Country Roads, Take Me Home [Della]

[Della Miller]

Waverly...there was something about hearing the little girl's name that warmed her terrified heart, made the news seem real...she was certain she was going to eventually break down completely from the constant emotional whiplash that had been plaguing her ever since she came home. But for now she clung to the name...somehow it just made the news seem more real, and that was only increased when she realized Westley was pulling out his wallet (Oh, we need to get you a new one, old friend, she thought, and there was a certain rush in knowing she COULD indeed help him there if he needed...although gods only knew how much he still had left from his pirate days, he might still outrank her there), and...and there was the portrait of a little girl, and while Westley said she was the image of her mother, and she definitely was, she could see so much of Westley in those eyes that seemed as clever as anyone could be. Oh...oh, she could so easily see her and Tori having so much fun together, if she was as smart as she seemed.

"Westley, she's beautiful...I can't wait to meet her..." Della swallowed a lump in her throat, and then glanced up, beaming at Westley as he realized what she meant by that. "Yeah, she did!" And lighting up some more, Della realized she could share some pictures of her own. Sure, she was just the aunt, the godmother...but she and Alyss were essentially coparenting at this point, weren't they?

As she pulled her phone out of her pocket and started opening up her gallery, she answered, "Oh, she's seven too! Alyss basically had her the moment she got blasted back to Wonderland, can you imagine, giving birth in the middle of a war zone when you just left another one? I swear, Alyss has nerves of steel for not needing years of costly therapy!"

Then she turned the phone towards him so he could see what she had to offer. Along with the picture Alyss had texted her, she now had some of her own because she was clearly becoming THAT kind of godmother, the kind that took every picture she could, as if she was afraid that this could all be torn away at any moment and...well...that wasn't an irrational fear around here. There was Tori in the middle of a burst of laughter, Alyss and Tori reading together one night, then one of Della joining them in bedtime stories, a video of Tori playing tag with them...gods...gods this was...the first time it really struck her, how much she loved being a part of this...

...how much she wanted to join this club that her two friends happened to be in...

...but she might not be able to. Because even if she managed to have a child, it wouldn't just be hers, would it? That child would belong to Hades...but no, they'd find a way out, wouldn't they? This wasn't like she was giving up her first born child, right, it...it wasn't like that was part of the deal...so why was there such dread in her stomach, especially with the choice of words in her mind, as if there was something she had forgotten, something desperately important...

[Westley Roberts]

There were certain things you could know full well, and even be reminded of every day of your life, and still bask in hearing them from someone else. Acknowledgment that his daughter was the single most beautiful child ever granted to a human being was one of those things. (She hadn't said that exactly, of course, but he was extraordinarily biased, and he'd freely admit that.) It was true, and he'd imagined Della saying it so many times that you'd think the meaning would have diminished by now, but no. It meant the world.

"She can't wait to meet you, either," he beamed. "She's heard so many stories, I'm afraid I've lost count by now." The portal had reappeared at random in Florin, and had deposited him somewhere in Trenale, but surely they'd have to have the regular portal room up and running in no time, wouldn't they? For all he knew, repairs were already underway, either by those who'd returned, or by the school itself. (It was all but a sure bet, considering how badly the residents here often wanted to get as far away as humanly possible.) He tucked the portrait back into his wallet and put it away for the time being.

Seven years old, my God... Alyss Heart's child was seven years old. It was a more surreal thought than the same fact about his own. The last he'd seen of Alyss, the clock hadn't even started. It must have only been seven years in her homeworld, then. Westley almost envied her the shorter wait, but there was enough at hand for the moment, no reason to weigh the whims of time and space against each other. The thought of Alyss enduring that kind of whiplash tugged at both his empathy and his pride. "If anyone could've done it, it would be her...." He watched as Della swiped through the photos, feeling the smile on his face practically settle into permanence as he absorbed the sight of a precocious young girl, the spitting image of Alyss but for the dark hair, laughing and playing. God, she'd get along with Waverly perfectly. "She's absolutely incredible," he laughed, already eager to meet her. And it reminded him of another question; one he was sure he already knew the answer to, considering Alyss would never have returned here with her homeland in peril, but he wanted to check, just in case. "And what of Wonderland? The war's won there, too, I hope."

He also hoped his distraction efforts were enough to keep Della from toppling headlong into the shade of doubt he saw beginning to reappear on her face, but that one, he didn't plan to voice out loud. He'd pull her back instead.

[Della Miller]

Gods, the fact that not one, but two of her friends had been telling their children all about her was so surreal. Just what had she done to deserve that? She knew better than to ask that, because Westley would likely lose his mind if he knew that such insecurities still plagued her. So instead she sent him a watery smile; she could think for the rest of her life and still wouldn't be able to come up with a way to fully express her gratitude that he kept her in her thoughts not just for himself, but for their child.

"Right?" she asked, just barely managing a weak laugh just before she fell into that spiral of dread...what was she forgetting? It was like a poison in her heart that refused to reveal itself, but the effects were there...it was only Westley's questions that kept her from trying to tear at something that wasn't there. No matter how much she wracked her brain, she couldn't figure out what in the world was making her feel this way...

"Oh, yeah, it took about a year to end it, apparently, she's queen and everything...and it suits her really well, Westley, probably like everything either of us could've dared hope...and you should see her and Tori together, it's so great...and she's such...such a little sprite. It's a weird thing to think of, but she's like the older stories about fairies, where they were a lot more likely to make mischief than grant wishes, but that didn't necessarily mean they couldn't care...you'll love her, Wes..."

Everything was fine, she was talking to Westley for the first time in a decade, talking about children, this was normal, everything was fine...

"Actually, hell, would you want to join us for dinner? That seems as good an idea as any, right?"

[Westley Roberts]

Good. He was glad Wonderland thrived, and gladder still for Alyss and her daughter. They'd all had more than enough war, more than enough battles for their lifetimes. For several people's, in fact. (All the more reason to bring the latest one to the swiftest end possible....but no. He wasn't going to dwell any more on that for now. They'd make plans soon, and in the meantime, Della would spend at least this day smiling, if he had anything to say about it.)

Her descriptions of Alyss and Tori only added to how glad he was to be back here again. Westley felt his grin broadening again, feeling more at home for every moment she spoke, filling him with something he'd missed for a long time. Just because he'd made his own family in Florin didn't mean that it had ever replaced the one he'd found here. "I'd never have expected any different." The sprite comparison made him laugh, but not because it didn't make sense. He knew exactly what she meant. "I know I will," he agreed. His relief was so great that he practically already did.

The offer that followed not only prolonged his smile, but reminded him that he had, in fact, only just arrived, and was still standing in the middle of the library. "God, yes. I can't think of anything I'd love more." He picked up the bag that he'd dropped just before Della first hugged him, hitching it over his shoulder again. "If it's no imposition, I might trouble you for a spot on the floor as well, just for the night. I'll have to see to accommodations in the morning. And teaching, if my degree's still worth the parchment it's printed on." After all, this had settled it. He wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.

[Della Miller]

Della laughed when Westley came even close to implying that he'd be imposing by staying with them. "Oh not even remotely. It's a cozy little place, we can definitely make room for you...honestly, if you want to just stay with us while you're here, I won't object to that and I doubt Alyss will..." Honestly, the more people she had right at home, right at her side, the less terrifying this whole situation seemed, the easier it was to remember that things weren't as bad as they could be, the easier it was to believe they could figure this whole thing out.

She eyed the clock. Technically she still had to stay here for another couple of hours, and she certainly didn't want to force Westley to stay if he was eager to head to their place... plus...a smirk crossed her face. "Hey...if you don't feel like hanging out here until my shift's done, how do you feel about surprising the Hearts?"

[Westley Roberts]

The offer was no surprise. In fact, he might possibly have both anticipated and opened for it. Ten years ago, the indelible laws of courtesy branded into his former-servant mind likely would've compelled Westley to turn it down. He'd have insisted on acquiring his own place (despite the fact he already owned land in Florin and didn't really relish the thought of putting down superfluous roots without his wife and child, let alone in a place that regularly spat out its inhabitants). But this, as established, was not ten years ago. He'd come a very long way, both figuratively and literally, and to be truthful, absolutely nothing sounded more like music to his ears.

Besides. Not only would the arrangement do wonders in making up for lost time, but he'd be able to keep as close a watch over Della as possible. With him around, her demons (also figurative and literal) were going to have a much harder time of tormenting her. He'd be sure of that.

"In that case, I promise to pull my own weight. I've learned to make a mean roast," he grinned, knowing she'd read it for the grateful acceptance it was. Alyss would have no objection, he knew without even feeling presumptuous for it....one reason of many why Della's suggestion caught his interest. No question he'd have enjoyed the wait in her company, but she knew him every bit as well as ever, and the idea of a second surprise refilled his sense of mischief in his favorite way.

A smirk reshaped the corner of his mouth. "Address?"

___

((cont'd, sorta))