Our First Fall (Melizabeth)

11. All Because of You

My bedroom door opened and I groggily looked at the figure sneaking in at this early hour. "Meliodas?" I muttered and the girly giggle that responded told me just who it was. "Jelamet?" I ask, just as confused.

"So, he's snuck in here before, eh?" She asks, bouncing over to sit on my bed, jostling me.

"What do you want?" I grumble, rubbing at my face.

"Davian asked me to meet him early this morning." She gushes, grinning too happily at this hour. "Come with me to Charity's home, so I can go meet him. The kids will be asleep, at most you'll have to do breakfast. I'll be back before your torrid walk across town." She wiggled her eyebrows and I sat up just to shove at her.

"Fine!" I relent as she giggles, grabbing my blankets to tug them off.

She stays while I dress and I can tell she's still excited about the win we had at the council. For the last week, we've been working with the council to seamlessly integrate ladies. Of course, some women were already doing jobs just not getting credit for them. What surprised me, was the wave of women who joined the war effort. Not as in-camp-healers, but as fighters. Already the troops' numbers were raising and I frowned.

A nervous flame had been licking at my insides since I found that out. Wondering... is that why Ludociel had supported it? Or, was this just an unintended consequence? Most ladies have come to me and Jelamet with praise and wonder. It was just some of the lower-skilled men that seemed put off with it. We had met some disdain I hadn't been expecting, like Ms. Mabel our bitter headmistress.

None of that mattered though, as time went on people would see that more freedom for someone else didn't mean less for them.

The temple was quiet and still when we flew through it, the air outside nipped at me, chilly from morning dew. I should have worn a jacket.

With the streets quiet, we whispered to match the tone around us. Jelamet told me she thinks Davian was so insistent to see her as he and his 'old lady' were separating. "It has to be the policy we changed, I think she wants out now that she had more choices." She's so hopeful and happy, I hope she's always like this and I grip her hand for a squeeze. "It's all because of you," Jelamet says, eyes shining with joy.

"You and Lady Graelle too, it was a joint effort." But she just shook her head, fondly looking across at me.

I dressed, hurrying. We flew across the city and didn't pass a single soul, the streets so quiet from the early hour.

When we signed in, kids were already awake and when one was up it was only a matter of time for the others to follow. Jelamet gave me an apologetic smile while rushing out before any of the kids noticed her. I greeted the morning with the little ones and when they stopped clawing at me, I peeked my head into the kitchen. Emilee was there, in her night clothes and she flushed when seeing me.

"I didn't have time to dress." She explains, "Little Lola was up all night, her fevers have started- early. She's going to be a strong girl." Emilee looks so tired but proud, as she works on whatever she's cooking. "Thank you for always helping out here and because of you and Jelamet, I can raise to be Charity Home's director. You have no idea how worried I was when Old Man Gravins announced his retirement last month."

We talked for some time, I plated and served breakfast, even covering plates for the children still in bed so they wouldn't go hungry. The sun started rising and Jelamet wasn't back, but I wasn't worried yet. When the older kids finished eating, they asked if I'd watch them play hoop ball. A few bragging with little quips of "We've gotten really good!" and "I bet we could beat you."

With no sign of Jelamet, my heart dropped thinking I'd miss Meliodas at this rate. I gave up on her returning in time and went to watch hoop-ball. They had gotten better. I agreed to play against them, the two older kids opposite me on their own team and a few younger kids divided between us. Emilee cheered us on, calling out fouls. The sun was up, the gates would open soon... then I felt him.