Author's Note: Hello again! Now that finals are over and there is only one more chapter left to right for "Star Light, Star Bright" I can focus on this story more! Yay! At this point of time, this story is about halfway done, but since I do not pre-write "Memories" that may change. Please continue to read and review!
Chapter 10: Baby's Cradle
"Why are we here?" Vivi asked Charles when they arrived at Isabelle's house. Gale rolled his eyes.
It had been several months since that Thanksgiving meal and Gale and Vivi have matured in their magical trainings. At that current moment, Gale is expected to complete his apprenticeship in a year or two, while Vivi has at least three more years to go. They are both excellent students and are determined to learn. It would not surprise Charles if they both completed their apprenticeships earlier.
"We are here to help my sister." Charles smiled and knocked politely on the house door.
Gabriel greeted the three travelers and welcomed them into his home. Isabelle was lounging on a couch with her feet propped up in the air and she was knitting what looked like to be the beginning of a baby blanket. Her belly was round and swollen and if one were to look carefully, one could see the skin of her stomach flex from the baby's movements. Gale noticed it once and had a sudden urge to feel the baby kick.
"How are you Isabelle?" Charles kissed his sisters forehead and rubbed her stomach.
"Feeling huge," She laughed. Isabelle motioned Vivi and Gale to come closer to her, "I have asked Charles to bring you two here, because I have a task that requires two intelligent and young magical beings." She complimented the two with a smile, "I would like for you two to help and design the baby's room. You may use and practice whatever magic you wish to design and create its room, but please don't break the house down." Isabelle laughed again.
"Is it a boy… or a girl?" Gale asked somewhat embarrassed. He really wanted to feel the baby kick his hand.
"No," Isabelle smiled and looked at her stomach. She rubbed her hands along the bulge in circular motions, "I want to know, but there is still not enough technology in this era to determine the gender.
Gale sighed. He had forgotten that in Gabriel and Isabelle's world, they were only two hundred years ahead; still not in the age of technology. In other worlds that Charles had taken Vivi and Gale into, they have seen a variety of strange people from different decades and eras. Gale had taken note of these different time periods in a journal that he had been keeping and he had also noted the technology changes. If only she could travel without harming the baby. Gale frowned. He had asked Charles in an earlier conversation of why Isabelle could not visit them at the school.
"Traveling through dimensions and worlds will harm the baby's and the mother's health." Charles answered him, "That is why we must go see her."
"Come on, warlock," Vivi dragged Gale through the living room and into the back of the house where the baby's room would be located.
It was a comfortable 9x10 room and it already equipped with a dresser, a changing station, a crib, and a rocking chair. The walls were white and bare and the large rug on the wooden floor was plain. There was nothing hung up on the walls and everything in the room seemed- blah.
"Well," Vivi rolled up her imaginary sleeves, "Let's get to work." She flicked both of her hands and determined that black was a suitable color for a baby's room.
"You're kidding, right?" Gale scoffed.
"Our work here is done." Vivi, obviously pleased with her work, smiled and started to leave the room.
"Get back here." Gale growled and used his magic to pull her back, "Since we do not know the gender, let's make this a green room," He thought of an green apple color and applied the color to the walls. He then proceeded to turn the furniture and carpet white.
"No," Vivi shook her head and then turned the room into a pumpkin orange, "This will look better!" The bright, obnoxious orange hit Gale in the face and the chocolate brown furniture, that Vivi changed it too, did little to help dim the bright orange color.
"You'll scare the poor thing." Gale laughed and then changed the room to a pale yellow color with white furniture and carpeting.
"What's with you and white furniture?" Vivi jeered, "You must be a saint being the favorite and all!"
Gale gave Vivi the look of daggers, "Shut up Vivian…"
"Oh look at me!" Vivi pranced around the room, "I'm everyone's favorite little angel!"
Gale threw a magical punch at her, which slammed her against the dresser, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Gale snapped at her. She usually teased him for being a "teacher's pet" and it was obvious that she jealous because Gale excelled at everything at a much faster speed than she had, but today's little taunts were aggravating him more than usual.
"Don't tell me…" Vivi laughed and rubbed the back of her head, "White means purity and you're just so freaking innocent of everything."
"That color also means a new beginning, you little twit." Gale spat at her, "Now, if you don't drop your little dramatic act now, then I will send you flying back into the living room." He threatened her with a harsh tone.
Vivi glared at him and then pointed towards the walls. Three white butterflies floated out of her hands and flew around the room before they landed on the walls and melted into them.
Gale's anger towards Vivi receded and he was impressed, "Wow, that looks rather nice." He then added a few purple asters in a small white vase and placed that on the window sill.
Vivi then added a large tree onto the wall and its branches crawled its way throughout the room.
"What does the tree symbolize?" Gale asked with curiosity.
"This tree symbolizes playfulness and enchantment." Vivi smiled at her next witty remark, "Unlike you and your silly little asters." She laughed.
"For your information, Vivi," Gale outsmarted her, "These flowers also mean enchantment and beauty, which is something that you lack in."
"Talk about rude!" Vivi crossed her arms and looked away from Gale, offended.
"Wow!" Isabelle walked in on their heated argument, "This is absolutely beautiful!" She hugged Vivi first, who was closest to her, and then proceeded to hug Gale.
Gale blushed at the awkwardness of this hug because of Isabelle's round belly. The nagging urge of him wanting to touch Isabelle's stomach was growing on him. Why am I sickly obsessed with this stupid thing?! Gale scowled himself.
"Are we assuming that the baby is a girl?" Gabriel walked in with Charles and eyed the room. He noticed the butterflies as they "flew" up the wall.
Gale blushed and shook his head no while Vivi answered, "Nah, I just wanted the butterflies!"
The three older adults laughed and Isabelle kissed Vivi's cheeks, "Well, I love them, Vivi. Thank you both for taking on this project today."
"No problem!" Vivi fist pumped the air, "Hey, Master, I'm starved! This magic work is hard! Can we eat, now?!" Charles and Vivi left the room in order to prepare lunch for everyone.
Gabriel stood behind Isabelle and kissed her cheek. Her smile from that kissed warmed the whole room and brought everything to life. Gale turned away at their intimate moment and looked at the white asters. I hope that the baby will like the stars just as much as I do.
"Gale," Gabriel asked, "My wife has been telling me that you are curious about the baby."
"Yes…" He nodded, "I have been, sir."
Isabelle walked towards Gale again and brought up his hand to her stomach, "I hope that the baby will respond to you."
Gale closed his eyes and waited patiently for a kicking motion. He was expecting a hard push against Isabelle's stomach, but instead, he felt a hand pressing up against his as if it was reaching out for him. He saw a small child running through a field full of sunflowers. Her hair was long and full of bubbly curls and her warm, sweet chocolate eyes completed her childlike look. Gale opened his eyes to find a wide smile on his face as he said, "Do you still want to know the gender of your baby?"
Isabelle gasped, "You can see the baby?" She clapped her hands together with delight, "That is incredible!"
Gale chuckled and nodded his head, his smile never faded, "Yes… I can… it's as if… the baby wants me to see it."
"Well," Gabriel smiled and urged Gale on, "What's the gender of the baby?"
"Congratulations," Gale felt the baby's hand leave the surface of Isabelle's stomach, "You're expecting a girl…"
Author's Note: So, it's a girl! (If you know who it is, please do not give the answer away. Thank you!) Please continue to read and review! I am up in the air on what the next chapter will be. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! I will give you credit for the inspiration and the idea of the chapter!