As soon as someone starts flirting with Finch y'all get pissed, huh. Lol.

DoggyPocky: The problem with a sexist society, women will do one thing and be considered anything like a whore, which is entirely unfair. Yeah, she made out with Finch and that's an issue, but in terms of Thistle calling her whatever I think she's mad that Finch is thinking of another woman.

TriceTokushu: That's an appropriate list, I approve. How Caelia's voice will be affected is to come, but it's definitely not stopping here. She's definitely got the smarts I'm sure some of these men wish they had, and they can see it more and more. They prob jealous.

acorntree1: The goal was to make their meeting again kind of awkward. I think their friendship is on the rise once more, despite what poor Finch is feeling. Big definitely messed up, but seemed to win Caelia back pretty easily...hm. Thistle? Eh, she didn't necessarily love of Finch but was definitely jealous in some sense.

. . .

. .

.

Within another ten years pass, the marriage of the power couple remained fortified as it had always been. Caelia's restraint a few years back on sending in filed work to Big's office brought about a bit more of seeing less of the few knuckleheads down at the office she didn't enjoy seeing. Whatever kept her away from the fake people she supposed, she'd keep at.

On the golden pink sand of their private beach house, Mr. and Mrs. Fairywinkle laid upon their reclining beach chairs underneath the summer day sun. Caelia felt more than assured by the hot yet breezy outdoors upon a recent opportunity that fell through. When volunteering at an auction held at her husband's main office, she'd been approached by a friend's friend's husband for work at his branch on a research team. After she learned through Big though that the general motto this man went by was 'last to hire, first to fire', Caelia thought it'd be best to keep from a place that dropped people out of use so easily. Especially in learning in return that Caelia was a Fairywinkle, the man lost interest in feeling threatened by Big mostly. A benefit of being married to Firo was he had an eye on the inside of a few more things than Caelia may have.

With a white beach wrap tied around her waist of her white two-piece, she happily looked over to said husband through her beach shades. Seeing him lie in his grey swim trunks with black shades lying over his skin and a gold chain around his neck, one of which usually hid beneath his shirt. His chair laid flat while Caelia's remained propped up as she happily looked to him. Although is eyes remained closed, somehow he knew his wife was looking at him, and he turned his head up to see her smile.

"What is it?"

Caelia shrugged a shoulder. "I'm glad you keep me on my toes."

A low chuckle left him, and he turned his face back to the sun. "No trouble, sweets."

Caelia's phone buzzed, and in quickly replying to a text from her friend Finch, she put it away as to not draw from her intention. Big couldn't be more content with work, Caelia couldn't be more content with him and friends, she and Finch had become active friends again, life was progressing. A few of these shutdowns of work in the business world for her may have been disheartening every here and there, but there were things in life she knew she wanted to have other than a desk of her own.

Sometimes Big strayed.

He loved her no doubt, but he strayed. And it worried Caelia on more than one occasion. She'd woken up in the middle of the night even to see him gone from the comfort of their bed and wouldn't see him until lunch. Most of the time he'd give her the excuse of how he'd had an emergency for work, and the boss was needed on call. Other times told that rival businesses of his were a threat at that very moment. But he would give an answer as quick as Caelia would ask the question and no more. Sometimes, and she hated to admit it, she felt like his father may have had a bigger effect on Big than he himself realized despite not being him. And she just wanted to draw him away from that...

"It gets lonely around the house sometimes, doesn't it?" Caelia mentioned.

Big stood still under the sun for a moment before again turning his head. "What'chu mean?"

Caelia's legs left her chair so that she was sitting over the edge, holding two hands in her lap. "Can we chat?"

Her husband blew a breath past his lips, and she batted at him. He grinned just the slightest and sat up with a bit of an exhausted groan before facing her from his own side of his chair.

"You good, babe?" He asked, going through the usual formality when something was on his wife's mind.

"Yes," she nodded.

"No you ain't. Not when you talkin' about a lonely house and whatnot."

Caelia continued to give a shy, meaningful glance through her shades. "I'm kinda hoping you can catch up on this one."

He shook his head. "I'm listening."

"Don't you think it's about time we welcome an important someone into the house?"

He edged forward, holding a fist out for Caelia to clutch. "Such as..?"

"Maybe the tiny flapping wings..." Caelia stroked his fist. "Of a much smaller creature of ours?"

Nothing generally surprised him, but he enjoyed it when his wife was being kittenish nonetheless. "You talkin' about what I think you're talkin' about?"

Caelia smiled coyly.

Her husband grinned. "We make sure to talk it through when we get back."

"Oh yes, because having kids is a business plan." She laughed.

"No," he lifted her hand and gave it a tiny peck. "Having kids with you is a privilege. And I wanna plan it right."

Windy and Caelia laughed in delight amongst the freshly cleaned first-floor lounge. Didi refilled each of their cups of tea as Caelia calmed down from Windy's given joke and the housemaid put down the china teapot before taking the empty cookie plate and leaving.

"Thank you, Didi." Caelia said through her final laugh. She held the saucer of her teacup as she lifted it by the handle, blowing away excess steam.

"Needless to say," Windy said. "Last time I associate myself with a man who's got a kink for...well.."

"..animal play?" Caelia wiped her undereye. "I knew you were a vet, Windy. I didn't think you'd attract these types!"

Both friends laughed once more, and Windy sighed in contentment.

"How've things been with you and Big?"

Caelia swallowed her hot tea, tapping a nail against her cup in elation. Her friend quickly caught on to her excited jitters.

"What?" Her friend smiled.

Caelia reached forward to place her tea down on the table, straightening in her seat to look at her friend on the opposing couch. "Big and I...want to start trying for a baby."

Windy gawked, before slapping a hand to her mouth. "Shut up! You do not!"

"Indeed we do." Caelia grinned.

"Oh, Cee!" Windy bounced in her seat. "I can't believe it, about time you two mixed a little of your best cells."

"Ha, ha." Caelia deadpanned. "It's far more than that, and you know it."

"Of course I do," her friend waved off. "That's really wonderful, Caelia. I'm glad it's finally come."

The pink fairy still smiled, though slight perplexion etched over her eyes. "Finally, huh?"

Windy drew back from taking a sip from tea and swallowing. "Well you know, something new for you."

Caelia smiled softly.

"The kid is gonna have a lot of people gushing over them." Windy continued on. "Speaking of which, you're doing me a solid by mending with Finch, again. We haven't exactly been as chummy as we use to."

Caelia broked from her slight trance, looking to her long-term friend. "Oh, of course."

"Why'd you guys get all distance for a while, anyway?" Windy asked, going in for another sip.

"Eh, different directions?" Caelia shrugged. "Nothing we could really control, but I'm glad things have picked up again."

"Just like the old days."

"Just like the old days." Caelia agreed. "He's coming to the cocktail next weekend, actually. It'll be so nice to have the three of us together again."

Windy flicked a brow in confusion. "Next weekend? As in the first week of July?" The baby blue fairy asked, lowering her saucer to her lap.

Caelia stared at her friend. "Yes, that would be the one alright."

"He told me over coffee he was gonna be away." Windy said, completely throwing Caelia off guard as she looked stunned. "For three months?"

"Three months?" Caelia echoed. Finch had been talking to her about his appearance at the cocktail for forever. It was a museum showcase with many different artists and Caelia figured it'd be a good opportunity to ask Big if his company could be one of the event's sponsors, to which he agreed.

"Last I heard he's going abroad for an art consultation in Sugarspring." Windy remarked. "I figure you would've known, he's going because of the Oakbelles."

If Caelia hadn't been further shocked, she was completely thrown into an entirely new universe of information. "As in who? My father?"

Windy could only shrug, she herself startled by Caelia's totally baffled reaction. Even in knowing of her strain with her mother, Windy knew Caelia hadn't had the same disconnect with her brothers. Maybe her father a bit, but not to the same extent of what happened between her and Jessamine. Or more like whatever happened, since no one really knew but the two.

Caelia pondered briefly. Finch had been the one who'd been insititing on getting more faces to show to the event because of how big it would be in the art world. Something of which could be of great use for Finch's career. Caelia didn't hesitate in hopping onto the opportunity of helping him and using Big's name to set a good reputation for Finch in sponsoring it. Finch of course agreed, he might as well in having a friend with that power. And now he bails?

He and Caelia, sure, had been better friends lately than they had been in quite a while. They'd text often as close friends do, they'd even gotten into a year-old habit of sending 'joke mail', something of which they used to do in high school in which they'd waste a single paper letter on just sending a corny joke to the other's mailbox. They met for coffee and whatnot.

For some reason, as if the stars aligned, an obvious conclusion came to Caelia's mind.

"Windy," Caelia rose from her seat. "Would you give me a minute?"

Her friend stuied Caelia's stern look in consideration. "Yeah, for sure."

The pink fairy flew past the couch Windy sat at and exited the lounge through a swinging door. One which entered into the kitchen where Didi took out a fresh pair of cookies and removed her oven mitts. She gave Caelia a quick glance before beginning to put the baked goods onto a cooling rack as Caelia pulled out her phone. Scrolling through assorted contacts to a name she hardly ever given a friendly call anymore.

Clicking and taking in a short breath to hold, Caelia lifted the dialing phone to her ear. She held the nearby island for support as she listened to the ringer before the other end decided to answer after what felt like the longest wait in history.

"Well, this is certainly a surprise."

Caelia swallowed away the dryness of her throat. "Mum."

"Pumpkin," Jessamine greeted in a warm voice. Although still chilling for Caelia. "Of what do I owe this pleasure?"

If her mother chose to be civil, so would she. "Some recent news came up."

"Ah?"

"Concerning an old friend."

"Of whom..?"

Caelia pressed her eyes closed and opened them anxiously. "Finch." No response on the other end came, and the pink fairy chose to continue. "He was supposed to make an appearance at an event he'd invited Big and I to, of which Big was gonna sponsor, and he's suddenly backed out for a trip given out by the Oakbelles."

"Did he now?"

She recognized that instant tone of deceit. "Did you or papa have something to do with it?"

"Well, Elm is too busied meeting with new manufacturers, not that you'd care." Jessamime explained. "I heard of a consultation in Sugarspring looking for undiscovered artists and hopped on the opportunity for him."

Caelia didn't buy it. Jessamine had never treated Finch poorly when he was groundskeeper, but she never cared enough to be as generous as this. As well as her seeming so casual right now with Caelia after their endless game of cold shoulder with each other for years.

"Interesting to find out you two have been associating again."

There was the hint. "And you know this how..?" Let alone why she should care.

"We had tea."

"Good gracious.." Caelia spoke under her breath. That may have seemed circumstantial, but Jessamine wasn't exactly a 'have tea' kinda gal. Only for something she'd want to gain. Caelia's best guess was it was heard through the grapevine that Caelia and Finch were seen to be friends not just in group settings again, and Jessamine sought out to find out herself what was going on.

"Send any mail recently?"

That's it.

"Did you do this on purpose?"

"You should know."

"I cannot believe you," Caelia shook her head, feeling a roaring fire in her chest emit. She couldn't say she felt the tiniest remorse to hear there was a strain in Jessamine and Elm's marriage for a few years now, but this reminded her of how little she cared for this woman anymore. Caelia, partially, wondered how Elm had been able to keep up with Jesssamine's craziness at all. But in hearing of their strain, Caelia didn't think she'd have much business in it since she was feeling more distant from both her parents and was left to hear it through her brothers.

"You and I have made a point to keep our distance for nearly three-hundred years because we both knew it was for the best. And now you're going to return and try to regain control all over again?"

"I've never not been here, Caelia." Jessamine spoke on the other end "There's never been a line drawn in your marriage. At least from what I've seen until you and our former groundskeeper started talking in secret again."

"Secret-? He's my friend! And I don't see why you should have any say in another grown woman's life!"

"You both have motives underneath your silly pen-pal exchanges!"

"I'm never contacting you again, you psycho!" Caelia exclaimed. "Or I will wrangle Big's boys myself to keep you away!"

She hung up and slammed the phone to the counter, holding both hands for support as she heatedly looked up at Didi. The housemaid both sympathetic but awkward in gazing between Caelia and the floor.

"Go tell Windy I'll be out in a few. Didi, please.."

"Of course, miss." Didi obliged, forgetting what she was currently doing and hurrying along as she exited through the door. Caelia ran two hands along her cheeks before burying her face into her palms, breathing in deeply and letting it out in a long sigh. It felt shameful for a past bully to still have such a grip on your ego, and Caelia felt as if she'd never grown up so long as her mother reminded her.

Her phone rang on the counter again, and Caelia flipped it upright to see her eldest brother Avo calling. He'd been calling in and out over the last hour Caelia and Windy have been catching up, but Caelia kept ignoring in prioritizing her time spent with her friend. Due to her recent phonecall, Caelia felt no reason to want to talk to anyone else. But then again, Avo wasn't one to call this much in a short span of time.

Caelia let a small sigh grace her lips and lifted the phone to answer.

"Hi, Avo." She greeted, scratching an eyebrow with her eyes closed gently. "How are you?"

"Caelia, um.." his sister opened her eyes at the odd tone of her brother. He sounded more unsure than he should've been. "Something happened 'ere."

By 'here', Caelia assumed Avo meant the business trip he had accompanied his father on. She would've expected only good news from something like that, but there was no denying Avo sounded deeply upset over something and Caelia couldn't help but worry despite her irritation over the recent matter.

"Avo?"

He fell completely silent on the other end.

"Avo, what's the matter? Are you okay?"

"Caelia," he finally spoke in a faint hush. "Pops is dead.."

Around eleven on a warm June night, Elm Oakbelle and his eldest son Avo had been driving in a town's car from a late-night conference. They'd been visiting a different town, and in the ache of their exhaustion, didn't have enough magic to manifest a poof back to their hotel. Their designated driver drove them back, but upon a minor road, was met with tragedy when a speeding truck of a drunken driver t-boned their car. Both Avo and the driver had suffered relative injury, but Elm...

Awoken in the hospital the next day, nothing could've described Avo Oakbelle's agony in finding his father dead. Much less that he be the one to bear the terrible news to his close contacts. Knowing he couldn't stand to break it to his mother first, he'd contacted his brother Brock, and then his sister Caelia.

She'd been heartbroken. Caelia may have had a fallout out with Elm in some kinda sense, but it was never something she wanted. She'd truly, utterly, loved her father and connected with him in ways she lacked with her mother for years as a child. And in losing him, she'd regretted her feud with Jessamine in completely letting it get in the way. Why hadn't she fought harder to stay close to her father? Why hadn't she decided to just put up with her mother in order to stay closer to Elm? Why hadn't she taken the chance to work at her father's company and, just maybe, have been the one to take the hit instead of her poor papa...?

Elm had been busied in his work, but he'd always made time for his children when he could. And the three always knew that and forever would. The shine in his eyes for his precious Caelia was one of a humble father who'd passed that considerate gene directly to his daughter. He practically beamed over her competence in the world and always complimented and encouraged her on it. Never giving her doubt on taking the on the world's challenges. With the tears streaming down her face over such a tragedy, Caelia deeply regretted realizing how much she forgot this.

The funeral though, what an awful day. Caelia had barely been able to look at her mother at the funeral. Staying by her husband and brothers' side in sparing her anger and years of resentment towards her mother in order to say goodbye to the father she lost. And she couldn't ignore the ice-cold stares Jessamine had on her, as if SHE were to blame for the matter. She knew she blamed her distance for all of it. Though Caelia couldn't, because she'd never live it down, she wanted to scream. Scream until her lungs burned and tell her mother that not everything was her fault and she wished her father wasn't in that grave any less than she did.

Caelia only stayed briefly at the gathering after the burial, so grief-stricken and sick of the betraying eyes her mother had on her that she fled home and brought Big with her, where she spent the rest of the day crying under the covers of her and her husband's bed. Wrapped in the duvet like a cocoon of bad troubles but scared to step anywhere else where she'd face them even more. She continued to hitch against the comfort of her pillow as one of the tall doors opened in letting the hallway's light creak in on the dark room. Big looking from where he stood to the crying lump underneath the covers and closed the door behind him.

He drew forward in the vast bedroom to their king-size, before coming to sit at his wife's bedside as she continued to cry. He grazed her shoulder with his palm in an attempt to get her to look at him, as she did. She used the edge of the blanket to clear the stream of tears from her eyes and look at him. His breath was slightly drenched with whisky, but he was sober enough. Heavy emotion could be hard for Big in ways only Caelia could really see, and sometimes, he resorted just a bit to other ways besides talking.

As Caelia continued to hitch in cries, to the point where it was obvious to her husband she was struggling to breathe, he leaned over to reach for her bedside drawer. Opening it and retrieving her backup inhaler. Encouraging her to sit up, he handed it to her and made sure to watch that she shook it and pressed the puff into her mouth. Forcing her to draw a bigger breath and then letting the thing fall limp in her lap.

"Babe.."

She sniffed, crinkling the hem of her nightshirt. "I can't do this.."

Big reached for her free hand and stroked it softly. "It ain't your fault, you hear? Not you."

Caelia wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I should've tried harder when I had the chance.." she clutched a clawing hand to her chest. It was scaring her just how much her heart thumped, she swore she'd have a heart attack in the event of her crying. "My-My heart, I-"

Her husband's brawny arm drew her forward and she didn't hesitate to be engulfed by his warm embrace. Feeling herself ease just the slightest though she still hitched and cried. She wished the softness of her husband at this moment could forever remain so she could keep from feeling this way ever again. Though she disliked admitting it, she like anyone needed assurance from those close to her because she couldn't secludedly address her own emotions.

Big drew back briefly and cupped her face. "I'll always be here," he promised. "We'll get through this together.."

Later at dinner, in no mood to change out of her nightclothes for the rest of the day, Caelia sat in her robe at the dinner table. Looking towards her husband at the other end and thankful that he'd convinced her to eat something and not just stay in bed the rest of the day. He was slightly one to talk though considering he'd been drinking to wash away his grief in order to be there for his wife's.

With her tears finally dried, and enough stability, Caelia figured now would be the best time for that conversation they promised. Partially because she wanted it, but partially because she'd rather start this new chapter and soon forget the troubles of now.

"Honey," she said, getting her husband to look at her from his dinner. "The baby..?"

He removed the napkin from his lap to wipe his face. "Do you wanna talk about this, now?"

"I really do.."

He didn't press further and instead allowed it. "I want to have kids with you, Caelia." He assured. "And I want it to happen, now. But I don't wanna try and snub what you're dealing with, 'ere. Could be too much for you, dear."

Again, a little ironic for him. But Caelia knew as good as anyone about applying self-advice to others more than yourself. "I know," she agreed. "But we've been wanting this for a while and I think we owe it to ourselves."

Big cut his chicken though he still looked at her.

"Honey," Caelia scooted forward in her chair. "I've always wanted a family later on. But, I've been out of the works for a while now...so maybe it would be best that we start trying."

Big looked to her in a pause. Why'll he knew she was particularly adamant about finding some kinda work to keep her busy, he knew the logistics of starting a family would have to be brought into question soon enough. Big himself knew it couldn't just constantly be the two of them upholding the name of this house.

He swallowed his chicken, assuring her awaiting stare with a small smile.

"What would our Fairywinkle family be.." he reached for his glass. "If we didn't have a few younglings to carry it."

She smiled sweetly at him. "So, we're doing it?"

He lifted his wine, as did she. "Cheers, my dear. To a new step."

Caelia nodded, bringing her glass in for a sip. "A new step."

To be continued...

. . .

. .

Lmao, tell me why I'm bad at build-ups. I literally just kill off characters with zero warning. Also, are there beaches in Fairy World? Eh, who knows.

~McSwgizzle