Chapter 3 - Lesson One: Understanding
Mike mindlessly flipped through the Gardenia Times while he sat in his favorite armchair waiting for the arrival of Bloom and her birth parents. He stopped on page ten and found himself staring at an ad promoting adoption services. A couple held an adorable little redhead baby in their arms, looking happy about their new addition to the family. He forcefully looked away and turned the page to see an article on a fire he and the boys down at the fire station had handled earlier that week. In the article he caught gist of an interview with his partner John. "We hadn't seen one like it in almost eighteen years… "
Slightly perturbed, Mike closed the newspaper and folded it up neatly, setting it on the coffee table. He tried focusing his gaze elsewhere, but everywhere he looked he was reminded of the beautiful little girl he'd saved in that fateful fire almost eighteen years earlier. Her pictures lined the walls and shelves, tapes that had been recorded of her were stacked neatly beneath the television and VCR, assorted baby books were stashed beneath the side tables, a framed diploma from Alfea graced the wall above the couch… Mike sighed and held his head in his hands. He missed his little girl a lot and worried about her a great deal more.
Of course as soon as he thought of that, he was reminded that what he felt could only be a fraction of what King Oritel had felt. Oritel had been cut off completely. Now he was left with a stranger to deal with, and he was asking Mike to help him get to know the stranger that much better…
Mike stood up and walked across the room to where a picture of Bloom hugging Sky hung. He gently removed it from the nail and clasped it in his hands before him. The only thing about asking Mike for help with Bloom was that Bloom was almost a stranger to him as well. Nearly two years at Alfea managed to morph his little girl into this confident, passionate, all-knowing fairy that no longer relied on her father or mother for guidance. Sometimes she didn't bother updating them on everything that was happening to her. How could he help Oritel get to know and understand a girl who he barely knew and understood anymore?
"Mike?" Vanessa called softly.
Mike turned from the picture and saw Vanessa leaning against the doorway, lithe figure looking good in pair of capris and a blouse. She had her arms crossed and gazed at him worriedly with warm-brown eyes. "Are they here yet? I didn't hear the doorbell…" Mike said. There was another oddity. Bloom used the doorbell like a regular visitor since she'd left for Alfea. "… I didn't here anyone knock."
"No." Vanessa strode over and looked at the picture in his hands. "You've just been so quiet since I told you they were coming. Does it bother you about Miriam and Oritel staying? Should we make other arrangements?" Her brown eyes looked up at him, reflecting her worry. "I suppose I should've had you help make the decision…"
"No. It's fine." Mike sighed and placed the picture back on the wall, It tilted the slightest and Mike tried to straighten it. "It's just never been the same since… what if I can't help them? Do I even know my own daughter?"
Vanessa glanced up at him. "Of course you do. You helped to raise her… although I'm pretty sure I took on the brunt of the child-rearing myself." she said jokingly.
Mike didn't laugh. "She's so different now. So independent and confidant. We sent her off to that school and she came back as this much wiser person… I remember when she used to be a dreamer and stare off into space for hours on end, thinking about dates and stuff. Now all she seems to think about is how to deal with the magical universe's next great evil." Mike frowned and looked at Vanessa, hoping to see that she understood. "I sometimes wonder if I can even relate to her anymore. If anything, Oritel can probably relate better, considering he lives in the magical universe and has experienced it more."
"Oh Mike, I know." Vanessa took his hand. "She's the product of two worlds, one of splendor and magic and another of normalcy and lack of adventure. I'm hoping she'll find that she's experienced the best of both and can learn to relate to those she loves on both sides of the spectrum. I'm hoping she understands that she's loved know matter which one she chooses." Vanessa smiled up at him. "You are a great father to her, Mike. I know because she says it's so."
"Really? Because I did the best I could." Mike admitted. "I doubt I could do better with a do-over."
"Really." Vanessa said. She straightened as the ringing of a doorbell resounded through the house. "That'll be them. You ready to help Oritel and Miriam realize what a miracle their little girl is?"
"I guess." Mike made his way from the living room to the entrance hallway. He threw one last glance at Vanessa before he opened the door. There was a flash of red and something flew at him, nearly knocking him off his feet. "Bloom!"
"Hi Dad!" Bloom smiled up at him, her blue eyes shining. For a minute it was almost as though she was the carefree Bloom he loved. "I've missed you a lot… oh and Sky says hi!"
The reminiscent moment dissipated with the mention of Sky, but Mike responded anyhow. "And I've missed you…" Mike smiled and hugged her back. 'For a very, very long time.' he thought to himself silently.
"Hello, Mike. Vanessa." Oritel said quietly, the sound of his voice reminding Mike why Bloom had come back to visit. Both Oritel and Miriam, dressed in their royal finery, stood patiently on the top step watching Bloom exchange her greetings with him and Vanessa. "May we come in?"
"Of course…" Mike dropped Bloom and opened the door wider. "Come on in and have a seat."
Eventually everyone but Bloom settled down in the living room. Bloom quickly chattered about needing to get Kiko settled and unpacking, then scampered up the stairs to leave the adults alone together. The lot of them sat in awkward silence for several minutes before Vanessa finally announced that she was going to get them some coffee. From that point on, it appeared as if the ice had broken.
"So you want some help with Bloom." Mike offered as he listened to Vanessa's scuffle in the kitchen. "She's not typically impossible…"
"No and she hasn't been. Bloom's a respectable, well brought-up girl." Oritel admitted, nervously clasping his hands before him. He and Miriam both looked out of place and uncomfortable. They looked like a couple of options in one of those What Doesn't Belong? puzzles. They were just too upper-class for his and Vanessa's humble home. "It's just we know so little and you seem to know everything…"
Mike let out a small laugh, earning himself some odd stares from both figures before him. " Forgive me for laughing. To be honest, there's a lot about Bloom I'm still wondering about. She's been gone for two years with only periodic visits; visits that usually end up with her fighting off some villain. She's changed a lot from the little girl who would cry when she fell off her bike or pretend to play fairy or princess with her friends. There's no point to her pretending: she's a full-blown fairy princess now! And she no longer cries when she falls down. She just picks herself back up again." Mike shook his head to express his simultaneous feelings of disbelief and amazement. "Vanessa and I can only offer insight I'm afraid. We don't have all the answers to what Bloom is exactly."
"Oh." Oritel frowned. "Well, whatever help we can get, we'll take it. She's our daughter and we love her more than anything." He reached over to Miriam and squeezed her hand, whether to reassure him, her, or both of them Mike didn't know. They exchanged hopeful glances before Oritel turned to Mike once more to speak. "We want to integrate ourselves as a part of her life without entirely disrupting her or what she has with you two, so to speak." Hearing the words come from Oritel, Mike could believe him. He sounded sincere.
"Here we are." Vanessa came back with a tray of cookies and coffee pitcher. "Coffee?" she asked, but commenced pouring before anyone answered. "I'm sure we can all solve the Bloom issue over the next two weeks." Vanessa rambled as she set the mugs before each person. "We'll all agree on what's to be done in Bloom's best interest."
"I hope so." Miriam agreed. "We only want what's best for Bloom."
"Do you really?" Vanessa asked suddenly, casting an odd, sidelong glance at Miriam. Mike stared at her then, noting curious, sudden change in her demeanor. Was it anger she was expressing? "Do you really want what's best for Bloom as a person? And ordinary girl?"
Miriam's eyes widened, looking abashed by Vanessa's bold questions. "Of course."
"Vanessa, they're her parents." Mike frowned at Vanessa. "It's only logical they'd want what's best? They're not horrible people." Mike tried to catch Vanessa's eye to pick up on her intentions, but Vanessa looked away too fast.
"I know. But they're also the King and Queen of this fantastical realm." Vanessa pointed out. She set the pitcher down and faced the seated Miriam and Oritel. "What if Bloom's best interest has nothing to do with Domino? What if Bloom doesn't want to have anything to do with being a princess and instead wants to be a normal? Will you be able to accept that?"
Oritel and Miriam fell silent. Miriam looked at Oritel, who averted his eyes and stared with a lost expression at the mug on the table. A look of contrition crossed Miriam's face and she grasped at the folds of her dress. "I guess we don't know." Miriam murmured. "I guess we're hoping it will never come to that."
Vanessa shook her head, a look of disappointment dulling her usually bright, inviting eyes. "You shouldn't have to hope. The answer should just be there."
Before Miriam could react or defend herself, footsteps sounded from the stairwell. "Mom, Dad I'm hungry and it's like six. Maybe we should go out for some pizza!" Bloom said excitedly as she turned the corner into the living room. Her excitement immediately toned down and she self-consciously changed her posture. "Or we could go eat at some finer restaurant." she suggested calmly, her eyes darting from the disappointed Vanessa to the shamed Miriam. "That's fine too, I guess."
Mike stood up and put a calming hand on Vanessa's shoulder. "There's that nice restaurant on 5th Ave we could go to. I'm sure Oritel and Miriam…" he was cut off when he noticed Oritel raise a hand.
"It's alright." Oritel stood up. "Pizza sounds wonderful." In front of Bloom he managed to hide his derision and appear eased. His eyes held a mischievous light to them. "I haven't had it in ages. Miriam has a taste for this horrendously extra-greasy, extra-cheesy kind though, I have to warn you."
"Not extra-greasy!" Miriam exclaimed rising to her feet. "I just prefer extra-cheese…"
"Extra cheese doesn't come without extra grease, love." Oritel teased.
"Oh you insufferable man! At least I'm not insistent on putting slices of mysterious spiced meats on my pizza. Tell me Oritel, what exactly do they make pepperoni out of?" Before Oritel could answer, Miriam shook her head at him and looked to Mike and Vanessa with a gentle smile. "Yes, pizza would be lovely."
"Good lets go, I'm hungry as well." Oritel stated, not bothering himself with Miriam's pepperoni question. He made a move to leave the room, when Bloom placed herself in front of him, arms crossed and a look of business taking over her features. "What?" Oritel asked.
"Not dressed like that. Do you know what kind of scene you and Mother will make dressed to the nines like that!?" Bloom stared at her parents incredulously when they both shrugged. "Seriously… I was embarrassed the one time King Erendor went traipsing through Gardenia with a host of guards and his crown on. I can only imagine how Sky felt." Bloom looked at Mike and Vanessa then, a look of pleading in her eyes. "I'd prefer to only imagine, thank-you! Please tell me you guys can help them tone it down some."
Miriam suppressed a grin as she listened to Vanessa complain about the lacings for her corset. "How can you wear this? Does Bloom wear these? They're horrible little contraptions…" Vanessa grunted as she pulled at Miriam's backside. She let out a sigh of exasperation as her fingers stumbled again. "Seriously, Miriam…"
"I'm sorry." Miriam apologized. "It's still somehow high fashion in royal society despite how cumbersome they are. It's expected of me that look my best…" she hissed as Vanessa managed to somehow tighten the laces. "Vanessa? Do you know what you're doing?"
Vanessa's cheeks flushed. "Not really. And I thought bras were torture devices."
"Indeed they are. But they're like the stocks while corsets are better compared to the Iron Maiden. "Miriam silently endured another minute of Vanessa's attempts before speaking again. "About earlier… you were right…"
"Oh Miriam. I shouldn't be judging or commenting you and Oritel on parenting." Vanessa said. "I'm not exactly the perfect mother. And I don't even understand how things work on Domino or what kind of situation you and Oritel are in. I can't even begin to understand what you two are going through mentally or emotionally. My brazen tirade against your intentions was entirely uncalled for." Vanessa stopped and looked at Miriam in the mirror. "I just worry about Bloom's happiness sometimes. That's all."
"That's why Oritel and I have come." Miriam confessed. "She seemed unhappy on Domino. That's not what we want." She turned and faced Vanessa, grasping her hands as she would a confidant. "It is an awkward situation on Domino as well. Bloom is our only heir. For her to decline her right to the throne… well it's not something we want to agree with. The throne has been held by members of Oritel's family for centuries. Our holding the throne is practically tradition and expected of us by royal society and commoners alike. They look up to us. Oritel and I hoped they could look up to one of our own children like that one day."
"I'm so sorry Miriam…" Vanessa sighed. "But you've got to understand that it should be Bloom's choice. I'm sure Daphne would've taken the opportunity gladly. But if it isn't what Bloom wants, it shouldn't be forced upon her."
A knock came at the door. "Are you two done yet? I'm starving!" Bloom opened the door cautiously, blue eyes glancing between the two women like they had earlier. "I need pizza!" she bemoaned.
"I can't do it." Vanessa threw her hands in the air. "I think I've made the situation worse. Do you think Oritel could possibly get it?"
"I'd rather not ask him… he tends to think of helping me undress as an invite of sorts…" Miriam rolled her eyes. "Eighteen years trapped in Obsidian and he's still as salacious as he was when we were younger."
Bloom made a face then wordlessly stepped behind Miriam. Miriam tensed as Bloom's fingers expertly undid knots and loosened the laces. The gown sagged and Miriam snatched up the bodice to keep herself covered. She and Vanessa exchanged curious looks. "Slightly traumatized, but I think I'll survive. Hurry. I can only hold off my stomach for so long." Bloom raced for the exit and was about to leave the room when she paused at the door. "Father's stomach growls a lot louder than mine. He's definitely got an insatiable appetite." she commented. Vanessa and Miriam shared a small giggle, both getting the wrong idea. "I didn't mean for… he ate all the damned cookies!" Bloom snapped before she closed the door shut. "Father's horny? Well he sure isn't alone in that department!" Bloom griped on the other side of the door, leaving both Miriam and Vanessa to struggle with fits of laughter.
A half-hour later, Miriam found herself seated at a table in a pizzeria called Donny's. The place was well-lit and loud with music blaring and people chattering and laughing. Bright colors adorned the walls and a pool table occupied the next room over. Young waitresses in aprons scurried past, some of whom wore roller skates and whizzed past with ease. "Wow. I haven't been to a place like this since…" Miriam's mind raced, "…well, since Oritel and I dated. That was almost…"
"Okay, Miriam. I believe the term the kids use today is TMI." Oritel said, cutting Miriam off. "What kind of pizza are we getting. We already know, thanks to Miriam's squabbling, that I personally have a love for pepperoni."
Miriam smiled as Mike, Vanessa, and Oritel began debating the menu. She then glanced at Bloom, who was staring at her and Oritel. Her expression read disbelief, but she did well to keep the feeling detained to her eyes. "What is it Bloom?"
"You guys look… normal." Bloom said simply. "I'm not used to it."
"You're the one who insisted we dress normal!" Oritel said rather loudly and smiled at Bloom. He stretched his arms upward and leaned back in his chair, better showing off the button up, plaid shirt he was wearing. Miriam had to admit he looked good in the casual style. "Feels good to wear a pair of jeans again though. I'll have you know that jeans were high style back when Miriam and I were both attending Red Fountain and Alfea some…"
"I thought we weren't going to reveal our ages, Oritel. You seemed so intent on withholding that small bit of information mere moments ago." Miriam shook her, head, her pulled back curls fluttering slightly. She self-consciously pulled down on the pale blue sweater Vanessa had borrowed her. "And jeans had been in style well before our time too, you know."
"Right. Well, the point is I wore jeans then. But don't go thinking I'm that old!" Oritel stated, wagging his finger at Bloom. He fell back into a relaxed pose, throwing a brilliant smile toward a group of gawking waitresses. One of the waitresses gave him a flirtatious wink as she came over and took their order, then zoomed off. Miriam threw him a glare and he cleared his throat. "Right-oh, pepperoni for me, Mike, and Vanessa…" Oritel wrinkled his nose at Miriam, "… and extra-cheese for you, dear. What kind of pizza do you like, Bloom?" Oritel asked.
Miriam focused again on her daughter, intent on hearing her answer. Oritel had asked Bloom the very first question of personal nature, thereby initiating the purpose of their sabbatical. It both excited her and scared her to get to know Bloom intimately, to understand just what it was that made Bloom so unique. She knew that each bit of information they gleaned could draw them closer to the daughter they'd missed so much of or draw them farther apart from the complete stranger. Every answer would determine exactly how they stood in Bloom's life. Miriam glanced at Oritel. 'Though I do wish he started with a more insightful question than favorite pizza.'
Bloom gave coy smile and glanced down at the drink a waitress just set before her. "Well, I guess I get my cravings from Mother. I have a slight fetish for extra-cheese pizza myself. It drives Sky mad sometimes. In fact, at the White Horse Diner they have a menu option nicknamed the Bloom Special just for me." She looked Miriam in the eyes. "You didn't think that whole large pizza was just for you, did you?"
Blinking rapidly, Miriam smiled broadly and glanced down at the table, fighting of tears. "No… I doubt I could eat the whole thing myself. I wondered why they ordered that large extra-cheese…" she felt a hand settle on her shoulder and she looked up to see Oritel giving her an empathetic look. "I did eat quite a bit of it while I was pregnant with you… your father remembers." she added then. Oritel caught her hint and gave a groan, going into exaggerated detail about how the whole palace would reek of cheese some days. While Mike, Vanessa, and Bloom laughed at Oritel's complaining, Miriam just looked away to regain her composure. Perhaps Oritel's question had some amount of pertinence after all.
