Come Ye Lads and Lasses

by Donna and Abby

Charity was late. The doctors and midwives were aware of this of course, but there seemed to be nothing to be alarmed about. The baby didn't seem overly big, and her blood pressure was good. So, she was in a holding pattern for now.

Flannery and Michael Collins had returned from their honeymoon, and the petite leprechaun gladly resumed her duties as a nanny for the twins, happy she had not missed the upcoming birth. In fact, none of the local leprechaun women seemed to want to miss the occasion! Out of the leprechaun women who had come to Edan, only three were left, who had not found partners. There was talk that some of the girls were planning on heading up to Esperanza or Newport, but that they didn't want to leave until Charity's new baby was born.

The men working outside couldn’t help but be amused by the steady stream of tiny redheads that appeared out of nowhere and then made their way into the house. Mary Muldoon was the first to show up that day along with her tiny son. Kerry, Meg and Edana weren’t too far behind the diminutive queen of the leprechauns. While Flannery had been off with her new husband, they had stayed at the Grey house, helping out. Edana was newly pregnant, by Lieutenant Nick Pasco, and over the moon about it!  Kathleen, the last of the leprechaun girls, was a bit shy, and stayed to the woods mostly, but even she showed up after awhile!.

As Sam, Michael and Harper mucked out the stalls, they were joined by the leprechaun king himself, who appeared out of nowhere on top of one of the rafters. "Top of the day to ye, gentlemen," he called out in a gruff voice.

"Mornin' Seamus," said Gray without looking.  "What's oop?"

"Me lads are complaining a wee bit about the lack of dancin' partners,” Seamus said with a sigh as he took a swig from the jug he was carrying. He missed them too, in fact! “When is that woman of yers gonna pop?"

"When she pops, I s'pose," the farmer said. He finally looked up.  "Tha's ther way a' things."

"A silly way if you want me opinion," came another voice. A younger leprechaun appeared, this time laid out and relaxing in the hay manger. "If ye don't mind me sayin' it, none of us understand why the lasses are so entranced with ye mortals when they could be hangin’ round the likes of ourselves." 

Gray shrugged his shoulders.  Charity was as mortal as he.  "Ask himself," he said, indicating Michael Collins.

The Big Fella just grinned and tossed a fork load of hay on top of Jericho. He was learning the best ways to deal with the mischievous leprechauns. "Maybe if you lads weren't such lazy layabouts, they might be more interested in you," he chuckled.

The other men laughed.  "There might be somethin' in that," said Patrick Harper.

Jericho dug himself out of the hay and joined into the laughter, jumping up onto the rafter to see if Seamus would give him some of the contents in the jug.

"I knew I would find ye all in here," came a feminine voice. It was Mary Muldoon. All three of the mortal men doffed their hats politely at her entrance, but Jericho just gave her a cheeky grin, while her husband quickly hid the jug he had been sipping from by passing it to Jericho. "I came to tell ye, Sam, that herself is finally going to be after havin' her baby. She says that one of ye can ride for the midwife, and another to the camp of them red savages."

If anyone was offended by her words, they didn't say anything.  Sam was excited to be seeing the baby, even though he was not the father!

"I'll ride to the Camp," Michael Collins offered. He and Harper were already saddling their horses. Meanwhile, Mary took Sam into the house to be with Charity during the early labor pains.

The leprechaun girls were all terribly excited of course, and Mary had to shoo them out of the way. Once Sam had a clear path to his woman, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

"Soon, lass," he crooned.  Perhaps, since she'd had his twins, and this would be her third baby, they could marry now!

She smiled happily back at him. "It will be good to be back in the saddle again, Sam," she said with a wink. "Think this one will be a boy this time?"

"Possibly," he said, and there was suddenly a strange look on his face.  Somehow she knew he was wishing she'd have his son.

She leaned up against his chest and snuggled close. "Hmm...hay, sweat and horses. Smells good on you."

“I'm glad yer like it," he grinned.  That was the only perfume he ever used, so she'd better!

Since she was still in early labor, Charity wasn't too uncomfortable yet. Mary brought in two cups of hot tea for the couple and then closed the door behind her so they could enjoy a little peace before things got a little hectic. And this they did.  He appreciated the time alone with her

Katherine showed up a short time later, bringing her birthing bag with her. She and the doctors in town were not expecting any problems, but she had sent Harper on into Edan to tell the medical staff at the clinic just in case.

Also, it was a good thing it was not an emergency, because the doctors were dealing with a new arrival just then.  Good thing it was during the day, when they were all there.  Leaving the others to explain Edan to the newcomer, Alex Taylor went with the large Irishman.

They arrived at the same time as the father of the soon to arrive baby, Pacer Burton. He was not alone though. Riding with him and Michael Collins was one of the new Native women, Olanthe. Sitting in front of her was her daughter, Leotie. She had insisted on accompanying Pacer to see if she could help in anyway. Hanging from the side of her horse was a brightly decorated baby carrier that she had made for the baby.

She and Pacer were now a couple.  The baby, of course, would stay with Charity, but Olanthe wanted to meet him or her and have no bad spirits around them. The gift would show that she had no hard feelings about the situation.

The house was filling up fast. Flannery and Ceara kept busy by making sure there was plenty of food and drinks for everyone there. Pacer was ushered into the bedroom were Charity was laboring. Olanthe followed, noticing immediately the close bond the pregnant woman had with the sandy haired man rubbing her back. It was obvious that Charity belonged with him, just like she now belonged with Pacer. She rubbed her own belly unconsciously, wondering when she would be able to give Pacer a child of her own.

Everyone was pairing up!  Except, of course, the male leprechauns.  As Jericho had complained, their women had mostly chosen mortal men! Grumbling under his breath, Jericho disappeared, heading across Edan to where the Trooper Faerie castle hovered in the sky. Sean was there, he knew, mooning over a certain faerie princess.

He had a wild crush on Fionnula!  But she did not want to make "the same mistake" her sister had made, and hardly gave him a look.

By the time Charity gave birth to her third child, another girl that Pacer suggested they name Adoette, to which Charity agreed willingly. Jericho had arrived at the castle, finding Sean perched in a tall tree. "Anything interesting happening?" the leprechaun asked as he settled in beside him. "If not, maybe we can start something!"

Sean swung his legs back and forth.  "Not really.  Oberon has a cunning plan, though!"

"A plan is it?" Jericho grinned. "And what is this wondrous plan?"

"To coax His Nibs out of the castle and herself's bed.  And won't the other handsome swain be goin' in?"  He frowned.  "At least someone will be flyin'!"  Of course, fae already flew, in love or  not.

"Anything we can do to help this plan along?" Jericho said, passing a jug of the Creature to Sean. "I can use a bit of fun, I could."

"I'm open for suggestions," answered Sean, as he took the jug.  "Not that we need to shove him out th' door.  Oberon just appealed to his manhood."  He chuckled.  Grogan was such a warmonger that it was easy to fire him up!

"Perhaps we could be followin' the bastard when he goes?" Jericho suggested. Even now, there was no love lost between the arrogant Count and the leprechauns.

"Just to make sure he goes?  But without getting ourselves in the line of fire?"

"Aye. And perhaps a wee accident will befall Himself, and he may go, but not return!" Jericho suggested. 

Sean upended the jug. "I'll drink to that!" he said merrily.

And so they went!  Meanwhile, their other complaint was being heard elsewhere. Like, say, the Grand Banshee's lair?

She had known when she had brought the leprechaun girls what the end result would be, but she was a little unwilling to let the leprechaun race die out. With that in mind, she took off to see her old friend, Fisher.

The Old One seemed tired.  It had been a long day.

He looked up as the huge black raven descended through the clouds, morphing into a woman as she neared the crowd. "I thought you could use some company," she said with a knowing smile.

"Why must they come in waves?" he asked.  "We saved one from having his eyes put out - but only just.  He's not that happy being here but he might be a help."

Bannie slipped her arm around him. "Yes. He will be. It is a chore though to keep them all busy and out of trouble at times, isnt' it?"

"But at times of war," Fisher said, "we can use all the help we can get.  I think."  He looked concerned.  Then he snapped out of it and said, "What can I help you with?"

Bannie shrugged. "I know you are planning on bringing more of your daughters soon. The faerie folk seem well taken care of. But I was thinking that a few more leprechaun lasses might not be a bad idea. They seem to be mixing well with the population here."

"I always bring daughters this time of year," he admitted.  "Though I worry about it.  The others have had to become pregnant to be safe!"

"True," she said sagely. "But tides have a habit of turning. The mortals that now inhabit this world along with those of our type are taking matters into their own hands."

"And leprechaun women have not been taken.  But how to prevent them from taking up with mortals?"

"Leprechauns have minds of their own," Bannie sighed. "But the problem will take care of itself soon, I'm sure. If I bring enough, surely some of them will choose to stay with their own kind."

"I wish I were as confident as you," he said.  "But then again, you're omniscient and I just take orders!"

Bannie hugged him again. "Good. Then you can do as I say. Come with me and rest for a bit," she said with a smile and a wink.

He nodded. He was tired.  Though of course he knew she did not mean they would really rest.  Perhaps her idea would be refreshing.  It would get his mind off things, anyway!