Ella Trinket

“Thank you,” he replied with a cracked voice. There wasn’t much that could Alan feel vulnerable but this definitely did. The smile grew a little when he felt her lips on his cheek. “My guest bed is pretty comfy, don’t worry about it. If its not, you can have my bed.” 

She cupped his cheek with a reassuring smile. She knew this was hard, and that he’d support her if she needed it, so she offered some comfort in return. “I’m not kicking you out of your bed.”

A small smile made its way onto Alan’s face when he saw the little wooden wolf. “I won’t,” he replied, his voice in a whisper as he looked over the toy. It had been so long since he’d seen it. “I’m glad to hear that.” 

“You can hold onto it for a while, if you want. He’s your son too.” She briefly kissed his cheek. “Your guest bed had better be comfortable if you’re expecting me to stay there.”

“She’s married with a family of her own now but of course she’d be involved. I can’t take my daughter’s mother from her.”

She dug the little wooden animal out of her pocket and handed it to him. “Just...don’t lose it.” She bit her lip for a moment, then smiled hesitantly. “One big happy family? I guess you can count me in.”

“We’ll get him back Ella. We’ll get him back and we’ll all be one big happy family. I know that we can be fixed. Somehow, everything’s gonna be alright.” 

“and what about your child’s, um, mother?”

“No, we have to talk about this Ella. I’m so close to finally having my family back. I want my son, I want my daughter, I want my wife, I want my brothers and sister, I want everything. Just let me try to get everything back to how its supposed to be.” 

“I don’t think we’re unfixable. But I did everything I could to save our son and it didn’t work. But...I have that little wooden wolf, the one you carved for him and he carried everywhere. It has more of his essence than anything I can think of. If anything can be done, the witches could do it with that.”

He listened to her speak. She did have a point but he wouldn’t accept the fact that she wasn’t a mom anymore. “Don’t say that. I’m sure there’s a way for us to get Merek back. There has to be….” He trailed off. He was so close to having the perfect family, he just wanted his son.

“Can we not talk about this? you have another child and we’ve officially declared ourselves not married anymore. I think that’s enough for one day.”

“I just wish you didn’t have to find out this way…” He replied with a sigh. “She’s completely full grown. I just wish that I would have gotten to see her grow up…that would have been nice.” 

“You’re a dad, Alan. It’s something to be celebrated. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me just because I’m not a mom anymore. You don’t owe me an explanation or an apology. We just talked about this and I’m not your wife anymore, so I don’t really have a right to be upset.” She caught herself babbling and paused before adding. “I’m sorry you missed all that.”

“Are you sure…?” He asked hesitantly. “I’ve only actually met her once but she’s got an amazing voice. I don’t know much about her actually.”

“I’m a big girl. I can deal with my...ex-husband having another child.” Her voice was a bit higher than normal, as she was overwhelmed and a little upset, but she was trying not to make that obvious. “So she’s grown, then?”

He sighed when he heard her reaction. He didn’t want her to feel bad because of it. He wanted to live with everyone as one big happy family. “Thanks….” 

“It’s okay. I’m okay. Really,” she reassured him. “Now tell me all about her.”

“I actually just found out. I haven’t talked to her about it yet either…” 

She was quiet for a few moments, unsure how to feel or react. Finally, she choked out. “Um, congrats?”

“I just hope you know how much that means to me. I have a daughter…” 

She blinks. “You what?”

“No, it was a great idea. I need you here with me Ella. Even if we aren’t what we used to be… Also, I have to tell you something.” 

“I know and I’m trying to deal with it, I am. Tell me what?”

“Well, it would be better for us to move on than to dwell on something that has otherwise ended don’t you think? I’ll make it my life’s mission to fill your life with happiness and then you’ll never have to feel empty.” 

“Coming back here was a bad idea. It’s pathetic, but I’m not sure I have the emotional capacity to handle the switch from husband to ex-husband.”

“It’ll get easier with time. Just…stay,” he urged.

“I’m not sure I want it to get easier. From two stand points. On one, it’ll mean we’ve moved on. And I think that scares me. From the other, well, I haven’t felt anything but pain in centuries, I’m not sure I know how to. If that goes away, I’m not entirely unconvinced I won’t just be empty inside.”

“Ex-spouses slash roommates?” He asked with a grin and a shrug. 

For a moment, she looked sad.

“I get it. Its hard to take in but, we’ll figure it out somehow. It’ll just take some time.” 

“Right. We can learn how to be...wahtever we’re supposed to call this.”

He stopped when he heard her words but he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.” 

“My brain knows, but it’s not as easy for th rest of me to catch up.”