After walking up the stairs, I brought my mom to the living room, and sat her down on one of the rare clean spots. It was an empty spot free from trash on the end of the couch in the middle of the living room. Meanwhile, Cici began to pick things up around us while I checked my mom over. She was still sniffling, small hiccups accompanying the noises, but her full on sobs had stopped.
"My baby..." My mom's voice said, gentle and full of the love I had missed from her for so long.
"I'm here, " I said, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hand, which caused her to squeeze mine like she was afraid I'd disappear again if she let go, "I missed you... you were on my mind a lot. I'm sorry... that I left... and that all of this happened to you."
A few more tears leaked from her eyes, but I actually saw a smile forming on her face. She leaned forward, and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It didn't stop my eyes from watering, but I was just basking in the sensation of my mother's love. It was something I had been missing for so long.
"No, honey..." She said, leaning back and meeting my eyes, "I'm sorry... I..." She hiccuped a sob as she did her best to compose herself, "I should have fought harder for you... I shouldn't have let Marcus walk all over me... but I was scared. I should be the one asking for forgiveness. I hope you can-"
I cut her off by pulling her into me again, fat tears falling from my eyes. I don't even think my wedding had me this emotional. I had to take several deep breaths to try and calm myself down. I felt her tears falling on my shoulder and staining my shirt, but I didn't care. I felt Cici's gentle hand on my back, and it helped soothe me enough to where I could calm my racing emotions.
I leaned back, and looked at my mom, trying to give her my best smile. She did the same for me, although her smile was strained. Of course it was. Then, it was like everything she had not been focusing on hit her at once. She looked at me, particularly my body, no longer skinny and sickly, now instead covered in dense muscle.
"Honey... what happened to you? How are you so big?" She asked, her voice trembling.
"That's a long story, and one I'd rather not tell you here... but just so you know, I'm not sick anymore, and I'm not in pain anymore. I'm happy, and healthy, just like you always wanted me to be." I said, causing her eyes to water once more as she sobbed, and clutched at me.
"Oh... oh thank goodness. Thank you god... thank you." She mumbled into my neck.
My cried into me for a while, thanking the heavens for saving my life. I wonder how she'd react when she found out that I was saved by a weird video game like system, or that I was actually the God in this scenario. I'd tell her more, but I wanted that to wait until we got back home. To my new home, the place where I truly belonged. Once she was done soaking my shirt, she leaned back, and finally seemed to notice the beautiful woman standing behind me.
"Such a pretty young woman..." My mom said, making Cici blush, "Are you not seeing Rachel anymore?"
I wasn't sure whether to grimace or laugh. My mom had clearly been through a lot, locked in a cage with barely any clothes or food, and left alone in the dark by herself. Despite that, she was asking me about my relationships, even if I sensed that a lot of it was forced, probably in an attempt to get her mind off of everything. Still... it was so much like her. To worry about me over everything else. How could I have just left her here?
"N-no." I said, my throat a little tight, "She cheated on me with Keith. I never got the chance to tell you about that. I caught them while they were screwing each other."
My mom's eye actually became enraged at me telling her that, and part of me could have sworn it was a physical feeling, almost like a very weak aura.
"WHAT? THAT LITTLE TRAMP!" My mom yelled, and that did succeed in making me laugh.
"Easy there mom," I said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, which made her relax a bit, "When I stormed off, I ran into her." I said, gesturing at Cici, who stepped up next to me, and I scooted over to give her room as she knelt down, and gave my mom an award winning smile. Despite everything she'd be through, she was acting like I remembered so long ago. I'm sure there would be issues later, but for now, this was what she needed. What we all needed.
"Hello." Cici said softly, her cheeks turning pink, "My name is Cecilia... but you can call me Cici."
You would have never guessed my mom was locked in a basement with how bright her face became.
"YOU'RE ADORABLE!" My mom bellowed, making Cici's pink cheeks darken.
"She is the cutest woman I know." I said, amused at how her blush turned red, but I wanted to sweeten the deal to my mom, "Mom."
She turned to me with inquiring eyes, "Yes honey?"
"Cici is not just my girlfriend or something like that... she's my wife." I said, causing my mom to blink several times as she looked between us, and then I saw her look down at Cici's hand, and her eyes widened when she finally noticed the ring with the large green gem on her right hand.
"Mrs. Crosse," Cici began, and took my still rapidly blinking mom's hand in hers, "You deserve to hear some good news after everything that has happened, so... I love Eli very much. He's the best man I've ever met. I hope I can earn your approval as his wife. He's wonderful, and I'm sure a large part of that is because of you."
My mom just stared at Cici a while, but then her lips began to tremble as large tears fell from her eyes.
"My boy... is married?" She asked, although it came out as a small choked sob.
"Yes. I had no chance against him," She said, tears falling from her face as well, "He won my heart so fast that it almost feels unreal. No man can even compared to Eli. He's kind, he's loving... he's perfect."
My mom's trembling lips curved up into a smile as Cici spoke, but when my wife was done, my mom basically turned into a sobbing mess again, only this time she pulled Cici into her chest. Cici was surprised, but she didn't resist, she just seemed a little startled.
"How could I hear you say all those things about my boy, and not accept you?" My mom said, her voice shakey, "He really is the best, isn't he? Of course the best son in the world would make the best husband... and I'm so happy he found a wonderful woman like you..."
I feel like there is some kind of crying contest going on. I was tearing up from my mom's words, her acceptance of Cici had made more fat tears fall from my kitten's eyes, and my mom... well, she had every right to feel this way.
"It feels like... it's been too long since I've been able to smile... and be happy like this..." My mom said as she let Cici go, and then she began to shake, and the tears now were ones of pain and sadness, "It was so dark... and so lonely... and I don't even know how long I've been in that prison..."
I clenched my fists, but I had reign over my anger this time. My mom needed me. She needed Eli, the son, not the Primordial.
"Mom... can you tell us what happened? What the fuck is wrong with... Marcus." I said, and pointedly not calling him dad. Fuck him.
My mom shuttered as I asked that question, but she still was able to remain calmer than I expected. Even when she was locked up, I found it a little impressive that she was still sane. I was glad obviously, but that kind of trauma... she was dealing with it rather well.
"Your f-" She began, but stopped herself, and tried again, "Honey... Marcus has truly gone mad... he's not the man I once knew... I think he died a long time ago, and now? He's nothing like the man I thought I knew." She said, her face filled with disgust.