Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Authors Note: For those of you reading this I would like to explain a little more about the story. First of all Sarah was Initially expecting a boy. When the child came out a girl she had to think of a girl's name for her. I know Jarethella sounds like a terrible name for a child but I did have a friend in school whose parents were expecting a boy and ended up naming her Michaeline. On top of that Sarah was running on an extreme loss of blood from the hard birth. Thinking wasn't going to be a strong point for her in those last moments. When I actually meet people with strange names like this I have a tendency to think about how unique it sounds and find it beautiful even if others don't. I apologize if you don't like it but it is my choice what to name her.
Toby sat at the desk in his room finishing his homework. He sensed the familiar rush of magic in the air and felt a powerful presence behind him.
"Ella, I told you not to teleport on the second floor. It's too dangerous until you can fully control it," he turned and frowned at the strange man in his room, "You're not Ella."
The man cocked his blonde head and smirked, "Hello Toby. Long time, no see. Who's Ella?"
"My nine year old niece. She can control some of her magic but she struggles with most of it," Toby noted the resemblance between this man and Ella and turned back to his work.
"Ah, your niece. That would be Sarah's progeny I assume," then sat casually in the comfy chair in the corner.
"Yes, what of it? It's not like you actually care about either of them anyway. You re Ella's Father I assume," the sixteen year old shot back.
"It's possible. Timing sounds correct at least. I doubt she'd have gotten magic from anyone else. Not many sorcerers are willing to bed a mortal and especially after she's been marked," the reply was calm and calculated.
"Did you even care about my sister," Toby was getting frustrated. Why did this conversation have to take place while he was doing trigonometry?
"Yes! Why would you ask that? I love her," the heartfelt answer sounded slightly hurt.
"You have had nine years to be here of your daughter. Never once did you even show up. Where were you when she twisted her ankle? Where were you when she scraped her knee? Where were you when she woke up screaming from nightmares? Where were you when she came home from school crying because she lost control of her powers and the other kids started calling her the wicked witch of the west even though she didn't hurt anyone!? As far as I could tell you weren't there," he dropped his homework and rounded on the powerful intruder, "I drove her to the hospital! I took care of her injuries! I sang her back to sleep ad tucked her in! I held her in my arms and told her it was going to be okay! I have done everything for her that you should have been here doing! I've been playing Daddy for her since I was seven! Where the hell were you while I was picking up your slack!?"
The angry uproar was met with calmly spoken words, "I was waiting. I didn't know about Ella. Sarah made me promise to give her ten years before checking in. She said she wasn't ready to commit but that she loved me still. She never called for me. I had no way of knowing that I was needed without breaking my promise to stay out of her way."
A sudden screeching was heard by the window and Toby ran to let the small barn owl in that was begging admittance. The owl flew softly to the bed giving the sorcerer a suspicious look.
"It's alright Ella. He has magic too. You're safe," Toby closed the window and went back to his desk.
The owl hooted and turned into a young girl. The man gasped at her appearance. She looked so much like her Mother. Her eyes were just like his however and her hair laid in blonde layers against her shoulders. The streaks of red that clashed against the silvery tresses were clearly dyed in by a professional stylist.
"Oh, Yuki," she hopped off the bed and went to the door, her blue nightgown billowing lightly around her with each step in the calm air, an indication that her magic truly wasn't in check.
She opened the door and a small Siamese cat leaped into her waiting arms. She closed the door and went back to her uncle's bed. Yuki purred and licked her master's nose.
"It's good to see that you're practicing control Jarethella but it is late and you were supposed to be in bed asleep two hours ago. You've already pushed Mrs. Alphia to her limit with your magic. Falling asleep in class is going to land you in detention," Toby scolded.
"I was sleeping. I had a nightmare. I was hoping you'd let me and Yuki sleep in here tonight," the nine year old pet her cat and stared at he odd man that couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. She'd noticed the similarities. One hand came up to rub absently at her eye.
"Alright, you can sleep here tonight," he glanced at her rubbing her eyes as she let out a sneeze that caused the cat to jump and look at her in shock before shaking it's head and settling back down in the girl's lap, "Did you even bother with your allergy medicine tonight?"
She shook her head, "No, I don't like it. The nasal spray tickles my nose. The drops make me nervous and the pills make me sleepy."
"Well too bad. Grandma and Grandpa can't afford any more of your nasal infections. Your itchy eyes are more irritating than the drops and you're about to go to bed anyway," he pulled out the aforementioned medicines from a drawer in his desk and grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge kept next to the desk.
"No," she whined like a spoiled child.
"Yes, now hold still," he put the nozzle to the spray in one of her nostrils, "Sniff," she obeyed and he pressed to spray and moved it to the other nostril, "Again," she inhaled deeply and rubbed away the liquid that began dripping from her nose, "Tilt your head back now," she reluctantly stared at the ceiling and blinked just before the first drop hit her face, "Keep your eyes open or I'll hold them open," the next drop went into her eye successfully before she pulled back and refused to hold still.
"No more Uncle Toby. Please," she slid back to the headboard and took on a fetal position.
Toby sighed and moved to follow her but paused when her hands began to glow a faint shade of blue, "Don't you dare use magic against me. I'm sure that would make a bad first impression on your Father," she looked at the sorcerer and he returned her glance with a stern look that told her to behave. She regained control and the glow faded, "Now come here," Toby indicated the spot where she had just been sitting. The girl moved back to her original seat and let him put the final drop in.
"Jarethella," she heard her Father's voice and looked up at him while Toby worked on freeing the pill from it's protective packaging, "I don't ever want to see you prepare to use magic against a relative again. Do you understand me young lady," he fixed her with a strict look.
She nodded, "Yes Daddy, I understand. I won't let it happen again if I can help it."
"I can teach you to control it," his expression softened just a little, "Now I believe you owe your uncle an apology for your rash actions."
She nodded and tried not to cry, "I'm sorry uncle Toby."
Toby managed to get the pill loose, "It's okay kiddo," he handed her the pill and the water and she quickly dry swallowed the pill before using the water to wash out the taste and relieve the lump the pill had caused in her throat. After chugging half the bottle she realized water was not going to stop the ache in her throat from disappointing her only living parent.
She looked at the stranger she recognized as her Father. His eyes held a sad kindness for her. She could tell he was trying to mask his disgruntled feeling with her. Not thinking to stop herself she gave Toby back the water and ran to her parent, climbing into his lap and hugging him as she cried, "I'm sorry Daddy. I'll be good. Please don't be mad at me. I'm just tired. My judgment's off."
Surprised he hugged her to him, "Don't worry princess. I'm not mad. I know it can be hard to control but I'll teach you. You need to listen to me and do exactly as I say. Are we clear on that?"
She leaned back and looked at him. He was smiling happily. She smiled back and summoned a blank crystal, "Crystal clear Daddy."
He looked at the small orb and placed his hand over it. Concentrating he infused it with a linking spell and willed it to dissolve into both of them, successfully binding them as student and teacher.
"Time for bed my protégé," he picked her up and tucked her in, smiling when the cat meowed in acknowledgement at him. He sang her to sleep with the song he once sang to Sarah.
"So that's where she got that song from," Toby finished the last math problem an put his homework away.
"Yes, I sang it to Sarah as an attempt to woo her while she was trying to save you," Toby gave him a confused look, "She never told you? She was probably too embarrassed. I'm sure she'll inform you of these events if you ask."
"You really don't know do you," Toby realized that this man truly had been oblivious to the events of the last ten years.
"Know what," he looked at the teen in confusion.
"Sarah's been dead for nine years. She didn't survive after Ella's birth. The doctors said they could only save one not both. Sarah chose the baby. She loved you two with her final breaths," the boy watched as the stranger's face contorted in emotional pain, "Perhaps now I should show you to the guest room. You look like you need to be alone," the man nodded and covered his mouth with his hand, trying to fight back his tears. Toby led him down the hall to the guest room, "There are pajamas in the dresser if you want to change. You may have to dig a bit to find the ones that will fit. It's packed for all ages, sizes, and genders. Adult male is top left. The bathroom is through the door next to the bed. If you get hungry we keep the mini fridge stocked with fresh snacks. It's right by the window. Would you like me to get you up for breakfast in the morning," the reply was a small nod, "If you don't mind my asking, what's your name?"
"It's Jareth," he closed the door, found the pajamas, used the bathroom, took a quick shower, and finally cried himself to sleep in the bed.
TBC...
Author's Note: Please read and review. I am sorry if the first author's note in the chapter came across as offensive to anyone. It wasn't meant to.