CHAPTER FIVE
Almost three years later....
Limbo
Mab was pacing back and forth, her long white hair, flowing behind her. Aduis watched her getting dizzy, and for a ghost, that's pretty bad. "Mab, please. He'll remember. I promise."
"How do you know? Maybe he forgot when he was born."
Aduis flew to Mab's side, "Impossible. I've been here over 2,000 years; I think I know what I'm talking about here. Everything that is ever born, remembers this limbo area for the first three years. After that, they start forgetting. Sometimes they remember it but they feel like it was a distant dream. Alex is not three yet, so we have time."
Mab stopped, sighing, "I know. It's just that I'm so close. This is the closest I've ever been to having more than just hope that I'll get out."
Aduis smiled, "I forgot how forceful you were when you wanted to be."
Mab smiled back, "And if you weren't so thick-skulled, you would have stayed with me and this would never have happened."
Aduis leaned against a stone wall, "I also forgot you hold grudges."
Back At the Eyrie.........
Puck took out a gold cross, as big as his palm, with an onyx jewel in the middle. He caressed it. It was Cheri's cross. The gold was just like new thanks to magickal tampering. It was all he had left of his mortal wife. He cursed himself for being weak and letting her memory hurt him so much, but he recanted for he knew it was not a weakness. Only a true fool would consider love a weakness. He had loved her more than anyone in his life and there had not been a love like that since. He used go to her grave every year and tells her he loved her and that she had ruined him for anyone else. He was joking of course, sometimes. That one year he meet Oberon in France standing over his father's grave signaled to Puck it was time to let go of her. Anyone who has ever tried to forget a loved one knows that you may leave the grave but his or her spirit haunts you for the rest of your lifetime. He kissed the cross, placing it back into the velvet bag, stuffing it behind Owen's socks.
The only love he had since her death was the relationship with young Alexander and Avalon. He loved the boy as if he were his own; the son that he had lost hundreds of years ago. He walked over to the mirror, wishing to see Avalon, but
Oberon made sure that Puck's punishment included blocking all the mirrors in the castle. He hurt for Avalon more than he hurt for his mother or wife. It was apparent now how the royal family was bonded to Avalon. Their very souls connected to the living island. He wondered if Avalon missed him as much as he missed it. Oberon abused Avalon's love and the island was stale and boring because of it. If he were in control, he stopped that train of thought. Why bother thinking of something that will never happen. For all he knew his mother was long dead along with his father. Oberon had suppressed his magick for so long that even if he got them back he'd probably blow up from lack of control.
Oberon won and that made Puck madder than all hell. He looked at Alex, asleep on his bed. Alex would be able to go to Avalon one day, Titania would see to that and she would make sure her precious grandson would be on her royal court. Maybe then he could find a way to defeat his dear brother.
He knew Titania regretted not teaching Fox about her magickal heritage. The law of the royal court stated that any being, human or gargoyle, that had even a drop of royal blood in it was given immortality if trained in the Fey ways. She thought
Fox was better off living among her own kind until Oberon called her home, taking her away from her daughter. Titania, like him, had thought Oberon would not be ready to call them home for another hundred years, plenty of time to have fun with their human friends and leave with their good memories.
Puck walked over, scooping the small child up into his arms. Alex moaned but didn't wake, as he wrapped his arms around Puck's neck. He walked him to Alex's room, gently placing the boy into bed, tucking him in tight. Alex now slept in a normal bed and Puck feared that one night he would roll out and hurt himself, so Puck made sure to tuck the boy in so tight he couldn't move. Puck kissed Alex's forehead, leaving the boy to sleep.
He walked into the kitchen to find the newest residence sitting around the table. Broadway was cooking with Angela. Lex and Brooklyn were setting the table, and Hudson was sitting arms crossed waiting for breakfast. By the smell of it, the meal consisted of pancakes and sausage. Brooklyn noticed Puck and smiled, "Hey, stranger, finally decided to hang out with the adults?"
Puck smirked, "Hey, I'm positive now the Teletubbies are taking over the world."
Lex chuckled, "That's a scary thought."
Broadway turned, "Puck, you want some?"
Puck twirled his chair, plopping down on it as it stopped spinning, "Sure, who am I to pass up food."
Brooklyn sat down next to Puck, "How are you feeling?"
Puck grabbed one of the soda bottles, opening it on the edge of the table, he took a sip before saying, "I should be asking you that question."
Brooklyn shrugged, "I'm starting to get used to moving under unusual circumstances. I'm noticing though each eviction is getting more and more violent."
Puck smiled, taking another sip, "Yeah, I would call your home getting blown up as violent."
"So, how are you feeling?"
"Lousy." Puck placed the bottle on the table and rocked the chair, "I never knew how much he truly loathed me. I always knew he hated me but I didn't realize how much. I miss my home already but there are certain distractions in my life now to help ease the pain." Puck gave Brooklyn an evil smile.
Brooklyn chuckled opening his own bottle of soda, "Don't go all mushy on me now."
Puck chuckled, "I promise I won't. Plus, you're not my type."
Brooklyn nodded, "Fair enough."
The two looked up to see Hudson giving them an unusual look. He had heard the conversation. Puck and Brooklyn started to laugh hysterically, causing the other members to turn and chuckle just by Hudson's expression. He got up, "ock, you two are weirder than a couple of cuckoos." He went over to the counter where Broadway was placing the food out. He got his plate, "I be watching me shows now." He left as Brooklyn and Puck continued to laugh. They recovered and ate with the others, talking about what the plans of the night would consist. Puck leaned back on the chair, pancake stuffed into his mouth, to retrieve a newspaper. He opened it up, skimming the Life Section. He swallowed the food in his mouth, "There's the movies?"
The group groaned. Angela nodded, "That's all we ever do. Isn't there something else that maybe we can sneak into without causing a riot?"
Brooklyn snorted, "Not likely."
Lex wiped his mouth, "What about a Broadway play? Most of those old theaters have access rooms we could hide in."
Broadway shook his head, "That's just like a movie though."
Puck smiled, folding the paper to make it easier to handle, "What about a festival. It's the annual Puerto Rican post-party and festival. These people know how to party."
Brooklyn coughed, "Ah, Puck, you're forgetting that we have wings and tails
and...," he flicked Puck's ear causing Puck to yelp, "tapered ears."
Puck sucked in a breath, holding his ear. Brooklyn knew that was a very sensitive spot on the Fey. "What did I say about doing that?"
Brooklyn frowned, "What? It's true." Then realization hit him, "Oh, yeah sorry about that, I forgot."
Puck grunted before turning back to the group, "You know, my powers are restricted but there are loopholes. I could make you human looking for awhile."
The group looked at each other, taking Puck's offer very seriously.
"What about patrol?" asked Brooklyn, which shocked the group.
Puck shrugged, "It's up to you guys what you want to do. I'm going to my room. When you decide, let me know." He got up from the table, placing his plate in the sink. He walked by the table to jab Brooklyn in between the wing joints. Brooklyn let out a yelp, standing up. Puck smiled, "Oops, sorry. I forgot." He skipped away, while Brooklyn calmed, sitting back down.
Lex laughed at him, "You and Puck make a great couple."
Brooklyn growled, "Quit it."
Angela, Broadway, and Lex laughed as Brooklyn got another helping of pancakes.
He sat back down, "I said quit it! What are we doing?"
Puck snatched some mints from the bowl in the hallway and ate them as he walked down to his room. He loved teasing Brooklyn because it was so easy but he made sure not to go too far. Brooklyn was a great friend. They had gotten close when
Lex had his weekly visits with Alex. They liked the same shows and they liked to talk about the past. They even had enough heartbreak stories to make the girls on Sex and the City bow to them. Puck popped another mint into his mouth, wondering if he would be doing anything. He passed the library but stopped. He backtracked to see Goliath and Elisa talking animatedly about something. He puckered his lips thinking, to snoop or not to snoop? After a few seconds he smiled, "Snoop." He let his form become transparent before entering the room. He sat right next to them, still eating his mints, and watched the show.
"You can't hide forever, Goliath. Even up here you are not safe."
"As long as the Quarry men are out there, we must keep a low profile."
Puck groaned, it was a rerun all he needed now was a remote to change the channel.
"I understand that Goliath but you need to introduce yourself to the world somehow. Broadway's interview was a success until the Illuminati really screwed up the reputation you had acquired. Fox said she is always getting calls from interviewers wanted you to come on the show ever since your trial. Please Goliath, think it over."
"I have thought it over. It is not the gargoyles way."
Elisa stomped her foot in frustration, balling her fists, "Neither is taking a human as a mate."
Puck winced, "Oh that's hitting below the belt."
Goliath roared, leaving the library one way, while Elisa left through the main door, most likely heading to work. Puck shook his head, lovers have enough stress to last a few lifetimes, add different species, Nazi-type vigilantes, plus the eyes of the whole world and you get too many fights. This wasn't the first time they had fought like this and wouldn't be the last. Puck frowned, "They need a vacation." The lamp next to him came to life as a plan formed in Puck's head. He transported to Alex's room, where the toddler was waking up, "Hey kiddo, wanna help me with a little problem?"
Alex nodded, reaching out to his mentor. Puck took the child, explaining his plan.
Elisa was driving in downtown Manhattan traffic. She was stuck behind an old diesel truck that spit black smoke over her car and right into her window. She groaned, rolling up the window, cursing loud enough so the car next to her could hear. Why was Goliath so stubborn? Didn't he see that the only way to get people to accept him and the others was supervised encounters. Television was the safest way, well except for the Internet, to introduce them to the world. Lex was already managing a P.I.T site and other gargoyle-friendly sites under the alias Chip Lexington. They had found over a million people, who supported them, during the first week the sites went up. Lex was smart enough that he created two other sites: The Unofficial Quarrymen Fanclub and P.A.G.T, People Against Gargoyle Tolerance. Elisa laughed as she thought about the hundreds of busted they made simply because the Quarrymen actually chatted on Lex's site about their plans. Lex made a directory too. So, the police were able to monitor the headquarters in each state. And to everyone at the station, Chip Lexington was just another cyberpunk kid who was too smart for his own good and got paid by the city to keep his sites up. Margot Yale had even approved the salary provisions for Lex that was priceless.
Elisa honked her horn, hoping to get traffic moving but nothing happened. She was getting tired and rested her eyes, hoping the traffic wouldn't be much longer.
Goliath flew to his post high above the castle battlements. Why was Elisa so difficult? He didn't want to admit it but he feared exposing himself to the world. They were only five gargoyles and a gargdog against over six billion humans. And now he had to worry about the safety of the Xanatos family. If the gargoyles' home was exposed, intolerant humans may quit their jobs, Corporations would back out of deals, and a few percentages of them would attack the family and castle. Xanatos could lose his reputation and money, leaving them homeless and vulnerable. He felt his eyes grow heavy. All this stress was making him tired. He lay down on the stone floor, looking up at the stars. HE closed his eyes and dreamed.
Puck smiled with Alex. They were sitting Indian style across from each other, holding hands. Puck hands began to glow as did Alex, "Now, the real fun begins."
Goliath awoke to a blazing sun beating down on his face. He jumped up to find he was on some tropical white sandy beach with palm trees growing horizontally, reaching out to the sea. He turned around trying to figure out how he got there.
Then he saw Elisa come through the woods, her face expressing her confusion too.
But Goliath's eyes wandered from her face to her body. She had on a string bikini accenting her curves and ample breasts. Goliath wiped his mouth as she got close to him, "OK, I was in traffic now I'm here. Do you think Puck has anything to do with this?"
Goliath chuckled, "I sure he is but right now I can't seem to care."
Elisa folded her arms, "Why not?"
"Because I think if Puck did this he knew that we have been under a lot of stress as of late and needed this rest to remind us that we love each other."
Elisa smirked, "Maybe. We have been fighting a lot."
Goliath nodded, "Yes, we have and over things that are important but we really have no control over."
Elisa went to protest but Goliath hushed her with a finger, "Not right now. We can argue as long as you want when we wake from this dream, but right now I want to show you how much I love you."
Elisa smiled, nodding, allowing Goliath to pick her up and take her to a villa that appeared on the beach. Goliath walked up to the door, pushing it open with his tail. The two turned as something snapped, sending two cream pies into their faces. Elisa laughed, licking the cream off of Goliath's chest, "Yep, I think Puck is definitely behind this little vacation."
Goliath let out a sigh, "We'll deal with him later." They entered the villa to enjoy themselves.
Puck opened his eyes, exhaling the breath he was holding, shaking Alex. Alex opened his eyes, 'Wha?'
Puck smiled, still holding Alex's hands, "This dream has a NC-17 rating, no kids allowed."
"But how are we going to get them back?"
"They will come back on their own. When they go to sleep in their dreamland they will wake up here, only minutes passing."
Alex nodded, puckering his lips, "We did good then?"
"Yeah we did. The traffic was a nice touch."
Alex nodded, giving Puck an evil smile, one that he probably learned from Puck.
"Now, you have to go back to bed." He ruffled the boy's hair. Alex nodded and crawled back into bed.
"Uncle Puck?"
"Yep, kiddo." Puck said, tucking the boy in again.
"Why did we just help Elisa and Goliath? In thought you said I should only help others when they do something nice for me."
Puck smiled, "Sometimes there are exceptions. IN time you will learn. I promise."
"It's one of those 'When I'm older' things."
Puck nodded, "I'm afraid so."
Alex yawned, turning over, the exhaustion from using so much magick more powerful than any drug. Puck walked out of the bedroom and right into the Angela and Broadway, "Hey lovebirds."
Angela and Broadway waved. Broadway shrugged, "We couldn't make up our minds on what to do, so Lex and Brooklyn went on patrol for a few hours and we are going to the library."
Puck nodded, leaning against the door, "Reading anything good?"
"Well, we have a chapter left of Harry Potter, then we are going to read
Frankenstein."
Puck nodded, "Interesting book."
The couple nodded and walked on to the library. Puck pushed off and headed down to his room.
A few minutes later...Downtown Manhattan
Elisa gasped, waking up as a hundred angry motorist honked at her. She put the car back into gear and continued down the street. Was that a dream? She wondered. That had been the most detailed dream with the most amazing sexual encounter. She grabbed her cell phone, dialing the gargoyle's den. "'ello?" answered Hudson.
"Is Goliath there?"
"No..oh wait he's coming in now." Elisa heard the phone being exchanged. She
could hear Hudson say in the background, "Yerr cheeks are all flushed. Are ye ill?"
Goliath chuckled, "No, old friend. I'm fine. Hello?"
"So, it was real, kind of."
"I believe so. It was long overdue."
"Yes, it was..I'm sorry Goliath for being such a pain lately. I just worry about you and the others."
"As do I. Tomorrow is your night off. I think we should spend it together."
Elisa smiled, "I'd love to Goliath. Maybe we can recreate some of the things we did in that dream?"
Goliath laughed, "Most definitely. Until tomorrow, my Elisa."
"Love you."
"I love you too, bye."
"Bye." Elisa clicked off her phone with a goofy grin plastered on her face for the rest on the night.
Back in Limbo..............
Aduis looked at Mab while she rocked in her chair, knitting a blanket from purple silk with designs made from gold and silver threads. Mab was calm now since her little panic attacks a few hours ago. He floated over to her, noticing her face held a serious tone to it, "What is wrong?"
Mab looked up, snapping out of her trance, "Nothing. I was merely concentrating on the design."
Aduis scratched his chin more out of habit than anything else, "It's hard to remember you are a born trickster in your current position."
Mab smiled, "Our son, Puck, is more of a trickster than I am yet he seems to have more concentration and hardness."
"Really? What made him so hard?"
"Love. He lost his wife to the Plague. If wasn't so much her death that hurt. He knew she was going to die someday, but the pain she went through created a hard spot in his heart. Unfortunately, it is one that will never melt and will never die. HE lost his son also when Cheri died."
Adius frowned, "With such a painful death, she probably crossed over to the human Heaven. She will never be reborn on Earth. And I would be good money that our other son did not help the situation."
Mab nodded, "He called to his side no more than a day after she died. It was enough time to bury her then serve his brother."
Aduis crossed his arms, "It's hard to lose a spouse, even more so a child."
Mab looked at Aduis with a hard look, "I know. Is there anyway you could find out for such?"
Aduis nodded, "Yes. I can go to the record keepers. What was her name?"
"Cheri Vitale."
"I'll be back. I'll come back if I find anything." He flew away, leaving Mab to return to her project.
EYRIE...The following afternoon.........
Alex walked into Puck's room, carrying his box of markers and crayons. Puck was on his bed, typing away at his laptop, with thick folders surrounding the computer. Alex walked up to Puck, "Can I have one of your socks, I'm making puppets."
Puck nodded, "Sure. There in the top drawer." Puck motioned his head, never stopping.
Alex walked over and began to float to the top drawer, he pulled it open, looking into see if there were any worthy socks. He rummaged through until he felt something fuzzy. He pulled out a velvet bag and being a three and a half year old, he was curious. He opened the bad, floating to the ground. HE opened the velvet bag, spilling its contents into his small hand. The gold cross feel heavily into the toddler's hand. He smiled at its beauty. The gross Celtic knots that made up the cross circled the small onyx gem. He walked over to Puck, "This is bootiful."
Puck looked up and gasped, "Alex! Don't touch that." He took the chain from him, walking it back over to the drawer. He picked up the bag, that Alex had dropped and replaced the cross. HE was about to put it away again when Alex, tugged on his tunic, "Uncle Puck, what's wrong, is it iron?"
"No."
"Ugly?"
"No, it belonged to someone who died a long time ago." He held the cross now in his hands, remembering.
Alex noticed the mood change in his uncle. "How'd they die?"
Puck looked down at his charge, smiling. Alex hadn't experienced someone close to him dying yet, so he didn't know how to handle it. Puck picked Alex up, sitting down on one of his couches, "She got sick during the Black Plague that ran through Europe."
Alex frowned but Puck showed him the necklace, "This was her necklace. Her name was Cheri. I loved her very much."
Alex smiled, "You had a girlfriend?"
"I had a wife" Puck chuckled and responded.
"Why don't you have new girlfriend?"
Puck shrugged, not really that answer. "Because I haven't found the right one yet."
"Oh." Alex stated, touching the black gem. "Why do you hide it? If it was mine, I'd show it to everyone."
Puck smiled, "It is beautiful."
Alex nodded, "Well, I need to make my puppets so put on a show with Lex." Alex jumped off the couch, floating long enough to grab a sock. He turned, "Hey, uncle Puck, do you want to help me with the show?"
Puck smiled, "Sure."
Alex gave Puck a big smile, "Good. Be in the library at sunset."
Puck saluted, "Yes, sir!"
Alex left his mentor. Puck looked at the cross again. HE puckered his lips in thought, saying to no one, "It is too pretty to be stowed away in a sock drawer." Slowly, he brought the gold chain over his head, letting the weight fall against his chest. He caressed the cross, smiling. He tucked the cross behind his tunic. He patted his shirt, feeling the shape of the cross. In a way it was comforting to have a part of her so close again. He looked out the window, there was only a few hours left before sunset. He got up and returned to his work with a smile on his face.
After Alex's wonderful performance of The Muppets Movie via sock puppets, Puck went to the library trying to finish You Might Be a Redneck If..The autobiography of Jeff Foxworthy. Yet, he didn't get far. He began to play with the cross around his neck with his eyes focused on a point beyond the words on the crisp page. His mind was back in France with Cheri.
France,
The gray sky cried on the people that surrounded the casket in the cemetery. Puck stared at the casket, hugging Cheri's shoulders with one arm, the other resting on her swollen belly. The priest was praying with the crowd adding in the appropriate line when prompted. Death was such a mystery to Puck. He understood that mortals expired but what happened next? Were they reborn like the Fey? Did they go to a heaven? Or did they just disappear. This thought scared him. He accepted that Cheri would die one day but to think she would never have the ability to be reborn caused a lump to form in his throat. He kissed Cheri's temple, more to reassure him then her. Puck watched as four graveyard workers started to lower the casket into the ground. The world seemed to be in slow motion, each movement exaggerated. Cheri sobbed louder, turning to cry in Puck's shirt. He caressed her hair, never taking his eyes off the casket. A life was gone, Cheri's mother. As she sobbed and her stomach rubbed against him he could feel the little life form reaching out to him. It was a boy but Puck promised not to tell Cheri. She had freaked when he first told her he was Fey, but it had taken her roughly ten minutes to calm down and accept it. Traits that were common among his people and made him love her more and more each day. He didn't think her weak for sobbing uncontrollably because he wanted to cry too. A feeling deep within his chest throbbed with pain as if it were his own mother. He felt the loss and the pain the unknown caused. The rains feel faster, soaking Puck's hair, giving it a gray look. Cheri's sobs where slowing as she hugged him. People were beginning to scatter but Cheri and Puck remained until the graveyard workers began to cover the casket with dirt. They turned, walking to their home, still holding onto each other, Cheri looked into Puck's eyes, "This doesn't bother you does it? Death is probably nothing to an immortal. How can we...how can I cope with so much pain?" She whispered the latter phase to herself.
Puck let her see a tear fall from his eye. He kissed her sweetly on the lips, "We keep our chin up, Cheri. Remember, it rains on everyone."
Nursery..Eyrie building.......
Alex was pacing in his room. He knew he had to tell Puck now. It was time. He understood and he could now speak. He didn't want to tell Puck because then he might leave, but he promised and Puck said you always have to fulfill your promises. So, with a heavy heart, Alex walked to find Puck.
IN the Library............
Puck came out of his flashback. He knew now that the pain and loss he felt was due to his suppressed memories of his mother. He didn't see Alex walk into the room, sitting next to him. Puck frowned to think that someday Alex would have to know that pain. If he could protect him from that pain he would but it would only be an illusion for everything leaves it's just a matter of for how long. His own soul was once another being, just as all the Fey. Although Oberon hated the phrase, Puck said they were recycled goods, just as powerful and wiser as the original just in a different form. Dreams seemed to be the only link to these past lives, each past life form appearing to advise the current user. Puck snapped out of his trance, placing the book down to see the sad look on his face, "Hey buddy what's wrong?"
Alex crawls into Puck's arms and hugs him, "Promise you won't get mad at me?"
Puck frowned. This was not a good way to start a conversation with a magickally inclined toddler, "You didn't turn my best suits into clown outfits again, did you?"
"No."
"Have the whole cast of Power Rangers in your room?"
"No."
"Failed pre-school?"
"No."
"Then what could be so bad?"
Alex lifted his head, "I have a secret to tell you. I should have told you a long time ago but I was afraid that if I told you, you would leave me."
Puck ruffled the boy's head, "Now why would I go and do something like that Alex. You're not that bad. So, what is the secret?"
Alex scratched his cheek, "When I was in mommy's stomach, I saw a lady and a ghost man. They said when I understood the secret I needed to tell you. It's how to defeat Oberon and bring Mab back to the throne."
Puck frown deepen, "What? Where did you hear that name?"
Alex answered, "Thaat was the lady's name. She said that Oberon trapped her in the place and she can't get out without your help."
Puck didn't know what to say. He looked down trying to find his breathe. A staggered breath brought him back to Alex. He was ready to cry. Puck hugged him close, Oh Alex..it's ok. I'm not mad just surprised. Do you know who Mab is?" Alex shook his head no, so Puck explained, "That is my mom."
Alex went wide-eyed, "You have a mom?"
Puck laughed, "Of course I do! What is this secret?"
Alex nodded, "The secret is in the mirror. To bring Mab back you have to push Oberon into a mirror big enough to allow Mab to grab onto him. They can switch places, but it can't be any of Titania's mirrors because he put a spell on them to block her out."
Puck nodded, "Is that it?"
Alex looked up to the ceiling thinking, biting his lower lip, "No."
"Then what?"
Alex smiled, "Mab wanted me to tell you that she loves you very much and she has watched you grow and is proud of you."
Puck hugged Alex, "That's a lot of 'ands.' I wish I could tell her I love her too."
Alex laughed, "You can! I see her all the time. She comes to me in my mirror."
Puck jumped up to teleport them to the room. Alex jumped out of Puck's arms to race to the mirror. "Mab..ghostman? I want to see you."
A green light surrounded the mirror and a woman appeared. Puck covered his mouth. It was Mab. Her long purple tunic dress flowed in an invisible wind. Her sharp blue eyes, fair skin, and flowing white hair made her the most beautiful woman Puck had ever seen. She was truly the origin of fairelore. Alex moved, "Mab, Puck is here."
Mab looked over and smiled, "My baby..you've grown soo much."
Puck walked over the mirror. He placed a shaking hand over its surface. Mab allows her fingers to intertwine with Puck's. Mother and son were finally touching each other for the first time in over 2,000 years. "I remember you." Puck said in a horse voice.
Mab smiled, "I would hope so..I am your mother."
"And Oberon's," spat Puck.
Mab sighed, "Do not be harsh with him. He went through a lot as a child and maybe I wasn't there for him. He must pay now ONLY by my hands. It is my right to take him out of this world."
Puck nodded, "I understand."
Mab smiled, "I knew you would. Your father is here too. As soon as I return to power I will restore his form."
Puck laughed, "One day an orphan the next a family man."
Mab laughed, "You are so my son. I see that Oberon has bound you again. I undo that bind." A shock went thorough Puck's body and he felt all his powers returning tenfold. "Wait, this is too much power."
Mab shook her head, "NO, Puck, This is the potential you were born with but it was suppressed by Oberon."
"How am I going to control all of it?"
"It is simple. I will teach you, "she laughed, "Oberon thought if he could control you then
he could save you from becoming like me."
"Why was that so bad?"
"He hated the fact that I was a trickster. How I danced among the children as an equal. He saw that in you and thought if he raised you it would kill that spark. I'm glad he was wrong."
"ME too." Puck shivered and rubbed his hands. Alex, worried, looked at Puck, "I'm cool Alex. Don't worry. Wait! What about Titania? She's hasn't been the nicest to me but she is still the Fairy Lord's daughter. Her father will fight for her right to retain court status. The higher the position the better and you know they will use little Alex as a bargaining chip. I love her grandson very much and I would hate to see him suffer. What will become of her?
Mab nodded, "I have watched her. She does have the strength and will of a living queen mother but she is also conniving and seductive. She will be spared Oberon's destiny if she decides to side with me and become my top servant."
Puck nodded, "I don't know. She has been a queen for a LONG time, she may not give up the position so readily. She will have all of the Fairy court on her side."
Mab frowned, "Puck, don't argue with me. Your brother must pay.."
"And I agree," answered Puck as he placed his hands on the mirror, longing to touch her again, "but Titania has been my queen and my friend, kind of, and I do not wish her harm. Her daughter and grandson are family to me."
Mab smiled, "And I would never hurt them. Alex has been so helpful. He reminds me of your father. I plan on giving Alex a position in our court when he is older. I can use him as a bargaining chip as well. I will deal with Titania when the time comes, but for now..let's just enjoy each others company."
Puck nodded. Placing his forehead on the mirror. Mab caressed his head through the mirror. Alex saw tears run down his face. Alex hugged Puck's legs. Puck caressed his head, as his mother caressed his own head. "You were there..you were always there in the mirror, weren't you?" He pulled away to see Mab, crying.
"Yes, I was there."
"The comfort and the touch I felt...was...you."
Mab nodded, "He couldn't keep me away from you."
Puck knelt on the ground, "What I wouldn't give to hug you even just once." Mab nodded, unable to speak as her tears ran down her cheeks. Puck wiped his face, "What do you smell like? What do you feel like?"
"All these answers will be answered soon, I promise."
Puck looked into her eyes, "How do we get you out of there?"
Mab smiled, "I was wondering when you would ask that? There are two ways. The first way is to kill Oberon, but I do not want to do that. It is the last resort. He is still my son and I love him dearly. The second way is to get him close enough to a large mirror and push him through when I'm there. You won't be able to use any of the mirrors on Avalon or here because Oberon has treated them so no one can magic through them."
Puck nodded, "I'll get to work on that. It will be hard. Oberon made it that I can't see Avalon through any of the mirrors here. We might have to go outside the castle to defeat him."
Mab began to pace again and Puck smiled, noticing it was the same thing that he did countless nights when he couldn't sleep. It was comforting to see where he came from. She was beautiful and powerful. Everything he dreamed was true right down to the crease in her forehead as she paced, thinking hard.
Puck smiled at her, his mother. His father was there to somewhere but he couldn't see him. He took Alex in his arms, "This is great. Thank you Alex."
Alex nodded, still frowning. Deep down somewhere, Alex was crying. HE felt like he just lost his best friend, but he wouldn't tell Puck. He was too happy to see his mother. Later, Alex thought, later.
Puck took his hand, placing it against the glass again. Mab stopped pacing and smiled. "Mother, let us not think of destruction and revolution tonight. As you said, let us enjoy each other's company. Who knows how this will end and I would hate to think we missed this opportunity because we were in a rush."
Mab nodded, taking Puck's hand again, "You are right. I've been in here over 2,000 years, what is another year or two."
Puck smiled, "How is it you can touch me?"
"When Oberon is weak enough or not paying attention, I can slip my hand through. Nothing more though, he has his she-bitches watching out for me."
Puck covered Alex's ears, "Mother!"
Mab shrugged, "Sorry. When you hang out with a bunch of ghosts you learn a few things."
Puck licked his lips, "Tell me. I want to know everything."
Mab smiled, "Yes, but first let us conduct your first magick lesson. Alex, now it's your turn to be the teacher."
Alex gave Puck an evil smile.
Avalon.........
Oberon sat on his throne with sick feeling in his gut. Something was not right. He watched the three sisters walk in, bowing to him. Luna stood first, "My, Lord, we see a cloud moving over your throne."
Phoebe was the next to stand and say, "We beg of you to kill Puck now while he is still weak."
Selene finally stood sighing, "We fear he has made contact with Mab."
Oberon stood up, "How?!"
The three winced as Luna answered, "We are not sure. All we know is that Puck is getting stronger and stronger everyday. You must stop him."
"Or by Avalon's next full moon, you shall not be the Lord and master of Avalon anymore."
Oberon sucked in a breath, trying not to let the sisters know how much their words dug into his flesh. "Leave me!" he bellowed.
The three sisters left, looking at their Lord with worried identical faces.
Oberon transported himself to his room. Thankfully, it was empty. He went over to his drawer. Opening the wooden drawer, he carefully took out a velvet pouch revealing the iron knife that was meant to kill his mother. He tucked it into his pouch making sure the iron never touched his skin. It was time to take care of Puck once and for all.
Almost three years later....
Limbo
Mab was pacing back and forth, her long white hair, flowing behind her. Aduis watched her getting dizzy, and for a ghost, that's pretty bad. "Mab, please. He'll remember. I promise."
"How do you know? Maybe he forgot when he was born."
Aduis flew to Mab's side, "Impossible. I've been here over 2,000 years; I think I know what I'm talking about here. Everything that is ever born, remembers this limbo area for the first three years. After that, they start forgetting. Sometimes they remember it but they feel like it was a distant dream. Alex is not three yet, so we have time."
Mab stopped, sighing, "I know. It's just that I'm so close. This is the closest I've ever been to having more than just hope that I'll get out."
Aduis smiled, "I forgot how forceful you were when you wanted to be."
Mab smiled back, "And if you weren't so thick-skulled, you would have stayed with me and this would never have happened."
Aduis leaned against a stone wall, "I also forgot you hold grudges."
Back At the Eyrie.........
Puck took out a gold cross, as big as his palm, with an onyx jewel in the middle. He caressed it. It was Cheri's cross. The gold was just like new thanks to magickal tampering. It was all he had left of his mortal wife. He cursed himself for being weak and letting her memory hurt him so much, but he recanted for he knew it was not a weakness. Only a true fool would consider love a weakness. He had loved her more than anyone in his life and there had not been a love like that since. He used go to her grave every year and tells her he loved her and that she had ruined him for anyone else. He was joking of course, sometimes. That one year he meet Oberon in France standing over his father's grave signaled to Puck it was time to let go of her. Anyone who has ever tried to forget a loved one knows that you may leave the grave but his or her spirit haunts you for the rest of your lifetime. He kissed the cross, placing it back into the velvet bag, stuffing it behind Owen's socks.
The only love he had since her death was the relationship with young Alexander and Avalon. He loved the boy as if he were his own; the son that he had lost hundreds of years ago. He walked over to the mirror, wishing to see Avalon, but
Oberon made sure that Puck's punishment included blocking all the mirrors in the castle. He hurt for Avalon more than he hurt for his mother or wife. It was apparent now how the royal family was bonded to Avalon. Their very souls connected to the living island. He wondered if Avalon missed him as much as he missed it. Oberon abused Avalon's love and the island was stale and boring because of it. If he were in control, he stopped that train of thought. Why bother thinking of something that will never happen. For all he knew his mother was long dead along with his father. Oberon had suppressed his magick for so long that even if he got them back he'd probably blow up from lack of control.
Oberon won and that made Puck madder than all hell. He looked at Alex, asleep on his bed. Alex would be able to go to Avalon one day, Titania would see to that and she would make sure her precious grandson would be on her royal court. Maybe then he could find a way to defeat his dear brother.
He knew Titania regretted not teaching Fox about her magickal heritage. The law of the royal court stated that any being, human or gargoyle, that had even a drop of royal blood in it was given immortality if trained in the Fey ways. She thought
Fox was better off living among her own kind until Oberon called her home, taking her away from her daughter. Titania, like him, had thought Oberon would not be ready to call them home for another hundred years, plenty of time to have fun with their human friends and leave with their good memories.
Puck walked over, scooping the small child up into his arms. Alex moaned but didn't wake, as he wrapped his arms around Puck's neck. He walked him to Alex's room, gently placing the boy into bed, tucking him in tight. Alex now slept in a normal bed and Puck feared that one night he would roll out and hurt himself, so Puck made sure to tuck the boy in so tight he couldn't move. Puck kissed Alex's forehead, leaving the boy to sleep.
He walked into the kitchen to find the newest residence sitting around the table. Broadway was cooking with Angela. Lex and Brooklyn were setting the table, and Hudson was sitting arms crossed waiting for breakfast. By the smell of it, the meal consisted of pancakes and sausage. Brooklyn noticed Puck and smiled, "Hey, stranger, finally decided to hang out with the adults?"
Puck smirked, "Hey, I'm positive now the Teletubbies are taking over the world."
Lex chuckled, "That's a scary thought."
Broadway turned, "Puck, you want some?"
Puck twirled his chair, plopping down on it as it stopped spinning, "Sure, who am I to pass up food."
Brooklyn sat down next to Puck, "How are you feeling?"
Puck grabbed one of the soda bottles, opening it on the edge of the table, he took a sip before saying, "I should be asking you that question."
Brooklyn shrugged, "I'm starting to get used to moving under unusual circumstances. I'm noticing though each eviction is getting more and more violent."
Puck smiled, taking another sip, "Yeah, I would call your home getting blown up as violent."
"So, how are you feeling?"
"Lousy." Puck placed the bottle on the table and rocked the chair, "I never knew how much he truly loathed me. I always knew he hated me but I didn't realize how much. I miss my home already but there are certain distractions in my life now to help ease the pain." Puck gave Brooklyn an evil smile.
Brooklyn chuckled opening his own bottle of soda, "Don't go all mushy on me now."
Puck chuckled, "I promise I won't. Plus, you're not my type."
Brooklyn nodded, "Fair enough."
The two looked up to see Hudson giving them an unusual look. He had heard the conversation. Puck and Brooklyn started to laugh hysterically, causing the other members to turn and chuckle just by Hudson's expression. He got up, "ock, you two are weirder than a couple of cuckoos." He went over to the counter where Broadway was placing the food out. He got his plate, "I be watching me shows now." He left as Brooklyn and Puck continued to laugh. They recovered and ate with the others, talking about what the plans of the night would consist. Puck leaned back on the chair, pancake stuffed into his mouth, to retrieve a newspaper. He opened it up, skimming the Life Section. He swallowed the food in his mouth, "There's the movies?"
The group groaned. Angela nodded, "That's all we ever do. Isn't there something else that maybe we can sneak into without causing a riot?"
Brooklyn snorted, "Not likely."
Lex wiped his mouth, "What about a Broadway play? Most of those old theaters have access rooms we could hide in."
Broadway shook his head, "That's just like a movie though."
Puck smiled, folding the paper to make it easier to handle, "What about a festival. It's the annual Puerto Rican post-party and festival. These people know how to party."
Brooklyn coughed, "Ah, Puck, you're forgetting that we have wings and tails
and...," he flicked Puck's ear causing Puck to yelp, "tapered ears."
Puck sucked in a breath, holding his ear. Brooklyn knew that was a very sensitive spot on the Fey. "What did I say about doing that?"
Brooklyn frowned, "What? It's true." Then realization hit him, "Oh, yeah sorry about that, I forgot."
Puck grunted before turning back to the group, "You know, my powers are restricted but there are loopholes. I could make you human looking for awhile."
The group looked at each other, taking Puck's offer very seriously.
"What about patrol?" asked Brooklyn, which shocked the group.
Puck shrugged, "It's up to you guys what you want to do. I'm going to my room. When you decide, let me know." He got up from the table, placing his plate in the sink. He walked by the table to jab Brooklyn in between the wing joints. Brooklyn let out a yelp, standing up. Puck smiled, "Oops, sorry. I forgot." He skipped away, while Brooklyn calmed, sitting back down.
Lex laughed at him, "You and Puck make a great couple."
Brooklyn growled, "Quit it."
Angela, Broadway, and Lex laughed as Brooklyn got another helping of pancakes.
He sat back down, "I said quit it! What are we doing?"
Puck snatched some mints from the bowl in the hallway and ate them as he walked down to his room. He loved teasing Brooklyn because it was so easy but he made sure not to go too far. Brooklyn was a great friend. They had gotten close when
Lex had his weekly visits with Alex. They liked the same shows and they liked to talk about the past. They even had enough heartbreak stories to make the girls on Sex and the City bow to them. Puck popped another mint into his mouth, wondering if he would be doing anything. He passed the library but stopped. He backtracked to see Goliath and Elisa talking animatedly about something. He puckered his lips thinking, to snoop or not to snoop? After a few seconds he smiled, "Snoop." He let his form become transparent before entering the room. He sat right next to them, still eating his mints, and watched the show.
"You can't hide forever, Goliath. Even up here you are not safe."
"As long as the Quarry men are out there, we must keep a low profile."
Puck groaned, it was a rerun all he needed now was a remote to change the channel.
"I understand that Goliath but you need to introduce yourself to the world somehow. Broadway's interview was a success until the Illuminati really screwed up the reputation you had acquired. Fox said she is always getting calls from interviewers wanted you to come on the show ever since your trial. Please Goliath, think it over."
"I have thought it over. It is not the gargoyles way."
Elisa stomped her foot in frustration, balling her fists, "Neither is taking a human as a mate."
Puck winced, "Oh that's hitting below the belt."
Goliath roared, leaving the library one way, while Elisa left through the main door, most likely heading to work. Puck shook his head, lovers have enough stress to last a few lifetimes, add different species, Nazi-type vigilantes, plus the eyes of the whole world and you get too many fights. This wasn't the first time they had fought like this and wouldn't be the last. Puck frowned, "They need a vacation." The lamp next to him came to life as a plan formed in Puck's head. He transported to Alex's room, where the toddler was waking up, "Hey kiddo, wanna help me with a little problem?"
Alex nodded, reaching out to his mentor. Puck took the child, explaining his plan.
Elisa was driving in downtown Manhattan traffic. She was stuck behind an old diesel truck that spit black smoke over her car and right into her window. She groaned, rolling up the window, cursing loud enough so the car next to her could hear. Why was Goliath so stubborn? Didn't he see that the only way to get people to accept him and the others was supervised encounters. Television was the safest way, well except for the Internet, to introduce them to the world. Lex was already managing a P.I.T site and other gargoyle-friendly sites under the alias Chip Lexington. They had found over a million people, who supported them, during the first week the sites went up. Lex was smart enough that he created two other sites: The Unofficial Quarrymen Fanclub and P.A.G.T, People Against Gargoyle Tolerance. Elisa laughed as she thought about the hundreds of busted they made simply because the Quarrymen actually chatted on Lex's site about their plans. Lex made a directory too. So, the police were able to monitor the headquarters in each state. And to everyone at the station, Chip Lexington was just another cyberpunk kid who was too smart for his own good and got paid by the city to keep his sites up. Margot Yale had even approved the salary provisions for Lex that was priceless.
Elisa honked her horn, hoping to get traffic moving but nothing happened. She was getting tired and rested her eyes, hoping the traffic wouldn't be much longer.
Goliath flew to his post high above the castle battlements. Why was Elisa so difficult? He didn't want to admit it but he feared exposing himself to the world. They were only five gargoyles and a gargdog against over six billion humans. And now he had to worry about the safety of the Xanatos family. If the gargoyles' home was exposed, intolerant humans may quit their jobs, Corporations would back out of deals, and a few percentages of them would attack the family and castle. Xanatos could lose his reputation and money, leaving them homeless and vulnerable. He felt his eyes grow heavy. All this stress was making him tired. He lay down on the stone floor, looking up at the stars. HE closed his eyes and dreamed.
Puck smiled with Alex. They were sitting Indian style across from each other, holding hands. Puck hands began to glow as did Alex, "Now, the real fun begins."
Goliath awoke to a blazing sun beating down on his face. He jumped up to find he was on some tropical white sandy beach with palm trees growing horizontally, reaching out to the sea. He turned around trying to figure out how he got there.
Then he saw Elisa come through the woods, her face expressing her confusion too.
But Goliath's eyes wandered from her face to her body. She had on a string bikini accenting her curves and ample breasts. Goliath wiped his mouth as she got close to him, "OK, I was in traffic now I'm here. Do you think Puck has anything to do with this?"
Goliath chuckled, "I sure he is but right now I can't seem to care."
Elisa folded her arms, "Why not?"
"Because I think if Puck did this he knew that we have been under a lot of stress as of late and needed this rest to remind us that we love each other."
Elisa smirked, "Maybe. We have been fighting a lot."
Goliath nodded, "Yes, we have and over things that are important but we really have no control over."
Elisa went to protest but Goliath hushed her with a finger, "Not right now. We can argue as long as you want when we wake from this dream, but right now I want to show you how much I love you."
Elisa smiled, nodding, allowing Goliath to pick her up and take her to a villa that appeared on the beach. Goliath walked up to the door, pushing it open with his tail. The two turned as something snapped, sending two cream pies into their faces. Elisa laughed, licking the cream off of Goliath's chest, "Yep, I think Puck is definitely behind this little vacation."
Goliath let out a sigh, "We'll deal with him later." They entered the villa to enjoy themselves.
Puck opened his eyes, exhaling the breath he was holding, shaking Alex. Alex opened his eyes, 'Wha?'
Puck smiled, still holding Alex's hands, "This dream has a NC-17 rating, no kids allowed."
"But how are we going to get them back?"
"They will come back on their own. When they go to sleep in their dreamland they will wake up here, only minutes passing."
Alex nodded, puckering his lips, "We did good then?"
"Yeah we did. The traffic was a nice touch."
Alex nodded, giving Puck an evil smile, one that he probably learned from Puck.
"Now, you have to go back to bed." He ruffled the boy's hair. Alex nodded and crawled back into bed.
"Uncle Puck?"
"Yep, kiddo." Puck said, tucking the boy in again.
"Why did we just help Elisa and Goliath? In thought you said I should only help others when they do something nice for me."
Puck smiled, "Sometimes there are exceptions. IN time you will learn. I promise."
"It's one of those 'When I'm older' things."
Puck nodded, "I'm afraid so."
Alex yawned, turning over, the exhaustion from using so much magick more powerful than any drug. Puck walked out of the bedroom and right into the Angela and Broadway, "Hey lovebirds."
Angela and Broadway waved. Broadway shrugged, "We couldn't make up our minds on what to do, so Lex and Brooklyn went on patrol for a few hours and we are going to the library."
Puck nodded, leaning against the door, "Reading anything good?"
"Well, we have a chapter left of Harry Potter, then we are going to read
Frankenstein."
Puck nodded, "Interesting book."
The couple nodded and walked on to the library. Puck pushed off and headed down to his room.
A few minutes later...Downtown Manhattan
Elisa gasped, waking up as a hundred angry motorist honked at her. She put the car back into gear and continued down the street. Was that a dream? She wondered. That had been the most detailed dream with the most amazing sexual encounter. She grabbed her cell phone, dialing the gargoyle's den. "'ello?" answered Hudson.
"Is Goliath there?"
"No..oh wait he's coming in now." Elisa heard the phone being exchanged. She
could hear Hudson say in the background, "Yerr cheeks are all flushed. Are ye ill?"
Goliath chuckled, "No, old friend. I'm fine. Hello?"
"So, it was real, kind of."
"I believe so. It was long overdue."
"Yes, it was..I'm sorry Goliath for being such a pain lately. I just worry about you and the others."
"As do I. Tomorrow is your night off. I think we should spend it together."
Elisa smiled, "I'd love to Goliath. Maybe we can recreate some of the things we did in that dream?"
Goliath laughed, "Most definitely. Until tomorrow, my Elisa."
"Love you."
"I love you too, bye."
"Bye." Elisa clicked off her phone with a goofy grin plastered on her face for the rest on the night.
Back in Limbo..............
Aduis looked at Mab while she rocked in her chair, knitting a blanket from purple silk with designs made from gold and silver threads. Mab was calm now since her little panic attacks a few hours ago. He floated over to her, noticing her face held a serious tone to it, "What is wrong?"
Mab looked up, snapping out of her trance, "Nothing. I was merely concentrating on the design."
Aduis scratched his chin more out of habit than anything else, "It's hard to remember you are a born trickster in your current position."
Mab smiled, "Our son, Puck, is more of a trickster than I am yet he seems to have more concentration and hardness."
"Really? What made him so hard?"
"Love. He lost his wife to the Plague. If wasn't so much her death that hurt. He knew she was going to die someday, but the pain she went through created a hard spot in his heart. Unfortunately, it is one that will never melt and will never die. HE lost his son also when Cheri died."
Adius frowned, "With such a painful death, she probably crossed over to the human Heaven. She will never be reborn on Earth. And I would be good money that our other son did not help the situation."
Mab nodded, "He called to his side no more than a day after she died. It was enough time to bury her then serve his brother."
Aduis crossed his arms, "It's hard to lose a spouse, even more so a child."
Mab looked at Aduis with a hard look, "I know. Is there anyway you could find out for such?"
Aduis nodded, "Yes. I can go to the record keepers. What was her name?"
"Cheri Vitale."
"I'll be back. I'll come back if I find anything." He flew away, leaving Mab to return to her project.
EYRIE...The following afternoon.........
Alex walked into Puck's room, carrying his box of markers and crayons. Puck was on his bed, typing away at his laptop, with thick folders surrounding the computer. Alex walked up to Puck, "Can I have one of your socks, I'm making puppets."
Puck nodded, "Sure. There in the top drawer." Puck motioned his head, never stopping.
Alex walked over and began to float to the top drawer, he pulled it open, looking into see if there were any worthy socks. He rummaged through until he felt something fuzzy. He pulled out a velvet bag and being a three and a half year old, he was curious. He opened the bad, floating to the ground. HE opened the velvet bag, spilling its contents into his small hand. The gold cross feel heavily into the toddler's hand. He smiled at its beauty. The gross Celtic knots that made up the cross circled the small onyx gem. He walked over to Puck, "This is bootiful."
Puck looked up and gasped, "Alex! Don't touch that." He took the chain from him, walking it back over to the drawer. He picked up the bag, that Alex had dropped and replaced the cross. HE was about to put it away again when Alex, tugged on his tunic, "Uncle Puck, what's wrong, is it iron?"
"No."
"Ugly?"
"No, it belonged to someone who died a long time ago." He held the cross now in his hands, remembering.
Alex noticed the mood change in his uncle. "How'd they die?"
Puck looked down at his charge, smiling. Alex hadn't experienced someone close to him dying yet, so he didn't know how to handle it. Puck picked Alex up, sitting down on one of his couches, "She got sick during the Black Plague that ran through Europe."
Alex frowned but Puck showed him the necklace, "This was her necklace. Her name was Cheri. I loved her very much."
Alex smiled, "You had a girlfriend?"
"I had a wife" Puck chuckled and responded.
"Why don't you have new girlfriend?"
Puck shrugged, not really that answer. "Because I haven't found the right one yet."
"Oh." Alex stated, touching the black gem. "Why do you hide it? If it was mine, I'd show it to everyone."
Puck smiled, "It is beautiful."
Alex nodded, "Well, I need to make my puppets so put on a show with Lex." Alex jumped off the couch, floating long enough to grab a sock. He turned, "Hey, uncle Puck, do you want to help me with the show?"
Puck smiled, "Sure."
Alex gave Puck a big smile, "Good. Be in the library at sunset."
Puck saluted, "Yes, sir!"
Alex left his mentor. Puck looked at the cross again. HE puckered his lips in thought, saying to no one, "It is too pretty to be stowed away in a sock drawer." Slowly, he brought the gold chain over his head, letting the weight fall against his chest. He caressed the cross, smiling. He tucked the cross behind his tunic. He patted his shirt, feeling the shape of the cross. In a way it was comforting to have a part of her so close again. He looked out the window, there was only a few hours left before sunset. He got up and returned to his work with a smile on his face.
After Alex's wonderful performance of The Muppets Movie via sock puppets, Puck went to the library trying to finish You Might Be a Redneck If..The autobiography of Jeff Foxworthy. Yet, he didn't get far. He began to play with the cross around his neck with his eyes focused on a point beyond the words on the crisp page. His mind was back in France with Cheri.
France,
The gray sky cried on the people that surrounded the casket in the cemetery. Puck stared at the casket, hugging Cheri's shoulders with one arm, the other resting on her swollen belly. The priest was praying with the crowd adding in the appropriate line when prompted. Death was such a mystery to Puck. He understood that mortals expired but what happened next? Were they reborn like the Fey? Did they go to a heaven? Or did they just disappear. This thought scared him. He accepted that Cheri would die one day but to think she would never have the ability to be reborn caused a lump to form in his throat. He kissed Cheri's temple, more to reassure him then her. Puck watched as four graveyard workers started to lower the casket into the ground. The world seemed to be in slow motion, each movement exaggerated. Cheri sobbed louder, turning to cry in Puck's shirt. He caressed her hair, never taking his eyes off the casket. A life was gone, Cheri's mother. As she sobbed and her stomach rubbed against him he could feel the little life form reaching out to him. It was a boy but Puck promised not to tell Cheri. She had freaked when he first told her he was Fey, but it had taken her roughly ten minutes to calm down and accept it. Traits that were common among his people and made him love her more and more each day. He didn't think her weak for sobbing uncontrollably because he wanted to cry too. A feeling deep within his chest throbbed with pain as if it were his own mother. He felt the loss and the pain the unknown caused. The rains feel faster, soaking Puck's hair, giving it a gray look. Cheri's sobs where slowing as she hugged him. People were beginning to scatter but Cheri and Puck remained until the graveyard workers began to cover the casket with dirt. They turned, walking to their home, still holding onto each other, Cheri looked into Puck's eyes, "This doesn't bother you does it? Death is probably nothing to an immortal. How can we...how can I cope with so much pain?" She whispered the latter phase to herself.
Puck let her see a tear fall from his eye. He kissed her sweetly on the lips, "We keep our chin up, Cheri. Remember, it rains on everyone."
Nursery..Eyrie building.......
Alex was pacing in his room. He knew he had to tell Puck now. It was time. He understood and he could now speak. He didn't want to tell Puck because then he might leave, but he promised and Puck said you always have to fulfill your promises. So, with a heavy heart, Alex walked to find Puck.
IN the Library............
Puck came out of his flashback. He knew now that the pain and loss he felt was due to his suppressed memories of his mother. He didn't see Alex walk into the room, sitting next to him. Puck frowned to think that someday Alex would have to know that pain. If he could protect him from that pain he would but it would only be an illusion for everything leaves it's just a matter of for how long. His own soul was once another being, just as all the Fey. Although Oberon hated the phrase, Puck said they were recycled goods, just as powerful and wiser as the original just in a different form. Dreams seemed to be the only link to these past lives, each past life form appearing to advise the current user. Puck snapped out of his trance, placing the book down to see the sad look on his face, "Hey buddy what's wrong?"
Alex crawls into Puck's arms and hugs him, "Promise you won't get mad at me?"
Puck frowned. This was not a good way to start a conversation with a magickally inclined toddler, "You didn't turn my best suits into clown outfits again, did you?"
"No."
"Have the whole cast of Power Rangers in your room?"
"No."
"Failed pre-school?"
"No."
"Then what could be so bad?"
Alex lifted his head, "I have a secret to tell you. I should have told you a long time ago but I was afraid that if I told you, you would leave me."
Puck ruffled the boy's head, "Now why would I go and do something like that Alex. You're not that bad. So, what is the secret?"
Alex scratched his cheek, "When I was in mommy's stomach, I saw a lady and a ghost man. They said when I understood the secret I needed to tell you. It's how to defeat Oberon and bring Mab back to the throne."
Puck frown deepen, "What? Where did you hear that name?"
Alex answered, "Thaat was the lady's name. She said that Oberon trapped her in the place and she can't get out without your help."
Puck didn't know what to say. He looked down trying to find his breathe. A staggered breath brought him back to Alex. He was ready to cry. Puck hugged him close, Oh Alex..it's ok. I'm not mad just surprised. Do you know who Mab is?" Alex shook his head no, so Puck explained, "That is my mom."
Alex went wide-eyed, "You have a mom?"
Puck laughed, "Of course I do! What is this secret?"
Alex nodded, "The secret is in the mirror. To bring Mab back you have to push Oberon into a mirror big enough to allow Mab to grab onto him. They can switch places, but it can't be any of Titania's mirrors because he put a spell on them to block her out."
Puck nodded, "Is that it?"
Alex looked up to the ceiling thinking, biting his lower lip, "No."
"Then what?"
Alex smiled, "Mab wanted me to tell you that she loves you very much and she has watched you grow and is proud of you."
Puck hugged Alex, "That's a lot of 'ands.' I wish I could tell her I love her too."
Alex laughed, "You can! I see her all the time. She comes to me in my mirror."
Puck jumped up to teleport them to the room. Alex jumped out of Puck's arms to race to the mirror. "Mab..ghostman? I want to see you."
A green light surrounded the mirror and a woman appeared. Puck covered his mouth. It was Mab. Her long purple tunic dress flowed in an invisible wind. Her sharp blue eyes, fair skin, and flowing white hair made her the most beautiful woman Puck had ever seen. She was truly the origin of fairelore. Alex moved, "Mab, Puck is here."
Mab looked over and smiled, "My baby..you've grown soo much."
Puck walked over the mirror. He placed a shaking hand over its surface. Mab allows her fingers to intertwine with Puck's. Mother and son were finally touching each other for the first time in over 2,000 years. "I remember you." Puck said in a horse voice.
Mab smiled, "I would hope so..I am your mother."
"And Oberon's," spat Puck.
Mab sighed, "Do not be harsh with him. He went through a lot as a child and maybe I wasn't there for him. He must pay now ONLY by my hands. It is my right to take him out of this world."
Puck nodded, "I understand."
Mab smiled, "I knew you would. Your father is here too. As soon as I return to power I will restore his form."
Puck laughed, "One day an orphan the next a family man."
Mab laughed, "You are so my son. I see that Oberon has bound you again. I undo that bind." A shock went thorough Puck's body and he felt all his powers returning tenfold. "Wait, this is too much power."
Mab shook her head, "NO, Puck, This is the potential you were born with but it was suppressed by Oberon."
"How am I going to control all of it?"
"It is simple. I will teach you, "she laughed, "Oberon thought if he could control you then
he could save you from becoming like me."
"Why was that so bad?"
"He hated the fact that I was a trickster. How I danced among the children as an equal. He saw that in you and thought if he raised you it would kill that spark. I'm glad he was wrong."
"ME too." Puck shivered and rubbed his hands. Alex, worried, looked at Puck, "I'm cool Alex. Don't worry. Wait! What about Titania? She's hasn't been the nicest to me but she is still the Fairy Lord's daughter. Her father will fight for her right to retain court status. The higher the position the better and you know they will use little Alex as a bargaining chip. I love her grandson very much and I would hate to see him suffer. What will become of her?
Mab nodded, "I have watched her. She does have the strength and will of a living queen mother but she is also conniving and seductive. She will be spared Oberon's destiny if she decides to side with me and become my top servant."
Puck nodded, "I don't know. She has been a queen for a LONG time, she may not give up the position so readily. She will have all of the Fairy court on her side."
Mab frowned, "Puck, don't argue with me. Your brother must pay.."
"And I agree," answered Puck as he placed his hands on the mirror, longing to touch her again, "but Titania has been my queen and my friend, kind of, and I do not wish her harm. Her daughter and grandson are family to me."
Mab smiled, "And I would never hurt them. Alex has been so helpful. He reminds me of your father. I plan on giving Alex a position in our court when he is older. I can use him as a bargaining chip as well. I will deal with Titania when the time comes, but for now..let's just enjoy each others company."
Puck nodded. Placing his forehead on the mirror. Mab caressed his head through the mirror. Alex saw tears run down his face. Alex hugged Puck's legs. Puck caressed his head, as his mother caressed his own head. "You were there..you were always there in the mirror, weren't you?" He pulled away to see Mab, crying.
"Yes, I was there."
"The comfort and the touch I felt...was...you."
Mab nodded, "He couldn't keep me away from you."
Puck knelt on the ground, "What I wouldn't give to hug you even just once." Mab nodded, unable to speak as her tears ran down her cheeks. Puck wiped his face, "What do you smell like? What do you feel like?"
"All these answers will be answered soon, I promise."
Puck looked into her eyes, "How do we get you out of there?"
Mab smiled, "I was wondering when you would ask that? There are two ways. The first way is to kill Oberon, but I do not want to do that. It is the last resort. He is still my son and I love him dearly. The second way is to get him close enough to a large mirror and push him through when I'm there. You won't be able to use any of the mirrors on Avalon or here because Oberon has treated them so no one can magic through them."
Puck nodded, "I'll get to work on that. It will be hard. Oberon made it that I can't see Avalon through any of the mirrors here. We might have to go outside the castle to defeat him."
Mab began to pace again and Puck smiled, noticing it was the same thing that he did countless nights when he couldn't sleep. It was comforting to see where he came from. She was beautiful and powerful. Everything he dreamed was true right down to the crease in her forehead as she paced, thinking hard.
Puck smiled at her, his mother. His father was there to somewhere but he couldn't see him. He took Alex in his arms, "This is great. Thank you Alex."
Alex nodded, still frowning. Deep down somewhere, Alex was crying. HE felt like he just lost his best friend, but he wouldn't tell Puck. He was too happy to see his mother. Later, Alex thought, later.
Puck took his hand, placing it against the glass again. Mab stopped pacing and smiled. "Mother, let us not think of destruction and revolution tonight. As you said, let us enjoy each other's company. Who knows how this will end and I would hate to think we missed this opportunity because we were in a rush."
Mab nodded, taking Puck's hand again, "You are right. I've been in here over 2,000 years, what is another year or two."
Puck smiled, "How is it you can touch me?"
"When Oberon is weak enough or not paying attention, I can slip my hand through. Nothing more though, he has his she-bitches watching out for me."
Puck covered Alex's ears, "Mother!"
Mab shrugged, "Sorry. When you hang out with a bunch of ghosts you learn a few things."
Puck licked his lips, "Tell me. I want to know everything."
Mab smiled, "Yes, but first let us conduct your first magick lesson. Alex, now it's your turn to be the teacher."
Alex gave Puck an evil smile.
Avalon.........
Oberon sat on his throne with sick feeling in his gut. Something was not right. He watched the three sisters walk in, bowing to him. Luna stood first, "My, Lord, we see a cloud moving over your throne."
Phoebe was the next to stand and say, "We beg of you to kill Puck now while he is still weak."
Selene finally stood sighing, "We fear he has made contact with Mab."
Oberon stood up, "How?!"
The three winced as Luna answered, "We are not sure. All we know is that Puck is getting stronger and stronger everyday. You must stop him."
"Or by Avalon's next full moon, you shall not be the Lord and master of Avalon anymore."
Oberon sucked in a breath, trying not to let the sisters know how much their words dug into his flesh. "Leave me!" he bellowed.
The three sisters left, looking at their Lord with worried identical faces.
Oberon transported himself to his room. Thankfully, it was empty. He went over to his drawer. Opening the wooden drawer, he carefully took out a velvet pouch revealing the iron knife that was meant to kill his mother. He tucked it into his pouch making sure the iron never touched his skin. It was time to take care of Puck once and for all.