Andrea's Ballad

Robert Lupin and Marie Lasse had decided to go out sailing for the day, as a chance to unwind before having to meet Alice and Farley to plan their wedding. Robert wanted to enjoy the feel of the sea on his fur before getting to that stressful event, and teach Marie how to pilot a boat.

Okay, so getting to see Marie in a white two-piece bathing suit, and a chance for some private time in the cabin of the boat didn't hurt either. Ever since they had gotten together, they had gotten out of their shells and had overcome much of their shyness, at least with each other.

Speaking of Marie, said border collie walked out from the cabin, in an unbuttoned white shirt, and the aforementioned white two-piece, her engagement ring safely around her neck so she wouldn't lose it. Robert smiled, at her, himself in only shorts, as she walked to him. "So, shall we begin the lesson?"

Robert nodded. "Gladly, m'love," and lead her to the steering system. Marie smiled when she felt his arms wrap around her exposed stomach as he began to show her the various levers and the steering wheel. "This lever determines engine speed , which is run by jets of water to save on gas, and you steer using this wheel." He took her arms and gently placed them on the wheel. "Now you try it."

Marie smiled and nodded, gently steering the boat around for a bit, slowly getting the hang of it. It was nice being the student instead of the teacher for a change.

Just then, however, a fog rolled around. Marie stopped the boat, as she and Robert looked around. "What on earth is going on?" Robert could swear he saw a silhouette walking on the water…

Wait, that can't be right, can it? But Marie noticed too. "Robert, someone is on the water. Not in the water, ON it."

"So you can see her too?" Robert didn't know how, but he knew that the person was a woman. "It is weird, Marie, but it feels like I should KNOW who she is." It was then that a beautiful Coyote femme walked out on the water.

Of course, the fact that she had wings on her back was not lost on either Robert or Marie. She had a look of sadness when she saw them and walked towards the ship. Robert didn't know why, but he felt compelled to jump off the ship.

Marie was surprised when he landed on the water without sinking. Well, if he can do it…

Marie followed suit, jumping on the water as well, and finding herself standing. Andrea started with Marie. "I see you can see me as well, young Marie. I know who you are, one whom my son loves very much, by the ring you wear around your neck." Robert paused, shocked. "M…Mom?"

Marie looked in surprise. She doesn't look a day past 18!

The coyote, Andrea smiled, tears streaming down her eyes. "That…that is the first time I ever got to hear you call me that, Robert." She went to hug him. "So many things I wanted to say, so many things I wanted to do for you."

Robert hugged her, and her wings folded over him. Marie followed suit. "Mom, this is Marie Lasse, my fiancée. But Mom, I need to know…how did you?"

She pressed his lips. "I will need to tell what happened in my final days, and indeed my final moments. Your fiancée is beautiful, Robert, and I am sure she will be a great wife to you. But both you and Marie deserve to know…I can sense you both have already encountered Cecil?"

Marie nodded. "And I haven't forgotten it. He is seeking redemption now. But neither Robert or I have been able to locate where exactly he went." Andrea nodded in understanding. "I am sorry he was so cruel to you. He showed that same cruelty to me."

Marie watched. "So I heard." Andrea began her tale.

"When I met Cecil, I was already ostracized. You see, I was born with a rare genetic disorder that gave me thin blood, and no Babbitt wanted anything to do with me. You have to understand, I was very deep into the Babbitt lore at the time, and I felt my first duty was to the men. And yet, none wanted to approach. Except for one very heartbroken man…"

"Cecil."

She nodded. "You have to understand, he had just lost his wife in an accident. I was young, lonely, and was so desperate for companionship that when he asked me to bed with him, I accepted. He was a man, and I was to be his to order." Marie was clenching her fist. "How…how could he?"

Andrea put a hand on Marie's shoulder. "He was as lonely as I was, Marie. It took two to tango that fateful night. I had no idea I was pregnant, and when I found out, h-he…"

Robert hugged her, and Andrea wept quietly in his arms. "He broke it off, didn't he?"

Andrea nodded. "He was scared, for his status, for his pride, and he was unwilling to help with the child. I couldn't get an abortion, but, more importantly, I wouldn't have gotten one even if I could. The doctors warned me that having the child with my condition would likely kill me.."

Andrea continued. "My cousin Melinda Merrick, at the time was married to a man named Edward Lupin, and already had her first child, Charles. She let me stay with her, and refused to let me go to the Babbitts for medical care. Chances are, if it weren't for that decision, both of us would be dead, Robert."

Robert looked at her in shock. "The Babbitts didn't have the tools needed to deal with a case such as mine, and Andrea knew that. I waited, in that delivery room, hoping that Cecil, the man I loved, would come forward. He never did.."

Marie stroked Andrea's hair as Andrea stayed in Robert's embrace. "Andrea, you died. So why..?"

"I am here, because of my final wishes. Before I died, I got to hold Robert briefly. The doctors could do little for me except make me comfortable. I managed to make my final wishes known….a tombstone would be placed in the cemetery, but my body would be where I always wanted it to be."

"In the Ocean."

Andrea nodded. "Yes. I always loved the ocean, I always wanted to swim amongst the fish and the wildlife in the ocean. Edward gave me a proper sea burial after I died, and somehow, I got my wish." Marie added something. "It wasn't Cecil's idea, you know."

"Huh?"

"I learned from Cecil that he had tried to reach you when you were giving birth. I found that out before he left, but his fellow Babbitts had him detained 'for his own good.'" Andrea put her hand over her mouth in disbelief. "How cruel, and all this time, I thought he had abandoned me. Thank you, Marie, for telling me this. Soon, it will be time for us to part for now." Robert hugged Andrea once again. "Mom…thank you. Our wedding will be soon, think you can somehow get there?"

"I will be there in spirit, my son. Maybe after the wedding, you two can come back and visit me?"

"Gladly, Mom. Gladly."

"Who knows, maybe you will see me again sooner than you think…Marie, I have a couple of gifts to give you two, first, for Robert." She handed him an obsidian sphere, with a blue flame glowing inside the sphere. "When I am near, there will be a blue flame. And this will always return to you if you lose it. That is my gift to Marie. Now for you, Robert."

She kissed his forehead gently, Robert feeling a strange tinge on him. "You have abilities you haven't even unlocked yet. Now, you can unlock them, but they will take practice. I must warn you, Robert, you inherited my disorder, but also gifts I didn't know I had until I had died. I hope in time, you will use these gifts to help others."

"I will, Mom, I promise."

"Thank you, my child. I suggest you return to your ship…"

All too soon, they had to part ways. Marie noticed that both seemed relieved, finally being able to meet each other after so long. Marie held Robert close, comforting him as they left, and as the mists cleared.