‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚.

⠀⠀⠀ 𝓛ife is precious and should not be 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 ( … ) the thing is to find some 𝙿𝚄𝚁𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙴 and go on living. ❀

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

RED IS MY * 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓, WOUNDED AND 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑛 . . . AND YOUR HEART 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ i can remember the first time i cooked somethin’ for you —— i was so pleased with myself that you liked it. ” sitting down across from him at the table, she smooths her hands over her skirts. “ and you practically told prudie you didn’t want her near the stove again. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

a soft smile at her husband as she sets the table with the dinner dishes, untying cloth apron from around her waist. “ should warm the rest of you up, if you aren’t already. ” she replies.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

a soft gasp leaves her as she’s tugged right back toward him, although she can’t help but to laugh against his lips. “ so cheeky. ” she teases, cheeks pleasantly flushed. but, her attentions are soon focused on their dinner, humming lightly under her breath as she cooks.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ of which you’ve been very deserving. ” a pointed finger lands squarely in the center of her husband’s chest, before she turns away from him once more —— ducking out of his arms so she can fetch the ingredients for chestnut soup, of which they seem to have a fair amount.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ oh, 𝘩𝑢𝑠𝘩. ” laughter pours from her lips, spinning around in his arms so that she’s facing him instead. “ givin’ me such lip … part of me’s thinkin’ you don’t even deserve dinner. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ i can only hope you’re right. … i miss the sun. ” she laments with a 𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ, gazing out the window at the quickly-darkening sky. “ besides … things are already bad enough. i don’t know what we’ll do if they get worse. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ you’re forgiven. ” demelza can’t help but to smile, even if she can’t see his face. it feels 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑒, to be missed. “ s’pose i’m just glad we don’t currently have any extra mouths to feed … ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ oh, 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒. ” a playful roll of her eyes, shaking her head —— although, she does lean back into his embrace. “ i’ve always been wise, i think … maybe you just haven’t been listenin’. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ aye, but we need to be thankful for what we’ve got —— no use complain’ about something we can’t change. ” setting the bread and a knife on the table, she then turns back to the stove. “ i’m certainly grateful i’m not starvin’ out on the streets. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ ross, you can’t blame yourself. isn’t like 𝑤𝑒 can control the weather —— it’d be a better world if we could. ” the redhead sighs, clicking her tongue as she takes out the remnants of yesterday’s bread. “ we can only do what we may —— and share what we can. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ ah, 𝑦𝑒𝑠 —— i’ll have to see what i can make with what we have. ” she replies, getting to her feet and brushing off her skirts. “ stores are running a bit low … hopefully this winter won’t hold on for much longer. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ not at all —— i’d rather it was 𝑚𝑒 in your thoughts than someone else. ” her gaze is meaningful, but she says nothing to expand upon it. ross knows exactly what she means.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

a soft sigh against his lips, eyes fluttering shut —— and even when he pulls away, her lips remain slightly parted, just in time for him to lean back in and claim them once more. “ someone’s been missin’ me, i see. ” she lightly teases, once they’ve broken for breath again.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

it’s quite obvious that he isn’t paying attention to a word she’s saying about dinner. but, they do have some time to make up for, since he’s been away. “ 𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 … are you even listenin’ to me? ” a rhetorical question, one that’s soon swallowed by his lips on hers.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ mm, nothin’ important … just how nice it is havin’ you back home. ” she replies, turning her head so she can gaze up at him. “ i’ll have to see what i can rummage up from our stores for dinner tonight. i do still have some bread i baked from yesterday, though. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

content sigh leaves her lips, leaning into ross’ side. when he is ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒, the house feels all the warmer for his presence —— and she is glad to not be alone. with only jud and prudie around for company … things get tiresome quick.

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ i know you do. ” a soft smile gifted in her husband’s direction, before her attentions turn back to the hearth. at last, the fire’s started, and she sighs in relief —— sitting back on her knees as she shrugs off ross’ coat. “ there. should do the trick, in a few minutes. ”

[‍ ‍𝓓𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

travels? i don't mind doing it. ”

[‍ ‍����𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐳𝐚. @lovedsteadfast]

“ aye, ross … i’m more than capable of makin’ a fire. ” the redhead protests, organizing the logs in the hearth. “ ‘sides, if jud and prudy don’t see fit to tend the hearth, who else’ll do it? would you rather the house be cold and unforgivin’ when you get home from your »