmented bursts as Missy adjusted herself.

"Uh—" Hally's voice faltered, catching in her throat as the sensation sharpened into focus, sending a shiver skittering down her spine.

"Shh," Missy crooned, leaning over her. Her breath ghosted against Hally's neck before her lips followed, pressing soft, teasing kisses into her skin. "It's only me. Nothing to fret about." Her voice was rich, velvet-smooth.

The pressure increased gradually, insistent but measured, a deliberate coaxing that left no room for escape. Hally's breath hitched as her body responded, muscles stretching, her skin prickling with heightened awareness. It was larger than she anticipated, the sensation bordering on overwhelming—a fullness that sent warmth pooling low in her stomach, mingling with a heady tension she couldn't ignore.

"That's…" Hally gasped, toes curling against the sheets as she adjusted to the intrusion. "That's not small."

Missy chuckled, a low, indulgent sound that thrummed against Hally's skin. "It's only a little above average, darling. Nothing you can't handle."

"A little above?" Hally's voice came out breathless as Missy pressed further, her movements slow but unyielding. The stretch deepened, each deliberate motion challenging Hally to take more.

The air grew heavier, the room charged with the friction of anticipation and the heady rhythm of Missy's calculated pace. Hally's breath stuttered, her body tensing instinctively as the pressure intensified. "Wait—" she gasped, the word trembling on her lips.

Missy stilled immediately, her hand gently rubbing over Hally's inner thigh. The soothing motion sent a small shiver through her. "What is it, my love?" Missy's tone was soft, patient, though the teasing edge never quite left her voice.

"I don't think I can," Hally whispered, biting her lip as the stretch teetered between discomfort and something more.

"You can, my love," Missy murmured, her voice sweet but firm. She shifted ever so slightly, easing in a fraction more. Hally let out a small, strained noise, her hands pulling at the restraints.

"It's big," Hally admitted breathlessly, the words tumbling out before she could stop herself.

Missy chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. "It is, isn't it? But you're doing beautifully." Her hand moved in slow, rhythmic circles against Hally's thigh, her touch deliberate and reassuring. "Just breathe, poppet. You'll adjust."

Hally whimpered, her body fighting to relax against the unfamiliar sensation.

Hally bit her lip, her breath hitching as the discomfort lingered, sharp and unrelenting, the ache brought tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. Missy's hand smoothed soothing circles over her inner thigh, the touch a grounding counterpoint to the strain. It helped—just a little—but the black silk over her eyes only seemed to make it worse, amplifying the intensity and leaving her grasping for control in the dark.

A soft gasp slipped from her lips as the restraint holding her right wrist gave way with a faint rip. Instinctively, her hand moved downward, seeking some way to steady herself, to touch, to ease the unbearable tension.

But before she could reach, her wrist was caught, Missy's hand wrapping around it with unerring precision. She tutted, halting all motion, her tone a teasing admonishment. "Ah, ah, ah. Are you asking me to stop?"

"It hurts," Hally admitted softly, her voice carrying a note of raw vulnerability that made her chest tighten.

"I know," Missy replied, her tone laced with a knowing gentleness that somehow steadied her. "You can take it, my love. Trust me."

"I… I don't know if I can," Hally said, her voice faltering.

"Of course you don't know, you can't see it," Missy murmured, a hint of amusement threading through her words as she leaned closer, her breath brushing Hally's skin. "But you trust me. And I'm telling you, you can."

Hally exhaled shakily. "I'd feel better if I could see… or touch it…" She flexed her fingers, testing the grip that kept her hand suspended between them.

Missy tutted again, her movements stilled, her voice low and firm. "That isn't the point, poppet." Her fingers tightened just slightly around Hally's wrist, a gentle reminder. "If you need me to stop, what do you say?"

A soft whine escaped Hally, her body shifting as she tried to find relief. The stretch was still uncomfortable, teetering on the edge of tolerable, but she wasn't ready to give in. "I know what I say."

Missy's eyebrow arched, though Hally couldn't see it, the smirk in her voice unmistakable. "Are you saying it?"

"No…" Hally admitted, her cheeks flushing.

"Then where do you think this hand is going?" Missy asked, arching an elegant brow as she held Hally's wrist firmly between them.

Hally huffed, squirming slightly under her. "I just… I need a second," she admitted, her breathing uneven.

"Then say so," Missy encouraged, her voice calm. "If you need to slow down, or you need a moment, you only have to say it."

Hally's breaths came heavier as she tried to find the words, frustration and fear mingling in her chest. Missy, perceptive as always, leaned closer, her lips brushing against Hally's temple.

"Let's make it simple," Missy began, her tone carrying that infuriatingly patronizing lilt. "Because I know a three-syllable word might be a little difficult for you while I'm fucking you senseless. If you're ok, you say, green, if you need to slow down, it's orange and if you need to stop everything, red. Or if you can get it out, Petrichor. Easy enough?"

Hally huffed at the tone, her cheeks flushing. "Yes."

"Good. Now, give me a colour," Missy said, rocking her hips slightly to emphasize her point.

Hally bit her lip, her breath catching. She couldn't decide, her body caught between tension and surrender. "Sweetheart," Missy said, her tone a touch sharper, "if you don't give me a colour, I'll make sure it hurts."

Hally writhed beneath her, groaning softly. "What happens if I say orange?" she asked, her voice small but laced with determination.

Missy hummed approvingly. "Then it's still going inside you, but I'll be gentle."

Hally let out a frustrated huff, the sting lessening as she adjusted. "Does it get bigger?" she asked, a wry, almost incredulous edge to her voice.

"That's for me to know, sweetheart," Missy replied with a sly smile.

Hally growled softly, before relenting with a sigh. "Fine… orange."

Missy leaned over her, pressing Hally's hand back into the bed as she shifted slightly. She kissed her, slow and deliberate, her lips warm and grounding. "Good girl," Missy murmured, her voice brimming with affection as she shifted back, taking her time to refasten the restraint around her wrist. "I'm proud of you."

Hally flushed deeply at the praise, her skin burning under Missy's sharp gaze. Her wife's now-free hand moved between her legs, gentle fingers rubbing over her clit with maddening precision, spreading slick warmth across her sensitive skin. Missy didn't press inside, didn't rush, just teased and toyed with her, building a slow, delicious pressure that coiled low in her belly.

Hally's breathing grew heavier, her chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven rhythms as the tension inside her climbed higher. Every soft touch made her pulse race, her thoughts growing hazier with every passing second. Missy's deliberate torment drew soft whimpers from her lips, leaving her squirming with unfulfilled need.

Missy kept her poised on the edge for what felt like an eternity, her fingers driving her to the brink of madness before she finally began to press further inside. The stretch was still intense, still almost too much, but the ache had softened. Or maybe it hadn't. Maybe it was exactly the same, but Hally's mindless, desperate arousal blurred the lines between discomfort and pleasure. Either way, she took it, her body yielding to Missy's deliberate rhythm.

Her back arched with a sharp whine as Missy settled fully against her. The fullness was overwhelming, every nerve buzzing with raw sensation.

Missy's laughter was low and indulgent, a soft purr against her ear as she braced herself on either side of Hally's head. "Oh, hush. You're taking it beautifully," she murmured, her voice a sweet, honeyed balm to the ache.

When Missy began to move, her hips rolling in slow, deliberate motions, Hally couldn't hold back a trembling moan. Her legs wrapped instinctively around Missy's waist, pulling her closer, unwittingly pulling her deeper. The firm strap pressing against Missy's hip brushed against Hally's inner thigh.

Missy's breath hitched, her body moving with a deliberate, perfect rhythm, each motion unhurried but purposeful. Hally's senses swam as she instinctively reached out with her mind, brushing against the sharp, familiar edges of Missy. There was no resistance—she welcomed her in, the connection snapping into place.

And then Hally felt it.

Her breath caught as the shared sensations washed over her. A mirrored sensation, echoing back at her. Not exactly the same, not as intense, but there…

It was inside Missy, too.

The sensation unfurled slowly, a warmth pooling in her chest. Hally could sense it through Missy—the firm presence inside her wife, shifting with each careful movement. The understanding sent a jolt of heat through her, sharp and thrilling, leaving her body taut with need.

A shiver cascaded down Hally's spine, her toes curling as she wrapped her legs tighter around Missy's waist. "You're…" Hally's voice faltered, breathless and trembling, her cheeks burning beneath the blindfold as the pieces slid into place. The connection between them pulsed, vivid and alive.

Missy grinned against her skin, leaning forward just enough that her breath teased Hally's ear. She rolled her hips again, deliberately, as if to make her point. "I know." She murmured, her voice low and intimate, thick with pleasure.

The words sent a jolt of heat straight through Hally. The movement between them became fluid, Missy's pace building to a rhythm that ignited every nerve ending in her body.

Hally's legs pulled Missy even closer, and the strap at her hip pressed harder against her skin. She couldn't see, but she could feel every shift of Missy's body, the heat radiating from her, the tension coiling in her frame.

"Tell me, darling," Missy purred, her voice rich and commanding, punctuated by a gentle gasp as she shifted her hips just so. "How does it feel to be adored this thoroughly?"

Hally's response came in soft, breathless moans, her body arching against the bed as if seeking more, as if craving every inch of Missy's touch. She could feel Missy's gaze on her, heavy and filled with an adoration that made her chest tighten. Each thrust grew more deliberate, more consuming, as Missy's hands gripped her thighs, her waist, her hips with unrelenting possession.

A moan escaped Hally's lips, raw and desperate, Hally clenched around her, her body tightening with anticipation, with the weight of pleasure building inside her. Hally's head tilted back, eyes beginning to roll as she surrendered to the sensations pooling, throbbing, flooding between her legs.

Missy's hand slid down between them, her fingers gliding effortlessly over Hally's clit while her thrusts deepened. The rhythm shifted, her movements harder, more precise, leaving Hally helpless beneath her. She writhed and arched, her body alight with sensation, throbbing and trembling.

"I can't… " Hally choked out, her voice breaking on the edges of a gasp. "I need you... I need you to let me come. Please."

Missy's breath hitched, her tone husky as she answered, "Come, come for me." One hand continued its relentless work, teasing and rubbing her clit, while the other shifted from Hally's waist to press down on her lower stomach, just enough to amplify the pressure. The angle changed, the tip hitting perfectly with every thrust, drawing out helpless cries from Hally as her hands tugged against the restraints, seeking release.

Missy's lips crashed onto hers, fierce and demanding, her tongue delving into Hally's mouth with an urgency that left no room for hesitation. The kiss was rough and consuming, a claiming as much as it was a communion. Hally melted into it, her lips desperate and needy as Missy pushed her further, her clit pulsing against the wet, insistent press of Missy's fingers.

"Fuck! Missy—I'm —don't stop, I'm—" Hally's voice broke as she clenched, her entire body seizing. The coil inside her tightened, hotter and heavier, the need to snap unbearable, threatening to burst. Warmer and hotter. She couldn't hold back anymore, couldn't do anything but surrender as Missy thrust with finality.

Hally cried out, pulsating helplessly as she let go, the release crashing through her in waves that left her gasping for air. She arched against Missy, her thighs trembling as gushed around her, soaking Missy completely.

"Oh my—god. Hally." Missy groaned, her voice thick with pride and sinful satisfaction. The sound of her name leaving Missy's lips was as much a reward as the tremble that coursed through Missy's body, as though she was overwhelmed by the power of it, too. "Yes. That's it. Look at that. Fuck…"

She slowed her thrusts, savouring the moment, drawing out every last shudder and aftershock as if committing it all to memory. Her gaze lingered on Hally, who lay trembling beneath her, her breath coming in shallow, uneven pants.

"Oh no, sweetheart," she whispers, her lips brushing against Hally's. "We're not done yet. You're not done yet. Give me another."

Every nerve burned.

Missy adjusted the angle with deliberate care, her movements drawing a sharp cry from Hally as the slick strap filled her completely once more. The sound of Hally's wetness had her flushing furiously. "There you go, poppet." Her wife cooed, her voice soft yet dripping with satisfaction. "You're doing so well for me."

Her rhythm was slow but unyielding, each roll of her hips sending Hally arching against the bed. Her legs squirmed, desperate for more yet overwhelmed by the relentless pace Missy set. One of Missy's hands drifted downward, her thumb finding Hally's clit, slick with a mix of their arousal. She circled it, the calculated pressure torturous.

"Oh my god, I—I—" Hally's voice broke, teetering on the precipice.

"You feel that?" Missy murmured, her tone a mix of pride and hunger. Her words were sharp and commanding. "That's all me, sweetheart. Every inch of you falling apart for me. I want to feel you do it again. Now, poppet."

Hally's cry filled the room, her head falling back as the pressure inside her built, impossibly fast and unbearably strong. She trembled beneath Missy, her voice trembling. "I—I can't…"

"Oh, but you will." Missy growled, her voice dark and low, filled with desire. She thrust harder, her own breath hitching as she gasped. "Show me how good you are."

"I— Missy! Miss— Oh. Oh." Hally's words dissolved into incoherence as her body seized, her walls clenching tightly. She trembled and jerked, her cries muffled behind heady sobs as Missy kept moving, drawing every last shudder from Hally's spent body.

"That's it," Missy groaned, her hips faltering slightly. "You beautiful thing."

Her movements softened, turning slow and languid as she guided Hally through the final waves of pleasure. Missy's hands slid up to cradle Hally's face, tilting it upward as she kissed her deeply. The kiss was a messy, fevered claim, her tongue sliding against Hally's as she drank in every gasp and tremble. Hally melted into it, her breath hot and uneven as Missy pressed their lips together.

When they finally broke apart, Hally was breathless. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her body trembling as she tried to gather the pieces of herself. Her mind swam. It took her a moment to realise Missy had shifted. The sudden absence of her weight left Hally disoriented for a moment, but the gentle brush of movement, the quiet thud of something being put down and the soft creak of the bedframe had Hally mapping her presence. The mattress dipped under Missy's weight as she moved onto it, shifting upward towards the headboard. A moment later, Hally felt the heat of Missy's thighs framing her face. She couldn't help the soft whine that fell from her lips, the blindfold robbing her of the sight of her. She focused instead on what she could feel, every sound, every shift of weight, every subtle hint of Missy's heat above her. Hally felt the first brush of Missy's skin against her lips, and instinctively, she opened her mouth, her tongue seeking out the taste of her wife.

"Good girl," Missy crooned, her voice a soft, affectionate praise as she settled over Hally with deliberate care. "You've been so good for me tonight, haven't you? Now, let me take my pleasure, darling. Show me how much you adore your Mistress."

Hally's hands tugged at the restraints, eager to touch her, but it was useless. So instead her lips moved with a hunger that was starving. Flattening her tongue she dragged it over her in one long languid roll, tasting her, tasting her desire. Missy moaned a sound harsh and soft all at once.

She felt her thighs tighten around her head.

She pressed, licking, and savouring every inch of her. Pressing her mouth harder into her heat, her only focus on the taste of Missy, on how her body responded to every flick of her tongue, every subtle movement above her. Missy began to move, her hips rocking in a slow, deliberate rhythm.

Hally couldn't resist a few more slow, indulgent licks, savouring every slight twitch of Missy's thighs against her. Missy was flushed with arousal, her skin slick, her every movement charged. The sounds Missy made—soft, breathy moans, thick with satisfaction—were addictive. Each one left Hally craving more, needing to hear more, to give Missy everything she possibly could. She pressed her tongue deeper, matching Missy's movements, savouring the way her wife trembled above her.

Missy's fingers tangled in Hally's hair, holding her steady as her pace quickened, her breaths turning jagged with pleasure. Her hips lifted, pressing firmly against the flat of Hally's tongue. "Right there." Missy commanded, her voice tight and uneven, betraying her own mounting need. "Don't you dare stop."

Hally moaned in response, the sound muffled against Missy's flesh as she felt her wife grind down, using her tongue with a raw and unapologetic hunger. The rhythm was relentless, circling in perfect sync with Missy's movements. Hally's chest tightened as she realised she couldn't draw a proper breath, her air stolen by Missy's deliberate weight.

Eyes closed tightly underneath the blindfold, Hally pushed harder, matching Missy's pace with desperate precision. Missy's grip in her hair tightened, her voice wavered, breathless and raw. "There," she gasped. "Don't move. Just like that."

Hally obeyed, her tongue maintaining its frantic rhythm even as her lungs protested. Missy's hips bucked above her, her breathing coming in short, ragged bursts. The control she prided herself on all but gone.

Finally, Missy let out a sharp, primal cry, her body stilling. A shudder passed through her, and Hally felt the rush of her release, slick against her lips and chin. Missy shifted her weight, letting Hally take in a breath, her grip loosening in her hair.

Hally turned her head, resting her damp face against the soft skin of Missy's thigh, the warmth of her wife grounding her in the aftermath. Her breaths came shallow and ragged as she tried to catch up with her pounding hearts. Missy's scent was intoxicating, the faint tremors still coursing through her body. Even in her exhaustion, Hally felt a deep, quiet pride.

Missy's fingers found her hair again, this time stroking softly. Her voice, low and rough with satisfaction, drifted down. "You'll ruin me one day…" she murmured, though she could hear the smirk tugging at her lips, betraying the fondness behind the words.

Hally smiled weakly against her skin, nuzzling closer. But before she could reply, Missy shifted, moving off her and leaning down, pulling the blindfold from Hally's eyes with deliberate care. The dim light of the room filtered in, and the first thing Hally saw was Missy's face, flushed and radiant, her smirk sharp and wicked but softened by the gleam of affection in her eyes.

"…if you haven't already." Missy whispered, brushing her fingers through Hally's sweat-damp hair, her voice dripping with playful danger and undeniable pride.

Hally's lips curled into a small, contented smile as Missy leant in, claiming her mouth in a possessive, lingering kiss. It was messy, unapologetically so. When they finally parted, breathless and flushed, Hally's hearts felt as full as they ever had, her exhaustion mingling with a deep, unshakable contentment.

Hally sat on the kitchen counter, her legs dangling lazily as she sipped from her mug. The warm light of the late afternoon filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow over the pair of them. Missy was resting between her legs, hands at her waist in a relaxed embrace. Both of them simply enjoying the few quiet moments before their daughter would arrive home from school.

"I was thinking, maybe we could go away soon." Hally, took a sip from her mug before placing it down on the counter, pulling Missy closer into the embrace. "Like a holiday, or something."

Missy hummed, the noise wasn't one of disagreement. "Well, I was thinking, we could take a long weekend. Just us." The glimmer in her eyes told her where her mind was going.

Hally cocked an eyebrow. "Oh… I see… you liked the idea of Alina's homework did you?"

A wry smirk pulled at the side of her wife's mouth.

The sound of the front door opening filtered through to them, she could hear the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway, and soon enough, Lily came rushing in, her backpack bouncing against her back. Without hesitation, she launched herself up onto the counter next to Hally, her energy infectious. After a second, she seemed to notice her parents were in a rather close-looking hug and petulantly wriggled her way into it.

Missy pouted playfully. "I'm afraid she's mine," She hummed, narrowing her eyes at Lily.

Lily, quick to respond, immediately narrowed her eyes in mock challenge. "No, she's mine," she shot back, puffing out her chest and crossing her arms in a very Missy like fashion. The little girl's face was full of feigned seriousness, but the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her.

Missy let out a dramatic sigh, exaggerating the gesture for effect. "Oh really? And just how do you figure that, young lady?" She slid her arm around Hally's waist, pulling her closer. "She's mine," Missy stated again, this time her voice dropping to a low, teasing purr.

Lily rolled her eyes and pushed herself closer to Hally, her small hand tugging at the sleeve of Hally's shirt. "No, she's mine," she insisted, her voice rising in playful defiance. She slid her arm around Hally's other side, mimicking Missy's earlier movement, though in a less graceful, more childlike fashion. There was a moment of exaggerated stillness, the three of them locked in a battle of wills.

Missy raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "I think you'll find she was mine first."

Lily let out a dramatic sigh, as if she were the one losing a battle. "Perhaps we could share?"

Missy hummed thoughtfully, pouting as she pretended to consider it. "Hmmm… a compromise? And what do I get in return?"

Lily giggled and practically launched herself off the counter into Missy. "Me!"

The way Missy's face lit up at their daughter completely stole her breath, a wide smile curving onto Hally's face. It was moments like these, relaxed, so completely domestic, where she felt truly at home, that made her love this life more than she'd ever thought possible.

The front door opened again, and after a few moments, Jack stepped into the kitchen. His eyes landed on Missy first, and the slight twitch of his lips showed he wasn't exactly thrilled to see her there. Despite this, he walked over and handed Hally a small envelope, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"What's this?" Hally asked, eyebrow raised as she looked at the card.

"Just open it," Jack replied, his voice casual but with an undertone of something—anticipation, perhaps.

Hally slid her finger under the flap and pulled out a single A5 white card. She flipped it over, her jaw dropping open as she read it:

Hally and Lily Oakdown

You Are Invited

To celebrate the wedding of

Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones

"Since… when?" Hally asked, her voice laced with an incredulous tone. She looked up at Jack, her eyes wide.

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Since we decided to stop overthinking it."

"No, no, no," Hally said, her voice rising slightly in disbelief. "You can't just drop a wedding invite into my lap. When did you get engaged?"

"We're not doing 'engaged,'" Jack said with a grin. "We're just doing a wedding."

Hally's eyes widened in genuine shock, followed by a laugh of disbelief. Without another word, she pulled Jack into a tight hug, the surprise giving way to pure joy. "Oh my god, Jack! This is amazing!"

Pulling back, Hally looked down at the invite again, still processing. It was addressed specifically to Hally and Lily Oakdown, but there was something else… a little further down the page. A tiny wry smile formed at her lips as she looked up at Jack.

"... And this 'plus one,'" she said, her voice dripping with amusement as she pointed to the specific phrasing. "Who, exactly, did you have in mind for this?"

Jack scowled at her, his expression playful but slightly annoyed. "Yes," he said, his tone a little more defensive than before. "I just wasn't going to put her name on the invite."

Hally's eyes twinkled with mischief as she glanced at Missy, who had stolen the card from her, with a smirk on her face. Missy didn't even glance at Jack as she casually read it through.

"Well," Missy drawled, her smirk widening, "technically, you've already written my name on it." She smirked, flipped the invitation around, tapping patronisingly over 'Oakdown'.

Jack shot Missy a glare. "You make sure she behaves," he grumbled, shooting a pointed look at Hally.

Missy waited until the door clicked shut behind Hally. She shifted her attention to Lily, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch, her bright smile unwavering.

"Alright, little one," Missy began, her voice calm but with a distinct edge of seriousness, "there's something we need to talk about."

Lily tilted her head, the smile fading slightly as she sat up straighter. "What?"

Missy leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, meeting Lily's gaze head-on. "Your mother. The way you've been speaking to her lately. You know what I mean, don't you?"

Lily's expression flickered, guilt creeping into her features. She glanced down, picking at a thread on her school jumper. "I guess."

Missy didn't let her off the hook. "No guessing. You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been sharp with her, the cutting comments, and don't pretend you don't know they hurt her. You're cleverer than that, Lilja."

Lily squirmed in her seat, her cheeks reddening. "I wasn't trying to be mean..."

"Weren't you?" Missy asked, raising a brow. Her voice remained gentle, but there was no mistaking her intent. "Because it feels rather intentional to me. I know you've been frustrated, waiting for things to feel... settled. We talked about that, didn't we?"

Lily nodded, her voice small. "Yeah."

"And yet, you've taken some of that frustration out on your mother. That's not kind, is it?"

Lily shook her head, her eyes welling up. "No..."

Missy leaned closer, softening her tone but keeping it firm. "Your mother loves you more than anything, Lilja. More than the stars, more than the universe itself. Do you know that?"

Lily sniffled, nodding again. "Yeah."

"But love doesn't mean she's not allowed to feel hurt. And she's been hurt, little one. By the things you've said, and the way you've said them. She's been patient with you because she understands this hasn't been easy, but that doesn't make it fair."

Lily's lip wobbled. "I didn't mean to hurt her..."

Missy sighed, brushing a strand of Lily's hair back gently. "I know you didn't mean to, but you did. Now, there's something you should understand—your mother didn't have anyone growing up. No mum or dad to love her, to take care of her, to tell her they were proud of her. She grew up all on her own. No family, no hugs after a bad day, no one to tuck her in at night."

Lily's eyes widened, tears now spilling over. "Really?"

"Really," Missy said softly. "She's trying her very best to be the mother she never had, for you. And she's doing a wonderful job. But it's not easy, Lilja. She doesn't always know what to do, but she loves you so fiercely that she'll keep trying no matter what. So I need you to meet her halfway, alright? Be patient with her, as she's been patient with you."

Lily sniffed, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. "Okay. I'll try."

Missy reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Good girl. I know you can do better, and I know she'll notice when you do."

Lily nodded solemnly, then hesitated before asking, "Do you think she's mad at me?"

Missy smiled faintly, her thumb brushing Lily's cheek to catch a stray tear. "No, little one. She's not mad. She's just tired, and she needs to feel like she's not doing this all alone. You can help with that, can't you?"

"Yeah," Lily said, her voice firmer now. "I can."

"Good," Missy said, sitting back and gesturing toward the kitchen. "Now, off you go. Tell her what you need to say."

Lily slid off the couch and padded to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway. "Mum?"