It took 48 hours to take care of Princess, who was a sick baby.
Not just sick but clingy... The moment Faye shifted even an inch away, Princess’s arms would lock around her waist with frantic, sudden force, her lungs pulling in fast, dramatic gasps as if she were being left behind in a storm, her pulse thumping loudly against Faye’s back.
Faye had a taste of her own medicine.
It was like the clingy Faye when she was pregnant. She remembered those long months of refusing to let go, her own heart hammering in a constant need for closeness, her chest rising and falling in heavy, desperate waves back then.
This time, it’s Princess.
Wherever she went, Princess was with Faye. In the kitchen, the gaming room, the bathroom, the nursery... Princess was always clinging to her girlfriend like her life depended on it, dragging behind Faye’s quick steps across the house, her chin resting heavily on Faye’s shoulder while her breath came out in warm, rhythmic puffs against her skin.
While attending to the kids, Princess was still seeking attention. She would slide her hands under Faye’s arms while Faye tried to change diapers, her heart beating in a persistent, needy rhythm as she buried her face in Faye’s neck, letting out soft, pathetic snuffles through her nose until Faye paused to kiss her cheek.
Faye was like a battery for Sick Princess. Every time Faye pulled away to grab a clean towel or a baby bottle, Princess’s posture would sag, her lungs letting out a ragged, exhausted sigh as if all her strength had suddenly vanished into thin air.
Even on day three, Princess was still not letting Faye go and she was better.. Her fever had completely broken, her eyes were bright and clear, and her chest was rising and falling in smooth, full waves, but her arms remained clamped like iron around Faye’s waist.
And Faye needed to leave because of the pink-haired guy, and Malo had contacted the Lycan Prince’s lawyer.
They were meeting him today.
"Baby... I have to go. I promise I will be back tonight... and you need to stop this childish behavior and look after the kids..." Faye said, her hands coming up to gently cup Princess’s warm cheeks, her chest expanding with a deep, pleading breath as she looked into her girlfriend’s eyes.
"I want to come with you... I will just hang around somewhere in the gym..." Princess insisted, her bottom lip thrusting out in a sharp, stubborn pout as her heart rate gave a fast, defiant jump against her ribs.
"Who is going to take care of our pups?" Faye asked, raising an eyebrow while her lungs released a quiet, lingering huff of frustration.
"Kiara was supposed to be here today, but she called. She has something important to do, and Beam is helping Tisha at the convenience store," Princess said. She took a slow, deliberate breath through her nose, her eyes locking onto Faye’s face without backing down an inch.
"You can’t come with me because Malo and I are to meet Prince Arthur’s lawyer today...." Faye pushed back, her voice dropping into a firm, non-negotiable frequency while her heart thuttered with nervous energy.
"Guess you have to drop us at the convenience store. I will hang with Beam today," Princess said, feeling defeated.
Even while still acting childish, she knew her limits. She didn’t want to be in the way of Faye’s business.
In less than six months, she was going to take control of the case. Her mind was sharp behind those eyes, her pulse steadying into a calm, resolute rhythm as she thought about the battle waiting for her down the road.
So Faye dropped her girlfriend and pups at the convenience store.
Beam didn’t look happy with Princess being around in her space, but Tisha welcomed her and gave her a vest to work while Tisha’s grandparents babysat the pups.
At Starpants and Co.
"Finally, I thought we were never going to arrive. What took you so long?" That was the first greeting Malo gave to his friend the moment she walked into the gym.
"I have a family to take care of, and they are all children....." Faye said, then shoved the donut box into Malo’s hand.
"And here is your donut you ordered...."
"Thank you...." Malo muttered, his eyes instantly lighting up as his fingers tore into the cardboard flap, his breathing turning quick and greedy at the sight of the food.
"Don’t thank me. You have a kitchen here to make your donuts, but no, you are still ordering." Faye pointed out, crossing her arms tight over her chest while her pulse slowed down into its normal, sharp cadence.
"Okay, I am always busy, and I put a pause on my donut business. After all this drama, I will reopen it again," Malo said, chewing his donut. A satisfied groan escaped his throat as he swallowed the heavy bite, his chest expanding with a thick, sugary breath as he wiped his mouth.
"Where is he?" Faye said, her eyes darting around the open gym floor, her breathing catching slightly as her protective instincts flared up.
"In the van with Haley and Sasha...." Malo answered, pointing a thumb over his shoulder toward the rear loading bay, his heart thumping in a steady, casual pattern.
Faye then realized that the gym was more crowded than usual.... Her ears caught the heavy clanking of weights, the loud chatter of unfamiliar voices, and the chaotic rhythm of dozens of feet stomping on rubber mats, making her pulse spike with sudden, sharp anxiety.
"What happened here? Why are there so many people...?" Faye asked,
"After Kiara and her fake girlfriend made a live video here, people are now wanting to register. Haley will fill you in. She has closed the applications online because of this." Malo explained quickly, his tongue darting out to lick sugar off his lip while his breathing remained light and unbothered by the chaos.
This was not good. Normally, a person would be happy when business is booming, but not Starpants and Co.
They opened a gym not because of money, but to have a place to hang out and hide their wealth. Faye’s eyes swept over the crowded room, her heart pounding a heavy, dangerous beat against her ribs while her chest rose in short, suffocating waves as the reality of the situation crashed over her.
If people kept coming to the gym, a lot of attention would be on them, and they would be out there in the world.
Eyes like the Gamma Police Force would be attracted.