Pairing: Miss CuckooXMiss Peregrine
Word count: 2321 words
Warnings: no warnings

Edit: vieweli_art on Instagram actually drew Fanart for this story which I added up there!🥹 Go check out their Instagram as well!!!
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"200-what?!"

"About 210 years, deux cent dix ans", laughed Miss Cuckoo.

Enoch looked at her in disbelief. "There's no way. I knew the bird was old but not that old. And how old are you even??"

"Enoch, rude! You can't ask a woman how old she is", Bronwyn exclaimed from the couch.

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Whyy excuuuse moi", he said in a mocking tone and the best (worst) French accent he could do.

Isabel was just about to make a remark when Alma appeared in the door frame of the living room.

"And what is this here about? One might think that you guys are up to something.It is far past bedtime for all of you."

Miss Cuckoo shifted in her seat ever so slightly that one might not have noticed it but Emma whose gaze was jumping from one Ymbryne to the other did indeed notice it.

She bit back a comment and turned her head to Miss Peregrine instead.

"Miss Cuckoo was just telling us that you two have known each other for 210 years already", she explained ,"deux..dix...what was it again?"

A little smile formed on Miss Peregrine's lips while she replied,"Deux cent dix, even though I have to say that it's not quite correct."

Her gaze wandered to the older woman sitting in her rocking chair.

"We've known each other for 209 years, 364 days, 22 hours 1 minute and 30 seconds....if we would have met at midnight, that is but I'll let that count."

"Oh yes, you could show off your knowledge all day," sighed Miss Cuckoo while dramatically falling back into the chair.

Then she turned to the kids and said," but she's right it's bedtime for all of you!"

The kids groaned but eventually made their way upstairs to get ready for bed.

After tugging them all into their beds and saying goodnight to everyone, the two Ymbrynes had settled down into the living room again with a cup of tea and a book each.

Isabel for her part couldn't help but get distracted by the small woman sitting on the other side of the sofa.

Why couldn't she have fallen for someone else instead? Why did it have to be her dearest friend?

But then again how could she have not fallen for her?

From academy times on Alma had always been by her side, going through the most difficult times with her and never being anything but supportive.

The admiration for her had started from this wonderful friendship and before she could have even tried to stop it, she had already fallen head over heels for her.

But Isabel had kept her secret, way too scared that she'd ruin the friendship between them that was so important to her.

And she'd gladly pay the price of keeping her little secret until the end of times if it only meant that she got to keep Alma near, to maintain their friendship and to see her happy.

Oh how she loved to see these emerald eyes shine with joy and the purest love when she watched their kids play in the garden. Or that smile that could lighten up every darkness Isabel ever had to fight. She was sure that she'd trade the entire world just to see Alma happy, just to see that pretty smile of hers again.

And even the smallest things that the small woman did, seemed to knock Isabel completely over and make her fall even more (even if she never thought that could be possible).

Like right now where she was sitting on the other side of the sofa, wrapped in a lavender coloured blanket, some of her hairs strands falling out of her usually tight bun. Occasionally she was narrowing her eyes or scrunching her nose as she read page for page of the book in her lap.

Her gaze dropped to the book in Alma's hands. Given the fact that they were in a loop, she had probably read it a thousand times already but it didn't seem to bother her in the slightest.

Isabel watched as she turned the page and she couldn't help but wonder how it must felt like to-

"You know Izzy, it's quite impolite to stare."

Isabel's head snapped up but Alma's eyes were still fixed on the page of her book.

"I- I didn't stare," she said while cursing herself that she didn't sound more convinced.

Alma slightly raised her eyebrow and slowly lifted her head to look at the older woman with a skeptical look on her face.

She however only returned her look, a small smile playing at her lips.

"I was just lost in my thoughts, that's all," Isabel added after a short pause.

She watched how the emerald eyes narrowed slightly and was that a hint of worry in her eyes?

With a short sigh the other woman asked:

"What is wrong, Isabel?"

"Wrong? What should be wrong? Everything's bien...fine."

Clearly Alma didn't believe her so she tried again.

"Well, something is clearly going on in that pretty head of yours."

Isabel's breath stuttered for only a second before she caught herself.

"How can it be that we already know each other for so long?"

The question had slipped out before she could even think about it.

The ravenette's face softened and the worry in her eyes were replaced by warmth and adoration, as a small smile appeared on her lips.

There it was again. That smile Isabel would die for. It was dragging her so close to just screw every rule and just tell her-

"Well I believe that time tends to pass faster if we spend it with the people we love."

Her eyes met the brown ones but she couldn't quite read what was really bothering the French woman.

"It wasn't the answer you wanted, huh?"

Miss Cuckoo's eyes widened and she shook her head slightly.

"No, on the contrary. I think you phrased it very beautifully," Isabel finally said, her smile returning to her face.

With a sigh Alma closed her book, laid it on the coffee table and scooped closer to Isabel laying the thick blanket around the older woman's shoulders.

"It's alright, I won't push you into talking, if you don't want to," she whispered, leaning her head against the other woman's shoulder.

It was one thing that Isabel appreciated more than anything about their friendship. They would always give each other time and space.

She knew that Alma wasn't the best at voicing her worries as well but that didn't matter. No one was pushing the other to talk about anything, if they didn't feel like it so sometimes they'd just enjoy each others company for that very moment.

They'd find each other eventually, to talk about whatever was worrying them.

She leaned her head against Alma's.

"Thank you."

Miss Peregrine hummed softly, her gaze wandering to the clock on the wall. Isabel followed her eyes not even a second later.

The clock said 01:17 am.

"Oh."

There was a light chuckle from Alma as she said:

"Seems like I was right about my theory. Time does pass faster if we are with the people that we love."

Isabel raised an eyebrow, a big grin on her face.

"So you love me?",she laughed before she could stop the words.

There was a short moment of silence and Isabel wondered if she might have overstepped the line. Then Alma began to laugh and Isabel could feel her chest lighten again.

"You are a darling, of course I love you!" Alma said finally, turning her head so she could look into Isabel's brown eyes.

Then she quietly added:

"I actually thought you'd know that."

Isabel sucked in a breath as she stared into Alma's eyes, suddenly being terribly aware of how close their faces were.

Her heart was beating uncontrollably and she couldn't help it when her gaze fell on Alma's lips. It was only for a few seconds but of course the other woman did notice as she licked her lips nervously.

Miss Cuckoo drew in a deep breath while trying to collect her thoughts.

Then she whispered quietly:

"Please don't hate me for this but...can I kiss you?"

She regretted it as soon as she had asked.

Over 200 years she had kept her little secret so well and now she had thrown it all away. She had ruined their friendship with just that simple step.

She felt the panic build up inside her when she suddenly felt a hand on her chin. Slowly Alma turned her head so she had to face the small woman again.

Isabel's heart was beating so loudly that she nearly missed the answer.

"Please do."

Isabel's eyes widened as she stared at the woman in front of her, convinced she just hadn't heard her correctly or maybe she had just imagined her saying this. But Alma simply wrapped her tender arms around the taller woman's neck and gave her an encouraging smile.

And with that Isabel's brain shut down and her instincts overtook her.

She leaned forward carefully, still giving Alma enough time to back up if she changed her mind...but she didn't.

Their lips met in a light kiss and Isabel could swear that her heart might burst the next second.

This had to be a dream, there wasn't another explanation for this. Yes, that had to be it. She will wake up soon, and everything will be like it was before. And this, this will only be a wish-

Her mind started to panic again, that much that she hadn't even noticed that she had gone stiff as a plank.

Alma pulled away, her face bright red.

She lowered her head as she quietly whispered:

"I'm sorry, I'm a terrible kisser."

That did the trick. Isabel's brain snapped back into action and her eyes widened in shock.

"No, bird no, you are not! It's just- I just-", she began, her hands carefully cupping Alma's cheeks.

She took in a shaky breath and then continued:

"I'm-, I was just thinking....panicking actually. You have no idea how long I have wished for this to happen and I just panicked because I was scared that I would ruin our friendship and I guess I just made it worse with that-. I-, I'm sorry if I made you feel like you are a terrible kisser because you are not!"

She could see Alma's expression soften as her arms found their way back around Isabel's neck and she leaned forward so their foreheads touched.

"It's okay", Alma said softly, tangling one of her hands in short silver hair.

"Do you want to try again? And then we can just pretend that the first one never happend?"

A smile formed on Isabel's face as she looked into these beautiful green eyes and nodded.

Alma only nodded and sat back again, waiting for Isabel to make the first move.

This time the kiss was more passionate but still soft. Alma's eyes had fallen shut as soon as Isabel's lips had touched hers and Isabel gave into the feeling as well, closed her eyes and just let herself drown in the feeling of soft lips on hers.

She carefully wrapped her arms around Alma's waist to pull her closer. The blanket that had still laid on their shoulders, slowly fell down onto the floor but none of them cared. The only thing that got them to finally break apart was the lack of oxygen.

Isabel pulled back slowly, chuckling at Alma chasing her lips for a second. She opened her eyes again only to find Alma's still closed. She leaned her head against the other woman's head again and breathed slowly.

"Never ever dare to say that you are a terrible kisser again," she chuckled after a quick moment of silence of both Ymbrynes trying to catch their breath.

At that Alma's eyes opened slowly and she smiled as she lovingly looked into the brown eyes, next to her.

"I guess I'm a quick learner."

Isabel's eyes widened as she laughed in disbelief.

"You-you've never kissed anyone before?"

Alma blushed prettily as she shook her head.

"Not really, no."

For a moment Isabel just looked at her as if she was debating whether she was joking or not. Then she quickly shook her head.

"Then it seems like you are a natural", she whispered, giving her a quick peek at the cheek,
"and I'm honored that you trust me enough for that."

Alma beamed as her gaze fell on the small clock behind Isabel. It showed 03:00 am.

She turned her attention back to the taller woman, whose arms were still holding her close. She never thought that she'd admit it but she enjoyed the closeness and warmth of the other woman, maybe even a little more than she should.

"As much as I am enjoying this, dear, we should probably go to sleep as well," she said after a moment of collecting herself again.

Isabel sighed dramatically but gave in after she saw the time.

They decided to clean up later and only put the tea cups (with the tea that had long gone cold) in the kitchen sink.

Then Isabel took Alma's hand and led her upstairs.

"We definitely should repeat this," Isabel chuckled quietly, not wanting to wake any of the children.

Alma bit down her laugh and only smiled brightly.

"Definitely."

Then she stepped on her tiptoes to give Isabel a quick peek on the lips.

"Good night, Izzy."

They both went to their bedrooms but not before turning around again when they had reached the door.

Isabel had to bit down a giggle as we waved lightly.

"Bonne nuit"

"Good night...oh and Izzy? Happy 210th anniversary."