#also Ace of Hearts was so beautiful i could not resist the Sarnaby

[dat-silvers-girl]

Be cautious in your relationships.

- 3 of Hearts ❤️❤️❤️

Sarahi Silvers was born and brought up in the Country of Hearts. From childhood, a friend of her father, a retired soldier called Riku Hirayama, taught both her and her older brother, Julian, the art of warfare, when the children had expressed interest. On the physical side, Sarahi did become a force, but on the academic side, she was failing, earning her mother's displeasure and abuse. Due to repeated failures as a good student and daughter, she simply moved out of the University dorms one night, with Julian reluctantly helping her.

Riku suggested that she was qualified to join the army if she so wished, but due to her dislike for violence, and the unease she felt about the Civil War in the Country of Spades, she refused. She did, however, take the idea of working for the Palace, assuming she would be kept busy enough as a maid to have an excuse to not go home.

Sarahi, although sweet and incredibly loving, is full of anxiety and painfully naive. The few friends she makes tend to become protective of her, and are often shocked to learn that she has been trained to fight at all.

My contribution to the Cardverse AU created by @ariparri! Sarahi as the 3 of Hearts, and she is most definitely NOT cautious in her relationships. Very fitting. She's affectionately called 'Little Heart Sarahi'. There's more fic below the cut.

I cannot stop writing stuff about my baby please help

Includes the Queen of Hearts, Carewyn by the one and only @carewyncromwell!

XXX

Getting hired as a maid in the Castle of Hearts definitely wasn't the most glamorous job around, but as a University dropout, it was honestly the best Sarahi could have done on short notice. At least she'd be getting paid for the inconvenience of cleaning up other people's messes this time. Clad in a self-made balloon dress and her grandmother's apron, she worked, if only to avoid going home to her disappointed mother who was still trying to force Sarahi back into University.

But a few days into her new job, Sarahi noticed the lack of dedicated attention given to the Palace gardens. Sure, people took care of the gardens and flowers every now and then, and it was pretty enough, but the flowers always seemed like they would thrive better if someone gave more attention to them. It's not enough to just water a plant every day, after all.

Thinking of the lovely times spent gardening with her grandmother, Sarahi started to put her time into the garden as soon as she would get off work, to care for flowers and pull weeds. And it was absolutely worth it to spend time in the gardens… a few days of being fed vegetables and the rabbits in the garden became so attached to Sarahi, that they'd get upset when she asked to leave. A particular one, a light brown rabbit she called Daisy, proceeded to just sit on her shoes until they were ready to let the maid go. And Sarahi certainly loved her new bunny friends.

It was easy to forget she was technically a maid and should be doing her chores. However, no one had really complained, even when her garden caring time started eating away at her actual work time.

When the Queen of Hearts began approaching her in the garden one afternoon, Sarahi hurriedly checked the time and immediately realized that she was late in her chores again and was about to get scolded. But of course she was about to get scolded. Maybe beaten. Stand straight, don't put up a fight, even if she goes for the face. Mum always goes for the face-

"Do you know that you do a great job in the garden?" Queen Carewyn asked.

Sarahi blinked. "Huh?"

The Queen wasn't yelling at her for slacking off?

"The gardens are thriving under your care. And the rabbits love you."

The Queen of Hearts pointed a gloved finger behind Sarahi, and the maid turned around to notice the bunnies awaiting her attention and maybe fresh leaves of lettuce.

Sarahi picked Daisy up to stop her fussing, then spoke. "I love the bunnies. They are very sweet. Um… I'm sorry… I'm… I'll go back to work-"

"May I ask you something? Sarahi, was it?"

"Uh… sure?"

"Would you rather be a Gardener?"

"...what?"

"Would you like to be the Gardener here?"

"I… think I would? I've always liked flowers. I like growing flowers. And I like the critters here too."

The Queen rested her chin on her hand in thought. Sarahi lowered her head, fearing she said or did something wrong to upset the Queen.

"Then that is what you should do."

"Huh??"

"If you like gardening, then you should be the gardener here. Of course, if that is what you want."

Sarahi turned her head away from the Queen. She took a deep breath before looking back and answering.

"I do want that. I'd like to stay here, and take care of the garden."

The Queen gave her a cool smile. "Then, by all means, do that. I'll talk to Diego and make sure your position is changed."

"Wait, really!? I can just make this my job?"

"Of course. Care for this garden has been long overdue."

Sarahi shook her head. "You're… being so nice about this. Are you sure I'm… it's not an inconvenience… uh… Your Majesty?"

Sarahi, holy mother of God, stop stuttering!

"No, it is not an inconvenience. If you enjoy taking care of the garden, then you should. Besides, I'm sure the rabbits will be perfectly happy about this arrangement since you won't have to leave them anymore."

The Queen had added the last part with an amused smile towards the other rabbits crowding around Sarahi's feet.

For the first time since the Queen strode up to her, Sarahi finally smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Really. I'll do my best."

Carewyn nodded. "You should do what makes you happy."

"Can I also clean up that old house at the corner of the garden? And stay there? Is that okay?"

"You may. An old king once built that house for his Gardener, so that they wouldn't have to walk to the quarters everyday after a long day of work. It's only fair that you use the place as intended. Rest assured, you are free to work on the Garden from now on."

The maid beamed, and instantly bent down to pet the other rabbits.

"Did you hear that, lil buddies? We can stay together all day from now on!"

XXX

Apparently it was absolutely no trouble convincing King Diego that this one random maid would rather take care of the garden. He even proceeded to visit the garden and tell Sarahi how pretty she made the gardens look with only a few weeks of work, praise which Sarahi awkwardly accepted. The old house was a bit untidy after years of being unused, but cleaning was no issue and at this point. And some friends had also helped her set up, and before long, it felt like a home.

Thankfully Sarahi's bunny friends were great at keeping her calm and not letting her anxiety spike.

"I never thought that people outside home would be so nice, Daisy." Sarahi wondered aloud one time. She'd just finished raking the fallen leaves and flowers all morning and was taking a little break basking in the sunlight while the bunnies around her took a nap. Except Daisy, who somehow kept her rapt attention on the maid.

"Especially royalty, you know? The King and Queen were just - 'Oh you like gardening? Sure you can do that!' Just like that. No questions, no fuss, no yelling. Mum always said that people would be much worse outside home."

Sarahi sighed. "My tiny brain forgot who the King and Queen actually were. Diego was that funny guy in the University who was always showy but very nice. Carewyn was that pretty girl from the Spades country. Apparently I was so focused on trying and failing to get passable grades that I forgot about everything else going on in the world."

"They're a perfect fit, I think. They say by nature, the Kingdom of Hearts is filled with the most desirable people on earth and the most worthy of love." Sarahi mumbled, mostly to herself. "I have never felt particularly desirable."

Daisy tilted her head.

"Yeah, I'm not making sense. My random thoughts bounce around a lot when it's quiet."

"Sarahi!" A new voice called.

The mentioned maid giggled, recognising the voice. "And I suppose, a lack of quiet is all I need."

Sarahi got up onto her feet, but Daisy clambered into her basket of flowers before she could pick it up.

"Daisy, come on. Not again… This is why the other bunnies accuse me of favoritism."

"I don't know if she's your favorite, but you certainly are hers." Barnaby chuckled, coming out of the corner.

"Well, I'd have loved to give the Ace of Hearts this pretty white rose I found earlier, but sadly, SOMEONE is sitting on it." Sarahi laughed, giving a pointed look to Daisy, who was completely unaware and just chewing on another piece of lettuce. "I suppose you'll have to amuse yourself with just bunnies today!"

"I would never say no to more bunny time!" Barnaby announced, and immediately, the rest of the bunnies got up and started scampering around his feet.

"Yes, hello Hop, Fuzz and Coco…"

Barnaby proceeded to sit down cross legged on the grass, joined by Sarahi.

"Hey… they're responding to you saying their names now." Sarahi noticed.

"I'm honored. Means they're my friends too, right?" Barnaby asked.

"You're probably better with critters. They warmed up to you a lot faster than they did with me."

"They still prefer to be with you all the time though."

Daisy and Hop both proceeded to wrestle into Sarahi's lap, while Coco and Fuzz were content to go back to sleep on Barnaby's.

"It's only 1PM, you know. Not that I mind, but what are you doing here at this time, Barn? Did you miss the bunnies that much?" Sarahi inquired.

"I always like seeing the bunnies, but I actually wanted to see you." Barnaby answered. The light blush on his face went unnoticed by the maid.

"Huh… What for?"

"Do you want to spend lunch with me today?"

"Lunch? It's only 1PM Barnaby. Lunchtime is at 3PM."

The Ace of Hearts proceeded to give Sarahi the most confused look till date.

"Barnaby?"

"3PM? Why do you think that?" Barnaby asked.

"It's the time my mum sets up for lunch. Seems reasonable."

Sarahi watched as Barnaby tried to process this information.

"Rahi, staff usually eat lunch at one. Did you not eat lunch with the rest of the maids while you were still working with them? Do you not eat lunch with them now?"

"No, I don't. Not that the others don't let me eat with them, but I prefer eating alone most of the time-"

Sarahi paused, resting a hand on her forehead. "I… I have no idea why I prefer that. I don't remember…"

Barnaby seemed concerned. "You alright?"

Sarahi nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just that since I left school, I've realised that there are some things about myself I don't remember. And it feels strange to not know myself."

The rabbits, now bored of their naps, proceeded to hop off their laps and play around. Barnaby stood up and dusted himself off.

"My offer still stands… have lunch with me today?" He asked, holding a hand out to Sarahi.

She smiled and took his hand. "You know what? I think I'd actually like that."

As soon as she got on her feet, Sarahi grabbed a white rose at the bottom of the basket.

"A little mussed up from Daisy sitting on it, but a pretty one regardless. Here, it's for you, Barnaby!"

The Ace accepted the white rose with a grin. "Thanks Sarahi! That's another one in my collection!"

"Hm? Collection? Are you keeping every flower I've given you?"

"Of course! I love when you give me flowers!"

Sarahi turned away, face turning red. "That's… very sweet. You're too kind to me, Barns. I'm going to get cavities from just hanging around with you."

"If we're going to get cavities anyway, could we at least have ice cream?" Barnaby quipped.

Sarahi snickered. "I thought we were going for lunch, not ice cream."

"Can we go for ice cream after lunch then?"

Sarahi stopped in her tracks at the inquiry. Wouldn't that count as… a date?

No, surely Barnaby isn't asking her on a date. Why would he ask her anyway? He's just always liked desserts.

"Sarahi?"

"Oh! Yes, sure! We can have ice cream later."

Barnaby's glee was like a child's, and it was infectious. Sarahi giggled at his excitement, as she latched the gate to the garden behind herself.