Two Worlds Connected by Love: A Prequel Owl House "Fanfiction"

Chapter 19: A Past Love & Orphanage Visits

A/n: Angst in the Beginning, Fluff toward the End. Might be a small chapter.

Caleb's POV

I have no idea how the subject came up, but Catherine had asked me about a topic that made me emotional for the dumbest possible reason. So let's recall shall we?

Catherine and I were eating dinner and Catherine brought up the topic to, I guess, start a conversation. "Say, Caleb, Love? You've heard about my past partner, but I don't recall ever talking about yours. Frankly, I never asked, but now I'm kind of curious," Catherine said.

"I don't have any," I lied. I had one, but I didn't really want to bring it up because we were never actually together.

"Oh please! You mean to tell me someone like you, with your amazing looks and your wonderful personality, never had a romance in his twenty-six years of life?" Catherine exclaimed with a laugh.

"Earth is not so liberal in its mindset as the Isles, Kitty," I reminded. "Multiple romances are not exactly welcomed with open arms."

"Well, there must have been someone you had feelings for at least? Just a little bit? Twenty-six years is a long time," Catherine hoped. I frowned. "You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to, Sweetheart. It seems like a less happy memory..."

I figured since I was married and it was in the past, Catherine had the right to know since she asked. So I told. "Her name was Elizabeth. She was a little younger than me. She had black hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. She was rather quiet and shy, submissive to any authority.

I've known her since my childhood days. She'd pass by our house when Philip and I were outside sometimes. I'd also see her every Sunday- Uh, Seventh day- regardless. We were never more than acquaintances or... friends but... I did have a soft spot for her.

There was one instance where she suggested she would become my wife and mother to my children. I-I was 19?? 20? I-I didn't feel ready for marriage at that point, even less the responsibilities of a father.

So I rejected her at first, but I gave her hope that perhaps I would accept her suggestion in a few years."

My voice started to quake as I remembered the flames and torches around as I witnessed her death as a crowd of people was around baked in a red light. "She was an apprentice to a midwife, and... one day, suddenly... she was put on trial and sentenced to death... for accused involvement in witchcraft!"

I started to tear up. I had thought I had put her death behind me but apparently my heart didn't. "I never found out who accused her. Funny, no? The first person I ever felt something like love for loses her life because apparently she was a witch, and now I'm married to one. Heh... Oh boy, this- this seems to still hold a grip on me, huh? I didn't mean to start crying now at dinner. Sorry."

"Caleb... I-I'm so sorry I... I had no idea-" Catherine replied with terror in her eyes.

"It's- It's alright," I sniffled. "Don't worry, I'm-I'm fine. It's six or seven years in the past, I-I'm over it. More or less..."

Whether Catherine didn't say it or not, I very much think I had ruined dinner that night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Time Skip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine's POV

Today was just another ordinary day. Sunny, somewhat chilly, and just perfect. I was to head into town to help out the Orphanage in Bonesborough. Since Caleb and I did talk about children in the future, I figured to bring him along to get acquainted with them.

Most of the children were under ten years old. Most of them were kind, but they were full of energy and such a handful.

"Caleb, want to come with me today, Sweetheart?" I asked.

"Sure, where ya going?" Caleb wondered.

"Oh, remember? I have to head to the Orphanage to help out the Headmistress," I said.

"Oh, of course," Caleb replied, nervousness in his voice.

I walked up to Caleb and kissed his cheek. "You'll be fine, the children are very nice, just be careful when they run you over at the door."

Small time skip...

The gigantic doors of the Bonesborough Orphanage opened wide and the herd of kids bum rushed us almost knocking Caleb over. The children immediately started asking bunches of questions and shouting at us in delight. "Mrs. Catherine!"

"Tell us the story about you and Mr. Caleb!"

"Yes, Please tell us!"

"Mrs. Catherine!"

"You looked pretty in your wedding dress!"

"Will you and Mr. Caleb have children?"

"Please do!"

"Please tell us!"

"How many?"

"What will you name them?" Some of the children asked me.

Then, some of the children gathered around Caleb to ask him a bunch of questions and shouting, "Mr. Caleb! Mr. Caleb!"

"Will you marry me too?"

"Tell us how you met!"

"Are you going to have children with Mrs. Catherine?"

"Can I pet Flapjack?"

After all of that, we told stories and helped the Headmistress with dishing out food, cleaning some of the rooms, helping out the children with their school work, and spending time playing with them. Caleb seemed to have a blast, as he was covered in a dog-pile of children, but not a single "ow," and there was a bunch of tears from laughing too hard.

At dinner that night, Mama and Papa were quiet, which was unusual. Then, they decided to be absolutely embarrassing! "I hope you are aware we expect Grandchildren to be born by the end of the year," Mama said, bluntly.

Caleb immediately choked and spit out his drink. "Pfft! My apologies," Caleb whispered as he cleared his throat.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Mama," I replied.

"Why not?" Her and Papa seemed very disappointed.

"Well, considering the end of the year is in four months, I should be already with child by now, and considering the wedding was only a couple months ago and we didn't... you know... before... It's not exactly adding up," I explained, as if it wasn't obvious.

"You'll get your grandchildren," I assured my parents. "Just not yet. A child is a lot of responsibility and we want to enjoy some time just as a married couple as well before becoming parents."

"Right. Right," Mama sighed.

Extremely awkward...

On an unrelated note... Caleb got sick a few days later with the Common Mold. It was probably the germs from some of the younger children. He was stuck in bed all day and he was acting like he was drunk. But he was extremely sweet, surprisingly.

I was wetting a rag to cool his raging fever when he goes, "You're beautiful, heh. If I wasn't married, I'd ask you to marry me!"

"You're already married to me," I remind him with a smile.

"I am?" Caleb asked.

"You are," I exclaimed.

"You're my wife? That's married to me?" Caleb gasped.

"That I am," I tapped his head lightly with the towel.

"Woah... what a lucky man I am!" Caleb said.