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Just like almost every other day, today was going well. Everyone doing their chores, Alma schooling the children and, when it was over, all of them going outside to play. Everything was going fine, at least until...
You're playing outside the house with Claire and the twins, you're carrying one of the boys on your back, while the little girl and the other twin run and giggle around you. You hardly notice an unknown figure approaching the house, approaching you. Claire notices it first, freezing up as her eyes go wide. The twins stop giggling as well. Noticing this sudden change of mood in the three of them, you follow the children's gaze, meeting a female figure coming from the cave where the loop entrance is located. A peculiar coming out of nowhere? You drop the boy on your back to the ground. Claire turns back to look up at you.
"Who is that?" she asks you innocently.
"I... I'm not sure..." you say, placing yourself in front of the children.
It's only when the woman, more like a girl (she looks about 18 or 19 at the most), gets closer that you notice she's holding some kind of cloth close to her shoulder, apparently injured.
Miss Peregrine, having been alerted by a call from Bronwyn, goes out to the courtyard. She quickly notices the girl and speaks before any of you can even say a word.
"Who are you?" she asks, keeping her gaze fixed on the girl. The tone of her voice, although not at all impolite, is stern and strict.
"My... my name is Anna." The girl speaks between ragged breaths, her breathing slow and labored, as if in pain. "I was... I was on my way to the loop Miss Avocet assigned me to when... when I got attacked by a hollow...”
Alma's brow furrows. "How did you find this loop?"
"I... I was on my way to a loop in France..." the girl answers again, taking her time between each new sentence, as if it actually hurt her to talk. "A... the hollow attacked me, so I remembered what Miss Avocet had told me about this loop, and... and I came here..."
"The real question is... how did you get here in that condition...?" you finally speak, looking at her with a serious expression.
"My... my peculiarity is teleportation." the girl, Anna, responds, still breathing slowly and heavily. "When... when I got injured I used the rest of my strength to teleport to Cairnholm..."
A beat of silence passes between you and your girlfriend. Then, you see her sigh and turn her attention to the girl.
"Well... in any case, you'll be welcome here the time it takes to recover from your injuries." Alma turns to you, with the usual commanding tone. "Y/N, tell Olive to heat up some water. And bring me some medical stuff, will you?"
You nod to her before telling the kids to go do their chores. Then, you walk into the house, in search of Olive.
It turns out that Anna is actually a lovely girl. The two of you managed to bond very easily, and she seems to have got on well with everyone in the loop, adapting quickly to the routine of the household (as far as possible considering she's recovering from an injury). And you, as a good hostess, which you know was a quality inherited from being around your girlfriend so much, tried your best to make Anna feel welcome and cosy during her stay here.
"You know..." she begins, then laughs to herself while the two of you are having tea in the greenhouse. "You and Miss Peregrine aren't as subtle as you think, at least with how close you seem to be."
The sudden mention causes your cheeks to turn a tinge of pink, and you look at her with a perplexed expression. "H-how did you notice...?"
"Come on, anyone with eyes could notice!" She laughs softly, taking a sip of her tea. "The way you constantly touch each other, the little glances you give each other, the way you smile when you look at her..."
Your cheeks turn a darker shade.
"I-I'm..." you stammer and then bite your lip, unable to defend yourself.
"So..." Anna starts after a moment, her tone becoming more lighthearted. "Have you ever confessed to Miss Peregrine...?" she asks, raising an eyebrow. "I think you two would make a pretty cute couple."
A shy smile appears on your face, and you tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.
"Actually... we've been dating for a few months now." you admit, your cheeks still a little flushed.
"What?!" she exclaims, her expression becoming playfully feigned irritation. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?!" Anna says, before gently slapping your shoulder.
"Well, we tried to be discreet," you say, your tone becoming a little more serious. "To be fair, we are both women, and Alma is an Ymbryne. It's not exactly the most accepted thing. I am sorry I didn’t tell you.”
"You don't need to apologize," she replies in a comforting tone. "I understand why you kept it a secret. But I have to admit... you two are adorable. I'm happy for you."
Unable to suppress a smile, you hug her warmly.
"Thank you," you say, your grip firm. "It means a lot to hear that."
Unbeknownst to you, your girlfriend observed your interaction from afar, though she did not listen to the conversation.
As the days go by, even though the house has a different energy because of the - temporary - new member, you try to carry on with your usual routine. You wake up early (just not as early as Alma), help the headmistress with meals, make sure the children do their chores while trying to fit Anna into everyone's day.
Despite all this, you don't fail to notice that your girlfriend has been acting a little differently towards you. At first, you think it's all in your head, that the changes you've noticed must be due to the extra activities Alma ends up having to do because of Anna. But then you start to miss little things in your day-to-day life that used to be normal and frequent: you, still half asleep, feeling her lovingly kiss your lips or forehead before you get up and start your day; caresses when the two of you are alone, like holding hands under the table; or even just some time for you to relax in each other's company.
It crosses your mind that she might be acting like this for fear of Anna catching you two in a position that would jeopardise your relationship, but you soon dismiss it, considering that several of these changes have also happened at times when it's just the two of you. Despite the suspicion that something is wrong, or at least different, you try to ignore these little signs, trying to feign nonchalance, at least until Anna has fully recovered and your lives are back to normal.
You were putting off the moment when you would try to have a conversation with Alma, until the moment is thrown into you.
Because of the wound near Anna's shoulder, Miss Peregrine ended up putting her arm in a sling, which consequently took away several of her movements. Fiona had just invited Anna to help her with the garden, and she readily accepted. You notice the young woman standing near some plantations, a little annoyed as she tries to tie back her hair so that the strands don't get in the way of her vision.
A small smile forms on your lips as you watch her struggle to tie her hair back. Seeing an opportunity to be helpful, you approach her, chuckling softly.
"Here, let me help you with that," you offer, moving closer.
Anna looks at you with a hint of relief, her frustration fading away.
"Oh, thank you," she says, grateful. "I've been trying to do this for a while, but I just can't seem to manage it with this stupid sling.”
"Of course," you reply, happy to help. "Can I do a braid?"
"Yes, please," Anna answers, a grateful smile on her face. "A braid would be perfect."
You nod in response, a sense of satisfaction in your eyes as you begin to work on her hair. You gather her locks gently, separating the strands into three equal sections with swift, practiced motions. When you're almost finished with the braid, you catch a glimpse of Alma observing the two of you from a distance. Intending to give her a smile, you look at her, but her expression doesn't seem quite right. Instead of returning your smile, she gives you a serious look, turns her back, and walks away. This leaves you feeling puzzled and confused.
With a few final twists to the braid, you quickly finish it, your thoughts only on your girlfriend. You pat Anna on the shoulder, signaling that you're done, before hurrying after the older woman.
As you reach a tree, you lean against it, trying to catch your breath. Just as you're about to call out to her, you notice she has changed into her bird form, taking off and flying away. You raise your hand to shield your eyes from the sunlight as you intently watch Alma in her falcon form soaring through the sky. You then sit down under the shade of the tree, leaning against the trunk, and wave for her to join you, sighing heavily. With a graceful descent, the bird glides down from the sky, returning to her human form as her feet touch the ground. She approaches you, moving closer to the tree, her expression still bearing a serious demeanor.
Despite the lingering sense of concern, you offer a soft smile and gesture for her to sit down beside you. You pat the ground next to you, inviting her to join you in that spot under the tree. The headmistress seems to assess your gesture for a moment, her expression still serious, before slowly sitting down next to you. Her movements are deliberate, and she maintains a certain distance, as if intentionally keeping some space between the two of you.
Ignoring the pang in your heart, you choose to mask your pain with nonchalance. Turning to her with a composed expression, you ask, "Alma, what's going on?"
She remains silent for a moment, her gaze fixed ahead, avoiding direct eye contact with you. When she finally breaks the silence, her voice is quiet.
"... it's nothing," she mutters, her tone lacking conviction, almost as if she's trying to convince herself rather than you.
Your expression softens slightly, and you reply, your voice gentle but firm, "Alma, I know there's something you're not telling me. You've been acting differently, ever since Anna got here."
The older woman continues to remain stubbornly silent, her jaw set and refusing to meet your gaze. Her body language remains closed off, her shoulders tense, and her eyes fixed on some distant point in the distance. The silence hangs heavy between you.
Taking a deep, calming breath, you rise to your feet, your heart heavy. The prolonged silence and her refusal to open up to you are wearing on your patience. You can't help but feel angry and annoyed at her right now. As you're about to turn away, you catch a muttered phrase from Alma, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Yes, go back to Anna..." she mutters, her words sharp and resentful.
Realization dawns on you as the pieces fall into place. Her distant demeanor, the lack of affection, the way she's been acting... it all clicks. Your girlfriend is jealous of you and Anna.
A smirk tugs at the corner of your mouth as you kneel down, bringing yourself closer to her eye level.
"Is someone feeling a little jealous, perhaps?" you ask, with a hint of playfulness.
Caught off guard, her cheeks flush a light shade of pink, and she quickly averts your gaze, a mix of denial and embarrassment evident on her face.
"Jealous? Of course not," she denies, her voice betraying a hint of defensiveness.
Sitting down next to her again, you take her hands in yours, intertwining your fingers together.
"Babe, there's nothing for you to be jealous of. You know that, right? You're the only person I have eyes for." with a soothing tone, you reassure her, your voice soft and sincere.
"But... she's closer to your age," Alma murmurs, her voice tinged with guilt and insecurity. "You two seem to have more in common. And..." Her voice trails off briefly before she continues, "And she's not stuck taking care of a loop with a bunch of children like I am."
You take a deep breath before responding.
"Yes, it's true," you admit, your tone gentle. "Anna is closer to me in age, and we do have some things in common..."
Her gaze shifts to you, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. The vulnerability and pain in her expression are undeniable.
"W-what...?" she stutters, her voice trembling, her disbelief evident in her wide eyes.
"But, I don't see her that way, not at all," you say gently, your words carefully chosen. "From the moment she arrived, our bond has been more like that of sisters. I don't have any romantic feelings towards her, not now, and not ever. I have eyes only for you, Alma, only you."
You place your hands on your hips in an exaggerated gesture.
"And I won't tolerate you talking about our children like that," you say, with a playful scolding tone, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.
Her expression seems to soften. The hint of disbelief is evident in her eyes.
"Wait... Our children?" she echoes, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze fixed on you intently.
A feeling of uncertainty stirs in you as you wonder if you've perhaps overstepped a boundary, leading to the slightest bit of insecurity.
"I... I guess. Only if that’s okay with you, because I get it if you aren’t comfortable—"
Suddenly, your words are cut off when Alma leans in and captures your lips in a fervent kiss. The kiss is urgent, and you find yourself kissing her back with a fervor that matches her own.
When she finally pulls away, you both gasp for air, your foreheads pressed together. After a few seconds, her voice breaks the silence, her tone hushed and breathless.
"Yes," she whispers, her eyes locked with yours. "They're our children."
A wave of relief washes over you, a wide smile spreading across your face. You bring your hand to her cheek, caressing it gently with your thumb, your fingers lingering on her skin.
"Thank you," you whisper softly, unable to hide the sincerity in your voice. "I'm glad we got to talk. I don't know what I would've done if I had to keep my distance from you a single second more."
"I'm sorry," she whispers regretfully, her tone laced with honesty. "I should have talked to you before, instead of keeping everything bottled up inside. I just... I was afraid that..." Her voice falters.
With a soft smile, you peck her lips gently, attempting to quell her worries.
"It's okay," you reassure her, your voice soothing. "Besides..." You smirk as you add playfully.
Intrigued, your girlfriend raises an eyebrow and cocks her head to the side, her eyes fixed on you with both curiosity and a hint of worry.
"Besides what?" she inquires, her voice filled with genuine innocence.
With a playful smirk gracing your lips, you lean in and whisper in her ear.
"Seeing you jealous kinda turns me on," you admit, your voice dripping with teasing.
Your fingers lightly graze over her inner thigh, causing a shiver to run down her spine, the touch sending a jolt of electricity between the two of you. At the same time, Alma's eyes widen in surprise, her cheeks quickly flushing a deep shade of crimson. She immediately swats your hand away, a mixture of shock and embarrassment on her face.
"Not here! The kids could catch us," she hisses, her voice tinged with a mix of urgency and mortification.
Your smirk widens at her reaction, a playful gleam in your eyes.
"Come on, I was just teasing... unless..." you tease. You lean in closer, teasingly raising an eyebrow.
The older woman narrows her eyes at you, raising an eyebrow and adopting a strict, scolding expression.
"No," she says firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. She crosses her arms in front of her chest, trying to maintain a stern demeanor, though the faintest hint of a smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
With a mischievous glint in your eyes, you let out a sigh of exaggerated disappointment, pouting playfully.
"Come ooon," you coax, drawing out the words in a mock whine. "Just a quickie?"
Despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, the headmistress' cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red, betraying her flustered state. She pushes your shoulder playfully, attempting to act unaffected, but the corners of her mouth twitch involuntarily into a smile.
"Stop it," she scolds, though her voice lacks any real sternness.
A soft smile tugs at the corners of your lips. You lean in to press a tender peck against her lips before becoming more serious.
Looking into her eyes, you say, your voice sincere and filled with affection, "Seriously though, you know I love you and only you, right? You're the only one for me."
Her expression softens, and a warm, soft smile graces her features.
"I love you too," she whispers, her voice filled with sincerity and affection.
She reaches out to gently intertwine her fingers with yours, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze.