4.35 Being Ready

Kaity nervously rubbed her arm as she wondered how to start the conversation. Sophie looked at her expectantly, while Jaydean, obviously assuming they were in trouble, avoided eye contact at all costs. When did they get so big? It seemed only yesterday she was feeding them in their high chairs and kissing grazed knees better. These days she could hardly keep up. They'd babble on about who was dating who and what boy was better looking, it made her feel old. She'd never been one to care about any of that stuff when she was their age, but she could at least follow who was who back then...

"Helloooo? Mum? We've got homework you want us to do, and you'll want us in bed early because we have school tomorrow." Sophie broke her reverie, reminding her that she wasn't supposed to be reminiscing in her teenage - teenage - daughters' room, she was supposed to be having a serious conversation.

"Yes, uhm, sorry. I don't really know how to start..." She trailed off, wishing Winter was here because he was the one who was good with this kind of stuff.
"Oh plumbob!" Jaydean pulled a face. "It's not, y'know, the talk, is it? Mum, you don't have to do that, we learnt it all in school already."
"No! No, it's not that." Kaity breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't that. At least this conversation would hopefully be slightly easier.

Sophie lounged on her sisters bed, stretching her legs out a little and accidentally kicking Jaydean in the process. Jaydean let out a little frustrated noise, before repositioning herself around her twins new position. The fact that she didn't have their full attention spurred Kaity on.
"I asked Winter-" No! That's not what I practiced at all! "I wondered..." She'd lost it now. They were looking at her again and she'd completely forgotton the speech she'd practiced all day on Shaena.

"You asked Winter what?" Jaydean asked as she and her sister shared a knowing smile.
"How would you feel if Winter moved in?" She paused for a split second, not even giving them time to react before explaining herself. "I mean really. If you don't want him here then he doesn't move in. I've asked Shae and she's fine with it, but I thought I'd ask you two before I told your brother because I know he won't have a problem with it.." She trailed off. The girls were smiling now, holding back laughter.

"Mum. Seriously?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah, why would we have a problem with it?" Jaydean added. "He's never had to spend time with us, or include us in the things he does with Tummy, but he does and even when he first moved here and we were annoying and bratty, he still made time for us."
"He's the only man who's ever taken an interest in us. I know all the others weren't the same, they were just for fun, just one night, but Winter is like a father to us and we'd love to have him move in."

"Thank you, guys. That really puts my mind at ease." Kaity smiled uneasily. "Do you really remember all the one-night-stands? You were very young."
"Fairies have amazing memories, mum. If you'd been born a fairy you'd remember your first steps and everything too." Sophie explained. "But don't feel bad about it! Everyone makes mistakes."
"Yeah, it just means you can't tell us off when we do stupid stuff." Jaydean joked, and Kaity gave her a 'that's what you think' look.

"Does this mean you'll get married now? And have more kids? Can you try and have a girl, please? Brothers are soooo annoying." Jaydean asked, and Sophie sat herself up, waiting for an answer. Kaity froze. She had no idea what to say. She'd not thought that far, and she'd never planned on having children to begin with!
"Uhm... One step at a time, yeah?" She stammered. The twins giggled at the flustered look on her face, and she sighed when she realised they were only messing around... Weren't they?

***

"Hello Poppy!" Elise screeched as Popcorn jumped up onto the sofa next to her.
"It's Popcorn! And he's a boy anyway so you can't call him 'Poppy' because that's a girls name." Autumn corrected her, giving Popcorn an affectionate scratch behind the ears. Elise stuck her tongue out at him, and pulled the dog onto her lap. Popcorn was always hanging around her lately, she guessed maybe he could sense her mood. She wasn't upset that Winter was moving in, as Shaena had said, now she had two mums, a dad and a grandad who she saw regularly, but she still got jealous of Autumn and his perfect life.

She related more with Josh. Everyone thought she'd hate him because his dad killed her mum, but the way she saw it, that didn't matter. Josh had barely met his father, and he'd been in jail most of his life, so why should what he did matter at all to what Josh was like? She guessed Josh felt somehow responsible, because he was a lot nicer to her than Autumn was. They didn't exactly bully her, but when they were together they'd pick fun of anything she said. She didn't really care, when Autumn took it too far that one time she'd just told his sisters and they'd sorted it out. She didn't know what they did, but Autumn walked up to her, apologised, and gave her a dandilion from the garden.

"TICKLE!!!!" Elise shouted as Popcorn rolled over on her legs, the boys glanced at her before going back to their conversation.
"Maybe she'll finally get rid of the pink?" Josh suggested, motioning to the walls, floor and ceiling.
"Do you really think my dad living here will change her? She's stubborn, I bet even if we ripped the wallpaper down she'd just buy the same again and put it back up." Autumn doubted, looking over at Elise and Popcorn to see why the dog was making so much noise. "Ellie, stop it."

Elise rolled her eyes before gently sitting the dog upright again and petting his back. They were hardly even watching the TV, so did it really matter how much noise she made? Plus, nobody cared about their boring conversation about wall paper. How old were they meant to be? There was nothing wrong with pink anyway, and there were still going to be more girls in the house than boys even when Winter moved in, so if there was a vote the house would still be pink.

***

Three months later...

  "Hello?" Kaity recognised the number as Sunset Valley Community School For The Gifted, and immediately assumed someone was dying.
"Hello, is this Kaity Mattell? Mother of Jaydean and Sophie Mattell?" The receptionist didn't sound like she was panicking.
"Yes, speaking."
"I'm sorry to trouble you, but Principal Swift would like you to come in for a chat. Today would be ideal, but we can arrange a later date if that fits better for you?" Kaity's face fell. 'Come in for a chat'. She knew from experiance that SVCSFTG didn't call parents in for a chat because they were excelling or being well behaved. The receptionist had mentioned both girls names, so they must both be in trouble.
"I can be in immediately, if that's ok with him?" She sighed through clenched teeth, trying to imagine what the twins had got up to that required her having a meeting with their principal.
"Yes, that would be fine, we'll see you shortly, thank you." She hung the phone up and Kaity growled under her breath. So much for spending her afternoon off pampering herself and making herself look pretty for her date with Winter tonight.

"Mrs. Mattell-"
"Miss." Kaity corrected automatically. She had no idea why everyone assumed she was married, the principal didn't look like he read tabloids, but most everyone else did.
"Sorry, Miss Mattell. I'm sorry to have to call you in today, I'm sure you're very busy, but your daughters were caught passing notes in class by Mrs. Mattell- Odd coincidence, that..." Mr. Swift trailed off, wondering if there was any relation.
"My grandma Lisa." Kaity clarified. She turned in her chair to the girls, who looked terrified. She gave them a look to ask them to explain themselves.

 "Mum, I can explain..." Sophie started, but trailed off and buried her head in her hands, realising there was nothing she could say. Kaity turned her attention to her other daughter.
"We're really sorry..." Jaydean mumbled.
"As this isn't the first time-"
"What?!" Kaity swiftly spun back to look at the head master.
"We sent letters home, this is the third time they've been caught passing notes."
"Those letters never made it home, if they had, I can assure you Mr. Swift, it wouldn't have happened again." Kaity growled. Mr. Swift looked a little worried at what she might do to her daughters once they left.

"Ordinarily, we'd issue detention, but when you made no response to the letters we sent we assumed they hadn't made it to you and decided a discussion with you was for the best."
"Give them detention." Kaity said, her voice cold and emotionless. "Every day for the rest of the term. They won't be attending prom, and they won't be leaving the house other than for school until they move out."
"Miss Mattell, I don't mean to criticise your parenting techniques, but I feel that level of punishment is a little harsh. They are, the majority of the time, well behaved students, and these notes haven't been the usual bullying gossip we tend to confiscate off pupils their age."
"Do you have the note? I'd like to see what was so important it couldn't wait until they got home."

"NO!" Jaydean shouted, Sophie let out a gasp as she sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Mr. Swift, please! Please! She can't read it!" Kaity looked at her horrified daughters, and realised it must be something they didn't want her to know. She remembered the only time she would have reacted like that was when she was pregnant with them, if this was something like that she needed to know.
"I'd like to see it, please." Kaity stated calmly, turning back to the principle and taking the folded piece of paper from his hand. Her hand shook a little as she opened it, worried about the contents.

Jaydean - So, tonight's the night! How do you think he'll do it?
Sophie - Probs down on one knee, old skool romantic lol
Jaydean - Do you think she'll say yes?
Sophie - Dunno I hope so but maybe she'll make a scene?
Jaydean - I hope not! That would be crap! Surely she'll try not 2 make a scene?
Sophie - Wud be best if paps about, but you know how she is...

Kaity screwed the note up in anger. It was obvious who the 'she' and 'he' were in the note, she only wished her grandmother and the principle didn't. She felt embarrassed, exposed, and so angry she could just trash the small office.
"Thank you, Mr. Swift." She muttered. "I promise, this won't happen again." She gritted her teeth as a tear slipped down her face and she prayed he wouldn't notice.
"Are you alright, Miss Mattell? This really isn't that serious of an offence, their placements at the school aren't in jeopardy."
"Yes. I'm fine. I'll take them home now if that's ok by you? I'll send their brother to pick up their homework when he finishes school."
"I'll arrange for their teacher to drop it off with him. Again, I'm sorry to call you in today. No further action will be taken as I can see you're going to punish them enough."
"Thank you." Kaity sighed as she stood on shakey legs. She turned to the twins, who were both sobbing uncontrollably. They knew exactly how much trouble they were in. "Out." She pointed to the door, and they obediantly scrambled from their seats on the bench and out into the corridor.

Kaity didn't say a word as she drove them home. She didn't say a word once they got home, either. The twins sent themselves to their room, and she just stood in the kitchen in shock. Shaena came down the stairs not long after the girls bedroom door slammed shut.
"Kaity?" She asked, she knew something huge had just happened from the way she was shaking and white as a sheet.
"Winter is going to propose to me tonight." She whispered in monotone, a glazed look in her eye. "And my daughters are grounded for life." Shaena was about to question how she knew and what they did, but Kaity's phone rang and she snapped.

"Leighton!" She bellowed. "This is hardly the time to be ringing me, what the hell do you want?!"
"Uhm... Hi, Kaity... I was just calling for a chat..." Leighton was thoroughly confused.
"Well the last 'chat' I had today didn't go so good. Go *bleep* yourself." She launched her phone at Shaena before running up the stairs.
"Kaity?! Wait-!" Shaena shouted after her as her bedroom door slammed shut. Shaena sighed and glanced down at the phone in her hands. Leighton was still on the line! She held it to her ear. "Hi, sorry about that." She apologised as she climbed the stairs. "I'll try and get her back but it's probably best if you give it a couple of days."
"Nah, just leave her. I'd rather talk to you, anyway." Shaena found herself blushing as she knocked on Kaity's door. Kaity shouted a few curse words at her, and Shaena retreated to her room so she'd still be close just incase.

She sat herself on her bed, and hit the loudspeaker icon on the phone.
"So, what would you rather talk to me about?"
"Nothing in particular, I just know that you won't snap and bite my head off if I don't read your mind. What have you been up to?"
"Not much. Working, parenting... I'm getting signed off from my therapist on Friday."
"Hey, that's great! You doing anything to celebrate?"
"Nah, might have a few drinks at home with Kaity. Winter's going to Appaloosa Plains that night though, so she'll probably be a bit of a killjoy."
"Well, that's not right." Leighton went quiet on the other end, obviously thinking, and Shaena got herself more comfortable.

 "See, I have this problem that you might be able to help me with Friday night..." Leighton waited for a response.
"Riiiiight?" Shaena raised an eyebrow. "Won't you be working Friday night?"
"Ah, that's where the problem is. I have all these paid days off to take, and no reason to take them. I also have all this spare money and nothing to spend it on. So, if you were a good friend and wanted to help, you could let me take you out to celebrate on Friday."
"If I was a good friend?" She repeated, half-questioning what he'd just said.
"Well, ok, you'd still be a good friend if you didn't want to, I guess... But how about it?"
"I dunno, what would we do?"
"Anything you want! The world is your oyster!" Shaena giggled at the silly phrase, and rolled onto her stomach.
"I want to go to the moon." She teased.
"I said the world is your oyster, not the universe!"

 "The outer atmosphere?" She grinned.
"How about dinner or a movie or something?" He suggested, the smile evident in his voice.
"Those sound like the kind of things you'd do on a date." Shaena pointed out quietly.
"They do." He agreed after a couple of seconds hesitation. "Ok, so yeah, I'm asking you on a date. But you said you were being signed off and I immediately assumed that meant you were ready to... See people. I know, that was stupid, but if you think you'd be alright, where better to start than with someone who's been there all along and you already know?"
"I don't know. What's in it for me?" Shaena toyed with her hair as her heart pounded in her chest.
"A free meal and an enjoyable night out to celebrate your newfound sanity?" Shaena smiled at the lighthearted teasing
"Ok." She could hardly believe it, but she'd just agreed to go on a date with Leighton.

***

"Kaity? What happened? Shae said you got called into the school?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She mumbled into her arms. "Especially not with you."
"What do you mean 'especially not with me'? What have I done?" Winter asked, confused.
"So, Shae didn't tell you everything?" She spat, lifting her head slightly and glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. "At least I know there's one person I can trust." Winter sighed, and rubbed his forehead, frustrated.
"What the hell are you on about, Kaity? I've not- as far as I know you have no secrets to tell - how have I betrayed your trust?"
"As if you don't know already." She picked a ball of paper off the bedside table, and threw it at him. He caught it, unballed it as he walked to the bed, and sat on the edge as he quickly read through it. A heavy silence filled the room as neither knew what to say.

"I'm sorry." Winter said, touching her leg to get her attention. Kaity looked shocked, she'd obviously just expected him to tell her she was overreacting. "In my defence, I didn't expect you to find out like this." Kaity rolled her eyes.
"So, you thought you'd tell everyone you knew that you were going to propose to me, and expected me to never find out?"
"No, I told the twins and Autumn because they helped pick the ring. I wanted them to be part of the whole thing. Shaena didn't know, Josh and Elise didn't know, nobody I work with knows, none of your family know." Kaity avoided eye contact by staring at her knees while she wondered what to say. Maybe she was overreacting and blowing this whole thing out of proportion.
"Sorry." She mumbled, still not able to look at him.

Winter waited a few minutes for her to elaborate, or at least look up, but she wouldn't.
"Are we still going to dinner?" He asked. Kaity shrugged.
"I'M HOOOMMMEEEE!" Autumns voice carried up the stairs. "And I have gifts for some evil twins!"
"I should probably go sort him out." Kaity muttered, standing from the bed. Winter stood too, and moved between her and the door, taking her in his arms.

"No. Can we please talk about this for once? I hate that you just suppress everything and let it build up, meaning that when something little happens, like the twins passing notes in class, you end up shutting yourself away and crying for hours. I love you, I'm here for you, and I want you to tell me everything that's on your mind at any time."
"Winter..." Kaity tried to pull away, but Winter held her firmly in place.
"I'm being serious. Look at you, you're a mess and you won't even tell me why! You know you can trust me, and that I'll always do anything I can to help you, so why bottle it up and force yourself to go through everything alone?"
"But Autumn..."
"Autumn will be fine. I need you right now."
"But I can't talk about it because you'll just end up hating me." She started crying again and Winter held her in a tight embrace, rocking her gently.

"Because you're not ready to get engaged? I think I've worked that much out by now. It's fine, you don't need to cry about it. I'll still love you no matter what, you know that." He paused and softly kissed the base of her neck as her tears soaked his shoulder. "I want to marry you, I'd like nothing more, but I'm not going to force you to do something you're not ready to do for my own gain, and you know that, too."
"But surely you just want to strangle me for ruining your plans?" She mumbled against his shirt, turning her head slightly and inhaling his calming scent.
"Only a little." He admitted, smiling. "I'd rather buy you something to cheer you up, like dinner at an expensive restaurant... Hey, you know what? I already booked a table!" He joked, giving her one last squeeze before pulling back a little.

"You could buy me a new dress to wear to dinner..." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and batted her eyelashes, all hint of sadness gone in a flash and her eyes once again twinkling and full of life.
"Oh, there's my girlfriend! I wondered where she was!" Winter teased, giving her a peck on the lips.
"Please! I want to look my best for you." She smiled sweetly and Winter chuckled at her moods sudden U-turn.
"You have plenty of dresses, Kaity! I've never seen you wear half of them!"
"Oh, please Winter! At least get me some shoes, I haven't had new shoes in ages!"
"Ditto on the shoes, my little golddigger. As soon as I mention money you cheer right up, don't you?"

Kaity pouted before changing her tactic quickly and standing on tiptoes to kiss him. Starting slow and sweet, and becoming deeper and more passionate as he responded.
"Kaity, what are you doing?" Winter asked against her mouth, knowing exactly what she was doing - getting her own way.

"Please." She breathed, breaking the kiss completely. "I love you." Winter sighed and pecked the end of her nose affectionately.
"Let me have a shower and then we'll go."
"Thank you." Kaity grinned, kissing him again.







Principal Swift, is Dustin Swift of Misty's Ouroboros Legacy. He's not the main character or anything, but there's plenty more hunky man-meat where that came from. Head on over! (Over 18's only, please! Very mature content.)

Ok, that end scene with Kaity and Winter (Kwinter)? Kaity was basically panicking about getting engaged (incase you couldn't get that much), it's not that she doesn't love Winter, she's just being a total commitment-phobe (even though she has the family oriented trait and has had a marriage wish locked almost her entire life. Shh.). She is most certainly not a golddigger(*raps* I ain't sayin' she a golddigga'), she just enjoys Winter spoiling her, even though she has more than enough money to support herself. Winter doesn't mind, and just wants to see her happy.
...Anyone else notice she also managed to escape talking about it? It's a skill she has.

Shae and Leighton, or Shaeton, just... Just awww.
Shae has been attending therapy since her ex-boyfriend went psycho and murdered her best friend. Kaity was offered it, but.. You're kidding, right? So, Shae obviously still has emotional scars, but she's talked it all through and has come to terms with it all. That doesn't mean her life will be plain sailing from now on, but she evidently is now allowing herself to move on by agreeing to go to dinner with Leighton. Lucky for him that Kaity snapped, isn't it?
(Apologies for the *bleep* thing, not that that could offend you... I did originally attempt to make up a word, but couldn't find one to fit. In my head Kaity swears worse than a sailor, so I do well to censor her usually!)

One last thing then I'll leave you in peace. Please ignore the inconsistant time of day outside... As in, daytime at school, night for Shaeton's scene, then day again for Kwinter... That was me being an idiot and not thinking.