Archive of Our Own ^beta

Agatha was usually first up. She liked to be the one to make the coffee or start making breakfast. Also, a childhood of being called lazy and useless had long since made her avoid lying in or anything like that. It had taken being friends with Alice in college to teach her that it was occasionally all right to sleep in or just laze around on slow days. It had taken being loved by Rio for the past seven years to make the lesson stick.

Still, even now Agatha was usually awake and up and about a little before Rio. Even on soft weekend days when Rio whimpered and clung to her, murmuring "Babe, please, I wanna cuddle," she got up early and got to whatever she felt needed doing. Of course lately, Rio had been encouraging her more than ever to rest.

"Agatha, you're pregnant. You need to rest so much all the time."

"Rio, I'm only a few months along. It'll be fine, I swear."

Truthfully, a part of her screamed internally every time she was reminded she was pregnant. Now, at three months, that happened more each day. She had just a hint of a belly, just barely, still easily concealed under loose clothes, but enough that she noticed it in the mirror just after a shower and while dressing. She would catch sight of the barely-there bump and would feel a strange combination of joyous wonder and bile-raising fear. It was not that she did not want the baby, or did not want to be a parent. She wanted that so much. Both of them did.

It was the terror of recalling her own childhood and of knowing that even if she tried to fight, she might somehow turn out like her mother. She might hurt the child. She swore she would never physically hurt them, never raise a hand to them, but what if she hurt them emotionally? What if she was cold, distant, judgemental?

What if she did not show them enough how much she loved them? She already worried that she was not demonstrative enough with Rio, and now with the baby on the way...

Today, Agatha was particularly tired for reasons beyond her anxieties. She and Rio had each been nervously on edge early in the week—for all they were both recovering Catholics, the big deal stuff like a new pope still got to them—and work had been an absolute bitch in general, as close as it was to the end of the year. Then yesterday had been the school's SummerFest celebration, and they had been handling the dunk tank—thank goodness Rio had agreed, as usual, to be the one inside it—and that had been a lot. There were plenty of fourth and fifth graders each year who did not like seeing their parents hit the target and dump everyone's favorite science teacher into the water, so there were always some meltdowns.

Even with being tired, Agatha found herself popping awake at nearly dawn...

And found the other side of the bed empty.

Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and groaned. The morning sickness was mostly past, which was amazing, but it had been replaced with a ravenous hunger. Without fail, 7 mornings out of 10, no matter how well she had eaten the day before, she woke up feeling utterly famished, stomach rumbling. Luckily today, she already could smell that wonderful things were underway in the kitchen. That brought a smile to her face, and she softly rubbed the tiny swell of her belly.

"Well, let's go see what your mami has cooking," she murmured.

As she padded into the kitchen, her smile broadened to see Rio working carefully at what looked to be a very involved breakfast. There was careful measuring, stirring, and forking going on as Agatha quietly went and hugged her wife from behind.

"Good morning," she purred in Rio's ear.

"Good morning to my sweetheart," Rio whispered in response.

For a moment, all the breakfast work was carefully set aside, and Rio wiped her hands on a tea towel before turning and wrapping her arms around Agatha.

"Feel pretty good?" she asked.

"Mmm, I feel great now that my gorgeous wife is making us an amazing breakfast."

"Yeah, well, I live to serve."

"Don't I know it," Agatha said, and tightened their embrace a moment.

Rio kissed her softly, but hungrily, and backed her over toward the opposite side of the kitchen. As soon as Agatha's back was against the counter, Rio growled and pressed a thigh between Agatha's own.

"I got a whole quiet day planned for us, mi corazón," Rio breathed, "so better take it easy now, huh?"

Agatha let out a small whine.

"Please?" she whimpered.

"Later, sweetheart. For now, you have a seat. I got your tea ready and everything."

For the first time that morning, Agatha glanced toward the kitchen table. Sure enough, there was her favorite mug, a hint of steam wafting from it, and near it...

Near it was a small purple gift bag and an even smaller box.

"What are..."

"Presents," Rio said simply.

"It's not my birthday for almost a month."

"I know."

"It's not our anniversary."

"Nope."

"So why presents?"

"Maybe it's a just-because."

That would fit. Rio had always been a just-because gift giver. But still, something about today, about the early and intense breakfast prep, the talk of a whole day planned...

It was Sunday. A Sunday in May.

Shit.

"Is it..." Agatha trailed off.

Rio smiled at her so softly, so sweetly, and leaned close to whisper.

"Happy Mother's Day, mi amor."

They had discussed this sort of thing around the time they decided to go ahead with having a baby. Agatha had made every effort to deal with the trauma around her own mother, and around her fear of being inadequate as a parent. Still, she worried, nay feared, that she would not be deserving of the love of their child, that she would fail them.

For now, she pushed down the rush of words about all of that and forced on a tight smile.

"Rio, I'm not due for another six months."

"And yet, you're already the mother of my child."

"Well, I... I didn't get you anything."

Rio shrugged.

"Well, maybe I can have my own day. I mean, I'm the father-mom. Seems like I deserve my own special celebration. I'm already workshopping ideas, in fact. Thinking March 22nd for the date..."

"That's already your birthday."

"Yeah, and? Some people are born on Christmas. I was born on Father-Mom's Day."

Snorting out a laugh, Agatha felt some of her anxiety melt away as she rested her head against Rio's shoulder.

"I let you put a baby in me one time," Agatha muttered, "and you're making a whole production of it forever after."

"Well as I recall, you made quite a production of the effort. All that new lingerie..."

"Okay, champ, don't get me revved up again. Just make me breakfast."

"Sí sí, mamacita," Rio rasped, and kissed Agatha's cheek.

As Agatha went and sat at the table, she sighed happily. There was her perfect cup of white tea with lavender and ginger, and beside the mug the single little individually wrapped ginger chew that she had really started to appreciate when the morning sickness was at its peak. She let her gaze waft over the gifts, but she made no move toward them. Rio, no doubt, would make a whole thing out of them being opened after breakfast. Well, fine. That sort of thing could wait.

Rio hummed to herself as she cooked, and Agatha watched her go through all of the usual little twitches and stims—every song had a movement set—while working.

It was wild to Agatha that Rio's biggest fear when they took the plunge on starting a family had been "What if the baby is like me?" As far as Agatha was concerned, if the baby was even vaguely like Rio in any way, that would be perfect. Amazing. A sweet, goofy, spirited kid with big, dark eyes and the warmest, most loving heart Agatha had ever known? What would be so bad about that?

"You know what I mean," Rio had grumbled softly when Agatha had expressed that view.

Of course she knew. Life had been hard for Rio for plenty of reasons, but the autism was the one that seemed to worry her most as far as what might effect their child. Sure, she was great socially now, at least among their friends, and so long as she had plenty of notice and information regarding planned changes to routine, everything was pretty even. But there were rough days, days where everything was too much or where nothing seemed to go right, and by afternoon or evening Rio would shut down, curled up in her favorite chair or in bed, breathing all ragged, muscles tense.

"What if they're like me," she had said a few times early on, "or what if it's even more tough for them? What if I can't help them right?"

"Darling," Agatha had assured her, "you will be an amazing parent, and I know you'll be wonderful with our child."

For the most part so far, Agatha had kept her own feelings and fears down, sharing primarily with her therapist. Now and then, something snuck out, and Rio was always quick to reassure her when it did.

"You're gonna be the best mom, Agatha. Our kid is gonna know every day how much you love them, and that they're always safe with you."

Sipping her tea, Agatha tried to relax. Her wife was being sweet, making her breakfast and celebrating her a little early. That was wonderful and sweet and Agatha was so grateful to have found someone who cared so deeply for her. She was lucky. She had found her person.

So what if she was as bad and evil as her mother had always said and she fouled it all up? What if it turned out motherhood changed her and she was horrible and Rio ended up leaving her and taking the baby and...

And...

And Agatha burst into tears.

"Whoawhoawhoa," Rio rushed out, and she was at Agatha's side in a heartbeat.

"I... You're so good to me!" Agatha wailed.

"Babe, I... Sweetheart? Are you okay?"

"I... I love you so much!"

"I know, Agatha. I love you so much too."

"And I'm... I'm so sorry I'm gonna screw up. That I'm gonna be an awful mom and... And that the baby's gonna hate me."

"Agatha, babe, hey," Rio murmured, pulling a chair over and sitting down to take Agatha's hands.

"I'm gonna hurt them somehow. I know I am."

"No you're not, love. You would never, could never, hurt our baby."

"But if... What if I..."

"Let me ask you something."

Rio brought her hands up to cradle Agatha's face, and when Agatha met her gaze, the warm brown eyes were full of love and adoration.

"You want our baby, right?" Rio asked.

"I do. I want them and I love them and..."

"So why would you think you'll hurt them, or be bad to them, or any of that?"

"Be... Because I don't know how to be a mom. I don't know how to be good to a little kid, and I don't..."

"My love, you teach second grade. You know how to handle little kids."

"But those are other people's kids. I don't have to deal with them all the time, nights and weekends and holidays and everything. This... This will be our baby. What if I'm bad at looking after them? What if I do something to scare them, or I don't pay enough attention, or... Or..."

The tears surged again, and Agatha allowed herself to lean forward and be embraced by Rio.

"You're not gonna hurt them, Agatha. You are not her, you will never be her, and she can't touch you anymore. She can't hurt you or me or the baby."

"Can't she?"

"Not while she's still in on that trafficking conviction. And if she gets out and she tries to mess with us, I might just cop an assault charge. Or I'll at least, like, pop the tires on her Harley. Basic bitch."

Agatha nearly choked as a sob turned into a laugh, and Rio rubbed her back firmly.

"You're gonna be a million times better as a mom than she could ever hope to be," Rio said, "and you're never gonna do anything to harm our kid. I know that."

"I just worry so much."

"Yeah, well, it's okay sometimes to worry. But you can't let it eat you up. You gotta breathe and remember, you're your own person. You're strong. You made it through all that shit in your childhood and came out so, so strong."

Rio sighed and kissed a spot just below Agatha's ear.

"Hey, open that little box. See what me an' the bean gotcha."

Pulling away, Agatha turned and took up the little box, sliding off the dark purple ribbon tied around it and carefully lifting the lid.

"Oh, Rio..."

"You like it?"

In the box was coiled a fine silver chain that held a silver pendant with a gorgeous amethyst cabochon. It was just her style, and she almost felt tears welling up again.

"Darling, it's beautiful!"

"Knew you'd like it. I saw it and... And well, it made me think right away of you."

Pulling the jewelry out, Agatha held the pendant between her fingers and studied it, only then noticing something about the edge.

"Is it..."

"A locket," Rio nodded.
"Open it up and check it out."

Popping the locket open, Agatha was surprised to see something already inside. Squinting, she brought it close to her face. It took her a while, but finally realization hit her, and she looked up at Rio.

"Is this the sonogram image?"

"The very same."

"The one where our beloved child looks distinctly like a Navy bean trying to grow a face?"

Rio nodded, grinning.

"I mean, it's their first picture, so..."

Agatha looked back down at the locket, and when she looked back up again, she saw Rio's grin fading.

"Did I do it wrong?" Rio asked, and Agatha saw the fear and shame creeping into her expression.

"No! My love, it's wonderful, honestly. It's a wonderful gift. I was just surprised."

Quickly, Agatha leaned back in and kissed Rio thoroughly enough to leave them both winded.

"I... I gotta finish... I... Breakfast," Rio managed when it was over, and she stood quickly to stagger back over to the stove.

Studying the locket in her hand, Agatha smiled. It was one of the best gifts Rio had ever given her, and it held an image of the very best. Then, with a deep breath, she closed it and just let it rest on her palm, occasionally running her thumb over the stone.

She could not mess this up. Any of this. She would not allow herself to fail as this child's mother, or as the mother of any child who might come after. Rio trusted her, believed in her, and would be there to support her.

Once the food was ready, Rio approached the table and saw Agatha still looking at the locket.

"Can I help you put it on?"

"Please," Agatha said.

She held her hair aside while Rio delicately fastened the chain around her neck, then leaned down and planted a kiss on the skin just above the clasp. The locket itself slipped easily down the collar of Agatha's pajama top and rested, already skin-warmed, against her chest.

"Happy Mother's Day," Rio whispered again.

The breakfast was perfect: tofu scramble, potatoes O'Brien, and fresh-baked apple scones, all things Agatha adored. Rio was really "on" as they ate, probably still nervously wound up from the earlier. She was joking around about all sorts of things and jubilating like a child about their upcoming summer break.

"So. Much. Garden time," she mused through a mouthful of scone.

"Garden time," Agatha nodded.

She had to admit, she was feeling more than ready for days of watching through the windows as Rio got all dirty and sweaty working in the yard. A day like that always meant Rio coming in for a shower around lunch time, followed by usually at minimum a loving, snuggly nap, but often by loving snuggles that turned into raunchy sex. Even just thinking about it made Agatha hope that they could postpone any after breakfast plans for a while and head back to bed.

Once the meal was eaten, Rio looked very excited, doing her usual little grin and nod as she pointed toward the remaining gift on the table.

"Check it out, 'cause you'll probably like it. I mean, I hope you will. I mean, maybe you will. I dunno, 'cause..."

"Rio, I'm sure I'll love it."

Pulling the gift bag close, Agatha removed the small sheet of tissue paper that was tucked into the top, then reached inside. She grasped something fuzzy, and she jerked her hand back with a little shriek.

"Rio, what the..."

"It's nothing bad, I swear," Rio said.

Sighing, Agatha carefully stuck her hand back into the bag and pulled out...

"Scratchy?"

It was not, could not be, the same beloved little plushie bunny that her first foster moms had given her, that she had carried through ten years of back and forth, and yet it looked so much the same. The same floppy little ears with their satiny lining, the same shiny black eyes and white-and-tan fur. Even the same little green ribbon with tiny purple plastic gems tied around the neck. Agatha stared at the toy, a warm nostalgia filling her chest, and then looked up across the table at her wife.

"How... This isn't..."

"I've been trying to find him, or at least someone who looks like him, for years. Really ever since you told me about him on our fifth date. Helped a lot once Carol and Maria got in touch and sent those pictures they still had from when you lived with them, since then I could see what he looked like new.
"Then this year, literally the third day of the year, all my searching online paid off. I found the son of the guy who ran the company that made them. Turns out even though the company's been defunct for 15 years, there was some old stock the family held on to. The guy's son looked and lo and behold, he found that little creature waiting around."

Agatha did not want to burst into tears again, especially not over a little stuffed animal. Of course, given her history, and knowing that her wife had spent most of their relationship planning this gift, it was impossible not to feel a rush of emotions.

"You... You worked that hard, that long, just to find me this?" she asked.

Rio shrugged.

"I know how important that toy was to making you feel safe as a kid. And I know a little what it's like to have been in and out of the system and to have lost important things in that shuffle. But more than anything else, I love you and would do anything to make you happy."

Rio reached a hand out across the table, and Agatha gladly took it.

"I remember you talking about how, even though he was just a bunny plushie, you felt like Scratchy protected you," Rio went on, "and ever since we got together, I've understood it to be my job to protect you, but hey, why not have backup?"

That did it. The tears started falling again, and Agatha pulled Rio's hand to her lips, lightly kissing the back of it.

"How come you love me so much?" she whispered against Rio's knuckles.

"Because I do. Because you're wonderful. Because you deserve so much more than life offered you before we met. So much more care, so much more gentleness. So, so much more love."

That soft, kind sweetness, the way Rio was so often when they were alone, only made it more difficult for Agatha to stop the happy tears from falling. Eventually, Rio got up and moved around the table, pulling Agatha to her feet and hugging her close.

"I don't know... That I deserve anything good," Agatha muttered, "especially not you. But I'm so glad I have you."

"You do deserve every good thing, mi amor. Whether you know or believe that, it's true. Every good and beautiful thing is for you, as far as I can provide."

"Rio..."

"I gotcha."

Agatha let herself relax into the embrace, let Rio's slight nervous rock soothe her. She wanted nothing more than this sort of happiness for the rest of her life, and with Rio she felt so assured she might have it. Even on both of their worst days, they managed to be there for each other in ways great and small.

"What say," Rio offered, "we go just cuddle a little while? Just relax a little longer on this golden morning?"

"Mm-hmm," Agatha hummed, her head resting on Rio's shoulder.

They headed back toward their room, but Agatha went a few steps past, to the door of the tiny room that would soon be their child's nursery.

"What..." Rio began, and Agatha smiled, holding up the toy bunny.

"This little guy is going to be our nursery guard," she said.

She heard Rio's footsteps following her as she entered the space. It had not yet fully become what it must, but there was one piece of furniture sitting in the corner. Agatha crossed to that and knelt, tucking the plushie carefully into the crook between the arm and the back of the rocking chair.

"Hey," she said softly, feeling a bit ridiculous, "you gotta keep this room ready. Keep any bad dreams from getting in. Can you do that?"

Chuckling to herself, Agatha smoothed a finger over one of the floppy ears, then stood again slowly. Turning, she saw Rio standing just inside the doorway, hands in pockets, watching. With a shrug, Agatha went to her and kissed her cheek.

"His brother used to protect me from all the nightmares, so this guy might as well do the same for our little one when they come along, huh?"

Rio smiled and slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"I like the way you think, mi corazón."

They left the little room, closing the door behind them as carefully as if there was already an infant asleep there. In the hall, Rio stopped and turned to smile at Agatha, stroking her cheek and brushing a stray lock of hair back behind her ear.

"Mi bella esposa," she murmured, and Agatha blushed.

"I bet you say that to all the girls."

"Uhm," Rio said, squinting, "I wouldn't. You're the only wife I have."

"I was joking, my love."

"I know, I... I just need you to know you're the only one for me. The only one I'll ever want. You're my heart, Agatha. You and the child are my life."

"You're gonna make me cry again, you absolute sweetheart."

"Would many gentle kisses help?"

Agatha smiled.

"I think that would definitely help, yes."

Rio turned them and pushed Agatha gently back against the wall. The kiss that followed was hot, deep, soft as their first but a little less sloppy. It was followed up by a string of others, some a bit more chaste, some absolutely filthy, and by the time they took a real break, both Agatha and Rio were panting.

"Bed?" Rio asked.

"I think we'd better make our way there, yeah."

Leaning slightly to the right, Rio opened the bedroom door, but before Agatha could slip away and enter, Rio got a grip and picked her up.

"Rio Vidal!"

"Hey, I gotta carry you through doors when I get the chance. Gotta make up for not getting to do it when we came back from our honeymoon."

"Well maybe if you hadn't absolutely destroyed your ACL on said honeymoon..."

"Babe, I cannot resist a Slip'n'Slide. Sorry, it's just who I am."

In the bedroom, Rio laid Agatha gently on the bed, then kissed her forehead. Agatha, not willing to wait, grabbed at Rio's shirt and pulled her down, kissing her like it was a necessity—which to Agatha, it was.

"Fuck," Rio gasped, "you need me so bad?"

"I need you so bad. So, so bad."

"Mmm. 'S what I like to hear."

Rio relaxed a little on top of Agatha and shivered, dropping her head to nuzzle at Agatha's neck.

"Fuck, babe," she sighed, one of her hands slipping down into Agatha's sleep shorts.

Very suddenly, the memory of their first time sprang into Agatha's mind. Rio had been very concerned then, gentle and cautious. Agatha had been nervous as hell. They had both been tipsy on bad, cheap wine, and they had at first ended up humping like teenagers on the rickety couch in the corner of the living room of the shitty little apartment Agatha and Alice shared. In the end it had gone well, with only a little awkward fumbling and rushing. Compared to right now, though... Now, they were comfortably sober, in their own bed, and they knew each other by heart.

"Okay?" Rio asked, as always, when she slipped two fingers into Agatha's cunt.

"Yeah. Oh, fuuu-huck, just... Just like that."

It had been almost a month since they really had the time or energy to make love, and it showed. There was the very slight burn of the initial stretch as Rio entered her, and there was the particular way Rio herself whimpered at a very well-timed flex of Agatha's thigh. There was also the closeness of this moment, of what Rio sometimes called 'the ol' closet hump,' the need to compress themselves together, forehead to forehead, breath blending, as if they were hiding away in some tiny space.

Perhaps in a way, they were hiding—hiding from the world in the shimmering bubble that was their devotion to one another.

Rio came first, shoulders jerking, thighs clamping around Agatha's leg as she grunted and moaned. The motions of her hand got uneven for a moment, and her fingers curled and spread in a way that set Agatha off, soaking Rio's hand and leading them both to let out broken moans as they shared one more lingering kiss. As they came down, Rio frowned a little, then shook her head.

"Sorry, mi amor. I... I been real wound up."

"It's fine, darling," Agatha whispered, tickling her fingers through the fine hairs at the nape of Rio's neck.

Rio slid just to the side, hand still down Agatha's shorts, cupping her.

"Gimme a second and... And I'll clean you up."

"Take your time. Not ready for you to be away from me just yet."

The orgasm had made Agatha a little dozy, and she was drifting off when she felt Rio's hand finally slip away, then felt Rio's lips brush her cheek.

"Right back, cariño."

Agatha hummed out a little sound. She  bubbled back to consciousness when she felt her shorts being stripped off, then warm cloth between her legs. It was comforting, the way Rio cleaned her up after a particularly wet climax. Blinking her eyes open, she smiled and took Rio's free hand.

"My good boy," she teased, and saw Rio blush.

"Papi debe cuidar de mami," Rio said, and winked before tossing the washcloth aside and holding up a new pair of shorts.

Sighing, Agatha allowed her wife to re-clothe her lower body, then smiled again and chuckled as Rio bent low and kissed her belly.

"Sorry about the ruckus, junior, but I love your mom just a whole lot," Rio whispered.

"Junior, huh?"

"Term of art, babe."

"What art, precisely?"

"Uhm, the art of being a cool and awesome dad, obviously. Kiddo is gonna be just as cool and awesome as me."

"And what if they're like me instead?"

"Then they would be, just... Just too cool and awesome. Too powerful. The world would tremble at their might."

"Oh, well then, can't have that. Gotta temper the amount of awesome in this family. Wouldn't want us taking over the world or something."

"Can't have that," Rio nodded, then laughed as she crawled over Agatha's legs and settled down beside her.

"Don't suppose a quick mid-morning nap was on the itinerary for the day?" Agatha yawned.

"Not precisely, but I think we can just about fit it in."

"Ha! Fit it in," Agatha chuckled.

"Hey, I thought dad jokes are my domain."

"Not for another six months, champ. Besides, that wasn't a dad joke. It was an adolescent mockery."

"Right, right. Forgot I married Profesor Comedia," Rio grumbled, and curled up against Agatha's side.

"You're learning, my love. Surely by the time the baby arrives, you will be the supreme jokester in the house."

"Okay, crew, circle up."

Agatha watched her students rush over from the various parts of the room and assemble around her. They were all good kids, and she was sort of going to miss teaching this group. She would still see them around the school, of course, but it would not be the same.

"I just wanna say, you've all done such great things this year. You've put in such good efforts, learned so much, and you've helped one another. I'm really proud of all of you."

There was a chorus of "Thanks!" and "Thank you, Teacher!" and a few "I'm proud of you, Teacher Agatha!"

And from the back corner of the room came a lone little voice.

"You aw da best teachoh, Teachoh Agafa!"

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Agatha looked and saw almost exactly what she had expected: little Peter Parker, halfway up the big bookcase, dangling by his hands from the top shelf.

"Peter, what was the rule about the bookshelves?"

"Dey hohd books, not peepuh!"

"And so should you be climbing them?"

"I'm not cwimbin'. I'm hangin' out."

"Should you be doing that?"

"Pwolly not."

"Can you get down on your own, or..."

Peter scrambled down a couple of shelves then dropped off, landing on his feet and bending his legs as he did.

Well, at least he was developing technique.

Really, he was a student who had particularly made a lot of progress this year. He was slightly less prone to climb random things or bounce around the classroom being distracted constantly, and the speech therapy he was in meant his verbal communication was much clearer. Still, he was a wild one. One to keep an eye on for many reasons.

"Thanks, Pete. You wanna come over here with everyone else now?"

Agatha watched the boy amble over, trading shoulder bumps with his pals Johnny Storm and Tommy Maximoff.

"Great. As I was saying, I'm so proud of you all. After summer break, you'll get back here, and I know you'll continue to do so well in third grade with Teacher Jen or Teacher Kate."

Another little chorus of thank yous, and then the chimes rang ahead of going home time.

"Okay, crew, get your things and prepare to head out! Only four more days until summer break!"

Everyone scrambled to their cubbies except for Peter, who hung back.

"Agafa?" he said.

"Yeah, Pete?"

"You aw fwends wiv Teachoh Wio, wight?"

Agatha smiled.

"Best friends."

"Okay. So, wiw you teww huh dat when I get to foaf gwade, I am vewwy ehsited foh huh science cwass?"

"I'll tell her that."

"An' teww huh I cannot wait foh dee unit on spidoes. I wuv spidoes. Teww huh pwease I have a pet spido who is a twanchah."

Agatha crouched down to the boy's level.

"I'll be sure to tell her that, Pete. Now, go get your stuff, okay? Almost time to head home."

"'Kay, fanks!"

At last, Peter trotted over and joined the other kids milling around by the cubbies. Agatha stood and glanced around, seeing that everything was relatively tidy. The day had gone well, somehow not as hectic as the beginning of some past last weeks of school.

Glancing at her watch, Agatha walked back toward the cubbies.

"Everyone ready to go?"

All of the tiny voices answered in the affirmative, and Agatha herded the children toward the door. As the second chime sounded, she opened the door and let the children disperse into the hall, stepping out and following to the turn of the hall to keep an eye on her own small group as they rambled off toward the door that led to the pick-up area.

Just near the atrium she saw Rio, stopped to talk to a group of fifth graders. Whatever the topic of conversation was, the kids looked very excited, and so did Rio. As the children broke away, Rio high fived a few of them, then turned and locked eyes with Agatha for just a moment, grinning, and headed toward her.

"Hey, how's it goin'?" Rio asked, sidling up past a straggling group of first graders.

"Not a bad day. Can't believe it's almost summer break again."

"Mm-hmm. And you won't be back here again until January."

"That too," Agatha said, turning on her heel and walking back toward the classroom, Rio right behind her.

"Need any help with anything?"

"I've got most of it handled, thanks."

"You sure? 'Cause as your colleague, I'm always available for anything you need."

Rio had paused in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"Yes, well, I've got it all handled," Agatha said.
"Oh, but I am supposed to pass a message on."

"Oh yeah?"

"You know Peter Parker?"

"Little kid, climbed the school at the opening fête last September?"

"The very same. He said to tell you he can't wait to take your class in fourth grade."

"Ah, a fellow science enthusiast."

"He's apparently looking forward to the arachnid unit, because he loves spiders."

"Same here," Rio chuckled.

"Oh, I know. Which is why I am wary to pass on the last part of the message. Because you see, it seems Peter has a pet tarantula."

Glancing over, Agatha saw Rio's eyes practically light up.

"He does? Oh, that's cool!"

"Knew you'd think so, but before you ask again, no."

"Aw, but we... I could take care of it! I'd feed it and walk it and..."

"You make a tarantula sound like a puppy or something."

"They're actually super nice, Agatha, I swear."

"I'm sure they're great. Probably very civic minded, volunteer at soup kitchens..."

"How would a tarantula do that?" Rio asked.

"It... Never mind."

Tucking a few books away, Agatha shook her head.

"No spider," she said, "at least not in the lead-up to the baby."

"So what you're saying is we can get one after the baby is born."

"I'm saying we'll table the discussion for another time."

"Yes!" Rio hissed.

Later, as they headed home, Agatha found herself suddenly exhausted, nearly dozing off in the car. When they did actually reach the house, Rio gently came around and opened her door and helped her out.

"I'm glad it's almost break," Agatha groused as they went inside, "because your child is sapping all my energy."

"Oh, so when they're the centerpiece of a so far absolutely ordinary pregnancy, they're my child."

"This is no ordinary pregnancy, Rio."

"How come? I thought the doctor said..."

"Well, it can't be ordinary, can it? I mean, this is our child. They're going to be extraordinary from the start."

Rio giggled.

"No pressure on the bean, huh?"

"No pressure," Agatha said, "because it's inherent. They won't have to do a single thing to be amazing."

Leading Agatha over to the couch, Rio made her sit and then knelt in front of her, smiling and holding her hands.

"See, this is why you don't need to worry about being a good enough mom, Agatha. You already adore our kid, and once they're here, they'll definitely know it."

Then Rio half-stood and kissed Agatha.

"You take it easy a while, and I'll scrounge us up some dinner."

"Okay," Agatha nodded, "thanks, my love."

"Relaxing a while" turned out to mean stretching out on the couch, turning on the television, and then falling asleep just as a documentary on Le Pain Maudit was getting good. Agatha was awakened a while later by Rio leaning down and carefully waking her.

"You want some food," Rio asked, "or just wanna go to bed?"

"Food, please. Ugh, I feel half starved."

Dinner was spaghetti Bolognese with a green salad, and Agatha had not felt so grateful to see food in years. Somehow, this was exactly what she wanted. They ate quietly, and afterword Rio went into the nursery to do something she was very secretive about while Agatha cleaned up the kitchen. Of course, there was not much to clean, so Agatha quickly found herself drawn to the nursery. She knocked at the door.

"Rio, what're you doing in there?"

"Uhm..."

There were a number of odd shuffling, squeaking noises, a scrape of something across the floor, and then Rio cracked the door open.

"So you know how I was busy during lunch today?"

"How could I forget?" Agatha smirked."It was one of the few times we haven't had lunch together at work."

"Yeah, well, that was... I had to pick up a thing."

"Mm-hmm. And that thing would be?"

Rio flung the door open wide, stepping back and waving Agatha in. She was three paces into the room when she saw it.

"You got it?" she gasped.

"Got it," Rio nodded.

There, against one wall, was the changing table they had spotted online that happened to look like it would fit well with the rocking chair they already had and the crib they would be getting in a few months. It had, being a piece from a small company, been temporarily out of stock when they first looked into it, and there has been some concern over whether it would be back in stock any time before the baby arrived.

"Got a text this morning from the store," Rio said, "that the new shipment just came in, so I called up and told a guy to hold one for me. Got it at lunch and had just enough time to drop it off here. And now... Well, thanks for doing the dishes."

"Rio, it's beautiful!"

"We were right about that particular stain matching the chair. And the assembly was way simpler than I thought. Wasn't sure I'd get it together in just this little bit of time, but, well, I've always been handy."

The rest of the room was still so bare in some ways, but now that there were two pieces of furniture, it was beginning to come together.

"You happy?" Rio asked, moving to hug Agatha from behind.

"I'm very, very happy, my love. Thank you."

The rest of that final week had its ups and downs.

On Tuesday, Peter Parker scaled the highest shelves in the library during morning meeting and had to be rescued by Jen and Bruce. Then the Maximoff boys got into a little fight on the way to the classroom and Agatha had to keep them wrangled apart for much of the day.

On Wednesday morning Rio took her fifth grade science group on the last ramble of the year through the school grounds, with Ben as backup. Somehow, in the process, a copperhead that had settled into the grove near the north edge of the grounds was disturbed, and Rio got bitten on the leg. She was taken to the hospital, the bite was not very bad, practically a dry bite really according to the doctors, and she was home the next afternoon with some swelling and soreness but mostly all right.

Thursday was mostly calm, though Agatha spent most of the day feeling nauseous. This was probably due to a combination of morning sickness flaring up for a last hurrah and stress over Rio being even minorly in pain. Still, she made it through without actually vomiting and came home to find Rio fine, having been settled on the couch by the friend who brought her home.

"Ah, my lady doth return from the trenches," Rio declared when Agatha walked in.

Dropping her keys and purse on the table by the door, Agatha made her way over to join Rio on the couch. As she sat, she carefully lifted the affected limb from the pillow it was propped on and let it rest on her lap.

"How's your leg?" she asked.

"Oh, tolerable," Rio said, "though I could have used my dear lady wife here to hold my hand in my hours of agony."

"You sound like some early modern lord on his death bed."

Rio laughed, sitting up a hair straighter against the arm of the couch and leaning forward to press her hand against Agatha's belly.

"Well, then," she said, voice rolling into a deep register, "how about my son and heir? He ready to inherit my vast estates and holdings?"

"Won't be for decades," Agatha smirked, "so you'll just have to hang in there. Besides, what if it's a daughter and heir?"

"Well then, like Radu cel Frumos, we shall have to be forward-thinking about inheritance rights."

"You are a complete weirdo, Rio Vidal."

"And you love me!"

"Yeah, I do."

The rest of that evening passed in relative peace and bliss. They had a dinner of leftovers and zoned out together on the couch, Rio in her one-foot-propped-up, one-foot-on-the-floor sprawl, Agatha sort of between her legs, reclining against her chest. As they sat there, one of Rio's hands came to rest again on Agatha's belly, rubbing slowly, even cautiously, over the barely-there bump. Agatha let her own hand lay over Rio's, relaxing even further into her embrace.

"Wanna do anything special this weekend?" Rio asked, kissing the back of Agatha's shoulder.

"Well, if you're feeling up to it, won't we be going to the Romanian food festival again?"

"Oh, I... Well, I mean, you probably don't want to do that now."

"Why not?"

"I mean, you're pregnant and everything. Probably wanna do something more fun for you."

"Yes," Agatha nodded, "I'm pregnant, but only three months so. Besides, I have fun when we go."

"Do you? Really?"

"Of course! The food is amazing, the entertainment is good, and you spend the whole day looking blissed out of your mind. I enjoy it."

"I'm just saying, though, since it... It's something I like to do..."

"Then I can like it too."

"My love," Agatha said, "if I didn't like it, I wouldn't go with you every year. I have fun there. We have fun there."

"You sure?"

"Yes. So if you feel okay this weekend, I hope we go for a while."

Behind her, Agatha felt Rio tense up and go into what she knew were "happy shivers." She smiled.

They went to bed a little later than was usual for them even at this time of year, and they cuddled in the dark for a long time before either of them found sleep.

Friday was slow, oozy, like moving through a haze of clouds. Around noon, Agatha checked her phone and saw a message from Rio.

Don't strain yourself my love.

Okay silly. Just take it easy
the rest of the day. Thank
you. I love you.

That exchange made the remaining little bit of the work day go much more quickly. As everything wound down toward going home time, however, some of the kids started to be a little upset. Agatha wrangled them all onto the story carpet and sat to talk to them.

"Teacher Agatha," Billy Maximoff said, "I miss you already."

"Hey, we had a lot of fun this year, right? And you'll all see me again next year sometimes, and you can say hi."

"But what if our new teacher is not like you?" Mary Watson asked.

"Well, it's true that Teacher Kate and Teacher Jen are different from me. Everyone's a little different, right? But they're both really nice, and really smart, and they want to help you all learn and have fun."

For the last few minutes before the chimes, Agatha just sat and helped the kids deal with their little anxieties about going on to third grade. Truthfully, she was a little messed up herself about this class moving on. She always loved each group she taught, but this one had really been a fun little crew.

"You're all gonna do great," she assured.

By the time Agatha arrived home, she felt a little boneless and sleepy. This was usual for her at this time of year, though this time things felt a little sharper, probably because of the pregnancy. She stopped in the kitchen a moment, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, then headed to the bedroom, where she found Rio napping. Easing down onto the bed at her wife's side, Agatha gulped down half of the bottle of water, then relaxed and curled up to Rio's side.

"Hey there," Rio muttered.

"Hey yourself."

"Last day go all right?

"Mmm. Kids were a little nervous about next year, as always, but we got through."

"Good. Hey, dinner'll be here around seven. Wanna rest with me a little bit?"

"That's what I was hoping to do."

So they relaxed and slept for a while, waking to both of their phones going off. Rio's was dinging with notifications that the food delivery was on its way, and Agatha's was ringing with a call. While Rio got up to carefully pull on some pajama pants and wander out to wait by the door, Agatha blearily answered her own phone.

"H'lo?"

"Agatha Harkness?"

"Uh, yeah. It's Harkness-Vidal now, actually."

"Right, of course. My apologies. Mrs. Harkness-Vidal, we've actually spoken before. I'm Phil Coulson, with the Bureau of Prisons."

Sighing, Agatha rolled her eyes and flopped back against the pillows.

"Oh, great. What did my mother do this time? Con you guys into some compassionate release?"

"Uh, no ma'am. I'm calling to inform you that Evanora Harkness escaped sometime this morning. As you may know she was being held at Danbury, and..."

"Wait. Wait, wait. She fucking escaped?"

"Unfortunately, ma'am, she did. She and a small number of other inmates. We're fairly certain they won't get out of Connecticut before we catch them, but of course we have to notify certain individuals. You being her daughter and having provided some testimony during her trial, you're on the list."

"I... What, do you think she'd try to come after me, or..."

"That is always a possibility, ma'am."

Coulson rambled on for a while, and Agatha made a few sounds to feign active listening until Rio limped into the room carrying the food. Then Agatha simply reached out her free hand and waited for Rio to take it.

"So you're pretty sure it's all gonna be okay?"

"Yes ma'am," Coulson said.
"And rest assured that when we recapture your mother, she'll be placed back in a higher security facility. I'll personally push for that."

The moment the call ended, Agatha laid her phone aside, squeezed Rio's hand firmly, and then burst into tears. Instantly Rio hugged her close.

"Sweetheart. Sweetheart, what..."

"My mother fucking made a jailbreak!" Agatha sobbed.

The food sat all neatly in its containers in the footlocker at the end of the bed while Rio held Agatha and let her cry out her panic.

"Hey, babe, listen," Rio said, stroking Agatha's hair, "that bitch is not gonna get anywhere near us, okay? They'll round her up again. They fuckin' will."

"They fuckin' let her get out in the first place."

"These things happen. They shouldn't, but they do. We'll be okay, though. You'll see. Evanora isn't gonna be a problem for us. Never."

"Rio, she... She'll find me. She'll find me and hurt me, the same way she did when I was a kid. She always got me back from foster care, she always knew how to get at me even when she didn't have custody..."

"Not this time, Agatha. Now you've got me. I'm not gonna let that bitch anywhere you or the baby. We'll be safe. I will always make sure of that."

"I'll make sure of it," Rio said, and there was a ferocity in her eyes that Agatha had only occasionally seen.

"I... I'm sorry my bullshit past makes your life such a mess."

"Agatha, mi corazón, listen. There is no "my life" in this. This is our life, and any problems in it because of your bitch of a mom are not your fault. None of this is your fault."

"Maybe it would be better if I had just..."

"Don't, love. I know the kind of stuff you're gonna say. This world would not be better without you. I would have nothing. All those kids you've helped and taught would have missed out big time. You are worthy. You're good. You're loved. Please, try to believe that."

Agatha felt some tension drain from her body, and she relaxed as Rio kissed her cheek and nuzzled against it for a moment.

"I'll try, Rio. I promise I'll try."

Given the shock of Friday evening, Rio thought it might be best if they stayed home that weekend, but Agatha would have none of it.

"No, no. You're right, they'll catch Mother and it'll be fine. We can't miss the festival. As long as you're feeling up to going, we'll go."

So, on Saturday afternoon, they headed, as usual at this time of year, to the Romanian food festival that was happening two towns over. Rio felt pretty good, but she let Agatha drive and took along her old cane just in case the ache from her snakebite started to make walking around rough.

"Babe, we could have just stayed at home," Rio offered one more time as they tried to find parking.

"Rio, you love this festival."

"Yeah, but... But if you'd rather not..."

"And miss all the pastries? Rio, that would be a very bad decision."

"Why?"

Pulling in to a spot, Agatha threw the car into park.

"Your child," she said, "demands pastries as tribute."

For Rio, that was argument enough. They got out and made their way toward the hub of activity. Along the way they saw a lot of familiar faces, waving to this one, stopping to chat with that one. As they went, Rio felt some of the worry leave her chest, and she thought Agatha was probably feeling all right too. At least Agatha seemed in a good mood, considering the upsetting news they had gotten last night.

The festival was as fun as ever. Good food, good music, good people. This had been the beginning of their summer for years now, the way they could settle in to the little break between one school year and the next. Still, as much as Agatha insisted she enjoyed it, even looked forward to it, Rio always worried. What if Agatha was just being nice? Not that Agatha was usually just nice for the sake of being nice, but...

Well, what if Agatha thought she had to put up with Rio's interests? That idea was always there at the back of Rio's head. It was what consistently shut her down if they were having dinner and she was struck with the realization that she might be dominating the conversation.

Really, it would be easier if Agatha would stop her and say what people had been saying to Rio all her life: "Shut up! No one cares."

But Agatha would never say that. Not to her. And so Rio would stop talking about whatever and ask Agatha about something she liked. There was always a look that crossed Agatha's face then, something kind of sad maybe. This was, after all, the same Agatha who had seemingly been happy to sit through Rio rattling off facts about Xenopus laevis during most of their second date, and who had still been eager for further dates after that. Agatha who, if you got her started, could talk for hours about her own very niche interests.

Rio loved listening to Agatha talk, but could never somehow quite believe that Agatha loved listening to her talk.

"Hey," Agatha said between bites of a gogoașă, "you're awfully quiet."

Rio smiled and shrugged.

"Just takin' in the atmosphere."

"Is something wrong?" Agatha asked, squeezing Rio's hand gently.

"Nah, babe. I'm good."

Truth be told, Rio was in an internal state of panic for multiple reasons lately. There was last night's information, of course, and the small fritz of worry that was still clinging following the snake bite. But those were just the latest things. What had been worrying her for a while was impending parenthood.

What if she screwed up? She knew Agatha was worried about screwing up, but that was impossible as far as Rio was concerned. Of course, any parent would make mistakes or less-than-ideal decisions, but Agatha was going to be excellent at being a mom. She was firm but fair with kids, and it was clear already, even so early, that she loved the baby with all her heart, just as Rio did.

No, Rio had no doubt her wife would be the best possible mother for their child. But as to Rio herself...

What if the baby had a bad day and was crying and crying and she could not handle that? Sure, working as an elementary school teacher had made her a little better at dealing with the noise of kids, but if it was her own kid, and she shut down because they were crying or she could not calm them down or figure out what was wrong, what good would she be? And what if the baby had stomach problems like she sometimes did, those little upsets and aches that could strike at random and leave her unable to eat for days? Then there was the fact she had a cousin with a bleeding disorder. They had done some broad genetic testing before they started trying for a baby, just for peace of mind. The tests found no evidence of anything like her cousin's ailment that Rio might pass on, but what if the tests were wrong? What if being her kid made the poor little baby sick? Finally, there was the concern about autism; no way did Rio want their kid to grow up lonely and confused and bullied like she had.

Agatha always told her that things would be fine, that the baby would be fine. Agatha was always reassuring her.

"Babe?"

"Huh?" Agatha breathed, and she smiled.

"You're... I need to say that... That you... I love you."

"I love you too, hon."

"I know, and that's amazing. You're amazing."

"Well, thank you. You're pretty damn amazing too."

Rio looked down at her feet and chuckled.

"If you say so."

"I do say so. I say so because it's true."

"Shucks," Rio muttered.

"Rio, if there's something wrong..."

"Nah. I just... I worry a lot, I guess."

"Well, today, all you need to worry about is having fun and eating as much delicious food as you want."

"Good point. Just gotta... Gotta take it easy, right?"

Agatha smiled again.

"Do you wanna just head home?" she asked.

"Oh, uh, if... If you want. We can..."

"Do you want to leave?"

"N-not really."

Rio frowned as she spoke. She felt selfish, wanting to stay if Agatha wanted to leave. The idea that her wife would do something just because Rio wanted to...

"My love, please," Agatha said, "just tell me what's wrong."

"I feel like you force yourself to do stuff I like and I don't want you to have to..."

"Rio, I don't do anything I don't want when it comes to us. I never have. I like coming here with you. It's fun. It's good. I love you."

"I love you too. I... I don't know how I got lucky enough to have you with me."

"Helps that you're so cute," Agatha said with a wink.

Somehow, for the rest of the hours they spent at the festival that day, Rio pushed away the self-doubt and self-loathing. She just enjoyed time with Agatha, eating good food, browsing trinkets, catching up with acquaintances, and happily listening to excellent live music. By the time they decided to leave, everything seemed wonderful again.

"So, are we coming back tomorrow?" Agatha asked as they got back in the car.

Rio shrugged.

"Dunno. I... I think I'm gonna be a little hungover."

"You didn't drink any alcohol."

"Food hangover, love. Should not have had those last couple merdenele."

Agatha started the car and reached over to pat Rio's knee.

"Well, then, someone's just gonna have to sleep in tomorrow and let me take care of things."

"Sleep? I could sleep. I like sleep."

Back at home, Rio made it as far as the living room, slumping down on the couch. She had definitely overdone it on the eating, and her leg was aching too. Soon Agatha joined her, and Rio happily lay her head in her wife's lap.

"I have no sense of pacing when it comes to tasty Romanian food," Rio groaned.

"Poor you. I'll just have to cook a lot of your favorite dishes here at home so you can practice for next year."

"Will we go next year?"

"I imagine we will, unless you don't want to or..."

"I just meant the baby will be here by then. What if they don't want to go?"

"Well, they'll only be around six months old by then. I doubt they'll have a great many well-expressed opinions on it yet."

"Oh. Right. Didn't think of it that way."

Agatha laughed and stroked Rio's hair.

"Even when the baby is old enough to have an opinion, I'm sure they'll want to go," Agatha said.

"Yeah? How'd ya figure that?"

"Well, they're our child. Surely they'll have an appreciation for good food."

"Mmm."

Rio fell asleep there for a little while, and only woke when she felt Agatha shift slightly.

"You go and lie down in bed, hmm?" Agatha said.

"Come with me?"

"Be there in a minute. I want to have a quick shower."

"I'll shower with you!"

"Rio, you're exhausted."

"Please?"

Agatha sighed.

"Fine. Just try not to slip or anything. Last thing we need is an emergency room trip tonight."

Carefully, Rio sat up, then eased onto her feet. Her leg was still a bit achy, but not so much that she could not stagger to the bathroom after Agatha. They showered quickly and went right to bed, snuggled together naked and cozy.

"You're really nice," Rio mumbled.

"So are you," Agatha said.

"'M glad I married you."

"Likewise."

"Love you."

"Love you too."

"You're the best wife in the world."

"Well, there we may be at an impasse," Agatha whispered, "because I'm pretty certain you're the best wife in the world."

"We can split the title. We're both the best. Best for each other."

"Fair enough. Good night."

"Mmm. G'night."

Something woke Rio abruptly while it was still mostly dark out. For a bit, she stayed still, listening closely. She heard nothing but Agatha's deep, steady-sleep breathing and the usual sounds of the house. It was possible, she thought, that she had been dreaming; she felt anxious, heart rate up like she had gone on a punishing run, scalp prickling with the sensation of being in trouble.

Her leg ached. Easing out of bed, she headed to the bathroom and downed an Advil with a handful of water from the sink, then stood a while, regarding herself in the mirror. She had not been sleeping very well lately, even before this last hectic week, but she had done her best to cover. She had masked hard in public, fighting not to have a meltdown or a shutdown due to how tired she was. Now, this entire next week was basically free, so maybe she would catch up a little more on sleep.

Of course, there were worries that would make it difficult, but she had to try. Rolling her shoulders, Rio turned and left the bathroom. She felt like she would not be able to go back to sleep, but she knew that Agatha might be worried to wake up without her.

Back in the bedroom, Rio lay down beside Agatha and smiled when her wife immediately cozied up to her.

"Where'd you go?" Agatha murmured.

"Bathroom. Go back to sleep a while."

Rio closed her eyes for a moment and focused on the warmth of Agatha's body against her own.

"Rio?"

"Hnn?" Rio breathed, eyes popping open again.

"Love you."

"Love you too, mi corazón."

Surprisingly, Rio did feel a little tired again. With a grunt, she rolled onto her side, face-to-face with Agatha. The vibrant blue eyes fluttered open, and Agatha smiled.

"Kiss?"

Rio kissed Agatha a little intensely, a little needily, and with all the love she had in her. She wanted nothing more than to always be like this, her wife in her arms and she in her wife's arms. Rio had, before meeting Agatha, never been one for a lot of physical displays of affection; they tended to make her generally nervous. Yet with Agatha, it finally felt good, even right, to hug and cuddle.

Agatha had closed her eyes again, and Rio sensed that she was drifting off again. Good. If either of them needed extra rest at the moment, it was Agatha.

Rio did not sleep again, precisely, but she closed her eyes and allowed her mind to drift, thinking of plans ahead for the summer. There was work to be done getting the baby's room ready, and of course there would be time to work on the garden she took such joy in developing. Then of course there was summer work and volunteering to be considered. Rio would be doing her usual tutoring and coaching at the community center—always fun—plus there were a couple of private families who paid her to directly work with their kids to get them caught up or even to give them a head start on the next school year.

Mostly, she supposed, she would spend her free time taking care of Agatha, keeping her free of stress and strain. Hopefully everything from here on would go smoothly. No more snake bites, no injuries, and maybe good news soon on the Evanora front.

When Rio bothered to open her eyes, the sun was more fully up, and Agatha was beginning to stir.

"Morning," Rio whispered.

"H-hi. Good morning," Agatha yawned, shifting away and sitting up on the edge of the bed.

"Feel okay?"

"Mmm. Pretty good. You in the mood for breakfast?"

"I could eat something light."

"Light. So... French toast?"

"Lemme guess, that's what the baby wants?"

Agatha smirked and shrugged, looking down at the floor.

"I have no control over the demands the child makes."

"Sure, sure."

Rio reached out and touched Agatha's hip, leading her wife to look back at her.

"Okay?" Agatha sighed.

"Yup. Just... You look really good right now."

"Well, you look damn good yourself."

Agatha twisted over and lay back down, and for a moment they lost themselves to gentle, barely-awake intimacy, but then Agatha drew away again.

"Need to pee," she groaned.

Rio watched her get out of bed and pull on a t-shirt and running shorts, then leave the bedroom. It was a shame to see her go, to be without it even for a little bit, so soon enough Rio rose and dressed as well, then padded out to the kitchen. Agatha was not there yet, but that was fine. Rio started to work on breakfast, and when Agatha joined her, they worked calmly together.

"You remember the first breakfast we made together?" Agatha asked once.

Rio nodded and grinned.

"I do remember. Morning after the first time we... Ya know."

"But I mean do you remember what we ate?"

"Sure. Blueberry pancakes with sour cream, bacon, eggs over easy. I remember."

Agatha laughed softly.

"Don't know why I asked. You remember everything."

"Well, not everything, everything. Just the important stuff. Stuff about you and me. Our life together."

"Glad to know that we're important."

"Being with you," Rio said, "is the most important thing in my life."

"You mean that?"

"Wouldn't say it if I didn't."

Rio glanced aside and saw Agatha paused cutting strawberries. When their eyes met, Agatha smirked.

"You're such a sap," she said.

"Yeah, well, I think a bit of sappiness is allowed," Rio said, "considering we've been together basically forever now and you're carrying our child."

"Reasonable."

They ate sitting on the couch, watching a documentary that Agatha had started the prior week but dozed off after the first third of.

"Shit, remind me never to eat bread again," Rio shuddered as the documentary got to some particularly dark parts.

"You're eating French toast right now," Agatha pointed out.

"Yeah, well, if I start acting like any of those folks, tie me to the bed and call a doctor."

"Is that carte blanche to tie you to the bed or..."

"We'll see."

After breakfast, Rio limped into the nursery. It was going to look really good soon, once the walls were painted and all the furnishings were in place. The baby was going to have a beautiful room, a safe, lovely space, and that was going to be excellent. Rio had never had a room all to herself when she was young, so it was important to her that the baby would have their own space.

"Planning anything?"

Rio turned and saw Agatha standing in the doorway.

"Was just thinking maybe some time this next week, I'll get started painting in here. If you're still happy with the colors and everything, that is."

"Oh, I'm very happy," Agatha nodded, "and I expect the baby will be too."

"Good. Just... I just wanna get ahead of things, you know? I wanna have as much of it all done as soon as possible. Don't wanna put anything off too close."

Agatha stepped into the room and Rio went to hug her.

"You feel all right, mi corazón?"

"Wonderful. How's your leg?"

"Sore. Not so bad."

"Good. Mmm. What are we gonna do today?"

"Well, I was gonna kinda get a start on some stuff. Hedges need a little trim. Have to mow the damn lawn..."

"Put it off another day, hmm? Let's just fully relax together."

"Yeah? What, just a lazy day?"

"Could be nice."

"Hnn. I mean, I'm for it if you are."

Agatha smiled, then kissed Rio softly.

"Last Sunday was awfully nice. Why don't we make every Sunday this summer an us day? Just spend the day together having fun and relaxing. No work or anything unless we have to."

"Have I ever told you," Rio whispered, "that I very much like the way you think?"

"You have brought that up on occasion, yeah. Not nearly often enough, though."

"Ah, well, forgive me."

"Already have."

"It's a Sunday. Whoever it is, they'll leave a message or call back if it's important."

"You sure you..."

"Just keep kissing me, okay?"

Rio was more than happy to oblige, and they staggered their way out of the nursery. In the hall Rio steered them not toward the bedroom, but through the kitchen and toward the living room.

"What..." Agatha husked.

"Trust the process, mi corazón."

Their couch, ancient as it was, still managed to be comfortable, and it had one feature Rio found particularly good: each end seat functioned as a recliner. They had availed themselves of that feature only rarely in an intimate context, but Rio had an urge to do so now. Once she had gotten them there, she sat down, keeping Agatha standing before her.

"Now," she said, fingers hooked in the waistband of Agatha's shorts, "let's see what happens."

Tugging the garment down, Rio was temporarily frozen at the the revelation of how clearly turned on her wife was. The dark curls between Agatha's legs looked absolutely sodden. Rio whimpered happily at the sight, and the smell, of her wife's arousal. Agatha, for her part, shivered and moaned when Rio slipped a finger into her folds and lightly stroked her clit, then let out a cheated scoff when Rio's hands moved away.

"Relax, love," Rio said, leaning back and lifting her hips to skin off her own shorts.

As soon as they were both bare from the waist down, Rio smirked up at Agatha and patted her lap.

"Have a seat, sweetheart."

Agatha straddled Rio in a rush, arms going around her neck as their lips met in a kiss far rougher than before. This was all hard claiming, an effort to see who could dominate. As the kiss intensified and deepened, Rio reached over and pulled the lever to recline the seat. The sudden change in position made Agatha squeal with surprise, and Rio chuckled. They quickly got back to the kissing, Agatha burying her hands in Rio's hair as Rio's hands teased up and down Agatha's back.

"Wait, wait," Agatha said, suddenly pulling out of the kiss.

Rio panicked.

"What... Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Just... Gimme a second. I..."

A couple of slow rolls of her hips later, Agatha tensed up just slightly, then ground more frantically on Rio's lap, burying her face against Rio's neck as she moaned.

"Did you... Did you just come that fast?" Rio marvelled.

"Oh like you've never been quick on the draw," Agatha panted.

"Sure but... Fuck, it's hot I can still get you off so easy. I haven't seen you get that close with mostly kissing since right after we moved in here."

"Yeah, well, I... Fuck, Rio, I just need you so much."

"I need you too, love."

Rio slipped a hand between Agatha's legs again and hissed in a hard breath.

"Shit, you fuckin' squirted, didn't you? Damn, babe, that... Holy fuck."

"What can I say?" Agatha chuckled.
"You get me going."

"Can I, uhm... Can I..."

"Well, since your hand is down there."

Cautiously, Rio teased Agatha's clit, increasing the motion and pressure when her wife made some choice sounds. Pushing her hand further, she slipped a fingertip into Agatha's cunt and grunted when she felt the flutter of muscles trying to pull the finger deeper immediately.

"Holy shit, Agatha. You're so fucking hot."

"Well, you're pretty damn hot yourself."

Agatha moved against Rio's hand, letting out the sulky sounds she sometimes did when she was desperate for release and not getting her way. Rio strove to help her, curling fingers, pressing closer, and it seemed like another orgasm was fast approaching, like soon Agatha would again come undone...

Agatha's phone started ringing again. At first they tried to ignore it, but finally Agatha groaned and slumped against Rio.

"God damn it!" she growled, moving to help extricate Rio's hand, then turning and grabbing the phone from the coffee table.

Rio kept a hand on Agatha's hip, thumb pressing and rubbing the soft skin there.

"Hello‽" Agatha barked.

"Who is it?" Rio mouthed, purely curious.

Agatha shrugged, seemingly still waiting for a response.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

Another long pause, and Agatha sighed and hung up.

"Unknown number," she said, tossing the phone back onto the coffee table.
"It's either a misdial, a weirdo, or a very delayed robot."

The phone rang again.

"Fuck," Rio said.

"We'll leave it," Agatha said, and grabbed Rio's hand to shove it back between her legs.

They got back into their rhythm, kissing, touching, rocking, but the phone kept starting up again. Calls came through twice more as Agatha chased a second climax, and then a third rang through just as she relaxed on Rio in a way that always signaled utter bliss.

"Who the fuck won't leave us alone on a Sunday?" Agatha whined.

Shrugging, Rio pushed the footrest down with her good leg, bringing the end of the couch back upright, and leaned forward to grab the phone herself, keeping Agatha clutched tight to her.

"Hello?" Rio grumbled into the phone.

The connection sounded whistly, like wind whipping past on a high hill, but there was no answer.

"Look," Rio said, "I think maybe you've got the wrong..."

"Listen, you spic dyke, put my bitch daughter on the phone."

Rio knew the voice only vaguely, and not at all in the context of actually being directly addressed, but it was still enough to make her blood run cold. Quickly she ended the call.

"Rio? Rio, what..."

"I think we gotta call that Coulson guy or whoever, Agatha, because your mom has your fuckin' phone number somehow."

Sudden change was not something Rio liked to think about or mess with, but if it meant keeping her wife and child secure, she would push down the nervous feeling in her stomach and take deep breaths until the spinning in her head slowed down. The baby would be safe as long as Agatha was safe, and the people they had spoken to said it might be safest to get away for a little while, so...

"We'll have a guest room ready for you guys," Monica had said over the phone.

Monica had been Agatha's first ever foster sibling, and was the only one she had really stayed in regular contact with. She lived in New Jersey which, yes, took them technically closer to Connecticut, but then, the authorities were pretty sure Evanora and most of her fellow escapees had gotten out of the state and were headed who knows where. So, also following advice, Agatha and Rio had gotten their hands on a couple of burner phones, packed some necessities, gotten a neighbor to look after their place while they "went on vacation," not mentioned to anyone the federal agents who would also be looking after the place, and headed out. It was sudden, quick, and maddening, but it was a matter of safety.

"Just lie back and get some rest," Rio sighed as she started the car.

"Nope," Agatha said, "not happening. I am not sleeping until we're somewhere arguably safe."

She then proceeded to fall asleep within ten minutes of them starting out. Rio could not blame her; neither of them had slept well since Sunday morning, and it was now Tuesday. The drive should, if things went well, not take much more than three hours. Rio sort of hoped Agatha would sleep most of the way. Rest was important.

After the first twenty miles, Rio actually felt herself settle a bit. They were going to be fine. They would lie low a while, Evanora would slip up and get herself caught, and all would be well. Hell, while they waited things out in the pleasant looking (Rio had done some quick searching) town of Westview, New Jersey, they might even have some fun. Monica was cool, and she was not the only person they knew who lived in that area. Agatha's old college roommate Alice was there too. They had not seen her in years—rock stars were usually pretty busy, after all. It might be kind of nice to spend some time with the old friend who had been instrumental in getting them together.

About halfway to their destination, Rio pulled in at a gas station. Agatha woke as soon as the car stopped, and reached for Rio's hand.

"What..."

"Just gonna gas up the car. Want snacks?"

"I'm starved, yeah."

Leaning across, Rio kissed her wife's cheek.

"I'll getcha somethin' nice."

"Thanks, honey."

Easing out of the car, Rio stretched, then went about the task of fueling the car. She was really hoping one day they could get a hybrid or something, but that was a little while away, taking into account their salaries and the impending child. One day, though.

Once she finished at the pump, she headed into the store proper and cruised the aisles, grabbing an assortment of items she knew Agatha would like, along with her own personal safe road snacks. By the time she returned to the car, Agatha had pulled out a book and was reading, blushing and giggling madly every now and then.

"'S'up?" Rio asked, handing in the bag of snacks and then settling once more behind the wheel.

"Oh, it's a cheesy urban fantasy novel."

"Werewolves and vampires and shit?"

"Basically. This one's pretty smutty..."

"Smutty enough to possibly be re-enacted later?"

"If you play your cards right," Agatha smirked.
"Given my current condition, I think we could really make use of pages 54 through 57 so far."

"Okay, so," Rio nodded, closing the door, buckling in, and starting the car, "gonna need you to read me that scene in particular."

So it was that the second leg of their journey started with Agatha reading aloud some particularly spicy, yet also tender, smut. Rio focused on driving, but the part of her brain that was fully tuned in to what her wife was saying was practically baying at the moon like a desperate wolf.

"I mean, I could probably do that thing with my tongue," she commented once, followed up with, "but I don't know if I would totally match the angle."

"Mmm, I think you could. You have a very, very agile tongue."

"Heh. That's what she said! And by she, I mean you. Being as you're my she."

"You're such a weird dork, Rio."

"Ah, but I'm your weird dork."

The remainder of the drive was spent in relative joy and peace, Agatha reading aloud now and then from the book as they both snacked. By the time they arrived in Westview, they were in good enough spirits that anyone seeing them might well have assumed they were just on an ordinary trip. Agatha looked around as they drove through what appeared to be downtown, and she sighed.

"Well, it seems quiet, at least. Kinda sad I never got to live here as a kid."

"Ah, I bet you woulda been bored out of your mind."

"Probably, but I would have been with the first people who really felt like home to me. That would have made up for it."

Rio smiled. Agatha did not speak fondly of many of her foster carers, but Maria and Carol were always set apart. Rio could sort of relate, having only had one really great foster mom in her life; thank goodness for Lilia, though. She was the one who had really saved Rio in the end.

Eventually, they found themselves driving through a quiet residential neighborhood, all trim lawns and neatly painted houses. The place they were heading for was at the end of the street, a tall, pale blue house with navy blue shutters and roof. As they pulled into the drive, Rio nodded.

"Nice place."

"Isn't it?" Agatha said.

Rio had barely put the car in park when the front door of the house opened and an older woman stepped out, hands shoved in the pockets of her jeans. The sight of had made Agatha practically light up.

"Mama Carol," she breathed, rushing out of the car and hurrying to hug the woman.

Grinning, Rio took her time getting out, grabbing their bags from the back seat, and wandering over. Agatha was hugging Carol like she might never let go, and Carol was returning the affection in equal measure. As Rio approached, Carol turned and held out an arm to pull Rio into the hug as well.

"We don't see you two enough!" she said.

"Heya, Carol," Rio nodded.

"Well, come on inside," Carol said, releasing them at last and leading the way into the house.

The place managed to feel cozy right off the bat, all warm colors and soft rugs and plush furniture.

"Come on upstairs and you can settle in. We've got you in the best guest room."

The stairs were narrow, all dark wood with a faded green runner down the center. As they bustled up, Carol and Agatha were happily chatting away to each other, and Rio just grooved to the sounds without fully processing them. All she needed to know was that her wife felt safe and secure, and that was the best thing.

"...and you have your own bathroom right through there," Carol explained as she led them into their room and indicated another door.

"Wow, this place is so great!" Agatha chirped—yes, chirped, a rarity for her—as she stopped at the foot of the bed.

"We were lucky to get it. It was just the sort of place where Maria and I had hoped to spend our golden years, you know?"

Setting their bags on the foot of the bed, Rio stepped close enough to slip an arm over Agatha's shoulders.

"Look, Carol, we gotta thank you guys for letting us stay a while."

"Oh, think nothing of it, Rio. You and Agatha are family at this point, and we'll do anything for family. Now, why don't you two get settled in while I make some lunch?"

"Do you need any help?" Agatha asked.

"Oh, no, sweet pea. You just settle and relax a bit."

Then Carol was gone, and they were alone in a room that seemed bathed in warmth. Creamy golden walls, dark gold carpet, a bedspread practically the same shade, and the bed frame itself was made of pine, polished to a honey glow, as were the matching nightstands.

"Well," Agatha said, "we should unpack."

"Uhm, yeah," Rio nodded, and unzipped her bag, pulling out her bedside stuff and setting it on a nightstand.

They made quick work of the few things they had brought, and then Agatha sat on the edge of the bed, looking a little forlorn.

"I wish I'd brought Scratchy the Second," she said.
"It would feel right to have him here."

"Then it's a good thing I thought to grab him," Rio said, producing the toy bunny from her own bag.

"Rio! Oh, I love you so much!"

There were tears in Agatha's eyes as she hugged Rio, and a few of them managed to fall, but Rio kissed them away.

"Gotta make sure my girl is safe," Rio said, "and ol' Scratchy there is second only to me for that."

"Thank you. Really, thank you for... For..."

Agatha seemed likely to cry again, so Rio kissed her.

"Okay, mi amor. Thank you for the thanks, huh?"

"But you do so much for me, Rio. You put up with all my stupid crap and you... You don't let my fucked up past complicate things. You just accept me."

"Agatha, you're not the only one with a complicated past. You've accepted me for all my faults and flaws. We got married to say to the world that no matter what life throws at us, no matter what shit we've been through, we're gonna support and stand by each other. This is just part of marriage, right? Taking care. It's what we do."

Moving a half-step back, Rio cupped Agatha's chin in her hand.

"It's you and me, babe, together in this world. You and me and soon, the little guy."

"Could be a little girl," Agatha said.

"Ah, sure. Girl, guy, whoever. You and me and them, we're a family. I will do anything to make my family happy and keep them safe. I'd... I'd find a way to change the whole world, just to please you, Agatha."

"You spoil me."

"Impossible. All I do is love you."

Lunch was basically amazing. Rio wondered if maybe Carol had gone all out for them, but Agatha was quick to make it clear that lunch had always been a big deal in the Danvers-Rambeau household, at least as far back as her two years living there in early childhood.

"Dinner is important, but lunch?" Agatha said."Lunch is where things really get good."

To start there was a massive, absolutely massive, salad made from fresh, home-grown veggies (Rio got one look at the kitchen garden/backyard greenhouse setup and felt genuine envy course through her veins) with a choice of homemade dressings as well. Then there were amazing vegetarian burgers, spicy as hell, on soft homemade onion rolls. Of course with the burgers came hand-cut homemade fries, perfectly seasoned and prepared. Finally, there were snickerdoodles almost as big around as Rio's spread hand.

It was a meal for the ages, as far as Rio was concerned, and when afterward Carol announced that she had to head out to a planning meeting for the big neighborhood Fourth of July block party, Rio was sort of relieved. Had the older woman stayed, of course there would have been the need to socialize and be polite. With her out of the house...

"We should totally take a nap!" Rio declared.

Agatha smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Maybe if you hadn't eaten, what, four burgers..."

"In my defense, they were the burger equivalent of communing with the infinite. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to encounter them as much as possible."

After only a little more debate, Agatha agreed that a nap did not sound so bad. Once they were back up in the guest room, Rio stripped down to her underwear, but Agatha stripped down to nothing.

"I'm gonna take a shower."

"But... But nap!" Rio protested weakly.

"You get started and I'll join you in a bit."

Rio settled down on the bed, closing her eyes and willing herself to sleep, but it was impossible. She felt lonely, and she was imagining slipping into the bathroom and joining Agatha in the shower, and that made her horny. So she lay there, a perfect storm of lonely and horny, until Agatha re-emerged clad in only a towel. That made Rio immediately sit up and take notice.

"Can I comb your hair out for you?" she begged.

Agatha laughed.

"Of course. You know I love you doing that."

Rio cocked an eyebrow.

"Can I do other things to you?"

"I thought you wanted a nap."

"Maybe I need to soothe myself to sleep."

"Oh, so you'll be the one getting soothed?"

Scrambling out of bed, Rio hugged Agatha close.

"I wanna make you feel good. Wanna take care of you."

"Hon, you're acting, just, extra weird..."

"I'm acting like I love you, 'cause I love you!"

Rio tried to back them toward the bed, but Agatha had a firm stance and halted the motion.

"Rio, what..."

Sighing, Rio stepped back a bit and looked into her wife's eyes.

"I just... I feel really worried about all this stuff, and I know you feel super worried, and being super worried isn't great for anyone, especially not for you right now, with the baby and everything, and I want to make this whole thing, this trip and everything, like it's just a fun thing we're doing. Like we're just visiting some friends for the hell of it before the baby gets here. I want... I want to make you feel safe and happy and you're so beautiful and I love you so much and shit, Agatha..."

The tears Rio had actually been fighting back off and on for a few days started to fall, and then Rio fell to her knees, arms tight around Agatha's hips.

"I just wanna protect you and the baby and I'm not doing it right and I don't want you to be scared and I'm sorry I can't do more to..."

"Rio. Rio, my love, calm down. Rio..."

Agatha gently pried Rio's arms out of the grip and then encouraged her to stand.

"Rio, you're doing all you can. You got us here, and I already feel so much safer. We'll be all right, my love. I'm fine. Our baby will be fine."

"I... I want... I wanna be able to take care of you..."

"You are. You do. Now, I hate to say this, but I think you might be overtired."

"Am not," Rio sobbed.

"Yes, I think you are. C'mon, let's go to bed, okay? Lie down and..."

"You said... Said I get to comb your hair."

"Right. Okay. Just sit there on the bed. Good boy."

Rio sniffled and actually managed a smile at the endearment.

"Can I make braids?" Rio asked.

"Sure, if you want."

"I wish we had ribbons. I'd do your hair like when we went to the Ren Faire last year."

"I think that's a little much for a nap time hairdo, hon."

"Yeah, but it would be pretty. I mean, your hair is already pretty, but it would be even better with the ribbons."

Agatha returned to the bathroom, coming back with the comb and a couple of hair ties. Then she sat down in front of Rio, tossing her hair back over her shoulders.

"Get to combing."

Rio grinned. Combing Agatha's hair, or really interacting with it in any way, always calmed her down and made her happy. It was meticulous work that needed to be done with care. It was a focus job, and Rio was great with focus jobs as long as they interested her. And of course, everything about Agatha interested her. It had been that way from the moment they met.

She went slowly with the combing, teasing out any hints of knots or tangles gently. As important as this was for her, she knew how important it was for Agatha too. Gentleness had been so rare in Agatha's life, so catch-as-catch-can. She needed to be treated with reverence and care. Agatha deserved to be worshipped, and Rio was always ready to be the worshipper.

"Okay?" Rio asked softly, working out one last small tangle.

"Mmm," Agatha breathed.

Humming softly, Rio set the comb aside for a moment and just ran her fingers through Agatha's hair a few times.

"Soft," she sighed.

"Are you ready to sleep now?" Agatha asked.

"Gotta do the braids first."

"Oh, right."

This was quicker work, but Rio was still careful and thoughtful, as always. When she was done, she flipped the braids forward to rest over Agatha's shoulders, then leaned in and kissed the back of her wife's neck.

"All done."

"Thank you."

When Agatha left the bed once more to put away the comb and put on something other than the towel, Rio sighed and stretched out, hands under her head. She felt a little better since she had got the tears out, and a little calmer thanks to getting to take care of Agatha. It had just hit her hard that, for the moment, they were somewhere a bit safe, but that place was not home. She had not managed to keep her family safe in their home, and she had no way of knowing when they might return home. The stress made Rio feel utterly lost. She felt like a hopeless loser, a failure as a partner and a parent.

Agatha returned to her, soft and warm, clad in an old, oversized t-shirt, and curled up beside her in the bed.

"Thank you, my love," Agatha said, and kissed Rio.

"Ah  I... I didn't do much."

"Yes you did, silly. You got us here. You're keeping us safe."

"Could do more."

"Rio, you've done everything you can. You've done things to take care of us that I could never manage on my own. You're my hero."

Their nap was brief, and they both were still tired when they woke. Agatha knew they were both still afraid too; of course she felt her own worry and concern, and she knew by now that Rio was only ever this absolutely, dazedly tired during times of high stress.

"We can pretend all we want that this is just a little vacation," Agatha said as they were dressing, "but it... Fuck, Rio, what're we gonna do?"

"We're gonna be fine is what we're gonna do. We're gonna lay low here for a bit. They'll catch your mother and everything will be fine again."

"I just... I want that bitch out of my life. Out of our lives."

"She will be, babe. Evanora won't be an issue for us anymore once they catch her."

"I promised... I fucking promised..."

Sitting abruptly on the edge of the bed, Agatha fought to keep the tears down, but they overwhelmed her anyway. Rio was at her side in an instant, arm around her, the warmth and strength soothing.

"This'll end, love," Rio whispered.
"We'll go home, have a peaceful rest of the summer, and in a few months, our little one'll be with us and we'll have the rest of our lives ahead."

Agatha sniffled.

"I promised myself ages ago that if I ever had children, I would never let that bitch near them. When we started trying, I was so glad she was never going to be an issue. And then... Fuck, Rio. I swore she would never touch our baby's life and look what's happening."

"Sweetheart, it's gonna be okay. She's not gonna come near you or the baby. If she tries, I'll take her down myself somehow. No one threatens my family."

Agatha relaxed against Rio's side, allowing reassurance to wash over her. Just having Rio in her life was often enough to make Agatha almost believe in blessings and miracles. There was always, somehow, hope with her, even in the darkest of times.

"My love, how?"

"How what?" Rio asked.

"How do you put up with the bullshit I put us through? All the problems my life causes in our life?"

"I don't put up with anything. I love you, and when you love someone, you're there for them when you can be. And you don't put me through anything I don't want to go through, because none of this is your fault. You didn't ask or decide to be born with an evil bitch for a mother. All of this is on Evanora."

Rio moved, shifted them to guide Agatha to lie across the bed, then leaned over her.

"The only good thing that bitch ever did was bring you into the world," Rio said.

Agatha whimpered, and Rio kissed her softly, slowly, like it was a sacred act.

When they were presentable they headed downstairs and actually met Monica just coming in.

"Hey, baby sister!" she grinned, hugging Agatha tight.

"Monica, it's so good to see you again. You know Rio."

"Of course, of course."

Rio reached out to shake Monica's hand, but Monica pulled her into a full bear hug. Rio squeaked in surprise, eyes wide.

"Have you been taking care of Agatha?"

"Y-yes ma'am."

"Good."

Monica went and changed clothes, then invited them to sit and chat a while. For Agatha, it almost took her back to those couple of years as a little kid when Monica had first been like a big sister to her. She remembered how it had been once she really felt settled in the house, and how she would patiently wait every day for Monica to be home from school. Of course, after almost a year, Agatha had been ready for school too, and then she got to ride the bus to and from with Monica, and she felt very grown up.

Of course, that brought up memories of the awful day, just after her sixth birthday, when the social worker came and took her to go back to Mother. Mother who claimed to have totally cleaned up her act. Maria and Carol had actually told Agatha a little while before that she might go back, but she had not believed them. Surely no one would make her go back to a place where she was hurt and scared and starving all of the time.

Oh, how Agatha had cried and screamed and not wanted to go. She loved Mama Carol and Mom Maria and Monica so much by then, and she could not imagine her home not being with them.

"I wish Mom were still alive," Monica said, drawing Agatha back to the present.
"She'd be so happy to have you with us again for a visit."

Agatha nodded.

"I really miss Maria," she said.

Agatha had fallen apart a little when Carol called a few years ago, not long after they'd all gotten back in touch, and told her Maria had died. The cancer that she had been fighting off and on for years finally just sapped everything from her. That had also been when Agatha learned that, when she was removed from her mother's custody again after being returned, Maria and Carol had been informed by a friend and had wanted to offer to take Agatha in again, but then Maria had her first diagnosis.

"She fought it off that time," Carol had said, "but by then you were so lost in the system no one could seem to tell us where you were, or if we could take care of you again."

Monica asked Agatha and Rio, invited them really, to help her in the greenhouse a while. Of course Rio jumped at the chance.

"This is a sweet, sweet set-up you got here," Rio marvelled.
"Love to have something like this back home."

"Oh, it's great," Monica said.
"If you decide to go ahead with anything, gimme a call. I know a guy down your way who does great work."

They would probably not be able to afford a greenhouse ever, but Agatha loved to see Rio dream about it.

"Think about it," Rio said to her.
"Just think of the cool stuff I could grow."

"Well, at least maybe we could clear out some living room space, huh?" Agatha snarked.

"Babe! I thought you loved my plants!"

"I love them. It's just they produce so much oxygen in the house that they make me giddy."

Rio narrowed her eyes, feigning indignation.

"You just wait. Come the great ecological collapse of 2034, you will be begging to breathe near my spider plants."

Monica, tending to some seedlings in the corner, had to stop her work, helpless with laughter.

"Damn, you two really are made for each other. Baby sister, you sure know how to pick 'em."

"I sure do," Agatha smiled, and slung her arm around Rio's shoulders.

They had all just returned to the house when Monica's wife, Darcy, arrived home. She clapped eyes on Agatha and Rio and beelined for them, throwing an arm around each of them.

"Oh my God, I'm so glad you guys got here! Been too long."

"Good to see you, Darcy," Agatha said.

"So, tell me everything. What've you guys been up to?"

"Regular life stuff. Lately we had been sort of starting to nest."

"How far along are you?"

"Closing in on four months."

"Four months. Wow, almost halfway there. You know, Monica and I have been talking about kids lately..."

"I said I'd think about it!" Monica called from the kitchen.

"She's thinking about it," Darcy said quietly, "and I'm planning. I've got charts, spreadsheets..."

"Well, yeah! I got all kinds of data about timing, about expenses."

"Intriguing."

Before Agatha knew what was going on, Rio and Darcy were off crunching numbers and she was in the kitchen, helping Monica make dinner.

"I love Darcy to pieces," Monica said, "but she has very definite plans for what it'll be like to have kids. I keep telling her we should expect the unexpected if and when that day comes around, and then she goes and adds a new slide to her presentation on why having a baby will be amazing."

"Rio worries a lot about what might happen," Agatha said, "but she's a little more worried about other things now."

"Your mother?"

"Yup. I swear to God, that woman'll dog me the rest of her life. Hell, maybe the rest of mine."

"I don't know if it helps any," Monica said, "but when you were first with us, just so tiny and scared, hiding food everywhere and flinching every time anyone moved too quickly, I... Well, Mom and Mama explained how things had been so hard for you, how you'd been mistreated, and I maybe used to pray that something awful would happen to your mother so she could never have you back."

Agatha laughed.

"Maybe it's awful of me to say, but actually, that helps a lot. It's good to know there've always been people on my side who wanted better for me."

"At least it seems like, present situation aside, you're having a good life."

"I am, really. I've got Rio, we've got friends around us back home. Work is hard, but it's good. And now, well, baby on the way. It's all pretty nice, as you said, present situation aside."

Monica smiled, shaking her head.

"Well, I'm glad. We had so many foster kids pass through the house over the years, and so many of them had every possible odd stacked against them."

"I got lucky. Had a few positive experiences between the bad ones. Some of my later foster parents were almost as good as your moms. Of course, no one could ever really be better. You guys were just what I needed as a little kid."

"That's all Mom and Mama ever wanted when they fostered," Monica nodded.
"Just to be a safe place for kids in need during hard times."

"Well, they certainly succeeded in my case. Probably in most others too."

"Agatha!"

Rio came galumphing into the kitchen, grinning like she had found some secret answer to everything.

"Babe, Darcy's gonna send me some schedule chart templates she made! They're so cool!"

"Ah, well, fantastic. Are they colorful?"

"So colorful."

Just as quickly as she had entered, Rio hurried away again. Agatha snorted out a laugh, and Monica joined in.

"Looks like we somehow each married half of a matched set, huh?"

"Yeah," Agatha said, "it does indeed look that way."

They had, on the advice of the authorities, not told anyone back home where exactly they were going on their "little vacation," and as far as the very few people they knew in the vicinity of Westview, only Carol, Monica, and Darcy were aware of their presence. About a week after their arrival, however, after clearing things with Coulson, Agatha reached out to Alice via one of the burner phones.

The call rang through for what seemed like ages before there was an answer.

"Hello?"

"Hey Alice. It's Agatha."

"Hey, Agatha! Long time! You got a new number..."

"Uh, not entirely. It's complicated. How's everything?"

"Bitchin<', as the kids say. How are you and Rio holdin' up?"

"Well, we're kind of in limbo at the moment."

"Oh. You guys having problems, or..."

"There is a problem, yeah, though not... Well, not between us, really. My mother..."

"Ha! That old bitch finally kick the bucket?"

"Nope. Actually, she broke out of a minimum security federal prison camp and might be after me."

"Oh. Dude. What the fuck?"

"So, on top of everything else, Rio and I have had to decamp from home for a little while. We're staying with one of my old foster families."

"Ag, I'm really sorry to hear... Wait, on top of what else?"

"Oh, I'm pregnant. Almost four months."

"Holy shit! Hey, congratulations!"

"Thanks. I just... Well, I wanted to call and catch up, since it's been a while. Actually, we're here in New Jersey, not too far from you. Maybe we could all meet up sometime?"

"Wow, yeah, definitely! We have got to set something up."

Sighing, Agatha felt oddly as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. She had not realized how much she missed Alice.

"Maybe sometime later this week?" she suggested.

"Sounds great. I'm not too busy, but let me check my schedule and I'll get back to you."

"Great. Awesome."

Alice was called away quickly after that, and as the call ended, Agatha sat on the edge of the bed, pondering. Alice had been her first friend as an adult, had been the one to introduce her to Rio and to cheer them on through a couple of rough patches in the early relationship. It would be good to see her again, but was it dangerous for her? After all, Evanora was somewhere out in the world, loose and possibly tracking them. What if she had already been too close when she called? What if she had followed them here and...

"All aboard the paranoia express," Agatha groaned, setting the phone aside and lying back across the bed, one arm flung over her eyes.

The door creaked open, and Agatha sat up quickly, then sighed when it was just Rio.

"Hey, sweetheart. Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine, I just... Rio, I'm so scared and tired and... And I just wanna go home."

Nodding, Rio crossed the room and sat down beside her.

"We'll go home soon, love. I know it. Not that I have the utmost faith in the United States government or anything, but they'll get your mother, or figure out what happened to her, and we'll go home."

"We should be there now, taking it easy, getting all our summer things going. We should be planning things for the baby, working on the nursery..."

"We'll be doing all that soon. We will. For now, though, I don't wanna take any chances with you and our kiddo. I want you both safe."

"I mean, what if running wasn't even necessary? Mother knowing my cell number doesn't prove that she knows anything else."

"But she could know other stuff, Agatha. Where we live, where we work. We don't know what she does know, so it would be risky just to brush things off."

Rio rubbed her hand soothingly up and down Agatha's back. Agatha, in turn, leaned to the side, resting against Rio.

"I just hate this so much. I mean, it's nice to get away and see old friends, but why can't it have been under, you know, less dire circumstances?"

"Life's a bitch sometimes. I wish there was more I could do."

"You do more than enough."

"I try, but Agatha, I feel like somehow I always screw up."

"No, you don't always screw up."

"Yeah, well, I mean, your mother finally talked when it was me who answered your phone."

"That was in no way you screwing something up. Hell, it's probably a good thing, since she finally spoke to you. If she hadn't spoken, we wouldn't know what's up."

"Maybe. I just feel weak. I feel weak because I can't just stop her. I can't just take her down myself to protect you."

Agatha relaxed a bit more against Rio, arm around her shoulders.

"It isn't all up to you."

"I know. Just lately I've been thinking about when we got married. Thinking about my vows. I promised I would always be there, always help you..."

"You've done that, Rio. All of it. You're the perfect partner for me."

"But..."

"No but, okay? This whole thing is fucked, and we're handling it as best we can. I guess I gotta stop blaming myself, and I want you to stop too. None of this is us, right? You've said it before; this is my mother's heinous bullshit."

"Yeah. Yeah, we... We didn't fuck up."

"Just gotta keep each other strong. You and me."

"And little dude," Rio smirked.

"And little dude," Agatha said.

"You wanna... Wanna go get lunch somewhere?"

"I mean, I could eat. Little dude and I are craving... Hmm. Ya know, Monica said there's a great Greek place downtown."

"Greek, huh? Okay. We can do Greek."

As they moved apart to get dressed and ready, Agatha felt a sensation like weight lifting from her shoulders. She smiled.

"I called Alice," she said.

"Awesome. We gonna meet up sometime?"

"She's gonna get back to us."

"Great. Be good to see her again."

Struggling out of her pajama shorts and into an ancient pair of cargo shorts, Rio suddenly laughed.

"Remember that time she had a crush on that girl who worked in the campus bookstore?"

"The redheaded cross-country runner?"

"Yup. Alice tried to ask her out and ended up being so nervous she passed out that one time..."

"Oh, that I remember very well. I was the one who had to help her wobble her way over to the campus clinic to check for concussion because she took out a spinner rack of poetry paperbacks as she fell."

"Yeah, she was not the smooth rock star back then, was she? Wonder if she's seeing anyone."

"Guess we'll find out whenever we meet up."

Moments later, they were driving toward downtown Westview. Rio was whisper-singing some song or another to herself, fingers drumming on the steering wheel. Agatha caught her attention when they stopped at an intersection and smiled at her.

"Remember how you used to fill in on drums for Alice's band?"

"Hell yeah. Good times."

Rio grinned, easing off the brake and driving on.

"I seem to recall," she said, "that you used to get, just, super wound up when I was drumming at a gig. You always tried to have your way with me when the band took a break."

"Hey, I'm only human. Something about seeing you up there in that outfit you always wore..."

"People who didn't know me and saw more than two gigs used to ask me if I was a cartoon character, you know? If my closet was just that same outfit, over and over and over."

"Well, it was a good outfit. That cropped tank top, those cut off shorts. You always looked damn good."

"So did you. You know what a fuckin' turn-on it was during breaks to walk over and put my arm around the most gorgeous girl in the world, and to know she was all mine?"

"All yours," Agatha said, "forever."

"Yup. And now I'm married to that gorgeous girl. I've got a life with her that I wouldn't trade for anything. A home, good work, baby on the way."

As Rio parked the car, she reached over and grabbed Agatha's hand.

"Always remember that, okay? I would not give up what we have. I would not change one single thing about the time we've spent together, or the future we're building right now. Even the scary stuff."

"Really?"

"Really really. Now come on. Let's go have a nice, quiet lunch."

"Oh, my God, I've missed you guys so much!"

Alice practically lunged through the doorway, throwing her arms around Agatha and Rio and hugging them. As she pulled away, she smiled and nodded toward Agatha's belly.

"So, you two..."

"We figured why not," Agatha shrugged.
"I mean, we had a spare room."

"Everything going good?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it's good."

"Well, I hope I'm gonna get to be Auntie Alice or something."

"Naturally."

"Awesome. Well, c'mon in!"

Alice turned quickly and lead them into the house.

"Nice place," Rio said.

"Thanks. I know it's probably not what people expect from a rock star; everyone expects me to be living in some obscenely huge pile of a mansion."

"Some people prefer cozy," Agatha shrugged.

They ended up in an airy living room, walls papered in a very pale dusty rose-orange color, the curtains and soft furnishings all slate grey-blues. There were a few bits of art on the walls, and more than a few awards and accolades. In one corner what stood out most was a veritable shrine to Alice's late mother. That rather surprised Agatha.

"Your mom," was all she said.

"Oh," Alice nodded, "yeah. I have been in just, like, intensive therapy this past year. It's really helped me put shit in perspective. Mom wasn't perfect, but her problems were her own, and I understand now that she loved me above all else, even at her lowest points."

Alice smiled, a small, oddly tight expression. It was, Agatha thought, a look of some final closure. She was glad that between herself, her wife, and her old friend, at least one of them could come to terms with the shadows of their childhood.

"So, why don't you guys sit?" Alice said, gesturing to the sofa.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Water, please," Agatha said, and Rio simply made a sound of agreement.

While Alice disappeared off toward presumably her kitchen, Agatha sat quickly, feeling oddly overwhelmed. Rio say beside her, an arm around her back.

"You feel okay, mi corazón?"

"Yeah, just... It's just been so long since we saw Alice. I missed her."

"Me too. Hey, maybe after everything blows over, we'll get better again at keeping in touch?"

"I hope so. I mean, I hope for both of those things."

"Huh?"

"That we get better at keeping in touch and that everything blows over."

"It will, love."

"Okay," Alice announced, a chipper edge to her voice, "two waters."

"Wow," Rio said, "the old customer service tone."

"Hey, never forget the days of working our asses off at that cruddy little Italian restaurant near campus."

Agatha felt heat rush to her face and she gulped down half of her water in one go. She was still at least partly convinced she had been the reason Rio was fired from said cruddy restaurant.

"So, a baby," Alice said.
"Here you two are just marching forward with all the big life stuff and I can't even get laid half the time."

That actually made Agatha laugh.

"You, the famous rock star? You must have groupies all over you all the time."

"Sure, but that's not what I want. I kinda wish I had met someone back in school, ya know? Someone special I could make it last with. You guys are so lucky that way."

"Well, lucky is a relative term," Agatha shrugged, "considering the shit going on right now."

"Yeah, about that. I wanted to ask, is there anything I could do to help?"

"Are you a certified bounty hunter on top of everything else? Because that might be the only way."

"Nah, I'm serious though. I mean, I may not have pull with the government or whatever, but I know a lot about security. I can probably get you guys a good deal on a system for your house or whatever."

"I mean, I wouldn't say no to that," Rio rasped, and Agatha looked at her.

Rio suddenly looked absolutely wiped out, and it was like a punch straight to the chest to realize how much the last few weeks of upheaval had probably taken out of her.

'I am the worst partner on the planet,' Agatha thought.

"I know some guys," Alice said.
"Remind me to give you the number before you head out later."

"Great," Rio nodded, and her arm that was against Agatha's back tensed a moment.

The conversation after that turned to vaguely more ordinary, pleasant things: Alice's most recent tour and work on her  new album, the plans Agatha and Rio had for life in the coming months.

"I'm due in November," Agatha said, "and then I go back to work in January."

"You guys getting a nanny or what?" Alice asked.

"Oh, the school has an on-site daycare for the children of staff."

"That's amazing!"

"We did end up at a pretty great place," Rio said.

Agatha nodded.

"We absolutely love working there, and we know we're very lucky to have both gotten work there."

"Sounds like a sort of prestigious place, if you know what I mean," Alice said.

"Oh, it's nice, and the standards are high, but I don't know... I mean, certainly plenty of the parents seem to think having a child there gives them bragging rights of some sort."

Alice laughed, head thrown back.

"I know a few people in the music business who seem to make it their avocation to brag about where their kids go to school."

Sighing, she took a sip of her own drink.

"You guys thinking you'll send your kiddo to the school you teach at?"

"Definitely," Rio said.

"We're considering it," Agatha said at the same moment.

Truthfully, the subject of eventual schooling had only come up a couple of times so far. Agatha thought that reasonable, since the baby was not even born yet. There would be plenty of time to decide on those things later.

Shortly after, Alice's phone jangled, and she scoffed when she looked at it.

"You guys gimme a sec? I gotta take this."

As Alice stepped out of the room, Agatha felt Rio's arm tense again.

"Sweetheart?"

"You okay?" Agatha asked.

"I... I'm... Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Rio..."

"I'm fine, Agatha. It's all good."

A few moments later, Alice returned and sat again, looking annoyed.

"Well, someone rescheduled shit that was supposed to happen next week for tonight."

"Oh," Agatha breathed, "should we go, or..."

"Nah, nah. I got a couple of hours. You guys want anything to eat?"

That was how they all ended up, for the next hour and a half, sitting on the floor like in their college days, eating hastily ordered takeout and laughing over the weird things that happened in life. It was a good time, and there were a few moments where Agatha almost forgot some of the fear and confusion of the past month.

Almost.

Then her phone rang, the damn little burner she had been using, and she knew the number on it at once.

"Shit."

She sensed Rio tense up beside her instantly.

"Babe..."

"It's... I'll be right back."

Now it was Agatha's turn to stand and step into the next room and answer a call.

"Hello?"

"Agatha? Agatha, this is Phil Coulson."

"Hey, Phil. What, did my mother finally put in an appearance?"

"Not precisely, but I can inform you we've recovered two of her fellow escapees. Their statements, along with information we've received in the last week or so, leads us to believe that your mother may no longer be an immediate threat to you."

"Wait, so... So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying, cautiously, that you may be able to return home soon. A couple of agents in the vicinity will continue to monitor your neighborhood, of course, but given what we've ascertained, it looks like you're in the clear. We'll be in touch over the next few days to further discuss things with you."

There was no more precise information than that, but they would be safely able to go back to the house. To just finally be home again.

Agatha wanted to weep.

Instead, she hung up, turned, and made her way carefully back into Alice's living room. Both Alice and Rio were standing, and as soon as Agatha was close Rio reached out and pulled her into a hug.

"Sweetheart, what's up? Is it okay? Are you..."

"We can go home soon."

"Huh?"

"Coulson says we can go home soon."

"What? We... They caught the bitch?"

"No. But they have evidence she's not directly headed for us. For me."

Now Alice approached and hugged both Rio and Agatha all at once.

"This is a group hug moment, right? It feels like a group hug moment."

"Uh, yeah," Agatha nodded, "this is a total group hug moment."

It was probable this would not be the only group hug of the day. Probably there would be a similar reaction back at Carol's too. Agatha was almost looking forward to it, in spite of not being much of a hugger in general.

They all settled back down and sat once more, and the mood felt lighter now, almost jubilant. They talked and laughed for another hour, and Agatha knew that from today, everything ahead would be so much better and brighter. When it was time for Agatha and Rio to head out, Alice walked them to the door and hugged them again, individually, then together.

"We're making a rule," she said, "to stay in touch better, all right?"

"Definitely," Agatha said.

"No more barely talking for over a year," Rio chimed in.

Alice laughed a little.

"Listen, when the kiddo comes along, I expect at least a phone call, if not an invitation to come and visit when they're a few months old. I gotta start building the auntie cred early."

"You'll be one of the first calls on the list," Agatha assured her.

As they drove back to Carol's house, Rio was extra cheerful, fingers drumming on the wheel. Every time they were stopped Rio would grin and shoot happy looks Agatha's way.

"I was so afraid we'd be away from home for months upon months," Agatha said.

"Feel better now?" Rio asked, turning onto Marshall Street.

"Loads better. This might all just work out after all."

"It will. Everything from here on in will be smooth sailing."

Agatha woke extra early, having barely slept as it was. She'd had some shitty dreams, but luckily Rio had been right there to hold her and reassure her. As she sat up on the edge of the bed, she looked over her shoulder at Rio.

'Sleeping like a baby,' she thought.

She meant it half-literally. Rio was sort if sprawled, mouth hanging open, one arm thrown up over her head, the other cuddling Scratchy close. They had fallen asleep the last time with the bunny plush tucked between them, and at some point he had migrated from Agatha's grasp to Rio's, the little traitor.

Standing, Agatha made her way groggily to the bathroom, did her business, then froze in place halfway between turning off the tap after washing her hands and grabbing a towel to dry them.

At first she thought she was going to have to return to the toilet, that the strange bubbling sensation low in her belly might be an indication of oncoming Hershey squirts, but then realization struck her.

"Holy shit," she whispered.

The baby. She was feeling the baby move. This was the first little fluttering sign of life growing inside of her.

"You're real," she whispered, pressing a damp hand to her shirt just over her bump.

Of course it was real, and had been for months, all through the morning sickness and the beginning of her belly swelling up. But now...

This was real. The baby, her baby, their baby, was moving. That tiny little bean of a thing they had seen on the sonogram was now big enough that she could feel them. They were gently making their presence known.

It was amazing, wonderful, transcendent...

Agatha fought, but tears rose in her eyes.

As she returned to the bed, she saw Rio stirring, and she rushed to wipe her eyes so that there would not be any worry. Unfortunately, she failed at her task, and the tears kept coming. She slumped to sit on the edge of the bed and Rio sat up, scooting close.

"Well, good morning, mi corazón. You're... Agatha, what's wrong? Oh, fuck, are you hurt?"

"No," Agatha sobbed.

"Then why are you crying? Please, tell me and I'll make it all better."

"It's... I'm not... I just felt the baby move."

Rio's eyes went wide.

"You felt them? Like..."

"Like just a minute ago. I was washing my hands and they just... Moved."

"They moved? Our... They... Holy shit."

"That's what I said."

Gently, Rio guided Agatha to lie down and leaned down to press a kiss to her belly.

"Hey," Rio said softly, "hi in there. You doin' okay? Havin' a good day?"

Laughing, Agatha stroked Rio's hair.

"I think they're fine."

"Sure they are. They're our baby. They're... They're great."

More kisses, and then Rio was whispering to Agatha's belly again.

"We're gonna go back home pretty soon, to the house where you'll grow up. You'll like it. We're getting your room all ready, and there's a yard for you to play in when you get bigger and everything. And as soon as we do get home, you and your mommy are gonna try and take it easy while you finish getting ready in there, okay? We got a deal?"

"What if I don't want to take it easy?" Agatha asked.

"I did say try," Rio smirked, shifting to kiss Agatha's cheek.

"I can't wait to be home again."

"Mmm. Be nice. Our own bed. All our stuff. And I wanna get to making up some of those hours I've missed on my summer tutoring jobs so far."

"What, no taking it easy for you too?"

"No ma'am. I gotta work make sure we've got plenty of dough socked away. Gonna be expensive, takin' care of our kiddo."

"Well, sure, babies are expensive, but we agreed to try since we've got savings and..."

"And those are for the regular stuff. But we are gonna splash out on our kid. They're gonna have everything we didn't. Every toy, every book, every fun experience. They're gonna have it better than you and I ever even dreamed when we were little."

Agatha felt tears welling again, but she blinked them back and cupped Rio's face in her hands.

"My love."

"Hnn?"

"Nothing. Just... Just you're so sweet when you get determined like this."

"Well," Rio shrugged, "I can't fix the world. I know that. I can't go back in time and save you from all the shit before I knew you. I can't save myself from the hell of growing up how I did. But I can damn well make sure for the rest of my life that you and the baby are protected and have everything you want or need."

"I never felt safer in my life, Rio. Ever since I met you, it's like I've just known everything would be all right."

"It will. I'll make sure. I won't leave you, I won't hurt you, and I won't let you be hurt."

Rio kissed her then, sweet and warm and slow, and they shifted more properly onto the bed.

"Promise you won't leave?" Agatha whispered.

"I promise. I swear. I will never leave you, never abandon you, and never let you be afraid. You and our kid... I haven't really had a family in a long time, and now that I got one, this is what the rest of my life is about."

Agatha suddenly felt awash with happiness and love and a little worry. She hugged Rio tight.

"You really do love me, don't you?"

"I love you, mi corazón. Always have, always will. Figure it's what I was made to do."

The assurance of Rio's love was enough to renew every hope and dream Agatha had for the future. She sighed and relaxed slightly. They were going to be all right. They were happy and in love and at least reasonably safe.

The world was as it should be.

Rio gratefully crawled into the bed, their bed, and sighed, curling up against Agatha's back.

"How was today?" Agatha murmured.

"Loud. Busy. Rewarding."

Almost as soon as they got back home, they had a couple of days of settling in. Then, Rio had gotten to her usual summer volunteering at the community center. Starting next week, she had some of her paid tutoring gigs picking up as well. That was great because money, but she was actually considering cutting off one of the families that usually had her come in mid-July. By then, she knew she would be getting more and more worried about spending time with Agatha.

Still, she was glad to be back to something like normal, even with worries. She worried about Agatha, about the baby, about the future. She was worried because Evanora was still on the loose, though the last rumored sighting had been all the way over in Michigan.

"Rio?"

"Hnn, sweetheart?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"I missed you today."

"Missed you too. You and our little dude."

Agatha turned over in her arms, and Rio felt a surge of joy at the sight of those clear blue eyes. Agatha looked happy, peaceful, calm. That was the best thing to see.

"You have an okay day other than missing me?" Rio asked.

"Mm-hmm. Ran some errands. Had lunch with Jen and Lilia. Picked up those new roller heads for when we get around to painting the nursery."

"Did you remember to..."

"Hydrate and take it easy, yes," Agatha rushed, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, gotta keep you and little dude safe."

"We're just fine. He was a little active today, especially at the DIY store. I think he might have inherited your interest in interior decorating."

"Nice. I'm gettin' a little buddy who can appreciate a good wallpaper paste, I hope."

Agatha snorted out a laugh.

"Yes, I'm sure you two will bond over all the finer points of paste. As long as you don't glue yourselves to something, it should be fine."

"Me an' the kid'll make this whole place over one day. You just wait and see."

"Mmm. And do I get a say in the decor?"

"You can pick the colors for in the bedroom here."

"Good. I'm thinking atrociously clashing shades of purple."

"Right. Color picking privileges revoked then."

"You just don't have my scope of vision," Agatha huffed.

"Sure, sweetheart. Sure."

Rio laughed, then kissed Agatha softly.

"I'm so glad you married me, mi corazón."

"Likewise. Now, should we get a little sleep?"

"Yup. We got breakfast plans. I mean, if you still wanna go."

"No way I'd miss breakfast with your sister. It's always highly entertaining."

"Lenny and her wild life, huh? Kinda shocked she finally seems to be settling down, ya know? Of course, I don't think anyone who knew us as kids thought either of us would ever settle down."

"And yet somehow I snared you," Agatha smirked.

"How could I not be enticed? You're gorgeous, witty, willing to put up with my weird shit. Basically the perfect woman for me."

"Mmm. And you're perfect for me. Good thing we found each other."

"Oh, we'd find each other no matter what. In every world. Every life."

"You really believe that?"

"Agatha, I know that. You're my everything. My heart. My life. I wasn't really living before I knew you. I was surviving. Even after I got out of the system, got to college, all that stuff, I was just in survival mode all the time. With you, though, I could breathe easy. You figured out so quickly what I needed. You just instinctively seemed to know how to work with all my issues."

"I mean, I did slip up and serve you artichokes that one time."

"But when I reminded you I can't eat them, you understood. You even understood it was a sensory thing, not, like, an allergy or something. The number of people in my life who haven't understood that shit..."

"I want to be good to you."

"You are, sweetheart. You're wonderful. The best thing in my life is getting to be with you."

Agatha sniffled.

"Are you trying to make me cry?"

"Sorry, I..."

"No, no. It's sweet. You're so sweet to me. You make me believe I'm worthy."

"Worthy of what?"

"Anything. Love. Kindness. Respect."

"Well," Rio said, "that's 'cause you are. You deserve all the good things."

"So do you."

"Well. Seems like we're on the same page about things. I mean, mostly. Now we just gotta stick together, take care of each other, and be ready to take care of little dude."

"Oh, I'm ready for that. We're gonna be so good to him, right?"

"Of course. Him and anyone else who comes along."

"Eventually. We are definitely holding off on another baby until this one is school age."

"Right, right. Don't wanna rush things."

The tiniest of smiles curled around Agatha's lips, and she sighed and burrowed closer against Rio.

"We're doing this. We're embarking on the rest of our life."

"You say that every time," Rio chuckled, kissing her wife's forehead.

"Yeah, well, there are always these new milestones. These new big steps. And I'm really, really glad I get to take all these steps with you."

For a long time they lay there in the dark, silent but for the zhhhh of the fan in the corner. Then, quiet suddenly, Agatha started giggling.

"What?" Rio asked.

"Oh, it... Baby's moving. It still feels so tickly right now."

"Can't wait until I can feel 'em."

"You should be able to soon enough."

"Hnn."

Gently, Rio touched Agatha's belly, just with her fingertips.

"I know you're in there, little dude," she murmured, "and I'm out here waiting to meet you. We're gonna have the best time."

"Don't know how I'm gonna keep up with both of you," Agatha sighed.

"Won't be so hard. Little dude won't be able to do a lot of getting around at first."

"Yeah, but for all I know you'll strap him on in the chest carrier and take off."

"I would never. Not without dragging you along too."

"Thank you for the reassurance."

"Anything for you, love."

Rio shifted onto her back, Agatha close against her side, and shut her eyes.

"Rest of the summer's gonna be good, mi corazón. You watch. Good summer, good autumn, good winter, and decades of good years for us. For our family."

"You make it sound so... I dunno. So possible. You've always made a bright future seem possible."

"'Cause it is, sweetheart. We've got that future ahead."

They slept, at last, peacefully, lulled by closeness and familiarity. Now and then, Rio came close to the surface of wakefulness again, but the warmth and softness of Agatha would always guide her back under. When, at last, she woke for good, it was to Agatha easing out of her arms.

"I need to go to... Rio, I have to pee."

"But I love you though."

"Be that as it may, I do need to relieve myself."

"Fine."

Reluctantly, Rio released her grip on Agatha, watching her get out of bed, then rolled over and looked at the clock. Seven in the morning. Not so early, and they had until 9:00 to get ready to head to breakfast. That was fine. Maybe Rio could get a little extra rest in. Just a bit.

When Rio woke again, Agatha was sitting on the edge of the bed, gently squeezing her hand.

"You better get up and get ready, sleepyhead. Don't wanna miss those lemon crepes you love so much."

"Hnnn. But the bed is soft. You're soft. Come back to bed and be soft at me."

"Rio, I would love to, but we do have plans."

"Okay. Okay. But when we come home..."

"We'll snuggle, all right? I promise."

Smiling, Rio scooted closer and nuzzled against Agatha's hip.

"Am I being promised only snuggles?"

"Well, if you behave, we'll see about an extra treat."

"I like the sound of that."

"And I like the sound of you up and on your feet, getting ready to go."

"Yes, ma'am," Rio sighed, sitting up and stretching.

Agatha stood and went across the room. She was in just her bra and panties at the moment, and Rio felt distinctly aroused at the sight, but decided to try and control herself. Practically rolling out of bed, she trudged to the bathroom.

"No more breakfast dates on weekends in the summer anymore," she grumbled.

"What if it's just an us date?" Agatha asked.

"Okay. For that, I might make an acception."

"Damn, sis, lookin' good."

Agatha snorted out a laugh.

"Nice to see you too, Lenny."

Lenny smirked and sprawled into the chair across from Rio.

"I mean it, Agatha," Lenny said, "you look real good right now."

"Well, thanks."

"And you, Rio. You're looking just like me."

"Well, we are identical," Rio sighed.

"Sure, sure. But my hair's better."

"We... It... We've basically got the exact same haircut right now."

"Do we? Interesting."

Grunting, Rio shook her head. Lenny was better at some aspects of the social in life. Better at masking. She seemed never to truly function in a way that Rio could fully understand. She seemed, somehow, to feel freer than Rio could imagine most of the time.

Rio really only felt free in very certain circumstances. When she got through to a student who was having a hard time with a lesson. Working on things around the house or the yard. Making love to Agatha. Those were the times where nothing but the moment seemed to matter. Nothing about her fucked up brain, the confusion she felt trying to communicate sometimes, the horror of the memories of childhood and the fears its very origin rained down on her...

"Hey. Hey, kiddo, wakey-wakey."

"Rio, are you all right?"

Shaking her head, Rio focused in, looking from her sister to her wife.

"Yeah, I... I'm good."

"You still have those absence seizures? Like when we were little?"

Lenny was looking at her, actually looking concerned. Again, Rio shook her head.

"Absence seizures? No. No, haven't... Haven't had those since junior high. You know that."

"Sure. Yeah. Sorry, just..."

Agatha was squeezing Rio's hand carefully.

"You did zone out on us there for a bit," she said.

"I was thinking. Just thinking."

"Okay. You're sure..."

"I'm fine, sweetheart. I'm all good."

"Rio," Lenny said, "you sure you're okay?"

"I'm great. Yeah. Just... I dunno. Lot going on lately."

"That vacation you guys went on?" Lenny asked, and now she was looking to Agatha.

"Everything seemed fine," Agatha said.

"Guys, honestly, I'm fine. I spaced out for a sec. No big deal."

Lenny stood, a slight frown marring her face.

"Hey, I gotta go to the bathroom a second. Rio, you come with me?"

"I... I need to stay with Agatha."

"My love, I'll be fine alone, just for a minute."

"But..."

"It's okay."

Reluctantly, Rio stood and followed after Lenny.

"Rio, you sure everything's chill?"

"I'm fine, Lenny."

"Look, you're going through a lot of stuff right now. Gonna have a kid soon and all that. Lot of stress."

"Sure. Sure, I'm a little stressed."

"You ever feel like maybe it's too much? It's wearing you down? I mean, we're both about the same age as Papa was..."

"Oh my God, Lenny. This isn't... I'm not like Papa. You're not like Papa. Can't a person just space out a little 'cause they're worried?"

"Rio, you were in deep. You weren't just sitting staring into the distance or something. You were full on slumped, slack jaw, eyes unfocused. That's why I asked about the seizures..."

"I'm fine, Lenny. I just... Look, there's a lot of stuff lately. Agatha's mother's been a problem."

"Yeah? Saw on the news where she busted out. You guys okay?"

"That was part of why we took that trip. They were worried she might come and try to hurt Agatha. All clear now, though."

"Yeah? Okay. Well, I can see why you're worried. I would be too. Hell, now I am worried. Listen, if you guys need anything, any help or whatever that I can provide..."

"We're good. Thanks."

Rio started to turn and leave the bathroom, but Lenny grabbed her shoulder lightly.

"Rio, I know I give ya shit sometimes, but we're sisters. I love you. I love you and Agatha both, and that you're about to give me my first... Whatta they call it? Niblet or whatever."

"I think nibling is the more common term."

"Yeah. Listen, I... We haven't always been as close as maybe we should. I wanna fix that. You guys are all the family I got for now. I wanna make things better between us."

"We're good, Lenny. Seriously."

"Okay, but... Look, I kinda... I was thinking maybe we could all spend more time together. I wanna learn how you two are. I... I worry about if I'm treating Janine right, if I'm taking care of her."

Lenny looked genuinely terrified, face drained of color.

"Hey," Rio said, "you're doing great, I'm sure. I mean, you guys have made it a year and a half. That's good. You..."

"Janine's pregnant."

Well, that was a shock and a half.

"You... Is this... You guys gonna go through with it?"

Lenny nodded slowly.

"She wants to. I want to. I want to real bad."

"Did you guys plan it at all, or..."

"No. I mean, like you said, we've been together a year and a half. We're comfortable. Stopped being so careful. I just... Am I gonna fuck it up?"

Rio felt a surge of protectiveness toward Lenny that she had not known in years. Not since... Well, those days did not bear thinking about. She pulled her sister into a tight hug.

"No. No way. Lenny, you're gonna do great. You and Janine both. It's all gonna be great, you hear me?"

"I don't wanna mess up. Like, ever since we found out, I'm afraid I'll hurt her or hurt the baby or something."

"You'll be fine. Just keep loving her like always. You'll figure it out."

"Ri?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared as shit."

"Well, that's good. You're worried. Means you know what you don't want to do, so you won't do it."

They stayed like that for a while, until Lenny was the one to ease away.

"Guess we better get back to your lady wife, huh?"

"Yeah. Speaking of wives, you and Janine gonna..."

"I'm working on a plan."

"Good. Good."

Back at the table, Agatha was waiting very patiently. Well, patiently for her; one foot was nervously jittering on the floor, the other scuffing back and forth in time to some internal rhythm. Rio hurried to sit beside her, gently taking her hand and kissing it.

"Sister stuff," Rio muttered.

They finally ordered breakfast not long after, and the conversation while waiting for the food and then while eating was mostly loose and silly. Lenny went off on tangents about work, about the minor trouble with patients and the worse problems with doctors.

"It's a shitty place, but it's work. Got this one patient who thinks I'm his, like, bestie. Keeps asking me to get him a vape pen or something, I dunno."

When breakfast was over, Lenny left in a rush.

"Gotta get home to my girl. You two should take it easy, huh? Store up energy for when the tyke gets here."

"You take it easy too, huh?" Rio said, standing and offering her twin a one-armed hug.

"And Agatha," Lenny said, "you keep this one under control, huh? Everyone knows she's the wild twin."

"Keep yourself out of trouble, Lenny."

As they left the café, Agatha took Rio's hand.

"Are you absolutely sure you're all right, my love?"

"I'm fine, mi corazón. Just... I dunno. I just worry about the future sometimes. About us. The baby."

"Rio, if you're unhappy..."

"No. Agatha, I'm not unhappy. I'm so, so happy. I just want to try and make sure it's all gonna be as good as I can make it."

"It's not all on you."

"I know that. I know. Hey, listen, let's just... Let's go to that place we found a few months ago. That, like, boutique with all the cool baby stuff. Let's have a good time just looking at stuff for our kid."

So they went, and they looked, and they bought some things: two sleep sacks and a pretty blue-green blanket. By the time they went to the car, they were both very happy, and as soon as they got home, they put away the purchases and went back to the bedroom that Rio had been so reluctant to leave that morning.

"I miss you, sometimes," Rio said, flopping down on the bed and beckoning Agatha closer.

"Silly. I'm right here."

"Yeah, but... I... I just miss you sometimes."

"How much?" Agatha purred, letting Rio pull her gently down.

"So much. More than anything. I feel like without you I... I got nothin'."

"My love, I wish you would tell me what's up with you."

"I just... I had some weird dreams lately, bad ones, and I... The baby... I don't..."

"The baby's fine."

"I know. But the more sort of real it gets, the more... My mom, she... She died having Lenny and me, and our dad went bonkers, and... And I'm so afraid what happens if..."

"I won't die, Rio. I promise."

"You can't know that! I can't know that. I can't... I can't lose you. I'm not strong enough. I won't be me without you."

"Rio, look at me."

Agatha moved to straddle Rio's hips and take her hands.

"I'm here. I'm safe and well, and in a little more than four months, our baby will be born and everything will be fine. Everything."

"I can't lose you."

"You won't. You won't, my love."

Smiling, Agatha reached out and rested a hand on Rio's cheek.

"We're safe, Rio. All of us."

"You think so?"

"I know so. I do."

"How?"

"'Cause I'm smart and I know things."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Guess I'm lucky I got you then. You... You keep me where I need to be."

"Rio? Rio, I need you in the bedroom a minute!"

She was knelt near the corner, just checking the join of the border again, when Agatha called out. There was a nervous quaver to her wife's voice that sent a stab of real fear through Rio, and so in a heartbeat she was on her feet, tearing out of the nursery and into the main bedroom.

"Agatha? Sweetheart, what..."

There sat Agatha on the edge of the bed, leaning back slightly to support herself on her left hand, right hand on her belly, a slight look of consternation on her face. More fear rippled through Rio, and she skidded to the bedside, bending down, ready to help Agatha up or carry her or anything.

"Are you hurting? Is it..."

"Here," Agatha whispered, taking Rio's hand, "feel."

Her hand was pressed to the spot where Agatha's had been a moment before, and after a breathless instant, Rio felt a distinctive little splam, then a bump-pop. She gasped, falling to her knees.

"Is that... That's our little dude?"

Agatha nodded, tears in her eyes.

"I've been really hoping you'd feel him soon," she said.

Leaning a little closer, Rio shifted her hand over and pressed her ear to Agatha's belly.

"Sweetheart, don't be alarmed, but I think our kid's gonna be a drummer. Bet he's already in there cobbling together a kit from your internal organs."

"Weirdo," Agatha sighed, running her fingers lightly through Rio's hair.

"What? So I want a little drumming buddy to take down to Blaire's to try out the drum kits with."

Feeling Agatha tense, Rio looked up at her and grinned.

"I'll get him tiny little ear protection and everything."

"Rio..."

"I know, love. I know. No drums. Can't afford a kit anyway, so... I know."

Standing, Rio stretched to pop her back, then sat on the bed beside her wife.

"You excited we get to see him again tomorrow?"

"Excited," Agatha said, hand rubbing over her belly again, "and nervous."

"It'll be great, love. We'll see little dude. Maybe he'll wave at us."

"You know, it's going to be hilarious if we find out the sex tomorrow and he's a she."

Rio shrugged.

"We'll just switch up our wording. We got this whole parenting thing in the bag. Like, at least 800%."

"That much, hmm?"

"Yup. We are gonna be 800% awesome parents."

Agatha laughed as she reached over to turn out her lamp.

"Good thing you don't teach math."

"Hey, I teach a lot of math. In science, there's a lot of math."

"Okay, sure. Now c'mere and cuddle me."

They got settled in, spoons, and Rio pressed a kiss to the back of Agatha's neck.

"Why you nervous about tomorrow, mi corazón."

"Oh, you know me. Just nervous."

"Seriously, if there's anything up..."

"What if there's something wrong?" Agatha burst out.

"You feel like something's wrong?"

"No. I mean, I... What if something's up? What if he's too small, or something's going on with him, or..."

"Little dude is safe, Agatha. He's safe and warm and happy, okay? If there's anything to worry about, we'll find out how to handle it, but there's not gonna be anything to worry about, 'cause our baby is in the most perfect, safe place to be."

"Please, I'm far from perfect."

"You're perfect to me."

Agatha turned over in Rio's arms, and Rio kissed her gently.

"Ágata, eres me corazón.

Rio held her wife, kissed her again, caressed her, and gentled her to sleep as best she could. It worried Rio that Agatha was worrying, and she knew for all their years of individual and couples therapy, there was still a lot to deal with. Fears, irrational and otherwise. Guilt, even over things where there was none to be held. Trauma. So. Much. Trauma.

If anything did happen with the baby, Agatha would blame herself entirely, and Rio was so afraid for that. Her wife already dealt with so much self-loathing in general.

Once Agatha hit the deepest possible level of being asleep, the steadiest breathing, mouth slightly open, occasional little snort phase, Rio scrunched herself down a bit, pressing a kiss to the upper curve of Agatha's belly.

"Hey, little dude," she whispered, "You doin' pretty good in there? You seem pretty good to me. Pretty feisty, like your mommy. You're gonna be a tough one, huh? Just like me an' your mommy an' your Aunt Lenny. We all went through a lot of stuff, even just when we weren't much bigger than you. You won't have to go through all that, though. Mommy and Papi won't let any of that stuff happen."

She stayed down there, dozily whispering and kissing Agatha's belly until she fell asleep. When she woke, it was to a hint of sunlight around the edge of the blinds and the sensation of Agatha's fingers in her hair.

"Fell asleep gossiping with little dude, didn't you?" Agatha sighed, smiling.

"We were plotting," Rio said, and left another kiss on her wife's belly before stretching out to lie properly and kiss Agatha's mouth.

"My two tricksters. I'll have to be on my toes around you both."

"Nah. You'll be in on all the big plans."

They cuddled for a half-hour, then had to get up and get ready for the day. The August heat was settled outside like a blanket by the time they left for the doctor's office, but the AC in the car kept everything all right.

"You cool, calm, and collected?" Rio asked Agatha as they parked.

"Oh, I'm ready and rarin' to go."

"That is a different set of parameters..."

"I'm good, Rio."

They checked in quickly, and it seemed like they spent barely any time in the waiting room before they were called back. All the usual basics went without a hitch, and then they were waiting again in the exam room.

"Well," Agatha said, smoothing a hand over her belly, "this is it. Last time we saw them, they were just a little bug. This time..."

"A mighty bug-lord!" Rio cut in.

The goof worked; Agatha laughed so hard she snorted, and she smacked Rio's forearm lightly.

"Well, with you around, of course they'll try to become bug-lord."

"Insects are fascinating and important, mi corazón. When the great bug uprising happens, you'll be super glad I know how to talk to them."

"Sure, sure. You nutbag."

"And I'm your nutbag," Rio grinned.

The sonographer turned up at last, a chipper blonde, and chattered away, asking them questions, setting everything up. Rio held Agatha's hand, thumb stroking fondly, squeezing lightly when Agatha flinched at the cold of the gel against her skin. When the image on the screen flared to life, Rio realized she had started holding her breath at some point, and she gasped, squeezing Agatha's hand again.

The picture resolved and there...

"Little dude," Rio breathed, and felt Agatha squeeze her hand in return.

There was a tiny little human being on the screen. Little arms and legs and tummy and the profile of the cutest little face Rio had ever seen. One hand was curled up near the chin, almost mimicking a thoughtful attitude, and Rio wanted to laugh because the pose reminded her of Agatha, deep in thought.

It seemed like ages passed, the sonographer checking and double-checking everything, counting stuff and pointing things out and then came the big question and...

"Yes, we do want to see," Agatha murmured, and Rio leaned down a little to kiss her forehead.

A boy. Looked like a little boy.

"Knew it," Rio whispered, because she had. Somehow she had suspected the whole time.

When they were alone again for a moment once the sonographer left the room, Rio helped Agatha to sit up and heard her let out an enormous sigh.

"He's okay," she whispered, voice thick with unshed tears.

"He's perfect," Rio said, kissing Agatha's cheek.

A moment after their little exchange, Agatha burst out laughing and pulled Rio's hand over to feel. The baby was making his presence known with a few hard pops.

"He thinks we're being sappy," Agatha cackled.

Rio shook her head.

"Yeah, well, he'll figure out eventually that it's actually pretty awesome to be sappy. It's cool and chill and not cringe at all."

"Dork."

"And proud of it."

Then the doctor came in and pronounced everything fine. Baby had all the proper stuff in all the correct places, he was a little more than medium sized for this point in the pregnancy, and he seemed generally like a healthy, active little being.

"I think," Rio said as they headed out to the car, "that my beautiful wife and excellent little son deserve a celebratory breakfast for being so perfect."

"Waffle cone?" Agatha asked, waggling her eyebrows.

"Ice cream this early?"

"Uh, yeah. It's hot out."

"How about just waffles and stuff for breakfast and, if you're a very good girl, ice cream for dessert?"

"I can be good," Agatha said, stopping just beside the car and pulling Rio into a surprisingly passionate kiss.

"Uhm..." Rio panted as she pulled away and opened the car door.

"Do I get my dessert?"

"Two scoops, love. Absolutely."

They ended up at their favorite breakfast place. Agatha had her waffles, with turkey bacon and scrambled eggs, while Rio had the lemon crepes, as always.

Breakfast was nearly finished when the door of the place jangled open, and a moment later a pair of small voices cried out.

"TEACHER AGATHA!"

"Whoops," Rio chuckled, shaking her head.

Tommy and Billy Maximoff, their parents and—was she the nanny? Everyone said she was their nanny, but given the red hair Rio thought she could be a maternal relative—in tow, were barreling over toward the table.

"Hi, boys!" Agatha said, immediately snapping into kindly teacher mode.

"Teacher Agatha, hi!" Billy rushed, and leaned in to hug Agatha.

"Hey, Billy. Have you been having a nice summer?"

"Yeah, it..."

Tommy elbowed Billy.

"You did not ask, Billy!"

"Oh. Sorry, Teacher, was it okay I hugged you?"

"It's all right, Billy. And Tommy, I'm glad you remembered about asking permission."

"We do not touch friends without permission!" Tommy declared.

"Right."

"Well, Agatha, how've you been doing?" Wanda Maximoff asked.

"Oh, pretty well. Lately Rio and I have really just been getting ready for the little one."

"When are you due?"

"November."

"Ah, well, that's why you won't be back to school at the start of the year?"

"Yep. I'll be back after New Year."

"Good luck with everything. See you later!"

"Buh-bye!"

As soon as the Maximoff troop had moved along, Agatha's face settled out of its grinning mask.

"You good?" Rio asked, trying not to chuckle.

"Yeah. Just... Those boys are... Well, they're kiddos, but that mom..."

"Glad you won't have to deal with her next year."

"Mmm. But you may well have her in a couple of years."

"You can train me."

"Oh, I'll train you, all right."

They finished their breakfast with a minimum of footsie and headed out of the café.

"So," Rio said, "you want ice cream still, or..."

"Oh, I think I'm pretty full for now. But I reserve the right to demand ice cream later."

"I'll be on call to fetch it."

They strolled on toward the car, only to be paused by yet another young voice calling after them.

"Teachoh Agafa!"

"Oh, what I day," Agatha groaned.

They turned and saw little Peter Parker marching toward them, his aunts rushing along in his wake.

"Well, Pete," Agatha said, "how are you?"

"I'm good, fanks. You got fat!"

"Peter!" May Parker rushed.

"It's not really me getting fat," Agatha explained, "because I'm having a baby."

"Oh," Peter nodded, "den I guess it's za baby dat's fat."

Rio nearly choked keeping back a laugh, noting that Peter's Aunt Liv was also struggling. May, for her part, simply pulled the boy back gently by the shoulders.

"I am so sorry, Agatha."

"It's fine, really."

"Do not teh anyone," Peter said, whisper-shouting in that way of small children, "buh my aunties ahw gonna have a baby too!"

"And we're not telling anyone just yet," May sighed, shaking her head.

"Congratulations," Agatha said, and Rio, still fighting laughter, nodded along.

They said their goodbyes and hurried on to reach the car.

"I think we had better just get home," Agatha said, "before we meet another 875 acquaintances."

"On it," Rio said, starting the car up.

As soon as they were home, Agatha headed for the bathroom. Rio, meanwhile, grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the fridge and carried them to the bedroom. They had agreed on the drive home that what was needed now was just a lazy rest of the day, reading and otherwise relaxing.

As Rio stripped down to her underwear and sat on the edge of the bed, the window AC unit kicked on, and she sighed happily. She had gotten it and installed it a couple of weeks after their return from New Jersey. The fan they had in here had been enough previously, but no way was she letting her wife and baby swelter away through the worst, last heat of the summer.

With a stretch and a grunt, Rio relaxed back on the bed. Agatha had stopped long enough in here to drop off the stuff from the appointment that morning, and so Rio reached over and slipped one of the printouts from the sonogram from the envelope.

There was their baby, their little guy, just chilling out. Rio was pretty sure he was going to look a lot like her, but she thought he would be pretty cute with Agatha's nose. And if his hair was like Agatha's, that would be nice too.

He was going to be an awesome kid, no matter what.

She heard the sounds of Agatha finishing up in the bathroom and so she set the image aside and sat up a little. The sight that greeted her as her wife entered the bedroom made her sit up further still.

"Ay, mamacita. Te ves bien."

"Don't be a smartass," Agatha groused.

"I mean it, my love. You look good."

Agatha had traded out her nicer clothes for just panties and a t-shirt, and she looked breathtaking. Rio finally scrambled up from the bed and went to kiss her wife.

"You're getting more gorgeous every day, Agatha."

"You're going to make me blush, but I'm going to say it's just the heat."

"Your prerogative. Now, come on and lie down and rest with me."

"We could probably get work done on the nursery."

"Nope. Today, we rest. We still have a little over three months to finish the nursery."

"You know, I like the way you think. It's why I married you."

"Mmm, I think you married me for other reasons too."

Agatha laughed and kissed Rio hungrily, gasping as she pulled away.

"True, since there was also your amazing sense of timing."

"What? Like you wouldn't propose right before the first drop on a rollercoaster?"

They went laughingly to bed, and Rio wrapped Agatha in a loving embrace, pressing them together as closely as possible.

"Careful," Agatha said, "or I might start to think you're really, really deeply in love with me."

"Oh, I'm deeply, ecstatically, madly in love with you."

"Yeah? Well, handsome, how about you prove it?"

Releasing her wife, Rio pushed up onto her elbow.

"You'd like that, huh?"

"Oh, I would positively adore it," Agatha said, "but just gimme a minute."

She sat up and grabbed one of the bottles of water, opening it and chugging down a third of the contents before setting it back on the nightstand.

"Now, where were we?"

"Well," Rio said, "I believe I was about to worship you. Just a little."

"Hmm. Worship. You know, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that."

"Try," Rio whispered, leaning in to kiss Agatha.

They made love gently at first. Rio wanted to be careful, to not risk rushing or hurting Agatha. Still, as things progressed, Agatha got a little demanding, wanting more, deeper, faster, harder, all that good stuff, and Rio let her take the lead. It was nice when Agatha held the reins, so to speak; she was commanding, firm, and Rio in those moments wanted nothing more than to faithfully follow orders.

"My good boy," Agatha sighed after her third climax.

Rio slumped beside her wife, blissfully tired and ready for rest.

"You manage to make my whole life so wonderful," Agatha said, and she tenderly stroked Rio's hair.

"You make my life wonderful," Rio assured her."We're going to always be happy together, you and me. Our family."

They napped, waking a little after noon.

"Want anything special... For lunch?" Rio yawned.

"Mmm, I'll make us something."

"Uh-uh. Today, mi reina rests and takes it easy."

"You're spoiling me."

"Impossible. But I'm damn well gonna try."

Shuffling out of bed, Rio grabbed some clothes.

"I'm gonna order us takeout from that little Sokovian place. You know the one that has that weird ice cream you like?"

"I'm telling you, paprika-cherry is a revelation!"

"Sure, sweetheart. Sure. Anyhow, I'm gonna order us up some grub, go pick it up, and we're gonna eat lavishly."

"Ah, make sure you get..."

Struggling into her running shorts, Rio bent down and kissed Agatha's forehead.

"I have your order memorized, my love. Better even than my own."

"I trust you."

"Right on. Be back in 30, all right?"

"All right. Love you."

"Love you too."

Rio was already tapping in the order as she stepped out the door, and she finished up and confirmed it in the car, then set out. It should be basically ready by the time she got to the restaurant.

As she drove, she thought about all the stuff she really needed to do. They had gotten the nursery all painted and papered and everything and got most of the furniture assembled. Really there was just the crib to be finished, and one corner storage console, plus some paint touch-ups. Then of course they wanted to have all the stuff put away properly, but little dude would not be here until November. They had time, and plenty of it.

There was a little wait at the restaurant, but not for long. As Rio grabbed the food, her phone buzzed in her pocket with a text. She left it until she was settled back in the car, then checked. It was from Agatha.

Please get home soon.

On my way. Got your faves
and the ice cream.

Just please hurry

You okay? Need me to grab
anything else?

Just need you here please!

Okay, now she was worried. She did not perhaps follow all of the rules of the road perfectly on her way home, but she made it one piece. There was a near miss at the closest intersection to home, but that was not her fault. An old blue Buick with no regard for the art of mufflers blew through when she had right-of-way.

"Fuck!" Rio barked, braking hard, heart hammering.

Nervous sweat had been prickling her scalp all during the drive, and she felt a stream trickle down the back of her neck, itching like ants. She swiped the collar of her t-shirt over it, then  practically floored it home.

"Babe?" she called as soon as she was inside.

She left the food on the kitchen counter and rushed to the bedroom, finding Agatha sitting on the edge of the bed, top sheet pulled tight around her shoulders, shivering.

"Agatha? Sweetheart, what's up? Talk to me, love."

Rio knelt on the floor, taking her wife's hands carefully, kissing the knuckles, the backs, the palms.

"C'mon, mi corazón, talk to me. You hurt? Is it our boy?"

"Phil called," Agatha said, voice very small and shaky.

"Okay. So what's up with Phil?"

"Mother was seen in Baltimore two days ago, and over in Towson last night."

"Shit. Shit, shit... We gotta pack up and go anywhere?"

"He... He says they've got the drop on her, they think. They picked up another one of the escapees that she was with this morning in Towson."

"Okay. That's good, right? They just gotta close the net."

"Rio?"

"Huh, love?"

"I'm scared."

"Yeah? So am I, a little. But what we're gonna do is just sit tight and wait to see what happens. House is all locked tight. We'll be safe."

Standing, Rio moved to sit at Agatha's side and hold her.

"You want your lunch?"

"I feel like if I eat I'll puke. Nerves."

"Okay. You maybe want some iced tea instead? We got that pitcher of your favorite in the fridge."

Agatha nodded, and Rio kissed her temple.

"Be right back. You lie down and do some deep breathing, okay? I love you."

"I love you too."

Truth be told, Rio no longer really felt like having lunch either now. She went out to the kitchen and put the food away in the fridge; they could warm it tonight for dinner, or sooner of they got their appetites back. Shoving the little pint of paprika-cherry ice cream in the freezer, she sighed. For a moment, between closing the freezer and opening the fridge again to grab the pitcher of tea, she pressed her forehead to the freezer door. This all sucked so bad.

She grabbed a glass down from the cabinet and set it on the counter beside the pitcher. Some of the tea slopped as she poured, and so she turned a bit and grabbed a dish towel to wipe up the spill, then put the pitcher away again.

The nervous sweat was still an issue. Some of it ran down her back, and she stopped short of picking up Agatha's glass to roll her shoulders so that her t-shirt would wick the sweat away. It itched like hell. Absently, she turned and sighed, scratching at her back through the cotton of her shirt. This day had started so well and now every—

Agatha stayed there on the edge of the bed, trying to breath calmly, trying to let the buzz of the window AC unit and the little sounds of Rio moving around in the kitchen serve as an anchor.

It was going to be fine. Mother would not come too near. She would be caught, and she would never bother them again. Their lives would go forward as fine as always.

Something shifted. The AC unit kicked off, and a moment later, there was a sound like glass breaking, followed by a thud in the kitchen.

"Rio? Rio, you okay?"

No answer.

Maybe Rio had bumped something, or stepped weird and fallen, breaking a glass in the process. Still, if it was so simple...

"Rio?"

No answer. Maybe she had knocked herself out. Shit.

Tossing off the sheet, Agatha grabbed her phone and shoved it in her pocket as she walked quietly toward the kitchen. If she had to call an ambulance...

"Rio, what... Rio?"

She stepped through from hallway to kitchen and did not see her wife. Not at first. But then she saw...

"Oh, shit! No, no, please!"

She sank to her knees, then lurched forward and crept along the floor. There was blood, so much blood, and it was around Rio's head, and Rio was so still.

"No, not now, not you," Agatha wheezed, and as soon as she was close enough she touched Rio's face.

The skin was warm, and she felt a waft of breath against her skin, but she looked and the wound at the back of Rio's head...

She knew that sort of wound.

"Fuck, Rio, please, please look at me! Please..."

A sort of grunt left Rio's throat, and one arm twitched slightly.

Agatha wanted to cry, to let her relief out in wracking sobs, but she had to stay calm. She had to keep everything steady.  She sat with her back against the cabinets, fishing her phone back out of her pocket with her left hand, keeping her right hand on Rio's back to feel the movement of breathing as she shakily dialed 911.

She felt robotic describing the situation, and yet she knew she must not sound that way, because the operator kept asking her to repeat things slowly, to try and stay calm, kept saying all the reassuring things they were trained to say to distressed persons. She had to struggle to stand as she went to unlock the front door and allow the EMTs and the cops in; suddenly her legs felt like overstretched rubber bands.

The cops kept questioning her about things, firing off words that she barely could process.

Suddenly she was not a full grown adult, 28 years old, with her own life and love and future. Suddenly, she was four years old again, or six, or any age under 18 when the system intervened to either take her out of the hell she had been born into or to drop her back into it. All she could do was hover near the EMTs, begging them to help Rio, to make certain it was all going to be okay.

Then there were other voices, one painfully familiar as of late, and someone was gripping her by the shoulders, trying to get through to her.

"Agatha? Agatha, it's me, Phil Coulson. What happened?"

"I... I don't know! I was in the bedroom, Rio just got back from picking up takeout, she... I wasn't hungry, but she was going to get me a glass of tea..."

"Okay. Okay. Now we just..."

The EMTs shuffled by with Rio on their gurney, and Rio let out a sound, a rough, choked cough.

"A... Agath..."

Hurrying alongside the gurney, Agatha grabbed Rio's hand.

"I'm here. I'm right here."

"Late? I can't... Can't..."

One of the EMTs stopped Agatha on the porch.

"Ma'am, we're gonna need all the space we can get in the ambulance. You can follow after. We're taking her to Montesi."

"Please, I have to go with her! I have to be..."

"Ma'am, just let us do our job."

Phil was beside her then.

"C'mon, I'll drive you over. Hill and Ward will stay here and handle things."

"No! I have to go with Rio! I can't leave her and..."

"We can be there quick as hell if you let me drive you!"

The ambulance was already speeding off, and for a mad instant Agatha wanted to try and run after it. She decided to settle for shouting at Phil, but before she could snap back, something popped twice, and then Phil was pushing her back into the house. The cops were still in there with a couple of other people Agatha presumed must be Hill and Ward, and another cop car as well as a dark, unmarked vehicle had just pulled up outside. Phil nudged Agatha back toward the hallway.

"Stay down! Just stay down!"

She slumped against the wall, belly twinging, and ended up on her knees. It was like she could feel all the stress flooding her bloodstream, lighting things up, and all she could think of was that it had to be bad for the baby, and that if she could just get to the hospital to be with Rio, everything would be fine.

Her head ached, and everything was a jumble of sound as she squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of what was happening. What could be happening. There was shouting, slamming, and all the little pop pop-pop sounds that she had thought she left behind in the most insane parts of her childhood.

The baby kicked, turned, and Agatha suddenly worried that he was dying in panic. That by having the life she had, the life she had been born into, she was killing her son. Rio's son.

She had to get out of here, get away from here, get somewhere...

"Agatha! Agatha, look at me!"

She blinked up slowly and saw Phil.

"What the fuck..."

"It's okay. C'mon, we... We'll get you to the hospital."

Someone else helped her to her feet. Helped her through the house and out to scramble into the back of a dark car. As Agatha cringed in the seat, whoever had helped her made an effort to assist with her seatbelt, and in her blind panic, she slapped their hands away.

"Easy. I'm... I'm here to help. I'm Agent Hill. You're Agatha, right?"

Agatha nodded. This was no time for talking for her. This was too much like all those times when she was little, but now it felt even worse because she had things to lose that she could not imagine living without.

And then they were at the hospital, and Agent Hill and someone else were helping Agatha out of the car. She was nearly completely shut down now. Still. Compliant, which she hated to be but which was the place she tended to retreat to in extremis. A nurse or someone took her aside, was asking her questions, and Agatha was too tired and afraid to answer them but then...

Rio was there?

No. Not Rio.

Lenny was there.

"Hey, please! Please, she's my sister-in-law. She..."

And Lenny was with her, at her side while the nurse did exam things.

"Ag? Agatha, what happened? I got a call and... Agatha, what's up with everything?"

That was right. Lenny was Rio's emergency contact if Agatha could not be reached.

"I... Rio..."

"They're getting her into surgery or whatever, but they were so vague. Agatha, what the hell... Who brought you in? What..."

"My mother... Mother... She..."

"Did she bring you in?"

Agatha shook her head and slumped against Lenny, who did really just an admirable job of holding her so that she did not slide right off of the bed and onto the floor.

"You need to lie down, okay? They wanna check you over, just make sure you and the baby are okay."

"He's a boy, ya know?" Agatha choked out.

"No shit. I got a nephew. No shit. Well, c'mon and lie down so we can check on him."

It was fine. Agatha was fine, if clearly stressed, and every sign indicated the baby was all right too, and being super active at the moment, probably due to everything. Lenny was not quite Rio in her manner of communicating with Agatha in this state, but she was someone who knew how to communicate with the medical staff. She made it very clear to the nurse who had been in the room through all of this that Agatha and she both needed updates as soon and as often as possible regarding Rio's condition.

"I'll see what I can do," the nurse—an imposing guy with a gentle face—said, and he patted Agatha's hand comfortingly.

And then they were sitting, waiting, Agatha on the edge of a hospital bed, Lenny in a chair nearby.

"Rio'll be okay," Lenny said, more than once.

"She's strong," Agatha agreed.

"Hell yeah she is. She... One time, we were, like, seven or eight. We were actually with family then, with our Tití Elena, and she had, like, an old shed in the back yard. I dunno why, but Rio climbed it one time, got up on the roof even though we weren't even supposed to go near it. It was real old, and the roof just sorta... Gave way. The whole thing came down, and Tití Elena came running, and one of her neighbors, and they pulled Rio out of the rubble and... And she was fine. Just fine."

"I wish I'd known Rio my whole life. I wish we had more time."

"You got plenty of time! None of us are even thirty yet. We all got, what, 40 or 60 years left, maybe?"

"Lenny..."

"She's gonna make it, Agatha. She has to. She's gotta be here for you and the kid. She's gotta!"

The nurse, Ben, returned shortly.

"So, I asked around, and they're going to bring an update as soon as they can," he said, "and since everything looks all right with you, we're gonna take you both to a waiting room closer to where things are happening, okay?"

Lenny helped Agatha from the bed, and kept a hand on her back all the way to the elevator and up to whichever floor of the hospital they were being taken to, and then into a little, dim waiting room with a slightly overstuffed loveseat and a couple of chairs.

"Like I said," Ben nodded, "they'll update you both as soon as possible. You need anything?"

"We're good for now," Lenny said.

Then they were alone, and they sat on the loveseat, and Agatha sagged against Lenny's shoulder, exhausted.

"I need to call people," she said, "and... And I need to make sure..."

"Hey, don't you worry," Lenny said.
"Tell me who to call and stuff and I can handle it."

And so Agatha handed over her phone, having Lenny be the one to call whoever needed to be called. At some point Agent Hill, whom Agatha supposed had abandoned her once Lenny took over, entered the room and slumped into a chair.

"Any news?" she asked.

Agatha shook her head.

"Coulson's okay," Hill said.

"Wait, was he..."

"That's why he didn't drive with us. Ward brought him here. Your mom shot him. Just a graze, really."

"My..."

"Mm-hmm. She, uh, was... Well, someone'll give you the rundown eventually."

"How... How was she anywhere near our house‽ I thought there were people watching and..."

"She slipped the net. We may never fully know how she got by us."

"Well fucking ask her! God damn it, you have to..."

"She's dead."

The words impacted on Agatha's mind, and she was not sure exactly what happened except that one moment she felt like laughing and the next like crying and then somehow she was back in a hospital bed and Lenny was there at her side still.

"Okay, so they've admitted you for observation," Lenny said.

"Huh?"

"You sorta passed out. Stress, probably. They wanna keep an eye on you and..."

"Is Rio all right?"

"She's out of surgery. Stable. They'll keep us updated."

"I have to be with her, Lenny. She's probably do afraid..."

"She's not conscious yet."

"Well then I have to be there when she wakes! I have to take care of her, have to make sure..."

"Agatha, the best thing you can do for Rio right now is to stay calm. You need to be safe. The baby needs to be safe."

"Please, Lenny, I have to go to Rio."

Shaking her head, Lenny sighed.

"Look, let's wait another half-hour, okay? I told them to report on Rio's status every 10 minutes. Just rest a bit, and let's hear another few reports."

Agatha was not one to give in easily. She sat up, pulling at monitor leads.

"I need to go NOW!"

"Agatha, chill..."

"You chill! Rio could be... I... Please!"

"Okay. Look, I... Just let me get the nurse. We'll... We'll get you to Rio."

Less than five minutes later, Agatha was in a wheelchair and Lenny was pushing her toward Rio's room. The closer they got, the more a terrible, dull nausea clawed at Agatha's throat. Her only sources of solace were that soon she would be with her wife, and that the child in her womb was active, kicking and turning and stretching.

The room Rio had been placed in seemed even more cold and sterile, somehow, than the rest of the hospital, than even the other ICU rooms they had passed, and stillness managed to pervade beyond the noise of machines and the muffled noise of everything outside.

As soon as Lenny stopped the chair and set the brakes, Agatha staggered to her feet and went to the bedside. Rio's head was heavily bandaged, and there were tubes and wires almost enshrouding her, but Agatha found her hand and squeezed it softly.

"My love? Rio? I... Rio, please wake up. Please. I... Please. Our son needs you. I need you. Please, I know you're so strong. I know you can fight."

There was a soft knock at the entrance to the room, and a doctor entered, clearing her throat softly.

"I'm Dr. Virginia Potts," she said, sort of to the room generally.

Agatha just... Stared. She had encountered cool, clinical detachment before, perhaps too many times, but this person seemed a little too detached for the situation at hand, at least in Agatha's opinion.

"Is my wife going to wake up?" Agatha asked, trying to bite back the urge to scream.

"Surgery went well. We're confident she'll make a solid recovery, but it will take time."

"Doctor," Lenny said, "my sister... I mean, she was shot in the head. How bad is the damage?"

"Oh, not so bad. She..."

"Look, Doc, I'm a PA. I know some shit. Just give us the facts, huh?"

The doctor sighed and nodded.

"Ms. Vidal was shot in the head. The trajectory was side-on. She was struck just about here..."

Dr. Potts tapped a finger to her head, up and back from the right ear.

"And went along and down to here."

Now she tapped a spot only a little above her left ear.

"Oh my God," Agatha groaned.

Lenny looked distinctly green around the gills.

"But," the doctor went on, "it was a bit of a lucky break. There was no full penetration of the skull. The bullet skimmed along around the back of the skull and lodged under the flesh above the left ear."

"What..." Agatha began, "How... How can that happen?"

"A lot of factors are involved. Speed and angle of entry for the projectile, things like thickness and density of the skull."

"The... The bullet didn't go into the skull at all?" Lenny wondered.

"It did gouge into the bone somewhat, and it did cause fracture. Our main concern turned out to be bleeding in and around the brain, which was surprisingly minimal and which we were able to stop. As to any possibly cognitive and related effects, we'll have to wait and see. At the moment, monitoring shows strong neurological activity. Ms. Vidal is breathing on her own. Basic functions are very stable. Things look... Good."

"So, there's a chance she'll come out of this mostly fine?" Agatha asked.

"As I said, we have every confidence in a solid recovery. She'll need time to heal, of course, and therapy, but the outlook is very positive."

There was more said, but in that moment, all Agatha could do was turn back to the bed and squeeze Rio's hand again, even leaning down to press a kiss to the knuckles.

"You're gonna be okay, my love. You'll be okay."

When Dr. Potts left, Lenny went to the other side of the bed, patting Rio's arm.

"You hard-headed shit," she smirked.

Agatha was officially not under observation on the second day at the hospital. A few nurses and some friends who had been contacted tried to convince Agatha to go home in the evening, but she refused with such vehemence that in the end, she was allowed to stay. Lenny left, but came back for a while the next morning, bringing Agatha some changes of clothes and things.

Agatha hardly left Rio's bedside but for once on the third day, when Lilia of all people showed up and got her to step into the hallway.

"Dear, you need to take five minutes for yourself. Why don't I walk with you down to the cafeteria? We can just sit and have a nice cup of tea and..."

"Look, boss lady," Agatha blurted, "under nearly any other circumstances that might sound amazing, but I am not leaving Rio."

In the end, Lilia went and brought Agatha some tea, and they sat and caught up a bit there at Rio's bedside. Things at the school were picking up, classes starting in a week. The young man who had been brought on board to take over Agatha's classroom during the autumn semester was bright and sure. It had been a bit of a scramble to get a fill-in for Rio, especially since there was no telling when (Lilia carefully did not say "or if") she might be able to return.

"I've got no doubt Rio and I will both be back to work in the new year," Agatha said, and Lilia smiled.

"Wonderful, dear."

On the fourth day, Lenny was back again in the morning, bringing pastries and green tea and best wishes from her girlfriend. Not long after Lenny headed off to work, Alice showed up. She had been quite busy with recording stuff for a new album, but she dropped everything when she got Agatha's message and hauled ass down to Maryland.

"Look, I am here for you guys," she said as she hugged Agatha.

"Thanks," Agatha whispered in return.

Alice announced she wanted to help out in absolutely any way that Agatha and Rio might need. Getting things at the house fixed up, setting up new further security if they wished it—they had taken her security advice after returning from New Jersey, but only as far as a motion-activated floodlight in the backyard and a couple of cameras around the house—and handling anything else.

"I got money and I got connections and I damn well oughta use 'em to help my best friends, right?"

For a long time Agatha and Alice sat and talked, ping-ponging nervously between the present situation, everyday life stuff, and what now seemed like the easy, gentle days of their college years.

"That time," Alice said, "they caught... Who was it? The one who was..."

She made some awkward hand motions.

"Oh, Professor Stark!"

"Right! They caught him trying to give that one football player "extra credit," remember?"

"Ugh! Scandal of the year!"

They were laughing, but Agatha's laughter died quickly in her throat because she sensed...

Something.

Looking toward Rio, she saw a twitch of motion, a finger scratching at the sheet. Instantly she stood and went to the bedside, grabbing at Rio's hand.

"Rio? You hear me, my love? Hey, come back, okay? Can you... Can you squeeze my hand if you hear me?"

A shudder ran through Rio's whole body, and then, slowly, she squeezed Agatha's hand once, then again, more tightly.

"M... Mi corazón," she rasped.

"Oh my God!" Alice rushed.

Agatha was frantically activating the call button with her free hand. That was probably the right thing to do, of course, but it brought a rush of medical professionals and meant Agatha and Alice were shunted aside for the moment.

"Please! Please, Agatha!" Rio was crying out, and one of the nurses moved to allow Agatha closer to the bed again.

"Rio?"

"Agatha? Don't... I can't... Don't let me... Don't let me go again..."

"I'm not, sweetheart. I'm right here, okay?"

"Everything... All blurry why?"

"You were shot in the head," one of the doctors explained.

"I... Huh?"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Went... Went for food. Agatha got scared. Her mother... Did her mother..."

"Mother's dead, Rio," Agatha cut in.

"Thank Heaven for small mercies."

There was an endless barrage of checks to be done, questions to be asked and asked again. Yes, Rio knew her name and the year and that she was married and please could they just let her take a second to breathe?

"You safe?" she kept asking Agatha when there was a lull.

"I'm safe," Agatha would assure her.

"Our son?"

"He's safe too."

Eventually, it was just them, just Agatha and Rio. Alice had slipped out to go down to the cafeteria, and so there was a moment where two people could be alone.

"I got shot," Rio said, eyes wide.

"You did."

"Shot in the head."

Agatha nodded, thumb rubbing circles on the back of Rio's hand.

"I got shot in the head and lived!"

"Yes."

"I'm the motherfuckin' Crow, baby!"

That was the moment when Agatha instantly felt most assured that Rio might well just come back completely to her old self. If she could be this much of a weird nerd-dork considering the current situation...

"At least I don't have to go wreak terrible, bloody vengeance," Rio sighed.

Agatha just laughed, leaning in to kiss Rio's cheek.

"You're sure you and the boy are safe?" Rio asked.

"We're fine. Obviously I was... Well, I was in not such a great state when everything started, but everything checks out. I'm all right, our little one is strong and all right..."

"They checked? Checked you both over?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Good. Good, 'cause... 'Cause you both gotta be okay."

"You've gotta be okay too."

"I'm okay. I... It was weird. I had... I think I dreamed a lot while I was under. It was bad. Scary. I kept hearing you, crying and screaming like you were being hurt, and I couldn't get to you."

"It's all right now, my love. Just rest easy."

"I feel gross. Sore. Everything's fuzzy-lookin'."

"They've said you could have some sight issues a while, considering the part of your brain that was impacted."

"Yeah, well, I... It's like... Like when I did that summer life guarding and the water was always making my eyes runny. Like the chlorine and stuff."

"You'll get better soon."

"When can I just go home?"

"Not sure yet."

"Oh. And... Shit! Work! I gotta..."

"Lilia's been in and we talked about it. They've found someone to cover until such time as you feel ready to be back."

"But we... I can't... Gotta make money for you and the boy. For my family. I..."

"Shh. We have savings and things. It will all be fine. All you have to worry about it resting so you can recover."

"You... I love you so much."

"I love you too, Rio. So, so much."

"I... I'm sleepy."

"Okay. Okay, you sleep a little."

"Scared."

"I'll be here, okay? I'll watch over you."

"I... I..."

"Shh, my love. Rest, okay? Be my good boy and rest."

"Si si, mamacita," Rio said, a little smile curling her lips.

When Alice returned, she had tea and soup and a large amount of phone numbers pressed on her by fans.

"You're trying to pick up dates in a hospital?" Agatha teased.

"Hey, some are born great, and some have greatness thrust upon them, and some are hot as hell nepo-baby rock stars that can't help getting hit on."

Noticing that Rio was asleep, Alice winced.

"Is she..."

"Just resting. I... I really think she's gonna make it through this."

"Yeah," Alice nodded, "she will. She definitely will."

They sat and talked and ate, and then Alice had to go, and it was just Agatha and Rio and an occasional nurse in the room as night closed in.

The baby set up kicking hard not long after Alice left, and Agatha ran a soothing hand over her belly.

"It's okay, little one. Everything's gonna be okay."

Without thinking, she hummed some little tune, and it really did seem almost to calm the baby. Soon the hard kicks turned to gentler stretching and rolling movements.

"Just sleep, okay? You're gonna need plenty of rest to be ready for this big world, huh?"

A little kick followed that comment, and Agatha laughed.

"You and your... Well, we haven't decided what you'll call Rio just yet. Technically, she's your father. But I don't know if she wants to be mom or dad or mami or what. We're waiting until a little closer to you getting here to really decide."

Relaxing a little in her chair, Agatha sighed.

"Yes, you and Rio will both need your strength to keep up with each other, and with me. I'm your mother, by the way, but I guess you know that. I haven't talked to you yet as much as I've meant to. Everything's been... Well, it's all been sort of a mess lately.
"You'll probably call me mommy, or mama. Anyway, whatever you call us, that doesn't matter. What matters is that we are going to keep you so safe, and love you so much, and nothing is ever, ever going to make your life so scary or bad. No evil granny, no running and hiding. You, little boy, will know nothing but happiness and love and joy. You'll get the best education, and just the best of everything."

Agatha felt herself almost drifting off in the chair, and she stood carefully, going to the little cot that had been brought in when she made it clear she would not leave Rio. Before she fully went and lay down, she paused at Rio's bed and took her hand.

"We're all safe now," Agatha said."All safe."

Agatha barely slept. She kept waking to see Rio, to check on her, or when a nurse or doctor came in to check. The next morning, Alice turned up again and made Agatha come with her to the cafeteria for breakfast while Rio slept on. When they got back, Rio was awake, kind of staring at the far wall of the room.

"My love?" Agatha whispered, going straight to the bedside and taking Rio's hand.

"You okay?" Rio asked.

"I'm all right."

"My head itches. Itches and hurts."

"Do you want me to get a nurse?"

"No. Stay?"

"I'm right here, and I'll stay right here."

Rio's gaze tracked over toward the door, and her mouth quirked into half a smile.

"Alice?"

"Hey, champ," Alice said, "what's this about catching bullets with your skull?"

"New hobby," Rio said.

The half-smile wilted a bit, and Rio squeezed Agatha's hand.

"I need a nurse," she said.

And so of course they immediately got a nurse in, who dragged in more nurses and some doctors, and Agatha and Alice were temporarily ejected from the room. Panic flooded Agatha, and she tried to breathe, tried to believe that it would all be okay.

When they let them back in, almost 20 minutes later, Rio seemed... Better. She was a bit more propped up in the bed, and she reached for Agatha.

"Don't be scared," she said.

"Not sure I can't be."

"I just was in pain a little. I'll be okay. I'll be home soon and we can just live."

Not long after, Rio was hauled off for tests and scans, and Agatha and Alice could do nothing but wait. Agatha found herself shaking, nervous, and Alice patted her back.

"Hey, this is all gonna be fine, right? I mean, Rio seems pretty good, considering."

"That's the thing," Agatha shuddered.
"Good things never last for me. They don't. Something awful happens and..."

"You've got Rio. You two have been together nearly a decade now. You're married, gonna have a baby. If that isn't something lasting, then what is?"

"I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop almost since Rio and met."

"Oh, come on! You two were made for each other."

The baby kicked, hard, and Agatha burst out laughing.

"I think he agrees with his Auntie Alice," she murmured, rubbing her abdomen.

"Damn right he does. Your kid knows what's up."

When Rio was brought back, she was quiet and groggy.

"Hold my hand?" she whispered, and so Agatha held her hand.

Alice left a little while later to make some calls, and Rio sighed.

"Sweetheart?"

"Yeah?"

"My hair's gonna take forever to look right again, isn't it?"

Agatha frowned slightly, and Rio waved her free hand toward her bandaged head.

"They had to, like, shave a bunch of it, right? For operating? And... And now it's gonna look funny."

"Well, darling, if that's the worst of our worries, I think we'll be just fine."

"How did I get shot?"

"With a gun..." Agatha dared.

"I mean, I know... How? Like, I went and got the food, right? The food we wanted for dinner? And then you were scared 'cause your mother..."

"You went to the kitchen to get me tea. Mother was somewhere near the house and shot you through the kitchen window."

"Oh. Well, shit. Guess we gotta get a new window, huh?"

"Alice is handling it. I think she might be going a little far..."

"How?"

"She offered to have all of our windows replaced with level two bullet resistant glass."

"Holy shit."

"I talked her down. They're just repairing the one window. Oh, and they've got the clean-up handled."

"They have to dig any bullets out of the walls? I can probably patch the holes up myself when I get out of here."

"Well, your bullet stayed in your head until they got you here, and the others were apparently mostly outside."

"Oh, thank God. I did not wanna do a bunch of spackling and painting and shit."

"Don't worry. Once we get you home, we can both just take it easy a while."

"Easy hell! As soon as I'm outta here, I gotta get to work."

"You can, once you're all healed up."

"I'll be fine. I can't just sit around and not be supporting my family."

"Do you consider me not going back to work until the new year just sitting around?"

"That's different. You're having our baby; you gotta recover from giving birth and stuff."

"Rio, you got shot in the head."

"Barely. If you think about it, I really just got grazed."

"You had to have surgery."

"I... But..."

"You're going to need time to recover, my love. We'll be fine in the meantime."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I promise. And hey, think, we'll both get to spend those first few months uninterrupted with the baby."

That brought a smile to Rio's face.

"Can hardly wait to meet him. He's gonna be great, isn't he?"

"Definitely. Now, rest easy, okay?"

"Okay. I love you, ya know?"

"I know, and I love you too."

Leaning down, Agatha kissed Rio's cheek carefully. Rebellion against the idea of rest and recovery was pretty standard from Rio; she had some kind of inborn idea that invulnerability was one of her many charms. Once she got talked into settling down, she would play up the sickroom shtick in some ways, requiring much fluffing of pillows and fetching of juice and mountains of cuddles. You simply had her get her to accept it first. The scale of difficulty in getting her to accept it usually ran inverse to the actual severity of her illness or injury. Minor sprain or strain that would mostly clear up in a week and a half tops? Rio would practically leap under the nearest blanket and smile sweetly and start demanding care. Life or death issue that might keep her laid up for months? There goes Rio, railing against the concept of sleep and rest, trying to stumble out into a blizzard to fix some little problem that could definitely wait.

Agatha had a sense that Rio had only temporarily given up the fight in the present situation. At the moment, she was probably tired and did not feel like debating, so she had pretended to roll over. If that was the case, well, Agatha would simply dig in for the fight. The rest of that day, Rio was rather quiet, napping here and there, wanting to talk lightly about plans for whenever she got home and not bringing up the thought of rushing back to work...

Until Lilia showed up for evening visiting hours.

"Oh, my dear," Lilia said, bending over the hospital bed to hug Rio gently.

"Heya, boss lady. How's stuff? Everything shipshape and Bristol fashion?"

"Everything's working just as it should. I'm so pleased to see you awake! You look well."

"Yeah, it's... It's kind of a... Well, don't know when I'm getting out of here..."

"Rio's got quite a road ahead of her," Agatha cut in.

Lilia smiled.

"Of course! Well, I do hope that you'll both take it easy. An injury like yours, Rio, is bound to have a long recovery time."

"Ah, not so bad," Rio said.
"I'll be up and about in no time. Heck, bet I'll be back at work..."

"Just as soon as everything's looking good and the doctors clear her," Agatha finished.

She caught the annoyed little sneer Rio shot her, but it did not faze her at all. Just as she had expected, Rio was ready to rush ahead with things, and so Agatha was prepared to act as an anchor.

"Of course, you mustn't rush," Lilia nodded, "because what matters most right now is your health and safety."

Rio waved a hand vaguely in the air.

"Right, right. But seriously, I'll be fine pretty soon. Probably won't be more than a couple of months, I'll be ready to go."

"I'm sure everything will go smoothly. Now, tell me, do the two of you need anything at all? We've had a great outpouring of support and offers of help from our little school community."

"Oh," Agatha breathed, "we're very grateful just for everyone's well wishes."

A sick twinge of nervousness was building in her stomach.

"Of course, of course," Lilia cooed, "but I do mean it. You're both very important members of our community, to your students and fellow teachers and to the parents. All of us want to assure you that should you find yourself in need of any help, it's readily available."

"Thank you, Lilia. From the bottom of our hearts, really, thank you so much. We'll keep it in mind."

Agatha knew she must be doing a less than ideal job at masking her discomfort. Rio was squeezing her hand rhythmically, carefully, their long-settled way of nonverbally communicating "Breathe easy and relax."

Lilia left not long after, but Agatha stayed at the bedside for another two or three minutes, just staring toward the door of the room. Rio kept squeezing her hand, still trying to be a help in a small way.

"Sweetheart?"

"I'm fine," Agatha nodded, easing her hand out of Rio's grasp.

She loved working at the school, but she always felt a sense of not quite belonging. It was a result of her childhood, in a way, with the constant shuffling around between homes making it difficult for her to feel she belonged anywhere, especially anywhere with a general sense of affluence. The situation had also given her an aversion to anything she perceived as charity directed at herself, and that was what she understood these particular offers of help to be.

Deep breath. Push it all away. Worry about it tomorrow, next week, some other time. There were things she was holding back, little happy surprises, that she could at least start moving toward.

"So," she said at last, "I've been thinking."

Rio looked up at her warily.

"Anything I should worry about?"

"It's about the baby. Have we considered the future at all?"

"Well, I mean, we... We can wait a little bit, I think, to really hammer out the school issue..."

"Oh, this is a home matter."

Smiling, Agatha went and lounged in the chair she spent much of her day stationed in lately.

"Let's talk swing sets and sand boxes," she said.

Rio had been in the hospital a week and five days, with occasional little setbacks and slightly less occasional gains. Things were actually looking very good: some of the visual problems were clearing up already, and Rio was well enough in general that they moved her from the ICU. There were still so many tests and checks and scans to be done that it drove even Agatha a little batty, but there was a lot to be confident about as well.

"You'll see, mi corazón," Rio whispered one evening."I'll be home in no time, and we can finally, finally settle entirely into the life we've wanted. No worries about anyone coming along to hurt us or anything like that. Just happiness."

"All I care about right now is getting you home safe and helping you finish healing."

"You will, sweetheart. Then life will be perfect. You and me and our kiddo will have such a good life."

Things had been working for them, now and then. A few times, at Rio's insistence, Agatha left the hospital and went to keep appointments with her OB/GYN. There was always good news on that front too. Agatha's health was good, even with the recent stress and anxiety, and the baby was continuing to grow well. Of course, when talk turned to the baby, it tended eventually of late to turn to names. Rio thought they should name their soon-to-arrive son something that would relate to their joy at the thought of him. Agatha thought he needed a name that was strong in some way, that would tell the world he was important.

After a few days of highly intense debate, they settled on Nicholas. "Victory of the people."

"'Cause our boy," Rio said, "is proof that we made it through all the bullshit of life safely. He's all our dreams made real."

The sweetness and assurance in the words almost made Agatha want to weep. She settled instead, on the night they decided, for sitting in the hospital bed beside Rio and being held as if she were the delicate, easily breakable one.

"Tell you what, Nico mijo," Rio breathed, a hand firm on Agatha's belly, "you're just about the most important guy. For me and your mommy, you're the answer."

"Answer to what?" Agatha asked.

"To what our future holds. With Nico here on his way, after all the shit we've been through, life ahead is going to be endlessly amazing."

"Are you sure?"

"Agatha, I have never been so sure about almost anything in my life."

Even Agatha was beginning to believe that, just possibly, the future might truly be bright. There would never again be risk of her mother coming around to fuck everything up, and their jobs were waiting for them. They were settled, with a comfortable home and all the things they needed. Yes, life might just be all right. It might all work out.

There was quite a road ahead of them. Even once Rio was recovered enough to go home, there would still be a ton of medical considerations for a while. Of course there were still things to get done preparing for the baby as well: supplies to stock up on, little things that would help with caring for him.

Alice was a gift, offering to help in any way she could. She even met with a few people from the school to talk about matching donations from a fundraiser some of the parents wanted to put together. It all made Agatha deeply uneasy; she never wanted to owe anyone if she could help it.

"You won't owe shit," Alice sighed.
"This is people helping out of the goodness of their hearts. Some people are just nice."

"Sure," Agatha said, shaking her head.

"Listen, Agatha, I'm your friend. I'm Rio's friend. I've known you guys for ages, and I just want to help. That's all anyone wants to do here is help."

"Maybe we don't need help. Maybe Rio and I..."

"Agatha, Rio was fucking shot in the head! She's gonna need therapy and shit, and I'd say you're probably gonna need some therapy too. Even if insurance covers shit, neither of you is gonna be back to work for a while. Please, just let people help. Let me help."

"I... I can't... Fuck, Alice, I... I don't know what to do!"

Agatha prided herself on never letting serious emotions show much in public, but now, with life upended and so much uncertainty ahead, she burst into tears there in the middle of the hospital cafeteria. At once Alice hugged her, patting her back and murmuring soothing nonsense until the weeping slowed.

"C'mon," Alice whispered, "let's go to the bathroom. You can splash some cold water on your face."

So they went, and Agatha calmed down a bit more. After she had dried her hands and face with a couple of rough brown paper towels, she sighed and slumped against the wall.

"I'm so fucking scared, Alice. Everything seemed so perfect a few months ago, and now..."

"Now is just a stumbling block. Everything will get better again. Just gotta hold out for a brighter day."

"Since when are you so absolutely calm and assured about the future?"

Alice shrugged.

"What can I say? Sometimes, therapy helps."

That night, Lenny turned up with her girlfriend Janine in tow. They brought flowers, and Rio seemed pleased to see her twin.

"Wondered when you'd show up."

"Hey," Lenny said, "I was here a bunch the first few days. You were just unconscious."

Rio squeezed Lenny's hand and smirked.

"Agatha told me you sorta looked out for her. Thanks."

"Anything for family, huh?"

"Anything. How you two doing?"

"Pretty good. I just had a bunch of days on, extra shifts and stuff."

"Wish I could be back at work already," Rio groused.

Lenny clapped her gently on the back.

"Little sis, you deserve a break. Probably better if it's not enforced with a shot to the head, but hey, a vacation's a vacation."

When they were alone again, Rio shifted slightly and reached out for Agatha's hand.

"I'm gonna get better, sweetheart," Rio said.

Agatha smiled and brought Rio's hand to her lips, grazing a kiss over the knuckles.

"I know. I know you'll be just fine."

"I'm gonna get better, and I'm gonna take care of you and the kiddo. Nothing'll ever go wrong for us again."

"Well, now, I don't know if you can guarantee that. After all, the current problems are my fau..."

"No! Agatha, none of this is your fault. Your mother did this, not you."

"Yes, but she was my mother."

"Agatha, please. You are the one good thing your mother ever made. None of her heinous bullshit was or is your fault. You're wonderful. You're so much better than she could ever have been."

Shifting further over, Rio nodded.

"Sit here with me."

"I don't want to crowd you."

"You won't. You never have."

Agatha hesitated a moment longer, then sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"You sure you feel all right?" she asked.

Rio nodded.

"I'm good. You okay?"

"I will be. Eventually."

"Think Nicky's doin' all right in there?" Rio asked, patting the side of Agatha's belly.

"Oh, he's in the lap of luxury in there. I think he's absolutely fine. Just at the moment, feels like he's turning over and trying to get comfortable for a nap."

Rio laughed, moving her hand a bit to see if she could feel. Agatha guided her touch gently to a certain point.

"He's right there. Think that's his back, maybe."

"Yeah?" Rio marveled, eyes bright.
"So, like, I'm kinda holding him?"

"In a way."

"Wow. Hey there, Nicky. Hi. Can't wait until you're here and we can really hold you. We're really lookin' forward to you, little dude."

"I think he knows we're excited to meet him," Agatha said, "and I hope he's excited to meet us too."

"Not too excited, though. Don't want him rushing or whatever."

"Oh, no. Definitely want him staying in there until November."

For a long while they were just there, sharing the little space of the bed. When Rio yawned and rolled her shoulders in a specific way, Agatha smiled.

"Sleepy?"

"Yeah," Rio yawned, "a bit."

"You need to rest."

"Guess so. You staying?"

"Have I failed to stay a single night?"

"Well, I mean, you could probably be going home some nights. Sleeping in a proper bed and everything."

"I'll go home when you go home."

"Babe..."

"Someone has to keep an eye on you."

"Got all the nurses and doctors and shit for that."

"True, but they're not me. They don't know you like I do."

Rio shrugged.

"True."

Easing off the bed, Agatha moved toward the cot that had become almost like home of late.

"Sweetheart?" Rio whispered.

"Yeah?"

"It's really all gonna be okay soon. I know it is. We'll be okay."

"I'm trying to believe that."

"I love you. I love you more than anything."

"I love you too, and I'd do anything for you."

"Just be here when I wake up again?"

"I'll be here if you will."

"I'll always be with you, Agatha. Every day for the rest of our lives."

Rio was cleared to go home on Halloween, which she felt was somehow appropriate. She was healing well, though some things were still rough. There would be therapy for a while, and she was instructed to take it slow as far as getting back into old routines, but hey, at least she was free to at last be home again with her wife. Agatha was shaking like a leaf as they got into the car, and Rio reached over to gently grab her hand.

"Hey. Hey, sweetheart, it's all good now, ya know?"

"I know, but I just... Well, I almost can't believe it's mostly over."

Alice had needed to return to New Jersey well before Rio was released from the hospital, but she had done something very on-brand as a parting kindness. She had paid one of her own security team, a guy called Bucky, to be a sort of on-call driver for Agatha and Rio. For the foreseeable future, they would be chauffeured. The guy was staying just down the street with a neighbor of theirs, Sharon, who had a spare room and was more than happy to let a hunky guy take it over.

"Kinda wild, having a driver," Rio sighed as they walked carefully into the house just after noon.

"I could get used to it," Agatha said.

"What's to get used to? You're already always my passenger princess."

"Well, maybe I like us in the back seat together, holding hands."

First thing, Agatha had Rio go and lie down in their bedroom.

"You're gonna rest and take it easy."

"Ah, can't I just, I dunno, watch TV for a while?"

"Rio..."

"Okay, okay."

She actually was pretty tired, even just from the ride home and the short walk into the house. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she took a deep breath. It was good to be home again. Would be good to rest here, in their familiar space.

"Babe? Babe, come nap with me?"

Agatha stepped into the bedroom.

"I have things I should do."

"And you're less than a month from giving birth. You should rest too."

"I'll rest when I... When Nicky gets here."

"Please?"

Rio knew the sad, pleading eyes always worked, so she tried that. Sure enough, after a moment Agatha sighed and moved to sit on her side of the bed.

"I'm a little tired," she admitted.

They lay down together in their own bed for the first time in over a month, and Rio savored the closeness. Agatha smiled and held her hand for a moment.

"You feel all right?"

"I feel amazing now I'm home again. Can't wait until everything's pretty much fixed again. But what I wanna know is, do you feel all right?"

"Better than I have since August."

"How's our little dude, huh?"

"Oh, I think he's happy. He's pretty active right now."

Rio slid a hand across Agatha's belly and, sure enough, felt firm pressure come back at her.

"High five, Nico mijo," she chuckled.

They slept a few hours, and when they woke, they ordered takeout. Agatha suggested they eat in the bedroom once the food arrived, but Rio stretched and carefully stood.

"Wanna eat in the kitchen, or on the couch at least. I feel like I need to start easing back into stuff."

"We've eaten in bed plenty of times."

"Sure, sure. But just this time..."

"All right," Agatha sighed, and allowed Rio to offer her a hand in getting up.

They had dinner on the couch, and then they cuddled for a while in privacy and comfort.

"Pretty soon," Rio murmured, "we'll have our Nico out here with us. Gonna have to take real good care of him."

"We will. We'll take the best care of him."

They lazed a while, and then Rio sighed.

"I'm glad I'm home before he gets here. That I'll get to, you know, actually help take care of him from the start. Wasn't sure how all that was gonna shake out, and... Ya know."

"Are you all right?" Agatha asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just... Life is weird, sometimes."

"You wanna go lie down again?"

"Maybe in a bit. Kinda just... I dunno. I kinda wanna just be, ya know? Be here, in the house."

"Okay. Are you... Would you be all right alone for a little while? I sorta wanna take a shower..."

"I can come with you! I mean, I... Like, if you need any help, or..."

"Rio, I think I can shower just fine on my own."

"What if you fall?"

"I'll be extra careful. Promise. Though I suppose if you want to help..."

It was a very slow, gentle shower. Rio felt shaky, but she got to help wash Agatha's hair, and that was always a very grounding activity for her. The routine of it, getting to bury her fingers in those wild chestnut locks, kept her in the moment. After the shower, Rio insisted on their usual routine, taking a towel and drying Agatha before herself. She liked taking care of Agatha, pampering her so that she knew she was the most important person in the world.

Well, that last lesson had not stuck yet, but Rio was working on it.

"I love you," Agatha said quite suddenly as Rio knelt to dry her legs.

"I love you too."

"Rio..."

Looking up, Rio saw tears in Agatha's eyes.

"Am I... Did I hurt you?"

"No. No, I... I just really mean it. I really love you."

"I really love you too, mi corazón."

"I love you so much that I don't know what... If anything ever..."

The dam broke. Easing to her feet, Rio hugged her wife as best she could.

"Don't think the bad stuff, sweetheart. Don't worry about stuff that didn't happen and won't happen."

"Rio, I nearly lost you! You were so still there on the floor, with blood all around your head, and..."

"Okay. Hey, I gotcha. Let's finish up and go lie down again for a while. Feels like we need to talk about stuff."

Agatha had calmed a bit by the time they went to bed, but there was still a tenseness to her frame as Rio spooned up against her back.

"Just try and relax, love," Rio murmured.

"I'm sorry. Just, you know, everything."

"I know, sweetheart. I know. But all that's over and done now. I'm here, I'm with you, and pretty soon we'll have our little one in our arms and everything will be all right."

"I can't let go of the fear yet. Walking out into the kitchen, seeing you like that. I was so afraid you were gone, Rio."

"You wanna... I don't remember much of it, so... I guess you wouldn't wanna talk about it, really, but if you feel up to it, talk me through it. I remember getting home from picking up takeout..."

"I'd already been panicked because Phil called while you were out and he told me that Mother might be nearby. You got back with the food, I told you what was up, and you tried to calm me down, and then you went to get me a drink..."

Agatha spilled out the rest of the story, hearing the breaking of glass, thinking Rio had dropped something or fallen, and then all of the horror that came after when she went to check. Calling 911, Phil arriving, nearly getting caught in the shootout that finally removed the complication of Evanora from their lives.

"I... I think I sort of remember some stuff," Rio said, "but... It wasn't, like, super late when I got shot or anything, right?"

"No. No, it was sort of very late afternoon, very early evening."

"Yeah. Thought so. I... I kind of remember, everything sounded weird and I couldn't see, but I know I felt people handling me, like moving me, and... And I dunno. Then I really don't remember much until I guess I woke up later on in the hospital."

Stretching her legs under the sheets, Rio shifted and then managed to press in even closer.

"But I guess that's all past now. We made it through, you and me and Nicky. We'll be okay now."

"God, I hope we will."

"We will, mi corazón. I'll get strong again, and you'll give birth to our little dude, and we'll be a happy family."

As if agreeing with the sentiment, Nicky moved slowly, one of his little hands or feet bumping the point where Rio's hand rested on Agatha's belly. Rio laughed and stroked her thumb over the spot.

"That's right, mijo. We're gonna have an awesome time, your mama and you and me. Gonna do all kinds of fun stuff and be happy. Bet you're gonna be great at tumbling and stuff. Maybe you'll be a gymnast. Just gotta keep practicing in there a while, huh?"

"Don't give him any ideas," Agatha said, resting her hand over Rio's.

It was so good to be home. It was basically almost perfect until, suddenly, Rio realized she needed to piss more than she ever had in her life.

"Hey, I gotta... Bathroom, ya know?"

"Need any help?" Agatha asked.

"I'll be okay. You an' Nico just take it easy."

"Are you sure?"

"I will be totally careful."

Rio allowed herself a few seconds more of cuddling her wife, then eased out of bed and padded to the bathroom.

As she washed her hands after relieving herself, she studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked essentially the same, of course, other than the very short hair. It was growing back, but it would be quite a while before herself again. Carefully, she touched the scars, first the smaller one over her left ear where they had taken the bullet out, then the one higher and back of the right ear where the bullet had gone in. She did not press, not wanting to risk somehow messing up everything, but she let her fingers explore the puckered skin for a few moments. If the bullet had gone through her brain...

"Rio? You all right in there?"

"Yeah, sweetheart. Be right back."

If the bullet had gone through, if it had passed straight through or if it had lodged somewhere in her brain, she would be gone. She would be dead or, if she survived, greatly changed by the damage done.

If Evanora had not died in that shootout, Rio would have been inclined to find some way to kill her. That thought, the thought of destroying Agatha's mother, had long been a part of Rio's psychological makeup. In the past, she had wanted to avenge her wife, to make Evanora pay for all the harm Agatha suffered at her hands in childhood. Now, though, there was an even more personal wrinkle to the matter.

'She tried to take me out. To take me away from my wife and child.'

Lately, Rio found herself hoping that at least one of the worst postmortem fates, hell or something, existed, and that Evanora was suffering the absolute worst of it for the rest of eternity. It was a sick thought, perhaps, but it would be fitting. All her life, it seemed, Evanora had hurt others. Why should she not suffer at last?

Back in the bedroom, Agatha was just sitting up as Rio returned.

"I was about to come and get you," she said, tone a little too casual to truly read as calm.

"Ah, I had to think about some stuff," Rio shrugged, and scrambled into bed.

As Agatha settled back in with her, Rio sighed.

"Sweetheart?"

"Hmm?"

"I want you to relax, if you can. Please? For your own sake, and for Nicky."

"Don't know how relaxed I'll be any time soon. I mean, even without... Without what happened, I am also awfully close to the nightmare of giving birth."

"Ah, you'll make it through that like a champ. You're strong. Besides, I'll be there with you."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Well, you've got your birth plan..."

"Things can change. Things can go wrong."

"Nothing's gonna go wrong for you, Agatha. Nothing's gonna go wrong for any of us ever again."

The kitchen made her nervous now. The idea of being in that space, of standing in front of the window, even passing quickly by it, set dread in her. She knew it was perhaps irrational; what had happened before would not happen again. Evanora Harkness was dead and gone and they were all safe.

Still, as she prepared breakfast, Rio felt uneasy. Therapy had been helping, but she was uncertain she could ever feel safe in this part of their home again. Once the baby arrived, she figured she would worry even more. There was only around a week to go until Agatha's due date, and so the foreknowledge of fear sat in Rio's mind, nibbling at her confidence. She could not let anything happen to Agatha, or to the baby. She had already spent a ton of time making certain that the high chair was out of clear line from any windows, and she had reorganized the nursery twice for optimal safety.

"Just breathe," she told herself.
"Gotta breathe."

She moved the oatmeal pan off of the stove and was just getting ready to make tea when Agatha slowly shuffled in from the bedroom.

"So, uhm," Agatha started, then winced, "I think we need to call Bucky."

Rio looked over.

"You want me to go get something?"

"No, but we do need to get a move on."

"What's up? Are... Shit! Oh, shit, are you in labor?"

"Feels that way. Been having little twinges since a little after midnight, and now..."

Rio grabbed her phone and hit the contact for their driver. God, that still felt so weird, having someone to drive them places like they were rich or something.

" Y'ello ?"

"Hey, Bucky, it's Rio. Can you get over here really fast? We need to get to the hospital."

"On it!"

Agatha was at the counter now, gripping the edge for dear life. Rio went and placed a hand on her back.

"You need anything? Wanna sit or..."

"Feels a little better to be standing right now."

"Okay. Okay. Just try to breathe easy."

Rio double checked that all the burners were off, dumped the oatmeal in a covered bowl and put it in the fridge, then rushed to the bedroom and grabbed the go-bag. When she returned to the kitchen, Agatha held out a hand.

"Please, can you... I need help. Just hold my hand?"

Of course, Rio was instantly at her wife's side, letting Agatha squeeze her hand until it actually hurt a bit. Moments later Bucky knocked once, then entered with his key.

"Okay, let's get you guys to the hospital."

He helped Rio get Agatha out to the car, then rushed to get behind the wheel.

"St. Victoria Montesi, right?" he asked.

"Yup," Rio nodded.

All the way, Agatha held on to Rio's hand, squeezing tight, muttering swears and bits of prayers under her breath.

"You're doin' great," Rio said, trying to be reassuring.

"Hurts so fuckin' much," Agatha groaned.

"Okay. Don't you worry. You're gonna get through this like a champ, and it'll all be in the past."

The drive went way faster than Rio might have expected, and she was pretty sure Bucky was playing fast and loose with traffic laws, but she could not blame him. She knew if she were the one driving, she would probably be speeding, taking corners a little quick, cursing the concept of right-of-way. As long as it got them to the hospital quick and safely, she could deal with it.

They hustled Agatha inside, got her checked in, then hurried along after as a nurse wheeled her to a room. Once Agatha was settled, Bucky went out to the waiting room and Rio stayed right at Agatha's side. Things had not reached the tipping point yet, according to the nurse and the doctor who checked, but the labor was progressing at a fast clip.

"Gonna have our boy out here with us soon," Rio whispered, leaning down to kiss Agatha's cheek.

"Hope so," Agatha said, "because I... Shit! I just... Fucking want this over."

They had gotten to the hospital a little after nine in the morning. It was two hours after that of pacing the room carefully, with Agatha stopping during the intense contractions to cling to Rio or lean over the bed. Now and then someone came and checked progression. Finally, the last check had everyone gearing up, and then things were underway.

Rio tried to stay calm. She needed to be strong for Agatha and the baby, but she was so worried. She could not bear seeing Agatha in pain like this. What if things went wrong? What if there was some weird trade-off? What if fate and stuff was real and she should have died but she beat the odds and now Agatha or the baby, or worse both of them, would die in her place?

'Can't think that. Think that and it'll come true. Can't let them get hurt.'

There was not much she could do but stay at her wife's side, now and then whispering reassurance and trying to share some of the pain through Agatha squeezing her hand.

"You're doing so well, sweetheart. You're so strong."

"I can't keep going, Rio. I can't!"

"Sure you can. I gotcha. You're gonna get through this. You and our boy will be fine, okay? I gotcha."

Two and a half more hours of that, of pain and tears and worry, of contractions and pushing and exhaustion, and then...

Then it was done.

The baby was out, alive and crying.

"He's all right?" Agatha sobbed.

"He's great, mi corazón. You did it. Nicholas is here and safe."

For a little moment the baby was placed on Agatha's chest, which seemed to calm him, and then Rio was allowed to cut the cord and he was taken to be cleaned and checked.

"Watch out for him?" Agatha asked, squeezing Rio's hand again.

"Anything for you."

So Rio went along as Nicky was weighed and measured and had all the little first tests and things. All the signs were good. The baby was healthy and strong, and in Rio's opinion he was just about the cutest kid to ever exist with his squashy little face and mop of dark hair. She figured now, he would be taken back to Agatha and they could start the process of settling in as a family.

But there was something up, because there was whispering going on, and one of the nurses came and patted Rio on the shoulder.

"We're just gonna take this little guy to the nursery for a minute. They're finishing up with his mommy. Shouldn't be too long."

"Oh. Right. Uh, can I..."

"You can stick with him if you want. Come on."

So she went along, and she hung around near Nicky and a few other newborns, and then someone came along and asked her something.

"Huh?" Rio hiccupped.

"Your wife, has she had any problems with bleeding in the past?"

"I mean, she's not a fan of the sight of blood..."

"Is there any history of bleeding conditions, I mean? Does she bruise or bleed especially easily, or anything like that?"

"N-no. No, she doesn't. Wouldn't that all be in her medical records?"

"We just like to double-check. Has she been on any new medications lately that might..."

"All she's taken in months is prenatal vitamins. Just... Just like regular ones."

"All right, thanks."

And then Rio's stomach dropped, and she had to lean against the wall to keep from just falling over. Agatha. Something was wrong, Agatha was bleeding too much or something...

Fuck.

'No. No, no, no, don't take her away. Please, please don't take her from me. From us. Please, I need her. Nicky needs her. He just got here, he needs to know his mom, please, I'll go instead, they can make it without me, but I can't make it without her...'

She was shaky, felt sick, and someone put an arm around her shoulders and led her to some waiting room, and she puked everywhere, and they took her somewhere else while someone cleaned up and she wanted to call for help, to call Lenny or Alice or to talk to Bucky who had been so cool to them even though they had only known him a month, and...

"Ms. Vidal?"

Rio's head snapped up, and there was a doctor. He looked nice, she guessed. Sort of beige, but familiar. Was he the Maximoff boys' dad?

"My wife," Rio said, "is she..."

"She's stable now. She began to hemorrhage just after we delivered the placenta, but we've got it in check. You can go and see her in just a moment."

"What... How did it happen? I mean, why?"

"These things happen, time to time. We'll run a few tests, review things about the pregnancy and birth. Rest assured, we'll make certain she gets the best of care."

"The baby. Will he be brought to her room?"

"Of course. As I said, give us a few more moments and you'll both be able to be with her."

The doctor turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Rio to stand, shaking, against a wall. A nurse found and fetched her a little after, bringing her along just in time to allow her to bring Nicky into Agatha's room.

"Look who's here," Rio said, trying to keep her voice cheerful.

"Oh, my love," Agatha breathed, "and our sweet boy."

She was pale and seemed dozy, but she was alive and breathing. Rio pushed the crib near the bedside and gently lifted Nicky out.

"Can I hold him?" Agatha asked the nurse.

"Just be careful. Don't rush yourself."

Rio placed their son in her wife's arms, and then just gazed in wonder at the two of them.

"Oh, look at all that hair," Agatha said, peeking under Nicky's little hat.

"Think he got my hair," Rio said proudly.

"Maybe. I think he'll have your nose too."

"Never know."

"Well, regardless, he'll be a very handsome boy. Our wonderful little Nicholas."

"He's gonna be the best kid in the world. Smart and strong like his mommy."

"You're no slouch in the brains and brawn department yourself, my love. And you'll no doubt be the one taking him to basketball games, leading him on little nature walks..."

"Yeah, but you'll teach him a ton of important stuff."

Agatha laughed softly.

"What? Every swear word in three languages?"

"Maybe."

Rio reached out to gently tap the tip of the baby's nose. His little face twisted in consternation, and he huffed out a breath as if he were annoyed.

"Look at you, Nico," Rio smiled, "a few hours old and just so perfect."

"He really is so perfect," Agatha agreed.

Eventually, Rio left only for a moment to talk to Bucky and tell him he could take the car home. Agatha and Nicky would be in a few days, just for monitoring as far as Agatha's bleeding, and so they would call him when they needed a lift.

"Everything go chill?" Bucky asked.

"It, uhm... There was a close call, sort of. It's all good now."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. You let me know if there's anything else you need even before it's time to haul 'em home, all right?"

"Thanks, man. You've been really great."

Once Rio was back to the room, she sat and sighed.

"It's all comin' together, huh?" she said.

"It is," Agatha nodded.

"We're a family. You, our boy, and me. A real, happy family."

"You told your sister yet?"

"Nah, I... I didn't... I mean, I'd want you to say it's okay before..."

"Rio, it's more than okay. Lenny's a part of the family too."

"Just... I wanna make you happy."

"You do that every day, my love."

"Yeah? Well, you make me happy every minute. Every second."

"Do I?"

Agatha's voice was a little creaky, a little shaky as she said that. Immediately Rio stood and went to the bed, hugging her gently.

"You make me happy all the time, Agatha."

"Do you think... Do you think we're all really gonna be okay?"

"I know it. You, me, an' Nicky, we're gonna be amazing."

"Three days! Ugh, I am glad to be home."

Agatha sighed. Home. That seemed like a place that existed mostly in dreams in recent months, what with all the disruptions. But now she was home again, with her wonderful wife and their sweet, beautiful baby boy. She let Bucky help her out of the car, then watched Rio carefully gather Nicky up out of his car seat. He was well bundled against the November chill, and he let out a tiny sigh as Rio placed him in Agatha's arms.

"C'mon," Rio said, "and let's get you two into the house. Get all settled in and cozy."

Things were all ready inside, all set up for them, but Agatha still worried. Had they gotten enough? Was it really everything they would need here at first? What if they had missed something?

Once Nicky was in his bassinet, quite cozy from the look of him, and Agatha was relaxing in bed, Rio sat and took Agatha's hand.

"Bucky and I'll get the stuff in from the car. You just rest easy, okay?"

"Okay. Can you scoot the bassi..."

Agatha had barely even started the request before Rio was on her feet, moving the baby's bed closer to their own.

"You keep an eye on your mommy," Rio whispered to Nicky, and Agatha laughed.

When she was alone there with the baby, Agatha looked down at him and felt a wave of almost smothering love and adoration swamp her heart. Nicholas. Their child. He was so small and sweet, so wonderful. She could not imagine ever doing anything but loving him and wanting him to be safe and happy.

"Sweetest little darling," she whispered, and reached into the bassinet to let Nicky's little hand rest on her palm.

Nicky's little nose wriggled once, and one eye popped open. Was he waking up? He probably would need to nurse soon.

"Hello, sweet baby," Agatha said softly, and turned herself to sit more on the edge of the bed.

She was just lifting him out of the bassinet when Rio returned to the room.

"Everything okay?" Rio asked.

"Mm-hmm. Just wanted to hold our boy again for a bit. Time for a feed soon."

"Okay. You need anything?"

"Come and sit with us?"

Rio did as asked, and smiled as she leaned in to kiss Agatha's temple.

"You did so well, mi corazón."

"Bar the nearly bleeding out part?"

"Uh, yeah," Rio said, nodding, "let's not have that again."

Slowly but surely, Nicky did indeed seem to be waking. His eyes were still that uncertain, stormy shade of baby eyes, but Agatha was fairly certain they would be brown like Rio's. He was probably going to look a fair bit like Rio, and maybe that was a good thing.

'Don't want that stain of Harkness looks on him,' Agatha thought.

Nicky squirmed a tiny bit, squeaked, and opened both his eyes, turning his head toward Agatha's chest.

"Looks like someone's totally ready for lunch," Rio said.

"I bet. Can you hold him for just a moment while I settle in?"

"Of course. C'mere, mijo. Come to mami."

Rio looked so calm and assured holding him, so ideal. It was like she was made to be a parent. Certainly back at the hospital she had talked about being nervous with him, but none of that showed now as she stood and rocked him slightly, whispering silly things.

Agatha wondered if she would ever be half the parent that Rio seemed to be.

"Here we go," Rio said, handing Nicky back over.

He was so small, so fragile, but he seemed already somehow to trust that his parents would not harm him. He cried when he needed something, but calmed quickly with either of them, and there was no great fuss if he was passed one to the other. Agatha had been worried about his reactions to her, and about her own reactions to him, but he seemed to hold nothing but the deepest trust for her, and she felt nothing but the deepest love for him and pure wonder at the miracle of his existence.

"We made him," Agatha said as she got Nicky settled to nurse.

"We did," Rio nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed again.

"How? How did we make this amazing little being? This perfect little person?"

"With love and care. With hope for the life we can offer him."

Looking down at Nicky, Agatha felt an instant of fear. Could she give him a good life? She knew she was not her mother, that she would never try to harm her child, and yet the old fear roiled in her. The concern she had felt any time the thought of maybe having children came up. There was worry and sadness and a touch of guilt for things in the past, but then Rio's hand was on her arm.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I just... I just wanna protect him. Never let him suffer the sort of things I did as a child."

"You'll always protect him, Agatha. Nicky will always be safe with you. With us."

When Nicky had eaten his fill, Rio took him for burping and a diaper change. She was so good with him, gentle and careful. She would be good with him always, no doubt, and with any future children that might come along.

At the thought of other children, that old guilt reared up again. It had hit Agatha off and on throughout the pregnancy, but somehow, now that Nicky was here and alive and safe, it was striking particularly deep. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe through the moment. When she opened her eyes again, she must have slept a while. The light between the drapes was less, and Nicky was snoozing in his bassinet nearby. Sitting up slightly, Agatha looked around. She could hear Rio out in another part of the house, and the sounds resolved themselves into an aural picture of food being prepared.

Easing out of bed, Agatha peered down at Nicky for a moment, watching him sleep. Then she turned and went carefully out into the hall and toward the kitchen. Only a few days ago, she had taken a similar walk to tell Rio it was time to go. Now, she just wanted to see her wife.

"My love?"

Rio was at the counter, chopping veggies, but she left all that work aside and hurried to Agatha.

"You all right? Hurting, or..."

"I just missed you."

Gently, Rio hugged Agatha and kissed her.

"I'm right here, mi corazón. Always here when you need me."

"I love you."

"I love you too. You wanna rest on the sofa while I cook, or..."

"I think I might like a little shower."

"Sure you feel all right for that?"

"Mm-hmm. I was thinking, I might rest on the sofa after. Maybe we could roll the bassinet in here?"

"You got it, sweetheart."

Rio kissed her again, and it made Agatha's heart positively soar with happiness. Together they returned to the bedroom, and while Agatha gathered things she needed, Rio unlocked the casters and rolled Nicky's bassinet slowly out to the living room. Agatha followed after to check that everything went well, and smiled when Nicky only sighed and went on sleeping.

The shower was a delight. To be able to get really clean again in her own bathroom was like heaven. After, dried and dressed, she went out to the living room just in time to hear Nicky whimpering fitfully.

"Okay, sweet baby. Okay. Mama's here, my angel."

Lifting Nicky out of the bassinet, Agatha settled with him on the couch. From the way he moved, it was clear he was hungry. She nursed him, then just held him and cuddled him and spoke to him softly.

"Aren't you just the most precious little one? My sweet baby boy. Oh, Nicky, I'm so glad you're here. Your mami and I have been so excited to meet you."

They had dinner in the living room, Nicky back to dozing in his bassinet, and then they sat and admired him a while. Rio pressed a kiss to Agatha's shoulder and laughed.

"We made the cutest baby."

"Mmm," Agatha breathed.
"Well, you made the cutest baby. I just carried him."

"Ah, I bet he'll look like both of us."

"I hope he just looks like you."

Rio grunted.

"I see what this is. You're afraid he'll look like you, but somehow even more adorable. You're worried about what that level of adorability could do to the world."

"Sure, sure. Let's go with that."

When they finally went to bed that night, Agatha snuggled back into Rio's embrace.

"My love?"

"Hnn?"

"Thank you."

"What f'r?"

"For loving me. For putting up with me..."

"I don't put up with you, Agatha. I love you."

"Even through all the bad parts?"

"Yes. Even through fear and loss and danger. No matter what. I love you."

"And Nicky?"

"I love him too."

"I mean, do you think he'll love me?"

"Of course he will. He'll adore you, just like we both adore him."

"You always know what to say."

"Ha, hardly. I just know how to reassure my wonderful wife that she's worthy of love."

Agatha sighed and carefully turned over.

"How? How in the world is it possible that you're still with me?"

"'Cause I love you. No matter what, you are the woman I love. You're stuck with me."

"Well, thank goodness for that."

Nicky was, at one month, an absolute angel. He was tiny and adorable and precious and of course he cried and fussed when he needed something, be it feeding or changing or a cuddle, but much of the time, he was simply a calm, quiet baby. He settled easily, loved being held, and clearly had no doubts in his little noggin that his parents would tend to everything. On his first Christmas, when he was around a month old, he was no different. He had a bit of a fussy night before, but on Christmas proper, he woke calm, was nursed and changed, and then seemed content to doze while Agatha and Rio ate breakfast in bed.

Eventually, the breakfast eaten, Agatha and Rio went out to the living room, Nicky in tow, and had their Christmas. The gifts were all, as usual, carefully selected, based on need and on understanding of each other. A few clothes, a few fun little things. For Nicky, there were new little outfits and a few snuggly toys and his first ever little baseball cap, courtesy of Rio, who insisted he would need it "for when we take him out hiking and stuff next summer." There was a funny little straw hat for him too, a bit big at the moment but definitely worth growing into.

"And this piece of headgear is for..." Agatha mused.

"For when he helps me with yardwork," Rio shrugged.

"Of course. Oh, he'll look so precious, like a little farmer."

After the presents, there was some lounging time for a bit. Nicky allowed his parents to put him through a few outfit changes before throwing a little bit of a fuss and wanting to simply be cuddled and talked to. They changed him back into his warm pajamas and settled on the sofa with him. About then, a little hint of nervousness welled in Agatha's stomach. She had one more big present for Rio, something she had been paying for in little layaway installments since early in the year, and which should be arriving...

There was the sound of a vehicle in the driveway, a horn honking, and then a knock at the door.

"I'll get it!" Agatha said, handing Nicky over to Rio and lunging up from the couch.

Rio stood and followed after her.

"Why would Lenny be here on Christmas morning..."

They opened the door to see Rio's twin out on the porch, dressed in just dark scrubs over a sweatshirt, a scarf around her neck.

"Someone order a special present, express delivery?" Lenny smirked.

Agatha chuckled, and Rio shambled up behind her with a confused little grunt.

"Hey, Len, you... What?"

"Why don't you go and see what Lenny has in her van?" Agatha said, stepping back and nudging Rio toward the door.

"I... Okay."

For a moment Rio paused, passing Nicky once more back to Agatha, then tugged on her old sneakers and trudged out after Lenny. Agatha watched them, heard the snap and curl of some bits of brief conversation, and felt her own smile widen as Lenny opened the back doors of the van and Rio peered inside, then reeled back in surprise.

"No way. No FUCKIN' way! Babe, did... You got me... Babe!"

Rio gallumphed back up onto the porch, through the door, and hugged Agatha, then kissed her deep.

"So, you love me?" Agatha asked, half-breathless.

"Agatha, love, mi corazón, I... I adore you. Love you so much."

Rio kissed her again, then ran back down to help Lenny start unpacking the components from the van and hauling them into the house. Agatha, smiling, turned and carried Nicky off toward the bedroom.

"C'mon, baby boy. You an' I will hang out while Mami and Aunt Lenny get all weird setting things up."

Nicky cooed, waving a small fist in the air.

In an hour, Rio and Lenny had everything set up and Lenny headed out again after a cup of cider and a promise that she and Janine would be over for New Year's Eve. Rio ducked back off into the spare room not long after. When Agatha checked in on her, she was sitting behind her brand new drum kit, not moving much, just staring reverently, fingers now and then gliding along a rim or adjusting a cymbal.

"You like it?" Agatha asked from the doorway.

"Sweetheart, I... It... I love it. I love you. Shit, this... You didn't have to do this. You didn't."

"I did. You're always going so above and beyond for me, I figured it was about time I made some big, grand romantic gesture."

"Agatha, you always do stuff for me. All the time. You always get me really thoughtful gifts, or you do little things no one else would think to do. This... This is almost too much."

"Nothing's too much if it means that look in your eyes."

Standing, Rio moved quick to hug Agatha.

"You really didn't have to get me this."

"Well, I wanted to, then. I've known for ages how bad you wanted a new kit since you sold your old college one, and so I thought now was the time."

"Why now?"

"It's time for the next phase of our lives, right? But that doesn't mean we have to abandon all the old things. The stuff that makes us happy. I know you wanna get back to drumming for fun, and... Well, you did talk a few times while I was pregnant about the baby being your drumming buddy."

"Ah, yeah. Well. I... I..."

"Shh. Relax. Just go and sit. I think someone else needs to see this."

Hurrying to the bedroom, Agatha brought Nicky to where Rio was waiting. He was nearly asleep, but as he was passed from parent to parent, he squeaked a little and wriggled.

"Hey, mijo," Rio whispered, "c'mere. Papi's gotta show you cool stuff."

"It a papi sort of a day?" Agatha smiled.

"Uhm, yeah. Yeah, that... That's not a problem is..."

"No, darling. Of course not."

Rio sat down behind the kit and quietly explained it all to Nicky, what each piece sounded like and why it was important. Agatha smiled, leaning against the doorframe as she watched the little bonding time. This year had been so muddled, so wild, but now, here near the end, it seemed like everything could be settling down. Everything might just be all right in the future.

The rest of the day was still and calm. They had a quiet, simple lunch, and Rio carried Nicky over to the tree after and showed him the new ornaments they had gotten before he was born in anticipation of him.

"See, mijo? This one is a little elf, and that sign he's painting says Merry Christmas, but he's painting in the word "first" in there, 'cause this is your first ever Christmas. And we got you this little bell, see? Little silver bell, just for you. Oh, we been wanting you a while now, Nicky, and we're gonna make everything awesome for you."

"Think he understands?" Agatha teased, joining them by the tree.

"Ah, sure. Nicky understands everything. He gets it."

"Mmm. I think you're right. Our Nicky is a very clever boy."

"Better be. I mean, his mommy's the cleverest lady I ever known."

"Yes, well, you're no slouch either, you know?"

Rio shrugged, jouncing Nicky gently.

"I'm pretty good, I guess."

"You gonna practice on your new drums any yet?"

"Gotta get mutes first. Don't wanna disrupt stuff too much."

"Damn. Knew I forgot something."

"Oh, no! Hey, you... It... You didn't..."

"Hey, Rio, it's fine. We'll figure it out. We'll figure everything out."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Bucky came by for dinner, and Rio proudly showed off her drums. It seemed Bucky was a bit of a drummer himself, and they laughed and talked about bands they had played with when they were younger. By the time Bucky left again, Agatha was getting ready for bed. Rio followed her into the bathroom and hugged her from behind, chin resting on her shoulder.

"You have a good Christmas?" Rio asked.

"I had a wonderful Christmas. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"It was awesome, sweetheart. Super awesome."

Kissing Agatha's cheek, Rio sighed.

"Te amo."

"Mmm, te amo mucho, mi amor," Agatha whispered.

Rio smiled, turning and sauntering off to the bedroom. Agatha finished up, then went along after and found Rio sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Nicky. He was awake at the moment, big dark eyes seeming locked on Rio.

"He's the best present," Rio said softly, nodding to the baby.

"He certainly is," Agatha agreed.

"I love him so much. I love the both of you so much."

"Well, we love you too."

Agatha sat down at Rio's side and leaned against her.

"We've been through a lot this year, hmm?"

"Yup," Rio said, "and we made it through everything. We made it through, we got our boy, and life is good."

"It is. Every time I think my life can't get better, every time something goes wrong, it seems like the rebound takes me back a million miles in the other direction. I think that's thanks to you."

Laughing, Rio rocked Nicky for a moment.

"I think you're the one who always fixes my life, mi corazón. You love me, you put up with my weird, you married me."

"I do love you, Rio. So much. I always have and always will."

Nicky squeaked, perhaps wishing all of the attention might be focused on him for a moment.

"Oh, what?" Agatha whispered, reaching out to let Nicky grip her finger.

"Think little dude's about to say his first word?" Rio teased.

"Well, he's our son. He's bound to be exceptional."

"Whatcha got there, mijo?"

"Coo-kiiie!" Nicky crowed.

"Yeah? Mama let you have a cookie?"

Nicky nodded proudly and marched over to Rio, holding out his treat.

"Bite?"

"Aw, you wanna share? Thanks, li'l dude."

Setting aside the drumsticks, Rio accepted the cookie from her son's hand and broke off a tiny fragment, popping it into her mouth.

"Very good," she nodded.

"Vey goo'," Nicky agreed, taking the cookie back.

Rio scooted out from behind her drum kit and crouched down to Nicky's level.

"You helping Mama make dinner?"

Nicky nodded, gnawing at his snack and reaching out with his free hand in a way that indicated he wished to be picked up. Rio gladly scooped him up and stood.

"Let's go help Mama, huh?"

"Yah," Nicky said.

Out to the kitchen they went, and Rio saw that Agatha had the Thanksgiving meal well in hand. These sorts of occasions were generally something Agatha knew how to rise to. She organized everything days ahead of time, had the kitchen all set up, and on the day, it was just a matter of getting it all done at the right time. Last year had been an exception, but then, everything had happened last year. This year, though, had so far been positively sweet. Nicky had just turned one, things were chill with work, and life was good.

"Hey, you need a hand?" Rio asked.

"Think I mostly have everything under control," Agatha said, "but if you wouldn't mind setting up the relish plates..."

"On it!"

Buckling Nicky securely into his high chair, Rio turned the whole thing so he could watch her work, then got to the business of carefully arranging the veggies on their platters. The first guests would be arriving soon, and they would expect appetizers. Nicky happily kicked his feet, now and then babbling very important comments.

"Papi, yook ma fee'," Nicky implored, kicking his feet slightly to show off the ducky slippers he had got for his birthday.

"Nice kicks, Nick. Duckies."

"Abbla pan-ol?"

That particular phrase caught Rio off guard. For the moment, she froze, turning slowly and looking at Nicky, then saw Agatha turning too.

"Did he just..." Agatha started.

"Nico, whatcha say?" Rio asked.

"Abbla pan-ol," Nicky repeated.

"¿Habla español?"

The toddler nodded.

"Abbla pan-ol."

"You wanna know what duck is in Spanish?"

"Te' me dut!"

"Pato," Rio said, pointing to the slippers.

"Pabo," Nicky said.

"Pa-to."

"Papo. ¿Papi?"

"I guess it could sound pretty close to papi for you, huh?"

"Picos," Nicky chirped.

Rio went back to her work and Agatha sidled over.

"Did he really just ask you to explain what something was in Spanish?"

"Basically by asking if I speak Spanish, yeah. I know he's heard me say that before, and I guess he made the association that it's a question about Spanish, so..."

"Well, it's a very clever conclusion, given his age."

"I mean, he's our kiddo," Rio shrugged.
"Exceptional, right?"

They went on and had dinner mostly ready by the time a car purred into the driveway. Rio went and opened the front door to welcome the newly arrived guests, Nicky toddling at her side.

"Hey, guys!" Rio called.

"Hey!" Nicky mimicked.

"Who's ready for pumpkin pie?" Lenny asked.

As Lenny and Janine entered the house, Nicky grinned.

"Aun' Yen! Aun' Zhanee!"

"Well, hi there Nico-pico!" Lenny said, crouching down to shake Nicky's hand.

"Hey, little guy," Janine smiled.

Janine had the baby, Violet, in her arms. The little girl was eight months old and going through a little bit of a shy phase, but she saw Rio and reached out her chubby little hand.

"Ba?" Violet squeaked.

"Hey, Vive," Rio said.

Lenny snickered.

"She thinks you're me."

Sure enough, after Lenny spoke, Violet looked over at her, then back at Rio.

"Ba? Ba."

The baby had been around both of them at once before, but it was as if this were the first time she had truly noticed the resemblance. Agatha came walking over and picked Nicky up.

"Well, Janine, Violet looks almost as much like Lenny as Nicholas does like Rio."

Janine nodded.

"We married strong genes, huh?"

"Definitely. Come on and sit a while, guys. Dinner soon."

Lenny carried the pie they had brought along into the kitchen and let out a low whistle.

"Damn, Ag, what a spread."

"I do sometimes go a little above and beyond," Agatha said.

Rio hugged her wife from behind.

"Just your natural housewife tendencies coming out, babe."

"Careful, Rio. The housewife might be too tired for her conjugal duties if you piss her off."

"Pizz 'uh off?" Nicky asked.

"Ignore Mama," Agatha murmured, kissing the side of her son's head and then handing him off to Rio.

Rio entertained the guests while Agatha put the finishing touches on dinner, and soon enough they all gathered around the table to enjoy the meal.

"This has been a really good year so far," Rio said.

"I'd say things have pretty much been on the upswing since this time last year," Lenny offered.

"Yup. Which considering most of last year..."

"Wild times, little sister. Wild times."

"Pshh. Little sister. I'm five minutes younger."

"Five minutes is five minutes."

"Oh my God, you guys," Janine sighed, "chill."

"Seconded," Agatha said."

"Sepodid!" Nicky agreed.

Most of the conversation over the meal was pleasant after that: talk of work, plans for the remainder of the holiday season, discussion of how life had changed and the family was growing. Besides Violet's birth back in March expanding the family in Maryland, the extended family would gain two new members early in the new year ahead: up in New Jersey, Darcy and Monica were expecting twins. Everyone was happy in life and work, and nothing nearly so horrible as some of last year's mess had touched their world. Things were going well for everyone.

"If I may propose a little toast," Agatha said at one point, "to the future. To all that it may hold, good or otherwise. To the joy and the sadness and the ordinary days of the rest of our lives."

"I'll drink to that," Rio said, leaning over to kiss Agatha's cheek.

Once everyone had eaten their fill and the remaining food had been put away—including a couple of containers that Agatha would insist on sending home with Lenny and Janine later—the babies both fell asleep. Rio and Lenny pulled the little travel crib out of the nursery closet and Violet was tucked in it for a rest while Nicky was settled in his regular crib. Agatha turned on the baby monitor and the adults adjourned to the living room to talk more.

"We gotta have big family get-togethers more," Rio sighed, slumping onto the couch, Agatha at her side.

"It'll probably be easier for us," Janine said, "now that Violet's getting older."

"She's so adorable," Agatha said.

Lenny chuckled.

"Look out, Ri. Your lady's probably about ready for another baby."

"Ah," Rio said, "Agatha and I are gonna wait a while on having more kids."

"We want Nicky to be in school first," Agatha added.

"Makes sense. Plenty of time, huh? We all got plenty of time."

"Mm-hmm," Agatha nodded, and took Rio's hand.

If anyone had asked, Rio could tell them about nightmares, about Agatha waking in tears, reliving the moment over a year ago when she walked into the kitchen and found Rio bleeding, shot in the head. Those were not so frequent, now, though there had been an uptick about six months ago when they moved Nicky into his own room for good. The change had been a bit stressful, and thus, nightmares for Agatha.

Rio had nightmares too, but not about being shot. No, the nightmares that haunted Rio, that brought wakefulness washed in cold sweat, were of things going very badly on the day Nicky was born. In those, there had been no stopping the hemorrhage, and thus no more Agatha in the world.

Shuddering at the thought, Rio abruptly looked aside and leaned in to kiss Agatha's cheek. The gesture got a little laugh and a blush from Agatha, and Rio felt at ease again.

When the guests finally headed out, the evening was still relatively young. Nicky woke, fitful and weepy for a little while, and so they gave him a warm bath and dressed him in the warm new pajamas that Carol had sent as a first birthday gift, then went and let him rest between them on their bed as they snuggled him back to sleep.

"Mama?" Nicky murmured.

"Yes, little one?" Agatha asked.

"Yub you."

"I love you too," Agatha said, and nuzzled her nose against the baby's.

Nicky looked to Rio now, and reached up a little hand to pat her chin.

"Yub you, Pami."

Rio laughed, always amused when Nicky melded the two appellations he used for her, and she kissed his tiny hand.

"Love you right back, mijo."

Once upon a time, Agatha was usually first up. She had liked to be the one to make the coffee or start making breakfast. A childhood of being called lazy and useless had long since made her avoid lying in or anything like that. It had taken being friends with Alice in college to teach her that it was occasionally all right to sleep in or just laze around on slow days. It had taken being loved by Rio for the past nine years to make the lesson stick.

By now, between balancing work and raising an active toddler, Agatha had truly learned to appreciate chances to take it easy and sleep in. If she woke bright and early as usual on a day when there was no work, she would often be lulled back to sleep for at least a little while by a few kisses and sweet words from Rio.

"You stay and rest a little, mi corazón," Rio would insist, "and I'll take care of everything. I'll get breakfast, get Nicky ready for the day, all that good stuff."

On this particular day, Agatha woke slowly, almost dreamily. She could smell breakfast cooking, and hear the sounds of Rio talking to and laughing with their son in the kitchen. A faint smile curled to Agatha's lips, and she stretched slightly, grunting as she sat up.

Today was an important day indeed, or at least so Rio insisted. Ever since that Mother's Day two years ago, six months before Nicky was even born, Rio had made it clear the day would not pass without celebration. Mother's Day last year had been quiet and sweet, a simple breakfast, a few small gifts, and then hours of family bonding time. Nicky had been around six months old at the time, very tiny and precious and surprisingly laid back for an infant. Of course now, at a year and a half old...

Agatha's thoughts were interrupted by the thunder of tiny feet along the hallway, and a moment later, there stood Nicky in the doorway.

"Mama!"

"Good morning, my precious baby. You come to give me a hug?"

"Yah!"

Nicky scurried into the room and around the bed, and Agatha hauled him up into her arms and snuggled him, breathing deeply the scent of baby shampoo that wafted from his wild hair.

"What a nice good morning," Agatha said.

"Mama, time fo' bweffast?" Nicky mused.

"I hope it is. I'm famished."

Releasing Nicky so that he could crawl over and flop against Rio's pillow, Agatha slipped out of bed and pulled on her robe, then turned back.

"Well, my little man, come on. We had better go see how the food is doing."

They went to the kitchen, Nicky toddling steadily ahead, Agatha in his wake, still yawning off the last threads of sleep.

"Mami, got Mama!" Nicky called.

Rio turned from the stove and smiled.

"Well, good morning, sunshine."

"Mmm. Do I smell pancakes?"

"You just might. And also that veggie sausage we found down at that new market last month, plus a couple other things."

"Wonderful."

Pushing the pans back a little on the stove for a moment, Rio welcomed Agatha into her arms with a soft kiss and a warm hug.

"Happy Mother's Day, mi corazón."

"Thank you, my love."

Suddenly, looking past Agatha, Rio chuckled, and when Agatha turned to look, she could not hold back a laugh of her own. Nicky was leaning against the fridge with one shoulder, arms crossed, in an attitude quite familiar, if not generally from him.

"Look at you, all grown up and leaning like your mami."

"I big," Nicky agreed.

"My little double," Rio said, and went back to cooking.

Nicky really did look very much like Rio. The same big, dark eyes, soft face, and bright smile. From Agatha he had gotten only his hair color and a hint of a future dimple in his chin. Sometimes Agatha would jokingly lament that their firstborn so completely resembled Rio, but deep down she was relieved. The part of her that still had not managed to put away her fear that she could fall into parenting as her mother had also led her to believe that if Nicky did not resemble her, she would never be able to see in him whatever had made her so loathsome in her own mother's eyes.

Not that Agatha could truly imagine ever feeling anything but love for her little son. Every day she marveled at how he was growing, and his developing personality intrigued her endlessly. He was gentle, thoughtful for a toddler, sweet, silly, and generally Agatha's favorite person aside from Rio. Even as young as he was, there was no challenge Nicky would not gladly face, and he seemed impossible to discourage when he became determined to learn some new skill.

"Mama?"

"Hmm?"

Agatha crouched to Nicky's level, smoothing his hair down with one hand.

"Habby Muvvo Day."

"Thank you, sweet baby. Can I have another hug?"

If Nicky had truly mastered any skill so far, it was hugging. He threw his little arms around Agatha's neck, and she picked him up quickly. He giggled as she stood, and she kissed his cheek.

"My sweet, sweet boy."

"I yubv you, Mama."

"I love you too, Nicky."

"You two go and sit," Rio said, "and I'll have breakfast finished in a second."

"Sounds good."

Settling Nicky in his high chair, Agatha kissed his forehead and then sat down at the table, noting a small stack of gifts waiting on the table. She wondered, as she had last year, how Rio could ever top the special gifts given on that first Mother's Day: the locket that Agatha still wore daily and Scratchy the second. Last year, there had been flowers and chocolate and a beautiful blouse and a pair of earrings that went very nicely with the locket.

"You'll like them all, I promise," Rio said, having moved around behind Agatha and leaning down to kiss her temple.

"I love every gift you've ever given me."

"Including that year your birthday present was just two rounds on that haunted hayride?"

"Especially that."

"Wa's haywide?" Nicky asked.

"A hayride," Rio said, "is when it's fall, and everyone gets in a big wagon together and rides around with bundles of hay."

"My wagon?"

"Well, a little bigger."

While Nicky frowned, no doubt deep in thought about how there could ever be a wagon bigger than his little red one, Rio went back over to the stove and began plating the food.

"Now, I worked super hard on this stuff," Rio insisted, "but you don't have to like it."

Agatha scoffed.

"What's not to like about pancakes and sausage and... Ooh, you made those little lemon tarts!"

"Indeed I did. Dig in."

The meal was excellent, everything cooked to absolute perfection in Agatha's opinion. Nicky seemed particularly taken with the tarts, and Rio's foot nudged Agatha's under the table.

"New fave food unlocked," she said, nodding to where their son sat, clearly savoring the treat.

"Our son has very good taste," Agatha nodded.

When everyone had eaten their fill and the dishes had been set aside, Rio pushed the first gift across the table.

"This one's from Nicky."

"Ah, did he pick it out?"

"Well, we made it together."

"Yah!" Nicky said.

"Oh, a handmade gift," Agatha said."Then I know it will be wonderful."

The box was flat, and Agatha was half expecting some simple crayon drawings or something, though there was a heft that implied more inside. Carefully opening it and spreading aside tissue paper, she peered down at the item inside. A wooden board, the edges neatly beveled and the whole thing varnished, with a series of four inset disks that looked to be...

"Is this plaster?"

Looking closer, Agatha noted words burned into the wood along the top and over each little disk. 'Nicholas Desidério Harkness-Vidal' very neatly at the top, and over each of the disks, 'One Month,' 'Six Months,' 'One Year,' and 'Eighteen Months' from left to right.

"We just finished the last one a week ago," Rio said, "and I set it in the board Wednesday. That's why I was out in the shed late. I finished up the burning and everything months ago, but I had to wait a little to really finish."

Each little disk bore the imprint of a tint hand, slowly increasing in size with the passage of time.

"You... You've been working on this since he was a month old?" Agatha murmured.

Rio shrugged and nodded.

"I actually had the idea while I was in the hospital after... Ya know. Remember you brought one of the stills from his anatomy scan and kept it by my bedside? His little hand was so clear there, like he was waving in the picture, and I... I thought this'd be cool. Did the first handprint a couple days after his first Christmas, while you were having a nap. He was sorta napping too, or I don't think he would've put up with it."

"We pu' my han' in plasho," Nicky said, clearly an authority on the crafting process, and Rio laughed.

"I, uh, just sorta thought at first, maybe just the one as a way of preserving how tiny he was when he was still so new, but now and then in his first months, you'd bring up how he was growing so fast, and how you... You wished there was some way to freeze all those moments besides with pictures and stuff. Do you like it?"

"Rio, I absolutely love it."

Carefully, Agatha brushed her fingers over each imprint of her son's hand. When she looked back up at Rio, she was blinking away tears.

"How do you always know the perfect thing to do?"

Rio shrugged again, and she was blushing in that adorable way she sometimes did when she was nervous about praise.

"I just... I wanna do... I... I do what I can to show you I care. Things that make you know I pay attention."

Standing, Agatha went around the table and leaned down to kiss Rio.

"I never doubt for a moment that you care for me and pay attention to me, but thank you for always showing it."

"I... I... I'm glad you like it, mi corazón."

"I love it, and I love you," Agatha said, and kissed Rio again.