By Donna and Abs
Dusk was just setting in the woods where
Gideon's cabin was located. He was sitting on a small bench near the little
bubbling brook that ran through what was becoming a lovely garden around his
little house. His fae friends were always doing something to make his home even
more special and pretty. Gideon was well and healthy now, feeling better than he
had in many years. So, every morning, after eating an early breakfast at
Katherine's place, he rode into town on his horse Shorty to tend to the animals
at the livery. At one, he would then go to the hotel where Lupe would feed him
lunch, and after that, he would make his way back to his cottage. Only one thing
made his existence a little sad. For some reason, his special friend, Shannon,
had disappeared. Her sisters kept telling him that she was fine, and that one
day soon she would return to him, but Gideon still missed her terribly.
This turned out to be the day.
Shannon's body had undergone a lot of changes in those weeks, and though
she was not showing, she was now twice as far along as she should have been.
She approached the cottage, and then
stopped to watch as a shy little deer came out of the woods and sniffed Gideon's
outstretched hand. As the creature scampered off, Gideon smiled and went back to
his carving. "Hello, Shannon," he said happily without even turning
around.
"Hello Gideon. Did you miss me?" She
inwardly berated herself for this bit of vanity, but it was already spoken and
she could not take it back.
"I did," he said simply as he
carefully folded his pocketknife. "I am glad you are back." Gideon
stood up and walked over to her, stepping in close, and with a huge smile on his
face wrapped his arms around her to give her a welcome back hug.
She enjoyed the hug, remembering that
night, then pushed back and said, "Do you notice anything different about
me?"
He looked at her oddly, then smiled
broadly as he realized what it was. "You have a baby growing in your belly
like Miss Katherine, don't you? Is that why you went away?"
She nodded.
"Do you know how the baby got there?" she asked.
"No, Shannon," he laughed.
"How do babies get inside? Katherine's baby is getting bigger all the time.
She is going to be here this fall."
Shannon smiled.
"So will this one. You
don't remember, but there was a very special night for my kind not long ago, and
during that night you helped put the baby in my belly."
"I remember the dancing and singing.
It was fun. But you went away afterwards. We never finished the book you were
reading to me." He frowned. "I don't remember helping put a baby in
you. Why don’t I remember that?"
"Let's say it happened in a dream,
and it was Magic," Shannon said.
"I like magic," he said,
putting his hand on her belly. "He is tiny! Can you name him Hiawatha? Like
in the book you are reading me?"
She laughed.
"All right. Do you know
what Hiawatha means?"
"No. But I think your name should
mean Laughing Water. Like Hiawatha's wife in the book."
"It means 'He makes rivers'.
You know how I feel about rivers. I
am afraid I do not laugh much, but I do like water.
We all do, but I am especially fond of it."
She looked sad suddenly.
He frowned again. "Don't be sad. If
you like, we can go to the water now?" He took her by the hand, tugging her
to the little brook nearby. When he got there, he knelt down and started taking
off his shoes. "Did you see the roses? One of your sisters came by last
week and made them. That was magic too. Everything in this place is magic."
"Yes," said Shannon.
"It is." Then she looked at Gideon and said wistfully, "I can't
go into the water, Gideon. I want
to, but I cannot. It is too hard
for me to resist it, and it will hurt the baby.
I would not hurt your baby for anything."
He looked confused. "How can water
hurt the baby?" He stepped into the ankle deep water and wiggled his toes.
"It's cold!" he laughed. "Will the baby live here with me then? I
like babies."
"If you want him to be here I can
bring him all the time," she smiled, glad he had asked a second question so
she did not have to explain the first.
He splashed around in the brook for a
moment and then stepped out, going to her side. "I am very happy to have
you back," he said in a wistful voice. He looked confused for a moment as
if trying to remember something. Then hesitantly, he leaned forward and touched
his lips to her. "Please don't go away like that again."
"I won't.
But I am going to have your son faster than other women do.
So I was very tired. You
understand? I did have work to do and I did it, but I was tired."
She remembered leading someone to safety recently, which was her main
responsibility.
"I understand," he said.
"If you are tired, you can lay down on my bed, and I will tell you a story
if you like."
Shannon smiled.
"I would like that. Would
you hold me again? You held me in
the dream, but you might not like it any more."
"I would like to hold you," he
said smiling as he took her hand in his. "Maybe we can dream again
together."
"That would be very nice,"
Shannon said, though she doubted it. Still,
it might be wonderful if some of the magic lingered!