Daylight

16 | Past

It's been a month since their arrival in the countryside, since their banishment from the northern kingdom, since they moved into a small house that had only two bedrooms by the woods.

Since she met a wonderful woman that turned out to be their new neighbor and something more.

The acceptance, lessons, and experiences they received from Caroline was truly something worth living for. In a month, she and her daughters have fully settled in their life in the countryside.

The girls have grown independent and much more well-mannered, the lessons were also paying off since Anastasia got better in drawing and learned how to sew, Drizella was able to fully learn how to play the piano but her singing was another matter.

They also started growing fond of Caroline, asking for her whenever they would wake up and not find the older woman cooking breakfast with their mother or going to her when they needed advice or directions around the market and town.

Madonna knew she had nothing to be worried or jealous about of the matter, Caroline was more than happy to help her and the girls. Also, because the girls have never liked a friend of hers before, probably because she never had one and whenever they would meet someone she is acquainted with back in the city, they would act rude and spoiled around them.

And as for her relationship with Caroline, well.

"Darling, can you help me?" Madonna walked out of the bathroom with an untied dress, she wore less big dresses now and much simpler ones but the color scheme and designs were still bold.

"Good morning to you too, beautiful." Caroline sat on the edge of the bed, yawning and stretching her arms, smiling dreamily at the sight of the red-haired woman. She never lost that dreamily smile whenever she would see Madonna even after seeing each other every single day.

Madonna chuckled, standing in front of the brunette with her back turned so she could tie the annoying strings on her back "It is still a mystery how you are a morning person but I always wake up earlier than you."

"For one, when we sleep together and when I say sleep, I mean it literally, you are really comfortable to be with." Caroline pulled the strings towards her, tightening the dress around Madonna's waist "And two, I don't know how you do it, waking up so early in the morning, sometimes you even get grumpy because you wake up too early. Too tight?"

"Tighter."

"There." Caroline securely tied the strings into a ribbon, not too tight since she knew what that did to Madonna from her old dresses, her sensitive skin would get red marks all over them.

At first, Madonna didn't mind but she found it fascinating and a bit admirable that Caroline never fails to notice every single thing about her. From the way she liked her tea to the way she always sleeps on the right side of the bed whenever they sleep together.

"I will go and start breakfast while you get ready."

Caroline stood up, fixing her brown waves while Madonna chuckled, taking the brunette's face into her hands, pulling her close until the tips of their noses brushed "Good morning, darling or as the girls would always greet you, bonjour."

The brunette stared at her with wide eyes sparkling with mischief, her innocent demeanor cast aside as she smirked "Is it bad that you speaking to me in french is making me want to rip this dress off you?"

Madonna hummed, her breath hot against Caroline's lips "Peut être." she shrugged "Do you like it when I speak in french, Caroline?" she admired the hunger in the brunette's eyes, she loved this side of Caroline. The greedy one, the one who begs especially when they're in bed. (Maybe)