Varian x Lapis (Laprian)

Voice

Lapis watched her little girl play on the rug with loving eyes. She had been a mother for nearly two years. Her daughter, Lilly, would be turning two years old in a week.

Lapis heard the font door open then saw Varian walk into the living room where she and Lilly were.

"Daddy," Lilly happily said. 

"Hello, cupcake," Varian said picking up his daughter as she laughed and hugged his neck. 

Varian sat on the couch next to Lapis and sat Lilly down, letting her go back to playing. 

"I'm glad you're back," Lapis said. "I missed you."

"I was barely gone for a half-hour," Varian said with a bit of a laugh. 

"Might as well have been centuries," Lapis said climbing into his lap and giving him kiss. After they broke the kiss, Lapis just wrapped her arms around her husband and rested her head on his chest. Varian returned the gesture by wrapping his arms around her as well. 

Lapis and Varian had been married for five years, and Lapis couldn't be happier. She was finally able to find peace when she met Varian. Steven and Peridot had always been a great help to her, but something about Varian just seemed to help her more. It was something about being with someone who had also been betrayed and used and felt with all the anger and frustration that followed, then trying to get better. 

As they went to bed that night, Lapis asked Varian why he went out in the first place. Varian showed her one of those record-your-voice books. The story was The Little Mermaid, Lapis' favorite fairytale from when she was a kid. It was a birthday present for Lilly. 

A week had soon passed, and it was Lilly's birthday. Sadly, Varian got called into work, but he promised he'd come home as soon as he could. Lapis' and Varian's friends came to the house in the afternoon, bringing gifts for Lilly and a few snacks and games for the small party. 

Lapis was in the kitchen with Peridot making last minute preparations with the food, while Lilly was watching TV with Rapunzel, Steven, and Lance. Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. 

"I'll get it," Lapis said taking off her apron and walking to the door. She opened it to see a random man she had never seen before. "Can I help you?"

"Yes," the man said. "Are you the wife of a Mr. Varian?" 

"Yes, I am," Lapis said. 

"I regret to inform you of this but..." the man said pulling out a letter. Lapis took hold of it as the man continued to talk. "There was a shooting at your husband's office. I'm sorry to say he didn't survive."

Lapis felt her heart stop. She looked at the letter looking for any sign if this being some sick joke. She put a hand to her mouth and she went pale. "Ma'am?" the man said in concern. Lapis started to hyperventilate and feel dizzy until she fell to the floor while grabbing onto a nearby table, making all the items in top fall off. 

"Nooo!" Lapis cried out as she started to sob uncontrollably. Everyone came rushing after hearing the commotion. 

"What's going on?" Steven asked. 

Peridot saw the letter. She picked it up and read it. Her eyes went wide and she brought a hand to her mouth. "Oh, Lapis," Peridot said. 

"Is mommy okay?" Lilly asked. 

"Uh, yeah, kiddo," Lance said picking her up, trying to distract her from what was happening. "Why don't you come with me and Eugene to catch some fireflies in the backyard?"

"Yay," Lilly said as Lance and Eugene quickly made their way to the backyard. 

The man uttered a sorry before leaving. Everyone still inside helped Lapis up to her feet and brought her to her bedroom. Lapis instantly collapsed on it and burst into tears. 

"Oh, Lapis," Steven said sitting on the bed next to her. "It'll be okay."

"No," Lapis cried. "No it won't, because he's...he's..." She broke down into more sobs. 

"Its alright," Pearl said. "Just let it out. We should give her a little time." Everyone nodded and left the room. 

After a while, everyone brought out the cake and lit the candles. "Where's mommy?" Lilly suddenly asked. 

"She's in her bedroom," Rapunzel said. "She's very tired."

"Where's daddy?" Lilly asked. "Why hasn't he come home yet?" Everyone was silent, unsure of what to say. 

"Daddy's not gonna be home for a while," Cassandra said. 

"Why?" Lilly asked innocently. 

"Something...came up," Peridot said. Lilly didn't question it any further. 

After a while, everyone left, and Lapis came out of her room to see Lilly. "I'm so sorry I missed your party, Lilly," Lapis said picking her daughter up. 

"It's okay, mommy," Lilly said. 

"You know," Lapis said drying away more of her tears. "You haven't opened daddy'd present yet."

"What'd he get me?" Lilly asked excited. 

"Let's see," Lapis said with as much a smile as she could muster. She showed Lilly the book Varian had gotten her, and she loved it. Varian had already recorded his voice on the book, so every night when Lilly wanted to read it before bed, Lapis and Lilly would hear Varian's voice again. 

"Goodnight, mommy," Lilly said as Lapis closed the book and tucked her in.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Lapis said leaning forward and placing a small kiss on her forehead. 

Lapis walked out of Lilly's room and headed for her bedroom. She held the book in front of her and let more tears escape her eyes. She immediately turned to the final page where Varian left his own custom recording. 

"Happy birthday, cupcake," Varian's voice said once the book was opened. "I hope you enjoyed your story and that you'll continue to be my happy little girl. I love you and your mother so much."

Lapis sniffled as she hugged the book to her chest. "I love you, too," she said.