Fantasyland: Midnight Soul Part 46

I put my face square in hers.

"Push, sister. I'll not have you leaving us now. Not now. Not ever. Today, you bring my brother more joy. You bring it for yourself. And you bring it for me, and I get what I b.l.o.o.d.y well want. So you're giving me a b.l.o.o.d.y niece. Now...push."

"You...are very... mercenary," Brikitta forced out.

"I'm a Drakkar," I retorted. "Now, I'd be happy to have a conversation with you, sister. But before that, if you'd be so kind-"

I didn't finish as, before I could, her hand crushed mine, she bared her teeth as she gritted them, the blood rushed to her face and she bent forward, groaning.

"I see the head!" the midwife cried.

Thank the G.o.ds!

I looked that way and saw the same, covered in Kristian's dark hair.

I again turned to Brikitta. "She's got Kristian's hair." I watched her eyes flash. "Keep going, my beautiful girl."

She nodded and kept pus.h.i.+ng.

Back and forth I looked as more of the baby came through, Hilde's encouragement mingled with my own, and finally on a tortured cry that I was sure, if my brother heard it (and the last time I checked, he was pacing the hall outside this very bed chamber door so he would), would send him into a deathly fright, the rest of the baby came out.

"It's a boy!" the midwife whispered excitedly.

Brikitta slumped against the pillows.

I drew in a long breath, let it out and sat down on the bed, still holding her hand as Hilde let the other one go to dash around with bathing cloths and blankets, clucking and cooing, and murmuring, "How beautiful, so beautiful."

Through this, Brikitta stared at what was happening at the end of the bed, an exhausted smile shading her lips, a look of deep contentment eclipsing the fatigue that shadowed her eyes.

It took time, but eventually feeling my gaze, she gave me hers.

When she did, I felt my eyes get moist.

I sniffed and decreed, "A boy. It seems you'll have to do this again."

Her eyes grew wide then her exhausted laughter filled the room.

I smiled before I leaned forward, kissed her forehead, let her go, got up and walked out of the room in order to tell my brother he had a new son.

Noc Darling.

Noc turned in bed.

Noc, are you there?

His eyes shot open and he sat straight up. He looked around the room that had no furniture (except that bed) but still, with the patterned metal mirrors and weave work adorning the walls and other s.h.i.+t like that, it kicked a.s.s.

The moonlight shone through the opened windows and he saw nothing.

Noc?

f.u.c.k, that was Franka's voice.

"Frannie?" he called into the empty room.

You're there.

He didn't know where her voice was coming from, his head or disembodied in the room.

He also didn't give a s.h.i.+t.

It was just f.u.c.king great to hear her voice.

"I see you've learned some wielding," he remarked.

Her voice held humor when she replied, If it would not take great magic, I'd be standing by your bed.

He would not mind that at all.

Months had pa.s.sed. Her lover was not freshly dead. She was no longer in the throes of grief. Her parents had not just been discovered to be the f.u.c.kwads they were and Franka was not trying to find ways to cope with the ma.s.sive changes that meant, healing from mental wounds as well as the physical ones her father had unleashed.

It was time they had a conversation.

Though, he'd wait until he had her on his turf and not do it when she was somewhere else and just coming to him in his head (or whatever).

I have a new nephew, she shared.

"f.u.c.kin' h.e.l.l, baby, that's awesome," he said as he laid back in bed and crossed his hands behind his head.

It is, she agreed.

"Everyone good?" he asked.

Yes. The baby is healthy, loud and robust. Quite heavy, he gave Brikitta a tough time, but she persevered. He's also quite long, so he, too, will be tall like his father. A full head of hair. All his fingers. All his toes. Brikitta is tired but she's got plenty of people around to look after the child so she can get some rest. I nearly had to cast a spell on Josette to make her forget for a time we had a newborn in our midst. She quite fell in love.

He thought of her and the frequent time she spent with Tim.

"And I'm sure you're not interested at all," he teased.

They've named him Frantz.

Even, however she was coming to him, he could hear the emotion thickening her voice.

"Baby," he whispered.

He said no more, giving her a minute to pull her s.h.i.+t together because that was Franka. She wasn't about falling apart.

She took that minute and said in a crisp voice (total Franka, bulls.h.i.+tting to cover), He's quite handsome.

"Babies aren't handsome, sugarlips, they're cute."

I thought you said I was cute.

"You are. Babies are a different kind of cute."

And baby is what you often call me.

He chuckled.

There are parts of your patois that are very clever. There are parts that make no sense. She paused before she finished, And now, after I take a week or so to get to know my new nephew, be certain Brikitta is well and recovering, and sort out Josette and I, I'll learn much more.

"Yeah, you will," he agreed.

Are you...?

He waited for her to finish but she didn't.

He turned to his side, wrapping a hand around his pillow and using both arms to curl it closer.

Like it was a woman.

Like Franka was there.

f.u.c.k he hoped the saying was right that time healed all wounds.

If it didn't, he'd wait for her to heal. He'd help her do it.

But he'd also be right f.u.c.king there if she was.

"I'm ready when you are, babe. Korwahk is f.u.c.kin' nutty. I dig it to visit and explore, but I'm not sure how Circe made the decision to live here forever. Interesting. But still f.u.c.ked up. Knew she loved Lahn in a big way. Now I know the woman loves her husband seriously 'cause she's not only cool livin' here, she's totally in her element. It's like she's lived here all her life."

I would like the opportunity one day to witness her in her element.

"We'll figure that out. First, next time you see Valentine, let her know we're good to go and have her get in touch with me so I know when that's gonna happen. I'm good to go too but that doesn't mean I want green smoke to surround me and suddenly be gone before I say goodbye."

I'll be certain she forewarns you.

"Thanks, Frannie."

And I must go. It's late here and I wish to check in once more with Kristian and Brikitta before I'm abed.

"Right, sweetheart. Glad you floated into my consciousness and gave me the good news."

I'm not in your consciousness, Noc, she informed him snootily, I'm gliding on an astral plane, though without my body. I've simply tuned in to your plane. You have my conscious as I'm in a trance. But I don't have yours.

"You do know that makes no f.u.c.kin' sense whatsoever," he stated.

I'll explain it more thoroughly over pizza.

f.u.c.k yeah, she would.

"Right, go to bed, baby. And see you soon."

Yes, Noc. Soon. Sleep well.

"You too, Frannie. Later."

Uh...well, um...later.

He grinned and could actually feel it when he lost her.

Kristian had named his kid Frantz.

Noc liked the guy. Now he liked him more.

He drew the pillow closer and closed his eyes.

A week or so.

Then he'd finally be home.

And so would Frannie.

Chapter Thirteen.

Welcome Home Franka "By the G.o.ds! Look at your garments!"

I whirled from the window, twisting my ankle as I did so and nearly cras.h.i.+ng to the floor.

Just managing to prevent myself from doing something that incredibly mortifying, I stood blinking rapidly as I stared at Josette who was rus.h.i.+ng through the door.

She was not dressed as me in preparation to be transported to our new world.

No, Valentine had brought her something very much different.

She was wearing trousers like Noc's (he'd told me they were referred to as "jeans"). Up top she had on something that was frilly but skimpy. On her feet she had...

I shook my head as I took them in.