Chapter 19
Happy birthday
"Adri…ana?" I frowned as I looked my ex in the eye.
"Your dad invited me." She said.
"We- You live in Oregon." I wasn't sure how she could get here.
"Your mom got me." She explained.
"Excuse me. Get some punch or something." I said as I passed her.
"Ah, Talia, did you see my surprise?" David smiled.
I jabbed him in the gut. "You saw me break up with her."
"You needed at least one friend at your birthday. And Elisa doesn't count. She's part of the clan. Matt's her partner." He told me.
"You could have chosen any of my other friends. I have those." I growled.
"They didn't want to leave so close to Thanksgiving." He shrugged. "She did."
"Did you get her number while I was crying in the car?" I sneered.
"I put her number in your phone. But I guess you haven't really had time to text anyone since you got grounded again. Adriana seems to be getting along with Angela." He noted and I looked. They were talking excitedly about something.
"Talia, you need to have someone other than us." Fox slipped a party hat on me and took out her phone. "Smile."
I smiled pretty for her. "You know she know she still loves me." I said through my teeth.
"She'll behave, Talia." David took one of his own.
"My feelings about this are conflicted at best." I told them.
"We're going to open presents once Puck gets here with Alex." Fox smiled.
"Fine." I said. "Wait, no! Why're you testing her loyalty like this?"
"Calm down, Talia, I meant Owen." She shrugged.
I side eyed her. "Right…"
"It was an honest mistake." Fox insisted.
"Mmm hmm." I hummed.
Alex cooed excitedly as he saw me. Owen gave him to me. "Happy birthday, Talia." He smiled and kissed my cheek. Alex wanted to give a kiss too and I bent down so he could.
"Come on, Alex. Let's go see everyone." I took him to see the trio. He greeted them but distractedly. It was the same with Hudson, Goliath, and Elisa.
"What's got your eye, laddie?" Hudson asked.
Alex grabbed at Angela and Adri. "New!"
"… Yes, you haven't met Adriana before, but we'll get to her soon." I told him.
"I will talk to Xanatos. This is unacceptable." Goliath growled.
"No, whatever he thinks is left is gone. I don't love her. Not anymore." I frowned, conflicted.
"New!" Alex insisted. I could smell the magic beginning to brew at his fingertips.
"Don't you dare use your magic on her." I warned him. He whined and pointed to Adri. "Ok, fine. We're going." I took my brother and we went to Angela and Adri.
"Hi, Talia, we were talking about books." Angela smiled.
Alex grabbed at Adri. "Up!"
"You wanna hold him?" I asked her.
"Sure. Show me…" She asked, smiling.
I moved her arms into position and gave her Alex. She smiled fully as Alex cooed. It was better than I remembered. I noticed Alex's arm going toward her hair.
"Xander, no grab." I brushed her hair behind her ear. "He likes hair and glasses, but usually calling him out will stop him. I'm not so sure with you. He's wanted to meet you ever since Owen brought him in."
"You're a grabby boy, aren't you?" Adri tickled his tummy. He giggled. I smiled.
"Talia, present time!" David called.
Adri gave Alex back to me and we went to the table. I sat down and everyone took their places. Owen gave me my first gift and Alex squealed.
"Is this from you?" I cooed at him. He laughed and clapped. He still tended to revert to gurgles and squeals when excited.
I opened it and it was a gold pin of a bird and some plants. I showed it the others. David started laughing.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"A robin, ferns, and the plant red companion. Those are symbols of Robin Goodfellow-" Hudson said.
"AKA Puck! So, is this like a fa… subtle sign that I like pulling pranks?" I amended my question.
"In a way." Owen said with meaning. It was first and foremost declaration that I was Puck's daughter and under his protection.
"Thank you, Alex. At least, it won't tarnish." I smiled at him.
Owen wouldn't let me open the giant box which I thought held my guitar yet, but gave me some of the clan's gifts instead. Goliath and Elisa had found some old books they thought I'd like. Angela made me a scarf. Lex, with Brooklyn's help, made me a hover bike. He joked that it'd be safer with me, someone who just regained their memories than with Brooklyn who destroyed his last bike. He huffed good-naturedly. Then Adri's gift was set in front of me. I looked at Owen and he kept his face blank.
My fingers slowly unwrapped it and I pulled out a sketch book and a music box. I looked through it. It was our childhood from her perspective. Some of them I didn't remember, but others I did.
"Adri, Adriana, I… I don't know what to say." I looked at her. "It's beautiful."
She blushed. "Wind the music box."
I put the book down and wound the box. My eyes widened. The soft melody wafting through the air was my very first success.
I wiped my eyes, trying not to ruin the picture of us on our first date. "This- this is too much. I don't know…"
"You're welcome, Tai." She sniffed.
I tried to push away all the emotions swirling in my mind. Alex wanted to comfort me. "These are happy tears. I'm ok." I half lied.
"It's alright, kiddo." Elisa smiled.
"Just gimme a minute." I recovered and we continued.
Or we tried to. I heard the click clacks of heels on stone. Anastasia or Grandma had a gift in her arms.
"Mother, I told you to stay away from the children." Fox blocked her.
"I'm their grandmother!" She frowned.
"Get out before we toss you out." David added.
I smelt Puck's magic under Owen's skin. I tried to reach out to her, but he stopped me. I gently touched Owen's hand and I felt their hesitation before Puck's magic receded a tiny bit and he squeezed my hand. I reached out and asked why she was here. I would gladly go to Avalon if Alexander was left alone.
"Mom." I said. Fox looked at me. "Dad." David took a little longer to react, but he did. "It's ok."
They slowly backed off, but they were 10,000% ready to pounce. She gave the gift to Dad and I felt his magic flare before he gave it to me. I opened it and it was a sliver flute. I looked at it. I felt its power. "I can't play this. And it's…" I tossed a sleep spell at Adri. She smacked her head on the table. I winced. "Magic."
"The Puck will teach you." She said.
"With all due respect, I cannot teach her how to use that. It was made with magic. It will amplify her power considerably." Owen told her.
"Would you teach her if you had this?" She held up a gold flute.
Owen's eyes widened. He cleared his throat. "I would consider it."
She smiled and handed it to him.
"Thank you, my Queen." He bowed.
"You need all the tools at your disposal to teach my grandchildren." Grandma said.
"You gave her her gift, now go." Fox warned.
"Very well. I will check in on you, Fox, and the children later." She left.
Adri woke up. "Where'd that lady go?"
"Had to go home." I said.
Brooklyn had gotten me a leather jacket to go with the bike. Matt got me a book about myths. Then Hudson told us about Hatchling day and how the clan celebrated. Owen finally let me open the big box. It had my guitar and… photo albums.
"They burned." I whispered.
"It took a lot out of Alexander to reconstruct them." He explained softly.
Alex gurgled happily.
"Alright, two left. Who's next?" I asked.
"Well, I made your birthday cake." Broadway smiled.
"Happy birthday, Talia." David gave me a small box.
I opened it and it was a gift card to a bookstore. "Well, it's better than last year."
"What'd he get you last year?" Adri asked.
"He forgot. Owen got me a card." I told her.
"I had just adopted you." David said.
"Owen got me a card." I said.
"Talia." Fox warned.
"Thank you." I mumbled.
"Who wants cake?" Broadway asked as he set it down and lit the candles.
They sang Happy Birthday to me and we ate dinner. Then we played a few party games and Puck decided to show up. He livened things up. But Alex had to go night night soon and Owen took him to his room. That's when I didn't see Adri anymore. I went out the nearest door.
"Adriana? You out here?" I found her on a battlement, looking up at the stars.
"Oh, hey. I wanted to see the view." She scooted over.
I set my drink down. "Yeah, nothing like it. Bet it's prettier when you can fly though." I smiled.
"Tai, do you remember? Anything?" She glanced at me.
"I remember my mother, my father. I remember you. How we met, how nervous I was when I asked you out behind the mall's dumpsters because I didn't want anyone hear. Or see me cry if you said no. Our first kiss was in a dark theater. Our first time was at your house. I don't remember it all, but I have enough. And I really hurt you, huh?" I laughed as she watched me.
"Talia?" She asked.
"You gave me everything and I disappear? Some girlfriend-" She slapped me.
"I gave because you gave. You earned my loyalty, my respect, and my love." Adriana kissed my cheek. "Tai, what do you want from me?"
I paused. "I don't know."
"Talia, think. Think hard. I gave you space because you weren't ready to continue. But now you can." She frowned slightly.
"Look, Adria-" I started to say.
"Stop being so formal! When you opened my present, you called me Adri. Please don't make me beg." She asked.
"Adri, it's been a rough couple of years for me. I lost my memories and I was homeless, then I wasn't, but my cap- parents weren't very good at being parents. The gargoyles and Elisa were my only friends. Then things got crazy a little before Alex was born and after and I ran away. That was this year. So, I'm sorry if I'm not exactly 100% on board with starting a relationship so soon. And I don't know how to feel about you anymore. It's all so confusing." I looked away.
"Oh, Talia…" She said softly and brushed my hair behind my ear.
"Just give me a little more time, ok?" I almost held her hand to my cheek.
"I'll always be here for you, Tai. If you decide you want to date someone else, that's fine. But I don't want to be left wondering." Adri said sternly.
"I know." I stepped back. "We better get back inside."
"Alright." She agreed.
I saw her off when it was time for her to go home.
