The fire pit she and Adam had dug into the backyard had been put to use for the first time. It had roared to life with a bonfire that warmed all their current tenants, surrounding the pit in camping chairs (aside from Adoraâs own wife, who lounged in the hammock set up for her with fluffy blankets and pillows to make it cozy) and was used for the best of purposes â sâmores. There may have been a couple of charred beyond recognition marshmallows at first, mostly at the twinsâ hands, but theyâd figured it out eventually. Two whole boxes of graham crackers had been put to use and plenty of the snack-size Hersheyâs chocolate bars, to make their deliciously sticky sandwiches.
The whole day had been amazing even before sâmores. It was Adoraâs first December 23rd birthday (or, well, second, technically, but the first one she would remember), and Randor and Marlena had gone all out. There had been party hats, confetti, a sweetly misshapen birthday cake baked by her mom, and an adult ball pit. She didnât know such a thing was possible, but she loved it. She didnât even mind posing for the cheesy birthday twins photos with Adam, not when she saw the smiles her family wore the whole time.
Adora loved it. She loved being surrounded by her family â they were new, and they were loud, and they were a lot, but she loved them. She had missed them, which was maybe weird to say since she hadnât known any of them back home, and maybe she never would. But having them all here, she felt it. She knew them here, though, and she was bound and determined to take advantage of that.
Eventually, even the sugar high energy began to dwindle. Catra, who had been so valiantly attentive since this whole parents adventure had begun, could barely keep her eyes open in her cozy hammock, so Adora had swept her in to tuck her into bed with Clawdeen and Melog on their heels. Sheâd returned to the yard just as her brother and Teela, with Cringer, were saying their goodnights, leaving only Adora with Randor, Marlena, and all three dogs sprawled in the grass around the fading fire.
She thought about going off to bed herself, but instead, she stayed, taking over the bench seat Adam and Teela had been sharing beside her parents. She leaned down to stroke Spiritâs neck as he leaned against her legs and smiled over at them.
âThat was really fun.â Spirit let out a soft little ruff as if he agreed and she chuckled, rubbing his ear. âDid you ever do this at home with Adam?â
Randor, arm around his wifeâs shoulders, sobered at her question. His eyes darkened with regret as he looked at his daughter. âIâm afraid I didnât pay your brother the attention he deserved,â he admitted.
It was a vulnerable statement for him, but losing Adam and learning the consequences of his actions had taken a toll on him. In a matter of moments, he had gone from a parent who had lost one child (a loss he had handled badly, so grief-stricken he had forbidden all mention of Adora on Eternia) to a parent who had lost both children. The devastation had nearly killed him and his relationship with Marlena.
Marlena hadnât had a night like this inâwell, never. Yes, sheâs bonded with Adam and Randor as a nuclear family but this was so much more; this had been their birthdays, the first and only one spent together as a family. The pressure of kingdom duties was lifted, and they had their whole family (with their significant others, and pets). She and her husband were on better terms. Not on perfect terms, but better; she had hopes theyâd get there. Nights like this one were helping.
Itâs a good thing she had brought a box of wet wipes downâa mom always had wet wipesâbecause sâmores were messy, and sticky, and she was constantly needing to wipe them. Insisting also that her grown children used them, too. Their roasting was laid to rest as the night winded down, and half of their party went inside for the night (her daughter, picking up her wife to bring her to bed, would never not be cute). She wasnât quite ready to head back in.
Thankfully, she wasnât alone.
âBirthdays were handled a bit different on Eternia. We had some nights similar to this,â Marlena argued, adjusting the blanket over her as she leaned into Randor. âBut I may have had more of them with Adam. Heâs always been a typical mamaâs boy. Weâll have to do a movie nextâNetflix is supposed to be a good movie? I think?â
Her motherâs lightheartedness was welcome after her dadâs very serious answer. Adora had learned pretty quickly that was typical of him â he was a serious man, and having fun was either a thing of the past for him or just not his natural state of being. But she did grin when he smiled and rested his cheek against the top of Marlenaâs head. They were a good couple; part of her wished sheâd gotten to grow up with them.
âNetflix?â Adora snickered a little and shook her head. âNetflix is a streaming service, actually. It plays all kinds of shows and movies, kind of likeâŠâ She trailed off as she tried to think of the best way to explain this in terms her mom, at least, would understand. She wasnât convinced any explanation would work with Randor, knowing their differences in technology. âEarth had video tapes right? And DVDs? Itâs like a whole collection of those in one place.â
âVideo tapes,â Marlena confirmed with a squint. âNot entirely sure what DVDs areâperhaps thatâs beyond my time?â Earth customs were influential here, and she was able to get a glimpse of what her homeworld had more or less becomeâbut then there was also the case of several versions of Earth, all with their own struggles and grand evil trying to destroy. It was all a complex affair.
But yes, right, Netflix wasnât a movie. She just remembered seeing the option for it on their television, and while she was aware she had a lot of access to new media, most of her time was spent doing something face-to-face with the family She hadnât delved in deeply.
âIs there anything either of youââ Yes, she included Randor in that too by jabbing his side with her elbow, âwould like to plan for?â Marlena brought her mug of eggnog to her lips for a sip. âOtherwise I will be the one making a family bucket list, and then youâll all be at my mercy.â
âArenât we always at your mercy, my dear?â Randor replied with a grin, lifting his head again and winking at Adora. âI donât know what a bucket list is, but I have complete and utter faith in your ability to make one.â
âSame,â Adora replied, âbut I can help you pick some places to go if you want? Valloâs not exactly like Earth, but itâs got a lot of influence. Obviously. So, if thereâs something you wanted to do back then that you didnât get to, we can probably find something similar.â
McDonaldâs and Walmart, among a slew of other establishments around here, were Earth transplants, and almost all of their TV was Earth-based as well. She had always sort of wondered how it was that this place totally removed from Earth had ended up here, but it went on the list with why are we here as a question she couldnât answer and wouldnât dig into. Even she knew when a subject was going to drive her too crazy to contemplate.
âDid I hear you mention something about a ârage roomâ?â Randor raised his eyebrows at her. âWould that be a good family activity?â
âSure!â Adora enthused, then paused. âWell, maybe not so much for Catra. Itâs this business where they set up, like, whole rooms of stuff. Like, a staged living room or dining room or bedroom. Then, they give you weapons and you can break it all to pieces. Helps get the rage out.â
She did not mention how sheâd originally called it a âsmash roomâ on her first visit with Vi. The embarrassment was still strong when it crept on her. Stupid intrusive thoughts.
âPregnant women are allowed to break things,â Marlena said sagely, wagging a finger in protest. Sheâd been through itâwith twinsâand she enjoyed every moment, from the heartburn to the kicks in the cervix but goodness, hormones brought some rage. âBut that sounds oddly fun, weâll have to⊠make an appointment? Reserve a time slot? I donât know how that works.â
Logistics could be handled later. This family had a lot of feelings to let out and not all of it could be put into words. They could be expressed in the fine art of legal destruction, however. Marlena looked forward to it.
âI do want a zoo trip,â she went on. âAnd an aquarium trip, all of us, and then everyoneâs getting happy meals. Thatâs going on my bucket list, whereâs myâŠâ
There it is. Marlena grabbed her phone and started typing out a whole damn list.
âI feel like the zoo might be more fun in the spring,â Adora chimed in. She was trying to be helpful but frowned at herself for bringing that up. Who knew if her parents would even be here, then? She shouldnât even accidentally deprive them of something they wanted to do â or something Marlena wanted, at least, although she knew Randor wouldnât protest. âBut they have a really cool Christmas lights display going on right now!â
She and Randor started contributing ideas as Marlena furiously typed away on her phone. By the time Adora had run out of thoughts, she was sure that list had to be at least two or three pages long. There wouldnât be a day that went by without something going on, but she didnât mind. She remembered what she and Catra had discussed and was holding to it â Enjoy them. Makes memories.
Spirit had clambered up onto the bench with her, front paws on her lap and head against her stomach so she could idly stroke his neck and face. The fire had started to die again and Adora threw a few more sticks in to keep it going for just a little longer. It was getting later and later, and she was tired, but she didnât want to leave yet. She wanted to have just a few more minutes to savor with her mom and dad. She had missed over two decades with them, and the Horde kid in her, who had wondered about them more often than sheâd admit, wanted to keep them close forever.
She raised her gaze to them, the thoughts swirling in her mind slowly coaxing her to open her mouth and speak. âIs itâŠâ She hesitated, doubting herself, but decided to keep pushing on. âWould it be okay if I called you Mom and Dad? I know I havenât really been doing that because you guys are new to me, butâŠI want to, I think. Like Adam does.â
Marlena had an impressive list happening, and whether or not sheâd get it all completed in the unknown time Vallo allotted them? She didnât know, nor did she care. Getting even two or three of them done would bring her happiness. This was the woman who would be utterly content just sitting and watching her children interact with each other, and others, and sheâd learn all these new things she had missed and didnât know before.
But having some activities set asideâit was good, and fun, and she was pleased when she hit the save button.
Then Adora spoke up again, and she blinked up, staring.
âDarling,â she whispered, tucking her phone away in what should have been a pocket but it landed on the ground instead. Randor could pick it up for her laterâwhat else were husbands for? âYouâve met me now, havenât you? In what universe could Iâcould we say no to that?â
Marlena looked to Randor too, expecting him to chime in.
Randor was a bit stunned that was even a question, which was why he was slightly slower to respond. He had assumed Adora knew she was welcome to address them familiarly if she wanted but was simply taking her time. Had he realized she felt she needed permission, he would have said something much sooner.
âOf course you can call us Mom and Dad, sweetheart,â he hurried to contribute, feeling his wifeâs eyes on him. âYou can call us whatever you like, as long as youâre comfortable.â
Adoraâs cheeks were red â and not just from the cold. She had expected yeses, obviously, and sheâd even expected Marlenaâs much more emotional response in contrast with Randor being more measured. Both of them had had their emotional moments, but her mom seemed much quicker to it than her father. She figured that made sense; being raised as a prince to be king, he had been taught more control. She saw a lot of herself in that, even if she considered herself infinitely more damaged than her dad could ever be.
âOkay,â she agreed quietly. âI just⊠I wasnât sure if I was comfortable yet, but then I thought maybe you guys wouldnât be comfortable either, since we havenât really known each other that long. So I wanted to ask first.â
âYou are welcome to call us whatever youâre comfortable withâthereâs no pressure, not now, not ever,â Marlena assured her, sitting up with a more erect posture. âI will admit that Iâm thrilled at you calling us that. I donât think thatâs particularly a huge secret.â
She chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of her head. Her goal was to make herself available, and to make sure Adora knew that she was very willing to be considered Mom. âBut if you use it, and it still makes you uncomfortable, know that we understand. The last thing we want to do is force anything on you.â
Randor nodded as his wife spoke, murmuring, âYes, of course,â in agreement and giving Marlenaâs shoulder a gentle squeeze. She had always been better with the emotional work, a softer touch when it came to raising Adam and letting him be himself. His parenting had caused a lot of trouble with his son, so he felt letting his wife take the lead with their daughter was the best move for now.
âI know.â Adora smiled gratefully. âBut youâre not forcing anything, I promise.â She knew the sentiment was sincere, but she knew if she stepped forward and backtracked, it would probably still hurt them. She hoped sheâd waited long enough that she didnât do that to them. It felt right now.
She took a slow breath before she spoke again. âI want to say I wish things were different,â she began, âbut I donât. I canât. I wish Iâd had you, but if Iâd had you, I wouldnât have Catra, so I think everything worked out the way it should have. But Iâm really, really glad I have you both now.â
I hope you stay, she wanted to add, but she bit her tongue. Having them here was already a miracle, one she wasnât about to risk jinxing.
Marlena mirrored her daughter there, in the slow breath thing; plenty of conversations veered towards emotional territory with them, it couldnât be avoided. There was simply so much to feel. There were regrets, and wishes, and hopes, and what ifs. She oftenâscratch that, always--wondered what life would have been like if her family hadnât been torn apart. She mourned that dream, even more when she was getting all these glimpses of what could have been.
But could it have been, really? Adora may have turned out a completely different person than the woman before her, and Marlena could not imagine her daughter being anything else besides who she was this moment.
âI donât think focusing on how things may have been is very productive,â she carefully started, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. âI tend to⊠obsess, sometimes. Itâs hard not to. Iâm confident that I can speak for myself and your father when I say weâre ecstatic to have you, and seeing how happy you areâand how youâve made your way, and you have a family thatâs growing? We wouldnât change anything. Youâre happy, and alive. Thatâs all we want for you and your brother.â
Randor nodded. âAnd as you know, I donât particularly like when a situation is out of my control,â he added, leveling a knowing gaze on Adora. Adam hadnât inherited that particular trait, but even in the time heâd been there, heâd seen it was a struggle for Adora. She seemed to work very hard at letting herself âgo with the flowâ. âBut your motherâs right. Youâre perfect just as you are. Weâve lost both of you once, and I would appreciate no repeat incidents, alright?â
Adora let out a watery chuckle â she wasnât entirely sure when the tears had started but there they were â and nodded. âPromise Iâm not planning on dying anytime soon. And Iâll make sure Adam doesnât either.â
The Heart had been a close call, and sheâd healed Adam from a life-threatening wound when he first arrived in Vallo. Then, of course, there was September, when theyâd both come too close to hitting that threshold again. She was going to do her best to make sure nothing like that happened ever again.
The fire was down to its last embers, so she gently dislodged Spirit and stood up. She considered all the chairs sitting around, but with the wards Brigitte had put in place, the only beings that might come after their equipment were some of the craftier forest animals. Maybe a raccoon would take a nap on a camping chair; she would clean up tomorrow.
She stepped over to her parents, holding out her hands. âWe should probably go in, butâŠI think this calls for a hug?â
âCalls for the biggest hugs,â Marlena told her, a little bit choked up but it was fine, they were all allowedâshe wasnât afraid of doing a little (or a lot of it, she had cried a lot during her time here) crying. Once she was up on her feet, taking Adora and Randor in for an embrace was seamless. There was no blubbering mess of tears or anythingâwatery eyes though, yes, that was a thing. She was on the same boat with Adora there too. âLove you, darling. No matter if you call us mom or dad or justâby our name. Thatâs never changing.â
âNever,â Randor affirmed, wrapping both arms around his two girls. âOf course we love you, sweetheart. Weâve loved you all your life, and that will never change.â
Adora relaxed into their embrace, into the warmth of her mother and her father â people sheâd never had in her life before, but gods, she was so grateful, so ecstatically happy to have them now. âI love you, too.â She pulled away just to smile up at them through the tears tracking down her face.
She met Marlenaâs eyes, breath shaking as she spoke. âLove you, Mom.â She turned to Randor. âLove you, Dad.â She squeezed their hands as the fire died, guiding them around to Darlaâs ramp with the dogs scampering along beside them.