Hey. Sorry it took a week longer than promised. I rewrote some parts a few times - and I kept adding parts.
Three years later
Sophie giggled as she pulled the strings on her present and the box fell apart.
Wendy smiled at the little girl when her eyes lit up at the sight of the teddy bear inside. She glanced over at Eric. The boy had used his allowance to buy his little cousin a birthday gift.
The girl giggled and poked at the bear.
"What do we say, Sophie?" Adaline said with a smile as Sophie hugged the bear tightly.
The little girl got up and turned to her older cousin. "Thank you." She said in that childlike, charming way.
Eric smiled back.
Wendy sipped her tea and watched the children play.
Adaline sat down next to her. "It's really wonderful to see them all get along."
Eric gently took the bear from Sophie and held it up in front of his face.
"Hello, Sophie," he said in a deep voice and moved the teddy bear like it was the one talking. "My name is Mr. Teddy and I like to play." He then held the bear's arm out for her to shake.
Sophie giggled and took the arm and shook it like she was greeting someone. "Hello, Mr. Teddy."
"Yes," Wendy said and put a hand on her daughter's arm. "You have no idea how happy this makes me."
When she looked at the children, she saw Devin watching them.
"Is there something the matter?" She asked her daughter and nodded towards her son-in-law.
Adaline gave her a nervous smile and fidgeted for a bit. "Me and Devin were talking the other day. He thinks, especially with … how Brian is not with us … then we should reach out to Mary and reconcile with her."
"Shall I give you the letter she sent me? Perhaps you can find her?" Wendy offered.
Adaline smiled. "That would be helpful. Have you written to her recently?"
Wendy shrugged her shoulders. "No, I am afraid not. She still writes though … she writes so much about her son Wally. He is such a smart boy, at least that is what she says."
"Who says what?"
Wendy looked up from her tea and saw her husband had come into the room.
"We were talking about Mary," Adaline said.
Her father brushed her off nonchalantly with a gesture and smiled at the children instead.
"How are you, my little dear?" He smiled at Sophie and the little girl excitedly held up her new teddy bear.
"This is Mr. Teddy." She giggled.
Eric leaned down and took the hand of the teddy bear. "Well, greetings, Mr. Teddy. Thank you for joining us for this celebration." He said and shook the hand.
Sophie giggled.
It was no secret that her husband adored their youngest grandchild.
"Eric bought it for her," Devin interjected.
The baron smiled.
Wendy smiled too. They had settled into a comfortable routine as they were raising their grandson. it was not as easy raising a 10-year-old now, as it had been in her 30s, but they made it work.
She looked at the strands of gray hair hanging down over her shoulders.
It was hard to think that her hair had once been fiery red. Now the red color was dull and graying.
Their grandson smiled and stood up proudly.
His grandfather patted his head as he sat down to a cup of tea.
"You remind me of your father that way, always thinking of others."
Little Eric's eyes lit up and he sat at his grandfather's feet and asked for more stories of his father.
Wendy sighed in contentment. "He was the best son we ever had."
6 months later
Little Eric pulled on his jacket.
Wendy smiled at him. "You look so handsome."
The boy fidgeted shyly.
"Are we going to have a party?" He asked.
Wendy shook her head. "No, but we are having guests; Lady Briar and her granddaughter are coming."
Eric smiled mysteriously, like he had found something out. "We met them at a party."
She caressed the boy's head. "Indeed, we did. Lord Briar and your grandfather are going to discuss some business. Therefore, it is now a job to entertain Lady Briar and her granddaughter."
Eric smiled. "Do you think me, and Elizabeth can read a story together?"
"Thank you so much for your hospitality. Indeed, you simply must come and see our garden in the fall. It is so pretty with all the leaves." Melissa said as they said goodbye.
"We would be oh so delighted Melissa." Wendy smiled back. "It was such a shame that your daughter-in-law could not join us."
The other woman made an off-handed gesture. "Young people today ... they are so busy fighting for a cause, they forget the little things."
Wendy nodded in agreement.
"I had a nice time. Can we play together again?" The little girl asked Eric.
Eric smiled the same boyish smile that Brian usually did. "Of course, Elizabeth."
The little girl blushed and looked even more like a porcelain doll with her flushed cheeks.
The blonde little girl curtsied after her grandmother helped her down the front steps.
"Can I go play now?" Little Eric asked as the car left.
Wendy smiled. "Of course, my dear."
"What do you think of young Elizabeth?" Her husband asked after Eric had left the entranceway.
Wendy smiled as they walked together. "She is quite the adorable young lady."
"Indeed." Her husband smiled. "And the Briar family has quite a good reputation."
Wendy caught his meaning and gave him a look. "Do you not think it's a bit early to consider those things? Eric is only 10 years old."
"But he is going to be the next Baron and it would be a good match for him."
Wendy shook her head. He could be so hopeless sometimes.
3 months later
"I don't want to go outside," Eric said as he looked out the window.
"Yes, it is still storming a bit from yesterday," Wendy said and looked out at the rain. "But you are just going out to the car, and then the driver will let you off at the school gates."
Eric grumbled and ate a spoonful of his cereal. He had clearly thought that the rainy day was an excuse not to go to school.
He was getting older.
"A little rain never hurt anyone, child." His grandfather said from behind the newspaper.
Suddenly, the butler came into the room. He seemed disturbed.
"Sir, Madam, there's a phone…" He spoke really fast.
"Oh dear, what is the matter?" Wendy asked and stood up.
She got a bad feeling when the butler continued to stumble over his words.
"An emergency." He finally said and both she and her husband walked out to the phone.
When she heard the somber voice from the other side of the phone, she just collapsed.
When they arrived at the police station, the two little girls flung themselves into Wendy's arms.
They cried incoherently as she looked up at the cleaning lady.
The woman looked at her like she wanted to hug her and cry too.
Wendy wrapped her arms protectively around the girls.
"Madam Branigan?"
She looked up at a police officer, who introduced herself as a detective.
She wanted to talk to the girls about what happened; to get the full picture.
"What happened?" Wendy asked before she could stop herself.
All she knew was something had happened to her daughter and son-in-law; the girls were crying, and the cleaning lady looked like she had seen a ghost. However, she had a bad feeling since they were at the police station and not the hospital.
"Bad men." Sophie's voice sounded completely flat as she looked up at her grandmother and hugged her teddy bear into her chest. "Bad men came and hurt mummy and daddy."
Wendy stared at the little girl in shock and then looked over at the cleaning lady for some kind of confirmation.
The woman was just a little younger than Wendy herself. She looked ashamed and tears came from her eyes, she nodded slowly.
Wendy looked up at the police officer in shock.
She looked back sympathetically. "We need to ask the girls some questions, and we would like you too to be in there."
It was heartbreaking to hear the two girls recount what had happened.
Adaline and Devin had taken them to the movies. They were just taking off their coats and hanging them in the closet when two men followed them into the house. Adaline had pushed the two girls into the closet and closed the door. Evangeline told them that the two men had wanted money, but Devin had said no. They began to yell, and Evie had to cover Sophie's mouth to keep her from crying because their mommy had told them to be quiet. There was a bang, Daddy fell, and Mommy screamed, there was more yelling and another bang. They could see it all through gaps in the panels of the closet door.
The two girls had been too scared to move. There was banging throughout the night and Evangeline had sat there the entire night holding Sophie and waiting for their mother to let them out.
It was only when they heard the cleaning lady scream that Sophie pulled loose and banged on the door. The cleaning lady led them out and they saw their parents lying on the floor with blood.
After they had recounted the story, the detective praised them for being brave.
"When is mommy and daddy coming back?" Sophie asked.
The detective looked sad. "Sweetie…"
Wendy held back her tears and bent down to the children's level.
She smiled. "Your mommy and daddy went to see Uncle Brian and Aunty Catharina."
Sophie looked at her confused. "They are with the elven queen?"
Wendy nodded and did everything she could not to cry.
"But…" Evangeline's lip quivered. "That means … they can't come back."
Just a few weeks ago, Wendy had told her granddaughter what a big girl she was, but now she was reminded that the little girl was just 8 years old.
The detective glanced at her and Wendy didn't smile anymore, she shook her head.
The girl started crying again, and Wendy could do little else but rub their backs and console them.
The detective gave her a nod - like she approved of what she had said.
That night
Wendy breathed heavily.
The girls were finally asleep.
She had sat with them the entire day and they had just cried and cried. They kept asking for their parents, and she had to tell them they were gone.
They had only agreed to go to sleep after Eric had volunteered to let them sleep with him in his room with the lights on.
Little Eric, bless his heart. He had been there the entire day beside her, trying to comfort the girls. Unfortunately, it had led to Evangeline asking some questions about when his parents died.
She tried to get her breathing under control as she put on her nightgown.
How was any of this fair?
She looked out to the small balcony that was connected to the bedroom.
There was still a strong wind outside. It rattled the windows from time to time, which made the little girls scared.
She opened the balcony doors and stepped out onto the tiny balcony.
The wind felt hard against her face.
She screamed everything out into the wind.
Why? Why? Why did this happen to her?
First, Mary went away, then Brian died and now Adaline is gone too.
What did she ever do to deserve this? Why did her grandchildren have to be in so much pain?
She screamed and howled and didn't care who heard her when she suddenly felt two arms enclose her waist.
It was her husband. There were tears in his eyes, too.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He whispered as he tightened his arms around her.
Wendy did not know what he was apologizing for but lifted a hand to his hair.
"Let us go inside. We will go sick if we stay out here." He said after a while.
Wendy just sobbed in response.
"We must be strong; for them." He said as he sat down on the bed after closing the balcony doors.
Wendy nodded in agreement. "We are all they have left now."
"And we will do just fine. We will raise them as their parents wanted us to raise them." Eric smiled bitterly at her.
Wendy sighed at the entire situation. "I think... I think that we should invite Mary to the funeral."
"Absolutely not." Eric's tone suddenly became hard.
"When has enough time passed?" Wendy yelled and heard her voice echo off the walls.
Eric looked at her angrily. "There will never be enough time to forgive her. She was the one who abandoned the family! She does not get to crawl back!"
"She was young Eric! She's all we have left!" Wendy yelled back.
"Don't be naive Wendy, she will take advantage of us!"
"Is that what you think of your daughter? That she will come back simply to take advantage of us. For what?"
Eric's eyes were cold. "She stopped being my daughter when she ran off." He stood up and turned away from Wendy. "She was always such a problem child, and now that she's realized what the real world is like, she would use any chance to come back. What would that do to our reputations? We have the children to think about now, Wendy." He was talking to her like she was a child. "She has made her bed and now she needs to lie in it."
"Adaline was her sister." Wendy tried to reason.
Eric raised an eyebrow at her. "It did not seem to bother her that we were her parents when she ran off."
One year later
Wendy smiled as the sound of hooves thundered around her.
The children laughed as they rode through the forest.
It didn't take long for them to disappear amongst the trees.
Nothing bad would happen to them in this forest the elven queen had promised her.
She patted her horse's neck.
"You know, you are no Temper, but I think I enjoy our slower walks," She said.
The horse huffed in response.
She enjoyed the sun and birdsong as the horse slowly moved through the forest.
The trees were green, and the flowers were colorful.
The summer days were peaceful, and the children were happy to be out riding. Eric had wanted to hunt, but Wendy had to tell him that they could only hunt on special occasions.
She smiled at the little green children who peeked out from the bushes as she passed.
Some of them waved back at her like they knew her, others pulled back to hide in the bushes.
When she made it to the clearing, she stopped her horse before entering to avoid disturbing the children's fun.
They had taken off their shoes and were playing in the shallow water of the lake.
She held back her laughter. She saw Sophie's teddy bear guarding the picnic basket on a rock near the horses.
They are laughing…
Wendy looked to the right and saw Adaline hiding behind the tree next to her.
She nodded and looked back out to the children. "Yes…"
I am glad to see them … happy again… Her daughter said.
"They miss you, all three of them."
I miss them … too… Adaline looked longingly out at the children. But I would not want them… to leave…
"I know." Wendy sighed and felt the sting of sadness. She smiled bitterly. "They are doing great, you know."
A smile spread on Adaline's face as Sophie splashed Eric with water and giggled with delight. "Their clothes are going to be ruined. Father is going to be furious."
Wendy looked at her girl. She looked younger than the last time she saw her.
"They caught those men; they are serving time now. Evangeline identified them." She said.
Adaline's smile got wider as she continued watching the children. My Evie … she is such a brave girl… She looked up at Wendy with soft green eyes. She reminds me of Mary…
In the blink of an eye, a handsome and young Devin stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
We went to see her … and her child… he said with a smile.
Adaline smacked him lightly on the shoulder. Do not ruin the surprise…
Wendy watched them and shook her head, as she gave the horse a light kick, so it wandered into the clearing.
The children noticed her as she got closer.
"Nana!" Sophie said with glee and stepped out from the water. "What took you so long?"
Wendy could not decide whether the three children looked like drowned mice or water nymphs with their bare feet and nice clothes dripping with water.
Wendy looked back towards the tree where her daughter had watched from. "I was just speaking to an elven."
3 months later
She sighed in contentment and put the book down.
"Here you go, Nana," Sophie said and handed her a tall glass of iced tea.
She smiled at her granddaughter and took the glass and sipped it before putting it down on the small table beside her chair. "Thank you, my dear."
"You look as radiant as ever in the sun." She heard a voice say from behind say, as she sat up.
"Elias?" Wendy greeted him surprised. "What brings you to our humble home?"
"Nothing and everything." He said with a smile.
She stifled her laughter with a hand.
"Hello, Mr. Painter." Sophie greeted.
Elias nodded at her. "Hello, my little lady."
"We will get you some tea too," Sophie said with determination and stepped inside again.
"I really do not need any…" Elias called after her, but she was already gone.
"It is no use; she is rather fast on her feet." Wendy laughed.
Elias turned back to her with a raised eyebrow. "What did she mean with we?"
Wendy smiled knowingly. "Her teddy bear. She takes it with her everywhere and he is part of her every discussion and decision."
He quietly watched her.
She gestured to the other chair and he sat down.
"So, what brings you here?" She asked again.
"I was thinking about the next family portrait and I would like your opinion." He said.
Sophie came running with a glass of iced tea for Elias.
"Do not run dear, you could fall," Wendy said with a smile.
"Thank you." Elias smiled warmly, as he accepted the glass.
Sophie blushed and giggled. "Me and Mr. Teddy have to go now, we have another appointment."
Wendy raised an eyebrow at her granddaughter, knowing that it was a phrase the little girl had heard from her before.
She nodded with a smile. "Then you and Mr. Teddy should be on your way."
The little girl smiled and skipped back into the house.
Wendy sipped her tea and looked at Elias. When the man didn't say anything, she spoke up.
"You wanted to do something with the next family portrait?"
"Yes," he said slowly and seemed to be staring after Sophie.
Wendy did not blame him. She was an adorable little girl, picture-perfect for a portrait.
"I think it would be perfect if I paint your children into the portrait." He said.
Wendy furrowed her brows. "How?"
"I would look at the previous portraits for inspiration and paint their likeness into the painting."
Wendy thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "I think that would be a very nice idea." She said and sipped her tea. ´
Elias smiled and took a sip of the tea. "It is quite good. Did she make it herself?"
Wendy shook her head. "No, one of the kitchen maids makes iced tea for us in the summer. Sophie just likes giving people things."
"How sweet. Your husband must hate it." Elias smiled knowingly.
Wendy sighed and put her glass down on the table. "Does he ever, I swear it was only a matter of time before he started finding faults with the children."
They shared a smile, and then Elias put his glass down. "You know my muse; the offer still stands."
Wendy tried to hide her frown by sipping on her glass.
"Elias," she said slowly and put the glass down. "Given everything that's happened, I can never take your offer."
The man looked puzzled. "Why not?"
She smiled at the glass of iced tea. "I have my grandchildren to look after. I cannot just abandon them."
"You do not have to. I do not mind them. They are sweet children." Elias reasoned.
Wendy sighed. "This is their home; they have been through enough. Besides, they can get a much better life here than I can give them by myself." Elias tried to interject, but she stopped him with a hand. "I am sorry Elias … I did tell you to not wait for me … I never wanted you to be unhappy…"
"Wendy … does your happiness not count at all? You are unhappy here and you do not love Eric." Elias said desperately.
Wendy sighed and felt a knot forming in her chest. She hated seeing him like this - and she hated herself for leading him on. She should have been firmer and more assertive with him when they were younger, but she had enjoyed fantasizing with him about the life they could lead together and had never given him a proper rejection.
She took hold of her glass. "You are wrong. I'm very happy that I get to see my grandchildren every day. I get to be there with them through the good times and the bad, that makes me happy." She sipped the last of her tea. "And as for Eric? You're right that I do not love him like I used to." Her eyes drifted out to the little structure in the tree line. "But I love the things he has given me. I love my children, my grandchildren, and the life he gave me here. I will always be grateful for those."
Elias leaned forward like he had more to say.
"Grandma?"
They both looked up at Evangeline, who stood in the terrace dorm.
"Lunch has been served. And you promised to take us into town afterward." Evie said.
Wendy smiled. "Coming, dear."
"My lady, I should be the one to inform…" The young butler came into view behind the young girl.
Wendy waved off his concerns with a smile. "Do not speak like that." She said and stood up and then remembered Elias. "Where are my manners? Would you like to have lunch with us, Elias?"
He looked at her, confused and stunned. "No … thank you … my lady…." he finally said.
Wendy smiled apologetically and turned to her granddaughter and butler. "Please see Mr. Angelico out, Jameson. Evie and I will head to the dining room."
Four months later.
"Wendy," Her old friend Abigail greeted her as they entered the ballroom. "Welcome," she said and leaned down to Sophie. "And hello little one, last time I saw you were just a little babe."
Wendy smiled and placed a gentle hand on the little girl's head, who smiled at the old woman in front of her and muttered a quiet "Hello."
Abigail smiled as Evangeline and Eric greeted her too, and Wendy felt pride at how well-behaved they were.
She felt her husband look at where Sophie held onto her dress and gave him a stiff look. He looked away.
"Wendy," Madeline and her granddaughter greeted them. "You came."
Wendy smiled charmingly. "Who would miss Abigail's winter ball."
"Nobody who's anybody," Abigail said and the woman laughed.
"Dearest you run off the moment we take our eyes off of you," Wallace said as he and his son appeared.
"Wallace," Wendy's husband greeted the Duke.
Their grandchildren whispered amongst themselves.
Wendy smiled at them and drifted from the adult conversations. Sophie hid behind her teddy bear, as Madeline's granddaughter Alison talked to her.
"Eric, hello." Another little girl, Elizabeth, joined them.
"Melissa." Abigail greeted them as the grandmother and granddaughter joined them. "How wonderful to see you."
"Do you want to dance?" Little Eric asked Elizabeth.
The little girl smiled and accepted.
Alison seemed a bit down at that, but quickly gathered herself and asked the other two girls if they would like to dance too.
Wendy was a bit hesitant to let the girls go, but Abigail insisted that it was quite safe. "The servants will keep an eye on them and get us if anything were to happen."
Sophie smilingly went along with her sister.
Wendy smiled after the little girl. She looked at adorable with her gown with matching shoes and gloves and Mr. Teddy securely in her arms.
"The children are so sweet, aren't they?" Melissa said as they looked at the girls dancing together. "How old is Sophie now?"
"She will be 7 years old next year," Wendy said and the woman furrowed her eyebrows.
Melissa furrowed her brows. "Is she not a little old to still carry that teddy bear around?"
Wendy's smile faltered a bit.
Sophie had carried Mr. Teddy around since Eric had given it to her. No one had thought anything of it, until after her parents died. Sophie had begun insisting everyone greet her teddy bear like it was a real person, but the bear now greeted them back in a deep gruff voice. It unnerved most people, though Sophie acted like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Wendy thought maybe the bear was magical, but her husband called a child psychiatrist, that told them that it was a trauma response. According to him Sophie was able to speak without moving her lips and pretended the teddy bear to talk so she would always have someone to talk to.
"So, anyway Adrian, your father said you went into education?" Wendy's husband asked Wallace and Madeline's son.
"Yes, well, we can't all inherit the title." The younger man said. "I just got a promotion to the board of…"
Wendy smiled stiffly at Melissa. "I think we should just let them be, while they are young."
"Understandable," Abigail said. "But there might be problems with her peers if she acts younger than she is. I remember when my Maria told her classmates she still believed in Santa Clause…"
Wendy looked at the little girl, who danced in a circle with a boy her age - each of them holding one of the teddy bear's arms.
Sophie was a happy child and social. It didn't bother Wendy that she was talking to her teddy bear, but it bothered others. Other children thought she was odd or frightening and adults thought she wasn't in her right mind.
Wendy hid her sigh. It was her husband especially that didn't like that.
"I would say, Madam Branigan, as an educator, that you have done a marvelous job raising your grandchildren," Adrian said pulling her back to reality.
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Just look at them. They look so adorable." Melissa said and nodded toward Eric and Elizabeth dancing, as she took a glass from a servant walking by with a tray of filled wine glasses.
"Can you hear the wedding bells?" Abigail giggled, as they watched the two of them move so elegantly. She took a glass when the servant offered her one. "Oh, but I wish my children would hurry up and give me some grandchildren I could dote on."
"Calm yourself Abi," Madeline said as she also took a glass from the servant. "Young people today like to take their time … besides we don't know what the future will bring."
Wallace chuckled. "Yes, we had hoped maybe he would have eyes for Alison."
"Father, young people today care little for arranged marriages." His son said with a smile.
"Maybe so," Melissa said. "But the young Eric is quite popular." Her eyes glanced over at Wendy's husband.
"If only he would show some interest." He said with a disapproving smile.
"Hush, darling," Wendy said and smiled as she took the glass of wine that the servant offered her. "Eric is 12. There is plenty of time for romance yet."
Wendy knew her husband was annoyed that the friendship between their grandson and the young Elizabeth Briar hadn't yet blossomed into a childhood romance.
It wasn't like their grandson didn't like Elizabeth. The boy just had no interest in romance.
"Well, I guess it is better than those young boys that think of nothing of girls." Lord Briar said. He had joined their little group just a moment ago. "It is hard to get those boys to focus on school."
The older man sucked on his pipe.
"If only that meant he would be better in school." Eric mused. "I swear the only thing on that boy's mind is music and those fairy stories Wendy tells them."
"Oh, yes." Madeline smiled. "Evangeline is also very musically inclined, is she not? And she is also quite the storyteller."
Wendy just smiled in response.
"They must get that from you." Abigail chimed in. "Elisa!" She then suddenly greeted into the crowd and then turned to the group. "I apologize, I simply must step away for a moment. I cannot be a bad hostess."
Wendy took a sip of her wine, as Abigail went to greet other guests.
Eric had lied. Their grandson did fine in school – all of their grandchildren did – but Eric had tried to get the boy into helping his organize papers on the estate and teaching him about management, which the 12-year-old had no interest in.
Sometimes Wendy suspected that because the boy looked so much like Brian, her husband just treated him like he once had Brian.
But they were so different. Even from a young age, Brian had been interested in running the estate, but Eric was not.
"Well, there are many different ideas about children's education." Wallace's son sighed. "Some of the older board members are advocating for music and etiquette lessons."
"How is that not useful, if they need to interact in high society?" Lord Briar asked.
Wendy smiled amused, as the younger man smiled.
Wallace gave his son a look, but that did not stop him.
"Well, Lord Briar, more and more of the working class are able to send their children to private school." He said with a polite smile. "And there is less and less need for them to converse with high society, as we nobles no longer have a monopoly on lucrative careers."
"Oh, yes, we are becoming redundant in these new times," Wallace said, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
"Things are moving so fast these days," Melissa said and shook her head. "I thought that there were certain criteria for students to get into those schools."
"Oh, that is an entirely different problem, Madam Briar," Adrian said. "Some of the other members of the board have all these ideas for how to test the children. I swear, they think their school's prestige lies in how hard it is to get in." He sighed. "Just last week one of the other board members suggested giving all the children IQ tests for entrance exams."
"IQ test?" Wendy asked confused.
Adrian smiled at her. "They are these test that supposedly grades the intelligence of the children."
"Well, is that not a good way of assuring only the most qualified get the best education?" Lord Briar asked and sucked on his pipe. He clearly had a lot of pride in his background as a scholar.
"Well, who is to say it is accurate? And who is to say the child that works hard for their grades is not a better fit than the naturally intelligent one?" Adrian asked. "Besides he got the idea after he heard of a boy with genius-level intellect being found in America because of a random IQ test."
"America…" the men mumbled under their breath.
"He brought an article about it and everything. They apparently thought he cheated and tested him a few times." Adrian said and turned to his father. "I think you will like this father. The boy had the same name as you.
Wendy smiled as the older man straightened his back with pride.
Then she frowned. Wallace? America?
"It must be in the name," Wallace said with a smile and the others chuckled.
"Do you remember the boy's full name?" Eric suddenly asked.
Wendy gave him a confused look.
"Yes," Adrian said and sipped his wine. "He had a rather peculiar name, so I remember. Wallace R. West. It had a bit of rhythm to it – at least the way I read it."
Wendy furrowed her brows. That sounded familiar.
Her husband looked at her.
"What was the name of Mary's son?" He asked softly.
3 months later
"I just do not understand why you only want to invite the boy. Why not invite Mary and husband as well?"
"Mary abandoned us." Eric sighed irritated. "I see no reason to invite her back."
Wendy was tired of this argument. "She is our daughter, does there need to be a reason to invite her here? It has been so long, if you want to meet our grandchild why not invite the family."
Her husband crossed his arms. "It would bring back all the old stories of when she ran away. We do not need that now."
Wendy raised an eyebrow. For the last 10 years, he had waved off every mention of Mary and her family and suddenly he wanted to meet their grandchild, but without meeting his parents. "Then why even invite Wallace? Do you think that people will just ignore that his parents wouldn't be with him?"
He sighed. "Think about it, my dear. If he is as intelligent as they say, it will outweigh the rumors there will be about him." Her husband gave her an odd smile. "Just like it did with you."
Wendy felt uncomfortable. "Outweigh the rumors? What are you talking about? He is our grandchild, just like Eric, Evie and Sophie. You are talking about him like he is part of one of your business deals."
"Well, he would be a good investment." He said as a matter of fact and poured himself a drink. "You heard Adrian. There are already written articles about him. Not to mention that Eric, who still does not have any interest in running the estate or even finding a wife, would be a bad choice for an heir."
"He is young. He is not even a teenager." The words fell out of her mouth before she realized it.
"He is problematic, and so is Evangeline. She is antisocial and far too headstrong for a girl, I swear … and don't get me started on Sophie and that stupid teddy bear. Would it be so much to ask for a normal grandchild!"
Wendy was about to defend the children when the click of the door closing made her stop.
One of the kids had heard her.
"Wendy!" Eric called after her, as she made her way down the terrace steps.
He continued to call after her, as she ran into the darkness.
After the conversation with her husband, a servant had found the terrace open, and no one could find Sophie.
Her body felt heavy by the time she saw the outline of the forest.
She knew her little girl and she knew the one place she would go.
Wendy breathed deeply before she stepped into the forest.
"Sophie?" She called over and over again.
The moonlight helped her navigate through the dark forest.
She grew more and more anxious and yelled at the top of her lungs for her granddaughter, but there wasn't a reply.
Her feet became wet as she stepped in a stream.
A stream? Had she somehow been turned around?
She looked around confused but she could barely see anything in the dark.
It took her back to that dark night in the forest, where she was searching for her father.
She began to run through the trees, screaming Sophie's name.
Why wasn't she answering? Where was she?
Whispers seemed to follow her, as she moved as quickly as she could.
She fell over something and landed in the dirt.
Her voice was hoarse from screaming, her body was aching and heavy. She was old.
She tried to get up but couldn't. It felt like she had hurt her elbows when she fell – and her knees. On top of that, her clothes were now dirty and ripped.
Do you … need a hand…?
A glowing white hand appeared in front of her and illuminated her surroundings.
She looked up at the elven queen, who shined in the moonlight.
In one arm she held Sophie, who was perched on her arm a bit like a bird.
The little girl looked at her, confused - like she hadn't expected her.
Wendy took the hand. "Sophie, I'm so glad you're safe."
I found her in the darkness… The elven queen said, and the little girl cuddled closer to her.
"I'm going to live with the fairies now, grandma." The little girl said and glared at her.
"Why?" Wendy asked and winched in pain.
Her majesty waved a hand at her as the little girl spoke, and her pain dimmed.
"Grandfather doesn't want me anymore, So I wanna go live with the fairies."
"Sweetheart," She said and took a step closer to her granddaughter. Little tears were dripping down her little face. "There is no need for you to do that."
Sophie stubbornly clung to the elven queen.
You could stay here too … both of you could … together … safe from harm and pain… the elven queen said in a gentle, melodic tone.
"Yes, we can." Sophie smiled through her tears and reached out a hand for her grandmother. "Then we can play all day and pick flowers and you can tell me stories…"
When you looked from one to the other. A beautiful, untimely being that shined in the moonlight, and her little granddaughter.
She smiled and took her granddaughter's hand and then put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I know this feeling, child. Because I have wanted this many times, but I cannot go – and neither can you. There is still someone who needs us. Eric and Evie…"
Sophie frowned at that. "Evie … but what about the new grandson that's coming? He is going to replace us…"
Wendy caressed the little face. "No one could replace you, Sophie. You are far too precious – to me and your sister and Eric and your grandfather."
"But grandfather said…" Sophie sniffed.
"My grandfather says a lot of things that are not true." Wendy sighed with an exhausting smile. "But your cousin in America can never replace what you mean to your sister and to Eric."
The little girls seemed to contemplate it all.
Look at that… The elven queen said and pointed. They lit up the forest for you…
As Wendy looked behind her, she saw many lights all around the forest, And she heard soft voices call for her and Sophie.
They wish for you … to come back to them… They do not want you to disappear … either…
Sophie looked at the elven queen. "I'm sorry, but I can't go with you."
The elven queen smiled softly, and her eyes shined. Not today … but someday, child… She gently put Sophie down. Until then…
She pointed in the direction Wendy had come from and little blue flames lit the way.
"Come now, Sophie. They're waiting for us." Wendy said, and Sophie took her hand, as they walked back towards the estate.
At some point, the little lights went out, but they were replaced by the light of a lantern.
"There you are. I had a feeling I would find you here." Evangeline held up the Lantern as high as she could.
"Evie!" Sophie said and ran to her sister.
The older girl embraced her little sister. "Why did you run off?" She asked.
"How did you find us?" Wendy asked instead.
Evie smiled mischievously. "Mr. Tell Teddy told me where you were." She said and pulled the teddy bear out from under her coat.
Then she turned around. "I found them!" She yelled into the night.
They walked home with the help of the servants who had been searching the forest for them.
When they were home, Wendy and Sophie got a change of clothes. Sophie insisted on sleeping next to her grandmother, so Wendy just sat at the edge of the bed and caressed the little girl until she fell asleep.
When she swept the sleeping girl's bangs to one side, she saw the golden mark on the girl's forehead, that she herself had behind one ear.
Four months later
Wendy held her little granddaughter's hand tightly.
None of them had been in an airport before and they were a bit overwhelmed.
Eric was amazed at all the people and the bustling of activity, while Evangeline and Sophie kept close to her.
"Madam, I think that is him." The butler said as he leaned in.
A flight attendant came towards them with a redheaded boy walking beside her.
"Branigan?" The flight attendant smiled politely.
Wendy smiled back. "Yes."
"These are the people you're supposed to meet," The flight attendant said to the boy. "I will be going now, but you enjoy yourself and I'll see you on the flight home."
The boy looked up at Wendy with big, scared eyes as the flight attendant left.
They were a nice green color. Wendy smiled. He looked so much like Mary.
"Hello…?" He said slowly. The American accent sounded oddly flat. "I'm Wally…"
Wendy hadn't noticed that she had been staring at him in silence until he spoke.
She bent down slightly to get a better look at him and smiled warmly. "Hello Wally, my name is Wendy I am your grandmother." She gestured around her. "And these are your cousins."
The boy blinked at her. "Mom told me about you. Actually … I have something for you." He began rummaging through his pocket. "Mom said to give you this."
Wendy held out her hand to him and he dropped a coin in her hand.
She held it up.
It was the silver coin that Mary had taken with her when she ran away. Her son was returning for her…
Time went by so quickly. Wally came for a visit every year for two weeks, and it quickly became a time Wendy looked forward to.
He played so well with the other children. Sophie especially adored him and would jump into his arms whenever she saw him.
Wendy enjoyed watching them. It was almost like watching her children play together again.
They would have picnics in the forest, swim in the lakes, and have tea in her little pavilion by the forest while she told them stories of the elvens and forest creatures.
Wally didn't believe the stories and when the elven queen showed herself and the other children saw her, he didn't. He thought they were playing pretend.
He was so strong-headed about it, but at least he wasn't unpleasant like his grandfather, and his stubbornness reminded Wendy of his mother.
Though that changed with time. The year he turned 16, Wally began glancing in the direction of the elven queen when she appeared, but he still denied seeing anything. Her majesty seemed to find it amusing and appeared more often, but Wally never acknowledged her existence.
His American accent and lack of English manners did stick out a bit when they took him with them to parties, but most people found him rather charming. Wallace liked the boy a lot, and he and Madeline treated him like an extra family member; like they had done with Mary.
Because of this her husband began to push for Wally to be the heir to the estate and title and would introduce him as such to important people, but Wally was always quick to correct them that he was going back to America after his vacation and that he was going to be a scientist.
Wally talked about science a lot. He would often make a show out of showing them different experiments. His eyes always shined as he stood at a table in the garden and mixed things together to create a small explosion in a flask, or colorful crystals. He was a wonderful genius, but he grew up too fast.
They all did.
Eric began wearing darker clothes, playing loud, obnoxious music, and spending time away from home when he wasn't working on his father's collection of classic cars.
Evangeline became quite eccentric as she grew older, wearing clothes like those Wendy used to wear in her youth, and being quite the personality in high society.
And while Sophie never quite stopped carrying her teddy bear around and using her talent to speak without moving her lips, she did begin to leave it at home when they went out to parties. She never stopped speaking of the elven queen and their adventures together, though, and became known for being with the fairies as a result.
Her husband hated how none of them behaved how he wanted to, but when had he not?
She remembered when she had met Wallace's girlfriend for the first time. Such a beautiful girl – with an interest in archery no less.
Eric had hated the girl from the moment he saw her because he still had plans for Wally to take over for him as the next baron and wanted him to marry a girl from a good noble family.
Wendy had just shaken her head.
She wished he would stop worrying so much. The children were happy that was all that mattered. Everything would be fine.
Present day
Is there something on your mind … my little hunter…?
Wendy looked up.
The elven queen was sitting across from her.
"I was just thinking … remembering…" she said with a bitter smile.
The beautiful woman took some sugar cubes and folded them into her tea, just like Wendy had done, while looking at Wendy with her endless eyes. It has brought tears … to your eyes…
Wendy touched her cheek and felt a droplet on her finger. She looked down and then at the picture on the table. "They are hard to think about."
The elven queen lifted the cup to her lips without taking her eyes off Wendy.
What troubles you … my friend…? Her voice echoed around them, even without her moving her lips. Time has passed … since last … you came with tea…
The old woman breathed and looked at Wally's picture.
"I got a call from Mary about a month ago…" she mumbled. "It was about Wally."
The elven queen cocked her head to one side. Yes … the boy that could not see me … but then could…
Wendy smiled fondly at the picture. "What did I ever do for this to happen…?"
The elven queen looked at her. The endless eyes glittered. It almost looked like she was puzzled, but she didn't answer her.
The baroness stared down at her tea. She felt lost.
She reached across the table for her friend and the elven queen mirrored her movements with her free hand.
When their hands met, Wendy felt relief from her pain.
"I just want to see him … please."
The elven looked at her and slowly put the teacup down.
I am afraid that … I cannot fulfill your request…
Wendy stared at her old friend in confusion. "Why not?" Was the only thing she could say.
The elven queen leaned her head to one side.
It is simple … my little hunter… She said with a beautiful smile. He is not with me…
thank you for reading. I hope you liked it. This was meant to be like 10-20 chapters long, but I got caught up in telling Wendy's story. Nevertheless thank you for coming along on this journey with me and I hope you'll join me on the next one.
I will be editing the story in the next few months, but then I'll start the next project. That is if remains up.