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** This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.**
Snow fell from the grey sky, blanketing every surface within the city. A lone pigeon pecked the roof of the first story of Marie's apartment building, unaware that a pair of human eyes was watching it closely. Elsa narrowed her eyes as she watched the bird from within Marie's apartment, gripping her crossed arms tightly. It was eerily silent in the small living space, and after a few seconds, one of Marie's parakeets ventured a small chirp to break the uncomfortable silence.
Marie shifted behind Elsa, who kept staring out the window. "I don't like it, either," Marie said cautiously. "But you have to understand-"
"I'm not hiding who I am," Elsa said fiercely. Her blue gaze struck Marie, inciting a slight flinch from her. "I spend most of my life doing that, and I won't do it again."
Marie rubbed her face in exasperation. "I'm not asking you to hide who you are…Well, maybe I am, but only for a little while! Please, listen!"
Elsa glared at her. She had been listening: the phone call between Marie and her mother was not exactly quiet. Marie had spent most of the time holding the phone away from her ear as her mother berated her for several minutes. Elsa looked back outside at the pigeon as her nails dug into her forearms. It was not easy listening to someone treat Marie that way, even if it was through a cellphone. Marie had stopped Elsa from saying anything during the call. In fact, Marie's mother, Theresa, did not even know Elsa was there listening to every word. The call did not last long and ended with Marie disassociated and quiet for a while. Now, it was the day after, and Marie was about to call her mother again to make plans to go visit. There was no mention of Elsa, Amos's threats, or magic, but Marie had asked Elsa to do something Elsa hated: lie about who she was and her relationship with Marie. Elsa tried to push down the rising hurt that filled her chest, but to no avail. She stared at the pigeon with such disdain that it flew away as soon as it saw Elsa glaring at it. She took a deep breath. "I am listening," Elsa said slowly. "These are people that you have cut contact with because of the amount of abuse they have done to you, and now you have to lie to them about who you really are, who I am, and-…" Elsa paused and gritted her teeth. "…And about how we feel about each other." She turned to face Marie. "Why would you put yourself through that?"
"Because they are my family, and they are in danger," Marie replied. Her birds began to softly sing a tune once they heard both women talking, but their chirps were still tense and unsure. Marie looked at the floor. "If my father hadn't threatened them, I wouldn't be doing any of this, but I have to. I have to protect them, especially the kids. They're my biggest concern." She turned away and crossed her arms. "The adults can fuck it, for all I care, but realistically, I can't protect the kids without protecting the rest of the adults as well." She took a step towards Elsa, who frowned and averted her gaze. Marie grunted uneasily. "I'm not asking for us to lie completely. The truth will have to come out sooner or later, but if we go in with guns blazing, who knows what they will do." When Elsa raised an eyebrow in confusion, Marie added, "If we come out right away with what's going on, it'll cause mayhem. We need to slowly break it to them to protect them."
Elsa scowled. "I don't like this. I mean, hiding who you really are? To your own family? Are they really your family at that point?" Marie flinched and turned away. Elsa sighed heavily. "I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just worried," Elsa said.
Marie took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and faced Elsa. "They are in danger, so I will protect them. You don't have to come with me, but-"
She was interrupted by Elsa coming up to her as Elsa placed her hands on Marie's shoulders. "Of course, I will come with." Her hands clenched as she pulled away. "But if they hurt you, I will not hesitate to step in."
A sad, little smile formed across Marie's lips. "Then you might be stepping in a lot."
The winter wind blew strongly against Marie's car as they drove to her parents' house in northern Minnesota. Elsa stared out the window as endless farm fields began turning into lush pine forests. She sighed and touched the icy window on the passenger's side door. Even though Marie's birds were singing in their cage in the backseat, Marie was clutching the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles were white. Elsa moved her gaze from Marie to her birds. "They travel well, don't they?" Elsa asked, breaking the human silence.
Marie nodded. "Yeah, they do. They especially love the radio." Elsa smiled as she looked back at the little songbirds. Marie cleared her throat. "Let's go over it again."
"My name is Elsa, and I'm a college exchange student from Norway. I'm studying American culture and came with you to observe your family. We met through your old college roommate years ago and have reconnected," Elsa said. She crossed her arms and frowned. "We're just friends," she muttered bitterly.
"Y-yeah," Marie uttered, squeezing her steering wheel even tighter. "My family doesn't know that I'm bisexual, so hitting them with news that we're together might not go over well with them…It's a safety thing," she added.
Elsa scoffed and looked out the window. "The very first time we say we're together, we have to lie about it to protect you. What about your safety, Marie?"
"We won't have to lie for long, just until everything has settled. I do believe it's necessary, at least at first," Marie said. She sighed and relaxed her grip on the steering wheel ever so slightly. "And I'm sorry about the first time we've talked about being together is to hide the fact that we are." She laughed nervously and smiled at Elsa. "But what do you say? Are we together? As in a couple?"
Elsa could not help but giggle; seeing Marie smiling at her in that way could easily undo Elsa. "I didn't cross worlds for someone I didn't want to be with, Marie," Elsa teased.
Marie blushed and nodded. "That makes me really happy." They turned onto a gravel road that brought them farther into the forest, and Elsa felt a sense of calm brought on by the familiar foliage despite the rising tension within her. The birds let out unhappy chirps as the road became bumpy, inciting a small chuckle from Marie. Elsa smoothed out her hair as the road curved to the left. Elsa heard Marie's skin rub against the steering wheel as she gripped it tightly again. "We're here," Marie said tensely.
A white gate stood a little crookedly between the road and her parents' driveway, and Marie got out of the car to open the gate. Elsa joined her as a black and white dog ran up to them, slipping through the gate with ease. Elsa grinned as Marie greeted the dog with more cheer than Elsa had seen within the past week. She bent over and held out her hand for the dog to sniff. "This must be Rex," Elsa said.
Marie laughed as Rex licked her face. "Yes! He's such a good boy, aren't you, Fluff?" Rex wiggled his furry stump of a tail vigorously. Marie opened the gate and the two women drove down the driveway. Marie's parents' white house was midsized with large windows and red shutters. A large porch wrapped around the front and left side, and yellow lights weaved between the porch's picket fence, casting a warm glow. It was a lovely sight. To the right of the house stood a giant garage. Several vehicles were parked in front of it, and Marie parked her car snuggly in between two of them. The yard was dotted with more flower beds than Elsa could count, and each was decorated with snowy large rocks and small statues. After Marie shut her vehicle off, Elsa stepped out, her eyes continuing to scan everything around her. Barking sounded from within the house, and Elsa watched as two more large dogs sprinted out of the front door. Marie immediately knelt and held out her arms as a yellow labrador flew into her arms, whining loudly. Marie hugged the dog. "This is Buddy, my brother's dog. I helped raise him. Didn't I?" she asked in a baby voice.
Elsa giggled. It was nice to see Marie smiling. Elsa knelt as a large German shepherd rounded the driveway, its fur rising as it eyed them. She held out her hand. "This must be Hank," she said evenly. Marie nodded and pet Hank, which made him lower his scruff.
The dogs surrounded Elsa and sniffed her, their tails wagging. Marie rose and stared at her, a smile still formed on her face. "You're such a Disney princess," Marie commented.
Elsa raised an eyebrow as she pet the dogs. "Queen," she corrected.
Suddenly, the front door slammed shut. Elsa watched as a couple of boys ran out of the house towards them. "Hi, Aunty!" the younger one shouted. "Took you long enough!"
"Yeah, we've been waiting!" the other boy said.
Without hesitation, Marie dropped to her knees and embraced them both fervently. Elsa rose slowly as she watched the two boys hug her back. Marie pulled away, her hands resting on their shoulders. "It was icy," Marie said softly. She lightly touched their faces. "How are you?"
It was a gentleness that Elsa had never seen. Even though Marie was naturally good with children, Elsa could tell that these children were different to Marie. The tenderness of her touch, the glow of her gaze, the ease of her smile: it was all new to Elsa, and she immediately understood the level of love that Marie held for these children, and that no amount of time or distance could ever change that.
The two boys answered Marie with, "Good." The younger one stared at Elsa, who approached them with a warm smile. "Are you Elsa?" he asked abruptly.
"Gray!" the older boy chastised. He also looked at Elsa. "Elsa's not real!"
Elsa smiled and clasped her hands in front of her as she stood regally. "Well, that is my name."
The boys' eyes grew wide. "Told you!" Gray exclaimed to the other boy.
Marie laughed and rose. "Can you do me a huge favor?" she asked them. "Will you bring my birds into the house for me? I have a feeling I won't get through the door so easily and I don't want them to get cold." They nodded and scrambled to get to the cage. Elsa chuckled as they ran into the house with the cage covered with a blanket. Marie grabbed their luggage from the trunk, a smile still on her face. Elsa helped with the luggage and began following her to the front steps. "That was Gray and Hayden, my sister's youngest," Marie said.
A middle-aged woman opened the door and stepped out. Before Elsa and Marie could greet her, she pointed at Marie's face and said, "Your nose is really red. Is that a zit?"
There it is, Elsa thought to herself. She had braced herself for something like this to happen, but if she was being honest, she did not expect it so suddenly. "That's not very kind of-" she began to say, but Marie interrupted her with an uneasy chuckle.
"Hi, Mom. It's nice to see you," Marie said with a forced smile. They hugged and the woman eyed Elsa, her eyes narrowing. "Mom, this is Elsa. Elsa, this is my mother, Theresa," Marie said.
"It's very nice to meet you," Elsa said evenly, dipping her head. "You have such a beautiful home."
Theresa held out a hand. "We shake hands in this country."
"Mom," Marie hissed, her voice taking the tone of a mother scolding a child. Theresa laughed, but Elsa did not.
"Yes, there are many differences, indeed," Elsa replied, her tone dipping from pleasantry to slightly apethetic. Even though only a few exchanges had been made, Elsa immediately picked up the dynamics between mother and child, and it infuriated her.
"Hello, stranger!" a voice echoed from the front door. A young man stepped outside and embraced Marie.
"Hello, John," Marie greeted back, already sounding exhausted. "This is my older brother," Marie said to Elsa. "John, this is Elsa."
Elsa shook hands with him. He was extremely clean cut and handsome, and it was evident that by their eyes, noses, and skin that Marie and he were siblings. John smiled widely with brilliant white teeth and greeted Elsa. "So, you're from Norway?" he asked as a bitter wind blew past them.
"Let's get inside," Marie suggested, but her family ignored her.
"Yes, I agree," Elsa said pointedly. "I'd like to meet everyone."
"Then you're more eager to see us than Marie!" Theresa said, adding an awkward laugh at the end of her sharp tone.
Elsa felt her patience dwindling as the family climbed inside of the house. Elsa began saying, "I'm sure it must be for a very good reason what she-"
"Hi, Aunty!" another young boy called out from the right. He rose from a red couch and embraced his aunt, who hugged him back tightly.
"Hi, Isaac," Marie said warmly. She pulled away and rubbed the top of his blonde locks. "How've you been?" The house was open and well-lit with shelves full of books and décor that rose to the ceiling. Elsa could not help but marvel at all of the intricate wooden fixtures and polished surfaces. Her parents seem to be doing well for themselves, Elsa thought. But it seems they share none of that with their own daughter. Marie's lack of wealth did not bother Elsa, rather, the fact that members of her own family chose not to provide her with any kind of support is what bothered Elsa.
"Good! Just finishing up a house I built on Minecraft." His freckles lined his timid smile. "Wanna see?"
"Isaac, put the Switch away! You didn't come here to play games!" The sweet moment was soured by a tense looking woman with dark hair and sharp eyes. She hugged Marie without saying a word and without changing her rigid demeanor. Elsa clasped her hands tightly in front of her automatically as she observed this woman. "Hi, I'm Tina," the woman said curtly, giving Elsa a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I'm the one with all the kids."
If not for the many years of being queen, Elsa felt as though she would have been rattled by now, but her experience dealing with all kinds of people throughout the years kept her composed, even though immense frustration was growing within her. Elsa extended her hand. "Beautiful kids," Elsa commented with a smile. "I'm Elsa."
"Wait, your name is actually Elsa?" Isaac asked. When Elsa nodded and looked at him, he blushed and walked away quickly. Marie and Elsa exchanged glances and giggled quietly.
"Hey, Aunty," a teenage boy greeted. He was joined by two other teenage girls. Marie hugged each of them warmly, which caused a faint glow to come off her. Elsa cleared her throat, something they had agreed to do before the trip if Marie's magic was accidentally used or seen.
Marie stepped away and the glow disappeared, but not from her eyes as she turned towards Elsa. "Meet, Jack, Kayla and Lydia," Marie said, gesturing to each of them. "This is Elsa, the exchange student from Norway that I told you about."
Each teen greeted her more kindly and warmly than any of the other adults had, and with the same gentle ambience Marie possessed. Elsa smiled softly to herself. She makes more of an impact than she realizes, Elsa thought to herself.
"Wait, your name is Elsa and you're from Norway?" Lydia, the younger teenage sister asked Elsa, who nodded.
"That's sick," Kayla chimed.
A giant man with an intimidating aura but warm smile approached them. "This is Marvin, my stepdad. Marv, this is Elsa," Marie said.
Marvin shook Elsa's hand strongly. "Hi, welcome!" he greeted. "You sure picked a hell of a family to research!"
Elsa dipped her head. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Are you spending the night?" Gray asked loudly, appearing from behind a chair. Elsa smiled. Marie had mentioned the seven-year old's precociousness and bluntness, and Elsa found it cute.
"Yes," Marie answered, and Elsa noticed that every single person's eyes were suddenly glued to Marie as she answered.
"I sure hope so!" Theresa piped up from the kitchen. "You said you were on the phone!"
So, they ignore her when she voices a need while simultaneously feeling entitled to know her whereabouts, Elsa observed to herself. She clenched her hands into fists, gripping her luggage tightly.
"Where are you gonna sleep?" Gray asked, ignoring his grandmother, which almost made Elsa chuckle.
Marie tipped her head at him. "I suppose my old room."
Gray wiggled around and decided to do the splits on the wooden floor. "'Cause Hayden and I are spending the night, so there won't be enough beds for us all!"
"That's okay!" Marie answered. "Elsa and I can share a bed."
Some of the family members exchanged glances and grew silent as Gray swaggered up to Elsa. "Okay!" he said cheerfully as he took Elsa's luggage. "Let me show you the room!"
"Grey, you can't just take her luggage!" Kayla said in a rushed tone.
"It's alright," Elsa said, unable to hide her chuckle. "I don't mind. Lead the way," she told the young boy. She heard several pairs of footsteps following them as Gray led her and Marie to one of the spare rooms. The walls were covered with purple floral print and several shelves full of books and board games stood against the walls as well. Elsa went to stand over by the birds' cage by the windows as Marie tossed their luggage onto the bed.
"Aunty, want to play Sorry! later?" Isaac said from the doorway. Lydia joined him while Hayden and Gray poked around the room.
Marie sat down on the bed, her shoulders slouched yet her eyes bright. "Sure, when we have time." When the boy's face fell, Marie smiled. "After supper will probably work."
"Aunty, why didn't you see us for two years?" Hayden suddenly asked, his voice growing unsure. Marie's prediction that Hayden would be the first child to ask about her whereabouts turned out to be correct. There was a lot of hurt in his tone, and Elsa could see that Marie immediately felt it. Causing the children pain because of her absence was Marie's biggest concern when coming back to her family, even bigger than the concern of how the adults would treat her upon returning.
"Yeah, Marie," her brother, John, said dryly from the doorway. "Why didn't you see them?"
The way he asked instantly angered Elsa, but Marie placed a gentle hand on Elsa's shoulder and squeezed. Marie took a deep breath. "Well, some things happened, and I had to step away from the family for a while," Marie answered slowly, choosing her words carefully. "But what matters is that I'm here now." She gently grabbed Hayden's hand and rubbed the top of his head fondly. The boy grew shy and nodded.
"Really? For two whole years?" John crossed his arms. "That's a shit excuse."
Elsa took a step forward, but Marie interrupted her by saying to her brother, "I wasn't talking to you."
John filled the doorway. "What does that mean?"
Marie stood and guarded the tense children. "It means I was talking to Hayden, not you. I'm not obligated to tell you anything, so please don't ask."
Elsa could see it: the rising anger, the squaring of his shoulders, his narrowing eyes: this was Marie's brother, but more evident was the fact that he was Amos's son. "You think you can just show up here after two years and do nothing, say nothing like you usually do?" John asked, his voice rising with each word.
Marie rubbed behind her eyes. "John, just stop…"
"What have you been doing? Probably nothing because you do nothing. You have all this time and yet you don't spend it with any of us? Yeah, I'm mad," John said, purposely filling the doorway even more. "You waste all this time and for what?"
Elsa rounded the bed and stood between Marie and John. "I believe she said stop," Elsa said firmly, her gaze unflinching.
Before John could retort, a hand slapped itself onto John's shoulder, the strength of the gesture causing the young man to tip to the side for a moment. "Your mom wants to ask you something," Marie's stepfather, Marvin, said in a loud tone. John scoffed and walked away, his face flushed. "Supper will be ready in a few minutes," Marvin said. He met Elsa's gaze and nodded, and she returned the gesture.
"Why is Uncle so mean?" Hayden asked quietly.
Marie tried to hide her shaking, but Elsa caught it. "Wouldn't we all like to know?" Marie muttered.
Elsa looked at her. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Marie answered quickly, forcing a smile. "He's always like that…"
Some of the kids shifted stiffly. "That doesn't make it okay," Elsa said gently. Marie frowned and looked away.
Before dinner, Marie's mother showed Elsa around the house as she pointed out several possessions she had procured over her lifetime. Even though some of the items were over seventy years old, each was still new and technically from the future to Elsa. She asked several questions, explaining it was for the essay she was supposedly working on.
There was always a child or two following her and Marie around, much to the chagrin of their grandmother during her tour. Out of the corner of her eye, Elsa observed that Tina barely paid attention to her children, especially around other adults. The only time she spoke to them was to scold them for behavior natural of a child. Every time this happened, Marie was quick to comfort the children or ask them a question about themselves. I can see why they follow her, Elsa thought. She's one of the only safe people to be around.
"Have you seen the yard?" Theresa asked Elsa.
"No, not yet," Elsa answered. "But I'd like to."
"I can show you!" Marie said quickly, immediately heading for the door.
"Wait, Aunty!" Isaac called out as he hopped up from one of the couches. "Are you leaving?"
Elsa clasped her hands in front of her as she observed how worried the young boy looked. Marie smiled fondly and shook her head. "No, I'm not leaving. Just showing Elsa the yard." She motioned with her head at the front door. "Wanna come?" A cacophony of children rushed to put their shoes and coats on, and Elsa smiled at the sight of Marie's happy face. Even the dogs readied themselves to go outside, wagging their tails as they waited patiently by the door.
"Mom, can I wear your coat?" Lydia asked as her siblings put on their winter gear.
Tina rounded the corner with a scowl. She crossed her arms. Elsa heard Jack mutter from behind her, "Here we go…"
"I told you to bring a jacket before we left!" Tina yelled. Elsa caught Marie flinching from the sudden, loud noise, along with Hayden. "Why didn't you listen?!"
Elsa instinctively stepped in front of Lydia, unable and not wanting to hide her own scowl. "She can borrow mine," Elsa said firmly. She slipped her light blue jacket off and handed it to the girl with a smile. "Here," she said gently.
Lydia took it. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Elsa nodded. Gray opened the door as he said, "The cold doesn't bother her!"
Marie snorted loudly before turning away, but Elsa caught sight of her shoulders bouncing. Hayden rolled his eyes as he followed his younger brother outside. "It's almost supper time!" Tina spat, still rooted in the same place in the same position.
"Not for another few minutes," Marie answered as she stood. Her eyes were darker than usual, and Elsa felt her chest tighten when she saw the same expression on Marie's face as she had with her brother. It was one Elsa was not used to seeing. Usually Marie was pensive and calm, not plagued with bitterness and disdain. "It'll be fine," Marie said as she ushered the rest of the children and the dogs outside. Marie shut the door behind them. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with my siblings," she hissed under her breath as the kids ran out into the yard.
Elsa softly bumped Marie's shoulder with her own. "It's okay to have someone be there for you," Elsa said as they watched two of the dogs chase each other. "I hate the way they treat you, and the kids."
Marie stomped down the front porch stairs. "Yeah, well, join the club."
Elsa sighed but said nothing. It had only been a few minutes since they arrived, but Elsa was beginning to understand why Marie cut contact with her family. As she followed Marie and the children, she could not help but dread the upcoming dinner, but was vehement about being by Marie's side. There was no way she would leave Marie alone during it.
"Elsa."
She turned her attention to Jack, who had spoken to her. "Yes?"
The teen cleared his throat and quickly scanned the yard for anyone close by. When he saw no one near them, he turned his attention back to Elsa. "Um, are you her?" he asked quietly. Elsa tilted her head. He blinked nervously. "Are you the woman who was in the woods?"
A million thoughts swam around Elsa's mind. Should she tell the boy the truth, or should she lie? Lying felt wrong, but Elsa also did not want to overcomplicate the situation for Marie anymore than it already was. She looked Jack in the eyes. He was genuine and curious as he awaited her response. After a few seconds, Elsa faced him and said, "I am." Jack looked taken aback as his eyes widened. Elsa smiled softly. "So, you believe her?" she asked.
Jack nodded. "Why would she lie?"
Elsa looked out into the yard and watched Marie chase around the dogs and younger children. "She wouldn't," Elsa said, her chest beginning to feel heavy.
They chuckled as one of the dogs nearly ran into Gray, who waved his fist angrily in the air in response. Jack smoothed out his sweatshirt. "What happened that night?" Jack asked.
Elsa continued to watch Marie interacting with the children and dogs. "I think Marie should be the one to tell that story," Elsa responded. She gave the boy a soft smile. "And only when she's ready to."
Kayla ran up to them, quickly followed by her younger brother, Isaac. "Guess how many flower beds my grandma has?" Kayla asked. Her expression had turned from being tense inside of the house to happy and free outside.
Elsa smiled, a gesture she naturally gave around her current company. Seems Marie made the right call to come outside, she thought to herself. "How many?" she asked.
"FOURTEEN!" Isaac answered excitedly.
"And she uses them all!" Lydia chimed as she joined them.
Elsa chuckled. "I know it's winter, but will you show me?" she asked the children. The rest of the group joined them as Lydia began the outside tour. Marie joined Elsa's side. They fell into the rear of the group, and Elsa turned towards Marie. "What are the ages of the kids?" Elsa asked.
Marie smiled, blushed and looked at the ground for a moment. "Jack is 15, Kayla is 14, Lydia is 12, Isaac is 10, Hayden is 9, and Gray is 7." Even though Marie was hypervigilant from watching over the children and pets, she looked much more peaceful and happier, something Elsa felt comforted by. Marie had a natural gift with children, which Elsa saw once more, but as these particular children ran around them, laughing and lightly teasing each other and their aunt, a deep maternal side unveiled itself within Marie, touching everything and everyone around her. Even though Elsa was comforted by this, she again felt heaviness within her chest. For a moment, she stopped walking and averted her gaze to the snowy ground.
Marie turned towards her, immediately noticing. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Elsa responded as she rubbed the tip of her nose. "Just thought I had to sneeze."
"Ugh, I hate when that happens!" Isaac said.
"Yeah, it's so annoying," Kayla responded. "Feels like I'm gonna blow up or something."
Elsa chuckled. "It does feel like that, doesn't it?"
Theresa yelled from the house that supper was ready. Everyone climbed back inside and washed their hands before coming to the kitchen. Elsa noticed that Marie let the children dish up before herself, and Elsa followed suit, even though they were the only adults that did so. She always puts them first, Elsa thought as she put some mashed potatoes on her plate. And with everything she has…
"So, what part of Norway are you from?" Marvin asked after everyone was seated at a large oak table in the dining room.
Elsa took a glass of water Marie offered her with a smile. "A little town called Halsatt," Elsa replied. "It's small, but beautiful."
"How big?" Marvin asked.
Elsa sipped some water. "Less than 1,000."
"Wow, that's smaller than Lilliput," Jack commented as he leaned against a wooden archway near the dining room. He hesitated to choose whether to sit at the kids' table or with the adults. Tina pulled out a chair next to her and motioned for her eldest son to sit. He did so and asked, "Do you guys have a school?"
"Jack, why wouldn't they have a school?" Kayla teased her brother as she sat next to him.
When Elsa nodded, Jack asked, "How many are in each grade?"
"Ten to fifteen, depending on the grade," Elsa said.
"Wow, that's small!" Isaac piped up from the sunroom where the kids' table was.
"Isaac, you don't seem nervous around her anymore," Lydia said coyly as she sat with her younger brothers.
"Shut up! I was never nervous!" Isaac shouted.
"No shouting at the dinner table!" Marvin warned, his own voice rising.
Marie lifted her water glass to her mouth and muttered, "Does that also apply to adults?" Elsa nearly choked on her ham.
"So, what made you come here?" John asked in a light tone as though his recent behavior either did not exist or did not matter.
Elsa did not look at him as she answered, "More opportunities, I guess." Feeling brave, she added, "I also wanted to see Marie."
Marie was the one who nearly choked on her food this time. As she pounded her chest, Theresa narrowed her eyes. "How come we've never heard of you?" she asked, donning her sharp, degrading tone.
"Because we've heard nothing from Marie," Tina answered. The sisters glared at each other, making the children shift uncomfortably. "You're gone for two years and come back with someone we've never heard of. I think we have the right to say something."
There it was again: that same dark look that came across Marie's face. She cut through her ham quickly, her movements stiff. "Contrary to popular belief, I actually did stuff these past two years," Marie muttered bitterly.
"That's surprising," John seethed.
Elsa set down her water rather loudly. "Why worry about what Marie does with her time, John?" Elsa asked, forcing a cordial tone even though it was hard. "Just curious."
"Because she leeches off the government, that's why!" He glared at his younger sister. "How long has it been? Seven years now? You aren't disabled anymore! You're just taking advantage of the system!"
"That's an awful thing to say," Elsa interjected. She understood why Marie said her brother was very cruel. "Being ableist isn't right."
"Joh, stop talking," Marie growled, unable to hide her shaking.
"Why? It's true!" John fired back. "You're just lazy!"
Suddenly Marie shot up from her chair. "I said stop talking, you jackass!" Everyone fell silent. John opened his mouth, but not before Marie grabbed her plate and left the table. "I'm eating in my room," she hissed. "Elsa, kids, you're welcome to join me." As John uttered a syllable, Marie shot a glare at him. "And I swear to God, if you follow me, I will leave."
Elsa got up and followed her. As she left the room, she waved one of her fingers at her side. John tried to get up but was unable to as Elsa froze him to his chair. "What the hell?" he grumbled. Elsa shot him a wicked smile before departing. She knocked lightly on Marie's old bedroom door. "It's me." Marie uttered for her to enter, and Elsa felt her chest tighten at the sorrow that filled her voice.
Elsa entered and immediately hugged Marie. "He can't follow you if he can't move."
Fighting back tears, Marie bit her lip. "You'll draw attention that way," she said. Elsa sighed and waved her finger, undoing her spell. Marie shoved her food onto the bedstand and plopped down onto the floor. "I almost lost it," she whispered, looking at her hands. Dark tendrils swirled around her fingers. "I almost used my magic against him."
Elsa set her plate of food next to Marie's. "You would have been defending yourself."
Marie let out a tch! A knock sounded on the door. Elsa stood in front of Marie, her anger rising even further. Marie had told stories of her brother's bravery and kindness when they were younger, and even though Elsa used to wonder why he had changed so much, she no longer cared. All she knew was that he was constantly hurting Marie and would not stop, and she was sick of it. She opened the door, readying her hand with ice behind the door.
"Can we join you?" Isaac asked with Hayden and Gray behind him.
Elsa and Marie relaxed and smiled at each other. "Of course," Marie said, and Elsa and she hid their hands behind their backs. The kids came in and everyone sat on the floor. Soon, Lydia joined them as well, and even though Marie was visibly upset, Elsa could tell that the children were easing her pain. After a few minutes, Marie set down her half-eaten plate of food. "Um, guys? I shouldn't have called my brother that. It wasn't right, so don't go swearing at each other, okay?"
"I thought it was hilarious," Lydia admitted.
"It was funny," Hayden added quietly.
"You literally called him a donkey!" Isaac said with a giggle.
"A donkey is called a jackass?" Gray asked innocently.
Everyone laughed, Marie included. She smiled softly at the boy and caressed his hair. "No swearing, Gray," she said. "But yes, it is for some reason."
They continued eating until Isaac asked, "Hey, Aunty, is the bow you got us in the upstairs garage? I can't find it anywhere."
Marie stretched her arms above her head. "I don't know, but I can look." She looked at Elsa. "Care to join me? There's lots about my childhood up there."
Before Elsa could respond, Gray responded, "Yeah! Are we going now?"
Elsa giggled as Marie shook her head. "Sorry, bud, but this is only gonna be Elsa and I. We'll be quick," Marie said. They exited the room and headed for the front door. Marie did not even look at anyone else, and Elsa offered a cordial nod to Marvin and Theresa as they passed them by. Once outside, Marie led them to the steel-covered garage. It was dark and chilly inside. The smell of oil and wood filled the enclosed space, and Elsa felt Marie's hand hover over Elsa's eyes. "Here," Marie said. Elsa blinked as her night blindness faded away. Marie offered her a hand. "It's over here."
Even though she could see, Elsa was still glad that Marie was holding her hand. The stairs to the attic were wobbly and short, making it a somewhat perilous trip dark or light. About thirty feet of wooden flooring lined the attic, and packed were copious amounts of boxes and chests. Marie blew out a trail of visible air. Elsa held Marie's arm. "Chilly?"
Marie smiled. "Nah." Elsa paused, then hugged her tightly. Marie grunted. "You okay?" she asked.
Elsa pulled away. "Are you?"
Marie poked at one of the boxes. "They haven't changed, Elsa. They never will." Her shoulders slouched. "But Amos threatened them, so I'm here." She gestured widely and helplessly. "I'm here! Stuck defending people who have no idea what's going on!"
Elsa rubbed Marie's shoulder. "Maybe we should tell them. They might treat you differently."
"Ha," Marie uttered tiredly. She rummaged through the box in front of her. "I knew they were here!" She pulled out some stuffed animals and showed Elsa excitedly. "These are my Beany Babies! I used to love playing with these guys! Here!" She handed Elsa a calico cat. "I used to call this one Mama because she's bigger than the others and has a daughter. I want to give these to the kids." Elsa's smile faded, and for a moment she forgot that the cover of darkness was not hiding her face. Marie titled her head. "What's wrong?"
Elsa gripped the stuffed animal in her hands. "Marie, I see how you are with them, with the kids…" She felt herself starting to shake, but she hid it. "I understand if you want to stay here…to be with them, if you don't want to come back with me." A huge lump caught in Elsa's throat. "I'll understand completely."
Marie's hands touched Elsa's face, and she pulled her in. Elsa grunted in surprise as Marie kissed her fervently, but she soon kissed her back. Marie pulled away from the kiss but not from Elsa. "Why don't you understand?" Marie whispered against Elsa's lips. She rubbed their foreheads together. "Why won't you understand how much I love-"
Marie stopped talking when Elsa let out a charged huff and kissed her. Even though it was cold out, the two women's bodies were growing hot from their closeness. Elsa pulled away while holding Marie close. "Say it," Elsa whispered as she kissed Marie's cheeks.
"But you interrupted me," Marie teased.
Elsa half grunted, half whined. "Say it."
Marie kissed her. "Elsa." She kissed Elsa again. "I." She kissed her again. "Love-"
"Hey, Aunty! Did you find the-?" The two women shot away from each other, but not before Gray caught sight of them with a flashlight kissing passionately. The young boy dropped the flashlight, and it echoed around the attic as it clanked down the steps.
