Plant Parenthood; Friday [10/04].

[what_big_teeth]

Eleanor was really hoping that working today would take her mind off of how nervous she was about Kamala's parents visiting for the weekend. Sure, she'd met them before, but that was very briefly, back when she was just some girl from school that Kamala had extended an invitation to and not, you know, her girlfriend. And, even though she was doing much better with remembering that things were different with Kamala, that Kamala herself was possibly as different from Lucy Spencer as anyone could be, she couldn't help but feel certain knots in her stomach, because things went Lucy turned after a weekend where she'd stayed over at Lucy's place for Christmas and met her parents...

So hopefully work would be a good distraction and postpone the inevitable a little bit, but it also gave her some time to sort of go over some of the Urdu she'd been learning in preparation to leave a good impression on Kamala's parents. She had a list of phrases and pronunciation to pour over, listening to language lessons on her phone as she went about the store, cleaning and taking care of the plants, and just trying not to get too worked up or nervous.

It helped, too, knowing that at least she didn't have to worry about anything when it came to her family for this. She didn't think they'd visit, even if she had asked.

(Dun dun dun....)

Plant Parenthood is open!

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[what_big_teeth]

And when Kamala said that, it made Eleanor's heart flip in her chest so strongly that she had to let out a small gasp of a breath. She'd heard it repeated again and again as she learned it and tried to figure out how to say it right, even though she didn't think she'd actually be able to say it for a while now. And of course it sounded different, coming from Kamala, heartfelt and meaningful, rather than just the precise and almost robotic pronunciation videos she'd dug up, and she repeated it quietly to herself as if running it through the lexicon she'd been building up to cross reference it to make sure she'd heard it right.

"Mei tum se pyar kerta hun..."

A smile that almost wasn't ready to believe it but wanted to with every fiber of her being drifted up as her eyes searched Kamala's.

"I already know that one."

Of course she learned that one.

"And I love you, too, Kamala."

And now she'd said it, and it was out there, and it was terrifying, because what made you weaker, what made you stronger, and more vulnerable and more dangerous, than a thing like love?

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala let out a long heavy breath she didn't know she was holding and broke into a little soft laugh. "I probably should say that in English, right?" Kamala teased but the smile was still there. "I love you, Eleanor. You're amazing and I love you for not what you did today but for everything else you are."

She leaned in for a quick kiss.

"I hate to say that and run but-"

"Kamala! We're waiting!" Her mother's voice was from outside the door but could be heard, muffled as it was, in the shop. Kamala risked a look and say her parents were very directly looking away from them giving them privacy.

"I'll make it up to you. I promise."

[what_big_teeth]

Honestly, that beckoning call from her mother was probably one of the best things that could have happened. Eleanor's emotions were such a complicated turmoil inside of her that she wasn't sure she should be trusted to handle them at that moment, so Kamala having to leave now meant that she would have the time to come down from them and know how to handle them. Even if she knew, as soon as she was sure they were out of earshot, there would probably be a lot of screaming and jumping up and down and just letting it all burst out of her in what would no doubt be a very embarrassing way.

"You're fine," Eleanor assured her, laughing a little and squeezing Kamala's hand one more time before letting it go. "You're great." Her hands found Kamala's shoulders. "You're perfect."

And then she turned her around, leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheek, and gave her a nudging push toward the door, "And we're making your parents wait, so go catch up to them, and we'll talk later and let me now about dinner, okay?"

[slothbabyproductions]

"I will," Kamala promised, though she reluctantly peeled herself away from Eleanor, walking backwards toward the door as if leaving would physically hurt. She clasped her hands over her chest, like her heart might burst out at any moment. "Ugh. Timing. Always the worst."

But then, with a playful glint in her eye, she flashed Eleanor a mischievous smile and winked. "Talk to you later."

Just before disappearing out the door, she called back with a quick, “Love ya!” and then hurried to catch up with her parents.