A/N: YAAAY! Writer's Block is over! This was my favorite chapter to write, so I hope you guys like it. As usual, reviews are most welcome and I need serious help because I'm having translation issues. The online ones (SIGH) don't always work. I try to check them by reverse-translation so I don't get a bunch of stuff that doesn't make sense, but I don't always catch it. Thanks for your patience.
Chapter 14...Bubbly
"What's going on with you? You're getting kind of porky," Dawn commented as she loosened the buckle on Flash's saddle girth, "that's two notches this month."
The first snow had fallen last night, but Dawn didn't feel like staying in. She'd had a new dress made, one that was much warmer. This dress was a wonderful plum color made of velvet. It had plenty of layers on it to keep her warm. It had gold trimmings that matched her hair. Over that, she wore a white coat. She also had warm leather shoes.
"All right. Looks like we're all set," Dawn said, climbing onto Flash's back.
She and Flash rode quietly for a while. She watched the falling snow for a little while, white and sparkling. The world had an almost bluish tint to it. Flash headed farther into the Western Woods. Dawn let her. After all, what was there to be afraid of?
She gazed at the river, half-frozen. The snow was soft, pure, and white here. Animal tracks printed it and made it look like a blanket of lace. She looked up at the sky. She looked at the trees all around her. The world was so quiet that she could hear the slight "pfft" noise that the snow made as it hit the ground. Flash paused to drink from the river. Dawn slid off of her back.
She looked around again. It was like something from a fairy tale. She held both arms, closed her eyes, and spun around in circles. Then, she flipped herself into a drift. Spreading her arms and legs apart, she made a snow angel.
As Dawn was about to sit up, a snowball pelted her in the face. Sputtering and spitting out snow, Dawn scrambled up. Ann stood there, laughing.
"I figured you would come out here," she said, leading Clover over, "it's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yep," Dawn said, brushing the snow off of her face. Carefully, she formed a snowball behind her back. When Ann least expected it, she returned fire.
Anne looked at her in shock for a moment. Then, laughing, she gathered up more snow. They ran through the woods, chasing after each other with snowballs. The horses, looking as though they disapproved, followed patiently and tried to stay out of the line of fire.
Dawn ducked one of Ann's snowballs and caught her square in the chest. Ann shrieked and returned fire. It hit Dawn harmlessly in the stomach.
Klaus and Daredevil emerged from their tree. Klaus slid off of the horse and snuck towards the two girls.
I've been away for a while now,
you got me feeling like a child now
Dawn was picking up speed now and pelting Ann relentlessly with snowballs. She was standing under a small tree. Effortlessly, he kicked it and a pile of snow fell on Dawn's head. For a moment, she stood there, surprised and dumbfounded. Then, she wiped the snow away from her face.
Cause everytime I see your bubbly face,
I get the tingles in a silly place.
"HEY!" she sputtered. Klaus laughed.
"Thanks for that," Ann told him.
Dawn ran towards him and pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. She grabbed a handful of snow and rubbed it in his face. Right as she was about to get away, he tripped her and she landed face-first. They tumbled around, play-fighting each other. Ann was flinging snow at both of them.
It starts in my toes,
makes me crinkle my nose
wherever it goes
I always know
and you make me smile
please stay for a while now
and just take your time
wherever you go.
Dawn was trying to get up, but she was laughing too hard. Klaus went to pin her down again, but he slipped, nearly landing on top of her. Her laughing stopped abruptly when his lips brushed hers. Instantly, her cheeks burned red. Ann was laughing her head off. Klaus was just as surprised as Dawn was. Carefully, he got up and held his hand out for her. She took off and hopped onto Flash's back. Daredevil came running and didn't even have to pause for Klaus to get on.
"Can't catch me!" Dawn yelled.
"I can!" Ann yelled.
Flash surged forward. Daredevil was right behind her. Dawn turned to look at Klaus, a naughty school-girl grin on her face.
Don't worry, Klaus, I won't let her beat us!
Daredevil was as much into this game as his master was. Ann was lagging behind, but she would catch up if she kept going.
They weren't paying attention to where they were going. They were headed straight into town.
On the bridge, they were neck and neck. Dawn was leaning low over Flash, almost laying flat against her neck. Flash glanced over at Daredevil and laid her ears back for a moment.
A surprised old lady jumped out of the way just in time. Dawn managed to steer Flash around a wagon, but Klaus didn't see it in time and, thankfully, Daredevil jumped over it. The driver went pale and almost passed out.
A herd of chickens fluttered out of the way, clucking angrily. People were staring and pointing by now.
They went straight down the street right through the middle of town. Dawn was laughing her head off.
"IT'S THE HESSIAN!" a woman shrieked.
There was a little boy in the road. Dawn let out a startled cry and Flash sailed over him effortlessly. The kid wasn't even aware of what happened until his mother ran out in the street and picked him up.
They thundered up the hill towards the manor, but didn't stop. Instead, they slowed to a walk.
"I think we scared some people," Dawn said, her breathing slightly ragged herself, "and we lost Ann."
It was true. Ann was nowhere to be found and they could hear no hooves in the distance.
"Good Flash," Dawn told her horse, "you're a lot faster than I gave you credit for."
Flash turned to look at her as if saying "What do you expect?"
"I could swear she talks to me when she does that," Dawn said, giving the horse an affectionate pat.
"She does," Klaus told her, "they all do. Most people do not listen."
Dawn gazed thoughtfully at Flash's head.
"I suppose yours does, too," she said, more to herself than to Klaus.
"He understands everything you say," Klaus informed her.
Dawn reached over and scratched Daredevil behind the ears.
"He likes that," Klaus commented, "and he thinks Flash is beautiful."
"Flash is getting porky," Dawn commented, "I had to loosen up the saddle strap. I can't figure out why she's getting so fat."
Klaus gave Daredevil a suspicious look. If horses could grin, he was doing it.
I don't suppose you have had anything to do with this, Klaus asked silently.
I sure did, Daredevil said, sounding very sly, I don't suppose you noticed the times you were watching Dawn and I'd disappeared.
Klaus suddenly burst into laughter.
"What?" Dawn asked, clueless about the conversation. It took Klaus a moment to calm down. He hadn't laughed like this since God-knew-when.
"Your horse," Klaus gasped, trying to catch his breath, "is with child."
Dawn's eyes got wide.
"Fla-ash! You been keeping secrets from me? I thought we were buddies!" Dawn teased. Flash snorted.
"I was wondering what her deal was," Dawn joked, "she seems kind of moody lately."
Klaus shook his head, a chuckle escaping his throat.
"Man," Dawn mumbled, "just when I thought things couldn't get any stranger. Let's go find Ann and get someplace warm."
Ann eventually caught up to them.
"That was some kind of race," Ann commented as they made their way back to the Van Tassel manor, "Clover didn't want to even try to keep up."
"Fun, though," Dawn commented as they reached the stables.
"Let's put them at the end. Ichabod never checks there. Neither does Masbeth," Dawn said. Soon, the three horses were happily sharing a pile of hay.
"Let's go in and grab some hot tea. Ichabod and Katrina are working on wedding stuff and they won't be back all day," Dawn informed them.
The rain is falling on my windowpane
but we are hiding in a safer place
undercover staying dry and warm
you give me feelings that I adore
It was pleasantly warm in the manor. Klaus took his cloak off because it was full of snow that would melt and leave water everywhere. Dawn stripped away her coat and shook the snow out of her hair. Ann did the same.
It had been so long since Klaus had been in someone else's house for a visit that it felt alien to him. Dawn motioned them to follow her.
"Ha ha ha! Look what I found!" Dawn exclaimed. There was an apple pie sitting on the kitchen counter that looked like it was fresh from the oven.
"I hope our kitchen maid doesn't throw a hissy fit about this."
Dawn rifled through the cupboards until she found three plates and three spoons. Carefully, she cut the pie and gave them each a generous-sized piece. Then, she found the mugs for the tea and poured it.
"So, what did you do to Jacob?" Dawn asked. Klaus had been about to take a bite of pie, but it fell off of his spoon with a plunk. He was a split-second too late to hide his surprise.
They start in my toes,
make me crinkle my nose
wherever it goes,
I always know
you make me smile
please stay for a while now
and just take your time wherever you go.
"How did you figure that out?" he asked.
"Gut instinct," Dawn replied, "you're getting predictable."
Oops. She'd known he was listening in on the sleepover.
"You didn't kill him, did you?" Ann asked.
"Of course not. I locked him in the cellar. He escaped the next evening," Klaus said dismissively.
"Good idea. Jane's thrilled, you know. Her wedding's coming up soon," Anne said.
Dawn took a drink of tea.
"So is Ichabod and Katrina's, provided he doesn't faint at the altar," Dawn joked. Everyone chuckled.
There was a knock at the door. Dawn went to answer it. Ann stood at the door of the kitchen, unsure what to do.
"Holy sh-" Dawn cursed quietly before she opened the door. Behind her back, she made a "hide Klaus" gesture. Anne grabbed the plates of pie with one hand and Klaus's wrist with the other. She whisked Klaus up the stairs just as Dawn let John in.
"Hello, Darling," John purred, "you look lovely today."
"I wish I felt that way," Dawn said, pretending to have a plugged-up nose, "I'm not feeling very well at the moment."
She faked a very loud sneeze. John jumped backward.
"Sorry to hear that," he said sympathetically, "I do hope you're not allergic to me. You seem to be ill everytime you're around me."
Dawn resisted the urge to yell "DUH!". Instead, she just smiled sweetly and dabbed at her nose with a handkerchief.
"Well, I hate to chase you off, but-"
John slipped past her and stepped into the house. Dawn was shocked at his audacity. Upstairs, Ann was trying to pull Klaus away from the stairs.
"Get back here! Do you want him to see you? Come on!" she hissed, trying to restrain an increasingly irritated Klaus.
"Dawn, dearest, I could afford the best doctors for your poor health," John whispered, "in exchange for your heart."
"We've been over this, John," Dawn told him firmly, "you're just not my type."
She staggered backward when he grabbed her and firmly kissed her on the mouth. She coughed and sputtered, grimacing. A low growl escaped Klaus's throat. It took nearly all of Ann's strength to hold him still.
"John, get out before I knock you out!" Dawn shouted.
He sent her a seething stare, one heated with anger and lust.
"I won't give up," he warned her, "I will get you to marry me one way or another."
Dawn slammed the door in his face.
"Stupid little piece of-"
She said a string of colorful things that made Ann gasp and Klaus chuckle.
Ann left shortly afterward, but Klaus stayed. The two of them sat by the fireplace.
What am I gonna say,
when you make me feel this way?
"I can't stand John," Dawn complained, "he can't take no for an answer. For all his scriptural knowledge, he's the dumbest man I've ever met."
Klaus turned to look at her.
"He does not deserve you," he said quietly.
"He couldn't handle me. I'm too stubborn to be a preacher's wife," Dawn said, squaring her shoulders, "and I'll be damned if I ever end up married to him."
I just...mmmmm
She'd been pacing, but tripped over a corner of the rug. Klaus caught her with impressive reflexes. He ended up holding her close to his chest.
It starts in my toes
and I crinkle my nose
wherever it goes, I always know
you make me smile
please stay for a while now,
just take your time
wherever you go.
"Thanks. I'm a klutz sometimes," she complained, her cheeks heating.
Klaus did not let her go. Instead, he brushed a stray golden curl out of her reddened face.
"You have a great deal of spirit," he told her.
Dawn felt it coming and she wanted it so much that it ached. Her eyes closed as he kissed her, her heart thudding against his armor. She shivered at his feather-light touch over her cheek and neck. An explosion took place inside her, causing her insides to flame. She became dizzy.
I've been asleep for a while now,
you tuck me in just like a child now
cause everytime you hold me in your arms
I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth.
I can't believe this, Klaus thought, but here I am. This is real. He felt so much joy and sadness all at the same time and it threatened to overwhelm his blurred thoughts. Dawn's arms tightened around him.
It starts in my soul
and I lose all control
when you kiss my nose
the feeling shows
and you make me smile, baby
just take your time now
holding me tight...
To their dismay, they heard a carriage coming.
"People have the worst timing," she complained when their lips parted. His hand was still on her cheek.
"I will be back," he assured her, "I must go get Daredevil now."
She watched him leave, feeling light-headed and tingly. She did not hear any startled screams, so she assumed he'd gotten away without being noticed. Ichabod and Katrina noticed her flushed face.
"Are you all right, Dawn? You're awfully flushed," Katrina commented.
"I'll be fine. I think it's just this weather," Dawn lied. Badly. She took off upstairs.
Ichabod and Katrina looked at each other and grinned.
"I know that look," Katrina said, "I looked at you that way. Dawn must be in love."
"With whom? The only boy she sees all the time is John," Ichabod commented, then, "Oh!"
Katrina nodded.
They didn't know how wrong they were.
Wherever,
wherever,
wherever you go...