Crystal Legacy: Generation 5 (Part 1)

 

Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.

That winter…

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtails ring

Making spirits bright–

*Phone rings*

Cal: Hang on, baby–

Calcite: Hello? Oh, hi, Corona. No, no, it’s not too late. What’s up?  Tomorrow? Uh…

Calcite: We’re going to the park in the morning, playdate with Nova’s parents.

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight

Calcite: Can you join us–sure! The more the merrier. You bringing the little Pep? Great! *laugh* Hey, watch these cousins end up like we did.

Calcite: No, no, it’s really no trouble. Hey, you’re the only other one in the family with a kid, Cor, of course you’re welcome to bring him along. 

Calcite: Seriously, Corona, it’s fine. Bring the rascal, bring your husband, bring whomever. It’s a park, remember? Public space? *laugh* Yeah, yeah, we’ll see you there. Night.

Calcite: …well that was weird.

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh

*piano playing*

Nova: Everything okay, babe?

Calcite: Yeah, yeah. Corona and the Mints are gonna join us tomorrow. That okay?

Nova: Don’t see why not. My folks might spoil little-Mint rotten, though.

Calcite: *chuckle* He could use it.

Nova: How about it, baby? Do you want to hang out with cousin Pep?

Citrine: Yeah!

Calcite: Well, that solves that, at least. 

Nova: Alright, little rascal. Time for bed. 

Calcite: You got her?

Nova: I got her. 

Nova: Let’s see, where were we…

Citrine: Dragon and princess in the tower!

Nova: That’s right, that’s right…well, *clears throat* Princess Petuna looked up, up, and up some more, while the dragon looked down, down, and down some more at her…

Nova: Neither of them quite knew what to do, or what to think, for neither had ever been this close to one of their own before…

-

Calcite: I just think it’s strange! Cor’s kept to herself since little-Mint was born, so why ask out of the blue?

Moonstone: I honestly don’t know, baby. Maybe something’s come up, or maybe she just wants Pep to have a playmate his own age. They have moved around quite a bit already.

Nova: Well, we got through half a chapter today. She’s out.

Moonstone: I told you two Mom’s books were good for that!

Calcite: *laugh* Yeah, yeah. Do you really think it’s just they want to put down roots for litte-Mint?

Moonstone: Baby, losing my sight did not give me psychic powers. How in the worlds should I know what your cousin is thinking?

Calcite: Uh, because you’re old enough to know more than we do?

Moonstone: Oh you did not just call me old!

Nova: Age does imply wisdom, Ma Moony.

Moonstone: Hm…I’ll let it slide. This time.

Moonstone: Count yourself very lucky you have such a clever husband, Cal.

Calcite: Every day.

Nova: Would Auntie Horizon have any ideas?

Moonstone: Hmm…I’m not sure. Hori spent a lot of time on the road when Corona was a kid…they were never really that close.

Moonstone: Sundown might have some idea.

Nova: I’f it’s anything besides a playdate, I’ll call her tomorrow. We’re probably just making a mountain out of a molehill.

Calcite: Doesn’t hurt to be prepared!

Moonstone: Honey, there’s prepared and then there’s paranoid. Try not to be the latter if there’s no reason, okay?

Calcite: okay, okay. …Mama, why are you making that face.

Moonstone: Oh, no reason. I was just wondering…now that Citrine’s settled in…

Calcite: Mama….

Nova: *laugh* Not yet, Ma Moony, not yet. Maybe in another year or two. 

Moonstone: *sigh* Well, you two do know yourselves best. Alright.

Calcite: Mama, do you really want another grandbaby already?

Moonstone: It’s not about what  I want…but yes. I do.

Moonstone: And you two have been wonderful fathers. Citrine is your baby, but giving her a sibling? Maybe?

Nova: I’m not against the idea of carrying. I just hope we don’t end up with multiples if I do!

Calcite: Which is precisely why I’m not carrying. This whole family’s sprung for multiples since Gramma Aurora!

Moonstone: *sigh* True, and twins are hard on a body…well, whatever you two think is best, I’m all for it. We’re more than enough just as we are now.

Calcite: Thanks, Mama.

The next morning…

Calcite: What do you mean, you want us to raise your son?!

Corona: Watcher, Cal…think they heard you all the way on Sixam.

Calcite: Sorry, sorry, I just–what? Why?

Peppermint: It’s…a long story.

Nova: We have time. And, honestly, that kind of question wants a little explanation!

Peppermint: *sigh* I work construction. My last job was the space elevator up to Fortuna Colony, right? Well, my company got tapped to build Arcadis Station, too.

Calcite: Arcadis? Wait–isn’t that the one on the edge of the galaxy?

Nova: That’s a two year trip, even with wormholes and jump-ports.

Peppermint: And they don’t allow children onboard the transports, either. Married couples are fine, but…not kids.

Corona: So ‘Mint either has to stay here…or Pep loses his job.

Corona: And since you two have Citrine, and have been doing such a good job with her…well, we thought…

Nova: How long is the contract?

Peppermint: Estimate for construction is 15 Maxis Years. Two years to, fifteen to build, two years back…

Calcite:  Nineteen years–he’s already three! You’ll miss his entire childhood!

Corona: You think we don’t know that? It’s just. It’s an amazing opportunity–

Calcite: It’s building a station in the middle of the void, Corona. How is that worth giving up your only child?

Peppermint: It’s not a decision we’ve made on a whim, Calcite. It’s just. I can’t lose this job. I can’t support my family without it and–

Peppermint: –and, look. Look at Citrine. Her birth parents aren’t around but she’s got her Grammas, her Granny and Granpa right here, Cor’s moms– he’d have you and all of them, too! It’s not like ‘Mint needs us!

Calcite: That is not the same thing and you know it.

Nova: What about your parents?

Peppermint: Not an option. Look, just.

Peppermint: We wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important.

Corona: And we have thought about it. A lot. 

Corona: Chances like this don’t come around all the time, Cal. Amber would say to take it.

Calcite: She’d also be calling you out on abandoning your only child for a heap of metal between stars, Corona.

Nova: Have you asked the others?

Corona: We did. Maré doesn’t have the time or space to raise a kid, Lacus is too busy making kids the way he goes about, and Palus is. MIA. Again.

Peppermint: And Cor’s parents are great, but…we can’t ask them to raise a toddler at their age.

Nova: So it’s us or you.

Peppermint: ….pretty much, yeah.

Calcite: And if we say no?

Peppermint: Then we stay, but…I can’t lie. There’d be a….lot of resentment.

Corona: And ‘Mint doesn’t deserve that.

Nova: So you’re saying either we raise your child or he’ll grow up hated for making you miss this chance. Well, no pressure.

Corona: Oh, it’s  not like that–

Calcite: Yes, it is. 

Calcite: That’s the weight you’re putting on us, without stopping to ask if it’s something we’re even capable of doing.

Corona: You’re raising Citrine just fine! And, hey–this gives you a second kid without having to go through carrying! Which, let me tell you, that’s the real blessing.

Corona: We can transfer full legal custody by tonight. No ties, no worries. You can do what needs doing for him without having to call us every time.

Peppermint: I–we know it’s a big ask, you two, but my company ships out tomorrow morning. I have to give them an answer by tonight.

Nova: Ships out tomorrow–they’ve been planned to leave for weeks if not months! You just bring this up now?

Calcite: Yeesh…and I thought Amber was a fast mover…

Nova: We don’t even have the time to really talk about it…

Peppermint: …sorry.

Calcite: *sigh* 

Corona: Amber wouldn’t say no, call outs or not.

Calcite: I know.

Calcite: But it’s not Amber who’d be affected here, Cor, it’s Peppermint, and Citrine, and Mama and Ma and us. We’ve had no time to prep the house for another kid, no time to prepare ourselves–when you carry you’ve at least got those months to get yourself in order! Just having the poor kid dumped like this? Give us a minute to think, for Watcher’s sake.

Nova: Not to mention what is Peppermint going to think? You two just up and leave him like this? He can’t process that sort of thing.

Peppermint: We’ll vid-chat every time we’re near a buoy on the way there, and when we get there–

Corona: We’ll still be in his life! Just. Not as much as you two!

Corona: So. What’s it gonna be?

Nova: It’s not a decision that can be made lightly, Corona–

Peppermint: No, but it has to be made fast.

Peppermint: We’re shipping out from Strudelville. That’s a six hour train ride. If we don’t leave soon…

Calcite: No pressure. *sigh*

Nova: …babe?

Calcite: …I really really wish you hadn’t dropped this on our heads like this. If you’d said something a week ago, we could have been more prepared.

Peppermint: We were…still figuring things out a week ago. And…

Corona: We’re asking now. What’s your answer?

Calcite: Well…Mama did want another Grandbaby…

Nova: Yes. She did. *tired laugh* Okay. Okay, I guess we’re in.

Peppermint: Thank you. You two…we’ll wire everything we can back to use for him, I promise.

Corona: You’re lifesavers.

Calcite: Don’t thank us yet. You still have to tell your Moms.

Horizon and Sundown’s home…

Sundown: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!

Corona: This is why I didn’t tell you!

Calcite: Whoa, guys, let’s just–calm down a little…

Horizon: *sigh* Don’t bother, Cal. Let them get it out of their system.

-

Corona: Nothing I do is good enough for you–

Sundown: That’s nothing to do with–with this! Taking off for the edge of the system?! Without so much as a word?! And what about Peppermint?!

Corona: He’s coming with me–I’m going with him!

Sundown: Not him, Corona! Your son! The son you are abandoning to go chase tail on the other side of the galaxy!

Corona: That is not what is going on here! I am going with my husband on his job!

Sundown: The husband who used to be your 18 year old boyfriend when you were fifteen–dammit, Corona, can’t you see the problem here?!

Corona: The problem is neither of you ever liked him!

Sundown: Of course we didn’t–

Horizon: Cor, honey, that’s not the point here. The point is you’re dropping everything, for what? Abandoning your family for what?

Corona: To be with my husband–why can’t you just be happy that I found someone I love?!

Sundown:  Because you are leaving everything else for one person–one person cannot be your entire life, Corona.

Corona: It’s not just that! This is–this is a chance!

Sundown: A chance for what?

Corona: It’s a chance to start over, to–

Horizon: Oh, Watcher.

Calcite: That’s what this is about? Corona…

Calcite: A “chance to start over”. No ties back to your old life. No kid left behind. That’s what this is.

Sundown: Corona Sunrise Primrose, you–

Corona: I didn’t mean it like that! I just–

Sundown: You want a do-over, leave everything behind!  Us, little ‘Mint, the life you have here–throw it all away! Start over fresh. 

Calcite: Why does no one have their head screwed on straight these days…

Calcite: People aren’t just something you can throw away, Corona. You don’t get to just–move on when things don’t go the way you wanted.

Horizon: Ugh, this is my fault. I told you like was like a game and you could always try again…I didn’t think you’d take it this way!

Corona: That’s not–ugh, forget it. None of you understand.

Sundown: Then tell us! What aren’t we getting–why did it come to this?!

Horizon: Honey, we just want what’s best for you. If something’s happened, we can help.

Horizon: We can–we can get you out of here. No looking back. If things with Pep are going sour–

Sundown: I’ll take care of him myself.

Corona: …none of you understand. You’ll never understand. Why did I even bother–you’ll never…*sigh* Forget it. It doesn’t matter. I’m going. We’re going. And we’re not coming back.

Corona: I’ll let you know when we get there.

Peppermint: Ready, babe?

Corona: More than ready. Let’s go.

Calcite: At least say goodbye to your son first. Give him one good memory.

Peppermint: Calcite–alright, alright.

Peppermint: You be good for your uncles, okay?

Little Mint: Uh-huh. Daddy come back soon?

Peppermint: …we’ll talk soon, champ.

Corona: You’ll be happy with your uncles, baby. And your cousin, too!

Horizon: Corona, listen–

Corona: We’ll be late.

Corona: ooh…be good, okay kiddo?

Little Mint: Yeah! Love you, Mama.

Corona: …yeah.

Little Mint: …Mama?

Corona: Be good, baby.

*front door opens, closes*

Sundown: That girl–!!!

*sliding door slams*

Calcite: Well. That happened.

Horizon: Cal, if you and Nova aren’t sure about this, we can keep him. II’m more than ready to call out from work, I can–

Calcite: It’s fine, Auntie. I mean, it’s not, but. *sigh* You get it.

Horizon: Yeah. I do. Watcher, I don’t even know what happened…Corona, she…

Calcite: She made her own choice, and now we make ours. You and Aunt Sundown can come by anytime. I mean, we’re right across the street!

Horizon: Yeah. Yeah, you are. Let me…let me help you get his things. Watcher, what a mess…

Some time later….

Calcite: Well, here we are. Home sweet home.

Peppermint: Uncle? Want down.

Calcite: Hang on, kiddo. We’re almost there.

Calcite: So.

Nova: So.

Saffron: So. Sundown called. That…went well?

Moonstone: Could have gone worse.

Saffron: I can’t even–Corona really just–

Calcite: Yeah. She did.

Peppermint: Uncle! Want down!

Calcite: Okay, kiddo. Okay.

Nova: Big ‘Mint emailed me the documents. Legally, he’s…ours, I suppose.

Saffron: Watcher.

Nova: Not the way you were expecting, I guess?

Saffron: Not at all!

Calcite: Go play, okay? Uncles and Granny Saf need to talk a while.

Peppermint: Okay!

Saffron: So, what now?

Nova: What do you mean? We have another child to raise. I’m guessing lunch comes next, or a nap, or…did he even have a schedule over there…

Calcite: I doubt it! Corona called this another chance, so…*sigh* Now I’m worried.

Saffron: Another chance? Another chance at what?!

Calcite: I don’t know. Life? Marriage? The way those two took off…*sigh* I don’t know, Ma. 

Saffron: Oooh…that girl’s lucky I can’t go wring her neck! 

Moonstone: …Maybe it’s better this way.

Calcite: Mama?

Moonstone: At least Peppermint will grow up loved like this. Not with resentment in his family.

Saffron: Well, at least there’s that!

Nova: I’m still trying to wrap my head around this. Was Corona’s life so terrible that she’d abandon it all for a life in the black?

Saffron: It didn’t look that way to me! But you never…really know what people are hiding inside, sometimes.

Calcite: There’s a lot we don’t know about those two. *snort* Besides the fact they’re not answering their phones!

Nova: Not answering their phones, or not answering Auntie’s calls?

Calcite: *sigh* Both?

Calcite: Gah. It’s a mess all around.

Nova: Yeah. It is.

Moonstone: So leave it at the door. What matters is what, and who, is inside this house. Everything else…we can leave it be, boys.

Moonstone: Let the rest of the world settle themselves. We have what’s most important right here.

Saffron: Still…

Saffron: What do Hori and Sundown think of all this?

Calcite: Auntie Sundown slammed a few doors, but they both agreed we’d be better for ‘Mint. Be more active, and Citrine’s here, so he’ll have at least a cousin…and they are right across the street!

Nova: They are. We’ll need to go get his things from there, too.

Nova: Though something tells me that’s going to be the easy part. No schedule, no structure…we’ve got our work cut out for us.

Calcite: Yeah….better get to it.

Calcite:  Ma, can you and Mama keep an eye on him? At least while we go get his bed?

Saffron: Sure, sweetheart. Though I get the feeling he’s used to keeping an eye on himself…

Some time later…

Nova: ‘Mint, aren’t you tired?

Peppermint: No. No nap.

Calcite: You’re missing out, kiddo. Naps are the best.

Peppermint: No nap. Want Mama. Want Papa.

Nova: Ah…

Calcite: Your Mama and Papa are…away. We’re going to look after you now.

Peppermint: …

Nova: We can call them for you tomorrow, okay? But your Mama said to be good, and it’s been a long day already. Nap?

Peppermint: No nap.

Calcite: No? Okay, tell you what. Take a nap, and when you get up we can go feed the duckies?

Peppermint: …no?

Nova: That sounded like a maybe. We can even take them popcorn. They love popcorn.

Peppermint: *pensive sound* ….No.

Nova & Cal: *laugh*

Nova: Tough little negotiator already. Okay, let me think.

Calcite: How about–oh, Citrine. You ready for a nap, baby?

Citrine: Yeah! Pep, nap?

Peppermint: No nap.

Citrine: Yes nap!  Nap and stories and duckies!

Peppermint: ….hm….stories?

Citrine: Yeah!

Citrine; Princess and the dragon!  Or–or–or Ori and the…

Nova: Blind Forest?

Citrine: Yeah!

Peppermint: Blind? No….

Citrine: Yeah! It good!

Citrine: Nap and story!

Peppermint: –okay okay!!

*kiddos laugh*

Citrine: Nap and story?

Peppermint: Nap and story!

Citrine: Story, Papa?

Nova: *laugh* Story it is. Alright, come on.

Some time later…

Calcite: That girl…she’s a miracle worker.

Nova: *chuckle* Tell me about it. I thought we’d never get him down.

Calcite: *sigh* Are we doing the right thing?

Nova: I think we’re doing the only thing we can, babe. You have to play the hand you’re dealt, no matter what that hand is.

Nova: What matters now is we do right by them. Everything else…we can figure it out as we go. 

Calcite: Okay, wise guy. …I’m really glad you’re with me.

Nova: As if I’d be anywhere else.