Thanks, Audren, and everyone who took the time to read this!
In Which, Legolas Grows Up, Gandalf Gets the Gift and We Have a Wedding...and a Shock!
Gandalf realized he'd been given a second chance with his son. Every chance he could he would pick up the baby and play. Gracie smiled and went about her planting. Even with the baby swing in the garden, Gandalf was usually there before she was.
"He's not going to disappear," Tia teased. "Put him down and back to the kitchen."
"I don't want to miss anything this time. It was so hectic the last, well, you know." His voice trailed off.
"I understand. But we're not getting caught in that trap again. So off you go, my friend, just keep pushing out those Autumn Salads."
Legolas quickly turned into a toddler, and as they celebrated, Gandalf cocked his head to listen for a minute. Then he raised a quizzical eyebrow at his wife. "Tia? Sobbing?" he asked.
Gracie reached out and patted his arm. "Crying with joy that Lasse aged up with hair." She smiled. She was still learning to live with the bizarre flashes of
deja-vu that filled her life. The moment she'd held her son for the first time, the name had come to her automatically, almost instinctively. Even now, she would look for something she knew they didn't have. She didn't know if she believed all that Gandalf had told her, but she believed enough to keep working for their ultimate goal.
Gandalf, despite all the pressures the small family were under, took an extra day off work, and to the amazement of Gracie and Tia, taught Lasse to walk, talk and use the potty in a single day.
"He's always had a way with kids," Tia pointed out. "But I am impressed."
The rest of the week was spent cuddling, reading stories and the daily round of tasks that could not be ignored. Legolas preferred to read his books than play in the big toy chest. Despite all the attention lavished on him, he still remained a little aloof, happiest on his own. Sooner than any of them could credit, he was ready for the first day of school. Tia had a few words with him.
"Soul patch?" she asked, laughing. "Really?"
"I think it's some of Mom's spice brown paint. I'll wash it off." He scrubbed vigorously with the flannel. "Tia? Will there be lots of kids at school?"
"Quite a few, I hope. You have to make friends, Lasse, it's important."
The boy sighed. "Do I have to hang out with
all of them?"
"No, you just have to know them a little. Maybe there will be one or two that you'll be very close with. But when you get home, as long as you get your homework done, you can paint as much as you like."
"I'll help with the homework." Gandalf added, coming in to hand his son his lunch.
"It's not Autumn Salad again, is it, Dad?" the boy asked, peering into the paper sack.
Gandalf chuckled. "Dim Sum for you, on such an important day."
School would never be easy for Legolas. Without Gandalf's help, he struggled to complete his homework on time. The days, surrounded by other kids, upset him and made him tense. Time at his easel relaxed him and helped him to cope. He continued on, growing, learning, and after hitting the honor roll and meeting all of his fellow pupils, he realized that he had become a teenager. It caught the family on the hop, as suddenly the quiet child they'd adored turned into a raging ball of teenage angst. Tia caught up with him coming out of the bathroom.
"What have you done to yourself now?" she asked, in mock exasperation. Gracie looked up from her Handiness book.
Legolas muttered something under his breath. Tia tapped her foot, and Gracie laughed.
"He feels like he should be blond, Tia." Gracie said, reaching up to ruffle her tall son's new hair.
"Orlando in that darned wig," Tia grumbled. "You don't look like yourself anymore."
"It's only hair," Gracie said, pulling the boy into her lap. He struggled for a moment, then relaxed into her embrace. He looked over a Tia.
"If Mom doesn't mind, I don't see why you should. Besides, I wanted to try it for Prom."
"What about Prom?" Gandalf asked, coming in, hiding a large package behind his back.
"Lasse's new look." Tia said disdainfully. "He seems to be channeling Bloom." Gandalf laughed as Gracie and Legolas looked blank.
"Inside joke." Gandalf said. "This is for you, son. You love music so much, I thought this would be appropriate."
The wrapping fell away to reveal an electric guitar. Legolas gazed at it in wonder, then threw his arms around his father's neck. "Thanks, Dad, I love it!" He rushed to set up the amp.
"Sweet Home Alabama again! I'm off for a bit." Tia said, clamping her hands over her ears and disappearing as the boy rocked out a few shaky chords.
The next day Legolas stormed in from school. Tia held her breath. He looked daggers at her, then whispered a few words to his mother. She hugged him tightly, then he ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Tia stared.
"Kylie Parrott laughed at him," Gracie said sadly. "I don't know what he sees in that girl."
Wisely, the family ignored Legolas' hair over dinner.
For a boy who enjoyed spending so much time on his own, Legolas surprised them all with his busy love life. Kylie Parrott, who had looked so attractive under the sparkly prom lights, turned out to have a childish streak that Legolas couldn't stand. She embarrassed him at Graduation in front of his parents, and was stubbornly unrepentant. He decided he'd had enough of her snobbish ways and took up with Kristen instead. Kristen spent too much time delivering newspapers, and was replaced with Chantrelle. Then one evening, Tia broke it up with a casual comment.
"She's got a face like a duck, I can't help it, she does," she chuckled. Chantrelle joined the rapidly growing ranks of Legolas' exes. Then one morning, the family woke up to realize there was a girl in Lasse's bed.
"Mom, Dad, this is Charla. We're going to get married, but she's living with us for a few days until the arrangements are made."
"A wedding?" Gracie gushed, rushing to embrace him.
"A wedding?" Tia stormed. "Do you realize what's going on with your father? His best friends keep dropping like flies! Bertram popped off, and while he was cementing his relationship with Jerome, that celebrity one bought the farm! Then, while he was chatting up Dan in front of the restaurant, Kylie Osborne just went poof! Grim showed up and everything!
"It's fine, Tia!" Gandalf cut in. "I've just got to chat up Chantel a bit more, and we're all set." He looked over at his wife. "I'm glad you're so understanding about all this."
Gracie shrugged. "It's all for the greater good. The good news is that the life plants are finally ready. I wish I'd been able to search for the seeds and have them ready before this, but it's been a bit hectic."
"That's an understatement!" Tia retorted. "Just remember, no wedding until we get your father sorted out."
"Gandalf! What do you mean you're too tired to cook? Don't do this too me! Chantel isn't looking to pert, if you know what I mean. What if she pops off while you're napping!"
"Just a tiny nap. I'm going to set the kitchen on fire if I don't get some sleep!"
"Fine, fine." Tia growled. "Just a quick nap! I've got to have a word with Gracie."
"I know we've talked about this look before, Gracie," Tia began. Gracie met her eye and stared back.
"What's wrong with it?" she asked defiantly.
"Queen Elizabeth called, she wants her hair back, for one thing. Can't I get you a nice top?"
"I like this one."
"Okay, okay. If it makes you happy. I've got to go get that husband of yours up again."
"Finally!" Tia yelled, pumping her fist in the air.
"What about the formal declaration?" Gandalf asked.
"Eat first!" Tia urged. "Chantel is looking like she's going to drop any second!"
Gandalf shoveled in the Ambrosia, hating the step that took him away from Gracie, loving the step that brought him closer to completing his quest to bring his companions back together.
After the lights had faded, he and Tia looked at each other. She grinned. "Have the conditions been met?"
"Little late to ask now. But yes. I choose to do this."
"Great!" Gracie said, coming over to kiss the top of her husband's head. "Let's get this wedding planned! I've got a hankering for grandchildren."
"She's turned into 'Mother-of-the-Groomzilla'," Legolas said. "Why can't we get married in front of the mailbox? I mean, it was good enough for you."
"Let her have her fun, Lasse. We owe it to her."
Legolas shook his head and went to hunt up his bride. Tia looked sideways at Gandalf. "He's right, y'know. They're both loners, and she's inviting anyone she can. And I think she picked out Charla's dress herself."
"At least Charla likes it," Gandalf said sadly. "And lets face it, she doesn't have a lot of time left."
"True," Tia mused, settling down immediately. "She's done so much. Fish pond stocked, garden set up, she's even got all the death flowers in the museum."
"Bring on the wedding!" Gandalf said with mock cheerfulness. "She deserves to see her grandchild."
"I'll go find Legolas."
"Honestly, Lasse, you're getting married shortly. Are your mother and I the only ones who take this seriously?"
"Yep. Gracie, come settle your son down!"
But the wedding was a modest success, instead of the unmitigated disaster Tia had expected. The bride and groom exchanged vows, cut the cake and promptly fell into bed. The snoring rocked the house.
"Hey, guys, don't want to interrupt, just wanted to let you know you'll have a couple days to relax together. Charla's got some news for y'all."
"I'm going to go dust of the swing," Gracie said, getting up. Gandalf grinned from ear to ear.
Charla was pampered and the house readied for the new arrival. Legolas wavered between excitement and fear. Charla continued to learn to garden and paint. Her willingness to pitch in with whatever needed to be done endeared her immediately to her new family, but they urged her to rest as much as possible. After a lot of Vegetarian Chili and back rubs, labour started. Tia met them at the hospital.
"Congratulations! Wow, they gave you a lovely wicker bassinet to bring the baby home? That's new. Oh, wait..."
Oh my word!
