Comfort the Cuties: Happy Holidays 2025

Rules - FAQ - Event Days: December 25th, 2025 until January 1st 2026 - Next Event: Comfort the Cuties Birthday Balm 2026

**Please refrain from posting until the event days! I don't want to miss anyone and the queue can hold only so many posts. See under the prompt list for Challenges and A Sample Template for entries/tagging rules.**

@comfortthecutiesbirthdaybalm

Author's note: all these pieces are to be the events of a Christmas after rescue+their reunion, as best chronological order as I can get them, hopefully

Bound to Her- Placed during Part Four: Mending Ties

Layla

Falling asleep that night, Layla couldn't believe she was here. Her bonded. Right here, with her. For the first time in years, she suddenly felt… whole again.

Wonderingly, Layla trails her fingers against Eloise's sleeping face, brushing back loose and messy hair behind her ear. She had new scars, new pains. The leg braces had been the most jarring change, but… she was here. Alive. And Layla could breathe.

She couldn't stop looking, couldn't stop staring. It was as if she still didn't have enough of her fill, not yet.

Blue eyes open after a while, clouded with sleep. But oh, how lovely they are as they brighten looking up at her. "You should be asleep, ma belle." Eloise scolds her softly, resting their foreheads together.

Layla hums. "I think I'm already dreaming." she says quietly. Then admits, "I'm afraid if I do, you won't be here when I wake up."

A kiss on her nose makes her blush. "I'll be here," her bonded says, soft and comforting. "Promise."

As those blue eyes close yet again, it takes some time, but eventually Layla falls asleep, finally together again with her heart breathing in her arms.

Bound to Her taglist:

@comfortthecutiesbirthdaybalm

Author's note: all these pieces are to be the events of a Christmas after rescue+their reunion, as best chronological order as I can get them, hopefully

Bound to Her- Placed during Part Four: Mending Ties

Eloise

As Rusty, no, Dustin gently pushes her into the room, all of Eloise's confusion slips away. She doesn't even mind that he closes the door behind her in this strange place. Because there, on the bed, facing away from her, is…

Her red hair is much shorter now, the ends choppy and uneven. No more revealing clothing. If anything, she wears the opposite, dressed in a big hoodie and sweatpants. But, oh… Eloise just needs to be sure. She needs to know this is really her bonded before she reacts. If the redhead could just face her, she-

"Dustin, you know I hate it when you hov-" the redhead stops speaking as she rolls over. And stares. Those big green eyes… even one marred by a big ragged red scar, they're still the most beautiful sight Eloise has ever seen.

Her vision blurs as tears well up in her own eyes. Eloise can't help but sob as her hands come up to cover her mouth, her knees finally giving way as the pain of her legs bring her crumbling to the floor.

She can hear her bonded, her bonded, scrambling as she gets off the bed, coming to kneel on the floor beside Eloise. A soft hand on her arm, another holding the side of her head.

"You're here." she hears from that voice, right beside her. Right here. Her bonded, her-

Through her hands, she croaks, "W-what do I call you now?"

Gentle fingers wipe her tears away, lift her head enough to see those eyes again, only one swimming with tears as well, the other glassy. That sparkling soft smile. The one always there just for her.

"Layla. I'm Layla now."

Layla.

"Layla." she breathes. "Oh, it's beautiful, ma belle. Just like you. My Layla."

It occurs to her that her bonded may not like those claiming words. Words that own and take.

But Layla just smiles bigger, wider, happier. And…

She hugs her.

Eloise has never felt so warm and content as she does now, back in her bonded's arms, no eyes to watch them anymore.

Just them.

Together.

Bound to Her taglist: