𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑦.

Lemie's attempt at positivity put a warm smile on his face, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. It was never really her strong suit but he appreciated her giving it a go. "We had a good year despite all this," Will assures her. He doesn't want to damper the year with the sadness of what they didn't have, as opposed to all that they did have.

"We did," Lemie agrees, conjuring up whatever happiness she could dig up from underneath the very thick layer of helplessness. It was hard to look past all this, but there were many highlights, and she knew her therapist would tell her to focus on those. "We got married. We lived together, and none of our quirks has pushed one of us to ask for a divorce."

Lemie could tell Cherry was shocked by how abruptly the blonde had jumped into quite a delicate subject without so much as a hello. She was hoping to get the conversation out of the way quickly. Not to mention, she didn't think she could stand to be asked if she had a bun in the oven yet one more time. "I'm fine. It's fine," she argues pointlessly. "Not yet. We wanted to wait for the new year to not ruin what was left of 2025. It was starting to get a little... gloomy."

"Yes, actually," firm in her stance as she gives the blonde a quick nod, "I mean, the grinch song is a good one and don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and the Grinch as much as the next person but hearing it that much should be enough to drive anyone mad."

"I wonder if anyone's ever been truly driven mad by a song? Sounds a bit dramatic to me, honestly," Lemie points out with a shrug. "Would you be annoyed? Totally. Certifiable? I doubt it. Maybe you should test it out."

Where: by the beach (could be food place or a bench or walking by) Who: Marisol x friend @aurorabaystarter

"I don't think anyone's done that in a while. Like, even before we started worrying about choking dolphins by throwing random shit in the sea," Lemie points out. "I would write something really ominous. Maybe like they're coming or run. Just to give anyone who finds it a good fright." @almassalvaje

open: @aurorabaystarter location: sea glass boutique

Lemie quickly looked away before she remembered she had free will and could look wherever she damn pleased. "You saying that only made me want to look more, just so you know," she tells the girl, crossing her arms over her chest and giving her a quick once-over. "It's a nice dress. Suits you." She took the phone from her, taking her time to open the camera app. "You don't look ridiculous. There's a mirror right there, and you were just looking at it, so you know that too." She held the phone up. "Smile." @kcte

for: @aurorabaystarter ( no cap. )

"I know you say you're serious, but realistically... Would you have lost your mind? Like, really?" Lemie asks him with a laugh. "I have to say, I'll miss You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Christmas or not, that might be my favourite song ever." @jojimin

He could feel that Lemie was trying to keep her own disappointment hidden for his sake. Before he could reach out to comfort her, his wife was up from her seated position and across the bathroom. "There's other options," his voice lifts at the end, somehow still hopeful. "We have the resources." It felt unfair to bring up any mention of IVF or adoption just yet, not when they haven't fully investigated what the issue might be but the idea was there.

Lemie knew he was right, that this wasn't the end-all be-all, but it still felt like she was doing something wrong. She had never in her life thought she wanted children, and the second she does it just... doesn't work? It felt like the universe was laughing in her face. "I know. I just wanted to do this with you. This way," she tells him, unable to put into words that she wanted everything about this to go just right. She wanted this to be a beautiful thing they shared, not a process filled with anguish and disappointment.

starter for: @lemielewis location: christmas markets

"I usually get my dad random gift cards. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you what he likes," Lemie tell Van with a shrug. She'd asked the wrong Lewis. Half the time, she didn't even know what to get her own husband. "Gift giving isn't my forte."

Will chuckles softly as Lemie calls his bluff, folding instantly as always. "I want to be positive, I do. I want to keep doing that for the both of us." In terms of positivity, they both knew who had more to spare and it wasn't Lemie. But it was getting harder and harder to ignore that seed of doubt inside him.

Lemie appreciates that Will still acts like there's a chance this might happen for them, despite all the disappointment they've been dealing with. She tries to act hopeful, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the pretense with every negative test result. The ringing on his phone startles her, and suddenly she can't bear to look down at the stick she had been staring at intently a few seconds ago.

closed for: @lemielewis

"That's entirely your fault. I keep communication to a minimum, specifically to avoid him getting any ideas," Lemie tells X with a shake of her head. Amateur. Her father had been shitty at being a dad, all things considered, but he was also harmless. "Depends who's going. As long as Lee and my mom stay away, I'm there. Even though there's nothing I want to avoid more than those awkward catching up conversations with my father." @xaviermattthews

Cherry's face instantly sunk into a frown. "Crazy, what? No!" It sounded like a completely natural next step for couples who did want to have children, which she knew they did. "I've literally been manifesting it, it's on my vision board." It wasn't really but her friend's happiness was always paramount. "Seriously, I want to be a hot aunt so bad. Wait, am I going to be called an aunt? I know you have a sister, but like.. come on. I'm born to be the hot aunt who lets them get away with murder."

"I don't know, I just genuinely never saw myself with a kid," she admits with a small shake of her head. "Then again, I also never saw myself getting married, and here we are." Lemie laughs, giving Cherry's arm a gentle squeeze. "You already are the hot aunt, Cherry. Let's circle back to that vision board, though. You had my future kid on there? I didn't know you could put other people's stuff on your vision board." @cherryxkoch

She had a thousand yard stare as her hands clung to what he stilled hoped was the start of their future. Will had learned quickly to keep his blind optimism to himself after the first few go-arounds, it only made the realisation that this wasn't the one that much harder to bear. "I'm okay," he nods, knowing it's neither true nor particularly convincing.

Lemie glances up at him when he lies boldly, pretending he's okay when they both know neither of them is. "You don't have to do that, you know. You can tell me how you really feel," she tells him quietly, reaching out to give his hand a little squeeze.

"Well, that's a first," Lemie tells Maya with a chuckle. People definitely assumed the worst when it came to her, and she couldn't blame them; that's what she wanted. To keep people at arm's length. At least that's what she used to want. "It kind of sounds like you're trying to convince yourself not to make the move here." @vibrantmayadesai