Chapter 4: Comfort

A couple days had passed since Poppy and Edgar found out that their new family were monsters and while they were still a bit unsure, they noticed how the family gave them space but was there for them too.

Poppy was currently doing some homework at the kitchen table while Remy was cooking dinner and the skeleton smiled at the girl. "How was school today, Poppy?" He asked politely.

"It was good," she said automatically.

He looked a bit worried. "Are you sure, little one?" He asked gently.

She bit her lip, uncertain about telling him, but he came over and sat beside her, watching to see her reaction. "Poppy, what is it, little one?" He asked in concern.

The girl took a deep breath as tears began to fill her eyes. "I...I miss Mom," she admitted, her tears starting to fall.

"Oh, chere," the skeleton said softly, picking her up and holding her in a hug, rocking her gently as the girl began sobbing, clinging to him. He didn't say a word, but just held her comfortingly. After a bit, the girl's sobs died down and she sniffled, resting her head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice still a bit tearful.

"For what, little one?" He asked gently. "You're still grieving your mother's death. It's okay to miss her and cry when you feel sad."

Poppy looked up at him as the skeleton gently wiped away her tears. "Do you feel a bit better now?" He asked.

She nodded. "A little," she admitted before sighing. "I...I've been hearing a lot of kids talking behind my back about how me and my brother live in a weird house and have weird parents and I've tried to tell them to knock it off, but then...one of them said something really mean to me."

"What did they say?" Remy asked, having a bad feeling about this.

Poppy took a deep breath. "She said that my mom died because she couldn't care for me and my brother anymore."

The skeleton was horrified to hear that. "That was very rude and mean," he said before looking at the girl. "Poppy, from what Oxana told us, your mother loved you and your brother very much and she did her best to raise you both. It is unfortunate that she got so sick, but it wasn't because of you two. Please don't ever think that or believe vile words from those bullies."

She gave him a grateful look. "Thanks, Remy," she said.

"You're welcome, little one," he said. "Do you need some help with your homework?"

She nodded. "It's multiplication in math," she said.

He smiled. "I can help with that."

Edgar was in his room, looking out the window sadly. He was thinking about his mother and recalling what one of the kids at school had told him.

"Bet she didn't care. That's why she left you and your sister," the kid had sneered.

Edgar got upset at that and glared at the kid. "She did care," he said. "She was just really sick."

"Sure," the bully sneered again.

Thankfully, Mr. Gore had walked up and scolded the bully for being so rude, but the bully's words cut deep. Sighing, Edgar turned from the window and sat on his bed. A knock at the door made him look up to see it was Oxana and she looked concerned. "Edgar? Are you alright?" She asked. "I got a call from your teacher about one of the kids being mean to you."

The boy sighed. "He said my mom didn't care and that's why she died, but he's wrong," he said. "She did care. She just...It's not her fault she got so sick."

"No, it's not," Oxana said gently.

Edgar felt tears sting his eyes and he tried to wipe them away, but they still fell. "I...I really miss her," he admitted. "I try to be strong for Poppy, but...I really miss Mom."

The vampire woman placed a hand on his shoulder. "Edgar, you're a good brother to Poppy, but please don't bottle up your sadness," she said. "Your mother was a good woman and in the short time I knew her, I could see how much she loved you two and she was saddened that she was dying. She even got tears in her eyes when she asked me and my husband to take care of you two if anything happened to her."

She then reached beside her and Edgar realized that Oxana had walked in with something in her hands. "I found this in one of the boxes the men brought over when they were bringing your things over," she said. "I just found the box today in the closet and I think you and Poppy should have this and the other things in the box."

She held a picture of Edna and Edgar reached for it, accepting it from her. "I...I thought these got taken away," he said.

"I thought so too, but I guess one of the men felt they belonged with you and your sister," Oxana said. "Honestly, I'm glad, because now you both have a picture of her and more."

Tears ran down the boy's face as he hugged his mom's picture. Poppy came in right then and she looked surprised, but when Oxana handed her another picture, one of the twins and their mother, tears began to fall down her face too.

"Where did you get these?" She asked.

"One of the movers brought them over, but I didn't realize what was in there when the box got put in the closet," the vampire woman said. "I just found out today."

The twins were happy that they now had pictures of their mother and the box at Oxana's feet had photo albums and more pictures. "We can really keep these?" Edgar asked hopefully.

"Yes," Oxana said before hugging the two children. "Poppy. Edgar, I want you two to know something."

"Yes?" Poppy asked.

"I'm not trying to replace your mother, nor do I ever want to replace her," she said. "But I am here for you both as well and I don't want you two to ever forget her, okay?"

They looked at her. "Really?" Edgar asked, his voice surprised, but grateful.

"Really," she said.

"Is that why...you haven't pushed us to call you 'Mom'?" Poppy asked.

"One of the reasons," Oxana said. "You two don't have to call me 'Mom' if you don't want to."

"But...well, you are our mom now," Edgar pointed out.

"True, but I don't want you two to feel you have to call me that," she said gently. "If you want to, then that's up to you both, but I'm not going to push you to do so and Boris won't push you both to call him 'Dad'."

The twins looked at each other and then hugged Oxana, seeing she was being thoughtful of their feelings and the fact that they were still grieving for their mother. "Miss Oxana...can we...can we set up a small area of the garden for our mom?" Poppy asked.

"With her favorite flowers?" Edgar asked.

"A memorial?" Oxana asked before smiling. "That's a wonderful idea, little ones."

She noticed both looked relieved that she agreed to the idea. "How about after school tomorrow, we'll go to the store and find your mother's favorite flowers and we'll find a good spot in the garden for her memorial?" She suggested.

Both twins nodded and went downstairs for dinner with Oxana. Boris saw them come in and was surprised when they hugged him. "Are you two doing alright?" He asked.

They nodded and Vampirina came up to them too. "I told Mr. Gore about what the bullies said and he spoke to the principal and the bullies got detention," she said.

"Thanks, Vee," Poppy said.

"Yeah, thanks," Edgar said as both hugged her too. She hugged them back.

King Pepi watched this from afar and nodded, smiling as he saw that things were on a good start for the twins and he sincerely hoped that the idea of the memorial would help the twins out too with the pain and loss. He knew the pain wouldn't go away, but hoped it would at least become a little more bearable for the two as they mourned.


I know, a really sad chapter, but I felt that the twins needed some comfort from their family. :)

Next chapter will be a bit fluffier. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418