A haven of pages, petals, and pause.

"Sweetie, you have to let go."

"No."

"Sweetie, let go."

"No!"

You let out a heavy sigh. The doctor sitting across from you awkwardly smiled whilst you gave her a sheepish one.

"Sweetie, it's just a checkup for Mama," you explained. "And the nice doctor here can't check if you're in my lap."

Qifrey stubbornly shook his head, pressing himself even closer to your chest.

"Why can't I live in your skin like you said?!"

You let out yet another heavy sigh.

"Because that's not possible, sweetie."

A whine.

"May I offer some thoughts?" The doctor gently inquired.

"Please," you agreed, readjusting Qifrey.

"I believe he may be a bit, ah...too attached," the doctor said. "If you will take my advice, perhaps slowly start leaving him for longer periods of time."

"Mama already does it!" Qifrey burst into tears, burying his face in your chest. "And I hate it!"

Another heavy sigh from you.

This is going to be a long eleven years.

"Sweetie, you have to let go."

"No."

"Sweetie, let go."

"No!"

You let out a heavy sigh. The doctor sitting across from you awkwardly smiled whilst you gave her a sheepish one.

"Sweetie, it's just a checkup for Mama," you explained. "And the nice doctor here can't check if you're in my lap."

Qifrey stubbornly shook his head, pressing himself even closer to your chest.

"Why can't I live in your skin like you said?!"

You let out yet another heavy sigh.

"Because that's not possible, sweetie."

A whine.

"May I offer some thoughts?" The doctor gently inquired.

"Please," you agreed, readjusting Qifrey.

"I believe he may be a bit, ah...too attached," the doctor said. "If you will take my advice, perhaps slowly start leaving him for longer periods of time."

"Mama already does it!" Qifrey burst into tears, burying his face in your chest. "And I hate it!"

Another heavy sigh from you.

This is going to be a long eleven years.

Footsteps eagerly bolted across the floor, ignoring shouting to slow down.

Bright blue eye locked on target.

And a tiny missile of white collided against your leg.

"And the Fuzzb-ack!"

Your knees gave out and you hit the floor, the basket of goods flying everywhere including said goods.

"Mama!"

You let out a sigh.

You should've predicted that. Again.

"Hello, Qifrey."

Sitting up, Qifrey happily planted himself in your lap, tiny arms tightly wrapped around your torso as Beldaruit shuffled over.

"Goodness! I told you to slow down!" The Witch Master scolded.

Qifrey stuck his tongue out.

"Hey, hey. No. That was rude," you quickly scolded the boy.

"He's stinky!" Qifrey huffed, burying his face in your chest.

You sighed again.

"Sweetie, we've talked about this," you reminded. "You can't go around calling people stinky just because you don't like them."

Standing up, Qifrey's legs immediately locked around your waist, and you sighed again.

"Here we go again."

Beldaruit stood agape, watching you pick up your purchased goods, and back in your basket.

"Dear me, he's rather attached," the stall owner giggled.

"If he could live in my skin, he would," you shook your head.

"Can I?" Qifrey perked up.

"No, sweetie. You cannot."

Qifrey huffed and sulked before burying his face in your chest.

"Not fair."

"Now, now, apprentice," Beldaruit said. "Let us return to our lessons-"

"No! Stinky man!" Qifrey snipped back, sticking his tongue out again.

"Qifrey!" You scolded again.

Hearing soft knocking on the door, your pen stopped moving and you looked over to your door.

Hearing another knock, you stood up and approached, opening it to reveal Qifrey.

"Oh, sweetie..."

With wobbly lips, the boy held out his arms and you knelt down to hug him, pulling him close.

"Nightmare, love?"

A nod.

"'S okie. Nightmares are mean, aren't they?" You cooed, shutting the door.

Another nod.

Carrying Qifrey to bed, you tucked him in, and softly kissed his forehead.

"Lemme get changed first, okay?"

Qifrey snuggled under the sheets, watching the ends of your cloak flick around the corner of your closet.

By the time you returned, Qifrey's already asleep. Limbs sprawled out, snoring, even some drool.

Shaking your head, you carefully climbed into bed next to him. Reached over to wipe away the drool before pulling him close to your side and readjust the sheets.

Thumb gently rubbed circles on his tummy as you counted to ten before slowly drifting off to sleep.

It's noisy.

Qifrey tightly held onto your cloak as you wandered around the market together.

Stepping closer to your side, Qifrey went underneath your cloak and clung to your leg instead.

"Hm?" You gently lifted your cloak up. "Qifrey?"

Qifrey hugged your leg so you shuffled over to the sidelines to prevent busygoers from being held up.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” You asked, lifting your robe up.

Qifrey buried his face in your knee and mumbled causing you to kneel to his height.

“Hm?”

Hugging your neck next, Qifrey mumbled again.

“Sweetie-”

“It’s too loud!” Qifrey finally burst out. “It’s too loud!”

Overstimulation.

Gathering Qifrey up, you rested the boy on your hip.

“Hold tight for me, I need both hands.”

Qifrey nodded and held tight, arms and legs around your neck and waist, freeing both of your hands.

Grabbing your pen and ink pot, you draw a spell and pull out a small hood, pulling it over Qifrey’s head.

“There. How is that?”

Realizing how quieter the world had become, Qifrey blinked at you then looked around. The loud bustling of the market, the voices, the footsteps. All quiet.

“Better?”

Qifrey looked back over to you and grinned.

“Yeah!”

"It's ridiculous how the boy never responds to me, but never thinks twice when it comes to you!"

You quietly hummed, fixing yourself and Beldaruit the Wise a plate of Flying Shrimp pasta, bringing the plates over.

"And-oh, thank you, the boy keeps getting into trouble!" Beldaruit huffed.

"And here I thought you enjoyed flamboyance," you pointed out, taking a seat.

"Well, yes, but-" Beldaruit started. "...I can't build the same trust as he has with you."

It's no secret how much Qifrey adored you.

Quick to abandon an adult's side to get to yours without thinking twice about it.

Back to Mama.

"He's a delicate one," you agreed. "Seeing how he was brought into this life."

Your heart broke when you heard of Qifrey came around to the Great Hall.

Found buried alive in a casket with a missing right eye and no memory of his past.

He was skittish and scared, believed he has no purpose. Even tried to throwing himself out of the Great Hall by attempting to drown himself.

"He's still adjusting, Beldaruit," you informed him. "Nothing else."

Qifrey hated leaving your house.

Clinging to your leg, Qifrey's knuckles turned white from just how hard he was holding onto you, glaring at the man in front of him.

"Come now, apprentice! It's time for you to return!" Beldaruit insisted.

Beldaruit the Wise held out his arms, expecting the boy to let go of you, and run to him.

Instead, Qifrey turned his back and hid under your robes.

"Qifrey," you softly sighed. "Sweetie, you made a promise, remember? You said you'd go back today."

"I don't wanna," Qifrey hiccuped. "I wanna stay with you."

Your heart broke at his hiccups before kneeling down to his height.

"I'll still be here," you assured. "You know where I live, where my door is. My door will always be unlocked for you."

"No!" Qifrey hiccuped again, throwing his arms around you. "I wanna stay!"

You sighed again, hugging him back.

"Oh, Qifrey," you murmured. "I know you do, but you need to go back, baby. You need to be a big boy."

Qifrey shook his head, tightening his grip.

"Why can't you teach me?!" He insisted. "I-I don't want a-an old man to teach me!"

Beldaruit stood agape, jaw dropping.

"Sweetie, that was rude," you lightly chided the boy. "Can you-"

"No!" Qifrey cut you off. "I won't! I want you!"

You gave Beldaruit an apologetic smile before gathering Qifrey up, bringing him a bit away from the man.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" You softly asked him. "What's got you acting this way?"

You brushed away his tears with a soft coo, the boy's lips quivering.

"H-he's stinky-" Qifrey hiccuped.

You had to hold back your snicker before fixing your expression.

"And?"

"A-and he's old!" Qifrey continued.

"And?"

"A-and he's not you, Mama!" Qifrey burst into tears.

Ah...he didn't provide the same safety net.

"Oh, sweetie," you softly said, brushing away his tears again. "Sometimes, baby, there are things mothers can't teach. Sometimes they need someone else to teach their children."

"But-" Qifrey protested.

"I know you don't want to leave me, but think of this way. Once you graduate and you're older, you can come back and take care of me as I took care of you," you told him. "And if you don't, that's okay too. I want you to be happy and I can't help you do that alone."

Qifrey's lower lip quivered again.

"I'm not asking Beldaruit to keep you forever," you assured him. "It's only for a few hours then you can come running back home."

"Promise?" Qifrey hiccuped.

"Mhm, promise," you assured.

"Pinky promise!" Qifrey insisted, holding his pinky out.

You softly laughed and hooked your pinky with his.

"Pinky promise."

"Oh, you're here again."

You looked down at a small boy at your doorstep before carefully opening it fully for him to step inside.

Qifrey's visits never surprised you as much anymore.

He always came running when everything was too much for him.

Sat on a chair, Qifrey didn't speak as you took his boots off for him then his robes. Silently held his arms up, asking to be picked up, and you did without question.

Resting him on your hip as you carried him to the bathroom.

You knew he hated getting wet, but Qifrey always braved through baths. As long as it was you giving it.

His tiny fists clung to your shirt as you washed him down before applying soap in his hair then lathered him with more.

Once done, you helped Qifrey dry himself before giving the boy one of your old shirts. Then guided him to the kitchen to get him some food.

A bowl of hot stew with some bread and a tall glass of milk.

"You and Olruggio fight again?"

Qifrey tore off a piece of bread with his teeth, refusing to answer as he chewed.

"Did you start it?" You softly asked.

A bite of his stew this time.

"You know I'm going to find out one way or another," you reminded him.

Qifrey avoided your gaze before swallowing.

"…mhm."

"Mhm to…?"

"…I started it."

You sighed and sat back in your seat.

Qifrey's…an odd one. It made you wonder what made Beldaruit want to take him in as an apprentice. After all, he is an outsider. But then again, he's just a boy.

"Over what?"

Qifrey picked at his food before muttering something under his breath.

"Hm?"

Qifrey coiled his shoulders in and muttered again.

"Qifrey-"

"I said it was over how you aren't my mother!" Qifrey finally snapped.

You flinched, staring at Qifrey before slowly standing causing him to flinch.

"Is that it?" You softly asked, kneeling in front of him.

You turned his chair so Qifrey is facing you before you cupped his cheeks.

"Do you see me that way?"

Qifrey's lower lip quivered before ducking his head away, shoulders curling in.

"Oh, sweetheart…"

You brought the boy close to you, cradling him.

"I'm honored you see me that way, Qifrey. You don't have to be ashamed."

"But he said you weren't my mother," Qifrey hiccuped.

"I know he did," you assured him. "We may not be by blood, but if you have chosen me to be your mother then so be it. I'm your mother, Qifrey."

You pulled Qifrey to rest on your hip, his head resting comfortably on your shoulder.

"Now. Let's finish your meal and get you ready for bed, okay? I'll write a letter to your master to let him know you're staying for the night."

Qifrey nodded with a sniffle.