Heir Raid: Captivated, #3

Chapter 1

Layel laid back on the cool, grassy hill of the Irish landscape and struggled with her tight leggings. For some reason she just couldn’t seem to get comfortable in her clothing lately. It always seemed too tight. Since she had become a fairy, her appetite had been quite voracious and she started to see a few new curves developing that had never been there before.

It had been almost 3 months since her grandmother died and she had become a full fledged fairy, and the last vestiges of winter were disappearing, replaced by the first budding flowers, which meant that new fairies were being born. It was a magical time of year.

Each spring with the first flowers, fairies would be born. It only lasted for about two weeks, but it was a busy two weeks filled with caring for and learning about the peasblossoms. They weren’t like human babies, but could immediately talk, walk, fly and use magic, but they still lacked some social graces and had to be taught things like manners, their place in the world, and where they would be living.

More often than not, though, Layel found herself sneaking away from her peasblossom duties and creating herself a porcelain toilet. It seemed everything these days was making her stomach upset, but not eating was the worst.

Layel, her mother called to her. Normally the Queen of the Fairies wouldn’t have been helping with spring duties, only winter ones, but Layel’s mother was a little more hands on than Mab, Layel’s grandmother and the previous Winter Queen.

Yes? Layel called back. Layel had wanted to ask her mother for diet tips, but Elissa Helberg-Malcolm had a lot on her mind: a new husband, a new title, new subjects, and Layel didn’t want to bother her.

You okay honey? she asked. You’ve been running off a lot lately.

I was just hungry, Layel said as she yawned and stretched. She grabbed a handful of grass and chewed on it thoughtfully. And really tired.

Layel’s mother looked at her suspiciously. You’ve put on a lot of weight lately.

Layel looked down at her body shocked. In fact, she had put on a lot of weight. I know, I should watch what I’m eating. But...but I’m just so hungry! Suddenly Layel got a strange urge to throw up and then it went away, but Layel could tell her mother saw it too.

Sorry, my stomach has been a tad bit sensitive lately. I swear, I’m not developing an eating disorder.

Layel, eat as much as you want and gain weight please...

Layel looked at her mother blankly. What? You want me to be fat?

It’s good for the baby, her mother replied.

What baby? Layel was rather confused.

The one that’s in your belly making you fat, hungry, and nauseated, Layel’s mother said and patted her daughter's stomach. You’re pregnant Layel.

Layel did throw up this time. What? She blinked and looked down at her stomach. How could she have missed that? Maybe because she had a totally new body and maybe because she had been so busy. Or just because she had never been pregnant and wasn’t trying.

How long has this been going on?

The increased appetite and weight gain? Layel asked. Her mother nodded. Since the whole thing with Mab. Layel had tried not to think about that whole ordeal. No one wanted to think about their grandmother kidnapping their husband. In the process of trying to get her husband back, Layel had fully become a fairy, and her friend Alice who had accompanied her to fairy land, had become an elf. 

Layel had also made quite a few new friends, including Loki. But the thing that Layel wanted to think about the least was Slenderman and the other evil creatures that were her grandmother’s allies. When things went wrong, it didn’t take long for Mab's so-called allies to turn on Mab and kill her.

You just thought it was stress and nerves? her mother asked.

Yeah, I did, Layel said. And this new body. And can Robin even be a father?

It’s happened before, but very rarely, her mother said. In fact, I can only think of one person with a peasblossom biological parent.

Who’s that?

Titania.

Layel couldn’t help but laugh. Really? I had no idea!

Yeah, don’t tell anyone. Titania would be pretty pissed if you told anyone about her. That’s why she’s always had a soft spot for Robin and why she likes you so much.

Likes me? Ha, that woman is mean as hell to me. She’s nice to Alice.

Oh, she likes you. Yes, she treats Alice well, but Alice is like her little servant girl. You just see what happens when she finds out you're pregnant. It’ll be all fluff and lollipops with her. She’ll be so excited to be a grandmother.

She’s not the grandmother, Layel said with a giggle. You are!

Her mother’s face fell for a second. Layel guessed that she totally hadn’t thought about this meaning she was a grandmother. I wonder what Derek will think about being a step-grandfather... Her mother trailed off in thought.

Dr. Derek Malcolm, who had become Layel’s step father about a week before her mother had become the new fairy queen, had been quite the trooper. He took to being a fairy very naturally and handled all the fairy shenanigans professionally and with lots of grace. Previously he had been deep into Celtic Paganism, but Layel knew that nothing totally prepared you for living with fairies.

You okay, mom?

I’m very excited for you guys. She did genuinely look happy. I just thought I would feel old before I became a grandmother. I guess I know how my mother felt.

You’re not old mom; you’re ancient! What are you almost 600? Layel giggled and her mother punched her playfully in the arm.

Hey, hey, can’t hit a pregnant lady, Layel laughed.

You’re pregnant Elissa? Robin gasped from behind them. Oh, that’s just incredible. I love those cute little squirming babies. They’re just so pink.

Layel laughed in relief. She was a little worried that Robin might not like babies at all, but that was silly. He would love to have a kid around to play with.

No silly my mother’s not pregnant.

I think I’ll just leave you two alone for a minute, Layel’s mother said and she got up from the grass and walked toward a new group of peasblossoms that were being taught.

I’m rather confused, Robin said. I guess I misunderstood what I overheard.

No, you didn’t. I’m the one that’s pregnant, Layel said.

Robin dropped to the ground and looked at her with the most sincere look of shock on his face. He just looked at Layel for almost a full minute before he moved or did anything. Then he looked at her stomach and stared for another minute, but he still wasn’t saying anything.

Do you have anything to say?

I...no, Robin said. He ran his fingers through his bright red hair.

Are you happy? Mad?

I...uh, just shocked, Robin said. Just shocked. Really shocked.

Speechless?

Robin nodded slowly as he took the news in.

Are you okay? Layel asked, probing deeper. Maybe she should have thought more about how to break the news to Robin, but as it stood, Layel was still rather in shock herself.

Are you okay? Robin asked.

Other than the nausea that has been going on for three months, I’m fine, Layel said.

Three months? Robin gasped. You’re three months along? Robin fell back against the grass and moaned. A baby?

Sure, a little baby Robin, Layel giggled. Red hair? Little bit of a mischievous streak.

Hey, hey, that streak could just as well be from you, Robin said and rolled over on his side. I’m a little nervous.

I think that’s only natural, Layel said. I’m so nervous I’m barely aware of what I’m saying.

No, no, not about being a father, Robin said, pausing on the word father. "Although that is...a little...disconcerting. But, what about, you know, them."

Layel immediately felt a pit grow in her stomach when Robin mentioned them. The three evil creatures that her grandmother had made alliances with. They wanted to wipe out the human race.

The main evil creature, Slenderman or the Boogeyman, was destroyed in the fight after he attacked Mab. But the other two, Malevolent and Rumplestiltskin, were still at large. And both were known for cursing children.

I would prefer not to think about them, Layel said. I’d prefer to think about the shenanigans that our child will have.

Robin leaned on one arm and took Layel’s hand. I can’t believe this. I’m going to be a father? Robin wrinkled his nose at the word father. Layel could tell that it was going to take some getting used to for him. Layel had always assumed that one day she’d be a mother, much later in life, but still it was an assumption. Robin on the other hand, had probably never entertained the idea for a day in his life.

Layel knew that eventually, sooner rather than later, they would have to discuss precautions for their child, but for now she was happy and she wanted to let everyone know. She was also curious how Titania would treat her when she found out about the baby.

Come on, you want to tell everyone? Layel asked, but then she saw the look of terror on Robin’s face and decided to rethink her plans. Or we can just wait.

Can we just sit here for a few minutes? Robin said and he pulled Layel into his arms. This is going to be big announcement.

Layel laid on the grass in Robin’s arms for almost an hour. She thought a lot. What was the child going to be like? Would he have Robin’s red hair? Would he like pranks like his parents?

Do you think it’s a boy or a girl? Robin asked.

Layel startled back to reality. I...I didn’t even think about that. I’ve been using a male pronoun when I think about him...or her. But I don’t have a preference.

Robin sighed. Will it be a peasblossom like me? I mean, I guess not, since he won’t emerge from a flower. I’m not sure a peasblossom has ever had a baby before.

You mean, you don’t know? Layel bolted out of Robin’s arms.

Know what?

That Titania’s father is a peasblossom, Layel said.

Robin’s mouth dropped open and then laughed heartily. You’ve got to be kidding me!

I’m surprised you didn’t know. I thought that maybe you had even met them.

Robin shook his head. Titania’s parents have been dead for millennia and I don’t think I’ve ever really heard her talk about them before.

You can’t tell anyone, Layel said, grabbing Robin’s hands. My mother told me in strictest confidence, okay? She said that’s why she has a little soft spot for you even though you cause so much trouble.

That news simply caused Robin to start laughing hysterically again.

Chapter 2

Robin slowly made his way back to the group. He had just been given the most interesting news of his life. He was going to be a father. He and Layel had sat together for over an hour, just being quiet. He had never been that quiet for so long in his life, ever. He didn't know what to think. He was scared, excited. And very, very overwhelmed, as most new fathers were, he suspected.

But there was another issue that was bugging Robin, and that was the fact that Malevolent and Rumpie were still roaming about free.

He found it interesting that Titania was half peasblossom. It was going to be very hard not to pick on her about it. To some people, peasblossom were seen as the lesser fairies. They had full rights and everything, but they weren't really quite the same. Robin never really cared one way or the other that he was a peasblossom. He never really cared what people thought of him. He was just Robin Goodfellow, Puck. He did his own thing and it had made him different from other peasblossoms. He was different than every other fairy out there, and so was Layel. She was different as a human too. She was her own person and damn anyone who thought otherwise. So here, Robin knew that he was following his own path again. He was a peasblossom and going to be a father. And the fact that it had been done before and successfully too gave him some comfort.

Robin and Layel would have to rely heavily on Titania as a source of information for raising a half-blood fairy. Perhaps with Mab gone, bless her soul, Titania would agree to be the child's great-grandmother.

Robin laughed out loud at the thought.

What's so funny? Layel, who had been walking silently beside him, asked.

Oh, just everything, Robin replied. But I was thinking about Titania being a great-grandmother.

You should have seen my mother when she realized that she was going to be a grandmother. At first she was like Titania will be the grandmother and then, I'm all like, uh, no, you're the grandmother! Layel laughed as she remembered the conversation with her mom.

I think Titania may be worse, Robin said.

My mom seems to think that she'll be tickled pink, Layel replied.

Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough, Robin said. They were fast approaching the large group of congregated fairies. The last class of the day for the new peasblossoms had ended and everyone was milling around and talking. Since the