What is stolen will remain . . .

[belegwen]

What: Talking About Amy
When: Sunday afternoon
Who: Mabry and Jalen
Where: The kitchen and Rainbow's End

Wet, dreary spring days made Mabry feel like baking. The heat of the oven seemed almost enough to make the chilly rain retreat, and the fire in the kitchen hearth was comforting as well. And she needed that comfort today, not merely for the rain, but because of the disquiet that she had felt in her own home recently.

Besides with two small children in the house, nothing she baked would ever go uneaten.

She sang quietly to herself, slightly off-key, as she slid the pan of gingerbread into the oven. Shortbread next, she decided and drew another mixing bowl from a cabinet. She tried to focus on the spicy smell now emanating from the oven and not on the conversation she knew was coming.

Comments

[belegwen]

Mabry smiled over her shoulder. "Well, I'm never all that fast, but I'll hurry as best I can."

It was only a couple minutes later that she returned, holding a small object in her hand. "You'll need to hide it somewhere over the bed," she instructed, holding out the tiny dream-catcher. "This is one of the first ones Song made. It's to give you the dreams you need. I think, well, the Shadow is only a part of Amy, and her being in control isn't good for the whole, so maybe this would work. If nothing else, it might buy us some time."

[amys_keeper]

The timer did go off while she was gone, so Jalen got the gingerbread out of the oven and set it on the counter, all without burning himself or dropping the pan. A miracle! He'd gone over to the door afterward and peeked out, smiling faintly as he watched Eli jump in puddles, his multi-colored hat almost pulled down over his eyes. Awiergan was practically hovering over him, smiling as she egged him on.

When Mabry returned he was leaning against the island, head tilted back to stare at the ceiling. He almost jumped at her voice, then reached out to take the dream-catcher.

"All right. Hopefully..."

He ran his fingers carefully over the webbing. He could try to go place it now, or wait until later. The decision was made for him when the door opened, letting in the chill air and a pink-cheeked little boy in a blue coat. He was alone.

"Mama went bye-bye."

Eli didn't seem upset about it, so Jalen figured she'd told him she would be back soon. But what was she doing just disappearing like that? Good way to blow her cover, if anyone had been watching.

"Where'd mama go, Eli?"

He knelt down to his son's level, trying not to grip the dream-catcher too hard. Awiergan might not have told Eli the truth, so he wasn't sure why he was asking.

Smiling, the little boy reached out to tug on his father's hair. "Mar-ket." He let go as his attention diverted to Mabry and the smell of the gingerbread.

"Cookie please?"

[belegwen]

Mabry smiled at Eli. "It's still too hot. It will need to cool off first. Why don't you go hang up your coat?"

She waited until the boy had left the kitchen. "Go on and place it now. I'll keep the kids happy with gingerbread."

[amys_keeper]

Jalen couldn't help grinning as he stood and watched Eli dart out of the room, while trying to pull off his coat at the same time. He was a lot like his mother. One would hope that wouldn't carry over to accidentally scorching dressers with fire magic.

"Good idea. Watch out for Eli's 'poor me' pout, he's learned it gets him things."

Another glance at the dream-catcher in his hand, and then he left, headed upstairs.