(no subject)

[smallestopener]

Ingress went to Megwyn first as her Companion could soothe her in ways no one in her family could. But even Megwyn could not give her what she really wanted.

She wanted her mother.

Just as Tom was not really her father, but did the daddy jobs, Door was not really her mother either. However Door did an excellent job at the mother jobs.

She doesn't wait to chime the painting to Door's study. She throws herself through the painting and flies across the room into her big sister's lap. Once her arms are around Door's neck, the tears begin.

"It's not fair..."

Comments

[iopenthings]

Door is silent for a while as she rubs Ingress's back and tucks her hair back from her tear-streaked cheeks.

"I'm afraid I can't promise you that," she finally says, sadly and quietly. "Tom and I never want to leave you, not ever, but I don't want to make you a promise I can't keep. We're going to try so, so hard to make sure we're always here for you, but sometimes bad things do happen."

[smallestopener]

Ingress thinks about this for several minutes as she listens to Door's steady heartbeat. Years from now she'll look back on this moment as the first time she understood that sometimes, people had to leave you. There was no other choice in the matter, and it hurt.

"Okay."

Another few moments go by.

"Can we have a tea party? With fancy biscuits
and dress up clothes?"

[iopenthings]

Door is crying, silently, tears dripping into Ingress's hair, but at this she smiles, and when she replies, her voice is as steady as she can make it.

"Of course we can. Would you like to invite anyone? Tonks and Sunny, maybe? We could try to convince Tom and Gavroche and Bernard to wear fancy hats and gloves."

[smallestopener]

She giggles, but it's a sleepy giggle.

"Yeah, let's have everybody come and Bernard and Tom have to wear big hats. With ribbons on them."

She doesn't move from Door's arms. Maybe that tea party will have to wait till after a nap.

[young_tmriddle]

And speaking of Tom, he steps into the room, a worried expression on his face.

He is by Door's side at once, dropping a kiss on her head, as he reaches down to smoothe Ingress's hair.

"Everything alright? She took the news harder than I thought she would."

[iopenthings]

Door blinks her last few tears away before looking up at him.

"She'll be alright, I think. Sleepy, now, though."

She carefully lifts Ingress and carries her to the painting that leads to her bedroom. Just before leaving, she looks back over her shoulder.

"You should start looking for a hat. A big one, with lots of lace and ribbons."

In Ingress's room, she tucks her little sister carefully into bed - and then, after a moment, climbs in beside her. She may have to leave Ingress someday - but not today.