Sorry this took a while; life's been lifing just a little too much for me lately. I hope this chap is worth the wait.
A sharp gasp hitched in Timmy's throat when a rapid secession of knocks jolted his rattled nerves like loud bangs.
"Hey, it's Tommy!" a tenor timbre spoke from behind the door, honeyed with a hint of a grated edge. "Can someone open the door, please?!"
Every magical being in the living room acted accordingly, instantaneously masking their true identities into magical, colorful disguises. Cosmo shapeshifted himself and Poof into green and lilac vases mounted along the fireplace mantel, also doing what he could to comfort his frightened son who cowered into his papa with eyes clamped shut as if bad monsters were after him. Alondro poofed into a retriever with yellow fur, and Wanda's signature pink replaced the hat capped on her godson's brunette shag.
Another series of banging knocks fired seconds after the first. "Hello?! Anyone there?!"
Wide eyes darted to his cousin who stood as still as a statue, physically present but mentally absent like an empty shell. Unreactive to the yellow retriever pawing at the top of his socks in attempts to ground Gary out of discombobulated clouds back to earth's reality.
Another round of knocks shook the door, and Timmy's stare then flickered to his grandfather's motionless body, seeing even less color in his aged skin than when he'd last laid eyes on him. Wanda was right, his grandpa needed help. But she was wrong about him being the only one who can get that for him.
Knocks banged on the door again, and his bucktooth bit down hard, pain stinging his lip. Anything to pull himself out from numbing dread. There was no time to be a sitting duck, and there was no time to question Tommy's unexpected arrival. He can't do this on his own…he needed an adult.
More pounding knocks came as he clamped his eyes shut, just long enough to demand himself to move. Dashing through the kitchen and nearly stumbling on his rapid footing into the door where his slippery fingers kept fumbling trying to undo the bolt locks. When he'd open the door, he would do his best to explain the situation as quickly as possible so that Tommy could get 9-1-1 dispatch to act quicker than with Gladys. What he did not expect was to barely get the door ajar before a hasty hound came barreling inside, knocking him off his feet in a startled yelp.
Galloping into the living room, four paws skirted to a stop before the unmoving man, using his front paws to roll Vlad onto his back. Tommy stepped through the doorway without waiting for the permission he'd normally ask for, outstretching his hand down to Timmy without a word. Timmy didn't think twice about accepting the help, promptly hoisted to a stable stance. He was going to ask Tommy how he and Buddy had gotten here so fast, or even why they showed up so coincidentally.
That was until the slightest hint of blue rays flickered from the corner of his eye, making him turn to look. Soon mystified by an unreal sight even with a child's belief in magic.
Buddy's eyes sparkled in a periwinkle-blue of celestial radiance. Casting glints of glistening magic concentrated down to his front paws pressed to Vlad's chest, directly over his heart. The little lilac vase, scared of a situation he couldn't really understand, mustered just enough bravery for one of his teary eyes to peek from his papa's side. Staring at the same sight that the green vase gawked unblinking.
The yellow retriever stumbled away from his godson's feet, losing his footing for a moment. Feeling a prickly sensation surge from the tip of his tail to the top of his head, instantly recognizing the otherworldly aura of magic that had mended his outer wounds. The pink cap squinted from the overwhelming, illuminous light casting the space in a bluish hue, and yet she couldn't look away. Almost convinced she'd stopped breathing had her breath not shook in her chest.
Timmy blinked rapidly with lips parted in silent surprise. Trying to process the unbelievable phenomenon unfolding before him as warm ivory washed away the cold pallor of death from his grandfather's skin. Rejuvenated life stretched in a gradual spread down his legs, through his arms down to the tips of his fingernails, and across his wrinkled face. Then, in a sudden snap of a second, his back arched off the floor in a long, gasping breath, as if his stiff lungs had been defibrillated instead of his weak heart.
Blue eyes flashed, almost bulging out of their sockets, eyes that rolled back into his head when his burst of new life depleted as quickly as it came. Dropping him back to the floor in large breaths, his once motionless chest animated in tall hills and deep valleys. Sparkles like shakes of glitter dimmed from Vlad's chest, brown and blue returning in Buddy's eyes which had been fixed in concentration. Deeming the first and top priority of his tasks done as he carefully backed away from Vlad now in a state of sopor, but very much alive.
"Good job, Buddy!" Tommy left Timmy's side, wearing a proud smile in his approach to Buddy who then sat on his hind legs beside the elderly man, his tongue panting in anticipation of his reward. "You did it!"
Tommy kneeled to Buddy, reaching behind floppy ears to give commendatory scratches. Buddy's right haunch leg kicked in response, patting his appreciative foot. Timmy crept through the kitchen and into the archway to the living room, his movements hesitant and unsure. One foot shifting in front of the other with his stare fixed on the golden retriever that, without a doubt, was not of this world.
"Alright…" Tommy ceased his scratches, pointing with one finger to the boy clinging to reality by the thinnest thread. "Now go help Gary."
Letting out a bark of conviction, Buddy rushed past Tommy over to Gary. Alondro had barely shifted to the side out of Buddy's determined charge before Buddy jumped on his hind legs, pawing at Gary's thighs. Gary flinched in a weak shudder but gave no resistance to Buddy forcing him onto his knees, trying to prevent the possibility of him accidentally falling backwards and hitting his head.
Once on his knees, Buddy used his front paws to push Gary's shoulders, laying his back against the floor. Buddy then walked with paws and feet on either side of Gary before he dropped down, careful not to crush him. Pressing his body weight from the bottom of Gary's calves to the top of his torso as his eyes began to sparkle once more, his glowing eyes meeting Gary's hollowed stare that soon glistened with enchanted glitters of a periwinkle hue.
Like a gravitational pull, it was as if Gary's spirit was dragged back into his body, no longer floating in a weightless, untethered space. Becoming anchored to reality as his eyes then fluttered out of his glassy haze.
When Buddy's eyes faded to their brown and blue, he wagged his tail with a happy whine, giving a sloppy kiss to Gary's cheek. Groaning, Gary lifted his head to the furry anchor grounding his conscious mind from floating away, though his thoughts still felt as if they were still slogging through the mud of disarray when his dry throat uttered the very first name that slugged through to the surface…
"…B-Birchie…?"
Buddy woofed in response to this name, panting his jovial tongue. Gary stared, trying to make sense of what did nothing but baffle his understanding. Timmy stood stock-still, thoughts crashing against each other. Either Gary was still out of it, or his delirium was on to something that, at first, was a mere assumption based on incomplete evidence, now a plausible theory of suspicion.
"Okay, that's enough, boy." Tommy instructed, standing to his feet. "I think he'll be alright."
Buddy obediently rose to stand on all fours, each paw planted to Gary's sides before he backed away, taking his time as to not accidentally cause any harm. Alondro took this as a cue to approach his godchild, helping Gary's struggling attempt to sit upright. Giving support with his body pushed against his godson's back as Gary grunted in his efforts, jelly-arms seemingly too wobbly to support himself.
Timmy pointed a skeptical glare at his 'older brother.' "Tell us who you really are." he probed, feigning confidence as Tommy faced him with an innocent arch of his brow.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean!" Timmy snapped, pointing a firm finger at the golden retriever who'd returned by Tommy's side. "That's no ordinary dog, is he!?"
Buddy's tail continued to wag as Tommy stood tall, exhaling a deep breath as he rested hands on his hips. His blue stare appeared deceptively calm with the straightest face, almost like someone with nothing to hide while simultaneously neither confirming nor denying the boy's accusation.
Snapping Timmy's already thin patience. "Tell us!"
Tommy took a couple of measured steps forward, making Timmy stagger the same number of steps backwards towards the fireplace. Timmy wrapped arms around himself as if conjuring strength from within to maintain his guard.
[I don't know about this…]
Timmy heard Sophia's apprehension, grimacing. For even Sophia to be as clueless from beyond the grave was telling. Or maybe she already knew what was right in front of their faces and didn't like what it implied. Hearing this as well, Gary felt inclined to agree, his brain feeling like a tangled web of confusion. Every thought of what this couldn't possibly be led to a dead end of facing an enigmatic truth.
Then Tommy jumbled more jigsaw pieces.
"It's alright, little sis." Tommy responded to her, scanning around the room as if pinpointing where he could feel her presence. "I promise, there's nothing to be afraid of."
All of the magical fairies in disguise gasped silently. Gary's breath caught in his throat, and Timmy felt frozen in shock, goosebumps chilling his skin.
[…wait…] Sophia peeped warily, as if speaking to a forbidden stranger. […y-you…you can hear me?]
"Just like I could yesterday." Tommy replied with a grin too friendly to not slit Timmy's suspicious brow.
"Alright, that's it!" he barked with authority, trying to sound tougher than he felt inside. "Tell us the truth! Right now!"
When Tommy looked to him, he smirked with the lightest, faintest chortle, intending to come across as not their enemy. Except it only made Timmy that much more unsettled, feeling his arms and legs stiffen.
"C'mon, little man." Tommy spoke too casually for anyone's liking. "Haven't you figured it out by now?"
Timmy's brows knitted as his narrowed stare danced between the older Turner and the fully-grown golden retriever beaming like some innocent little puppy towards him. It wasn't that he hadn't figured it out; he just wanted Tommy to confirm it himself. Because if he said it, then he risked revealing the existence of fairies for Jorgen Von Strangle to come snatch away his fairies and his memories in one fell swoop.
He couldn't afford to take that risk. Not when his life felt like burning car barreling down the mountain towards crashing waves…
"…B-Birchwind?"
Hearing the hushed squeak of a preteen, Tommy looked over his shoulder, turning on his heel to face Gary's dubious frown that winced in instant regret for speaking up.
"Gary, what the heck-" Timmy's gripe was interrupted by Tommy holding out a firm hand, effectively silencing Timmy's scared frustration.
"It's alright." Tommy gently assured his little brother before looking back to his cousin's uncertain gaze. "No…I'm not Birchwind." he smiled softly. "But I'm well aware of who that is."
Gary felt his heart skip a beat in his chest. "So…y-you know about us?"
Tommy's smile, whilst non-threatening, concealed a great deal. "I know a lot. More than I probably should."
"Dude, stop with the cryptics and just spit it out already!" Timmy snarled, and Tommy's smile waned solemnly when he acknowledged Timmy's skeptical glare.
"Timmy, I assure you…everything I told you all yesterday is the honest truth." He placed a palm over his heart, earnest eyes unfeigned. "It's true that I am a product of our mother's ex forcing himself onto her, and it's true that I grew up in a foster group home. It's also true that I only knew about our mother through notes she'd write to me…" his brows scrunched slightly. "I don't even know what she looked like before she died."
The corners of Timmy's tight-lipped frown twitched involuntarily.
"What I didn't tell you is…how Buddy and I came to be." Tommy turned to meet Buddy's gaze of admiration, reaching down to scratch behind his ear as Buddy's tongue panted in gratitude. "One day, I was walking off campus after class. I was about to reach my apartment…when this mysterious dog came up to me."
When Gary felt his yellow retriever quietly lower himself gently across his lap, he nuzzled his cheek into Alondro's familiar fur. Looping arms around his godfather's neck in his haunted soul's search for anything to keep him grounded.
"He didn't have a collar, he was emaciated, and extremely dirty, like he'd been abandoned for weeks." Tommy gave Buddy another brush of his fur. "It was snowing at the time, and he didn't have anything to protect his paws from turning blue. I didn't have a lot of means to care for a stray, but I felt so bad for him. I managed to lure him with a can of beans…" he weakly grinned to Buddy's beaming eyes "…and he never left."
"Is there a point to this sob story?" Timmy grumbled, arms crossed.
"I'm getting there." Tommy met Timmy's narrowed stare with a tamed glance that did not appear vexed by his little brother's impatience. "That same day, I gave him a bath, then warmed him up on my couch with blankets. I thought he'd take a little nap while I tried finding the number to the nearest animal shelter, and…that's when he spoke to me."
Timmy's lips pursed quizzically as Gary's expression went blank, nonplussed.
"At first…I felt crazy…I was hearing thoughts in my head that weren't mine, and it seemed like there was a response to every question whether I said it out loud or not. When I saw his eyes sparkle every time these thoughts entered my head…I soon realized…it was a dog speaking to me through my thoughts."
The lilac vase nestled closer into his papa's side with a wide yawn, eyelids drooping. Lulled by Tommy's extended explanation as if a bedtime story as the green vase continued rubbing circles in his son's back.
"That's when he told me his name was Buddy, a magical Dominion sent by his original master, a Seraphim named Birchwind. Sent to aid me in finding my little brother and cousin, kids blessed with shapeshifting, magical angels who all work under Birchwind and the other Seraphims."
"You…think we have…angels?" Gary questioned, sounding as perplexed as he felt.
"Yes." And to prove this point, Tommy then pointed a finger. Picking out each colorful disguise in the room, starting with the yellow retriever across Gary's lap. "And I know their names are Alondro," he pointed to Timmy's pink hat "Wanda," then to the green and lilac vases along the fireplace mantel "Cosmo, and the newest cherub named Poof."
While Poof had dozed off, it was as if surprise had stolen the air from everyone's lungs, leaving them breathless.
"I also know about Sophia, your twin sister." Tommy added, addressing Timmy specifically. "She's spiritually tethered to you both, but primarily to you."
Timmy's stare grew flustered, unable to form coherent thoughts in his head.
"But…y-yesterday, you acted like you didn't know much about us…or Sophia…" Gary pointed out from the fragmented gaps of his memories, and Tommy turned his head with a sheepish grin.
"…I was just pretending." he admitted. "Your grandparents were already suspicious of me as is."
The mention of grandparents lifted Gary's head from Alondro's fur, shifting eyes over to his grandfather sprawled on the floor. A shudder shot up his spine "…w-what's wrong with grandpa?"
Tommy's glance at Vlad wanted to ensure that his chest continued to rise and fall before that same glance flickered back to Gary. "Do you…remember what happened to grandma?"
"TY MONSTER! TAK ZHE KAK ON!"
Gary winced in his short shudder, his grandmother shouting in his mind like a mental echo that wouldn't leave. The fire in her eyes as she called him a monster, just like his father…the last memory of her he'll ever have.
"I…" he diverted his gaze, the faint curl of his upper lip mirroring the bitterness settling in his stomach "…S-Sophia…told me…"
"…so, you know she died."
After a pained pause, Gary kept his eyes lowered with the weakest nod.
Tommy sighed. "I guess…the loss of his wife was too great for his heart to handle." he made his best educated guess; Vlad's collapse had been a wrench in the calculated play of events. "But he should be stable after some rest."
"You used Buddy to save grandpa…" Timmy spoke up, his voice quiet. "Why didn't you use him to save our grandma, too?"
Though Tommy kept his back to Timmy, he couldn't hide the remorse seeping into his voice. "I wanted to…" sad eyes drifted to Buddy shifting to lean on one side against both of Tommy's front legs "…but Buddy refused…because of what she'd done to Gary's angel."
Combing fingers through fluffy fur, Gary noticed Alondro's icy-blue stare fixed with wary curiosity. Studying the golden retriever whose gaze soon met his with the affability of a kid eager to make a new friend.
"So the whole CPR thing was all an act, too?" Timmy questioned.
"…partially." Tommy replied ruefully. "I did want to save her however I could, but…" his brows scrunched "…I was too weak."
Timmy grimaced. Guess Tommy was still human at the end of the day. Oh well, Timmy didn't care all that much about that old hag. The rest, however…he couldn't believe Buddy was Birchie in disguise. Not to mention Tommy speaking to his dead sister, naming both his and Gary's fairies by name, and having knowledge of the Fairy Council that he called Sepharims…totally freaking nuts.
"I know this is a lot for you guys to take in, and I apologize for not being up front from the jump." Tommy earnestly expressed to the boys, breaking through the lapse of silence. "I had to stay discreet until the time was right." He turned to face his little brother, grave in his gaze. "But, Timmy…I have a serious question for you."
Arms still crossed, Timmy lifted one, skeptical brow "…okay?"
"What would it take for you to want to live?"
Gary watched both of Timmy's brows shoot up before they narrowed to leery slits "…the heck are you talking about?" Timmy quizzed.
"What would it take for you to want to live?" Tommy simply repeated, no fluster in his leveled expression.
Gary and the adult fairies watched Timmy wrestle with this question internally. Then, after a moment, Timmy's top lip curled disdainfully.
"Even if I told you, what can you do about it?"
Tommy faintly smirked, taking the bait. "What if I told you Buddy can bring Sophia back?"
Everyone's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets, making Tommy realize the implication of such a phrase in a sheepish chuckle
"Not…Sophia specifically. That would mess up the timeline too much." Tommy quickly clarified, chagrined. "What I mean is…Buddy can create a new vessel for Sophia's spirit to reside in."
Timmy scoffed involuntarily, as if his body physically rejected this ridiculous claim. "You're bluffing."
"I'm not bluffing." Tommy assured, steadfast. "All you have to do is say the word, and Buddy and I can make it happen."
"Yeah? How?" Timmy challenged, yet Tommy's staunch stare did not waver.
"You're gonna have to trust me."
A hard line pinched in Timmy's lips, tensing the muscles in his jaw. Magic can't bring the dead back to life…isn't that what Da Rules say? All the times he'd wanted so badly to wish her back…or even trade his life for hers. Does Da Rules not apply to giving the dead a new body? No way…if that was true, Cosmo and Wanda would have told him.
Plus, even if she could be brought back in this…'new vessel'…would it be his sister? Would Sophia's essence really be inside?
[…what do you wanna do, Bubba?]
"…what do you wanna do?" Timmy asked aloud in return. Since it'd been made evident that Tommy already knew of Sophia's existence, he didn't see a reason to hide his communication to her. And though he couldn't see her, but he could almost feel the grief in her frown when she spoke next.
[…I wanna do whatever would make you smile again…]
Timmy wrinkled his nose bridge. For all they know, Tommy may end up proving his doubts right. Everything else wasn't that debatable, but bringing Sophia back could be one giant hoax. Though, even if he took Tommy's word as truth…did he have the right? How would Sophia feel about being brought back in a body that wasn't hers?
"…do you trust him?" he asked his sister, meeting Tommy's stare with his own.
[…he hasn't given me much reason not to...]
His narrowed brows tugged upwards, knitting in the middle. Losing confidence in his scratchy voice as his clenching throat held back tears. "…but…what if…it's not all…you?" What if his heart wasn't ready to lose her again?
Cosmo, Wanda, and Alondro stared, expressions tight with strain. Gary traced circles along Alondro's sides to keep his hands busy, something to distract his fear of the unknown. Tommy's eyes wandered aimlessly around the room, and Timmy's stomach twisted knots, his gut stabbed with anxious anticipation of Sophia's decision.
[…I can take that risk.] Sophia finally answered, speaking in a soft warmth that made it easy to visualize her small grin. [You're worth it, Bubba.]
"Sounds like her mind's made up." Tommy redirected his eyes to Timmy's subtle frown, Buddy tail wagging vigorously with a panting tongue.
While part of Timmy didn't want to believe Tommy, part of him couldn't deny Sophia's resolve. If she was willing to risk severing their connection forever, then…did she know something he didn't? Was she confident that it'll work?
Timmy sneered, his sharp, critical glare locked onto Tommy as he muttered "…okay…do it. Bring Sophia back."
As Gary's eyes widened in hazy uncertainty, Tommy furrowed in a calm yet hardened gaze. "Are you saying that's what it would take to make you want to live?"
Timmy winced, but only just. "I just wanna see you try."
For a moment, Tommy studied Timmy, his stare searching for doubts, any hint of second-guessing. Doubt was written all in the hesitation behind Timmy's eyes, doubts about him. Yet his unbendable glare made one thing very clear; he will not trust his words until he sees some action.
And so, the second Tommy snapped his fingers, Buddy barked to attention. Challenge accepted.
Facing his canine companion, Tommy kneeled on one knee. Raising his right thumb to his lips, his features twitched when his teeth chomped through a layer of skin, enough for a prick of dark crimson to pool. There was a short twitch between Timmy's brow, not expecting this blood sacrifice of sorts. Though he kept his stiff stance, looking on as Tommy squeezed his thumb to draw out more blood before he lowered it near Buddy's muzzle.
Without hesitation, Buddy licked the blood onto his tongue, ingesting it in tongue-clicking chews as Tommy then held his thumb to his tongue to stop the bleeding. Standing to his feet as Buddy's irises began to glisten, shimmers of periwinkle-blue enveloped in his pupils through his sclera.
Gary and the fairies wore bedazed masks as Timmy tensed his jaw. Feeling icy, grated tingles rush across his skin the instant his spirit felt a sharp cut like scissors to a ribbon. In a snap, he couldn't hear Sophia, couldn't feel her. Just like when he'd been trapped in the Council's realm, only this time it felt…permanent. His shock sent a haunted stare to his cousin, seeing the same, jarring blow through Gary's wide eyes as if he, too, felt the spiritual gouge.
Not long after this spiritual disconnect, Buddy started to heave like a cat choking on a hairball. Staggering backwards as retches shook through him, brightening the shimmer in his eyes. Timmy then shot his stare to Tommy who didn't flinch, appearing unalarmed by these gags. And in one, final hurl, Buddy spat out a delicate, veined, pearlescent ballet of cells, curved with whispers of limbs budding from a tiny torso. Its face barely discernible with a network of tiny indentions for eyes, imprints of a nose buttoned like an intergalactic alien. Translucent skin sleek with watery liquid of some amniotic sea, rapid, rhythmic contractions flickering in a bluish sack beneath…
…a human fetus.
Periwinkle-blue shimmered and sheened around the fetus on the floor, its limbs and body growing like a plant sprouting from the soil. Fingers and toes developed outside of the womb as if watching human development play at four-times speed, exceeding past the newborn stage. Brunette strands lengthened and thickened out of the scalp, growing full and long enough for pink ribbons to section off pigtails in perfect bows. Soft, ivory skin drying as clothes soon dressed the vulnerable life from the nude. Fitted in a pink, denim overall dress over a white tee ruffled at the butterfly sleeves, frills trimming white socks footed in pink Mary-janes.
A toddler lay before them, curled like a baby in a womb. No more than two years of age with features more defined in a button nose, round cheeks, bushed brows, and dainty lips in contrast to the big eyes that blinked, revealing round orbs of the boldest blue. The sparkles that had encompassed her dissipated as gradually as from the golden retriever's eyes, returning to their normal brown and blue.
With full mobility, the toddler rolled onto all fours, wobbling to her unsteady feet. Marveled eyes taking in her surroundings like she was seeing the world through a different pair of lens, familiar yet foreign. When her wandering gaze soon settled on the only young adult in the room, her blue eyes brighten in a bouncy shriek.
"Dada!"
Tommy kneeled as she giggled with arms outstretched, her Mary-janes waddling the few steps into his endearing hug. "Welcome to the land of the living!" he squeezed her, and she squeezed him back. All in front of the boys and their fairies whose jumbled minds were stuck on simply trying to grasp what the heck just happened.
"Hmm…" Tommy then held the little girl by the side of her small arms, eyes gleaming up at him. "What should we call you…"
"No Sophia." Her stubby finger poked the tip of her nose, smiling. "Too on deh nose."
Timmy's heart skipped, chest growing so tight it was almost hard to breathe. She just said Sophia…w-was it her? Was it really her?
"Alright, then." Tommy chuckled. "What should your name be?"
"Hmmmm…." she tapped her chin without thinking long and hard to radiantly declare "…Timantha!"
"Haha…okay." he patted her shoulders, solidifying the deal. "Timantha, it is!"
Ordained with a new name, Timantha pulled away from Tommy, spotting the preteen with jet-black hair. Happily waving like seeing a loved one for the first time in ages. "Hi, Gawy!"
Gary's yellow retriever watched him furrow, waving awkwardly in return. "Hey, Timantha…"
When Timantha turned to face the pink-hatted boy, her bright smile couldn't contain her giddy excitement within. Her entire face alight with a glow that mirrored the warmth in her heart for whom she held near and dear.
"Hi, Bubba!"
Timmy's breath hitched in his throat, voice momentarily stolen from paralyzing surprise.
She bounced on her toes, squealing in her wobbly run. Pouncing onto Timmy's pant leg as he squinched from impact, brushing her beaming cheek against him. Short arms giving him the biggest, blissful squeeze she could muster. "I knew it would work!" her neck bowed backwards to look at him, eyes crinkled at the corners from such a genuine, infectious smile. "See, Bubba? It's me!"
His stare froze as if life paused around him, like his mind struggled to accept what stood before his eyes. His leg barely registering her constricting embrace around it, his ears perceiving her vibrant giggle as if it echoed from down the hall. Her presence felt like a dream too good to be true. She was too good to be true…but as the tips of his cool fingers brushed her warm cheeks, he knew she was no dream.
He sniffed when brimming tears quivered in his lip, the sense of heaviness lightening from within as though his feet were barely touching the ground. His body acted on its own when he scooped the toddler into his arms, only thinking about the lacking strength in his scrawny arms until after her weight nearly slipped out of his clutches. Blithely obliging to his affection, she adjusted herself more securely on his person, latching arms around his neck and legs around his torso like a koala to a tree. His arms supported the weight of her backside, squeezing her against him as his face nuzzled into the crook of her neck, feeling all the more real.
In that moment, the droplets that slipped down his cheeks was what the carved void in his heart had been missing for weeks. Not sadness, not anger, not a bitter disdain for life. Something that made his heart shiver and shake in his ribs because of how foreign the feeling had become…
She giggled, her chin against his shoulder. "I wuv you, Bubba!"
Watery eyes clenched tighter, swirls of emotions hushing his voice "…I love you, too…"
Atop the ten-year-old's head, his pink hat used her finger to swipe at brimming tears, overcome with joy for her godson. From the fireplace, the green vase held the lilac vase sound asleep against him, observing the touching scene through glossy eyes and a deep sigh of contentment curling his lips. As immortals who have lived the lifetime of many lives, magic bringing the dead back to life was unheard of. No matter if death by magic build-up, sickness, suicide, or murder, not even fairies rise from the ashes once reduced to magical dust.
Could this count as the Council's show of mercy? Why else would they've brought Tommy into Timmy's life? Why else would they've granted such powerful magic to fall into the palm of Tommy's hands? Magic that no human child has ever had access to let alone an adult? Honestly, just…why? And why now?
Whilst uncertain of this entire situation, they were certain about this. After everything he's been through, Timmy deserved to have this moment, and they were both grateful that he'd been given this grace.
Arms still latched around him, Timantha pulled away just enough to push the tip of her nose against Timmy's, tickled with high-pitched giggles. Pure joy expressed in spheres of blue, full of new life. Her rose-tinted glasses peered into a pair of eyes that mirrored hers in terms of color, eyes of lenses jaded from the darkest, bleakest parts of life ten years has thrown at him. Though they looked weary and slightly bagged, they managed to crinkle at the corners. He couldn't help it; her light shined too brightly to stay in the dark.
Thinking Gary had been quiet for a while, the yellow retriever turned his neck to see his godson's pensive frown. Gary pointed blue eyes to the floor, mouth pinched. Timmy got his sister back…but he couldn't get his mom back?
Truth be told…did he even want her back? Her life ended when his began, so just like Tommy, he never knew his mother or even what she looked like. Marsden hardly spoke about her, when he bothered to speak to him. And only then, the description of his mother was to bash him for killing her at birth. Then again…would it be worth wanting to meet her? Tell her he was sorry for taking her life and bringing out the abusive sadist in her lover?
Buddy went up to Tommy and leaned on one side against both of his legs, grabbing his split attention. Tommy bent down to give the canine gentle scratches behind his ear, but instead of kicking his left haunch foot, Buddy whined sadly, seeing the tint of gloom behind Tommy's eyes. Buddy knew that look…that conflicted stare. Battling internally with the morality of keeping another important truth to himself.
When Tommy looked down and met his studying gaze, tiny twinkles entered his eyes. [My masters have not prohibited otherwise.] Buddy spoke in Tommy's voice. [Go ahead…tell them.]
Tommy grimaced, keeping his voice low enough for only Buddy to hear "…what if they get upset?"
[The Sepharims will bear the brunt if it comes to that.]
With a deep breath, Tommy redirected solemn eyes to Gary and Timmy. "So…um…" he spoke up, hesitation stalling him. He swallowed, exhaling once more through his lips. When has Buddy ever steered him wrong? "There's something else I didn't tell you guys. Something…you have a right to know."
Gary lifted his cautious brow from the floor. Timantha turned her curious gaze in Tommy's direction, securing herself to Timmy with one arm latched around his neck. Just as his spirit warmed, a chill settled within as Timmy's eyes narrowed. Of course…nothing good can happen to him without a catch.
Soft snores breathed past loose lips through the faintest ebb and flow in Vlad's chest, features slack in his dreamless sleep. Deaf to withheld secrets that no godchild or godparent could have foretold.
A groggy groan escaped as blue eyes parted, the bumpy textures of stipple sprayed across the ceiling as the first tired eyes would see. A thick layer of something heavy and fluffed covered him chest to toe like a warm hug, weak fingers grazing the furry fibers of wool from underneath. He winced uncomfortably, the crooks in his spine struggling to conform to the flatness of what was supporting it. Hearing tiny squeaks of weakened springs with every shift of his aching shoulder or squirm of the stiff muscles in his limbs. Beneath his neck, however, felt supported by a dingy lump of fluff, its cushion soft enough to protect the back of his head from something hard.
"How're you feeling, grandpa?"
The voice he heard sounded far too deep to be Timmy, even too deep for Gary. Was he not in his house? The ceiling looked too homey to be a hospital. He mustered what little strength gave him the will to lift his head, eyes heavy and unfocussed as the haze in his vision worked to correct itself. Red, sore eyes drifted down to his lift, slowly blinking to the pink Chuck Taylors that he'd never seen neither of his grandsons wear on their feet. Squinting, he followed the trail of Chucks up the legs of slim jeans, pausing when a pair of pink Mary-janes dangled off the sides of what looked like a young man's thigh.
Before he crooked his neck to get a better look, he watched slim jeans straighten to a standing position, walking towards him. A little girl was then lowered to his eye level, a girl with eyes so blue they flickered a flash of his granddaughter in his jogged memory. Sophia's smiling face faded in a slow blink, two pigtails bouncing above her ears instead of one ponytail hanging off her shoulder. She seemed much shorter than Sophia, essences of baby fat still in her arms round like beef franks. Sausage fingers waving as beamy as her baby-toothed grin through chubby cheeks.
"Hi, gwanpa!"
He blinked rapidly like trying to clear the fog of disbelief clouding his vision. If his ears were going bad, it was worse than he thought. This little girl spoke with the same squeaky lisp…just like Sophia did at that age.
"Uh, you mean great-grandpa…" a young man kneeled beside her, his chin stubbled with brunette hair and eyes the same puddles of blue as he gave the little girl an reminding glance "…right, honey?"
"Ooooooooooh…yas!" the little girl exclaimed, and when Vlad soon recognized the young man's tenor timbre, hoarseness stammered in his throat's strain to speak.
"…T-T…Thomas…?"
"Yessir." Tommy gently grinned. "Are you alright?"
Vlad scrubbed his face with both hands, wishing his head would stop spinning. "…w-what happen…?"
"I had come over earlier to check on you and the boys…they'd found you unresponsive on the ground." Tommy explained. "I told them you'd be alright, but…do you want to go to the hospital? Get checked out, just in case?"
Mulling this over, Vlad made an attempt to sit himself up. Only for his frail arms to drop his head back against the pillow, huffing to catch his breath. "…w-where…are the boys…?"
"…t-they're at their friend's birthday party." Tommy rubbed behind his neck, a subtle frown conveying his dubiety of whether he'd overstepped a boundary. "I'd told them they should go…take their mind off of things for a while, so I stayed to make sure you were alright."
Vlad was too drained to even act displeased, eyes half closed and bloodshot. Birthday? What birthday? His brain strained with hooks fishing through the foggy haze for a reminding catch, then it dawned on him. Ah, that's right…it was a couple of weeks ago that Gary had mentioned something about some get-together with a couple of friends.
A couple of weeks ago…forever ago.
Forever ago since he'd seen his love…
Her beautiful face…
"You okay, gwanpa?"
Vlad jerked suddenly, dazed in his blinks as he tilted his head to the toddler's attentive stare in his direction "…who is…?"
"Timantha Tara Turner." Tommy weakly smiled to Timantha "…my daughter."
Timantha held up two proud fingers. "I turned dis many today!"
Baffled and still a bit delirious, Vlad's blinks furrowed in confusion. "…d-daughter…?"
"I…was going to introduce her after you and grandma had gotten to know me better…considering you'd never known I existed until now." Tommy excused. "Of course, that was before…" he didn't want to say, fearing the harsh reminder would stress Vlad's heart already hanging on the balance.
Temporarily distracted, Timantha coggled away over to the golden retriever curled comfortably by the empty fireplace, chin resting on his front paws. She squatted as her fingers reached to lightly graze his back fur. Her strokes didn't stir him from his slumber, keeping her giggles quiet.
"…when…?" Vlad croaked, weary gaze on Timantha.
"…I was seeing this girl in high school. Went to a party, made one of the biggest mistakes of my life." Tommy was, in fact, still a virgin and had never had a girlfriend. Of course, he couldn't tell his grandfather the truth of Timantha's conception.
Vlad's crinkled gaze drifted towards Thomas. He never would have expected something like this from a young lad who seemed too sensible for that kind of lapse in judgement. Then again, he still had much to learn about his daughter's secret son.
"But she was no mistake." he looked over behind him at his little sister reborn as his daughter. "She's an angel."
"…w-wha…of her mother…?" Vlad slurred, breathy.
Tommy deeply sighed, pondering a response. "She wanted to abort when she first started showing, but when we found out she was too far along, she decided on adoption. I wanted to keep her because…well…I knew of Mom through her letters but…didn't know her."
His elderly gaze grew heavy with grief, head tilting slightly in consideration.
"At the time, Timantha was my only link to anyone like me…I couldn't give that up." Timmy stalled, licking his lips "…so, her mother gave up her rights after Timantha was born. And I was granted full custody."
Timantha stood and faced the two men over by the couch, blue eyes watchful with careful attention on Vlad drawing thoughtful lips together. For Thomas to have faced numerous trials at his young age…almost like Susanne had. Only she had chosen to suffer in silence, pretending she was never treated like some tool for some dirty svoloch'.
"…does…she know her?"
Tommy shook his head. "She wanted no parts, so…" Could be why his mother never tried to see him. The letters were just enough contact with the convenience of distancing herself from him…who knows.
Both men heard Timantha coggle back across the floor, sitting on her knees beside Tommy. Vlad couldn't take his stunned eyes off her leaning forward with arms crossed over the binding of his wool blanket, eyes so bright and bubbly, staring back at him like it had been far too long since she'd seen him last. Settling her chin on her arms, her soft gaze met Vlad's stare deep with longing. A warm, enthralling tug in his chest nudged a trembling finger to graze her smiling cheek.
His quiet breath shuddered, heartache blurring his vision. Bestowed the sight of the great-granddaughter he once thought he'd never live long enough to meet, the corners of his eyes pricked with tears tinged in regret.
Gladys should have been here. If she'd met Timantha, maybe…he could have seen her smile one last time…
"No tears, gweat-gwanpa." Timantha's tender finger flicked the one tear that'd escaped. "I happy to see you, too!"
The faint quiver in his lips curled the first smirk he'd worn in a while, hoarse in his murmur "…call me…praded."
"Pwaded?" her brows perked curiously. "Wha does dat mean?"
His words were weary with a dream-like quality to them "…shorter name for…great-grandpa."
"Oooooooooooh." Her childlike wonder mulled this briefly, then her eyes twinkled. "Okay, pwaded!"
"That is right…pravnuchka." He sniffed as he spoke quietly, unable to put the effort in talking louder. "Means…great-granddaughter."
Timantha giggled. "Dats a funny word. I like it!"
Despite the softness of his smile, Tommy's eyes crinkled. Happy to see the instant chain link of a bond between a young spirit given a second chance at life and an old soul recently widowed. Albeit risky, Timmy and Sophia had made the right choice. After so much loss, their grandfather didn't just need this, he might not have survived without this.
Timantha's grin faded as her praded's strength to keep smiling began to dissipate, feeling his energy deplete like a laptop running on a bad battery. "…Thomas…" Vlad looked in Tommy's direction, breaths coming in shallow, irregular gasps "…you have license…?"
"I do, I just can't afford a car." Tommy confirmed, concern etched in his gaze. "Why?"
A dull throb pinched in his chest, his lungs biting for breath. "…I…no feel good…" his vision swayed, a fuzzy haze swimming in his head. "I…I think…I go to hospital…"
"I had a feeling." Tommy pushed himself with a stable knee, standing to his feet. "Let me help you up."
Timantha moved out of Tommy's way as he flipped back the wool blanket, leaning as Vlad accepted Tommy's helping hand. Her Mary-janes scurried in short steps to the goldene retriever, shaking him until his head snapped with droopy eyes.
Cautious in his efforts as to not harm him further, Tommy pulled Vlad by his arm. Slugging the arm over his shoulder and supporting the old man's weight with his other arm, supporting him until his trembling legs leveled their unsteady balance.
"…y-you can…take…car in…driveway…" Vlad's labored breath permitted.
"Yessir." Helping Vlad drag his feet, Tommy shot a short glance over his shoulder. "Timantha? Buddy? Let's go."
"Yaaaaaaaay!" Timantha shouted joyously as Buddy's compliant bark made him more alert. Yes, she was worried about her praded, but she had faith he'd be alright. Plus, she couldn't wait to experience what it'll be like to see and hear and feel the world again!
As Tommy led Vlad into the kitchen, Buddy's fast agility beat them to the front door. He jumped on his hind legs, using his nose to knock the car keys from the wall mount and catch them between his teeth. He carried them to Tommy who reached with his freest hand to grab them, then hurried back to the front door where he stood on his back paws and maneuvered his front paws to twist the door handle, and since the bolt locks had not been refastened, he pulled the door open with ease.
Scurrying to meet Buddy at the door, Timantha held it open for Tommy and Vlad to exit first, following after Buddy as she stretched on her tippy toes to pull on the handle and close it shut.
AN: There was a lot more to this chapter, but how I originally ended it felt kinda awkward, so I saved it for the next chapter. That said, the next chapter might come out quicker. Emphasis on might.
