Music for the Soul: Book 2

Chapter 15

Marinette

"Marianne! Dear! Help me out please?" Flora asked as we passed her shop.
"Sure Flora. How have you been?" I asked to make small talk.
"I'm good. Where is Damian? I thought you too were doing good."
I shook my head. "We are, kinda. He's going back to Gotham tomorrow. And Clara and I are stay here." I said with a shrug. I helped carry the last of Floras flowers inside.
"I'm sorry honey. I know how much you have been waiting for this."
I shrugged. "Not everyone gets to be happy like that. At least he knows now. He can come see us anytime."
"He was allowed to before now as well. Do you really think he will?"
The look on Floras face told me she already knew the answer. I shook my head.
"No, I don't." I said sadly. "But there's not much I can do. And when we talked he didn't contradict me. I wanted him to. I really really wanted him too, but I know he likes we're he's at. And I don't want to take that away from him." I looked around the shop. "And I love it here. No place I'd rather be."
Flora smiled sadly, "but with Damian."
I couldn't do this. I don't want to talk about Damian. So, I smiled hugged Flora, and left with my friends.

Flora

The minute Mari was out of sight, I rushed to the inn. Granny sat at the front desk and smiled at me.
"I need to talk to Damian." I said when I got closer.
"Why?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He's leaving tomorrow, and isn't going to fight to stay here. To be with Marinette and Clara! It's killing her. It's literally going to kill her if he leaves like this. She'll just blame herself, like she's been doing the past 14 years." I said as I crossed my arms and watched my best friend grab my arm and lead me up the stairs.

"Can I help you ladies?" A large man asked as he opened the door.
"We would like to talk to Damian if that's alright." I said with a small smile.
He nodded before calling over his shoulder. Damian stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. We stood there for a moment before I launched into it.
"Why aren't you fighting?" I asked
"What do you mean?"
Now I'm mad. "What do I mean? What do I mean?! Why the hell haven't you talked to Marinette about staying? Or going with you!?"
He sighed. "We talked on Claras birthday. She said that Gotham needed me more then she did."
I growled. "Do you really believe that? Do you think she doesn't need you?" By the look on his face, he did. I sighed. "Has anyone told you what she and Clara use to do when they sent you letters? Or the fact that she won't survive you leaving again. You chose to stay away before, and you probably don't plan on returning do you? You think it will just be harder to see her then come at all. Clara could care less if you stayed for her, she just wants her mom to be happy. And she knows only you can make her as happy as she was this week."
I watched him squirm under my glare. I watched him shuffle from foot to foot as I ranted about how he was being idiotic and stupid.
"I want to stay. But Marinette thinks I'll end up hating her for it. She doesn't have to voice it out loud, I just know. Marinette was different then anyone else. Hell she didn't even know that I was the Damian Wayne till I told her. But I just don't want her to give anything up. And she doesn't want me here. What am I suppose to do?"
He looked broken. Sad, even. Sighing, I knew I was going to have to push him.
"You need to talk to her. Do you love her?"
"More then anything." He said.
I nodded "Then you need to fight for her. She thinks you don't love her anymore. She's afraid your just going to leave like everyone else in her life did. She had depression before, and she told me it got better after she met you. Then it got worse when she was pregnant. But became better as Clara grew up. If you love her, fight to be with her." I said and looked at Granny. "I covered it all right?"
She nodded before sending a look at Damian and retreating downstairs.

Damian

I stood there frozen.
Am I really going about this the wrong way?
Shaking my head, I pulled my phone out and dialed her number.
"Hello?"
"Angel, can we talk?"
I had to pull the phone away to make sure she didn't hang up. "Angel? You still there?"
"Umm. Sure. Meet at Burts?"
"Alright. I'll be there in a few minutes." I said and hung up.

I saw her sitting at the same table I sat in when I first met Clara. She looked amazing.
I took a seat and gave her a small smile. And when she smiled back, it just confirmed what I already knew. I'm not leaving without a fight.
"I want to stay." Was what came out. And by the look on her face she was shocked. "I want to stay here. With you. And with Clara."
She looked like she was gonna cry.
"Damian, you have to go. You belong in Gotham-"
"Marinette." I reached over and grabbed her hand. "I'm not going anywhere. So stop pushing me away. I'm staying. With you. Because I belong with you. And with our daughter."
She didn't say anything. She just gripped my hand and played with my fingers.
"What about Bruce? And Mar'i? And W.E.? I can't be the reason you leave."
I sighed. Standing, I walked around the table and bent down in front of her and gently placed my hands on both sides of her face. "I'm going to stay because I love you. I'm staying because I belong here with you. I'm staying because I can't live without you."
"Really?" A tear slipped out and raced down her cheek. I wiped it away and smiled.
"Yes."
I stood and pulled against me. I kissed her head and smiled. I finally get everything.

Marinette

"Clara!" I called into the house, dragging Damian with me.
"Mom? I thought you were with Chloé?" She called from upstairs.
"Change of plans." I said with a smirk at Damian. He simply shrugged.
"What do you mean change of— what's dad doing here?" She asked while eyeing us.
"Your dads staying." I said with a goofy smile.
"What?" Clara yelled with excitement. "Really?"
I nodded, as she tackled us to the ground. I heard Damian laughed, and Clara cry. I pulled back and watched the father-daughter pair. They hugged as Clara talked a mile a minute. And I could help but think this felt right.