Rediscovering You

forty-three

note: This chapter contains talk of suicide so please consider whether you want to continue with it.

24th December 2023 - one year and forty-seven weeks old.

Making her way into the bedroom where Imogen is sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair, Leah can't help but smile as she holds the giftbag behind her back.

'This is for you.' Leah says softly as she holds out the gift bag causing the brunette to glance up at her.

'What? You wanting me to open it right now?' Imogen asks and the blonde nods her head.

'I still have most of your presents for tomorrow but I wanted to do this one away from all my family and before the craziness of tonight.' Leah replies.

'Oh...' Imogen says raising her eyebrows at the blonde who shakes her head.

'It's nothing like that. It's just a special one and I want to be able to saviour the moment.' Leah replies passing the bag to the brunette. She watches as Imogen pulls out the first wrapped gift and begins to unwrap it.

'What's this?' Imogen asks as she holds a small duck teddy.

'Open the rest... It'll all make sense, I promise.' Leah replies biting her bottom lip. Imogen continues opening the presents in the bag; the realisation of what it means dawning on her with each one she opens.

'I'm going to cry...' Imogen almost whispers as she glances up at the blonde, her eyes brimming with tears as she holds a book called 'easy peasy puppy squeezy' in her hands.

'We can't pick him up until January which works because it's after we come back... I spoke with Steph and our place isn't any smaller than theirs and they've got Calvy. By the time he's too big for here we'll hopefully be in a new place.' Leah says.

'We're getting a dog?' Imogen asks and Leah nods her head.

'I mean technically we have a dog... I just need to make the final payment when we pick him up.' Leah replies smiling as Imogen almost throws herself into her arms.

'Thank you!' Imogen squeals.

****

'Every time I look at you, I feel like I'm going to cry.' Imogen says as she makes her way into the kitchen where the blonde is making sandwiches.

'What? Why?' Leah asks, her voice filled with concern as she turns to look at the brunette.

'I just- You got us a puppy, Le.' Imogen replies shaking her head.

'Well technically I got you a puppy, Ims. Yeah we'll all love him and we'll all get a whole lot of joy out of him but he's mainly yours.' Leah says as Imogen wraps her arms around her and rests her head on the blonde's chest. 

'Has he got a name yet?' Imogen asks and Leah shakes her head.

'Thought I'd leave that for you to decide. Breeder said she's been calling him baby boy Williamson.' Leah replies causing the brunette to laugh.

'Isn't it crazy to think that we're going into the year where we'll hopefully be adding another little one to our family? I'll hopefully be pregnant soon.' Imogen says.

'Mm... Our little family getting bigger all the time. You never know, this time next year we could have a baby as well.' Leah replies.

'We could... It's crazy how quickly this year has gone, isn't it?' Imogen says softly as she tucks her face into the crook of the blonde's neck.

'Mm-hmm... I love you and I'm so glad we managed to get back on even ground.' Leah says feeling the brunette's arms tighten around her.

'Love was never our issue, it was just our heads that were the problem.' Imogen replies smiling.