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Catra sways as she comes into her apartment, her hip hitting the counter as she stumbles into it instead of walking past it. "Fuck." She hisses as she grabs at the sharp shooting pain. "Fucking shit." She's a little drunk still, but not enough for her not to feel the pain. It defeats the purpose of why she got drunk in the first place.
She hears Adora before she sees her and Catra tries to hold back a groan. Here we go again. Adora's face is severe as she eyes Catra. She feels like she's being caught sneaking back home after a wild night out—which, is kind of what's happening. Except Adora is her roommate, not her mom. She twinge at the thought of her mother, the very thing she's trying to forget right now.
Adora comes up to her with pursed lips. "Catra, don't you think—"
"I'm fine, Adora." She interrupts. "I'm doing what I want and I need you to butt out." Catra already knows what Adora is going to say—she's been on Catra's case ever since her mother's funeral. That she drinks too much, goes out to much, that she can't trust the people she's with. She doesn't trust them. She knows better than Adora thinks she does.
"I'm just worried." She offers softly. It only makes Catra angrier. She doesn't need to be babied—she's a grown woman and if she wants to find relief from these awful emotions by going out, then she will.
"Well stop worrying about me." She snaps. "I'm not your problem."
Adora takes another step closer, eyebrow still furrowed. "You aren't a problem, Catra. I just—"
"You're not my mother." Catra hisses; her heart red and bleeding. "She's dead if you don't remember." She says flatly. A fucking aneurysm that no one could have predicted. What a fucking joke.
"Catra. You know I miss C'yra too, but she wouldn't want to see you like this." Adora sounds like she's begging. She wraps her hands around Catra's wrists.
Catra's eyes widen at the heartbroken expression on Adora's face. Fuck. She's hurting Adora now too—the girl she's been in love with since college, her absolute best friend since middle school. The woman who she lives with and would do anything for, even if she's never told her out loud how she feels.
It makes tears well up in her eyes. "I'm—I'm not—" She sniffles. "—I'll be fine." She tries again.
Adora pulls her in, ignoring the smell of cheap liquor and cigarettes that's surely coming off of her. "Come on, Cat. Let me help you." She begs, her voice straining with tears.
Adora feels helpless, but so does Catra. She doesn't know how to stop—she can't stop or else she'll need to feel again, and she can't do that—not after the funeral. Not now that she's never going to see her mom, her only parent, ever again.
"I won't wake you up again." She promises. It's the least she can do, not disturb Adora's sleep when she's already being an absolute fuck up.
"Catra!" Adora calls out but Catra has already slammed the door in her room.
She can hear Adora gingerly knock but she ignores it, the same as she does every time Adora tries to reach out these days. Catra doesn't know how to move past this, how to stop hurting the people she cares about. Doesn't know how to stop hurting herself.
She passes out before she starts crying. It's a relief, but a short-lived one: she's back to finding comfort in booze and women the very next day.
Catra can't fucking believe this. Well, she can—she's been fucking anybody who shows interest if only to feel something. Anything that isn't the grief that feels like it'll swallow her whole.
She's pregnant. Not only has she been on the fucking tear of a lifetime, but she's also now run into a complication she never thought she had to worry about. Fuck, she's so stupid. This is the kind of shit her mom always warned her against. It comes crashing down on her—how much she's probably been letting down her mother, even in death. She starts crying and it's like something is broken within her—she doesn't think she will ever stop.
Adora finds her sobbing, sitting on the toilet with her pants down. The blonde kneels on the dirty bathroom floor, reaching out and wiping tears off of Catra's face.
"What happened, Cat?" Her voice is honeyed and concerned and Catra doesn't deserve it. She doesn't deserve for Adora to be so good to her when she's such a fuck up. When she's been nothing but a bitch to her. Catra can't bring herself to say it. Instead, she grabs the pregnancy test from the counter and gives it to the blonde. It's almost comical, how her eyebrows fly up to her hairline and she makes a perfect 'O' with her mouth. "Shit. So you're—wow."
"Yeah. I'm—" She sobs, unable to finish the thought. "—I can't do this." She shakes her head. Catra can't have someone depend on her. She can barely take care of herself.
"Hey, hey, hey." Adora shushes her, wrapping her arms around Catra. "It's okay. Everything will be alright." She soothes.
She shakes her head. "How?" There's nothing about this that is okay. Even though Catra is twenty-five, she imagines this might be what a teenager feels like. She's so fucking lost and she doesn't even know where to begin.
"To start, you don't have to have this baby if you don't want to," Adora says readily. "We can get you an appointment this week if you decide you want to terminate the pregnancy." She offers.
Catra has to open her mouth to breathe it's so stuffy. She imagines she looks like shit. "Well, that's the only option isn't it?" Her stomach rolls at the thought, but what else can she do?
"It's not the only option. It's an important option and if it's right for you I'll support you." The blonde holds one of the hands, clutching it tightly. "But if you want to keep it Catra, that's okay too."
Catra laughs, a hard sound. "Adora, I'm a mess. I can't be a mom." She doesn't even have her own mom to rely on anymore. That makes her tears well up again.
"You are a mess." She agrees readily. "But you'll still be the best mom, Catra. If that's what you want. Whatever you want to do, alright?" Adora repeats it like a mantra and Catra hates that it actually feels soothing.
Still, she rolls her eyes. "What? Are we just going to shove a crib in my room?"
Adora nods seriously. "If that's what it takes." She takes a deep breath. "You don't have to decide now." Adora reminds. "Why don't we go to the doctor and see what's going on?" She suggests.
She nods. "Okay."
Adora is quiet for a moment. "Do you know who the other parent might be?"
Her face burns with embarrassment. "I'd have to do some math." She mutters under her breath. "But I think...I had that really bad weekend last month." Catra says uncertainty.
Adora nods. "Alright." She looks up at Catra, ever patient. "Is there anything I can do for you right now?"
"I think I need a minute alone." She actually cracks a smile. "And maybe a chance to pull my pants up."
Adora immediately turns red hopping up as if a fire was lit under her. "Right! Of course." She walks all the way to the door before turning back. "I'm going to order your favorite from the Thai place around the corner okay?"
For the first time in a long time, Catra lets Adora take care of her.
The days up to the doctor's appointment have Catra in a darker spiral. She wants to go out but she feels guilty—she doesn't think she's going to decide to stay pregnant but the idea of actively hurting it on purpose makes her feel sick. She ends up lying around staring at the ceiling when she doesn't scrape herself together to go to work. She doesn't admit it to anyone, but not feeling constantly hungover is kind of nice. The sharpness of being aware twenty-four hours a day fucking sucks though.
Adora cancels her shift to come with Catra to the appointment, which is completely unnecessary. Even so, Catra can't help but be grateful that she isn't alone. Adora holds her hand and sits next to her in the waiting room, going inside when the receptionist calls them. It occurs to her that they probably look like a couple.
The doctor is one of those smiley non-judgmental-looking folks that you aren't afraid to talk to. She wonders how Adora found her. "What can I do for you?" She asks cheerily as she opens Catra's chart and lays it out on the counter next to the examination bed.
"I think I'm pregnant." It's the first time Catra has said the words aloud. She's surprised she doesn't choke on them. "And I want to confirm whether it's true. And what my options are."
"Considering termination?" Catra gives a swift nod. The doctor is a little more somber but nods back. "Of course, we can discuss." She puts on her gloves and signals for Catra to get up on the stirrups. "Okay, so I'm going to do an ultrasound. We can confirm with blood work too but I'd like to know how far along you are so that we can talk about what paths forward might look like."
The doctor looks at Adora. "I'm planning on angling this away from both of you while I do it. If you want to see the ultrasound I can show you, but I know some folks don't in these circumstances. It can be emotional." She explains.
Adora looks like a deer caught in headlights. "I'm a friend, I'm here to support her." She clarifies nervously.
"Alright." The doctor starts to move the cold jelly a little unpleasant. The doctor's face is honed in on the screen. "I'd say you're six weeks along. Maybe seven."She tilts her head as if looking at the ultrasound from a different angle.
Catra looks down at her belly. Fuck. Something has been growing inside of her for almost two months and she didn't even notice. "So can I still terminate?" She prompts. There's no way she can do this. It feels too big, way too much.
She nods. "Yes. You're early on enough that you can take what's commonly called the abortion pill. It's a combination of drugs that can trigger a miscarriage. I can talk you through what to expect."
Catra is about to ask the doctor to continue when out of the corner of her eyes she sees Adora's face. Her eyes are rounded wide like she's seeing something new for the very first time.
"What are you doing?" Catra can't help but ask the blonde.
Adora's eyes snap to her. "Nothing! I'm good." She busies herself by looking at one of the pamphlets the doctor had on the counter.
Catra ignores whatever Adora is doing. She looks back at the doctor and she sees the back of the monitor. Catra bites her lip. "Can I see the ultrasound?" She asks timidly.
"Are you sure?" The doctor asks with a furrowed brow.
Catra nods gingerly. The curiosity is too much not to see it—besides this might be her only chance to. The doctor turns over the screen, and it takes a minute for Catra to make out what she's looking at. "It's a blob." She says dumbly. It's a squiggly little blob—nothing special about it in theory. Yet she knows that it's hers. Something she made somehow in the midst of all her bullshit.
"Yeah, not much to look at right now." The doctor says. "It's pretty early in terms of development." She says neutrally.
"Do I have to decide today?" Catra blurts out.
She shakes her head. "You don't. You probably have another week or two before you have to decide if you want to use the abortion pill." The doctor starts putting away the ultrasound equipment. "I'll tell you what. If you call me within the week, I can just prescribe you the medication without an extra visit. If you take longer you'll have to come back so we can make sure that's still the right course of action." She closes Catra's medical chart. "If you want to continue your pregnancy, you'd be due for a check-up in a month. Call and we can prescribe you prenatal vitamins."
Catra shakes her head. It's such a devastatingly divergent path. A fork that leads down such different roads she doesn’t know what to do with it.
"Thank you."
The doctor gives her a friendly wave and walks out. Catra leans back on the uncomfortable examination bed. "What the fuck am I doing, Adora?"
Adora raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Why am I even thinking twice about this!" Catra groans. "I'm no good for this."
Adora looks at a loss, putting a comforting hand on Catra's shoulder. "Look, you're the only one who can answer this question. And I'm not trying to push you either way but know you will be alright regardless of your choice." Adora reminds.
She scoffs. "Because I was so okay before I knocked myself up."
Adora's eyes flash, almost angry. "You're grieving. Stop shitting on yourself for having an emotion." She lets out a sigh. "Sorry." She grabs Catra's hand. "Look, I'll be honest. I'm really worried about you, Catra." She holds her hand up when she sees Catra is going to interrupt. "Ever since C'yra died, it's like a part of you left with her. And look I get that you haven't been at your best but you will find a way to cope. I know it. You've been my best friend since I was twelve years old and I have yet to see you fail."
It's too much, the pride that is shining in Adora's eyes as she looks at Catra. She doesn't deserve it. "You shouldn't have so much faith in me." She mumbles.
Adora grins. "Too bad." She tells her smugly.
Catra rolls her eyes and the moment almost feels normal between them.
Catra lays in her bed, trying to keep from throwing up. It's the third time in the last hour that the waves of nausea crash over her and it feels like it'll never end. She's chewing on a mint candy that Adora ordered online and is supposed to help. Her week to deliberate is almost up and she's still not sure what she should do.
Catra tentatively reaches down and puts her hand on her flat stomach. She can't feel anything different except for the soreness in her breasts and the morning sickness—which happens all the fucking time, not just morning.
She sighs. "I do want you." She admits the secret that she's been keeping to herself, or really from herself. If she's really honest, she's never wanted anything more than she wants to have this baby. It feels like a sign, like something the universe is giving her after taking so much. "I'm just—how can I do this without my mom?" She feels tears streaming down her face. Catra didn't know she still had tears to cry over her mom, but it seems like it'll never be over. "And I'm such a fucking wreck, kid. I can't put my happiness on you. You don't deserve that."
She doesn't want to use a child like a crutch. Still, she feels a tug that she can't deny when she thinks about this kid that feels wholly hypothetical at this point. "Mom, what would you do?" She asks herself. Her mom was a vivacious woman, and she was always there for Catra when it mattered. She wishes she could call her mom and ask her what to do. She feels so adrift without her and her advice. "You'd probably tell me to be my best self. And think about what would do that." Catra murmurs to herself.
She looks at the number again, thinking of calling. Fuck. She really can't do this. She finally presses the call button for the doctor's office, holding her breath. "Hello. The doctor said I could call to get a prescription for prenatal vitamins?"
Catra doesn't tell Adora until she picks up the pills from the pharmacy. She realizes her mistake when Adora locks her eyes on the pharmacy bag, her expression indecipherable.
"I um—I probably should have told you before but—I've decided to keep the baby." She runs her hand over her stomach. Catra has been doing that a lot since she decided to keep the kid.
Adora's eyes dart down to Catra's torso, up to the bag, and then to Catra's face. "That's—that's great Catra." She stutters.
Something about her nervousness makes Catra's gut clench. "Did you—did you mean it when you said that I can still stay here with you?" She suddenly realizes that comforting her in the heat of the moment doesn't mean that Adora really thought through what it might mean to live with a baby. "I'll need some time but I'm sure I can figure something out, I—hmph."
Adora crushes Catra to her chest, holding her tightly. She then springs back eyes wide. "Sorry! Did that hurt the baby?" Her hand runs down and touches Catra's torso gently.
Catra's heart thumps harder in her chest, unable to tear her gaze from the blonde. Her hand is so warm and comforting—Catra never wants her to stop touching her. "I don't think you can hurt them with a hug." She manages with a smile.
Adora pulls her back close again, more gently this time. "Of course, you can stay here Catra. This is your home and I want to be here for both of you." She grins widely. "You'd be doing me a favor so I don't have to drive somewhere to pester you as much as I want."
"Remember that when there is a child screaming at three in the morning." Catra jokes, although part of her kind of means it.
"Yes, mom." She teases.
Catra groans. "Ugh, how weird. That'll be me in a few months." She wrinkles her nose.
Adora hesitates for a moment and eyes her. "Are you planning on telling the other parent?"
Catra sighs. "As fucking awful as it is to say—I'm not sure who it is." She admits. "I've narrowed it down to two people—one is a girl from out of state and the other was the bass player for an indie band I can't remember the name of that was in town."
"You don't have any contacts for them?" Adora's voice holds no judgment.
Still, Catra burns with shame. She let herself do shit that she'd kill one of her friends for doing, it's so unsafe. "I was pretty messed up." She offers. "I don't remember their faces all that well."
She just remembers that they were both blondes that were muscular. Catra tries not to think too hard about why she did that, although she damn well knows.
Adora nods. "Alright. Well, I think that if you don't know who they are then it kind of answers that question right?" She says lightly. "If you find them, then you can think about it more."
"Yeah, that was kind of my thought." She checked the venue website for pictures of the events and the bands playing and she didn't find anything. It was a bit of a dead end.
Adora grabs the pharmacy bag from Catra. "Let's see how many of these you have to take." She looks at Catra with narrowed eyes. "And when was the last time you ate? Are you hungry?"
She rolls her eyes, although she knows this is probably only the beginning of Adora's doting.
She can't drink and if she can't drink she doesn't want to go out. It means everything she was using as a distraction is gone, leaving her to sit alone with her feelings. Fuck this shit. Catra runs her hand over her torso, trying to remind herself why she can't just dull her senses.
Almost as if Adora can pick up on her mood, she knocks on her door. "Come in," Catra says as she stares up at the ceiling.
"Well, someone is having a great time in here," Adora says cautiously as she sits next to Catra. "You sure I'm good to come in?"
Catra shrugs. "This is all you were missing out on before. Except I'd probably be drunk." One of the reasons she kept clear of Adora when she was drunk is because she was afraid of saying something to give away that she was in love with her. Or worse, if she tried to sleep with her in an altered state. Add to that the depression and spiraling—it's not a surprise that she didn't want Adora anywhere near her.
"You are generally a fun drunk," Adora says lightly.
"Not now." Catra counters. There was nothing fun about what she's been doing for the last few months.
"Yeah, well, now you're going to be a mom so you can't." Adora acts purposefully oblivious, probably giving Catra an out.
"I feel so empty." She whispers. Catra turns on her side facing Adora. "How am I supposed to do anything when I'm so empty? What if I hurt the baby?" She lets out a whimper. "What if I already did?"
Adora pulls one of her curls back from her face, eyeing her carefully. "You're going to hurt them," Adora says simply. "And you're going to keep hurting."
Her eyes widen as she looks at her best friend. "This is not the pick me up I was expecting. You want to tap Bow in for this?" She can't help but snark.
Adora's lips twitch. "No, because I know you best." She runs her hand up and down Catra's back. "You're not perfect, Cat. And you don't have to be. You can just try your best." She sighs. "And as for how you feel—I don't know what it's like. And I was so scared when I couldn't reach you in your hurt. But today you let me in." Adora smiles. "That tells me that things are going to get better."
"But it's still going to hurt." Catra can't help but complain. "I don't know if I can feel happy right now. Not even about the baby." She admits. Everything feels so dark like her body is being pulled down by a different type of gravity.
"Do you still want to have the baby?" Adora prompts.
"Yes. But isn't it weird? To not be happy?" She can't help but ask. Maybe she's subjecting her child to a terrible life. Maybe she's just selfish.
"Your mom died three months ago, Catra. Give yourself some grace." Adora slips into the bed next to her. "So, we can take a nap or we can play iSpy. What do you want to do?"
It makes Catra smile. They used to play that game all the time when they were bored in the gym or cafeteria. As much as she thinks it might be nostalgic to revisit that, she does feel very tired—apparently, another of the thrilling symptoms of pregnancy.
"Nap?" She asks, unsure if Adora is seriously just going to watch her sleep.
"Sounds good." She shifts around until comfortable, pulling Catra close. "Naps are good for the baby." Adora intones. She says something else but Catra is already fading out.
The first trimester ends with little fuss, except for Catra throwing up all over their joint bathroom multiple times a week. By the time she's well into the second trimester, all of their friends and family know that Catra is pregnant. It's so awkward to explain that she got knocked up randomly and has no idea who the other parent might be. Still, most of the people she's close to are just relieved that she seems to be doing better. It makes her feel a little ashamed, of how transparent it was to everyone around that she wasn't okay.
She still isn't okay a lot of the time, especially when something reminds her of her mom. It can put her right back into a depressive episode where she can't leave her bed for days. But now that her belly is swollen and she can feel her baby's little kicks, she also feels a spark of joy that she hasn't felt in what must be ages now.
She doesn't feel true happiness again until this very moment. Adora is kneeling in front of her, ear pressed to her belly like she can hear Finn talking to her. Her eyes are bright and excited as she glances up at Catra. "They moved." She whispers excitedly. It was the first time that Adora could feel the movement, the previous ones were small enough that only Catra could feel them. Adora's eyes dart toward Catra's belly. "You're already so talented aren't you?"
Catra snorts and shakes her head. "Adora, they are supposed to be moving by now." She reminds the blonde.
"Shhh positive reinforcement is important." She runs her hand lovingly over the spot where Finn bumped her. "Besides, they gave me their first high five. I'm obviously their favorite aunt. Scorpia can eat my dust." She teases.
Catra laughs. "Well, you're the aunt they are living with so you sure have an advantage." It's more than that though. Catra can tell that there's no one else who loves her baby like this besides herself. Adora is constantly thinking of the baby, of what they need now, dreaming of what they might be like in the future.
"Damn right, I have the advantage." She sniffs. "And I'm going to press it." She murmurs other nonsense to her belly, cooing and singing, making funny faces. Catra suspects the faces are for her enjoyment.
She might as well be as big as a house now. Finn seems like they want to be a gymnast, moving around like summersaults are their damn job. They are especially active at night when Catra is trying to sleep. It's made her beyond irritated and Adora has been trying to find anything that helps soothe her.
That's how they end up tangled together in bed, Catra's shirt off because it's too hot when they spoon. Adora rubs soft careful circles over her belly. "Is this okay?" She murmurs softly into her ear.
Catra groans and then bites her lip. "It's really nice." She offers. After what feels like an eternity rubbing her belly, Adora shifts her hands, rubbing her lower back. "Fuck, Adora." She can't help but curse out. The release of pressure feels amazing, better than any orgasm she's had if she's honest. She's not sure if that says more about Adora's talented hands or her lackluster partners.
Adora keeps her fingers steady, her body pressed close to Adora's as the blonde works on the knots in Catra's back. "Is this good?" Adora whispers as she finds a knot mid-back.
Her voice is dropped low, her breath skirting Catra's ear and fuck if it doesn't make her thighs clench. God, it feels like they are together. Catra feels like such an asshole—Adora is being so supportive and caring, being a great friend and she's here lusting after her.
Adora finishes massaging her back and places a soft kiss on the back of Catra's neck, nuzzling close to her. "I hope that feels helpful." She holds Catra close for a moment longer. "I know there can be a lot of pent-up stress during pregnancy. I was reading about it and I thought this could help."
Catra is so glad that she isn't facing Adora right now because she doesn't think there's a force alive that could make her keep a straight face right now. Her gut is on fire, everywhere the blonde is touching her feels like too much but not enough.
Catra clears her throat. "The massage felt really good. Thank you." She thinks she sounds normal but she can't be sure.
Adora's hands are still on her for a moment and then she gives Catra a short squeeze. "I better head over to my bed." She hops over the edge, coming around to face Catra.
She bites her lip, hoping that her horniness doesn't show on her face. Adora doesn't seem worried, placing a soft kiss on her forehead and then leaning down and pressing her cheek to Catra's belly. Although it's clearly a tender gesture, it only fans the flames of Catra's desire.
"Good night you two." Adora smiles softly before turning and walking out of the room.
Catra comes twice thinking of Adora's strong hands on her back. She only feels guilty about it once she's boneless and spent, nuzzling into the other pillow on her bed, looking for Adora's comforting scent to help her sleep.
She bursts into tears at the surprise baby shower. Catra can't help it. "How the hell did you manage this?" She sobs as she throws herself into Adora's arms.
Adora chuckles, running a hand over Catra's back. "Just because the baby is unexpected doesn't mean they're undeserving of being celebrated." Adora shrugs. "I know you'd put up a fight so—surprise!"
All of their friends are here and so is Adora's family. She's not sure how Adora could make this happen without her knowing—it feels like the blonde is always around to tend to her when she needs it.
There are so many gifts piled high on a center table. Everyone is enjoying refreshments and Bow is using a mic to wrangle volunteers for one of those awful baby shower games. She loves it so much she might start crying all over again. Everyone has well wishes for her and Adora. A little later, they open the presents and basically, everything they need, plus what looks like a lifetime supply of diapers is available to them. Catra had been picking up extra shifts at the hospital, hoping to pay for these things—now she can use that money for other expenses.
The party starts winding down and Catra's feet hurt. She takes a sit in the corner of the room. No one pays her any mind, either having their own conversations or some people helping pick up. She definitely feels like she should pick up but she's so tired and Finn is being restless again. She's mostly undisturbed until a familiar green-eyed woman makes her way to sit next to her.
"Catra, you're glowing," Marlena says with a kind smile. Adora's mother had been an active PTA mom so Catra remembers her from before she was even friends with Adora. She was strict but fair, the kind of parent you always wanted to impress.
"I think glowing might be a little too much, but thank you anyway." She says politely.
"Oh, but you are dear. Adora is so excited about the baby. It's all she'll talk about. Baby Finn." She gives a big smile.
"Yeah, it's going to be an adjustment, since we are roommates," Catra adds. She doesn't know why she feels the urge to clarify but she's not quite sure what Marlena is getting at.
"Of course." She agrees readily. Marlena puts a soft hand on Catra's shoulder. "You know, my mom died when Adora was five." She starts. "And I felt so lost without her. I can't imagine going through my pregnancies without my mom." Her eyes are kind as she looks down at Catra. "I'm not your mom, obviously, but if you want someone to ask the advice of, or to make you some food, or bitch about your pregnancy... I'm here."
She'd blame it on the hormones coursing through her body, but she thinks she would cry regardless of when or where Marlena said that to her. Catra wipes at her own tears. "That means more to me than I can say." She sniffles. "Sometimes without her, it just feels really alone. This has been so nice." Regardless of the support she gets from all of her friends, there are just some things she'll always wonder about what her mom would think or what she'd do. Still, she clearly has a village in her corner and for the first time since she decided to keep Finn, she thinks that maybe she'll do more than just survive as a parent.
"These stretch marks are driving me crazy," Catra murmurs as she tries to look at the underside of her belly. She can't get the angle right. When she runs her hands there, she can feel the differently textured skin. "No matter how much I moisturize it's never enough." She complains.
"Come here." Adora beckons her over. She puts her hands under Catra's belly, lifting the weight there.
She lets out a deep sigh at the release of pressure. "You know this doesn't help with the stretch marks, right?"
Adora grins. "Oh, I know. I'm just sticking to the things I can fix."
"This kid is so fucking heavy." Catra sighs as she leans into Adora. It's such a relief, to physically share the burden of the pregnancy with Adora. Although, it's a fraction of what Adora's done. There isn't a better support person in the world, Catra's pretty sure. She doesn't know how she got so lucky.
"Shh! Little ears will hear." Adora says teasingly. "They can hear us now." She says more seriously, an awed look in her eyes. She looks down at Catra's torso, at the huge bump there. "You can hear me, right little buddy?" She looks dotingly at the bump as if she can see through it straight to the child growing there. "We're going to be best friends." She promises.
"I thought we were best friends," Catra complains, only slightly jealous.
"I get to have two best friends." Adora corrects, her hand still on Catra's belly.
She crosses her arms. "That's lame, I just have you."
Adora's eyes crinkle on the corners. "Well, I'd say you could also have them as a best friend, but I'm planning on being the favorite."
"Stealing my kid is rude, Adora."
"It'll be great. You, me, and Finn hanging out." She says with a winning smile.
Her heart clenches in her chest at the prospect. "Sounds like more opportunity to steal my kid." Catra won't stop giving Adora a hard time about it though.
She's dying. Catra has to be dying there's nothing that could explain this overwhelming pain. It's not only painful it's the type of pain—every contraction feels like it's ripping her in two along her most sensitive edges.
The doctor and the nurses are all a blur coming in and out as she sweats on the bed. Catra closes her eyes thinking that maybe she should just pass out. "Catra. Come on, stay with me here." Adora's voice is slightly panicked and it forces Catra to open her eyes. "Finn is almost here. You just have to hold on a little longer and we get to meet them." She assures.
"Finn." The name grounds her, this person she never met who she's doing this for. Fuck, she loves that little kid so much and she's never seen their face. "Could they hurry it the fuck up?" It feels like she's been in the hospital for days, although she knows it's just ben hours.
Adora lets out a loud laugh. "I'm sure they are doing what they can." Catra is about to snark back when another contraction hits, and she can't breathe, let alone talk. Adora lets her squeeze her hand for all its worth. "Alright, you have to push okay? For Finn."
"Catra, the baby is crowning! We need one big push." The doctor encourages.
Adora looks like she might go around to see Finn come put but Catra grips her hand tighter. "Stay." She begs.
Adora looks at her and places a soft kiss on her hand. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." She holds on tightly. "One more push and we get to meet Finn."
Catra grits her teeth and pushes as hard as she can. She feels like something is happening down there but she's too swollen and pain-ridden to know for certain.
Suddenly something is tossed onto her bare chest. They are bloody and pink and ugly and so, so very perfect. They have little eyelashes that are almost white and a blonde patch of hair. When they open their eyes they are so fucking blue. They look so surprised to be out in the world and Catra suddenly wishes she had them inside of her again, in a place where she could keep them safe from everyone and everything.
The nurse smiles kindly at her. "We need to clean up your baby and you can have them right back."
Catra doesn't want to let go but she does anyway. When she looks back up, Adora is sobbing. "Why are you crying?"
Adora shakes her head, tears still streaming. "I just—Catra you're a mom! And they are so beautiful. I'm so happy." She leans forward and places a kiss on Catra's sweat-slicked forehead. "You're amazing. I'm so proud of you."
"I guess I'm alright." She teases to keep from crying herself.
They bring Finn back wrapped in a little green blanket and go to hand them to Catra. "Adora, can you carry them?"
Adora looks a little lost as she looks at the baby. "Are you sure?"
She nods with a tender smile. "Yeah, of course. Favorite aunt right?"
Adora nods before reaching out and tucking Finn into the crook of her arm. "Wow." She breathes out as she looks at them. "You're so handsome, bud. Absolutely beautiful." The real vision is Adora carrying Finn, to blondes conspiring together.
"Adora, stop lying to the baby." She teases. Finn really does look like a potato.
"No, I'm not! They have your nose." She sniffles a little before turning back o the baby. "Finn, I love you so much. And your mama loves you. And there are at least fifteen people in that hospital waiting room that are going to spoil you rotten."
"Fifteen?" Catra asks, horrified. She probably looks worse than death and she feels it. The last thing she wants is for a parade of people to come into this hospital room.
"Don't worry, I'm going to snap some pictures to show the crowd and get them out of here. They can come to visit once you think it's a good idea." She turns back her attention to Finn. "You're going to be so loved. You're going to have more family than you can imagine. I promise you that."
Now Catra can't help but cry. The sobs hurt but they also feel good. Almost therapeutic. "I wish my mom were here." She manages to tell Adora.
Adora smiles sadly at her. "I know. C'yra would have beat me in an arm wrestling contest to be in the room with you today."
The comment has the intended effect of making her laugh. "Oh my God, you two would do that. She always loved you." C'yra and Adora understood each other, to the point where sometimes she teased Adora about always trying to take her mom's side.
"Wherever she is Catra, I have to believe she isn't missing out on this." Adora leans forward and passes Finn over so they are laying on Catra's chest. "I know there's nothing for missing her, but you both are going to be okay."
A nurse gingerly walks up to them. "Sorry to interrupt family time, but I want to make sure the little one is latching appropriately."
Adora stands up. "Give me a minute." She snaps a picture of Catra and Finn, then zooms up and takes one just of the baby. "I'm going to show everyone pictures and get them out of the waiting room. You'll be alright alone for a minute?"
Catra nods. "We'll be okay." She assures.
The nurse starts positioning Finn on Catra's chest. "Your wife is a good one. We usually don't get such proactive parents. It's refreshing to see." The nurse says conversationally.
Catra's heart pangs at the words. "Oh she's not—we aren't together. She's just my best friend." The just feels dirty to say.
The nurse looks taken aback. "Oh! Sorry, dear. You two just look so smitten."
Catra bites her lip. Adora has been supportive to a fault but there's nothing in the way she's been that tells her she wants Catra that way. "It's alright."
Finn seems to be a pro, latching on with little trouble and suckling on Catra's nipple until they fall asleep from the effort. She closes up her hospital gown and holds them close, smelling their hair. They have that newborn baby smell that Catra has never really been into. Now that it's her kid, she gets it.
"You're really here, kid." They are so tiny she can't fathom giving them a bath or anything besides wrapping them in a little blanket to sleep. "I'm a mom." She mumbles under her breath. She knew it was happening but it almost felt like make-believe until now.
She hears the door open and Adora walks in, looking every inch the proud aunt she is. "Everyone is so jealous I got to see them first." She sits down and looks at Catra and Finn. "Did they eat okay?"
"Yeah, they're fine. The nurse said they were a natural."
"Great." Adora leans back in the chair. "Want me to put them in their crib so you can get some food? Glimmer said she'd get anything within a three miles drive of here."
"Oh, God. Can I have a burger?" She hasn't thought about it, but at the mention of food, she's ravenous.
"Of course. Anything you want." Adora promises.
"Tell Glimmer I'll love her forever if she brings in a burger with extra large fries."
Adora nods. "I'll do that." She picks up the baby and looks awed all over again. "I'm not getting over you, Finn." She murmurs softly before putting them in the little crib.
Getting released home is like going from having all the support in the world to having none of it. Instead of having experienced nurses that knew how to swaddle and always seemed to know exactly why Finn was crying, they just had themselves. It's a rough first few days but they start figuring out a system.
The first time Adora walks into a feeding, she looks like she might faint. She covers her eyes quickly. "Um, I'm not trying to invade your privacy." She spits out.
Cayra rolls her eyes even though the blonde can't see her. "Adora. Half the medical staff on the hospital floor has seen my tits now." She says bluntly. "We are going to be living together and I'll be feeding Finn this way. I'm pretty sure you're probably going to see them sooner or later."
"I guess you're right." She removes her hands but resolutely keeps her eyes away from Catra's breasts. She smiles sheepishly. "It just feels icky, to sexualize you when you're just trying to feed Finn."
"Well, are you sexualizing me?" Catra presses.
Adora looks like all the blood in her body rushed to her face. "No!" She spits out.
Catra shrugs. "Then you have nothing to worry about." Adora's a lesbian, she's sure she feels something when there are a pair of tits hanging out but she trusts the blonde not to be creepy. She trusts the blonde with her life.
"I think we might have to supplement with formula soon," Catra tells Adora, trying to distract her. "The doctor said I might not produce enough milk." They tried to refer her to a lactation specialist but she couldn't afford it, even with the extra income she'd earned in preparation for giving birth.
Adora nods, brow furrowed. "Well, if it's what's best for Finn." She says evenly. Her face brightens. "Does this mean I get to feed them?"
Catra can't help but laugh. "If you want to, probably." She raises an eyebrow. "The limiting factor to you feeding them right now would be gone."
Adora's eyes dart down to where Finn is suckling and then back up. "I'm going to go run the laundry." She announces, before walking out of Catra's room. She laughs as she watches the blonde hustle to the other end of the apartment.
When Catra wakes up, she finds Adora with Finn in her arms. She's bouncing them gently, looking at them so tenderly it makes Catra's heart clench. Adora is wearing a shirt so loose, most of the front of her chest is exposed. She's taken to wearing it ever since she heard that babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact. But the real effect of that shirt was making Catra feel like she was going to lose her damn mind.
"What are you doing up?" She whispers to the blonde.
Adora presses her finger to her lip. "Finn and I are hanging out so you can get some sleep." She murmurs soothingly, cooing at the child.
Catra rolls her eyes. "You forgot that I'm the milk provider." They've taken to only doing one formula feeding which Adora is always all over. Catra isn't sure she's actually been able to give Finn a bottle since they started formula. It's kind of silly for Adora to get out of bed for a feeding that Catra needs to be up for anyway.
Adora raises an eyebrow. "I didn't—we've been hanging out for an hour. Which is one hour more of sleep than you would have gotten otherwise." She says with a smile.
Catra's eyes widen. "Shit." She hadn't heard Finn cry but Adora heard them from straight across the apartment. What kind of mother would miss something like that? If she were alone, who knows how long Finn would have cried before she managed to check on them.
Adora can sense her distress one hand reaching out for her shoulder as she stabilizes Finn with the other. "Hey, it's okay." She soothes.
Catra shakes her head. "No, but—I need to be able to do this." She whispers urgently.
"Catra. You are doing this."
She makes a noise of protest. "But you're helping."
Adora snorts and rolls her eyes. "So? You think moms don't deserve help?"
"No that's not it. It's just, what if we need to do it on our own?" Catra needs to be able to take care of Finn, even if everything else falls to shit.
"Catra. In what scenario are you and Finn not going to have someone to count on?" Adora says slowly, her eyes daring Catra to say something.
Catra bites her lip. Of course, she's thinking of when Adora gets sick of having a tiny baby screaming at her all throughout the night and moves out. Most of her doesn't think it'll happen but that doesn't mean it won't. But she knows Adora won't appreciate that answer.
"I don't know. But it scares me to think I can't do it on my own if I had to."
Her face softens, her eyes darting between both of Catra's. "Look, I know losing your mom was unexpected. But you aren't going to lose everyone else, okay?" She steps closer, pulling Catra in for a hug. "You won't lose me." She promises.
Catra feels a little dumbstruck standing in Adora's embrace. She hadn't even connected the two things but she has been holding everyone at arm's length since then. In a lot of ways, her mom was her best friend outside of Adora. And she was her mom. The hole she feels in her heart feels like something she'll never recover from.
Finn fusses between them, clearly not appreciating being pressed against two adults. Adora starts rocking then again and they settle down.
"Ready to feed them, mama?" Adora asks with a little twinkle in her eye.
It makes Catra's heart thundered in her chest. Throughout the pregnancy to now, it feels like all the distance Catra drove between them has vanished, leaving them closer than ever. It's hard sometimes because it feels like Adora wants her for more, even though she's never said as much.
"Yeah. Give them over." She goes to sit in the rocking chair they've stuffed in the corner of the room and Adora talks to her through the whole feeding.
It's the first Grayskull family dinner that Finn is attending. Catra has been to many over the years, but she didn't start coming regularly as an adult until she fell pregnant. They didn't come for the first few months because Finn was too small, but she thinks an outing where she can lay Finn down for a nap in one of the rooms if necessary would likely be a success.
So far, there haven't been any issues on Finn's end. They are always delighted with the Grayskulls, who come to visit at least once a week. She's watching as Adora looks like a total dork, carrying Finn in one of those pouches that make people look like kangaroos. Catra wouldn't be caught dead using one, but she has to admit Adora and Finn look cute with Finn snuggled up to her in the pouch.
"It's insane how much Finn looks like Adora." Adam's bushy brows furrow as he sits next to Catra. "Are you sure it's not Adora's baby?" He teases.
She scoffs. "I think I'd remember if Adora was the other parent." She'd never be able to forget something like that. It also isn't the first time someone insinuated that Catra lied about Finn's parentage. She's not sure why she would lie about something like that.
Adam holds his hands up in surrender. "Hey! No need to be touchy. I was just messing around."
"Well, you're the more annoying Grayskull kid. I have less tolerance for when you're messing around."
Before Adam can respond, Catra looks over and sees that Adora has pulled Finn out of their kangaroo pouch and handed them over to Marlena. Finn is absolutely delighted—their favorite person outside of their mom and Adora. They nuzzle her face before squishing themselves into the crook of her neck.
"Oh, Finnie," Marlena says happily. "You're my favorite grandchild." She murmurs as she puts a kiss on their cheek. Catra feels something like butterflies at the characterization, along with a pang of sadness. She wishes her mom could see Finn. She's sure she would have loved them.
Adam groans. "Aw come on, mom! Let my kids have a chance!"
She shoots him a glare. "You don't have any kids, Adam."
"Yet!" He protests.
"Well, obviously if I had more than one grandchild I'd be fair." Marlena points out. "But for now, Finn is the favorite." Finn lets out a short little sneeze and Marlena looks like she has hearts in her eyes, squealing about how cute they are.
Randor rolls his eyes. "I get the feeling Finn will always be your favorite."
"I'm feeling very attacked by this family," Marlena announces. "Finn and I are going to look at the birds from the porch." She walks away with the baby and Catra is left with the rest of the Grayskull clan.
Adora looks red as she nudges closer to Catra. "I'm sorry about my mom, she really loves Finn. I hope it doesn't make you feel weird—" She's speaking too fast, and too low the words difficult to pick up.
Catra holds up her hand. "It's the only way Finn gets grandparents. I'm thrilled that Marlena and Randor are having a good time practicing."
Adora's lips twist into a grimace. "Finn isn't practice." She clarifies. "Finn is always going to be a part of this family, as long as you'd like that."
Catra thinks about clarifying that she only meant that they'd eventually get grandkids from Adora and Adam but she refrains. "Of course I want Finn to be an honorary Grayskull." She smirks. "They need to grow in their teeth so they can have Sunday dinner." She teases.
Adora's shoulders relax and she reaches out and squeezes Catra's hand. "I'm really glad." She whispers. Catra shrugs because it's a given. There's no world where she wouldn't want to be close to Adora.
If a person could look like they had a rain cloud over their head, it would be Adora at this moment. She's been trudging around the apartment, doing chores with pursed lips, occasionally muttering under her breath. "What's got you so down?" Catra finally asks, unable to hold back any longer.
She shakes her head, some of her blonde hair escaping the haphazard bun she put it in. "It's nothing."
"Adora." She says disapprovingly.
Adora sighs. "Glimmer wants me to go out tonight." She explains curtly.
Catra raises an eyebrow. That doesn't exactly seem like something to pout about. "Okay. What's the problem, then?"
Adora looks at her like she's missing something obvious. "I don't know if you know this Catra, but we have a baby in this apartment."
"So? Adora you can still live your life. Finn is my responsibility." She feels a swell of guilt, thinking of everything she's depriving Adora of. "I appreciate the help, really. But you can absolutely go out with Glimmer. Just be quiet when you come in."
Adora looks almost hurt by Catra's encouragement which makes no fucking sense. "Alright. I'll tell her that I can go."
Catra swallows the knot in her throat. Adora isn't hers and she's damn well aware of that, but she can't help the pit that grows in her stomach at the thought of the blonde chatting up some mystery woman at a bar. Probably a woman whose carefree, who doesn't come with half the fucking baggage Catra comes with. Never mind a baby.
Adora gets ready a little later. She peeks into Catra's room. The blonde is a bombshell in a tight dress that shows off all of her curves. Catra bites her lip, trying to push down the way she feels inadequate in comparison. Her body is notably different post pregnancy and Adora looks every bit as gorgeous as she always does.
She shakes her head. Adora isn't hers anyway, there's no comparison to draw. "You look fantastic Adora." She compliments her friend.
"Thanks. A dress seemed like the easiest thing." She walks up to Catra, touching Finn's little tummy. Finn flexes their legs, clearly gearing up for Adora to carry them. "Hey, bud. I'm going to be out for a few hours because aunt Glimmer is mean." She coos at them.
Finn doesn't understand but keeps moving, reaching a little hand out for Adora. She smiles indulgently and she lets them grab her finger.
She turns her eyes on Catra. "See? Finn wants me to stay."
She doesn't know why Adora looks at Catra like every one of her worst intentions isn't begging Catra to ask Adora to stay too. "Well, mama understands that aunt Adora needs a break and to live her own life sometimes. And that aunt Glimmer just wants her to have a good time." She says it for herself and for Adora.
Adora rolls her eyes. "Sure, sure." She drops a kiss on Finn's forehead, gently prying her finger away from the baby. "I'll see you both soon."
It's late when Adora manages to creep back into the apartment. Catra is getting a glass of water in the kitchen when she watches the blonde take off her heels and sigh as she wiggles her toes. Her eyes brighten when she catches sight of Catra.
"How was it?" She can't help but ask.
Adora groans. "Fucking awful. I wish I was home with you and Finn." She walks straight to Finn's crib, watching their chest rise and fall.
"Come on, it couldn't have been that bad." Catra needles, although she's feeling relieved. She's not entitled to it, but it rushes through her anyway.
"It wasn't I just—" She sucks in a deep breath through her nose. "You know I'm not one for going out." That's true. Adora as gregarious as she is, usually thrived when she was able to stay in. "And I missed you. And Finn." Her brow furrows. "I guess I've just gotten used to having you two around a lot."
Catra sighs. "Well, it's normal for you to do things like that. You can't let us stop you from having a life." She loves the way that Adora is integrated into their lives but she knows she's being selfish. Adora needs some space to do her own things, as much as it hurts to be reminded of that.
Adora rolls her eyes. "Now you sound like Glimmer."
It feels like a cold bucket of ice being thrown at her. "Glimmer said that?"
"She did, but not in like a mean way or anything. She's just worried." Adora bites her lip. "Look, Catra. It's after midnight and Finn needs to be up for a bottle at two unless they wake up even earlier than that. Let's just sleep for now?"
Catra shakes her head. "No. One of your closest friends thinks that we're hurting you." She can't go to sleep like that.
Adora sighs. "It's not—neither of you get it." She mumbles. "If I promise everything is fine can we just go to sleep?" Catra gives her a look that Adora has called her mom look. "Fine. Let's talk in my room so we don't bother the baby." Adora grabs her hand and leads her away, stopping just shy of closing the door all the way so they can hear Finn if they fuss. "What do you want to know?"
"Why is Glimmer concerned?" She shoots out.
Adora sighs. "She thinks I dedicate too much time to you and Finn. She says it's fine for me to help but I can't be how I've been." She spits out the word help like it's a curse.
Catra has been afraid of this. A kid is way too much to expect anyone else to participate with, especially someone who's just her friend. "She's probably right. It's fine now but what about when you want your own family."
Adora stares at her in disbelief. "This is my family." She claims, blue eyes wide.
Catra swallows the knot in her throat. "I know Finn and I will always be your family, but you know what I mean, Adora." One day, Adora is going to want to be a mom to someone, not just play aunt with her roommate. She's going to be an amazing wife and make some woman unimaginably lucky. Catra should know.
"You and Glimmer are focused on the wrong things." Adora breathes out. "Because as much as there might be a world out there, it can't hold a candle to what I have here." She bites her lip. "Catra, I don't want another family. I have my family right here."
She takes a deep breath. "I love you. And I love Finn." She says it so seriously, like an oath.
"You mean—like you want Finn to be yours?" She tries to clarify because it can't be that. Not after everything.
"Of course, I want Finn to be mine." She says breathlessly. "I—you have no idea how often I've sat awake at night thinking about it. About how much I wish that I could have you the way I want you, Catra." She swallows thickly. "About how I think not only about Finn being mine but about being yours. About belonging to each other."
She stares at Adora saying everything she's wanted to hear from her since she was twenty years old. "You—really?"
"Yeah." She lets out a watery laugh. "I snuck a look at the ultrasound." Some shame seeps into her voice. "That first day when you weren't sure about keeping them. And it felt like my heart wasn't mine anymore. And it's so stupid because I know we aren't together—but right then and there, I swore that if you wanted to keep this kid, I'd do anything to be here with you two."
"Adora, that's a lot." It's too big of a commitment for Adora to bear.
"I know." She nods. "But it's true. And even if you don't feel the way I do. If you don't love me—" Her eyes get misty as she pulls a hand around Catra's waist. "I'll still be here. For you and for Finn." She swears.
She stares dazed at the blonde. At the woman she's been in love with for the better part of the last decade. "Fuck me." She breathes out. "I love you too."
"Really?" Adora looks speechless. "You don't have to, I—"
Catra presses her finger to Adora's lips. "No buts. I had the biggest crush on you since sixth grade. And I've been in love with you since sophomore year." She adds.
"What?" Her voice is half-strangled with surprise.
Catra nods, a grin growing on her face. "Yeah."
Adora laughs. "Fuck, Glimmer was right."
"Right about what?"
"Well, the full lecture I got from her is that I should confess because she thinks you feel the same way I do. And that if I'm not willing to put up, I need to go out and have a more balanced life."
She shakes her head. "I can't believe she picked up on that."
"She's going to be insufferable." Adora agrees. "But I don't really care as long as I get to have you." She whispers as she draws Catra closer. Adora kisses Catra like a woman possessed like there's nothing she'd rather do than be here with her. "Please let me touch you." Adora is begging already one of her hands slipping in her pants to grab her ass.
"Are you sure? I'm not—I don't look the way I did before I gave birth."
Adora seems too busy running her hands over Catra's body to pay her any mind. "Are you kidding me?" She lets out a groan deep in her throat. "Catra you can't imagine—I mean do you know how big your boobs are right now?" She demands.
She laughs loudly. "Yeah, but so is the rest of me."
"I don't know what I need to do to convince you but it's hot. So hot. All of it." A shadow crosses her face. "And not in like a fetish way. Just in a normal, 'I'm in love with you' way." Adora clarifies.
"Oh, you don't have a mommy kink." Catra teases. She's surprised when Adora turns beet red in response. "I'm filing that away for future use." She tells her gleefully.
"As long as you believe that I've been attracted to you since I knew what being gay was." She grumbles.
Adora is about to rip Catra's shirt off when a sharp cry rings out through the apartment. Her hands tremble as she fixes Catra's shirt.
"Duty calls." She grins goofily and Catra kisses her again.
"I love you."
Adora's eyes soften and she places a soft kiss on her cheek. She gets up and tugs Catra up off the bed. She then grabs the edge of her dress and pulls it off, leaving Catra biting her lip and wishing there wasn't a crying child in the next room over.
"I'm so gay." She murmurs to herself which makes Adora laugh. She tosses on a ratty t-shirt but it makes her look no less beautiful.
"I'm just done with the dress." She explains as they pad to the other room.
Finn has quieted some but they are still whimpering. They quiet completely when they catch sight of Catra and Adora walking toward them. "You hungry, kid?"
They give her a gummy smile before trying to fit their whole fist in their mouth. Catra rolls her eyes. "Figures."
She takes her kid and sits down, lifting her shirt so they can latch on. Finn immediately takes to it and Adora hands her a body pillow she can wrap around so that they are both more comfortable.
Adora sits there and beams at her. "I feel like I'm going to wake up and I'll be dreaming."
Catra kind of feels the same. She's sleep deprived, sure, but this floaty feeling is more than just running on a few hours of sleep. Adora leans forward and places a soft kiss on her lips.
"I never—I never thought you'd want me this way," Catra admits.
Adora is a golden girl. She was Catra's friend but she belonged to everyone else too. So many people wanted her, it was hard to imagine she wanted Catra. But then again, it was hard to see the lovestruck way Adora looked at her and Finn and come to another conclusion, now that Catra knew.
"I've always wanted you this way." She breathes. "From before Finn. I know a lot of our lives have been caught up in them but I need you to know I love you for you. You're my best friend, Catra."
"I thought I got demoted." She can't help but tease.
Adora stays serious. "I love Finn to the moon and back, but there's no replacing what you mean to me." She looks down and smiles. "God, when they sleep like that you can hardly believe that they can stay up all fucking night and be a little terror."
Catra lets out a giggle and looks down and Finn, whose fallen asleep. "Right?"
Catra puts them back in the crib. Waiting a minute while they fuss until they lay still. She grabs Catra's hand and pulls her toward her own bed. Adora holds her close. It's something they've done countless times but this time it feels different.
They're facing each other and Adora has the biggest smile on her face. Catra can feel herself blush under her goofy stare. "You're being weird." She informs Adora.
The blonde only grins wider, the hand on Catra's waist tracing up her back. "Well, you like me so." She shrugs.
"And what of it?" She challenges back.
Adora leans forward and kisses her, slow and sleepy. "Nothing. Is nice." She nuzzles Catra before letting out a yawn. "Now can we sleep for a bit before Finn decides that it's morning time?"
Catra nods against Adora's shoulder. Feeling beyond warm and safe. "Yeah. Love you."
Adora tightens her grip around Catra with a sigh. "I love you too."