Seona woke up alone. Loki’s place in her bed was cold, meaning he’d been gone a while. A small piece of paper sat on his pillow.

Seona,

Something came up at home and I have to return rather urgently. Please forgive me for leaving before you wake. I’ll be back as soon as my father permits it. I love you. I love you. I love you. Never forget that.

Loki

She smiled sadly at the words penned in his elegant script. If his father were anything like he’d described, he wouldn’t be back for a while.

It had been weeks since Loki had left her alone in bed and loathe though Seona was to admit it, she was heart broken. She had thrown herself into her studies and into flamenco. She spent almost every night at Venta El Gallo, the cueva flamenca her friends had grown up dancing in. She was either watching her friends dance, dancing herself, or singing for the dancers. Her friends knew something was wrong but she avoided all their questions about what was wrong. She didn’t want to talk about it. She buried herself in school and dance to forget about him but late at night, lying in the bed they had shared, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. It wasn’t until the young man Aurora had pointed out weeks ago approached her that Seona began to feel again.

Seona sighed and took a seat on the stage. She had one more dance before the end of the show tonight. Loxley was in the audience again, as he’d been every night she’d been on the stage. Which, these days was more often than not. She clapped her hands in time with the beat that Kachina was stamping out with her feet. Kachina was one of the older dancers that Seona was acquainted with but she didn’t know the woman all that well. That was mainly because Kachina only danced on special days, i.e. the days that drew the biggest crowd. And Seona could see why so many people wanted to see her dance. She was incredible.

“Olé!” the audience shouted.

That was Seona’s cue. She stood and joined Kachina on stage. They danced for maybe two minutes before Kachina let Seona take the stage. Ferran, who she’d only recently started performing with, joined Seona on stage. Their set was the last performance of the night. As usual, Seona lost herself in the music and the feel of the dance. By the time she regained her senses, the audience was on their feet applauding them. Seona was panting, trying to catch her breath and keep herself from fainting in front of all these people.

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“Seona, that was incredible!” Aurora exclaimed pulling her in for a hug.

Seona used the woman to steady herself as the world spun around her.

“Are you alright?” Aurora asked her. “You’re really pale.”

“I just need to sit,” Seona replied. “I did too many spins and made myself kinda dizzy.”

She chuckled, though it was rather half hearted. Aurora nodded and led her to one of the chairs on the stage. Kachina approached them, concerned.

“Is everything alright?” she asked the girls.

Seona tried to nod but thought better of it when her stomach turned.

“She said she was dizzy, auntie,” Aurora answered.

Kachina looked skeptical.

“Aurora may I speak with your friend for a moment alone?” she asked.

Aurora nodded and made her way off the stage.

“How far along are you?” she asked quietly.

Seona looked at her bewildered.

“I take it you have no idea what’s going on?”

Seona gave her a short jerk of her head in the affirmative. The older woman sighed.

“Seona, I believe you’re pregnant my dear,” Kachina told her placing a wisened hand on her knee. “How long has it been since you had your period?”

“A month, maybe two,” Seona choked out.

“How long has he been gone?”

Seona looked to her in surprise.

“I was there the night of your first true performance. He was in the front row if I recall. Had medium length auburn hair and a scar across his face.”

“That’s him. That’s Loki,” she whispered.

“You love him?”

“Loved,” she held back a sob. “He left the next morning because of a family emergency. I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Oh child,” Kachina murmured drawing Seona into her arms.

“Worse yet, if my parents find out, I’ll be disowned,” Seona cried quietly into her shoulder.

However much her mother annoyed her, Seona missed her terribly at times like this.

“What of the young Mr. Eames, hmm?” Kachina questioned. “He’s here every night you are.”

“I feel like I’d be using him, Kachina,” Seona whispered wiping her eyes.

“Talk to him, get to know him, maybe you’ll feel differently if you do,” Kachina suggested.

Seona nodded.

“How long have you been keeping all of this to yourself, my dear?”

“Since he left,” Seona admitted sheepishly.

“You can come to me any time you need to talk to a mother figure, I’m sure you miss yours right about now.”

Kachina smoothed the hair that had come loose from the rest back behind her ears.

“Remember mija, this child is a gift from God,” Kachina told her. “Regardless of how or when it came about, it is a precious gift.”

Seona nodded and smiled at the older woman, feeling better than she had in weeks. She thanked Kachina and made her way to Loxley. And that was the beginning for them.