Secrets Make You Sick

{{I have no business starting an RP so close to college, but it will continue throughout the year, darnit! And we need another Fitz/Vander/Foyer topic. And besides. I want to know what happens. And this is, like, majorly time-rifting with everything else, since they're only just married in Finders Keepers... Okay, Mal. Commence scolding. }}

Door bit her lip, drumming her fingers on the tabletop as she stared at her brothers' chess game. Tremor was dominating, naturally, but that wasn't really what had her so on edge. It was what she had seen in Kakariko, when the gang had gone to check out the healer...

They had gotten married. And they were going to have a child... She just couldn't wrap her mind around how wrong it seemed. It was just yesterday that he was trying to kill Alex, and just a few hours ago that they had plotted against him again... And now this? It felt like a caterpillar in her stomach; a tiny creature that fed on her uncertainty and grew...

She knew she had to keep it a secret--if anyone found out, they'd be sure to rush off and capture the pair. And Door wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to the baby... They seemed almost human now... and to ruin something as pure as they seemed to have... Door thought it inhumane.

But keeping it inside meant feeding that little caterpillar, which would grow larger and add to the discomfort that holding the secret meant...

Door rose to her feet, heading for the exit. "I'm going for a walk," she announced to the household. "I'll be back before dark."

"Don't talk to strangers," That called after her, glancing up just in time to miss Tremor seizing his queen.

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It was a nice day, that was certain. Just a few clouds hung in the bright blue sky, and the air carried the warm tones of birdsong and tree blossoms. But for all of that, Door still felt like a dark cloud hung over her head, and no amount of sushine could burn it away. She paced the town for a good half hour before resting her head against the side of a building and sighing. This was tearing her apart! She had to tell someone, or go insane with knowing--but if she told, and word got around, it would be her fault that a child would go parentless...

[[I did so miss these six. ]]

Ariel watched the pair play chess, half-grinning as Tremor won.

Again. "Bravo." she nodded. "That's the fourth time in a row, I believe."

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Aislin blew a piece of hair out of her face. It was hot, today. Much too hot. Plodding along the gravel road, she glanced at the tributary that ran through the city, longing to jump in.

She sighed, fumbling with a leather thong to tie up her hair. Aislin wished she could just hack it all of sometimes.

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Alex was just heading out the door. He needed some fresh air, but winced as he stepped into the sun, his medium-pale skin already cooking in the summer heat.

{{Awwz. Poor pale people. >}}

Door had left her building support and was heading to the town square. Maybe dangling her feet in the fountain would do her some good. The Goddesses knew it was hot enough. And it wasn't doing any good to Door, who had enough going on inside right now...

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"Sixth," Thatch corrected gloomily, shaking his head in disgust. "I'm going to stop counting."

Tremor grinned, setting up for one more.

Ariel laughed. "You have to teach me to play sometime. I'll see if I can cream Thatch as easily."

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Aislin sighed, peeling off her socks and shoes and plopping down beside the tributary, immediately plunging her feet in. Her basket lay forgotten beside her. They could wait five minutes...

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Alex strode down the lanes, looking for the Fitzgerald's house.

'It's not as hard as it looks,' Tremor signed. 'Just takes a few tries to get the hang of it.'

Thatch stared blankly. "And someone's gonna have to teach me some sign lingo."

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Ah, yes. The fountain was sitting in the middle of the square, ever-faithful with its sparkling, clear--
--warm water.
Door frowned. "...Just my luck..."

Ariel grinned at Thatch, forever locked out of the loop.

"Alright, then." she nodded. "This is 'please'." Ariel informed him, making a counterclockwise circle on her chest.

"And 'thank you'."

Ariel placed the fingertips of her flat hand on her lips, then moved them forward.

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Alex knocked on the door.

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Aislin sighed, swirling her feet in the cool water.

Thatch mimicked Ariel's motions, not as smooth or confident as she was. "...Ech.." Glancing up as the door gave a sharp report, he climbed to his feet. "I got it."

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Door headed to the edge of town, deciding that the canals would serve her purpose just as well--if not better than--that nasty old fountain.

Aislin sighed heavily, falling back and letting her arms sprawl.

"I hate summer." she mumbled, watching the birds sail through the air.

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Alex smiled at Thatch. "Hello, Thatch. How are you today?"

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Ariel grinned at Thatch's motions and quick retreat. She glanced at Tremor. "We're lucky if he remembers spoken manners." she joked.

'This is true,' Tremor grinned.

Thatch blinked, then grinned. "Not too bad, thanks. How 'bout you?" He stepped back from the door, inviting Alex inside.

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Door smiled, catching sight of Aislin. "Summer I'm okay with. It's the heat that I could do without," she replied, sitting on the tributary's edge.

Aislin glanced sideways. "Well, howdy." she grinned, "And yes. I hate the heat."

She looked at her basket. "Yeah...sorry about the lunch delay. Pressing matters." she said, splashing her feet.

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Alex stepped inside. "Thank you. I'm doing well. Is Door home?"

Ariel shook her head. "Nuh-uh. She went for a walk. Probably be back in a little while. You should stay and watch Tremor beat Thatch to a pulp at chess."

"No worries," Door assured, smiling. "It's understandable. And I don't think anyone was really to pressed about lunch. Thatch had more... intense matters to worry about.

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Tremor nodded, grinning.

Thatch rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because it's pick on the Eldest day."

Ariel nodded. "It really is. Notice how we already rid ourselves of Aislin."

Alex grinned.

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Aislin smiled. "Ahh, chess?" she asked, "He'll never win."

There was a pause. "Hey, have you been okay lately?"

Door hesitated for a split-second, perhaps a split-second too long. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be alright?" She raised a brow, trying not to let any of her inner turmoil break through. She trusted Aislin like family, but she didn't know if it would be the wisest thing to tell her...

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"Where is the short stuff, anyway?" Thatch asked, frowning up at short stuff's younger sister as Tremor launched an attack on his knight.

Ariel watched Tremor's move, attempting to gain some insight into the game. "She went to get us all some lunch about twenty minutes ago."

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Aislin studied Door carefully. She knew she was lying, but...

"...Mkay. Whatever you say."

Aislin turned back to the water. "Did you have fun on our little visit to Kakariko?"

"Check," Tremor said aloud, the only word he'd spoken in a while--albeit several times throughout the morning.

Frowning, Thatch leaned over the board, pondering his next move. "She probably stopped to see a friend, or recognized someone on the street. She'll be alright; I'm sure."

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Smiling, Door nodded. Inwardly, that little caterpillar was clawing at her insides. Since when do caterpillars have claws? "Oh, yes," she assured the older Fitz twin. The food was excellent where I ate."

"S'nice." Aislin nodded. "We're supposed to go back to see that guy...bring our mom with us, y'know? Would you want to come?"

Aislin watched Door carefully.

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Ariel nodded. "I'm sure. She can hold her own."

Thatch moved a rook three spaces to the side, then glanced at Alex. "So what brings you out here? Besides... y'know. Door."

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Door took a small, steadying breath, shrugging. "I... I don't know. We'll have to see..." She really didn't like lying. And she probably wasn't very good at it. But what was she supposed to do!?

Aislin sighed. "I guess we will..."

Again, she stared intently at Door's face. Not blinking.

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Alex shrugged. "Just thought I'd stop by. First time I've been out of the house in ages."

"You missed Door by minutes," Thatch answered, nodding. "But it's nice to get some air every once in a while, eh, cityboy?"

Tremor gave his brother a pitying look that said 'You are a city boy, you poor, thick child.'

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Door nodded again, pursing her lips.

Tell her.

I can't!

Why not?

Because... I don't know if she'll take it the right way... I can't do it. Not yet.

She stood, shaking off her feet and putting her sandals back on. "Ready to head home?" she asked brightly.

Alex blinked at Thatch. Then grinned. "Yes, it is refreshing." he said amiably.

Ariel couldn't let it go, though. "...Thatch...um, weren't you born here?" she laughed.

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Aislin nodded. "Yeah. Sure your nose'll fit?" she asked thickly.

Door paused. "Err, sorry... what?"

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Thatch shrugged it off. "Yeah, but I don't claim it."

"Check," Trem repeated.

"Your nose." Aislin repeated. "I swear it grew two feet. Fibs and whatnot."

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Ariel grinned. "I don't think that changes anything..."

"Don't compare me to him," Thatch said without thinking. Then, after going over his words, he glanced nervously at Alex. "Err, no offense, really."

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Door blinked. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," she said evenly. Turning, she beckoned to the elder Fitz twin before she could press the subject further.. "Come on, they're waiting for us."

Aislin shrugged, pushing herself off the pavement and taking her basket. "'Kay."

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Alex grinned. "None taken."

Door bounced along the sidewalk, almost waiting for Aislin as they headed home. Around the corner, over the man-eating pothole, and closer to home...