Work Text:
Like any other day, you and your girlfriend are sitting at the dining table with the children, everyone eating breakfast. Emma and Olive are talking to each other, both whispering to one another, as if they were keeping a secret. Until one of them, Olive, lets out a giggle after looking from Alma to you. The ymbryne looks at you with a frown, most likely as confused as you.
"May I ask what you ladies are whispering about?" she inquires, looking between the two girls.
Emma’s face flushes red with embarrassment, while Olive hides her mouth behind her hand as she giggles. Enoch, observing everything, simply huffs annoyingly.
"They were just talking about how you two would have beautiful babies if it was possible for two women to procreate," he explains, rolling his eyes.
Alma and you both freeze, surprised and slightly flustered by this. You can feel your heart beat a little faster as you glance at each other. You clear your throat, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"That's... that's quite the conversation topic for breakfast," you manage to say, managing a small smile.
Your girlfriend, just as shy, gives a nod of agreement, her cheeks slightly reddening.
"Wait, why can't women have babies with each other?" Fiona asks, her head tilted to the side.
Silence fills the table as you and the older woman are left momentarily speechless by Fiona's unexpected question. You glance at each other, both caught off guard. It's clear that neither of you have prepared what to say in the case of such a question.
"Where do babies come from?" Claire chimes in, her eyes wide as she looks at Enoch, who immediately groans and looks the other way.
"Oh, for the love of... Claire—" Enoch exclaims exasperated, but it's Emma and Olive who break out into giggles.
"Alright, alright, let's finish our breakfast first," Alma interrupts before the conversation devolves further.
Emma and Olive giggle again, clearly enjoying the moment of chaos they've caused, while Enoch huffs in frustration, rolling his eyes once more. Claire, however, seems curious and pouts before nodding and returning to her breakfast.
"Okay, we'll explain it after breakfast." you say, trying to maintain a composed façade.
Once breakfast is finally finished, the children stand up and start gathering their dishes to take them to the sink. You exchange a quick glance with your girlfriend, both of you silently agreeing to talk to the children after they clean up.
"Claire, Fiona, twins, and Bronwyn — follow us to the greenhouse," the headmistress calls out to the children.
They hesitate for a moment before nodding and following your direction. As the children take seats on the benches, you and Alma stand a short distance away from them, looking at all the curious faces awaiting your explanation.
The ymbryne glances at you and takes your hand in hers, giving a reassuring squeeze. She takes a deep breath before looking at Claire, since the little girl was the one who initially asked the question.
"Claire, where babies come from is... it's a bit of a special conversation," she begins, choosing her words carefully. "You see, babies are made when a man and a woman love each other very much and have a special kind of physical intimacy."
The little girl's eyes widen. Her little face becomes a mix of confusion and curiosity. Fiona looks equally puzzled, while the twins and Bronwyn simply remain silent.
"That's it?" Claire asks after a moment, tilting her head to the side.
The headmistress glances at you like she's seeking reassurance or even some guidance.
"Well, not quite," Alma replies to Claire. "It's a bit more complex than that..."
You jump in to help her navigate this conversation.
"Miss Peregrine's right," you say, addressing the children. "The process of how babies are made is a topic we usually discuss with grown-ups. So it's a bit above your age right now."
They look a bit disappointed, but they don't seem quite ready to protest. Claire, in particular, pouts, crossing her arms defiantly.
"I want to know!" she insists.
Fiona looks at you and Alma with wide, expectant eyes and asks a question you both knew was coming.
"But if two women can love each other very much like you and Miss Peregrine," Fiona says, her small voice laced with a hint of curiosity, "why can't they make a baby like a man and a woman can?"
Your girlfriend glances at you, sharing a look of understanding. You both knew this question was coming, and you knew the necessary answer would be delicate and somewhat simplified. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, the headmistress replies to Fiona's question with a gentle yet honest answer.
"Well, Fiona," she says, choosing her words carefully, "a man and a woman have different tools that make it possible for them to have a baby together. Two women, on the other hand, have the same tools, so the process of making a baby with those tools is not possible."
"That's pretty much it for what you guys need to know," you quickly say, wrapping up the explanation. "Now, let's move on to something else, alright?"
"Right, that's enough questions for now," Alma adds, a gentle chuckle escaping her lips.
The children nod, a mix of excitement and curiosity still lingering in their eyes. You and the ymbryne, however, share a soft smile, knowing you've given them an appropriate answer for the moment.
"And remember, you can always ask us if you have any more questions or need a little clarification," Alma adds, giving the children a reassuring nod. "We'll always try to answer them as best we can."
"Alright, you all better get going," you say, trying to hide a small smile. "You've all got chores to do, and we've got things to take care of as well."
—
Hours later, you and Alma are finally alone in her bedroom, the door shut, and the children sound asleep in their rooms. Your girlfriend, now more relaxed with the day's events, lies next to you, resting her head on your chest as she looks up at you. She lets out a soft huff, a faint smile playing at her lips.
"Well, that was certainly quite the day," she murmurs, wrapping an arm around your waist.
You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head in a mixture of amusement and surprise.
"Oh, you can say that again," you replied, wrapping your arm around her shoulders. "I never would've thought they'd have that question after all this time."
Alma snuggles closer to you, resting her head on your chest.
"Well, at least they're curious and asking questions," she murmurs, a little giggle escaping her lips. "It's natural at that age."
"And speaking of being curious," you say with a playful tone, "I'm still astonished by the fact that Emma and Olive were gossiping about us."
The ymbryne nods in agreement, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
"It was quite a surprise, I must say. I had no idea they'd be gossiping about us like that."
A brief moment of silence falls over the two of you, the atmosphere between you intimate and warm. Alma cuddles closer to you, her hand tracing idle patterns on your collarbone.
There's a small chuckle from you as you break the silence. You turn to face your girlfriend, a sly grin playing on your lips.
"They were right, you know," you say, a hint of amusement in your voice.
She tilts her head, a curious look on her face. "And what was it they were right about, exactly?"
Your smile widens as you respond, your eyes meeting her gaze.
"That we would have beautiful babies, of course," you say, a playful edge to your voice.
Alma's cheeks redden slightly. She looks away, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.
"It is quite a shame, isn't it?" she responds, her voice a little softer.
You respond back with a simple, "Yes, it is," a tinge of disappointment in your voice.
Silence falls over you two again, but this time, it's not an uncomfortable one. It's a moment of quiet understanding, acknowledging the bittersweet reality of your situation.
The ymbryne shifts her position slightly, lifting her head with a hand propped up on the pillow. Her elbow rests against the pillow, her gaze meeting yours. She studies your face for a few moments, her expression soft but thoughtful. Then, she asks the question that hangs in the air.
"Do you ever wish we could have kids, though?" she asks quietly, her voice filled with a touch of vulnerability.
You lift yourself up slightly as well, propping your elbow on the pillow and mirroring Alma's position. Your gaze meets hers, and a soft sigh escapes your lips.
"We already do have kids, though," you say, a tender smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. "And I wouldn't trade them for anything."