I love it; super cute! Lissa and Maribelle would MUST DEFINITELY ship their kids! (That is, if they weren't already lesbian for each other, deciding to adopt or use sperm donors.) And you've made the relationship between Owain and Brady SO adorable! The way they few up as inseparable best friends, and then comforted each other through their parents' deaths, and it led to them being a perfect couple, it's all so, well, perfect!

Oh gosh. Oh gosh. I've never been much into this pairing, but this was written so incredibly well and in character and it's so adorable, oh my goodness. You nailed the characters, you nailed their speech patterns, you just nailed it. That was so sweet. Oh I love it.

Adorable! It's so strange to imagine Lissa and Maribelle as mothers when they're practically within the same age class as their children, though (at least in my mind) sort of semi-justifies them in shipping their kids. They're still young to be doing silly stuff like that.

Aw, this really was a cute little story. I'm not the biggest Awakening fan, so, honestly, I'm not familiar with Brady's character, so his broody-ness seemed odd to me, but I'm sure its in character. Owain, however, I am familiar with and I loved him here haha the way you wrote him reminded me very much of L'Arachel from Sacred Stones - elegant, flamboyant speech even in the most idle of conversations - it was very nicely done. I like too how when things get down to business, Owain knows when people need him to really be there, such as facing his and Brady's mother or holding Brady when he needs him.

Also, Maribella and Lissa shipping their children is DEFINITELY one of the cutest things ever hahah I agree with you there. Speaking of which, their reactions are perfect. I love how excited they are, and I can really feel that excitement. But the way they were also a little thrown to see their kids in the midst of sexual acts was funny and appropriate. Like, as a narrative device, it does well to create some tension for Brady and Owain, but when the realization comes in I just think that's a great moment.

The way you also portray Mirabella and Lissa's immediate acceptance is also wonderful. It was funny how you gave them the thought to ship their kids when they were young before realizing they couldn't do it when their two boys came from the future. But then they see them together and their first reaction is "omg great they can still be in love," like a happy surprise. Loved that.

On the low side, really only two things I can think of, and this is really a fun story so I hesitate to even mention them...but you know how I am. Firstly, one of the early lines sort of suggests that Lissa died in the future, which I don't think is canonically correct. Also, I think this whole thing is narrated through the third person perspective of Brady, but I didn't really notice it until you started using "Ma" for Mirabella, maybe sometime to take a look at.

With that done, a fantastic story overall, one of those tales you really enjoy reading. Great job, Kender.

Jesus, this was shockingly adorable! My own personal Lissa/Maribelle headcanon has Brady and Owain as brothers so it's kinda hard to ship them. But this makes me want to, lol. Not to mention their supports just beg for H/C moments.

Yeah, sure. Blame it all on your poor helpless RP buddies! THIS SOUNDS VAGUELY FAMILIAR though now that I think about it being the root OF ALL EVIL I mean the CAUSE of beautiful works of Kenderfiction is definitely not a BAD thing, so blame away!

I love their beginning exchange, with Owain's comment about Maribelle bringing Brady into the world (omg wow no Brady does not want to picture that) and Brady getting defensive about his ma: the line about her changing his diapers as a kid/why would she knock? So cute.

Also, can I say it's sad? Both that and what Owain says? Because it's like a tiny reminder that this Maribelle isn't his ma.

[He hadn't expected that prim, invincible lady with the frown lines and the bright eyes to be slaughtered, though.] Ahh. Yeah, dude. Because future!Maribelle would DEFINITELY have frown lines. Like permanent ones. Ahh. Dude.

[and he was going to have to defend something that was good for him, something he loved. And to somebody else that he loved!] This is ALWAYS SO SAD. We'll leave Lyn in a safer place, where she doesn't have to defend her feels for Kent to a disapproving grandfather (not too much, anyway). Instead we'll leave that up to cutiepies like Owain and Brady. ABLOOBLOOBLOO.

["You and I, two seasoned warriors, staring down the very beings who gave us life. We will do it without fear and without shame."] Why is Owain the cutest boy to ever be born.

["It'll be all right. Some great heroes we'd be if we succumbed to such a grim, clawing feeling as embarrassment."] Did I say he was cute BECAUSE HE IS.

Oh and this, wow: ["Leave me here, dear Brady! My death rattle is drawing nigh."] Okay at first I was like, "MORE CUTE," but then I was immediately like "NO WAIT THAT'S SO SAD." Brady's reaction to it is the saddest thing ever. Like, he has probably had nightmares where it wasn't a joke.

["You'n me."] SOBS. BRADY.

["You thought we'd be mad? At our own babies?"] BABIES.

["I mean, my duck," said Ma, "that we approve wholeheartedly."] MY DUCK. Oh my God I just imagined a retelling of The Ugly Duckling for some reason. I blame you.

["It seems…stupid, to wave that around. To say we're still happy. Because then life'll just take it from us, like it's taken everything."] Ahhh. But this line is even BETTER: ["I loved you too—most fiercely. But that could not save you."] Because wow, he hardly says anything at all here but you can almost feel how hurt he is at the knowledge that love can do a lot of things, but it can't save someone's life.

["You were gonna hold me," Brady retorted.] BASICALLY THIS TO THE END MADE ME HAVE NINE THOUSAND PLUS FEELS. Hence the capslocking. Oh my God. Brady. Such a cutie. I love him. I want to cuddle him. He needs hugs and cuddles and pets on the head. Look at him. He's the cutest.

And like we discussed before, Owain can't shove a kitten at him to make him feel better because KITTENS MAKE HIM CRY TOO. So obviously only a hug will help and that also makes him cry.

Ahh it's so cute. Everything. I love how Maribelle sounds just like herself and Lissa is adorable and Owain is silly and cute as heck and Brady is pathetic and also cute. Now I'm torn on shipping Brady/Owain or Inigo/Owain. HMMMM. (I'm only torn because Owain/Cynthia is the funniest thing to ever exist.)

Basically: CUTE.

Love,
Manna