Chapter Text
The donut grandmother, elderly as she may have been, was unable to do anything but rock in her chair. She had to say that even near the end of her lifespan, she still thought of her granddaughter from time to time. Sweetheart was her name, and she had left at such a young age to seek more out of life.
Not that she didn’t support her granddaughter in all of her exploits, but part of her felt as if she was not enough. She felt like she could’ve been there more for her granddaughter, perhaps then she would’ve stayed.
Then again, those feelings were far too late to be expressed now. If only she could see her one last-
“Nai-nai?”
The donut woman’s ears caught a familiar voice, catching a familiar flurry of pink out of the corner of her eye. She adjusted her glasses as she watched her granddaughter through the door, softly knocking as she peered through the window. The donut could hardly believe her eyes, but did not hesitate to open the door, allowing her granddaughter entry.
“Good day to you and-” The donut’s words were cut short as she saw a very handsome aqua skinned man close behind her, giving an awkward smile. “And my oh my! Who is this?”
“He…Means a lot to me.” Sweetheart quickly spoke, her face turning pink before she turned back towards her grandmother, who seemed to be happy to simply see her again. “But I have something more to speak of to you.”
The grandmother cocked her head, curious.
“And that is?”
Sweetheart gave a look to Spaceboy, who nodded, before turning back towards her grandmother.
“I…Wish to apologize for the granddaughter I’ve been.” She confessed, looking down. “I should’ve stayed in contact with you at the very least, been more grateful for everything you’ve done for me. I know you must be disappointed in me, and my words cannot change that. I am no longer a girl, I am a woman and I need to take responsibility for my actions.”
A silence was exchanged between the two before the donut hugged her granddaughter softly, prompting a surprised yelp from the donut girl in question.
“Disappointed? I’ve never been prouder of you than I am today, dearest!” The donut elder chimed happily, letting her granddaughter go. “It seems like in the time I looked away, you grew up! And I can see that you have someone by your side that won’t let you go.”
Sweetheart gently smiled towards Spaceboy before turning back to her grandmother, deciding to now ask the most important question.
“Then you have no opposition to the idea of me staying with Spaceboy?” She questioned, almost pleadingly as the donut woman gave a look to the alien boy before turning back towards Sweetheart.
“The only problem I have is the name Spaceboy. What a funny name to have!” She chuckled as Sweetheart sighed in relief.
“I love you, nai-nai.”
***
“Come on, get in there, you…Ugh!”
Mikhail was rather miffed, still rather rusty when it came to being in the kitchen. He tried his best to even sort the bread, and found he had difficulties in doing so. Angel still assisted him from time to time, but he was no more help than he was even in their delinquent days. He had to say that he was glad to be far away from Sweetheart though!
“Maverick! Maverick!”
The voice, like a curse, reached his ears, prompting him to jump in place as his gaze turned quickly towards the window. He could only spot Sweetheart’s all too familiar face as she gave a sheepish smile.
“I just wanted to say-”
“Shoo, shoo!” The boy cried out, running as much as he could. “I’m not letting your ghost haunt me like this!”
Sweetheart rolled her eyes. It’d take a little more convincing than she thought. With a knock at the window, the sharp rattle made Mikhail freeze in place, turning towards the woman as she exhaled.
“That’s better.” She stated, before exhaling. “Now, all I wanted to say was that-”
“Aghhh!”
“...I’m sorry.”
An uncomfortable silence rang between the two before Mikhail piped up once again, clearly unamused.
“And now I know someone’s playing a trick on me! Sweetheart, ghost or not, would NEVER say she was sorry, especially not to me!” He proclaimed turning his back as Sweetheart tried her best to be heard through the window she was peeking out of.
“This time, I mean it!” She insisted, the boy still turned away and ignoring her pleas. “I have somewhere to be now, but before I can go forever, I really want to tie up some loose strings. One of the biggest strings I have yet to tie up is your own.”
“Like where? Heaven?”
Sweetheart didn’t even try to correct him, continuing her words anyhow.
“I know, I was a sour doughnut in my time.” She explained, grateful that Spaceboy was still holding onto her despite how hard the convincing was taking. “I know I was cruel to you and others, to say the least.”
“You bet that, not-Sweetheart.” He chuckled bitterly as she tried to continue to speak.
“But I swear, from now on, I will make good.” She stated with a nod. “You may never see me in the village or even all of Pyrefly again after this day, but tell Angel as well. I apologize to both of you and I will make sure I never interfere in your lives again.”
It was then Mikhail’s expression changed, crossing his arms.
“So if you’re really Sweetheart…” He began, raising an eyebrow. “You really mean it about this whole changing thing? Starting a new life elsewhere? After what happened, I don’t think anybody here’s gonna trust you again.”
Sweetheart sighed, a sad tinge in her voice, but persevered, determined to not be gotten down.
“And that is the fate I deserve for my behavior.” She confirmed, with a harsh nod. “I only wish to start a new life elsewhere and allow all of you to have the joy you all deserve here.”
As hard as these words were to muster, Sweetheart was grateful she did so as Mikhail seemed to ponder on her words before giving a harsh nod of his own in confirmation.
“Then I guess it doesn’t hurt to forgive you.” He stated, Sweetheart giving a gracious sigh, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “Just do your best wherever you go, whatever path you choose, okay?”
“I will!” Sweetheart confirmed, slowly turning to Spaceboy. “I promise I-”
“And in the meantime?”
Sweetheart turned around once more to see Mikhail smiling towards her, comforting her in the oddest way possible.
“Ghost or not…Take care of yourself.”
With a final smile towards the young man, Sweetheart turned towards Spaceboy, who held out his hand.
“Are you ready?” He asked, Sweetheart hesitating for just a moment before nodding, placing her hand within his own.
“I’m ready to go, yes.”
Sweetheart smiled towards the man, the hole inside of her finally feeling as if it had been filled.
“And I’m ready to begin my life with you.”
***
10 Years Later
***
“Dad, let go already!
Spaceboy tried his best to wrangle the blue skinned girl, her almond-shaped pink eyes blinking with annoyance as he placed her down.
“You know you can’t run outside at night.” He scolded the girl, who crossed her arms.
“Not fair.” She complained, turning towards her mother, who sewed in the corner. “You go out late too!”
“The difference is that I’m not eight years old.” Sweetheart giggled as she held up the pink dress. “Now, won’t you be a dear and model for mommy, Nova? I sewed this just for you!”
Nova, as she was called, stuck out her tongue as she flipped her long green hair.
“I’m not gonna become a world famous supermodel if I’m at home all the time!” The alien donut girl complained as her father picked her up with a smile.
“And you’re not going to become a world famous supermodel if you don’t practice modelling, you know!” He teased his daughter, who pouted in response as she was placed in front of the vanity, prompting her mother to start brushing her hair. Nova was usually one to listen to her parents, but found herself already fascinated by the world beyond the otherworld she had always known despite her young age.
Sweetheart had to say, she took after her father. Though Spaceboy would say that her attitude took after her mother, who styled her hair into familiar ponytails. She could only think back on the days of her youth and how it felt to be Nova’s age, staring into the eyes of the man who helped her get back on her feet when she most needed it.
If she never tried again, she would’ve never had the life she had now, and if he had never given her that second chance, she wouldn’t be as happy as she was now.
That’s all she could say about her feelings now, more than she ever was, she was happy.
Absurdly, deliriously happy.