[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/231214/ca7b2f00f92f2281d742f9280f099f1e.png[/img]

[img]https://img.wattpad.com/bfe4010d20cae38d85ac6aafc1eccb742c539eda/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f356c4e6a4f416f6f77547a4658413d3d2d3436333938353736352e313465303233373564646438353563653637353234313136393439332e676966[/img]
[sub]A collaboration by [@WhiteAngel25]'s [b]Sabrina[/b] and [@Days]'s [b]Aurélie[/b][/sub][/center][hr]
There were seagulls in the sky, mewing and circling over the many boats of various sizes in the harbour. Aurélie sat on a chair by the window in the deserted coffee shop, where the smell of coffee and muffins reminded her of her old workplace in Paris. If it still existed. She was told to wait here, and so she obliged. The mug of hot chocolate in front of her was cold now, untouched aside from one sip. It was too sweet for Aurélie’s liking. She hadn’t had anything sweet in a long time. Instead, the balls of her feet rested on the edge of the chair, and she hugged her knees to her chest. She wasn’t sure why this felt comfortable right now, but she knew it had something to do with the semblance of a hug. It felt like she was embracing herself, seeking comfort no one was quite willing to give her. She didn’t blame them, either. The young woman was just staring blank-faced out toward the water, unapproachable. Shattered. But, as usual, she’d probably done it to herself. Deserved it.

She was wearing a jacket but was unsure who had given it to her. It didn’t smell like her father, though. Maybe from one of the other two men that accompanied them. It kept her warm and comfortable as she looked over the harbour. To the old Aurélie, this would’ve been beautiful. The way the sun was low on the horizon, making the water sparkle on its way to her appraising eye. The birds overhead promised freedom, and the sky had almost surreal puffy clouds. Teenage Aurélie would’ve taken pictures, finding odd angles and the perfect composition. Maybe, just maybe, she would’ve taken a beautiful picture of her father holding Nick into an embrace, the sea and blue sky in the background. It had been a very, very long time since she had seen the sky. Inhaled fresh air into her lungs, her eyes caressed by natural light instead of artificial illumination. [i]This[/i] Aurélie wouldn’t take pictures anymore. It was just grey and bleak to her, and where old Aurélie saw authentic homes with character, this one just saw poorly maintained properties. 

The only light she had was the news her father gave her once she woke up. Cosette was still alive. And in the end, that was all Aurélie really wanted. And Sabrina wasn’t dead, but on her way instead. Aurélie had been too out of it to reply, wondering why she herself wasn’t dead, either. The haunting feeling of the realisation she made just before the needle pierced her neck had stayed like it had been painted on her soul and she wasn’t sure how to scrub it off. And maybe the trauma of the last 7 years was catching up to her. She had been [i]on[/i] for so many years. Studying everything, fighting her own mind, fighting for Cosette. But she was safe now, and Aurélie shut off. She longed for her mother, Sabrina, but walled in her heart just in case she would end up disappointed again.

Her eyes slid to her father and Nick, further down the docks. He was awake, now, and Aurélie felt genuine relief. The man had been kind to her, down there, before it all went wrong. [i][color=gray]”Hate me later, let's just get the hell out of here.”[/color][/i]. His voice was a distant ghost in her mind. She wasn’t entirely sure why she should hate him, but she didn’t. He’d done nothing wrong to her. It wasn’t [i]his[/i] fault. There was constant pressure behind her eyes as she tried to keep any tears from falling, her eyes following a boat leaving the harbour. 

Sabrina got out of her red Porshe as Aviator sunglasses rested on the bridge of her nose as she waited. She was dressed in a red blazer, white silk blouse, black business slacks, and black heels. Her long dark tresses were out of her normal braid or bun. Her gaze didn't waiver one bit from the coffee house door. For seven years, she had been searching for her girls. Seven years without Auri snapping her photos. Seven years without Cosette asking for new batteries in her Hello Kitty flashlight. Seven years without either of their laughs echoing throughout the halls of the estate with Theo's in tow. And what did her ex-husband do? He chose Nick over the girls. Sabrina could give a rat's ass at this point if Thierry cared about her anymore, but he should try for Auri and Cosy.

The ex-wife had no real issue with Nick. He was a kid who needed support, and it was a coincidence that he happened to find that support in Thierry. She supposed that it bothered Nick that she was rather neutral about the whole situation. Sabrina didn't make a fuss when Thierry asked for a divorce. She didn't complain when she paid Thierry the alimony in their settlement. Staying calm and collected was the best way she could bother the young blonde man, who was an emotional time bomb, every time they met.

Sabrina grabbed her purse and car keys before pressing the lock button and hurried inside the coffee shop. She lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head. Her golden gaze scanned the building to land on a young woman cuddled by the window. Sabrina fast-walked over to the girl. Was this her Auri? This girl's hair was pale-ish blonde, and her porcelain skin was practically see-through from the lack of sunlight exposure. [b]"Aurelia? Ma douce fille?"[/b] Sabrina asked to confirm if this shadow of the young woman she had known was her eldest daughter. 

When Auri made eye contact with her, Sabrina's eyes instantly watered as she threw her arms around the young woman and pulled her tight to her. [b]"Ma fille chérie, tu m'as tellement manqué,"[/b] Sabrina spoke with a broken voice as silent tears streamed down her face. [b]"After seven years without hearing your voice or your sister's, I felt like I was going crazy. I never stopped looking for either of you,"[/b] she added as she let Auri go to gently cup the young woman's face in her hands to examine her. 

[b]"I hired a private entity to follow through with the leads I had been given. I don't have the strings your father does, so I used what I could. I just got off the phone with their Vice President, and they have Cosette. They found her, Auri. You did well protecting her, ma belle et forte fille,"[/b] Sabrina expressed how she used her family's money to do her best to find the girls over the last seven years.

Aurélie’s cheek rested on her knee as she gazed out the window, though she had long since stopped [i]seeing[/i], locked in her mind and thoughts instead. It was only when her name was spoken that she blinked herself back into existence, and she raised her head to look for the source. She sucked in a breath at the sight of Sabrina. No, her [i]mother[/i]. Her feet slid off the chair and landed back on the floor as she saw tears pool in her waterline. Involuntarily, Aurélie’s bottom lip started trembling and she was suddenly pulled into an embrace so tight that she could barely breathe. But who needs oxygen when you’re receiving an embrace so touching? Aurélie’s arms hung weekly to her sides, but as her mother’s voice broke, emotion lacing her confession of missing her, Aurélie cracked as well. 

She raised her hands to her mother’s back, pressing her back to her as if she may not be real. The tears she had been fighting off streamed freely over her face as a strangled sob fell from her lips. [color=rosybrown]”Maman.”[/color] She smelled so good. Still the same. A scent Aurélie could only connect to motherhood and Christmas mornings, her hair being combed when she had been too wild with playing, a kiss on her cheek when being tucked into bed, or a cuddle on the couch when watching a movie together. Her mother. She was here and saying the things Aurélie was begging weren’t figments of her broken mind. 

She couldn’t answer as emotions constricted her throat, but she nodded in the hands of her mother once her face was cupped. That she was hearing her mother, who confessed to never having stopped looking. Von Galloes was a liar. Cosette was safe. Aurélie was safe. Her traitorous bottom lip kept trembling when her mother told her she had done a good job protecting her little sister. Cosy kept her going for 7 years, and she couldn’t wait until she had her back again. So many feelings flooded her. Wanting to apologise for 7 years ago, wanting to thank her for not giving up. So many times she thought about this moment, and what she would say. Instead, she just shook her head and nestled her face to the crook of her mother’s neck. [color=rosybrown]”Tu m'as manqué aussi. I'm- so sorry.”[/color]

Sabrina felt Aurélie tremble in her arms as the young woman tried to be so strong, even after being rescued. She had seen this a time or two from her ex-husband when he would return from assignments at the beginning of their former relationship. [b]"Aurélie, you don't have to be so strong anymore, but only when you are ready to let go,"[/b] she murmured. The mother gently rubbed her eldest daughter's back as she slightly swayed back and forth, humming a song she sang to all three children consistently when they asked.

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8WONrzCDAk[/youtube][/center]

[b]"You don't have to be sorry for anything. None of what happened was your fault. The main and most important thing is that you and Cosette are found,"[/b] Sabrina spoke after she gave Aurélie another squeeze. She didn't want to let the young woman go, fearing that this was just one of the many dreams the mother had in the past. But Sabrina did release her hold on Auri. [b]"Now, let us go talk to your father. I have more than a few things to say to him and his husband."[/b]

Aurélie nodded against her mother's skin when told she didn't have to be strong anymore. But she wasn't entirely sure how to do that. Instead, she could just feel herself shutting down. And maybe that's what she needed to recover. And a therapist. A really expensive one. With an NDA. Sabrina started humming and Aurélie sniffled. She'd recognise that song from everywhere. Whenever she felt desperate, she would hum it to herself in her sorry excuse for a room. And she used it on many occasions with Cosette, trying to get through to her after a memory wipe, or when the little girl was feeling particularly distressed. Von Galloes tried a lot with her mind, but the bodily reaction of feeling safe, the muscles relaxing and the heartbeat lowering was something he couldn't erase. This song always had that effect on Cosette. 

She nodded more at her mother's words of not having to be sorry, but the guilt wasn't erased from her mind. That too, would take a while. For now, she didn't want to spend time convincing her mother that she failed her, failed everyone around her. For now, she wanted to be selfish and enjoy her warmth and her motherly love. Once she let go, she used the sleeve of the jacket she was wearing to swipe at some tears. Her other hand ended up in her mother's as she pushed herself up from the chair. She felt a little wobbly but was fine enough to walk on her own. She followed her mother toward the door, looking behind her to softly smile at the barista and give her a nod in thanks. It seemed her manners hadn't disappeared, then. Though there would be a lot she would have to relearn. 

There was a little bell that rang once her mother opened the door and walked them both through it. The young woman closed her eyes, letting her lungs take in the air from outside. It was marvellous. A car that wasn't there before showed off a French plate, and she knew it was her mother's. Approaching her father and Nick, she stopped, pulling on Sabrina's hand. There was a swirl of anxiety with every step they neared them, and she shuddered, shaking her head. She couldn't face her father, not now. [color=rosybrown]"I'll stay by the car."[/color] She said, her eyes pleading. She didn't want to explain but had a feeling that her mother knew. Reluctantly, she let go of Sabrina's hand and walked to the car, leaning against it. With her arms crossed, she gave a reassuring nod to her mother.