M

"Do you have to go ?" Babycakes murmurs as he hugs one of my hands to his chest, his fingers fiddling with our wedding- teehee- ring.

"Do I have to go to college ? Hm..maybe. I think." I giggle when he glares at me. I've been prepping for today since almost a month. We had been assigned a group project and surprisingly enough, my team had made it to first place. So now, we're getting to present it infront of many different students from across the country, who take the same course. It makes me anxious but I love my major so it's all hehes.

I'm really nervous because I'm the team leader and like, what if I trip ?

"Do you think I'll trip ?" Dalaric rests his back against the car and pulls me to him. He thinks for a second and shakes his head.

"But I tripped at graduation, remember ?" I pout, thinking of how embarassing it would have been if my Dalaric wasn't there. I bet he could send a mean glare to someone if they laugh. But he won't be there today.

"At the wedding." He murmurs as he puts down some of my fly-aways.

"Hm ?" Why is he bringing that beautiful day up ?

"You tripped at the wedding too, baby." Oh.

"Thank you for that, babycakes. Best husband ever." Dalaric smiles when I squish my face into his chest with a laugh. I retreat when I remember that we're not too far from campus.

"What are you planning to do today ?" Dalaric averts his eyes at the question, and I narrow my own. I know it's a day off work from him since Ale is renovating the restaurant. They need more space since it's so successful which makes me beyond happy. Kids really like our penguin-themed milkshakes so to be fair, all credits to me. Hehe.

"Maybe some shopping." The words are quiet enough to make me glare at him. He's doing this again ? Even after I've told him not to ?

"You're not buying what I think you're buying, are you ?" Folding my arms, I ask in a monotone voice. This always gets him scared. No one likes monotone Mayella.

"...No." His eyes move towards the ground and he clears his throat. Liar.

"Babycakes, how many times ? Isn't this the sixth time ? Why do you keep- God, you need to stop..." I take a deep breath before continuing.

"...you need to stop buying onesies for our future babies." The words come out angrily but as a whisper. I can't even be angry at this cute pouting man.

I found out when Kipp kept pecking my head. Our parrot lead me into the guest room and signaled to the cupboard. And boy was I shocked to a see a whole infant-care shop set up.

"It's our money. I can do whatever." Dalaric folds his own arms, our black hoodie rising up. Although my heart still flutters at 'our', I send him a glare.

"Okie, sure. Last week, you bought three. A baby goat, a carrot and a..rhino, was it ? Oh, let's not forget the different colored baby carriers. And the week before, three penguin ones! Two in blue and one in-"

"Pink." Dalaric feels the need to complete.

My man...

My favorite pair of eyes still don't meet my own and I pout, then sigh.

"Only one. You can only get one. Are we clear ?" It's time I assert my dominance. I love my penguins but this excessive spending by this baby-loving man is quite overwhelming. And he doesn't even update the excel chart when he buys things! How sneaky.

"Fine. Come here." He pulls me in for a tight hug and gives me a long forehead kissie and then a small cheek one.

Once we pull apart, I notice the place get busier as someone comes up behind us,

"Erm, excuse me ? Maya, right ?" Dalaric lets go of my waist and I turn around with a smile directed to the cute girl who looks anxious.

"Yup. You're Julie, right ? Is there anything I can do for you ?" She seems surprised that I remember her name and smiles. She dropped her coffee once and I got her a new one. Then we both played tic-tac-toe on a sticky note before class started. Julie is a sweetheart.

"Uh- Mr.Ahmed is asking for all the student reps to gather at the hall. Do you think.." Her eyes drift behind me and I hold back a laugh.

I'd bet all the unused baby onesies we have that he's glaring at the ground right now. I gave Dalaric a three day course on being nice to my girlfriends. He stopped glaring at them. I also taught him how to wave. He now waves, quite reluctantly, to everyone who we're friends with. Even the old cashier at the store. I don't think my baby has gotten the hang of it yet.

It doesn't matter, though. Everyone respects him a lot because of how kind he his. He sets up food drives at the restaurant every Saturday for the homeless. I'm so glad I'm married to a man who's kindness earns him his respect, instead of fear. That's my man.

"Oh, yes, sure. I'll get there in five, is that okay with you ?"

"Yes, thank you. Y-you look really pretty- bye now." Julie almost sprints away so I don't get to thank her or return the compliment. She said I look pretty.

"She's right." I'm pulled back by a warm hold on my hand. I smile really widely when Dalaric boops my nose and gets in the car.

"You're prettier. Hehe. I'll see you later, right ?" Poking my head into the car, I give him a special kiss and he nods, pleased.

"Yeah, student rep. See you." He's making me all hot and bothered.

It hasn't even been a week since I've been chosen. It's surreal, yes. Considering how low my self-esteem was, I didn't want to apply for the position. But I'm also married to a man who wants me to do my best in everything and he really wouldn't take no for an answer.

Initially, I was really surprised that people like me here. But judging by how many more votes I got compared to the other great candidates,

I'd say I'm quite the hot stuff. Like a limited edition peice of furniture, maybe.

Table maya for the win. Hehe.

My legs take me to the gate of the campus and I wave at Kirra and T who are sharing a bagel. Ah, young love. Everyone here knows I'm married because of the ring on my finger, and the man who's the first to arrive to pick me up and drop me off in his jet-black, 'I-can-buy-all-the-onesies-in-the-world' mercedes. Imagine the amount of attention a beautifull man coming out of a beautiful car gets...

But definitely not more than a limited edition table, that's for sure. Kirra said I'm a top. I don't get it, but I think she means that I'm a shirt that looks nice. It's sweet of her. Maybe Dalaric's a coat? Mhm. I should google that.

It's surreal how happy I am. I feel so content with myself as a person that the past me feels like years ago. I'm at a point where, even though my future is so uncertain, I know I'll be able to make it through. I've never felt this way before. It's even better than happiness. It's like happy happiness.

It's been a year since the wedding, and I only have two years left to graduate. And knowing that when I do, I can build a family with the person I'm in love with, never fails to put a smile on my face. It's not like he's the only one who's excited. I can't wait to have little Malarics running around our house, wearing the onesies their dad keeps buying.

However, I still have a lot of work to do on myself, for my children.

Dalaric and I don't want to rush into things, no matter how impatient we are. We both do regular mental check-ups to ensure that when the time comes, we're mentally ready to be responsible for an adorable little human. Or maybe two. Teehee. It's been about six months since I've started therapy and I feel so much more confident that my trauma won't affect the parent I want to be.

It's not as if those with mental illnesses can't be parents. Dalaric made sure I knew that before I took any further steps. He kept babying me with persistent worry that I felt like I was not enough.

But being a parent means not settling for the bare minimum if it could affect your child, and I want to make sure that I never become the reason my child would need therapy.

Perhaps I never realised how much pent up anxiety and depression I had within me, so I subconsciously let it affect my decisions as a person. But now, when it comes to family, I can't and will not let my mental state affect that of my babies. Babies including Dalaric as well.

Mr. Klause, my therapist as of six months ago, tells me that it's okay to be the way I am, but it's not normal and not what I need to live a stable and healthy life. He also told me not to confuse the acceptance of mental illness with normalisation. I really like this man. Dalaric seems to have warmed up to him too. He really is like a cuter santa klause. Did I say that name right ? I think so...

As everything falls into place like pieces of a puzzle, I let go of things that have been holding me down for so long. Things that were inside of me too. Every time I'm happy, I can really only think of him. Just the thought of Dalaric by my side is enough to let me know that good things will come.

They might come in little onesies or three little onesies, but I know that whatever it is, it's so worthwhile as long as he's there.

With a 'I-love-him-so-much' pout, I send him a little heart emoji because I already miss him and I make my way into the hall. Julie welcomes me along with a few professors from other colleges. My friends circle in a group and wish me the best of luck.

I take deep breaths when the place starts getting packed. I think of all that is beautiful and more, him. And soon, I'm ready to face anything that's thrown my way. Because even after all the bad that has tried to stomp me down,

I just know that good things will come.