A Parent's Love
by Erica DeTraglia (detraged@frontiernet.net)

This is a short story that has been floating in my head for awhile and thought it
needed to be written. The next fanfic is ready but this one needed to come first.
So here it is. : )  Hope you enjoy it. Feedback is much appreciated.

(9 months after Due Date)............

Two distint cries of the twins awoke Puck. He moaned and turned to Abby, " The twins want you."
Abby opened one eye and with a shift kick, Puck found himself on the floor.  He looked at Abby,
who was already falling back to sleep. Waving his hand he stood up and left the room saying, "No, no, 
don't get up I'll get them." 
Puck slowly opened the door and stuck his head in to see Luna, whose face was tear stained, 
on the edge of her moon-carved crib biting the rail.  Robin was doing the same except his lower lip was sticking out.
Puck gave them a gentle smile as he walked into the room leaving the door open,"What's wrong you two?"
Luna hiccuped and said, *My teeth hurt.*
*Bad dream, daddy,* added Robin. 
Puck walked over and picked Luna up and rocked her in her arms as he moved over to Robin's crib and 
stroked the infant's head in a caring manner. Robin looked up, *What about me? I want you to hold me too...I'm 
your one*
Puck raised an eyebrow, "My one?"
Luna let out a staggered breath calming down and nodded, *yeah, he came out before me..he's your one.*
Puck nodded and let out a laugh, "Oh you mean Rob is my first child. I see," Puck walked over and sat in the 
rocking chair looking at Luna then at Robin, "Yes, you are my first but I only have two hands to hold you with..do 
you understand?"
Robin sniffled ready to cry again and nodded.
"Come here baby." Abby reached in the crib and picked a now smiling Rob out and held him close to her chest.
Puck looked shocked, "Where did you come from Ms. Abigail..I thought you were asleep."
Abby smiled and walked over to Puck and Luna, "I was.....but who can sleep with all the talking in here. Move
over."
Puck moved and Abby squeezed next to him resting her head on his shoulder and rubbing Robin's back. 
Puck kissed her head and wrapped one of his arms around her still holding onto Luna with the other. They
just sat there together as a family in silence while the city below moved so fast and loudly. Puck looked to see that Abby's
eyes were closed and so were the twins,"Abby?" he whispered.
She moaned and opened her eyes, "Yeah?"
"This is how I always imagined it to be."
"What?"
"A family.  On Avalon, there were nannies that took care of us.  Titania, once in awhile, came in and held us, 
but....," Puck slipped into a trance remembering his youth.

Avalon over 2100 years ago (as humans reckon time).......

A robust woman who looked as if she was in her fifties wearing a plain grey dress with an off-white apron walked
 around Avalon's nursery picking up after the newest young one. Her gentle face and smile never disappeared 
no matter what this young one threw at her "literally."
"Young one,"she said in a soft musical tone, "Be nice to your Nanna and please do not throw."  The little infant 
with white silver hair, long pointed ears, and a small purple tunic smile back. Nanna put her hands on her hips 
and gave him a half smile, "Now, Puck, you are not even a month old and you are such a handful. At the rate 
you're going you'll be your father Oberon's servant in no time."
The little Puck sat in his playpen and thought of his Nanna's words. Oberon. That word rang in his head like 
thunder. Lord and Master were the next words that filled his head. He knew that who ever this Oberon was he 
was powerful but he couldn't call him father as his Nanna had....it wasn't right. Puck heard bells and noticed a 
figure enter the room. Nanna dropped to her knees and put her head down, " Queen Titania, it's a pleasure..I...
am..so..."
Titania put up her hand and Nanna stopped.  
"Please Nanna, you have been in our service for thousands of years..you have cared for almost all the 
children of Oberon.  You do not have to bow to me. Stand."
Nanna stood but did not look into the Queen's eyes, "Yes, my Lady."
Titania looked around the room. She looked over at a group of toddlers playing games with blocks. 
One child made the blocks tower against another child and she screamed causing everyone in the 
room to cover their ears. She smiled, "Coyote is growing up to be a fine trixster and Banshee's voice has 
come along nicely."
Nanna looked at the toddlers, "Yes, my Queen, they have."
Titania moved to one of the playpens and looked in at Puck.  Her smile grew revealing pearly white teeth.
 Puck smiled back knowing who this person was; she was his mother and Queen. Nanna walked over smiling 
at Puck, "He is a fine one my Queen. A pure trixster even more so than Coyote.....and he's smart.  Too smart for
 my liking," she chuckled, "but a good kid."
Titania, never taking her eyes off Puck's nodded and reached into the pen picking Puck up, "Yes I see Nanna. 
He is a fine young one with great potential."
Nanna watched Titania take the infant into a room and the door close behind them. She smiled and turned 
to the toddlers, "Coyote is you don't stop teasing  your sister I'll take those blocks away."

Puck could see that the room was dimly lit by little fireflies in flowers, which depending on the flower gave off 
a colorful light.  There were three female figures in the room also cleaning, dusting, fluffing pillows on the bed and 
couches, and directing the fireflies to their flower. All three were roughly three feet high and wore fancy silk 
dresses fit for the royal court.  What amazed Puck the most was their wings. They seemed to be paper thin 
yet strong enough to keep the fairies from ever touching the ground. Each had different colorfilled patterns like 
butterflies. One fairy who was all blue, meaning her skin color matched her outfit, turned and bowed to the 
Queen, "My Queen, your resting room is clean."
Titania nodded rubbing Puck's back, "Thanks you, Cobweb."
Another fairy who was yellow flew over to look at Puck, "Is that the new baby, my Queen.  You have 
shown him off like the others."
Titania smiled and placed Puck on his back ontop of the bed, "yes, Mustardseed he is. The reason I have 
not shown him off as you have said is becasue he has been chosen to be Oberon's servant...so he must be 
nurtured by Nanna alittle longer so that his powers will be ready to work for our Lord."
The last fairy, who was red, tickled Puck's stomach, "He is beautiful Titania. We shall leave you alone with your 
son...come you two we have other rooms to clean, "she bowed as she left," My Queen."
"Peachblossom."
"Lady Titania," Mustardseed and Cobweb said in unision bowing together, moaning after Peachblossom.
"Ladies." 
The door closed leaving Puck and the Queen of Avalon alone.  Titania lifted him up and sat on a chair that
 faced a large window overlooking the east side of Avalon. She smiled down at Puck rocking 
him, "Puck, these are the times that I love and treasure.  This silence is so calming especailly with so 
many children now..these times are rare. I hope that someday you will be able to have these moments 
my son. For then you will truely know you are blessed."
Puck was falling asleep in his mother's arms. He felt safe, loved, and happy. He knew what his mother was 
talking about and savored it. He wished that it would never end......

Puck came out of his trace to see that Abby and the twins were asleep again. He smiled big as the
words that 
Titania had told him reverbrated in his head. He was happy and he was blessed. Abby shifted and 
opened her 
eyes, "Puck, maybe we should put them to bed."
Puck nodded and as they stood he kissed her on the lips. 
"What was that for?"
He shrugged,"I can't kiss you for no reason?"
Abby smiled,"Of course you can.  I was just wondering if there was a reason."
Puck shook his head and kissed her again, but this time giggles interrupted them.
They looked down to see the twins smiling up at them.
Puck and Abby laughed as they sat on the windowseat. 
"Abby, I wonder if they have their powers yet?"
Abby shrugged tickling Robin's stomach,"Who knows. Maybe you should ask them to do something."
"No, I have to wait until they show me they have them before I can do anything."
"Puck, that was Titania's mistake wasn't it? She waited for Fox to show her that she had magic 
in her and by the time she did; it was too late."
Puck put his head down and stroked Luna's white hair, "I know, but I am still bound by Oberon's
law to not interfer with human affairs.....and they are half human."
"But they also are YOUR children, I think there is an exception there....and when have Oberon's
laws ever stopped you?"
"Maybe."
Abby moved over to sit next to Puck, "Maybe?"
The twins began to reach for each other so Puck and Abby leaned shoulder to shoulder.
The twins held each other's hands and closed their eyes. Abby noticed them and said,
"Puck, what are they doing?"
"Wha?" He looked down to see a green light ball form over the twins hands. As the twins pulled
away the ball grew until it was the size of a basketball. Luna and Robin opened their eyes and 
smiled as they pushed the ball. The light ball bounced around the room like rubber.  The twins squealed 
with laughter while Puck and Abby's jaw were dropped.
"I'll be damned," was all that Puck could say.  He watched the ball bounce off the wall in front
of them and head straight at them.  Puck lifted his hand and the ball stopped in mid-air and then
disappeared.
"Does that count?" said Abby with a grin.
Puck smiled and hugged his family, "Yes, it does."
He jerked his head towards the door, "Follow me."
Abby stood with Robin and followed PUck into their bedroom. He placed Luna down on the bed, then
took Robin from Abby and placed him next to his sister. Puck turned to Abby and wrapped his arms
around her middle.  Abby in return wraped her arms around Puck's neck. They looked at the twins, 
who were now asleep. A tear escaped Puck's eye and Abby wiped it away," What's wrong?"
Puck smiled, "Nothing, just happy."
"Me too." Abby slowly crawled onto the bed and laid next to her children.  She glided her
hand over their cheeks as she pulled a blanket over all three of them.  Puck did the same, taking 
Abby's hand in his own.
"At least if they wake up we won't have to leave the bed."
"True," Abby said with a smile.
"Goodnight."
"Night Puck."

As the family slept, Titania appeared next to Puck. She leaned down and kissed his cheek 
whispering into his ear, "You have found happiness Puck and how you are worthy our their love. 
Now you understand that
a parent's love for their children makes the love gold."
Opening his eyes to smile at Titania, Puck turned his head, "I know."
Titania nodded and without ever taking the smile off her face disappeared.
Puck snorted and closed his eyes, "Mothers."
An invisible hand tweaked Puck's ear. He quickly covered his mouth as to not
wake his family," Sorry, sorry, didn't mean that." He smiled again and went to sleep.
But before he drifted off he looked once more at his family..HIS family and how that made him feel
so good.