“You see? This is what Hearth’s Warming should be,” Adagio smiled as she tenderly kissed Aria while Sonata slept with her head in her lap.

“Mm-hmm…” Aria agreed, nuzzling her.

Adagio smiled before the buzzer cut through her ears. Growling in frustration, she got up and hit the intercom, “Who is it?”

“Miss Dazzle? It’s Concerto.”

“Who?”

“Mrs Blaze.”

Adagio made a gagging sound before hitting the button again, “What the hell do you want?”

“You know very well what.”

“Refresh my memory, I’m very hung over,” Adagio rolled her eyes while Aria giggled.

“My daughter. She and I need to talk,” Mrs. Blaze said curtly.

Adagio rolled her eyes and buzzed her up, much to Aria’s dismay.

“Adagio! What are you doing?!” Aria hissed.

“Tis the season to piledrive Mrs Blaze into the floor,” Adagio smiled as she sat down and pulled Aria into her lap.

“Fine…” Aria frowned skeptically.

“Just get comfortable and be Mommy’s special girl,” Adagio smiled as Mrs Blaze pounded on the door, “It’s open!”

The door opened, with Mrs. Blaze strolling in, looking at the two of them with cold indifference.

Aria curled her lips with disgust, holding tighter to Adagio, “You have a lot of nerve showing your face here.”

Mrs Blaze scoffed as she sat down on the other side of the couch, “Well Aria, it has been months and you’re still… determined to try and shock us with this… woman.”

“Urgh… you seriously think that’s what this is about?” Aria rolled her eyes, narrowing them, “I don’t even care if you throw darts at a picture of her on the wall!”

“Well maybe you don’t, but I wouldn’t waste a perfectly good picture,” Adagio giggled, nuzzling Aria’s hair soothingly as she stroked her back.

“Being rebellious is only going to make it worse for you,” Mrs. Blaze told her.

“Make what worse for me? Seriously, will you just stop speaking in psychoanalyst for one second?! You’re supposed to be my mother, not my therapist!” Aria ranted, glaring at her, “You know, I used to find it creepy when Sonata referred to Adagio as ‘Mommy’. But now I’m beginning to really understand why!”

Mrs Blaze glanced at Sonata, who was still sleeping on the other couch, and wrinkled her nose in disgust, “And why is that?”

“Adagio is more of a mother than you ever have been!” Aria turned herself around a bit to face her, “She’s nurturing, she’s kind, and she listens! When I tell her a problem, she doesn’t belittle me or try to analyze me! She listens! Then maybe she’ll give me advice, maybe she’ll let me sit by myself to think about it! I don’t know! Either way, she’s been more helpful to me than you ever were, Mother!”

Adagio patted Aria’s shoulder and gently kissed her forehead, making soft shushing sounds as she listened to Aria getting increasingly agitated.

“My job is to make sure you grow up healthy and smart,” Mrs Blaze sneered, “Not to stroke your ego and pamper you like an infant.”

“Pfft, that’s no fun,” Adagio scoffed.

“...Are you even listening to yourself?” Aria gaped, “Oh, and look how well that turned out! You never showed me an ounce of love, mother! I’m not asking you to stroke my ego and pamper me like a baby! All I wanted was a mother! Someone who loves me and also still balances making sure I’m healthy and smart! Why not give me a cake without frosting? A burger bun with no meat?”

“You didn’t even get a birthday cake?!” Adagio looked down at her, bewildered, “Not even a birthday cake? What the hell kind of parent are you?!” she exclaimed, looking up at Mrs Blaze.

Mrs. Blaze rolled her eyes, “You expect me to celebrate something like that? What even is a birthday? Celebrating the exit of the birth canal is hardly worth celebrating. Honestly, what good would it do to give her a birthday cake?”

“Well then why the fuck did you even have kids in the first place?!” Adagio exclaimed, losing some of her snark and becoming visibly angry, “What kind of mother could be so cold and heartless?!”

“And now you’re telling me how to raise my children,” Mrs. Blaze rolled her eyes, “Having children isn’t about sunshine and rainbows. Don’t be so naive. Children are meant to contribute to society and live on as such. It is my job as a parent to prepare them for that. You can’t honestly expect me to cater to them in such a sickeningly sweet way. It’s absurd. What have they possibly done to earn that? Being born? I owe them absolutely nothing.”

Aria let out a groan, burying her face in her hands.

“You don’t do it because you owe them, you do it because you love them,” Adagio snapped, “Because it makes them happy. Because that bright-eyed little smile makes it worth doing. For the same reason I gave all my girls downstairs a nice, big Hearth’s Warming bonus and presents. Because just like these two little angels, they’re like family to me. How did a miserable old wretch like you ever manage to have a family while other people don’t even get to consider it?!”

“Honestly. The more you talk, the more you sound like a naive fool who would have children for the sake of fulfilling that little fairy tale. Parenthood isn’t a fairy tale. It isn’t meant to be fun. It’s a lifelong career. You aren’t raising children, you’re raising adults. Aria isn’t going to get any sort of special treatment simply for being my biological offspring,” Mrs. Blaze sighed.

“Do you even love her?!” Adagio snarled.

“Love? Love… How ridiculous. I wouldn’t even know why such a word should exist. It is absolutely illogical and completely impairs on any sort of proper judgement and facts,” Mrs. Blaze said sternly, “Love is nothing more than a mere extension of infatuation and lust. It doesn’t exist. You only tell yourselves that to pamper your egos and justify the hormonal urges. It’s a piece of purple prose at its worst and I shall have no part of it.”

Aria looked livid as she all but punched a couch cushion, “Well, then you just put it into perspective for me, mother! If you don’t love me, then here you go! You have your wish! I don’t love you, either! I don’t even like you!”

Mrs Blaze was about to open her mouth when-

CRACK

Adagio leaned over and belted her across the face, looking like she was about ready to strangle the woman.

“Get out of my house before I break your sniveling little neck,” she whispered, her voice thick with venom, “And if you ever come near my Aria again, they won’t be able to identify your body.”

Although shocked for a moment, Mrs. Blaze glared, and then left without another word. The moment the door closed, Aria went to the door and locked it.

“Fuck you too, bitch!” She shouted after her.

“Aria…” Adagio whispered, standing up and rushing over to her. Wrapping her into a tight hug, she lifted her off her feet as she squeezed as tightly as she could, “Aria, I’m so sorry you had to grow up with… that monster.”

Aria took a few deep breaths, then hugged her back, “It’s… It’s okay. It’s over now… I never want to see that bitch again!”

“And you won’t. She’s never getting near the club again,” Adagio whispered into her ear as she carried her back over to the couch and sat down with Aria in her lap, “How could someone say they don’t even love their children… that’s just horrible!”

“Even after living with that, I still don’t get it,” Aria sniffled, “I wouldn’t be able to raise a child and yet I’d still do a better job than her!”

Adagio stroked her hair as she sniffled as well, “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You deserve so much more than that. I love you so much, Aria.”

“I love you too, Mom… I seriously meant it, too. You’ve been a way better Mother than she ever has,” Aria murmured, nuzzling her neck.

“Thank you…” Adagio whispered, her voice cracking slightly, “You have no idea how much that means to me. I want you girls to be so happy. You deserve that much after all you two have been through…”

Aria squeezed her tightly, sniffling, “I take back any and all things I ever said about you being a mom to us being creepy. It’s not. It’s just what Sonata and I needed…”

Adagio squeezed tighter and kissed Aria’s forehead, her eyes watering as she gently rocked Aria in her lap, “I needed you girls too… I love you, Aria. Mommy loves you girls more than anything.”

“I love you too,” Aria murmured, wiping her eyes, “After what you went through, guess you really did need us, too. We all needed each other…”

“...Mommy?”

Adagio reached over and took Sonata’s hand, squeezing her fingers tightly, “Yes, sweetheart? Mommy’s here…”

“I had a bad dream,” Sonata sat up a little, “I dreamt that Aria’s mean bitch mother came back…”

“Oh. Wow…” Aria groaned, shaking her head, “That was no dream. It just happened.”

Adagio nodded, “Yes sweetheart. She really was here. But she won’t be coming back ever again.”

“Really?” Sonata smiled, cuddling up to her now, “Awesome… I’m so glad… I never liked her. She was a bitch.”

“Me neither…” Adagio said, wiping her eyes as she cuddled the both of them, her breath shaky as she held them as tightly as she could, “Mommy loves you girls so much…”

“Love you too, Mommy!” Sonata cooed, giggling.

“Love you too… Mommy,” Aria smiled a bit.

Adagio smiled as she buried her tears, holding both her girls as tightly as she could. For the first time in a very long time, she felt like she was at home.

“Mmm…” Adagio mewled in exasperation as she trudged down the stairs to the bar, sitting across from Sunset as she trailed her finger over the bar’s surface, “Give me a beer, Sunny.”

“Are you feeling okay?” Sunset asked, getting a beer from the fridge, uncapping the top and placing it in front of her boss.

“Yeah, it’s just that my babies are out today,” Adagio sighed,  taking a swig of her beer.

“Oh? Where did they go?” Sunset asked, “I think I heard that Sonata wanted to go out of town to see an aunt of hers?”

Adagio nodded, “Aria took her. Sonata just can’t go anywhere on her own anymore, she’s a big kid these days,” she sighed and pouted into her beer.

“Oh, and I guess you’re not too big on being by yourself,” Sunset said sympathetically, reaching over to pat her on the shoulder.

“Nope,” Adagio sighed, “Mommy misses her babies already. And they’ve only been gone for an hour…”

Sunset nodded in understanding, taking a glass and wiping it with a dishcloth, “How long will they be gone?”

“Until tomorrow morning,” Adagio groaned, “Mommy’s got to sleep by herself tonight.”

“And you haven’t slept by yourself for a single night since you brought Sonata home with you,” Sunset surmised.

“Nope,” Adagio pouted, circling her glass with her finger, “Always had that warm little bundle of joy pressed against me.”

Sunset pouted sadly, “That’s such a shame. I know it’s only one night, but that’s still no fun.”

“No. No fun at all,” Adagio sighed as she took another swig of her beer, “I have that big stuffed mermaid that Aria gave me, but it’s not the same as my widdle Sona-baby…”

“No, it’s not the same as a real person,” Sunset agreed with a sad sigh.

Adagio grumbled and downed the rest of her drink, “No it’s not. Especially since Sona does this little kick when she sleeps. Like a little puppy.”

“Really? Aww, that’s adorable!” Sunset giggled at this, “Sleep-kicking is just...d’awww!”

Adagio looked up and giggled, “Mmhmm. Aria does it too, but she nuzzles right into my chest.”

“Aww, that’s sweet,” Sunset giggled, “You really are lucky to have two great girlfriends like that.”

Adagio nodded, “Mmhmm. They just light up my world.”

“It’s just a shame they’re gone,” Sunset leaned against the shelf behind her, stretching a bit, “I can only imagine how much it would suck if they left longer in the future.”

Adagio mewled in discontent, “Mommy doesn’t like that idea!”

“Oh, sorry!” Sunset uttered, realizing what she’d said, “I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry.”

Adagio laid her hand over Sunset’s and sighed, “I know, sweetie. I’m just a little on edge. This is the first time Sonata’s left my side since she moved in with me. If you’d seen what Sonata’s life was like before… ugh,” she shuddered, “You’d be on edge too.”

“I can understand you feeling concerned for her,” Sunset patted her hand gently.

Adagio nodded, “I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with Sona being out without me…”

“What do you think she would do?”

“It’s not what she would do, it’s what others might do,” Adagio growled, “She was always accosted when she was in school, pretty viciously too.”

Sunset cringed, nodding, “Yeah, you guys mentioned that… Poor girl.”

“Yeah, she never really recovered from that, that’s why she latches onto me,” Adagio nodded, “She used to break down into tears in the car whenever I’d pick her up from school.”

“That’s terrible,” Sunset frowned sadly, “She must have felt so alone until you came along.”

“That’s what she tells me,” Adagio nodded, “Honestly… just between you and me, I met her at a bus station trying to get on a bus to the other side of town. It stopped on this massive suspension bridge on the way there… I think she was going to jump.”

Sunset’s eyes widened, “Oh, goodness…”

“No bag, no extra clothes, she said she was running away,” Adagio sighed, “I didn’t believe her.”

“I guess that would’ve been hard to admit,” Sunset said, shaking her head.

Adagio sighed as she looked into her beer, “...I never did confront her about it. She’s happier now but… do you think I should?”

Sunset pondered that for a few moments, scratching her head, “Wow, I really don’t know. I mean, she may not feel that way now, but I guess it would feel a little weird if someone asked you if you were feeling suicidal in the past.”

Adagio nodded, “I suppose I can always worry about that later. Right now? I just want my baby back home,” she pouted as she slouched over the bar.

Reaching over, Sunset patted her on the shoulder, “Would you be open to some company later on? I can stay with you for a little while if you want.”

Adagio pouted as she looked up, “It’s not the same as my babies, but I guess it’ll be alright.”

“Okay, then,” Sunset smiled, “Whatever helps you out.”

Adagio looked up and smiled as she leaned in and kissed Sunset’s cheek, “Thanks, Sunny.”

“Anytime, Adagio,” Sunset patted her back, “I’ve learned a lot of distraction tools when I’m waiting for something. So together we can do some things to take your mind off all the waiting.”

Adagio chuckled and came around to Sunset’s side of the bar, sitting down next to her and wrapping an arm around her waist, “You’re so sweet. I’m going to promote you to management.”

“Aww, gee,” Sunset giggled happily and hugged her, “You’re too much!”

“No, I’m serious,” Adagio smiled, “When I’m not in the club, you’re in charge and have full authority to kick people from the club, And I’m going to double your salary.”

Sunset blinked a few times, completely taken aback by this. She then grinned and hugged her tighter, “Oh, thank you, Adagio! I’m so honoured! I’ve always wanted to work my way to management! Yes! I’ll do it!”

Adagio smiled brightly and kissed Sunset’s cheek, “Careful, the job might involve sleeping with the boss, you’ll never know,” she giggled.

“Ooh, my!” Sunset laughed, “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, boss.”

Adagio chuckled and kissed the tip of Sunset’s nose, “Good girl.”

Sunset giggled and nuzzled her nose, “Always am.”

Adagio purred as she nibbled along Sunset’s neck, “Remember your first week here? When you were all adorably nervous at the prospect of being intimate with your boss?”

“Who could forget?” Sunset giggled, nuzzling her hair, “It’s pretty much hilarious to look back on, now.”

“Mmhmm…” Adagio kissed along her jawline, “Especially considering how I… dealt… with that.”

“Mmm, quite the expert way of doing so!” Sunset giggled, playing with her fiery curls.

Adagio lifted her head up and tugged onto Sunset’s chin, pulling her into a tender kiss, “Mmm…”

Kissing back, Sunset encircled her arms around her torso and brought them closer. Her fingers wove through Adagio’s wild curls, relishing their soft feel. Pushing her up onto the bar, Adagio’s fingers twirled into Sunset’s hair. Gently tugging her closer, she pushed her tongue past Sunset’s lips, mewling softly.

“Mmm…” Sunset giggled, opening her mouth and allowing their tongues to dance. Her fingers fisted into her hair a lot more, bringing them closer.

Adagio purred softly as she reached down to Sunset’s leg and hoisting it up onto her hip as she curled her tongue around Sunset’s, “Mmm…”

Bringing her leg along her hip, Sunset rubbed sensually and giggled. Her hands came down to her shoulders, clutching at the fabric of her blouse. She pulled back a bit, nuzzling her nose, “Feeling a bit better?”

“Very…” Adagio grinned as she nibbled Sunset’s bottom lip, her fingers toying with the straps on her shirt.

“Great,” Sunset toyed with her blouse and giggled, “Because that’s just one of the things to do for distractions.”

“Oh I know,” Adagio purred as she gently laid Sunset back on the bar, kissing along her neck.

“Mmm… There we go…” Sunset purred, playing with her hair, “Sleeping with the bartender…”

“Mmhmm,” Adagio giggled as she undid Sunset’s jeans, “And the whole club is watching, sweetie.”

“Bring it on!” Sunset laughed.

Adagio grinned and slid Sunset’s pants off, parting her legs and proceeding to dive in. Next Chapter: Feeling That For Hours Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 44 Minutes