Til September Ends

Mar'i

Nightwing wanted to make today special for his wife. It was their second anniversary and their daughter's first birthday was the next day. He wanted to celebrate her and their love before the week became about the kids.

Even though he was thinking about a kid now as he spread yellow rose petals over his sleeping wife's form. He was thinking about his son and how he was pulling away from them. It was disheartening.

Christopher loved school like he'd loved preschool and though it'd only been two days, he adored the outside world.

It wasn't fair. Nightwing frowned. They'd had Christopher since he was three years old, taking care of him, protecting him, loving him. Why wasn't it enough anymore?

Nightwing could feel his emotions turning dark and didn't want to disturb the meditating Raven upstairs. So he hurried to finish and slipped out for sunrise yoga with Jinx.

pagebreak

Starfire awoke in a glum mood. She was tired of crying, not usually morose in nature but feelings about Christopher and her advanced stage of pregnancy made her weep at the drop of a hat.

Even now as she appreciated the blooms her husband had covered her in, she was sad.

She dolled herself up for the day then went to collect Mar'i. The little girl was waking up on her own but didn't cry.

Nor reach for her mother...

Starfire was bummed about her daughter, too. Mar'i displayed zero abilities and emotionally was a rock. It was disheartening as Starfire herself had an over abundance of exuberance.

Starfire fed and changed Mar'i before washing and dressing her. She took her to Christopher's room.

Christopher was already awake and finishing making his bed. He was dressed.

"Morning of goodness, bumgorf." Starfire could feel the tears welling up.

"Morning." Christopher grabbed his backpack.

He didn't even look at her. The redhead's heart sank. "I think breaking the fast will be enjoyable today."

He bobbed his head before turning and spying his baby sister. He raced to her and kissed her cheeks. "Hi, Mar'i!"

Mar'i squealed and flailed her limbs.

Starfire internally grumped. At least her children had a good rapport with each other. "Let us travel above stairs."

pagebreak

Nightwing gave Starfire a present when he came back from dropping the kids off at school.

Starfire smiled wanly before opening it. "It is a photograph."

"Yeah. Of a star exactly halfway between Earth and Tamaran." He pointed to it. "I named it after our family."

Starfire started sobbing.

He hugged her. "Are you crying happy tears?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"Our bumgorfs do not love us any longer! What if you cease to love me as well?!"

"Star." He wasn't sure what to say.

She cried in his arms.

"I will never stop loving you."

"But-!"

"I will never stop loving you."

She sniffled noisily.

"As for the kids, we'll make them love us."