She-Ra-tober Fanfic #19: Grandparents

The light from the great stone fireplace cast a warming glow over the entire room. Its dancing flickers illuminated the spines of more than 15,000 books, old and rare and precious, lining the walls on hundreds of shelves.

None of these were quite so precious to George as the one he held in his hands just then. He sat on a sofa near the fire, gently running his hand across the leather cover with a pensive expression.

Behind him, his husband Lance was finishing setting the places at a formal yet intimate dining table, frowning as he straightened a bowl of flowers at the center.

"What else? What else?" he muttered to himself as he surveyed the arrangement. He raised his eyes and his voice to address his spouse.

"Help me out, George. What am I missing here?"

George shook his head and smiled, calling over his shoulder. "Not a thing, honey. It's perfect."

"Are you sure?" Lance asked uncertainly. "It's almost time, and they'll be here soon."

"Yes, I'm sure Lance. We're ready." He turned and beckoned with his hand. "Why don't you come over here and sit with me for a little bit."

Lance walked over, drying his hands on an apron, which he then removed. He sat down next to George, placing the apron beside himself. Then he put a hand on George's thigh and smiled at him.

"I can hardly believe it, George. Last time they were here, they were just Bow and his friend Glimmer! And now . . ."

George grinned, shaking his head. "I know. I know. Married. Queen and King of Bright Moon. It's . . . amazing. Just amazing." He looked down at the large leather-bound book he was holding and raised it so Lance could see. "Remember this?"

Lance's mouth fell open. "George! You found it!" He shook his head, reaching for the book. "Oh, I haven't seen this for years!"

George chuckled. "Thought you'd be pleased!" He pulled open the cover, flipped a page and pointed. "Look at this one."

"Oh!" Lance began to laugh. "Ah-haha! That's when we took Bow to see his first dig! That was near Erelandia, wasn't it?' Lance laughed again and pointed. "Awwww, look at him!"

"Yeah, heh-heh-heh!" George chuckled. "He was so excited about it! And he got so dirty we practically had to dig him up!"

Laughter took hold of both of them for a few moments.

Then Lance turned a page and pointed at another photo.

"Ah, now this is one of my favorites! Look at them! All in a line! All thirteen of our beautiful brood!" His voice was rich with pride and affection.

George nodded. "Yep. All dressed up like they're ready to take on the entire history of Etheria!" He paused as his gaze moved to the end of the line. "And there's Bow, trying to be just like his older sisters and brothers." A melancholy edge had entered his voice.

Lance leaned over nearer and laid his hand on George's. "I still feel bad about it. How Bow tried so hard to be someone he wasn't. Just to please us."

George nodded with a frown. "And then thought he had to pretend so we wouldn't be upset." He turned to Lance and squeezed his hand. "We did our best, Lance. And we made mistakes just like other parents do, even with the best of intentions."

Lance looked a little teary. "I just . . . when I think about it, there's so much I wish we could somehow do over again!"

His husband tilted his head with a sudden thought. "But, you know . . . the funny thing is, even though we know our other twelve are happy doing what they love -- what we thought they wanted to do -- we hardly ever see them."

George turned toward Lance. "And yet Bow, who we apparently were miserable to and gave such a hard time, . . . Bow is the one who visits us. He's the one who's coming to dinner tonight."

Lance blinked at the thought. "So I guess we must've done something right, huh?"

"Yes. I think we must have." And he pulled Lance close to him.

They shared a hug and a brief kiss of mutual reassurance.

Lance looked down at the photo again and sighed. "Ahh, I kinda miss our little houseful sometimes. Having the children around really brightened things up."

George smiled at an amusing thought. "Well. maybe we'll see some around here again before too long."

Lance gave him a perplexed look. "What? You're not--!"

George chuckled again. "Oh, goodness, no! I meant . . . well, you know. Maybe Glimmer and Bow some time."

Lance looked something between irritated and excited. "You think? Hey! You don't know something I don't know, do you?"

George put up his hands. "No, no no. But one day . . . you never know."

Lance gave a wry smile. "Well! One day! Sure, but who knows how long that'll be?!"

George raised an eyebrow. "Don't you mean, how long that'll bay-be?"

Lance gave him a pained look and shook his head. "No. No, George." He stood up from the sofa and walked back toward the dining area.

George frowned slightly, reaching after him. "That was funny, though, right? At least a little?"

Lance turned back, smiling and shook his head. "Down, George. We're having guests tonight."

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

Lance jumped in surprised delight. "Ooo! They're here!"

George sprang from the sofa and hurried to join his husband as he opened the door.

Glimmer and Bow were bundled up in their jackets against the cold, both grinning wide. "Hiiii!" sang out Glimmer.

"Welcome, welcome!" bubbled Lance.

George spread his arms wide "Come in! Let me take your coats, and we'll all sit by the fire."

There were hugs all around, and George gathered their coats.

But as George and Lance motioned their guests to follow them toward the fire, Glimmer hesitated.

Bow gave her a questioning look. "Glimmer?"

Glimmer smiled wider. "Oh, Bow, I just can't wait!"

Bow smiled understandingly and nodded.

Turning toward her fathers-in-law Glimmer bobbed lightly up and down in excitement.

"George. Lance."

Glimmer laid her hands on her tummy and beamed.

"We have something to tell you!"