#brightwindsbarony

"I'll see if I can swing both, they go fine together" She relents "But I'm going to be at the office again... so it might just be the fingers. "

Resigned. "That's okay."

"Sorry honey I..." A sigh "I guess your mom is.. not always there for you, or it looks like it."

"I know. You have to work hard to take care of me."

"I take care of us both, so don't you try to take the blame for anything. I love you and I want you to have everything you can"

"As long as it's legal" she adds quickly

"I love you too."

They pull up and see, Morthwyl and Felicity

The two sidhe have grocery bags

Irene waves. "Mom, Mom, Mom, look!"

"What's he doing here?" Irene's mother hastily turns the car mirror to look herself over, and fusses with her hair. Very odd behavior

"Looks like groceries." Helpful!

"Hello you two" Morthwyl smiles, mortal wise he wears a short sleeved shirt of green with the top button or two open in a way that shows off his strapping chest that seems to cause some grown women to check their hair. the way his jeans fit also add to that, but Irene wouldn't get it. "We had a bit of a freezer problem, and wanted ot get rid of some excess food"

"Oh no! I hope it can get fixed! Hi Felicity!"

"Hey Irene" Felcity moves to Irene while Irene's mom goes out to talk to Morthyll , and she whispers "We're actually doing this to save your mom a grocery trip so she can relax more. Hope that's okay?"

A little bite on her lip. "I... think so? I won't tell her." Worry-guilt.

Felicty looks at her "What's wrong?"

"... you sure? this is so much food I feel like I owe you money..." /"... non sense, you're saving us a mess..."//" well I can't say it won't be handy.. oh you have mac and cheese? from... your freezer?"// ".... we threw that in because Felicty says Irene loves it"

"Oh, the fancy frozen stuff? Maybe you could stay for dinner..."

"Oh yes, I.. I'm working late tonight but I should be back in time to... " Suddenly Irene's mom seems flustered. "I do feel we owe you... but I don't know if I can cook a..."

"No problem, If you don't mind me using your kitchen, I'll cook for all four of us" Morthwyl offers

"Pleeeeease Mom?"

"They can't go hungry cause their freezer broke."

"I .." She turns and gazes into the deep eyes of the man younger htan she, very WRONG thoughts which she suppresses. "Of course, that would be wonderful, and thank you so much"

"And chicken fingers AND mac n cheese and they both go with ketchup..."

"Do they?" Morthwyll ask

"To keep the peace, they do" Irene's mom explains

Then she looks at the time "Oh I have to go to work.. I'm sorry I'm turning you into a babysitter"

"We're not babies" Felicty fusses

"I'm almost TEN!"

"Mea Culpa" Irene's mom says to both "Which is latin for i"ll apologize if lets me get out the door"

Morthwyl chuckles at that

Then he says "It's okay. The young ladies will keep each other entertained. ANd I'll whip up something for everyone"

"Bye Mom!"

"Love you, Irene" And off she goes

Once they are alone, Mortwyl says "Your mother is a good woman"

Irene nods, but there's a droop in her shoulders. "Yeah."

"I make her sad, though."

"What happened?" Felicity asks. Sure, she can be a bit Sidhe, but she's a friend so still cares, also she's ALWAYS Curious

"At the store, I wanted to look at this bottle opener - it was turquoise, and carved like a skull, and SO cool, so I just thought I'd look it over and maybe show it to Grete?"

"Oh Grete would love that" Felicty smirks "She's rock crazy.. but fun"

Morthyl inquires "Is it possible you looked with your fingers again? Like Piskies like to do?" No judgement

She fidgets and nods.

"I see better with my fingers."

"mm I'm sorry. I can't tell your mother the truth, of course' He frowns bothered by that "But I can try to set her mind at ease if you wish? It's not your fault, it's part of your magic. "

"I don't want to go to a therapist." She gets on a stool to open the freezer, taking out the chicken fingers.

"Oh dear.." He frowns at that "She mentioned a therapist?"

"Yeah. I think she feels guilty. I just..." Frustrated. "I wanted to see it..."

"I know it's wrong. That's why Mel lost her hand, right?"

A frown "There are such things as unjust laws" Morthwyl says "The greater crime can be the punishment. And piskies are different. It's like punishing stew for stretching the truth. " The Gwydion looks at her "The baroness Sparrow , I'm sure, would tell you you are wonderful the way you are and it's okay. Don't worry. I am not the best cook, but I'm okay and Your mom will love dinner tonight. That wil lcheer her up"