A/n: Thank you for your continued patience as I write this story. It's been hectic, to say the least.

Here's part one of some much needed comfort and calm after so much going on.

Don't forget to comment and vote! Love hearing from you all, and your continued support on this journey 💖

Song used (though I changed some lyrics): You Say by Lauren Daigle

________________________________________________________________________

Copia woke before sunrise with the prod of his internal clock telling him it was time to start his day. He ignored it until his bladder begged him to visit the restroom, and once finished he crawled back into the warmth of his bed, shifting carefully until he had Annie in his arms once more, the witch moving in her sleep so her head rested on his chest. He took in her serene beauty until his eyes fluttered closed and sleep claimed him once more. He woke again a few hours later spooned against Annie, his body curled around hers. One arm was under her head holding across her chest, the other draped loosely over her middle. Their fingers were intertwined and when she shifted with a soft sigh attention was drawn to his arousal pressed tight to the soft curve of her ass. The blush came on quick, turning his cheeks and ears red as he nuzzled behind her ear, remembering the pleasant dream he had been having.

"Are you finally awake?"

Her voice was soft and playful with a hint of roughness from sleep. He smiled and tightened his hold, lips finding and kissing the back of her neck. She felt so good in his arms like this.

"Si, amore," was his own sleepy reply. "Good morning, mia Dea. Did you sleep well?"

She laughs softly and he bites back a moan as she shifts again. "Surprisingly, yes. But I need you to let me go now. I've had to pee for like the past twenty minutes and each time I moved you held me tighter."

"Oh!" He laughs nervously and untangles himself from her with some reluctance. "I'm sorry, amore."

"It was kind of cute," she looks over her shoulder at him when she sits up, a smile on her face as she takes out her braid. "You were making some adorable little sounds. A good dream, I take it?"

He chuckles nervously, nodding as he sits up against his pillows with a stretch, watching her walk into the bathroom. She closes the door, but not fully, and he waits. Leaning his head back against the headboard he closed his eyes, contemplating if he wanted to get up for the day while also willing his arousal to fade.

He jumps when the blankets are pulled off and Annie crawls onto the bed until she's straddling him. She leans against him, pulling the blanket around both of them and he chuckles lightly, wrapping an arm around her waist the other lifting to stroke the backs of his fingers over her cheek.


"Are you alright, amore?"

"Cold. You're warm and comfortable."

"You look like you hardly slept." He frowns and sits them up, gently hooking his finger under her chin to turn her head and look her over. "Such dark circles under your eyes. And so pale. Are you feeling well?"

"Cold, tired, and hungry. Otherwise I think I'm okay?"

He presses the back of his hand to her forehead, but she feels fine. "How is your back? Still sore?"

"Actually," Annie sits up more and stretches, moving her shoulders and twisting. "I don't feel anything. No pain, just a little stiff."

"Let me see, amore."

She shakes her head and gently pushes him back, leaning down to rest on him again,  hands on his chest and head on shoulder. "I just want you to hold me right now. You can look when we get up."

"Annie…"

"Please."


He sighs and relents, his hands rubbing along her thighs until they rest on her hips. He fought to keep his mind distracted, not as focused on how she was sitting on him or how soft she felt against him.
 

"Vincenzo?"

"Si, mia Dea?"

"Is it…" she sighs lightly. "Is it wrong to want to be…closer than we are right now? After everything from yesterday?"

"Closer?" He turns his head to look down at her. He sees her cheeks darken as she tries to hide her face.

"Closer like…intimate." She sighs again, one hand sliding over his chest down to his side and back. "I don't know. I just woke up…needing you. And it feels right, but also wrong?"

Copia sighs lightly, a smile hinted on his lips as he combs his fingers through her hair, carefully working through what snarls he encounters. She leans back, looking at him with wide unsure eyes and he tightens his grip on her hair, guiding and pulling her closer until they meet in a gentle kiss. She melts into it, a whisper of a moan escaping when static tingles from her lips and down her spine to pool low in her stomach. Yes, it felt right, and she wanted more, but that voice of uncertainty also tried to hold her back.


"Annie," Copia whispers against her lips, brushing their noses together. "It is not wrong to want the one you love after a traumatic event. To want the comfort of the closeness. I myself had to fight my pull as soon as you launched into my arms last night, for as soon as I held you I wanted nothing other than to be as close as I could get. Maybe that is why I held you so this morning, unwilling to let you go."

"You sure it wasn't because of that good dream you were having?"

He laughs softly, resting back against the headboard. "That may have been part of it. It was really a good dream."


Annie lays her head on his shoulder, a hand coming up to brush her fingertips along his jaw. "Tell me about it?"

"My dream?" Annie nods, fingers trailing down his throat and she feels him swallow before taking a deep breath. "Well. It started with a romantic dinner, just the two of us. We were at a small, intimate restaurant I used to go to back in Italy. It was lovely. You were in this…beautiful dress. So radiant. Positively glowing."

"I could wear a flour sack and you would find me radiant in it," Annie laughs. Copia lightly prods her side and she jumps, a giggle slipping out and he holds in a groan from the movement. "I'm sorry. Continue?"

"Only if you promise no more interruptions." He looks down at her, a playful smile lighting up his face. When she nods he continues. "We got caught in the rain on the way back. Both of us were positively soaked, me more so than you as I had given you my jacket. Once inside we couldn't help but laugh. And something in the way you were smiling... My heart soared and I could no longer resist the temptation.

"I pulled you into my arms and kissed you with such…fiery passion. One that quickly consumed me. We were naked by the time we reached the bed, clothes dropped in wet piles marking our path. 'Cosi bella, mia Dea,' I had said. And you… you replied 'Fai l'amore con me, Vincenzo,' and I could resist no longer."

"What does that mean?" Annie could feel her heart beating faster as she looked up at him. He turned his head, hooking a finger under her chin to tilt her face up before kissing her. His lips moved against hers. Soft. Warm. And that heat pooled once more.

" 'Make love to me,' " was his whispered reply when he pulled away. Her heart skipped a beat.


"How do you say 'kiss me again'?"

"Baciami ancora."

"Bah-cha-me ahn-cora?" She says slowly, testing the words.

"Si. Molto bene amore."

Annie smiles and sits up, bracing against his shoulders as she shifts closer. His breath catches and he watches her, hands sliding to her hips as she settles on him, seeing a soft blush rise to her cheeks.

"Vincenzo?"

"Yes, amore?"

"Baciami ancora…"

His hand gives her hip a gentle squeeze, his other tangles in her hair, pulling her close until their lips meet. He swallows her moan, his own low in his chest as she grinds her core down against his growing hardness, separated only by his sleep pants as her nightgown has risen up to bunch around her hips. His hand pushes it higher before trailing down over the curve of her ass and smooth skin of her thigh, fingers tracing over faint scars.

"V-vincenzo.." She whispers against his lips, hips circling as she grinds against him. It felt good, sparks of electric desire racing through her as heat spreads.

"Si?" His lips trail down over her jaw. She doesn't answer, instead leaning back as her eyes close. She moans, focusing on the heat and pleasure slowly building in her core as she grinds harder against his covered rod, feeling its hardness press against her. His lips are on her neck, gently sucking and biting at a spot below her ear that sends a jolt through her.


"Tell me, Levanna," he moans softly, voice husky with his own desire. Both of his hands on her hips now as he guides her movement. His own hips push up into her and she moans again, feeling her stomach clench as her eyes roll back. "Will you come undone like this?"

A breathy moan was her reply as she looked at him, biting at her lip seeing the desire in his blown pupils. She could feel the coil in her, tightening more with each rock of her hips, and she knew she could. So close to that precipice, but it didn't feel like it was enough. But did she want more?

Her face heated with her blush and she draped her arms over his shoulders, fingers running through his soft hair as she met him in a deep kiss that quickly stole her breath. Goddess, yes she wanted more. Her body and the pull within her demanded it.


"Ol gil amiran, noromi a donasdogamatatastos," she whispers against his lips, hands trailing down his chest to grab the hem of his shirt to lift it off him. His hips still and he pulls back, looking at her.


"W-what?"

Annie slows her own movement on him and pulls back, looking at him with confusion. "What what? Did…did you need me to stop?"

"What was it that you said, amore?"

Her brows furrow deeper and she stills on him, her confusion more pronounced as she tilts her head to the side. "I didn't say anything?"

"You did, amore. But it was not in a language I know."

Annie frowns, eyes trailing over this face. "I was thinking I was enjoying all these feelings, but that I also wanted more. I didn't think I said anything out loud though."


He regards her a moment, a hand raising to brush loose strands from her face and he gives a soft smile. "You want more?"

"I thought I did. But now that I'm thinking about it…" she sighs lightly. "You know how my head is…how quickly the fear and uncertainty takes over when I stop and think about it."

Copia gives his own soft sigh, brushing his thumb over her cheek before leaning in to kiss her. She hesitantly returns it, at first, lips moving against his as the kiss deepens. The fire is no longer raging, pooling and coiling, but kissing him… it was, as it normally was, addicting. He's the first to pull away, only enough to rest their foreheads together.

"I love you, Levanna."

"And I love you, Vincenzo. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" He pulls back, hands resting on her thighs as he looks at her. She bites at her lip, turning her eyes away.

"Something I did ruined the moment. Again."

"But you enjoyed it while it was there, no? And there will be others. We have time."

Another blush lights up her cheeks as she smiles, nodding. Her hands go to his chest, fingers tracing random patterns as they slide down his abdomen until they rest on his waist.

"All day, in fact. Maybe after lunch? Or tonight? Or…"

He laughs as he takes gentle hold of her face, sitting up to kiss her deeply. "Today. Tomorrow. Next week. I'm yours, and I will be ready when you are."

"I don't deserve this. Don't deserve you."

He shakes his head and draws her in until he's holding her closely, her head tucked against his shoulder. "You are an amazing, kind and caring person. You deserve every ounce of happiness in this life, Levanna."

They're quiet for a while, simply relaxing against each other. It's soothing, her weight on him. A glance at the bedside clock tells him it's still early yet, just past 9. He thought about getting up, of attending to duties even though Aether assured him they would be handled. And truthfully, he didn't want to leave this bubble of comfort. Neither did she, he thought with a silent laugh as a gentle snore was heard from her. She did say she was still tired.

He shifted enough to carefully pull the blanket around them before settling back against his pillows, holding her close as he let his own eyes close. Maybe getting some more sleep wasn't such a bad idea.


____________________________________


While the Cardinal and his witch spent the day in their rooms resting and recovering, Aether and Seth took to the forest to oversee the arrival of the coven and welcome them. Seth hasn't witnessed much magic aside from rituals or the snippets he'd seen the sisters do,  and he was beyond amazed. The thrum of power, the chanting leading up to their sudden appearance left him in awe. He considered himself fairly well spoken, but the event left him tongue tied so Aether did most of the talking. Hours later, once they were assured the coven was settled they returned to the Ministry, Seth to the offices to finalize some paperwork and Aether to the dens. He met Cumulus in the kitchen area, letting his glamour drop with a tired sigh.



"You okay, Starlight?" She asks, coming around the counter to wrap her arms around his middle once he takes a seat at the island.

"Just been a long day. A long week," he sighs heavily as he leans against her. "The rituals. Duties here. What happened with that coven yesterday, greeting Rhea with hers today. There hasn't been time to breathe and we haven't even gotten to midsummer yet. On top of… other things… I'm spent, Lus. "

He lowers his head to his hands, elbows propped against the counter. Cumulus can feel the exhaustion and tension radiating off of him before she even begins to massage along his broad back.

"It's not easy being the only ghoul of my type here. I know I'm overdoing it with my powers, but what choice do I have? Copia needs me. Lilit and th- and Annie need me. The Ministry and the other ghouls, both in our pack and not. I'm just one ghoul."


"You miss Omega."

Again he sighs, trying to relax under her soothing touch as she works out knots and kinks in his back and shoulders. "At least if he were here it would be a little easier. He knew so much more than me. I could really use that guidance now."

"What you need," her hands slide around his front as she presses against his back, her lips soft against his neck. "Is to spend the rest of today relaxing. Let someone else take care of you."

"I don't have time to relax. I need to check on Lilit and the others. Make sure they're doing okay after yesterday. Then I have other things to see to."

"Aeth," Cumulus laughs softly as she moves to stand next to him. He looks at her and she smiles, reaching over to cup his cheek. "You're worse than Copia. You're done for today. Go to your rooms and rest. Take a nap. I'll come cuddle you in a bit."

"Hmm, and why not now?" His brow quirks in amused question as he turns and pulls her close until she stands between his parted thighs.

"Because I need to check on Kali. He hasn't been himself since he came back last night. Hasn't left his room and I couldn't help but overhear him crying earlier."

"You remember his insecurities, and now with the doubts and guilt he has after yesterday… Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No. He doesn't need you right now. He needs something he's been without most of his life."

"Okay, forgive my in the gutter brain dead self," Aether chuckles nervously as he reaches up to rub the back of his head, "but, uh, he's had his fair share of intimate moments in his life so I'm not sure that would help."


Cumulus sighs, rolling her eyes as she swats at his chest. Her tail flicks behind her in amusement, however. "No, you ridiculous ghoul. This is why you need to nap."

"Yeah, I figured I was way off base there. Sorry."


"What am I, Aeth? Why is it that I don't get intimate with the rest of our pack aside from you?"

"You were intimate with Dew before he had Swiss."

Cumulus sighs and rolls her eyes again. "That was a different time. Before Dew was Copias."

"I know." Aether slides his hands to her hips, fingers flexing against her as he sighs. "None of them have mothers. That's what you are - a mother to them. And a wonderful one at that."

"It's what Kali needs right now. Not a father figure. You're kind, compassionate. Caring and understanding but you aren't a woman. You'd make a good mother yourself if you were, though."

Aether laughs loudly, eyes squinting from his wide smile as he shakes his head. "Thanks, I guess?"

"No problem."

Cumulus matches his easy smile, leaning up with a tilt of her head to give him a gentle lingering kiss, one he happily responds to.

"Go to your room," she says when she pulls away. "Take a shower and lay down. Nap. I'll be in after I check on Kali."

"I love you, Lus. Go take care of him."

Wide smile on her face she rounds the counter again to finish what she was doing when he walked in, lifting the loaded tray off the counter when done.

"I mean it. You better be in bed by the time I'm done or you can forget about any sweet fun."

"Ooh…I'm tempted to disobey you now. We both know punishment is way sweeter."

"You're impossible."

"You love me, though."

____________________________________

"Kali?" Cumulus calls out softly after knocking on his door. "Can I come in?"

She hears a rustling and a sniffle before his shaky voice calls back.

"Not right now, Cumulus. I want to be alone."

The ghoulette sighs lightly and adjusts the tray on her arm before turning the knob. She was happy to find it unlocked, pushing the door open to step in before closing it behind her.

"I said not right now, Cumulus!" Kali raises his voice a little and she sees him quickly wipe at his face from the corner of her eye. "Please leave."

"You haven't been out to eat today, and you barely ate yesterday. I'm sorry sweetie, but I'm not leaving until I see you eat something." She sets the tray on his bedside table and perches on the edge of his bed after grabbing the plate of food she had. "Please? To ease my worry?"

"I'm not hungry."

Cumulus frowns when he shifts closer to the wall, turning his back to her. He had his glamour in place aside from hiding his tail, the appendage tightening where it was wrapped around his leg as he curled up.


"Kaliko," Cumulus says gently. "Please. Not eating isn't good. You need food so you can heal and stay strong."

He sniffles again, shaking his head. When he speaks his voice whispers soft and sad. "I'm not strong. Not like I thought I was."

"That's not true and you know it."


Cumulus sets the plate back on the tray before shifting so she's on the bed next to him. "Tell me why you think that?"

"I couldn't protect her. I couldn't protect any of them. That man…He knocked me out with a single punch!" Kali reaches up to touch the side of his face, wincing. "We would have died if it wasn't for my sister doing whatever she did. And it's my fault…"

"Oh baby boy," Cumulus lays down next to him, scooting close until she can rub his back. He flinches away at first before slowly relaxing a bit. "That's not true and you know it. You were at a disadvantage. They took your powers, held you by spearpoint. The way Sage tells it you fought off and knocked out at least ten before that man got to you."

"It wasn't enough. I can't protect her."

"Kali, look at me sweetie." He wipes at his face again before turning to look over his shoulder. She gives him a loving smile, sliding her hand to his arm giving it a gentle squeeze. "You are stronger than you know. I've seen it, first hand. You are strong, you just weren't prepared. None of you were. What happened wasn't something any of us could have predicted or expected."

"But they-"

"Hush, love. They aren't here, and it will be a long time before we encounter them again. Do you know what that means?"

He shakes his head, rolling over a bit to better face her and relieve some of the pull he felt in his neck.

"It means," Cumulus smiles, gently brushing hair away from his face. "That you have time now to prepare. To train. Not just you, but the others as well. And when we face them again, which we more than likely will down the line, you will be ready and you will win. You will protect those you love and care for just as I know you always will. How you already have."

"But I didn't!"

"Didn't you?" Cumulus raises a brow with her question. He stutters, trying to answer and her gentle expression returns, though is hinted with sadness. "Sage told us that man was going to rape her before you started fighting them. What happened next?"

"He knocked me out and we were tied to the stake."

'Exactly."

Kali looks at her with confusion. Why was she smiling like that? "I don't understand what's so good about that. Why are you smiling?"

"Because, my little gem, you DID protect Annie by doing that."

"How?"

"Did that man rape her?"

Kali's brows furrow as he looks at her. His eyes widened a moment later with realization. "No. He.. he was too pissed and had us taken to the stake."

Cumulus smiles softly, laying her head on his pillow with a nod. "By doing what you did, you protected her from that. And then she, however she did it, saved all of you."

"I still should have done more."

"You've done more than enough."


Kali sighs and fully turns over, hands tucked under his head as he looks at her. She smiles again, reaching up to once more brush long strands of hair from his face. He winces with a hiss when her fingertips brush against his cheek, the sound making her frown.

"You're masking your injury?" He nods slowly after a moment. "Let me see?"

His face falls and she can see the spark of fear and uncertainty in his eyes at the thought of dropping his glamour. Her face brightens with a warm reassuring smile. She doesn’t push him, doesn’t force him to show her. She simply waits for him to decide if he wanted to. It takes several minutes in which she can see his internal conflict reflected in his eyes, in how his brows move slightly before he takes a deep breath. Looking away he winces as he lets his glamour fade, tan skin turning a coppery bronze, hair gaining a metallic sheen as his horns sprout from behind his hairline. Cumulus can see the bruise and healing burns along the side of his face, the pupil of that eye dilated
until only a small amount of amber iris is shown.

“Oh, baby boy. That doesn’t look good. Didn’t Rainy make you a salve to put on it?”” Kali nods and looks towards his dresser. She turns as well, seeing a small canister resting on the edge of his dresser. “Why haven’t you used it?”

“I…didn’t think I deserved it.”

Cumulus sighs inwardly, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss to his forehead. “You do. And you need it. That won’t heal right without help.”

“Annie is covered in scars caused by those monsters. So what if I share in one?”

“If you were there with the chance to heal her, wouldn’t you do everything you could to do so? To limit the scars, the reminders of those men?”

“Of course! She’s my sister. I’d do anything for her, anything to see her happier.”

“So what do you think she would do if she were here now instead of me? How do you think she would feel if you didn’t do the same for yourself right now?”

Kali gives a small laugh, a hint of a smile on his face. “She would pull on my hair and fuss over me until I relented. And if I didn’t take care of myself… she would be upset. I… don’t want her to be upset.”

Cumulus smiles softly and nods. “She’d also be upset if she knew you weren’t eating. How about this?”

He watches her sit up and he does as well, shifting until his back is against the wall. She turns and grabs the plate of food, holding it out to him as she continues. “You eat this, and then after I’ll help with the salve?”

Kali looks at the plate wearily. He couldn’t deny that he was in fact quite hungry having not eaten since the previous morning, and he knew she was right. With a sigh he takes the plate with a nod and slowly begins to eat. It was light and simple, some scrambled eggs mixed with ground sausage and toast with homemade jam and butter, but it was delicious and he found himself finishing the last bite before he knew it.


“Feel better?”

Kali nods and hands her the empty plate before licking at a bit of jam that was on his thumb. Cumulus returned it to the tray as she stood, walking over to the dresser to pick up the canister.

“Rain learned how to make things like this from Annie, you know.”

“I wondered how Rainbow got so good at earthy things with those plants,” Kali laughed softly. Cumulus nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for him to sit next to her which he did.

“He’s learned a lot from Annie. A lot of us have.” Cumulus opens the canister and scoops a small bit of the firm cream onto her fingers. “Her students love her, too.”

“She’s had to miss a lot of- Ouch!”

“I know,” Cumulus gives a sympathetic wince, trying to be gentle and careful while spreading the salve across his burn. “And yeah. Her class has been suspended until after Midsummer. The gardens have been thriving, though. The students have taken it upon themselves to learn what they can in her absence, caring and tending for the various flowers and herbs.”

Kali smiles after another wince. “I bet the other earth ghouls are thrilled about that.”

“They don’t seem to mind. It’s been a while since the Siblings have gotten so involved in something like this.”


“Hey…Cumulus?”

“Yes Kali?”

She finishes applying the salve and closes up the canister before wiping her hand with one of the napkins she had brought. He bites at his lip, brows furrowing. He wanted to ask her something that has been on his chest since the other night. Cumulus looks over at him when he doesn’t say anything, her expression soft as she waits. Eventually he sighs and rubs at his neck.

“I don’t know. I’m just…confused I guess.”

“About what?”

“Have… have you ever loved someone only to…to realize that what you had with them can never be again?”

Cumulus’ face falls slightly, a frown hinted at her lips as she takes a deep breath. “Yeah… I have.”

“Does it ever get easier?”

The ghoulette gives a soft smile, reaching over to brush a strand of hair away and cup the uninjured side of his face, her thumb stroking over his cheek. “In time, I’d like to think that yes. It will get easier. But, who knows? Maybe things will change for you?”

He shakes his head. “I’d rather not get my hopes up. He’s happy. I would never get in the way of that. It’s just hard finding that balance right now.”

She nods, reaching over to take hold of his hand. Giving it a gentle squeeze she leans towards him until their foreheads touch. "Love never fades, no matter how much you will it to. A wise ghoul once told me you didn't have to stop loving, just that it would be a different type of love."

"Who told you that?"

Cumulus smiles as she pulls back, giving his hand another squeeze. "Would you believe me if I told you it was Rain?"

Kali thinks for a moment, a gentle smile on his face as he looks away towards the wall. Rains room was in that direction a few doors down from his own and he wondered what he was up to right now.

"Yeah, I would."



"We're gonna have a fire tonight," Cumulus eventually says, breaking the silence. "In Primos garden. Everyone's coming. Drinks, snacks. Just a little get together to celebrate the good among all the bad going on. I'd like it if you joined us."

"That sounds…nice. I think I will."

"Think you can handle Dew and Swiss' shenanigans?"

He laughs, a wide smile on his face as he nods. "They're what make it a party. Besides, I can always hide behind you or Aether if I need to. They know better than to mess with mom and dad."

Cumulus laughs, leaning forward a bit so her curly blonde mane blocks her face for a moment. When she sits back she's got a wide toothy smile of her own, eyes shining with mirth. "That's because y'all's know better. You're safe with me, my little gemstone."


Kali looks at her, his smile falling slightly but the look of happiness and adoration still shines bright in his eyes.

"Thank you, Cumulus. For everything."

"You never have to thank me. I'm here for you. Always."


He throws his arms around her waist, knocking her back with his sudden embrace. She laughs softly, leaning back from his horns as her own arms hold him close, gently rubbing his back. He flushes and concentrates and a moment later his horns are gone but the rest of him is still ghoulish.

“Sorry…I forgot they were out.”

“It’s alright. If you had them out more it would be second nature to maneuver without hurting anyone. Yours are extra long and pointy sharp.” She feels him tense in her arms and she kisses the top of his head. “And just as beautiful as the rest of the ghoulish you.”

“I’m really not.”

“Kali..”

“No.. I wish I didn’t look like this. The rest of you are all so beautiful, and unique. And I’m just…not. I never was, and I can’t see myself ever being so.”

Cumulus sighs softly, rubbing her hand along his back. She thinks for a moment, a soft smile dancing across her lips before she starts to sing.


‘You keep fighting voices in your mind that say you’re not enough.
Every single lie that tells you that you’ll never measure up.
You are more than just the sum of every high and every low.
Remind you once again just who you are because you need to know…

Ooh-oh

I say you are loved when you can't feel a thing.
I say you are strong when you think you are weak.
And I say you are held when you are falling short.
And when you don't belong, oh I say you are ours.

And I believe…
Oh, I believe…
What I say of you.
I believe.”

Kali holds her tighter, his hands fisting in her loose shirt as he buries his face in her shoulder. She holds him close, gently rocking him as he begins to cry. She does not shush him, only offering him soft words of comfort, encouraging him to let it out.

“I’m here, my beautiful boy. I’ve got you and you are so very loved.” She kisses the top of his head before resting her cheek against it. “I love you just as you are. We all do.”

It takes a while before he calms down, his sobs and tears slowing to an eventual stop, but he doesn’t move, feeling warm, safe and loved in her arms. Then again, she was always there when he needed her… needed a mother. Aside from his brief time with Morrgan, Cumulus was the only other truly motherly person he had in his life. She helped him through so much when he was younger, and when he was sent away, he had no one. So to be here, comforted by her like this… he finally felt at home after all these years.

“Will you be okay, Kali?”

He nods and slowly pulls back, wiping at his face while stifling a yawn. “Yeah, I should be alright. Thank you, Cumulus. For everything. I… really needed this.”

“You never have to thank me. Anytime you need me, I’ll be there. We all will.”

“Yeah, but no one else is you.”

“And no one else is you.” She smiles as he yawns again, giving a sleepy smile in return. “Why don’t you take a nap? Then you can be rested for tonights get together.”

Kali nods and crawls over his bed to lay down, nuzzling down into his pillow. “A nap does sound good. Will you be okay?”

“Mhmm. I’m gonna go take a nap myself. It’s not often we get free days like this.”

“If I oversleep, will you come get me?”

“Of course.” Cumulus stands and pulls the throw blanket up to cover him, gently tucking him in. “I’ll be down the hall with Aether if you need anything.”

He laughs, a sly knowing grin on his face as he pulls the blanket up to cover half his face. “In other words, don’t bother you two until one or both of you leaves the room?”

“Oh hush, you.”

He sticks his tongue out and makes a face before giggling as she prods at his side.

“Sleep now. I’ll see you later.”

“Until later th…th..” He yawns widely, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. “Until later then.”