Sean’s Dilemma

By Donna and Toni

Father Rudden was in his little church, having his own private devotions. He had given up on having them in his little house. Niamh was too much of a pest for that, always asking what he was doing, and why. At least in the church, she usually behaved herself! He shook his head. The playful little leprechaun seemed to have a fascination with what lay under the kilts that most of the village residents wore!

He blushed just at the thought of the way her curiosity had demonstrated itself - in fact, he seemed to mind what she was doing more than the owners of the kilts themselves did! They just thought the wind was blowing a wee bit! He sighed and crossed himself, asking God to forgive her, for she really didn't mean any harm.

The sound of the door opening drew his attention and he smiled as the two MacLeod cousins walked in, along with the women they were living with, Skye and Fontanna. "Good morn to ye, Father," Connor said, shuffling his feet a little nervously. "Ah wa' wonderin' if ye cud do me and the bonnie lass here a wee favor?"

The priest rose from where he'd been kneeling in prayer, and smiled, "Of course I would, son, if it's in my power to grant it. What is it that you are needing?"

Connor reached out and took Skye's hand. "The lass here is gaun tae ha' me bairn this summer. Ah wa' like us tae be wed if ye wa’ do it, Father."

Sean's smile widened at this happy news. "I'd be honored to, and congratulations, to both of ye! When did you want it done?" All he really needed was his stole and prayer book, which he always had on him, but he figured they might want to plan, like many young couples do.

Connor glanced at Skye, who nodded.  She wasn't much of a talker around other men, but it was obvious from the way her face seemed to glow when she looked up her mate's face, that she loved him very much.  "Do we ha' tae post the banns or anything?" Connor asked. "If nae, cud it be right now?"

Though slightly surprised, Sean told them, "I can do it now if you want; is there anyone you'd like to have to witness your union that isn't here right now?"

The Highlander shook his head.  "Just me kin, Duncan," he said.

The woman who had come in with Duncan didn't seem to be around any longer, as she was no longer visible; she must have slipped out, the priest reasoned. He nodded, and said, "Though there are usually two witnesses, one standing up for each member of the wedding party....I know. Niamh, lass, would you lend us your help here, please? We need a second witness to this couple's wedding." He knew she would hear him, and also was aware of the looks the two Scotsmen exchanged with each other, though he pretended not to. He was used to such looks when he spoke to the usually invisible lady leprechaun.

Niamh didn't answer as Fr Rudden had hoped she would. A moment later, Fontanna, who was hiding behind Duncan, squealed and jumped out. "Something poked me!" she gasped, glaring at Duncan. "Did you do that?"

Duncan grinned and shook his head. "Nae. It must ha' been the guid Father's invisible friend."

Sean also grinned. "Well, young Miss; glad you came forward. We can get started with the ceremony now." And he directed each person as to where to stand, took the stole from his pocket, kissed it and put it on, opened his book, and Connor and Skye's wedding was soon underway.

It was short and sweet, just the way the couple wanted it. Father Rudden was delighted that they had come. Perhaps some of the other couples living together outside of wedlock would now make the plunge themselves! Once they had been pronounced man and wife, Connor slipped him a few coins for his services, and then the wedding party left.

As Sean was putting away his stole and prayer book, he heard a soft sigh near him, and smiled as he said softly, "I know; it may have been a small wedding, but it was beautiful. It's always beautiful when a couple in love decides to consecrate their union before God." He ran a hand tiredly through his short curls, then called out, "Well, that'll be all I'm needed for until the late afternoon service in a few hours. I'm going home to relax awhile; if anyone else comes in needing a priest, and you're still here, please let me know." Satisfied that things were as they should be, he left the small church for his home nearby. All he really wanted was to relax in a hot tub; it always renewed him for the second half of his day.

He went back to his little house, and found the tub filled up with hot water as always, with a towel and clean clothes on a nearby chair. Next to the tub, there was a small table with a mug of hot tea and some scones. It was amazing how well that Niamh took care of him.

He undressed and slid into the hot water, sighing with relief. His thoughts turned to the beautiful leprechaun as they often did when he was alone.  Sean thought about the love he'd seen between Mr. and Mrs. MacLeod today and sighed.  He cared about Niamh more than he would admit to anyone - maybe even himself. Even besides the fact that he was a priest, he knew she could never want someone like him in a romantic way. He wasn't super handsome, like Duncan or Connor, wasn't even as young as they were - well, at least as young as they'd been at the time of their first death, which is where they were frozen physically forever. He was a middle aged, "solidly built" (at least he'd upgraded himself from obviously overweight, as he'd been shortly before coming here) man, with a face lined with the cares a normal life had been through by then. He'd had his share of joys and sorrows, just as anyone else, but overall, things had been better since he'd come to Edan. His eyes had just closed when he felt someone else get into the tub with him!

Gasping in surprise, his eyes flew open, and then squeezed tightly shut again. Niamh was as naked as Eve had been in the Garden of Eden itself!

Grabbing the washcloth sitting on the edge of the tub, he quickly draped it over his groin, his voice a little raised as he asked, "Niamh, for God's sake! Have you no decency, woman?"

Niamh tilted her head to one side. "Haven't I seen ye in yer all together many times?" she chuckled. "And what good is takin' a bath if I ha' tah wear clothes?"

He paled visibly at her words. "You've seen me in my.....do you mean you've used your invisibility to watch me at times I wasn't decent? How could you, you know how I feel about such things! I thought we covered that the first time you tried it!" He thought she'd been respecting his wishes all this time!

There was no reply. After a moment, he took a peek, and saw his little companion looking at him, her face full of hurt just before she disappeared into a shower of sparks. He felt her body lift off his, and then saw her leaving a trail of tiny wet footprints as she fled the room, sobbing.

He did not feel good in the least at having made his point; he felt tears in his own eyes, as he looked over at the scones and tea. But the girl had to learn to be a proper young lady, and life's lessons were sometimes hard in the learning. The relaxed feeling his bath had previously given him gone now, he got out of the tub, dried himself off, and dressed, taking care of the dishes himself that she usually made disappear, only to have them show up perfectly clean later on and stored in the cupboard. Even that afternoon's service seemed emptier, a little sadder, and afterward, he found himself going for a walk in the woods, as he'd always done when he wanted to think. Except this time, he truly felt alone.

He had gotten used to having her around, even though she was at times a bit of a nuisance. But, wasn't that what leprechauns were? She had a good heart, even though she liked to cause mischief. As night fell, he made his way back to the village. There was no warm welcoming fire in his house, no nourishing supper waiting for him on the table.

It was only now that he had to do these things for himself that he realized how easy he'd had it since meeting Niamh; and there were precious few men, of any age, appearance or profession, that could have been so lucky as to have her by their side, whenever they needed her...and sometimes, even when they didn't, he smiled to himself. Even as he smiled, the tears he was trying to blink back trickled down his cheeks, and he looked out the window through his blurry vision and whispered softly, "I wouldn't blame ya for never wanting to speak to me again, after the way I spoke to you today, but....I am sorry, Niamh. Maybe it's me who needs the attitude adjustment; after all, a man shouldn't go around gettin' that upset when the woman he loves wants to take a few liberties with him - no matter what calling he follows." He sniffled; there, he'd admitted his feelings, but didn't feel especially nervous doing it, because he knew she was no longer listening to him. He'd blown his chance, and good. He wiped his face hastily with the back of his hand, and got back to his dishes.

The noise he was making as he washed the plates almost made him miss the little sniffling sound. Thinking he heard something, he paused, and after a moment, he heard it again. Throwing open his window, Sean looked outside, and to his delight, he spotted a tiny red headed leprechaun girl sitting on one of the fence posts around his little garden area!

His dishes forgotten, he wiped his hands quickly on a dishtowel and ran outside, but stopped a little ways from her. Then he advanced once again, but slowly; almost cautiously, ready to stop immediately if she showed even the slightest hint of running from him. He wasn't worried in the slightest that she might perform some leprechaun curse on him; if she did, he deserved it, and he accepted this. His fate was in her hands, quite literally.

At the sound of his foot steps, Niamh looked up, and for a moment, her faced seemed to glow just as Skye's had done earlier in the day. Then to his amazement, she lifted off the fence post and floated in the air!

As he watched her, it occurred to him that he had heard that leprechauns could fly when they are in love. Smiling, he tentatively held out his arms to her, watching her.

With a sob, she flew into his arms, changing sizes as she went. "I'm sorry," she cried, her petite body shaking as she clung to him.

He held her close, stroking her hair, and smiled softly, "I'm the one who should be sorry, and I am, more than you know. A man has no call to be that short with someone who only wants to be with him so much because she cares about him. Though I don't know why, after the way I behaved. Can you forgive me, love?"

She looked up at him, her emerald green eyes shining with emotion. "Wouldn't I be the world's greatest fool if I did not?" she whispered.

He blinked back tears once more, but this time they were of happiness, as he gazed into her eyes in return. Then, he slowly lowered his head to hers, and did something he hadn't done since entering the priesthood in his late teens. Tenderly, he kissed the woman he loved, and didn't seem to notice when both of them lifted off the ground, him held securely in her arms, and hovered just a bit over the spot where they'd been standing.