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[ Sarah swallows visibly and looks down again. She flips through the pictures, slowly, taking in each one. These are moments she never thought she'd get to see again, except inside her own head. And from these different angles, they look—so normal, like a normal family doing normal things. Having a good time together. Finally, when she reaches the first photo again, she takes a deep breath and, without looking up, says in a pinched, quiet voice, ]

When the water starts boiling, throw the pasta on for ten minutes. I've—I've gotta—

[ She walks deliberately out of the room, still holding onto the envelope and the stack of pictures. ]

Oh, yeah, nah. 's fine.

( Sarissa stands awkwardly, chewing the inside of her cheek and hands in her pockets as she watches Sarah go.

She's no totally sure if that was a good reaction, and she stands silently for a couple minutes before starting to shake out of it and slowly going to make some sauce to go with the pasta. Comfort food right? Sarah might need that.

So she waits and cooks and eventually thinksbto put on the kettle, until she knocks on Sarah's door awkwardly. )

I made you tea? I can leave it out here?

[ There's no answer, but a few seconds later Sarah opens the door. Her makeup, so carefully applied earlier to look smudgy and haphazard, is actually starting to be ruined, and her cheeks are still wet from tears. She opens her mouth to speak, to say "thank you" or something, but her throat seems to close up and prevent her from making any noise at all. She just looks at Sarissa standing there with the tea, crying and more vulnerable than she ever likes to be in front of someone else, hoping that her eyes are saying it for her. ]

( One of Sarissa's hands holds the tea, and at the sight of Sarah she sets the mug down on the floor, where they can't accidentally kick it over. There's just a moment of hesitation, a moment of wondering if Sarah will want Sarissa to touch her or if she wants space, before she ruthlessly shoves it to the side and steps closer to her sister. She felt the way Sarah loved Kira in her memories, and even if that's not the same as feeling as how much someone misses someone, she's got empathy enough to get a rough idea. )

If you want, um—

( Oh, screw it. The offer to make more can happen later. Her voice is rough and quiet, and she kisses Sarah's forehead before carefully wrapping her arms around her, one of her hands running up and down Sarah's back. )

S'agapo, asteri mou.

[ It's like the touch gives Sarah permission, somehow, and she folds herself against Sarissa, sobbing. It's not right. She knows she shouldn't—Sarissa, of all people, shouldn't have to be the one standing here, holding Sarah up, but right now, in this moment, Sarah can't stop herself. It's all so heavy on her shoulders, all the time. Helena being here and leaving and being here and leaving again, and Felix gone, and Cosima kidnapped, and Sarissa killed, and George dead, and Paul dead, and Beth dead, and most of all, Kira. Over and over again, Kira gone. Every day, just waking up and moving under the weight of it all is almost impossible. ]

I miss her so much. [ The words are a whisper, barely there at all. She can't stop shaking. ] I could—I could be a good mum here. I've got money. I could do better. I wouldn't leave. Why can't she—all these people, and not her.

( Old habits die hard - Sarissa's always been better at helping other people than herself. Getting ice for her mother, fostering animals, working for the rescue division, those were roles she could step into more easily. It is easier to be steady when someone else needs you to, rather than simply doing it for your own sake, like it gave her something to react, retaliate, against.

Sarissa's arms squeeze tighter around Sarah, and her back straightens a little, so Sarah clean lean against her more without the possibility of Sarissa toppling over. There's nothing she can say, really - what could you ever say, to ease absence of a child, or someone who is a part of you? Love that strong took different forms, but even with the ache in her every day Sarissa couldn't imagine being away from Georgia was a thing like Sarah not having Kira. )

There's still a chance she'll come here. There's always a chance.

( Gentle, calming. ) And you can be a wonderful mother, even when you aren't with her. Thinking about her, that's a piece of that, Saroula.

( She's not going to say this place can be terrible, or that maybe Kira wouldn't be safe, because what kind of person would she be, kicking Sarah when she's down? Making her feel guilt for wanting to be with someone she loves, that's stitched into the very fabric of her heart? No. Sarissa makes a quiet soothing sound, and strokes her hand down Sarah's hair and then her back, and tilts her head up to let Sarah curl against her neck, if she wants to. ) You'll be back together, no matter what. That's gonna happen.

I think about her all the time. [ And it doesn't mean shit. Whatever Sarissa says, just thinking about someone doesn't count. It doesn't make her a good mother, not when Kira's an entire universe away, and it didn't make her a good mother when she was on Myrtle Beach getting high with Vic and letting S raise Kira. She thought about Kira all the time, then, too, and what did it matter?

She tucks her head against Sarissa's shoulder almost like she's a child trying to hide, and her voice is small and defeated and cracked, like a wall someone's been taking a hammer to. ]

What if I die on that beach?

You won't.

( There is a fierceness in that, a fierceness that she hasn't had since before she died, wrapping her arms tighter around Sarah. )

I don't care if I have to tear apart the bloody walls between worlds myself, Saroula. You aren't going to die on that beach. I won't let you. You are going to live, and you're going to have a long, happy life with Kira and your family. I don't care what I have to do to make sure that happens. You will live and you'll be happy.

I'm scared. And I'm—tired.

[ She knows Sarissa, of all people, must understand that. ]

I know.

( Or, okay, maybe she doesn't know, but she understands, and she kisses Sarah's temple. For a few moments, she's quiet, before she eyes Sarah's bed and gently starts to steer her towards it, walking Sarah towards it even as the continues the hug. )

We're gonna lie down, okay? And I'm gonna get you some food. We'll just curl up for a while. I'll even put on that French movie, if you like.

Yeah. Alright.

[ Sarah lets herself be led over to the bed. Already the guilt is building up in her chest, weighing her down. Sarissa showed up here trying to apologize, looking for help, something, and now this. ]

( Having steered Sarah to the bed, Sarissa fluffs the pillows, and pulls the cover over Sarah. She pauses only a moment, brushing Sarah's hair back and kissing her forehead before she slips away to the kitchen. It doesn't take her long to return with two bowls - one of plain pasta, another with a rich sauce of tomato and basil and garlic and whatever else she improvised to make it delicious, with cheese piled on top. She sets the tray on the bed next to Sarah, and brings over the tea from before, setting it on Sarah's bedside. )

You need the movie or some quiet?

Edited 2016-12-28 23:54 (UTC)

[ When Sarissa comes back with the food, Sarah is sitting up on the bed. She wipes at her face with one hand and gives her an embarrassed smile. ]

Movie's okay. Sorry about this. I freaked out for a minute there. [ The implication, of course, is that she's fine now. There was a weird moment, a glitch in the programming, but she's absolutely 100% fine now. Obviously. ]

You're allowed to freak out. Still be freaked out.

( Sarissa makes a quiet sound and perches on the edges of the bed, brushing back Sarah's hair. )

You've been holding me together, Saroula, but I can hold you together, too. That's what we do.

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