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Carving out a place she could call home took time. Even if Candace accepted her with open arms, she still found it difficult to commit to it entirely. After all, trying to slot together their varying personalities, duties, and all else came with the price of having very little free time to enjoy one another.
However, if there was one thing she could always rely on Candace for, it was her absolute stubbornness – no beast could rival her when it came to that part of her girlfriend. As worry and anxiety began to rear their ugly faces, Candace would often show her true colours, guarding and even fending off the dark clouds of doubt like the bright moon lighting the dark sky she had always been.
Their shared home slowly accumulated bobbles and trophies of Dehya’s travel; her girlfriend gladly accommodated every single new addition of hers. At some point, they needed to make extensions for the home – soon adding an extra room or two just to keep everything nice and spacious. Times of trouble still racked Dehya with waves of guilt and worry, yet again having her lover be the one to keep all of that at bay. She was her rock, her shield — the moon to her sun.
Being apart from Candace grew ever harder, often finding the nights especially cold and horrid with nightmares that whispered of ill tidings and all things cruel. Slowly but surely, Dehya found herself taking on shorter contracts – even having gone so far as to quit her usual gig of protecting Dunyazard. Of course, she was still her best friend, but she had also found a good replacement or two amidst her band of merry mercs to guard her in Dehya’s stead.
Eventually, it got to the point that Dehya would often simply wait for Candace to finish her patrols. If she had a tail, it would wag u controllably upon her lover’s entry into their shared abode. Like a good lion-turned-pup, she always made sure to have food ready for her hungry wife to chow on. It wasn't always the best meal, but she tried nonetheless just to make her lover happy.
As almost five summers passed, it was one starlit night that changed the course of her life forever. Things were still as they always were – strife with bandits in the desert, a few threats from migrating beasts, and the occasional sandstorm that swept through the village and displaced some of its occupants. Regardless, they took it all with stride, Dehya especially choosing to defend her home without the ask of coin or anything other than Candace’s love.
After a day filled with restless running about to find scattered victims of a storm, they only managed to catch a break when dusk was upon them. As has become a ritual by now, Dehya would await her lover’s arrival into the bath; she then made sure to help her lover by washing her back and having the same done to her in return.
The merry picturesque love story of Candace and Dehya – the pair of lovebirds that any single person would envy from the outside. In all fairness, unlike most couples, their relationship was practically perfect on the inside too.
They continued their ritual by mapping the stars with their fingertips; Candace often drew constellations to show what awaited them that day. Dehya rarely looks to the sky; most of the time, her eyes find themselves drawn to the shimmering visage of her lover illuminated by the sea of stars and the moon above.
That day, Dehya had something other than just blissful glee in her stomach from lying there with her partner. This time there was a sense of longing coupled with anxiety over what was to come. Not willing to dwell on it till it becomes a festering mess, she decided to simply pop the question.
She would remember that brief silence only overtaken by the sound of her rising heart drumming in her ears. Mismatched eyes regarded her with utmost adoration – the kind of love a mercenary could hardly imagine. Hands outstretched, the glimmer of tears, the sweetest of words, and the etching of intertwined fates made in the form of a promise that only required two simple words—
"I do."
The days that followed were a blur; many had come from all corners of Sumeru just to congratulate the lucky couple. Frankly, when she lay at night with the girl of her dreams wrapped around her arm, she wondered to herself how she could have ever pulled off the greatest heist of all – stealing Candace’s guarded heart.
No merc, thief, bounty hunter, or even archon could have pulled off the feat. Yet, there she was, the once vagabond mercenary, now wife to the most gorgeous woman in all of Tevyat. Prayers were said, tears were spilt, vows were exchanged, and a kiss was shared to mark the start of a new chapter.
The Guardian and the Flame mane – wives tasked with taking care of the village as a pair.
The village had few willing to disturb the peace when all of Sumeru knew it was under the protection of not one– but two fierce warriors. The fact that they were a couple only added to the intimidation factor of it all. Bustling markets continued their trade, caravans from all across the desert now faced fewer ambushes when headed towards the village, and slowly Candace could settle down into her new life as Dehya’s wife.
The greatest development was when Candace began adorning herself in jewellery more often. Gone were the days of it all accumulating dust within some part of their wardrobe – the dragon decided to shower herself in her jewellery rather than let it all stockpile into an untouched horde. Okay, shower might be an overstatement, but still, it was positive growth for Candace to wear the cute azure pendants and aquamarine necklaces brought by none other than her dearest wife.
Aaru village saw a rise in population as a few old dogs finally had a chance to rest within the sanctity of a new home. Most were people Dehya knew from when she was a more active part of the trade – some outlaws, some ex-bandits, and others just turning to a life of innocence after finding a lover of their own. Candace had the age-old rule in place: trouble only comes to those that decide to seek it.
As long as the people choosing to reside in her village kept their noses clean, she had no qualms with giving them a chance at rehabilitation. Little disputes arose, and she quelled them alongside her wife; most were simply born from previous debts that needed payment and so on.
A year passes in the blink of an eye. Dehya grew to be quite the worrywart due to certain events that were taking place in her life at the time.
"I thought I was the pedant between us. You shouldn't worry so much about the build quality; it'll be fine. I highly doubt you had the life this one is going to have. Come here," Candace beckoned, laying there on a sofa like a beached Gulliver surrounded by the little people that were Dehya’s worries.
"It's not that simple. I specifically told them to make it nice and shiny. Look at the wood – this is NOT a glassy finish."
Candace laughs at the woman currently tracing wood with her fingertips. "Darling, come here…" She beckoned her with open arms, smiling lightly. "It'll be fine. This is more than good enough for her."
Dehya’s mood elevates when glancing at her wife. "Okay…" Conceding quickly as she always had, Dehya made her way towards Candace, taking her spot on the floor beside her. "I'm just… stressed…I want her to have a better life than the one I had. She shouldn't have to deal with donations and all that… I will give her the life she deserves."
"I know you will, my light. Now, could you give me a massage?"
Without missing a beat, Dehya moves her hands to gently squeeze and massage her wife's body. Unable to resist temptation, she also dips down to trace kisses over the length of Candace’s shoulder blade, at times even lingering in one specific spot. The plethora of soft sighs and almost moans greet her ears with delight — especially feeling something stir deep down.
"Dehyaa~ Oh dear… I feel that…"
"Feel what? Oh! Do you feel good? I don't have the grip I used to… hopefully this suffi–"
Candace cuts the woman off by moving a palm over her lips. "I mean, I can feel you – someone's eager."
A warmth captures her cheeks at the realization that these sounds did other things to her. "It has been a while. You're still as gorgeous as ever. Can you blame me?" Dehya defends her untimely state of arousal by also adding a slightly innocent smile.
"Mhm… maybe I've neglected you a little. I can still use my lips if you would like that," Candace might feel unattractive, bloated, and in pain all over, but having her lover be so kind does make her reconsider her self-image. "I was scared you wouldn't find me attractive in this state. I know you aren't exactly enthused about this whole ordeal."
"I'm scared, that's all. I'm still doubtful if I'd make a good mother, but I'll try for you; I'll try anything for you," Dehya states like a puppy with folded ears and a tail dragging along the floor.
"I love you very much, Dehya. We will get through this together; I'm certain you'll feel like a mother once she's born," Candance smiles, a hand moving to try and fidget with the button on her lover’s bottoms. A fang does hitch over her lip from witnessing the strained garment twitch beneath her fingertips. "Yeah, I think I want you right now…"
More months pass by in the blink of an eye. The distinct sound of cries could be heard from behind a door – Dehya paced around a corridor restlessly. It hurts her to be in the same room as Candace; never did she have the courage to listen to the woman suffer. There was a moment of quiet followed by the clicking of locks to the door attached to a corner of that corridor. The voice of some nurse beckoned her into the room where her lover lay. She saw smiles all around, followed only by a sight that quite literally took her breath away.
Candace lays there soaked in sweat, barely conscious, holding it all together with lidded eyes. Nurses and doctors rush around to prepare things for both the baby and the new mother. None of that mattered to Dehya. The whole world faded in a matter of seconds as she laid her eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world, carrying her daughter in her arms. Over the years, she had seen countless atrocities, blessings, and miracles – yet, nothing could compare to the feeling of being truly whole. Nothing could compare to that sight. Tears streamed down her cheeks; the same was reflected on her wife's exhausted but smiling visage.
"Meet Aria," her wife stated in a voice so soft it could melt her heart. She could do nought but step forward and reach a hand out carefully to stroke it over the sleeping baby clinging to her lover. "Anything you want… anything I am, anything I ever will be, it's all yours to take, Aria."
Every ounce of doubt she had began draining from her mind as she got to spend her days taking care of her wife and daughter. Each moment made her feel that much more complete – Aria's first crawl was a momentous day. For a woman who had no interest in actually having children, it came as a shock to even herself when she couldn't go a day without bragging about every single small achievement that truly was meaningless to anyone else other than Dehya and her wife.
Often, Dehya could be spotted carrying Aria on her back with a sling that perfectly housed the little cooing bundle of joy. Any time the great flame mane was away from her daughter, she would either end up being extra dangerous in her patrols, jobs, or fights. There were parts of the old Dehya still present; it led to many scolding bouts from her wife before she decided to protect herself by going on the offensive less. Fewer and fewer bruises showed up on her body over time, eventually having old scars fade.
As for Candace, she got back on her feet in a matter of weeks. Most people would expect a woman to take some time off after having a baby – but not Candace, absolutely not. Having her wife lighten the load on her made it a lot easier to take turns in tending to their daughter. Perhaps fortune smiled on them with how sweet their daughter turned out to be; Aria barely made a fuss at all. Naturally, the biggest event of their first year was when their daughter got up on two legs and stumbled her way towards Candace before following over and crying. Dehya was in disbelief (and perhaps a little sour) about their daughter finally managing to do something other than crawling on all fours. It took a couple of days, lots of convincing, and a chance for her to witness it first-hand before Dehya finally jumped with joy.
Aria kept growing and growing, eventually even needing to have a properly stylized haircut. Trying to have a two-year-old sit still while having her hair cut was quite a chore; much as Aria was a sweet baby, the older version of her was anything but the angelic little thing she once had been. Perhaps she learned the art of throwing tantrums from the way Dehya could be when especially pissed with someone other than Candace.
Eventually, the family could be seen out and about all over Sumeru. By the age of three, Aria could be seen with a cute fringed bob like one mother and a cat-ear hairband inherited from the other. Days flashed by in the blink of an eye; eventually, it came time to send their kid off to preschool. Oh, what a debate that was…
"Candace, I didn't need preschool and turned out great, didn't I?" It was late in the night after Aria had gone to sleep. The pair of them are on the terrace of their home, basking in the natural moonlight, the sea of stars, and the fresh open air.
"You can't keep protecting her from everything; she will need to mingle with children her age. Let's not forget the fact that she has two loving parents," Candace tries to explain, showing nothing other than a sweet smile on her face.
The empty terrace had little more than a set of lay-down chairs to stargaze with; it's a serene spot meant to calm even the wildest of spirits. Dehya paces around the space for a while, eventually coming to settle down on the chair, hand reaching for her head, and seeming entirely unsold on the situation.
"Can't we just wait a little longer? It'll be good for her to spend more time with her parents. It's important that she has us whenever she needs it," Dehya urges, now folding her arms over her chest.
Candace saunters closer, turning slightly to plant herself on Dehya’s lap without much warning. She leans into the woman’s form, reaching out to drag her arms for an embrace, wishing entirely to be held even during their little spats. "I understand why you're insistent on making an impression on her. I get it, I do," she whispers, keeping her voice soft enough to not seem intense about the discussion.
Dehya lingers in silence — her hands draw over her wife's body, fingers tracing the silky night that practically hugs her form. "I just don't want a repeat of what happened to me. I don't want her to hate her parents or make her feel as though we're neglecting her in some educational daycare."
"Every year, I find myself growing more and more in love with you, Dehya."
"What is that supposed to mean right now? That's not what–"
Candace raises a hand to silence the woman by pressing it over her lips. "You surprise me with everything you do. A part of me wondered if we should have gone through with our little miracle… yet, here you are being so scared that you'll give Aria a hard time over the smallest of things. Honey, she loves us; there is nothing that can change that. I want what's best for her, too, you know. I was twice her age when I had this whole village and its responsibilities thrust onto me. I don't want her to only have this village and us to look out for; she needs to see it all. What if Aria wishes to go to Fontaine or Inazuma? What if she meets a sweet play buddy from Monstadt at the school? Shouldn't she learn to mingle with everyone in a nice peaceful environment?"
Dehya mulls over the points made by Candace. At first, she seemed ready to refute the points made by her wife, but eventually, she came to realize that there was merit to giving her child a taste of all the world had to offer. "If those scribes treat her wrong, they'll have my fists to answer to," Dehya states, frowning at the thought of it.
"My dearest, they will have my lance knocking on their door the second I hear of it," Candace reinforces Dehya’s notions, smiling as she does so.
Dehya leans in to kiss her wife atop her head, sniffing lightly to have the scent of her fruity conditioner soothe her nostrils. "I'm sorry for making this so tough," she whispers, remorse underlining her every word.
Candace gathers one of Dehya’s hands to bring it up to her lips, kissing it lightly and even trailing over every knuckle to do the same. "It's okay. I like seeking you all passionate about this."
"Yeah, well— I still feel a little silly for worrying so much. What am I gonna do without that runt in the house…"
"Love, it has been so long since we've had some time to ourselves. Would you believe me if I said I've missed spending quality time with you?" Candace uses her positional advantage to gently pepper kisses along Dehya’s neck. "I've missed having your arms on me like this…." Making a point of it, she takes her wife's hands to guide them over her body, allowing herself a moment to breathe soft sighs into the wind, stopping when Dehya’s palm and her thigh are separated by just the thin silky nighty. "Maybe I've missed that animalistic side of you that loves having me over the kitchen counter."
Dehya gulps at the way her lover speaks; every single word pierces her psyche and leaves her utterly stunned. Thanking the lucky stars, she nods before palming the flesh and squeezing it with the gentlest of touches. "I see. I didn't consider that…"
"Say, Dehya, would you like to push the chairs together and have a night under the stars?" Candace’s implications were made extra clear by the not-so-subtle wiggle of her rear where she sat.
"Yeah, let's do that."
Half a dozen summers passed; by this point, Aria had picked up a keen new hobby — archery. It came as a shock to the pair that their child happened to neither wield the sword nor the shield. It wasn't like them to stand in the way of their child's passion. They did everything in their power to try and encourage the kid, even going so far as to pull a few old favours with Tighnari to try and train the young girl. Luckily for the pair, Tighnari and his husband had plenty of experience when it came to raising young children.
The most annoying part about having Aria exposed to Cyno's charm was her picking up on his horrible jokes. Oh, were those months hell for the pair. Candace had the courtesy to at least laugh at them; Dehya simply nodded along while holding back the pain. She would much rather deal with drunken mercenaries than repetitive jokes.
By the time their child was twelve, Dehya could notice the lines of age take hold on Candace’s face. Of course, she wasn't –that– old. Some of it was likely from all the stress. Regardless, Dehya made sure to remind her wife that she remained the prettiest woman in the world every week. In return, Candace made sure not to mention the little gut Dehya had accumulated. Aria often brought home sweet treats on her way back from school. Dehya simply couldn't resist the temptation.
"Mummy?"
"Yeah? What's wrong?" Dehya asked, perking a brow at the young woman beside her.
"I am not allowed sweets anymore. Mum says my teeth might rot. I asked her if it's because you're growing a little tummy from stealing half of it…"
Dehya stops in her tracks – offended by her daughter's blunt way of mentioning things. "What? I do not have a tummy!"
"Why do you wear shirts so often these days… you're losing your abs, mummy," Aria nods, shrugging a little. She fastens her school bag, fingers twiddling with the straps of it.
"That's– I– look, my old crew was around; I thought I'd have a few drinks. This is just a beer belly," Dehya defends, huffing a little.
"Mummy, I won't mention it again because Mum thinks it'll hurt your feelings. Maybe you should try carrying my bag; it might be a good workout," Aria suggests, pulling free of her bag to offer it to Dehya.
Shocked by these developments, Dehya takes the bag, slinging it over one side of her shoulder. They continue to walk towards the part of the city where the caravan awaits them; Dehya eyes the nearby sweet shops in passing and finally chooses to forgo sweets to have a return to form.
Aria walks on with a grin on her lips, likely having picked up this trick from one of Dehya’s old mercenary friends. Evil as it may be, Aria knew how much her mother loved stroking over Dehya’s muscles. "You sure you don't want to get a few sweets on the way?"
"No! Absolutely not."
After Aria's sixteenth birthday, things happened to get far busier for the girl. She took extra lessons after class for archery, went on –totally friendly– dates with her 'best friend' from around town, and eventually spent less and less time at home.
Candace and Dehya had a lot of time to themselves, almost giving them a glimpse into the way things were before Aria came into the picture. However, both of them were hit with that feeling that accompanied an empty house – one that was previously bustling with childhood and teenage business.
Neither of them wished to be the one to say it first, but both of them could feel the lingering need for something more in the air. Aria was never a part of their plans. They were content with simply being wives that took care of the city; yet, when things did change, over time, it brought them great joy. Dehya had her doubts about ever having a child, and so did Candace, but they somehow managed to pull it off and, in the process, brought up a wonderful daughter – she had the spice and tough attitude of Dehya coupled with the compassionate leader skills of Candace.
"I've been thinking about something, Candace," she moves closer to her wife, hands reaching out, eventually moving to settle on her hips.
"Oh dear, this can't end well for me. What is it?" Candace jests, smiling as she comments.
"I know it's silly; we are nearing our forties, and this totally isn't the time for it… but…" Dehya struggles to get her words out, chewing on the insides of her cheek with anxiety.
"You want to move? Dehya, we can't do that. No amount of your sweet talking is going to convince me."
Dehya shakes her head repeatedly – her hands draw closer to Candace's stomach, the pads of her fingers flitting over the smooth surface of it. "What if we had another kid?"
Candace had been chopping vegetables for dinner when her wife decided to be all sweet and touchy-feely, but that came to an abrupt stop. She turns around, tilting her head up to meet her taller wife's gaze and nodding ever so slightly. "I thought you would never ask…"
Dehya’s eyes light up at the possibility of it all. "I don't know how we'll do it; we may be too late for these things. But… I want to try, this time by choice."
"Well. In all fairness, Dehya, you might not remember it as well, but you were certainly trying by choice that night," Candace teases, giggling at the recollection.
"Oh. Wait…"
"Yes, you were drunk… I was tipsy… you were horny… I was excited, okay? It's hard to say no to you and your," Candace pauses, tilting her body back to admire her lover – all that sugar weight was gone; Dehya looked as good as she did in her prime. "Everything…"
"I see it, though. I'm not surprised I wanted those things as a younger woman. I mean… your hips made me feral when I was just crushing on you," Dehya admits, blushing lightly.
"I'll see what I can do about fertility and all that. I'm sure Tighnari has a potion of some kind to help with it. Maybe this time we can be sober, go to some sweet place, and conceive in some exotic bed surrounded by the night sky or even the sea."
"Sounds lovely. Do you want to maybe… try a few times without any potions for aid? Aria has a sleepover tonight," Dehya suggests with a slightly embarrassed look on her face, "It isn't a sea, but I can promise the night sky, an exotic terrace, and a sea of stars."
Candace dips her head forward to seal the promise with a loving kiss. "Sounds good…"
As mismatched eyes regard her with utmost love and adoration, she returns the gaze with equal affection, adding: "I love you, Candace."
"I love you too, my light."