an entrance

[sheila_nagig]

[ OOM: The miracle of an easy birth.]

An old lady proceeds to enter through the front door. Most people have probably never seen her before.

But they may recognise her. Maybe if they've visited Ireland, or maybe even if they just look closely at the face, they'll recognise something of her old self

Comments

[jack_inthegreen]

It's like he heard her voice, calling to him.

Perhaps he did.

"Sheila," he says simply and something about her silver hair hurts his heart.

[sheila_nagig]

"Hallo, Jack, my love."

She smiles up at him from her seat, her mouth crinkling not just at the corners now, but all along the line of her lips.

"I have somebody who's very anxious to meet you," she says just as there's a little hand that pokes out from the blankets.

[jack_inthegreen]

"Oh," he breathes and places a finger in the tiny fist. "Hello. Hello, there." He looks up at her. "Sheila, I wanted to be there for you."

[sheila_nagig]

She nods, a little jittery, but hey - she's lived practically forever. Old age was going to catch up at some point.

"I wouldn't have minded it, either. Feckin' timin'."

The fist closes around Jack's finger, and doesn't. Let. Go.

"It came on all of a sudden. Not much to do about it, really. He's here. And he's heathly. And I'm tired, Jack."

[jack_inthegreen]

"I can see that." He tenderly caresses her hair. "And it's not just winter-tiredness, is it."

[sheila_nagig]

She leans into his hand, shaking her head.

"No, love, I'm afraid not."

She sounds more Irish now than she has in so many lifetimes; she knows where she's going when the baby's calm and safe and she's said goodbye.

"I hope you're not angry with me."

[jack_inthegreen]

"How could I ever be angry with you," he says softly and his eyes shine brighter a moment.

[sheila_nagig]

"Because you know I'm going to leave you."

The baby squirms, little fist tightening, sounding agitated.

"He knows, too. Would you like to hold him, Daddy?"

[jack_inthegreen]

"Always," he says and carefully takes the infant into his arms. He smiles and kisses his perfect nose. "We've left each other before," he says quietly.

Never for forever, though.

Forever's an awfully long time.

[sheila_nagig]

She leans back in the chair, her tired eyes closing for a minute as she breathes, just breathes.

"Yes, we have, and we've always survived. You know where I'm going, don't you?"

She remembers a field, in the old days, where a Great Oak stood every winter but seemed to disappear come Spring.

She thinks it would be a beautiful place for a Willowtree to stand guard.

[jack_inthegreen]

"I remember it well," he says quietly. "The wind was always gentle, and the rain cool."

[sheila_nagig]

"I remember you telling me of the conversations the squirrels used to have."

She smiles.

"It's not going to be goodbye, Jack. You know as well as I do."

[jack_inthegreen]

"No, it's not goodbye," he says and has to look away a moment. "It's always see you later.

"'Later' is a long time away. That's all."

[sheila_nagig]

"It'll pass too fast; you'll want it all back. I know you will; it'll never be enough, the time you'll have with them, without me."

She reaches up, to touch Jack's hand and then the baby's head.

"Have you both decided on a name?"

[jack_inthegreen]

"Keiran," he says. "We're still talking about the middle name.

"You know all the time there is isn't enough for me. I'm greedy like that."

[sheila_nagig]

"Appropriate name," she says with a smile, brushing at the soft tuft of hair on his head - black hair, although it may change with time. Black hair, pale skin, green eyes, red lips.

"I wish I didn't have to go."