The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I think he'll be a good worker. It'll be good for him and Leon to be closer." She murmured, her eyes growing heavy as the fire warmed her. "He needs someone to teach him English, however. I don't believe Leon will be the most patient of teachers."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister smiled down at her when he saw her beginning to drift. "Past yer bedtime, aye?" He took her mug from her hands and set it aside before scooping her up out of her seat. He carried her to her room and tucked her carefully into her bed with that soft smile still on his face.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was startled as Aleister took her mug and scooped her out of her chair. She clung to him until he placed her on the bed and tucked her in. It was nice to be taken care of and loved without expecting something in return.

"I get worn out easier." She admitted as he smiled down a her, the fire burning merrily in the fireplace. "But I'll be there bright and early tomorrow. I promise."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Take yer time," Aleister's smile softened further. He leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead before he quietly made his way out.

 

[heartofcourage]

True to her word, Kayla was up bright and early the next morning. The bake house was full of fresh baked breads and treats and she showed no signs of stopping as she prepped for a busy day. She wanted to show Aleister that she was still capable of working hard despite being so heavily pregnant.

She was surprised when the shop bell rang and Dazu entered with Leon and a clinging Lucy. She noticed that Lucy now carried a stuffed wolf along with her stuffed horse under her arm. She knew that one of the two had given it to her and it made her smile to think of how they were caring for her.

"Help yourselves to breakfast." She called as she kissed Lucy's cheek and then Leon's. "Aleister should be back soon with supplies."

 

[KieranSoares]

Leon gave his sister a smile and set Lucy on her feet. "Yer awfully chipper," he commented with a chuckle. Aleister soon entered with his supplies and smiled to the two younger men and Lucy. "Mornin'." He looked to Dazu, "Aalai, teguum." Dazu gladly greeted him in return in his own rich accent and dialect.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I got a good night's sleep." Kayla said with a smile as Lucy clung to her uncle's pant leg, her little face buried against him as he set her on her feet.

When Aleister entered with his supplies and greeted them, Lucy peeked out from her hiding spot. Kayla gave her niece a smile and crouched in front of her, touching her cheek gently.

"Why don't you go and get some jam from Aleister's cabinet? I'll make you a fresh scone." She tempted the little girl, watching as she warred with herself. "Uncle Leon will still be here when you get back. I promise."

The hesitant little girl looked up at her uncle and then towards the cabinets in the bake house. She then handed him her horse and wolf for safe keeping before she slowly made her way towards where the jams were kept. It meant a lot that she was trying to be brave even though she was frightened. Kayla looked up towards her brother and gave him a soft smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

Leon watched Lucy go with a pain in his heart for her fear of losing him. He gave Kayla a fairly weak smile until Dazu laid a hand on his arm with a smile of his own. Leon took heart in his support and took his hand. It was a simple gesture, but it was quite a leap for Leon.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla knew it was hard for her brother to watch Lucy suffer. It was a part of life, however. She needed to make it on her own or else she would be dependent on Leon for absolutely everything for the rest of her life.

"She'll be alright." Kayla said softly to her brother as Dazu comforted him. "And Dazu, there is something that Aleister would like to discuss with you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Dazu looked up with a raised eyebrow, then to Aleister. The baker took the Lion aside, speaking with him in his native tongue for a few minutes while Kayla and Leon tended to Lucy. Dazu's expression quickly grew hopeful and animated, though he remained quite serious about something. Probably the issue of safety what with the bad blood between werefolk and humans. Soon the two were done and shook hands before Dazu returned to Leon.

"I work here," he stated plainly. Leon glanced to Aleister with a smile and nodded.

"Good. Then we'll 'ave even more of an excuse t'come down 'ere."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla doted on Lucy just as much as Leon did. She knew he was watching close as she spread fresh butter and then currant jam on the scone. He wanted to know everything the little girl loved and that touched Kayla deeply.

"Lucy love, we'll have to teach Uncle Leon how to braid your hair like your Da did." Kayla murmured as she ran her slender fingers through Lucy's unruly mop of dark curls. "It'll turn into a hopeless mess otherwise."

She made small talk as Aleister visited with Dazu. "What did you name your wolf?" Kayla asked as she spotted the new toy sitting on the counter beside her old horse.

Everyone in the family knew the horse was named Cappie. It had been her mother's favorite steed and Elijah had take to calling it that before Lucy was old enough to open her eyes. Lucy turned a quizzical gaze towards Leon as if to ask just what they had decided to name it. That moment was interrupted when Dazu announced he would be working there and Leon smiled in a mixture of thanks and relief. Kayla gave a smile to Aleister, silently thanking him for helping Leon to relax. It meant the world to her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dazu didn't want to break up the attention on Lucy, of course. He adored the girl. He knelt down beside her, helping her to answer Kayla's question. "Lunipa, remember?" She'd latched onto the word when he'd used it to describe the little wolf. It was simply Erygonian for 'wolf.'

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled as Lucy nodded as Dazu answered for her. It was obvious that she had been given the little wolf to help her with any fear she might still have after the kidnapping. Whatever Leon and Dazu had been doing seemed to be working wonders.

"Lunipa." Came the softest voice imaginable.

Kayla froze, looking at the little girl who hadn't uttered a single sound since the day she was born. It was like the air had been sucked from the room or she'd been punched hard in the belly. Lucy...had spoken.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dazu was the only one who wasn't frozen in shock. Instead, his smile softened and, as he often did when he spoke to her, he touched her cheek affectionately. "Perfect, eldere," he encouraged softly.

Leon finally managed to get hold of himself and he chuckled with the most proud and joyful smile Kayla had ever seen from her serious older brother. He hugged Lucy close, kissing the top of her head.

 

[heartofcourage]

Lucy hugged her uncle tightly, wondering why everyone was suddenly making a big fuss over her she simply wanted another scone, which was soon handed to her by Aleister. She bit into the flaky pastry and gave him a wide smile, her cheeks smeared with jam like always.

"You'll need to tell Grandpa that she's talking. Maybe he can figure out why it took her so long." Kayla said softly to Leon.

 

[KieranSoares]

Leon nodded, keeping Lucy close at his side. When they headed out a bit later, Dazu remained to start work immediately. Aleister gave him an apron and Dazu immediately set to tending the ovens and keeping them going. He seemed to know at least the basics of working stone ovens and between the two of them, Kayla was left with absolutely no heavy lifting just as Aleister had hoped. By the time customers arrived, she was able to focus solely on them. Many regulars commented on the handsome black werelion who welcomed everyone he saw in a mix of English and Erygonian.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla worked hard at the front of the bakery, making sure that the customers were happy. There was a lot of talk about the were lion that was helping in the bake house now. It seemed to bring in a few new faces and they had made a good profit by the time it was lunch.

They shut down and made their way to the tavern, Kayla's belly rumbling hungrily as Aleister and Dazu escorted her. She was talking to Dazu as Gerald and Ria took care of them, serving a thick stew.

"Leon loves a good roast. And potatoes." She told Dazu, feeding him the information that would make her serious brother smile more.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dazu nodded, "And subiya."

"Wha's that?" Aleister raised an eyebrow.

"It is..." Dazu paused, unable to find the words to describe the dish in English. He opted for Erygonian, and Aleister nodded as he explained.

"Rice an' lamb, right?" Aleister asked, and Dazu nodded.

"I, um... sorry. I am trying to learn."

"No worries, lad. You'll get it faster workin' at the bakery. Hopefully more Erygonians an' Lunars'll come in tha' might not 'ave come before since they can't speak English now tha' you're workin' with us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You can practice on Lucy. She likes hearing stories. I know Leon isn't the most patient teacher in the world." Kayla offered, giving the lion a soft laugh. "When I was Lucy's age, he would get so angry with me because I mixed up my words. He pushed me into the loch one day. Da tanned him so good that he wouldn't sit for dinner for a week."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He is... not bad teacher. He wants to talk, but I not understand yet." Leon had never wanted to speak much, but it seemed he'd found the right person and was just waiting to be understood. "Leon... has much to say."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Leon? My brother Leon?" Kayla asked in a surprised tone. "He's always been the quiet type. You must make him very happy if he wants to talk to you often."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I try. It is first time he gives me the chance to make him happy."

Ria soon approached with their food, "Alright, kids. Need anything else?" She laid a bowl and a thick slice of bread before each of them and refilled their drinks.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't think so. Thank you, Ria." Kayla said with a smile as she dug into the hearty stew.

Halfway through the meal, the door to the tavern opened and a beaming David stepped in, wrapping his mother in the tightest hug he could muster and announcing that Annie had finally had their baby. Kayla felt a little tug on her heart, her hand resting on her swollen belly as she thought about how excited Gale should have been when she had their child.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ria was in tears the moment she registered the news, and Gerald shooed her away to go see Annie and the baby, insisting he could hold his own with their other staff. But before he went, David saw Kayla and smiled softly to her. "You're welcome to stop by anytime too, Kay," he told her, but his mother was practically tugging him out the door.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will." Kayla called after him, her appetite suddenly gone as she pushed her half eaten bowl away. "Maybe I'll go home and take a nap. I'm suddenly tired."