A Bird in Hand
By Donna and Abby

Montoya would not let it go. There were a few known Oriental women, and he wanted them. It was like a game, to see if he could get them all. When the quest for Lady Jewel came up empty, he sent Grisham with Hooker to get Birdie from Esperanza.

But it was now well known that for some reason, Birdie was a target. The instructors at the school had met that very day to determine what they could do to protect her. "We can either lock her in her room," said Byron
casually, "or follow her everywhere."

"Or one of us can *adopt* her," Jack LeRolland said. 

Of course, as they discussed this, the one in question was going about her usual routine. She normally stayed with the other Innocents, but as luck would have it, she had forgotten something, and had to go back to get it. Grisham and Hooker were waiting.

She gasped when she saw them, and then turned to run as fast as she could back to the school. Of course they were faster, but just as they made to surround her, a voice called out, "What are you doing there?"

The men whirled around to see who it was, giving Birdie the chance to change into her fae form. 

The man facing them was tall and thin. They'd seen his type before - Jack Grace and good ol' Harry. Which one was he like? In truth, Ben was like neither! He was a teacher at the school, and he was a homosexual!

But before they could do anything to the man that ruined their chance to get Birdie, the sound of others could be heard running towards them. Birdie had flown to them and had alerted them. Grisham cursed, and he and Hooker ran off. Ben was left a little stunned and confused. Had he really rescued the fair maiden?

Everyone seemed to think he had. "Good job," said one of the ones clapping him enthusiastically on the back. "Come back to the school. Birdie is waiting for you." 

Ben smiled, happy to have done something heroic, and let himself be dragged into the building. He was not a flaming homosexual, but neither did he hide it. He spoke normally, if a little too literarily, and took it for granted everyone knew he did not like girls.  But he never approached any of his male colleagues, and he enjoyed a good romantic tale.

"You saved me," Birdie said shyly. "How can I thank you?" She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. 

He flushed a little and said, "T'was nothing. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  And we are all so pleased that I was!"

"Yes," Jack chuckled. "We are. And I think we have found the perfect person to *adopt* Birdie, don't you think, gentleman?"

Everyone agreed. After all, her virtue was safe in his hands! Ben was not quite sure, however, what they were talking about. "Adopt?"

"Birdie can't stay where she is," Illya said. "They know where she lives. She needs to move in with one of us." 

"Move in? But . . ." He looked at her and wondered if she would understand. "Is that ethical? I am her teacher, after all!"

"Her savior," chuckled another one of the other teachers. 

"It'll be fine," they told him, but Ben wasn't so sure. Birdie was looking at him with hero worship in her eyes. And as much as he liked playing the hero,
what was he supposed to do with a girl?

Besides, he only had the one bed in his set of rooms in the nearby house where most of the teachers lived. Where would she sleep? But before he could think of any excuse, some of the other Innocents showed up with
all of Birdie's belongings! 

"I guess I'll be sleeping on the sofa," he said as they were all dumped into his arms. Of course, Birdie looked confused at that comment! "Follow me," Ben sighed. 

The rest, of course, expected as much. They were not sending her with him to have her lose her virginity! She was set with the water, of course, but apparently Montoya thought his chocolate could override that.

In the meantime, she would be safe, and would still remain an Innocent in every way!