Hope Falls

“I knew I would never be good enough… not now. Not as broken as I am… I knew.”

---

“You do not sound pathetic. I bet even your own father would admit he wants his own mother sometimes. You’re allowed to miss her. She was sent away and you’ve heard nothing from her since… I don’t think you whiny.”

"You're not broken. It's going to be okay, my heart." Karina fussed, kissing his temple before guiding his head in once again so she could rest her chin on top of it. "You're more than enough. You're doing so well, aren't you? Be kind to yourself."

---

"She didn't even say bye," Cassius tucked in his sob. "Th- they didn't even let her say goodbye. We just went to b- Ed and that was it. Th- that was it."

(( Night night ))

“I’m not doing well, it’s not good enough.” Lucian cracked, choking back another sob.

---

“I know… I hope when you see her again you get to greet her and never let her go.” Ira brushed his thumb across his back. “I hope everyone allows you time to disappear with her.”

"It is enough, it is more than enough." Karina assured, tightening an arm around him and tracing light brush strokes against the back of his neck. "All you have been through and you are still trying. It's working too, mm? Look at what you done this morning... you should be proud of yourself, I am proud of you."

---

Cassius grew silent then, burying his face against his shoulder.

“You may doubt your father, but your mother loves you more than anything. You and your sister.” Ira assured as he held him close. “Your mother will be home soon, and it may take a while to fix her up again, but you can do it.”

---

“I am done with it… apparently I do not want it enough…”

"They are goading you, trying to make you angry so you prove them wrong. They don't understand how far you've come already. Take a break for the day, try again tomorrow."

---

"What if - what if we can't? If she's gone forever... broken. Like Lucian is."

“Lucian is clawing himself back. It’s taken time but he’s working on it. Your mother can too.”

---

“No… I am done. Give the healer the money and send her on her way. This endeavour is over.”

"Not today, we aren't sending her back today. You need to rest first, you're exhausted." Karina whispered, encouraging softly, "I've got you, hold onto me too."

---

"Most of our lives for him to even start to try. I don't know how you have coped with being around that deep of a darkness for so long."

“He lost his wings, then his legs. Half a man. I felt sorry for him. Knowing he was suffering. Would you give up on your mother because it was going to take years for her to recover?”

---

“I need someone to listen to me for once, please send her away. All of them. I want them all gone. I cannot take anymore from any of them.”

"I'm listening. I'll send them home, they can pack their bags today and be gone by tomorrow morning," She brushed her nose against the side of his head, closing her eyes.

---

"Not out of choice, but I - I don't know if I'll be strong enough to help her."

“You will be. And it won’t be something you do alone.”

---

“Thank you… thank you.”

"Now lift those arms, hold onto me." She encouraged once more. "Everything is going to be okay,"

---

Cassius shook his head. "Aesira won't be able to handle it either. Your mother is too busy with Lucian, my dad with his new child."

“Maybe you need to have more faith in people Cass.”

---

Lucian was silent, doing as told.

"I love you, Lucian Zaretsky." Karina affirmed, tangling her fingers in his hair to keep him near. "You are one of the three best things in my life. You're enough, and your so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."

---

"I can't.. not with this. Not things concerning her. Everyone loves your mother, your father was admired. It's... you are not hated for who you were born to in the same way I am."

“I think people’s opinion of you changes each day, grows better. I think you could at least hope that things will be well when your mother returns. Or else why even bother at all? Why bother with anything?”

---

“I’m exhausted…” Lucian murmured after a few minutes, “Tired…”

"I know," Karina whispered softly. "I know it's more deeply then sleeping can help too but, would you like to try to sleep?"

“Sleep, yes. Are you coming?”

"I am, mm."

“Then let’s go…”

Karina nodded, pressing lips to his temple as she peeled herself away. Walking ahead to pull the door open for him, stopping mid-motion when her other hand brushed against some bandages, eyes clouding over as her body tensed.

“What is it?”

"Fighting, everyone with - wolves." Karina breathed, staring blindly in front of her as her fingers clenched. "You, wa- alking to the thr- throne, t-to Cassius."

“You mean Conan?”

"Casius on the throne, you walking. You striding." Kaina rambled, then went silent for several moments before her shoulders slumped, swaying briefly as she regained her focus. Blinking eyes until they were clear.

“You’ve been mistaken with visions before.” Lucian dismissed as he wheeled himself into their bedroom.