You put your arms around me and I’m home

Raine had actually pulled Dani aside and explained what had happened, and the poor girl had immediately broken into tears, her mood shifting, tiptoeing around Alcina for fear of setting her mother off into a spiral by saying the wrong thing or asking the wrong questions. But Alcina answered every question the newly turned 16 year-old had, saving the details of the D&C procedure for another time.

The two of them were now sitting on the patio, enjoying the calm of the sunset, perfectly content to sit together on the porch swing. Raine had Alcina wrapped up in her arms, a thin blanket wrapped around her wife's shoulders as they settled together beneath the last rays of sunlight.

Raine pressed soft kisses against Alcina's head and shoulders, earning pleased hums from the woman lounging in her arms.

"Keep that up and I'll have to take you inside, darling." Alcina purred as Raine pressed another kiss against the pulse in Alcina's neck, her arms wrapped loosely around her wife's waist, keeping her close to her chest.

"Oohhh, dirty talk love. Don't threaten me with a good time." Raine teased right back, her hands drawn back to rest on Alcina's hips, mindful of any lingering tenderness that remained in Alcina's body.

Alcina fell quiet then, her gaze focused on the vineyard, her arms wrapped around herself as she fell into her thoughts. Raine noticed the change in her wife's mood and pressed another kiss against the back of her head, slowly drawing her attention back to the present.

"Penny for your thoughts, love?"

"Just... Thinking of what they could have been like." Alcina replied, leaning heavier against Raine. "What they could have done. What they would have liked."

Raine hummed in response, her hands gently rubbing Alcina's arms, her chin resting on her shoulder.

"Tell me?" She questioned, pressing a peck against Alcina's cheek, earning a soft smile in response. She didn't mention the taste of salt on her lips from the tears that had dripped down Alcina's cheek.

"If they had been a boy, I think he would have taken after Cassandra... Sports and video games. I know Cassandra would have taught him how to play basketball and soccer, and some silly little dance to make after a successful goal or point."

Raine chuckled at the thought, an image of a little boy dancing with Cassandra after scoring a soccer goal flashing in her mind.

"What if they had been a girl? Think she would have taken after Bela?"

"God no." Alcina chuckled, grabbing Raine's arms and wrapping them around her waist. "She would have taken after me, of course."

"Oh really? Beauty, grace and a smart-ass mouth?" Raine teased, bumping Alcina's temple with her forehead, earning a laugh from the raven-haired woman in her arms.

"You're already catching on, draga." Alcina replied, turning her head to press their foreheads together, breathing in the smell of the flowers blooming in the distance.

She closed her eyes, a sigh leaving her lips as she snuggled closer to Raine.

"I wanted so badly to have them..."

"I know, darling... I know." Raine replied, pressing a kiss to Alcina's lips. "You know that it's not your fault, right? That I don't blame you or hold any anger against you."

"I know..." Alcina replied, her voice a whisper against Raine's lips. "I can't help but blame myself though."

"Hush now. None of that talk, Alcina." Raine replied, her gaze focused on Alcina's, bringing her left hand up to gently cup Alcina's cheek. "You're not to blame, my love."

"But what if-"

"No buts, darling. No 'what ifs', no 'should haves', none of that. You did everything right, did everything you could, did everything the doctor told you." Raine smiled, her eyes glittering in the sunset. "I know you did, I know you tried so hard for us, and I couldn't be prouder of you. Perhaps we were jumping the gun a bit, or perhaps it just wasn't the right time to try, but that doesn't mean we can't try again in the future when we're ready."

Raine pressed another kiss to Alcina's forehead before meeting her eyes once more, her thumb gingerly brushing over Alcina's bottom lip.

"For now, we have three beautiful daughters to spoil, and new business ventures to make. New memories to create." She smiled again, wider this time. "We can try for a baby again, there's nothing stopping us from doing so. For now, I'm more than happy to have you all to myself."

Alcina finally smiled, tears once more dripping down her cheeks as she pressed her forehead against Raine's once more, a wet chuckle leaving her lips.

"You sure know how to make a lady feel special, draga mea... Thank you..."

Soft Wives™

Betty: We’re sitting right here Toni

Veronica: And we’re not gay for each other

Toni: Two words. Yellow. Flowers