Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

ROSE: Are you always going to resort to this?
ROSE: A stratagem wherein your only concern is just applying as much as distance between us as possible?
ROSE: I know this is the usual game we play, but don't you think this situation needs less miscommunication than there already is?
KANAYA: Thats Not What Im Doing

The sound of the bottom of Rose and Kanaya's boots squeak in the emptiness of their battleship, bouncing against the walls before dissipating into nothing. The second Rose's steps begin to sound closer, more haste, so does Kanaya's pace. Rose's brows knit together tightly, but she doesn't cease her attempts to catch back up to her wife's side. It had been a tough week - for everyone, really, but more so for others. Troops bustling throughout the battleship’s halls, news coverages insisting in poking their noses in every last bit of detail leading from their daughter being deemed a terrorist as she shuffled about Gamzee’s deceased body in a human school, to the discovery there had been a fourth god child blanketed from the world’s knowledge, whether out of something devious or not was entirely different from each article. Topped with Jane’s schemes worsening and the imminent, blood surging confrontation at the meteor with The Point that’s just dangling at the horizon, there almost seemed to be barely any time to breathe for a moment. 

But now that desired moment was here. With a sudden brief reprieve from the traffic of anxious troops in their ship, all having been ordered to get to the meteor, and Vrissy collected and demanded to stay with the other children in the safest room provided in the ship, Rose and Kanaya only had each other. To pick back up their conversation before it was severed by two disobedient kids and their apparent urge to get into adult business. 

There was something urgently important, after all. 

ROSE: I thought you grew out of this habit by the time we got married.
KANAYA: Thats Really Funny
KANAYA: The Irony Of It All Is Almost Comedically Grim
KANAYA: Trying To Criticize A Detrimental Habit Of Mine While You Stand There With Suddenly No Self Awareness
ROSE: I'm not criticizing you. I'm only pointing out how this sudden desperate need to put as much space as possible between us isn't helping the situation, is it?
ROSE: Also, you just accidentally confirmed my suspicions that you are in fact landing back into an old habit.
KANAYA: Is That What Im Doing
ROSE: Well, isn't it?
KANAYA: ...
ROSE: Well, if it's not, I'd like it if you just turned around and let me talk to you for a minute.
KANAYA: What Is There To Go Over Anymore
ROSE: There's a lot of things.
ROSE: Things that urgently need to be discussed, unexpectedly.
KANAYA: I Dont Know What Other Revelations Need To Be Had All In The Same Week
KANAYA: And Frankly Actually Im Already Fucking Tired Of Them
KANAYA: Ive Had Enough
ROSE: Kanaya, please-

Rose reaches out her hand and latches onto Kanaya's, but the second their skin makes contact, Kanaya rips it away, as if her palm was seared on the stove. Rose tries to ignore the hollow sensation plummet into the bottom of her stomach. The gesture felt so alien, so unlike any interactions they’ve ever had, as friends to wives, and it twisted something earnest within Rose. Nausea bubbles up from the back of her throat, but she refuses to cave into the stress weighing on both of their shoulders. 

KANAYA: I Just Dont Get What Even Else Is There To Discuss Here
KANAYA: Anymore
KANAYA: Weve Already Talked About It With Jade
KANAYA: And Then Hours Later Between Just You And Me
KANAYA: When Jade Was Unceremoniously Knocked Unconscious By Tavros Falling Out The Vents
KANAYA: And Each Time Weve Rehashed This Issue Of Your Short Deceit It Never Seems To Get Any Better Does It
ROSE: ...
KANAYA: I Dont Want To Stay Stuck In
KANAYA: Whatever The Fuck Is Happening Right Now
KANAYA: Constantly Lodged In A Perpetual Cycle Of Whether Or Not This Really Will Change For The Better
KANAYA: That Maybe My Meddling Would Have Some Sort Of
KANAYA: I Dont Know
KANAYA: Constructive Meaning In The End
ROSE: Kanaya,
KANAYA: Was This Really All For Nothing Rose
KANAYA: Twenty Four Years Of Being At Your Side
KANAYA: Through Every Moment Of Turbulence And The Horrific Experiences We Were Always Predestined To Endure As Children
KANAYA: When We First Had Vriska And The Excitement And Fear We Were Both Racked With
KANAYA: The Stress And Affection Of Raising Her And Ensuring Her Future In Janes Vision Of Seeing Trolls As Lesser
KANAYA: The Nights Of When She Was Suffering From A Fever And We Would Huddle Around Her Before The Entire Hive Would Undergo A Flu Spread
KANAYA: When You Stared Me In The Eyes With Pure Devotion When The Mayor Was Officiating
KANAYA: When You Kissed Me In That Miserably Dark Rock
KANAYA: And Begged Me To Come With You On The Trip To The New Session
KANAYA: As If You Couldnt Stand Another Moment Without Me When We Had First Met Face To Face

Kanaya finally ceases her steps, Rose clumsily also stopping hers as pink flushes her cheeks out of embarrassment when they briefly collided. Kanaya's eyes, since the reveal, had been sharply laced with vitriol and resentment. Each glance from her would sear into Rose, leaving a burnt mark that only grew and spread like a thorned stem, as she constantly swallowed her guilt. This time, though, her gaze was soft, weak almost, pleading. Just utterly tired, of Jane, of everyone - but especially Rose. 

Rose's throat felt strangled with barbed wire. 

KANAYA: Was All Of It That Worthless To Risk
KANAYA: And Throw Away
ROSE: No!
ROSE: Kanaya, of course not. I couldn't -
ROSE: I couldn't possibly see you - and everything we share together, as just nothing but a brief speck in my life.
ROSE: There's no one else that's above you, nobody could even possibly successfully attempt to surpass that!!
ROSE: You know this - extremely well, in fact.
KANAYA: I Know That
KANAYA: Im Not Trying To Pull A Powerless Bawling Act Of Being Unsure Of Where I Stand In Your Life When It Comes To Others
KANAYA: But The Fact There Were No Genuine Feelings Layered Anywhere Underneath The Whole Predicament And No Secretive Plans Of Eloping
KANAYA: Doesnt Erase The Deception And The Feelings I Have With That
KANAYA: I Know Im The Only Woman You Want
KANAYA: Im Not Stupid
KANAYA: But Its Not Someone Thats Above Me
KANAYA: Its Something
KANAYA: And You Obviously Cared About That Astonishingly More Than Either Me Or Our Daughter
ROSE: But that doesn't even remotely equate to me suddenly considering you and our daughter incredibly worthless.
ROSE: That's far from the truth and an insane leap to what I've hashed out with you.
ROSE: You said you're not trying to pull an act of damsel in distress, of a woeful woman that's collapsed onto her knees and wailing into her hands as a last, hopeless resort.
ROSE: But you still have a foot stuck in that mold and insinuating I never truly, deeply cared for you and our family!
KANAYA: Well Im Sorry Its A Bit Hard To Pinpoint My Feelings Clearly And How Im Seeing You Right Now
KANAYA: After Youve Been Seamlessly Lying To Mine And Vriskas Face For Fifteen Years
KANAYA: Whos Apparently Not Your Only Daughter
KANAYA: Rose You Just
KANAYA: Dont Seem To Understand
ROSE: I want to. But you're not meeting me in the middle here.
KANAYA: AUGH

It takes everything in Rose to not reach over and bring Kanaya's curled up hands to her lips, obviously it's the least thing Kanaya wants at the moment. And so to comply with whatever Kanaya wants, Rose's hands hover awkwardly in the air for a moment, urging back what she clearly wants to do, and instead folds her arms, tucking her hands securely underneath. Usually, soft, feather light kisses to her wife's palms solved any minimal issue, of the turkey being burnt, accidentally forgetting to put the laundry, quelling her anger in the bedroom after Vriska snuck out from her window before they waited the entirety of the night for her to come back. Not this time. 

ROSE: I never meant for any of this to give you that sort of impression.
ROSE: I'm not going to lie to you and say I didn't think you'd get hurt, and I know that's where I'm completely at fault in.
ROSE: But I never meant for you to think, for even a moment, that you weren't the most important person in my life.
ROSE: You know me better than anyone, frankly.
ROSE: Something that surely would've been skeptical to me as a 13 year old stuffy girl, but now...
ROSE: ...
ROSE: Need I remind you of the things I'd do just for you.
KANAYA: Rose
ROSE: Kanaya,
KANAYA: Please
KANAYA: Just

Kanaya releases a shakey sigh, the strength she was holding onto for dear life for days cracking now. Kanaya looks in struggle for a moment, as if she doesn't know how to phrase what she's going to say next, and it creates an uncomfortable desert in Rose's mouth. 

KANAYA: Maybe
KANAYA: Maybe Itd Be Best
KANAYA: For Everyone
KANAYA: For Me
KANAYA: And For You
KANAYA: And Most Importantly For Vriska
KANAYA: If We
KANAYA: Separated

Rose's heart plummets at the bottom of her stomach with a thud. 

ROSE: What
KANAYA: We Can Talk About Custody Issues With Vriska Later
ROSE: what,
KANAYA: As Well As Housing
ROSE: huh
KANAYA: I Need To Go See Karkat
KANAYA: Theres More Pressing Matters At Hand Beyond Just
KANAYA: Marital Discomfort
KANAYA: Ill See You Later
ROSE: Kanaya, you
ROSE: we shouldn't,
ROSE: Kanaya, I don't-

Rose shakes her head, finally releasing her hands from its folded prison, numb from the coldness surrounding them in the battleship, and clings onto Kanaya's arm with a desperateness she couldn't imagine giving to anyone else. Kanaya glances back at her with wide eyes. 

ROSE: Kanaya, please, that's just-
ROSE: That's too excessive for the situation, this is
ROSE: Entirely different, we're incredibly different!
ROSE: Divorce is just -
ROSE: Kanaya, please, wait
KANAYA: Rose
ROSE: If you want me to be thoroughly truthful with you, from here on out, I can do it right now!
ROSE: In fact, it's what I've been wanting to tell you this entire time!
ROSE: Because there is something incredibly more pressing than war issues in the room to talk about!
KANAYA: Rose What On Earth Are You Talking About

Everything falls silent for a moment, the air thickening around them. The stress in Rose's voice, the idea of Kanaya leaving, for good, in such a short window heightens Rose's nausea, she feels a lurch in her throat as she feels bile creeping up the tunnel of her esophagus. Rose's hands loosely travel down from Kanaya's forearm to her palm, her touches ghosting over Kanaya's skin. Rose and Kanaya lock eyes for an uncertain number of seconds, minutes, almost feeling decades, alone together in the middle ground of their battleship. When Rose speaks, her mouth is incredibly dry, an uncontainable crack in her voice as Kanaya stares with bug sized eyes. 

ROSE: I'm pregnant.

*

TG: why don't you check the cabinet for ramen noodles?
TG: don't you always have a lot of those shin ramen packages stacked? it doesn't take too long to make those.
AG: Yeah, and get fucking Tired of Eating Them in under a Week?
AG: That's the last thing I'm trying to get myself Sick of, doofus!
TG: i get what you mean. when my mom was going through a depression rut one time, i just kept eating smucker sandwiches for meals.
TG: i still can't even eat one without wanting to vomit my whole stomach out!
AG: Aren't you Allergic to like, ANYTHING remotely rel8d to Peanuts?
TG: they were nutella smucker sandwiches.
AG: And that's all you 8??
TG: yeah. my mom doesn't even buy those anymore, she felt really fucking bad by the end of the week.
AG: 8eing Spoiled and Not having a whole Tray of different Dinner Options each night must've felt Un8eara8le, huh?
TG: please, i handled that week like a champ!
TG: my mom just has this weird thing against me ever having to eat the same thing every night.
TG: i dunno. wish i didn't have a stupid as shit peanut allergy though.
TG: having a mix of different types of smucker sandwiches probably would've gotten me less tired of the same shit over and over lmao.
TG: man thanks dad!
AG: May8e you should ask Tavros what he Did to magically get Rid of his Peanut Allergy.
TG: ugh, and have to talk to gamzee willingly?? that's straight up the worst idea vris.
AG: It's your Only Hope!
TG: hell no!
AG: Lol.
TG: anyways, guess your only dinner option is to order something out then?
AG: I guess, 8ecause there Sure as Hell isn't Anything here to make quick.
AG: Sonny cries if he's left alone Too Long.
AG: Which is only like, a fucking Minute!
TG: heh, i bet a minute is like, a whole goddamn hour in baby times.
TG: thank god my parents are divorced, i don't think i can handle a baby sibling right now.
AG: Don't get too Cocky, Harry, your Parents are 8ack under the same Roof again! :::;)
TG: ew! don't even give me that image right now!
TG: okay, if they were to accidentally have another baby or something because of baby fever season, it's not gonna be allowed to tamper with anything in my room until i got a place of my own!
AG: Well, thankfully, Sonny is still Small and Incompetent to do a8solutely anything on his own.
AG: 8ut whether or not that's a Good or Terri8le thing depends on the situation!
TG: why didn't your mom just hire a babysitter? give some extra credit to all those followers the rebellion has.
AG: She doesn't really Trust anyone with Him right now. I think she's Worried some soldier that's just incredi8ly Fame Hungry is going to take Advantage of the position and Spread Word that my Moms made a Freakish Interspecies Offspring.
AG: Crockercorp is still Skeptical that my Human mom passed away from a 8ullet to the Head, and it's already 8een Three Months!
TG: damn, still?
AG: Your Dum8 Aunt pro8a8ly thinks it's some Shitty Predicta8le Ploy to take Attention away from whatever Master Plan my Stupid fucking Mom has under her sleeve like she's some Secret Weapon to officially end the war or Whatever The Fuck!
TG: woah, vrissy, calm down.
TG: crockercorp is always second guessing a lot of info, even when it's true. they’re just always on edge like that.
AG: Right.
TG: you okay?
AG: I'm fine, I just Need to Eat Something and heat up Sonny's 8ottle 8efore he's Awake. Dude gets so Fucking Cranky.
TG: alright. catch you later, vris.

Clicking off her phone, Vrissy grimaces at her tired reflection off her phone screen. Really, the only reason she took up her mother’s request in watching over her newborn brother was the promise of a much larger allowance as a reward; otherwise, Vrissy would’ve snuck out already and let him fend for himself. 

Okay, maybe she wouldn’t have actually done that - but she would’ve heavily considered it! 

Vrissy tossed her phone onto the couch, heaving out a sigh as she dragged herself up and onto her feet, giving a slight shiver once the warmth of her blanket nest slid off her. Maybe turning on the heater would be good, Vrissy thinks, not like the cost of it would make any noticeable holes in her family’s bank. The privilege of being a child of Gods undoubtedly came with its perks, and at times, its faults. 

Besides, she’s pretty sure she remembered her mother instructing to turn on the heater if needed, as Sonny was terribly sensitive to cold temperatures. He seemed to be sensitive to a lot of things - whether it was due to quite literally being an infant, or his naturally mixed genetics burdening him, Kanaya wasn’t exactly sure. 

Successfully turning on the heater, Vrissy rubbed her eyes, the drowsiness earnestly begging her to collapse back onto the couch. It was incredibly ridiculous, she thought, already being exhausted at nine o’clock in the night, as if she had been back from a work shift since eight in the morning. She’d still be bursting with energy by this time before, which her mothers certainly loathed having to deal with when she was little. Running off from the bathroom with soap bubbles still in her hair, intentionally garnering her parents to chase her around the house as she giggled and cackled. 

Eventually, though, once she was detained and washed off, getting Vrissy to lull to sleep was fairly easy once Rose and Kanaya managed to keep her in bed. Often, it’d be Rose’s story times that knocked Vrissy out, tempted by the soft sheets and her mother’s warmth as the comfortable familiarity of her mother’s voice became distant in Vrissy’s dreams. Entering her first year of middle school and the confusion and embarrassment of being associated with anything remotely childish had inevitably put an end to those nights, however. 

Abruptly, in a miscalculation of her steps as she drowsily navigated towards the kitchen, her body immediately collided with the corner of the living room's sideboard, the soft spot of her elbow grazing the sharpest edge of the furniture. 

VRISSY: F8CK!!!!!!!!

Vrissy yelps out, clutching her arm tightly as a hiss escapes her lips. A photo frame clatters onto the floor, the thud sharply resounding on the wood, which coincidentally, and unsurprisingly, garners a loud, piercing cry from the bassinet near the couch. Vrissy furrows her brows, frustration welling and clotting as her arm uncomfortably surges with prickles, the urgency of having to get to Sonny and the reminder of it searing into her ears.

Vrissy shuffles over to the bassinet, still rubbing her elbow, as peers in to see the wailing, screaming matter at hand. His face is scrunched, mouth wide open as clear tears streak down his grey skin, a complexion much lighter than his troll mother and sister’s. His little fists were balled, as the second set of limbs beneath his humanoid ones, grub talons, wriggle about. If any Earth C citizen were to see him, they’d surely find his differing sets of limbs incredibly odd, which in turn could lead to horror, and detest. But perhaps the most off putting aspect about his appearance, in Vrissy’s opinion, was his single horn, which protruded from his head like a unicorn. 

Which could be fitting, Vrissy thinks, likening a mythical creature that’s often debated as whether real or fiction, to her brother’s entire existence that nobody could’ve imagined as possible up until now. If the rest of Earth C outside of her family’s circle even knew of his beating existence, of course. 

Vrissy dryly swallowed as she clasped Sonny in her sweat slicked hands, gradually lifting him up, an unsteady rhythm in her movements as she tried situating him appropriately in her arms. Rushing to recall how Kanaya taught her, Vrissy carefully lays her palm behind his wisps of white hair, his weight in her arms becoming increasingly aware to her thinkpan and nearly begging for her legs to give out from the pressure. Vrissy does, however, awkwardly put herself back down onto the couch. 

VRISSY: God, what did Mom say to give you when you started Crying??
VRISSY: Your 8inky or whatever, right?

Reaching over and plucking the purple pacifier off the coffee table, Vrissy tries plopping it squarely into her newborn brother's gaping gummy maw, but it quickly tumbles out and rolls off onto the floor. Vrissy clenches her teeth, then bends down and rubs the pacifier against her shirt, as Sonny's cries don't seem to waver for even a moment. The pitch of it begins racking Vrissy with anxiety, while the living room tv, with the volume turned incredibly low, only audible enough to make out the syllables, broadcasts a news team's interview with Jane. 

VRISSY: Can you At Least give me a little 8reak and go Easy with me??
VRISSY: I'm not Mom, I'm not going to Magically somehow know how to Calm you Down!!!
VRISSY: Or even know exactly what It Is that you Want!
VRISSY: Yeah, I know! I'm not Happy a8out 8a8ysitting you Either!!
VRISSY: All I can do Right Now is just give you your Stupid 8inky and heat up a 8ottle for you!
VRISSY: So just,
VRISSY: Work With Me, god!!!

This time, instead of hastily trying to get the pacifier into Sonny's mouth, Vrissy goes for a slower approach - an approach that makes her want to pull her hair from the lack of patience drained in her drowsy state - and presses the rubber along his mouth. Much to Vrissy's relief, this immediately does the trick, as Sonny's cries gradually taper off, and his mouth latches onto the pacifier with acceptance. The air caught in Vrissy's throat finally exhales out, her anxiety distinguishing in the wake. For a moment, Vrissy just sits deflated into the couch, her eyes sealed close while the gentle sounds of Sonny's suckling emanate from her slowly soring arms. 

Only four more hours until Kanaya was home, Vrissy reminded herself, ignoring how irritatingly far that sounded. She just needed to pull through a bit longer, feed Sonny and get him to sleep, and then she's free. 

Speaking of which, she should definitely get going with the bottle - and food for herself, on that matter. 

Settling Sonny back into his bassinet, her anxiety briefly sparking as her hands retracted, fear that any wrong move would upset him, and then with a sigh, she made her way back to the sideboard. Vrissy picks up the fallen photo frame, the picture it contained depicting her mothers, along with herself as a small child, at a pumpkin patch. She still very much remembered that day, bundled up in thick layers of sweaters, knitted mittens, a beanie, and scarfs, she looked utterly ridiculous in the train seat! Anything her mothers thought would fight off any viruses in the autumn weather, with practically every scarf Rose had ever knitted nearly strangling her little neck. 

Vrissy recalled just how frustrated her human mother would get over how often and easy she lost the scarves that she made for her, with only one purple scarf managing to survive the terrible habit. It was tucked securely in her drawers, and at times, Vrissy would hesitate even bringing it out, worrying that her old habit would catch back up, and it'd be the last time she wore the final knitted scarf Rose made for her. For a split second, intrusively, Vrissy wonders if she ever received a knitted scarf, or mittens, or even beanies, from Rose. And just as quick as it entered her thinkpan, she discarded it entirely. 

Her eyes linger on the photo for a few more moments. And then she places the frame back into its place. 

Running hot water in a pot and leaving a bottle of formula was perhaps the easiest task to do, allowing Vrissy a few minutes to scroll through her grubdash app and finally order something to eat. Once the order placement was situated with, caramelized chicken stir fry from the nearest fast food that was still open at this hour, and eight more minutes still left to chip at until the bottle was warm enough, Vrissy checked her messages. Harry Anderson was offline, and a text to Tavros proved fruitless. There was only one contact that was still online, her eyes staring at the deep red hued handle in her list, before a wrinkle creased between her brows, and decided that maybe fucking around on her social medias was a better solution. 

Feeding Sonny, thankfully, wasn't too much of a hassle, really just positioning him correctly in her arms was the only stuttering issue. But once he latched onto the rubber nipple, he didn't need any further encouragement in eating. Vrissy lets out an amused noise. That's probably why Sonny is such a round baby. 

When the last drop was fully cleared from the bottle, and Sonny's back patted for a few moments, another bout of relief surged Vrissy that this was the final hill for the night. Just holding him in her arms, watching him through dozy eyes, his own pink eyes staring into Vrissy's colorless ones, he'd eventually fall asleep, drift off somewhere else that's not here. Yes, Vrissy thinks, leaning back into the comfortable cushions of the couch, the weight of Sonny in her arms suddenly becoming less of a bother, fighting to keep her eyelids from shutting as her thinkpan struggled to register whatever it was on the tv screen. 

For a second, as her eyes blinked, she wonders how long it'll be until her grubdash order was here. 

Kanaya gently shut the door, the plastic bag, of which she deemed was likely her daughter's takeout, rustling with her movements. She looks over the couch with a soft smile, being greeted with Sonny, still very much wide awake and emitting trills and babbles at the glowing sight of his mother. In contrast, Vrissy was deeply in the throes of sleep, drooling and slumped on the couch in a way that Kanaya predicted would have Vrissy groaning in pain when she woke up. 

KANAYA: Oh Good
KANAYA: You Put Her To Sleep For Me

Kanaya puts down the bag and scoops Sonny into her arms, peppering kisses over his cheeks and receiving bubbly giggles in return. In a matter of minutes, as it always followed like a linear pattern, Kanaya put Sonny down to rest in his crib, located within her bedroom, without much issue, then returns and hoists her much larger child into her arms (she wasn't going to let Vrissy wake up and complain about an aching back) and laid her in her bed.

All that was left at the end of the day, in the latest hours of the night, was herself. Putting the takeout in the fridge, Kanaya stands in the middle of the kitchen quietly, staring at the letter magnets spread across the fridge's door. The words '8ORED' and 'SUFFERING' were spelt, and it didn't take much of a gander to guess who was meddling with the magnets. The other suspect was a ridiculous option. Kanaya was rather pleased either way that Vrissy seemed to be enjoying the fresh pack of the number eight magnets. 

Kanaya's eyes briefly stay on the lone green W magnet off to the side. The silence of the kitchen grows louder. Her thoughts push Rose to the forefront of her thinkpan, in front of her children, in front of the war, and everyone else, but she doesn't make an attempt to wave it off. 

Kanaya smooths her palms against the fabric of her clothes, releases a choked out sigh, and retires to her room. 

Chapter Text

KANAYA: You Never Seem To Be Able To Keep Your Pacifier In Your Mouth There Huh

Kanaya huffs out an exhausted, and yet still adoring sigh as Sonny looks up at his mother with wide eyes from his highchair, barely a comprehensible thought happening behind them, about whatever he was doing at the moment and perhaps wherever he was. Being given a day off from the stress of her usual war duties, ideally, the day should've been suspended in a steady and hazy afternoon, allowing Kanaya a rare opportunity outside of the incredibly consuming battlefield. Of course, that was ideally speaking; before Sonny was born. 

But this wasn't anything drastically new for Kanaya to rear, in spite of the delicate air of uncertainty about Sonny's mixed biology, she has been a mother for fifteen - nearly sixteen - years now, even during the early unfolding of the war that was incredibly more anxiety inducing as plans were calculated and daughters were raised. Vrissy had already proven herself to be a wriggling handful for her parents by just three months of her life, and despite the wariness, Sonny was fairly a calm infant, especially in juxtaposition to the months of Vrissy's constant gnawing at her highchair's dinner tray.

Kanaya supposes the only major difference now - and what creates a difficult barrier - is the lack of a second pair of hands and eyes to care for Sonny with. 

Ah, well. 

KANAYA: Vrissy Could You Prepare A Bottle For Sonny
VRISSY: Uggggggggh.
VRISSY: Again??
KANAYA: Well Yeah
KANAYA: Im Afraid Your Little Brother Requires Multiple Feedings Throughout The Day As A Wiggler
KANAYA: If You Havent Noticed After Six Months Of Watching Him While Im Out Now
VRISSY: Ugh, mom, you know what I mean.
KANAYA: You Got To
VRISSY: Why do I got to??
VRISSY: I DON'T got to and every time you tell me when I'm just laying on the couch, it makes me feel like I got to a little less!!
KANAYA: Okay I Suppose Minimizing The Value Of Your Allowance This Month Wouldnt Hurt
VRISSY: !!

Vrissy immediately complies, not without grumbling under her breath and her brows stitched together tight in a frustrated look, of course.

Teenagers. And patronizing mothers. 

VRISSY: I'm always stuck with 8ottle making duties on your Days Off, it's Annoying!
KANAYA: Unless You Prefer Washing The Dishes
KANAYA: Or Changing Sonny Frequently
KANAYA: Which I Know On Record You Dont Particularly Enjoy Either Of Those Duties
KANAYA: Preparing Bottles Is The Least Strenuous Job You Have Around The Hive
VRISSY: Urgh.
KANAYA: Its Just All Part Of This Rickety Structure Of Responsibility
KANAYA: Youre Nearly Seven Sweeps Now Youre Going To Need To Learn More Adult Skills
KANAYA: Youre Not A Wiggler Anymore So Youll Need To Help Me Around The Hive More
VRISSY: Just this Morning, you were Coddling me and wouldn't Let Go of me so I can 8rush my teeth!
KANAYA: Just Because Youre Not A Wiggler Anymore To Societys Understanding Doesnt Mean I Wont Stop Seeing You As One
KANAYA: For As Long As I Live Youre Always Going To Be Considered A Little Grub In My Eyes
VRISSY: Oh my god.
VRISSY: That sounds a8solutely unfair.
KANAYA: Im Sure That Once You Have Children Of Your Own Vrissy Youll Eventually Understand The Feeling
VRISSY: I am NOT having kids ::::|
KANAYA: Hehe
VRISSY: Okay, I think this 8ottle is warmed up enough.
KANAYA: Let Me See

Vrissy grabs the bottle out of the steaming water with a cloth, handing it to her mother and watches as she focuses her senses on the tips of her fingers against the warmth, then lightly lets a few drops to leak on her wrist. Kanaya smiles with satisfaction, then hoists Sonny out of his highchair and into her arms, his little hands not wasting a second to hold onto the bottle and greedily biting at the rubber nipple.

KANAYA: Its A Shame That Youre Not Even Remotely Interested In Having Kids In The Future Vrissy
KANAYA: These Bottle Heating Skills Youre Honing Right Now Couldve Paid Off
VRISSY: Yeah, nice try, Mom.
VRISSY: The Career I'm actually trying to hone for my Future here isn't going to make the Option for Kids Via8le until I'm... I don't know, Twenty Three Sweeps??
KANAYA: Im Still Excited To Watch You Grow Up Regardless
KANAYA: Im Probably Going To Be Too Busy Wrangling Your Little Brother For Years Anyways To Be A
KANAYA: Urgh What Was That Word Again Sweetheart
VRISSY: Grandma.
KANAYA: Right
KANAYA: A Grandma To Anyone
KANAYA: Ive Never Had A Grandma So Im Not Even Sure How One Acts With The Children Of Their Children
KANAYA: It Was Never A Title That Existed On Alternia
KANAYA: Where I Grew Up
VRISSY: Not that I would know either, anyways.
VRISSY: Mine from 8oth sides were already Dead 8efore I was even 8orn!

Kanaya releases a snort, readjusting Sonny in her arms in hopes of a more comfortable position for herself. 

KANAYA: Sorry For My Part
KANAYA: My Lusus Demoting To A Shorter Lifespan Was Sealed The Moment She Resigned Her Brooding Duties To Raise Me
KANAYA: So It Was Definitely
KANAYA: A Huge Sacrifice
KANAYA: To Give Up Her Life For Mine
VRISSY: ...
VRISSY: I don't really get Why she'd decide to just,
VRISSY: Give Up EVERYTHING she was meant for, like, literally her whole Purpose just to Raise some Gru8 she Found,
VRISSY: 8ut I'm Happy she did anyways.
KANAYA: See Like I Said Earlier
VRISSY: A Mother's Love, I knoooooooow.
KANAYA: Heh
KANAYA: She Wouldve Inevitably Passed Away Anyways Once I Played The Game Your Mother And I Have Told You About Countless Of Times
KANAYA: And Im Sure The History Lessons From Your Schoolfeedings Too
VRISSY: God, my History Teacher is a huge damn o8sessive Nerd for that Game and how it Rewarded you guys with 8eing the Gods of Earth C.
KANAYA: Thats The One Who Tried Having Dinner With Us Right
VRISSY: Yeah!! And then he Ratted me out and told you guys a8out how my Grades were 'lower than the Placement for Rust8loods on the Ancient Hemospectrum System'!!!
KANAYA: Oh Yes I Remember
KANAYA: Your Mother Was Incredibly Upset With You
VRISSY: Ugh, I know.
KANAYA: Especially For Your Exam Answer Where You Wrote In Her Title As
KANAYA: Seer Of Blabbering
VRISSY: I just forgot her Aspect in The Moment!!!!!!!!
KANAYA: Im Still Really Confused How You Possibly Forgot But Okay
VRISSY: And you know how Condescending Mom Gets when she's Mad at me.
KANAYA: I Know
KANAYA: She Was Always Very
KANAYA: Adorable With That Sort Of Tone
KANAYA: Haha
VRISSY: ...

The air suddenly felt unbearably heavy, something else creeping behind the thick veil. Vrissy's throat tightens as she watches her mother silently stare past her, appearing so distant from the moment. Perhaps even dangerously so, what with someone so fragile in her arms, a splinter of uneasiness courses through Vrissy's senses, while Sonny innocently gnaws away insistently at the rubber nipple. Kanaya's stare seems to become more disassociated as the seconds went by, the afternoon's bright sun ray framing the side of her face from the window, and the second a muscle faltered in her arm, Vrissy quickly pipes up and tries to disguise the urgency in her steps.

VRISSY: Mom, you need to Prop his Head up a little More.
KANAYA: What
VRISSY: I don't think Sonny is even getting any Stray Drops like that at least, he's kind of laid way Too Much in the Crook of your Arm.
KANAYA: Sweetheart What Are You-
KANAYA: Oh
KANAYA: Oh Youre Right
VRISSY: All he's Eating was just the Ru88er on his 8ottle, haha.
KANAYA: Wow Yeah
KANAYA: Thats Really Embarrassing On My Part
VRISSY: How the hell did I even Survive to a point where I'm a8le not to always Rely on You and Mom for things like Eating??
VRISSY: Oh my god. Was I dropped on the Head at some Point as a Gru8????????
KANAYA: I Assure You That When You Were A Grub You Were Positively The Most Well Protected And Nourished Wiggler In The Neighborhood
VRISSY: Not even the entirety of Earth C??
KANAYA: Ill Admit Your Mother And I Werent Overwhelmingly Perfect
KANAYA: We Were Certainly Bumbling Around With You For The First Few Years Of Your Life
KANAYA: But You Were Without A Doubt Utterly Adored
KANAYA: You Were And Still Are
KANAYA: And Will Always Be Actually
KANAYA: One Of The Most Precious Things In My Eyes
KANAYA: And Your Mothers
KANAYA: You Were Always The Apple Of Her Eye You Know
KANAYA: In Spite Of Everything
VRISSY: .

Vrissy bashfully looks off to the side, her cheeks lightly flushing as she stands impatiently, awkwardly fidgeting with her hands. Something about the sentiment wraps barbwires around Vrissy's pump biscuit, and in the moment of not knowing how to handle and process her troll mother's words, talking about her human mother and what she possibly thought of her, through her mysterious persona that always seemed indestructible to Vrissy, it translates into an unbearably sticky puddle of maternal embarrassment. She sticks out the tip of her tongue in a perfectly practiced fake disgust, while Kanaya giggles and readjusts her baby up a bit more on her arm, the milk flow successfully being fixed, if Sonny's little excited kicks were anything to go by. 

KANAYA: But There Were A Few Incidents Where Either Me Or Your Mother May Have Accidentally Mishandled You And Dropped You As A Grub
VRISSY: WHAT????????

Kanaya laughs, the sound of it bouncing off the kitchen walls while Vrissy furrows her brows accusingly at her mother. Vrissy couldn't care less about the concept of a grandmother, even much less about the fact both of her sets were long deceased; but maybe having an elderly figure that was a semblance of a competent caretaker growing up would've relaxed Vrissy's new blooming thoughts about her childhood, what other near death experiences she probably couldn't remember due to the fumblings from both her mothers. 

She still couldn't imagine a childhood without her mothers, imperfect or not, though. 

***

As drowsiness weighs down Kanaya's eyelids, the amount of burning stars littered across the dark sky amplifies. The only thing tying Kanaya's consciousness down from lulling away was the comfortable and precious weight within her arms, his breaths softly escaping him in a rhythmic pattern. An oblivious passerby wouldn't have even guessed that before this moment of tranquility, Sonny's calm and steady demeanor was instead wailing about an indecipherable problem that induced Kanaya into an anxious turmoil for a good hour. The stress of whatever could possibly be wrong with her baby, maybe something ghastly like health discomfort due to his mixed parentage, while her daughter was trying to sleep in her room merged and plagued Kanaya's head, scurrying to the hive's door and looking through her palmhusk for the nearest children's urgent care, then back to the living room when she tried shaking and freeing her thinkpan from such frenzied thoughts that something critical was happening to her son. 

All infants of every species cry for otherwise mundane reasons, Kanaya reminded herself. It's the only way they know how to communicate, and in spite of the uneasiness and perplexity of Sonny's hybrid biology, he was still a baby, and thus no different than Vrissy when she was just a grub. 

And eventually, once Sonny's cries were dulled down, so did Kanaya's anxiety, melting away in a relieving swoop. 

Kanaya sighs and allows herself to sink further into the cushion of her couch, letting her eyelids slide shut for just a moment, reveling in the darkness and allowing her muscles to relax just a bit, but not enough to accidentally lose Sonny from her grip. For a while, the only sounds echoing into her pointed ears were the soft noises from her son, and the rhythmic melody of the crickets outside. 

When Kanaya opens her eyes once more, she reaches a hand over to the bassinet next to the couch, lifting the blanket up and being immediately surged with anxiety at the absence of her son laid inside. Her muscles clench and she sits up quickly, uncontrollably frantic. 

KANAYA: Oh No Oh My God Sonny Where Are You
KANAYA: Where Did He-
KANAYA: Oh

Kanaya looks down at her arms, blearily remembering that her son was still curled up within her arms. 

KANAYA: Right

She should definitely get to bed. 

Kanaya heaves out a sigh as she rises to her feet, shuffling to Sonny's room and gently lowering him down into his crib, departing from her baby with a small kiss to his cheek. She stretches out and cracks her back, rubbing her eyes as she makes her way out of the room and into her own, not bothering to change into proper nightwear. But before Kanaya could collapse onto her bed and drift off immediately, her palmhusk buzzed, her brows furrowing as she fishes it out from her pocket. Who in the world would contact her out of nowhere this late - oh. 

Bright green text immediately flashes before Kanaya's eyes. Her throat goes dry. 

gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering grimAuxiliatrix [GA]
GG: hi kanaya!!
GG: i hope this isnt too late to text you!
GG: i meant to send you a message earlier but ive just been so busy with tasks and yiffy... theres so much on my plate right now!
GG: but despite that, i still wanted to make sure i asked you about something!
GA: Hi Jade
GG: oh you replied pretty fast!
GG: i hope i didnt accidentally wake you or something...
GA: No Youre Fine
GA: Ive Been Up
GA: Seeing As That I Have A Helpless And Clingy Infant Once Again
GA: To Keep Me Up At The Worst Hours
GG: hehe
GA: What Did You Want To Ask Me
GG: oh, right!
GG: well...
GG: i was wondering if me and yiffany could come over tomorrow? you know, to see your new baby!
GG: hes already been here for what, six months? and i havent even seen him once!! i need to fix that!
GG: i dont think i even know his name yet...
GA: His Name Is Sonny
GG: see! thats the first and only thing i know about him now :B
GG: sorry if this is coming on short notice but... i just really wanna see how he looks like!! i bet he looks adorable!
GA: He Is
GA: Very Adorable Actually
GG: and i know you have a day off tomorrow so...
GG: i just think its important, you know!
GA: That Yiffy Sees Him
GG: ...
GA: No Youre Right
GA: Not That I Was Deliberately Trying To Keep Him From You Guys Or Anything
GA: Ive Just Been
GA: Anxious About Who Comes Into Contact With Him I Guess
GA: Not Only Because Of How Sensitive He Is Right Now As A Vulnerable Baby
GA: But The Imperative Issue That Hes
GA: Not Even A Human Or A Troll But A Confusing Hybrid Of Both
GA: So I Want To Be Careful
GA: You Know
GA: I Dont Know What Would Even Happen If Jane Found Out And I Dont Want To Test Out Anything
GA: Hes One Of The Last Things I Have
GA: Of Her
GG: no no, i get it!!! id probably do the same thing if i were in your situation honestly...
GG: but i do think its really important that yiffy gets to meet him, you know??
GG: because i mean... theyre half siblings!!! sonny AND vrissy!
GG: theyre yiffys family too and i just dont want her to feel so isolated from them... like how i grew up!
GA: Yeah I Know
GA: I Wouldnt Mind If You Guys Came Over Tomorrow 
GA: I Probably Need A Relieving Day Anyways Ive Just Been Stressing Over Plans For Vrissys Wriggling Day In Two Days
GG: :D !!!!!
GG: great!! we will even bring gifts for sonny!
GG: see you tomorrow kanaya!!
gardenGnostic [GG] ceased pestering grimAuxiliatrix [GA]

When Kanaya clicks off her palmhusk, she stares at her reflection on her screen, the drained energy seeming so clear in her eyes. Kanaya finally throws herself on the bed her and Rose once shared, and in a second, drifts off. 

***

Vrissy idly taps away at her phone, lounging on the couch as she consistently swipes up on videos. If she had any energy for any outdoor activities, she would've gladly accepted Harry's invitation to go to a fair; however, with how rare the days were where she was able to spread herself on the couch and not have to worry about baby duties around the house, Vrissy felt more inclined to stay inside. Really, she just wanted at least a single day where she wasn't listed with any obligations, allowed to do nothing for once! 

Walking into the living room, Kanaya adjusted the cloth sling wrapped to her chest, comfortably containing Sonny. A splinter of suspicion crosses Vrissy's mind. 

KANAYA: Vrissy Do We Have Any Snacks Still Stocked Up
KANAYA: Particularly Ones That Dont Contain Any Chocolate
KANAYA: Like Chips
VRISSY: ...Yeah??
KANAYA: Okay Great
VRISSY: Why are you asking?
KANAYA: Oh
KANAYA: Jade And Yiffany Are Coming Over
KANAYA: And I Wanted To Make Sure I Had The Appropriate Snacks To Put Out On The Table Here
VRISSY: WH8T???????? THEY'RE COMING 8VER?
KANAYA: Yes
VRISSY: What Even FOR??
KANAYA: They Want To See Sonny For The First Time
KANAYA: Theyre Bringing Gifts For Him Too Which I Think Is
KANAYA: Very Nice Of Them
VRISSY: Okay?? Then make them just Drop Off the Gifts and Kick their asses Out Of Here!
KANAYA: Vrissy!
KANAYA: I Know Youre Still Uncomfortable Which Im In No Position To Even Scold You For
KANAYA: But Theyre Just Trying To Be Nice
VRISSY: It's not like we're O8lig8d to Host them just 8ecause they're showering Sonny in some Stupid Presents! Not like he even needs Anything right now anyways, have you Seen how Stocked his 8ook Shelf is? He can't even Read yet!
KANAYA: They Want To Meet Sonny
KANAYA: And I Need You To Be On Your Best Behavior
VRISSY: 8ut Mom!!!
VRISSY: There's no godd8mn W8Y I'm going to hang around that Stupid Fucking 8itch in my own H8VE! She doesn't even T8LK!

Kanaya's eyes narrow, inhaling deeply through her nose. As Kanaya slightly crouches down to Vrissy's level, leaning in menacingly, Vrissy can feel her throat suddenly tightening as her senses jump. 

KANAYA: If You Even Attempt To Start A Fight With Yiffy While Theyre Visiting
KANAYA: So Much As Even A Small Comment Under Your Breath That Anybody In The Room Can Hear
KANAYA: Im Going To Ground You So Hard The Only Freedom Youll Have For The Next Eight Months Is Your Time At School And Your Way Back To The Hive After
VRISSY: ...

Vrissy immediately scurries off to the kitchen to fetch a few bags of chips from the box stashed away in their cabinets. 

Soon, once a knock was finally heard at the door, Kanaya and Vrissy freeze up. Kanaya swallows thickly, her hand coming to caress Sonny's weight in her sling, while her free hand hesitantly opens the door. Standing at the entrance, Jade beams at the sight of Kanaya, Yiffy at her side with a contrasting look of disinterest. In both of her hands, as expected, were gifts, with Jade's being a simple green box, while Yiffy's was haphazardly wrapped in a deep red wrapping paper. 

JADE: kanaya :D!!!
JADE: its so good to see you!!
KANAYA: Hi Jade
KANAYA: Its Nice To See You Tooomf

Jade swiftly gives Kanaya a tight hug before she could finish her sentence, careful of the delicate weight wrapped to her chest, a little noise seeping out of Kanaya's lungs at the surprise. Suddenly, Kanaya couldn't even recall the last time she saw Jade - much less, an interaction between them that wasn't laced with clear discomfort and agitation from Kanaya's side, and remorse from Jade's. 

When Jade breaks the hug and enters the hive, Yiffy sticking alongside her and attempting no effort in avoiding Vrissy's burning gaze, Jade's canine tail begins to wag as her attention focuses on Sonny's hand peeking out of the sling. 

JADE: is that him???
KANAYA: Yes
KANAYA: He Might Be A Bit Sleepy As I Just Woke Him Up Not Too Long Ago
KANAYA: I Wanted To Make Sure You Two Had The Opportunity To Meet Him When Hes Awake
JADE: awwww, you didnt have to do that kanaya!! babies need their sleep after all, and theres not much he can babble out at this stage anyways!
KANAYA: Well Hes Suddenly Fully Awake Now
KANAYA: And I Think He Intends To Keep It That Way
KANAYA: Dont You

Kanaya pokes at Sonny's little hand gently, letting him latch onto her finger with a tight grasp. 

JADE: sonnys skin is such a light gray!
JADE: and he has horns :O!!
JADE: or i mean... one horn!
KANAYA: I Suspect Those Odd Features Of His Were
KANAYA: Obviously A Result Of His Uh
KANAYA: Unique Parentage
JADE: awww he kind of looks like a little unicorn!! thats adorable
JADE: is it okay if i hold him?
KANAYA: Sure
JADE: oh yeah, and heres his presents!!
JADE: (yiffy give kanaya your gift!)
YIFFY: ...

In exchange between Jade and Kanaya, Sonny is carefully lifted out of the sling and into Jade's secure arms, while Kanaya handles his gift. She takes off the lid while Jade coos at Sonny, looking inside and finding a stuffed bunny, its two black beady eyes shining up at Kanaya's face. 

KANAYA: Oh Jade
KANAYA: Thank You For This
KANAYA: Its Very Adorable
JADE: youre welcome!! babies can never have too many toys, especially sweet cuddly stuffed rabbits haha!
JADE: i remember with yiffy, she went through a lot of toys from infancy to toddlerhood!! she kept tearing them up :B
YIFFY:
VRISSY: (lmao)
JADE: i hope sonny will love it!
KANAYA: Yes Im Sure Sonny Will Love It
KANAYA: Im Picturing Him Snuggled With It And Giving It A Little Nibble In His Sleep Right Now
JADE: hehe

Kanaya examines the stuffed animal in her hand, a small smile on her lips, before settling the toy back into its box and placing it on the table. Yiffy hands off her gift to Kanaya, shoving her hands back into her short's pockets. Kanaya's claws tear into the red wrapping paper, eventually revealing a book. 

An in-depth book regarding birds and its many breeds, environments, and caretaking, apparently. Vrissy doesn't try to hide the bewilderment displayed in her countenance. 

KANAYA: Oh
KANAYA: Wow This Is
VRISSY: How the Hell is Sonny supposed to read That??
VRISSY: He 8arely even Knows what's going on when he's 8eing read a Simple Rhyming 8ook.
KANAYA: Vrissy
JADE: oh kanaya, im sorry about that!!
KANAYA: No Its Fine
VRISSY: Mom, let's 8e 8rutually honest for a second! When the hell is Sonny ever going to Read some Dictionary 8ook a8out 8irds????????
VRISSY: It's not like he's going to 8ird Watch and Sagely write it down in some thick Journal while he's Thoughtfully shitting his diaper!
JADE: uhm, maybe the book can come into use later when hes older!
VRISSY: Putting it up to Chance if he's even Interested in 8irds!
YIFFY:
VRISSY: !!!!!!!!
JADE: YIFFY!
JADE: dont flip anyone here off!!!!!!

Jade gently tugs at Yiffy's cheek with a free hand, while Kanaya glares sternly at Vrissy. 

Vrissy looks down to the ground, her arms firmly crossed. 

KANAYA: Its Still Thoughtful To Bring Anything
KANAYA: Regardless Of Whatever Milestone Sonny Is Currently In
KANAYA: Really
KANAYA: Thank You Guys
VRISSY: (may8e instead of some 8oring ass 8ird 8ook, she could've 8ought herself a fucking dictionary to read up on what the hell a 8a8y is)
JADE: anyways!! now that presents are done...
JADE: yiffy, do you wanna hold sonny??

Yiffy suddenly freezes, her black canine ears flicking towards her mother in surprise. She looks at Sonny, nestled in Jade's arms and staring blankly up at her, before meeting Jade's green gaze, then shifts to Kanaya's eyes. Yiffy stitches her brows together in uncertainty, lightly scratching at her face. However, Jade doesn't seem to take a nonverbal reluctant no for an answer, and hands Sonny off to her, directing her arms in a specific position. 

Yiffy's muscles abruptly go stiff, her ears pulling back as her buck teeth dig into her bottom lip. She's never held a baby before, after all - much less one that she presumes as incredibly fragile. God, she must look so ridiculous, uncomfortably trying to contain Sonny within her arms, her brows only furrowing more when Jade pulls out her phone to take a picture. 

Thankfully, Yiffy knows her mother isn't one for blackmailing, but unfortunately the same sentiment can't be shared with Vrissy, who flashes a shit eating expression. Yiffy tries stifling the growl in her throat, before her shoulders jump when Vrissy sneaks out her phone. Yiffy has seen the overwhelming amount of followers Vrissy has accumulated on her social media; no doubt, at the quick rate of its circling around the internet, her gang would inevitably have the most ridiculing photo of her first attempt at holding a baby in their gallery in a few hours. 

Yiffy immediately shifts Sonny around in her grasp, instead holding him in her hands and holding him at a distance. At this position, Sonny was now face to face with Yiffy, his eyes wide and curious, while Kanaya stands by clearly anxious for a moment. Yiffy stares back at Sonny, an awkward, almost apprehensive, feeling sprouting within her as she tries pinpointing an exact emotion in his completely unreadable expression. 

Sonny suddenly reaches out a small hand towards Yiffy, and once again, she goes stiff, unsure of what to do. It isn't until Sonny places his hand on Yiffy's nose, does something readable finally paint his face; a wide, elated smile. She stands still, and just watches as Sonny smiles at her, nothing else complicated hidden beneath it - not like the way his troll mother had first looked at her, or any of the vigorous hatred laced in every of his troll sister's glances at her. It was almost mystifying to see on him. 

When Sonny shifts his attention to the pair of canine ears sitting atop her head, Yiffy quickly hands him back to Jade, but the twitch in her tail doesn't go unnoticed by Vrissy. Jade and Kanaya both laugh. Once the room goes quiet, Jade speaks up, but her words almost sound hesitant. 

JADE: kanaya, if you dont mind... i was wondering if i could talk to you!
JADE: you know, in private...
KANAYA: Oh Uh
KANAYA: Sure
KANAYA: Vrissy Can You And Yiffy Go To Your Room
VRISSY: !!!!!!!!
YIFFY: !
VRISSY: Mom-

Kanaya gives her daughter a stern and quiet look, weighing on Vrissy immensely, which pushes her to groan and lead Yiffy to her bedroom, the latter just as unenthusiastic about the ordeal. Soon, the living room is left with just Jade and Kanaya, with Sonny bundled in Jade's arms. 

JADE: you know, sonny looks a lot like yiffy when she was a baby!
KANAYA: Does He
JADE: yeah!
KANAYA: Ah Well
KANAYA: I Wouldnt Know Anyways
JADE: ...
JADE: ...so how has it been with sonny!
KANAYA: Oh Its Been
KANAYA: In All Honesty Exhausting
KANAYA: What With Handling An Infant All By Myself And The General Tribulations That Always Come With It
KANAYA: But Also With The Anxiety That Sonny Is
KANAYA: Nothing Ordinary On Earth C
KANAYA: Theres Never Been Anyone Else Like Him So Im Always Uncertain In What Im Even Doing With Him
JADE: like how so?
KANAYA: Figuring Out A Proper Diet For Sonny Was Incredibly Taxing But He Seems To Be Able To Eat Just Fine Now
JADE: what does he eat??
KANAYA: His Diet Is Very Similar To That Of A Human Infant
KANAYA: Just With The Added Benefit Of Being Able To Consume Chunks Of Meat Like A Grub
KANAYA: I Suppose Im Also Worried About The Idea That Whatever Im Giving Him Isnt Even Satisfying For Him To Eat
KANAYA: Who Knows What Sort Of Mutations His Genetics Developed
KANAYA: I Havent Even Tested If Hes Able To Consume Onions And Honestly I Dont Think I Want To Put His Life At Such A Great Risk
JADE: oh no!!
JADE: maybe you can take him to the doctors and they can conduct some kind of onion allergy test... if he cant eat them, at least he will have his stomach pumped right away!
KANAYA: Yeah See Thats
KANAYA: Another Issue
KANAYA: Sonny Hasnt Seen A Doctor Yet
JADE: WHAT!
KANAYA: Listen I Know How Negligent That Probably Must Sound
KANAYA: Actually Not Even Probably More Like Most Definitely
KANAYA: But You Must Understand That With Sonnys Situation And The Entire Oddity Of His Cross Existence As A Child Of A Troll And Human
KANAYA: Especially One That Costed The Life Of A God
KANAYA: I Cant Just Frivolously Expose Him To Just Anyone
KANAYA: And If Jane Finds Out About Him I Fear The Possibility Of Her Attention Pointing Towards Him
KANAYA: So I Just
KANAYA: Need To Be Careful
KANAYA: You Know
JADE: no, i get it...
JADE: honestly, i think i might understand your situation more than anyone else we know!
JADE: which is why i really wanted to talk to you! i know how difficult it is to try and hold this stuff down, to try and give your kid a normal childhood in spite of everything!!
JADE: its so lonely and draining, and i dont wanna see any of my friends go through the same thing...
KANAYA: Jade Thats Really Nice Of You But
KANAYA: I Just
KANAYA: Cant

The air grows between awkward and melancholic, Jade's white canine ears pinning down to her head as Kanaya looks off to the side, her brows knitted together. Sonny's hands wave up at Jade, trying to reach for her dog ears as his small noises break any silence that attempts to settle in the living room. 

JADE: who... who has been watching sonny then when youre off doing war tasks??
KANAYA: Vrissy Has Been Taking Care Of Him While Im Out
JADE: all this time?? dont you think thats a lot for her?
KANAYA: ...
JADE: i wouldnt mind watching him for you! and im sure roxy wouldnt mind at all either... hes roses baby!
JADE: i know it feels like you can handle all this really easy, but youre only going to stress both yourself and vrissy out!!
KANAYA: I Know Raising Sonny Isnt Going To Be Remotely Easy
KANAYA: As Easy That Childrearing Can Possibly Be In Any Other Setting
KANAYA: Or Even Similar To How It Was Raising Vriska When Rose Was Still Here
KANAYA: Going Through The Emotional Turmoil And The Joy Alongside Me Like With Vrissy
KANAYA: Watching Her Break Through The Walls Of Her First Molts Cocoon Together
KANAYA: Its Not Going To Be The Same And It Never Will Be
KANAYA: But I Was Already Aware Of That
KANAYA: Instead Of Sulking And Spiraling Into A Pathetic State Of Feeling Sorry For Myself About What Was Inevitably Going To Come
KANAYA: Like What Everyone Wouldve Likely Expected Of Me
KANAYA: I Didnt Want To Waste The Last Few Months I Had With Her Just In Anguish 
JADE: ...wait

Jade's dog ears flick forward in a snap, the surprise pulling out a litany of giggles from Sonny. Kanaya stares at Jade with wide eyes. 

JADE: you... you knew rose was going to die??
KANAYA: ...
KANAYA: Uhm

Vrissy mindlessly scrolls through her social media, her back against the wall on her bed and occasionally throwing a glance at Yiffy from across the room, who was lounging on a beanbag and silently scanning the room. Vrissy rolls her eyes when Yiffy's gaze meets her, still the same furrowed brow look on her face, as always. In Yiffy's opinion, she'd definitely much rather listen in on whatever the adults were discussing, whatever juicey drama was being cut with a butcher's knife between her mother and Vrissy's mother. Her ears stood tall and frequently flicked over towards the closed door, trying to pick up any yelling. So far, there wasn't even a slight sound ringing in her ears, her eyes impatiently narrowing at the door. Suddenly, a rise in volume of the muffling behind the door rings in Yiffy's ears, her interest immediately peaking, before dying down significantly out of frustration that no words could even be deciphered. 

Yiffy shifts her eyes to the array of figurines near her, finely made and certainly expensive looking. Vrissy narrows her eyes at her. 

VRISSY: Don't even think a8out touching my Shit for a Second.
YIFFY: ...
VRISSY: I'm Serious! I can do Crazy Shit to you!

Yiffy looks at the display once more, before a mischievous grin crosses her face. In a quick moment, Yiffy reaches over and knocks down two figurines from their places, clattering against the floor and causing Vrissy to sit up sharply. 

YIFFY: >:B
VRISSY: You Little Fucking-

Suddenly, before Vrissy could finish her sentence, Jade opens the door, startling both teenagers. 

JADE: yiffy, we are leaving now
JADE: we have a lot of stuff to do today!
JADE: dont forget to say bye to everyone!
YIFFY: ...
VRISSY: ...

Yiffy gets up and exits the room, a brow raised at her mother, while Jade gives Vrissy a smile and then departs. Vrissy glances down at her figurines, staring at them in deep thought. Then, she goes to pick them up. When Vrissy rejoins her mother, alone in the living room with just Sonny in her arms, Kanaya only gives her a smile of reassurance. But Vrissy doesn't slip up on the slight falter in her mother's expression.

***

When the morning finally comes around, and Vrissy flutters her eyes open, she's momentarily greeted with Kanaya opening her door. Kanaya gives her a soft smile, then walks over to her bed, sitting on the side as Vrissy yawns and props herself up. Kanaya cups her daughter's cheek for a second, holding her tenderly, which Vrissy responds with an embarrassed squeezing of her eyes, poking her tongue out. Kanaya just giggles at Vrissy's reaction, so consistent in her displeasure towards blatant affection from her mothers, but the lean into her palm anyway always communicated the most. 

KANAYA: Happy Wriggling Day Vriska
VRISSY: Thanks, Mom.
KANAYA: I Cant Believe Youre Seven Sweeps Now
VRISSY: You're not going to get all Sappy and Emotional right now, are You????????
VRISSY: Jeez, Mom, I 8arely just Woke Up!!
KANAYA: I Promise I Will Retain Any Tears Currently Threatening To Pour Out For Later When You Blow Out Your Candles
KANAYA: Save You From The Embarrassment Of Your Mother Adoring You So Much

Vrissy rolls her eyes at Kanaya's sarcastic tone, to which Kanaya chuckles warmly at. 

KANAYA: So
KANAYA: Do You Feel Seven Sweeps Yet
VRISSY: You always ask me that Type Of Question, like, every Morning on my 8irthday.
KANAYA: I Remember When You Were A Wiggler You Would Always Enthusiastically Respond To It
KANAYA: That You Certainly Felt Older Than You Did Last Night
KANAYA: Like It Was Some Inexplicable Overnight Growth
KANAYA: Haha
VRISSY: And I actually 8elieved That???????? Jeez.
VRISSY: Please don't tell that Story to Anyone Else. I can't imagine what Harry and Tavvy would say if they Found Out that wiggler me 8elieved something that hilariously Gulli8le!
VRISSY: Or even Worse, Vriska! The other one, I mean!
KANAYA: But Do You Feel Seven Sweeps Now
VRISSY: What???
VRISSY: Man, Mom, you have to put a 8rake on all this Motherly Teasing Act for a second. Again, it's 8arely the Morning of my Wriggling Day!!!!!!!!
KANAYA: Vrissy Its The Afternoon
VRISSY: Whatever!
VRISSY: The only thing I'm positively feeling right now is to use the Loadgaper!
KANAYA:
VRISSY:
KANAYA:
VRISSY:
KANAYA:
VRISSY:
VRISSY: ...8ut I mean, I guess I do feel a little Older. Either that, or I'm just still Suuuuuuuuper Tired.
KANAYA: Either Way You Better Make Sure Youre Supplied With Enough Energy For Today
KANAYA: I Have A Lot Of Things Planned To Do For You Today
KANAYA: Such As Taking You To That Cafe Thats Vastly Far From Here
KANAYA: You Know The One With Your Little Characters That You Bugged Me About Two Months Ago
VRISSY: Wait.
VRISSY: REALLY???
KANAYA: Yeah
VRISSY: 8ut... what a8out Sonny???????? There's no way he's going to 8e a8le to last a trip That Long without getting all Fussy and Whiny.
KANAYA: I Dropped Him Off With Roxy
VRISSY: !!!
KANAYA: Dont Worry
KANAYA: Sonny Will Be Fine Within Her Care
KANAYA: You Deserve To Have Your Wriggling Day To Be
KANAYA: Well About You Obviously
KANAYA: Especially After The Laborious Days Of Needing To Watch Over Your Little Brother That Ive Been Tasking You With
KANAYA: I Know You Dont Want To Admit It
KANAYA: But I Know Its Been Incredibly Difficult For You
KANAYA: After The Loss Of Your Mother
VRISSY: ...
KANAYA: Placing The Unnecessary Stress Of Needing To Watch Over Sonny Onto You
KANAYA: Just Due To My Own Suspicions About Nearly Everyone In Order To Keep Sonny Out Of Harm
KANAYA: It Was Stupid
KANAYA: But I Suppose I Just Didnt Want To Question Whether Or Not This Sort Of Obligation Was Overwhelming For You
KANAYA: Heavily Weighing On You As If You Didnt Have Any Other Say In It
VRISSY: I think Mom would've Teased you for Ram8ling off like this.
KANAYA: She Probably Would Have
KANAYA: Wouldnt She

Kanaya attempts to force out a choked out noise that Vrissy suspects was supposed to be a jovial giggle. Vrissy toys with the idea of talking further with her mother about the topic, but discards it. She just wasn't in the mood to have such a heavy conversation, on her wriggling day nonetheless, and right after waking up. 

VRISSY: Do you think we can go to my Favorite Diner for 8reakfast, Mom?
KANAYA: Of Course
VRISSY: !!!!!!!!

Vrissy lights up, figuratively, while Kanaya lights up literally, laughing and pinching at her daughter's cheek.