(A/N) So I got my results for my AP exam and I passed with a 3. I was
so happy that I decided to update. Hehe. So enjoy!!
There stood Varice in all her tight clothes glory, staring at Daine and Teresa like they were dirt. She was obviously very mad that her husband would let them into the house, let alone stay for very long.
"Varice, sweetie, Daine and Teresa are here because they're visiting," Numair tried to explain in a way without having to tell the truth which he knew would upset Varice greatly.
"How long are they staying here?" Varice asked coldly, now ignoring Daine and Teresa.
"For how ever long they want to," Numair replied.
Teresa walked forward to stand by Numair's leg and asked, "Do you speak Gallan?"
"No, I'm sorry your mommy didn't teach me, you little brat," Varice seethed, eyes full of contempt for the little girl.
Teresa didn't understand what Varice was saying but she understood that this new lady did not like her at all; her eyes filled with tears as she started to cry. Daine was outraged by what Varice said and she rushed to Teresa's side as she picked her up.
"That's it. I'm not going to deal with your bullshit any more Varice," she said to the woman that she had so long despised. "Come on, Teresa. We're obviously not welcome here."
"No, Daine wait. You both are welcome here at any time," Numair said taking Teresa from Daine's arms and trying to comfort her. "My spouse seems to have forgotten that you are my guests and that I invited you both to stay here."
Varice turned her face to the side, upset that she was not going to have her way. Numair put his hand on Daine's arm. "Please don't leave," he pleaded. "Don't take Teresa away from me again," he added in a whisper.
Daine looked at Teresa, who had finally stopped crying, and saw how she had taken liking to Numair so much. "I love my daughter more than life itself. I'd do anything to make her happy. And she seems happy with you. I'll do this for her only," Daine said sternly.
"Do it for both of us; do it for Teresa and me," Numair implored.
Daine nodded and Numair smiled.
"Well, if you too are finished with your nostalgic reunion, I am hungry. Numair, darling, will you fix me something to eat?" Varice said in a lofty tone.
"Of course, darling. Whatever you want is yours," Numair replied. He set Teresa down and walked over to his wife; Daine picked Teresa up and cradled her against her hip. "Let's all go into the kitchen. I'll fix Varice something and we'll talk!"
"Tu se gâtes trop de," Daine muttered under her breath as they headed into the kitchen.
Numair turned around at Daine with a questioning look and she shook her head. "Mommy, that wasn't very nice," Teresa said.
"Shhh, darling. It's doesn't matter when it comes to Varice," Daine whispered back.
They walked through the kitchen and Daine headed towards the dining table. She sat down and placed Teresa next to her. Numair sat across from Teresa and asked, "So, what do you want to eat?"
"Je voudrais un croissant avec confiture, s'il vous plaît," Teresa requested.
Numair looked at Daine for the translation. Daine looked instead at Teresa. "Sweetie they don't have croissants here in Tortall. They only have them in Galla. Choose something else."
"A roll with jelly then," Teresa replied, a little let down that her new home didn't offer one of her favorite snacks.
"A roll with jelly it is then. What would you like to eat Varice?" Numair inquired.
"I'll have some pasta then," she replied.
"Okay. Daine, would you like anything to eat?"
"No thank you, I'm fine," Daine replied.
Numair got Teresa her roll and jelly and then started to make Varice's request. Daine helped feed her daughter while she inquired after some of her long lost friends.
"How is Onua doing?" she asked.
"She's doing fine. She has a lover of some types that she met while at the Cria fair. But she still works with the horses."
"And how is Alanna doing?"
"Still a little fireball. Same as ever, running around Tortall, protecting us non-warrior types from the enemy," Numair said.
Daine giggled. "How is everybody at court?"
"They're all fine. You'll give them something to gossip about so they'll be more than healthy," Numair said factually; it made Daine laugh even harder.
"How are Jon and Thayet doing? Do they hate me?" Daine asked nervously, hoping that her plan wouldn't fall through.
"They were disappointed but now that you're here again, I'm sure they'll be enthusiastic to get you back to work. And I think they'll pay you handsomely and a bonus so that you'll stay here this time."
"Which means that these two won't be living here for very long," Varice said with a distinct note of smugness in her voice.
"Yes, Varice. We'll leave and you'll be forever ride of us. We'll never bother you again," Daine replied, tired of the woman's every attempt to publicly show that she did not approve of having Daine and Teresa stay in her house.
"I don't want to leave Numair," Teresa piped up.
"Well, I'm sure that Numair will come and visit you Teresa," Daine said, hoping that Numair would catch on to what she was implying.
"Why would he do that?" Varice asked, angered.
"Because I want to see Teresa, that's why," Numair growled.
Varice tried to shake off the tension by faking a smile. "I'm tired. I think I'll go take a nap."
"But what about your pasta?" Numair asked, frustrated that he had been working for nothing.
"I'm not hungry anymore," Varice said as she got up and went to her room.
Numair sighed in frustration and sat down. He looked at Daine who appeared to be anxiously wanting to comment on Varice's behavior. "I don't want to hear it," he said gravely.
"Fine then," Daine said.
"Numair, why did you marry that evil old lady?" Teresa asked innocently.
Numair paused and didn't say anything for a few minutes. "Because I love her Teresa."
"Well, I love mommy, but she never treats me like that. You should marry mommy. Then we could be together forever and you would have someone nice to look after you," Teresa said firmly.
"Teresa, it isn't that simple. And besides, your mommy deserves someone better than me." Numair tried to explain why he couldn't marry Daine without having to tell Teresa the truth; it didn't seem to be working.
"Well, she can marry whoever, but I don't have to like him!" she declared.
Daine ruffled Teresa's hair and said, "I don't think that that is required of you."
Numair and Daine talk for the rest of the day about things that had happened while she was in Galla, while Varice pouted in her room.
But all too soon it was nightfall and Teresa was yawned widely; Daine noticed too. "I think we had better get her to bed," Daine commented.
"Right," Numair replied.
"Can I sleep in your bed?" Teresa asked of Numair.
"No, sweetie. Numair is sleeping with the mean, ugly old lady," Daine said as she stood up from the table and picked Teresa up too.
Numair got up and said, "Teresa can sleep in your old room. And you can sleep in the guest bedroom right next door."
"You still have my room here? I'm surprised Varice didn't turn it into her own personal closet," Daine replied wryly.
"You have your own room here mommy? Why?" Teresa asked.
"Well, you see Teresa, Numair used to be my teacher. That's how I knew him and that why I knew he would help us. And I lived here with him for a while before you were born."
"Really?" Teresa asked incredulous that her mother would have such a person relationship with the man that she adored.
"Really."
"Do you know my daddy then, Numair?" Teresa asked him.
Numair sighed and said, "Yes, I do. I know him very well."
Teresa's eyes got wide. "Tell me everything," she demanded.
Daine shook her head at Numair.
"Well, if you're good, maybe I'll tell you all about him tomorrow," Numair said, making Daine cringe.
"I'll be the best ever," Teresa promised.
"Good, then we can get you off to bed," Daine said,
Daine led the way back to her room and when she tried to open it, she found that it was locked. Numair stepped in front of her and pulled a key out of his pocket.
"A key?" Daine asked.
"Well, everybody expects it to be locked by magic, so I do the opposite. So, no one has ever tried to come in here. They all think that they would never get in," Numair explained as her unlocked the door.
He opened the door and Daine gasped. It was exactly how it looked on the day that she left the house. Everything was dusted and clean except for a few bookshelves.
"The linens on the bed are fresh. And as you can see, everything else is clean."
Daine walked over to her closet and pulled out some of her old clothes. They were dust free and still smelled like they had just been washed. She searched for the smallest one and called Teresa over to her.
She took the travel worn clothes off her daughter and slipped the old shirt over it. It was still big on her, so Daine rolled the sleeves up a little. "There you go, all set," Daine said as she lifted Teresa onto the bed. She tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night, Teresa. I'm just down the hall," Daine said.
"Good night mommy. Good night Numair," Teresa replied.
"Good night Teresa," Numair said as they walked out of the room and closed the door.
As they walked down the hall to Daine's sleeping quarters, she said, "Numair, I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done."
"Don't even think about thanking me. I'm just starting to pay off a huge debt that I owe you. Give me about twenty years and I think I'll have it half paid off," Numair replied.
They stopped outside Daine's new room. She stood there for a moment, not knowing how to say goodbye. All of a sudden she hugged Numair. She hugged him for five years worth of being apart. "Thank you," she whispered as she let go, walked into her room, and shut the door.
(A/N) The hundred degree weather in San Diego has fried my brains, so it took me longer to update this. What will Numair tell Teresa about her father? What is Numair's debt to Daine? And what is the secret as to why the bookshelves aren't dusted in Daine's old room? Stay tuned to fine out!! (There is a GOOD, legitimate reason as to why they are still dirty; you guys will want to know!)
Also, I need a nickname for Teresa because I'm tired of typing her long name out all the time. And I also need ideas for a nickname that Teresa gives Numair. So send me ideas!! This is your one and only chance to have your say in this fic!!
Translations:
Tu se gâtes trop de: You spoil her too much (I think that this is right. I haven't learned a lot about reflexive verbs and how to use other things with them)
Je voudrais un croissant avec confiture, s'il vous plaît: I would like a croissant with jelly please (Confiture is one of my favorite words in the French language)
There stood Varice in all her tight clothes glory, staring at Daine and Teresa like they were dirt. She was obviously very mad that her husband would let them into the house, let alone stay for very long.
"Varice, sweetie, Daine and Teresa are here because they're visiting," Numair tried to explain in a way without having to tell the truth which he knew would upset Varice greatly.
"How long are they staying here?" Varice asked coldly, now ignoring Daine and Teresa.
"For how ever long they want to," Numair replied.
Teresa walked forward to stand by Numair's leg and asked, "Do you speak Gallan?"
"No, I'm sorry your mommy didn't teach me, you little brat," Varice seethed, eyes full of contempt for the little girl.
Teresa didn't understand what Varice was saying but she understood that this new lady did not like her at all; her eyes filled with tears as she started to cry. Daine was outraged by what Varice said and she rushed to Teresa's side as she picked her up.
"That's it. I'm not going to deal with your bullshit any more Varice," she said to the woman that she had so long despised. "Come on, Teresa. We're obviously not welcome here."
"No, Daine wait. You both are welcome here at any time," Numair said taking Teresa from Daine's arms and trying to comfort her. "My spouse seems to have forgotten that you are my guests and that I invited you both to stay here."
Varice turned her face to the side, upset that she was not going to have her way. Numair put his hand on Daine's arm. "Please don't leave," he pleaded. "Don't take Teresa away from me again," he added in a whisper.
Daine looked at Teresa, who had finally stopped crying, and saw how she had taken liking to Numair so much. "I love my daughter more than life itself. I'd do anything to make her happy. And she seems happy with you. I'll do this for her only," Daine said sternly.
"Do it for both of us; do it for Teresa and me," Numair implored.
Daine nodded and Numair smiled.
"Well, if you too are finished with your nostalgic reunion, I am hungry. Numair, darling, will you fix me something to eat?" Varice said in a lofty tone.
"Of course, darling. Whatever you want is yours," Numair replied. He set Teresa down and walked over to his wife; Daine picked Teresa up and cradled her against her hip. "Let's all go into the kitchen. I'll fix Varice something and we'll talk!"
"Tu se gâtes trop de," Daine muttered under her breath as they headed into the kitchen.
Numair turned around at Daine with a questioning look and she shook her head. "Mommy, that wasn't very nice," Teresa said.
"Shhh, darling. It's doesn't matter when it comes to Varice," Daine whispered back.
They walked through the kitchen and Daine headed towards the dining table. She sat down and placed Teresa next to her. Numair sat across from Teresa and asked, "So, what do you want to eat?"
"Je voudrais un croissant avec confiture, s'il vous plaît," Teresa requested.
Numair looked at Daine for the translation. Daine looked instead at Teresa. "Sweetie they don't have croissants here in Tortall. They only have them in Galla. Choose something else."
"A roll with jelly then," Teresa replied, a little let down that her new home didn't offer one of her favorite snacks.
"A roll with jelly it is then. What would you like to eat Varice?" Numair inquired.
"I'll have some pasta then," she replied.
"Okay. Daine, would you like anything to eat?"
"No thank you, I'm fine," Daine replied.
Numair got Teresa her roll and jelly and then started to make Varice's request. Daine helped feed her daughter while she inquired after some of her long lost friends.
"How is Onua doing?" she asked.
"She's doing fine. She has a lover of some types that she met while at the Cria fair. But she still works with the horses."
"And how is Alanna doing?"
"Still a little fireball. Same as ever, running around Tortall, protecting us non-warrior types from the enemy," Numair said.
Daine giggled. "How is everybody at court?"
"They're all fine. You'll give them something to gossip about so they'll be more than healthy," Numair said factually; it made Daine laugh even harder.
"How are Jon and Thayet doing? Do they hate me?" Daine asked nervously, hoping that her plan wouldn't fall through.
"They were disappointed but now that you're here again, I'm sure they'll be enthusiastic to get you back to work. And I think they'll pay you handsomely and a bonus so that you'll stay here this time."
"Which means that these two won't be living here for very long," Varice said with a distinct note of smugness in her voice.
"Yes, Varice. We'll leave and you'll be forever ride of us. We'll never bother you again," Daine replied, tired of the woman's every attempt to publicly show that she did not approve of having Daine and Teresa stay in her house.
"I don't want to leave Numair," Teresa piped up.
"Well, I'm sure that Numair will come and visit you Teresa," Daine said, hoping that Numair would catch on to what she was implying.
"Why would he do that?" Varice asked, angered.
"Because I want to see Teresa, that's why," Numair growled.
Varice tried to shake off the tension by faking a smile. "I'm tired. I think I'll go take a nap."
"But what about your pasta?" Numair asked, frustrated that he had been working for nothing.
"I'm not hungry anymore," Varice said as she got up and went to her room.
Numair sighed in frustration and sat down. He looked at Daine who appeared to be anxiously wanting to comment on Varice's behavior. "I don't want to hear it," he said gravely.
"Fine then," Daine said.
"Numair, why did you marry that evil old lady?" Teresa asked innocently.
Numair paused and didn't say anything for a few minutes. "Because I love her Teresa."
"Well, I love mommy, but she never treats me like that. You should marry mommy. Then we could be together forever and you would have someone nice to look after you," Teresa said firmly.
"Teresa, it isn't that simple. And besides, your mommy deserves someone better than me." Numair tried to explain why he couldn't marry Daine without having to tell Teresa the truth; it didn't seem to be working.
"Well, she can marry whoever, but I don't have to like him!" she declared.
Daine ruffled Teresa's hair and said, "I don't think that that is required of you."
Numair and Daine talk for the rest of the day about things that had happened while she was in Galla, while Varice pouted in her room.
But all too soon it was nightfall and Teresa was yawned widely; Daine noticed too. "I think we had better get her to bed," Daine commented.
"Right," Numair replied.
"Can I sleep in your bed?" Teresa asked of Numair.
"No, sweetie. Numair is sleeping with the mean, ugly old lady," Daine said as she stood up from the table and picked Teresa up too.
Numair got up and said, "Teresa can sleep in your old room. And you can sleep in the guest bedroom right next door."
"You still have my room here? I'm surprised Varice didn't turn it into her own personal closet," Daine replied wryly.
"You have your own room here mommy? Why?" Teresa asked.
"Well, you see Teresa, Numair used to be my teacher. That's how I knew him and that why I knew he would help us. And I lived here with him for a while before you were born."
"Really?" Teresa asked incredulous that her mother would have such a person relationship with the man that she adored.
"Really."
"Do you know my daddy then, Numair?" Teresa asked him.
Numair sighed and said, "Yes, I do. I know him very well."
Teresa's eyes got wide. "Tell me everything," she demanded.
Daine shook her head at Numair.
"Well, if you're good, maybe I'll tell you all about him tomorrow," Numair said, making Daine cringe.
"I'll be the best ever," Teresa promised.
"Good, then we can get you off to bed," Daine said,
Daine led the way back to her room and when she tried to open it, she found that it was locked. Numair stepped in front of her and pulled a key out of his pocket.
"A key?" Daine asked.
"Well, everybody expects it to be locked by magic, so I do the opposite. So, no one has ever tried to come in here. They all think that they would never get in," Numair explained as her unlocked the door.
He opened the door and Daine gasped. It was exactly how it looked on the day that she left the house. Everything was dusted and clean except for a few bookshelves.
"The linens on the bed are fresh. And as you can see, everything else is clean."
Daine walked over to her closet and pulled out some of her old clothes. They were dust free and still smelled like they had just been washed. She searched for the smallest one and called Teresa over to her.
She took the travel worn clothes off her daughter and slipped the old shirt over it. It was still big on her, so Daine rolled the sleeves up a little. "There you go, all set," Daine said as she lifted Teresa onto the bed. She tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night, Teresa. I'm just down the hall," Daine said.
"Good night mommy. Good night Numair," Teresa replied.
"Good night Teresa," Numair said as they walked out of the room and closed the door.
As they walked down the hall to Daine's sleeping quarters, she said, "Numair, I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done."
"Don't even think about thanking me. I'm just starting to pay off a huge debt that I owe you. Give me about twenty years and I think I'll have it half paid off," Numair replied.
They stopped outside Daine's new room. She stood there for a moment, not knowing how to say goodbye. All of a sudden she hugged Numair. She hugged him for five years worth of being apart. "Thank you," she whispered as she let go, walked into her room, and shut the door.
(A/N) The hundred degree weather in San Diego has fried my brains, so it took me longer to update this. What will Numair tell Teresa about her father? What is Numair's debt to Daine? And what is the secret as to why the bookshelves aren't dusted in Daine's old room? Stay tuned to fine out!! (There is a GOOD, legitimate reason as to why they are still dirty; you guys will want to know!)
Also, I need a nickname for Teresa because I'm tired of typing her long name out all the time. And I also need ideas for a nickname that Teresa gives Numair. So send me ideas!! This is your one and only chance to have your say in this fic!!
Translations:
Tu se gâtes trop de: You spoil her too much (I think that this is right. I haven't learned a lot about reflexive verbs and how to use other things with them)
Je voudrais un croissant avec confiture, s'il vous plaît: I would like a croissant with jelly please (Confiture is one of my favorite words in the French language)