Chapter Two: "Who's She?"

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The Grimm brothers took them all to a large sitting room and they all waited patiently while Ebony bathed and changed. It took a bit of confidence for her to finally walk down the steps in my clothes. She's a brave girl, I tell you. She wore one of my black dresses with a heart shaped bodice and a pair of my less ornamented jet black combat boots. She looked great and if you looked at Fred's love-stricken face she had gained a fan. 

Ms. Truffles looked a bit taken aback, "Oh my uhm... May I ask where you got the women's clothing from?" Will lifted a shy hand, "My wife, Alex." Ms. Truffles face was shadowed and she looked a bit grim and downcast only for a second. "Wife?" she choked. "Yes, my wife wanted children, you're all a surprise for her." he grinned sheepishly. A look easily mistakable for a man in love, smitten. "She should be home any second, now." he looked anxiously at the door.

"Do you have a wife too?" Truffles stared desperately at Jacob, "Nope, not looking for one." just as he said this almost on a cue, a hooded figure entered the room. The cloak pooling and dragging behind them.

I lifted the hood from over my head. "No one told me we were having guests!" I threw a cheerful smile, one of my best, as the children ignored Ms. Truffles look if dismay pointedly.

Ebony's POV

She was beautiful. She had bronzy chocolate skin, dark eyes, and long doll-like eyelashes. Her lips were tinted a deep blood red and her thick eyebrows complimented her round face and her button nose. Her hair was a shocking red and it stood out painfully in contrast to her all black attire. She looked frighteningly young, however.

Wilhelm stood next to her, but did not touch her. Ethan, forever the Casanova, approached them sneakily eyeing the woman like she was a Playboy centerfold. She paid him no mind, "I'm sure, they've told you my name, so who might I be pleasured to meet?" Wilhelm observed her out the side of his eye. I took the initiative, "I am Ebony." I said, then pointing out my siblings, "This is my little brother Ethan and, little sister Mary.", I left Ms. Truffles to introduce herself. "I'm Corrine Truffles, their case worker." she extended a cold hand. "Social worker?" Alexandri asked blatantly ignoring the outstretched hand.

Even though her smile was there unchanged, it no longer shone. Wilhelm stepped away before saying, "These kids are our kids now." He straightened his jacket, "Seriously?" she asked. I almost regretted having to leave so soon. But then I felt warm arms around me, strong motherly arms that I had missed for almost half a decade. I was going to return the hug when I realized she was already gone and on her last sibling.

"I'm a mother now, or a parent, whatever!" she was genuinely elated and crying. Jacob now held the stoic expression, almost hinting at a sad smile. "May I ask something?" Ethan piped up, everyone turned as one usually does when he speaks. "Is there something wrong with your-?" he circled his stomach with a hand. He looked sincere, and I was going to protest when she answered sweetly.

"There's nothing wrong with my oven," she cast a sad glance at Wilhelm. The next words so soft a whisper that I barely heard it, "We've never tried. It seems we've skipped that step." She then swiftly changed that subject. "Well, I'm going to change, and you all can go ahead and have dinner. Won't take me long." she put a hand to my cheek and ran a soft thumb across my cheek. She was gone as fast as she had come, murmuring all the way up the winding stairs to whichever room was hers.


XANDER'S POV

Kids... Wow, I have kids. I didn't know how to feel. Happy? I felt that completely, well mostly. But I also felt the world shift on my shoulders. I had kids, more responsibility and I couldn't disappoint. It was a small comfort still. I'd come home and someone would love me. Despite all that happiness that seemed to await me, I could feel a cruel sadness in the cracks of my happy facade. Because this meant I wouldn't have my own. I wouldn't have our children. He had set it in stone. I wouldn't love these children any less, I'd love them all the same. It was just a sad revelation that the love in our marriage was still non-existent.

That is why instead of traditionally removing my makeup, I let myself cry. I sniffled my way into jeans and a really old band tee. I wiped my face last to give myself time to feel thoroughly and I promised myself this would be the last time. I walked down the stairs, contemplating how mature I'd look if I just slid down the railing as I usually did. They were all seated awkwardly around the table in the dining room. It wasn't a large and gaudy table. Long enough that the children and Fred would fill up the sides that had always been empty.

The meal Wilhelm prepared earlier was being shuffled around the children's plates. I often daydreamed if we had dated he'd make me candle lit dinners. But we hadn't dated... so I never got one. "Where'd Fred go?" I asked sitting between the brothers, we never used the heads of the table. "Nursing his wounds, I'd guess." Jacob said through a cocky smirk that I found quite enjoyable. I looked at Ebony, "What'd he do?" I asked covering my mouth with my hand in shocked embarrassment . "How'd you know?" Ebony asked, "That's my favorite dress with red stitch detailing." I nodded at her acknowledging the gorgeous piece.

"He sprayed me with something..." her voice trailed off as she murmured, "So I hit him." Jacob scoffed, "She didn't hit him. She DECKED him." she looked down at her food, mortified. "Good job, don't let him push you around. But maybe find a different form of retaliation?" I laughed. "Is he your son?" Ethan was sizing me up, "I touched my face self-consciously, "Do I look that old?" I pouted. Ebony shook her head in response. "He's not my son." I said with a giggle," But I guess he is sort of more like my little brother."

"What is he to you in actuality?" Ethan said finding himself comfortable enough to begin shoveling food down his throat. "I became his legal guardian after his parents passed." I said quietly. Eating commenced in silence after that. Ms. Truffles left shortly after dinner with a sad face, handing us paperwork, glancing longingly at Jacob who announced his leave to bed.

After she had pulled away I found Fred and gathered up the boys to help the kids with their luggage. "Well pick any room that doesn't look occupied." I clapped my hands with finality. "You guys came at a great time, school's out!" I waved them to bed with Will standing his "safe" distance away from me. Inside I wanted to cry but I smiled big anyway. Holding myself together with a thin veil of control.

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