Oh how you shine

[pinkie]

Now, this is something in multi-chapters - none of them numbered, i will be posting as i go. I have written this for Sprinks (because she too finds it unbelievable there isn't much more fanfic about Emilius and Eglantine (i found the spelling at IMDb).

Bedknobs and Broomsticks rules - don't ever let them tell you otherwise!

So, a story about Eglantine Price and Emilius Brown, other characters include Charles, Carrie and Paul and for now, Mrs Hobson.

Lets get the show on the road!

For Sprinks, because she is such a wonderful motivator.

Oh how you shine

It was a crisp morning and the sun shone so brightly that when Eglantine Price opened the curtains in her bedroom, she had to blink a few times in order to adjust. Her bed had been so warm and comfortable and she had almost forgotten about the war when she woke up from the alarm. Living so close to sea, but outside the village had its advantages, but during a war, there were some scary moments. She had played her part, but nowadays she was just a single woman, with three refugee children and a loved one in the Army.

Eglantine sighed as she thought of Emilius. She hadn’t seen him since that day the volunteers had escorted him to the trainstation. Fortunately he had been assigned to a London Waroffice, where he did something secretive he couldn’t write about. Thankfully he did write to her though and she looked forward to his letters everyday. The mail would come in around two, brought by a young woman on a bicycle, who had been to school with Eglantine.

Downstairs she could already hear the sounds of the breakfast table being laid and she hurried downstairs, where she put on her apron and started scrambling eggs and frying bacon. One of the advantages of living in the country was that there still was some food to be had. No eggpowder in her house! The children waited patiently for their breakfast and Carrie helped with the toast. She smiled at the girl and flipped the bacon from the pan on a plate. Together they started to eat.

“Mr Arbuthnot asked me to help in the shop after school.” Charlie announced with his mouth full. She shook her head. “No talking when you’re eating, Charles.” Quickly he swallowed his bite. “He’s giving me foodstamps.” “Very well. Don’t forget though, there is your schoolwork too.” She poured Paul a cup of tea, which the little boy filled with milk and three lumps of sugar. “Not so much sugar, Paul. Bad for your teeth and we don’t have very much of it.” Paul bowed his head. “Sorry…” Carrie buttered her toast and ate in silence. Carrie was always quiet and reminded Eglantine of herself when she was entering her teens. Living with just a father and having no female rolemodel but a teacher, was something that made her very insecure. Carrie on the other hand was not insecure, but just a quiet child. School was something the girl looked forward to everyday. She loved to learn and when Eglantine had a talk with the teacher when she was getting in her vegetables, she found out the teacher had great plans for Carrie’s future.

After breakfast she helped the children on their way, handing them neat lunch boxes and gave Paul a little peck on the cheek. She loved that he still allowed that, but she knew that it wouldn’t be long until he would turn away from her, telling her he was too old for girlie stuff.
From the moment they were out of the gates, she started doing the regular housework and waited for the post to arrive. How she longed to hear from Emilius, it had been almost a week now since she heard of him last. She understood he was very busy and often pressed for time.

She washed the breakfast things, cleaned the kitchen and went upstairs to get her laundry sorted. The little plus-fours of Paul, Charlie’s trousers, some of Carrie’s dresses and underwear. She didn’t mind the task as much as she used to. Before the war, she had disliked taking care of the laundry or any other task that has to be done in every household. Now it was something she did, not only because she had to, but because it gave her the feeling she did it out of love.

This idea startled her. Did she love the children? She smiled. Eglantine, the prim spinster, loving children who would get in the way. Now she wondered what they would get in the way of. She had no job, she had no hobbies and she had no pets. Her interest in the course of Emilius was probably caused by a number of things, one of them must have been boredom. She didn’t have many friends, mainly because she lived so far from the town and also because her father had always kept her at home as a young woman. Besides doing the shopping, she hardly ever came outside.

She picked up the laundrybasket and took it downstairs, where she would have to get started soon. Eglantine sighed and chose to make a cup of tea first. In times of crises, rejoicement and boredom, she put the kettle on. She sat down to wait for the water to boil and went over several things in her mind.

What to do for supper? Bangers and mash were an option, or toad in the hole. She would love to eat something a little more exotic, but unfortunately, her foodstamps didn’t allow that. She remembere how she and the children had travelled to London on Pauls bed and met Emilius. They had seen sides of the city they hadn’t seen before, people they had never seen before. They had smelled food they had never tasted. She closed her eyes and dreamed of banana’s, now impossible to get and of vegetables she had never even imagined.

Eglantine sighed and went back to work. The front room could do with a good dusting and Eglantine went to the cupboard under the stairs and took out her utensils. Putting a silk scarf around her head, to prevent the dust getting into her hair, she dusted the ornaments and furniture in the room, until she heard the mail dropping on the hall floor. She dropped everything that instant and wnet to fetch it.

There were few envelopes. One was from the family of an old friend of her father’s who had passed away quietly in South Wales. There was one from the Red Cross, informing her that since Both Charlie and Carrie were now entering their adolescence, she was getting more stamps. And there was one from Emilius.

She sat down on the settee and almost ripped the envelope apart. She breathed deeply and started to read the familiar handwriting.


“Eglantine, my darling,

London is cold and gray. The rain taps against my window, but I cannot see outside. The black out curtains are sealed tight by my landlord.

I think of you all the time and there are times I am finding it hard to concentrate on my work, because I see you before me. Your beautiful face, your kind smile. Your eyes, deeper than the Scottish lochs I will take you to see when the war is over.

Paul send me a postcard, did you know? He asks me when I am coming home. I was deeply touched. There is only one wish and that is to be home with you as soon as possible. Tell him that from me, will you?

Yesterday, sheltering in the Underground during an air raid, I sat next to a Red Cross official and she is going to find out more about the children and their parents. Amazing how one can find the person you need in such circumstances.

How are you, my sweet? Are you holding up? Are Charlie and Carrie helping you with the house? Paul says you are being very sweet to them and that you only cook nice food now. Good news I should think.

I can’t tell you how much I miss you. There are no words to express how I feel about not being able to hold you in my arms, the talk to you, to be in your presence. After the war we will marry and we will never be apart again.


For ever yours,

Emilius”


Eglantine lowered the letter and with one hand she wiped away the tears from her eyes. She felt hopeful and happy and secure in the knowlegde that he loved her still. That one day, when the war was over, she would be his wife.

Wife.

Eglantine looked at her hands. Suddenly it hit her that by marrying Emilius, she would become his wife. She put the letter on the table before her, picked up her tools and finished dusting the room. It was nearing three thirty and the children would be home soon. Well, Carrie and Paul would, since Charlie was going to work in the shop.

She could hear the voices of Carrie and Paul outside and put the kettle on. There was another voice as well, one of an elderly lady, Eglantine thought and she hurried to find some bicuits or fruitcake, since normally she and the children would have a slice of bread with jam. Going through the tins on the shelf, she was very happy to find a relatively new batch of raisin cookies Carrie had baked the previous Saturday. Whoever was coming to visit, was aware there was a war on and that sweets were true treats.

“Miss Price?” she heard Carrie call from outside and Eglantine hurried to open the door. She found Mrs Hobson and the two children waiting for her there and she invited them all in, wondering why the children hadn’t just opened it, since the door hadn’t been locked.

[furandfeathers]

why have I not read this before! I LOVE bedknobs and broomsticks, Eglantine and Emilius are so adorable! Please update soon, I can't wait to read what happens next!

[OSUSprinks]

pinkie, why didn't you yell at me for not reading and reviewing here? I didn't realize it was up! You people are far too kind to me! lol I am annoying about things when I post, feel free to be likewise!

The letter was so perfect. I want him home so much! I'm glad he ran into that woman and she is looking for the children's parents. I am glad they are all becoming a family, but I can't decide whether I want the parents found or not. mean of me, most likely. Awesome story! Post more soon!

[pinkie]

Finally an update!

I hoped that i would get some more reviews on this, so i am a little disappointed... Still, no need to keep this from you!

Mrs Hobson had turned out to be quite entertaining in her ways to wriggle information out of Eglantine and she was in good spirits when the old lady left.

Carrie and Paul were doing their homework in the kitchen and Eglantine had pulled up a chair to help them incidentally while she was peeling spuds and cleaning cauliflower.

“I don’t understand this, Miss Price…” Paul said, pointing in his history book.

“What is it?” Eglantine asked while wiping her hands on a teacloth.

“This here… if it is said that during the Great War, there were so many men killed that they still find the bones when they plough the fields in Flanders, howcome they don’t know who they are?”

Eglantine sighed. How to tell a child that bones are difficult to identify. That the name tags were around the necks of the victims, which might have been blown off. How to tell him that there was no money to identify the bones. That now there was another great war going on there wouldn’t be much ploughing.

“It is very difficult to identify people by just their bones, darling. Bones all look the same you see. There is nothing covering them, no clothes, not even skin and flesh. It is like identifying pennies.” She got up from her chair to wash the vegetables.

“So everybody looks the same on the inside?” Paul asked.

Carrie looked up from her books.

“Some people are taller than others, some are plumper, there are people who have broken a bone which has mended. But basically we are all the same. Some bones in women’s bodies look a little different than men’s – though I doubt that there will be many women’s bones found, Paul.”

“Oh… alright.” Paul returned to work and Eglantine felt glad he didn’t ask any further. How was she going to explain why women had different pelvic bones than men?

She refreshed the water in the pan and put the spuds and cauliflower on. She had made beefstew the day before, so that would be even better today. She chopped some parsley Carrie grew in the vegetable garden (where the cauliflower was from as well) and checked the icebox to see if there was milk left.

“Carrie? Will you help setting the table? Paul, you put away the books, if you are not ready yet, you can leave them on the table in the drawing room.” Eglantine went to the airing cupboard to take out a tablecloth. She thought about Emilius and how he would love to be here with them, helping the children with their homework, eating dinner together, carressing her… Eglantine blushed. The idea of Emilius being so close, made tears well up in her eyes. She missed him more each day and keeping busy was all she could do to try to cope with her life as it was at the moment.

“Miss Price! Charlie’s home!” Carrie called from the kitchen.

Eglantine blinked a few times and took the tablecloth with her to the room. She handed it over to Carrie who started to lay the table.

“How were things at Mr Arbuthnot’s?” Eglantine asked, taking the lid of the pan with spuds and pricking them to see if they were ready.

“Good. Well, as good as it gets really, with people only having their rations to spend. Old Mrs Pringle came in, she traded some lace for chocolates.” Charlie told.

“Poor Mrs Pringle. I hope you didn’t take it.”

“Of course not! I traded her meat stamps. A woman alone, she is elderly, so I think she can get by without some meat. I gave her the chocolates and an egg stamp in return.”

“I am very glad. You do make me proud.” She said, checking the cauliflower.

“Time to wash up, everyone.” She called into the drawing room.

The children all went upstairs to put on clean sweaters and wash their hands and faces and Eglantine washed her hands at the sink in the kitchen. She put the food on the table and waited patiently for them to come back again.

One by one they returned, Paul first, because they let him use the bathroom first since he needed the most time still. Then Carrie, follwed quickly by Charlie and they all sat down together. Eglantine filled their plates and they ate, calmly and quietly, sometimes speaking of school or work, but mainly chewing in silence.

“Do you remember when Mr Brown juggled with the apples?” Paul said, suddenly.

“And how they fell and there was gravy all over his front?” Carrie giggled.

“Poor man didn’t know what happened to him. First time we did see you laugh out loud, though, Miss Price.” Charlie said.

Eglantine smiled sadly.

“Are you alright, Miss Price?” Carrie asked.

Eglantine nodded. “Oh, I am fine. I suppose I just miss being together, the five of us.”

“We did have awfully good adventures!” Paul exclaimed.

“I would love to go back to Naboombo…” Carrie said, her eyes looking dreamily in the distance.

“Well, that isn’t possible, I’m afraid.” Eglantine started to clear the table and poored Paul more milk.

“And it really isn’t safe to go back to London even.”

The children looked disappointed, but it was clear they understood that London was still being bombed and they knew that it wasn’t much fun to hide out in the Underground or in the basements of buildings.





Yes, there is more to come!!!

[furandfeathers]

aww I hope Emilius comes home soon! This is such a wonderful story, I can't wait for the next update

[OSUSprinks]

I love the details about the rationing and how you are keeping things set in that time. I hope he comes home soon. I love this.

[pinkie]

Another chapter - i am working on it and there is still more to come!



After dinner and washing up, Eglantine was trying to read a book. Her mind kept wandering off though and she looked at the children who were on the sofa and floor, listening intently to the wireless. Paul and Charlie were playing checkers and Carrie was knitting. If life had been different, these could have been her own children. She loved them like they were her own, but she knew there was very much she had missed. She didn’t know what they had been like as babies or toddlers. She hadn’t seen their first steps, she hadn’t been there when they had lost their teeth. She hadn’t been there when they had learned to read and write and do the most basic of algebra.

Her chance of all that had passed her by. Now with Emilius in London, the end of the war nowhere in sight, she was thankful for the children. They trusted her and she knew they were happy in her care. She loved having them there, taking care of their needs and sometimes having the strange feeling that if they hadn’t come along, things might have looked rather grim for her.

“Miss Price? Shall I make us tea?” Carrie said, looking up from her knitting.

“Thank you, Carrie, I think that will do us good.”

“I dropped a stitch…”

“Let me have a look, perhaps I can safe it.” Eglantine smiled brightly at the girl, who smiled back thankfully.

While picking up the stitch, she could hear Carrie fill the kettle and set the tray. Eglantine knew she would be putting some of the raisin cookies on a plate for them. A caring girl Carrie was. A clever, caring girl. Eglantine hoped that she would have enough money to send Carrie to University one day. Charles wouldn’t want to go on educating himself, she felt. He was much more a tradesman. He would like to own a store or something of the kind. Paul was too young to tell what he wanted out of life. His taste for adventure had been fed thoroughly by the bedknob, but they hadn’t been travelling since.

As she was wondering if the children could sense the strange mood she was in, she heard the whistle of the kettle and Carrie pouring the water. The house was small enough to know what everybody was doing in whatever part of the house they were. This gave her a sense of security. She always knew where the children were, usually what they were up to and where to find them if something would come up.

Carrie entered the room with the tray and Eglantine had been right about the cookies. Charlie and Paul took their tea without even looking at it, concentrated on their game. Carrie sat next to Eglantine, who handed her the knitting back.

“What are you making?” Eglantine asked.

“I don’t know yet. Could be scarf. Or the back of a jumper.” Carrie answered, putting her handiwork down and starting on a cookie.

“Hmm, both could be nice. You have chosen a lovely color, my dear.”

“Do you like it?” Carrie smiled.

“Very much. I think I would love to wear it as a scarf in the winter. Well, plenty of time before that.” She patted Carrie’s hand and took a sip of her tea.

Together they listened to the wireless, while they played checkers, knitted and tried to read, just like they had started the night. Eglantine peeked at the clock.

“Time for bed, Paul.” She said quietly.

“I don’t want to go…” Paul protested.

“I know, but you have to go to school tomorrow and I want you to be rested for that.” Eglantine replied, her tone strict.

“Yes, I know…” Paul got up from the floor, leaving behind his game and siblings.
“Goodnight.” He said.

“Do you want me to come up with you?” Eglantine asked.

“No thank you.” Paul answered.

“Alright. Sleep well.” Eglantine smiled at him reassuringly and he nodded.

The others followed later, leaving Eglantine alone with the radio and her book.

They were playing music now, songs people could dance to. Eglantine felt sad that she was alone, without Emilius, who had surely taken her into his arms and whirled her around the room.

Emilius.

Emilius who would try to make her and the children laugh.

Emilius, who would make her feel beautiful and feminine.

Emilius, who was far cleverer than anybody really knew.

Oh if only the war would be over soon and bring him back to her.

It had been a happy day they had met, even though at the time she didn’t feel exactly joyful. In fact, she had been rather upset. She could laugh about that now. Since she had met the children and Emilius, she laughed frequently.

Last week she had burst out laughing when Paul had brought home a toad and put it in a pan and put the lid on, so that when she opened it, the animal came jumping at her. Thanks to her witch’s training, she wasn’t scared of them, so she had picked the little fellow up and put it in the meadows across the road.

Paul had lots of friends in the village, so it often happened he didn’t come home after school straight away. At first she had been worried about him, but she had instructed him to tell his sister where he was going and that he was always expected home for dinner.

Carrie had a few friends, but they usually came to her house. Possibly because Eglantine didn’t interfere with their chattering and their giggling. Eglantine made them tea, gave them left over cake from a visit the previous day and set to work in a different room of the house. Her bedroom had a nice desk and she could sit there for hours, writing letters and stories and reading books.
Most letters she wrote were to Emilius.

Funny how her mind would always get back to him.

He hadn’t actually asked her to marry him yet. He seemed to think it was a natural thing to do. She didn’t disagree. Still, she hoped he would ask her properly.

The radio played ‘God save the king’ and she got up from the sofa to turn it off. She went upstairs, got undressed, washed and brushed her teeth in the bathroom and went to bed.

[furandfeathers]

another wonderful update!!! I do hope Emilius returns soon, but I wonder what he's been doing while he's been away. Can't wait to read more!

[OSUSprinks]

I love this story so much. I cannot imagine being away from Adam so long and not knowing how he was and what he was doing. I love that no matter what she is thinking about, it all comes back to him.

[pinkie]

I have been working really hard on this story and i am pretty pleased about how it is turning out. I have little time to work on any fic at the moment, mainly because i am swamped in work and College - really, part-time College is a drama.

Still, here is the next installment, slightly shorter than the first one

---

The weeks followed each other without many eventful days. The children went to school, Eglantine did her housework in quiet contemplation. It was clear that the War’s end was coming close. Emilius letters seemed more cheerful and he wrote of living together in her house, close to sea. He would try to find a job somewhere – perhaps he could teach and they would be very happy.

Eglantine didn’t feel as strangely melancholy after that one night in February.March and April had come and gone, the news of Hitler’s death had made its way even to the English countryside and Eglantine had found herself talking to many of the other women in the village about the impending end of the War. Husbands would come home, trips to London would be more frequent again.

The War had been hard on everybody, but it had also given Eglantine purpose and love. She had made friends in the village and she enjoyed it when women came to call. She liked to serve them tea and Carrie’s newest concoctions. She talked about Paul doing well in school and about Charles being a self sufficient young lad. About how she wanted Carrie to go on educating herself.

The day came that there were celebrations in all the land. Sir Winston Churchill on the radio had announced the victory in rounded words, like he had spoken to them all through the war, sustaining them with support and the idea that one day they were absolutely going to win this war.

Eglantine, Carrie, Charles and Paul were sitting in the drawing room, listening to the wireless when the speech came on:

'This is your victory! It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the unbending resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.'

Eglantine couldn’t help but weep a little and she saw the children in shock and awe at the words just spoken.

“We’ll go into the village.” Eglantine said and stood up from her comfortable chair.

“Come on. We’ll celebrate with the others!”

Together they went out on the beautiful day and along the road they found other people with the same idea. They hugged, shook hands, sang along with patriottic songs and when they arrived in the village, they were embraced by Mrs Hobson, the vicar, Mr Arbuthnot and friends.

Together they ate and drank, they danced and sang and they were all caught up in the moment. Keeping her eye on the children, Eglantine allowed herself to be merry and she laughed with the other women and thought of Emilius and how he would come home soon.

The afternoon turned into evening and the evening into night. Eglantine had shared sherry and sandwiches with Mrs Hobson and her friend Miss Hayes, who was very forward and had insisted on calling her Eglantine and Eglantine was to call her Deirdre in return. Eglantine searched for the children, finding Carrie with her school friends sharing some bacon butties, Charles smoking with his friends and Paul, asleep on the steps of the church.

She gently woke him and together the four of them made their way home.

“Is the war over, Miss Price?” Paul aksed sleepily.

Eglantine, who held him by the hand, nodded happily. “Yes, darling. The War is over. No more lights out at twilight, no more fear. No more fighting.”

“Good.” Paul mumbled, almost falling asleep while walking.

Carrie walked on the other side and also took Eglantine’s hand. Charles was besides Carrie and whistled a cheery tune.

They arrived at the house and they all made their way upstairs. Eglantine tucked Paul in and kissed him goodnight.

“Goodnight, Miss Price. I love you…” Paul said before falling in a deep sleep.

“Goodnight, my sweet…” Eglantine said softly, brushing his hair off his face and turning off the light.

In the hall she called to Carrie and Charles: “Goodnight, Carrie. Goodnight Charles.”

There was no answer from Carrie, who had probably already fallen asleep. Charles said goodnight and she heard him get into bed and turn the light off.

Eglantine was wide awake.

The idea of peace was shocking. Even though it had been coming for weeks, it was still such a surreal idea. No more boodshed. No more aching hearts. No more fear. Families reunited. Mothers able to keep their sons, wives no longer in fear of losing their husbands.

In her bedroom, Eglantine took off her clothes, soiled as they were by the dancing with elderly men who worked with their hands and by spilled drinks. She put them in the hamper and put on her nightgown. She laid down on her bed and let the cool sheets welcome her like an old friend. Still no signs of sleep.

After ten minutes she got up again and crept downstairs. Kosmic Gribus was sleeping near the stove, so she tried not to trip over him as she poured the milk in a little pot. Cocoa would do her a world of good, settling her stomach as well making her sleepy, she thought and stirred some cocoa powder and sugar in a mug, waiting for the milk to come up to the boil.

She drank her hot chocolate standing at the counter and went to bed after. She slept well, but she dreamed of taking the children to foreign parts and searching for someone, waiting to find a person that would lead them back home again.

---

Yes, there is more to come! I am working on it and it is turning out really cheerful and happy.

[furandfeathers]

YAAAY! The war is over!! Emilius can come home now, right? *bounces excitedly*

[OSUSprinks]

I'm so excited the war is over and they can be happy! I'm worried about what is going to happen with the children now, especially after dear little Paul said he loved her. So sweet. I loved that Charlie was smoking with his buddies, very grown up. lol Thanks for sharing!

Happy writing,
Sprinks

[pinkie]

Smoking wasn't considered a fifth as bad as it is now, so i thought it a nice tidbit. Charlie is only a normal kid, so he would probably be smoking, especially on such an occassion.

There is more to come and it is filled with cliché's - but i still like them and i still think they work. I have dedicated this 'between-classes-hour' to write on this story. I hope you like it.

---

The sun was shining brightly and Eglantine had pulled up a lazy chair. She was enjoying the sunshine and watching Paul and some of his friends catching bugs, toads and the like. Carrie was at a friend’s house and Charles was helping Mr Arbuthnot in the store.

There was an envelope with Emilius handwriting in her apronpocket and she tried to forget about it, so she could relish it longer. Her patience wore thin very quickly though and she pulled the letter out of the envelope and read quickly.

There was nothing about him coming home, but there was news of him being released from the office fairly soon. He wrote about missing her and the children and that he was already speaking to people about getting a job in the near of the village.

Eglantine put the letter down, a little disappointed that he still didn’t know when they would see each other again, but happy that he was healthy and cheerful. She put the letter back in her pocket and admired a black shiny beetle on of Paul’s friend’s showed her. She thought of the things she still had to do and decided that now was as good a time as any.

“Paul! I am going to the shops. I trust you will be alright while I am gone…” Eglantine said to Paul, when she found him with more friends.

“Yes, Miss Price.” Paul answered, hardly looking up from the salamander they had discovered.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Alright.”

Eglantine smiled at the sight before her and took her shopping bag and purse from the house and started the leisurely walk to the village. Saturday afternoons were always relaxed and she enjoyed them immensly. Taking a break from the regular housework, seeing the children play, going shopping in the village, where she usually met some friends.

The sun shining on her face made her feel as if she was on holiday. The freedom that had come with the ending of the war was still having its impact on her and she felt grateful that everyone she loved had been unharmed. She did feel sorry for the children, still not knowing anything about their parents, but Emilius was trying his hardest, as was Mrs Hobson.

Going past the church and the houses in the lane, she entered Mr Arbuthnot’s shop and waited in line. She saw Charles helping the elderly ladies and some of the few maids that were still employed. She felt really proud of him as he was taking care of the ration stamps and how he asked after babies, jobs and a father-in-law’s broken leg. He was a natural, but she herself waited patiently for Mr Arbuthnot to help her. She could only imagine how ashamed Charles would feel if she asked for soap, or worse, feminine products.

Deirdre was in the shop, so the waiting was pleasant and they talked about several things. Deirdre’s fiancee was coming home soon, as he was released from active duty in the Air Force. Eglantine didn’t tell about Emilius. She felt he was too private to share.

When it was her turn she bought flour, soap, sugar and some other products and put them in her shopping bag. She followed Deirdre into the green grocer’s and was pleasantly surprised to see oranges and even banana’s. Enthusiastically she bought five oranges and three banana’s, spending most of next weeks rations.

Carrying her parcels, she walked back home, partly accompanied by Deirdre and Mrs Green. They took the other road and Eglantine walked home alone. She was approaching the beginning of her land when she saw a figure walking in front of her.

Eglantine quickened her pace to see who could be visiting her at this time. Her bag was heavy and it wasn’t easy to gain more speed as she was going uphill but she managed and found that the figure was a man.

A man in a black suit, his trenchcoat folded over his arm. He was carrying a suitcase.

A man, taking his time to climb the hill towards the house.

With a sudden jerk, Eglantine dropped her bag and practically screamed:

“Emilius!!!”

The man turned around.

Eglantine stood as frozen, tears streaming down her face, unable to act she waited for him to come towards her.

It was him.

She had been waiting for him for such a long time and now he was in front of her and she didn’t know what to do.

He did however and pulled her in his embrace, cuddling her, kissing her face and finally he said:

“Eglantine… how I missed you…”

“I missed you too…” she replied with a tiny voice.

There they stood in the middle of the road, the sun beaming down on them, time slipping as they instinctively kissed.

“Perhaps we should get back to the house…” Eglantine suggested after some time.

“Perhaps we should.”

---

So - i am working on more, i have three chapters lined up and there will actually be more after that - well, otherwise i wouldn't be working on it today

I hope you keep enjoying it and if you feel anything is off, or that you don't understand, or that you would like me to include, just let me know in a comment or in a pm!

[furandfeathers]

YAY! He's home! Although I can't help but think of the warning you gave me... hmmm

[pinkie]

Please, don't worry about the warning - it isn't coming in quite some time. This is all still really nice stuff coming up!

---

The celebrations of the evening matched the ones they had been part of during V-Day. The children threw themselves upon Emilius as he stepped into the door and now they were all sitting on the terrace. Eglantine had opened a bottle of wine to celebrate Emilius return and she sat very close to him. Paul was sitting at their feet and Emilius told all sorts of exciting stories.

“One evening, it must have been in December, the sirens went off as I walked home to my digs. Next thing I knew, the bombers started bombing the West End heavily, I could hear the crashing and saw the devastation. Quickly I ran to the nearest safe place, the Tube-station. It was dark, but it was warm and there were many people there. A man shared his bread and margerine and people were singing. We were not scared at all and after some time, a woman started singing and we all sang along. We had a rather jolly time and when the sirens died down, we all climbed back to the streets and went our separate ways.”

Eglantine shook her head. Utter nonsense of course, but the children were drinking his stories in like nectar from the gods. She knew why, he told his stories with such charm – she almost fell for them herself!

Quietly she drank her wine and watched the sun shining on the children’s faces. Emilius took a bit from the canapé’s she had made from plain crackers and fish spread. Eglantine wondered what Emilius had been doing when he was in London. He had been in uniform for only such a short while – she had been very worried that he had been fired.

Still, she preferred him fired to executioned for cowardice… Now he sat there, so calmly and she felt he had changed somehow. There was more of a muture edge to his smiles. Like he had seen things, knew things. Perhaps he did and one day he would tell her all about it. For now she was just happy to have him home.

Well, he was in her home, but since they weren’t married, what were they going to do about sleeping arrangements? This thought was just so startling, she almost dropped her wine. A big splash fell on the yellow stones.

“Eglantine!”

Emilius’ hand on her shoulder. Eglantine trembled. His closeness was almost too much to bare after all those months of solitude. She looked up to him and his eyes were filled with concern. She managed a little smile and shook her head briefly.

“It’s alright… I was wondering where we would store you for the time being.”

Emilius chuckled.

“Well, I could try the airing cupboard.”

Eglantine laughed.

“Might be a tad hard, darling.”

Emilius hand squeezed her shoulder as she said ‘darling’ and she couldn’t hide her blush.

“Well, I must start dinner…” Eglantine excused herself.

Carrie got up from the floor. “I will give you a hand, Miss Price.” she said, smiling slightly.

Emilius got up from the bench. “I’ll telephone the pub if they have a room free for me.”

With the sun behind him, he followed Eglantine into the house. She heard the boys wrestling. Carrie had gone first into the darkness of the house and Emilius went to the telephone immediately.

Carrie opened the door to the kitchen and Eglantine followed and together they started to raid the shelves and cupboards. There was little in the house and it took some time before Carrie and Eglantine had made a dinner worthy of such an occasion.

Eglantine had send Carrie into the vegetable patch and had her dig up unions and carrots, some leeks and check on the runner beans, in hopes that they might be ready.

Eglantine used the last bacon to make lardons and she made a mashed potato dish, with the vegetables. It wasn’t much and Eglantine felt embarrassed that she couldn’t offer Emilius something more, but when he sat down and helped himself to his meal, he ate heartily and assured Eglantine that he was delighted to eat some food again.

Charlie asked what it was that he ate when he was in London and Emilius answered:

“I don’t know… could have been dog for all I know. I almost reported my landlady to the RSPCA*!”

(* The RSPCA is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was founded in 1824 and very well-known in the UK)

The kids were laughing loudly and Carrie dropped her fork on the floor. Eglantine could feel Emilius’ eyes on her as she bent over to get it from the floor and when she took the fork from the drawer. Her cheeks flushed bright red, she could feel the warmth spreading all over her face and neck. Quickly she poured herself a glass of water from the tap and drank it. She hoped it would cool her down.

After dinner, Carrie and Charlie washed up, Paul was doing his homework on the table. Eglantine and Emilius drank coffee and quietly chatted.

“How are you?” Emilius asked.

“I am well… I think…” Eglantine answered.

“Good. Well, I telephoned the pub and they had a room for me ready. I think I’ll better be off soon.”

“Yes. Perhaps you’d better.” Eglantine felt how her voice was not more than a whisper.

Emilius took Eglantine’s hand in his.

“Will you walk me halfway?”

Eglantine nodded in agreemement.

“Alright, I will. Lets get you things.”

Quickly she left the table, finding it hard to face that now he was home, he wasn’t allowed to stay, because of silly Victorian conventions. She had never felt like this before. Like she would love to be in a colony, out of sight of people – just Emilius and she.

In the hall, she put on her light summer jacket and helped Emilius in his trenchcoat. He picked up his suitcase and together they left the house after Eglantine instructed the children.

The sky was pink and orange and a few clouds seemed almost dark blue as they drifted towards Europe’s main land. In silence they walked. Eglantine and Emilius didn’t look at each other. She could hear him breathing and she thought that the fresh country air would do him a power of good. London must have been dusty and dirty all the time he had been there. She had never had the chance to visit him there and see his living conditions. He must have been under a lot of stress. She turned her head to look at Emilius. He had lost weight and he looked awfully tired.

Eglantine plucked up courage and took his hand in hers. Immediately he squeezed it, lifted her hand to his face and kissed it. They smiled at each other.

“Eglantine?”

“Yes?”

“My letters… did you keep them all?”

“Of course I did!” Eglantine exclaimed, only just keeping in that she had all tied them together with a piece of pink ribbon and kept them in her nighttable’s drawer.

“What did you think of them?” he asked shyly.

“You know how I felt about them, I wrote it to you in each reply.” Eglantine squeezed his arm with her free hand.

“Yes… erm… well…” Emilius stammered.

“Yes?” Eglantine tried to help.

“In my letters I always assumed that we would get married after the war…” Eglantine had to strain to hear him speak.

“but I never actually asked you…”

Eglantine’s heart skipped a few beats and she had a hard time composing herself.

“So… I… erm… I was… erm… wondering… if… erm… you would like to marry me.”

Eglantine suddenly felt that they had stopped walking some while back and that the skies were now a bright red. That there were sea-gulls flying over her head. That there was silence all around her. That Emilius had put his suitcase down and was staring at her. She took a deep breath, knowing she wouldn’t have to think about it. She didn’t think of her mother’s precautions of ‘telling him to give you some time to think’. She threw herself into his arms, her

“Yes!”

clear in the air. He embraced her. They kissed.

Everything was right.

Emilius was home.

---

End of chapter 1.
Yes, i have decided to name chapters!
So, there is more to come, but i should write my Secret Santa first

[furandfeathers]

They're getting married!!! Awwww so cute! I hope the kids are going to be happy about that

[OSUSprinks]

I loved the kids' reactions! And I am so excited they are getting married! Picture me jumping up and down in my chair like you this morning. lol This whole chapter was so cute and sweet. I loved how nervous she was about where he was going to stay.

Oh, I did know that smoking was more common then and actually thought of as healthy, but I just meant that it seemed very grown up for him to be chatting with his friends and having a smoke, which is very Charlie. I thought you had his character down perfectly.

[pinkie]

I am starting chapter two today. It is in a few parts, just like chapter one. I have a plan - though you may not see it in this first part!
I love writing this - it is just so much fun and i feel like i am actually pleasing people with it (me, Ro and Sprinks).

So, here i go again, starting off with part one of chapter 2!

---

Chapter 2


The autumn had come upon the Kentish countryside and the air was crisp and light. Long winternights were coming soon and with it, Christmas and hot chocolate, Christmas pudding, presents, decorating a tree…

Eglantine was sitting in her livingroom and she was knitting. Carrie, who was sharing the sofa with Eglantine, was still working on the scarf she had started in the summer. Carrie had been sick the past two weeks and she still looked a little pale and drawn. They had the wireless on and were listening to the new crooner Frank Sinatra, to the Andrew Sisters and Johnny Mercer. Carrie sang along sometimes and Eglantine couldn’t help but smile.

“What time is it, Carrie?” Eglantine asked after sitting there quietly for some time.

“Nearing four o’clock, Miss Price.” Carrie said, after looking at her new watch.

“Emilius will be home in a few hours now.”

“I hope he had a good day. Yesterday he did. He brought us home real butter too!”

Real butter was a treat and Eglantine didn’t dream of asking how Emilius had gotten it. Black market, as a favour? She didn’t know, but she sure wasn’t going to ask. They had made toast and had buttered it with the real butter and had ooh-ed and aah-ed over each bite. Even though they lived in the country, their rations didn’t often allow them the real stuff.

“I feel a lot better.” Carrie announced.

“I am so glad to hear it!” Eglantine said happily.

Another hour went by quietly. Carrie made them tea and offered biscuits. Rationing was still going strong, hence Carrie’s happiness over the butter and Eglantine found it a struggle to cook healthy meals and also enough. Paul and Charles (after the summer he didn’t want to be called Charlie anymore) ate almost more than she could feed.

Paul was starting to lose his little boy charm and slowly turning into a teenager. With every problem that goes with it. Eglantine was glad Emilius was in the house, because she felt a male role-model would help. Paul and Emilius were great chums and so were Charles and Emilius, though on a different level. Charles and Emilius would go to the pub, where Emilius let Charles have a half a pint of light ale and he would drink a whole and they would talk about all sorts of man-things. Eglantine had no idea what they could possible be talking about, but she imagined it would be what her father described as ‘a nice clubby chat’. Or worse: Mano a mano – talks…

The mail was late these days. She had been waiting for it all day, because for weeks they had been expecting news on the parents of the children. Carrie, Charles and Paul didn’t know this however, and strangely enough, they never asked about their parents. Somehow it seemed as if they had accepted their new surroundings, their new habitat as it were.

Carrie had fallen asleep on the sofa and Eglantine covered her with a soft blanket. The fact was that there simply had not been enough to eat for all of them and that Carrie had often offered her share to Charles or Paul. Just like Eglantine ate less to be certain Emilius had enough. For Eglantine, this wasn’t much of a problem, but for Carrie, who was after all a growing girl, it was. Her being ill had hit her because she hadn’t had enough to fight back with. The few days of rest and the oranges Charles had brought from his job had helped, but of course the poor girl was exhausted. Eglantine felt Carrie’s brow and was pleased to find that it wasn’t very warm anymore. With the fever gone, it would only be rest before Carrie could go back to school again.

Eglantine poured herself another cup of tea and took little sips. She felt unsettled. Her marriage to Emilius was everything she had longed for and the children were all doing fine. Still, inside her, she felt that something was going wrong. That soon, some disaster would strike. She had felt that way before the war had started and she had felt her the day her mother died. She had trusted her instincts always and now she felt that same, slightly nauseous feeling, she started to feel very nervous as well.

The news was on, it spoke of the Nuremberg trials that would commence in a week. Twenty Nazi leaders would be charged with war crimes. She dropped another stitch and couldn’t save it. She put away her knitting and left the warm, cozy room. In the kitchen, it was cold and she decided that she had better get dinner started. With the clock just gone five, Emilius would be home in about an hour. Charles was staying with his boss and Paul was having dinner at a friend’s house.

As she peeled the potatoes, she thought of the Red Cross letter that had arrived a few days after Emilius and she had got married. The message was clear: not the Red Cross was in charge of evacuees, but the councils of the diverse London burrows. Emilius had directly written to the council.
The council would provide an answer within three weeks. Today was seven weeks since they had written the letter.

Eglantine cleaned the sprouts they were having and took the meat out of the ice-box. She thought about why she was so nervous. Surely it would be wonderful if the children’s parents were still alive? That Charles, Carrie and Paul would have their own, loving family back?

A tear dropped in the water in the pan.

---

And there will be more! I am am sending the entire piece to my home e-mail, so i can work on it from home. What - you thought i did this at home already?! No, i don't have time for this there - fanfic usually happens at work: where i will not be for the coming two and a half weeks!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!

(ps. yes, there will be some Christmas spirit involved in the rest of the chapter!)

[furandfeathers]

poor Eglantine, that's a tough situation. I hope the children's parents aren't still alive, but I have a feeling that they're going to me. I have some theories about what's going to happen but i'm not going to share I love this story it's sooo awesome!

[OSUSprinks]

I still can't decide whether I want them to go home to their parents or stay. Poor Eglantine. I'm glad they are married though and seemingly happy. I hope we see more of the two of them together.

I love that you get paid to hang out with us and write beautiful things!

[pinkie]

You had to wait such a long time, so i will post everything i have so far in one go. I hope you will forgive me

---

There were no more leaves on the trees, they had eaten kale and Jerusalem artichokes, outside the temperature was below zero and every morning, when she waved the children off to school, Eglantine wore her coat and put on Emilius wellies.
Today however, the children were still in bed. Saturday morning at its best. Eglantine lied awake. Emilius’s arm was around her waist. She sighed deeply, savouring this moment before the whole house would start its usual Saturday routine. This was a special day: they were going into town to buy a Christmas tree.

Eglantine felt Emilius’ warm breath in her neck and she pressed herself against him. She closed her eyes and thought how they would all go into town, covered in shawls and scarfs, hats and gloves. How Emilius would pay for the tree. How they would borrow Mr Lewis’s wheelbarrow to take the thing home. She and Carrie would serve hot chocolate with whipped cream and Christmas cookies.
Charles and Emilius would take care of the candles and Carrie and Paul would scatter the ornaments all over the tree. Eglantine hoped the star would be her privilige this year.

She could hear Paul and Charles stir in their rooms. Paul’s still high voice was asking Charles all sorts of questions and Charles remained patient. Footsteps on the landing. Carrie going to the bathroom. Emilius moved carefully beside her and planted sleppy kisses in her neck.

The day had started.

Eglantine was frying eggs and bacon and Emilius was taking care of the toast. He had turned out a real master and she enjoyed having him around her. He would touch her shoulder, or steal a kiss – which made Paul giggle at the table. Charles was pouring everybody tea and talked to his sister. The children had gotten closer in the four-week period that Carrie had been sick. They had kept her company when she felt lonely, had brought her books from the library and Charles sometimes brought her peppermint from his work.

Even now Carrie was getting stronger and was back in school, they still were careful with her. They protected her on the way to school, letting her walk in the middle. Everytime Eglantine waved at them, she felt the horrible waiting for an answer from the London Council tearing away at her heart.

No such thoughts today however! She placed the eggs on a platewith the crispy bacon, put the plate on the table and sat down. She drank her tea and ate her breakfast. She listened to the cheerful chatter of the others and smiled at them. Eglantine loved her Saturday mornings and this one was no exception. The children were munching away, Emilius asked about school and friends, poured more tea and tried not to spoil his tie.

“How do you all feel about getting a tree today?” Eglantine asked.

“We are getting the tree today?!” Both Paul and Carrie exclaimed, happily.

“Well, we need your help choosing one of course.” Emilius said, hardly looking up.

“Great!” Paul was excited and Charles just smiled.

“Would you like to come, Charles?” she asked him, almost carefully.

“Of course. I’ll help Emilius with the carrying.” His voice was deep and his effort genuine. Eglantine smiled again. At 16, Charles was no longer a child. Not yet a man either, though she supposed he would like to be treated as one.

Eglantine had spotted this before, the first time when he was celebrating the end of the war with his friends. He was tall and handsome (even if she did say so herself) and he had this grown-up air about him. He didn’t put up the air: it was plainly there. He had just shed his childhood, that was still so present in Paul and even in Carrie.

Eglantine buttered her toast and looked at Carrie. The girl had put on some weight, which made her look more like a girl than a skeleton. Her hair was shiny again. All was needed now, was to get the roses back into those cheeks. Carrie worked hard at school, but the teacher kept her from overexcerting herself. Emilius helped her with math and science trouble. Carrie helped Paul with his English homework.

Paul. The little one. No longer little however. Even though he was excited about the tree, the decorating and the promise of snacks and drinks, he was no longer in favour of kisses and cuddles and snuggling up to her on the sofa. Eglantine was sorry he didn’t like a good cuddle anymore, but she was happy that he was just a normal boy. The war had not affected him in any way it seemed.

Carrie and Eglantine cleared away the breakfast things and the wrapping of their bodies began. The man wore their thickest trousers and woolen jumpers, scarfs and hats and warm coats. Carrie was wearing an old pair of trousers of Charles (when he was still Charlie he used to wear it to school) and a warm woolen jumper. Eglantine was wearing her thick stockings, high boots and a cardigan over her jumper. She had no idea how it fit, but it did and she was helped into her coat by Emilius. Together they went on their way.

Outside their breath turned into mist and Emilius and Eglantine walked very closely together. Paul and Charles kept Carrie between them. Carrie started singing as soon as they had left the house. The five of them were singing Christmas songs all the way to the village. The singing and walking kept them warm and cheerful and Eglantine and Emilius held hands through their thick gloves.

In the village they picked up two pints of milk, cacao-powder, biscuits and a loaf of bread as well as some porridge oats. In the winter it was nice to eat something in the morning that would warm you and feed you well. Eglantine saw Emilius’face when she ordered the oats and she whispered:

“If you are a good little boy and eat your porridge, who knows what rewards you’ll get…” she winked at him.

Emilius chucked and carried the brown paper bag all the way to Mr Lewis, where the children picked out a fine Christmas tree. Eglantine paid him with old-fashioned money and spoke of the quality of the wonderful tree.

“You know what, Mrs. Brown…” Mr Lewis started.

“Yes, Mr Lewis?” Eglantine answered. She still felt a warm glow, each time anyone spoke to her and said: Mrs. Brown.

“I could have our Johnnie deliver it to you this afternoon, with the new car.” Mr Lewis said it with pride. There weren’t many people who could affort cars nowadays and he had been lucky to have had an aunt in Wales to leave her nestegg to him.

“That would be lovely Mr Lewis, that would help us so much!” Eglantine was surprised by the offer and she took it gladly. She didn’t like the idea of Emilius and Charles pushing the wheelbarrow up the hill with the heavy tree in it at all. She preferred to have them home happily, not tired out when the decorating and chocolate feast would begin.

Cheerful and happy they all went back to the house, where they waited for the car to bring the tree. Emilius and Charles were playing chess, Carrie had found an old cookbook that had belonged to Eglantine’s mother, Paul was drawing pictures. Eglantine had taken the boxes with ornaments out of the attic and was going through them to check if every piece was still intact. She hada little cardboard box for the ones that had not survived the spring and summer. The wireless was playing Christmas songs and they were all drinking their first cup of the hot chocolate that always accompanied Eglantine on this occasion.

Eglantine was holding up a beautiful silver ornament when she heard the mail drop on the doormat. She got up quickly and put down the piece of glass. It was cold in the hall and she picked up the envelopes from the mat, finding one of the London Council immediately.

She sighed deeply. What was in that envelope would alter their lives for ever.

---

Eglantine watched the children decorating the tree. They did it together and shared their task: Charles doing the top and Carrie the middle, Paul was taking care of the big branches on the bottom. Emilius was putting the candles in their holders and carefully attaching them to the end of the stronger branches. It all seemed so perfect.

The letter had not brought good news for Eglantine and Emilius. She hadn’t shown it to anyone yet, not wanting to spoil this day for anyone. Eglantine had retreated to the upstairs bathroom, sat on the edge of the bath and she had wept into a towel. The cold of the room didn’t bother her and she could hear her sobs echo against the tiled walls. She was going to lose her children. To their birthparents. In the new year, she would be along with Emilius, like to peas, rattling in too big a pod.

As she sat there, she knew the children and Emilius would soon be missing her. She blew her nose and washed her face. Surprisingly, her eyes were just sparkling and there was no sign that she had been weeping. Eglantine put the letter back in the envelope and took it to the bedroom. The children were sure to stay away from there.

Taking a deep breath, she went downstairs again. She was standing in the doorway, looking at them. The warm, fuzzy feeling that had lived inside her had completely vanished. She had ignored the feeling she had been having, the nervy, unpleasant feeling of disaster striking and now it had happened. Eglantine was determent not to show her pain and she put on a smile. She could almost feel its fake-ness radiating from her, but it seemed that the children didn’t catch on.

Paul handed her the star.

“The tree is so large this year, I can’t reach!” Eglantine said, wondering how they had gotten that big tree into the house anyway.

Emilius smiled and left the room, only to come back with the stepladder. Cautiously Eglantine stepped onto it, holding the star far from her body. She was at the same height as the top of the tree and she leaned in to put the star in place. Emilius was under her, he could catch her if she fell.
Without any problem, the top branch was caught in the star and Eglantine got off the ladder.

Together they looked at the result of their hard work. The tree was beautiful.

“Charles, fill a bucket with water, will you?” Eglantine asked.

“Alright. I’ll be right back.”

In a few moments Charles was back with the big galvinized bucket filled with cold water. He put it down near the tree and handed Eglantine a box of matches he had brought with him from the kitchen.

“That was quick thinking, Charles!” Emilius said, winking at the young man.

Eglantine handed Emilius the matches.

“You do the honors…” she said, shyly.

With a bow of his head, Emilius accepted the box of matches and took out one. He lighted it and started to light each candle in the tree.

“Paul, turn off the light!” Eglantine asked and Paul turned off all the lights in the room. The tree shone and sparkled and they sat down on the sofa and comfortable chairs and admired the hopeful flames.

Eglantine snuggled up to Emilius, who put his arm around her and pulled her even closer. Carrie stared at the tree, dreaming away. Paul and Charles pulled up the checkers board and started a game. The peaceful tranquility made Eglantine forget about her troubles. She laid her head on Emilius’ shoulder and thought of nothing.

---

“Will you carve, Emilius?” Eglantine asked as she placed the goose on the table. She could hardly remember cooking such a big meal. The previous Christmases had all been quiet and sparse. This year Emilius had received the bird as a gift from a friend. Eglantine didn’t dare ask where it came from, but she had her suspicions.

She had roasted potatoes, there was extra stuffing, she had cooked sprouts though she hated the smell. She had made breadsauce and applesauce and she had actually made a Christmas pudding. She had left out the coin, she could not afford a dentist after this big splurge. Well, these were all rations of course, but she had gifts for the three children and for Emilius as well.

Eglantine sat down and watched the children. They were all wearing their Sunday best and Carrie had some glitter in her hair. Eglantine had no idea where it came from, but she had to admit that it was festive. Emilius was wearing his tuxedo and looked very handsome. He was talking to the children and carving the bird. He did that as if he did it every day and Eglantine couldn’t help but thing: who taught him that?

She was confused by the light conversation, the jokes they made. That they all pulled the crackers and put on the silly hats and read the jokes to each other. They knew they would leave after New Year’s Day. She had told them the previous day.

Of course she had thought of not telling them until after Christmas, but she felt as if she was going to explode. Emilius stood by her when she told the children and they all reacted so calmly. They had talked about it and how they were going to miss the Kentish countryside, but how wonderful it would be to be reunited with their parents. How they would miss her and Mr Brown, but how they had missed their mother and father and that it would be nice to see them again.

She ate little of the goose and feasted herself on the roasted potatoes. She tried to smile at the children and contribute to the conversation, but she knew they felt her heart wasn’t in it. While giving Paul some more sprouts, she thought how strang it would be to have just Emilius and herself sitting around this table for dinner. With a shock she suddenly realized that she had never really had a meal with Emilius before. There was the one when they had only just met and he was living as a squatter in London. That big bomb in the garden… still, the bomb had been nothing compared to all the other things that happened after the visit.

“More breadsauce?” Carrie held up the bowl.
“No, thank you dear.” Eglantine declined.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. Just a little sad because this will be our last Christmas together.”
Carrie hung her head.
“We will visit you often, you know.” The girl said.
“And we will come visit you whenever we can.” Eglantine assured them all. Paul was stirring the mess on his plate with his fork. Emilius places his big hand over the young boy’s smaller one.

With one sentence Eglantine had ruined Christmas.

---

I know, I know... you probably hate me now... I will try to make it better - i promise!

[furandfeathers]

aww, what a perfect Christmas! I knew it was going to be ruined by something though. I like how mature the children were about the whole situation. Hopefully there will be a happy ending for everyone. Great update!

[OSUSprinks]

Awh poor Eglantine. That sounded like a perfect Christmas, but I think I would have been feeling like she did. I hope we get to see she and Emelius a bit more. I know we will have to soon considering they will be alone. I[m glad you shared this!

I missed you!

[pinkie]

Oh my fair and lovely fans

My fic is starting (in chapter you will not see yet) to become really quite personal, so i think i will have to re-write them. Until that time, two parts of chapter three!

Okay - i know very little about cricket, but i had to put some in, because i was watching the prequel to Nancherrow and peter O'Toole plays it with the evacuees on his lawn before the house. Simple comme bonjour i had to have it in there. Plus i think Emilius looks drop-dead-gorgeous in a cricket outfit.

Here it goes:

Chapter three

It took some time after the children were gone for Eglantine to sleep well again. Routines that she had learned to live with were now thrown out. No more waking up at seven, do breakfast for five, take care of laundry, shop. Her routines were now revolving around Emilius.

Eglantine didn’t know what she would have done if Emilius hadn’t been there by her side after the children were returned to their parents. He had been strong and steadfast. He had supported her through the sorrowful weeks that followed the empty house. Now he went out to work every day and came home at six. He was talking about maybe getting a car.

They were taking trips to London regularly on Saturday. Sometimes they would visit with the children in Shepherd’s Bush, sometimes they would wander around Portobello Road. Some days Emilius took Eglantine into Soho, which opened a whole new world for Eglantine.

One night, sitting in a crowded, smokey jazz-club, Eglantine drank her first Mai Tai of the night and snuggled up to Emilius while they listened to a somewhat lost jazz singer. The woman’s make up was smudgy and her dress had seen better days, but she could sing the birds of the trees and that was all that mattered.

Emilius ordered olives and paid for them with money – Eglantine looked the other way. They munched on the green luxury and drank more cocktails. By the end of the night – or perhaps the beginning of the morning – Eglantine had definitely had too much to drink and so had Emilius. They hailed a cab and after waiting half an hour in the station, they took the first train home.

They had the whole compartment to themselves and Eglantine didn’t care about decorum. All she wanted to do was sleep, so she draped herself as elegantly as she could on one of the seats across from Emilius and dozed off. She was awakened by the guard who asked for tickets.

Emilius handed them over and talked to the guard for some time. When the young man left, there was again just the two of them in the train. It was March and the trees were not yet in bloom. Eglantine got up from her bench and sat next to Emilius, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“I am not very used to this sort of thing yet.” she whispered, her throat sore from the cigarette-smoke that had filled the jazz-club.

“No need to get used to it, my dear. Isn’t it much more fun when it is still magical?” Emilius put his arm around Eglantine and pressed her against his chest.

“Magical? Ah – if you say so…” Eglantine sighed.
“It was a nice diversion anyway.”

Emilius yawned. “I am fairly out of practice too…” He rubbed his eye.

“I am sorry to hold you back.” Eglantine snapped, suddenly hurt by his comment.

“Oh, you don’t hold me back. I think I have reached that age that I actually like to sit by the fire and smoke a pipe and read the paper. If only we had a dog, I could take it out for walks.” He chuckled and planted a kiss on Eglantine’s hair.

“Lay on the sofa with that new Agatha Christie you got me for Christmas. I still haven’t come around to reading that.”

“With a nice brandy before bed…”

“Biscuits and tea on Sunday afternoon.”

“Lazing around in the garden in the summer.”

“Laying in the tall grass, looking at the sky.”

Dreaming away the miles, Eglantine felt closer and closer to Emilius. He had lost his wild streak and he was a responsible man now. He would go to work tomorrow, come home at six, they would have dinner and they would enjoy their evening together, quietly and joyfully.

---

Spring turned into summer and Eglantine and Emilius were swallowed up by the social life in their little village. They went to dinner parties and hosted a few. Together they went to watch the cricket matches on the green and took long walks, looking out at sea and talking about little nothings like all lovers do.

One particularly fine Saturday, Eglantine accompanied Emilius to the village where she sat down with Deirdre and some of her other friends and set to drinking tea, eating scones and pretending to understand the rules of the fine game of cricket, while Emilius stood with his pack of friends near the rope and loudly supported some of his acquaintances.

The sun was warm and Eglantine had the best time gossiping with her friends. Emilius went to change in the clubhouse and returned looking rather good in his white trousers, polo shirt and jumper. Eglantine watched him as he walked to his position, relaxed and calm – or at least outwardly – and took the bat.
Eglantine had never been interested in sports and cricket was one of those sports that had such rules only the players understood, but she tried to follow the men’s lead and cheered when it appeared Emilius did something right.

The afternoon went by slowly and Eglantine cherished the sunlight beaming down on her. She got up, turned her deckchair and went to the tent for more tea and more food. She was hungry because she had missed her lunch, walking to the village after being dragged out of the utility room. There was a pile of ironing still and she knew that she would have to do that sometime soon too. Still, today was Saturday, her company was good and there were few things she needed to do before going home. She was supposed to go to the butcher’s for some bacon and to the general store for flour and other things only she needed. Still, the butcher was here on the green, bowling and his wife was running the clubhouse, so there was no rush.

Eglantine watched her brave batter become a bowler. How they played and played. How teatime came and went. The butcher and his wife were still at the field. There would be no bacon for breakfast and she also had to hope she would hold out without cold cream until Monday, because mr Arbutnoth had arrived to watch the rest of the game.

When they went home that night, they took the long way and walked through the fields. The tall grass tickled Eglantine’s calves. Emilius wore his cricket outfit and she could smell his sweat. Instead of finding it appaling, she kind of thought it highly manly and she didn’t care that he pressed her against him. They kissed and the sound of the waves crashing on shore was surrounding them.

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Not much, because of the re-writing i have to do. I still hope you enjoy it!

[OSUSprinks]

This was awesome! I'm so glad he is teaching her to loosen up a bit, but at the same time is happier in his slower, more steady, new lifestyle!

They are so great together. You write them so well! Thanks for sharing this with us!