#happy reunion tho

[linktheacehero]

My hands hold the dirt of where your bones lay (and my heart rests)

Summary- Zelda goes into the forest after years of waiting for Link’s return, only to find his remains and buries him. 

I apologize for all the pain yall will read. You can read it under the cut or go to Ao3 with the link in the title!

She enters the forest near midnight, only silence and the moon’s light accompanying her. Everything here reminded her of her missing beloved- the scent of the trees, the green grass and foliage that were the same hue of his tunic, the mystery that lingered in the air just like his past. When they met she had no idea of the horrors and trials he had gone through, did not understand how a boy so young could be so reserved and mature. It was only after the nightmares of her other lives entered within her slumber did she truly begin to understand, and yearned for his return.

A laughter broke the queen’s thoughts, she turned to see its origin where she met an impish creature with a lantern dance in a stump. A skull kid, she thought. Though she had never seen one before, she remembered how the books had described these mischievous creatures to be. They were the souls of children who had gotten lost in the forest and became part of the woods, the children of the Lost Woods, and would play pranks on any who entered, especially adults. This one however seemed to hold the same playful nature, but held a knowing look in its glowing eyes. Eyes that were latched into the symbol of the royal family that was etched on her cloak.

"Even in death you didn't let go of me. Holding on to my last gift…." Her voice choked, another sob escaping her before she looked back at him and put the instrument aside. Her hands began to dig into the dirt, not caring if she got muck on her gloves and outfit. "If the earth will not give you a burial then I will do it instead." 

“You have the same symbol as him,” it spoke. “You must be that friend of his, come follow me!” She did so with a thousand questions running through her mind as the Lost Woods child pranced through the trees. It recognized the symbol of the Triforce, it mentioned that he also had it. Was it possible that the him it spoke of was her hero?

You must be that friend of his. Had Link talked about her to the skull kid? So much that it knew who she was to him by just the symbol? So many questions, with only the hope that they would be answered once they reached their destination.

The skull kid then stopped by a grand tree, one of the grandest she had ever seen where its roots were the size and thickness of average trees. “He’s right there,” the skull kid said pointing to the base of the tree, its voice less cheerful than before. The queen turned to look and clasped her hands to her mouth.

What laid by the base was not a man of her age awaiting her with open arms and a smile, but a bone corpse wearing golden armor and a blue ocarina in its hand. Zelda could feel tears flowing down her cheeks, that ocarina it was his. It was the ocarina of time, the very same she had gifted him when they departed so long ago. She fell to her knees, unable to keep her composure any longer and sobbed into the forest floor.

“He told me to guide the one with the same symbol as him here,” the skull kid said, “ that he didn’t want anyone but you to find him like this.” And just as it appeared, the child of the Lost Woods left, leaving the queen of Hyrule alone with the remains of her hero.

She made her way closer to him, her gloved hand tracing the bones as gently as she could for fear they would collapse to her touch. “We’re cursed aren’t we?” she whispered to him. “Cursed to never be happy, cursed to never be together.” A half- hearted chuckle escaped her lips, “for being goddess blessed we’re certainly damned.”

How long had his body laid here, waiting for her. It pained her, pained her to know that if she had only come sooner then perhaps she could have found him alive, injured perhaps, but alive. She could have saved him, and have the life they both had yearned for- but it never would be like that for them would it? They were always too late.

Something cold suddenly touched her hand, jolting her from her thoughts. She looked down to see her fingers had brushed across the ocarina’s polished surface. She picked it up and looked at her murky reflection- dirt and tears decorating her face, her hair disheveled and hid part of her eyes. 

How long did she spend digging into the ground? How much of the night did she spend carefully placing each piece of her beloved hero into the makeshift grave? She did not care. She would be willing to spend days if it meant that he would have a proper burial. Zelda placed the ocarina back into his hands, leaning down to kiss the golden helmet he wore, her lips lingering, before she enveloped his body with soil.

Zelda arose from the forest floor, holding his sword in hand, and impaled the head of the grave with a cry. She kneeled there for a moment, her tears watering his resting place as she uttered a prayer to the Goddesses-

If you even hear me, I ask you to please give him the rest he deserves. Let his soul not wander with regrets but instead find peace and solace. With a heavy heart, the queen placed her hero’s shield with his blade and looked up at the night sky. Countless stars adorned the dark sea, each with a story to tell. Her eyes caught a streak of white flying across the heavens- a shooting star that held her hearts greatest wish.

“When death claims what is theirs, let me come home to him.”

                          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Zelda…” he responded, his eyes welling up. He couldn’t take it any longer, he couldn’t wait any longer. The hero ran, ran straight to his beloved princess’s arms, holding onto her tightly as if he was afraid that she would disappear. But she didn’t, she held onto him just as tight repeating his name as she cried into his shoulder. 

Nearly three centuries had passed since the day he died. His final regrets had been eased with the final teaching to his descendant, allowing the old hero to leave the mortal world and rest in the spirit realm. His corpse appearance faded away, replaced by his old seventeen year old one. It had been so long since he looked this way, longer since he was that age.

“Link…” said a voice from behind. He could feel his non-existent heart pound, his breathless breath hitching as he turned to see the person he yearned for the most in the universe. 

“You’re here, you’re really here.”

“Yes my love, I am.” He pressed his lips to her head, his hand soothing her back. Oh how it pained him to see her so hurt from his absence. It was never his intention to spend so long, to be stuck and unable to move on. But the goddesses seemed to love making him, no them, miserable. Using them as pawns for their game, not caring to see the damage and tolls it brought upon them as long as their bidding was answered. But what more could he expect from deities who held no humanity.

He separated himself from her hold, just enough to face her and truly look at her. Even in death she was beautiful. Her hand found his scarred eye, her thumb wiping away his tears and kissed his injury so tenderly. He melted into her, feeling his spirit tremble with the amount of love he was receiving.

“I’m so sorry for making you wait, my dearest.”

But Zelda merely shook her head, “It is I who should be apologizing.” She let go of him, her arms crossing across her chest as Link looked at her with puzzlement. What ever could she be apologizing for? She had done no wrong.

“I made you wait in that forest for me. You were forced to wait for me to come to you while you were in agony and pain and-”

“Zelda-”

“I- I only accepted your death only after I found your body in the woods.” She held her arms closer, her head hanging low. “I never wanted our departure to be like that, I never wanted our reunion to be like that I-” It was then when she lifted her gaze up to him, her hands trembling as she held them out to him. 

The late queen leaned in to meet her hero’s lips with her own, taking satisfaction at his sudden color change. Yes, they had eternity now, and nothing nor no one would take this chance away from them. “Then let us begin anew, love.”

“I buried you. With my own hands.”

He placed his scar ridden hands on top of hers, holding them and brought them to his chest. “I know,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers, “I was there.”

That day had haunted him. He had sensed her presence and witnessed her cry into the night air as she delicately buried his bones as the golden wolf. He begged to intervene, yearned to walk to her and lay next to her to bring her some sense of solace. But he was denied that request, for his purpose was for duty, and not love. He grew bitter against the goddesses since then, cursing them for all they had gone through.

“It’s the curse of the hero isn’t it? Dying for his princess?”

She merely gave him a sad smile. Link gingerly cupped her cheek, returning her earlier gesture with soft kisses on her cheek. “We’ve spent centuries mourning for the life that was stolen from us, so instead why not create that life now?” He could see the life in her eyes return with his proposal, with the understanding of what he wanted, of what they could now do. “We have an eternity, darling. And I will love you even after we’re forgotten and our souls become a part of the stars.” 

[heynhay]

you're my number one, you're the one i want

[localfanbaselurker]

I watched s5e2 and was shocked to find out how bad you guys (I suppose I am now part of you guys) were robbed of black paladin lance

Look at him leadering all over the place

[hyunjiol2]

homecoming

[itsajollyjester]

I have come to the conclusion that my actual favorite trope is established couple who get forcefully separated and one or both of them have to go through hell to get back to one another

[el-buzz]

📚 Cg! Clay HCS!!! 💚🎶

Aggagaggaggag first hc list I do EVERRR (so please be kind (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) /💗💗)

Cg! Clay x Agere! Reader!!

pretty much gender neutral!!

Cw: caps lock (just me having happy outbursts), um lotsa author notes and commentary I just wanna talk about him and about how he would be as a cg :ccc, also this is incredibly self indulgent

Also there was no proof reading ☠️

(Crossposted on ao3 @Soft_Buzz!! oh and I’ll update this if I get a new hc idea)

Anyways here you go 💚:

•nicknames for you: kiddo, baby, bubba, bubba wubba (he’s squeezing your cheeks and baby talking you 😭😭), prince/princess/ lil highness/royal, and a number of other sweet nicknames or any that you prefer!

•he would be suuuuuch a sweet and doting caregiver waaaaaaah but he would definitely ensue rules for you! Calm and Strict(ish) cg! Clay would pull up to make sure you are safe and healthy even if you are feeling big!!

•he’d hate to see you hurt or sick, but he’d do everything thing in his power to nurse you back to health :]!

•Clay would definitely provide his kiddo with healthy snack or with fruit or veggie cups!

•Although Clay’s sorta strict he can be soooo soft he always want to hold you, whether it’s your hand/pinkie or cuddle up with you.

•You are his battery and he wants to recharge.

* HE WOULD SOOOO READ TO YOUUUU AHHH he loooooves reading so ofc he’d love to share that interest with his little one

• (please it’s the cutest thing ever)

• imagine him beside you with a book open (he has his reading glasses on :3) and as he reads, he gives all the different characters different voices and will always put emotion into his reading voice, which always leads to you giggling or you gasping in surprise.

• One time you insisted that you were big enough for his sad book club and that you wouldn’t become a big puddle of tears so he gave you Charlotte’s Web to read.

• You were a mess. You didn’t stop being sad for the next couple of HOURS (yes this is a reference to that JD fan art ifykyk☠️)

• Clay had to give you so many hugs, cuddles, and kisses to make up for it. He thought it’d be funny, but he sorta forgot how emotional of a little one you can be.

• “I’m so so sorry baby.” *kiss* “How can I make it up to you?? I’ll do anything”

• oh you’d grin a that. You choose to either do dress up WITH make up or draw on his face and mess around with his hair. AND ice cream.

• You took soooo many pictures (and you may or may have not shared them with Viva, Poppy, and his brothers) Clay says he hates you for it, but secretly believes it was so worth it to see that sparkle in your eyes

• he bought you a piggy and a spider (with little bb spiders) stuffie. Even if you have arachnophobia, you hugged those stuffies while crying happy tears. You gave him a tight hug which he softly returned and gave you a forehead kiss.

• (This whole event was also the birth of your happy scrapbook club!! (even though it just you :} ) )

• You and Clay will just sit together while reading different things. Him with some well recognized and praised novel or book and you with a happy lil scrapbook in your hands!

• I’d also like to think he has a puppet character like Bandit does with unicorse! (Maybe a dragon but that just me :])

• (Clay and Branch be matching with their ventriloquism skills lol)

• If you seem to be clumsy or fall often he starts to develop a sort of spider sense for it and will catch you before disaster happens

• OKOK I know this is gonna sound random buuuut I believe Clay is the type to carry lollipops, and sometimes other candy, around. Idk like I can just picture him a with a lollipop in his mouth trying to look all serious/mysterious and nonchalant LOL

• ANYWAYS back to the Agere stuff

• I think that after completing a task or being good, Clay would def give his kiddo a lollipop as a treat!! that orrrrr if his kiddo seems to be regressing in public and they really want/need a paci or just something to fixate on then boom!!! Lollipop! :D

• Talking about rewards

• This man would sooooo spoil you!! you’re his treasure and he wants you to know it!!

• He’ll either get you food you’ve been craving or a stuffed animal/little gear orrrr both!!

• (Because of the two of you, you now have a chest fuuuull of stuffies Woops💧)

• You always try to show your appreciation by giving him small handmade gifts!! A lil pop up card, bead bracelets (you definitely have matching bracelets), even something crocheted/knitted, and pretty much any arts n crafts you can make!

• Now onto funny business ( •̀ - • )!

• so ofc when it first came to having fun and being playful with you he was bit scared

• can you blame him???

• He’d spent A LOT of time trying to get rid/away from the tittle of being the fun boy

• Ofc through lot of reassurance you let him know that he can have fun and play with you and still be a very serious caregiver!

• you help him understand that being funny and silly every once in a while doesn’t hurt and that he should try to find a balance that work for him! Which he eventually does :D!!

• I like to believe that he’d be great at playing pretend and hide and seek!

• “Worry not your highness!! You will protect you from the dragon!” (It’s one of your plushies)

• “Wherever could my kiddo be?? They must have turned invisible!!” (he can hear your giggles which just makes his smile wider)

• Although he really tries to be there for you, he’s a reaaaally busy man :((( but he still tries to spend time with you through parallel play! While he’s doing his grown up paperwork, you get to colooor!! (or draw or scrapbook or anything really) as long you promise to be good and not distract him

• (plus the sooner he’s done the sooner he can give you all his attention! so it’s a win-win situation :D)

• Actually if you were feeling extra lil you’d just get a paper and scribble on it with crayon trying to copy Clay’s mannerisms (when he sees this he’s physically holding himself back from just picking you up, cradling you, and just babying you waaaah you’re gonna be the end of him)

• oh and he would sooo keep your little artworks in his working area (they bring a sweet smile to his face and warm his soul you’re the best kiddo he could have ever asked for)

• You also get to have cuddles while he works! Sometimes he’ll just sit you on his lap with a stuffie or two while he wraps an arm around you and litters your head or face with kisses!

• Now onto not so funny business ૮๑ˊᯅˋ๑ა

• sometimes Clay’ll have a rough or tiring day :((

* and that’s okk caregivers have their moments too!

• He’ll usually want to cuddle with you and hold you close. (You are his stuffie :D)

• He might even tickle you or blow raspberries on your tummy (if you give him permission ofc!!) which often leaves you with a giggling and squirming fit.

• He just loves seeing you laugh and smile (especially if it’s him who made you happy :] you just brighten his day so much sometimes)

• One time he was just so tired and just laying down on the couch and then you brought one stuffie to him and then two till you pretty much had him buried under almost all of your stuffies!!

* You then proceeded to lay on top of him, and Clay just sticks both arms out from under the pile while smiling softly with his eyes closed.

• Let’s just say you guys woke up with stuffed animals scattered eeeeeverywhere

• If you’re a kiddo/baby who tends to get overwhelmed easily, he’ll get you some noise canceling/dampening headphones and just wraps you in a soft blanket like a little burrito.

• He’ll also either get you an eye mask or will lower the lights if he can. (And if you’re feeling lil enough then a paci too!!)

• After doing any of this, he’ll just bring you onto his lap and whisper sweet lil nothings to you till you feel better or seem to fall asleep :D!

• would enforce a bed time >:( (he is a very very veeeery serious guy after all)

• but luckily bedtime means a bottle or sippy of sweet sleepy tea and a storyyyy :D!!

• Forehead kisses!! (CALL ME BIASED CAUSE I LOOOOOVE FOREHEAD KISSES but I stand by what I say.

• Oh and if he’s ever gonna to be very busy for the day and he won’t be able to take care of his kiddo, he’d ask Viva to help him take care of you!!

• Plus who doesn’t love babysitter Viva??? She’s so energetic and fun with you, but she’ll definitely tone it down for you 💛

• she’s also super strong so she’ll definitely carry you or give you a piggy back ride if you ask :>!

• She also give you lots of candies and sugary foods but shhhhh don’t tell Clay itsa secret (but I think the sugar rush/crash you have when he picks you up from Viva’s tells him more than enough

• (I feel like he would trust all his brothers with you (especially Bruce) except JD 😭😭)

• He would sooooo grab your cheeks and squeeze them like he did to Branch when first seeing him again

• Expect him to do that whenever he just wants to dote on you and baby you even if you’re feeling bigger than usual he just loves youuuu! 💚💚💚

In summary: I need this man bc he is the bestest boyfriend and caregiver ever!!

Final notes!:

I love likes but comments and reposts are greatly appreciate (I love to talk if you can’t tell) type something out and let me know what you think 💗💗

If anybody would like to use any of the hcs/scenarios for a fanfic tots fine with me just don’t forget to tag me for credit and so I can see it :DD!!

[satans-knitwear]

the gals have arrived! gonna go paint some pottery. 😎🎉

buy us a drink! pypl cshpp

[bassymphonies]

Thinking about how the egg event would punish those who couldn't keep their egg alive

Seeing the teaser from quackity studios, with "time's up" and what looks like tilín and juanaflippa?

Slightly terrified that this could be something sinister awaiting

[ghost-bard]

cant wait for the solevellan reunion in veilguard knowing aila (my poor sad oc) will try to kill him on sight

[orion4ever]

Hi, hope you're having a nice day!

What do you think would happen if somehow Baxter was the wedding planner for Qiu (if they ever got married to ol2 MC or someone else)

In my opinion, it depends really!

If this version of Baxter made amends with OLBA MC either by being their wedding planner(platonically) or getting back together with them (romantically) then I think he’d be a little awkward but would-

He tries his best to open up a little and focus on helping Qiu and their spouse’s wedding.

He would also use some of the consulting time to catch up a little, like asking questions about what Qiu did for work or if they still enjoyed hot chocolate, etc.

Baxter would still feel like he doesn’t really deserve Qiu’s company after ghosting the entire town without a word but Qiu is kind and misses their old friend!

If Baxter either never made amends with olba mc or if they never met then I believe he would act similarly to how he did in his DLC.

Amiable but closed off, only focusing on the wedding and trying not to ‘invade’ back into Qiu’s life after how he left everyone.

I mean, why would Qiu want to keep Baxter around, he doesn’t have anything cool to show or offer; he doesn’t have a big cool house anymore.

Qiu, of course, wouldn’t let Baxter get away so quickly and they’d have a heart-to-heart in which the two of them would promise to catch up at a later date.

Baxter would be extremely happy for Qiu and their spouse and be a little teasing if it was OLNF MC.

“I knew you two would get together, It was quite obvious 🤭”

“You two are adorable together, peek romantic society”

In general: Baxter is pretty nice throughout the planning stage, no matter what ends with him and Qiu making up and bringing the “boy’s” club(or “boys’” club) back together.

[anonymousbathtub]

Some character designs I created for my uni course last year as part of a “trope smashing” brief! I really enjoyed how these guys turned out - I see them as a private investigative pair in a fantasy victorian-esque setting, with perhaps some sci-fi elements. And yes, they’re husbands.

(silly doodle under cut)

[whoviandoodler]

[Image description: a digital drawing of Thomas and Varian from Transatlantic from the waist up. They're touching foreheads with closed eyes and blushing. Thomas has wound a blue scarf around their necks with one hand and has the other in Varian's hair. Both men are wearing coats. The background is purple with pink flowers. End description.]

I am here to atone (drawing snuggles) for my past sins (posting sad fanart)

[possum-tooth]

so if i type in "saw 3" why are NONE of the saw movies remotely near the top.

[void-critters]

" All is fair in love and war, but I can’t fight with you anymore This will be the death of me... Are we allies or enemies? "

Sometimes our reunions aren't as pleasant as we would wish them to be...

Fantasy February by @morrigan-sims! Prompt: Blade ⚔

[vox-phantom]

brennan revealing that if cumulous had died in the sugar-plum fairy battle he would've brought back lapin has absolutely ruined me i wish he never said it. now i'm even more mad that lapin died so early

[meatriarchived]

❛ I’m scared. That’s all I am. ❜ | @fcused

back rested firm against wall. there was almost a lightheadedness buzzing about her mind, and the stability of structure behind her helped ground her. twenty years. nearly, two full decades since she'd last seen the faces all gathered in the same room at last. since she's seen nor spoken to a single one of them, save for ana, once in a blue moon ( to keep her from worrying and gathering them all up like she had so long ago. )

maria's eyes crossed the room slowly, taking in each and every one of them.

of leland, after he had been the one to find and reach out to her - when he had shown up in front of her secluded home, in the middle of a rain shower at the start of the week. like a lost dog, soaked down to bone, large round eyes gazing sadly back at her - at the state she was in, miserable ( they both had realized how alike they were, how broken they became. )

of her sister, who had grown so much since they last saw one another. firm in her beliefs, firm in her dislike of the reason they all finally crossed state lines to meet once again. older, wiser, somehow far better off than maria could ever imagine. she had done so well for herself ( she did well without you, whispers harsh spat in the back of her mind. ) and maria's eyes lingering on her and sonny for a moment as they quietly spoke amongst themselves.

of sonny, eyes still friendly and features still kind, just as he'd been all that time ago. he stood taller, shoulders firm and confidence swelling him up. he worked hard for his degrees, graduating top of his class, went off to be successful. he truly deserved it, for all that hard work, the sleepless nights he'd spent. she was proud of him, for continuing where some of them simply could not.

eyes passing to julie and danny, standing side by side. danny brows were furrowed, and his voice lowered as he and leland spoke - quiet but harsh, of disbelief and anger flickering his features. he was most vocal about this entire thing. he still is. ( he's angry that this is even a thought, that any of us even consider going back to that house, back to where everything soured and spoiled in their lives - how their friendships with each other suffered for it, how they all went separate ways after she had quietly left in the night. ) the two of them, feet planted firm, voices hushed yet tumbling fast over one another as they argued amongst themselves, with julie - sweet as she was - trying to ease them both, settle them down.

and then, maria's eyes turn to connie - and pairs of hazel and green meet and lock together.

she'd been rather quiet, save for voicing her own dislike of the idea. hesitant to agree at all, but crumbling when she'd realized the rest of them were willing to join if they all were. she hates the idea - and maria does not blame her in the slightest.

when leland had laid out all the cards, of going back, maria was as dumbstruck as danny was. ( the thought itself was never foreign to her - she'd considered doing the same for years, now. )

the words had been stripped from her mouth because it was leland saying it.

she hadn't expected it to fall past his lips.

if anything, she could believe it were to from from danny. but not leland.

maria glances to the others, busy amongst themselves, not paying mind to the pair of them quietly off to themselves, and turns back to connie, motioning with her head for them to go someplace quieter, before moving away from the wall, and slipping out of view with her.

out to the back porch of the flores' home, into the cool night air. ( it felt less suffocating than inside, where tensions were still high. )

maria waited, quietly watching connie follow her out, closing door shut behind them both. lips part to speak, yet nothing spills out at first. and maria bites down on inside of cheek, finding herself unsure of what to say, and for a few moments they stand out there in silence.

maybe it was just the quiet peace they needed, after everything being said and decided on inside.

she breathes in deep - once, twice, a few more times than she cares to admit - before exhaling in a puff, and she turns to her, and asks if she's okay, truly, with what they plan to do - to go back to that damned house.

and green eyes meet hers once again, and response is simple, quiet, and heavy in the air.

" i'm scared. that's all i am. "

maria watches her for a moment, allowing her words to sink in. where leland and herself harbored their...anger over the years, their hate at what had been done to all of them - it was only fair how the others likely still felt fear at the thought of reliving everything they had gone through ( it was so long ago - and yet it still haunted each of them ).

head nods, faintly, after the silence, and she draws in breath between teeth and lets it out slow again. bitter smile playing at the corners of her lips as voice drops to a whisper,

" i'm scared too. admittedly, i'm terrified. "

all her memories of those weeks spent there - the few with johnny, the others with nancy, and then the last days strung up and locked away in the sprawling tunnels, exhausted, hallucinations still plaguing her vision - they still came to her, in dreams, in the corners of her room. in the rise of heartrate, the coiling of gut.

every morning and every evening when she lifts shirt off, and she sees that scrawled J still so pronounced, still so ugly, carved permanently into her skin...

the thought of seeing frenzied eyes and toothy grin - widened and wild - once again sent cold chills down her spine and bile to her throat.

the thought of seeing the older woman - of seeing nancy once again, however...

maria squeezes eyes shut, pushing back thoughts that make her stomach churn worse; feeling herself tensed at the itch in her fingertips - that if she could only get close enough to the HAG to close hands around throat-

another squeeze of eyelids, another shove of thoughts to back of mind, and maria's eyes open slowly, and look back at connie, sadness and understanding in them.

she doesn't want any of this. and i don't want it for her. she doesn't deserve this.

" you don't...you know you don't have to come, connie. "

faint smile crosses face, brows pinched together, as she continues, " you don't need to, if you truly don't want to. it may be the smartest thing to do, honestly. regardless of what may happen. " her shoulders lift in a shrug, " who knows? maybe by the time we get there, we'll have realized every single one of those fuckers are long dead already. maybe that's for the best, that they are. or that they aren't even there anymore, and its' just an empty shell of a house now. "

smile falters a bit. she knows that each of them would never allow any of them to go back - not alone, not without the rest of them.

" i'm angry. i'm- i'm so fucking angry, and, i'm hateful of these people, what they did to us, what they did to me... " she can feel the sting of tears in her eyes, and she swallows hard, " but that- that's not any of yours or the others' responsibility or obligation, to come along, when you don't want to - when its probably better that you don't. "

and maria realizes, how cruel it all is. in connie's position, in any of the others', to feel like they must, for their friends, return back to that hell they had barely managed to escape twenty years ago. and cruel as well, to tell her she can simply wait behind - for what? news of their disappearances, like what had happened with them when she had been taken?

how fucking cruel.

jaw clenches tightly, tooth grinding against tooth, as she stomachs the guilt bubbling in her.

HOW FUCKING DARE YOU PUT THEM ALL THROUGH THIS AGAIN?

she whispers apologies into the night air.

to connie. to her sister, to sonny, to danny and julie. to leland.

she regrets coming back. she regrets not having made the choice on her own to return to the house - to see for herself if it laid full or abandoned yet.

she regrets not taking scarred and diseased rabbit out back and putting it down before any of this came to fruition.

" i'm sorry connie. for- for everything. for all of this. "