No Harm, No Fowl

Chapter Four: Painful Goodbyes

Jenny and Matilda stood together as the children crowded around them, confused as to why Miss Peregrine had called.
"Children, there's been a slight change of plan. After our errand outside of the loop, Matilda and Miss Honey will not be returning with me."
The children stood in stunned silence for a moment, then tackled the two in hugs. After a moment of fierce and emotional hugs, Jenny and Matilda were able to have a little space again.
"Will you visit?" A small voice asked, from the back of the group. Jenny tried to figure out who it was, but the voice wasn't familiar to her yet. Then Olive trudged through the crowd in her heavy boots, little shy Claire in her arms. Jenny smiled and knelt down to where Claire was, as Olive had just put her down.
"Of course, Claire. I'll visit as often as I possibly can get here."
Then something extraordinary happened. Claire stepped forward and actually hugged Jenny. She grinned and hugged back. She heard a sniffle and pulled back, examining the little girl's face, seeing a single tear trailing down her cheek.
"I promise you, you're going to see us again. I promise." She wiped away the tear and hugged her again. She barely caught Enoch roll his eyes and Olive elbow him.
She stood back up as Alma cleared her throat. "Two more minutes. It's time to say goodbye."
Then each child came up to the two of them and gave them a hug each. Every child had something very sweet to say.
"I'm glad you'll be back. We're going to miss you terribly until then." Emma said with a bittersweet smile, then backed away to allow the next peculiar their goodbye.
"You better not flake out on your promise, or I'm gonna find you and drag you back here by your ears." Millard said to Matilda, then chuckled as he added, "And you won't even see me coming." Then he turned to Jenny. "It was wonderful to meet you, Miss Honey. I can't wait for your return."
Then it was Hugh.
"Here, each of you take one of these." He spat out two bees and one flew over to each of them. "To remember me by. They'll stay with you, and never sting." He waved and stepped away. The rest of the children went very similarly, though Enoch had to be dragged forward by Olive.
"Bye. You're tolerable." He said to Matilda, who grinned. She sensed that was a compliment from him. "And you. Bye I guess. Don't come back." He said to Jenny. "That was mostly a joke. It'll make her happy if you come back. Though you'll have to deal with me." He said curtly, but as he turned away Jenny caught the slightest twitch of the corner of his lip. She counted it as a victory.
Bronwyn was the last, and she hugged Matilda so forcefully that it knocked her over. "Careful now, don't break her!" Alma exclaimed.
"Sorry. I'll miss you, Matilda. It's been great to meet you. I can't wait to see you again!" Then she hugged Jenny, more mindful of the strength this time. Though it was still a little tight. "We will be eagerly awaiting your return."
"I've adored meeting each and every one of you. You're all so wonderful and unique. I'm so glad to have found you all." Matilda grinned, addressing the group.
"I'll miss you all so much. It's been my pleasure to be introduced to your world, and I can't wait to return to it." Jenny swallowed, pressing down her emotions. "We'll be back. You're not getting rid of us that easily." She winked at Enoch.
"It's time to go." Alma said softly.
A chorus of goodbyes, good lucks, and we'll miss you's rang out through the air. Then Alma began to walk off, beckoning Jenny and Matilda to follow, which they did. Matilda glanced back at her new group of friends, now starting to grow smaller as they got further away.
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"Are you both alright?" Alma broke the silence that they had been walking in for a few minutes now.
"I'm okay. I hate goodbyes though. But this isn't really goodbye I suppose. Just... Bye for now." Matilda reassured herself.
"I'm fine, for now." Jenny said simply.
There wasn't much else to say, so they went on the rest of the way in silence. When they finally reached Cairn tunnel, Jenny stopped at the mouth apprehensively.
"The last time I was here, I got knocked out and woke up in a stranger's bed. Granted, I don't regret waking up in said stranger's bed at all, but I don't exactly want it to happen again since it was quite painful."
"Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt, Jenny." Alma put an arm around Jenny's shoulders just as she had the first time, but this time it felt different to both of them.
Jenny leaned in discreetly, and put her arm around Alma's waist. It felt softer. Intentional. She was happy.
But to Alma, it felt all too much like goodbye.
They went further into the cave and the pressure erupted in her head again, but less painfully this time. She still stumbled against Alma, who held onto her tighter. Matilda whimpered slightly and grabbed her mom's hand, but ultimately toughed it out. They made it through, and a cold breeze blew in from the mouth.
"They're at the inn. God, I hope Agatha hasn't terrorized them too much." Jenny fretted.
"I'm sure they're alright, mom. It'll be okay. They'll be glad to see you." Matilda held her mom's hand as Alma released the woman, who held onto her waist for just a second longer.
"I don't know the bog here. It's bound to be different. We'll have to be extra careful." Alma said. "But I do know the way to the inn. It's this way." And she began stepping carefully, with the other two following her footsteps dutifully.
Soon they made it through the mud mostly dry, though at one point Jenny placed her foot wrong and slipped, and Alma burst into action. She caught the woman and picked her back up, their faces hovering close together for a second. Jenny righted herself quickly, her face reddening as Alma brushed Jenny's dress off.
"Thank you."
"Of course." Alma set her jaw. She'd have done it for anyone. It didn't mean a thing. Jenny thought the same thing, with a pang in her heart that she didn't quite understand. Alma examined the other woman, hawklike gaze taking in every detail. Then she kicked herself mentally for lingering on Jenny's lips, and she shook her head gently to rid herself of any such thoughts. This was goodbye.
Jenny was mostly fine, but her foot was now muddy. They ran most of the rest of the way to the inn, as Jenny was anxious about Alma aging. Finally they arrived, panting. They caught their breath and threw open the front door to find a group of children in uniforms, all disheveled and stressed looking.
The first one to look over screamed.
"MISS HONEY'S BACK!!!" Cheers erupted as he hurtled forward and rammed into her, wrapping her in a hug. It was Bruce, the boy who had started all of this unknowingly.
"Oh, Brucie! It's so good to see you." She hugged him back. "And thank you, by the way." She said lowly. He looked puzzled but moved on and tackled Matilda next. Soon all of the children engulfed Matilda and Jenny in a huge group hug, with Alma watching amusedly from the side. Her gaze traveled across the crowd of school kids until her eyes landed on a sour faced woman standing at the other end of the room. The woman caught her gaze and glared, but Alma was unaffected. Caught off guard by the lack of reaction, the woman huffed and looked away.
"Children, we need to breathe!" A laugh sounded from the center of the pile as it thinned, the group backing away to allow Jenny and Matilda room.
"We're so glad you're back! The Trunchbull was awful. We were so worried about you. You were gone for so long." A little girl with braids in her hair hugged Jenny one more time, then finally let go.
"Agatha." Jenny's expression darkened, frustration flashing in her eyes as they landed on the hulking woman.
"Ah, so that's who that is. I've heard about you, Agatha." Alma stepped forward, landing by Jenny and drawing attention from the kids, who hadn't noticed her before.
"All good things?" Agatha grinned wickedly.
"Hardly so."
"Alma, don't engage. She'll make you miserable." Jenny pleaded, but Alma only glanced at her.
"My dear Jenny, I've certainly enjoyed watching over the children again. It's been such a treat."
"Don't call me that, Agatha. It's headmistress Honey, and you know it. You're never to call me by my first name."
"Yes, headmistress Honey." She bowed her head mockingly. "And who's this lovely face beside you?"
"A friend. I was hurt. Matilda found her, and she helped me. That's where I've been. I've been... Healing." Jenny addressed the children, then turned back to the woman in front of her. "I don't appreciate the disrespectful way you're treating me, Agatha. And I don't think my father will either..." As if on cue, a glass of water spilled off of a table and caused Agatha to startle.
"I'm sorry Magnus. I stepped out of line." She murmured. Matilda grinned and tapped Alma with a wink. Alma quickly figured out what Matilda had done and chuckled softly, squeezing the girl's shoulder.
"Yes, you did."
"I'll just be in my room." Agatha stalked upstairs and laughter erupted.
"It's good to have you back, Miss Honey!" The girl with the braids said excitedly, stepping back up to her.
"It's wonderful to see you all again. I've missed you." Jenny smiled but felt a slight pang in her heart. "Oh, and Amanda? I love your pigtails." The little girl grinned and pulled Matilda off to talk to her friends.
"You weren't kidding when you said Agatha was awful." Alma commented.
"No. And when she gets like she just was, the only thing that gets her back in line is threats from my father."
"I'm so sorry. She's among the worst people I've had the displeasure of meeting." Alma rubbed Jenny's shoulder, then dropped her hand.
"I grew up with her. My father, Magnus, died when I was young. I never knew my mother. So she mostly raised me."
Instead of speaking, Alma wrapped her in a hug. It said all the words she needed to say silently. When they broke apart, Jenny turned to the children.
"Children, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Miss Peregrine. As I said, she helped me when I was hurt, and she generously allowed me and Matilda to stay with her." The children were suddenly silent, listening intently, and Alma was impressed.
"It's lovely to meet you all." She smiled warmly, and some of the children waved.
"This is Bruce. Over here is Amanda, and this is Lavender. Of course, you know Matilda, and this is Nigel..." Jenny went through the group, introducing each child individually to her.
Finally they finished. Jenny pulled the other two peculiars to the side, dismissing the rest of her students to go play.
"How long do we have?"
"However long we need. Just no longer than thirty minutes. I'll have to be back. I have duties in the loop." Alma smiled, a trace of sadness in her eyes.
"Matilda, go ahead and say goodbye." Jenny stepped away to allow her daughter to say goodbye.
"Miss Peregrine, you've been truly wonderful. I honestly can't believe I was only in the loop for a day. It felt like a wonderful lifetime. I can't wait to come back and see you and your children again. I'm really gonna miss you." Alma bit her lip to keep it from wavering and picked Matilda up, pulling her into a bear hug.
"You've been a delight to meet, my dear. You're so intelligent and wonderfully gifted. Please continue playing with your peculiarity as well. Thank you for coming to find me. Until we meet again. Goodbye, Matilda." She set her down, trying not to focus on the tears streaming down Matilda's face.
"Goodbye for now, Miss Peregrine." She turned away and wiped her tears, dashing out the door without another word.
Jenny stepped forward and looked Alma in the eyes.
"Don't forget to write." Alma reminded her. "Here's the map I promised. Where's your school?" Jenny pointed it out. "Ah, so there happens to be a loop very close by. That's wonderful. I expect to hear from you quite often, Jenny." She said softly, pointing to a red circle and a little note next to it. It gave the ymbryne's name, the date of the loop, and exactly how to access it. Alma folded the map and pressed it into Jenny's hand.
"So this is it." Jenny clutched the map and faced her fellow ymbryne.
"Not forever."
"That's true. I'll be back. I promise, I'll be back." She had said it so much by now that Alma was beginning to wonder if she was even saying it to her anymore, or if she was promising herself.
"I know you will. It doesn't make this much easier for now, but I'm glad to know I'll see you again someday. And I cannot wait until the day you and Matilda are able to return."
"I'll try to make it soon. I can't make promises as to when, but I pray it'll be soon." Jenny reached a shaky hand out to Alma and she took it. They stood like that, hand in hand, heads bowed, for a few minutes. Alma felt Jenny's shoulders gently shaking and looked up at her face, realizing too late that she was crying. She gently touched her face and wiped away her tears, then pulled her into a tight hug. Jenny hugged back and her tears slowed, but just barely.
"I hate goodbyes so much." Jenny whispered, face buried in Alma's shoulder.
"Me too, Jenny. Me too." Her voice shook slightly. It was the most she allowed, and only then because she just couldn't stop it. Jenny caught it and choked, then hugged just a tiny bit tighter. After a moment, Alma pulled away and slowly, almost reluctantly checked her watch. Her mouth pressed into a thin line. Her eyes said it all.
"I have to go now." Jenny had been dreading those words, but knew they were coming. She took a shaky breath.
"It's been incredible to know you. Thank you for everything. I look forward to the day I see you again. It's only a matter of time. Goodbye, Alma Peregrine." She squeezed her hand as the pale, dark haired woman met her eyes.
"I'm honored to have taught you what I was able to. Thank you for bringing me something new and exciting. I'm going to miss it, and you. I'll see you soon, and if I don't I might just have to go along with what Millard said." She tried to lighten the mood, and Jenny let out a choked giggle. "Goodbye, my petit oiseau." Her voice broke slightly, and she quickly looked around to make sure the coast was clear before shifting into her bird form and shooting away through an open window.
"I miss you already, Alma." Jenny whispered, before slumping into a chair and burying her head in her hands.
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Miss Peregrine flew as fast as she could, not daring to look back. She faintly heard Jenny's students talking about the "pretty bird" as she shot past them and braved a look, noticing Matilda discreetly wave. She cawed and continued on. The path back to the loop was much faster by wing than by foot, and within five minutes she was back inside the loop. Once she reached the yard, she took human form again.
Striding toward the house, jaw set, she held up a hand as the children came toward her.
"Are they really gone?"
"When will they be back?"
"Why'd they have to go?"
"Go back to your chores, children." Was all Alma said in response. They did as they were told, scattering slowly to do their various things.
Alma continued her trek back to the house and slipped inside, going upstairs and into her study. She shut the door quietly behind her and sank into her chair, lighting her pipe distractedly. There was so much to unpack from the past twenty-four hours, and she wasn't quite sure where to begin.
First she kicked herself for doing all she had done. She'd flirted with Jenny, a lot, and she knew it. She never should have done anything of the sort. She should have known she'd leave, because why wouldn't she? She could grow old and have a family. Teach at her school, take on new students, watch her old students graduate and start families of their own. She wasn't trapped here forever, and it was completely understandable that she didn't want to be. Alma had gotten her hopes too high, subjected herself to a goodbye far more painful than it had to be. She regretted ever letting her walls down. Although, she had taught a new ymbryne how to make use of some of her peculiarity, so that was good she supposed. And when Jenny returned, as long as she kept her word, she'd teach her more. And that would be the only reason she'd return, Alma told herself firmly. She couldn't let herself slip into the fantasy that she'd return for her.
She was already missing Jenny and Matilda terribly, but she hoped that it'd fade soon.
Of course, it didn't. She checked for a letter every passing day, hoping for even a single word from Jenny. For the first few days, nothing came. She vaguely wondered if Jenny was still on the island, but dismissed that thought. She probably wasn't.
She carried on, maintaining the loop as she had for so many years before. She did her own chores as best she could, faintly missing the different schedule that Jenny and Matilda had brought into her life. Though she knew this backwards and forwards, and her life slipped quickly back into the rhythm she was used to. Until one day, that is.
"Miss Peregrine! Miss Peregrine!" She was sitting in the garden supervising some of the children playing when she heard shouts coming from the other end of the yard, in the direction of the Cairn. She stood quickly and made her way over, worried that someone was hurt. A couple of the children she had been watching- Bronwyn and Fiona- trailed along behind her. She half expected an injured peculiar, but instead she found Olive and Emma, Olive waving a letter. She took the letter and inspected the neat handwriting on the front. It must have been from Jenny. She smiled to herself and thanked the girls, then went off to the house and disappeared into the study to read her long awaited letter.