Seven for a Secret
Title: Seven for a Secret
Universe: That Damn Mpreg
Rating: PG
Summary: One for sorrow, two for joy…
There were seven magpies sitting on the tree outside Jeanne-Marie’s window. She smiled at them, remembering the old counting rhyme. She’d gotten a beating the one time she’d dared to recite it in front of one of the sisters.
One for sorrow
Two for joy
“Mom?”
Jeanne-Marie turned slightly, just enough to look at her son out of the corner of her eye. He was, in her opinion, about a year overdue for a hair cut, with shaggy white-blonde hair obscuring his eyes. He looked irritated, as he often did when they were together. “Your face will freeze like that, Lucian.”
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
The semi-permanent scowl deepened. “The doctor said they’re thinking of cutting back on your medication.”
He’s got a proud face, Jeanne-Marie thought, reaching over to smooth Lucian’s hair back. Haughty. “I know. I think they told me first.”
The scowl got just a little lighter. “So you’re getting better.” Hope tinged his voice.
Five for silver
Six for gold
She smiled sadly and shook her head. “I’m never going to be ‘better’. Not the way you mean.”
The scowl returned full force, accompanied by a pout that made Lucian look far younger than his years. It reminded Jeanne-Marie of her brother. “I know how it actually works, Mom. But I was hoping… maybe you remember…?”
One of the magpies made a mocking noise, and the whole lot flew away. “I’m afraid not, Lucian.”
Seven for a secret, never to be told.
Universe: That Damn Mpreg
Rating: PG
Summary: One for sorrow, two for joy…
There were seven magpies sitting on the tree outside Jeanne-Marie’s window. She smiled at them, remembering the old counting rhyme. She’d gotten a beating the one time she’d dared to recite it in front of one of the sisters.
One for sorrow
Two for joy
“Mom?”
Jeanne-Marie turned slightly, just enough to look at her son out of the corner of her eye. He was, in her opinion, about a year overdue for a hair cut, with shaggy white-blonde hair obscuring his eyes. He looked irritated, as he often did when they were together. “Your face will freeze like that, Lucian.”
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
The semi-permanent scowl deepened. “The doctor said they’re thinking of cutting back on your medication.”
He’s got a proud face, Jeanne-Marie thought, reaching over to smooth Lucian’s hair back. Haughty. “I know. I think they told me first.”
The scowl got just a little lighter. “So you’re getting better.” Hope tinged his voice.
Five for silver
Six for gold
She smiled sadly and shook her head. “I’m never going to be ‘better’. Not the way you mean.”
The scowl returned full force, accompanied by a pout that made Lucian look far younger than his years. It reminded Jeanne-Marie of her brother. “I know how it actually works, Mom. But I was hoping… maybe you remember…?”
One of the magpies made a mocking noise, and the whole lot flew away. “I’m afraid not, Lucian.”
Seven for a secret, never to be told.