I'll Take Care Of You [A HUMANSTUCK Arafef Fanfiction]

[Chapter 16]

For a while, they sat there talking. They spoke of anything that came to mind. Then, all was quiet. Aradia lay in the hospital bed next to Feferi. Aradia's head lay gently on Feferi's chest. She listened to her heartbeat for so long, she couldn't remember when she stopped. It was a sound of reassurance, of comfort. Feferi was alive and with her. They were living at the same time, in the same place. Together. Aradia sighed softly. Her ears became accustomed to the beat, and she soon fell asleep. 

Aradia's eyes struggled to open. A muffled voice was speaking, but she could not make out the words.  She blinked a few times. A figure in light blue appeared in front of her. A woman, late 30's, was speaking to her. 

"Miss? Miss?" The woman shook Aradia's shoulder gently. "Miss, visiting hours are over. It's time to go home." The woman spoke softly. Her voice was kind.

As Aradia sat up, the sound of Feferi's heartbeat softened away from her ear. She looked down at the sleeping girl with a smile. 

"Are you alright?" The nurse asked. Aradia turned her head to her, nodded, and focused her eyes back on to Feferi. The woman smiled.

"Don't worry, she'll be okay. I'll make sure." The woman assured her. Aradia nodded and slipped out of the soft hospital bed. 

"Thank you," Aradia whispered. "Thank you very much." Aradia slipped on her warm coat and dark brown books. She leaned over Feferi and kissed her forehead softly. Feferi's eyes opened slowly. Aradia only giggled. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Aradia whispered. Feferi looked up at her, then at the smiling nurse behind her. 

"Are you leaving?" Feferi whispered, her voice cracking slightly. She had missed Aradia for so long, and she wanted more time with her. She wanted to feel Aradia's warmth next to her, and to kiss her soft lips over and over. "Please don't leave..."

Aradia's eyes began to water. "Don't worry.." She choked out. "I'll be here first time tomorrow, okay? As soon as I can. I swear." Aradia slowly tucked Feferi's dark hair behind her ears. "I promise." 

Feferi nodded, rubbing her face on Aradia's hand. "Okay...I love you." She smiled, leaning up to kiss her. Aradia smiled, leaning down and pressing her lips onto Feferi's soft ones. She pulled away gently and whispered, "I love you, too." As Aradia walked away, their hands slowly fell apart. She smiled and waved at Feferi before leaving the room. Feferi waved back slowly, then leaned back in her bed.

 She tried stopping her tears, but they started flowing, and wouldn't stop. She missed Aradia too much. 

The nurse came to Feferi's side, softly speaking. "It's okay, it's okay. She'll be back first thing tomorrow, okay?" The nurse looked at Feferi's eyes. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy. 

"Okay," Feferi whispered, wiping her face. "When...When can I leave the hospital?" She looked up hopefully at the nurse, who smiled at her. "After tomorrow, you're free to go." 

Feferi sighed softly and closed her eyes. She smiled.

The next morning, Aradia sleepily walked into the kitchen. She opened the old, wooden cabinet. It made a squeaking sound, but she didn't pay any attention to it. She looked through the cabinet with a sigh. Her mother walked in with a smile. 

"Good morning. What's wrong?" Her mother's wrinkled, soft fingers held a small teacup. Inside was her favorite chamomile tea. 

"No coffee grounds." Aradia pouted. Her mother chuckled. "Why not run by Marceau's on your way to the hospital?" Her mother asked. 

Marceau's Cafe was Aradia's favorite place in the world. They had the best coffee, tea, and the sweetest sweets you can imagine. Aradia's eyes lit up at the sound of it. Her mouth watered. 

"Good idea." She hugged her mother tightly. Her mother laughed. 

"Careful, dear. You'll squish me."

Aradia let go, giggling. She apologized and looked at her mother's kind, tired eyes. Her mother had worked so hard for her children. It was something Aradia could never be able to repay her for, but something she could be grateful for forever. 

"Mom," Aradia spoke softly. "I want to ask you something. It's a little out of the blue, but I think I'm ready." 

Her mother looked at her confused but nodded slowly. 

Aradia took a deep breath. She felt the air expand, and leave her lungs. Her hands were sweaty, but she wiped them on her pajama shorts.

"Mom, I want to move out and get my own little apartment." 

Her mother's eyes showed no emotion. She looked at Aradia, to her tea, and back at her daughter. Her mother set the tea down on the table and pulled Aradia close. She wrapped her arms around her daughter with a smile. 

"It's as if I've blinked, and you've grown up." Her mother pulled away and looked at Aradia. "You've become such a responsible woman. I'm so proud of you." She smiled brightly, a few tears leaving her eyes. Aradia smiled too, hugging her mother tightly. 

"I love you so much, mom." She whispered. "Thank you for everything you've done for me."

It was a few hours until the hospital allowed visitors. Thankfully, Aradia had the day off. She decided to show her mom the place she had picked out. It was a few blocks from Aradia's apartment complex, but nonetheless close enough. Aradia smiled as she pulled into the parking lot. She had already scheduled a time to view the place with the owner of the building. 

The woman sat in the small office, fiddling with a small toy on her desk. She had dark hair and pale skin. Her short, flippy hair sat neatly on her shoulders. She sighed, resting her hand on her cheek.

 Aradia pulled up in her car, waiting for her mom to arrive after dropping her sister off. Aradia walked into the office, smiling at the woman. The woman looked up from her desk with a grin. 

"Aradia, I'm so glad you're here!" She grinned. "How did your mom take it? Is she here yet?"

Aradia giggled. "She was so happy, and she's on her way! And I'm still impressed by the fact that you knew it was me.

The woman, who's nametag read "Terezi," stood up. "Oh, please. I could smell you from a mile away." She laughed.

Aradia shook her head with a grin. "And what do I smell like?" 

"Coffee and independence, but you're lacking the coffee."

The girls joked around for a few minutes until her mother arrived. Terezi grabbed her cane and left the office first, followed by Aradia. 

"Hi!" Terezi said, sticking out her hand. Her mother looked at Terezi's glasses, cane, and then shook her hand. 

"How did you know it was me?" Her mother asked, confused. 

"You and your daughter smell close to the same since you live in the same house." She joked. Her mother chuckled. 

"Well, let's go!' Terezi said excitedly, leading them up to the apartment.