The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.

Carson McCullers

I really am an idiot.

It's very, very cold and I forgot the one thing I always bring. Our hoodie. And now I'm shivering. My phone buzzes with a text from Raf, telling me that he and Jan will be waiting outside. I send him a dancing penguin emoji to let him know it's fine.

Taking a deep breath, I wander further into the area, hoping that I can find who I'm looking for without any trouble. It's kind of scary- considering that it's almost midnight. My mind races with different possibilities. What am I even going to say? Am I gonna freak out last minute? I can't. Not when he's involved.

My cold arms wrap around my form as I make my way through some long grass. This place is probably beautiful during the day. Only he would do so much. Apologising to one of the flowers I step on, a deep sigh of relief escapes me as I reach my destination safely.

"Hi, Emily !"

My voice comes out as a whisper since I don't want to disturb anyone. Well, it's not like they can be dist- never mind. Some dust wisps away with the prominent breeze, a beautifully carved gravestone appearing.

Iɴ Lᴏᴠɪɴɢ Mᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴏғ

ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ

ᴡᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪs ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ.

Bᴇʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ Mᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, Dᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ Wɪғᴇ.

A hoard of feelings rush through me, my throat clogging up. Taking a deep breath, I let out whatever I mentally rehearsed in the car.

"I know we've never met, but I miss you. I'm sorry we had to meet like this," I say awkwardly, my eyes wandering around the area. There are lush, fresh and budding flowers placed all around the gravestone. It's secluded by the rest of the graveyard, being the one that looks the most lively. Beautiful red roses are placed on the flowerbed that rests in front of my crossed legs. The flowers look like they've been placed just this morning.

He has the biggest heart.

"I, I just don't know what to do." My fingers pick at some old leaves. "I don't know what to do except ask you." Don't you dare breakdown in front of your man's mother, Maya. I suck in the potential tears, shaking my head to get rid of any weakening thoughts.

"Ask you to forgive him." A sniffle escapes me.

"You raised an amazing man. I'm so, so grateful that he has a mother like you. He's perfect. Dalaric- he's my everything. And he's hurting. He broke the promise he made you, the one about your other son. And it was because of me. You probably know this- wandering souls and all that." I mumble, am I being insensitive? Great first impression. Maya.

"I, just- I don't know what to do and it scares me. All I do know is that I need you to forgive him, please. Please. Please don't let him hurt. Please. I love him so much." My lips tremble as I speak, the eerie silence making me feel even more alone without him by my side.

Seeing him like that showed me how strong he really is. How strong he tries to be for other people too, myself included. That's just the type of person he is- perfect.

I feel a wetness on my cheek and sigh, using a hand to wipe it away. Only it isn't a tear that disappointedly made it's way out, it's a raindrop. The sky cries further and more drops land on my face, my hands futile in wiping them away.

I smile.

Placing one of the roses closer to her, I whisper. "Thank yo-"

"Mayella ?" A deep, growl-like sound echoes among the perpetual falling of rain. Dalaric?

My attempt at getting up from the ground is deemed unnecessary when I'm picked up from under my arms, an embarrassing yelp sounding out. I hope she ignores how embarrassing I am.

"What the-" His looks back and forth between the gravestone and my drenched form, before realization dawns in on his softened eyes.

"You...you-" Dalaric runs a hand down his face, clenching his eyes shut.

"I know I should've asked first. And I also know I'm not the best dressed right now, but I hope she doesn't mind. It's the inside that matters, righ-"

Dalaric grabs both of my hands and grips them tightly, "Come." He leads us towards the grave before pulling me to his side. He gives me a kiss on the crown of my head before his lips lift in adoration.

"Hey ma'," Dalaric speaks as he lays some of the roses that had separated due to the breeze. "Here she is. You happy now? She's it for me." He whispers the last part, leaning his cold forehead against mine. I turn my head with a sheepish smile, "I'm Mayella. I should've mentioned that sooner but yeah.. my name's Mayella..um-" I look at Dalaric for help, anything to stop my shameful rambling. He only shakes his head before laying a gentle hand on the marble stone, "We'll see you later, ma. Promise." He pulls me away as I wave goodbye, his eyes turning from soft to accusing.

We reach the gate and I gasp when I realize how drenched both of us really are. Dalaric pulls me into his black coat, wrapping me like a burrito with my face mushed into his chest. I hear some cursing under his breath as he picks me up, half of my form hidden under his coat. It's so warm in here.

I'm placed on a hot car seat and I sigh in pleasure, before squealing as I'm pulled towards a very scary- not really- Dalaric by the nape of my neck.

"You fucking crazy? Going out like that-" We both look at my excuse of a winter outfit. "- in the fucking rain?" I try to keep my mind focused but it's impossible to do so when his open hair glimmers in sheen, his eyes standing out with his pink lips. So scrumptious. I give him a peck. huddling further into his coat.

"Crazy for you," I mumble, with no shame whatsoever. "I have a good immune system, anyways. Besides, this was more important..."

"What'd I tell you, Mayella ?" He raises a brow challengingly, referring to what he said about me hurting myself for him. It's just the rain. He's so dramatic. I turn my face away from him, choosing to look out the car window instead. Maybe raindrop one can win the race this time...

"And I told you this was important, Dalaric." I mumble, not letting him win this. He needs to understand that I'll pick him over slight discomfort when it comes to it. He deserves to be chosen. Stubborn penguin. Hmph.

I hear a deep, almost exaggerated sigh before both my hands are grabbed and given an elongated kiss.

He doesn't say anything in response, keeping one of my hands on his shaking knee until we near the house. Raf and Jan went home as soon as an angry Dalaric appeared. I probably should've left a note before I left but it was hard enough to get him to unwrap his arms from around me.

Dalaric doesn't say much after that, and I know he needs some time to think. So I just hold his hand for now. Once we reach, he picks me up again and walks us to the bedroom.

"Ow," I mumble when he throws a towel on my face. He grabs a turtle neck and pushes me into the toilet, turning on the shower. Yay, sprinklers.

"If you get sick, you're getting punished. Got that ?"

"W-Wha- How is that my fault ?!" I am so flabbergasted. His stern look doesn't waver as he takes off my shirt, putting it in the laundry basket. I only humph and cross my arms until he leaves the washroom. Why is he acting so moody? God, men and their emotions.

My shower is very brief so I spend more time moisturizing my shaved legs. My body feels warmer than usual but it's probably because of the thick turtleneck he threw on my face. After using a little hair serum, I exit the washroom, giggling when Kipp tries to eat my hair. He's always liked strawberries.

"Babycakes ?" I call out before I enter the kitchen, finding him at the stove, also freshly showered. He's boiling some type of tea and doesn't move when I try and look at it from under his arm.

After turning off the stove, he pours the unidentified tea into our penguin mugs and walks towards the sofa, completely ignoring me. My shoulders slouch automatically. Does he still need more-

"Come here." Playing with the long sleeves, I walk forward while avoiding any eye contact. What if he does need more space? Dalaric sits on the couch and pulls me towards him when I walk slower than necessary.

He lays his forehead on my tummy and wraps his arms around my waist.

"I love you and I'm so fucking sorry."

"What? Why're you sorry ?" My brows furrow in confusion as I run my fingers through his open hair, making sure there aren't any tangles. Sometimes he forgets the conditioner, even though it's really important for his curls. Lazy man.

"I didn't need any space, Mayella. I'm so fucking stupi-"

"Don't you dare. You're not any of that. You," I pull him away from his resting position on my stomach and grab a blanket, wrapping it around him.

"You just need to let me take care of you. That's all, babycakes." Pushing him back on the sofa, I plop myself in between his legs and let him wrap the blanket around both of us, using his warm legs as a heater for my bare ones. This is so comfortable. I sneakily take out the basket of self-care goodies I bought a few days back, grabbing both of his bruised hands.

"What the-"

"Shush."I can feel the glare on the back of my head but I ignore it, pulling the blanket tighter around us as I tear open one of the hand-mask packets. The lady at the store said this was great for healing. I remember standing there, absolutely baffled at the fact that there are masks for hands. They're even shaped like gloves!

Dalaric tears it open for me when I struggle for more than a minute. Not my fault I was doing it the other way around.

"Hands, please." He very reluctantly hands-see what I did there- them to me before I put on the moisturizing gloves and massage his fingers. It's strawberry scented and has rejuvenating properties. Once that's done, I turn in his hold and try to muffle an 'aw' at how adorable the pink gloves with polka dots look on his very, very manly hands. They didn't have any penguin print ones.

"Okie...close your eyes, please." He does so, only after I give him two forehead kissies. I take out the gel eye-patches I got, applying them to his slightly puffy under-eyes. "There. All done." He sends me a weird look for a minute or two and tries to touch the eye-patches but I slap his hand away. I also scratch the tip of his nose when it twitches, since his hands are busy.

He deserves to be taken care of.

Dalaric uses his gloved hands to caress my face, pulling it closer to his. How can one look so darn good with pink eye-patches and hand masks?

"Thank you." I shake my head, he doesn't need to thank me for anything.

"Thank you, God. Thank you for her." He looks up at the ceiling this time, taking a deep breath in before laying his lips on mine. The kiss tells me how he really feels and it gives me relief. He's happy.

"I hope you know that I would never leave you, babycakes. No matter how bad you think the situation is. I can't really leave behind what's mine, y'get my drift? You do know that you're mine, right ?" I raise a brow, straddling him. He only sends me a small smirk with amusement bundling up in his eyes.

"Mine to touch." I take off the eye-patches, using my fingers to massage the remnants in before doing the same to his hands. My other fingers caressing his-my face. Mine. All of him.

"Mine to kiss." My lips attack his, slightly biting and nibbling on them. Dalaric lays both hands on hips and pushes further into the kiss but I pull back, moving to his neck.

"Mine to mark." My eyes glitter at the open space, both hands coming around his neck to hold him in place as I do my Maya-marking. My fingers instinctively fiddle with his necklace that has my initials.

"Mine to love." I nuzzle my nose against his when I'm done branding him, whispering countless of 'I love you's into his ear. We kiss again, which ends up in me panting before I remember something very important.

"Oh, and mine to fuc-"

"Ow," I rub my forehead, where he flicked me. So rude, I was only stating the truth. Dalaric shakes his head at me, turning me around so I'm cocooned between his warm form and the blanket. Dalaric brings the cup of warm tea to my lips and gives me a few sips, his hands constantly checking my forehead.

"I'm meeting Dan tomorrow."He murmurs, wrapping us tighter in the blanket after I switch to a nature channel.

"But you're not getting charged, right ?" Turns out Dan, who's kind of like an uncle to Dalaric, is also his lawyer alongside being his supervisor. He lives in an isolated trailer in Canada. The man suffered from severe OCD after college and found it very difficult to adjust to a work setting. He's a great asset to the government so they gave him a choice to work from where ever he wants. He picked a trailer in the middle of nowhere. Dan also founded a non-profit charity to help children in low-income countries get treatment for OCD of all types. I think that's amazing. I might make him a carrot cake to thank him for his work.

"My contracts ending, baby." He says, and I can sense the slight happiness. I gasp, sending him an excited grin.

"Oh my, really? No fricking way. Then you can open a restaurant and throw out all the guns which are kind of scar-"

"There's no guarantee that they'll let me go, Mayella. Not after the shit I pulled." My shoulders slouch in disappointment. He got me all excited about what.

Landon's going to jail and they're having a court hearing, which we both have to attend. I don't want to think about it and Dalaric understands, so we've silently decided not to bring it up until the day comes. He's already taken so much from us.

"But there's hope, right? Maybe after the hearing, they'll change their minds. Would puppy-dog eyes work? Do you know how to do it? I can teach you. That would guarantee a win." Dalaric smiles, very genuinely, as I continue rambling and I sigh in awe. I love it when he smiles, he's so beautiful.

"Your smile is so beautiful."

Dalaric kisses me all over my face in response, stuffing his face into the crook of my neck.

"I got a call yesterday," He hums, running his fingers through my slightly wet hair. "They said she doesn't want to see me." I take another sip from the cup before he sets it down on the table.

"Maybe that's for the best. It's good if I see her when she gets better. So I should wait." I nod to myself, realizing how hard it is to accept something that hurts you. She hurt me, and I don't think I can ever accept it.

"Agreed." Dalaric says, changing the channel to one without any koalas. It's so comforting having someone to listen to you without passing any judgement. Even a day without him felt so lonely.

My phone buzzes with an email notification and I turn it on to check. I look back at him with uncertainty, knowing that I should've told him before, but there was just so much going on.

"Um- Mr Gnawshire said I have to apply to more universities. This ones a bit far away- like six hours far away. It's just in case, y'know like-"

"Mayella."

"But you have a fast car- and Fatima has a Ferrari so we can borrow that to-"

"I don't care." Oh.

"I go wherever you go. If you get accepted, that's cause you deserve it, understood, smartass ?"

I stupidly blush at the compliment, hiding my face in the blanket. He doesn't have to be so forward. But you're glad he is, huh?

"Okay." Dalaric kisses my head before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I hungrily look at his bare bicep and take my chance. This is my time to shine.

"You goddamn canni-stop that." He detaches my mouth from his skin and I try not to smile at the bite mark. He's delicious.

We spend an hour watching TV and FaceTiming Jan, Raf and Fatima. They all tell us how happy they are that we're happy. Alejandro and T invite us to a gathering at Benny's in a few days.

"Do you realize it's three in the morning ?" Dalaric shrugs at my comment, continuing to kiss down my neck. I've only now realized that we wake up abnormally early. We do take a lot of naps, though.

"I think we should sleep." He almost groans at my suggestion, picking up the blanket as I leave to wash the cups. I furrow my brows when my body starts to heat up even more. Definitely the turtle neck.

I'm dragged by a grumpy Dalaric to the room. He freshens up in the washroom and I choose a large band Tee to wear instead. That'll cool me down. I also decide to go bra-free. Risky, but c'est la pea. Or was it wee? I'm not quite sure.

Once he's out, I rush in but Dalaric wraps an arm around my waist, moving his hand towards my forehead. I run away before he can check, and before I can get punished. Strong immune system? Really, Maya? You get a sore throat after you have a glass of coke.

I do my business and come out of the washroom warily, tiptoeing my way under the covers. Yawning, I scroll through my messages and send Fatima a good night gif of a grizzly bear waving goodbye. I do the same to all my other friends. I make a mental note to get Vera's number soon. Alejandro and T never reply although they are pretty active with their pictures at clubs. Hmph.

Pulling my penguins closer, I set my phone aside and prepare for a good nights sleep, completely ignorant of the fact that I will not be able to sleep without a certain someone. Still wary, I place Mr Jones Sr. on my right side and Mr Jones Jr. on my left. I'm safe now. Liar. Wrong penguin.

All of a sudden, the larger Mr Jones is thrown off the bed and a very sceptic Dalaric comes into view. I didn't even hear him get on the bed.

"H-How did you- Did you throw him down !? is he-"

"On your back, now." He says sternly, his face as attractive as ever with his hair in a bun. No fair. I pout, following his orders. He's not going to give up anytime soon. My hands awkwardly lay by my sides as I stare at the ceiling above, refusing to make eye contact with him.

He's really going to punish me. It's not like I knew it was going to rain.

Dalaric hovers over me, both his hands keeping him from squishing me like a plushie. He takes one hand and lifts my shirt to just below my chest before moving backwards, aligning his face with my tummy. I see a small smirk when I use both my hands to cover my face.

Kiss.

He kisses all around it and I have to hold back a weird noise, some form of heat starting to accumulate within the deepest pits of my being. He moves upwards, around my waist, some on my hips and towards the valley of my-

"I'm not wearing one." I squeal, clenching my eyes shut. He stops, not bothering to pull the shirt back down. I pull the sheets farther up so he doesn't get a glimpse of my red polka dot panties. Who knows what this man will do then.