ruevealing | folkmore inbox.

Yes, my love.

[Casey's tears are a weapon for how immediately they pierce Rue's big heart, but that just means they move to hold their son closer, listening to his every word, refusing for Casey to feel anything but their complete, all-encompassing love in this very moment.]

Even if she might not have been your mother yet, she is still the woman your mother grows to be. They are not so different, in the end. It might not be as difficult as you think, just take it slow, of course. One day at a time. Pray, this time last year, you would have been sent running at the idea of me being your mother, wouldn't you? And look where we are now.

[That comment gets him to lift his face to look at them, blinking back more tears, red-eyed and mussy, but it drags a small smile onto his lips.]

We hadn't even met yet. I'd think whoever said it was crazy. Now I can't imagine life without you.

[Perhaps he'd felt that way about his birth mother, while she was alive: that he'd always have her, that she would never leave his side, that he wouldn't go a single day without her next to him. Now he has hardly any memories of those days, and Cassandra hasn't given birth to him, maybe never will in the timeline of Earth that was saved. He doesn't know if she's very different or not. She... felt the same, though. Whatever his heart had felt in that moment was familiar. She sounded the same, her voice resonating with some buried nostalgia. He'd forgotten her voice, and now he remembers. Memories are so fickle, and that makes it all so much harder.

He probably is overthinking it, though. Take it slow. One day at a time. As usual, Rue knows just how to handle it.]

No matter what she says... it'll be okay. I'll always have you.

[There's Rue's son, some of the light behind those tears again, the security in just who he is and how deep their relationship has become.]

Nor can I imagine one without you. It will be the same with her, my love. It may not happen overnight, but considering how fast you and I took on? I give it a month.

[It's a little playful and teasing, as Rue dips in close to nibble those tears off of his cheek, smooching Casey all over gently with their beak.]

And of course. That part is non-negotiable. It is more than just a promise, remember? It is a vow with the magic that gives me life. You and I are bonded, through this life and the next, across any amount of worlds. We'll always find one another, alright? Your mother returning doesn't change that in the slightest. It's just more. No subtractions to our family, just additions.

[As close with his birth mother as he is with Rue...? That sounds amazing, actually. He grew up with no mother, or at least most of those memories gone for a full decade. Now he's blessed with potentially not just one amazing mom, but two? How did he end up so lucky?

He lifts a hand to wipe at his other cheek, smearing away the wetness, and his smile grows.]

Just additions. Right. Like when you adopted me. [They'd had a very serious talk about no one replacing anyone else, and he'd meant it then as he means it now. Since then their family has grown and grown, and not a single replacement among any of it. Only more.] I bet she'll love you, too.

[Rue tips in close with a teasing little smirk and nibbles away at the wetness smeared across his cheek.]

Who doesn't love me? Of course we'll get along perfectly, don't you worry about that! I can not wait to meet her.

[That makes his smile shift to a full and proper grin. Nailed it, of course. Everyone should love them. Far as he knows, everyone does. Good.]

I'll tell her about you! When I tell her the rest. She should know I've already got a mom. I bet she'd try to fight you for it if I don't!

Is that so?

[Look, Rue might hate fighting, but when it comes to their son? They are well up for the challenge.]

Who do you think would win between us?

[Oh dear. He can't even hesitate much on that one.]

In a physical fight, if it was serious, she'd trounce you. [Sorry Mom, she's a trained ninja who would absolutely destroy anything in her path. He's always believed her to be an incredible warrior- that's something he's never shaken from his childhood.] Buuuut you'd probably win in any other contest. Except maybe brownie baking.

[He's never tried them but he's heard on good authority that they're delicious.]

I think you underestimate me!

[Let your mom just flex on you a little, son. Look at this gun show, Casey, your mother is so beefy!!!]

Since we've been practicing, I've at least halved the time it takes for me to climb our tree.

That's true! [Alright, alright, flex if you wish. Rue still looks beefier than him, so who is he to judge. (Not that this should be judged on appearance-only. His whole family has gone toe-to-toe with much larger foes than themselves!)] You're a lot faster now than when you started. It hasn't even been that long!

[Good job, Mom!]

Cassandra's been training since she was seven, though. So you can't underestimate her, either.

Well, you shouldn't underestimate me either. [Okay, Rue knows they are being absolutely silly, but if it's making Casey laugh, then they're happy to do it.]

I am powered by the love of my children!

Hmm, that's true. And you have a lot more children than she does.

[ #sassychild ]

Well! [But of course they are laughing, because Casey kind of nailed that one.] We shall see if you keep talking back to your mother if they ground you, hm?

[The emptiest threat there ever was.]

[Still has yet to happen.]

Huh... do you think if I do it with both of you, I could get double-grounded?

[He doesn't even know what single-grounded is!]

[And let's be perfectly honest, it never will.]

Would you like to find out?

Nnnnnno. Only in my dreams.

[He can have a dark fantasy of what being grounded is like without the actual consequences, thank you.]

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