Week Four- SpringThe first day of spring came with the rains, melting the snow at last.
Chris used his completed sketch to begin work on the addition to the house. It made sense to him, even if the rest of the household was confused.
Sandi "Mom...it's just a plant at an intersecting hallway, how is that...?"
Molly "Honey, just...don't think about it too hard."
Sandi managed to convince Michael Bachelor to go to prom with her, on the condition that she promised not to embarrass him. After all, he already had a degree in technology, and all she had was a reputation of being a daredevil.
Prom went well for Sandi. Michael asked her to be his girlfriend, and her subsequent yes gained her enough fame to become a one star celebrity. In addition, the night gave her the strength to lock-in her lifetime wish, Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous. She had her first kiss, and was crowned Prom Queen, afterwards giving a speech about her desire for world peace. By the time the night was over, Sandi had developed strong feelings for Michael. Which made it all the more embarrassing that she was caught out after curfew on her way home from the dance, and got grounded by her step-dad.
Part of being grounded was helping to move all of the new furniture into the second floor. When she started, there was only one things in place, and it caused her mouth to drop open. "No way...it really was part of the plan all along!"
After washing Shilo and cleaning the downstairs bathroom, Chris ungrounded Sandi early.
Molly went back to work for the first time, and Sandi worked for a day to help raise her grades. She also went because Chris told her she couldn't have a job of her own until she tried it out through the school' program, and Sandi desperately wanted to get a job. Chris watched over the triplets while the two women in his life worked, making him late for his shift at the hospital. Everyone in the household was hesitant to hire a babysitter, not knowing if any of the teens in town had experience with fae babies. While Sandi enjoyed working, it left her drained, and she decided to put of working for a while longer.
The last toddler skill was taught early Wednesday morning, leaving the triplets ready to move onto the next stage of their lives.
Or so Chris thought, until Molly took him aside. "Listen, Chris, I know it's hard to take care of three toddlers...but there's something you need to know. It's about the fae..."
Molly spent the next two hours explaining fairy politics to Chris, about how there was no dark fae monarchy at the moment, so all fairies were ruled by the light fae King, who could order all fae with the absence of a dark King or Queen.
"...Once Darina reaches maturity, she will belong to the light fae. With no dark monarchy in place, there isn't anyone to tell Jared 'no', no one who can help us keep our family together."
Chris didn't take this too well.
"And you've just been keeping this all to yourself!? This is a legacy Molly, there's a chance Darina could be chosen as the next heir!...if Frio takes her away...it's all over...You should have told me that this could happen!"
"I know Chris, and I'm sorry, but please try to understand! Jared isn't just my boss, he's the leader of all the fairies right now! He's the whole reason I have a job, and...and now I can't quit it. It's the service I provide to my King, just as all mature fae must contribute to the monarchy. If it wasn't for Darina being light, I would have left my job after our children were born, but I have to keep him placated. With more time, we might be able to find a way to keep our family safe! Chris, I know your upset, but-"
"But nothing! I...Molly, I need some time to think about things. Please just leave me alone for a while, ok?" Chris spent the rest of his day thinking about the situation his family was in, and considering Jared Frio...the first person who he had ever helped as a doctor. One of his first friends after moving. The person who had suggested he throw a party at the community pool, where he met Molly- and it suddenly came to him in a dream. "Jared did this on purpose...he picked me because I saved his life, and knew he could count on me to be able to help the fae...but why does he need a doctor to help the fae?"
Meanwhile, Sandi was cutting loose on the town. After releasing 50,000 frogs from the science lab and getting a pedicure for free due to her celebrity status, Sandi headed to the Grind for a night with her boyfriend. His parents decided to tag along, to finally meet the girl their only son was so crazy about. It was more then Sandi was prepared to deal with when she discovered that Micheal's mother was dark fae.
"Michael, your mother is dark fae!?"
"Well....yeah...what does it matter?"
"...my mother is too."
"Oh...so...your involved in this too, then."
Sandi shook her head at her boyfriend before heading back to the mixologist "Another Alien Brain, please." After tossing down her second drink of the night, next to a woman who could one day very well be her mother-in-law, and discussed the though circling in her mind. "I was born a human, and so was Michael...but both of our families are forever going to be a part of this. I thought...I thought if I got married and moved out, I wouldn't have to deal with this. But we both have a fae mother, odds are at least one of our kids would be fae...and we're all just pawns in Jared's game."
Jocasta smiled at her sadly "For now, Jared does indeed hold sway over all fae, light and dark. But the future could hold a dark fae king or queen, a person who could change the fates of our families. Don't give up hope dear, I've never seen my son so happy, and I'd love to see the two of you get married, wither your babes are fae or mortal. Don't give up just yet."
Unfortunatly, Sandi had lost track of the time, and was once again busted for breaking curfew. Molly was less then happy to be woken up at two in the morning, when she had just barely gotten to sleep herself "Again, Sandi, really!? And on the night of the full moon too, what is the matter with you!?"
But Sandi had had enough for one night "Well mom, I thought I'd have a night to myself, and get away from all the stupid fairy politics for one night, but NO! Michael's mom is dark fae too, and instead of enjoying my date, I got to hear more about this stupid fae hierarchy, and I'm sick of it! I'm MORTAL mom, but my entire life is always going to be about dairy this and fairy that, just because of Jared Frio and all of you dumb GLOWBUGS!"
"Enough! Go to your room, your grounded!"
"Fine! But I'm through with all this fairy nonsense!"
Sandi retreated to her room and proceeded to have a small tantrum, overwhelmed by the stresses facing her family and her boyfriend's family.
Love day started off with thunder, lightening and rain. Sandi spent the morning cleaning the house until her mother forgave her, then calling Michael to meet up at the festival for a date. Chris fished on-site in order to chaperon from afar, but the two teens didn't even notice him. Despite the rain and their worries about their non-mortal family members, they still found peace when together.
The next morning Chris found a love note from Jared for Molly, and felt his resolve to protect his family strengthen. Molly worked on her painting, and found it was compatible with her cooking skills.
"I should hang this up in the office at work!"
The season cam eto a close after a logn weekend of house cleaning, family time and independant skil building. Chris took some time to mend his relationship with Sandi, and had a heart to heart talk with her.
"I just so alone sometimes. You and Ekene are human, but I'm the only girl in this house who is mortal. On top of that Michael's mom is fae too...it's just hard to ignore it all sometimes."
The two spent hours talking, and both felt closer afterwards.
The future looked uncertain for the Steel family. For now at least, the triplets could enjoy their youth, spending time together despite their differences. Light fae. Dark fae. Mortal. These things didn't matter to them, only spending time together and their shared pretend games.
