Private The Life we choose

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Wedding Ring

The air on Niv Hani was cool as evening came, but still carried the warmth of the sun that had hung overhead all day. From the upper balcony of the Noble homestead, the sounds of laughter rose up from below. Vera's voice rang out as she darted across the grass with the triplets close behind her, their game a blur of energy and joy.

Valery sat curled on one end of the outdoor sofa, wrapped in a light nightgown that shifted gently with the breeze. Her knees were drawn up close, arms wrapped loosely around them, and her gaze never left the children below. A soft smile played on her lips, her eyes full of love for all of them. She watched Vera for a long moment, the way her daughter moved so freely, so full of life. The triplets followed with determination, as they wanted to catch her. It was a perfect scene, the kind she had always fought for.

And yet, the smile slowly faded.

Valery's fingers flexed lightly against her arm, and her eyes dropped to the balcony floor. Whatever thought had crept in again, it stayed there. Unshaken by the peace of having her children around her.

She let out a quiet sigh that came from deep within.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

There was a tap on Valery's shoulder. A mug of caf that Kahlil had for her, and a soft smile on his face. Today had just been a day of relaxing, but he wasn't unaware of what might be going through her mind. Not the specifics, but the fact that she wasn't quite alright was enough for him to sit beside her and just let her have his shoulder if he needed it.

"So, wanna talk about it or is just sitting here helpful?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery felt the touch on her shoulder and glanced up with a tired smile. The caf was warm in her hands, and Kahlil's presence, always steady, helped ease the tension in her chest. She turned the mug slowly in her fingers, reading the words printed along the side, then set it down on the table beside the couch without taking a sip just yet.

"Thank you," she said with a loving smile.

Rather than answer his question right away, she shifted. Carefully, she set herself across his lap and rested her head against his chest, one hand finding his as the other curled gently against the hem of his shirt. Her eyes closed for a moment as she focused on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Can you just hold me first?" she asked, voice softer now. "Just for a little while."

Her fingers tightened slightly, not from distress, but to anchor herself. The thoughts hadn't gone away, not completely, but with him here, they didn't feel quite so heavy. Not when he held her like this.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil smiled soft as ever as he nodded, idly wrapping an arm around Valery's shoulder to hold her closer. He understood well that sometimes comfort was all that was needed, not talking, not diving into whatever was going on. He sipped his own caf, his gaze now on their children as they played. They were getting so much bigger now, likely because of the Epicnathix within them.

Hopefully Valery wouldn't be too upset when they started to tower over her. He'd tease her about that eventually, just, not right now.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery settled more into him, letting the rhythm of his breathing and the warmth of his arm around her pull her into something steady again. For a while, she didn't say anything. Just breathed, as she listened to the distant sounds of the kids playing and the low hum of the breeze over the balcony.

"I love you," she said after a moment, her voice soft.

She felt his hand shift slightly against her shoulder and smiled, then jabbed his side with two fingers and tilted her head enough to catch the reaction she knew would follow.

"I know what you're thinking," she murmured, "You're picturing the triplets towering over me already. You're not as subtle as you think, you know." Her smile lingered as she looked up at him, head still resting against his chest. The amusement faded only slightly.

"I've been thinking a lot lately," she said, her eyes meeting his. "About where we're going. The war's not over, and neither of us are walking away from it any time soon. But I keep wondering about our place in it."

She paused, fingers brushing lightly over the fabric of his shirt.

"You know, what our future looks like."

Kahlil Noble ​