Don't forget your tissues!!

The weight of the situation was finally lifted off of Charlotte and Mia's shoulders and the home felt like it was back to normal again. Renee had asked Mia to take her to and from school again and this time Ellie asked to be included. Charlotte loved watching Mia with her daughters and couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness knowing that even their own father couldn't love them like her. She thought back to when she used to lie in bed crying each night right beside Nick who gave no cares. She thought she was going to be trapped in a loveless and traumatic marriage forever. She was begging for someone to change the prophecy and even found herself praying to God every night. She would beg to be sent someone who would really love her.

One night, Nick had walked in while she was praying and laughed in her face.

"No one would ever love a whore like you."
"Love is fake, Charlotte. Get over it."

"Oh so you think there's someone better than me out there?"

Many nights, she stayed awake with her head in her hands. She was nothing more than his wife.
His words caused tears to burn her eyes and she squeezed the bridge of her nose, trying to breathe. She needed to remember that it was the past and she was living in such a wonderful present. Being with Mia was freedom and she never felt trapped. She never had to fear that communication with Mia would end with her crying her eyes out or in the hospital. She never had to fear her daughters seeing her take the abuse she was teaching them to never accept.

"Mama? What's wrong?" Charlotte's thoughts were interrupted by Renee. She yawned and looked at her mom, beginning to give her a hug. "Are you okay?"

Charlotte sighed and wiped her eyes, she glances at the clock and sees it's about time for everyone in the house to wake up. "I'm okay, love bug. Just got a lot on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Charlotte was surprised at how mature Renee was acting and kissed her forehead, "There's not a whole lot that I can really say about it. I'm just a little sad about the past."
Renee furrowed her brows together and leaned into her mom's touch,"What makes you sad about it?"

"I just keep thinking about how you girls had to grow up with just me loving you unconditionally and how you deserve to have 2 loving parents your whole lives. I'm so sorry that I couldn't give you that."

Renee sat up a little bit and grabbed Charlotte's cheeks gently between both of her hands,"Mom, you did give us that. " She could see the confusion on her face and continued, "I don't really remember life before Mia was with us. I know some of the things Dad did but I don't remember him in any of my good memories. You loved us enough that it didn't matter he wasn't there. "

They both found themselves getting a little choked up as she took a breath trying to calm herself,"Then we met Mia and suddenly I felt like my family was whole. I love you Mom and I know that you are biased as my parent and love me dearly. But she didn't have to love me as her daughter and knowing that's all she wanted to do? Made me feel so special."

"Oh love, I had no idea how special she really makes you feel." Charlotte held her daughter close to her. She wasn't sure if she'd get another moment where Renee wanted to be close to her for a few years. After all, most teenagers turn away from their moms, not to them. "She makes me feel special too."

Mia had been quietly listening from the kitchen doorway where the girls had their back turned. She was content listening to how much their lives had changed for the better when their worlds collided. Charlotte always says  it's Mia who rescued her, but Mia felt it was Char who saved her. Mia had a loving mother who always did her best but knew what it felt like to be abandoned by a father and then used by Roger to try and chase him down. She knew what it felt like to have that void where your daddy should be. To know that she helped fill that void for Ellie and Renee was more rewarding than anything else. She could live off of this high forever. She was getting ready to make Charlotte and Renee aware she was there when she heard Renee begin to talk again.

"Mama, do you think if I asked her to adopt me she would?" Renee asked tearfully and held her mom close.

"Oh sweet girl, I know she would do it a million times over."

Renee and Charlotte were both startled by the sound of someone crying and turned to see Mia. "Mom? How long have you been there?"

Mia wiped her eyes and walked towards them,"Long enough my Ren." She sat down in front of them and placed her hand on Renee's and rubbed it gently with her thumb. "I would be your mother in every life, every universe, and even in death if you really would want me to." 

"You really would adopt me?"

"Ren, I know what it feels like to feel alone and even though Charlotte does an amazing job of loving you enough for two people. Sometimes it's just not the same. " Mia kissed both Char and Renee's heads,"I feel so honored that you see me truly as your mom and I'm so thankful you feel special because of my love. You truly are so special."

Charlotte smiled and sighed,"I love how much you love us, Mia."
Charlotte was so thankful they wouldn't have to get in contact with Nick for this. They had finally stripped him of his parental rights after the trial for his assault and years of abuse to her. She wondered if this was all some big dream and she'd wake up one day and it wasn't real.
"Thank you for letting me love you, Sweetheart. And for letting me love your amazing children."
"Our."
"Hm?"
"Our amazing children, Mia. They're going to truly be ours."
Mia's heart skipped a beat as she began to think of how different her life had been without Charlotte. She dreamed big and beautiful and was so glad she did. She always thought she was extremely difficult to love but she was shown just how easy it was. Thoughts of their possible future passed through her mind, she wondered if Charlotte would want to have more children or if 2 was enough for her. If they were ever to move into a bigger home so they could have endless space for friends to come over whenever.
Mia smiles at the thought of spending the rest of her life with Charlotte. Their wedding day couldn't come soon enough.

Authors note-
Archer_romanoff28  I hope this fills the void in your heart I created with my last few chapter 💜💜