Family Reunion (for Wanderer)

[CaptainL]

Astrid could feel every shudder that passed through Sarabeth's body as she hugged herself close to the Norsewoman, crying into her chest. She could feel the dampness of her tears come through to her skin, and the rise and fall of her shoulders lurching each time she let out a sob - but Astrid was going to let her. She knew this had to be an emotional time for Sarabeth, and she would give her all the time she needed to process her feelings. "It's okay," she said softly, giving Sarabeth a gentle pat on the back. "I'm not going to rush you. I know all of this is new, but...we're here for you." As she said those words, she nodded her head - those were things she needed to remind herself of just as much as Sarabeth. At the back of her mind, Astrid realized that things had just gotten a lot more complicated. She was going to have to provide support to someone who had never had anyone she could trust, and she needed to adapt to becoming a mother sooner than she had ever thought she would be. But...she knew Sarabeth deserved it. She was willing to do all that, for her sake.

Then, when Sarabeth brought up being a part of a wrestling family, Astrid chuckled, but nodded her head. A warm grin spread across her face, beaming with pride, as she thought back on all the accomplishments of her famed relatives. "That's right. You didn't know? Wrestling goes back a long while with us...and from the sounds of it, it isn't stopping any time soon." She smirked at her own joke. "How is Marne, anyway? I still can't believe some times that I could be such an inspiration for her, but that girl makes me proud."

Astrid looked back up at William, then at Sarabeth. When she thought about how she wasn't aware of the Ostberg family and their exploits...it only made her smile wider. "Well, I think we've got some old videos we need to introduce her to, don't we?"

[Pegasus]

Sarabeth got all giddy on the inside as she couldn’t believe her luck. She finally found out who her father was, she had a new mother that would actually love her, and she’s the next person in line to continue a family legacy. It was a tall order for sure and she needed to make sure she was at the top of her game, but that’s why she got into wrestling. To test herself against the world and to go to the big leagues to make herself known. Sarabeth couldn’t ask for anything better in her life.

“I got to do you all proud then. Wait….does this mean….we can team together, Mom?” Sarabeth asked as she just had the question pop in her head.

“She’ll at least be your trainer primarily and you can even stay with her in her apartment if you wanted to,” William suggested as he smiled at Astrid.

[CaptainL]

To know that Sarabeth was responding so positively to the news was a great weight off Astrid's shoulders. The whole time leading up to this moment, she was tense - she didn't know if she would be angry at William for staying so distant, and she didn't know if that anger would turn toward her as well. Even the fact that they were having this discussion during a training session didn't quite sit well for her, knowing that if the mood went sour, it could spoil the whole evening for the Young Lioness. But Astrid couldn't have asked for anything better. Much to her relief, Sarabeth was thrilled to finally know her father - and to know that in him and in Astrid, she had family she could trust. They would only come out of this even stronger than ever, and in a better place.

In fact, when Sarabeth proposed the two of them teaming up, Astrid would only beam at her with an even brighter smile - as luck would have it, she was just thinking the same thing. The timing was perfect. "Well, it's funny you mention that," she began, "because WFPW is holding a Mothers' Day event coming up. And I think we just found a good mother-daughter tag team to enter, don't you?" She pat her hand firmly on Sarabeth's shoulder, drawing her close.

[Pegasus]

Sarabeth’s eyes lit up with literal stars in her eyes as it seems she was going to get the chance to team with her mother sooner than she thought. Sarabeth jumped around in a circle in excitement and tightly hugged Astrid by her waist. She was so happy that her teeth were hurting her just by her grin alone. This was the best day ever! Finally, her journey of meeting her father was over and she gained a full family out of the ordeal. Whatever god out there that put all the stars in alignment for this to happen. Sarabeth owed them a favor.

“Oh man, wait until Jessie and Matilda hear about me being in a wrestling family. Oh, hey Mom, uh, I know I’m in the dorms, but like dad suggested, is it cool if I come stay with you for like a week? I didn’t know I was going to have a mother until today and I’d like to get to know you more. I’ll be spending time with dad, but I do understand he won’t be around all the time. At least, he won’t be 20 years absent this time,” Sarabeth wondered as she added in the joke and nudged her dad getting him to laugh.

“I will have to get back to the ranch and get your room ready to move in, but I get your point,” William answered.

[CaptainL]

Astrid hadn't been married to William for long, and she had known she had a stepdaughter for even less time - but when she saw Sarabeth skipping in circles for joy, she couldn't help but break into a grin. To think that she had made someone this happy - especially someone who she knew had lived a life of confusion, chaos, and uncertainty up to this point - could only warm her heart. Astrid didn't know how long it would take her to accept being a mother, but when she saw the smile on Sarabeth's face, it was instantaneous that she found herself beaming with pride. When Sarabeth moved in to hug her, Astrid wasted no time in pulling her into an embrace of her own, and as she felt her close by her side, her own smile would only grow wider. This, she thought, had to be what it truly felt like to be a mother. She didn't think that realization would come so soon - but it had.

Then, Sarabeth proposed staying with her family for a week - and to that, Astrid nodded her head. Even when William brought up that they weren't ready to move her in, she just gave him a pat on the shoulder. "That shouldn't be an issue. We've got all the time in the world to be a family, now; we don't need to rush. When we're ready, I'll have to talk to the coordinators of the program about you needing to take the time off, but I'm sure they'll understand - and since I'm a trainer with the program anyway, I'll just make sure you keep up with your exercises at home. So don't think you can slack off just because we're family!" She laughed at her own joke. "Of course, there'll be plenty of work to do around the farm. And we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other. I think it's about time we all caught up on lost time, yeah?"

[Pegasus]

THE END