Chapter 1.12: The Days to Come

Blue, Twinbrook

When Goodwin called me into the nursery, yelling, I knew there was trouble. Goodwin almost never needed me when he was with the kids. He enjoyed the times when he wasn't working and could watch them, alone, while I relaxed for a little.

The first thing I saw was Raven in Goodwin's arms, her eyes wide with fear.

"Raven!" I cried. "Goodwin, what happened?"



"It was Jay," Goodwin said slowly, trying to calm Raven. "Raven took the shape box again, and, well... next second Raven was crying and there was this cut on her leg. But Jay didn't scratch her, or bite her, anything like that. I think he was upset, and used his power."

"What?" I said slowly. "It can't be, I never hurt anyone when I was little, and there were times I hated my mother so much..."

It dawned on me quickly.

"Of course! My mother was stealing my power from me. No wonder I never had accidents!"



I felt an intense pity for Jay. The rest of his life, from this point on, would be a battle for control.

We decided that Goodwin should be the one to talk to Jay. I wasn't sure I could handle it. I knew that when Jay became a child I would have to give him self-control lessons, but for now hopefully a few words about not getting angry would be enough. I didn't know what else we could do.



Later that night, Goodwin and I were laying in bed. He turned to me and said, a strange inflection to his voice, "I know this isn't the best time, in light of everything, but I'd really like another child Blue. Please, I'd love to have another little girl in the house- or a boy, if that's what happens."

I thought about it for a second. I'd always wanted a big family. More kids meant more witches and wizards- but it also meant a larger support network for whoever became the heir. Besides, Jay already had the hair. How much worse could it get? And I couldn't resist the look in Goodwin's eyes.

"Why not?" I said, smiling, and I was rewarded with Goodwin's most brilliant (and alluring) grin.



Finch was a very sweet baby. He didn't fuss, or cry too much. Almost as though he was too lazy to open his mouth and wail. He ate tons though. Though the youngest of my three kids, I always had the feeling he consumed the most food.

As expected, Goodwin was the most caring father I could imagine. He loved to snuggle Finch. Goodwin even dared put Finch up to his nose, because unlike the more volatile Jay, Finch never bit anyone.



The night before Raven's birthday, I watched all three children sleep in their cribs. All, on this rare occasion, peaceful at the same time. So different, but each so precious in their own way. Even now, there could be another on the way. The idea was surprisingly okay with me.

I was both excited and nervous for Raven's birthday. For some reason, it felt like a big step to have a child going to school. Would it really be so long before my children were grown and Goodwin and I were elders and-

Slow down, Blue, the Guardian said weakly, quiet even for a whisper. I jumped, gasping. You're not even an adult yet.

"Guardian?" I asked. "I-I-"

You forgot about me, the familiar voice said. It's okay, I expected this would happen. You no longer need me, now that you have passed the curse to the next generation.

"No!" I said, but the Guardian cut me off.

We'll talk about this later. You have children to think about now. I could hear the smile in its voice.



The next morning, still reeling from the Guardian's abrupt return, I brought Raven to the cake to have her birthday. I couldn't believe this was the last time I would carry her. On the bright side, one less person to make bottles and baby food for!



Not so shockingly, Goodwin was being, well, his usual enthusiastic self. I swear, the faces he made! This birthday, I was actually happy, so Goodwin's shouts and cheers were more amusing than aggravating.



I placed Raven on the floor, and gave her a small kiss on the head. Her face was, as always, a bit scared. "You'll do great, kiddo." I whispered.



I watched as Raven was consumed with aging sparkles. Then, she stood up and looked at Goodwin and I, most definitely a cute little girl.



"This hair," she said. "Yuck! What happened to those nice little ribbons?"

Goodwin and I laughed and went to hug Raven. It seemed so typical that in her first moment as a child she'd found something to worry about.



Raven was a wonder to have around the house, if not a bit of a strange child. Well, strange based on my limited experience with children, that is.

From her first day as a child, she insisted on reading the newspaper, and continued to peruse it every day, without fail.



I watched her from the window sometimes, watched her read until the sun went down, then fold away the newspaper, her hands fluttering worriedly, her face in the awfully familiar expression of fear and sadness. Goodwin thought that Raven was just a conscientious little girl, concerned about the whole world, but I had a terrible feeling that something bigger was at work...



Raven's first day of school was a big deal for everyone, and I could tell she was incredibly scared.

"Mom," she began after I'd woken her up on the morning of the first day. "Are you sure you got me everything? Notebooks, pencils, binders-"

"Raven," I said. "Of course we got you all the supplies!"

When her face didn't clear up even a bit, I leaned in closer. "You'll be fine, I promise. It may take getting used to, Rav, but I know that you're up for it."



I was right- well, partially, at least. Raven excelled at schoolwork, though watching the time she spent on her homework, I knew it wasn't effortless in the least. Her teachers were full of glowing praise, saying they rarely encountered such a self-motivated student.



Call me a worried mother, but that wasn't enough for me. It scared me to watch her on the bus, day after day, sitting by herself, while all the other kids chatted happily with their friends. Maybe Raven's friends were at later stops? I hoped so, wished I could know for sure.



I questioned her one weekend, when we were sitting down to lunch together.

"Rav," I began. "How're the other kids at school?"

"Okay," she said, a bit hesitantly to my ears. "But there's this one girl, Kasey. She, well-"



"Kasey?" I said, faking a nonchalant smile. "And what does she do exactly?"

Inside, I was seething. What little brat child dared bother my girl? I felt my power building up, ready to seek out this Kasey girl, when I reigned it in, quick.

I felt the usual shame in myself. Hurting a child, no matter how obnoxious she might be, would be a deplorable thing. And I needed to hold it together, to hear what Raven had to say.



"It's nothing," Raven said. Naturally, I didn't believe her. "She just laughs sometimes, when I walk by. And she makes faces. I just don't think she likes me too much."

"You ignore this girl," I said, careful not to display my true feelings. "She's probably jealous that the teachers like you so much. But if she keeps doing this, tell me, and I'll make sure her parents hear about it from me."

Raven's face didn't leave me confident that she would tell me if something happened again. I'd have to look over Raven carefully, ready to call Kasey's parents. I refused to let my daughter be a bully's target.



Then, finally, some happy news came through: I was pregnant again! The whole household seemed to be in a joyous daze.

"You're going to be a big brother again!" I told Jay, while he practiced walking. "Aren't you excited?"



Everything seemed to turn around after I found out I was expecting. Imagine my shock- and happiness- when one day Raven announced that she was going over to a friend's house. I was so glad she'd found someone to spend time with.

Zachary was a sweet boy, a great friend for Raven. He had a streak of fun that diminished Raven's fears. His parents were semi-famous actors from Bridgeport, but when they had kids they decided they were finished with that lifestyle and moved to Twinbrook. I know a lot of other parents constantly vied to receive invitations to their house, but I could have cared less that I never met them. It was much more important to me that him and Raven got along so well. Whenever I saw them, they were whispering and giggling, living in their own world of inside jokes.



I started to worry less about Raven. It took time, but she was growing into herself. She just needed to experiment, see what she was best at, find out who would be a reliable friend.

Almost every day, she rode her bike over to Zachary's, if he wasn't coming over to our house, that is. It reminded me a bit of how Goodwin and I always used to visit each other, back before everything got complicated. But Raven was young, and I doubted her and Zachary had any interest in each other that way- at least, not yet.



Time passed, quicker than ever. My stomach was getting bigger again. I knew somewhere deep inside that this would be my last one, and knowing that only made it more special for me.



I spent a lot of time with Finch as both the birth and his birthday approached. To Goodwin's surprise (and even more so my own), I felt no fear whatsoever for the revelation of Finch's hair.



Goodwin was always helpful, fixing household objects, working, and somehow managing to spend time with the kids also. Sometimes I thought he was the one with magical powers!



I saw him in the kitchen one day, talking with Raven. She was listening intently and looking very happy. I marveled at Goodwin's gift to put others at ease.



When he reached down to pull her into a hug, I could have sang. He loved her as if she really was his own. I decided that I would never tell Raven the truth. Why take away the best father she could ever know and replace him with someone as despicable as Justin?



Summoning up money for the bills wasn't always easy, but we managed. I longed for the day when I could return to work. Last pregnancy, I reminded myself.



In anticipation for my eventual return, I made time to practice chess. Best to keep my logic skills up, make sure I was never at a loss in a new situation at the hospital.



Holding Finch one day, my stomach so big I almost expected it to explode, I wondered what would happen in the days to come. I didn't know what the new baby would be like, how Finch would age, but somehow, I suspected the quiet wouldn't last for long. It never did, around me, really.

It's never boring, at the very least, the Guardian said. You've always been made for big things, Blue Bird, and your kids are no different. Your mother ensured that, but she didn't realize that it did more than curse you- it made you and your descendents strong, and special. It gave you the chance to change everything, for the better.

I was torn between smiling and groaning. The smile won.




Thank you once again for reading everyone! For next chapter, which shouldn't be too far away, expect a birthday, a birth, and more :)

Please comment if you want to tell me what you think, or let me know you're reading!

Chapter 1.11: Normalcy?

Blue, Twinbrook

When my eyes opened, all I could see was Goodwin's concerned face. I stood up quickly, dusting off my aching back.

"Blue!" Goodwin cried. His voice sounded hoarse, as though he'd been screaming his voice away. "Are you okay? The baby?!"



I felt my stomach, and our future child gave a little kick.

"The baby's fine for now," I said. "Until he or she-"

But Goodwin didn't let me finish. He pulled me against him, so tight that I almost couldn't breathe.

"I am so, so glad you're okay," he whispered in my ear.



"But Goodwin," I said, after we'd pulled apart. "I'm not fine. And more importantly, Jay's not fine. I-"

I paused for a long few seconds. What could I say without mentioning the seer and her predictions?

"I have a feeling that my mother might try to bring our children over to her side," I finally said. "Remember the curse? Our heir or heiress is going to be fighting hard to live, and we won't be able to do much to help. But now we have two kids, a third on the way. What if she targets the spares? And Jay, his hair, he could-"



"Blue," Goodwin said softly. "It was worth the risk. I knew all of this when we married. But life without you, without Raven, and Jay... well, it wouldn't be real. And this is the way to defeat your mother, to make magic something that isn't evil or wrong. I'm happy Jay has your hair."

"I'm not," I said sadly. "You don't know, how tempting it is, how close I come to using my power for wrong, so often. It feels natural, to want to hurt sometimes. When you're angry at a neighbor, in a fight with a friend, and knowing you could break their spine with one rush of power- that's not right. I wish Jay wouldn't have to learn this awful self-control."

These were thoughts I tried to push away, pretend I didn't have. But everything was coming out, all my fears and despair for the future, because of this chance of fate that gave Jay my magical inheritance.



Goodwin grabbed my hands, strengthening me with his touch.

"We'll teach Jay, and he'll be as capable and amazing as his mother. He'll learn to heal, not destroy, and your mother will never so much as see him, you'll see."

Goodwin fixed his gaze on something behind me. "That cake," he said, "is woefully uneaten. Let's change that! Besides, Raven and Jay are old enough to try a little, right?"

"I don't know," I said, a teasing glint back in my eyes. "Maybe only a little, wouldn't want them to turn into cakeaholics like their father."

"I am not!" Goodwin laughed, going to slice the cake.



Time went by, and Goodwin was so funny and caring that I forgot my fears. Well, maybe forgot is too strong of a word. It's just that distant fears were so much less immediate than my tangible life. Watching Raven and Jay grow (along with my stomach), wondering when I could get back to work again rather than sitting around the house like a lump.

Not that I was totally useless. I appreciated the time to get to know my children, but I found myself drawn more to Raven. Maybe it was because I still had a hard time looking at Jay. Maybe it was because I knew that somewhere deep down, no matter how much he denied it, Goodwin favored Jay just a little, so Raven might as well get some favoritism also.

I continued teaching Raven how to walk, and long before my pregnancy came to an end she had gotten the hang of it.



Talking was a much harder task. Raven tried and tried to form the words, but nothing came out. Sometimes it felt as though she knew exactly what she wanted to say, her mouth just wasn't ready to say it. She would bang her little hands on the floor, frustrated, leaving me utterly mystified. I think I'll always remember the first time she was able to speak a full sentence.

She said it slowly, carefully, insecurity in her eyes: "Mama, I love you."

I was so proud my heart felt as though it would implode.

"Raven!" I cried. "You did it!"

I picked her up, held her in front of me excitedly. I was smiling, and maybe crying, and Raven was laughing, her face open when it was so often closed, and I could tell she wasn't scared anymore. I vowed to make her smile more often.



Not to say Raven was always an easy child. The anxieties I'd noticed when she first became a toddler failed to disappear. I woke every morning to small cries, as if she was hesitant to get out of her crib and begin the day. It was amazing that she never woke Jay up, but he proved to be a very heavy sleeper as both a baby and toddler.

Raven waking early didn't bother me though. It was the face she made, as if she had not expected me to arrive. As if she'd had the worst dream possible and was sure that it was somehow more than a dream.



I watched her when she slept sometimes, wishing she would always look so peaceful. Her hair was normal as can be, but I feared that having me as her mother, Justin as her father, had marked her somehow. Was it possible that anyone in my family would be fine, with this curse hanging over us? Nine more heirs to go. Nine more chances for one of us to fail.



I didn't ignore Jay, of course, though I'll admit that Goodwin did teach him most of his skills. I especially liked clapping along as he played on the small toy xylophone we'd bought for the kids. Jay seemed to appreciate the audience. He had no particular musical talent, though it was hard to tell at his age, but he was always enthusiastic. He was impressive at the shape box, just like his older sister, but Raven dominated it and tended to make angry noises when he tried to use it. Goodwin and I figured we'd have to buy another one.



Except for the shape box skill, Jay and Raven were entirely opposites. Jay slept long and late, no worries consuming his small face.



When he eventually woke up in the morning, he was not shy about making a fuss. He screamed until he was heard. But Jay was so adorable in the morning I could hardly chastise him for the noise.



I placed Jay in front of the mirror once, so he could see himself, and I was amazed to notice the resemblance to his father. Except for my hair and eyes, I could imagine that this was just how Goodwin had looked at Jay's age.



Meanwhile, Goodwin was, as always, excelling at his job, even when he took days off to stay home with me. He had reached the point where he was called in to deal with, well... special cases. One night, lying in bed, Goodwin regaled me with stories of chasing animated garden gnomes all day- apparently me, Jay, and the Twinbrooks weren't the only magical beings in town... After they'd been subdued, Goodwin took one home, and the little guy became a combination of pet and pest. No normal dogs or cats for this household!



It was no shock the night that I woke up and felt the contractions. At last, I would meet my third child, and I was excited.

It was almost identical to last time. Same pajamas, same bed, same initial panic- except then I remembered that Goodwin was in the next room over, probably working out or reading up on his handiness skills. This time, he was here.



After helping me change and quickly calling the emergency babysitter, Goodwin and I got into the waiting cab. Goodwin was doing a great job of keeping calm, but as we approached the hospital I could see his arms shake a little.



I'd forgotten how awkward it was to waddle into the hospital, feeling as though the whole world could see me. Goodwin, behind me, cried out jokingly, "Slow down a little, hun! I don't think I can quite keep up!"

"You," I said warningly, not bothering to turn around. "Shut your mouth until you've tried being pregnant!"



It felt like both no time at all and a lifetime before I was standing at home with my second little boy, Finch Bird. Goodwin had been right after all, with all his intuitions during my pregnancy. And to think Goodwin has no magic whatsoever!

"Welcome home," I whispered to Finch. "We may not be the most normal family, but I think you'll fit in just fine."



I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I'm proud of how quick I managed to write it. I played pretty far ahead, so really I'm still catching up to where I am in my game. I'm also really excited I got to devote a chapter just to the family.

As usual, I would love love LOVE your comments! Feel free to silently lurk, but comments here and/or on the forum are nice, just so I know how many people are actually reading this :)

Chapter 1.10: The Moment of Truth

Blue, Twinbrook

I didn't tell Goodwin about the seer's predictions. Yeah, I felt guilty, but if I told him I would have to talk about it, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

Instead, I shared much happier news with him.

I walked into the nursery to find Goodwin holding Jay. Raven was playing happily on the floor with her shape set.



"Goodwin," I exclaimed. "I just found out today- I'm pregnant!"

It was easy to get lost in Goodwin's joy. He placed Jay in the crib gently then pulled me into a gigantic hug, and Raven giggled on the floor, and it was impossible to imagine that anything could ruin our happiness.

It wasn't long before I was showing. Sometimes I would roll out of bed at night and hold my stomach, feeling that for the first time there was nothing interfering with the birth of my child. No tint of of Justin. No loneliness or fears about money.



Every day Goodwin would insist on listening to my stomach. I told him that I hadn't felt the baby move yet, but he wouldn't stop, saying that our child would respond to him eventually.

It was almost comical when our baby finally obliged him. Goodwin's eyes grew wide and I could tell he was suppressing a shriek of surprise.

"He moved, Blue," Goodwin whispered, his voice full of awe. "He moved!"



"How do you know he's a boy?" I laughed. I didn't know how Goodwin could be so sure when we hadn't taken a test to find out.

"A father's intuition," he said, still at the level of my stomach. "We'll have to try again so we can have another girl too."

I smiled. I had always wanted a large family. Before I worried about hair colors and magic, that is.

Goodwin must have seen my face darkening because he stood up and looked me in the eyes. "I'm not pushing you into anything, Blue. And no matter what our child is, boy or girl, I will be happier than I could say."

I heard his unspoken promise. He didn't care what hair color any of our children had. I wished I could be as optimistic.

I forced a smile, but the longer I looked at Goodwin the more genuine it became. Then he brought his mouth to mine and there was nothing to think about anymore.



I never forgot that Jay's birthday was approaching. Every day I imagined him as a toddler with lovely white blond hair, just exactly Goodwin's shade, until I had convinced myself that was the only possible option.



The night before Jay's birthday, Goodwin put him to bed. I heard him whisper, "I hope you look like your mother. I hope you have her eyes, and her smile, maybe even her-"



He turned to look at me, and I stared in the opposite direction, as if I hadn't heard anything. I didn't understand why he would ever want our child to be so cursed.

That night I dreamed of my blond son again. I couldn't wait till tomorrow was over.


Goodwin, Twinbrook

Nothing could keep me away from my son's birthday, not even Blue's most irrational fears. She begged me to stay away, but I told her that I was never going to let birthdays in our home become a sad event. It had been my mistake to miss Raven's day, and that was not going to happen again.

In fact, Blue had to yell at me once (or twice, or a million times) to tone it down a little.



"Goodwin," she said incredulously. "Did you seriously buy a noise-maker for Jay's birthday? He doesn't even know what's going on!"



"Yeah," I said. "So what?"

I continued cheering and smiling, and Blue continued rolling her eyes. If Blue was going to be so sad, someone had to bring the energy. I knew I looked foolish, but in an instant I was ready to jump to Blue's side and make sure she was okay.

Besides, I was amusing Raven. She sat on the floor chattering happily, waiting for the moment when she would have a new playmate in the house.



Blue stood in front of the cake with Jay. Her eyes were so wide and scared that I wanted to comfort her. Didn't she understand that hair color, even a magical hair color, meant nothing? We would raise our kids well, she would teach them the dangers of magic. Besides, her power was a beautiful thing- it helped her heal, and put those beyond healing at rest. I just couldn't see what Blue was so afraid of.



Blue placed Jay on the ground with shaking arms, and soon he began to age. I watched Jay, keeping half an eye on Blue's face.

And then Jay was a toddler. A lovely, adorable, blue-haired toddler.



In spite of myself, I smiled. Then I saw Blue, and my smile disappeared instantly. She was entirely still, staring at Jay, eyes frozen in a horror I knew I would never understand. She began to totter a little in place.

"Blue!" I cried, running towards her.



Blue, Twinbrook

It had happened, my worst fear. I never should have had children. I should have been careful with Goodwin, should have told him we could never have kids. And now I was pregnant with another child, who could also have my hair. What had I done?

I remembered the seer's warning. One of my children could turn to my mother's side. What if it was Jay, gurgling on the floor with his cursed hair? How many people could he kill, with the power of destruction and my mother's help?

I staggered under the weight of my guilt. I saw Goodwin's lips moving, saw him running towards me. Everything was blurry, like a bad-quality picture, and then the world faded to black.



I am so, so sorry it took me this long to update! I'm much less busy now though, so expect much more regular updates.

As usual, comments and criticism is encouraged :)