home 2

Theodor's pov

As we entered the house, a few subtle changes caught my eye—things that weren't there before. The wisteria swing, once solitary, now had a smaller, more ornate counterpart beside it. The lake had longer walls for added protection, and a small dog house now stood in front of the door. Inside, bags of baby clothes and necessities were neatly arranged—the very ones we had bought years ago when we were full of hope, preparing for the family we dreamed of. It was clear that she had taken everything out from the attic, dusting off the memories we had tucked away. I couldn't help but chuckle. I really can't hide anything from her.

"When did you know?" I asked as she walked by, holding the baby, heading to the kitchen. She handed me a glass of water and filled a bowl for the fox to drink, which I hadn't even noticed we had, before moving on to prepare the baby's formula.

"The moment you exited the forest," she answered calmly. Sarah's ability, "flowering," wasn't just about making plants bloom. It was perfect for spying too. Any place with flowers within a 20 km radius could be her eyes and ears. It was a remarkable power, though one with its limitations.

She coaxed the baby to finish his milk, her movements gentle and assured. I watched her for a long moment, trying to read her expression. "Aren't you angry?" I finally asked, my voice cautious.

She looked up at me with a smile, one that seemed to free her of some unseen burden. "No. I'm actually grateful. I've always blamed myself for our situation."

Before she could say more, I wrapped her in a hug. "I was the one who chose this," I said, my voice trembling. "I decided to leave everything behind. It's my stubbornness, not your fault."

I knew this was exactly why I hadn't wanted to bring up the subject of children or family—because I knew how she would react. But she gently pulled away from the hug and led me to the sofa, still holding the baby as she leaned against my shoulder.

"Even if you say that," she continued softly, "I know that if you hadn't loved me, if you hadn't chosen me back then—if you hadn't annulled your engagement, angered your family—none of this would have happened. You gave up everything for me: your position, your family, your friends, your life. We eloped to this place where no one knew us, all for me. And I, on the other hand, couldn't even give you a child."

"Sarah, you know it's not your fault," I interrupted. "If I had only protected you that day—"

She pressed her fingers to my lips, silencing me. "Let me finish. Because I know that if I don't say this now, you'll always keep thinking about it. I know how much you sacrificed for me, and I know you never regretted it. It's the same for me. If you weren't here with me, if I had lost you that day, I would have followed you to the afterlife the moment you breathed your last."

Her eyes met mine, holding my gaze as she continued. "I know everything, and I also know that I love you. I always wanted to see you happy. I wanted to give you a family so you could have peace of mind and forgive me for taking you away from your family. I didn't even mind if you had a child with someone else, if that meant you wouldn't leave me."

I tried to speak, but she gently shook her head, silencing me again. "But I know you wouldn't. Your care for me only made me love you more. But I was afraid that one day you'd wake up and regret your life with me. I know you wanted a child, and so did I. But I was afraid that if I brought up the subject, you'd leave me—that you'd prefer having your own blood over adopting. I was terrified. Every time one of our friends had a child, or even when you met toddlers in the village, I was afraid you'd leave me."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. "I'm also a woman. I also want to be a mother, but I was afraid. I acted like I hated kids, like I didn't want to talk about it, because I wanted you to say it first."

My heart ached hearing her words. We had been childhood sweethearts for 40 years. How could I not have noticed her fears? I knew it was my fault, my choices that had brought us to this point. But if you asked if I regretted any of it, the answer would be a resounding no. I would give up everything just to be with her. No amount of money or even the absence of children could be as precious to me as she was. I thought she already knew that, but I realized now that I should have made it clearer from the start.

"Sarah, even if I had to make the same choice again, I would still give up everything for you. You know I can't live without you. I don't need this life if you're not in it," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

After a few moments of silence, she finally asked, "Where did you find him?" Her eyes softened as she looked at the baby.

"In a strange cave. This fellow led us there," I said, pointing to the fox, who was curled up nearby.

"Will his family try to find him?"

"I don't know," I admitted, not knowing what the future held. "But I couldn't leave him alone at the orphanage."

"Will he be my child from now on?" she asked, her voice so tender it took me by surprise.

"If you want to, it's your decision," I said, my voice as warm as I could make it.

She placed her hand on the baby's plump cheek, caressing it gently. The baby leaned into her touch, and she whispered, "I want to be his mother."

"Then you will be his mother," I affirmed.

"He will be our son? Me, the mother, and you, the father?" she asked, seeking reassurance.

"Yes, you will be his mother, and I'll be his father. Are you happy?" I asked.

"Yes," she whispered.

That night, I don't know how long we stayed sitting in the living room, the three of us together. As the darkness of the night began to give way to the first light of dawn, Sarah finally closed her eyes, drifting to sleep while still holding the child. She refused to let him go, even in sleep. I carefully carried them both to our bedroom, closing the windows to keep the early morning light out, and lay down beside them. For the first time in a long while, our family felt complete. We slept, all of us together, the warmth of our newfound family surrounding us.

Hello, sunshines! 🌞

Here's a new chapter for you! I'll be doing my best to update as quickly as I can. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for your support!