Harker's Island off the coast of Eldicor, 13 November 2011
A trio of tired Harkers returned home after the Old Temple Challenge match. Bertie had already put the younger two children to bed and joined Dennis for a chat over the remains of a pizza. The usual nightly ritual began for Maggie; snack, bath, brushing teeth, hair brushing and storytime. In between the reading of Cinderella, mother and daughter had a chat.
"Mama, you gave that lady your ring. That mean you aren't Baroness anymore?"
"That's right, Maggie." Rhiannon leaned and kissed the forehead of her eldest child.
"We don't get to go to Old Temple no more?"
"We can go whenever we like, Maggie. That's where Grampa's Athenaeum is. He'd miss seeing you if we didn't go."
"What are you gonna do now that you aren't a baroness, Mama?"
"I'm going to wake up and make everyone a good breakfast. Then, I'm going make sure Rick and Caiti are settled where Da and Uncle Bertie can keep an eye on them while you and I muck stables. Then we are going to take the dogs for a run." Gently, she brushed a lock of hair out of Maggie's eyes. "In other words, Mairead Elizabeth Harker, I'm going to get back to the business of running our home. And getting used to just being called by my most favorite title again." Rhiannon smiled as she fussed with Maggie's covers.
"What title is that Mama, Mrs. Harker?"
"Oh, I like that one very much, Maggie, but I doubt Da would be upset by my first choice."
"Well, what is it?"
Rhi said simply, "Mama."
Maggie tilted her head as mulled that over. "But, Mama, what if you get to be a baroness again or even Overlady!" Maggie's eyes lit up at the prospect.
"Titles and certain responsibilities may come and go, Maggie, but I shall always be Mother to you, Caiti, and Rick."
"Like Gran is always your Mama" And Grampa Tass is your Papa" Da is Da. Uncle Bertie is Uncle Bertie. Grandmum is Grandmum. Aunt Tilly is Aunt Tilly." Maggie grinned gleefully as the bigger picture settled in her young mind. She had been blessed with nearly an army of relatives; blood, adopted, it didn't matter. They were her family. "Mama, what?s it mean at the end of the story when it says, 'They lived hap'ly ever after"' "
A wry smile appeared on Rhiannon's face. "Oh, pretty much what goes on here everyday, I think. The cooking, the cleaning, the racing after children. Living, Maggie, and enjoying every minute with the people you love. That's happily ever after."
"Mama?" the girl's sleepy voice was accompanied by a yawn. "I think I like that happ-i-ly every after."
Once Maggie was safely in the arms of Morpheus, Rhi went to tuck in the two younger children and kiss them good night. Rhi felt like Cinderella after the ball. It was going to be an interesting night around the kitchen table.
A trio of tired Harkers returned home after the Old Temple Challenge match. Bertie had already put the younger two children to bed and joined Dennis for a chat over the remains of a pizza. The usual nightly ritual began for Maggie; snack, bath, brushing teeth, hair brushing and storytime. In between the reading of Cinderella, mother and daughter had a chat.
"Mama, you gave that lady your ring. That mean you aren't Baroness anymore?"
"That's right, Maggie." Rhiannon leaned and kissed the forehead of her eldest child.
"We don't get to go to Old Temple no more?"
"We can go whenever we like, Maggie. That's where Grampa's Athenaeum is. He'd miss seeing you if we didn't go."
"What are you gonna do now that you aren't a baroness, Mama?"
"I'm going to wake up and make everyone a good breakfast. Then, I'm going make sure Rick and Caiti are settled where Da and Uncle Bertie can keep an eye on them while you and I muck stables. Then we are going to take the dogs for a run." Gently, she brushed a lock of hair out of Maggie's eyes. "In other words, Mairead Elizabeth Harker, I'm going to get back to the business of running our home. And getting used to just being called by my most favorite title again." Rhiannon smiled as she fussed with Maggie's covers.
"What title is that Mama, Mrs. Harker?"
"Oh, I like that one very much, Maggie, but I doubt Da would be upset by my first choice."
"Well, what is it?"
Rhi said simply, "Mama."
Maggie tilted her head as mulled that over. "But, Mama, what if you get to be a baroness again or even Overlady!" Maggie's eyes lit up at the prospect.
"Titles and certain responsibilities may come and go, Maggie, but I shall always be Mother to you, Caiti, and Rick."
"Like Gran is always your Mama" And Grampa Tass is your Papa" Da is Da. Uncle Bertie is Uncle Bertie. Grandmum is Grandmum. Aunt Tilly is Aunt Tilly." Maggie grinned gleefully as the bigger picture settled in her young mind. She had been blessed with nearly an army of relatives; blood, adopted, it didn't matter. They were her family. "Mama, what?s it mean at the end of the story when it says, 'They lived hap'ly ever after"' "
A wry smile appeared on Rhiannon's face. "Oh, pretty much what goes on here everyday, I think. The cooking, the cleaning, the racing after children. Living, Maggie, and enjoying every minute with the people you love. That's happily ever after."
"Mama?" the girl's sleepy voice was accompanied by a yawn. "I think I like that happ-i-ly every after."
Once Maggie was safely in the arms of Morpheus, Rhi went to tuck in the two younger children and kiss them good night. Rhi felt like Cinderella after the ball. It was going to be an interesting night around the kitchen table.