A Piece of History: Confusion Abounds

     "If I knew, I’d tell you Bertram," Spider Pennworth said after swallowing the mouthful of apple pie she’d just put into her mouth. "I still don’t know how it happened, but…well, there it is, you know?"

     "Aye, I ‘magine ye would," the massive blue man said as he carefully set a baking pan of fresh walnut cookies on the kitchen counter. "Cain’t see ye keepin’ somethin’ like that back."

     It was the beginning of spring, and Hearth Home had never looked lovelier. Every surface was polished and dusted, the floors were waxed, carpets cleaned and cabinets neatly arranged. The window panes sparkled like cut crystal, and the scent of baking filled every room in the house, mingling with the scent of hundreds of roses wafting in on the cool breeze coming from the opened windows. The freehold children were all comfortably napping in the massive playroom under the watchful eye of young Tyler and Aeneas Dougal, and it was the adults’ time to relax. Early afternoon was Spider’s favorite time to visit the freehold, and Andrew’s apple pie was just another perk. Bertram Jumoke and Andrew Wiggin had both been baking most of the day, in between spurts of cleaning, and now Andrew relaxed at the massive pine table with a cup of Indian spice tea while Bertram retrieved the last few trays of cookies. Spider, her heavy boots clunking against the stool’s support beams, sat at the kitchen island, her pie half-gone already, and watched the troll carefully slide hot cookies off of the metal onto wire racks for cooling.

     "And it’s not as if she tried to lie about it. That’s not Diamanta’s way," Andrew said soothingly from his place at the kitchen table. Warming his pudgy hands around the cup, he leaned forward, light brown eyes peering carefully at his lifelong friend. "Do not get upset, Bertram. She’s been completely honest with us the entire time. It’s her business if she wishes to…pursue this…this…"

     "Aye, what is it, then?" The troll looked at Andrew severely before turning his stern gaze on Spider. "Ye ain’t told me what ‘e thinks o’ our lass. Jest that ‘e’s known ’bout ‘er for a while now."

     Spider frowned as she pushed her fork through her piecrust. "I…you know, to tell the truth, I don’t think Jonas knows how he feels about her. Or what he thinks. He was just so…so passionate about the whole thing. I’ve never, ever seen Jonas show a real emotion beyond cold sarcasm and that surprised me."

     Bertram’s scowl grew worse. "Aye, and we’re s’pposed ta be ‘appy ’bout a man like dat findin’ mah Dia appealin’?"

     "Bertram…" Andrew’s voice was calm, supremely soothing…and coming from the hysterical little man, it made Spider blink and turn to peer at him curiously. Indeed…the normally extremely excitable boggan looked peaceful, gazing at the two of them over the rim of his cup. "Bertram," he repeated, setting the teacup down, "consider what you’re protesting and then think if it seems ridiculous to your mind." The troll opened his mouth, thought for a moment, then snapped it shut, but the puzzled expression that had dawned remained. Andrew sighed, pushing his cup aside. "This is Diamanta’s influence. It always has been her fate to draw those to her that need her most. This doesn’t surprise me at all."

     Spider’s eyes widened as she watched Andrew take another sip of tea, completely certain the matter had been settled. It was odd, but…maybe he was right. Andrew? Right? That had happened very rarely in Spider’s experience, but Bertram looked as though he understood…even if he didn’t like the answer. The more Spider considered it as she turned back to poke at the oozing apples in silence, the more it made sense. It would kind of be poetic justice for the kill-for-hire to fall for the gentlest person Spider, or anyone for that matter, had ever known. Diamanta Rothwell was something apart from the rest of the world, something…different, and it perhaps appealed to Jonas’s own sense of separation. Maybe he wanted…redemption? Forgiveness? A chess pawn? Sex?

     The Goth snorted as she pushed her plate away. The last two seemed to make more sense from what she knew of Jonas, but there was always that slim chance that he wanted something more. Bertram’s voice mumbling something made her finally pay attention to the fae in the room. The troll crossed his arms over his chest as if he was decisive on something, and Andrew merely nodded.

     "Well…there’s nothing to be done for it. Diamanta has a very special life to live, and how she chooses to do so, or with whom, is none of our business…for now."