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fenheart87 · 3 years

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Lukanette prompts #26 (but Luka says it...)

There was always a feeling of calm when he came home, almost nothing was better than touching down in the Paris airport and feeling the stress from touring fall off with every step from the airplane. It had been longer than Luka had liked to be away from his family and really this time he was early, not that he had told his family just yet. Luckily, Penny was the best and booked him a room where he was able to crash for the night and had options for food places nearby as he was sick of hotel room service.

“If you’re fighting with Ma again, I don't want to hear about it.” He answered the phone, knowing it was his sister on the other line.

“No, just talking about your baby pictures.”

“Oh great, you’re being sappy? Do I want to come home in that case?” Luka teased, not meaning a word of it.

“Blame your nephew, he started it.” He choked on air as he heard shuffling before Rose’s voice came through, indicating she had taken over the phone.

“Luka! We got approved for a baby boy! Captain has been a little weepy but like a good weepy because he has the most adorable face and dark hair but with a slight curl and his eyes gosh! They are like the ocean! He really likes your baby pictures, ah I can't wait for you to meet him!” Rose squealed in excitement, risking Luka’s much needed eardrum.

“Wait, wait, how did you get a whole baby?!” the older exclaimed, putting the phone on speaker in an attempt to save his ears.

“Well, two mommies loved each other very much and decided they wanted to share their love with a very special little baby. The two mommies went to meet the baby but on their way they met another precious child and they knew right away that the little boy with hair as dark a night and eyes like the ocean was destined to become part of their family. And after some time of play dates and special trips around the city, the mommies got to take their new son home.” There was some shuffling as Rose was sniffling and his sister murmuring words of comfort to her.

“I wow, congratulations… Another Couffaine huh?”

“Not quite, we still need to finalize some papers and such. We’re meeting up at Marinette’s parent’s bakery, he loves it there. This will be his first overnight stay so we’re excited but nervous because we want him to feel comfortable.”

“I don't think you have to worry, you both have a lot of love to give and worst case, Uncle Luka can come to the rescue.”

“If you were here yeah, rescue us or him depending. Maybe next time.”

“See you can be sappy! I’ve got to get going but do keep me posted, I’ll read my message even if I don’t respond right away.”

“Sure, stay safe and away from crazy fans.”

“Jules, you know we have a dye party set for when I get back. I’ll be fine.”

"Whatever loser."

So change of plans, Luka would get to see his favorite designing baker sooner rather than later which was fine by him. First he needed to wash off the plane smell and find his plain black hoodie, then he would surprise his girls. Plan in mind, Luka grabbed his shaving kit and started the shower. Shucking off his clothes and tossing them into the bag of dirty laundry he would need to do soon, the guitarist Stepped into the Shower to rinse off with Some body wash. Deciding his hair wasn't in need of a washing, Luka quickly got out and toweled off.

Luka watched as Marinette played with Llewellyn. The boy looked so happy to be running around the bakery and picking up speed now that he had some sweets to perk him up. It was kind of eerie to look at said child because Llewellyn was similar in looks to a younger Luka, it was definitely that fate had played a huge hand in guiding the boy to his family. The smiles on his sister's faces were definitely worth it and seeing him he hoped would bring an even bigger smile to them.

"Do you want to color a picture or have more cookies?" Marinette kneeled down to the little boy's height and smiled gently, hoping to ease the sudden anxiety he seemed to be feeling. It really pulled at the guitarist's heartstrings and his body moved to do what needed done before his brain had caught up with it. A soft tune slipped gently from the strings, sneaking by everyone as it blended in the background and caused little shoulders that were scrunched up to slowly relax and fall at ease. Two pairs of blue eyes sought his person but he pretended to not notice as he twined together the gentle melody with the heart songs of those sitting at the table sipping their drinks.

"Luka! You big meanie head!" Rose squealed and carefully tackled her brother in law from behind.

"Hey watch it now, Claire doesn't like the rough treatment."

"Oh hush you! Sneaky little meanie head." The petite blond hugged him even tighter.

"Well since you're here, can I get you anything to eat or drink?" The designer rose from her crouch and turned to the counter, slipping through the gap of the raised counter.

"Ah something warm please and maybe a macaroon or two."

"You got it!" Marinette spun around and reached to grab a mug from the shelf, her shirt sliding to reveal a hint of green and black on her pale skin.

"I uh hey Ma-ma-Marinette uh is that- its okay if I just have a plain cup! I just uh okay please don't punch me too hard but is that a tattoo?! " He could feel his cool factor dying at that moment.

Marinette dropped from her tiptoes to standing normally once more and Luka found he could breathe again as the tattoo went out of sight again. She had always been able to give him a heart attack and the guitarist could already hear the ribbing from his ever lovable sister.

"Oh! Yeah, it was a gift from Nona. You know Nathaniel and Marc’s comic? It’s inspired by Viperion." The petite woman brought over some macaroons and his designated cup with Sabine's special blend. It was like a piece of home and Luka took a large gulp in excitement, "I tend to forget unless I'm in a swimsuit or in the shower."

"Oh Luka!" Rose cried, swatting at Juleka who was laughing and grabbed some napkins to help clean up the tea that her brother had spit everywhere.

"Hey who are you?" The small voice drew the adults attention.

"Well I am called many names but to you, I am Uncle Luka. Juleka is my sister."

“Cap’tin says I look like a little you.”

“Yeah a little bit but just means you were meant to meet us, maybe even be a part of our family if that’s okay with you?” Lka smiled softly, watching the little blue eyes grow wide and a bit sparkly from tears. “What’s your favorite song?”

“Smoke on the water.”

“Oh good choice! And what’s your name?” Luka started strumming the requested song, twisting the notes and improvising some notes as he watched the kid.

“Llewellyn, I’m this many!” The small boy held up six fingers with a big smile.

“That’s a big number.”

“Not as big as your number though… Why is your hair blue? Can I have green hair? Can I play guitar? How do you play it? Is it heavy? Can you sing too? Are you a rockstar? When I’m big, can I be like you?” The young boy fired off, slightly catching Luka off guard and causing the women to laugh.

“Slow down speed racer, deep breath,” the guitarist inhaled slowly and evenly with Llewellyn and released the breath in the same manner before answering, “now isn't that better? Blue is my favorite color, maybe we can have matching green hair for your party. Playing guitar can be tricky but if you want I can show you how, it can be heavy if you hold it too long but then you build up some muscles and it’s not so bad. I can sing but not as good as your Momma Rose. I’m not a big rockstar but when I grow up more I hope to be. And I’d like that but I doubt Momma Jules would like that too much, I drive her crazy.”

“Are you mean to her?” The small boy frowned, scooting back a few steps warily.

“Nope, just silly and it drives your Ma crazy because it happens a lot.” Luka’s honesty and resuming the plucking of his guitar strings to ease the sudden tension. Sharing a fond look with Juleka that they would later deny, the elder male lifted his guitar and removed the strap completely before sliding to the floor. Waving over the young look-alike, he helped to position the guitar and demonstrated how to strum and play different chords before letting the child noodle on the guitar. Luka picked himself up and finished his slightly cold tea before returning the mug to Marinette.

“He’s so happy Luka! Just look at him!” Rose was sniffling and wiping away tears, the reality that Llewellyn was part of their family finally settling in.

“Yeah he fits right in. So now that you found a mini me, with your attitude and shares a whole name with me, are you going to deny that’s why you picked him?”

“Nothing to deny.” Juleka wiped away a few stray tears from her wife’s face and laced their fingers together. “It was meant to be.”

“Calling dad out here Jules.” Luka quirked a brow, ignoring the snort his words caused.

“Calling B.S. huh? Fine, that’s about ninety percent, the other ten is he looks like he could be your kid if a certain designer were the mom.”

His ears were full of cotton and he missed the squeak of surprise because of course, this was Juleka he was talking about, Marinette was coming up behind him and he froze. The slight curl to Llewellyn’s hair was similar to his if he had it shorter, the blue eyes were lighter than his but the shape reminded him of Marinette’s. And judging by the sly look in his sister’s amber eyes and the giggles from his sister-in-law, they had planned this to drop that bomb at some point. That’s what he gets for having a nosy family.

“Unca Luka! My fingers hurt, how do you play for hours ?” Luka turned around as his nephew, that would take some getting used to, groaned.

“Practice and patience.”

“Sounds like good advice for other things.”

“Practice and patience, two very very useful things when it comes to many things.” Luka tried to smile reassuringly at Marinette who was turning an even deeper shade of red and made his way back to Llewellyn, intent on ignoring his scheming sisters and spending the little bit of time left for the day bonding.

#lukanette endgame #lukanette #luka cou #marin #modern au #Fen's Plunny Corner #rose lavillant #juleka couffaine #oc

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dopescotlandwarrior · 4 years

Text

Unforgettable-Final Chapter

Also on AO3 A very special thanks to @statell for all your help

Chapter Nine

A young man knocks hard on a wood pole of a tukul, a round shelter made of grasses, mud, and wood poles, very common in South Sudan and the only type of structure on this UN base. It is officially known as the United Nations Protection of Civilians Site Bentiu. It was constructed outside the scorched city of Bentiu in the poorest nation of central Africa. The civil war had been raging for three years and when a peace treaty was signed in 2015 it failed to stop the fighting, so the war raged on.

The young man knocked harder on the tukul making the structure wobble in its feebleness. “Claire! Wake up! Treatment three and hurry! The door opened in a rush and Claire stood on the other side pushing her t-shirt into her pants.

“Jesus, I hate waking up to a flood of adrenalin! Nabbi when the tukul shakes like that the creatures in the grass roof fall to the ground, or on me.”

Nabbi smiled mischievously at his favorite nurse, “and now you are up and need very high, doctor says run!”

Claire felt her thighs burning as she sprinted to the treatment ward. Rounding the corner she saw both doctors bent over bodies that were unrecognizable. Casualties of government soldiers shooting, raping, and burning a village in the night.

Sterile gloves slapped back on her hands that were held aloft. There were no sterile gowns and no clean water on most days.

“I’m ready!

A long stream of Gaelic profanity was growled as Jamie threw his instruments on the wooden tray. He hung his head wondering what the intensive nine-month training he endured was for as he lost more than he saved. The patient was removed by workers and another mangled mess was placed on his table. Claire held his gloves open and his huge hands jammed into them.

“Pea! On the double, bring a clamp pack, this boy is bleeding out!

Claire felt like she never stopped running when the wounded arrived from a village raid.

“Clamp the arteries as fast as you can. I have the chest, you take the abdomen. We can save this one if we hurry.”

Claire’s steady hand held the row of clamps as she jammed the forceps into one and pinched a bleeder off by squeezing it around the vessel. She worked fast from three months of practice at this level of trauma. Her eyes flicked at Jamie every few minutes because she was worried about him. He was losing weight and had dark circles under his eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw him smile.

“Eyes on the bleeders sweet pea, your betrothed is fine, just frustrated.”

“I’m worried, Cutter, he doesn’t look well, as a matter of fact, either do you. Thank Christ we’re getting out of here in four days.”

(NSFW under the cut.)

Hours later they each had a bucket of semi-clean water to pour over their heads. One bucket per day. Claire spent many hours daydreaming about long showers with her favorite scented body wash and it was finally just four days away. She took a seat next to Jamie at the grub table and ran her hand down his leg. Looking up at his tired face made her long to lay in his arms and kiss him to sleep. She missed him. Nine months of working his practice while completing his field training had kept him away from her and then they were off to South Sudan to do their part with Doctors Without Borders. He had done that for her and now she just wanted to get him home.

She thought about the visiting doctor they met the week before. He, Jamie, and Cutter had much to talk about allowing Claire to watch his face, the slump of his shoulders, and his haunted eyes. He headed a research team of five other doctors that were sent to Africa to treat the outbreak of Ebola. Once their treatment protocol was established, he flew back to the states to compile the mountain of data that would be coming. All five of those doctors, his colleagues, and friends, died a horrifying death and their corpses were left rotting in the jungle until procedures were developed to bring them safely home.

Claire recognized the symptoms of survivor's syndrome, his guilt that he survived when his team did not was taking a toll on his promising life. Snuffing out the flame that once burned bright. Their contribution to the treatment of Ebola would save thousands of lives, possibly millions in the future. Once the paper was published the doctor resigned his position at Harvard Medical, locked his lab, and left civilization. Now he headed a program for monitoring the doctors on the front lines of emerging pathogens. He had come to examine the medical staff and clear them to return to America.

Cutter left to write a letter to his wife and Claire asked Jamie to take a walk with her. The compound walls stretched for a mile in each direction and U.N. peacekeepers manned the turrets along the wall with machine guns. It was crowded with people seeking refuge from the war making a relaxing walk impossible. Claire’s mantra played over and over in her head, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home.

New doctors arrived two days later and spent twelve hours with Jamie and Cutter, learning the base, the wards, and the one-hundred seventy patients being treated. They walked through the rape ward where the girls and women were kept away from the other patients. Little was said about the brutality of the attacks. They would find out soon enough.

The pediatric ward was last. It was Jamie’s poison to watch the babies, sick with Cholera, malaria, or malnutrition succumb to their illness, week after week. Cutter had taken over the tour and Jamie sought out the quiet of their tukul. When Claire found him later, he was respondent.

“I’m sorry we came here Jamie, I’m sorry you are suffering because of me. Please talk to me before I die from sadness. I am left to guess what has struck you down, pulled you away from me. When it didn’t happen after three months, I thought I wasn’t cursed anymore. Wh…when you didn’t turn against me I mean, I thought we were safe. It just took a little longer this time, right Jamie? Now you hate everything I do and every breath I take.”

She put her arms around him and cried the words out until he turned to her and held her closely, shushing her and saying no.

“My sweet Sassenach, stop, ye dinna speak my truth lass, I’ve never loved ye more. Ye break my heart when ye cry like that.”

“Then tell me what it is and if we’re over Jamie.”

“We are powerless to save these people that have come here to die. We have no supplies, no sterile theater, and no freshwater. We are but undertakers for the almost dead. The babies, so innocent, so sick, have no chance. Born to a short life of misery. Where is God Sassenach? I can kill a man, face to face because I battle the devil. I would feel better to be let out of here where I can do some good.”

Jamie stood up abruptly and started walking to the door like he would walk out of the base and join the war.

“No!” Claire jumped on him crying no. Begging him to stop, not to leave her, not to die. “Tomorrow Jamie, we leave this dreadful place tomorrow. Please, don’t break my heart today!” She jumped off of him and ran to the door to stand in front of it.

“Let me out, Claire”

“You will have to hurt me for that to happen because I’m not moving! I understand how you feel now, and I agree, this was a terrible choice of location. In sixteen hours we board a plane to get out of this hell, why can’t you hold on until then?”

Jamie knew he wasn’t making sense and he knew this was the last night here. He took a deep breath and held his arms out to Claire.

“Please, Sassenach. Let’s go to bed, and I promise to just hold ye all night. Please, Claire, stop cryin, we will get out tomorrow and go back to our life. Come here.”

Claire flew into his arms and he carried her to bed, to hold her, until morning when this nightmare was over. She couldn’t relax until she pulled a piece of twine from her belongings and tied it around Jamie’s wrist. With much effort and Jamie’s help, the other end was tied around her wrist. She found a comfortable spot but woke up through the night to make sure he was still there.

Before they left, Claire found Cutter coming out of the surgical ward covered in blood.

“Shirt off Cutter.”

He smiled wickedly and pulled his shirt over his head. Claire held him around his middle and cried. She would miss him until they met again next year to find a new location for the summer. Jamie came up behind them and told Cutter to get his disgusting hands off his future wife. The two men shook hands and hugged, both feeling the relief this trip was over.

“Until next time friend,” Jamie said through a smile.

Claire stowed their bags and busied herself with grabbing a blanket for Jamie. She was able to get stiff drinks for both of them when they were finally in the air. She passed a mixed drink and a shot of whisky to Jamie, looking back a minute later to see two empty glasses. She got on her knees and released Jamie’s seat kissing him sweetly. That and the alcohol sent him into the quiet of his dreams for the next five hours. Claire felt relief this exhausted man could sleep, and she guarded him from the steward and other passengers that might wake him. They were accustomed to the brutal heat of South Sudan and she noticed Jamie shaking in his sleep. She turned the airflow away from him and then covered him with the blanket.

When they were notified of landing for their connection, she stroked his arm to avoid jolting him awake. Jamie pulled the armrest up and pulled her to him, covering both of them with the blanket.

Claire leaned into his neck and felt powerful arms around her. She had not felt this close to him in a very long time and wished they could cuddle for another hour. There was another huge feeling in her stomach at the same time. Her phone! She could make calls while they waited for their connection and she was bursting with excitement. She was digging in her purse while they disembarked the plane making Jamie laugh.

“Who will be first Sassenach?”

“Jenny of course,” said as she punched her speed dial.

Jamie looked down at her marveling at her ability to accept changes in her life and then put the effort into creating the life she wanted. He remembered his sister’s stone face when they met for lunch so long ago. Jenny was convinced he had become a total tool and womanizer and nothing he said would change her mind. He was so disappointed she was making him choose between her and Claire. When Claire asked him to invite Jenny and Ian for dinner one weekend, he decided it was time for Claire to know the family dynamic at play. Claire sat across from him at the kitchen table and listened to the timeline he shared with Geneva and how she poisoned Jenny’s mind against her. She felt sad for Jamie because there was now an ultimatum standing between him and Lallybroch. I can fix this, she thought, just need a little luck.

Over the next week, she checked in with Geillis and Laoghaire to get caught up on the details of Geneva’s life. She broached the subject at the club when her friends were three sheets to the wind.

“So I understand Jamie dated this girl Geneva while I was gone. I totally understand because I told him I was not coming back to Scotland, ever. Now she has lied to his sister about their relationship, so I need all her details girls.”

“Her family is rich and she flaunts that over everyone since she was in elementary.” Laoghaire was clearly harboring a dislike for the lady and Claire seized the opportunity.

“I heard she was really nice,” Claire lied.

“She is not nice! She’s a cold, calculating bitch actually. She was all sweet to me until Jamie dumped her and now she doesn’t seem to recognize me. That’s okay, she is gettin what’s due her now.”

“Do tell sweetheart,” Claire inched her chair closer to her friend.

Geillis started to laugh wickedly, “the lass got herself knocked up by some hotshot, handsome, rich, and new to the area. He’s developing the new mall and already well known around town. They were datin for a month and she told him at her birthday party she was pregnant. He instantly left the party and she cried for the rest of the night. We were there and saw the whole thing.”

Claire’s mind was churning the facts and she smiled broadly at her two best friends. ”Is that a fact?”

It took two days for Jamie to fall asleep before she did and she took his phone outside and sent a text message to Geneva to meet him at the house tomorrow, twelve noon. Then she deleted the message and blocked text messages from her.

When she answered the door the next day, she leaned against the door jam and stuck out her hand with a smile. Geneva was not happy about the intrusion of this girl and demanded to see Jamie.

“Of course, come in, let’s get acquainted. I’m Claire by the way, Jamie’s girlfriend.”

It took some persuading to get Geneva to the kitchen table where she could deliver the coup de grace.

“I am so happy to spend time with you before Jamie gets here. You see, his sister Jenny has a misconception of your relationship, and it's causing a rift in the family. I want you to fix that, today.”

Geneva snorted a weak laugh and looked at Claire with utter disdain. “Not likely, I told her the truth. I feel sorry for you because you were duped by Jamie. He was with me, actively with me, until a week before he broke it off. We talked about getting married and then suddenly he was done with me. Poor baby, you’re next.”

“I know the truth of it Geneva and you will come clean to Jenny, today. If you don’t, it’s high time your father knows about your pregnancy to a guy that has run from any association with you. An abortion, trapping him with a paternity test or just hoping he comes back will do nothing but tarnish your family’s good name. You’re a social parasite Geneva and I can see your father cut off your support and throw you to the streets to cohabitate with others as misguided as you. You must be working on solutions to your situation so tell Jenny the truth and I leave you alone. Otherwise, everyone in town will know, including your parents.”

Claire smiled sweetly at Geneva and waited until she bolted out of the house cursing under her breath. She could only hope she was right about the family dynamic and how this news would poison Geneva’s position in it.

Jamie came home the next night with company. His contrite sister was there to apologize to Claire and ask to start over with her. Claire was over the moon and made plans with Jenny for a night out on the town the following weekend so the four of them could have some fun. It was like magic to a grateful Jamie. The four of them got on so well and Claire and Jenny started a friendship that would bond them to each other like sisters.

Jamie grabbed the phone from Claire and asked Jenny to hold on a minute. He pulled Claire to his lips and kissed her deeply sparking a look in her eyes that made him weak. He handed the phone back and dropped his head to the back of his chair, asleep in minutes.

The wait for their connection was long enough for Claire to check in with Laoghaire and Geillis also. She drifted to the gift shop and purchased a beautiful bracelet made in Africa. She felt done with the excursions into remote parts of the world to render aid to the less fortunate. She just felt empty inside for such an effort again. Deep inside she knew the reason. She had her suspicions for a month but couldn’t confirm it. She felt lonely suddenly and walked quickly back to Jamie who was awake.

“Hey, sunshine, how do you feel?”

“Sleepy Sassenach. I want ye to keep me awake so tell me a story, aye?.”

Claire held her breath, wanting so badly to tell him her truth.

“Jamie, I think I’m pregnant.”

He stared at her for a good minute, expressionless, “stay here Sassenach, I’ll be right back.”

Jamie ran to the boarding counter and asked where he could find a drugstore in the airport. He sprinted away while Claire watched in total confusion. He must absolutely hate the idea, she thought as she slipped into depression.

Ten minutes later Jamie ran back with a small bag and lifted Claire to her feet guiding her to the ladies' room.

He put the bag in her hand and pushed her into the room, looking wide-eyed, almost wild.

Claire took the pregnancy test out of the bag and read the instructions. She still could not read Jamie’s emotions and felt her folly at surprising him with something life-changing and yet unverified. Holding the stick in the air to dry it she looked at the results window and felt her world tilt. It took so long to get to the sink when she looked at herself in the mirror Jamie was standing behind her.

“May I see it, Sassenach,” he whispered, looking at Claire’s pale face.

When she lifted the stick for him, he grabbed her and spun her around until she was dizzy. She smiled weakly at him trying to take in his reaction. He was absolutely beaming and kissed her face a dozen times telling her this was the best news. He gushed over her ability to make him deliriously happy, neither of them noticing a toilet flushing and a woman join them at the sink. She smiled knowingly at the two young people in love.

Spoken with a Swedish accent she told them, “now you must get off the street and get a job for your baby. You will be very happy.” She walked out of the restroom leaving Jamie and Claire clearly shocked at what she said.

Claire bent over laughing at the comment. “No shower for three months makes us look like bums on the street!”

Jamie looked like he had seen an angel and wrapped her up in his powerful arms.

“Sassenach, when we land in Scotland, I will have an agenda that will keep my mind occupied for at least two days. I willna have the brain space to utter a single sentence I’m afraid. Come, lass, let’s talk about this miracle and makin an honest woman of ye while I can.”

Jamie pulled her back to their seats and looked at a confused Claire.

“I don’t understand Jamie, what is so important for you when we get home?”

Jamie held her cheek and sighed, letting her see his need for her, making her squirm in her seat. “Oh, I see, well that trumps everything, doesn’t it? I love you Jamie and as long as you still look at me that way, I fear nothing.”

The second leg of their trip home, Claire curled up against Jamie and dove into the calming sea of her dreams. Jamie pulled her head to his lap and made sure nothing and no one disturbed her. It was a magic seven hours for him as he contemplated the family of his future with the fierce loving, free spirit who slept in his lap.

When the front door opened, two battle-weary lovers dropped their duffle bags and struggled to the shower. Jamie covered Claire with her favorite body wash followed by scented shampoo that made her moan with pleasure. He pulled the shower curtain aside and wrapped her in luxurious towels before heading back for his own time with the soap. When he emerged, the beard and mustache were quickly eliminated, and he felt like a new man anxious to devour his love in the slowest, most thorough way possible. He walked into the bedroom with his curls dripping water onto his shoulders and found Claire sitting on the side of the bed, head jerking up from falling asleep. His heart nearly melted in his chest as he pulled her to him and held her down until sleep came and took her away.

Claire woke up feeling groggy from her deep sleep. She knew they had two days to re-acclimate before work pulled them apart. Jamie looked like an angel to her as he slept. She could take a bit of time to recreate the body she preferred. She snuck quietly to the second bathroom and filled the bath with hot water and scented bubble bath. She placed two new razors on the tub and scraped off the unwanted hair that invaded her most intimate body parts over the last three months. It was liberating and unleashed her arousal, dormant for so long. By the time she was done, it was a struggle not to jump on Jamie and win her release that was throbbing between her legs.

Standing at the foot of the bed, she watched him sleep, noticing the room had become grey with the coming sunrise. She knelt to kiss his feet, followed by his calves, licking the back of his knees and causing him to gasp. She ran her tongue slowly up the back of his legs and buried her face under his buttocks to lick his balls until he flipped over and looked at her.

Jamie struggled to contain his need to pound her and his mind was full of this wonderful woman. I must slow my heart, he thought. She is kneeling over me naked and I canna get enough of her, clean shaved, smelling like sex. Her hair is falling around her face as she runs her eyes up and down my body. Jesus, she is beautiful and has no idea how I want to take her. Brutally, lovingly, dominating her body and mind until she gives in to me. I must fight the urge to consume her. She is the mother of my child and I will use all my strength not to overpower her. God, when she pulls my nipple into her mouth it strips my resolve. I want to take her, my way, without consent, without mercy, until she’s mine.

“Sassenach, my love, come here.”

She is resistant. Careful lass, dinna tempt me, I’m no that strong. What is this? No, not a good idea, keep yer beautiful mouth away from me. It’s not fair but oh…my…God it feels so good. Jesus lass, stop or I’ll come down yer throat before I can worship yer body. Come here, love.

Claire felt Jamie pull her to his lips and crush her. He flipped her over and pulled her legs apart feasting his eyes on her gorgeous pussy. She dropped her fingers to her fold and held it apart for him to gorge himself on her throbbing core. She arched her back into her first orgasm and tried to pull him to her. He entered her softly and slowly making her pant for more. She grabbed his face to her and looked him in the eye.

“I don’t want Sunday school. If I say, uncle, I do the wash for both of us. Show me how much you love me Jamie, right now, and don’t hold back or I’ll go back to sleep, I swear I will.”

For the next thirty minutes, Claire felt the power of Jamie and it thrilled her as he pulled her into the most intimate and edgy positions that most women would push away from. She opened her body to him, and he feasted, growling into his orgasm that stung his balls as he ejaculated. Claire was vaguely aware of the quilt pulling up to cover them and Jamie’s soft kisses on her face. They were clinging to each other as they fell into another five hours of sleep only to repeat the intensity once again.

Many hours later, Claire heard the quiet ringtone alerting her to a call coming in. She patted the bed until she found the offending phone and opened her eyes just before clicking the dismiss button. She answered hoping she could stay awake long enough to let him talk.

“Joe, why are you calling in the middle of the night?”

“It is one in the afternoon gorgeous and it’s time to get up.”

“No, it’s time to sleep some more dear one. What do you want?”

“I want to say welcome back to civilization, hear about your tour in Sudan, and one more thing Claire.”

She looked at the phone and shook her head, trying to wake up. “What other thing Joe?”

“I found Luna.”

“What?!”

“She’s in an orphanage Claire, has been since the raid on the hospital. The rebels leveled the settlements nearby and Luna’s family was wiped out. Thank God those monsters have respect for the innocent. I thought you would want to know.”

Claire was on her feet and pounding Joe with questions as she paced the bedroom. Running for her laptop she brought up the URL Joe dictated and raced through the pictures of babies and children that were up for adoption. Her fingers abruptly stopped when she found the face of her angel and she gasped at the sight of her.

“Jesus Christ Joe, she’s been in that place for over a year! How can I get her out?”

“It’s not easy Claire, but someone has to help her.”

Joe gave Claire the number to call the adoption agency in Honduras and what little he had discovered about Luna. He warned her the adoption protocols were temporarily closed for unknown reasons and forwarded the email listing the steps to adopt a child from a country outside of Honduras. It included two stays in-country to live among the culture of the child as the agency went over her dossier.

Claire was crying with the love and fear she felt for Luna and promised Joe she would keep him posted. When she felt Jamie’s hand on her bare shoulder she looked up into compassionate eyes and she felt him say, I’m here to help you, trust me with your truth, I will help you bring her home.

Claire clicked off from Joe and dissolved into her tears and fears while Jamie held her with his strength.

Jamie looked at the pictures of Luna on the website and felt his heart open up and pull her in. Her face was the picture of innocence, her huge eyes revealed her loveless life and fear. He waited for Claire to be distracted and returned to her picture again and again. Claire loves this beautiful little girl like she was her own. Something had to be done.

Luna became their project during their off-hours. Returning to work was hard enough, but Luna was a constant presence in both their minds. The requirement for being considered as an adoption family were rigid including two prolonged stays in-country. When Jamie brought that up Claire would start shaking and he could see the war going on in her head.

“Stay in Honduras for two weeks? I could see Luna during that time, but we must be invited and they have had our dossier for three weeks, Jamie. When are we going to hear from them?”

Claire was clearly scared shitless about entering that country again, even when Jamie assured her the city was safe. He talked it over with John during an afternoon hike when Claire was working. When John bid him farewell he followed up with, “I’m going with her Jamie because you can’t. Tell her to schedule the visit right away before I’m assigned to a case.”

When Jamie told Claire John would go with her to Honduras she cried and hung on his neck. Within a week, Claire was invited by the agency to come and see Luna. Jamie had mixed feelings letting go of her at the airport.

“Sassenach, I’m so sorry I canna go with ye. Are ye alright with John lass?”

She looked into his eyes feeling such gratitude he would let her go without him. She smiled and kissed him before breaking out of his embrace to jog to her boarding gate. John settled into the seat next to her and complained that her pregnancy put a stop to partying enroute to Honduras.

“You’re a very selfish person, curbing my happiness on this trip. I just wanted you to know that Claire.”

She smiled at him and got comfortable for the long plane ride to a country she hated.

They strolled through the nursery the next day, a requirement of the agency to look at all the children up for adoption. Claire could hardly breathe waiting to see Luna. She heard a familiar cry and looked through a window at numerous cribs with children inside. The minute her eyes saw Luna she struggled to stay on her feet. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she smiled at the infant who was having a tantrum, shaking a stuffed toy in Claire’s direction. They were forced to view the rest of the infants before returning to the nursery where Luna was.

Claire walked directly to Luna and smiled at her obvious recollection. She held her arms out for her and Luna moved into them gripping Claire’s hair with both fists and burying her face in Claire’s neck. They both clung to each other with tears that flowed freely. Even John was choked up and turned around to cough harshly. The rest of the afternoon, Claire held Luna in a huge rocking chair and seemed far away in a world she shared with Luna alone. John paced the hallway watching with growing concern.

“Jamie, I’m worried. These two are obviously bonded and Luna remembers her. Claire is in another world and just wants to hold her. I’m not sure this will end well for Claire. What should I do?”

“Protect her John. Dinna let anyone close to Claire. Other than that, let it play out. Ye willna be able to drag Claire away until they tell her to go, aye?” Claire cried so hard on her last day with Luna. She heard the baby wailing for her until they were out the door of the orphanage. John held a weeping Claire all the way back to Scotland and was anxious to hand her to Jamie to console. He really didn’t get the emotional part of this mission.

Claire returned to work and pushed Luna out of her mind so she could function. The next in-country requirement was a four-week stay in Honduras and Claire made contact with the agency every week asking for an invitation to come. She was being stone-walled without any explanation and it was taking its toll on her.

Jamie watched her brave attempts to act normal but as her pregnancy progressed her expanding waistline reminded him constantly of her delicate condition. He was prepared to accompany her to Honduras as soon as they were allowed. The weeks turned into months and Claire could not take it anymore. Jamie held her close and promised to find an answer to why they had not been processed already. He looked into her eyes and asked her with a sincere and loving heart to marry him, right now.

The following weekend, they were married at the Justice of the Peace with Jenny and Ian standing as witnesses. Claire was six months pregnant and Jamie knew the window of opportunity to travel to Honduras was closing.

Cutter answered Jamie’s call with a heartfelt hello to his friend. Jamie asked about other means to push the adoption through since the agency had closed the proceedings at the order of the government. It was a match to kindling as Cutter felt Claire’s despair to save Luna. He remembered her asleep on the Lazy Boy with a hand in the incubator, waking every hour to feed this doomed child. He was mobilized to cut through this ridiculous bureaucracy and get some answers from the agency.

On a whim, Cutter wrote a letter to the president of the United States, detailing the surgical procedure that saved Luna and how one nurse fought for her against all odds. He told of her bravery when the hospital was raided, how she was shot and barely escaped her own death. These terrible events befell her because she pledged two years of her life to help the Hondurans. He included her husband’s bravery when he got all of them out of the country, risking his own life. He completed the letter with his wish to reunite this forgotten child with the only mother she ever knew. “Go with God.” The envelope was sealed and sent.

A month later, Cutter received a letter from the White House. A duplicate letter was received by Jamie and Claire. Both letters were signed by the President with the amazing news that Luna was coming to America the following weekend and they were invited to the Dallas airport to greet her.

Claire sat down hard in the rocking chair and stared at the floor as Jamie read the letter. She looked up expecting the next shoe to fall and watched Jamie typing into his phone. Claire was frozen watching Jamie pace as he arranged a flight for the following weekend. She felt the tears fall down her cheeks as she waited to hear bad news or wake up from a dream.

Jamie knelt on the floor to look into her eyes. “She is coming home Sassenach, in four days! The president arranged this for you, and for Luna. Be happy Sassenach, it is happening and we will have her home with us by next week!”

Jamie pulled Claire into bed and held her close telling her it was going to be perfect and to have faith. Claire gripped his sides and shook, feeling so small in this miraculous undertaking.

Claire gripped Jamie’s hand at the Dallas airport and heard her mantra repeated over and over again, please let her be on that plane, please let her be on that plane. She looked up at an entourage coming out of the plane. They were obviously secret service and surrounded a woman in the middle of all those bodies. Claire and Jamie stood waiting, barely breathing.

A petite, young, blonde woman with striking features was revealed and she held Luna in her arms looking around for a familiar face. When her eyes found Jamie she smiled and walked to him, seeing Claire’s face she knew who she was. Luna was handed to Claire as she dissolved in grateful tears and sat down to avoid falling over as Luna’s face pressed to hers.

Jamie looked down at the office manager and his eyes were shouting his thanks to her. “Mission accomplished soldier, I would salute ye if I could. I am so grateful.”

She looked at him with compassion, her face showing her delight in helping this mission come to pass. She placed her hand on Jamie’s arm.

“The U.S. President salutes you, Jamie, from behind the scenes as you and I have come to know it. It was a three-country effort to arrange the adoption, the U.S., Scotland, and Honduras. How the U.S. President got involved I’ll never know but it was his clout that got the attention needed. Luna belongs to the two of you now. I pulled strings to get assigned to this mission so I could carry her to you. It’s my going away present and no one is more deserving than you.”

Jamie was reeling from the disclosure. He looked up and saw Dougal hanging back looking like he was a stranger, waiting to board his flight. He turned slightly and locked eyes with Jamie and the two men nodded slightly to each other. Jamie looked at Claire and Luna feeling like his heart would burst in his chest. There was much to do to ready the house for this precious child and another soon to be born. He took a deep breath and looked for the office manager but she was gone, as was Dougal. They melted into the airport population on their way back to Scotland.

Jamie felt the tears on his cheeks and sat down next to Claire and Luna, holding them close and thanking God for this miracle. His head was bowed as he prayed his thanks until a tiny hand reached out for him and pushed her body toward him. He pulled Luna to him and locked eyes with his new daughter.

“I’m Da, Luna.”

She touched his face and then his tears with her finger, looking at him like he was the most important person she had ever met.

“No more fear lassie, ye’ll have a life of love, I promise.”

Jamie struggled to push the tears back. Not for his pride or appearing weak. He wanted his eyes clear so he could see his two lassies and Claire’s round abdomen that held his next son or daughter, closely protected and fiercely loved.

The End.

The spirit in me bows to the spirit in you...Namaste and thank you.

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shannsleeve · 7 years

Text

Occamy (Blackberry) Pie

Based on this post by @teacup-occamy. It was an honor to use your sketch as the foundation for this piece.

–

Tap, tap.

“Coming!”

Tina Goldstein stifled a yawn as she rose from her position in front of the fireplace. Strewn haphazardly across the floor were dozens of emerald green file folders embossed with the official MACUSA seal. Interspersed between the files was a collection of mugs filled with cold coffee in various stages of consumption. Late nights at the Major Investigative Department were becoming more and more routine amidst reports of several violent attacks against No-Majs. After a week of falling asleep at her desk instead of in her bed, the exhausted witch made the executive decision to bring her work home.

Tap, tap.

“I know, I know! One second!”

After a quick, refreshing stretch, she picked her way across the paper labyrinth to the kitchen window. A fluffy white owl with a rather large package dangling from its talons hovered unsteadily above the window ledge. It hooted happily when Tina granted it entrance. Once inside, it circled the apartment before dropping its delivery onto the dining table.

“Really, Charlie?” Tina asked, a slight edge in her voice. “What in the name of Deliverance Dane did Queenie send now?”

Charlie stared at his mum’s sister, blinking innocently.

“Who am I kidding? You’d never tell me, even if you could!” She sighed heavily and pulled out her wand. “This was big package, though, so I’ll take pity on ya.” With a wave, she summoned two owl treats from a tin above the kitchen sink. While the owl munched away on his snack, Tina pointed her wand at the package. “Finite Incantatem!”

Nothing.

Charlie paused his munching to, again, stare at his aunt; this time more in a more accusatory manner.

The witch met his stare with a fierce one of her own. “Last time she sent me a bunch of those no-heat fireworks for April Fool’s day. I wasn’t gonna let that happen twice!”

Charlie merely flapped a wing in her direction, went back to his snack and, once finished, promptly fell asleep.

Indignantly, Tina stuck her tongue out at the owl, but blushed when she realized he was ignoring her. With a huff, she waved her wand again and watched as the paper wrapping fell open to reveal a pale-yellow box labelled Kowalski’s Quality Baked Goods along the top. A soft, lopsided smile graced her lips as she found a small note attached to the box.

Teenie,

Jacob and I made this fresh today. We know it’s your favorite. Don’t forget to eat a REAL dinner before you have a piece! Don’t think I haven’t noticed that your blood is more coffee than anything else these days. Don’t work too hard and give our love to Newt!

Queenie

Thoroughly chastised, Tina cleared her throat uneasily and tossed the note away. “At least, I would have brought the box in person,” she grumbled. “Not make my owl fly all the way from East Village. S’not even that far…”

Without further pretense, she lifted the lid to reveal a simple, yet beautiful pie. Her eyes closed of their own accord as the fresh scent of blackberries and the Kowalski family’s famous crust met her nostrils. For the first time in quite a long time, Tina allowed herself to relax. In doing so, she felt a strong ache in her neck and shoulders, and unresolved tension in her calves and forearms. The sting of bruises and cuts she’d sustained in every raid for the past month crept through her skin, causing her to groan in discomfort. She forced her eyelids open and glanced down at the pie again, beaming as she saw a pastry Occamy curled around a bundle of blackberries at the center. Sometimes Jacob was far too sweet for his own good.

“Speaking of occamies…”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” The exasperated shout echoed throughout the apartment and was followed by a series of violent crashes. “MERLIN’S BEARD! WHY YOU LITTLE—“

The witch turned towards the pocket doors of her bedroom where a very disheveled Magizoologist bent over her bed and a beaten leather suitcase. To her delight, he stuck his head inside the open case and shouted again.

“I SAW THAT, YOU PEST!”

“Did you, now?” Tina sidled up to the wizard and smirked when he lifted his head to regard her. A great smudge of dirt covered his nose and rimmed the ends of his rolled-up shirt sleeves. His tweed vest was held together by only one bronze button and his skinny bow-tie was nowhere to be seen. He was also sweating and panting profusely.

“Oh, hello, love,” breathed Newt, running a calloused hand through his hair. His gaze darted between the open case and Tina’s seafoam bedspread. “The niffler took a turn about your room and, uh, seems to have stolen one of your sister’s necklaces and probably a few other things…” He worried his lip between his teeth. “I know we had dinner arrangements but…”

Tina shook her head lightly and placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Go catch that sneaky little thief. I’ve been crouched over those files for too long anyway.” She rolled her neck, reveling in the slight release of tension. “I think I’ll soak in the bath for a bit.”

Newt patted the hand on his arm and leaned over to kiss her cheek. They both laughed aloud as he missed and his lips landed on her earlobe. He watched, fascinated, as she summoned her toiletries and clothes and made her way to the bathroom. As she was about to shut the door, a thought occurred to her. “Oh! There’s one more thing, Newt.”

“Yes?”

“Queenie and Jacob sent over an occamy pie.”

“W-What?!” He froze, mouth hanging open like a limp carp, completely and utterly horrified.

She stifled a laugh. “Be out in a bit, darling!”

–

An hour and a half later, Tina emerged from the bath feeling much more at ease and far less tense. She’d borrowed one of Queenie’s warming bath salts, conjured a few jets of water, and dozed off as the heat worried away at her tight muscles. Now, as she toweled her hair dry, she felt and heard her stomach roar with hunger.

“Oh to hell with dinner,” she muttered, pulling a light, sleeveless blouse over her head. “That pie’s mine!” She finished dressing and made a beeline for the dining room table, only pausing long enough to send her toiletries back to the bedroom.

The pie was still warm and smelled just as delicious as when she’d first opened the box. She’d have to thank Queenie for thinking of the Stasis Charm. After a moment of deliberation, she decided to only take one slice and a few blackberries. It wouldn’t do to eat the pastry occamy just yet. After all, she wasn’t sure if Newt had seen it. After she’d cut the perfect slice, and made herself a hot cup of cocoa, she made her way back to the maze of MACUSA files. She reluctantly grabbed a file at random from a nearby pile and settled herself into the couch. On second thought, she tossed the file to the opposite side of the couch and took a hearty bite of pie. Work could wait until after she indulged.

–

Newt stumbled out of the case a little while later, his stomach growling and his head pounding. He knew he shouldn’t have skipped dinner, but, he had to admit, his hunger pangs were worth it. The niffler had indeed stolen quite a few bits of Queenie and Tina’s jewelry along with a pouch full of Dragots and his pocket watch. They’d gone on a merry chase inside the case and nearly torn down a few habitats in the process. He gently extracted the niffler’s pilfered treasures from his pocket and set them down on the nightstand. Immediately, he thought of Tina and wondered if she’d remembered to eat dinner. As soon as he finished the thought, however, he saw that she was lounging on her mother’s teal couch, an empty plate floating by her side.

He chuckled lightly and wove his way through her kingdom of evidence until he stood right behind her. “Dearest?”

“Hmm?” Her eyes were closed and a teasing smile played upon her lips. She leaned comfortably against the arm of the couch, head cradled in her hand, fingers tangled in her wavy hair. She hadn’t bothered to fix it after the bath and, besides, Newt liked it better this way.

Newt leaned forward, just a touch, until his lips hovered just above hers, his own long fingers twining with hers in her hair. “I caught him.”

Then he pressed their lips together and the world melted away. She tasted of blackberries and salt and fresh air. He smelled of trees and earth and herbs. For one fantastic moment, nothing existed outside of their affection and longing. They smiled into the kiss before gently parting, missing the other’s closeness as soon as they did so.

Tina reached up to ruffle Newt’s hair but stopped and fingered the fabric around his neck instead. “Isn’t it a bit warm for a scarf?”

“Ah yes, well, the little bugger decided to hide in the tundra habitat for a bit.” His cheeks reddened as he pulled the scarf from about his neck and draped it over the back of the couch. “He’s gotten much better at concealing himself. Took a good half hour of digging before I found him.”

Tina giggled and patted his cheek, silently noting that two new freckles had appeared beneath his right eye. “Congratulations on a job well done, Mr. Scamander.”

“Why thank you, Miss Goldstein,” he replied, lovingly taking hold of the hand pressed against his cheek. “Now, what’s this about an occamy pie?”

#occamy blackberry pie #the case the bakery and the apartment #newtina #newt scamander #tina goldstein #fbawtft ficlet #fbawtft #occamy

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invisibletoallbutfaeries · 5 years

Text

Gaia Plague Crisis: The Beginning

Family Focus: The O'Malley’s

Word Count: 2,162

Page count: Just over 6 pages

Brief: Five years after landing on Gaia a plague breaks out over the village. It originated with Bran O’Malley, the youngest child in the village, and spread violently from him to his family and outward. This is the morning it began to spread.

It had been five years since settling on Gaia, and despite their only being 25 people in total in the village, including the children, many things had been accomplished. No one understood it either, but no one seemed to have aged, though this was most apparent in the teenagers in the village and the O’Malley’s young children not aging a day than it was for the adults. They may had lost communication with Earth within the first year and could not report the phenomenon, though it did seem to have an advantage. Since everyone seemed the same age no one was too old to help with building or settling the village yet, the only downside was that since Bran and Branwen still appeared 8 and 11 respectively they could not help as much as the older children could. Bran had discovered an affinity for fire, but helping light fires for his mothers forge or in hearths to heat homes was as far as anyone allowed him to exercise this gift.

After they’d built the school, even outfitting it with technology intended to keep future students engaged with the class and lessen the chance of skipping, they’d managed to add additional rooms to each shack to turn them into homes for the residents. A blacksmithy had even been built for Brighid attached to the O’Malley homestead so she could make proper fences, door frames and hinges, and even frames and hinges for windows to provide nicer accommodations to the homes.

The O’Malley home itself now had five homes, a kitchen where everyone entered initially, a room for each of their children and one for the parents, and then a room off to the side as a communal family room. It was just in time as well, since Bran had come down with some sort of sickness and was now being quarantined within his room.

Brighid had decided on this day to check on her little boy. According to Abraham, the young man who kept track of the days and holidays, it was now the middle of summer and fall was fast approaching. Bran had been sick for a week now, and Brighid was worried he would miss his favorite season to this sickness if they didn’t find a cure, though Dr. Singh had said there was nothing to be done except trying to care for him similar to how one would care for a flue. He did not know the sickness, and now one dared enter the forest after they found Bran had gotten it from eating some purplish- black berries he’s found deep within it.

When Brighid opened her son’s door he turned onto his side, the rag on his forehead dropping away from him as he buried his face into his pillow. He was still clammy, unusually pale, and feverish. For the past few days he’d been sweating terribly, and his red hair clung to his face even now. Black veins had started from his stomach on the first day and began reaching up his flesh each day to cover his whole body. Now they had reached his face, twining around it in stark contrast to the cold, round features. Even his freckles seemed to be fading behind the veins. They had tried to get rid of them, from having him drink only water that had been boiled clean before being chilled, antibiotics, and even trying to scrub him clean. Still they refused to leave.

Bran’s eyes were closed shut tight and his lips trembled from fever dreams, small whimpers escaping him every so often. Every so often whimpers turned into soft words, though Brighid couldn’t make out what they were. Setting his food on the nightstand she placed the back of her hand against his wee forehead, finding it felt like a hot iron. Worse than the rest of the week. She sighed and turned her attention to stirring his food, a bowl of hot oatmeal with plenty of cinnamon in it to try and boost his immune system.

“You shouldn’t have eaten those berries without knowing what they are, and now you’re on your seventh day being sick as a dog” she chided the resting boy. His eyes were closed and he was clutching the blankets under his chin, but from his faces and mumbles he appeared to be awake. He was responding enough to her speaking.

“You shouldn’t have even been in that forest alone, we have only lived here less than a year. We don’t know the whole layout, and you’re only 8! You should have had an adult with you.” As she lectured Bran, whose eyes were just starting to open, she walked over to his window and pulled the blinds open. The room was stale, the smell of vomit from the first few days had been difficult to get rid of, even when it was chased by the smell of vodka. Medical alcohol was running low enough for Dr. Singh to recommend vodka to sterilize his vomit bowl with instead. A stronger smell seemed to permeate the room as well, the smell of sickeningly sweet and rotting berries. She was hoping the summer morning air would enter through his window and help clear out the stale air of the room in a way no candle seemed to so. While Brighid could finally breathe well, it didn’t seem to have much of an effect. Instead it simply highlighted the room, how dust had gathered upon the sparse furniture, how his sweat had stained his sheets and blankets, and how the floor desperately needed to be scrubbed clean again. ‘I will move Bran out into the communal room,’ she thought as she approached the lad. The room had plenty of light filtering in, mostly covering his nightstand and bed, but he was still wrapped up in his sheets. ‘He does not need to stay in this filth for so long, plus perhaps the hearth fire could do him good. I can clean his room while he sleeps so he can rest easier.’ She shook his shoulder, prompting him to move his blanket down and look at her.

Hisssssssssssss!

Brighid jumped as a loud and unnatural sound came from the child’s bed as he barely gave Brighid a chance to see his face. Once light caught his eyes he’d flung himself back under the sheets, his breathing becoming heavier. ‘That is odd, he always loved the sun, especially since it usually meant he could go and play with the yale outside.’

“Bran?” she asked as she cautiously shook what she guessed was his shoulder from under the mass of sheets. No response came aside from another yet lower angry hiss.

“Bran!” she repeated, sterner this time. “Out from under there, it is time for breakfast and you won’t recover if you do not eat.” Still there was only a hiss in response, though this seemed to be even more angry. Like a cat giving a warning before attacking its opponent. While Brighid could feel fear well up within her from her child’s odd behavior, fearing he may be experiencing more than he’d originally let on, she also felt annoyance take root as well. It was bad enough he rarely listened while he was healthy, she did not approve of him hissing at her while he was sick either. We was a grown boy, he could use his words! “Bran! A wee bit of sun won’t her ya, now out!”

Brighid stood and carefully grabbed one end of the pile of blankets before ripping it away from her son. What met her was not her son though.

He had the same red hair as her son, but it was flat and lifeless. He had the same freckles though they had faded under the thick black veins that seemed to root around his eyes and mouth. His lips had turned blue lips and black splotches made their way along his face as if he was a corpse, and a cold, clammy pallor had made his skin near translucent, robbing it of the warm, bright, happiness of his usual appearance. His green eyes had gone almost black, and his happy smiling face was now twisted into a snarling mass of teeth -hissing, and gurgling as foam slowly seeped from his mouth.

Brighid couldn’t move. Not while some demon encroached on her sweet little boy’s body. She couldn’t even speak. Not until the creature shrieked and jumped at her. The sound was similar to Bran’s wails when he got hurt, a sharp piercing sound that rang through the house. As the snarling child’s foaming face came upon her, that sickly sweet berry smell became stronger and Brighid’s arms flew to cover her face and protect herself. Only for teeth to sink into her arm and pierce her flesh. She cried out as she fell back, the creature shrieking a horribly in-human sound as it was engulfed by the light from the window. It was almost too high pitched for her to really hear it, except for the ringing it had caused in her ears. That was her only saving grace, as the creature launched itself off of her, leaving her terrified and with a bloody, tooth-marked arm.

Branwen, her daughter, came running in as the creature huddled under the bed asking “what happened?” before she spotted Bran’s eyes looking back at her from under the bed.

Brighid put a finger to her lips, telling her eldest to stay quiet as she tried to move herself into a crouching position. Her arm bled terribly and dull ache spread from her forearm up to her shoulder everytime she tried to put weight on it.

Branwen slowly backed up, staring at the slight shimmer of glassy, wet eyes staring at her from under Bran’s bed. She didn’t recognize the creature staring at her, and didn’t take her eyes off of it until she bumped into her father who had just run back in from handling the yale when he heard his wife scream. The tall teenager jumped in response, sparking a response from the creature that once was Bran as well.

The being jumped out from under the bed, leaping onto a shrieking Branwen and biting her shoulder. As it went to chew into her shoulder more, the preteen wailing and shrieked in pain, her father twisting the pair around so he could tear his youngest off of his eldest. As he pulled at the creature it turned and snarled at him before it released Branwen. The girl fell backward and began to shuffle away as she sniffled, Brighid immediately running to her daughter to comfort her. There was a flash of green in the creatures eyes as it seemed to recognize his father.

“Bran?” Hern inquired as he set the child down. The little boy shook his head, tears welling up before he shrieked again, his hands burrowing into his hair and gripping his head as if it would fall off. Hern reached out to his son, but before he could lift his face to examine him the boy’s eyes had turned back to black his pupils blew out so far. Foam began seeping from his mouth again and it leaped under Hern’s arm, grabbing his leg instead and biting into his calf. Hern hollered in both pain and surprise, trying to pry the small child from his leg in fear he’d hurt the boy within if he kicked at him. When it didn’t work he kicked at the creature, not really connecting as he couldn’t bring himself to potentially hurt his own child, but scaring it off at least a little. As the creature dislodged it's gnawing teeth and backed up the elder man launched into action, trying to grab at the creature that once was his child to lock it into a closet.

The whole house was filled with shrieks and screams, and high pitched sub-human cries that concerned any villager nearby. Within a week the smell of fermenting fruit emanated from it and no one entered or left. One night there was a crashing sound that woke half the village and four corpse-looking creatures that resembled the family burst from the small house, ignoring the herd of Yale that they once cared for. They instead attacked any villagers with the misfortune to be nearby or sleep through the noise. Weeks went by and more and more people came down with the sickness and fled into the forest after infecting more victims. One girl fled before she could become infected, and three boys hid themselves in the schoolhouse. All four barely managed to escape the plague for fifteen years before help was sent to discover the source of this outbreak. None knew that it was young Bran O'Malley that was the first victim, none but his family, who were infected before the outbreak was known as a threat. Only suspicion began to set in after a few years after the crisis began.

#gaia stories #tw: illness #tw: possession #tw: gore #minor but it's there #tw: violence #if i should tag anything else let me know

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