Disclaimer:None of these characters, except Dr. Wolfe and Veronica, are mine.
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I sat on the examination table in Dr. Wolfe�s office. It was my usual six-month physical, but for some reason, it was taking Dr. Wolfe longer than usual to get the results. At long last, he came out.
�Jasmine, you�re in perfect health, but I suggest taking it easy for the next few months.�
�Why? What�s wrong?�
�You�re pregnant.�
�I am?�
�Yes. And it looks to me like a hybrid.�
I thanked Dr. Wolfe & left his office, feeling dazed. I was pregnant again. It must have been those big sessions Brooklyn & I did back in February. He was human & I was a gargoyle. I learned that if it had been the other way around, Brooklyn might have killed me. Anyway, apparently we got carried away once too often.
I wondered up to the towers outside. I went up to Brooklyn�s statue & sat down next to him. I folded my wings & leaned my head on Brooklyn�s stone shoulder.
�Well, Brooklyn, it looks like we�re going to have a son or daughter in a few months.� Just then, a voice interrupted the moment.
�Aw, isn�t this sweet?�
I turned around & sighed. �Puck.�
�Don�t sound so thrilled to see me,� the fay said sarcastically.
�What do you want?� I crossed my arms, glad that I had chosen my gargoyle form. I couldn�t do any magic if I wasn�t human.
�Pack you bags. We�re going to Avalon!�
�What!�
�My queen convinced Lord Oberon to let me visit Avalon for a week, seven hours their time. But, I need to bring another fay being with me & Alex can�t come. His parents would miss him.�
�The clan will miss me,� I protested.
�But you�re old enough to leave them for awhile. Leave a note to them, then we�ll be off.� Then he disappeared.
I sighed. Obviously Puck wasn�t going to take �no� for an answer. I went to the library, wrote a short note to the clan, & put it in a long envelope. Then, I wrote a personal letter to Brooklyn about my being pregnant, sealed it with tape, & put it in the envelope with the other not. I sealed it & put it in the TV room where they could find it. Then, I went to pack.
Just as I finished re-brushing my hair, Puck appeared. He was set to go, so I set my brush down & waited for him to teleport us to Avalon.
�Jasmine, before we go, I want to tell you a few things,� Puck said.
�Yes?�
�First, you�ll have to present yourself to Lord Oberon & Queen Titania. Every fay, full-blooded or half, must present themselves to the lord & queen."
�All right.�
�Second, I told the queen about what a lovely voice you have. She might ask you to sing. Third, I also want you to meet some of the other tricksters of Oberon. Now, off we go.�
Moments later, we were standing on a beach. The weather was warm & summery. Off in the distance was a castle. A full moon shined beyond it.
�Welcome to Avalon, princess,� Puck said. He floated in front of me, his back turned. I heard him murmur, �Tearose.�
�What did you say?� I asked.
�Tearose,� Puck repeated, his back still to me. �She�s my daughter.�
�Your daughter!� I gasped. I didn�t know Puck had a daughter. The idea of Puck being a father was somewhat funny.
�Yes. She�s about your age. Maybe a couple of years younger. Now, let us go to Oberon�s palace.�
The two of us walked (I insisted) towards the castle & up the stairs. I saw gargoyles circling the sky. They were obviously Angela�s clan. I recognized the gargoyle Gabriel, whom Angela has described many times.
Puck & I walked across the bridge, past the gates, & then we stood in the doorway of a large & vast throne room. Dozens & dozens of fays occupied most of the area along the walls. A long, red carpet began at the doorway & all the way up to the stairs that were just below two thrones. And on those thrones, were the Lord & Queen of the Third Race themselves.
I couldn�t move. I realized I had cold feet. I didn�t know how to introduce myself properly. All the drilling & practicing Father had taught me left my mind. Then, I saw that everyone was staring at us.
�I can�t do this,� I whispered to Puck, who floated beside me.
�Come on. Don�t be afraid. They�re not going to hurt you. They just want to meet you.�
I took a deep breath & started down the carpet to the thrones. Puck stayed by my side the whole time.
At last, we reached the three steps that led to the thrones. I was actually standing in front of them. Now, what do I say?
It didn�t matter because Puck spoke first. �May I present to you, the half-fay Princess Jasmine.�
I kneeled before Lord Oberon & Queen Titania, all the teaching I learned came flooding back to me. �My lord, my queen,� I said.
�Rise, child,� Oberon commanded. I did so. �It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Puck has told Titania all about you that I decided that it was time to meet you. My queen convinced me to let Puck visit as well. Perhaps eternal banishment is a bit harsh. I will tell you my decision before you leave.�
Titania then spoke to me. �Puck has told me that you have a beautiful singing voice. Maybe you could give us a sample. Just one song.�
�Well, okay.� Titania motioned for me to move to the center of the room. With a wave of her hand, the queen began the music for �Forget About Love.� A few minutes later, I began to sing. My voice filled the cavernous room. I eventually forgot about my audience & I began to sing my heart out plus add a few dance movements. When the song was done, I heard clapping. Startled, I saw the entire Third Race applauding.
�Beautiful. Could you do one more?� Titania asked.
I agreed & the song �A Whole New World� began playing. I sang my part. Once again, I forgot about my audience. And, of course, the clapping occurred again at the end of the song.
Oberon & Titania told everyone to go back to what they were doing. Then, they told me to meet the other children. Puck took me through the crowd & introduced me to Raven, Anazi, & Coyote. Plus, I met Grandmother, Anubis, Odin, the Banshee, & the Weird Sisters. I even recognized another trickster called Veronica, whom I�ve written in one of my stories (Norway clan). I didn�t even know she existed.
Puck & I, after talking to the other children, were soon engaged in a deep conversation about fay magic. I told him about my pregnancy & he congratulated me.
Just then, a voice called, �Father!� Turning, we saw a red-haired, blue-eyed young woman heading our way. She must be the Tearose Puck spoke of earlier. She did bore a resemblance to Puck. She had a trickster�s face, yet resembled what looked like a fairy though she had no wings.
�Tearose!� Puck exclaimed giving the woman a small hug. �How�s my girl?�
�I�m fine. I missed you. I was wondering what happened to you.�
Puck cleared his throat & proceeded to tell Tearose about Alex, ignoring Oberon�s summons to attend the Gathering, his �punishment� (if you want to call it that), & some of the lessons he taught Alex. Then, Tearose saw me.
�Who is that, Father?� she asked, pointing at me.
�This is Jasmine. She is also my student, along with Alex. Jasmine, this is my daughter, Tearose.�
�It is very nice to meet you,� I said.
Tearose smiled. �Nice to meet you, too.�
Tearose & I spent a couple of hours talking to each other. She told me of some of the things Puck did while he was visiting her on Avalon & of her life story (so far). I told her my life from my world tour to now. I even told her a few things Puck did that he hadn�t told her. During our conversation, Puck told us that his eternal banishment was lifted, but his powers were still restricted. We were happy that Oberon changed his mind.
A few hours later, Puck told me that it was time to go. I was amazed. Seven hours had already gone by. Tearose & I promised to see each other some time soon. Then Puck & I disappeared & returned to the outside world.
There was a flash & we were on the outside of the castle. It was nighttime. Puck transformed into Owen & went inside without saying where he was going. I shrugged, went in, & headed for the TV room.
When I entered the room, I saw the entire clan there. Everyone looked at me. Next thing I know, I was surrounded by all my clanmembers. Brooklyn grabbed me by the waist & swung me around.
�Jasmine, I read your note & told the clan. This is wonderful news!� my mate exclaimed.
�A hybrid. So it is possible,� Elisa commented.
�Are you going to have a test to determine the sex of the baby?� asked Angela.
�Well, I would like to be surprised,� I told her.
�So do I,� Brooklyn put in.
�How was your Avalon trip?� Goliath asked.
�It was interesting, that�s certain,� I answered. �Did any of you know that Puck has a daughter?�
�A DAUGTHER!� exclaimed everyone, except Angela who nodded.
�How is that possible?� said Hudson.
I smiled as I told of how Tearose came to be & of my Avalon trip.