Seeing Rasmus smiling on *that* bench was such a nice touch and so heartwarming! He’s come so far <3

Also, I love how you depict Tusnelda's anxiety! Even though she struggles to talk about her emotions, you convey her state so well – through her intrusive images of that hypothetical other woman Martin loves, her insecurities about Izumi's pregnancy, and her sensitivity to everyone asking if she's ok! I'm rooting for her so hard! And she's surrounded by such supportive friends and partner, I am optimistic she'll make it <3

Thank you very much for your comment ❤
Anxiety is difficult to deal with as it rarely has much basis in facts but instead reflects an emotional imbalance. It is a call from the subconscious.
Tusnelda switches between anxiety and rational common sense. It is very necessary for her to talk with Martin so that this irrational ghost does not grow bigger.

I love watching Rasmus’ peaceful loving face as it appears now. It’s such a contrast from the past.
Fabio is a really funny and sweet character. His facial expressions change so quickly, which I think reflects his thoughts.

On a more positive note, Fabio is adorable. He’s excited to tell Rasmus that the lamp works. “I’ve been telling Marcus how you and my mom are making me a new little brother. He doesn’t seem to know that much about baby making.” XD I also love that Rasmus has come so far since that low when Alice broke his heart.

Sorrows and joys following each other is a recipe for a good, balanced literary meal! 😄 Martin only feeling a slight pang of envy but overall being happy for his friend was so wholesome to see, too. He’s such a strong, loving person.

Thank you for your comment ❤
I would like to say that I have often experienced the healing of talking about what fills us emotionally, even if it can feel embarrassing and difficult.

Adoption is certainly an option, but here you are several horse lengths ahead of Tusnelda’s development. Mostly she doesn’t give offspring a thought, but Izumi’s pregnancy has given her a wake-up call. I assume the time factor is not in her calculation…until now.
I have to admit that I wonder if Tusnelda has been struck by a bug of sadness, because the sudden burst of tears came completely spontaneously.
Martin is strangely in a good place, where he seems to rest in his own company and not even Rasmus’ parenting can knock him out. He works unnoticed and persistently to achieve his goals.
I cut out the entire sequence with Tusnelda and Martin’s honest conversation. It made more sense to postpone it…and besides, this chapter is already way too long.

Marcus came by uninvited and I couldn’t help teasing him with Fabio’s straightforward child perspective 😆
I think Fabio is quite an entertaining character. Will the truth about what awaits him dawn on him later? Probably. However, Rasmus has promised to keep his room safe, so far so good.

The picture with Rasmus’ family on the bench gives me such a tender emotion and what a contrast to the past ❤
Sorrows and joys follow one another. I’m quite sentimental and a sucker for happy endings. I love to see how the cats bond with each other in the game ❤

Oh, Tusnelda. She’s so scared she’ll lose him if she can’t give him a child, but at the same time, she seems to be very lax about actually making a child happen. I don’t mean the bed sparkles here. I remember Tusnelda still being on birth control while Martin was already thinking they were working towards a baby. I wonder if she realizes that it’s possible to adopt? Parental love doesn’t have to come from a biological connection.

Aww, Izumi and Rasmus’s worry over how Fabio is going to react is so wholesome. They both care about him and want to grow together as a family. I’m glad that Fabio seems to like it at first glance. I know that big things like that sometimes take a while to really sink in with children. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fabio comes back to the subject himself later.
I like the bench flashback with Rasmus. He really is in a much better place. The memory with his friends and family is a great upgrade from Blue. ^.^

And the anxiety monster rears its ugly head again. Sometimes it’s hard to control your emotions even when logic proves the situation is not like that at all. Poor Tusnelda. She is seeing ghosts where there are none, all from fear of losing Martin.

Hey, Marcus! His conversation with Fabio made me chuckle. Gah, Tusnelda, looking at a genetic sample in a science machine is not the same as checking your fertility. She’s so smart but sometimes she’s a little too stubborn and blockheaded for her own good. I mean that in the best way possible, but oh my gods, the man literally said he gets his experience from testing rats o.o

Poor Martin. He’s trying so hard to cheer her up and be there for her, but Tusnelda’s sad mood is making him sad, too. Come on, Tus. Have a heartfelt conversation right there at the table. You can do it… darn.

Awwww. Those snoozing cats in the tent <3