Chapter 8
A busy birthday
"Happy birthday, Tai!" Alex hugged me.
"Ah, no! Lemme go, you brute." I squirmed in his arms.
"You're 17 now! But you're still tiny and cute." He squeezed tighter.
"I wanna sleep!" I whined.
"Alexander, she is the birthday girl." Owen stood in the door way.
"I'm awake now, what's for breakfast?" I asked.
"You'll like it. A feast fit for a princess." Alex smiled.
I glared at him. He laughed and kissed the top of my head. I got dressed and followed them to the dining room, which did have a feast. I ate and looked around the table. This wasn't right. This wasn't how I was supposed to spend my birthday. Mom was gonna make my favorite cake and I'd open my presents then we'd frost the cake.
"Kiddo?" Alex asked.
"I miss my Mom." I wiped my eyes.
"C'mere, Tai. It'll be ok." Alex pulled me to him and he hugged me.
"You still reek of Axe." I mumbled and settled into his lap.
"I'm not wearing any flowery perfume for you." His voice was low enough to rumble in his chest.
"I don't want you to." I rested my head on his shoulder. "But you still smell."
"And we're back to square one." He chuckled.
"Having a big brother is weird." I pointed out.
"Get used to it." He hummed as he stroked my hair. I felt death glares coming from somewhere, but I had no idea where. "Your hair's so soft."
"Puck likes my hair too." I sighed.
"Alexander, let Talia finish her breakfast." Owen said after bit and I almost had a heart attack.
"You ok, Tai?" He asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"Good." He let go back to my seat and I ate my food. It felt weird to eat after I just ate in the dream.
After breakfast, I had to go to class. I didn't want to and used my doe eyes on him. But I should have known it wouldn't work on a robot.
"No, Talia, you can't take a break from school just because it's your birthday." His voice was even.
"C'mon, Owen, be cool." I whined.
"You'll have an easier time getting Goliath to murder than changing Owen's mind." Alex said.
"Plan B then." I ran off.
"Talia!" Alex laughed, shocked.
I was trying to find window or some way out, but Owen was on my tail and figured out my plan. Trying to out manure him was difficult. I was only ahead because I surprised him until I got the idea to use the castle's high ceiling to my advantage. It was better, but we were still stuck in the same cat-and-mouse as we were when I was on the ground.
"Please be one of my powers, please be one of my powers." I muttered as I mentally chanted "No one can touch me. I can go through walls. I'm intangible." over and over while building up magic. My magic finally got to point where I decided to risk it.
"Talia, no!" Owen cried out and turned into Puck just as I was about to attempt to go through the wall I was just cornered at.
I dropped out of the sky from sheer shock. He caught me and then he ran a hand through my hair and nuzzled me. "You naughty girl, what were you thinking?!"
"Um…" I was dumbstruck.
"You could have died! Oh, little trickster, you're in so much trouble when I get over my shock." Puck kissed my temple.
"You're Owen." I managed to get out.
"Yes I am, Sweetheart. And we were very frightened when you were going to attempt intangibility without any guidance." He paused. "You take too many risks. Your magic, the visions, your hand." He took my hand and rubbed the circular burn with his thumb. "You're just like me when I was younger. We have so much work cut out for us." He chuckled mirthlessly and he turned back into Owen.
"No more stunts, Talia." Owen told me.
"You're Puck." I said, still shocked.
"Yes, Talia, I am." He said calmly. "Since it's your birthday, I won't punish you today. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but be a good girl for the rest of the holidays and we'll see what I think then." He kissed my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair. "Don't scare us like that ever again, Sweetheart." He said softly. Lovingly.
I passed out.
Talia's POV End
Alex's POV
"That's it? She tried to skip school." I turned visible.
"This is the first time she's done it. Next time I won't be as lenient." Owen told me.
"She's cute when she's asleep." I smiled.
"Yes, sir." He said like he was agreeing with Dad.
"Oh, c'mon, that's your Halfling. You can have bit more emotion towards her." I stepped toward them and he unconsciously tightened his grip on her. "I'm not sure whether or not to be insulted or complimented. You know I love her."
"I don't understand, Alexander." He frowned a tiny bit.
"You got jealous when I stroked her hair." I said. "Why is it so damn soft?"
"Perhaps her magic enhanced its natural properties." Owen suggested.
"It's kinda addicting." I got close enough and brushed it with the back of my hand.
"Alexander, do not wake her up again." He said, taking Talia back to her room.
"That's not going to wake her up. Dad told me you play with her hair when she falls asleep. And how Puck tucks her in after her lessons. You haven't tucked me in since I was six." I pointed out, following them.
"You were a growing boy. And her age doesn't stop you from doting on her." He countered.
"I'm her brother." I sniffed.
"I'm her father." Owen brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
I paused. "You're serious? I thought that was a joke between you two."
"I've been her father ever since I saved her life. Or do you need a reminder of how being a Halfling works?" He said dryly.
Talia groaned in her sleep. I smelt my grandmother's magic around her. Owen gave me a sharp look. "Shh, Sweetheart, shh. You're ok. We're almost there."
Owen opened Talia's bedroom door and put her on her bed. Then he changed into Puck and put her in her night clothes and tucked her in.
"Why does she smell like grandmother's magic?" I asked as Puck tried to soothe her by playing a lullaby.
"Lady Titania gave her visions of the past through the Weird Sisters before Talia told them how the Sisters were torturing her with them. She now controls them. Also, the Sisters are without their powers and banished from Avalon until they learn empathy for mortals." He explained telepathically, not pausing his lullaby.
"This Talia? This Talia right here, cuddling her toy fox, got the Sisters banished from Avalon?" I gestured to my sister.
"She's the princess of Avalon." He frowned as he realized she wasn't going to be comforted.
"So much has happened while I've been gone." I frowned. "Does she even know you're her father?"
Puck thought. "She might not know what being a princess means… Or how being a Halfling works."
"Puck, you have to tell her these things! She's not going to get it just because you keep saying them." I rubbed my temples.
"I will. Just in a little bit. After she wraps her head around the fact that Owen and I are the same person." He noticed my look. "Don't look at me like that. She wasn't in any danger before."
"We better leave her alone. Who knows when she'll wake up again?" I looked at her.
She softly whimpered in her sleep. Puck's ears drooped when he heard her. "Oh no, little trickster, you're ok. You're fine." He cooed.
"Alex, he's not going to leave just like that. You don't know how bad it got." Dad told me.
"Oh, for the love…" I sighed as Owen was now holding Talia in his lap, ear toward his chest, and humming. "Owen, she's not going to be comforted. If Puck can't, what makes you think…" I trailed off as Owen's humming calmed her.
"Alexander, I'm the one who comforted you as a baby most." He pushed his glasses up his nose and ran his fingers through her hair.
"It's probably best if she didn't go to school today." Dad said.
"If you insist, sir." Owen kissed the top of her head before tucking her back in.
"So, how often do these bedtime meetings happen?" I asked.
The men thought too long. "Really?" I deadpanned.
"It's my best bet of finding him after dark." Dad smiled.
"We best leave now and let her rest." Owen said.
"Fine." We all left.
Mom was in the hall. "Did you have a nice talk?"
Dad kissed her cheek. "Yes, dear."
"It's just like Alex was a baby." She smiled.
"Wait, what?" I asked.
Alex's POV End
Talia's POV
I woke up and tried to figure out why I was in bed during the middle of the day. Then I remembered the morning and my vision. "Owen is Puck."
"Talia, are you awake?" Owen asked.
"Yeah. I, um, have some questions. Like what the fuck?!" I yelled at the door.
"I will explain after you get dressed." He said.
I got dressed and followed Owen. I noticed we were heading toward the clan's living quarters. It was where Puck made me food. I sat at the counter and waited for food. I was kinda hungry. But I also knew better to let myself be distracted.
"So, what's the truth?" I asked.
"What Puck told you is the truth, although he neglected to mention a few things." Owen said loud enough for me to hear over the frying hamburger patty.
"You mean how he forgot to mention you and him are the same person?" I asked.
"I am technically his persona. We share a body, but we are not the same." He checked the meat.
"Like how Coldstone was?" I watched him.
He paused for a second. "Yes."
"Why?" I frowned.
"Why what, Talia?" He posed.
"Why did you go along with it?" I looked at him.
"…We both liked the distinction. I was Owen and he was Puck. Not Puck as Owen or anything like that." He flipped the burger over.
"Ok, so what else did he forget?" I waited.
"We're your father." Owen said nonchalantly.
"You're my what?" I looked at the back of his head dazed.
"Your magic comes from Puck's magic. And it altered your DNA to compensate for it. However, you became a mixture of both of us rather than just Puck's, but you lean more toward the trickster's side. In short, we're both your father even though you had a birth father." He gave me my late lunch.
I paused, wrapping my head it all. "I have… 4 dads?"
"Yes, Puck will explain the Fae things he missed later on." He opened a beer.
"Drinking on the job, really?" I decided to distract myself.
"Human alcohol doesn't get us drunk as fast. And don't even think about it. You're too young." He warned.
"Puck would." I mumbled.
"Puck doesn't understand how bad alcohol is growing Halflings." Owen said.
I ate my burger. We sat in silence for a little bit. "Talia, I'm sorry I kept this from you. But you should know we both love you very much. Please forgive us." He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. It felt genuine and familiar somehow.
I looked into his ice blue eyes. "I forgive you, Dad."
"I won't keep anything like that from you again. I promise." Owen told me seriously.
I finished my burger and drained my milk. Alex chose that moment to walk in and hugged me.
"Have a nice lunch, kiddo?" He asked.
"I might vomit now." I snarked.
"Don't you dare. C'mon, let's get a lesson in before your party starts." He smiled.
"I better supervise." Puck ruffled our hair.
"You know my hair tangles." Alex hissed.
"Not my fault your hair's unruly. So, what're you gonna teach my little trickster?" Puck asked curiously.
"Owen said you had stuff to tell me." I looked at him.
"I know, but Alex wants to teach you. I have to follow the rules." Puck frowned a little.
"Then aren't you supposed to Owen?" I asked.
"I'm making sure Alex doesn't fuck up and hurt you." He explained. Alex made a noise. "It's already happened before."
I curled my right hand into a fist to hide the burn.
"You're going tell me everything later." Alex looked at Puck. "C'mon, Tai, let's go." We teleported to my room. Puck had followed us. "Show me what you got."
"Uh, ok." I showed him what Puck had taught me.
"No shape shifting?" He raised an eyebrow.
"No…" I said.
"Alex, there's a reason for that." Puck told him.
"Imagine you're a cat." Alex told me.
"What?" I asked.
"Just do it." The red head smiled.
I took a breath and tried to imagine myself as a cat. "Ok…"
"Now become the cat." Alex said.
"If I get stuck, it's your fault." I said as refocused myself.
I became smaller, my hands and feet became paws, and I grew a tail. "Mrrow?"
"Aww, you're adorable!" Alex picked me up. "You're a lil' cutie."
Puck scratched behind my ear and I purred. "Never seen a kitten with wavy fur before."
"Talia?" David asked and I watched him carefully.
"Talia." Puck petted me. I felt calmer.
"Make sure she's human before her party starts." He told them.
"Who's a good kitty?" Alex scratched under my chin. "Your fur's so soft. I could die."
"Mew." I meowed.
Puck turned into a long haired white cat and took me from Alex. He set me on the floor and started grooming me. I mewed loudly.
"Aww, Daddy's giving his baby a bath." Alex cooed, filming us.
Puck decided he was done and I tried to make my escape, but he caught me. I pouted. He nuzzled me and I purred back.
"Ok, that's enough, you two. It's almost 5." David said with his phone out.
Puck glared at him, but turned back into himself.
"C'mon, kiddo, we can't start the party without you. You're human, remember?" Alex told me.
I looked through my memories and found myself sitting on the floor as me. I got up.
"You did great, Tai." Puck kissed my cheek.
"Daddy!" I whined.
"I like the sound of that." He smiled.
"Let's go celebrate your birthday." Alex grinned.
We went to the Great Hall and most everyone was there. Adri was there. I hugged her. Then we started making out.
"Talia, control yourself." Owen warned.
I flipped him off. Adri giggled which made me giggle and we just fell apart. "It's my," I was overtaken by another fit of giggles. "-birthday. No, you ruined it! Stop." I pushed her away.
"I lost you once. I'm making you stay where I can find you." She lightly scolded.
"It wasn't my fault. I don't even know where I was before Manhattan. I woke up in a park." I smiled.
"Woke up?" Alex asked. "Talia, that's a coma."
"Well, I'm telling the truth. I woke and had no memories of the last year and I was now homeless in New York, luckily, it was summer." I told him.
Realization dawned on him. "You tried to- Because it was-" He sputtered.
"Alex, you're making a scene and it's my birthday." I frowned.
"Alexander, leave it alone for now." Owen told him. I didn't let him see how his words made my heart skip.
Everyone decided to ignore what happened and we continued the celebration. I opened my gifts. Only Adri knew what I liked or shared my past. A music box of my first ever song. But the others tried. Books, gift cards, and a hover bike from Lex and Brooklyn. Owen took the keys before I could try it out. Angela made me a scarf. Brooklyn also got me a leather jacket. Alex got me a guitar and Owen gave me my mom's old photo albums. Broadway made my cake. Hudson told us about Hatchling Day and how the clan celebrated. Some lady came with a present and Adri fell asleep.
"Mother, stay away from her. You were responsible for her visions so you're responsible for hurting her." Fox hissed.
"Who is that?" I whispered to Owen.
"Look past her appearances." He told me.
Magic flared in my eyes. "Titania! Wow, your magic's bright." I paused. "Uh… hi."
"Hello, granddaughter." She smiled at me. "Happy birthday."
"Get out before we make you." David hissed.
"But I want it." I pointed to the shiny package.
"No, you don't. Her last gift hurt you." Owen spat.
"That was the Weird Sisters' fault." I reminded him.
He pursed his lips in thought. "Give it to me." He turned to her.
She did and I felt Puck's magic go through Owen and he gave it to me. I opened it and it was a sliver flute.
"I dunno know how to play this." I said.
"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 and Alex'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." The disguised queen looked at Alex. He looked away.
"You gave her her gift, now go." Fox warned.
"Very well. I will check in on you and the children later." She walked out of the room and I felt her magic take her back to Avalon.
Adri woke up. "Where'd that lady go?"
"She had other matters to attend to." Owen told her.
They sang happy birthday to me and we ate dinner. We played party games until Puck showed up. Then it was a different game. Terrorizing the other party guests to be exact. Except me and Adri. Puck told her he was my father and she thought it was like fairy godfather. Fox took my girlfriend home around 3 am. I gave her a goodbye kiss.
Talia's POV End
