The Academy

Sixty Two

Tink:

"We'll be okay," Peter says, trying not to cry. I shake my head, knowing it's a lie and going back into the house. "Let her go. She may need to mourn alone," I hear a little bell voice tell him. "No way what the hell do you know about human emotions?" Peter says, coming back into the house through the back yard. "I know for a fact there are more comfortable places to curl up and cry," Peter says, sitting beside me on the kitchen floor. "Peter I can't do this with out her," I say, leaning against the oven. "She had longer than you think. It was a long while before she met George. It was her time to go. Long past it actually," Peter says, pulling me against his  shoulder.

"Peter you just don't understand right now," I say, pushing him away and going into my room and locking the door. I change out of my dress, take a shower, remove my make up and put on my grandmother's necklace that one of the faeries brought in. Then I tie my hair up and throw on sweats and a tank top. "I need a nap," I say to myself, lying on my bed. I lie there, longing for the grandmother voice saying, "Tink, are you feeling alright honey?" I close my eyes, trying to not cry.

"Tinkerbell, you missed the whole service. You need to let some one in," Peter says from the other side of the door. "Says who?" I ask, throwing a shoe at the door. "Says my degree in psychology and your daughter," he argues. "Delilah come on in honey," I say, pulling the blanket back. Delilah comes in and Peter shuts the door. "Mommy are you okay?" She asks, climbing into my lap and cuddling against my shoulder. "No. I'm very sad," I say, my lower lip trembling and my voice catching. "Well I can see that. Was daddy mean to you?" Delilah asks, using her thumb to wipe away a tear. "No. Daddy wasn't mean to me. My grandma just died. She was like my mommy. I lived with her for a very long time," I say, letting myself cry.

"That sucks. I was just hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma and then grandpa said that we needed to come see you," Delilah says, pulling the blanket over us. "Well grandpa is a very smart guy," I say, hugging her. "Aunt Rose said you made her all pretty. Can you make me all pretty?" Delilah asks with a yawn. "You are already very pretty.  We can stay here for the night," I say. "Where will Sam and Nathan sleep?" Delilah asks, dragging me out of my bed. "Daddy can move their cribs here," I tell her, going out into the living room.

My dad stands up and comes over to me. "Don't say anything," I say, letting him hold me. "I won't," he promises, holding me as I start sobbing again. "She didn't even know who I was when we came over," I sob, not letting go of my dad. "It's okay," dad tells me softly. "No it's not! She knew exactly who Peter was and recognized Jace but had absolutely no idea who I was," I exclaim, crying harder. "I'm sorry," he sighs, rubbing my back. "First mom and now grandma?" I ask, quieting a bit. "Jean can you come here please?" I ask, holding my arms out. Jean nods and hands Nathan to Peter. She comes over and holds me against her small frame. "Promise me you're not going to leave me any time soon,"  I say, sobbing against her shoulder. "Oh honey, I still got a lot of years left in me," she says, starts to cry too as she strokes my hair and tells me I'm going to be okay.

"Come here guys," I say, picking up my twins. "Oh mommy loves you so much," I say, sitting on the couch. They both give me slobbery kisses. "My time with her," Peter says, picking me up and putting me in his lap. "I'm sorry," he sighs, leaning his forehead against mine. "It's not your fault," I tell him, hugging him tight. "Rose, you can come in her. You and Jace are part of the family sweetheart," I tell her, moving off of Peter's lap and putting the kids on the floor so they can crawl around and play.

"We're gonna be okay," Rose says, smiling. "I know," I say, trying to contain the tears. I nod and hug her before hugging Jace. "I promise that you aren't going to leave like that," Jace says, holding me tight. I move back to Peter and start crying again. It just won't stop.