stardust

“Oi, I’m hardly an adult.” Ophelia argued as she caught the scowl, trying not to smile at him. Eight years old and he was already grumbling like an old man.

Saddling Aster up was an automatic process at this point: make sure she’s secure, brush her, place the blanket and saddle pad, put the saddle on, make sure everything was as it should be, then he placed the halter. Getting on her back, though? That required him to locate the mounting block so he could reach.

There was no stopping the scowl that took over his face at his sister’s insistence on wearing clothes properly. He begrudgingly did up the buttons of his coat. “Adults and their rules,” he muttered under his breath.

Ophelia took the book from her little brother, flipping through the pages to make sure he had actually completed them. She knew he was working hard on his math skills, and could go over any he missed later. “That’s really impressive, I’m proud of you for going that far.” She closed the book, setting it aside. “I think you could do with some fresh air now, yes? Why don’t we go out to the stables until supper time?”

“Well, when you do, let me know. Suppose we could get something built on the grounds if you wanted something actually real and… well, normal. No offense to the old girl, but we haven’t fully explained aliens to Colette, and the idea of you living in a telephone box isn’t exactly the most normal thing.” Especially when they were working to have the girl move in with them soon.

“I would hate to set you and Wilfred up for disappointment again. I think we all remember how last time ended…Wilfred got sick and I ran off the moment he was better.” It was a miracle he hadn’t left sooner. The urge had been there.

“Thanks. Glad to know I’ve got a place to crash still.” She ran her hand through her hair, grateful that maybe a little part of her childhood, or what she considered it, still existed. She didn’t feel like the walk back now this late at night, so thankfully she could catch a few hours of sleep before she’d need to get back to the estate and handle all the kids.

“I understand and respect that.” His daughter was more committed to family than he could ever be, taking it in her stride whilst he tended to keep his distance. “I don’t have a plan as yet…but I am working on it.” Another of his flaws: failing to make, or have, a plan.

“yeah… maybe.” phee was already fighting off exhaustion as she recounted everything her father had missed, again. she thought it would be better to have the conversation in the tardis, giving her the walk to cool off, and the distance to keep the boys from hearing any arguments that would likely break out. tonight, it was just yawns that plagued her recollection, the stress catching up to her.

A small smile appeared on the Doctor’s face as he pushed a few buttons and levers on the console. “Your room has merely been moved around, not deleted entirely. I’ll move it closer, so you have a shorter walk.” As for himself, he would likely attempt to get rest in the library, probably with a fire to keep him nice and cozy.

Ollie looked up at Wilfred, rubbing his eyes as he fought sleep. “Can you tell me one about horses?” He asked softly, already snuggling into the blankets and back off to sleep despite his efforts.

A quiet, fond laugh left Wilfred’s lips. “A magical horse it is.” He had hardly set the scene when he felt Ollie relax beside him, but he continued on for a while longer until sleep threatened to claim him, too.

“I don’t think he fully understands still, so he can’t be too disappointed.” Ophelia hoped so at least. Since it was so late, she doubted he’d even be fully conscious to even process that Wilfred returned without a baby. “It’ll be okay. They’ll meet when the time is right.” She reached her hand over and gently squeezed his arm, trying not to coddle him but provide him with some comfort right now.

“Not as much as I missed you,” Wilfred replied softly, wrapping his arms around the boy and hugging him tight for a moment. He was prepared to tell Ollie that it would be best to wait ‘til morning, but Ophelia beat him to it.

“Well, he didn’t go into all the details, but I’m sure alright is good, right?” She’d let Patrick try to assure him when he came in a moment later. Ophelia hugged him back tightly before she headed back out, letting the family be for the moment.

Wilfred shook his head as a tear fell from his eyes, knowing that Phee couldn’t see much since it was dark out. “I don’t think I can handle seeing Ollie’s disappointment. He was the first baby I ever held…” That fact stuck with him more now because he was a father now. “I do everything in my power to let him meet Eloise at the soonest possibility.” There was nothing he could do to mask the shaking of his voice.

“I think he might be a little jealous at first at all the new attention, but I know he’s excited for her arrival too. It’ll be a change for all of us.” She knew how much had already changed for their whole family, and was grateful this one was at least a good addition amongst all their chaos in the past.

“The word ‘alright’ is concerning. It means that the horses likely put up some sort of fight.” Shaking his head at the possible shenanigans, he allowed the pictures to be taken before he carried his whimpering daughter to the plastic cot. A couple failed attempts to swaddle the baby were followed by a semi-successful one — successful in calming the baby, but messy.

“No matter what you are, I’m proud of you. And I love you so much, and little Eloise. She’s already captured my hearts.” She spoke softly, looking between father and daughter. It didn’t seem real still that her baby brother was a dad, but she couldn’t be happier for him right now, holding their new little bundle of joy.

Whilst his sister was enamored of the new arrival, it was finally sinking in how difficult Wilfred’s life was about to be. He was glad his daughter was here…Nevertheless, he found himself with an uneasy feeling in his gut. Change was never easy for him to deal with. “Colette and I will manage.” The words were more for himself than for Ophelia.

“Ah, well. Have to say I agree. Was just trying to be the responsible adult.” Ophelia smiled gently, keeping her voice quiet as she saw Colette dozing off. She was even more honored then that she got to come and see the baby first over the girl’s mother. Probably for the best anyway.

Wilfred cringed at the reminder that he could still be considered a Smith. The man his father was at the time of his conception and birth was someone worth admiration, but that was a façade that hid the true man underneath. “I am proud to be a Beaumont, much as I hope for Eloise to be.”

“Oh, are you stretching?” She asked her softly, seeing her arm come free of the swaddle. She already felt enamored by the little girl, feeling so much love for her in both of her hearts. Maybe not having her own child right now would be alright when she could redirect her love to Eloise.

Wilfred glanced at Colette, noticing that her eyes had slipped closed. “We have decided to keep her mother out of the room. We would prefer a peaceful first few hours with our daughter.” Colette’s care team was aware of the arrangement and would do what they could to accommodate. “Mrs Thompson will have all the time in the world once Colette returns home.”

“Eloise… that’s perfect.” She blinked back some tears that threatened to spill out. She gently touched Wilfred’s arm, giving it a squeeze. “She’d be so proud of you.”

Eloise managed to wriggle one of her hands free of the swaddle during the transfer from her mother’s arms to that of her ‘grandmother’ Auntie Phee. Instead of waving around in the open air, it settled beside her head, a position that the new arrival had grown accustomed to.

“No doubt at all. She’s so beautiful.” Ophelia might have been biased, but she definitely saw the little girl as something to behold. She already felt it in her hearts how much love she had to give to her.

Wilfred and Colette shared a glance at one another, then Wilfred motioned for Colette to say the name. “Eloise,” was her reply, “It’s a subtle tribute to his mum.” The reasoning behind the subtlety did not have to be spoken, there was a mutual understanding that an obvious tribute could exacerbate the divide between Phee and Wilfred and their father.