Baker, Orb's Year 941-944

Orb's Year 941

Gene Baker's cousin, Gretel Cook, came over in excitement.  "You simply must come see our new home!"  My grandmother Wilhelmena is a little intimidating, but she's usually asleep at this time!"

Gene grinned.  "I'd love to! Are you coming Gena?" she asked her twin.

Gena rolled her eyes as she sauntered to the other room.  "Some other time," she said casually. "I had something else I needed to work on..."

Gene and Gretel rolled their eyes and giggling, they ran off to Gretel's new home.

Gena fluffed her hair, admiring her reflection in the mirror.  She couldn't help but fantasize about the evening she had planned with Andre Farrier.  He'd said he would meet her at Taveryn's Kitchen after the sun set.

She could hardly wait.  She was distracted all evening long, restlessly staying awake long after the rest of the household had gone to sleep.

Feeling her stomach growl, she realized she'd missed dinner, mooning over herself in the mirror and practicing her seductive gaze.

Just as she'd put the soup on to cook, she heard horses outside.

Worried that the horses pawing the ground nearby would wake her parents, she hurried outside.

Andre sitting there atop the carriage smirking down at her had her fanning herself.  Recklessly, she scampered next to him and leaned against him, nuzzling his neck.  "Hurry! Let's go before my parents come out," she said, running her finger down his muscular arm.

Andre didn't need to be told twice, with a grin, he hurried away to enjoy the evening, thinking he was the luckiest boy in all of Celestia!

***

The soup sat above the kettle... forgotten...

***

While the family slept...

***

***

Gene thought she smelled smoke when she awoke and was scared when she didn't see Gena.  Throwing the covers from her bed, she hurried downstairs. 

"Oh cursed Orb!" she muttered.  "Fire!" she screamed.  "Mama! Papa! Gena! Fire!"

Sebastian bolted from bed with Fancy right behind him.

"Gene!" he called out hoarsely as he hurried to his daughter.  "Don't worry! I'll save you!"  Turning to his shaking wife, he called out, "Get some water to put the fire out!" 

Fancy watched in horror, wringing her hands, as Sebastian fought to save their daughter.

When the flames were put out, Sebastian hurried over to Gene and pulled her tight against him.  "I told you I would save you," he said with a shaking voice.  Tenderly, he stroked his daughter's hair and murmured platitudes as she cried.  "Are you okay?"

"Gena.. I can't find Gena..." she sobbed. 

Fancy's heart plummeted and she met Sebastian's horrified eyes.  They glanced at the wreckage in the kitchen, fearing the worst...

***

Gena tiptoed towards the door, worried about the lights in the living quarters.  Surely her parents weren't awake already.  They were going to kill her if they caught her sneaking in this early in the morning...

She opened the door cautiously and was assaulted by the smell of smoke and ash...

"Oh cursed Orb!" she muttered when she saw the kitchen.  "The soup!"

Fancy's knees went weak when she saw Gena standing in the doorway hale and hearty, but then the cause of the fire clicked when she saw her guilty face.  Her flighty daughter had left food cooking while she went out gallivanting... probably with a boy!

"You irresponsible, flighty..." Fancy said sharply before crossing her arms and squeezing her eyes closed.  She was horrified by her daughter's actions!  With her voice cracking, she snapped, "Gene almost died! My kitchen is destroyed! I thought you had died!"  Fancy was literally shaking as her voice raised louder and louder.

Gena fought the tears forming in her eyes and cringed from the look on her mother's face.  "Mama, I can explain.." she said weakly.

Sebastian broke in and gently urged Gena upstairs to bed and wrapped his arms around Fancy, who immediately began sobbing into her husband's shoulder.

Gena wasted no time hurrying upstairs and bursting into tears herself.  She felt so wretched!  And Gene had almost died? It was all her fault!  They would hate her forever for accidentally starting the fire! 

Gene cautiously approached her sister.  "Everyone's okay, Gena. That's the important thing."

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Gena said, wiping her eyes.  "I just forgot... you forgive me, don't you?"

Gene hugged her sister. "Of course I do!  We're sisters! I can't stay mad at you!"  Gene pulled back and wiped the tears from  her twin's eyes.  "Remember the time Papa saved Aunt Fanny from the fire?"

Orb's Year 942

"Oh, Sebastian. The kitchen... it's hopeless," Fancy said, staring at the gutted kitchen.  "What are we going to do?"

Sebastian kissed his wife's hand.  "Fancy, Fancy, Fancy.  Haven't you learned by now? I'll take care of everything! It will be the most magnificent kitchen you've ever seen! All our neighbors will quake with envy!"

Fancy looked at her husband skeptically. "Quake with envy?" she asked.

Sebastian kissed higher up her arm before nuzzling her ear.  "Downright shudder with envy..."

Fancy couldn't help but giggle as Sebastian made her forget all about the kitchen and her wayward daughter.

***

"Gene's not here," Gena said when Casey Potter came by one afternoon.  Gene had mooned over the boy for ages, hoping he would notice her.  Gena had always been too busy flirting with Irving Fischer or Andre Farrier, so she'd never met Casey until she'd been sent to get her sister one night.

But the look he'd sent her when she'd turned around to check him out had been sizzling.  But, Gene was half-in-love with him, so she supposed he wasn't fair game.

Not fair game, she told herself.

"I actually didn't come here for Gene," Casey said, with a gaze that set her blood to boiling. 

Not fair game. Not fair game, she reminded herself.  "Well, my parents are..." she said dismissively.

Casey stepped closer.  "I'm not here to see your parents either."

Attempting to appear non-chalant, she asked, somewhat breathlessly, "Then what can I do for you?"

Casey merely raised an eyebrow and smiled. 

Not fair game. Not fair game, Gena thought repeatedly.  Oh, who was she kidding! Like she could resist him! 

Within seconds, Gena found herself wrapped in Casey's arms and kissing him in such a wanton way.

When it was time for him to leave, he got up, patted her rear and told her he'd come to see her soon.

Gena knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help hoping that it would be soon.  Very soon!

***

Not too shabby, Sebastian thought as he looked at the kitchen he'd had built for Fancy. 

"So what do you think?" he asked her.

"I love it!" Fancy cried out, leaping into Sebastian's waiting arms.  "It's so beautiful! I love you!"

Fancy wasted no time preparing the family's first meal with in her new kitchen.

"I'm glad everyone could join together for this meal," Fancy said, smiling at her husband and their two daughters.  "I actually have an announcement to make!"

Everyone turned towards Fancy as she grinned and raised her glass for a toast.  "I'm pregnant!"

"Aren't you too old for that?" Gena asked, almost in disgust.  "Oompf!" she cried out as a foot kicked her under the table.

Gene raised her glass and smiled.  "Congratulations, mama!"

Realizing how that had sounded, Gena shot her mama a huge smile of apology, kicking Gene back under the table. 

Really, Gene could be such a know-it-all brat!

That made her feel a little less guilty about meeting with Casey in secret.

***

Except secrets are never secrets for very long...

Orb's Year 943

Sebastian eagerly awaited his new child's birth.  He hadn't been expecting Fancy to become pregnant again - he thought they were much too old for that.

But he would love their child regardless.  Secretly he was pleased that they would have a child that shared his last name.  Perhaps a boy to look after his sisters after he passed...

***

Because Blessed Orb, the girls needed looking after...

Sebastian had been shocked when he saw his daughter Gena greeting a Potter boy so familiarly.  Shock had been followed by disgust when he realized the boy was the same lad that had stolen Gene's heart!

He wasted no time rushing over to the couple. 

"Gena! Get inside this instant!" he thundered at his daughter before turning on the cocky boy trying to act a man.

"And you! You are never to step foot on my property again! My daughter's are not for you!" he yelled, longing to plow his hand in the upstart's face.

"Papa!" Gena wailed, pulling on his arm.  "No! You don't understand!"

Sebastian turned to his daughter with a glare.  "Get inside immediately Gena!"

Tears sprang to Gena's eyes when she saw how angry her father was.  She'd never seen her father so angry before.  He'd always been so calm and level-headed.  She ran inside tearfully, worried that Casey would never talk to her again. Worried that Gene would never talk to her again!

Sebastian stormed inside after his daughter, intending to give her a talking to the likes which she'd never received before.  But, hearing her pitiful wails upstairs, he faltered.  Perhaps it would be best to wait until they were both calmer. 

He didn't want to say anything that couldn't be taken back...

***

A pebble hit the window of her room.  Then another pebble, bouncing off the glass louder than the first.  Gena hurriedly wiped her eyes and scurried over to the window and glanced down. 

Casey was downstairs! He motioned for her to come down and pointed to the side of the house before walking away.

Elation rocked through Gena.  She wiped her eyes & pinched her cheeks, then quietly slipped from the house.

She launched herself into Casey's arms, kissing him frantically. 

"I'm so glad you came back!" she whispered.  "I thought my father was going to kill you!"

Casey scoffed as he looped her arms around her and pulled her close.  He said with a wink, "He'd have to catch me first!"  He trailed a finger down her cheek. 

***

"Sebastian?" Fancy said, waking up suddenly.  She pushed at her husband's shoulder.  "Sebastian?"

Fancy moaned as the contractions became more rapid.  "Sebastian! Wake up! It's time!"

***

"Gena? Are you out there?" Gene called as she hurried to the front yard.  She caught Gena and Casey locked in a passionate embrace.  Glaring at the two startled lovers, she scoffed. "Mama's having her baby... if you care!" Whirling, she spun around and hurried back inside.

"Oh Cursed Orb. She caught us!" Gena said sadly.  "But, now we won't have to hide anymore."

Casey shrugged. "Geez, Gena! It's not like we're getting betrothed or anything! We're just fooling around!"

Gena blinked.  It wasn't like she wanted to get married anyways, but Casey didn't have to dismiss it so cavalierly! Pride had her rejecting him outright.  "Plenty of other boys would be proud to offer for my hand, Casey Potter!" she snapped.

Casey laughed. "Offer for you?  Everyone knows that of the two of you, Gene is the marrying kind!"

Gena angrily shoved away from Casey, even as he laughingly pulled her back into his arms.  "Wild cat!" he cajoled, attempting to soothe his struggling bundle.  "Why pretend outrage when I know that you don't want to marry!  That you enjoy all the pretty compliments! Don't pretend I'm the only boy you step out with.  I would hate to call you a liar!"

Gena stomped on Casey's foot and hurried from his embrace.  Pinning him with a glare, she announced, "I wouldn't have you if you were the last boy in Celestia, Casey Potter! You're a rouge and a... a... lousy kisser!"

Gena ran for the front door, ignoring the laughter she heard behind her.

In her parent's bedroom, she stopped short.  Her family looked so happy and loving in a circle, surrounding a new baby boy.  Fancy glanced up and smiled at her, holding her hand out to draw her into the family circle as her sister Gene edged away. 

She went willingly, hugging her mother close and wishing she was a little girl again.  Her mother had always known how to make everything better when she was littler!

"His name is Bastian Waite," Fancy said, glancing up at her husband with love.  "After his proud papa!"

***

Gene slowly approached her sister and swallowed nervously.  "I didn't do it on purpose!" Gena cried, wiping her eyes.  "I just... you forgive me, don't you?"

"Save it, Gena. You try to explain everything away! Nothing is ever your fault!" Gene snapped.  "You think I didn't know? I've known for months now! So take your fake concern and your fake apology and leave me be!"

Gena tentatively reached out, only to have Gene slap her hand away.  "But, we're sisters... remember?  We always forgive each other!"

Gene's eyes flashed as she looked at her sister scornfully.  "Convenient that you remember that now..."

Gena's heart broke when she realized what she'd lost, all for steamy kisses and a promise of nothing...

Orb's Year 944

Fancy welcomed her half-sister Gemma Grocer into her home. 

She couldn't wait to celebrate little Bastian's birthday with all her family and friends.

But, tragedy struck before the candles could be blown from the cake she'd lovingly, painstakingly created...

"Sebastian! No!" she cried when she watched him collapse to the ground.  He had always been her hero, riding in to save the day.

But nothing could save him this day...

Rest in Peace Sebastian Waite, Orb's Years 906-944

 

Fancy launched herself into Gene's waiting arms.  "It'll be okay, mama.  Everything's going to be okay.  You'll see..." Gene said with tears in her eyes.

***

How could a family so happy and perfect be driven to such a low, Gene wondered as she leaned over the crib to lift her baby brother.  Just a few short years ago, her parents were blindly in love and she and Gena were close as could be. 

Now her mother languished in bed, destroyed from losing her father while Gena was gone from the house most nights, pursuing who-knew-what-boy. 

And here she was, caring for little Bastian as though he were her own child.

***

Gene sat outside, gazing blindly in front of her as she tried to process how much life had changed.

"Gene?"  Carey Potter asked as he walked over.  "Gene?"

She didn't even hear him.

Cautiously he sat down beside her.  "Gene?" he asked.  "Are you okay?"

Gene turned to him, startled.  But, seeing her friend Carey, she collapsed into his arms. 

Just as Carey moved to put his arm around her, she shot up.  "No! NO! I'm not alright! Nothing is alright!" she sobbed.  She'd tried so hard to be strong for everyone else, but she couldn't.  Not anymore!  It was just too hard...

Carey jumped up and wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek against her head.  "It'll be okay, Gene."  His heart was breaking from seeing her so despondent. 

"You don't understand," she sobbed.  "Papa's gone and Mama's sick and Gena is Orb knows where! Probably with Casey!  And I have no one! NO ONE!" She sobbed even harder after the words came tumbling out.

"You have me..." Carey said cautiously...

Gently, he kissed her softly,  "...if you want..."