A Change Of Heart (North and South Fanfiction)

One

"Let it ferment 6 days after first signs of fermentation begin" My dad observes the experiment very carefully. "Do you remember what I told you about molds?" 

"Yes. Never breathe over the mold spores." I check around to search for something that will keep the bread.  

Dad smiles proudly. "And the next step?" 

"We should cover with an airlock and allow fermenting to grow the pencillium mold in solution..." I trail off. "Oh and keep the area sterile!"  

"That's my girl." He claps his hand together.  

My dad is a pathologist or another thing to say, a medical researcher. Back at work, he is known to be the best one you could ever find. Or at least that's what I think he is. Right now, he's teaching me how to make penicillin out of bread molds. The use of laboratory equipments and technology doesn't require much. It is for home remedies. In fact, he had been teaching me since I was ten about these medicines and cures.  

For the most part, girls at my age don't make penicillin at home with their dads and they would probably think I'm going crazy. It's not normal. I know. I get it. But let me be! I love what I'm doing and who knows? It might be a great help of what lies ahead? Better be prepared and knowing than nothing.  

"Do you think mom will rant at us again?" I look up. The last time dad taught me a cure for cough; mom didn't seem pleased by it. She wanted me to become a lawyer like her and that it will give me a better future. As much as I want to be lawyer, my heart tells me not to. It's a waste though because I'm actually good at debate. I am more attached to medicines than I am at arguing with people. I think I will be a doctor someday.  

Dad gives me a mischievous smile. "Only IF she finds out." He points.  

"If..." I repeat, thoughtfully nodding to his statement. "If is good."  

The relationship between me and my dad are similar to best friends. We share each other's secrets and we like the same stuffs. Except towards boys. I'm like his carbon copy. People who noticed thought we were siblings because we look exactly a lot. Mom gets easily irritated by it. She's a brunette.  

"Go to sleep now kiddo." Dad ruffles my hair. "I'll stay and wait for your mother." 

Mom and Dad quarrel a lot lately over non-sense stuffs, they also do love each other so romantically and so over-the-top that it makes me want to puke sometimes. I wonder what kind of wife I would be. 

"Goodnight Daddy." I lean in and give dad a hug.  

He places a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Goodnight my little rose. Sleep well." Then I ascend up the stairs. 

Slipping onto my pajamas to my bed, I open my laptop and a website of the tv series I paused this morning pops out, greeting me to press the play button. I'm on the second episode and here I am, giggling like a mad person. The affection between Mr. Thornton and Ms. Hale can be described as riveting. Yet I can't help but to admire John and Margaret despite of the harsh detriment that surrounds them even though I've already watched it three times already and I know what happens next but still, it doesn't stop from giving me a good sensation. 

The thing I don't understand is how Margaret's haughtiness usually comes to pass around John. I know she regarded herself more different from other women than he probably think she was and how she dislikes him at the first place. Margaret was one of a character which likely to challenge stereotype women back in 18th century. As for John; well, let's just say he had sassiness overflowing in and out of him.  

It happened when I was pressing over the remote control and just aimlessly watching random tv series, then I saw North and South in BBC. Overwhelmed, I stayed on the channel because I have been waiting for ages for them to make a movie or a series of one of my favorite books of all time, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.