Chapter 15
Four weeks had passed since the birth of her daughter, and Felicity had been busy. The first several days passed in a daze of feedings and changings and snatching sleep whenever she could. Those first few weeks were also marked by a crippling fear. Would her daughter be safe? At first Felicity had to be in the same room as her child at all times. Rosa was a huge help. She slowly helped Felicity relax and remember that she had been safe for months, that everything would be fine. These assurances were backed up by magic lessons. Felicity possessed more magic than she ever realized, she just needed help bringing it to the surface. She would never be as powerful as Rosa, but she was powerful enough to protect herself and her daughter from harm. Rosa had already taught Felicity some spells that could be used for self defense. Soon Felicity would be ready for the warding charm that had kept her hidden for almost a year.
Today's lesson passed quickly, though when Felicity glanced at the clock she saw that much time had passed. Shifting from one foot to the other, she waited for Rosa to wrap things up so she could get back to the baby.
"Felicity, you can go." she said with a knowing smile. Felicity's cheeks colored slightly. Was her distraction so apparent?
"Thanks. I'll see you later." she replied, heading for the door. Rosa watched her retreating back, her smile widening. She highly doubted she'd e seeing Felicity later.
"Felicity, you can go." she said with a knowing smile. Felicity's cheeks colored slightly. Was her distraction so apparent?
"Thanks. I'll see you later." she replied, heading for the door. Rosa watched her retreating back, her smile widening. She highly doubted she'd e seeing Felicity later.
Felicity shivered once as she stepped into the September sun. Fall was late in Hidden Springs, though the chill in the air warned of its approach. She found it hard to believe that almost a year had passed since she'd seen Demitri. Felicity was a mother now, and a sort-of witch in training. She was learning to better deal with formerly crippling fears. What would Demitri be like when he came back? How would he react to parenthood? What if he decided he didn't love her, or what if he didn't come back at all?
All her doubts temporarily dissipated as she entered her cabin and then her daughter's room. Sonya lay in her crib wide awake and completely silent, blinking as her mother leaned over the crib. The baby's small cooing sounds as she was lifted from the crib elicited a smile from her mother.
After feeding and changing Sonya, Felicity sat in the rocking chair with her baby, her questions returned, slipping into her mind one by one without invitation. Rather than let herself become overwhelmed, Felicity met her doubts with determination. She had learned to live her life without Demitri by her side. It would be a bitter pill to swallow, but she was perfectly capable of continuing to do so if need be. Sonya was generally a quiet, easy baby, which certainly helped. As soon as Sonya showed signs of tiring, Felicity gave her a bath before returning her to her crib.
Felicity made use of her free time by painting. Painting still helped her pass the time. It allowed her to explore beyond the confines of the cabin, making good use of her active imagination. After a while Felicity cleaned up her paints, prompted by her empty stomach. She decided to go ask Rosa what she wanted to do about dinner.
Felicity only made it to the top of her porch steps before stopping in her tracks. Her heartbeat accelerated as she was first gripped by fear, and then recognition.
There was a man standing at the end of the driveway who appeared to be struggling with a difficult decision. Even with the beginnings of a beard and the sub=n in his eyes, Felicity could see that the man was Demitri.
She ran to him, nearly tripping over her own feet as she did. Demitri was back.
Though her first instinct was to throw herself at him, Felicity restrained herself and stopped several feet away from him. Demitri walked forward, closing the distance between them. They stared at each other in silence. Felicity rubbed her arms, suddenly self conscious. She'd put on some weight since her pregnancy, and while it was weight she'd needed to gain, it was still weight. Demitri definitely looked different. He seemed to have forgotten to shave. His skin was darker than Felicity remembered it being and his eyes no longer had a strange glow.
He looked human. Felicity's head was swimming. She had so much to say, but no idea of where to start. "Why don't you come inside?" Felicity said, her voice colder than intended. Demitri looked confused, like he wanted to say something, but after a few seconds he nodded and followed Felicity into the cabin.
Felicity could hear whimpers coming from inside the nursery. Sonya. That was were she needed to start, with the daughter Demitri didn't even know he had. She walked into the nursery without speaking, leaving the door behind her as an unspoken command for Demitri to follow her.
The whimpering stopped as soon as Sonya was in her mother's arms. She wasn't smelly and she wasn't acting hungry, so she was probably just lonely. Sonya was happiest when she was being held. Felicity held her daughter close, comforting her. She heard Demitri's footsteps behind her, followed by a sound of surprise.
"Whose is she?" he asked. A shiver ran down Felicity's spine. It was the first time she'd heard his voice in such a long time, and it hurt that he sounded so sad. She was also annoyed that he felt like he needed to ask whose baby Sonya was. Obviously she was Felicity's, and the implications of his question stung.
"She's ours." If Felicity was able to see Demitri's face, she would have seen shock, and then awe, and then joy, and then sadness. Instead she kept her eyes fixed on the wall opposite her.
"What's her name?" Demitri asked hesitantly, after several long moments of silence.
"Her name is Sonya and she is four weeks old." Felicity said, finally turning to face Demitri as she gently placed his daughter in his arms. He held her awkwardly, but securely, so Felicity took a step back when she was sure Sonya would be safe. "Take as much time with her as you would like. I'll be in the living room." Felicity exited quickly, blinking back the tears that were threatening to surface.
"She's ours." If Felicity was able to see Demitri's face, she would have seen shock, and then awe, and then joy, and then sadness. Instead she kept her eyes fixed on the wall opposite her.
"What's her name?" Demitri asked hesitantly, after several long moments of silence.
"Her name is Sonya and she is four weeks old." Felicity said, finally turning to face Demitri as she gently placed his daughter in his arms. He held her awkwardly, but securely, so Felicity took a step back when she was sure Sonya would be safe. "Take as much time with her as you would like. I'll be in the living room." Felicity exited quickly, blinking back the tears that were threatening to surface.
Demitri held his daughter as though she were made of glass. He studied her face, no longer entertaining any doubts about her parentage. She could see both Felicity and himself in the tiny child. She cooed at him, her tiny eyelids heavy. He watched as she drifted off to sleep in his arms, his heart full.
Demitri gently put her back into her crib, putting a hand over her blanket when she opened her eyes. They soon shut again as Demitri blinked back tears. He had already missed so much of her lifeDemitri straightened up, looking at his daughter once more before quietly exiting the room.
Felicity stood waiting, her posture revealing her anxiety. Demitri could feel her muscles tense when he touched her.
"Felicity, I need you to talk to me. I just- you know I'm not good with words, I just think there's something wrong and I want you to tell me what it is. I'll listen to whatever you have to say." Demitri said, his hands reflexively tightening on Felicity's shoulders.
Some of Felcity's tension melted away at his words and at his touch. "Okay. Maybe you should sit down." Demitri immediately let go of Felicity and walked over to the couch to sit down. Felicity followed behind, standing in front of the couch and avoiding eye contact with Demitri.
"After you left I found out I was pregnant and it was once of the scariest moments in my entire life." Felicity began to pace back and forth as she spoke. "There was so much I didn't know. I din't know if the baby would be normal, or..."
Suddenly Felicity stopped and faced Demitri, anger she didn't know she was carrying around exploding. "I didn't know where you were or if you were alive or dead because you never called or wrote or anything and I didn't have any way to tell you anything and I was scared of Jackson and of having a baby and mostly of losing you and everything you have been better if you had just..."
The anger leaving as suddenly as it had come, Felicity collapsed into the rocking chair, sobs wracking her body. "I just wanted you to be here and then I felt bad because I knew you were gone for me."
Demitri stood and was at Felicity's side in an instant, running a hand through her hair and whispering to her until she calmed down. When her sobs had subsided, Demitri pulled Felicity to her feet. "It's okay." he told her gently. "I'm sorry. I have so much to tell you, but I think it had better wait until tomorrow. Okay?" Felicity nodded her head in agreement.
"Guess what?" he asked, eliciting a small smile from Felicity.
"What?" she replied, playing along.
"I'm back and I'm human now. I won't leave again unless you tell me to, and even then I'll stick around because we have a daughter and I don't want to miss any more of her life." Done with talking, Demitri leaned in and pressed his lips to Felicity's.
"What?" she replied, playing along.
"I'm back and I'm human now. I won't leave again unless you tell me to, and even then I'll stick around because we have a daughter and I don't want to miss any more of her life." Done with talking, Demitri leaned in and pressed his lips to Felicity's.
The kiss quickly grew heated, neither one wanting to be the first to pull away. Eventually they had to break the kiss to breath. Felicity could feel Demitri's heartbeat, a new sensation. His body was much warmer now than it had been before. As soon as she'd caught her breath, Felicity leaned in to kiss him again, tugging him towards the door of her bedroom. Some things were better expressed through actions than words.
I missed you. I love you. Welcome home.