For Better or For Worse

"For Better or For Worse" is a oneshot series written on April 26, 2017. It takes place after the threads Need a Friend and Sunday Afternoon with Aunt Grey.
== Summary ==
== Full Text ==
=== Part 1 ===
Dear Brandt, 
I haven’t heard from you since I sent the letter, but since you are not looking for me, I’m going to assume that you got my letters. I just wanted to let you know that I’m finally coming home tomorrow. I should be back by nightfall. I can’t wait to see you and our kids! I really missed you guys, but I also know that you may not be the happiest with me for leaving the way I did to visit Seasick. And…I don’t blame you if that’s the case. Sweetheart, please know that it was not against you or our children. I love you all very much, and I promise that I will explain everything when I come home. I miss you so much and can’t wait to see you!
Love, Grey
Brandt sighed as he read his wife’s neat handwriting on the parchment. His first thought was to crumble it up and throw it away, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He understood why Grey left and stayed with Seasick for two weeks, but the way she left him and their kids…without saying goodbye. He remembered how shocked he, Greg, Warren, Asha, Ander, and Ingrid all were when they realized that Grey was gone. It didn’t sound like something she would do, especially after the tragedy they experienced with her miscarriage. At least when her father died, she only went up to her room, or so Ingrid and the former members of the Boomerang Squad said, but now…she abandoned the island…her people…her family…her husband..her kids. How could that be justified?
Brandt’s thoughts were interrupted when a few pairs of feet came running down the stairs. The Chief’s husband looked up and saw their three children coming down the stairs. 
“Morning, Daddy!” Kari said as she ran over to her father with two older siblings behind her. 
As soon as he heard Kari’s little voice, he quickly hid the letter in his vest deciding not to inform the kids on their mother supposedly coming home tonight…at least not yet. “Oh, uh, good morning, kids,” he said hoping to sound as casual as possible. 
“Is Mommy home?” Kari asked hopefully looking for any signs that their mother had finally arrived home after being gone for so long. 
The Chief’s husband stared at the youngest Felman daughter trying to think of an answer. He had the letter in his vest and could easily tell their children the good news…that their mother was coming home tomorrow. They would finally get to see their mother after she was gone for two whole weeks, but then again, what if Grey didn’t come home when she said she would? Well…perhaps, he could tell them later… 
“Umm…no, I’m afraid not, sweetie,” he finally said. 
His heart broke as he watched all three of their faces fall because of his answer, but he would’ve hated to see them even more disappointed if he did tell them that their mother was coming home and she didn’t bother to come home. He didn’t think that Grey would do that to them, but at this point he couldn’t be too sure. Nevertheless, he had to cheer his kids up somehow. That was when he had an idea. 
“Hey, you know what will cheer you guys up?” he finally said. “Spending some time with Grandma Ingrid today!”
Thankfully, all three children gasped happily. 
“Really?!” Sven cried as he jumped up and down. 
“Sure!” he quickly replied. 
“I love spending time with Grandma!” Kari said jumping up and down in excitement. 
“Thank Gods that worked,” he thought to himself. “Alright, well, let’s sit down and have some breakfast,” he said aloud to them. “Then we can head over to Grandma’s house.”
“YAY!” all three kids shouted as they ran to the table. 
Ingrid read the note from her only daughter as she sat in the kitchen with her son-in-law. Thankfully, her three grandchildren were upstairs playing in Grey’s old bedroom, where they could play without eavesdropping or overhearing the conversation that was about to take place downstairs. 
“Well, Brandt, I don’t see what’s to be upset about,” she finally said as she looked up at him. “Grey says she’ll be home tonight.”
“That’s just it,” Brandt said. “I-I-I mean…w-what if…I mean…I…I don’t know if she’ll even…” he could only sigh and put his head in his hands. 
The 68-year-old woman stared at her son-in-law; she knew that out of every one of Grey’s loved ones he was the most devastated by her sudden disappearance. The children weren’t old enough to understand, and all they knew was that their mother went on a trip with Shadow and was hopefully coming back soon. 
“Brandt, do you doubt that your wife will keep her word in arriving home tonight?” she finally asked. “Or are you just afraid of what might happen between you two when she does come home?”
The man froze in place clearly not expecting such a question from his mother-in-law. Then again…she always seemed to know exactly what to say whenever he needed her advice or counsel over the years, so he knew he shouldn’t be all that surprised by this revelation. 
“I…I guess a little bit of both,” Brandt found himself saying in reply. “I mean…Ingrid, she left us without saying goodbye. I spent these whole two weeks thinking that she was trying to tell me that our marriage was over or something, and now she writes this letter sounding like she’s expecting everything to be okay when she gets back.”
“Then you will need to talk to her about that when she comes home, but let me ask you this, Brandt, why would you two give up on your marriage over this when you two have endured so much before? From what she said in her letter, it sounds like you just need to hear each other out.”
Brandt was silent for a few moments as he listened to his mother-in-law’s words of wisdom taking them all in and realizing that she was right. 
=== Part 2 ===
Grey listened to Shadow’s wings flapping in the air under the night sky, and in the span of a few hours, she left Seasick and her family on Peaceable Country to return home to her own family. After the miscarriage, just as she was ready to resume her duties as Chief, she ran off leaving Haligan Island to talk to Seasick about the ordeal, and while she was hoping to stay for a few days, she ended up staying for two weeks. Now, she was finally returning home.
Despite the darkness of the night, she was able to see the outline of her island and her village on the horizon. Somewhere on that island, her husband and their three children were waiting for her to come home…at least she hoped they would be…because Brandt didn’t reply to any of her letters. A part of her wanted to believe that maybe he didn’t reply because he wanted to discuss this whole thing in person…but another part of her believed that maybe…he was just so angry at her.
She had talked about this with Seasick a few times, and the former Bearer of the Keys assured her that yes, Brandt might not be happy with how she left (Grey of course understood that) but would not be angry at her after what happened. A part of her felt bad for barging in on Seasick like that and putting her in such a position, especially when she herself just had a baby, Isey, but another part of her felt that it was needed, especially after her time with Havelock. 
She had time away from the things that reminded her of her and Brandt’s tragic loss, and she also had time to get back on her feet. Did that mean that she didn’t feel guilty for leaving her husband and their children flat? Of course not! She felt horrible, but maybe they needed the time apart before they could really confront this issue together? She could only hope that Brandt saw it as such…maybe. Or…was she just kidding herself? 
She didn’t really have much time to think it over as she and Shadow finally reached the village, and soon enough, her house appeared under the night sky. The Night Fury did not need any indication from her rider to land at the house Brandt had built for them and swooped in. Before dismounting her dragon, the Chief looked around the village. All was quiet as it was late in the night. Peaceable Country was quite far from Haligan Island, and she did leave a little after supper as planned. Plus…some of the children, especially Havelock, were dismayed when she was about to leave. 
The Chief sighed as she dismounted Shadow. She’ll see her mother, Greg, Warren, and Asha tomorrow. Right now, it was all about her family…Brandt, Sven, Dagny, and Kari. 
“Come on, girl,” Grey whispered to the Night Fury. “My darlings must be asleep, but maybe, by some miracle, Brandt’s awake.” 
Shadow crooned as she nuzzled Grey’s cheek in comfort. Grey smiled and gently scratched the Night Fury’s chin, and then…she took a deep breath and walked up to the front door. 
=== Part 3 ===
The Chief’s trembling hand slowly reached the door handle of her house, and she gently pushed the door open. To her surprise, her husband…was sitting at the table reading reports with the fire burning in the pit, and she couldn’t help but be reminded of when she came back on one particular night…two days before their wedding…and found him sitting at the exact same table waiting for her.
Just as she was debating how to approach him while knowing that there was a chance that he was angry at her for running off the way she did, his hazel eyes finally looked up and met her brown ones. She had tried with all her might to prepare herself for an argument between them, but all that crashed and burned when she looked into his eyes from where he stood and was tempted to just run up to him, kiss him, and tell him how much he was missed throughout the past two weeks she was gone. However, her logical side fought back…telling her that that would not be appropriate.
“Hi…” she finally breathed. 
“Hi…” he replied letting the papers drop from his hands as he stared at the person he married about 9 years ago. Brandt couldn’t believe it… He could not believe it… Grey was home…standing in front of him in the doorway just as he hoped she would do for so many times those past two weeks. As much as he was torn between getting angry with her and wanting to get up and pull her into his arms and kiss her…he stayed where he was in the chair staring at her. “I…I’m sorry…I didn’t realize you were there. I was working on this–”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Grey quickly said trying to make sure her husband understood that she wasn’t angry. She let her words trail off…unsure as to what to do now. 
Brandt fortunately noticed this and felt his heart break seeing his wife like this. It was almost as if she didn’t feel like she was welcomed in her own home…as if she was afraid of coming into the house that he built for them. He remembered his conversation with his mother-in-law earlier that day…
“I…I guess a little bit of both. I mean…Ingrid, she left us without saying goodbye. I spent these whole two weeks thinking that she was trying to tell me that our marriage was over or something, and now she writes this letter sounding like she’s expecting everything to be okay when she gets back.”
“Then you will need to talk to her about that when she comes home, but let me ask you this, Brandt, why would you two give up on your marriage over this when you two have endured so much before? From what she said in her letter, it sounds like you just need to hear each other out.”
She was right. They just needed to talk…to hear each other out, and that was going to be impossible to do if they were awkward around each other. They pushed forward when he revealed his dark secret regarding him and her father, and so they would push forward with this too. They were strong, them and their children. 
“Grey, hon,” he said as he slowly stood up giving her a small smile, “you know you can come in, right? I mean…last time I checked this is your home, too.”
The Chief couldn’t help but give a small smile in return feeling stupid for standing in the doorway of her own home…like an idiot. “You’re right,” she said. So, as soon as she gave Shadow the okay to move to the roof, she walked in and closed the door behind her. “Umm…” she looked around noticing that her husband was alone in their house, “w-where are the kids?”
“They’re at your mother’s,” Brandt replied. “I asked her to take them for the night.”
Grey stared at her husband with her jaw slightly open. “Oh,” she began clearly confused as to why Sven, Dagny, and Kari were at her mom’s house when she clearly stated in the letter that she was coming home that night, “I…I thought they would be here waiting. I mean…that’s what they usually–”
“They don’t know you’re here.”
“What? W-What do you mean they don’t know? You got my letter. I said I was coming home.”
“Well, after their hearts broke quite a few times they waited for you to return the past two weeks, I figured I’d spare them the pain if you decided to stay at Seasick’s for another week.” Brandt crossed his arms mentally cringing at how cold that sounded, but he couldn’t help it. This was the time to air out what needed to be discussed, and as Ingrid stated, they needed to hear each other out. However, after seeing the hurt and shocked look on Grey’s face, the guilt ate at him, and he sighed. “I’m…I’m sorry…that…that was uncalled for.”
“Yeah, it was,” Grey quickly replied. “I can’t believe you actually think that I would intentionally hurt our kids. You really think that lowly of me?”
“Of course, I don’t,” Brandt said as he took his wife’s hand in his, “but…Grey, when you left…when I saw that note…I…I…I didn’t know what to think. Y-You just picked up and left your family and your people without saying goodbye.” 
=== Part 4 ===
Grey sighed knowing that her husband was not totally wrong in this situation even if what he said was cold. She did leave very suddenly with only a note to explain to her husband and the rest of her family–the very ones who had been there for her and felt her loss when she had the miscarriage–where she went, and as soon as she left she felt horrible about it but knew that it was too late. Even Seasick clearly didn’t care for her rash decision to leave. The Chief was not afraid to admit that she was wrong. She could’ve waited for Brandt to wake up and then explain to him that she needed time away for a while…maybe that would’ve made this whole thing easier.
“Y-You’re right,” she said as tears welled up in her brown eyes causing her to sniffle. “I shouldn’t have done that, and as soon as I did, I truly regretted it.” 
“Then why did you do it?” Brandt asked pleadingly. 
“Because…” she stopped as she couldn’t really remember the reason why she left her family so suddenly. Then again, she did remember, but…she hated the idea of admitting it to her husband. Nevertheless, she sighed before continuing, “I…I needed time for myself…to just get a change of scenery. I mean…I-I was cooped up in this house for a whole week with everyone hovering over me and looking at me with pity and…” She sighed again unsure as to how to continue. 
“That wasn’t pity, Grey,” Brandt said. “That was people who love you trying to be there for you and support you and…and to…to face what…what happened…together.”
Tears flowed down Grey’s cheeks as she realized that Brandt wasn’t just talking about their children, her mother, her adoptive brother and sisters, or even her people anymore. He was talking about himself…her husband, and guilt twisted the knot in Grey’s stomach. She left him when he was affected by the miscarriage as well. After all, he was the father of their unborn baby; of course, he would be affected by it…grieving for the loss, and memories from the minute Grey felt that pain in her stomach to the night before she left and felt ready to return to her work flashed through her mind.
Brandt standing right beside her as the elder and the healers checker her…
Brandt sitting with her and holding her as they both cried…
Brandt taking care of the children while she rested…
Brandt bringing her food…
Brandt feeding Shadow and taking her on flights…
Brandt kissing her and telling her that everything was going to be okay…
He was so wonderful throughout that whole week, and how did she repay him? By leaving without saying why…and only leaving a note… The guilt continued to manifest, and the Chief wanted more than anything to fix it. However, she felt that he had more to say and let him continue. 
“Grey…w-when you left…I-I’m not going to lie,” he began, “I thought…I thought you left for good…that…that you were telling me that our marriage was over.”
“What?” Grey asked as her eyes widened. “Brandt, you…no…no, no, no!” She quickly grabbed his hands holding them tight as if she was afraid he was going to leave at any second. “Brandt, our marriage is not over! It never was and never will be! Why would you even think that?”
The Chief’s husband sighed realizing how ridiculous his fear sounded, especially when his wife was so quick to emphasize that it wasn’t. He gently stroked her knuckles with his thumb while still holding her hand and then slowly guided her away from the door and to the chairs at the table not wanting to let her go for even a second. “I-I don’t know,” he said. “I…I know you said you needed time away from the island and a change of scenery,” they sat down still holding hands, “but I couldn’t help but think that…that you were blaming me for what happened. 
Ever since the miscarriage…the whole time you were in here recuperating, I’ve been wracking my brain…trying to figure out what I could’ve done differently…if maybe I should’ve made you stay at home more…or I don’t know…helped you more with the kids. And then…when you left, I began to think that you blamed me for what happened…and wanted to end our marriage.”
Grey felt the guilt increase tenfold inside her. The whole time she was away with Seasick and her family blaming herself and feeling sorry for what happened to her and Brandt’s fourth child…Brandt was suffering from his own guilt…guilt that was not needed and believing that she was blaming him as well and looking to end their long happy marriage. “Brandt Felman, I do not blame you for any of this, and I never did,” Grey stated firmly holding his hand tighter. “What happened to our baby was not your fault, and I am…so sorry that you thought that. I didn’t mean for you to think that.” The Chief sighed. “If there’s anyone to blame…it’s me.”
“What? Grey…w-what are you talking about?”
The Chief sighed. “Brandt, I was that baby’s mother…” she said as tears formed in her eyes. “I was supposed to keep it safe in my womb,” she placed her hand on her stomach, “and I couldn’t even do that. Our baby didn’t get the chance to live…to grow up all because I couldn’t–”
“Hey, hey,” Brandt said as he quickly placed his hands on Grey’s cheeks making her look at him, “listen to me, no one–and I mean no one blames you for what happened. The kids don’t. I don’t, and–” He paused when she looked up at him. “I-Is that why you left?” 
She nodded. 
Brandt was absolutely speechless as he stared into her big brown eyes. He knew without a doubt that she was telling the truth. She blamed herself for losing their fourth child. That was why she left…not because she blamed him or wanted their marriage to end because he couldn’t protect her or the baby, but rather because…she felt she couldn’t protect herself or the baby. 
“Well…a part of why…a huge part,” Grey answered meekly as the tears flowed down her cheeks. “I just…couldn’t stand to look at you and…and the kids knowing that there wasn’t going to be a baby and that I couldn’t save it. I know it’s dumb, but…”
“Grey, what happened to our baby was not your fault,” Brandt said firmly. “It was completely out of your hands…out of everyone’s hands…as much as we may hate to admit that.”
“But–” 
“No buts. What happened was not because of you…or me…or anyone else in this world,” Brandt explained. “It was an accident…a horrible, tragic accident.” Tears formed in his eyes thinking about what had transpired three weeks ago. “There was nothing that anyone could’ve done to save our baby, you know that.”
More tears flowed down Grey’s cheeks as she sniffled. “I do know that,” she said. “I keep trying to tell myself that, but it only makes me feel worse.”
“Trust me…I know the feeling…” Brandt said nodding and completely understanding how his wife was feeling at the moment. 
“I know you do,” Grey said placing her forehead against his, “and I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you the past couple weeks.”
“It’s alright,” he said smiling lovingly at her. “You’re here now. You’re finally home, and…now that we’ve actually talked and heard each other out…maybe we can finally help each other through the grief the right way.”
“I would love that, and I promise, we will face this thing together. I will never just take off like that ever again.”
“Good, and I promise the same. After all, it was in our vows, right? For better or for worse?”
Grey smiled. “For better or for worse.” She then moved from her seat to her husband’s lap wrapping her arms around his neck hugging him close. “I really missed you.”
“I really missed you too,” he said leaning into her shoulder. He pulled away so that he could give her a kiss on the lips. 
Grey quickly welcomed the kiss returning the gesture as she placed her hands on either sides of his neck. It had been two whole weeks since they last kissed, and she was not about to let this go to waste. 
“I love you, Brandt,” she whispered after they pulled away. 
“I love you, too, Grey,” he replied before pulling her into another passionate kiss. However, after a few moments, Brandt moved from her lips and down her jawline all the way to her neck leaving kisses and a few nibbles on her skin. 
“Brandt…” she paused as she closed her eyes, “I know we agreed to try again, but I don’t think I’m ready to do so just yet…”
“I know,” he said whispering against her skin. “I just want to be with you tonight.” He smirked. “These past two weeks were lonely for me.”
Grey smiled as her husband continued to kiss her. “I know,” she said. “They were lonely for me too.” Just because they weren’t ready to try again didn’t mean that they couldn’t have a special night together…just the two of them, and she was more than willing to do that…especially after everything that occurred over the past couple of weeks. 
“Well, the kids aren’t here,” he said looking up at her. “I’d say we remedy those two weeks of loneliness tonight.”
Grey couldn’t help but smile. “Great idea,” she said before placing a kiss on her husband’s lips. 
=== Part 5 ===
The Next Morning…
Brandt fluttered his eyes open as the sunlight poured into his and Grey’s bedroom. He was half-expecting the three kids to come running down the stairs to wake them up, but that was when he remembered that they were at their grandmother’s house for the night. At first, he forgot why they were even over there in the first place, but he was quickly reminded so when he turned around and came face to face with his wife, who was still sleeping soundly right next to him. 
Brandt couldn’t help but smile watching her sleep with her chest rising up and down and her long brown hair sprawled out behind her. He quietly leaned over and kissed her on the cheek grateful to finally have her by his side again, which caused her to slowly open her beautiful brown eyes. 
The Chief slowly awoke from her deep sleep and looked up at her husband smiling at him. “Morning…” she said groggily. 
“Morning,” Brandt replied using the backs of his fingers to lightly stroke her face. “Sleep well?”
Grey nodded. “You?”
“Very well now that you’re finally beside me again.” 
The Chief’s smile widened as she placed a hand on her husband’s cheek lightly stroking it with her thumb. “As much as I loved staying with Seasick and her family…it was lonely without you in that bed.”
“I know the feeling.”
There was a moment of silence between the couple as they simply enjoyed being together in the silence of their bedroom until Grey finally spoke up again.
“We should probably go get the kids from my mom’s house,” she said sheepishly. 
“Ugh…do we have to?” Brandt whined after letting out a dramatic sigh. 
“Yes, we do,” she said lightly swatting him on the shoulder causing him to laugh. “I haven’t seen them in two weeks, and a mama bear needs her cubs.”
Brandt couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I know,” he replied as he took her hand in his. “They really did miss you.”
Grey smiled. “I missed them, too,” she said. “Heck, I’m on the same island as them and still miss them like crazy.”
“Well, since they don’t know you’re home,” Brandt said as he propped himself on his elbow, “this will be a nice surprise for them.”
(LATER)
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re home!” Ingrid said as she hugged her daughter tightly. “Please, don’t ever do that again! You scared your old mother.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Grey whispered as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder hugging her just as tight. “I won’t do it again, I promise. I’ll never leave like that again.”
“You’re just lucky that I can’t really ground you anymore,” Ingrid said as they pulled away from each other allowing Grey to see her mother. “Ohhh, why didn’t you come last night? The kids would’ve loved to see you.”
“Brandt and I…had a lot to talk about,” she said, “and we wanted to spend a night together…alone.” Everyday, the Chief felt that her mother aged a little more everyday, and now that she was gone for two weeks, she felt that she was seeing more grey hairs and wrinkles on her face. 
“I see,” Ingrid replied before turning to her son-in-law. “So…everything is resolved?”
“Yes, Ingrid, you were right,” Brandt said rolling his eyes. “Everything is all worked out.”
“I’m really glad to hear that, Brandt,” she said hugging them both. “You two will move past this. You’ve faced other hardships, and you will surely face many more. You can only conquer them together.”
Grey and Brandt smiled and looked at each other knowing for certain that Ingrid was right. They would move past the loss of their fourth child…together. Speaking of children, Grey suddenly remembered the primary reason they were at her mother’s house to begin with. 
“Hey, Mom…are the kids awake yet?” she suddenly asked. “I…I would love to see them. I really missed them.”
“You know, I don’t think so,” Ingrid replied smiling. “Perhaps, you should see for yourself.”
The Chief nodded and went up the stairs…to her old bedroom. When the children were born, her mother insisted on turning her old bedroom into a guest room for the children to sleep in whenever they wished, and sure enough she saw the three beds, all of which had one of her three precious children sleeping soundly. Her eyes immediately went to their six-year-old daughter, Kari, and she couldn’t help but smile as she walked over the youngest Felman child and sat down on the bed next to her sleeping form. 
She gently shook her to wake her up. 
Kari groaned as she buried herself under the covers. “Grandma…it’s too early,” she whined. “I want to sleep some more.”
Grey couldn’t help giggle. “Kari…wake up, baby girl,” she whispered.
Within seconds, Kari opened her hazel eyes hearing the very…very familiar voice and looked up only to find herself staring up at…
“Mommy?” she asked afraid that this was a dream. 
“Good morning, sweetie,” Grey said as she ran her fingers through Kari’s brown wavy hair. 
“Mommy!!” Kari practically shouted as she scrambled from out of the covers and jumped into Grey’s arms. “Mommy, you’re home!!” Before Grey could say anything else, the youngest Felman child turned to the two beds near hers. “Sven, Dagny, look, Mommy’s home!!”
Sven and Dagny were jolted out of their deep slumber with Kari’s shouts. 
Sven and Dagny were jolted out of their deep slumber with Kari’s shouts, and just as they were about to berate her for talking so loudly, they stopped when they saw someone sitting next to her hugging her.
“Good morning, sleepyheads,” Grey said holding out an arm to them. 
Dagny gasped happily. “Mommy!!” she shouted before scrambling out of her bed and running over to their mother.
“Mom!!” Sven shouted immediately after as he did the same and ran over to join the Chief and his two little sisters. 
Chief Grey happily gathered her two older children into her arms pulling them into a group hug laughing at their excitement. Brandt was certainly right: they truly missed her…just as she missed them. She never doubted that they missed her, but…she was wondering if they would be angry at her for leaving. However, those doubts were dashed as she held all three of her children kissing them on their heads and hugging them tightly.
“Oh, I missed you guys so much!” she cried. 
“We missed you, too, Mommy!” Dagny cried in response burying her face in Grey’s shoulder. 
“A whole lot!” Sven added looking up at the Chief. 
Kari immediately noticed that there was someone missing from this reunion and looked around the bedroom, but when she couldn’t find the fifth person who made their family complete, she grew worried again. 
“W-Where’s Daddy?” Kari asked with a shaky voice. 
Grey saw the worry in her youngest child’s eyes and finally saw just how much her leaving affected the three Felman children. They weren’t just overjoyed to see her; they truly missed her and did not want anyone to leave them ever again. “Oh, it’s okay, my darling,” she quickly said. “Daddy is downstairs with Grandma.”
“Morning, kids!” Brandt shouted from downstairs. 
“Morning, Daddy!” they shouted in unison. 
“See?” Grey asked. 
“So…are you here to stay, Mommy?” Dagny asked turning back to the Chief. “Or…are you just here to visit?”
Grey sighed, ashamed that her children were even questioning whether or not she was here to stay. “Listen to me, kids,” she said. “I am so…so very sorry for how I left home the way I did.”
“It’s okay, Mommy,” Kari said trying to alleviate her mother’s guilt. 
“No, Kari, it’s not okay,” Grey quickly replied. “I left you without saying goodbye, and I was wrong to scare you all like that. It wasn’t fair to you…to any of you.”
“Why did you leave, Mom?” Sven asked nervously almost as if he was afraid to hear the answer…if it was because of him and his sisters that Grey left. 
Grey sighed. “Well, I was very upset, Sven,” she began. “I was upset that I lost your new baby brother or sister, and…I ran away because…” she tried to simplify it so that they could try to understand, “…I was afraid that you guys and Daddy were really mad at me.”
“But…that wasn’t your fault. Daddy said so,” Dagny interjected. “He said that the baby was too sick to stay in your tummy,” she added placing a small hand on Grey’s stomach. 
“And…he’s right,” Grey said mentally applauding her husband for explaining it so well to their kids. “The baby was sick, but I still felt…really sad because I couldn’t make it feel better and stay in my tummy. I was so upset that I wanted to run away to Aunt Seasick’s so that nobody would stay mad at me.”
“But…we were really sad when you went away,” Kari added sadly.
“I know, sweetie,” Grey said resting her head on Kari’s brown hair kissing it, “and I am still very sorry for doing that to you and Daddy. The thing is, kids, sometimes, when grown-ups are really upset, they tend to do and say things that they don’t realize how much it will affect the situation…and…those they love, and when I ran away, I was only thinking about myself. I didn’t think about Grandma, Uncle Greg, Aunt Warren, Aunt Asha, your cousins, Daddy, or…you guys, and that was wrong for me to do.”
“Are we going to be like that, too, when we grow up?” Dagny asked tentatively. 
“Well, I hope not,” Grey said, “but if you ever do, the important thing is to admit that you were wrong and apologize and promise to never do it again, just as I do. I promise with all my heart that I will never leave you guys like that again. I love you guys far too much to stay away from you three.”
All three of the Felman children smiled seeing and hearing the sincerity in their mother’s voice. “We love you, too, Mom,” Sven said speaking on behalf of his sisters. 
With that, Grey pulled all three of them into another group hug to reinforce the promise she made to them and to affirm what she learned from last night: everything would be okay. They would move past the loss of the fourth Felman child, and while the grief would always be there, she, Brandt, Sven, Dagny, and Kari would become stronger because of it. After all, as Brandt said, it was in their vows…for better or for worse.
“Now, what do you say we go downstairs and have some breakfast?” she asked.
“YEAH!” the three children shouted in unison before running downstairs with their mother behind them to join their father and grandmother. 
Category:Events
Category:Grey Bergman
Category:Brandt Felman
Category:Ingrid Bergman
Category:Sven Felman
Category:Dagny Felman
Category:Kari Felman
Category:EU