Pre-wedding

[fiery_ring]

The arrangement was that Will would spend the night in Fred's caravan. What with the whole bad luck to see your bride before the wedding thing. The reality was that when he stumbled in at four in the morning, he fell over Wolf, Fred's guard dog, and nearly ended up with a broken arm.

Carlotta, unaware of this particular development, is getting ready in her caravan. Will is still in his boxers, in Fred's caravan, nursing a hangover.

Comments

[fiery_ring]

"If we'd waited a bit, you could have been a bridesmaid, couldn't you sweetie?" Carlotta says, scooping up the little girl and putting her on the floor.

"Matta!" Molly says.

[wheatencrown]

"She'll be wonderful just by being there."

[fiery_ring]

"Molly, can you say Demeter?" Carlotta asks, starting to get her undressed to get her into her dress.

"De-de... Matta!"

"Mama." Carlotta says.

"Matta!"

Carlotta gives up.

"Can you pass me that dress please?"

[wheatencrown]

"It's close enough," Demeter goes to get the dress for Carlotta.

[fiery_ring]

"Thanks." Carlotta pulls Molly's vest off.

"It's not that, I just have a feeling she's going to be calling me Ringmaster. It's a common circus problem that if the children are raised communally they end up picking the name they hear for that person. And while I don't mind what she calls me, Ringmaster is a bit formal."

[wheatencrown]

"That is tricky but children know when someone's different. They just act in unexpected ways."

[fiery_ring]

"Well, before I found out that the circus folk weren't my biological parents, I called the couple who looked after me first by their first names like everyone else." Carlotta says.

Small smile. "They went back to Spain in the end, or I'd have invited them."

She does up the buttons on Molly's dress, and attempts to tame her hair a bit, before plonking her back in the crib. Then, it's Little William's turn, and she leans over to nudge her nephew awake.

[wheatencrown]

"Families have many different shapes. Molly will learn the shape of her own."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"I'm sure she'll have many questions as she gets older. Though probably not as many as this little chap."

She picks Little William up and plonks him on the floor, looking around for the little ironed shirt.

[wheatencrown]

"I recommend being honest because children can tell when you lie. It won't be easy but if you are open when they're young, its a little easier."

[fiery_ring]

"It's not easy to be a child with unmarried parents in this time." Carlotta says. "If he stays with us, it is better we tell him we're his aunt and uncle, which would be true, and not focus on who his father is."

[wheatencrown]

"I know its not but don't create complicated lies that fall apart. Tell him you're taking care of him for his parents, something simpler like that and that when he's older you'll explain."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"I don't intend to lie to him, just to shelter him as much as possible while he's little."

[wheatencrown]

"Sheltering and lies can end up looking the same sometimes. Think about what you would have wanted to know if you were him. Would you rather know the truth and know that you were loved or else find it out from others?"

[fiery_ring]

"The first, though the second happened to me." Carlotta says. "And I got through it."

[wheatencrown]

"Yes, I know you did but you do you want him to have to go through it? I've raised Kore on my own for thousands of years and sometimes she knows more than she wishes but she knows she can ask me something and I'll tell her. Sometimes I might say, this is complicated, this is what I know and there's more to know. You have to be thoughtful and trust your children, they're stronger than you know."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta rubs her forehead.

"Demeter, I know you're trying to help, but can we please work this out later? I'm about to get married and Little William's not going to be at an age to understand for several years."

She slips the little jacket on the small boy, and passes him to Demeter to hold while she gets his trousers on. Little William gurgles and starts to play with Demeter's hair.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter's quiet as it had seemed like Carlotta was asking her advice and she was giving it,

"Of course."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta sees her expression and sighs.

"Sorry." she says quietly. She appreciates Demeter's advice, it was just getting a bit deep when she already has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter hugs her, carefully as not to wreck her hair or dress,

"You'll figure it out, Carlotta. I know you will and I'm always here if you need me."

[fiery_ring]

"Thank you." Carlotta hugs her back.

"On with the show."