My final four fics....
Fandom: The Painted Veil (2006)
Characters: Dr Walter Fane, Kitty Fane
Title: Puddles
Word Count: 147
Summary: Kitty rejoices in the rain
Prompt: 069 - Thunder
The rain came down, heavy unrelenting. It gathered in puddles on the ground and splashed down over the roof of Walter and Kitty’s makeshift home in Mei-ton Fu. Kitty stood on the porch for a long moment, and then came down the steps to stand in the rain, arms open, welcoming it. Just like she’d welcomed all the changes that had happened in the last few days. Falling in love with Walter. Making love with Walter. Feeling…. Happy. Happier than she’d ever been back in England. How had she ever thought that was living? No, this was, here in the Chinese wilderness, saving lives, helping children recover from loss.
Then the thunder sounded, and she went inside, inside to where Walter waited with a mug of tea and a woven blanket.
Title: Bringing Light
Word Count: 196
Summary: Walter's learning about layers
Prompt: 053 - Earth
Walter crouched by the river, scooping fragments of earth and soil into the tiny jars he used for samples. He was learning that the earth here, by the river bank, had many layers. Layers. Yes, he was also learning that people had layers too. Kitty, especially - though in her case he thought she’d grown new layers. He had put her through a lot since Charlie, and she’d had to grow a tougher skin. He respected that, even though he maintained that she’d deserved the punishment.
Now, however, he was seeing another layer to her: kindness. The way she soothed and cuddled the children. Then there was the… well, the sense of fun that was so catching. The way she taught the children to waltz and played with them as if she wasn’t a grown-up, as if she wasn’t different. She brought light into their lives, lives that had been shattered by the loss of one or both parents. Perhaps all the siblings too.
For the first time, Walter thought about the cholera infection and hoped that he wouldn’t lose Kitty.
Title: Flower Shop
Word Count: 132
Summary: One doesn't do such things in a flower shop...
Prompt: 033 - Too Much
“Can’t you tell that I’m in love with you?” Walter asked.
Kitty stared at him. He barely knows me….. This is too much, too soon. A man didn’t simply come out with that in the middle of a… well, a flower shop! It was hardly proper nor romantic.
Walter’s gaze softened. He frowned as he said, “See how clumsy I am? I can’t even communicate being in love with you.
Kitty tried to look away from his intense blue eyes but could not. She swallowed. “Walter…”
Now he looked earnest. “I assure you, I improve greatly with acquaintance.” He held his hat in his hands, nervously fingering the edges, awaiting her answer. Kitty looked at him. Although she didn’t love him, neither did she wish to break his heart….
Title: Porch Swing
Word Count: 170
Summary: Kitty's last day in England
Prompt: 068 - Lightning
The day before Kitty was due to leave with Walter for Shanghai, it rained and rained. She sat on the plush window seat in her large bedroom, watching the rain patter on the window pane, looking out at the view, at the garden with its wooden swing and the neat rows of flowers, and tried to memorise everything.
How often had she sat here, gazing out across the lawn, praying for different life, away from her snide sister and her preaching mother? Now a chance for a different life had approached, and she’d accepted…. Without really thinking about what she was leaving behind.
She stared at the porch swing, remembering being young, and pushing and being pushed by Doris. Happier times. Times of shared ice cream and playing doctors and dreaming about what handsome husbands they’d have.
Then there was a flash of lightning, and the moment was broken. Kitty got up to check what she’d packed. After all, she might not come home for many a year….
IT'S DONE!!!
Take a look at my finished table.
Characters: Dr Walter Fane, Kitty Fane
Title: Puddles
Word Count: 147
Summary: Kitty rejoices in the rain
Prompt: 069 - Thunder
The rain came down, heavy unrelenting. It gathered in puddles on the ground and splashed down over the roof of Walter and Kitty’s makeshift home in Mei-ton Fu. Kitty stood on the porch for a long moment, and then came down the steps to stand in the rain, arms open, welcoming it. Just like she’d welcomed all the changes that had happened in the last few days. Falling in love with Walter. Making love with Walter. Feeling…. Happy. Happier than she’d ever been back in England. How had she ever thought that was living? No, this was, here in the Chinese wilderness, saving lives, helping children recover from loss.
Then the thunder sounded, and she went inside, inside to where Walter waited with a mug of tea and a woven blanket.
Title: Bringing Light
Word Count: 196
Summary: Walter's learning about layers
Prompt: 053 - Earth
Walter crouched by the river, scooping fragments of earth and soil into the tiny jars he used for samples. He was learning that the earth here, by the river bank, had many layers. Layers. Yes, he was also learning that people had layers too. Kitty, especially - though in her case he thought she’d grown new layers. He had put her through a lot since Charlie, and she’d had to grow a tougher skin. He respected that, even though he maintained that she’d deserved the punishment.
Now, however, he was seeing another layer to her: kindness. The way she soothed and cuddled the children. Then there was the… well, the sense of fun that was so catching. The way she taught the children to waltz and played with them as if she wasn’t a grown-up, as if she wasn’t different. She brought light into their lives, lives that had been shattered by the loss of one or both parents. Perhaps all the siblings too.
For the first time, Walter thought about the cholera infection and hoped that he wouldn’t lose Kitty.
Title: Flower Shop
Word Count: 132
Summary: One doesn't do such things in a flower shop...
Prompt: 033 - Too Much
“Can’t you tell that I’m in love with you?” Walter asked.
Kitty stared at him. He barely knows me….. This is too much, too soon. A man didn’t simply come out with that in the middle of a… well, a flower shop! It was hardly proper nor romantic.
Walter’s gaze softened. He frowned as he said, “See how clumsy I am? I can’t even communicate being in love with you.
Kitty tried to look away from his intense blue eyes but could not. She swallowed. “Walter…”
Now he looked earnest. “I assure you, I improve greatly with acquaintance.” He held his hat in his hands, nervously fingering the edges, awaiting her answer. Kitty looked at him. Although she didn’t love him, neither did she wish to break his heart….
Title: Porch Swing
Word Count: 170
Summary: Kitty's last day in England
Prompt: 068 - Lightning
The day before Kitty was due to leave with Walter for Shanghai, it rained and rained. She sat on the plush window seat in her large bedroom, watching the rain patter on the window pane, looking out at the view, at the garden with its wooden swing and the neat rows of flowers, and tried to memorise everything.
How often had she sat here, gazing out across the lawn, praying for different life, away from her snide sister and her preaching mother? Now a chance for a different life had approached, and she’d accepted…. Without really thinking about what she was leaving behind.
She stared at the porch swing, remembering being young, and pushing and being pushed by Doris. Happier times. Times of shared ice cream and playing doctors and dreaming about what handsome husbands they’d have.
Then there was a flash of lightning, and the moment was broken. Kitty got up to check what she’d packed. After all, she might not come home for many a year….
IT'S DONE!!!
Take a look at my finished table.