without recourse

[luminous_regnant]

Bella doesn't even know that Elspeth had plans to visit Downside until after she finds that Jane is offline, that wishing doesn't fix it. Elspeth is a grownup; Edward does not monitor her every minute of every day, does not report all her comings and goings to her mother.

It's Addy who tells her, uncharacteristically grave, after Bella makes the announcement that Aurum will be isolated until Elspeth finds a door. Elspeth rescheduled an appointment with Addy to go offworld.

And now Elspeth is not going to find them a door, because Elspeth is gone, might well stay gone till Jane is fixed, because time is only synced up due to Jane. And Bella cannot fix Jane. Elspeth might find a door after fifty years have gone by in Aurum.

Bella makes the revised announcement by brainphone to everyone except Jake.

Jake she tells in person. Jake she clutches by the shoulders while he sobs and shakes. Jake she offers to put to sleep so Elspeth will not come home to find him having done something regrettable. Because she will, eventually, come home. Jake she tucks into bed like she's his mother and sends into dreamless nothing so he doesn't have to suffer however long his imprint will be vanished where he cannot follow.

And then she goes to Edward and, because she is a vampire, she does not cry, but she does sob.

Comments

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan mimes putting an X on a wall calendar, taps his temple, and kisses his mate.

[manofmyword]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmkisses.

[temporal_affairs]

April arrives. Right after March, even! What a surprise!

[manofmyword]

The Joker finds himself

[yourheartstrings]

spending more and more time in the appropriate shape.

[temporal_affairs]

"This afternoon, three-fifteen and four seconds," Nathan comments one morning. "If you were wondering about more precision. Though next-best options are clustered around then, so I don't think exactitude matters much."

[yourheartstrings]

"Mmm, how about we just fuck until then," the Joker suggests, "and you can tell me when to wish."

[temporal_affairs]

"Can't scare me."

And lo, the plan came to fruition.

"Nowish, babe," Nathan murmurs at three-fifteen and three seconds.

[yourheartstrings]

The Joker wishes herself able to have kids again. And then goes right back to what they have been doing all day.

[temporal_affairs]

The egg craving should kick in a few hours later.

[yourheartstrings]

"French toast time," the Joker announces, snuggling up to Nathan.

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan laughs. "Of course it is. Your opinion on names about where it was last time?"

[yourheartstrings]

"Don't remember," he says serenely. "Did I have an opinion?"

[temporal_affairs]

"Not really. Aedyt-or-Payl, then?" says Nathan, patting his mate's belly. "We should tell Kerron tomorrow noonish."

[yourheartstrings]

He laughs and kisses Nathan's cheek. "Sure."

[temporal_affairs]

"I love you."

[yourheartstrings]

"I love you too, sweetheart."

She conjures herself a big plate of French toast.

[temporal_affairs]

Noonish the next day arrives. Nathan prompts the Joker when this occurs.

[manofmyword]

[Guess what,] he says merrily into a brainphone call with Nathan and their child.

[pina_colada]

[You conjured an old-fashioned deep-sea diving bell and I need to come see the new species of shark you've just discovered?] Kerron replies, who has inherited his father's habit of wild guesses in response to prompts like this.

[manofmyword]

[Nope, although good idea,] he laughs. [We're having another kid.]

[pina_colada]

[Hah. 'Course you are. Empty nesters,] teases Kerron. [Due in, what, three weeks?]

[manofmyword]

[Yep! You are the first to know - well, third - blab it all over town or keep it a surprise, whichever makes you happy.]

[pina_colada]

[Come by Safesun after Rosalie slices and dices you, the local vibrant hybrid community'll throw the kid a party.]

[manofmyword]

[Will do!]