Jonah and the Fairy Ch. 02

"You said there are only two options. What are they?"

Marise again sat on the edge of the bed, looked at my Robin and drew a deep breath Robin nodded to Marise to tell me.

"While Crystal is with child she cannot assume human form, it would kill the child."

Robin looked at Marise and Marise noticed she wished to say something and stopped to allow her to speak.

"It's a girl Jonah we will have a daughter."

Looking at Marise again I asked what the second option was. Even Robin looked down at the bed and went quiet when I asked.

"I told you once our time is not human time, when the child is born she will go to our nursery until she is five of our years old, by then her body will be able to handle the stresses of changing to human form. It is forbidden to try before this age."

Mentally I had already done the maths. I would be forty seven years old, just then another conversation I had with Marise came to mind and I simply couldn't help but smile.

"It seems you will have to find a use for my first born after all Marise."

Marise winced as she herself remembered the comment that was meant to have been light and off the cuff had now come back to haunt her. Placing my palm on my Robin's lap and she in turn placing both hands over it I had choices to make none of them would be easy but then again aren't all the Jonah's cursed and isn't this just one of those moments when someone up there smiles and says "Get out of that then."

Looking down to Robin I told her I needed to leave and get myself checked out in a hospital. She knew it made sense she also knew that Marise would not allow her off the mountain to follow me this time. Marise left soon after, Mom put some things into a bag for me and Robin and I talked about my return. She was determined to stay with me until the last moment before she gave birth.

The next morning Jacob wished us both a pleasant journey and I said my goodbyes and cried along with Robin. The journey home was quiet for some time, Mom tried to broach a conversation and I think she regretted even starting it.

"You're very quiet you know your Dad will pick up on that."

"I doubt it I don't think his picked up how much Marise changed you over the last year."

The car swerved slightly. I had played a hunch and now I was proved right, it didn't matter anymore nothing seemed to matter anymore.

"What are you talking about? Marise has done nothing, when I go with her we simply talk."

"You know Mom I was quite the ignorant sap wasn't I. I was supposed to be the keeper and look what happened Mom comes along and all of a sudden she can talk to the birds, she can communicate with all the fairies on the mountain and do you want to know what makes it even more funny, do you Mom, well do you?"

Although I didn't shout I knew I wasn't that far off. Marise and Robin gave themselves away. Robin because she had no choice she needed Mom, Marise because she needed to keep an eye on me when I was off the mountain and with my folks. The silence still heavy in the air, she wouldn't ask because she was too scared of the answer, even when we pulled into the drive and Dad came out to greet us. But I just had to drive the nail all the way in and as Mom pulled up the hand break I turned to her and said.

"Robin knew all along what you and Marise were doing and my own mate kept it from me because she didn't want me to know. Kind of makes you wonder what else all three of you kept from me doesn't it Mom."

With that I got out of the car and hugged Dad. I told him I had a fall on the mountain and was just back for a medical and to make sure everything was ok. For the rest of the evening I made sure Dad was around when Mom was. I simply couldn't be bothered listening to her fall back story, even when I went to bed I locked the door, probably the first time I had done that since Becky Summers and I played I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I woke early and heard Dad leave for work a few moments later Mom went out the back and I left my bed and watched her stand in the middle of the lawn holding out her hand a bird sat on it and Mom's lips were moving. Looks like I was being ratted out by my own Mom. The appointment with the doctor was very thorough and the hospital checks that same afternoon showed bones knitting nicely and the muscles healing, so other than some physiotherapy there wasn't much my doctor could suggest, other than don't do it again.

When I left the hospital I made a call to an old friend of mine and pulled in a favor for his spare room for a few days. Mom wasn't in when I got back so packing a few things I simply left and bunked in with my friend, we talked about old times and even hit a bar that night, the first time I got drunk in close to two years and although I was waiting for it, not once did I get that feeling I was being watched. I guess they just wanted me to be left alone for a while.

My week with my friend was a great distraction for me and just what I had needed. Mom had tried my cell every day and always ended up leaving a message to call her back, I never did I couldn't see the point anymore because I really didn't know who I would be talking to from now on. There was never any doubt I would return to the mountain after all my daughter was there, not that I would ever see her for another twenty plus years but I still had to hold out for that small ray of hope.

*******

Making the choice to hire a car rather than let Mom take me back was easier for me, we both needed time away from each other and I really didn't know who she was anymore. The hire company was happy to let me drop it off at their same company in town for collection, for a small fee of course but let's face it, that was the least of my worries and they just seemed to accumulate when I got home.

I hit the store for supplies first and Henry was still sat on the porch watching the world drift by when I pulled up.

"You've not been around much son."

"No I had to go home I left Jacob in charge of the cabin while I was gone."

The look on his face told me I had just tripped a memory in his head.

"Son you may want to see the sheriff, they found that old hermit Jacob two days ago, bears had got to him and there ain't much left, so you may want to say your goodbyes to him over the casket rather than look inside."

The rest of the day was spent on paperwork, since Jacob had no known relatives I was elected and the sheriff let me take the body back onto the mountain with me. Once back at the cabin it took less than an hour for Robin to arrive and I could tell she wanted to talk I simply waved her request away telling her to leave and return with two Bodyguards. Still not sure why but she did anyway only Marise came back with them.

"Jacob is dead, the sheriff doesn't have a cause of death so they put it down to old age, his casket is in the car please don't open it the bears got to him before the townsfolk found him."

Marise nodded and looked towards her Bodyguards who nodded and between them removed the casket and shimmered away. Marise and Robin stayed I was prepared for this I had a week to decide what to do it just saddened me that I had to do it.

"We have things that need to be said."

"Yes Marise we do. How about I start for a change, I'm the keeper that's both my job and curse, I also have a daughter and I plan to stay here until you corrupt her just as you have Robin and my Mom, when the day comes that you do corrupt my daughter it's also the day you go looking for another keeper."

Both women looked open mouthed; I think Marise wanted this conversation to take a different path although I really couldn't think how.

"Good, now I see I have no objections to my plan I suggest you both leave and attend to Jacob."

Not to be outdone on the point's board I returned to the cabin and slammed the door shut. I needed to rest, it had been a long day and finding the only friend I had up here now dead can take its toll on a keeper. It took me another two hours to realize I had left my supplies in the car Robin was sat on the hood waiting for me.

"I thought our conversation covered everything what do you want?"

"No you talked and left slamming the door behind you, had I been in human form I would have kicked the door in to get to you but now I'm in fairy form, your taking advantage of that fact and you know I can't open doors, especially one that has my mate the other side of it."

I shrugged my shoulders and I knew I shouldn't have said it but I was still hurting over so many things.

"You raise some good points so I will help you out, were divorced."

Picking up my supplies I walked towards the cabin. Robin took advantage of her flying speed and was already inside before I had even got to the porch steps. She was waiting for me on the kitchen table when I got there, her face telling me to be very grateful that she wasn't in human form.

"Don't you dare use that word on me, we mate for life and I accepted that fact."

For the moment all I wanted to do was make her angrier, so I started putting stuff away, once I had finished I looked towards the table. Robin was stood cross armed and had a look on her face that only meant trouble for me. It still didn't stop me from wanting to make her even madder.

"Ok I accept the fact that we have mated for life. How about changing the word divorce for separated."

Robin used her speed to its full advantage and picked up a spoon and wacked me across the hand with as much force as she could muster, then flew up and wacked me over the head with it before I managed to take it away from her. By now she was totally beyond control and flew into the kitchen coming out seconds later with a knife and with a speed that even surprised me, she slammed the knife straight into the middle of the kitchen table burying half the blade into the wood before her own momentum stopped.

She stood next the knife breathing deeply trying hard to control her temper, finally her hands went to the small bump in her stomach and just running both hands up and down her bump soothed her to the point she could grab control back.

"We are not divorced, we are not separated we are mated for life. I have to leave to calm down some more and when I return we will make dinner together like we always do."

One moment I was looking at her, the next there was a crash as she flew through a window, bits of glass now scattered across the porch. I did wonder for a while if that would have hurt but the mood she was in I'm sure she didn't feel a thing. Breaking what was left of the window and picking up all the glass I placed a piece of paper on the window above and one on the door and then set about a long overdue cleaning the cabin.

It was almost dark when she returned through the window carrying the piece of paper I had placed on the window above and dropping it onto the table.

"That's not even funny."

It was all bluff I could tell by her face she was trying so hard not to smile. I had written 'Fairies & Mates entrance' on the piece of paper over the window and 'Keepers entrance' on the piece on the cabin door. All through dinner preparation and even dinner itself Robin wanted to bring our conversation back to her and Mom, whenever she tried I would either leave the room on some pretext or simply change the topic all together.

It was later in the evening she told me that Jacob's ceremony was in the morning it was also a time when they would be at their most vulnerable since all would attend. I knew what she meant and knew I wasn't invited. It didn't make a difference; I had already said my goodbyes to Jacob when I brought his casket back from town. By nine the next morning I was walking out the door. Mom was sat in her car next to mine I supposed I should have been surprised.

Mom got out of the car and walked around it to try to intercept me I wasn't interested.

"Hello son."

I turned towards the open cabin door and shouted.

"Robin one of the invited guests is here."

Slid passed her and got into my car and headed for the bridge. I was much calmer than I thought I would be seeing her here. When I reached the bridge I stopped and turned the engine off. A few moments later the bridge disappeared, I knew it was still there if I got out of the car and walked across it, to an outsider it would look like I was walking on thin air. The bridge would stay invisible until after the ceremony. Other than a three day hike over the mountain this was the only route in and I had that covered for the next two hours.

I had loved this mountain since the day I stepped onto it and Jacob had been an integral part of that, he was my friend and I mourned him my way not in some ceremony. It was close to three hours before I looked at my watch and shocked myself that I had gone over so much of my life both at home and on the mountain in that time, I hadn't even realized that the bridge had reappeared. I suppose if anything I felt more at ease with what I had to do now as well.

Sometimes I feel like a fortune teller I could work out to the person who would be waiting for me when I got back to the cabin and I was almost right. Marise came forward as I got out of the car and said.

"We have two ways of doing this keeper you either listen to us or I freeze you to the clearing floor and you listen to us. I'm not going to allow this to go on any longer."

"There is actually a third way Marise, my way the first two I wouldn't believe even if you all swore on Mother Earth."

Her cheeks flushed with anger, I'm sure no one has ever been allowed to talk to her the way I was at the moment and to be honest I may have thought differently about saying it if she hadn't sent her Bodyguards away. Mom walked up alongside Marise she knew I could be stubborn and the way this conversation was already going it could only end one way and that was badly. With her voice barely above a whisper Marise said.

"Explain yourself."

"No I won't until I'm sure I know who I'm talking to." I turned to Mom and said.

"Take your t-shirt off."

Mom went white; Robin flew across the porch and landed on my car.

"Jonah please don't do this, why don't we all go inside and we can explain everything to you."

My eyes where still locked on my Mother I wasn't going to back down and no matter what they said it would all be pointless now. Marise had a look about her, her eyes narrowed on me before finally looking to my Mom saying.

"He won't listen to us he plans to sings songs in his head until we are finished and then get on with being the keeper regardless of what we say."

I had still not taken my eyes off my Mom.

"Well Mother what's it to be, do you take your t-shirt off or do I start listening to songs in my head until you all stop speaking and you go home to Dad and continue to feed him lies?"

It was Mom's turn to hit the slow boil towards losing her temper now.

"I have never lied to your father in my life young man."

"So omission of the truth isn't a lie then. I will have to remember that the next time I talk to Dad as well. At least we all know why I lie to him so I suppose I'm the only hypocrite on this mountain."

Mom took a step forward I have never seen her so angry. Robin flew in front of her and stopped a foot from her, warning her not to touch me I was her mate and as such she would defend me to her last breath. Mom stalled she hadn't expected this and to be honest I hadn't either. She then flew in front of Marise and who then held out her hand for Robin to stand on.

Robin explained to her she knew why I wanted Mom to remove her t-shirt and she asked that Marise order Mom to do it. Something passed between them at that moment; I suppose being the Queen's Bodyguard and her most trusted one would allow more than a little trust to develop between them. After a moment Marise nodded her head and she clicked her fingers, a blue glow appeared around Mom's t-shirt and it disappeared from her body and ended up in my hands.

The stunned look on Mom's face would have been worth paying for and I got it for free, both Robin and I looked at each other and I noticed her brow crease in frustration. Mom was wearing a sports bra, her shoulder sagged she had no choice this would never be resolved until she had asked her Queen one more request.

"My Queen you have trusted me with your life and your friendship and I have kept both close to my heart, today of all days is the time I asked you to return that trust. Please turn the human around to save her modesty and remove her bra."

Without even blinking Marise lifted her arm. Mom opened her mouth to protest, heard a click of fingers and found that protest aimed at our cabin. Mom lifted her hands to cover her bare tits and then found she couldn't turn around again. Marise had frozen her to the spot for good measure. Robin thanked her Queen and flew over and sat on my shoulder as I took a couple of steps closer to mom so I could check.

"She doesn't have the marks you are looking for Jonah because she is human just as you are. There are no scars from her shoulder blades down for her wings to emerge because she was born human we have not changed your Mother any more than she had asked us to."

"You give me my clothes back young man, you're still my son and I can still slap your ass even if I have to go through your mate to do it."

Marise smiled, finally understanding all of Robin and my requests. Clicked her fingers one more time and Mom was now able to turn around fully clothed, Mom sulked for a moment until Marise took her hand and we all went inside the cabin. It was left to Mom to explain, Marise and Robin simply sat and listened, the events of the last few minutes still playing on their minds and occasionally smiled, trying to hide that from Mom at the same time.

"When Marise took me away that first time I was in a daze, she showed me many things most I know you have seen but I've also been allowed and accepted within the Queens domain. They gave me a title; I couldn't warm to it until I realized just how much you are respected amongst the fairies. I'm the Keepers Mother."

She took a deep breath and continued.

"It's true Jonah all I have done with Marise is talk, we have grown to be good friends and I miss her when I'm away. But I also feared for your safety living here without any means to call if you had an emergency, every day I worried and every day I thought the worst until you did call. I was making myself ill son and no matter how your Father tried calming me I could still see the worst."

"You had gone to the long trail to check it out when I came once I was in a bad way, Robin took me to see Marise and I explained my fears, even someone by your side as powerful as Robin is and I still feared the worst. It was decided between us that Marise would give me the power to speak to the birds so if there was ever a need for me to know something had happened to you I would find out."

"I swear Jonah that is all I have and it's the only thing I have asked for, you have to believe that."

Mom was close to tears as she explained all to me her shoulders hung in defeat as she felt the one gift Marise had given her was to be the one gift that would tear her son away from her. Robin again came and sat on my shoulder, swung her leg and dug her heal into my shoulder a clear sigh she was pissed that I had still to say anything. When I looked at Marise all she did was nod her head, confirming all that Mom had told me.

"Marise will Mom's gift ever leave her?"

"No. Unless I remove it, her gift will stay with her until the day she dies."

Mom's head moved between the two of us as we talked, desperately waiting to see where this conversation would lead.

"Then for my Mom's peace of mind I ask you to let her keep her gift. We both know once Robin has our child her time will be split between here and the nursery and the anxiety will return. If it keeps her happy then I'm happy."