Evan and Alessandra

Evan had been suspicious when his father had met him at the gate. His suspicion had been heightened when they had gone to the Slums. When they had gone into The Wet, he had half feared filicide. What he had not expected was an intervention about his overprotectiveness of those he promises to protect. He knew that he could be overenthusiastic, but, despite rumors, he had never nor would ever stalk someone. As for his ‘overprotectiveness’ you rip one person’s head off and shove it up their rear, and suddenly ‘you’re the monster’. That man was stalking a girl whose parents had made Evan swear to protect her until she could protect herself. Was it his fault that he didn't know that she had learned ice spear the day before and could have dealt with the stalker herself? No, it wasn't, and she had been grateful for his help.

The revelation that the whole reason for the intervention was that he now had a sister was both shocking and not. His parents had been on the fence about adopting since he had gotten his journeyman’s license and started traveling. They felt the empty nest and realized they didn’t like it. They had discussed the prospect with him and Anthony at length. It was shocking because his mother had tabled the discussion until this trip was over, and now it was a done deal, just awaiting the final paperwork.

He knew his father was holding something big about his sister from him, and he was curious, to say the least. He also wouldn’t ask because he knew his father wouldn’t say anything outside of the Palace or their townhouse; too many eavesdropping spells about. For him to disrupt the vacation his mom had been pestering him about for months to traipse through that hellhole for days, it had to be huge.

“…van! Evan if you don’t pay attention or I’ll hit you upside your thick skull!” Father was yelling for some reason. Oh, they were at the townhouse.

“Sorry, Father. Processing the afternoon. You were saying?” Evan asked

“I was trying to get you to get out of the carriage and greet your mother and sister, but if you’d rather sit in here and think, I can just tell your Mother your too busy to give her a hug,” Jerome said with an evil smile.

Returning the smile, Evan opened the door and stepped out of the carriage without a word. Having been lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t looked out of the carriage, so he had not noticed that there were far more guards on duty than usual when a member of the family was present. Curious. Knowing an explanation was sure to come, he chose not to question it for now. He headed up the stairs towards to his mother and a small girl with lightly tanned skin, black and purple hair, and eyes that were so dark they seem to have no iris', wearing an eye-searingly pink dress with a ridiculous amount of ruffles. She must be his sister.

****

Alessandra was nerve-cited. She was about to meet one of her ‘brothers’ for the first time. When Miss Helga had told her that her brother, Evan, had unexpectedly arrived in town and would be staying at the townhouse. Miss Helga and Miss Yvette had insisted that she change into ‘nice clothes’ to meet him. Alessandra thought she understood why first impressions were important, at least according to Miss Helga. Alessandra felt that she was playing make-believe. She wasn’t some pretty noble girl; she was a gutter mouse that got lucky, so shouldn’t she dress and act like a gutter mouse? Clean but old clothes and staying out of sight seemed more natural to her. Miss Helga disagreed and told her to change. She had pouted until Miss Haelga and Miss Yvette had given up and let her wear her pretty pink dress, she was glad Miss Suzzane was visiting the Temple today; she wouldn’t have let her wear ‘that horrible thing’ as she called her very beautiful dress.

Now she and Miss Helga were standing on the porch in front of the front door as the carriage bringing Mr. Jerome and Evan home pulled up. Miss Helga had told her that she only had to stand there with her, but Alessandra felt that she should say or do something when her brother got here. She had seen how other kids had behaved with their brothers and sisters, and she wanted that desperately. She hadn’t realized that she had until Miss Helga had told her that one of them was arriving. Would he accept her or would he feel like he was being thrown away? Would he try to get Miss Helga and Mr. Jerome to send her away? Maybe dressing up was the right choice? Maybe if she hugged him, he would like her. The carriage stopped in front of the stairs. No one got out. A few minutes later, and still, no one had gotten out.

Alessandra tugged on Miss Helga’s sleeve, “Miss Helga…”

The door opened, and a young man stepped out. He was tall with reddish brown hair, green eyes and wore glasses. He looked up at Miss Helga and smiled. He saw Alessandra, and after looking at her a moment, he smiled at her as well. Mr. Jerome got out, looked up the stairs, winced, and then both men came up the stairs.

“MOTHER!” the young man said, engulfing Miss Helga in a hug. “I when I heard that you and Father had finally taken your vacation, I decided to come here and surprise you. Imagine my surprise when I heard about your surprise instead.”

‎ “Welcome home, Evan,” Miss Helga said. She motioned to Alessandra,” Let me introduce you to your soon-to-be sister, Alessandra. Alessandra, this is Evan.”

Alessandra watched nervously as Evan turned to her. He knelt and gave her a genuine smile; Alessandra could tell it was real because his eyes crinkled.

“Welcome to the family, sister.”

Alessandra felt something break in her heart at the complete welcome she felt in his words. It was as if a dam that was holding in all the fear that this was some cruel joke by Miss Helga and Mr. Jerome rushed out of her. She collapsed to the ground crying.

****

“Welcome to the family, sister,” Evan said. He watched as several emotions flashed over the girl's – no, his sister's – face. Then she fell to the ground crying. He stared.

He looked at his parents, “Uuuhhhmm… did I break her?”

His father scooped the blubbering girl up and cuddled her, muttering comforting nothings to her. His mother touched his shoulder and jerked her head towards the door.

“Come inside,” she ordered. “You did break her, but I suspect it is a good break. She has not truly accepted that this is all real yet. I suspect when she calms down, we will find that she has.”

“All I did was welcome her to the family. How could that cause a breakdown?”

“She has been a bundle of nerves since I told her you were coming. She was probably nervous that you would try to make us send her away, which is her biggest fear right now. Your greeting probably caused a sudden realization that she wasn’t going to be,” Helga said.

“That is most likely correct, Duchess,” a woman in Fluffy priestess robes said as she approached. “I am Counselor Rathman, I assume you are Lord Evan?”

“It’s Mage Evan actually. I prefer my earned title,” he gave the woman a slight bow. “I thank you for your service. In my journeys, I have seen all the good your Temple does and am glad you are here.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Waving off his words the Counselor responded, “No need for thanks, Mage, this is my calling.” She looked towards his Mother, “I was watching from the parlor as we discussed, and yes, her breakdown is a good thing. Duke Jerome’s response is even better as it should reaffirm her feeling of true acceptance. Mage Evan, in two minutes, you have done more good than you know.”

A lamb jumped out of thin air, stopped at eye level, and gave him a gentle head butt. It then walked through him and disappeared. What the fuck is going on with that girl?

****

When Alessandra came back to herself, she found herself in Mr. Jerome’s arms. She glommed on tighter, reveling in the sense of love and safety. Mr. Jerome shifted, and one of his hands started stroking her hair and back.

“Feeling better, little one?”

“Yeef,” she mumbled.

“Do you want to get cleaned up?”

She shook her head and tried to merge with him.

“Okay.” He rocked her gently. Alessandra thought she now understood what a Father was.

****

“Sweetie, it’s supper time. You need to at least wash your face,” Mr. Jerome said.

“Urg,” Alessandra replied.

“Come on,” Mr. Jerome said, standing up, “You’ll feel better with a clean face and some food in that bottomless pit of yours.”

A few minutes later, Alessandra had to admit she did feel better. She had cleaned her face, and a Maid-Thief had smoothed her dress. She had decided to be clingy and had made Mr. Jerome, or maybe it was Father now, carry her to supper. He didn’t seem to mind, so she would do this as often as she could get away with it.

Rubbing her face against his, she declared, “Your beard tickles.”

He rubbed back and said, “That’s what all the ladies say.”

Miss Helga, who had stepped out from a side passage, poked Mr…Father in his side.

“And just what other ladies are feeling up your beard?”

“Just this one,” he said, shaking Alessandra, making her giggle. “Where’s Evan?”

“He should be waiting for us, he wanted to check on the group he brought in.”

“Good. Trust but verify. Remember that, Alessandra, never assume someone will do what you asked them to until they prove they will.”

“Yes…Mr.-Father?” she hesitantly said.

Both Mr. Jerome/Father and Miss Helga froze and looked at Alessandra. She squirmed in Mr. Jerome/Father’s arms.

“Am I not supposed to call you that?” she asked, a quiver in her voice.

“Of course, you can call me Father. Or you can call me Daddy or Dad. You just surprised me, that’s all, sweetie,” Father said with a huge grin.

Miss Helga hugged them both.

“You can call me Mother, Mom, or Mommy if you want. If not, that is alright; there is no rush,” Miss Helga said.

Alessandra wasn’t sure she was ready for that. She got a Brother and Father in one day, she wasn’t sure she was ready for a Mommy just yet.

“Yes, Miss Helga.”

She decided to try Miss Helga’s cuddle and wrapped her arms around her neck, and pulled herself into her arms. Miss Helga “Ohmphed” but caught her easily and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. Her hug wasn’t as strong as Father's, but it was just as powerful. She felt just as safe and secure in her arms as Father's. A Mothers hugs were just as good as a Fathers.

****

As Evan watched his parents and Alessandra approach, confusion set in. This is not what he expected from the conversation that he had with his Mother and Counselor Rathman. They had explained that Alessandra was still scared that she was going to be abandoned or forced to work in some unsavory manner for the protection that her family offered. She cracked and showed the affection she craved sometimes, but he should not expect her to show it to anyone often. So, it was quite a surprise to see her clinging to his…their Mother. Almost as much of a surprise as the manifestation of Fluffy.

“Good, unexpected, but good,” a pleasant soprano said from his left.

“Is it, Counselor? I thought you wanted things to move at a slow but steady pace?”

“I do. Under normal circumstances, I would urge your parents to move slower, but the quicker Alessandra accepts them as parents and not just guardians, the better. She has too much power for even my Temple to fully protect her; your parents do have that power, and just as important, the willingness to use it.” Looking from his parents to him, she continued, “I hate that external forces are pushing me to put pragmatism before her mental health. However, her being able to kill this city in an afternoon is a power that must be hidden from the Guild and other nobles until she is in an unassailable position. The only places for that are the Royal Family or yours, and we both know that your parents will be more able to give her the time she will need than the King and Queen.”

“Setting aside that truly frightening bomb of a spell you just cast, it is true that my cousins are good kids but still too young to take much of the burden of ruling off their parents’ shoulders.”

The conversation was cut short as his parents and Alessandra were getting within earshot; little ears didn’t need to hear some things. When they arrived, his Mother set a clearly reluctant Alessandra down.

With a small bow, he held his hand out to Alessandra and asked, “Would the young lady allow me to escort her to the supper table?”

Alessandra gave him a look that let him know she thought he was weird, which was the goal. She glanced at their Mother, who gave her a nod.

“Oookkkaaayyy?” came the reluctant reply.

He took her hand, placed it in his arm, and escorted her to her seat. She gave him another look when he pulled out her seat for her but sat. As he took his seat, he noticed that Alessandra and Counselor Rathman were staring at him.

“Mi...Mother, why is he treating me like Madam?” Alessandra asked with an air of innocence.

Ah, the weird question/associations he was warned of. He motioned to his mother that he would answer. She raised an eyebrow but assented.

“Alessandra, I am not treating you like a Madam; I am treating you like my sister, which you are. In polite society, men treat women with respect. By making sure you are comfortable, and your needs are met before I take care of myself, I am showing you respect and care. Does that make sense to you?”

“Kinda. But I know where my chair is; I don’t need to be shown where it is, an’ I’m strong enough to pull it out myself.”

“But wasn’t it easier to keep your dress out of the way of the chair with me sliding it in for you?”

“Yes…I think I understand,” she stated with a firm nod of her head. “All ladies should be treated like Madams!”

“Yes and no. And before you ask, Mother or the Counselor will answer the no part,” Evan quickly responded, his face reddening. He heard snickers from the others at the table. Alessandra had a look on her face that he recognized from friends sisters that let him know she knew exactly what she had said.