I squint my eyes against the offending light that streams in through the windows, groaning as I turn my stiff neck and lift up my head. Niki shifts, next to me, her head burrowing into my shoulder as she clenches the fingers pressed against my side into a fist. We both must of fallen asleep while talking about our future plans for the election.
I quietly slide out of bed, careful not to wake her, stretching out my limbs as I tip toe to the doors. I smooth back my frizzy hair into low bun, rubbing my sleep blurred eyes. The warm early-summer air hits my face, light and pleasant with the midmorning sun.
I make my way to the van, the short grass tickling the underneath of my feet, and climb up the stairs, yanking open the door. Instantly, everyone's heads snap up, Tommy, Tubbo and Wilbur with their sleep mussed hair and dazed expressions, eyes widening after a moment of shock.
"Hey guys." I say awkwardly, face burning underneath their unwavering gazes.
"Rosie." Wilbur says with a voice full of awe. I give him a small smile.
"I'm back." I quietly say in a sing song voice, fiddling with my fingers. Tommy realises first, barrelling into me, throwing his arms around my neck, and I stumble back from the sheer force of his momentum. He doesn't say anything, squeezing tightly, and I can hear him crying quietly into the crook of my neck.
Tubbo collides with us a moment later, smushing himself between us, wrapping his arms around both of our waists.
"You're back?" Tubbo asks in a tiny voice, full of uncertainty.
I nod against Tommy, swallowing back the tears threatening to spring up in my eyes.
"Course Tubbo. I promised, I'll always come back." I rasp, squeezing them one more time before letting them go. Wilbur pulls me in for a hug.
"You ok?" He asks, concerned, pulling back and putting his hands on my shoulders.
"I'm better now. A lot better." I answer sincerely. I turn, to see Tommy and Tubbo standing next to each other, Tommy silently crying. My heart breaks and I grab Tommy's face and wipe the tears off with my thumbs.
"I'm ok guys, I promise." I reassure, smiling softly. Tommy sniffs, then scrunches up his face, twisting his head out of my grasp.
"Stop putting your gross fingers all over my face." He whines, wiping his cheeks in disgust. Wilbur and Tubbo roll their eyes at his antics, but I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from breaking down into tears. I feel so guilty for hurting them like this, for putting them through that.
I walk over to the table on shaky legs, collapsing down onto a seat. "I'm so sorry." I whisper, tugging at the loose threads at the bottom of my shirt.
"It's not your fault." Tubbo says despairingly, looking at me. I sigh, nodding slightly, even if I don't believe what he's saying.
"You don't believe us, do you?" Wilbur asks gently, looking at me through the mass of unruly brown curls that flop over his forehead. I let out a huff of laughter, shrugging my shoulders. It's hard to believe, especially when I've seen how much it's affected them.
"You're forgiven." He says. "Even though it wasn't your fault, we forgive you." Tommy and Tubbo nod enthusiastically along with him. I can feel the heavy weight of guilt, like lead in my stomach, lessen slightly, and it's enough for now.
"Yeah, you're not forgiven for making us deal with fuckin' Dream for weeks though." Tommy bursts out in outrage, and I can't help the laughter that I let out. "He was here every day. Every day Rose! I wanted to punch myself in the face at the end of it."
"I'm sure you guys managed." I roll my eyes, shaking my head.
"Why the hell would you want to spend time with that ugly, annoying, dickhead?" Tommy asks in disbelief. "His ego! He thinks he's better than everyone else! 'Tommy, I know Rosie better than you do, I can help'." He starts to mock in a nasally voice, screwing his face up in disgust.
"Yeah, well, fuck him." I say, cracking my knuckles and stretching out my shoulders. "He always thinks he's in the right for everything. It's exhausting."
"He's coming back today." Wilbur reminds us, and Tommy and Tubbo groan.
"Wait what?" I say, snapping my head to look at Wilbur. "No no no not today." I'm not ready to face him, and have to look at the hurt and sadness in his eyes that always seems to be present whenever we interact.
"There's going to be a debate, between POG and SWAG, in the courthouse. He's making sure we're aware of the treaties and the rules, so nothing breaks out." Wilbur explains. "You can hide, but he's going to want to visit you, and we figured out pretty quickly that we can't stop him."
"A debate?" I question, my curiosity piquing.
"Quackity, George, Tommy and I are going to debate policies and our plans for L'manburg tomorrow." Wilbur starts.
"I'm moderating!" Tubbo interjects excitedly.
Wilbur nods, and continues. "It's off L'manburg land, so Dream's going all control freak."
"That's awesome Tubbo!" I say sincerely. "Sounds like a shit show, me and Niki will probably stay here. I'm not dealing with control freak Dream."
"He's your boyfriend." Tommy interrupts bluntly. I glare at him.
"Ex-boyfriend." I correct.
"So that's why he's been here pretty much every day to check on you." Tubbo adds, both of them grinning evilly at me.
"Ok, first of all he's clingy, that's not my fault, and secondly, why are you two ganging up on me?" I defend. "I'll still kick both your asses."
"Yeah because someone who can't reach the top shelf can beat me." Tommy says smugly, with a wide grin.
"Can't reach the top shelf!?" I repeat outraged. "For your information, you gangly, freakishly tall stick insect, I'm not short, you're just a genetic abnormality. So are you Wilbur."
"Don't bring me into this!" Wilbur says, raising his hands up, palms facing out.
Tommy opens his mouth, no doubt to screech at some ungodly volume about being a strong man, when I knock at the van door shakes us all.
Fuck.
I swap a wide eyed look with Tubbo, clenching my fists and taking in a deep breath. Even though I'd rather run away into the forest and never return, I know deep down that I owe it to Dream to explain to him.
"I'm just gonna check on Rosie before we talk, I think I can get her out today." Dream says loudly, popping his head in the doorway. I can see him freeze when he looks at me.
"Rosie?"
"Hey Dream." I say. He's still motionless, stuck on the spot. I go to him, grabbing his hand and leading the dumbfounded man out of the van and back outside.
"You're out of bed?" He asks, voice small, his large hands cupping my face, pads of his thumbs pressing on my cheek bones.
"Last night." I smile, placing my hands over his, clutching at his fingers. "I'm back again."
I can see the tears slide out from under his mask, and I can feel my fragile heart threaten to shatter again, guilt sinking its familiar weight back into my stomach. I feel so ashamed of how weak I was.
He pulls me into his chest, tangling his fingers in my hair, resting his cheek on the top of my head. I let myself sink into the safe familiarity, smoke and apples swirling in my nostrils.
"Welcome back." He laughs through his tears, voice thick with emotion. We break apart, right hands still linked together between us. He pushes the mask onto his forehead with his left hand, face red and puffy, green eyes vivid in the pool of tears.
"I missed you." He smiles.
I fill the corners of my mouth lift slightly. "I missed you too."
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A/N I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. I re wrote it a bunch of times and it never came out right. I'm kinda disappointed by it, it's mainly filler and boring but I thought I needed to get something out. I also just got my nails done and typing is extremely difficult lmao it took me so long to just write this chapter.
Anyway, things are going to get more intense in the next couple of chapters as the parties start to get more competitive, and we may meet a new person...I guess we'll see.
Sorry its a shitty chapter , I promise I'll be back on track soon, I'm just in a greyish area in transitioning from the first plot point to the election.
Thank you all for your support!
Oopsies x