Chapter Text
Everything was going fine, perfectly even.
Charlie’s slime had stabilised, now forming two little blobs that rested on his head and shoulder.
He still hadn't fully regained control of his slime..but that's fine.
Juanaflippa was fine, happier than ever it seemed.
They had even managed to convince her to go back to school! The poor thing was afraid to leave her fathers side, too afraid he’d suddenly disappear again.
Of course they assured her that nothing of the sort would happen again, and after a couple of therapy sessions with Roier, she asked to go back to school.
Charlie’s siblings also seemed to have settled in well.
Sneeg would often join them on their egg quests. He Managed to make a couple of new friends too! He started taking some fighting lessons with Etoiles lately, something about wanting to be able to defend his brothers, if Mariana recalled correctly.
Ranboo, reserved as ever, had only just started occasionally joining them. They hadn’t made as many friends as Sneeg had, but they did often leave the house to meet up at Phil’s, usually for afternoon tea with him and kids.
Everything was absolutely fine.
Mariana is also as fine as ever.
She is, really.
..
…
Mariana is not fine.
He just can’t help it! Feeling guilty that is.
Charlie did not remember the accident. And Mariana hadn’t told him.
He would say that she just hadn't had a moment to talk about it- but really Mariana was just doing his best to postpone the inevitable.
What would Charlie do if he found out? He couldn't bear to without him again.
So selfishly, he kept it to himself. Juanaflippa disliked talking about it as much as her mother, so it just..never came up.
And so Charlie still didn’t know.
And Mariana kept pretending everything was fine. But what a load of bullshit was that…
And so the guilt just kept eating him from the inside.
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It had been little under two months since Charlie’s return. That’s when Mariana decided to do something about that guilt.
He was gonna confront Charlie, tell him the truth about the incident, he had the right to know.
…And if he decided to leave him, that was also his right… And Mariana will just have to deal with it.
So he let most of the day go by as usual.
Late afternoon is when she decided to confront him. They were all sat on the couch, watching a film, what film you may ask? Mariana doesn’t know, he hadn’t been paying attention, to busy overthinking about what was yet to come.
Charlie’s siblings were both sound asleep, Ranboo sitting on the floor, head tilted back to rest on the couch, Sneeg instead sat on it, legs crossed, mouth slightly open letting out soft snores.
Juanaflippa was also a sleep, curled up on Sneeg’s lap, they got a long pretty well, those two.
“...Charlie?” Mariana whispered to the man at his side. He felt a weight being lifted from his shoulder, were his husband had been resting his head.
“..hm?” He muttered “..is everything alright?”
“Yeah.. about that, can we talk?”
“Yes, of course..what is it?”
“Let's go to our room.”
“O-oh, ok”
They got up from the couch, making sure not wake up the rest of their family, and then walked upstair, into their bedroom.
Mariana sat down on the bed, gesturing at Charlie to do the same. The latter tentatively took a seat beside him, a nervous look on his face as he fidgeted with his fingers.
“L-listen Mariana, I don’t know if I did something- but I'm sorry if I-”
Mariana took his husbands hands in his own “..you’ve done nothing wrong Charlie, don’t worry” he reassured.
“Oh- uh, what- what’s this about then?”
“It’s about.. before you went missing, certain- stuff happen, and I think you deserve to know.” Mariana took his hands away, looking ahead of himself, too scared to look at his beloved's face
Charlie just gave a small nod, beckoning Mariana to continue.
“Before your dissapearence, we- we used to fight a lot..about, well about everything really, it started out as banter but..it didn't take long for it become serious”
“Oh..oh Mariana that- it doesn't matter anymore, you've done so much for me now, I don't care about what we used be like..well unless you think it's a issue-”
“I feel the same way” She interrupted “But- but that's not everything… we used to take turns taking care for Flippa..and on one of my turns- there was an accident- It- her shell- It was so fragile-” Mariana tried explaining. ”I- I didn't mean to- my hand slipped and she- and and- and I..and I killed her” he finished tears threatening to spill.
Charlie didn't say anything. He just started in front of him, shock evident in his features, eyes looking past Mariana, deep in thought.
Mariana took the opportunity to carry on with the story “...you couldn't deal with Flippa’s loss..you- you went on a rampage, convinced that if all the eggs were to suddenly die- then the Federation had to bring them all back, Flippa included.. you failed fortunately” Mariana tried to regain her composure.
As no answer came from his husband, Mariana spoke up again.
“We were able to get Flippa back through a trial.. and the we stopped talking for a while.. I didn't know where you went, but the other Islanders saw you every now and then.. and then suddenly you dissapeared, not even the Federation knew were you were.” She finished explaining
After what felt like an eternity, Charlie let out a deep sigh “.. that's.. that's a lot to unpack.” He said, voice a low, somber tone.
“..I understand if you would rather leave-”
What!? No- no I would never-” Charlie quickly interrupted, taking both of Mariana’s hands in his own “Mariana what you did was an accident, you didn't mean to do it, I don't hold it against you, how could I? You said yourself, the way I reacted…that was far worse than what you did! And you're still here with me! Everything turned out well in the end did it not?”
“..I get that- but-”
“Does Flippa's forgive you?” He asked
“What?”
“Does Juanaflippa forgive you?”
“Yes, but-”
“Then it's settled. Everything is ok now..and..” He took away one of his hands to cup Mariana’s face “thank you, for telling me” he concluded, before planting a small kiss on her cheek
Mariana let the tears flow freely and hugged her husband, a weight that she'd been unknowingly carrying lifted from her shoulders as she did, and she smiled, as Charlie held her close.
Everything was going to be fine.