Most of the time, Adora hated it for that. The whims of Vallo had taken away so many important people in her life since sheâd been here, and it tended to make her grumpy. She didnât like getting attached to people only for them to be pulled away â inevitably, apparently. All her friends from home were gone, Richie, Dan, Alex, her mom and dad. It was an endless cycle of loss.
But sometimes people came back. Teela was the first, and she seemed to be sticking around. Adora didnât totally trust it, but she held onto hope for Adamâs sake. They seemed to be getting along better this time around than they had before, and she didnât want him to be sad again.
Now? Marlena.
Adora was over the moon when her mother just strolled onto Darla early this morning. Losing her parents, after having them for such a short amount of time, had almost cut her deeper than losing Glimmer. Sheâd been wanting them back since the day they disappeared,and now? Well, sheâd halfway gotten her wish â Randor wasnât back, but Marlena was, and as much as sheâd come to love her dad, it was her mom sheâd missed most.
She knew to keep her hopes low this time. She didnât think and made it a point of savoring every moment she could with her mom. For the first couple hours she was here, that meant clinging to her in a manner that rivaled the way Catra typically clung to her, but she had absolutely no regrets.
The rest of Darlaâs residents were off at work (or doing whatever it was she did with her time, in Teelaâs case, Adora had no idea) early in the afternoon. Catra had left them with strict instructions on painting Finnâs room â the walls that werenât covered in delicate stencil work of their home universeâs constellations â and that had quickly become their project for the day.
The little foil tray at her feet was quickly running out of paint, so Adora dropped her roller on the floor (covered with a drop cloth) and went to find the next bucket and a screwdriver to pry it open. She was a little sweaty, but they were making good progress â she had no complaints.
âIâm really, really glad youâre here,â she told Marlena with a grin, for what was easily the dozenth time today. âThanks for helping me. Catraâs insistent we get this done fast for⊠I donât know why, actually.â She shrugged.
âNesting, dear,â was Marlenaâs answer, smiling kindly as she tightened the bandana around her head. Painting walls seemed like an easy and fun chore but it was hard work, it really wasâand the walls were high, the ceiling was high, and there was a lot to cover both with paint. But she didnât mind it in the least; she was here, she was eager to soak up the time and help, and maybe if the Vallo Powers were kind to them, sheâd be here for Finnâs arrival, too.
High hopes, yes. High hopes werenât terrible to have though.
Grabbing a water bottle for herself, she handed one to Adora once the paint popped open. âItâs that motherly instinct making her go a little crazy for some baby space. Donât be surprised if she re-organizes everything several times over.â
Nesting, right. Adora nodded, she knew that; theyâd read about it together, even, but sometimes these things happening before her still felt like a mystery. She wouldnât say it out loud, because she didnât think Catra would appreciate it, but she was glad it wasnât her having to go through that process. Just thinking about it made her teeth clench a bit with discomfort.
Catra, though? She was perfect and had handled everything so well. There were complaints and grumbles voiced, but she seemed to be pretty accepting of everything that had come with the pregnancy so far.
âCatraâs weirdly organized about stuff like clothes, but most of itâs up to me.â She cracked open the water bottle and sunk down onto the floor for a minute. They could definitely both stand to have a water break. âItâd be kinda funny to see her going all crazy over it for once.â
âI remember wanting you and your brotherâs clothes folded in a very specific way,â Marlena reminisced fondly. Amid their conversation, Clawdeen slipped into the room with a slightly curved belly of her own. Color this queen surprised when she found out who fathered those incubating cubs (she also may have laughed a lot). The large cat sat in the center, sniffing the air and looking around. âI wouldnât let anyone else do itâtheyâd do it wrong.â
She took a few thirsty gulps of water before twisting the cap back on and picking up a roller. The rods for these had to be tall with how high they had to reach. âI canât believe how much her stomachâs popped, though! And those ultrasound picsâcanât get over it, the thumb sucking. The ears??â
Yes, she had cried when she saw them. Marlena had no shame.
Adoraâs smile widened. She had been so thrilled to be able to show Marlena those ultrasound photos. She had been on her mind every appointment theyâd been to, part of her wishing she could keep sharing this with her mother. Sheâd just gotten her, then sheâd been taken away. She probably would be again, with the way Vallo worked.
But Lanceâs mom was here, Keithâs dad â maybe it was some sort of weird Parentsâ Week, a gift bestowed on them. She wouldnât look to the future again, but sheâd take advantage of the present with everything she had.
âRight?? I mean, I already know theyâre gonna be super cute when theyâre a little older, but I canât wait to see them as a baby baby,â she gushed. She really hoped Marlena would be there for that moment, too, but she didnât focus on it too hard.
âI guess Clawdeenâs gonna beat us to the baby thing, though.â She stood up and reached down to scratch behind the pink lionessâs ear. She had bonded with Clawdeen since her arrival in Vallo, but sheâd been even more protective of her since theyâd found out she was pregnant and all the drama with Cringer that surrounded it. She was a good girl, loyal to them just like Melog was, and Adora wanted to make sure she was treated well and taken care of.
Clawdeen was happy to be receiving those scratches. Her purr was definitely a rumble, a deep contrast of Melog (and Catraâs) softer vibrations. âYes, Iâm stillâŠâ Marlena paused, squinting her eyes as she cocked her head to the side. âSurprised about that. I didnât think Cringer had it in him.â
Theyâd been having an affair when she and Randor were previously here, and quite literally no one noticed? Granted, a lot had been happening and these two werenât anyoneâs main focus so she could understand how that slipped under the radar.
âYouâre going to have plenty to keep you all busy,â she chuckled, pouring the paint out into the tray to keep their momentum going - they should be done by the time her daughter-in-law was back home, and she was eager to see her face when she witnessed the completed project. âI know Clawdeen and Melog can⊠imprint? Iâm wondering if those cubs are going to have something like that. Or if theyâll actually speak, like Cringer.â
âI was wondering that, too,â Adora admitted, pulling away from Clawdeen with a soft smile. She returned to her motherâs side to scoop up her roller again and dip it back into the paint. Theyâd been working on this for quite a while now, but they were getting ready to move onto the second coat. She definitely hoped Catra was pleased to see their progress.
âI want to see what colors theyâll end up being, though,â she went on as she pressed the roller into the wall. âLike, I hope thereâs a little pink one like Clawdeen. But a purple one might be cute, too! If thatâs even possible?â
âAll depends on the genetics,â Marlena mused, casting a curious glance down at Clawdeen. âWe donât know too much about Cringer - and I think Teela was the one that gave him his name. I know Clawdeen isnât even someone the two of you have back home but she just showed up making a claim? Who knows, you might get the whole rainbow with them.â
Then she went to claim the section adjacent from Adora, rolling on the second layer and already feeling a burn in her arms. She either needed to exercise more or it was plain old age. Both were tragic. âAre they all going to live⊠here? With the baby?â
Listen, Marlena wasnât judging but she was a little concerned about energetic cubs clumsily running over her grandbaby, thatâs all!
âOh! No, no,â Adora assured her quickly. She wouldnât be totally against the idea â she was sure Cringer and Clawdeen would be able to monitor and teach their children â but Darla was really only so big. And sheâd taken her motherâs words to heart before; she wanted them to have space for themselves, just their little family and the usual culprits, by the time Finn arrived.
âGrayskullâs here, too, and Adam and Teela think that the cubs would be better off in the heart of it where theyâve got all that pretty green space to run around. But I guess Clawdeen wants us to make a little park for them, too.â She obviously couldnât confirm this with Clawdeen since she was only psychically linked to Catra, but that was the message her wife had relayed. âItâs the next big project Catra wants done after the nursery.â
Clawdeen confirmed it enough with how she scooched closer to Adora, nuzzling up on her shins, like yes, this is what I want. Marlena caught a glimpse of that and laughed. âThatâs probably best - but Iâm also hoping you take pictures of when Finnâs older to play with them,â she said, bittersweet. âIâm sure thatâs going to be the cutest thing.â
Her daughter liked to do some photography on the side, and Marlena wasnât a guaranteed resident here. Last time she was here for a little over a month, then disappeared, and then came back - and something in her gut told her that this visit would also be short. Sheâd make the best of it, always. Randor wasnât here to enjoy this second trip but sheâd make sure to soak up enough time for the both of them.
(Although she wouldnât remember this trip to tell him, and that was a pill she didnât feel like swallowing today.)
Adora pressed her lips together and nodded, struggling against the wave of emotion that had welled up in her throat and chest. It was easy to fall back into the expectation that Marlena would be here, but she knew it was unlikely. Something about this visit felt shorter than the last; there had at least been the possibility of permanence last time, but she didnât feel that this time.
Which really made it all the more painful. She wanted her mom here. Now that she knew her, she didnât want to let her go, especially not when she was on the brink of becoming a parent herself. It felt cruel. Why did Vallo keep doing this to them?
âI will,â she said, voice a little gruff with barely-restrained emotion. Okay, there were tears. She didnât mean for there to be and determinedly turned her attention back to the wall in the hopes theyâd just go away, but there was no mistaking they were there.
Marlena heard the tears in her voice. Adora had only spoken two small words but it was enough, and the spread of paint stalled so she could look over. âIf I came back a second time,â she started gently, âthen who says I canât come back a third time, or a fourth time. Fifth. Sixth.â
Permanence was also her hope. Knowing that there was a place where she could be with both of her children made Eternia feel less like home, and it was a blessing she hadnât been burdened with the knowledge of it when Vallo threw her back. Back there, she could only wonder what happened to her daughter - and in Vallo, she knew. Marlena had been part of it. She got to see the life Adora made, and the beginning of her own growing family, and sheâd give anything to be part of that and have Adam and Randor with her, too.
There was a cruelty to it all, but also a kindness she couldnât take for granted.
âJust you watch - I have plans to meet Finn.â Marlena sounded confident in that. She didnât want to wallow and push Adora deeper into that pit of dread. âAnd if Adam and Teela ever pull their heads out of their ass and get married, I plan to be there for it too.â
There was a laugh through the tears at that last part. âI donât think thatâs ever gonna happen,â Adora grinned. âBut I hope it does just so you and Dad can come back.â
She did feel a bit better now, her mood buoyed by the utter confidence in her motherâs voice. She had learned pretty quickly that Marlena was a force to be reckoned with. Sure, maybe she had no control over Valloâs whims just like the rest of them, but Adora could let herself believe her mom would be a repeat visitor. If she couldnât stay permanently, she hoped sheâd at least be here often enough to see Finn growing up a little and catch up on all their milestones.
âNo matter what, weâre gonna make sure Finn knows all about you guys,â she promised. âThey wonât go a day without hearing something from me or from Adam and knowing how awesome their grandparents are.â
Well, damn. That caused Marlenaâs throat to tighten a little. Having Finn know them through stories would be great - and would have to suffice, worst case scenario. Whatever it took for them to not look at Randor and Marlena as total strangers if a next time happened. âAnd we would spoil them rotten if given the chance,â she chuckled hoarsely. âSo rotten that you two could have even banned us from babysitting.â
There were a few pictures theyâve shared of Future Finn, with their sharp eyes and little collection of freckles on their cheeks - the ears, the way they looked like Adora when they gave a big smile. Marlena was certain sheâd let them get away with murder.
âIâm hoping I stay long enough to at least feel a kick from the outside.â Marlena sniffed away the threat of tears and tried to mask it with a pout.
That was the end of any resistance Adora possessed, hearing that sniff from her mother. The roller dropped gracelessly to the tarp-covered floor, splattering just a bit of paint along the edge of her already-stained shorts. She closed the distance between them (what little there was) and wrapped her arms around Marlena to pull her into a tight hug.
âDonât leave,â she mumbled. She knew it wasnât fair to say, and it wasnât a request Marlena had any power to grant, but she had to say it. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she buried her face into her momâs shoulder and just squeezed. Her grip wasnât She-Ra strength strong, but it was definitely of the I-donât-want-to-let-go variety.
Marlena tried not to succumb to the sadness of all this - the inevitability of her departure, the strangest feeling to have - but she couldnât hold up to that hug. She returned it just as fiercely. âYou know I loathe to,â she laughed, gifting her temple with a kiss. âIf I had it my way, your father and I would be right here with you and your brother and the girls, and weâd be one chaotic family. But if we canât have that then I know you will be making your own.â
She hoped Vallo would keep her twins together, and she hoped theyâd never separate from their significant others; they all deserved to be happy in this little pocket universe. âI know youâll be exploring the universe back home, too - so I have to trust that Iâll see you again even if it wonât be here.â
âYeah.â Adora raised her head, letting out a shaky sigh as she met her motherâs gaze. The smile she gave her was tremulous, but she nodded, trying to instill that confidence in herself, too. âIâll see you again. Weâll find you, no matter what it takes. Thereâs gotta be some way, and weâll figure it out. I promise we will.â
There was a whole universe outside of Etheria now. Eternia was there. It had to be. Somehow, theyâd find her family, on their space road trip or sometime in the years that followed. Prime was gone now, and she was free of the Horde; maybe they could all be together again.
âWeâll be fine,â Marlena assured, wiping her daughterâs cheeks dry. Those words for her, too - she had to believe Adora would find their way back to them. Maybe they wouldnât live happily ever after under the roof of one castle (she accepted she had a life, and someone who sheâd make a new life with), but they could visit. Make calls. Be there whenever they wanted to be, and not at the mercy of this place. âNo more tears now - we have the chance to spend time together by painting your babyâs room. Itâs a good moment.â
Then, when she went to press a kiss to her forehead, there was a flurry of hurried footsteps down the hall that caught her attention. The sliding doors were propped open while they were painting (proper ventilation and all, they didnât have a window in this room) so they could hear it, as if someone wasârunning??
âHi!â blurted the culprit, an out of breath Catra with Melog at her heels. âI left,â pant, âwork early and,â pant, ârode Melog, and I think I actually,â she paused to swallow, âwaddled up the ramp and moving fast has never made me lose my breath so muchâwow, fucking embarrassing, holy hell, the room looks great!â A deep, deep inhale as she braced an arm against the frame of the doors, grinning. âI need a moment.â
No more tears, Adora could do that. Marlena was right; they needed to enjoy the time they had together here and now. She wasnât gone yet, and maybe theyâd be lucky enough to squeeze out a few more days. But she wanted to make sure she made those promises before her mom was gone again. She hadnât last time, vainly hoping for her parentsâ place here to be permanent. This time, she knew better than to take that chance.
Before she could pick up her roller and get back to painting, though, Catra burst into the room, red-faced and looking like sheâd just run a marathon. Adoraâs eyes immediately went wide with concern, and she gently extracted herself from Marlenaâs hold to turn her attention to her wife. She didnât seem upset, at least, so that was something.
âCome sit, baby,â she insisted, stepping up to Catra to guide her further into the room. The furniture was all gathered in the middle of the room, so they had space to navigate and paint the walls, but the rocking chair theyâd put together was still accessible.
âHiiiii,â Catra repeated to her wife, the grin not faltering even onceâand she was fine, she really was, but sitting would do her some good after excitedly scampering around the ship. Melog was all purrs, and then Clawdeen chimed in, and if the giant cats were in a good mood then everything was fine.
That was what Marlena was guessing, anyway. She stepped back, allowing the girls their space as she watched on with furrowed brows. âI know exercise is encouraged but the running isââ
âFor a good reason!â she promised, lowering herself down on the chair. Fuck, she used to be the fastest person on this damn ship and now she was justâwell, growing a child and that was adding weight and slowly pushing organs up into her lungs. Whatever, she wasnât even mad about it. Catra snatched Adoraâs wrist up. âEveryone, shhh, okay, shhh. I need to concentrate.â
Gods, she hoped it would work. It had happened earlierâit really did, she wasnât crazyâand she had made a promise. So she pushed around her stomach, like she was feeling around and provoking the little bugger all cozied up in there, and she did that for several moments. Marlena was quiet, but she had an idea what this was about (hence the absolute beaming she was doing, replacing all that worry).
When Catraâs ears shot up, a sign of something happening, she pushed Adoraâs open palm into the side of her stomach. âWait for it,â she whispered, applying a little extra pressure into the back of her hand.
And - there it was. A nudge.
Then a second one. Even a third, like Finn was making a point of proving it was them.
Adora knelt by her wifeâs side, watching with a confused expression and knitted eyebrows as she pushed at her stomach. She didnât try to pull her wrist free, but it took a few extra moments for it to dawn on her just what was happening â when it did, though, she lit up, sparkly eyes and all. She had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever.
Finally, finally, it was here.
She was welling up with emotion again, her chest tightening as she felt those tiny nudges against her hand. She whipped her head around to Marlena. âMom, you summoned it,â she laughed. She reached out with her free hand, beckoning her closer. âCâmon, come feel! I want you to feel it.â She looked back to her wife. âThatâs okay, right? Please?â
âYes, dummy, thatâs fine,â was Catraâs answer. Marlena had touched it before with permission (and her mother-in-law respected boundaries, she was good like that) and she was fine with it so long as several hands werenât on her at once all the time; sensory overload, personal space, shit like that. âAnd what do you mean, âsummoned itâ?â
Marlena knelt down beside her daughter, suppressing this high-pitched squeal in the back of her throat. âWe were literally just discussing this,â she explained. âI donât know what all Iâll be here but I was hoping to feel a kick on the outside while Iâmââ
She was silenced when Catra grabbed her wrist, placing her open hand by the spot next to Adoraâs. âLucky day,â she smirked, pushing at her hand. âI think these are feetâlike, when I press on the other side of my stomach it feels more like a head? Itâs weird. Cool, but weird.â
It took a few more seconds, another insistent press of her hand, and then Marlena felt it; the slightest ripple pushing against her palm. âI feel them,â she whispered loudly. âAwww. Gods, kid, please give your mom some mercy when it comes to her ribs and bladder the bigger you get.â
âProblem for Future Catra.â
Adora sighed fondly. âPoor Future Catra really gets beat up on,â she teased, following one tiny little kick with her palm. She was tearing up again, but this time, it was for much happier reasons. She had been waiting for this for so long, and she was thrilled she got to feel it. What she hadnât expected was for Marlena to get to feel it, too, and somehow, that was all the more exciting.
âIt mustâve been way worse with twins,â she commented, glancing over at Marlena. âWeâre apparently supposed to end up with the twins somewhere down the line, too, though. I guess it runs in the family?â
Marlena shrugged. She didnât let her hand linger for too long; Finn seemed to have settled down anyway. âCould be that, could be how Magicats tend to produce multiples, could be a stroke of luck. With twins you tend to show a lot sooner, and Iâm pretty sure Adam and Adora fought for space in the womb all the time. Symptoms can be more extreme. You tend to go into labor earlier, too. I imagine the twins youâll have are just going to be so tiny.â
That earned a funny little face for Catra. âDefinitely a problem for Future Catra and Adora,â she said. Donât get her wrong; she was dead-set on the addition of two other gremlins down the line, but she didnât want to think about how childbirth was going to be with two when she still hadnât gotten through it with this one.
âYouâll get through it,â she laughed, patting Adora on the shoulder as she rose to her feet. âHow about I get you cold bottled water? I think Adora wants to stay glued to your stomach a little longer, you should definitely watch us paint and tell us if we missed a spot.â
âJust five more minutes,â Adora assured her mom with a smile. She would get the work on, but she wasnât going to pass up the small chance that Finn would still humor her with those little nudges. They did seem to have settled down, but surely they had a little more energy for her.
She looked up at Catra. âIâm really glad this didnât happen while I was working.â She smirked and laid a quick kiss just above her wifeâs bellybutton. There had been some fear about that in the back of her mind, ever since Catra had joked about it. She knew her wife could handle herself â of course, pregnancy didnât change that â but the idea still had her a little jumpy.
Marlena disappeared to give them a momentâthis was an important little milestone, and she encouraged one-on-one moments. Clawdeen pulled herself up to follow her (she liked Marlena a lot, and sheâd probably give her eyes for some raw bacon or something), but Melog stayed behind dutifully, curling up next to the rocking chair.
âI would have tracked you,â she smirked back, cupping Adoraâs cheek, thumb grazing alongside the bone. âBut I like this betterâwith your mom being here for it too and all. You okay, princess?â Catraâs face softened with concern. âYour eyes looked a little red even before I sat down. You and your mom had a good talk?â
Adora pressed her lips together and nodded once, straightening up to reach for Catraâs hands and twine their fingers together. âJust donât want her to leave,â she admitted quietly. âI want her to stay, butâŠâ She cleared her throat, trying to talk past the lump that had formed there. âI know she canât. Vallo wonât let her.â
It had long ago just become a thing to talk about Vallo as if it was some sentient being that enjoyed tormenting them. Adora wasnât totally convinced that wasnât true. Most of the people she and Catra had grown attached to and loved had been taken from them at some point or another without any other reasonable explanation. She just wanted Marlena to be different, an exception.
If Catra could punch Vallo in the dick, she would.
This place had given them a lot, yeah - acknowledging that was important. It had also taken a lot from them too, and sometimes it was hard to be happy about all the good times had when that hurt was stubbornly burrowing into them, aching with knowledge that most things were temporary. She couldn't relate to Adora when it came to this kind of loss; long lost parents popping up werenât in her cards, and sheâd made peace with that.
But, shit, did she hate seeing her so happy and so heartbroken at the same time.
âMight let her visit a few times, though,â she offered, squeezing the entanglement of their fingers. Catra urged her closer, guiding her head to rest on the curve of her stomach. âItâs her second time hereâshe hasnât been gone long. So. I donât know. Maybe that means something. Or maybe itâs full of shit and it doesnât, but every chance you have to be with her and give her a hug is some kind of victory, isnât it?â
âYeah, it is,â Adora agreed, and she genuinely meant that. Getting her mom back, even for such a short period of time, was definitely a win. Sheâd grown attached when sheâd allowed herself to let her parents in last time around, so any chance she got to see them made her happy. She just wished they hadnât been taken away in the first place â they had all missed out on twenty-two years of bonding, and she hated that they kept losing it.
âIâll be okay,â she assured Catra, the words breathed against the curve of her belly. She didnât want to come off ungrateful for the life and people she did have. She loved her wife, and she didnât regret a single second theyâd spent here or one bit of the life theyâd made here. She just wished it wasnât so easy to lose the people they loved.
That other hand went to her hair, gently combing her claws through all that blonde. âAnd itâs okay when you arenât,â Catra told her, gentle and firmâlooking at the bright side was best for her mental health, but acknowledging how it all sucked was important too. Balance, she guessed. âYou know I love you no matter what, dummy, you donât have to suck it up or pretend with me. Sounds like youâre going to need a fluffy check tonight, though.â There was a wry little smile there. âJust, yâknow, gotta lay on my side.â
Purring always helped, but now Adora also had the chance to feel Finn from the outsideâand she was sure that would keep her spirits up more than the rumbles that kept her anxiety in check when they were children.
âIâll never say no to a fluffy check.â Adora squeezed the hand still in her hold and carefully pushed back onto her feet with a sigh. As soon as she did, she leaned back down to drop a kiss on Catraâs lips. âNo pretending, I promise, justâŠnot dwelling right now. Sheâs here, thatâs whatâs most important.â
Catra didnât release her completely. This time her hands moved to cradle her face, and she gave Adora a scrutinizing lookâtilting her face a teeny bit, like she was in the process of an infamous brain damage check. There was even some cheek-squishing. It was a half-serious investigation of truth; the other half was to lighten up the mood a little. Besides, her wife was gorgeousâwho the hell says she couldnât just grab her pretty face and stare at her a little?
âOkay,â she replied simply, pulling her in for another peck to the lips before letting her go. Catra kept looking up at her, lips curved into a smile and eyes all smitten. âThe room does look good. We get to tell Finn their grandma helped Mama paint their nursery andâŠâ Her hand trailed down her arm to squeeze her wrist. âThatâs pretty cool, I think.â
Adora took a breath to steady herself. She could feel the urge to cry again, but she pushed it aside. She had been emotional enough for one afternoon, and she truly did just want to enjoy the time she had here with Marlena and now, with Catra â the perfect combination, in her biased opinion. Tears werenât a part of that, she wouldnât allow it.
Thankfully, Catraâs encouragement got her beaming, and she turned her hand in her grip to link them together one more time and give her one last squeeze for the moment.
âYeah,â she agreed. âThatâs really cool.â