HayBail
(Sunday) April 2, Year 3
When Bailey had to cancel her date, Haley was disappointed. She knew that the charmer was a family gal and the blonde admired the amputee for it, but she didn’t realize that it also had drawbacks. They met up again on Saturday in the forest, only for Bailey to leave quickly because of an emergency.
Rather than scheduling again, Haley thought that a quick visit wouldn’t hurt, as long as she stayed away from the plots and animals. Once a couple of hours passed, she walked to Bumble Field Estate. After all, Catty didn’t mind it whenever she did before so she assumed that it wouldn’t hurt to visit someone else on the farm. The walk to the farm was quick from the fountain. When she saw the fields of strawberries, she was surprised to not see Catlina. Since she wasn’t in the field, Haley went up to the porch to knock on the door, only for no one to answer.
After waiting for a bit, Haley decided that asking Thunder would be the best option now.
“Hey, uhm… Thunder.”
The hybrid jolted and looked up from his work. His face immediately relaxed when he recognized her, making it clear that he was deeply focused on his work.
“Haley! Ah, er, morning. What… What brings you to Bumble Field?”
“Do you happen to know where Catty is?” she asked. “Or maybe your sister by any chance?”
That’d be so much better actually…
Thunder finished pulling out the burnt crop before answering. That’s when she noticed the damaged crops in a basket. Though the temperature was rising, fires rarely ever happened naturally. So how in the world did some of the strawberry bushes get destroyed that severely?
“Goldie is over by the cows. She won’t be done for a while but you can wait inside if you want,” he said, not noticing the way she was staring at the burnt shrub.
“Is she busy?”
“Sorta,” he hesitantly answered as he pulled out another burnt shrub. “Uhm… her situation is complicated. I suggest seeing her some other time.”
Before Haley could protest, she suddenly saw Bailey in the distance hop on top of a cow followed by her picking someone else up off in the distance. Catty seemed busy helping with truffle-picking to say anything. Even if she wanted to head over and talk to them, Haley couldn’t risk getting mud on her most recent pair of shoes.
Looking over the Bumble Field Farm, the beauty queen was beginning to see how much life there was on the large piece of land. Thunder was maintaining the crops, planting new seeds now that a couple were destroyed for some unknown reason. Catlina maintained easier chores but they weren’t any less important. Ever since they moved here, the family brought life into the town. Pondering on it now, she felt stupid to be so harsh on such kind people. Catty continued to keep interacting with Haley when she first moved, and no matter how many times she pushed Catty away, she came back. So when the farmer insisted on Haley being extra sweet to Bailey, if she so happened to meet her, she took Catty’s order to heart.
It was only fair that she treated the foreigner a little nicer than most when the Greyhowl couple have been absolutely kind.
This was the first time Haley actually saw Bailey’s kids. It was clear who they were since she had already met RJ and Ramón in the past. Esteban must’ve been that tall brunette that was helping. Bailey mentioned that he liked basketball and going down in the mines, which explains his athletic build. There was Lyra and Lucy with the chickens. Apparently, they were born with that hair color, which was honestly impressive. Bailey was most likely with her youngest, a toddler over by the cows. She seemed busy and was still unaware that Haley was in the area.
That tiny woman had to take care of four kids while missing a leg??? How… Haley had to give her more credit for running a family.
“Here, this is the one, right?” The teen from earlier came back from the shed with some packs of fertilizer.
Thunder looked over the bag before nodding. “Yup. That’d be it. Your mom is watching Lil’ Nix so go ahead and take some time off.”
Haley didn’t miss how Esteban seemed to grin and graciously accept the offer, dashing off to who knows where.
“Thunder, is there something wrong with Bailey’s son?” she asked. “She clearly loves the little guy, but no one in Pelican Town knows that he exists. This is actually the first I’ve even heard of Nix.”
The man stopped moving, taking a deep breath and refusing to turn to her.
“I can’t… tell you. It’s not my business. If I told you, my sister wouldn’t be happy about it.” He finished planting the new strawberry seeds and carried the trash into the compost bin. “She likes you though. She has a different way of showing it. I’m sure if you ask her, she’ll tell you. You just gotta be understanding when she does.”
(Monday) April 3, Year 3
Bailey knew her birthday was coming up soon, but she was hoping that her family would forget. She simply didn’t think it would fit into her schedule. Not to mention, she didn’t exactly feel completely welcome in the town.
Phoenix has been taking the majority of her time. But now she was trying to schedule a checkup. There were two options; send a letter back home for a half-dragon pediatrician, which will take a while, or schedule with Harvey, which will need some explaining.
Her toddler finished eating his homemade meal before burping out a small stream of purple fire. Wyrmlings weren’t supposed to have their breath sack developed till after a month of hatching. The entire family was shocked to find him breathing out fire a few days after hatching…
They were able to fireproof things quickly at least, but now they really needed to find a pediatrician to make sure his development wasn’t concerning.
“I think you should ask the town doctor,” Esteban suggested. “It’ll take too long for a Nightwing doctor to arrive from Trecen and we still need to plan the next meeting on Ferngill grounds. Plus, doesn’t Doctor Nelson know a bit about the family?”
“Just because he knows about lycanthropes and humans doesn’t mean he can handle a draconic hybrid.”
Nix chirped and put his arms out at his mother, asking to be out of his high chair. Bailey got up from her spot and did as he wanted, looking over his wings to make sure they were wrapped down. A common practice so he couldn’t damage his wings while they were still developing. He immediately waddled over to his play area and was fascinated by his array of shiny rattles.
“Okay, it’s Monday. Maybe the doc can do a last-minute checkup,” Esteban said.
So, Bailey was now waiting at the clinic. Nix was sitting on her lap with a little beanie and an oversized coat. Luckily, Maru wasn’t there, but unluckily, Jodi was here for Vincent’s visit.
The boy stared up at her and Esteban curiously.
“Something up, kid?” she asked.
“My name’s Vincent. What’s your name?”
“Bailey. This is Esteban and my youngest here is Phoenix.”
He was silent for a bit before he pointed to her leg.
“How come your foot is gone?”
“Vincent!” Jodi scolded. “That’s impolite. You don’t ask that of someone you just met.”
Bailey full-heartedly laughed. “It’s quite alright, ma’am. The boy is just curious is all. I was ambushed and they needed to cut my leg since it was easier than surgery.”
“It was during the war,” Esteban added.
His eyes immediately lit up upon hearing that.
“Did your scars come from the war too?! You look super cool with them! My dad doesn’t have any but he’s also a soldier.”
“The rest of my mom’s scars were from other fights. We fought on the inside and underground,” the brunette explained before going on to tell the little boy a story. “Not on the frontlines.”
He continued to tell the little boy the story, how they were beginning to rally troops and their epic fights, lighting up an imaginative fire in Vincent.
Jodi picked up on what he said. With an alarmed expression, she turned to Bailey. “Your son said ‘we?’ Was he also drafted? He seems young.”
“Esteban is technically my apprentice. In Trecen, it’s common practice for young adults to take in orphans as apprentices or for parents to hire a mentor,” she explained. “When I had to leave, he chose to follow despite the risks.”
“But to participate in war?” Someone who was practically half her husband’s age to witness the frontline? How?
“Our countries are vastly different,” Bailey reminded. “Despite them being neighbors, they will have opposing cultures. However, it is always wise to have an open mind when taking in new information. Personally, I wouldn’t have brought him, but he willingly signed up with me.”
Harvey came out from the back to call for his first exam. However, he noticed Bailey as soon as he raised his eyes from his clipboard.
“Miss Greyhowl? I wasn’t expecting you today. Is something going on?”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Just a drop-in. It’s okay. They can go first. I’m not in a hurry.”
Harvey seemed hesitant. He glanced at Jodi and Vincent for a sign before moving on to his schedule since no one was saying anything, leaving the Greyhowl family in the waiting room.
…
“So what did you drop in for?” Harvey asked.
“A few days ago, Phoenix hatched from his egg. He seems healthy but I figured a doctor’s perspective would be best.”
Phoenix swung his legs as he sat on the table. Half-dragons did most of their physical development in the egg, so when Nix hatched, he was already in his toddler phase and walking merely a few hours after coming out.
“Hm. He seems okay. His tail hasn’t started developing yet and his horns aren’t too pointed. Open and say ‘aah.’”
The boy looked over to his mother, who nodded encouragingly, before doing as told.
“His teeth are coming in nicely. None are crooked. I’m assuming he finished his egg white formula?”
“Mhm. Drank the last ounces of it last night for dinner.”
“Good. That’s expected. Though he’s very large to be yours, I suspect that’s the dragon genetics mixing with your family’s male DNA.”
Harvey tapped the toddler’s chin to close.
“I haven’t reviewed any draconic books. I’d need to do extensive research if there really is anything wrong. But nothing too alarming yet.” He threw away the medical spatula before putting his arms up, which seemed a little dorky but Bailey didn’t say that out loud. “Okay, I need you to put your arms up and reach as high as you can now. Can you give me a big boy stretch?”
Phoenix chirped as raised his little arms, barely reaching past his head. Using his thumbs, Harvey softly pressed his back.
“Has his wings always been like this when wrapped?”
Bailey nodded her head. “He has two sets. An outer wing set and inner set.”
“Definitely different but not unheard of. He hasn’t used them yet, right?”
“Nope. The main reason I was concerned was that he spat out fire the other day,” she explained.
Harvey finished his examination and threw out his gloves into a bin. He retrieved his clipboard and began filling out a sheet.
“Ah. That’s understandable. Nothing too concerning though. But he could always be developing fast. Your son is perfectly healthy in my opinion, however, I’ll see if I can consult a colleague for information. He doesn’t seem hostile so I assume he’s been socializing with his cousins and siblings. As long as he is not starting fights and isn’t getting territorial, I’d say he’s simply growing early. You said his birthday was the last day of March, correct?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He hummed as thanks. “I’m filling out his birth certificate, so not only is he a Pelican Town resident, but he can also have his official medical file ready.” That’s when it occurred to Harvey. “Have you put your birthday on the community calendar yet?”
“Me? I don’t really celebrate my birthday, so I didn’t bother writing it.”
He stared at her for a bit before moving on. After a few signatures, Bailey and her sons were allowed to leave. They went down to the forest, hoping to get back to the farm but unaware that Haley was having her weekly nature shot. The blonde noticed them through her camera, slowly lowering it to see them with her own eyes.
“Bailey!” she called out.
The entire family perked up and turned to the source with bright eyes, showing an uncanny resemblance by a single response. Haley approached them in hopes of simply talking. However, that’s when she noticed something off about Bailey’s youngest son.
“Hey, Haley,” the short woman greeted. “Doing some photography I see.”
“Yeah. I like the brightness of the afternoon. Taking a walk with your sons I see.”
The slight taunt Bailey picked up sent her heart skipping once again.
“Err… Y-Yeah. This is my eldest, Esteban, and my youngest, Phoenix.”
The toddler clung to his mother, tucking his face into her leg and pulling his hood down so he could hide his face. Much to Haley’s surprise, the boy purred and chirped almost inhumanely. What was startling was that Bailey was somehow able to understand it.
“You wanna go home? Esteban, could you take him back?”
Esteban nodded before crouching to pick up the toddler, taking him back to the farm. Nix didn’t struggle too much. He simply looked back over his brother’s shoulder and waved to the pair. Haley returned the gesture before turning her head to the hybrid.
“Your son is… certainly different. I’m not exactly used to kids…”
Bailey merely chuckled before nodding in agreement. “That’s what I always thought too, but here I am now. A mother of four. It isn’t easy but it certainly is an experience. What were you taking pictures of?”
“The river. The sun reflects over the water during this time of day beautifully.”
The two went to sit by the shore as Bailey was curious to see for herself. Gods, the royal felt so at peace with the blonde. They must’ve spent hours together merely talking about everything and anything, yet they still haven’t run out of things to say. With Haley, she truly felt at home.
“Do you go by any nicknames?” the photographer asked as she pointed her lens towards the island across from them, still listening for Bailey’s answer.
“Ehe, yeah. My entire family calls me Goldie,” she admitted. “My mother has called me that since I opened my eyes and it just sorta… stuck.” Bailey plopped down on the grass to hide her embarrassment, stretching out her arms as if she was embracing the afternoon’s warmth.
“My mom called me Goldie because of my eye color. The doctors were expecting them to change as I got older but apparently, they never did. Oddly enough, they’re a rare color. I dunno, I guess they are nice but I just don’t see my eyes that way.”
The nickname was suitable for her.
They weren’t just pretty. Haley turned to Bailey at the perfect time. The sunlight reflected at the rippling water, letting the waves of light dance over them. However, her hair draped over her eyes at just the right angle to reveal fascinating golden hues that gleamed like shards of pure sunshine. The reflected water even highlighted Bailey’s scars, displaying her past experience while emphasizing her youth. If Haley wasn’t seeing it for herself, she wouldn’t believe her eyes or her imagination.
When her pupils shifted to stare up at the sky, Bailey subconsciously smiled blissfully. Feeling like she was distracted, Haley simply could not resist capturing a photo. After a few minutes, the camera made the most subtle click, and Haley thought that she didn’t hear, but Bailey startled her with a simple question.
“Did you get my good side?”
Haley had almost gotten whiplash by how hard she flinched away but her reaction only made Bailey laugh.
“Oh, dear! I didn’t mean to startle you. My apologies. I saw you in the corner of my vision pointing the camera at me so I decided to let you do you. I’ve modeled for my sister and some other clients before in my college days so I don’t mind being in front of a camera.”
Haley’s pale skin turned blazing scarlet with embarrassment. She was just caught taking photos of a pretty person. Bailey merely chuckled and shrugged.
“Haley, I don’t mind! Every picture needs a subject right?”
She suddenly turned her head in the other direction. At first, she was tense and seemed ready to strike. The lightness of the air dropped and her eyes were fixated as if she was going to fight. It scared Haley how quickly she relaxed.
“Ah, good afternoon, Leah.”
The greeting made Leah jolt before she strolled out from the tall grass.
“How’d you know it was me?” she asked. “I could’ve been Andy looking for forage.”
Bailey was silent for a bit as she tried to find an excuse.
“Lucky guess honestly. What brings you here today?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
Haley resumed her photography while Leah sat beside Bailey. She figured that it was best to stay silent in case she instinctively said something rude.
“I’ve been trying to find some inspiration. My online business is nice but even I get tired of carving the same thing for my clients.”
Bailey hummed and nodded. Leah looked over to the blonde when she heard a click. Curious, she sat up.
“Haley, right? You know I used to do photography in high school. I wasn’t the best at it though. I could never get the lighting right for my teacher.”
Haley pulled the camera down to look over her most recent shot. She wasn’t too interested in talking with Leah but she was polite.
“Photography is only a hobby for me. I’m sure they aren’t that good compared to an artist like you. See for yourself.”
Leah clicked through the various shots of the forest. She was awestruck by the natural oceans of greenery. The way that sunlight bounced off oak and maple trees made them look like they were truly alive. A rainbow trout that skipped above the river current and how it reflected water droplets.
“Haley, these photos are amazing!” Leah gasped. “You capture these moments perfectly and manage to still project the energy without making them lifeless. If you really wanted to, you can go professional with these!”
Haley stared at Leah with wonder and then took the camera back, looking at her own work from a different perspective. “You really think so? Wow, thanks.”
“Do you think that I could print some of these so I could use them for inspiration for some of my art?”
And that was the start of their friendship. As the two excitedly chatted about their creative hobbies, Bailey couldn’t help but smile at their interaction.
(Tuesday) April 4, Year 3
Thunder was setting up a reservation at the saloon as a surprise for his sister on her birthday while Catlina was putting away her things with Claire after aerobics. Both made an agreement to round up a small party in the saloon’s game room as a way for Bailey to meet their friends and interact more with others.
She was currently gathering her things alongside Claire. However, she couldn’t help but overhear Jodi talking with Caroline.
“Have you seen Bailey around often?” Jodi asked. “I don’t see her in town.”
“Lately, not really,” Caroline answered. “She used to come by Pierre’s for groceries but recently started sending her middle kid.”
“Does she have trouble walking maybe? Robin mentioned she got hurt while going up the stairs near the mountains.”
“I’m not sure. Emily says that she gets updates from Haley if she’s in a good mood. Apparently, she’s been in the forest a lot more. Lucy tells me that she’s indoors all morning before she goes into the forest.”
“She really makes her kids work, doesn’t she? But I don’t think she’s a bad mother. She brought her youngest son to the clinic for a checkup, yet…”
“Do you think she’s acting on her favoritism? Her eldest three are adopted after all.”
Catlina bit her tongue as she approached the pair, she wasn’t mouth off on them, at least not too aggressively. She couldn’t let this slide.
“Bailey has been working with my husband to run the farm,” she asserted. “Since Joja is still around, Thunder has been exporting his goods. Neither of us are good with numbers, but she is. All that time she spends inside is because she’s been helping us with the farm. The time she spends in the forest is because she’s too shy to actually try interacting with large crowds, especially after that ambush she survived.” She glared sharply at the pair. “She might come off as distant to you but I see her as a sister. My in-law has a good heart so I’d appreciate it if you don’t talk about her like that because you don’t know her like I do.”
This was the first time that Catty established some sort of boundary. Before she had always listened to gossip, letting them say what they want and not really caring what was being said, but the farmer seemed genuine with her confrontation as she had left both Caroline and Jodi stunned. The room was silent with heavy tension before Catlina turned back to retrieve her things, quickly leaving without another word. She wasn’t going to apologize for defending her in-law. Claire briskly followed to catch up with her friend.
Claire managed to find her already walking to the farm, slightly but understandably irritated.
“Hey, wait a moment please.”
Catty stopped in her tracks to let her friend catch up.
“I’m sorry,” the farmer apologized. “I just didn’t like how they talked about my in-law. I’ve told you about her, right?”
Claire nodded. Before an aerobics session, Catty mentioned that Thunder’s sister was staying after a diplomatic mission in the war. However, that was all she knew. She assumed she was nice but she’s only heard minor stories from the locals.
“My sister’s birthday is on Thursday. We’re planning a surprise party for her. The kids are keeping her distracted till then.” She raised her head and made eye contact with Claire, much better than before. “Gus is reserving the private room in the saloon as thanks for the eggs for his giant omelet. When it comes to her, she can be very… timid. I want her to feel welcome in the town. Like how Thunder insisted on you getting involved.”
It was only a few months ago when Catty’s husband paid for her salad, followed by him talking about his family’s favorite books and him insisting that she try the aerobics class. She was so scared to be treated like an outsider back then but now she was growing in this new community.
Catty wasn’t wrong there. If Bailey was really that nervous about getting involved, maybe her birthday would be the best solution to make her feel welcome.
…
Meanwhile, Bailey was sitting by the pond when she heard someone practically gasp. No one was around during this time of day so she wanted some peace away from the farm. The only one sitting with her was Lucy, who was eagerly writing in a little journal.
“You’re a new face around here.”
She recognized him immediately.
Morris Tod, her friend’s ex-coworker from Joja. She wasn’t expecting him to be here at all. Long ago, when her best friend was working part-time, the man was there too. At the time, they were young and working but Morris was always too competitive. He was too ambitious and he pushed everyone away. Kai didn’t care. Just some guy who wanted a promotion. However, Morris managed to report to HR about Kai for rumors. Specifically, for stealing equipment when it was obviously false.
Kai was absolutely livid to be fired for something so stupid but she was there to help him move on. During one of their drinking nights though, they made plans of revenge on Morris. Something they made as a joke.
Internally, she thought against them but she had another reason for actually enacting their plans now.
Lucy couldn’t do their groceries last week because it was Wednesday, meaning the local store was closed. It wasn’t a biggie, at least it wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the stupid advertisement for Joja. When they came back with several coupons, she advised them to not trust the corporation. Even her brother seemed to have a grudge against Joja.
Morris was the human embodiment of greed, ego, and arrogance, so now was the time to make him pay for the people he’s stepped on for power since karma hasn’t bit him in the ass just yet.
Based on his expression, he didn’t recognize Bailey at all and approached her oddly eagerly. She could practically see the dollar signs in his eyes as she began to answer.
“Yeah, I moved here to help the Bumble Field Farm with financials.” If you coax more flies with honey than vinegar, Bailey was going to be sickeningly sweet. “They trust me enough to run numbers so I figured to help them with business. They’ve been doing much better selling artisans because of it.”
The man grinned. Though charismatically, Bailey could easily see his intent.
“Aha! A business gal. I’ve tried convincing Mister and Missus Greyhowl to invest in Joja, especially because he’ll save much more by buying seeds from my store.”
“Oh. Yeah, my brother has his loyalties in order.”
“Family and business! A woman after the town I see. If you worked with me, you’d be quite a valued employee and even a business partner. Joja’s profits would be yours.”
Bailey pretended to think about it, glancing over to Lucy before looking back at Morris.
“A tempting offer, sir. But it’s going to take a bit of persuasion to stray from work. I care for my brother and his business. You understand, yes?”
The manager frowned for a split second before grinning once again. He merely chuckled and nodded.
“That’s perfectly fine, my friend! I quite understand. Perhaps we can talk about it someday. Here.” Morris pulled out a phone card from his chest pocket, handing it to Bailey. “My card, for when you want to schedule an interview.”
She politely took it and thanked Morris, watching him leave with a sharp leer that Lucy seemed to sense. Once the man was out of listening range, the pre-teen turned to their mom.
“What was that? I thought you don’t like Joja.”
Bailey chuckled with a strange light-heartedness. “I don’t. I greatly dislike large corporations, especially ones that actively try to crush out competition.”
They frowned, still confused. “Then why did you take his number?”
She hesitated for a second and then exhaled. “I hold a personal grudge against Mr. Tod. He lacks compassion, you see, and is very egotistical. Roughly a few years ago, Kai worked part-time at Joja. He was fired because Morris managed to convince the boss that he was stealing, despite the lack of evidence. We made childish revenge plans, but now it seems justified since a majority of the town dislikes Morris.”
The white-haired teen seemed lost in thought before focusing back. “Mr. Cornell likes buying seeds from Joja.”
“That’s the farmer in the south, yes? The one you’ve been foraging with?”
They nodded. “He’s… nice. A bit lonely though. Maybe close-minded, but he’s coming around. Mr. Cornell is very… very rough around the edges.”
“I see. Well, you know how adults can be after time. They grow hardened. Let me know if he gives you any trouble,” she warned.
Lucy snickered a bit. “Don’t worry, I will.”
They smiled softly before going back to writing, pausing once in a while to think. The youngster had picked up on songwriting. Bailey had dabbled in music before joining the workforce so she was able to give advice any time they asked. She spent the day mostly with her family. The townees were nice, yes, but there was always comfort in her safe zone that she couldn’t help but return to at times.
After an hour, the pair went back since Bailey was beginning to doze off so she went back to her house to take a nap comfortably.
This beach vision once again. She came to the conclusion that this was her sanctuary. A place where will always be safe. A shelter from the outside world.
A cushioned bed of sand. The gentle tides that swayed in a predictable rhythm. The neutral colors that the light reflected.
It wasn’t so exciting but it was relaxing. However, something finally stood out to her. A coconut. Its dark brown color contrasted with the beige sand. Bailey reached over to hold it for a bit, inspecting the fruit as if it would have some sort of answer for her. Out of all the things presented to her, a coconut showed up. A hard shell with a sweet fruit. Something delicate that’s protected by a hard exterior, and she managed to open it with ease.
Rather than fruit, as she expected, Bailey was given a Polaroid photo instead, capturing a moment with Phoenix trying to scramble onto her shoulders, messing up Bailey’s hair in the process, while Leah was reaching out, laughter evident on her joyful face.
The question was who took the photo? And when was it taken?
Her nap was rudely interrupted.
“Wakey wakey, Little Bailey!” Her bedroom door was suddenly knocked off its hinges and she immediately knew who it was, resulting in Bailey curling herself up into her comforter and burying her head into her pillows to muffle the noise.
The intruder cackled as he suddenly pounced. Bailey groaned as she felt Kai wrap his arms around her. She pushed him away but the man persisted. He was playful about it though.
“After a few months of war and now you turn into a big old grumpy head,” he teased. “It’s your birthday soon, Goldie. Lighten up a tad bit.”
It took some convincing but she did roll out to face him. Her reluctance was evident based on her pout, though she laughed after a second. She missed her friend’s boisterous grin. Kai’s chilling blue eyes were soothing but to add on, his maroon locks reminded Bailey of a comforting fireplace, with dark-tanned skin to match.
“I should’ve known you were bound to show up at some point,” she grumbled.
“You honestly think I wouldn’t bother you? Maybe you don’t know me as much as I thought…”
Bailey scoffed and shoved him with a slight push. “Shut up, weirdo. I know you’ve got something for me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have woken me up.”
Kairius shrugged his shoulders before turning his body to pull out a box from beside the bed.
“So, my colleague has started working on your leg. I’ve even taken the liberty of scheduling your surgery in Zuzu. Hold your applause please.” His comment made Bailey roll her eyes before undoing the ribbon around the box. “It’s gonna be around the end of fall since she’s very busy with the other soldiers these days.”
Kai watched her with bated breath as she pulled open the top, his eyes glimmering with delight once Bailey saw the custom peg leg.
She wasn’t surprised, but the hybrid was speechless by the gesture. Bailey rolled over to sit up, adjusting herself so she could try on the leg. There were straps so she could tighten it around her calf, securing it over her pants before sitting closer to the edge of the bed. Once it was secure, Kai got up, holding his arms out to be ready to catch her.
“It’s cushioned, so you should be able to comfortably put your weight on it.” He held her by the elbows at first, letting Bailey take baby steps as she hobbled. “However, you still need breaks otherwise it’ll hurt.”
She managed to walk decently with the leg, but she was still curious about her surgery. It was supposed to bring a permanent solution to her amputation. After a bit, they decided to head to Thunder’s farmhouse for dinner. Her kids were already there since they didn’t want to bother her napping, so they could prepare the surprise birthday dinner without suspicion.
Bailey felt a few aches in her nub as she stepped, but she had gotten used to it quickly. When Kai opened the door to let her in, she squinted her eyes in the dark, trying to make out what she was seeing.
“Surprise!”
She merely chuckled as they cheered happily. Despite not having any idea that this was happening, Bailey didn’t flinch or jolt in any way. This was nice. It wasn’t an extravagant party. However, the atmosphere was cozy with only just a bit of decorations to spruce up the living room. The food prepared was all of her favorite dishes from her home kingdom. It was only her brother’s family, her kids, and Kai, but the house felt full of life as everyone interacted with one another.
The royal grinned as she watched the toddlers play chase with her brother’s dog. While they ran amok, the older kids sat in the living room with their newly adopted cat, who purred and gladly accepted the free head scratches.
She felt safe and welcomed, cared for by her family, related or not. For once, Bailey felt warm, inside and out, like she was enveloped in a hug after a lifetime of solitude. With a steady exhale, the hybrid evened out her heartbeat, taking in the feeling of something that truly made her feel at peace.
Like she always wanted.
(Wednesday) April 5, Year 3
If there was anyone that could get Bailey out of her comfort zone while also charming a few people into being kind, it was Kairius.
“Kai! Walking on cobble is different from walking on wood and dirt!”
The devilish man chuckled as Bailey was left, abandoned on one end of the road while he was facing the small town.
“Oh, please, Goldie. You’re being a little dramatic. It isn’t that much different.”
She glared at him as he snickered but then decided to keep walking, slowly making sure she didn’t trip on the stone. Rather than walking ahead, Kai was kind to slow down his pace for his friend. It was early in the morning, meaning not many people were out. However, it was early for Bailey’s standards, which was nine in the morning. It was strange.
Not just getting up early to put in more time for her health, but also it was odd trying to walk again. It didn’t come naturally to her anymore. Months of hobbling with her crutch was something that took time to adapt to but learning to walk was something she needed to overcome again too.
“Kai, how long do we need to do this?” she asked. “We’ve been going around for about half an hour already.”
He didn’t want to push her too much so Kai brought her to the bench in front of the saloon. He sat close to her, making sure to take off her prosthesis.
“I brought you a cane.” Bailey watched as he unhooked something from his backpack and the cane shot out. “It’s custom-made too. I met a guy who knows a gal that was willing to create this… walking stick.”
It wasn’t a normal cane. It was foldable, making it easy to pack, and the handle rotated. It was mostly made of bone but there was a hidden mechanic in the handle. Bailey brushed her thumb over it, careful to not press too hard. The design was extravagant, appearing that it was a combination of black metal and wood. It was heavier than it appeared but still seemed light to her. She rotated the handle to see what was up with it. A slight click was heard from the cane before she felt something inside, making it feel light.
Bailey inspected it once again and her brows raised up in surprise.
“It’s bladed. But also flexible?” she questioned with amazement.
Kai chuckled and nodded. “Yeah! It’s a bladed whip-cane. I’ve gotta tell you something though.” He paused for dramatic effect, resulting in Bailey gently hitting his shoulder. “Ow! Okay, okay! It’s supposed to be enchanted.”
She scoffed in disbelief. “No way. Why would it be enchanted? No, better question; why did you give me a weaponized walking stick?”
“First off, you can’t keep using a crutch when you’re adjusting to that peg leg. This is supposed to support you as you try walking in it. Plus, it’s a pre-surgery present for when you get that actual foot.” Kai took the cane and gave it a harsh yank, showing its offensive maneuver. “Second, it’s supposed to be a backup weapon. Your brother-”
“Which one?” she interrupted.
“The smart one,” Kai answered without hesitation.
She nodded and gestured to him to continue. “He told me that you couldn’t take your gauntlets, so I figured that this cane would help for self-defense.”
Bailey took it back, giving the whip a lash before pressing the hidden button to put it back in cane mode.
“Thanks, Kai. I wasn’t expecting you to give me this at all,” she admitted. “It’s a nice one. Oh, then what was that enchantment you mentioned?”
Her friend’s snow-blue eyes lit up as began to babble about the magic. Bailey gave him her undivided attention. They talked and listened to one another as if they were in their own little bubble. The duo didn’t notice the curious glances from the locals, wondering who this newcomer was and what sort of history he had with the farmer’s guest. Because Bailey never smiled so warmly with anyone or stared at someone with such unconditional care. She never laughed full-heartedly without guilt.
Rumors were going to go haywire…
The cane was certainly magical as the materials for it weren’t from normal properties. The bone would tingle whenever there was danger nearby and the blade was supposed to lethally cut through fiends and the undead. Additionally, the cane would also allow her to see fifty feet (15 meters) around her. However, those two abilities could only be unlocked if someone enchanted them.
“I gotta talk to this wizard guy in order for it to actually work though,” he finished. “Apparently, he happens to be a local here. We can walk around, asking the locals where this wizard man is.”
“Yeah, as much as I wanna introduce you to those that I befriended, I don’t think I can walk around that long. I can barely do that on my own…”
She mumbled the last sentence under her breath but Kai heard it anyway, and he put his hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner, encouraging her to look at him. He didn’t snarkily grin or taunt her with an off-handed remark. The hidden devil knew that Bailey was still coping with the changes in her own prideful way. However, years of dignity will force her to learn to accept help, whether she likes it or not.
“Goldie, look at me. Now look at yourself. Think, reflect on things,” he advised. “This is new for all of us, especially you. You are allowed to ask for help.”
Bailey took in a deep breath, doing as Kai suggested. She thought for a bit, staring solemnly at the dirt before raising her gaze.
“Right. My apologies. It’s still an adjustment. I’m thankful for you.”
They stayed silent for a while longer, quietly enjoying each other’s company, before Kai decided that it would be a good time to go to the lake as he wanted to try fishing. The devil man was careful to help Bailey stand and stayed next to her as they walked. What they weren’t aware of was the various rumors circling them both, or it was more that Bailey simply didn’t care to listen to them.
…
When Haley walked outside, deciding to go to her usual spot at the fountain, she was pleasantly surprised to see Bailey sitting on the bench in front of the Stardrop Saloon. However, what she wasn’t expecting was the man next to her. The blonde was confused to see Bailey effortlessly joking with the dark man. She had never seen the small woman laugh so hard that her nose crinkled. Haley never thought that it was possible for Bailey to pout like a child, but she did and then playfully punched the tall newcomer, who merely laughed at her little attempt to beat him up.
The photographer lingered a bit longer before listening to her internal conflict and heading back inside. She texted Alex to come over after asking Emily if it was okay, who was perfectly fine with their regular guest. However, Haley only waited until her sister was in the other room when she talked with Alex.
“I think I like someone.”
The jock choked on his water, clearly not expecting Haley to suddenly talk about her feelings. As he coughed, she continued to talk.
“It isn’t you! So quit overreacting,” she scoffed as she crossed her arms. “I’ve been spending more time with the farmer’s guest since Catty insisted on being nice to her. I was going to just talk to her for a day or two and then move on. But then we ended up planning hangouts in the forest, now I can’t stop thinking about her. Every little thing I do, she shows up. I try taking a photo, I think of her. I tend to the flowers, she’s the first thing I wonder about! Just right now, I was about to go to the fountain but then I saw her with a guy I’ve never seen before.”
Haley only discovered her sexuality after high school, which was only several years ago, and even then she took a break from relationships. But she began feeling things like she hasn’t before. What started as interest somehow grew into infatuation. She knew that Bailey had her own charm but this was more than physical attraction. The blonde could talk to her for hours without ever running out of things to say. It’s something new and she wanted to explore this further.
When Haley finished ranting, it finally clicked to Alex that she liked a girl.
“Wait, she? So you like girls now? When were you gonna tell me?”
“I thought I did. I told you that I liked both last Winter Star. Wasn’t it obvious when Emily started seeing her girlfriend?”
“Emily has a girlfriend?”
“Oh my god. You’re unbelievable,” she groaned. “Anyways, Bailey was laughing and joking with this guy like I’ve never seen before. I wanna know if they’re together.”
“Why can’t you just ask her, Hay?”
Haley’s blue eyes squinted, glaring at Alex like he suggested something bizarre.
“If I ask her, she’s gonna wonder why and I don’t even know if she likes girls.”
They were quiet, thinking in their own heads. Alex perked up suddenly.
“I got it! Thunder asked Gus if he could use the private room for his sister. I heard he invited some people over so that his sister could feel more welcome for her birthday. He told me ‘cause Penny and Sam are babysitting all of the kids in the forest. You can ask Catty if you can join… but I heard they’re keeping it small.”
Haley thought about it before crossing her arms, rolling her eyes. “Better than nothing I guess. That guy is probably going to be there too though.”
The photographer very rarely felt insecure and jealous but seeing her crush smile like that was something she didn’t know was possible. It was only a small crush but she needed to know if Bailey was single or not. However, she knew that Bailey wasn’t going to leave the farm before the party, considering her preference for solitude.
Either way, she was determined to start something with the farmer’s guest.