A/N: yeah! I love this fic! Hope ya do too!
My Porcelain Doll
Chap. 6
"Papa?" Enrique once asked during dinner. "What will you be teaching me?"
The porcelain doll, who was beside him at table, eyed him warily. His father chuckled.
"You are the youngest in our family's history to be taught this lesson," he said fondly. "I was taught at six. My brothers were taught so late as eleven to twelve!"
"What is it papa?" Enri asked, the piece of info having not helped at all.
"You'll find out soon, my son...you will..."
And so their lessons began. It took most of Enrique's day since he still had tutoring but he was never happier in his life. It was him, his dad, the porcelain doll, Gustav...and maybe the tutor, but he didn't really matter. No tita. He was free.
"I think I'm starting to get what you said about me being ready for papa to teach me this..." Enrique slyly told his doll as they climbed into bed.
She feigned innocence. "Really? I hope whatever he's teaching you goes somewhere..."
She didn't know what but something happened that night when Enrique stared long and hard at her after she said that. She felt ashamed and wanted to apologize for her insensitivity, but the summer blue gaze held her fast.
"It will..." Enrique said softly and they both fell asleep.
---
Seven months fly by so fast when you're having fun with your dad and your toys. Seems strange...
"Papa won't be able to stay long enough for my birthday!" an alarmed blonde asked Gustav one Saturday, having noticed his father's unusual absence.
"I'm afraid so young master," replied the butler solemnly. 'Work is calling him back. His stay is nearly over."
Enrique left the kitchen dejected. His papa was never home for his birthday...presents were not enough. And besides, he knew his tita would come back.
"Enri? Anything wrong?" a soft voice greeted his arrival into the bedroom.
At the porcelain doll's question, he seemed to brighten and jumped into bed with her. "Dad's seven months are almost up." he said softly, reddening slightly at the amethyst gaze partially hidden under green bangs.
"That's okay..." she said consolingly. "I'm sure he'll make up for your birthday."
She noticed that Enrique was growing quieter and quieter as his lessons progressed. It wasn't a bad silence, but a thick one nonetheless. She had a wild hunch about what it was, but she was in no position to guess.
"Your tita should loosen her hold on you now...you ARE the master of the house..." she tried comforting him.
Enrique didn't respond and stared at the bedsheet. The doll was mildly alarmed.
"Enrique? Are you—ah!" she gasped softly as the young blonde gripped her delicate white shoulders and looked her in the eye.
"Porcelain doll," he began resolutely but the seemingly lost his strength and let her go. He slipped off the bed and stared out the window.
The grass-crowned doll was stunned at first before breaking into a soft smile. She joined the toddler by the view and held his hand, leaning her small head on his shoulder.
---
It was a rainy Sunday. Little Enrique and his beautiful white doll raced down the grand staircase across the hall and to the double oak doors.
"Papa!" He called breathlessly to a tall lean man in a formal suit. "Papa..." he repeated, as the man bent down to give him a bear hug. "Can't you stay for my birthday?"
Enrique's father smiled. "Don't worry Enri,I promise I'll give you a gift enough to compensate all your birthdays, past and to come."
"To come?" he said, alarmed. "Then you..."
"I won't be coming home for a long time, love..." his father informed him softly.
Tears welled in summer blue eyes. "Papa!" he called as his father turned around and headed to the limo.
"I love you Enrique!" his dad called before driving out of sight.
"Papa..." Enrique whispered weakly as he was ushered back by a very concerned butler.
"The young master should get some rest." Gustav said and bade the toddler to his room.
Once they were in solitude, the doll spoke.
"Look, your tita isn't coming back till after two days. She'll miss your birthday..."
"Which is tomorrow..." Enrique said sourly. "Why cant've papa stayed for at least one more day?"
"He's going to give you a present that might last you a life time..." she reminded him of his father's promise.
Enrique looked at her for a long time before smiling weakly and falling asleep.
The doll stood up to turn off the lights, sighing at Enrique's actions. He'll sleep it off...
---
Sure enough, Enrique was as bouncy as anything the following morning. The rain had cleared and the air smelled sweet.
"Porcelain doll! Porcelain doll!" the blonde five year old shook her awake. "I have something to tell you!"
"Wh-what?" she mumbled, rubbing sleep out of her jeweled eyes.
She was met by a face full of sunshine. "Er...Enrique?" she asked, fearful for his sanity when the toddler frenched her so expertly that even the boy's dad can't do it to his own wife.
TBC
A/N: yeah! we didn't see that now did we? ...or did we? ah well...