I know, but you did anyway because it mattered to her. Lena dried her hands. She's eight. The world feels huge and scary and out of control. If I can fix one small thing, why wouldn't I?
Adrien crossed the kitchen and pulled her into a hug. Have I mentioned lately that I love you? Not in the past 4 hours. Slacking, he kissed the top of her head. I love you.
I love you, too. It still felt foreign saying it out loud. They'd been together 6 months if you counted from that first kiss, which Lena did, but she was still getting used to the idea that someone could love her without conditions, without expecting her to be someone she wasn't. Adrien pulled back just enough to look at her. So, it's really over with Marcus.
Signed, sealed, delivered. How do you feel? Honestly, relieved. She leaned against the counter. He's engaged, getting married again, having a baby.
Adrien's expression shifted. Lena, I'm okay. Really? And she was. He's getting what he wanted.
I'm getting what I didn't know I wanted. Everyone wins. You're sure, Adrien? I spent 6 years trying to be someone I wasn't for a man who only wanted me when I was useful. I'm not doing that anymore.
She took his hand. I want this. you, the kids, the chaos, all of it. He studied her face for a long moment, then nodded. Okay, but if that changes, it won't. But if it does, you tell me.
Promise? Promise? They stood there in the quiet kitchen, and Lena thought about the woman who'd sat freezing in a bus shelter 7 months ago. How she'd believed her life was over. How she'd thought being unable to have children made her worthless.
She'd been so wrong. Summer came fast. School let out. And suddenly, Lena had three kids underfoot all day, every day. Thomas wanted to go to music camp.
Marcus needed new basketball shoes every other week because he kept growing. Sophieie decided she wanted to learn guitar, then changed her mind and wanted to do ballet, then changed her mind again and settled on art classes. Lena handled it all with a mix of patience and strategic bribery. You're a natural at this, Adrien said one night after a particularly chaotic day involving paint in places paint should never be. I'm making it up as I go.
Isn't that what all parents do? Parents? He'd said it so casually, but the word hit her hard. I'm not their parent, she said carefully. You're the one who gets them up in the morning, makes sure they eat vegetables, helps with homework, and threatens to ground them when they're being jerks.
What else would you call it? I don't know. Support staff. Adrien laughed. You're more than support staff.