Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, they belong to Libba Bray. My only idea was to bring sexy back ( mostly Kartik, obviously). And that decision was ultimately Justin Timberlake's, but I decided to bring your old favorites back, so you probably like me just a smidge more right now.
When I wake, the light is too strong for my eyes to take so early. As I raise my hand to shield myself with a groan, I find that Henry has snuggled into my embrace in his sleep. I plant a kiss on his smooth forehead and his eyes flutter open.
"Good morning, darling boy." He groans himself and turns away from me. "Oh, someone is not happy to be awake, hmm?" He grunts softly. "We'll see to that, shan't we?" I snake my fingers across the pillow, tickling his neck, eliciting a giggle.
"No! No tickles!" He squirms away, but I reach after him, pulling him back to my chest, where I may have at his most ticklish spots. He shrieks and laughs, trying desperately to pull away, but I am stronger.
"Are we happily, awake now, Mister Morning Grouse?" I ask, finally letting him free. He sits up, half shaken free of the sheets, his curls a mess. He flashes me a toothy grin.
"Yes!" he chortles gleefully. "Your turn!"
I shriek dramatically as he pounces onto my chest, wiggling his fingers on my sides, under my arms. He and his three year-old fingers have not quite mastered the art of tickling yet, but I make him believe that he has, for he so loves this game, and truthfully I do as well. Once he is satisfied, he crawls away grinning like a fool. Just as I threaten to make my revenge, there is a knock on the door.
"Yes?" I call. The door opens just enough so that Brigid may squeeze her head through.
"Miss Doyle, terribly sorry to disturb ya, but the Missus want to speak with you straightaway, soon's you take your breakfast."
"Thank you, Brigid. We'll be down in just a moment." Once she leaves, I hoist Henry from the bed so that we can ready ourselves for the day.
"I'm hungry. Do you think they shall have sausage, Mama?" he asks with a dreamy look in his eye. It pains me that such mundane things are luxuries to him, but now that Kartik is with us, perhaps Henry may have the life he deserves.
"If they don't, I shall have them cook some for you straightaway!" He claps in response as I open the wardrobe where my dresses hang. I pull one off its hanger, draping it over my body. "Shall I wear this dress today?" I pull another one, replacing the first. "Or shall I don the rose gown?"
Henry's lips twist into a pensive pout and he taps his tiny finger against his chin as he often sees me do in jest. He points to another dress just behind me. "The green one!" As green is his favorite color, I laugh and put my first choices in their proper places, slipping into the one he pointed to in order to placate him. "Yes!" He insists on wearing green as well, and I grant his wish, much to his delight. Once my hair is pinned up and we are both presentable, I take his hand and guide him down the stairs toward the dining hall.
They do, indeed, have sausage, and I surreptitiously slip a few extra slabs of it onto Henry's plate and he gladly gobbles them up. We are finally satisfied and we stop by Mrs. Nightwing's office.
"Mrs. Ni-er, Lillian, if you should allow me a few moments I shall find a place where Henry might be comfortable so that we may discuss matters in private. Might you pass a few minutes until I may join you?"
She does not look up from her work. "Of course, Miss Doyle. But go knowing that every moment you are away, I will be one breath closer to being with God and I shall have been none the more productive." With a blush and a light curtsy, I thank her and take my leave.
I lead Henry through the trees toward the lake. "Where are we going?" Henry asks, hopping and stumbling over roots and fallen branches as he follows me, gripping my hand all the while.
'I have a very special surprise for you. It isn't far." I do my best to keep my spirits high, but I am so anxious that my hands tremble. My heart beats erratically in my chest, despite my efforts to breathe through my apprehension.
We break through the last of the trees into a small clearing. Before us lie the boathouse and the lake, the water rippling softly in the easy breeze. Kartik stands on the bank, just a few feet from the water's edge. He smiles at me and I cannot help the grin that creeps across my face. Henry shrinks into my side, suddenly shy before this stranger.
"Hello," I greet him. Kartik bends into a formal bow and his cap falls from his head onto the grass. Henry giggles. Kartik bends down to retrieve it, but Henry looses his hand from mine and moves to pick it up.
"You dropped this," he says, holding it out. Kartik drops to his knee, taking the worn cap from him.
"Thank you very much, he says with a smile. Henry giggles again, bounding back to the haven of my skirts.
"He looks just like me, Mama!" he whispers excitedly. It pains me that my boy has already learned the difference of race at such a young age.
"You're right." I take his hand and lead him over to Kartik. I join him at Henry's level and take both his hands in mine. "Henry, do you remember what I've always told you about your father?" He nods, visibly confused. "Well, this is Kartik. He looks like you because…because he is your father."
Henry looks back and forth between the two of us, trying to understand what I am telling him. "But you said Papa was gone."
Kartik lays a hand on my shoulder, taking the reins. "I was, for a very long time. But now I am back." He reaches into his pocket. "And I believe I've something that belongs to you." He pulls his hand from his trouser pocket and opens it before Henry.
In his palm lays Henry's top. He must have forgotten it in the parlor.
"Thank you." Henry takes it shyly, taking it in his tiny fist and smiling to himself.
"So Henry, what do you say?" He thinks for a moment. "Papa is a wonderful storyteller. And he's a marvelous cricket player, perhaps he can teach you."
Henry's eyes light up. "You can?"
"Anything you want, Henry," Kartik offers with a grin. Henry's smile widens and he leans into Kartik, wrapping his arms around his neck.
"Okay, Papa." It is not much, but it is more than enough. Kartik's face is awestruck and it takes him a moment to regain his composure to wrap his arms around the boy embracing him. I stroke Henry's hair, planting a kiss on his temple.
"I love you both so much." Kartik kisses the top of my head. We stay there in blissful silence for a moment and I feel that I could burst. I must be the luckiest girl in the world.
With a sigh, I pull away. "Henry, I have some business I must tend to. Would you like to stay and play with Papa for a few hours?" For a moment, Kartik looks utterly lost. "I suppose the Rakshana did not value playtime training, did they?" I tease.
He laughs. "Playtime often involved swordplay when I was a child."
"Swords?" Henry's eyes are wide as saucers.
"Of course!" I laugh at them.
"See? That's a start. You shall be fine." Kartik relaxes. "I trust you," I whisper to him, kissing him goodbye.
Henry makes a face and squirms, begging to be released. Kartik lets him down, and he runs across the grass.
"Henry, come give Mummy a kiss!" He runs over and I meet him halfway, kneeling down, but he pouts defiantly.
"But kissing is icky!"
I stand, brushing off my skirt to feign indifference. "Right then, I shall see you in a few hours." He finally relents, running back to kiss me on the cheek. "Be good for Daddy, promise?" He nods quickly before running gaily away across the grass again, leaving me shaking my head at him.
I stand to leave, but Kartik clears his throat pointedly. "Not so fast. You're forgetting something." Puzzled, I approach him, taking his outstretched hand. Suddenly, he yanks me close, catching me at his chest and kissing me deeply. I begin to break away, but he pulls me back. "Not just yet." He kisses me for a few moments, his thumb slowly caressing the nape of my neck, more before releasing me. When I step away, my head feels deliciously light.
"Nightwing will be waiting," I whisper, trying to hide the blush flooding my skin and calm my breathing.
"Hurry back," he murmurs. I cannot help the grin that spreads across my face as I reach up, brushing my lips lightly across his, but pulling away just as he leans in for more.
"You can count on it." It is but a breath, but I have him hanging on every word. I can feel his eyes on me as I head for the school again. "I'll be back darling!" I call to Henry, who prances toward Kartik with a stick he found, moving it through the air like a sword.
As I step around trees and over roots, I ponder how much I have gained just since arriving at Spence. It is nice to have someone I trust, someone who loves me, to take care of Henry when I cannot. It is wonderful to have someone to look forward to, someone who can take care of me and comfort me. I find I have quite missed this feeling of stability in my life. And I very much look forward to life with my new family.
The following hours are spent in Mrs. Nightwing's office taking notes and discussing rules for the realms creatures involving Spence and its girls. Mrs. Nightwing notes rules that she require be followed, as well as gives me advice on taking charge of the meeting. I am to give all an equal chance to speak should they wish it, and I am to have no favorites. Just as I stand to take my leave, Mrs. Nightwing stops me.
"Miss Doyle, I believe this might come in handy." She reaches into her bodice, retrieving a secret key on a chain, which unlocks a lower drawer of her desk. She opens and shuts it quickly, allowing no peeking. In her hands is an old maroon book, covered in dust. She blows it away, revealing the title beneath a swimming cloud of dust motes. The Order: A Rules and Regulations Guide for the Priestess in Training. "It was forgotten long ago, before the fire, but I kept it safely hidden. I have no use for it now, though in your hands it may do some good."
Nightwing passes the book into my hands. It is heavier than I would have expected. While the Order did surely have a few decent restrictions in place for the realms, would it be wise to bring back memories of their rule? The creatures would turn away from me faster than I could blink.
I nod anyway, thanking her. "Best of luck to you, then, Miss Doyle." And with that, I leave her.
With the book under my arm, I join Kartik and Henry again by the lake. They are locked in fierce combat, their stick-swords swishing and swooshing magnificently. Before I know it, Henry relieves his opponent of his "weapon," trapping Kartik on bended knee, his arms raised in surrender.
I step in, clapping proudly. "Bravo!" I call.
"Mummy!" Henry runs to me, eagerly jumping into my arms. "Daddy showed me how to fight!"
"He has proved quite the impressive swordsman." Henry absolutely beams with pride. Kartik takes my hand, leaning in to kiss me hello. "How was the old bird?"
I laugh at the memory of our old joke. "Exceedingly helpful." I pass him the book she gave me and he turns through its pages. "Perhaps we could make something of this. It might contain circumstances I could not have dreamed up." Henry yawns, rubbing his eyes with a tired fist. "Naptime already? But it is not quite past one!"
"He put on quite the show, this one," Kartik says, mussing Henry's hair. Henry drops his head onto my shoulder.
"Shall you help me put him down?" I ask, nodding in the direction of the school.
"Of course."
We walk in silence. Henry has already fallen fast asleep on my shoulder and it could not possibly be any more endearing.
"He is a spitting image of you, Gemma," Kartik finally says.
My brow furrows. "But he looks exactly like you," I counter. He laughs, shaking his head.
"Not in looks, in personality. There is so much of you in him." I smile to myself. "He is incredibly smart. And a fast learner. His potential for swordsmanship is impressive." A glance at Kartik shows that he has a dreamy glint in his eye.
"Perhaps he will become one. He believes he shall be a knight when he grows older." Henry has a fantastical imagination and very much enjoys hearing stories of knights and damsels in distress. If he is a swordsman, that will be a trait of Kartik's, for it is certainly not mine. "He wants to be valiant and daring, but I believe he truly wants to be like the man in the stories of his father I always told him." Kartik's head turns quickly, surprise etched in his features.
"You told him stories? About me?"
"Well, of course. They were all true, more or less." Kartik's gaze falls back to the forest floor.
"He has many questions, Gemma."
"I know he does. He has only just met you." He can be quite the curious creature. I nearly trip over a fallen branch, but Kartik catches me, assuring that Henry is not jostled.
"I am not sure what to tell him. If I tell him of the Rakshana, I must tell him of the realms and the magic. And it is quite apparent that you have kept him far from that world."
It is true, I have. "He is far too young to understand. I shall take him someday, but since you have been gone, I have not wanted any chance of losing him as well."
Kartik nods in understanding. We put Henry down for his nap and then curl up under a blanket with Mrs. Nightwing's book in front of the small fireplace provided for us, whispering as we skim through its pages.
"There is so much to learn in here," I say as I flip another page. "Wielding the magic, helping souls cross over, engaging in magical combat!" But there are also grim details outlined within, situations I never would have dreamed needed to be handled. I close the book, shutting out the images plaguing me. Kartik pulls the blanket tighter around us.
"I've missed this," he whispers.
"Missed what?"
"This. You. Just us. No fighting, no Henry. Let's forget the realms for just a moment." I nod. Thinking of the work needed for this constitution is giving me a headache. He sets the book aside, pulling me close and kissing me.
"I still feel as if I am dreaming," I whisper against his lips.
"Oh really? Did any of them go like this?" He kisses me again, harder, searching. He pulls away and I laugh.
"Kartik, I have had dreams plenty more vivid than that." His eyes widen, filled with mischief.
"I believe in dreams."
"I know." In the silence following my invitation, we meet in another kiss. Soon, the kiss grows heated and the blanket falls, forgotten, as Kartik pushes me onto my back.
Kartik whispers my name as his lips travel my jaw, my throat. His fingers toy with the ribbon on the neckline of my dress. I reach up and with one swift tug, yank them loose for him, wishing I could instead be free of my corset, which digs into my ribs, no thanks to my labored breathing. As his lips gratefully explore my chest, I tangle my fingers in his long curls. I cannot imagine what girl could be here in my place and think of England even once.
Before I can warn Kartik, or prepare myself, I am sucked into my first vision in years. There are errant flashes of scenes I cannot recognize. A crushed poppy, a spray of blood, the beautiful garden, Pippa's eyes switching between violet and bluish-white, Kartik's own, gold-flecked and lined with kohl. It is difficult to breathe. Cannot breathe. Finally, Philon slams his fist onto a table, bringing me out of the vision.
Kartik straddles me, and not in a way one could describe as desirable. He is kissing me, the reason, I assume, I could not breathe, and his hands pin my arms to the floor on either side of me. He breaks away and my breath comes shallow and fast.
"Are you alright? You began screaming and thrashing." He scrambles to his feet, offering me a hand up. I accept it, promptly falling into him on weak knees. He helps me over to the empty bed, where I take a seat, wiping the sweat off my forehead. When did it become so hot in here?
"I had a vision," I whisper.
Kartik shuffles his feet, keeping his distance. "Oh." I pat the bed beside me and he gratefully joins me. "I thought for a moment I might have...overstepped my boundaries." He shyly watches me from beneath his eyelashes. I take his hands in mine, reassuring him.
"It had nothing to do with you, I promise." He relaxes and laughs, but sobers quickly.
"What did you see?" I fall onto my back forcefully.
"Small things here and there. I couldn't make heads or tails of any of it, I'm afraid." My head aches terribly. Four years has robbed me of my memory of how strong my visions were. Kartik lays on his side beside me, running a light finger down my arm. One look at him and a strong desire pools in my stomach. We lean toward each other slowly, and Henry stirs just as our lips graze. I groan softly and he chuckles huskily.
"Perhaps we'll have to find a moment to ourselves later."
"I'll hold you to that." He kisses me once before leaving me to tend to Henry.
"Well, look who's awake." Kartik reappears holding Henry, who, once laid beside me on the bed, snuggles close, still half asleep. I laugh and kiss his curls, rubbing his back softly. Kartik returns to the blanket, sandwiching Henry between us.
"He doesn't seem to be quite awake yet! I know a way to wake him…" Henry's eyes flash open and I wiggle my fingers in the air. He smiles, scurrying away toward Kartik.
"No!" he cries. I wink at Kartik, who plays along.
"Three can play at this game!" He begins siege on Henry, who laughs and struggles against Kartik's tickling. I laugh, taking great joy in watching them together.
Unexpectedly, Kartik turns on me, pinning me under his body so that I cannot move. I writhe and shriek but he is relentless. Henry holds his stomach as he laughs, falling onto his back. Kartik stops and our eyes meet. With the same idea, we both pounce on Henry. He tries to get away but he is helpless against the power of two.
"I'm awake! I'm awake!" He cries through his laughing. He cackles so hard he can barely breathe. We eventually stop, letting him breathe for a moment. Kartik plants a kiss on his cheek, scooping him into the air and catching him against his chest. I am so thankful that Henry has him in his life that I could cry.
As they giggle and roll around wrestling, I take a look out the window. In the distance, a carriage rumbles down the path toward the school, trailing thick clouds of dust. Fee and Ann!
I grab Kartik's arm, pulling him from the bed. "They're here, we must go greet them!" I find Henry's shoes, handing them to Kartik while I find mine.
"I'm sorry, but who is here?"
"Felicity and Ann! They have come to help with the realms!" I slip my feet into my shoes, which were hiding under the edge of the bed.
"Aunt Felicity and Aunt Ann are here?" Henry bounces up and down for joy as Kartik struggles to put his shoes on. I help him, sitting Henry down and tying the laces quickly. I head before them out the door and Kartik is hot on my heels.
We arrive at the front door just as the carriage pulls up. I am out the door like a shot. Felicity throws the carriage door open, stepping out dramatically.
"Gemma!" she shouts as she runs to meet me in a tight embrace. Behind Fee, Ann nearly stumbles out of the carriage and I run to meet her as well. She has trimmed down significantly and she looks incredible. We all embrace and, admittedly, a few tears fall. "I have missed you both so much!"
Mrs. Nightwing descends the steps and Felicity and Ann straighten immediately, falling into curtsies. I join Kartik and Henry at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for the three women to finish exchanging niceties. Fee catches my eye over Nightwing's shoulder and blanches. She mouths Is that…? I smile, nodding my head and her jaw drops. Ann nudges her and Felicity points. Ann's jaw mimics Fee's and I laugh. Kartik picks up Henry, shifting his weight anxiously and I take his hand. Nightwing retreats, leading the busy maids inside Spence and they pass us carrying bags upon bags from the carriage.
Ann and Felicity rush over, unashamedly gawking at Kartik. They are speechless. "I shall tell you everything over a late lunch," I tell them. "But there is someone else here who is thrilled to meet you." I take Henry from Kartik. "Henry, this is Aunt Felicity, and this is Aunt Ann." He shyly curls into me, giving them a small smile and a murmured 'how do you do.'
They coo over him for a moment and Kartik leans over to whisper in my ear. "I think I shall take my leave now."
"You don't have to go," I reply. I do not want him to leave yet.
"The horses need tending."
I throw him a pleading glance, but he just gives me a helpless smile. "Alright then. Tonight?" He nods, kisses my cheek quickly, and hastily retreats to the stables.
"You two are on quite good terms, I see." Felicity regards me with an eyebrow raised in mischief.
I curse the blush that immediately takes over my skin. They are positively gushing with questions and I guide them inside.
There is a small meal waiting for just us in the dining hall. I help Henry into a seat, where he squirms, eager for food. The girls take seats across from us. I can barely sit and fill Henry's plate before I am pelted with questions about Kartik's return, America, Henry.
"All in good time! I want to hear of your lives first!"
I am surprised that Ann chimes in first, however modestly. "My life has been uneventful, as usual. Hamlet rehearsals are splendid. And Mr. Smalls seems to have taken quite an interest in me." At that, she beams into her plate. Felicity and I congratulate her warmly.
Felicity drops her hands on the table excitedly. "Paris est la plus exquise!" She leans back in her chair, gazing dreamily into the distance. "The fashion is incredible, the food is perfection, and the sights are to die for." She meets my eye and adds quietly, "And there are many of my kind there!" We begin to ask more, but the puts a finger to her lips, gesturing under the table. I lift the tablecloth, carefully peering under. Felicity lifts her skirt just enough to reveal the trousers she wears underneath.
I gasp. "Felicity Worthington!"
She grins proudly. "I have graduated to the trouser and I am never looking back! I simply did not wish to shock old Nightwing to death upon arrival."
"Are you sure? I would not have been surprised in the slightest." We all laugh and begin digging into our food.
"So Gemma, how did Kartik return?" Ann asks.
"Yes, do tell us!"
Glancing at Henry, I decide that he is thoroughly occupied with his plate and I tell them everything in a hushed whisper. They are silent until I am through telling them with everything up to my vision today. Once my story is done, I resume eating while they think over all the information I have given them.
"I honestly have no clue what to do about this constitution," I admit.
"And that, dear Gemma, is why we have arrived!" Fee says grandly. It is wonderful to know that my friends have come so far to help me.
"I have missed you both terribly!"
Hoorah for Felicity and Ann! Yes, Felicity finally got her trousers and she's quite happy with them. And I've written that scene where Kartik meets Henry 80 bajillion times and was sooo anxious about this final draft so shoutout to my friend Amber who helped me not screw up that vital scene.
Also, I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update. I finished the school year with mono and was recovering forever and then the last installment of The Selection trilogy came out and I got madly obsessed with it and then the last installment of the Mortal Instruments series came out and then I got surgery and you get the idea. Also I feel like I've put up more than I actually have? I just hit the point in my writing where I've caught up to all my scrap bits and now I just have to write up to the end! Except the epilogue, that's already written. Just gonna drop that little present in your lap.
But seriously, thank you all SO much for reading and reviewing! Looking at the review page makes me SO happy and I love that you guys love this because it's the first story I've actually posted and intend on finishing. Keep reviewing and maybe you'll get another chapter really soon!
Lady Hope