It's my day off so I'm posting this then going back to bed, lol. While there is on and off intensity in this chapter, ya'll definitely know it's not calm waters leading to our ending in the next one.
TriceTokushu: Funny how in the beginning a lot of you were rooting for Big Daddy gaining Caelia's trust even, and now here we are. Exactly what I intended though, so mission complete, mwahaha. She fell in love and soon fell out of it when it was too late for her to break off from anything. And as much as I'm trying not to spoil, Finch's fate is up for question still, good or bad.
DoggyPocky: Weird how Big Daddy keeps hinting what he could do to Finch but hasn't done it. And of course, Finch has a lot of confidence. Who's to say where it came from. I think it'd be the cutest thing for him to be with Caelia and raise her daughters with her, but that's hard to tell from here as you said. I doubt Firo was in love with Dahlia, I think it was for sex too honestly. He's attempting to teach Wanda his way, but I think she's too much of Caelia's way by now.
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Suffering from excruciating colds in and out, spending some nights in the hospital when she couldn't always breathe on her own. Little by little, did it get better. Then dropping suddenly again. Until the point where she was put back on a stronger dosage of antibiotics and often subjected to bed. Having quit from her meds previously definitely didn't help the case when she'd gotten worse generally after two pregnancies and the only medication she ran on was for anxiety.
It had been easier to hide from Wanda, but just barely. Twelve wasn't too entirely of an oblivious age to see things, especially with how observant of a fairy Wanda was growing to be. But some stuff could still go over her head if tried hard enough. Blonda was fifteen and in her teens now though. Even if not being the first told of Caelia's updates, she was still old enough to hear frequently. Caelia just hated having to receive such concerned looks from her eldest daughter.
That of the same daughter who listened around the corner leading to her parents' bedroom. Ready for school and on her way to meet with some friends beforehand, she stopped for an abbreviate listen of the doctor who reentered from the bedroom with Didi along his side to meet Big Daddy.
"No fever."
"We know that." Big Daddy reminded. "Not a flu."
"Just procedure," the man known by Studwell said. "We might need her to come down to the hospital to get a further look."
Didi shifted her crossed arms by the doctor's note. If Caelia even bothered to agree to go, the only times she'd shown up to the hospital was out of emergency.
As the doctor continued explaining any new symptoms and efforts of treating, Blonda still listened by the wall's turn with a leather aqua sling purse hanging by her shoulder, having just caught the conversation on her way out to meet friends. Hands clamped her back as a familiar sister came and joined on the peep-in.
"What're you doing?"
"Sh."
Wanda considered the doctor that had been in their house a whole lot. "Can you drop me at Sage's if you don't bring me to school?"
"I can't drive yet." Blonda reminded quietly. "Poof over, maybe?"
"I'm not allowed to poof that far yet."
Let alone could Wanda at her age. Blonda's poofing was just slightly more improved now that teenagers were being taught about it more regularly in school and in-home practice.
"Okay, okay." Blonda pulled back around the corner. "C'mon, get your stuff."
Her little sister flew back in her room's direction and Blonda made her entrance as to pass casually and get to the door.
"Blonda, show Dr. Studwell out." Her father asked of her and she merely nodded. The doctor following her as she led him down the way to the staircase downstairs. The peach fairy who remained looked to her employer as he texted on a phone and indulged into another later afternoon of business.
"Less coughing," Didi tried. "That's a good sign."
The tapping of his texting stopped, and although Didi thought he considered her input, he read an incoming text and continued on responding. Didi's eyes awkwardly looked away widely, thinking it's best she'd just go get any leftover tasks done. It's not like there was any casual talking with Big Daddy all that much, despite her years dedicated to this family and practically helping raise his children. She turned to move away.
"You think I don't know that she would trust you with my children more than she'd trust me.."
A hard slap out of doggone nowhere and Didi froze with her back turned.
"Sir-"
Big Daddy stormed past her as she watched him go. The man in no mood as he had places to be and little time to spare. Caelia was fine so long as she was resting and the girls were off for the day. As for Didi, whatever.
Coming to his home's front, he opened the door as to exit and felt his impatience crank up by a thousand. Unexpectedly meeting with a cornflower blue fairy on his front porch as Mr. Fairywinkle wondered if he actually had the guts to show up now.
Dangerous move.
"And what do you want!?"
Yes, he was riding a death wish. But Big Daddy had ever held of any threat this long before and it was giving Finch more confidence than he could afford. For all he knew, showing his face here would meet his ends right there and now. But with Caelia being in bed a whole lot lately, the affair had less to ride on. As much as Finch despised the idea, Caelia's illness was pushing him to safety.
"To see my friend."
Wow, one way to address her. Big Daddy shut the door behind him and inched further to look at the rat on his porch. "How'd you get through my gate."
Finch couldn't be bothered answering his demands. He was here for only one thing and having a face-off with Mr. Hothead wasn't it.
Big Daddy couldn't say he wasn't regretful for squashing this particular bug when he had a better chance. There was never an official plan, but there was the idea to get this guy as far away from this town as fairly possible if he and Caelia continued these games. Now that Caelia was rid to bed though a lot, there was less to be reckoned with in terms of Finch.
"A lotta nerve..showing up to the other man's house."
"You don't scare me." Finch dismissed. "If you don't mind."
"I do mind," Big Daddy shrugged his suit jacket in angry adjustment. "I don' need you infesting my home."
He did that enough already himself, as Finch wanted to remind him. But what good was he facing with Caelia's husband in his way. No more that would come out of his mouth aid him. If he arrived just a few minutes later he may have actually had a chance. Then again, Caelia would probably howl at Finch for him showing up here now.
"I'm not bringing bad intentions, Fairywinkle." Finch said, earning himself Big Daddy's loud protest.
"My arse, you're not!" He spat. "If I see you EVER come around here again, no more warnings! This is it, I'M DONE AND DEAD SERIOUS ON YOUR ASS!"
"For frick's sake...I just wanna wish her-"
Big Daddy could shove alright by the hand that pummeled Finch back by his shoulder.
"You have NO idea how easy you're getting off!" Big Daddy growled. "See what that Okabelle has done to me!? Made me soft for her stupid actions! I should have you through a meat grinder by this point! It's my whole life's work she's risking and getting rid a' you to save it could drive her off the wall into ruining our marriage!"
"You do that enough yourself.."
Big Daddy's swung fist couldn't have been expected to be caught by Finch pummeling his arm in returning and holding it in a threatening hold as the two faced-off inches from fiercely burning eyes. The redder Big Daddy became in the face with rage, the more Finch thought of Caelia's terror over his safety. The blue fairy wasn't scared for himself but he wondered if inconvenience was the minimum reason Big Daddy needed to have his group of men find someone to threaten them or worse.
One thing's for sure, Big Daddy was fearful right now. And maybe harming Finch could somehow affect that tampering ego being questioned by his own wife. Being questioned by his whole office for his to have actually considered cheating on him of all people.
Could getting rid of Finch make him look worse this time?
The blue fairy flinched by his rival's bullet of spit flying to his face, blinking by Big Daddy's acknowledgment of him as no more than burning garbage.
"Get off! GO BEFORE I GIVE YA A REASON TO HATE YOUR LIFE!"
Whether that was for real or not, there was no way past the gatekeeper for Finch. Anymore protest and that would probably cross into what Caelia was fearing for him this whole time. Though he still hardly cared for himself, he knew his lover did. And he couldn't cost her that.
He broke off and turned with no intentions of looking to this property again.
Specks of dust of the window shade's beams made Caelia wonder how much less time fairies spent recognizing the universe they were planted in the middle of. Time never stood still and the bust of their home world's magic properties almost made new generations run out of time to care for what the ancient fairy warriors intended for the almighty Fairy World. Central in harmonious power, but never selfish intentions.
Caelia wondered if she was born in the wrong generation.
The hot air of her muggy state broke by the wet of a cool cloth dabbed upon her forehead. Didi by her bedside as she rinsed the same cloth in a bowl by the bedside table and dabbed more to Caelia's forehead. The pink fairy laid against her pillow in staring towards the ceiling under the comforter. The way her eyes hadn't left since the peach fairy reentered made Didi wonder if Caelia was aware of anyone's presence but hers at all.
"Miss?"
She blinked, giving Didi somewhat affirmation that she could hear her. Maybe she just chose to pretend she didn't and Didi could understand why. The housekeeper put aside the cloth in its bowl and wiped down her apron. "I'll get some tea."
Hovering to the bedroom's exit she turned once to look at Caelia. Leaving her was becoming scarier and Caelia finally broke her 'in the moon' silence by Didi's stay.
A broken breath spoke past her. "...are the girls at school..?"
The housekeeper swallowed to fight the tightness choking her. "Yes, they left a few hours ago."
The ceiling's standstill seemed less amusing in Caelia's gaze, but supposedly her lung's games were just ruining her of energy to recognize the silver lining of much lately. The silver lining of her girls never seemed to have a negative on any of this though.
"Oh...how they love you..Didi..."
"...No, miss. They love you...they appreciate me.."
The glimpse of Caelia's smile was hopeful. "...They've said so, Didi..."
The peach fairy wandered closer to the bed again, clutching her hands by her chest in observing Caelia's pale, hollow face.
"...there's more to this.."
"Miss."
The straight line of her brow creased in comprehending her own words as if it was hitting her for the first time. "...Any effective presence...that means their wellbeing..."
"Miss, please.."
Caelia's delirious pink eyes flicked from where her head was laid flat on the pillow to Didi. The long-term friend of her's that hovered before the bed didn't spare much in hiding the burning of her illuminatingly bright peach eyes.
"Didi..." she reached with her eyes, "..you were my friend even when I didn't deserve it.."
Her brow scrunched as a frown parted her lips in staring at the deliriously ill fairy. Rid of many friends close to her heart because of the same man she'd given that heart of trust, kindness, compassion, and wonder to. Big Daddy didn't have to lift a finger for praise but Caelia had to make amends with enemies to so much be acknowledged. But she always carried herself until she couldn't anymore and Didi watched every bit of it. Like a best friend, and a second in hand to care for her own children who'd the housekeeper would give her life for.
She would if she could, watching Caelia now...
Caelia turned her head on the pillow by her frailed hand clasped in the warmth of Didi's. The peach fairy kneeled before her and Caelia did not recognize the tears in her housekeeper's eyes until up close.
"I never deserved a friend out of my living.." Didi denied. "My own extended family when mine rid of me and I only had Lula.."
Caelia's clouded gaze matched with her appreciative hand clutching Didi's. "You're my family..."
Tears sparkled peach eyes. "Miss.."
"The girls.." the mother spoke. "Need to believe in someone..."
Her hand shook by Didi's desperate plea, begging for Caelia to fight harder. "That's why they need you.."
Caelia breathed a ragged breath past her dry lips. "I don't think I can anymore..."
Didi broke loose in her cries that fell against the comforter as Caelia watched tenderly.
Feeling superior amongst the crowd of middle schoolers surrounding, the freshman student of Poofy Pants High looked around for her sister. One year out of middle school waters and into new grounds of high school, Blonda already felt meaningful to make a statement of herself even in a crowd of people no longer her concern. People in high school had better taste, better judgment, better time for things. Her eyes were keeping an eye out every day for how she could keep up.
But her eye was still on the younger sister edging through the school's front yard to where the street dropoff was. Holding the yellow of her backpack on one shoulder with its pink rose keychain gifted by her mother as a back-to-school gift.
"Well, well."
Wanda met her sister. "What?"
"It's half past, where've you been?"
The girl with pink curls shrugged. "I had a presentation, it went past the bell."
"Alright," Blonda agreed, wanting to get out of there as she encouraged her sister along by the shoulder. "Let's get home before daddy freaks."
"Mom is home first though."
Blonda continued floating from the school ground along the sidewalk with her sister by her side. Yeah, Caelia was her alright, but what difference was it at all. If she wasn't bed ridden lately she was making the effort to get up or go to another doctor consultation. One that wasn't at the house was revelation.
"Yo, Blonda."
Both Fairywinkle sisters turned to the bright ocean blue eyes that approached, kept under a shag of navy blue hair on an ivory face. Black sneaker accompanied with his whitewash jeans under a white t-shirt with a black faux-leather stripe across the chest.
"Sup, Astro." Blonda greeted. "Picking up Robin?"
"Yeah, he's taking forever though." The fellow fifteen-year-old said. "I'm so glad to be out of here."
"It's not that bad." Wanda defended, still stuck in middle school circumstances.
"You just get ready for high school," Astro said to the younger kid. "My dad says anything can eat you alive if you don't go in without an iron shield."
Blonda rolled her eyes teasingly. "As if you ever don't listen to your dad."
"So," Astro drew forward, somewhat coming between the two as he faced Blonda. "You wanna ditch and go get ice cream or something?"
"Now?"
"Yeah," he laughed. "Heard you're not too busy."
Odd line. "From who?"
The eldest son of Cheryl and Olli shrugged. "Well, I heard your mom's kinda in bed."
Wanda's face pinched in sudden defence of any acknowledge of their mother's illness. Especially with a stupid reason for the 'free from authority to go get ice cream. Blonda crossed her arms over her crop top, clicking her tongue.
"So." She hissed.
He smiled as if nothing wrong. "So, I'd kill for that freedom! Come on!"
The distaste in Blonda's eyes finally became evident to him. "Not interested."
With the sour pout coming from her and her younger sister, Astro picked up the message and turned to avoid more trouble. "See ya, Blonda. Bye Wandie."
"Um, bye." Wanda said, not too fond of the wise talker boy neither before asking her sister, "I hope you don't have a crush on him."
Her last nerve tested, Blonda grabbed Wanda's arm and pulled her along their way.
"Ow, Blonda!"
"Shut up!"
Even with the intentions of seeing Caelia, he tried to before being sent off once again for another exhibition out of town. Finch showing up on their porch certainly wasn't out of impulse, as Caelia and he knew about this showcase for weeks now. Not to mention it being one of the biggest doors opened for Finch in his career ever.
He'd come back, so long as there was any chance to see her without his own life back home being questioned. He couldn't go anywhere near that house and the only thing that got him here was Caelia's single text.
Go.
Situated on an audio equipment box, the hustle and bustle of artists and the audience applause out on the main museum stage floated in and out of Finch's ears as he stared down at Caelia's last given text. Dressed in a black tux with the same trim and derbies, and a white bowtie upon a matching cummerbund with his hair gelled into a coif. They've barely been able to call for weeks now with mostly texts being sent back and forth. No different than before but less energy was coming from Caelia's end, and he knew not on purpose.
Clutching the phone in a fist he banged the black top of the box with a grunt. Running a hand over his face in wondering why the hell he didn't ask Caelia and the girls to come with him sooner than later. Maybe he could've been the one taking care of Caelia now, but instead, he was rid of the prison she was trapped in that he couldn't disturb unless he wanted his head on a stick from her warden husband.
"Finch," a head from behind a curtain said. "For an art exhibition, we kinda need the artist too."
"I'll be right there.."
They left, leaving Finch to his unanswered affair. He could always call her later knowing she'd more than understand. As learned by Caelia plenty before, in a time when things look rough there was only one direction to look in.
Forward.
Changing his phone to silent, he slipped it into his pocket and floated to the stage wing's entryway. Waiting upon the host's announcement of him, but his mind elsewhere on a different love other than his art. The curtains drew back for the show lights to beam onto him and the audience applause to wrap him in, and Finch wondered how much saving Caelia really wanted from him at all despite her heart's claim of him. And how much he could really give her...
...with his long-term love further from his grasp than she's ever been.
With homework and chores under her belt, Wanda wondered if hovering outside her parents' bedroom was the best plan or motivation. Certainly not in Blonda's eyes, who seemed to bite the air every time Wanda asked if maybe they should go say hi to mom or check on how she was doing. She wondered what could possibly make Blonda so against the idea, but from knowing her sister it might've been her way of dealing with it.
The tall double doors were unsettlingly peculiar and the pink fairy could name a thousand things why she wanted to see her mother. For one, she never felt like she missed her as much as she did before now in her life. Not that Wanda blamed Caelia for anything at all, but it's not like the girl was gaining much information from Didi or anyone. For her sake, or being the youngest sibling, or whatever the reason, it didn't withhold Wanda's worry for her mother lurking behind these doors. Being sick was only one thing.
Deciding against the protest of Big Daddy and Blonda in her head, the pink girl reached for one door handle.
"Is that really a good idea."
Her head snapped to her older sister on her right, the blonde fairy leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest as if there to sell something to Wanda out of a trenchcoat.
"What is..?"
"She's in bed for resting.." Blonda floated past the bedroom door but stopped to acknowledge Wanda coldly. "Not playdates."
The pink fairy watched her sister go and angrily addressed her. "Why're you being so grumpy?"
Her words found no meaning though as Blonda went downstairs, seemingly not caring what Wanda did nonetheless. And Wanda didn't seem to care what Blonda would think until she heard a faint whimper turn into racking sobs, shocking Wanda beyond measure. The twelve-year-old whisked to the stairs' loft and watched as Blonda fled down the staircase with her face in her palms into Didi's surprised arms.
"It's okay.." Didi spoke in holding her. "It's okay, baby girl..."
The housekeeper's gaze locked with the younger daughter above. Wanda felt as if this was something she did not want to bear witness to any longer as she retreated back to her parents' room. Blonda was becoming harder to talk to and things like that didn't go over Wanda's head. But that was ridiculous! It was Blonda! How could mentioning their mother or something related make Blonda so angry or cold when their mother is what makes cotton candy melt Blonda's mouth. Caelia's eldest had always been sweet to her younger sister and now it seemed like Caelia being ill was somehow making everyone lose their minds.
The child's heart felt soar in a way it never had, and in an impulse want for mother's love, she opened the door. Squinting at the late afternoon's dark with no other light source than the crevices of the blinds and Wanda closed the door with her eyes observing her mother's figure in bed. Caelia rolled facing in on her husband's empty side, dressed in an old Fairy Academy t-shirt under the duvet. Her upper arm rested on the pillow while the arm of the shoulder she rested on seemed to clutch her head of hair almost as she breathed past her lips.
Wanda came around to her father's side of the bed and just stared at her mother from there. Waiting on Caelia's notice of her presence if she was at all awake. Soon answered as Wanda was greeted by the blinking open of pink gems amongst the dull room.
With wordless mouths but talkative stares being exchange between two of the same, Caelia eventually removed her arms from her position. Stil snug against her pillow underneath the comforter as she reached her tired hands forward. Wanda spared everything and crawled onto the bed carefully, dragging on her knees to her mother's side as she brought a pillow for her own head to rest on and laid down with her knees curved in a fetal position. Hands clasped by her mother's as their eyes never disconnected.
"Mom..?" A worried squeak asked from her pillow.
"Sh, sh.." the woman hushed, running her hand through her daughter's hair and holding her cheek by her thumb.
Many of friends. A sister. A father. A family. But her mother was absolute in trust and dependence that Wanda knew at her age could not do without. How a fairy was so perfect in her eyes was unbelievable and the angel of a mother Caelia was to her was proven by her mother's serenity in a questionable time. Such as now. Wanda may have not been told everything always, but her mother was both honest and soft about Wanda's concern in situations. Teaching right but remembering love.
Caelia was loving all the same for a young girl she did not want to do wrong. And every day she felt herself getting closer to that. She had to keep it up for both Wanda and Blonda. But she was having trouble doing so for both when Wanda was the one sneaking in for these little visits only. That certainly didn't waver anything of Caelia's though.
Looking into the depths of Wanda's eyes, Caelia wondered how she had gotten so lucky.
Beautiful inside and out, and a soul so down to earth even in a child. And she was an extended part of Caelia...making the woman wonder how. How was a young girl so wonderfully perfect such a beautiful addition of Caelia's own blood. How did she have a girl so splendidly loving, full of joy, smarts of the world and people, given praise by others even, but never a cocky word about it.
"Wanda.." Caelia stroked her beautiful skin. "...don't ever change."
Her daughter watched her mother's tired state. Despite being in bed all day, being sick was exhausting work.
"For me.." Caelia begged, finding eased against her pillow as she half-noticed Wanda snuggling into her arms. A yawn coming past Wanda into her mother's chest as Caelia's chin poked against her child's hair.
Reconciling in sleep with the ones they loved, peace was for once found under their roof.
To be continued...
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Almost there, folks. Almoooooost. And Coz and Wandie will be back in the next chapter again as I love 'em so damn much. And obviously they need to be here again for the ending.
~McSgwizzle