Fairy

 “Mamma dove siamo?” (mamma where are we?) Antonia asked as she rubbed her eyes. When she woke up on the plane, she was confused about where she was. Just last night she had fallen asleep in her bed at home. It was just after 6 in the morning and Peggy had a steady hand on the wheel. Nothing had been unusual about the plane ride other than no one had questioned them in the air space. However, that was only unusual for Maria who had only been on private planes and jets before. She didn’t mind the change as much as she thought that she would have. 

 “We are going on an adventure to a place we have never been before,” Maria said pulling Antonia on her lap. She had done so much and gone so far for her daughter. She couldn’t even say how happy she was to now have her daughter in her lap and unharmed from the world around them. She knew that this was only going to be the beginning. She would get to hold her daughter for many more years then she had expected. 

 “Aunt Peggy’s coming with us?” Antonia asked looking at Peggy with her practically famous doe eyes. They didn’t want to break the poor girl’s heart. She was smart enough to figure things out on her own if they told her anything. Peggy smiled and reached for a set of headphones where kid-sized. Handing them over to Maria she helped Antonia put them on then waited for Peggy to say something.  

 “You ready to be my co-pilot kiddo?” Peggy asked in the microphone. Antonia could hear her clear as day. Smiling as she nodded an excited yes. She couldn't wait to fly a plane for the first time. She always loved trying new things, that are different from the usual.  She helped fly the plane for the next couple of miles. In truth, Peggy had turned off her wheel so that nothing could suddenly happen. She was after all in charge of some important cargo. There were at least two people waiting to hear about their safety with nothing but hope in her abilities.  

 “Aunt Peggy where are we going?” Antonia asked not looking away from the scene outside the window. She didn’t want to give off the idea that she was young. Adults always lied if they thought you were too young. She had learned that at school.

 “We are going to see a friend of mine,” Peggy said only half telling the truth. It wasn’t so much a friend as a person that owed her a favor. She was so thankful that she knew enough people and the secrets that she could provide shelter. At least until Antonia was old enough to go to college. By then she hoped to have taught her how to defender herself from even the most dangerous people in the world.  

 Maria took a quick glance at Peggy before hugging Antonia closer into her chest. Maria didn’t know where they were going but she didn’t care as long as they weren't being abused. She would work in the most difficult jobs if it meant they got to be safe and sound. She would show her daughter how to be a woman and be proud of it.  

 It took another couple of hours before they were close to where they were going. They landed in a forest in the middle of nowhere. It was a safe house that Peggy set up years ago. She had never spent a day there over all of her time she had the place. It wasn’t well-stocked and was forever away from any type of civilization. She told Antonia that they would have to fetch water that was over a mile’s walk away every day. It was going to be hard but they would work together. 

 “You’ll be safe here,” Peggy said dropping off the bags in the living room. She looked around and saw all the dust around. It wasn’t as much as she would have liked to give but it was all they had. Anything else would be a target for Howard to look at. There was no way that his weak wife that had only been rich would be able to live in a place like this, right? So there was no reason to look at it. 

 “Thank you,” Maria said carrying the other bags into the house. It was much smaller than what she had been used too. It only had three bedrooms, one bath, and a living/ kitchen.  Taking a deep breath and looking around. It was kinda underwhelming seeing it all. This wouldn't stop her from keeping her daughter safe but that didn’t mean she knew what she was in for. 

 “I know it needs a lot of work to make it liveable, But we didn’t have the time,” Peggy said looking around. She only felt slightly bad for dumping Maria a woman that has been rich all her life here. There was no running water, or any convenes stores. There was nothing but forest for miles. Maria had never done anything without money before, It was going to be a learning experience for her. 

 “Are you staying or leaving?” Antonia asked grabbing Peggy's hand. Looking between the two women Antonia understood that her mother had left her father. It had happened to a couple of kids from school. It was called a ‘divorce’ and a lot of people get them when they marry someone that wasn’t right. She thought that her father must not have fought very hard for them. It was probably because they were girls, and girls are weaker than boys. 

 “I’m leaving Hunny. But my friend will be showing up and he will be giving you two a hand with learning how to survive here” Peggy said kneeling down to give Antonia a big hug. She loved the little girl and would have kicked Howard’s ass if she had known, but she didn’t. What a great friend she was turning her back on him like that. Now here she was fixing what she should have stopped in the first place. If she had just been there to make Howard see what he had then… well, it was too late for that now. “I love you” Peggy whispered into Antonia's ear like it was the last time she was going to be able to say those words. Antonia felt like something bad was going to happen as Peggy slipped out of her grip.  

 “I’ll see you two as soon as I can” Peggy said turning to leave. She had to be gone by the time he showed up. He would teach them how to be amazing and if he couldn’t he would be dead. It was his test and there hope for survival. Everything was focused on whether he could do his job or not. She had such faith that he would make it work she didn’t worry too much. However, until she got the message that he was in she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Peggy gave Maria one last hug before she left leaving a silent ‘good luck’ to her. There were no words passed between the two but that didn’t mean that they didn’t understand each other.