Chapter Text
“What do you mean, we won't continue?”
“Exactly that, ma'am. It's snowing too much. The train might derail - we can't risk a crash.”
“And how are we all supposed to get home? It's 8 PM.”
“The station has a connection to the bus system and all available taxis have been ordered. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
“Incon-”
Alcina scoffed, waved the train attendant away and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“... mom?”
“Yes, Bela?”
“The next bus is scheduled in an hour.”
“And considering we're all still sitting, we aren't going to catch a taxi.”
“Of course. Thanks, girls. Don't worry, I'll… I'll think of something.”
Dani was the only one to not respond. She stared out of the window and chewed her lip, nervously fidgeting with her bag. Cass bumped her shoulder with her own, trying to shoot the youngest a little grin.
“C’mon, Dani. It'll be an adventure. Like a big puzzle.”
A big, very cold puzzle, apparently. They'd all been right, of course - the bus was nowhere in sight, and with the amount of people waiting at the stop, their chances for catching it were… well, not exactly abysmal, but close to it. The taxis were all gone. They stood inside the station, all of them furiously typing their phones.
“Subway?”
“Closest station is an hour walk.”
“What about one of your company chauffeurs?”
“They're all off work. And they would loathe me.”
“Uh, mom, I'm… gonna look for a bathroom, okay?”
“Yes, Daniela. Do you need company? You're a bit pale.”
“I'll be fine, mom.”
She knew where the bathrooms were here. She knew this station. Knew there was a room with lockers on the way that no one ever bothered to use, so that's where she snuck into, taking a deep, deep breath.
And calling.
“Dani! Did you make it back safe from the trip?”
As always, their voice took off a little bit of the weight.
"Hey, uh... sorry to bother you. And-”
"Sorry to interrupt, just need to say you're never a bother. What's wrong?"
She swallowed.
"I know this is a lot, and we're... listen, mom, Bela, Cass and I got stranded on our way back from the Christmas trip and there's no way out and the snow's just gonna get worse and-"
There was a pause at the other end of the line. A tiny sigh.
"Deep breaths. Tell me where you are."
"The station where you always pick me up."
"I'll be there in thirty minutes. Actually, maybe a bit more, I'm brewing some hot tea for you first. And I don't know how the roads are."
"Thanks. I'm so sorry, I-"
"It's fine. You're fine. You'll all be fine.”
“I know this isn't how you thought about this.”
“Dani, I'd rather have you all out of the cold with some damn nerve-wracking talks incoming than have you all freeze out there. Love you.”
“Love you, renny.”
Click.
Now she really had to pee from the stress.
Her stomach was still a bit twisted by the time she rejoined the others, still discussing the best solution. But they all interrupted for a moment to smile when Dani returned.
“So, we have a plan in progress, and-”
“It's not good.”
“Come on, Cassandra. It's about best we can do.”
“Yes, but-”
“I called a friend. They'll be here within an hour.”
“What?”
“Who?”
“How?”
“Who of your friends can drive safely in this weather, Daniela?”
“Gods, this is her secret partner. Right?”
“I still don't have a secret partner!”
“Yeah, right.”
“Is this the mysterious friend you visit once a week, Daniela?”
“Yes. They live closeby.”
“So I'll finally get to meet them. Lovely. Are their parents aware of their trip?”
“... probably not.”
“Daniela! You…”
Her mother groaned.
“... with this weather, we might very well be forced to stay there until the snow dissipates, which might not be until the day after tomorrow! You could have a family have to spend New Year's with four more people than planned!”
“They live alone!”
“... how old is this friend of yours, Daniela?”
Alcina's voice had dropped into the icy and shocked part of it all.
“Old enough to live alone.”
The tall woman took a deep breath.
“Daniela. There are risks and dangers for a sixteen year old hanging out with…”
“I swear it's not like that, mom. I swear. We can trust them.”
Alcina pinched the bridge of her nose again. Cass leaned down to Dani and shook her head.
“You are so grounded for this.”
“Wait until they get here.”
She replied, voice flat and sardonic. From the other side, Bee grabbed her shoulders and pulled her a few steps away, shooing their mother and sister to stay back while taking Dani around a corner, hands both on her arms.
“Is this who I think it is?”
“... depends who you're thinking of?”
“Dani, how could you?”
“Don't tell them. Please don't.”
“So I'm just supposed to idly stand by while that piece of shit -”
“Sasha is not a piece of shit!”
“They fucking left us, Dani.”
“They- you know what, fine. Just. Was your plan any better, huh? We're gonna have a roof over our head and tea. They're our only chance.”
“I hate that you're right, and I also hate you for calling them. How did you even find them?”
“I… please don't tell mom. You know she'd… if we surprise her, we might be able to get out of the snow.”
“Right now, you fucking suck, Dani.”
“I'm getting us out of the cold, am I not?”
“Yeah, and probably into the worst New Year's ever. I will tell Cass.”
“... okay. Just not mom.”
“Nope. That'll be on you.”
It came as it had to. As soon as they were back in the hall, Bee headed straight for Cass and whispered into her ear - so that her eyes grew wide immediately before she scoffed and shook her head at Dani, barely hidden disgust in her expression. Their mother came back from outside, likely having taken a smoke break after that revelation.
“I trust you gave your sister a stern talking to about these things and I don't have to anymore, Bela?”
“Something like that.”
Alcina shook her head, then sighed. There was a minute or some of silence before her mother spoke up again.
“Are any of you hungry? I have a few granola bars left.”
“Still pretty full from the sandwiches we got on the train, mom.”
“Alright. Who knows if that… friend… of Daniela's can cook.”
She had to hide a grin. And saw how, despite themselves, her sister's lips twitched upwards too. Alcina had gotten a speeding ticket once trying to make it home in time for dinner. Back then. When things were okay.
It still filled her with rage to think what had happened, but she'd promised Sasha it was their story to tell. Likely would be told sometime soon.
The snow outside got thicker - knowing them, they were driving carefully as hell, making the usual twenty-minute ride more one that took forty. Commented on regularly by her mother, but none of them really had another option but to wait at this point.
Eventually, her phone vibrated.
-
Just stopped in the parking lot. Definitely not panicking a little.
grabbing them. Sorry ren
-
“They're here.”
“Finally. Lead the way, Daniela.”
Well, this was it. The parking lot was around the side, and Dani recognized the old van immediately. Was the only car they'd been able to get on a short notice back when they came back, but Sasha took good care of it.
“Great, even their car looks cliché.”
Alcina muttered, eyeing it up suspiciously. The drivers door opened - and while they were hard to recognise in a beanie and the thick jacket they wore, Dani knew that beanie and that jacket. She left her suitcase with the others and ran to them, basically jumping into their arms - no matter what the others thought. Sasha caught her as always, hugging her close, a little unsteady on their feet.
“Careful. Ground's slippery.”
“Thanks for coming, renny.”
“I always wanted to be thrown to the wolves for New Year's.”
“Daniela. Would you care to introduce your friend?”
“Yeah, about that, mom…”
She hopped down from you, turning to her mother while your heart dropped a little more into your stomach. Looking up saw Bee and Cass looking at you with the kind of open hostility you expected, not that it made it hurt any less, and Alcina's eyes squinting as if she was trying to make out your face.
“You kind of already know them.”
Your eyes met.
Hers widened.
While you'd imagined a variety of outcomes, nothing could have prepared you for the unbridled fury on a face that had last looked at you with nothing but love.
“How fucking dare you.”
Well, you were dead.
Alcina stormed over to you on the icy ground, and your warning to Dani held true this time - her heel slipped just as she was about to threateningly loom over you.
Pure instinct made you move. Your arms wrapping around her as she fell, catching a whiff of that perfume she still wore, a feeling of warmth that lingered on her body, steadying her to keep her from falling head first against your car.
“Careful.”
“Get your hands off me.”
With the toxin in her voice, you weren't surprised as to how there wasn't a “vermin” at the end, completing that sentence. But you let go, and she stood up straight, glaring down on you over the tip of her nose and using her full height to intimidate.
“How dare you get back into her life.”
There was a hundred ways you could've responded, but the fact it was late and cold had priority.
“Do you want to get out of the snow or not?”
Her eyes widened for a moment at the stern look in yours, teeth clenching. You knew what she was thinking about saying. Rather staying in the cold than with you, but one glance to Bee and Cass, who were slightly shivering at this point, made her not utter it. She still glared at you.
And you sighed.
“Get in the car. I have hot tea and blankets for all of you.”
“Dibs on the front seat!”
Dani called, not that any of the others seemed to mind. They all slinked over, though Bee and Cass mostly ignored you, hopping into the van and pretty much slamming the doors. You loaded up their suitcases in the back, then got into the driver's seat - all of them were sitting, with Bee in the middle between Cass and Alcina, blankets over their bodies, tea in their hands. You'd labeled the cups, remembered their favourites.
“You didn't have to do all this.”
Dani murmured, sipping her drink. You shot her a lopsided smile.
“I'm trying to not get my head torn off.”
“Like a praying mantis.”
You snorted, starting the car and starting the way home - slowly. Carefully.
“Similar. Have you eaten?”
“Some sandwiches on the train when it got delayed the second time.”
“I, uh. Made a big pot of chicken stir-fry tonight. Planned to freeze it once it cooled down, but you're welcome to have it.”
“I'm not going to turn that down.”
Dani glanced to the back, but didn't receive an answer. Sighing softly, then looking back ahead.
“You hear from your mom?”
Alcina in the back took a sharp breath.
“She's doing alright. Got my presents for Christmas. The twins love them.”
You shot Dani a little glare, and she gave you a grin back. Of course you knew what she was doing. Bringing up all the things you hadn't talked about back then. Getting interest and empathy.
Smart girl. She had that from her mom. But enough of that.
“Where were you on the trip this year?”
“Beach. I picked.”
You snorted.
“Of course you'd pick the beach for Christmas. Wanted to go swimming?”
“Yes. And Bee and Cass went with me while mom cursed us out from the sidelines.”
“I most certainly didn't curse, Daniela.”
“Fiiine. Stood there like a disapproving statue.”
“I'm still surprised none of you wound up sick.”
“Ice bathing is supposed to help the immune system.”
“No one asked for your opinion.”
Alcina replied to you, voice as cold as the water likely had been. And you shut up with a soft sigh, turning back to the road.
Not that Dani cared.
“Would you have joined us in the water?”
“If I had written confirmation I wasn't going to get drowned, yes.”
“No guarantee.”
Cass muttered, and Dani rolled her eyes - then giggled, dropping her voice into a mouse-like hiss.
“Ice ‘em!”
You snorted.
“Disney marathon on the 26th as usual?”
“Heck yeah. Oh, can you put on the playlist?”
“Passenger seat responsibility. You know where everything is.”
With a grin, she hooked her phone up to the AUX, and about ten seconds later, the first tunes of “A Girl Worth Fighting For” started to fill the car. Alcina scoffed in the backseat, and you glared at Dani again, who cranked the volume up with a grin and made you shake your head.
“Can we go any faster?”
Bee complained, and you sighed.
“Unless you'd like to risk landing in the ditch, no. No one took care of the streets yet. We'll be en route for at least half an hour.”
Cass groaned.
“I vote death metal.”
“Vetoed.”
Alcina cut in firmly. You shrugged.
“Passenger's responsibility. Settle it with Dani.”
“That's Daniela for you.”
Alcina hissed, and Dani whipped around.
“It's. Dani.”
“Not when I'm present it's not.”
Dani glared, and you took a deep breath.
“Are you really about to tell your transgender daughter what name she's supposed to use just to get back at me?”
Alcina fell quiet.
“Yeah, mom, that was kind of low.”
“You still suck, Sasha.”
“I'm very much aware you think that, you don't need to keep reminding me.”
“Can we all be a little bit nice to the person who got us a ride, tea, and will get us food and somewhere to sleep?”
Alcina scoffed.
“Not after what they did.”
With an unhappy sound, Dani picked another song and turned the volume up even further, and the depressing, sad notes of “No Way Out” started coming from the speakers.
Leave it to her, she had a sense of humour. Maybe from you. Probably from you. You'd been around for almost ten years, after all.
“Sasha?”
“Mh?”
“... you got any fem ’n ems at your place? I only took enough for the trip.”
“Fem ‘n ems? That's a new one. Don't know if I have those, but I definitely have some breast mints.”
Dani laughed. You shot her a grin. From the backseat, there was vague groaning.
“Thanks.”
“You know I keep them on hand.”
You turned left, a glance behind you for the turn showing Alcina's eyes on yours for a second, though she looked away. The rest of the drive was mostly quiet - after all, it was late, and the four of them likely exhausted. At some point, you turned the music down and no one complained, though the Disney playlist kept on playing. Eventually, you arrived at your little rented house - on the outskirts of town, with two stories - kitchen and living room downstairs, a bedroom and big bathroom upstairs. More than one person needed, technically, but you'd wanted the kitchen. And made more than enough for it.
Dani was resting against the window when you pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car, and a look to the back revealed much the same for her sisters - though not Alcina. No, she was sat upright with Bela napping against her, eyes boring straight into yours. But she shook the blonde awake all too gently, prompting you to do the same to the redhead.
“Dani. We're here.”
“Mhhh… carry me.”
“I think your mother would kill me for that.”
“Fiiiine.”
Dani pulled the blanket from herself and finished the last, tiny sip of tea, holding both as she unbuckled and slid out of the door. Her sisters and mother followed, suitcases grabbed from the trunk, stuff all in hand while she lead them to the door and you locked the car to then go unlock the house. The four parted without even looking, walking inside to the living room, where you had a couch that could definitely be turned into a bed big enough for two. Another inflatable mattress laid somewhere… and your bed upstairs also had room for two. Not ideal, but it'd work for the night.
Everyone hung their coats up, and you tossed wallet and keys into the little bowl you had standing there, running a hand through your hair after having freed it from the beanie.
“So, uh. Leftovers are in the fridge, and some juice, you're welcome to them if you want. I'll set up sleeping arrangements.”
“I need a bite.”
The others affirmed with grunts, even their mother rolled her eyes and went with them to your kitchen and dining area. Clinking heard soon enough, not much chatter though. All while you unrolled the mattress and pulled out the couch, covering them in sheets and fetching some pillows from upstairs. They could use the blankets from the car trip, though you got each of them a second for good measure. And the HRT pills you had for Dani.
Then… sneaking a glance to the dining room.
Dani was tearing into her plate. Eating with absolute gusto, while her sisters and mother were trying to hold back - but you saw how the smile twitched at Cass’s lips, just like back then. When she was mad at you, but enjoyed your food too much not to react.
The view tugged somewhere in your heart - a spot you hadn't thought about all that much, but that now softened up considerably. A spot always connected to Dani, that you'd tried to focus on her and not all else you'd lost.
But this view… yeah.
Tears welled up in your eyes that you took deep breaths to stifle, pressing yourself into the wall where they wouldn't see. Memories resurfacing from the day you'd been taken away - without a chance to contact them, tell them what happened. The crunch of your phone under a boot.
Another breath. Slow. Steady.
They hated you. You needed to set this right, somehow. But not now. Not this late. First, you had to take care of them.
So you wiped your tears and nodded sternly at yourself, walking into the kitchen with a knock. You did get a second of attention at that, so yay.
“Okay. Three can sleep in the living room, two in the bedroom. I'll leave you to pick where - I'm flexible.”
“My days of sleeping on couches and mattresses are long over. I want the bed.”
Alcina replied immediately, matter of factly. Dani grinned.
“I always wanted to sleep on that couch.”
Your eyes wandered to Bee and Cass - the former of which shrugged.
“I prefer sleeping close to my sisters.”
…
Cass grinned at you with something very akin to sadism.
“Dibs on the floor.”
Yay. Death warrant.
Sleeping in the same bed as your… well. Ex. Probably. Though you'd never broken up officially, and if it had been in any part up to you, never would have.
Dani shot you a sympathetic look, and you nodded.
“Alright. There's a small bathroom through there and a big one upstairs. You can go ahead and get ready when you're done eating - I'll clean up the kitchen.”
Until then, you'd use the time to get ready for bed. Sighing as you entered the room, fluffing up the pillow for Alcina once more, grabbing your normally used big blanket and stowing it in favour of two small ones - she would go for the throat if you'd have to share one. Like this, less likely. Hopefully.
Gods, what a mess.
You picked a very modest set of pajamas and went to the bathroom for your routine - undoing any braids to get some leave in conditioner worked through your locks, washing your face, getting lotion on your skin - all things Alcina had taught you, once. Helped you do. You still used the same products she'd recommended for you back then.
Once done, you slipped into a fluffy bathrobe to keep warm, and went back down. The Dimitrescu family was in the living room, busy with picking their own sleepwear, barely paying any attention to you slinking into the kitchen to do the dishes.
Heh.
The plates were scraped clean. As was the box you'd kept the leftovers in. Memories once again coming back - of tiny hands asking if they could help you cook for the first time. Thirteen years ago, pretty much, when Alcina first brought you home to her daughters for Christmas and everything worked so well you stayed for New Year's. How Cass had run to greet her returning from a nail appointment, tomato splatters on her cheek from earlier and peeler still in hand, and you behind her to at least get the tool back, both of you skidding to a halt right in front of her, laughing kid on your arms that all too happily gave up the peeler to be handed to her mother…
Well, said woman had almost bent you over the counter for that. She definitely did after eating your pasta that night.
… Yeah. You should probably keep your thoughts far, far away from that.
Good to know they still enjoyed your food, at least. Their bustling was audible as you washed the dishes, hushed conversations between the girls once their mother had gone upstairs. Ones that fell quiet when you finished up and went back to the stairs, making eye contact with Cass and Dani.
“Sleep well, you two.”
Cass gave you the finger. Dani smiled.
“Goodnight, renny.”
“I can't fucking believe you, Dani.”
“Give them a chance, you'll see.”
“Fuck that.”
You sighed, walking up the stairs.
Was a bit of your own fault, really. You could've gone and talk to them. You did try, at the beginning, without success, and then with all the stress… yeah. Just a bit.
Thoughts lingered as you walked into your own room, not realizing that the bathroom stood open and dark and that Alcina wasn't in bed.
With the bathrobe discarded, the door to your bedroom shut behind you quietly - and it didn't take a damn second before your back was pinned against it, Alcina in front of you, a deep, passionate fury on her face that caught you wholly off guard.
“What the fuck, Sasha?!”
She hissed, fingernails pretty much clawing into your shoulders as they held you in place.
“Alcina, please -”
“Oh, that'll get you nowhere. How dare you speak to my daughter. How dare you get back into her life, pretend like you didn't-”
Alcina seethed with rage, pressing you harder into the wood.
“Wouldn't you think it fair to at least apologize?!”
“For what? Dani and I-”
“For what?! You left us, gone without trace, without a notice, like you'd never even been there, and now you just waltzed back into Daniela's life like a-”
She almost growled.
“How long have you two had contact, huh?”
“... a year and a half.”
“... what?”
There was honest surprise for a moment, a whispered “how dare you?” that marked her ire returning - but you used that moment. That fraction where she wasn't too pissed off, and looked to the side.
“Listen, I… I'll explain. Everything. Tomorrow. For now, we both need to sleep.”
Her brows furrowed.
“Please, Alcina. I'm tired. You're tired. If we scream, the girls won't get any rest.”
“Claiming the girls’ wellbeing now, are we?”
“I got you all out of the cold, didn't I?”
You pushed her away, dents of her nails still burning in your skin. Alcina straightened to her full height and scoffed.
“Please. That was the least you could do after what you put us through.”
“Whatever you say.”
With a sigh, you laid down on your side of the bed, curling up into a ball.
“Sleep well, Alcina.”
“Forget it.”
A deep breath slipped from your lungs, eyes pressed tightly together against threatening tears. The other side of the bed dipped when she laid down, grunting at the firmness of the mattress - she liked it. You'd both always chosen the same. Pulling the sheet over herself and turning away from you, silence filling the room.
Seconds passed.
Minutes.
Then, her voice.
“What was it? Was it too hard to think you'd have three teenagers? Were we not enough for you anymore? Was I-”
Hurt entered her tone for a moment, aching, bone-deep agony.
“Was there anyone else?”
“... no. It's not…”
You swallowed thickly.
“It was never my choice to leave.”
“Then why did you?”
Curling a little tighter around yourself, fighting back the hurt and the loss and all those things you felt, it took a moment until you answered even softer.
“Because they took it from me.”
No answer.
Maybe she'd fallen asleep.
And so did you, a while later, uneasy in your rest despite having dreamt of this so often. Your family, back with you.
But it wasn't like you wanted. Maybe it would never be. Still, exhaustion demanded its toll…
And had you wake up facing the most beautiful woman you'd ever laid eyes on. Both of you had turned towards each other in your sleep, hands close - so close she'd subconsciously grabbed yours, the warmth and softness of her palm and fingers so achingly familiar that your heart clenched a little.
Her face was relaxed. Not the mask of anger it had been yesterday. Soft. A sight you'd seen almost every morning for over nine years, sometimes kissed awake, sometimes… not. The lines in her face had gotten more evident, making her even more stunning.
How you'd missed this. Fuck.
But you knew the spell would be broken once she woke up. She'd go back to being angry, hurt, dismissive.
Sigh.
Then again, you could at least placate the beast with breakfast. Or the three of them, more like. Carefully pushing yourself up and slipping your hand from hers - fingers twitching around it as you pulled away, but they didn't grip, thank fuck. You left bed quietly, allowing yourself one look back at Alcina's sleeping form, then softly closed the door to sneak downstairs. The picture of the living room was much as endearing - Cass pretty much sprawled over the floor, half off the mattress, Dani hanging on the couch. The eldest daughter was awake, phone in her hand, eyes wandering up to yours immediately once you came into view… only to look away.
Yeaah.
Later.
For now, you quietly went the other way, into the kitchen. Opening the fridge and making a mental note to go shopping later. You'd bought for the year's end with one person in mind, not five, and considering the weather would stay like it had been for the next days - as per your phone - they all definitely were stuck with you. At least until New Year's Day, two more nights. Best ask at breakfast if there was something they wanted and to plan accordingly.
That breakfast still had to be made. And you knew exactly what.
12 eggs wasn't exactly the amount you'd normally use for an Omelette for five, but it was what you had. Obviously, more milk had to be added there. Touch more butter, little bit of flour. Then all the good things they loved in it - bacon, cheese, little pieces of tomato and chives. Toast still needed to be toasted, but that came last. While the eggs cooked, you arranged cold cuts and cheese, chopped up some apples and pears, made a big pot of tea…
“This isn't going to make us forgive you, you know.”
Bee’s voice cut through the sizzling and made you swallow, nodding softly.
“I know. I'm not doing this so you'll forgive me. You're my guests. I'd like my guests to feel as comfortable as possible. And since me being here doesn't contribute to that, I at least want you to enjoy your food.”
The eldest daughter sighed - she'd turned 18 a while ago, a birthday you sorely regretted missing.
“Why the fuck did you leave, Sasha?”
“... I was made to.”
“What, you were made to?”
“I'll explain later, I promise. Just… I never stopped trying to come back until I learned you didn't want me there anymore.”
“The fuck does that mean?”
Cass asked from the door, eyes narrowed.
“It means I owe you all a long, very hard talk. Can we eat breakfast first and get a few things settled, though?”
“The fuck is more-”
“Language, Cassandra. Such as?”
Alcina also was here. Great.
And…
Wearing your bathrobe.
Oh dear.
You blinked as your brain booted up a little, seeing the ghost of a smirk flicker over her face. The tiniest.
Damn, she must've slept well, or at least been placated by the smell of food. Or both. Probably both.
But, deep breaths.
“Mainly, food. I need to go shopping because you'll all be stuck here until New Year's Day.”
“Grand.”
“Speaking of, girls, I'm sure you've seen the washer and dryer in the small bathroom - all of you feel free to use them. And please sit down now, you're crowding me. Food’s almost ready.”
They all left and joined Dani, whose cheerful “good morning!” made you grin to yourself, stroking some hair out of your face as you put down the toast. Then bringing out the cold cuts and cheese, locks again falling into your eyes - so to end that, you pulled a hair tie from your pajama pocket and tied it back in a loose, messy bun - how you hadn't before cooking escaped you a little. The few hairs that still broke loose were way easier to manage than the entire thing.
After that, you brought the fruit on top of a stack of plates.
“If you could set it up, that'd be helpful.”
“Sure thing!”
Alcina blinked at you and quickly looked to the side. Dani glanced her way, then grinned.
“The bun suits you.”
“Thanks, Dani.”
“Can I cut the omelette?”
“Long as you do it fairly, sure.”
“Fairly means we get pieces according to how nice we are to the one that's literally keeping us warm and fed for the holiday out of nothing but kindness?”
While Bee and Cass had their mouths fall open, you rolled your eyes.
“No, fairly as in everyone gets the same amount.”
“Boring.”
“I'm sure we'd all be a little more cordial if a certain someone apologised.”
Alcina murmured, still refusing to meet your eyes. You clenched your teeth and marched back to the kitchen, with Dani turning back to her mother as she went behind you.
“What happened is not their fault!”
“And you know that because…?”
“Because I know the whole damn story, mom, and it fucking SUCKS!”
“Language, Daniela.”
“It's a little my fault.”
You murmured upon her entering and grabbing the spatula.
“Fair, but as a whole…”
“Later, Dani. Okay?”
“Okay. Coward.”
A snort left your throat, but you still carried out the pan, handing everyone their piece of food before sitting down and taking your phone out for notes.
“So, to get it over with: I planned my shopping for one person until next week. We are five, nothing but the essentials will last. I need to go buy groceries for us today, tomorrow and the day after, plus for myself for the rest. If you have any wishes regarding the meals, tell me now so I can plan for it.”
There was a moment of silence, then Bee cleared her throat.
“...Waffles for breakfast.”
“Got it.”
“Tacos!”
“Why would you eat Tacos around New Year's, Dani?”
“Because they're good?”
“Point taken. Can we do a big brunch on the first?”
“Gonna need you to tell me what you want in it, but yes.”
There was a few more suggestions over the course of the meal, all by the daughters, until you had a more or less list of food and snacks that would definitely keep you in the store for a good hour later. Just to have them talking like that around you - with you, planning meals like in the old days and bickering - had you swallow hard lumps a couple of times, but at least you had the writing and planning to keep you busy.
Thinking about how to do it already… until Alcina cleared her throat.
“... Sarmale.”
“... tonight or tomorrow?”
“Tonight.”
“Y-yeah. Sure.”
She nodded. As did you, over empty plates and another meal gotten through.
“I'll work the list out and go.”
“Mh. Girls, do the dishes.”
“And you?”
“I need to call Karl for a moment.”
“Karl?”
The mention of her brother had you furrow your brows too - normally she wouldn't call him unless something needed his input immediately. Or… no, that was… no.
Regardless, you sat over the numbers and recipes and items while hearing the dishes…
And then, aggravated Romanian.
Which they all didn't know you spoke.
Oh dear.
“...thick-headed-fool, we're over at theirs!”
…
“Don't call them lost love of my life again, I swear to-”
…
“That entirely doesn't matter.”
Alcina scoffed.
“Yes, they are still hot and lovely around my daughters. I need you to remind me of my anger so I don't do something stupid.”
…
“They mentioned last night that… no, what I thought doesn't add up anymore.”
…
“No, I did not take them to bed.”
…
“Not going to happen. But we're all stuck here until the first at least -”
…
“Karl, I called you to talk me through this, not to tell me to fuck out my anger.”
…
“You're remarkably unhelpful and I don't know why I even bothered. Bye.”
The sound of a phone being chucked filled the air, then a groan, followed by a grumble that you were very sure was mostly curses and definitely contained the words “infernal hairtie that ought to crawl into her dead mother’s anus”.
Your pen had frozen on the list. Shaking slightly with how red your face felt. With how hard your heart was hammering. With the shivers that ran down your back and the feelings bouncing around in your body.
You had not been meant to hear this talk. Then again, judging by the stifled giggles from behind you, neither were the girls.
And none of them knew you-
Oh, dear. As if this wasn't hard enough to -
She… part of her… wanted you? Still? She… Alcina… uh…
Write the list. By the gods, just write the damn list.
“Sasha?”
“Hm?”
“I think you should keep the hairtie in today.”
Dani.
Oh, Dani.
You needed to get a breath. Now.
Tossing down the pen and heading towards the back door to the small bench you had sitting out there - just for the fresh air and to clear your head.
This was fine.
Great, actually.
Fuck.
Oh gods, you weren't supposed to hear that. And confessing now, to everything…
Why did it all always have to be so damn complicated?! Or just get more, as time went on?
Fuck. The secrets you kept back then were all coming back at the worst possible moment.
Your thinking got interrupted by your own phone. Not just a message from Dani to check in on you, either - a call.
Your mother.
A lump fell from your chest. You could talk to someone after all. Fuck.
“Ma?”
“Sasha! Lovely to hear you again - I just got a feeling I should call you. I know we talked a few days ago, but… is everything good over there?”
“... things are complicated.”
“Call that intuition, but also, oh no. Tell me. What's going on?”
“Well… Alcina.”
“Has she finally seen reason and taken you back?”
“No.”
“Her loss.”
“She got stranded with her daughters in the snow, and -”
“The girls? Please tell me they're alright.”
“They are. I picked them up. We're all… here.”
“Your lost love and children are at your place?”
You sighed.
“Yes. They'll probably have to stay until the first.”
“But that's a good thing, no? You can repair those broken bonds or get started on it. Finally let them all in on what happened. How hard you fought to get back to them.”
“That's not the scary part, ma. Not anymore.”
“Enlighten me.”
“... I just overheard Alcina on the phone. She was calling her brother… she… I think…”
“Out with it. Vilhelm and Flaviu aren't around, you can speak freely.”
“... she said she needed him to talk her out of doing something stupid.”
“Uh-huh… which?”
“The kind where she also said I was hot and lovely.”
“So the opposite of stupid.”
“Ma, you don't understand. She was speaking in Romanian. They don't know I can speak Romanian.”
“How the hell did you keep that secret for so long?”
“Luck and dedication. Do you see my problem?”
“The only problem I see is you, again, being too much of a coward. Go over to that woman and say you think she should do something stupid.”
“MA!”
“And then, after you're done, you explain everything to her and the girls and you celebrate New Year's as a family. Like you're supposed to.”
“... I don't think you get the -”
Standing up from the bench, you froze.
There at the window stood three girls, eyes pretty much bulging from their head, mouth's open so wide that you were surprised you didn't hear their jaws drop.
Except Dani.
Her grin was downright unholy.
…
On second thought, calling your mom, a native Romanian who didn't speak a word of English, where you could be heard had been a bad idea, probably.
“Ma? I gotta go.”
“Caught, huh? Good. Tell me how it went.”
Click.
Shit.
Bee slammed the door open, a hint of anger and demand in her eyes. She didn't even bother with English.
“You owe us that explanation. Right now.”