Moving in... Kinda

Fauve bounced around the house behind Khaat. She noticed Nachash following but didn't say anything to the snake; she didn’t need to. She was mamma-bear just like Eli was papa-bear and the little girl knew this. Her mind was pre-occupied though. She was more interested in what her papa had done to her room and whether he’d put her hair up in pigtails or braids like he had done in Paris. She’d missed that the most at Beauxbatons – not having her daddy around to do little things for her. She missed him pulling the Velcro through the buckle on her shoes in the mornings and pulling it back so her little red shoes looked perfect. She missed him straightening out her dresses and brushing dust off of them where she’d been around his old paintings.

“Khaat,” Fauve said, looking up at the kind lady who had been unconditionally nice to her. “Do you think my papa will put my hair in pigtails again? With the pretty dotty bows he had in Paris?”

Fauve heard the sound of a cat and she turned around to see the grey tabby that her papa had brought with him when he came to get her. The brown one wasn’t far behind and Fauve ran over to scoop up the kittens. She cuddled them close and the grey one put his paw on her face. She remembered her papa telling her that they were once grown-ups but Fauve didn’t believe him one bit. Nachash slithered up onto her shoulders and licked her face before sliding down and slithering across to Khaat. Fauve watched as Nachash slithered up onto Khaat’s shoulders and she giggled.

“I think Ashy likes you!” she grinned.

"I like her too," Khaat laughed, petting the huge snake. "And I am sure your papa will put your hair up in any color bows you want. I think he is just so glad to have you home again that I think he would be happy to do your hair. My goodness. Those kitties have grown. They used to be so tiny. Your papa takes very good care of them. " Khatt looked at Nachash. "How do you feel about Labradors? I have one that I really, really need you not to eat. I'll feed you almost anything you want--but please don't eat the Labrador." She looked back at Fauve. "I might have to have a talk with your papa about how to keep Nachash happy so that she doesn't eat the kitties or my doggie. I love her, but she makes me just a little nervous because she's soooo big. But you seem to get along with her really well. What can you tell me about her?"

“Ummmm...” Fauve sat down on the carpet and put the kittens down, letting them play and fight between each other. “She’s pretty.” She said unhelpfully. “She depends on papa like he depends on her of course but papa doesn’t tell me much about it. He loves her very much though and gets really scared when she feels sicky.” Fauve’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion and shook her head. “I don’t know why but he does. I think if Ashy was like me, you and papa then he would love her even more!” Fauve smiled and picked up the grey tabby that was being scratched by the brown one. She hit the brown tabby lightly on the nose and pushed him away when he tried to bite her. “Ashy sometimes goes away and papa is sad and sometimes sicky. I don’t like it when he’s like that because he never draws when she goes away. When she comes back she looks drawn and sicky. She doesn’t go away anymore, though and that makes pappy happy!”

Things were adding up fast to Khaat. Nachash was somehow bonded to Eli. She understood all she needed to know at that point. "My mother is very very good with animals," Khaat told Fauve. "If Nachash ever gets sick again, we'll call her to see if she can make Nachash better. That might keep your papa from getting scared or sad. I'd like him to be happy. And if anything ever makes you or your papa sick, then my papa or I can make you better." She kissed Fauve's forehead softly. "I want you to be very happy here, Fauve. That's important to me. Maybe your papa will let you help me make dinner tonight. Do you like homemade pizzas?"

Fauve picked up one of the kittens and watched as Nachash slid off of Khaat’s shoulders. The snake slithered over and lifted her head to Fauve’s ear before quickly speaking something in Parseltongue. Fauve frown and put the kitten down. She turned to Nachash, only to see the snake slither off down the hall – no doubt to go and find her papa. Fauve frowned again and got onto her feet. Don’t tell more than is accepted, Fauve. She wouldn’t understand the magnitude. Nachash had whispered. Fauve didn’t understand what she meant but clearly Nachash didn’t want her talking about the relationship she had with Eli. “Papa doesn’t give me a chance to get sicky.” Fauve shrugged. “He nearly left school when I got sicky at Beauxbatons but instead he sended a big red letter that yelled at my teacher.” Fauve giggled. “She gave me lots of medicines after papa sent two more big yelling letters. I think she got scared. But he keeps me safe and if Ashy doesn’t go anywhere then Papa stays happy and healthy!” she picked up the kitten again and smiled at Khaat. “Pizza is yummy!”

Khaat understood more that they knew. "So you can talk to Nachash too? I think that's wonderful." Khaat was impressed at a 6 yr old who spoke Parseltongue. Khaat also knew the immense sadness and the anxiety about having his life tied so firmly to another's. She understood how lonely that was. She didn't know if it was alright to ever approach the subject with him, but she did get it. More than that snake thought she did. And she knew that if one died, the other did too. She knew that all too well.

"Come on. You can help me make the pizzas, and you can tell me what your papa likes on his pizza while we work." She reached for Fauve's hand to apparate her down into the kitchen.

Fauve was a bit scared when Khaat Apparated but she didn’t say anything. She bounced over to the table and sat herself down on one of the chairs. “I can’t talk to Ashy but I understand her. I think she understands some of what I say though. Pappy is trying to teach me but he’s not sure how to do it.” Fauve shrugged. “It doesn’t matter though. Papa tells me what she says usually.” Fauve played with some of her hair for a few moments before hopping off of her chair and running out of the room. She returned with a book that probably would have crushed her if she wasn’t as strong and she dropped it on the table. Fauve jumped back into the chair and opened the book up. “I don’t see papa eat often.” Fauve frowned. “He makes me eat more than him.”

"Hmm. Well, it is very important that you eat lots of good healthy food. And we have that here. You won't ever need to be hungry. I"m going to start work on the pizzas, but I do want to talk to your papa at some point tonight. We'll see if he likes pizza. Do you know what his favorite pizza is? I want to make sure we make his very favorite. And you can help me put the toppings on the pizzas so everybody has their own pizza."

“I’ll go and ask him!” Fauve said, jumping off of her chair. She ran out of the room, her little shoes making clip-clopping sounds across the wooden flooring. She found her father upstairs in his room, already beginning to paint the walls. Fauve stood in the doorway and watched as he guided the brush hairs along the wall, leaving a trail of colour behind it. “Papa?” Dora said tentively, wondering if it was alright to disturb her father while he was working. “Bonjour, belle.” Eli said, not looking up from what he was doing. Fauve rolled her eyes at him and decided to keep to the script and ask him about pizzas. “Khaat is making some pizza and she wants to know what favourite topping you have!” she said in her high soprano.

“Fauve I don’t eat pizza, do I?” Eli asked, putting his paintbrush down and looking at her. “Come here you.” Fauve ran over to him and he caught her. He hugged her close and kissed her hair a few times, whispering endearments in her ear as he did. Fauve pulled back and Eli held her at arm’s length, studying the child that was quickly turning into a young woman. He didn’t want to lose her in the world of boys and everything else witches were interested in. He knew he was way before his time – probably ten years before – but he just didn’t care. This was his baby girl and he was standing by the cliché. No boy would ever be good enough for his baby. “You are so beautiful.” Eli murmured, brushing wayward pieces of dark hair out of her eyes and curling them behind her ear.

“Did you grow up at Beauxbatons and leave you poor old pappy behind?”
“No daddy!” Fauve scowled, using the English version of father. Well, papa was English but ... oh he couldn’t remember. “I’m still little! See I’ve not grown!” she crouched down and Eli chuckled before kissing her cheek. He brushed a few more pieces of hair out of her eyes and smiled at her.
“I am very proud of you.” He murmured. “So is Nachash. We’re both proud of you. Just... don’t grow up too quick alright?”
“I promise I won’t papa!” Fauve said, hugging Eli. “I promise.”

Eli smiled and whispered something in her ear. Fauve grinned and ran from the room, leaving her father to follow her at his own pace. Eli got into the kitchen just after Fauve and was able to hear her telling Khaat that his favourite topping was pepperoni. He smiled to himself and leaned against the door frame with every intention of watching his girl make pizza.

Khaat set the dough to magically mix itself and roll itself out into individual sized pizzas, while she set out all sorts of toppings in little bowls--slices of pepperoni, pieces of mushrooms, shredded cheese, onions, green peppers, olives, and little diced pieces of ham, and anything else she coud think of to put on a pizza. When they were ready, the untopped pizzas flew over to the table, one by one. "Okay, Fauve, go ahead. Make one for your papa, and one for yourself. Then we can make some more." Khaat spread each pizza with sauce one at a time and let her top the pizzas however she chose. It was a warm pleasant sound with the sound of a woman and a little girl chatting and laughing in the kitchen again. It was nice--and comforting. When the pizzas were topped, Khaat put them in the oven and let Fauve help her set the table.