From the other side

"Mmm" Lizzy closed her eyes facing Kamala's stomach

She smiled, a wave of affection washing over her as her daughter snuggled into her stomach. "You know, you're too old to be acting like this," she teased, knowing full well that she loved these moments of closeness.

She laughed softly, running her fingers through her daughter's hair. "You're acting like a little girl, you know that?" she said affectionately.

"I am a little girl."

She chuckled at her daughter's response. "You haven't been a little girl for a long time, sweetheart," she said, her tone tender. "You're all grown up now, whether you like it or not."

"Shut up"

She couldn't help but laugh again, her daughter's protest only adding to the moment's sweetness. "You know, it's not very polite to tell your mother to shut up," she said, feigning disapproval.

"And who raised me like that?"

She let out a dramatic sigh, unable to feign offense for long. "Touché," she admitted, shaking her head in amusement. "I suppose it is my fault that you have no manners."

She poked her daughter in the side, playfully ruffling her hair. "But seriously, sweetheart, you're an adult now. It's time you start acting like it."

"I will from tomorrow"

She rolled her eyes, her smile tinged with affectionate exasperation. "Oh, tomorrow, huh? Why not today?" she retorted, a hint of mock sternness in her tone.

"Because today I'm hugging. Remember who took a bulletfor you mamma"

She was hit with a fresh wave of emotion at the reminder, her heart aching at the memory. "How could I forget," she murmured, her voice thick with feeling. "Those were the worst seconds of my life, you know."

"Too soon for jokes?"

She managed a small, if shaky, laugh at her daughter's attempt to lighten the mood. "Just a bit too soon," she admitted, her voice still a little rough. "I'm still not quite over it, if you couldn't tell."

Lizzy reached and cuped her mother's face, stroking her cheek.

She closed her eyes, leaning into her daughter's touch. It still amazed her how her daughter's hands, once so tiny and fragile, were now strong and steady. "You always did know how to comfort me," she said softly, a hint of vulnerability in her tone.

"You're my mummy."

She smiled, touched by the simple words. "And you're my sweetheart," she said, her voice filled with affection. She pulled her daughter closer, holding her tight. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Liz used some force and pushed her mother to lie down with her on the couch.

Caught off guard, Kamala let out a little screech of surprise as her daughter pushed her down onto the couch. "Hey! Easy there," she protested, though the grin on her face betrayed her mock irritation.

Lizzy kissed her cheek and lied down as a little spoon.

She let out a soft sigh, relaxing into the couch with her daughter snuggled against her. She draped an arm around her daughter's slender frame, pulling her close. "Comfortable?" she asked, her voice warm and amused.

"Yeah"

She chuckled, her fingers tracing small circles on her daughter's back. "You're much clingier than you used to be," she observed, her voice filled with gentle teasing.

"The bullet thing does it to a person."

She winced, the reality of that night flooding back to her, bringing a fresh wave of pain and guilt. "Don't remind me," she murmured, her expression clouding over.