Author's Note: Yes, it is an update! You can all thank my beta, arscapi, for this prompt (well, for me it is) addition. Her constant help (and threats) really helped motivate me.
Yes, this one is very short. Since I ended up scrapping what I had started with and let it evolve into...this. We're getting very close to the end. I think there might be only one more chapter to wrap this up.
And since Fanfic keeps eating any symbols I put in, italics denotes thoughts. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 7
For the next week, every day was a new adventure. At least, it seemed that way to Finn. They had tried everything they could think of to help Marguerite and Ned. Veronica had gone and talked to the Zanga and several other nearby tribes. Roxton had visited and revisited the glen, only to come home frustrated and empty-handed. Challenger had run so many tests that even Ned was hesitant to go down into the lab anymore. And personally, Finn thought she would scream if she had to read one morepage of a journal.
So far, nothing had worked. Just this morning, Veronica had mentioned that maybe there wasn't anything they could do, which had Roxton stomping around and bellowing about not giving up on them. As much as she agreed with him, Finn knew that Challenger was fresh out of ideas, which was never a good thing. Besides, she thought as she watched Marguerite and Ned play an energetic game of 'Tag', it's been kinda nice with them like this. Would it really be that bad if we can't change them back? It's not like they would know the difference since they apparently didn't remember their adult lives and having the two children around had been interesting.
Okay, yes, having the two of them around was a lot of work, Finn admitted to herself. And, occasionally, they did strange and random things that made no sense to anyone but themselves; like Marguerite's refusal to eat papaya because she insisted it smelled like feet, or Ned's unwavering belief that some strange and hideous creature lived under his bed. It didn't matter how many time she or Veronica checked, only Roxton with gun in hand could look under the bed and assure the boy that it was monster-free. At least Ned's monsters aren't as creepy as Marguerite's sleepwalking. She shuddered as she recalled the first night she and Roxton had been back.
They'd been making progress and things were slowly returning to normal…sort of. Marguerite had stopped trying to hide from Roxton. He had even submitted to a tea party in his efforts to draw her out. Veronica had filled her in on the details, but the mental image of the rugged hunter hunkered down at one of the low tables, nibbling on cookies and making 'polite' conversations while Marguerite poured them tea was almost too much to handle. She'd missed the actual even itself since she'd taken Ned out to gather some fruit. "And it's not like we didn't have our own adventure with Henry," she admitted with a snort.
A childish squeal got her attention. Once again, Ned was charging straight at her with Marguerite hard on his heels. "Hey! No way! NO!" she loudly commanded as she threw her hands up in the universal 'stay way' gesture. "I already told you, I am not the 'safe' spot so stop running this way!"
As usual, they ignored her, devilish grins spread across their faces. She braced herself for impact, only to have the giggling twosome veer off at the last possible second. Marguerite, feeling particularly brave, reached out and ghosted her fingers along Finn's arm.
Finn couldn't resist the temptation. With lightening fast reflexes, she reached out and caught Marguerite around the waist. In one fluid motion, she lifted the child clean off the ground and tucked her under her arm. "Ha ha ha, you two are funny,' she mocked as she used her free hand to tickle the squirming child. "I told you two to stop running by me, but nooo…you didn't listen. Now, you are my prisoner and face the terrible tickle torture!"
Marguerite's howls of laughter filled the air, making Finn smile. "Ooooh no!" she teasingly cried as the girl squirmed in her grasp. "Who will save you?"
"I will!" Ned bellowed, striking a heroic pose in front of them. He planted his hands on his hips and glared at Finn.
The older blonde gasped in mock fear, holding Marguerite to her chest like a human shield. "No! Not…Super Ned!"
"Help! Help me!" Marguerite's 'desperate' plea was ruined by a fresh round of giggles.
Out of the corner of her eye, Finn saw Ned take a running leap at them. Shifting Marguerite, she caught him with her free arm. Once she had a good grip on the two, she collapsed to the ground in a tangle of arms, legs, and bodies. Quickly sitting up, she grabbed Ned in a bear hug and began tickling him. "I have you now, Super Ned!" she cried out in her best super villain voice. With the tables turned, it was now Marguerite's turn to try and rescue Ned. Within seconds, it had turned into a hysterical free-for-all.
x
Finn exhaled loudly as she looked down at her two charges. "I dunno about you guys, but I could use a break," she said breathily. Both of the children nodded in agreement, Ned panting to catch his breath while Marguerite wiped a few stray tears from her eyes. "So…what do you guys want to do now?"
"Tell us a story," Marguerite cheerfully demanded as she rolled onto her back.
"Yeah, a story," Ned eagerly echoed as he looked at Finn. "A good story. A story about pirates!"
Finn frowned at the boy. "I always tell you good stories," she insisted indignantly. She turned to Marguerite for confirmation. "I tell good stories."
The pixie of a girl nodded. "I like your stories."
"See, she likes my stories." Finn pointed at Marguerite, who was still nodding.
"I like your stories," Ned said defensively. "But the last ones were girl stories, about princesses and…and kisses and stuff!" He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Finn smothered a laugh at Marguerite's indignant huff. The girl's eyes narrowed as she looked at the boy. "Okay, okay," she said, cutting off the argument before it could get started. "I think I have a story that'll make both of you happy. Everybody get comfortable."
The little group move, assuming what Roxton jokingly called 'story telling position'; Finn sitting with her back braced against something, Marguerite leaned against her side, and Ned laying sprawled across her legs. Finn shifted, finding a comfortable spot against the trunk of the tree house. "All right. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…"
Ned rolled onto his stomach and raised himself onto his elbows. "I thought stories were supposed to start 'Once upon a time'."
Finn raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you telling this story or am I?"
"Sorry." He settled down again.
"Anyway, a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was this young guy named Luke…."
TBC
Author's Note 2: Neither Star Wars or the characters involved belongs to me. It belongs to George Lucas. Even if I hated Episodes 1-3 and it feels like he's trying to destroy parts of my childhood. I am making no money, so please don't sue me Mr. Lucas.
Also, for those of you who are wondering about the scenes Finn talks about in this chapter...believe it or not, most of those are written. Sort of. I just couldn't figure out how to work those into the chapter. Plus, I wasn't sure about the characterization of them and they didn't really advance the plot. So if you're interested, I may throw them up. Eventually. :)