Leap of faith, rebuilding our worlds

difficult conversations

I apologize for the delay. This chapter was mostly done but many things like streaming and other personal things.... happened so... I'm sorry but I will continue this but it will be infrequent but also I will start writing an arcane book...

The next day Rayla woke up before Callum and she admired his sleeping form with happiness. The night before she had accomplished befriending Sarai, Callum's mother, and they had heart to heart talk, it was not deep since it was the first meeting but for Rayla, the conversation was something she had always dreamt of having with her own mother who had pass away when she was little.

Rayla loved Callum more each time, he bought her a wolf onesie that was warmer since she cuddled him a lot but the lodge was colder than Rayla had imagined, she would be freezing if she had not worn the onesie. Callum wore a similar one to hers but while Raylas was black with white belly, Callums was white with black belly. Callum told her they were couples pjs, and Rayla squealed quietly not to wake nor disturb the others.

Rayla never had such wholesome interaction but her daydreaming was interrupted with a notification on her phone. It was a message from Ethari and it was a simple and short text: 'Runnas' home'. It was short but very shocking for her, his father had come home after 4 years but her feelings were mixed up.

For Rayla, Runaan's disappearance was the last nail of her coffin. She always thought that he left them because she is a disappointment, a shame of an adopted daughter they had after all the things she had done despite her upbringing as a moonshadow elf. Rayla always did her best to live like he had taught her, with discipline and doing good but her actions lead her to be tainted, to be shunned from her communities and lead her to the brink of insanity but Ethari was the one who helped her, not only with her mental health but moving to Katolis to start her new life. She dreaded the day he returned, because Rayla knew that he was going to return, how ashamed he would be and how he would shun her from her family and her little sister.

Rayla's mind rambling stopped when she heard Callum say her name in his sleep, turning around and hugging the pillow she was using. That made her relax a little, realizing that she had a little spot in a new family that accepts her for who she is regardless of what she had done.

Rayla kissed Callum's forehead and went to the kitchen where Janai and Amaya were drinking coffee after their morning run. She found the couple a little weird but in a good way, they had found something for them that works and is fun. She greeted them and took a cup of coffee and went to sit on the bench on the porch outside the lodge.

Rayla took a deep breath while thinking about what would happen with Runaan home but she still had time to decide what she would do.

Sarai was sitting on the beach and saw Rayla so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't seen her. Rayla's expression was of conflict and troubles so Sarai knew that she could be crossing a line but decided to give her the help she could give. Sarai put a hand on Raylas shoulder, making Rayla quite aware of Sarai's presence next to her. "A penny for your thoughts?" Sarai showed Rayla a penny with a warm smile.

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Ethari was happier than ever, but he also noticed that Runaan was more relaxed. Runaan started training Sophie with care and patience. He didn't shout or raise his voice ever, unless it was something dangerous. Ethari was happy that Runaan had become more relaxed and a dad rather than the special agent he used to be but he also saw how the years of doing what he did started affecting Runaan's body. His gait was slower and the once active Runaan had become more sedentary, especially since his left arm was missing.

Ethari loved how his husband had become domestic with his family. He trained Sofie with care and love but still strict and careful and with Lisa, he let her do whatever she wanted with his hair unless it hurted. Runaan had become the dad both of their girls dream of and Runaan is still surprised and touched at how the little girls treat him, Sophie adoring his scars on his arm while Lisa loved painting with him and Ethari could not be more happy.