"You need to be safe, too."

"I want all of us to be safe. A team. But - you're my little sisters. I - don't want you to have to grow up before you're ready."

"We're ready."

"Especially since we've got you."

Soft smile, as she strokes Samira's hair and kisses Layla's head. "Thank you."

"We'll do this together, then?"

"Just like always."

Good.

Hug, and - she'd like to sleep here tonight, if the twins don't mind.

(They can discuss contingency measures in the morning.)

That's fine with Samira.

Layla too.

Good.

(She brings them into her contingency measures, after. It's tough to talk about, to acknowledge out loud - but important, and this way she can tie Layla into the decision-making process early. She makes sure they don't withdraw on their end from their parents - feels so, so grateful when Elathea never slips, but so, so frustrated that no one seems to be making progress - mama has stopped using Essence entirely, and mom's just invented pain killers for her that only mostly work - )

(Micqui prepares the girls to work with her. She's going to need to actually create a proper network, she realizes, one that extends outside of their household, so - the girls need to be ready for that. Need to be brought out of their shelter.)

It's good, though, for the most part. Happier. They have their mothers back, parents who love them, who are amazing, delightful, inspiring people. Who're available, and who let the girls sit in on their projects whenever they want. Who explain themselves, and who rarely get angry, and who handle it well when they do. All three's education jumps forward in leaps and bounds after - Micqui realizes exactly how much she'd been drowning without this help - and it eases something Micqui hadn't realized was wrong.

She doesn't feel like the twins' too-young parent, not anymore. It lets her feel closer to them. Rely on them, and love them as the equals they are. It's nice.

(They have frequent contact with the Second Most High over the next few years, and Micqui seizes advantage of that for later connections - though it has plenty of current benefits, too. Luna's a good friend. Micqui brings the twins to the Silver Chair after some discussion and preparation, to sharpen her tongue politicking with Luna's court, to dance at miraculous balls. She so, so loves dancing with her sisters, she finds. Loves leading Samira across the dance floor in complicated waltzes, loves tangoing with Layla. Loves working together in politics - loves the surreal nature of politics here. It helps push back against her brain's near obsessive urge to find and exploit and enforce patterns. Helps her develop good habits.)

She likes family time. Their at-least-weekly craft nights are a lot of fun, and a good chance to get herself to expand her skills in an area she'd otherwise neglect. And while crafting isn't centrally her thing... It's interesting seeing what their mothers are working on.

It's a couple years later that at one of those family craft nights, Elathea is working on a piece of jewelry their mama hasn't worn in while. Two tigers with tail entwined arcing towards each other to form a loop, a sun caught in between them.

Mama had worn that necklace Layla's whole life, and then - had that fight with mom, and suddenly stopped.

Layla's been curious, to say the least.

"Is that mama's old necklace?" she starts.

"Yes, it is. We think it's time to see if this is back in fashion."

"Why'd she stop wearing it?"

"The same reason she started wearing it. It's a little bit dangerous."

"...Mom. I'm sixteen. You can give me the actual explanation."

(Soft giggle.)

Well, since she asks.

"This collar was part of our sex life until I almost killed her with it."

(Even more giggles.)

Her brain rapidly flips through several responses before settling on - "So it's a masochism artifact? - Are you changing it so it's less actually dangerous? How's it work?"

If she focuses on science she can't blush.

"That is indeed what I'm doing." She beckons Layla over. "I'll show you, here."

She comes over to squint at it.

Elathea gives a very technical explanation that somehow manages to also include a number of explicit ancedotes about times the collar has been used delivered with a completely straight face.

Oh gods Samira did not want to know this much about her mothers' past.

Giggle.

"Mom, you're embarrassing Samira." She gives her twin a considering look. "But it just does painful stuff? Could you do a different design to, let's say, painlessly control someone?"

She's still watching Samira's face.