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100fandomhell2022-10-24 10:09 pm
apachefirecat) wrote in 100fandomhell2022-10-24 10:09 pm
Entry tags:
Fandom #26, Bewitched: "To Fly"
Title: To Fly
Author: Apache Firecat
Rating: PG-13/T
Fandom: Bewitched
Wordcount or Timestamp: 2,094
"The Wolf licked his lips for Little Red Riding Hood was quite tasty indeed, what with all his mischievous ways making her taste all the sweeter." The Witch leaned forward and touched her forefinger to her granddaughter's nose, but not without her daughter very carefully, and very suspiciously, watching her every move from Tabitha's doorway.
"That isn't the way the traditional story went, Mother," Samantha firmly reminded Endora.
"No." Endora smiled and demurely folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes twinkled as she levelly met her daughter's angry gaze. "But it's better this way." She winked at Tabitha.
"I'm not so sure," Tabitha said, her face scrunching into a frown. "I don't like that mean, old Wolf."
"Well, the original story isn't any better!" Endora declared. "Would you like the wolf be chopped into little pieces? He is an animal, you know, and I know you have a fondness for animals."
"No," Tabitha answered earnestly, her expression souring even more. Her big, blue eyes turned to her mother. "How did the o-orig-original story go, Momma?"
"Well, your grandmother is right about that," Samantha admitted. "The original story is pretty nasty too. The brothers Grimm were known for taking horrible events from real life, twisting them even more wretchedly, and then making a buck off of their horror stories. In the original, Little Red Riding Hood doesn't quite make it in time, and the Wolf eats her grandmother."
"In this one, he ate her mommy."
"Is that right?" Samantha shot a glare at her mother.
"Yes, ma'am." Tabitha nodded. "And the grandmama ran away with the woodcutter."
"Really?" Samantha asked, her brows raising. Her look upon Endora sharpened, but her mother just shrugged.
"You mustn't blame the storyteller for taking some creative licenses, dear."
"Well, the way it went in the original story, Tabitha, dear, is that Red Riding Hood's mother was not quite as astute as I am, especially not to her grandmother's comings and goings and trickery, and she sent her daughter off in the woods to delivery her grandmother's lunch to her for you see, her grandmother was a very sickly and old woman who could barely get out of bed. But the wolf did get there before her and did eat Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. Red was a very smart, little girl, though, and knew when to call for help and admit what big, bad wolves were doing. She went to the woodcutter for help. He was a very nice man and very quick to help, much like your father is. You know your father helps anyone who needs it and truly deserves it, as long as they're nice, something your grandmother unfortunately knows nothing about." She smiled and batted her lashes at her mother.
Endora harrumphed. Standing, she clasped her long, flowing robes to her frame, which was growing ever more petite with each passing year. She looked down at Tabitha. "Well, there you have it, dear, the Witchy way," she lifted her with a little shake and pride, "and the dumb, mortal way. Which do you prefer?"
"What happens to the wolf in the mortal story?" Tabitha asked, a deep frown marring her pretty, little face.
"Well, unfortunately," Samantha made a disgruntled face as her mother gloated, "the woodcutter does have to cut into the wolf to free Red's grandmother."
"So the wolf is killed?"
"Yes."
"I don't like either!" Tabitha fervently shook her head. Her little curls bounced as she declared, "The wolf shouldn't have eaten the grandmother, but he also shouldn't have been killed. Everybody should have found a way to get along together and lived happily ever after. That's how fairy tales are supposed to end after all." Her little chin set with determination.
"Well," Endora spoke softly, "Red Riding Hood, the grandmother, and the woodcutter do live happily ever after."
"And so does Red's mother," Samantha interjected, pointedly glaring at her mother.
"Well, I must away," Endora declared, making sweeping motions with her cape and robes that made Tabitha giggled. "Oh, just think of it, Tabitha, one Halloween, you will be able to fly with Grandmama!"
"That's many years from now, Mother."
"I wish I could go now, tonight!"
"What are we talking about?"
Samantha lit up at the sound of her husband's voice while her mother's scowl turned even darker and more sour. "Daddy!" Tabitha clapped her hands in glee.
"Tabitha, darling," Endora asked as Darrin beamed at his little Princess, "would you like to see a magic trick tonight?"
"No," Tabitha's parents answered in unison before their daughter could.
"I don't know," Tabitha said. "Your magic tricks are usually mean, Grandma."
"Why, I never!" Endora screeched. "And on that note, -- "
"Well, Endora, maybe you should," Darrin managed to interject, which only made her face turn nearly as red as her dyed hair.
" -- I shall bid you all adieu and a joyeux Halloween Eve!" She flashed out with a roar of thunder.
Tabitha giggled and clapped her hands together again. "Daddy, I'm glad you're home!"
"So am I, sweetheart," Darrin said, "but it's time for all beautiful, little girls to be in bed."
"I am in bed."
"Tabitha!" her mother warned.
"Well, I am." She giggled, but then she grew suddenly solemn and looked fondly at her father. "Daddy, why can't I ride the broom over the moon?"
"Tabitha! We've been over this!"
"I -- " Darrin had already sucked in his cheeks, trying to control his anger, but he drew himself up to his full height. Samantha winced, but her husband was silent while he slowly withdrew himself. At length, he finally said, "A broomstick is no place for good little girls."
"But, Daddy, I am a Witch -- "
Again, Samantha winced, but Darrin seemed almost to visibly relax. "Yes," he acknowledged with a slight bow of his head, "you are, but first and foremost -- er, most importantly," he said, breaking down his language to where he hoped his daughter would understand, "you are a beautiful, young woman who belongs to this world, the mortal world."
Tabitha frowned, but she did lay back in her bed and snuggled back down into her comforter. "Okay, Daddy." She yawned as her eyelids drew lower. "Will you tell me a story?"
Darrin glanced from Tabitha to Samantha. "Tabitha, your grandmama and I have both already told you good night stories."
"So? I wanna hear one from Daddy."
Darrin settled on the edge of their child's bed and slowly began, his gaze travelling from his beloved wife to his hands to his feet to Tabitha's various toys and dolls and finally back to Tabitha herself. "Once upon a time, there was a very lonely and disgruntled man. That means he was very upset."
"Why was he upset, Daddy?" She yawned again.
"Because this man had everything money could buy, everything this mortal world could give him, but there was one thing that was missing."
"What's that?" A third yawn.
"He was a Prince and had good connections in, huh, Princeland, but he was lonely. He was so very lonely, and it seemed that every time he tried to date anyone, something would happen. He just couldn't really connect with anybody." Tabitha's eyes had already slid shut when Darrin turned and looked back up at his beautiful wife, who was beaming watching the two of them together. Caught suddenly in the spotlight of Darrin's eyes, Samantha froze like a deer, a beautiful, innocent, naïve creature. She stood before him, still smiling and blushing and looking as beautiful as the very first time he had laid eyes upon her visage. "He couldn't find anyone to love in all the kingdom, because he hadn't met the right Princess yet. You see, Tabitha, sweetheart, that Princess came from a long ways away. Another entire kingdom, a whole new world even."
Tabitha began to snore softly. Darrin paused, kissed her forehead, and then rose from her bed and walked over to his wife. "When he didn't find out, he didn't have to try on any old, glass slipper for he knew with one look, one word spoken between the two of them, one touch that there could never be another." He cupped Sam's cheek lovingly in his hand and kissed her deeply before leading her from Tabitha's bedroom. He paused them in their daughter's doorway and looked back over to his tiny, sleeping Angel. "And they all lived happily ever after." He spoke the closing words softly so as to not wake her, but he could tell from the sweet smile curving her lips that he was heard and, more importantly by far, that she was happy.
His fingers entwined with his wife's, he walked with her out of Tabitha's bedroom and from there not to their bedroom but rather, to Sam's surprise, to the kitchen. Once there, he turned, wrapped his arms lovingly around her, and hugged her tightly to him. He kissed her temple and then her cheek before whispering, "Go," into her ear. He kissed her lips once and then gave her a gentle push.
"What?" Sam asked, blinking and genuinely puzzled.
"Go fly," he answered and kissed her again, almost as though dismissing her.
"I -- I -- " Sam was baffled. "I thought we had agreed the flights would stop this year."
He shook his head. "The more we try to keep her from something, the more likely she is, as she gets older, to pursue it. If we push her against Endora now, she'll go after her more eagerly anytime she wants to rebel against us as a teenager, later, or, God help us, earlier. Besides it's your custom and your favorite thing to do on Halloween."
Sam smiled, but she didn't argue. Nor did she mention that flying was one of her all-time favorite activities at any time of the year, not just at Halloween.
He stroked her blonde hair, enjoying its silken, luxurious feel against his fingers, and cupped her loving face again. "I love you, Samantha, and I know you love me. You've stood up to your mother now. You don't let her just run over you, not any more. You stand up to her, especially where I'm concerned. I never should have thought that she could drive you against me. I'm sorry I did, and I'm sorry I tried to keep you from the, huh, the ways of your people. Go fly," he concluded.
"But you just got home. I'd rather be with me."
His arms encircled her waist as he held her tenderly. "Honey, you can be with me any old time."
"I can fly over the moon any old time."
"Yes, I suppose you can, but it's not the same on other nights as it is on Halloween."
Sam's smile tugged, becoming bigger. "I guess you're right."
"I know I'm right." He leaned forward again and kissed her lips sweetly once more. "You've got this mortal entirely under your spell, sweetheart. I have been since the first moment I saw you, and I always will be, no matter what your mother or anybody else does. I'm yours, and you're mine." She nodded in agreement; he kissed her lips again. "And I am confidant that no matter how many times you fly over the moon, that's not going to change."
"But -- But dinner -- "
"You've got dinner ready for me. You always do. You're an amazing wife, and I love you very much. Now go fly."
"Okay... If your'e sure?"
"I'm sure," he said and gave her another big squeeze and hug before relinquishing her with a tiny push. "Now go. Fly. And I'll be waiting for you in bed when you get home."
Grinning from ear to ear, Samantha raced back up the stairs. She didn't have to go to their bedroom to change, but she did so anyway, knowing that Darrin always hated her when she took such ease with her magic as to change with a few quick zaps. Yet, with a few quick zaps, she was on her way, flying over the moon to get the new year, gratitude for her husband and child fully booming in her heart. The other Witches tried to talk to her, but she had very little to say to them. She celebrated who she was. She celebrated the turning of the season, and then she raced, flew, and zapped herself quickly back to her adoring husband's loving arms.
"Thank you," she nearly purred, nestling into bed beside him. That Halloween was the best one they'd had, even including their first, and marked another chapter in their own fairy tale story of living happily ever after.
The End
Author: Apache Firecat
Rating: PG-13/T
Fandom: Bewitched
Wordcount or Timestamp: 2,094
"The Wolf licked his lips for Little Red Riding Hood was quite tasty indeed, what with all his mischievous ways making her taste all the sweeter." The Witch leaned forward and touched her forefinger to her granddaughter's nose, but not without her daughter very carefully, and very suspiciously, watching her every move from Tabitha's doorway.
"That isn't the way the traditional story went, Mother," Samantha firmly reminded Endora.
"No." Endora smiled and demurely folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes twinkled as she levelly met her daughter's angry gaze. "But it's better this way." She winked at Tabitha.
"I'm not so sure," Tabitha said, her face scrunching into a frown. "I don't like that mean, old Wolf."
"Well, the original story isn't any better!" Endora declared. "Would you like the wolf be chopped into little pieces? He is an animal, you know, and I know you have a fondness for animals."
"No," Tabitha answered earnestly, her expression souring even more. Her big, blue eyes turned to her mother. "How did the o-orig-original story go, Momma?"
"Well, your grandmother is right about that," Samantha admitted. "The original story is pretty nasty too. The brothers Grimm were known for taking horrible events from real life, twisting them even more wretchedly, and then making a buck off of their horror stories. In the original, Little Red Riding Hood doesn't quite make it in time, and the Wolf eats her grandmother."
"In this one, he ate her mommy."
"Is that right?" Samantha shot a glare at her mother.
"Yes, ma'am." Tabitha nodded. "And the grandmama ran away with the woodcutter."
"Really?" Samantha asked, her brows raising. Her look upon Endora sharpened, but her mother just shrugged.
"You mustn't blame the storyteller for taking some creative licenses, dear."
"Well, the way it went in the original story, Tabitha, dear, is that Red Riding Hood's mother was not quite as astute as I am, especially not to her grandmother's comings and goings and trickery, and she sent her daughter off in the woods to delivery her grandmother's lunch to her for you see, her grandmother was a very sickly and old woman who could barely get out of bed. But the wolf did get there before her and did eat Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. Red was a very smart, little girl, though, and knew when to call for help and admit what big, bad wolves were doing. She went to the woodcutter for help. He was a very nice man and very quick to help, much like your father is. You know your father helps anyone who needs it and truly deserves it, as long as they're nice, something your grandmother unfortunately knows nothing about." She smiled and batted her lashes at her mother.
Endora harrumphed. Standing, she clasped her long, flowing robes to her frame, which was growing ever more petite with each passing year. She looked down at Tabitha. "Well, there you have it, dear, the Witchy way," she lifted her with a little shake and pride, "and the dumb, mortal way. Which do you prefer?"
"What happens to the wolf in the mortal story?" Tabitha asked, a deep frown marring her pretty, little face.
"Well, unfortunately," Samantha made a disgruntled face as her mother gloated, "the woodcutter does have to cut into the wolf to free Red's grandmother."
"So the wolf is killed?"
"Yes."
"I don't like either!" Tabitha fervently shook her head. Her little curls bounced as she declared, "The wolf shouldn't have eaten the grandmother, but he also shouldn't have been killed. Everybody should have found a way to get along together and lived happily ever after. That's how fairy tales are supposed to end after all." Her little chin set with determination.
"Well," Endora spoke softly, "Red Riding Hood, the grandmother, and the woodcutter do live happily ever after."
"And so does Red's mother," Samantha interjected, pointedly glaring at her mother.
"Well, I must away," Endora declared, making sweeping motions with her cape and robes that made Tabitha giggled. "Oh, just think of it, Tabitha, one Halloween, you will be able to fly with Grandmama!"
"That's many years from now, Mother."
"I wish I could go now, tonight!"
"What are we talking about?"
Samantha lit up at the sound of her husband's voice while her mother's scowl turned even darker and more sour. "Daddy!" Tabitha clapped her hands in glee.
"Tabitha, darling," Endora asked as Darrin beamed at his little Princess, "would you like to see a magic trick tonight?"
"No," Tabitha's parents answered in unison before their daughter could.
"I don't know," Tabitha said. "Your magic tricks are usually mean, Grandma."
"Why, I never!" Endora screeched. "And on that note, -- "
"Well, Endora, maybe you should," Darrin managed to interject, which only made her face turn nearly as red as her dyed hair.
" -- I shall bid you all adieu and a joyeux Halloween Eve!" She flashed out with a roar of thunder.
Tabitha giggled and clapped her hands together again. "Daddy, I'm glad you're home!"
"So am I, sweetheart," Darrin said, "but it's time for all beautiful, little girls to be in bed."
"I am in bed."
"Tabitha!" her mother warned.
"Well, I am." She giggled, but then she grew suddenly solemn and looked fondly at her father. "Daddy, why can't I ride the broom over the moon?"
"Tabitha! We've been over this!"
"I -- " Darrin had already sucked in his cheeks, trying to control his anger, but he drew himself up to his full height. Samantha winced, but her husband was silent while he slowly withdrew himself. At length, he finally said, "A broomstick is no place for good little girls."
"But, Daddy, I am a Witch -- "
Again, Samantha winced, but Darrin seemed almost to visibly relax. "Yes," he acknowledged with a slight bow of his head, "you are, but first and foremost -- er, most importantly," he said, breaking down his language to where he hoped his daughter would understand, "you are a beautiful, young woman who belongs to this world, the mortal world."
Tabitha frowned, but she did lay back in her bed and snuggled back down into her comforter. "Okay, Daddy." She yawned as her eyelids drew lower. "Will you tell me a story?"
Darrin glanced from Tabitha to Samantha. "Tabitha, your grandmama and I have both already told you good night stories."
"So? I wanna hear one from Daddy."
Darrin settled on the edge of their child's bed and slowly began, his gaze travelling from his beloved wife to his hands to his feet to Tabitha's various toys and dolls and finally back to Tabitha herself. "Once upon a time, there was a very lonely and disgruntled man. That means he was very upset."
"Why was he upset, Daddy?" She yawned again.
"Because this man had everything money could buy, everything this mortal world could give him, but there was one thing that was missing."
"What's that?" A third yawn.
"He was a Prince and had good connections in, huh, Princeland, but he was lonely. He was so very lonely, and it seemed that every time he tried to date anyone, something would happen. He just couldn't really connect with anybody." Tabitha's eyes had already slid shut when Darrin turned and looked back up at his beautiful wife, who was beaming watching the two of them together. Caught suddenly in the spotlight of Darrin's eyes, Samantha froze like a deer, a beautiful, innocent, naïve creature. She stood before him, still smiling and blushing and looking as beautiful as the very first time he had laid eyes upon her visage. "He couldn't find anyone to love in all the kingdom, because he hadn't met the right Princess yet. You see, Tabitha, sweetheart, that Princess came from a long ways away. Another entire kingdom, a whole new world even."
Tabitha began to snore softly. Darrin paused, kissed her forehead, and then rose from her bed and walked over to his wife. "When he didn't find out, he didn't have to try on any old, glass slipper for he knew with one look, one word spoken between the two of them, one touch that there could never be another." He cupped Sam's cheek lovingly in his hand and kissed her deeply before leading her from Tabitha's bedroom. He paused them in their daughter's doorway and looked back over to his tiny, sleeping Angel. "And they all lived happily ever after." He spoke the closing words softly so as to not wake her, but he could tell from the sweet smile curving her lips that he was heard and, more importantly by far, that she was happy.
His fingers entwined with his wife's, he walked with her out of Tabitha's bedroom and from there not to their bedroom but rather, to Sam's surprise, to the kitchen. Once there, he turned, wrapped his arms lovingly around her, and hugged her tightly to him. He kissed her temple and then her cheek before whispering, "Go," into her ear. He kissed her lips once and then gave her a gentle push.
"What?" Sam asked, blinking and genuinely puzzled.
"Go fly," he answered and kissed her again, almost as though dismissing her.
"I -- I -- " Sam was baffled. "I thought we had agreed the flights would stop this year."
He shook his head. "The more we try to keep her from something, the more likely she is, as she gets older, to pursue it. If we push her against Endora now, she'll go after her more eagerly anytime she wants to rebel against us as a teenager, later, or, God help us, earlier. Besides it's your custom and your favorite thing to do on Halloween."
Sam smiled, but she didn't argue. Nor did she mention that flying was one of her all-time favorite activities at any time of the year, not just at Halloween.
He stroked her blonde hair, enjoying its silken, luxurious feel against his fingers, and cupped her loving face again. "I love you, Samantha, and I know you love me. You've stood up to your mother now. You don't let her just run over you, not any more. You stand up to her, especially where I'm concerned. I never should have thought that she could drive you against me. I'm sorry I did, and I'm sorry I tried to keep you from the, huh, the ways of your people. Go fly," he concluded.
"But you just got home. I'd rather be with me."
His arms encircled her waist as he held her tenderly. "Honey, you can be with me any old time."
"I can fly over the moon any old time."
"Yes, I suppose you can, but it's not the same on other nights as it is on Halloween."
Sam's smile tugged, becoming bigger. "I guess you're right."
"I know I'm right." He leaned forward again and kissed her lips sweetly once more. "You've got this mortal entirely under your spell, sweetheart. I have been since the first moment I saw you, and I always will be, no matter what your mother or anybody else does. I'm yours, and you're mine." She nodded in agreement; he kissed her lips again. "And I am confidant that no matter how many times you fly over the moon, that's not going to change."
"But -- But dinner -- "
"You've got dinner ready for me. You always do. You're an amazing wife, and I love you very much. Now go fly."
"Okay... If your'e sure?"
"I'm sure," he said and gave her another big squeeze and hug before relinquishing her with a tiny push. "Now go. Fly. And I'll be waiting for you in bed when you get home."
Grinning from ear to ear, Samantha raced back up the stairs. She didn't have to go to their bedroom to change, but she did so anyway, knowing that Darrin always hated her when she took such ease with her magic as to change with a few quick zaps. Yet, with a few quick zaps, she was on her way, flying over the moon to get the new year, gratitude for her husband and child fully booming in her heart. The other Witches tried to talk to her, but she had very little to say to them. She celebrated who she was. She celebrated the turning of the season, and then she raced, flew, and zapped herself quickly back to her adoring husband's loving arms.
"Thank you," she nearly purred, nestling into bed beside him. That Halloween was the best one they'd had, even including their first, and marked another chapter in their own fairy tale story of living happily ever after.
The End