#taking requests

“Say hi to the Winters family”

At first, all you assumed was that the term family meant a name and some blood that connected everyone. Every day felt more and more disorienting as you lived ok with people who felt more like strangers who were obligated to smile and greet each other.

It didn't help that your only role models were your older siblings who barely knew what empathy meant and your younger siblings who required more attention than what you could give. To say you were overwhelmed was an understanding, you were utterly defeated in this place you supposedly called home.

Then came a day, when you finally got up and ran off with nothing but yourself and your heavy heartbeat. Did anyone look for you? Who knows.

All you knew was that you were lucky to have fallen down a hill and somehow found a house in the middle of nowhere. That's where you met the Winters family.

It felt warmer than anything you were used to, the carpets were soft, the floors felt smooth, and their smiles felt more natural than you'd expected. The Winters’ were very kind to you, giving you clothes and food even when you didn't know what to say.

It all became natural when you fell asleep in the same bed as the couple, the baby crib that held their daughter bringing you peace unlike when you'd have to jump up and trip over yourself giving your baby siblings a bottle you could barely remember yourself.

“Ethan Winters, a man who cares about family”

After a while of living with the small family, you became much closer to Ethan than you thought you would. Your house was much more stiff with relationships, your own father was a man who couldn't tell you from your siblings and never hesitated to run abuse over your mother.

But Ethan was much kinder, he helped with chores, he held your hand when he taught you things, he always gave Mia a kiss on her cheek when she insisted on cooking alone. It was a total shift from what you'd initially assumed about all men : that they were cold and easy to upset.

Even when you made mistakes that you were sure would be your fall from grace from the kind man's eyes, Ethan only gave you a small smile before helping you fix whatever you did wrong. Even when you hid away in dark rooms thinking that they wouldn't want to see you, Ethan just appeared with a plate of Mia’s cooking and sat with you, helping you back to the table where no questions were asked out of malice, but instead concern.

“Why are you so nice to me? Ain’t I practically an adult?" You asked with confusion as you held the sleeping bundle named Rose in your arms, listening to her sleepy coos as you asked Ethan who was braiding your hair after looking up some tutorials online.

You could hear Ethan only chuckle at your confusion, as if the answer was a lot more obvious than you racked it for.

“Because you're still learning, a growing child is still a child at the end of the day. Besides, you've helped out Mia and I a lot even without us asking.” He mentions your previous assistance around the house before pointing out. "Plus, I think Rose enjoys having a reliable older sibling."

You can't help but to look down at Rose with a clumsy smile, having totally forgotten you were rocking the small thing to bed. It seems completely natural, especially after living with the Winter’s for so long.

“You think so?" A warm rush of embarrassment mixed with realization came forward, until you felt Ethan finish the last part of braiding your hair.

“Of course. Mia and I are happy to have you with us, we all have our own baggage but that's just life.” Ethan’s hand rubs your head affectionately before taking Rose from your arms and walking out the room, “let's hurry before Mia wonders why we haven't set the table yet."

You could only blink at Ethan’s smiling face before eagerly getting up, you're not sure when you became so accustomed to living with them. But you're sure you'll be more happy living here than where you used to be.

“Mia Winters, a woman of many secrets”

When you were first entrusted to watch over the couple's daughter, Rosemary, Mia had been there watching you. Back then, you'd barely learned how to manage your stress while helping your younger siblings, leaving behind yourself for others.

But here, you could feel a gentle hand on your back as Mia instructed you how to do those things that scared you before. Messy bottles turned into tidy ones, trembling hands turned into efficient ones, and that nervous humming of yours turned into a tired one as you found yourself being able to fall asleep easily whenever you held Rose. Sure, there were still moments you jumped at the sound of her crying or the feeling of throw up going through your shirt.

Yet Mia remained gentle and caring even if you did tend to overreact.

“I'm sorry I didn't know, I didn't..” You stammer as you hand her the crying baby that you didn't know how to calm down. “She just.. I'm.. Mia.." You looked away as you weren't sure what you did wrong.

“It's ok," Mia rocked Rose carefully before the cries slowly went away. “She must've been cranky without her little toys." Mia explains as the small baby begins to babble at the cradles slowly spinning top. Despite your stressed appearance, Mia just pats your head before teasingly squeezing your cheek.

“Come, we can relax as she goes to bed." Mia whispers before heading downstairs, sitting down in the living room while glancing at you expectantly. Fixing her tied hair to the side as if nothing happened.

When you finally sit down next to her, she holds your hand in her lap as she rubs small circles into your palm with her thumb. It's always calming whenever she does things like this, or whenever she reads books to you and Rose. You often find yourself relaxing more than you thought you could.

Mia brought you more than safety and comfort, she also introduced how you could keep your own secrets and not have anyone pry. When you would show something you kept locked, she wouldn't wait for a key. When you would struggle to say things, she wouldn't try to finish your sentences. When you'd find yourself feeling too much, she just kisses your forehead and smiles.

Mia had shown you what utter trust and confidence in another brought, in both her relationship with you and your shared fears of losing something important. In a way, she's what you always wanted in your mother. In another, she is your mother.

You found yourself sleeping against her shoulder as she continued rubbing circles into your hand that continues to slowly become limp.

“It's ok, rest. I'll wake you up when dinner's ready."

“Rosemary Winters, the result of love and secrets”

Years had passed since you became entangled and legally accepted into the Winters.

You can still remember when Rose was just a baby, barely able to open her eyes and cry in your arms in her little swaddle. Now, you're her legal guardian after Ethan made you promise to take Rose away from all of the troubles that Mother Miranda offered.

So, you took Rose and took whatever help Chris had offered. You became a researcher for the BSAA, found a few loopholes to ensure Rose was constantly living with you even with experiments that you made sure to oversee, and even made sure to make constant deals for Rose’s school experience to be less degrading.

Even with your lack of formal education, you stayed firm with your decision to take care of Rose. Especially after she became something of a little sister to you.

Eventually, when Rose managed to finish school, you were there with fat tears falling down your face as you held a sign with the words ‘We are so proud of you Rose!’ during her graduation ceremony.

“You made it!” She exclaimed as she ran towards you. You hurriedly put the sign down and hugged her, these past years have been the most difficult for Rose - with the truth of her parents being a conversation, then her powers altering her life. It was truly a progress you had prayed Rose would be able to trudge through.

“I wouldn't miss this for the world, I'm so proud of my little Rose.” You smiled and wiped away your tears as you hugged her. “None of this was easy, yet you still did great." You finally lean away to pinch her cheek gently.

She chuckles at the gesture.

Before meeting the Winters, family was nothing but a burden you thought you'd have to endure for all your life. But now, you understand why it's important to have one. Even if it's just Rose and you, sometimes each other is all you need at the end of it all.

Bonus hcs

“Mother Miranda, the core, the design, the mother of it all”

You weren't sure how you ended up in this fucked up and diseased family, but you just did.

It all started when you followed Ethan after watching Mia die, and seeing Rose get stolen. Somehow the car that took you and Ethan to whatever the BSAA was planning to bring you to was broken into and unlocked. You came to the village with Ethan after seeing him realize Rose might be there.

But somewhere along the way, while sneaking into Castle Dimitrescu, you'd gotten separated from Ethan and grabbed by the scruff of your pyjamas before being tossed to a strange lady everyone seems to call ‘Mother Miranda’. Whenever she speaks to you, you can swear you hear Mia’s voice.

“Come here child, I wish to inspect you.” Her voice echoes in the abandoned ruins as she calls you, her hand extended as if waiting for you to hurry.

“Why?” You feel a lot more confident picking a fight with that tall lady Dimitrescu than trusting Mother Miranda.

“Does a mother need a reason to inspect her children?” She glares, rendering your silent as you awkwardly shuffle into her arms reach. She tilts your head as she inspects your eyes, then your teeth, and even your ears.

“Ahh.” You narrow your eyes in confusion as she makes you open your mouth.

“You seem quite healthy.” She doesn't seem happy but at the same time she doesn't seem angry either. Just apathetic… It makes you feel strange, yet when you try to back away, she just tilts her head.

“Get back here child.” You roll your eyes but listen, it seems to make Mother Miranda happy. "Good, obedience is key.” She doesn't give you much time to question her words as she makes you sit down in front of her, removing the debris in your hair and clothes from your earlier scraps and escapes.