Oh the calm before the storm.
Merida glanced at the large backyard that seemed to be perfect. There were many tables and chairs, plenty of food and drinks (mostly flavored cakes and milk) and plenty of other things that could keep three year olds entertained.
Not many people were coming to the party anyway; Merida didn't want to lose track of her daughter in their anyway. only some of her fathers colleagues and their sons were coming.
So were Rapunzel and Eugene. Merida was thankful for that because Rapunzel was the aunt that her daughter never had. Rapunzel absolutely adored her. Kelly always loved it when Rapunzel came over. They were too far away, so it was almost a weekend thing. Merida could almost hear Kelly screaming "auntie Rapunzel" whenever the blond arrived.
As for Eugene, Kelly wasn't sure if she liked him. she did, but she would always find him to be a little crazy. With his wild tales (which she could not get enough off) he seemed a little off. Though that didn't stop Kelly from hug tackling him whenever he came.
Merida chuckled. Maybe Eugene would get a ruptured spleen from all that one day.
Kelly grew up happily, with everyone spoiling her every which way. It was hard not to with her adorable eyes and bright smile.
That looked just like her father.
Merida frowned remembering the day she first found out she was pregnant.
Merida awoke in her bed. She felt exhausted, despite having had a good sleep the night before. Her stomach also felt queasy and she almost felt it lurch. She opened her mouth and retched. She covered her mouth and flew out of bed running to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time. She vomited her dinner and groaned.
She sat up going to her sink and drinking some water and used mouth wash. What had just happened? she never felt that queasy before.
She returned to her bed and sat on it, ignoring her frantic heartbeat. She didn't really feel ill, and the only other thing that was out of the ordinary was a strange craving for food.
She stiffened. Craving.
She looked at her stomach going red. She and Joseph had… done it, some weeks ago. Was it possible?
But it couldn't be. they used protection, didn't they? Merida rubbed her head. She had been so angry because her mother had called scolding her for her recent behavior and then the rest of the night was a blur after that.
She did remember moaning passion and skin, then waking up naked beside Joseph the next morning. She had never been so angry in her life.
Merida took a deep breath and got dressed leaving the apartment to go to a pharmacy shop.
Well it turned out she was pregnant but when she and Joseph left for their little trip she had left him first thing and never saw him again after that rather than tell him she was pregnant. She had been afraid since the pregnancy was unplanned, that he would leave her with the baby. Well that happened anyway since she was the one who left him, but she didn't feel rejected at least.
She was even more grateful that her parents, particularly her mother wasn't going to throw her out of the house after she told them the truth. Elinor felt partially responsible since Merida told her it was the night they had gotten into and argument over the phone before hand.
Though that didn't stop her from being angry about Merida's careless behavior. She ranted about how poor Merida's decision was (both getting pregnant and running off) and demanded that she find Joseph.
But Merida refused believing that Joseph hated her. which turned out not to be the exact case considering he was polite to her when she saw him.
But by then it was just far to late. He was engaged to a very beautiful woman. who just happened to be their best friends cousin!
Merida tightened her fists not sure what to do with that information. Rapunzel had known Joseph since childhood. had Elsa?
Merida shook her head. It didn't matter of course. She was going to get Joseph here. If his lass came, then she had ways to deal with that to.
She wanted Joseph to be a part of her.. their daughters life. But that meant he had to stay. Kelly needed her father here with her. no child should have their parents separated (though Kelly knew her father was 'gone')
Merida refused to talk about Joseph with Kelly while she was growing up; she had never even seen a picture of her father. Merida refused to have Kelly ask about him. it led to a lot of crying on Kellys part.
Merida was sad to see her daughter like that, but she was just too young to understand the events that led to her birth.
Kelly's natural curiosity was normal; her classmates all had their fathers wit them. it make Kelly feel isolated from others and she was teased about her father constantly. Merida had threatened the school on more than one occasion, but nothing really came from it. Merida knew that Kelly was going to the best school in the town, changing schools was out of the question.
Kindergarten was so tough.
Merida knew she wasn't the best of mothers but she was doing her best to raise her daughter well (minus the things she hated that her mother did to her growing up.) it certainly didn't hurt that her parents and brothers were there to help out (though her brothers were still young)
If there was one thing Merida could be grateful for it was that her family would always be there to help her out. Elinor entertained her with fairy tales. Fergus played with her and her brothers made her laugh.
Merida spent all the time she could with her daughter, sometimes taking her to work. Kelly always had a great time whenever Merida took her. everyone doted on the little girl, who was so well behaved.
Merida smiled. Kelly was the light of her life. Even if she was unplanned, she was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. even if her father was gone.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. Merida jumped surprised to see Rapunzel staring at her with concern
"Merida?" she asked.
Merida bit her lip, knowing Rapunzel was concerned about her wellbeing especially for Kellys party. Rapunzel was the one who sent out the invitations, one of them being to Joseph (since Rapunzel was the one who knew his address )
Rapunzel did not agree with Merida. While she believed that Kelly should get to know her father,, this was the worst way to do so. If everything went wrong, there was no way to hide it from everyone.
Hopefully Merida would wait until after the party to drop the news on everyone.
Merida's stubbornness really got on Rapunzels nerves sometimes. This whole thing just could have been avoided if Merida told him the truth years ago. But better late than never right?
Still Rapunzel was angry and sad. She had promised Merida to never tell Joseph about Kelly and it tore her apart. Joseph was her father; he had every right to know! But Rapunzel wouldn't break her promise.
Even so, it was not Rapunzel's place to tell him. Merida was the only one who could; should tell him! ok she was going to tell him soon hopefully, but it should have happened years ago!
Rapunzel sighed. This was not going to go well at all.
Merida frown "its ok Rapunzel, I'm just worried about Kelly and her party." Merida explained to her old friend.
Rapunzel knew there was more than that. Merida was never a nervous nelly over small things like a party. Kelly sure, but the only bad thing about the party was going to be Joseph, and Elsa should she come. Elsa… if she was coming there was no doubt she would learn that Joseph was the father of Merida's child. What would that do to her? Elsa was her cousin. She didn't want to see her get hurt.
What was she going to do. Elsa would no doubt be hurt by such betrayal (well not really since Kelly was born long before Elsa had met Joseph) but knowing that Rapunzel knew alone was a betrayal.
It hurt Rapunzel, but it was far too late. The truth would come out and there was nothing that could be done about it.
Rapunzel just wanted things to go well between her friends. She wanted joseph to be apart of Kelly's life, but she also wanted Elsa to marry him. Merida couldn't do that.
Unfortunately Merida was known to get her way most of the time (being intimidating did that). if she did try and break them up here, Rapunzel would not be apart of it. she would stand by her cousin no matter what. Joseph and Merida could fight, but she refused to drag Elsa straight into the middle of it.
It wasn't Elsa's fight per se. Kelly had her parents. They should be the ones deciding not Elsa.
Elsa would make a kind stepmother, but only after Merida and Joseph reconciled and decided what was best for their daughter.
Rapunzel frowned back at Merida "listen Merida, I need to talk to you about Joseph…"
Merida scoffed "listen lass, I know what your going to say. I will tell him about Kelly. I know, I should have told him years ago, but I'm doing that now."
Rapunzel groaned. Merida was just trying to stall now. Rapunzel knew that Merida was going to tell Joseph, since that was the overall point of inviting him here.
"no Merida it isn't that! its about Elsa! She will not take the news that her fiancée, the man she is marrying! Is the father of his ex girlfriends daughter! Why would you do this to them Merida? They are happy together!"
Merida's frown deepened. She was doing this because she still wanted joseph. He was Kelly's father, he needed to be here for her. he hadn't married Elsa yet! There was still time for him to change his mind!
Losing was never and option not when it came to Merida. She was going to make sure that Joseph would come back to her, but only for Kelly's sake. Surely he could see that?
Kelly was his daughter! Shouldn't that matter to him once he was told? Merida knew he cared about family and Kelly was his own flesh and blood. He would stay. For the little girl that needed her father.
"you don't understand Rapunzel! You have a perfect little life with Eugene, your parents! Kelly needs her father! She is teased constantly, I can answer, let alone ask questions about her father!"
Merida would have continued but Rapunzel was having none of it. Merida needed a wake up call!
"that's your fault Merida! Not his! He would have come if you told him! but now? He is getting married Merida! Do you understand! Married! they are in love and they will get married! he will gladly be her for Kelly. But do not ask him to leave Elsa for you!"
Merida turned red, gritting her teach at Rapunzels words. No! Joseph had no choice but to stay. He couldn't just commute here! Kelly would want to see her father! What was Merida supposed to do if he couldn't come see her every day! No child deserved that!
Elsa would just have to learn that.
"no Rapunzel you haven't seen kelly cry the way I have. She has no friends and no one to help her a school. I can't bear to continue seeing her like that. Joseph is the only one who can help her. he can raise her pick her up from school teach her things I can't!"
"you have your brothers for that!" Rapunzel argued
"Their teenagers!" Merida screamed "they are not going to be the ones raising my daughter. Wee devils they are!"
that was true considering they were little trouble makers growing up. Thankfully Kelly wasn't the same, but she didn't want her influenced by her uncles behavior.
Three of her brothers were enough.
Kelly was still young, so Merida wanted to make sure she had better influences than her teenaged uncles.
As well, Kelly shouldn't have to live in a world where her parents were separated. It wasn't the most ideal situation for a child who had to good parents.
Kelly was already shy. Merida did not want to have anything worse happen to her. Kelly needed stable influences in her life. The only way should could get that was if she lived under the same roof as both her parents.
So one way or another. Joseph was just going to have to stay.
Rapunzel huffed and turned away from Merida. Merida had always been this stubborn. She would never take no for an answer and would always fight. That would explain so much about her and her mother.
But this wasn't her mother. This was Joseph a man capable of making his own decisions. He wouldn't just leave Elsa for Merida. She had seen how much in love they were in. they were soul mates, truly meant for one another. If Merida couldn't see that, then she was just….
Why did Merida have to be that selfish. She ran away. She was the one who hid Kelly from her father. Now she wanted him back because he was engaged to be married to another woman!
If Merida still loved him, then she should let Elsa have him. Elsa had gained his love in far more ways than Merida had. Joseph had been a very different man. He was scared to talk to woman; it was only with her help that he was able to talk to Merida and date her. how Merida even liked him was a mystery Rapunzel still couldn't figure out. Merida had flat out refused almost anyone who asked her out, but was willing to go out with a shy boy who never dated anyone.
Rapunzel had a few ideas. Either Merida was lonely, lust or liked being the dominant one in the relationship. Perhaps all three were possible. Maybe that was why they had gone out for as long as they had. But either way, it still led to Kelly and now Merida wanted the best for her daughter, even at the expense of others happiness.
Why couldn't they all just get along?
Merida looked away as well. Rapunzel just couldn't understand. She hadn't known heartbreak the way Merida had. Ok she was abused and didn't have a real friend until Joseph came along, but she still turned out ok and healed from the ordeal
They said healing takes time, but Merida never had. She just wanted Joseph back. She had her happiest times when she had dated him.
He was her first… everything really. Shouldn't that matter to him?
No what should matter was his daughter!
The children always came first, no matter what. That's how it was like for Merida (though her parents got along) so that's what it would be like for Kelly!
Rapunzel turned back to her friend. She just had to make Merida understand. Joseph would never forgive Merida if she deliberately tried to tear him and Elsa apart. There was no need for such things. What did Merida expect him to do if that happened fall right back into her arms. No! he would be angry and never want to see her again. he wouldn't want to have anything to do with Merida if that was the case.
They needed to find a way to end this conflict peacefully, so that it would end in a way that would be the benefit of everyone. If that meant Joseph left with Elsa than it would have to be like that. but if Merida broke them up, that would be the worst thing.
And why should Merida hate Elsa. Sure she was dating Joseph, going to marry him even, but that was Merida's fault. If Merida wanted to marry Joseph then she shouldn't have lied to him all those years ago. So she shouldn't blame Elsa for that.
But Merida was always going to be that stubborn. Someone needed to talk to her and get through to her so that she could finally move on with her life. It was the only way.
Kelly was a smart girl, as long as she understood that her parents loved each other and would do their best to make sure that she was raised properly. That should be good enough.
But that was never going to be good enough for Merida. Merida wanted everything. She had been like this ever since she found out that she was pregnant.
There just had to be a better way than that. if only they could just talk calmly about the situation. Not likely to happen if Merida was included in those talks. She was going to get violent real fast.
But she needed to be calm, not for Josephs sake, but for Kelly's. Kelly could not see her parents first interaction as a fight. It would be too much for her. no child should endure that.
"Merida" she began "I know you still love him. and he loves you" she explained "he will love Kelly. You raised her to be strong, just like you. Joseph will want to help you. But don't ask him to leave Elsa, because he will never do that to her. I've seen it. "
Merida huffed refusing to listen to Rapunzel she loved him first and Kelly was his daughter.
She turned and walked away, leaving Rapunzel alone.