Assumpta opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling for a moment before rolling
over to look at the clock. Just after six. She glared at the candle that
sat next to the clock on her night stand. With a fizzle a flame sprung into
life on the wick. Assumpta grinned before flicking her finger at the candle,
putting the flame out with a soft hiss.
She lay in bed for a few minutes longer,but sleep evaded her, so she quietly
got up and got dressed. After that, she went downstairs to have a quick breakfast
and get some paperwork done before Niamh came over to open up.
* * * * * * * *
"Niamh, could you give me a hand here?" Assumpta asked, coming out of the
kitchen balancing a couple plates of food. Niamh looked up, and motioned
with her hand. The plates immediately soared from Assumpta's hands and went
off to their respective owners. Assumpta grinned. "Thanks Niamh."
The door opened and Siobhan came in, taking her usual seat at the bar.
"Give us a pint there Assumpta," she said. Brendan raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked. "You know, in your condition..."
"Brendan Kearny, if you say your condition one more time..." Siobhan threatened.
Brendan looked her hard in the eye, and she glared back. Suddenly there was
a soft pop and sitting on the barstool in place of Siobhan was a rabbit.
"Ah Siobhan!" Assumpta cried exasperatedly. "Would you mind not doing that?
There isn't supposed to be any livestock in the bar! And Brendan, please
keep your mind to itself!" Brendan shrugged and went back to reading his
paper. Siobhan reappeared a moment later, glowering at Brendan as she sipped
her pint.
"It's harder for him to read my mind when I'm in another form," she muttered
in explanation. Assumpta raised her eyebrows.
"And why would Brendan want to read your mind?" she asked skeptically.
"Just to show he can?" Siobhan said, shrugging. Brendan snorted into his
pint of stout.
"Well, it's nice to know that you all are acting responsibly your powers,"
Padraig said, shaking his head.
"Says the man who froze over the Angel last night because he was bored,"
Brendan retorted. "Ambrose wasn't too happy about that." Padraig looked embarrassedly
at his feet.
"This has got to be the strangest town in Ireland," Assumpta muttered, wiping
off the taps.
"We aren't the only mutants in the world, Assumpta," Brendan reminded her.
"True."
"Good morning, everyone," Peter said, coming in.
"Speaking of mutants," Niamh said quietly. Peter frowned but sat at the bar.
"Pint of lager, 'Sumpta," he said. Assumpta nodded and brought him his pint.
"Here you are," she said, setting it in front of Peter.
"So how's Leo been lately?" Peter asked casually. Assumpta's mouth tightened.
Niamh seemed to shrink away. The bar towel in Assumpta's hand burst into
flames.
"Oh God!" Assumpta cried, dropping the towel and stamping on it.
"Sorry..." Peter said apologetically "I didn't mean..."
"That's all right," Assumpta said, shaking her head. "You didn't know...Leo
and I had a sort of falling out while you were in Manchester."
"Oh, sorry to hear that," Peter said, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Assumpta shrugged and went to get the broom to remove the charred remains
of the tea towel.
* * * * * *
Fr. Mac entered Dr. Ryan's surgery for his weekly checkup. Dr. Ryan looked
up and smiled as he entered.
"Ah hello, Father. Have a seat, " he said, setting down his pen, "and how
are you? Have those pills been helping with your joints at all?"
"Yes the pills have been working wonderfully, Michael, thank you," Fr. Mac
said, sitting down. Dr. Ryan peered at him closely and raised an eyebrow.
"You get in an argument with Assumpta again?" he asked. Fr. Mac looked alarmed.
"How could you tell?"
"Your eyebrows are singed." Dr. Ryan clicked his tongue. "You know, you ought
to be careful with her." Fr. Mac snorted.
"She wouldn't dare do anything more then singe my eyebrows," he said.
"I wouldn't count on that," Dr. Ryan replied.
* * * * * * * *
Peter was walking past Fitzgerald's that evening after closing time. He looked
in to see Assumpta moving about hurriedly inside, trying to clean up the
days mess. Tonight, like he had many times in the past, Peter took pity on
his friend and went in to help her.
"Oh hiya Peter," Assumpta said, emptying the ashtrays from the bar.
"You look like you could use a hand," Peter said, hanging up his jacket.
"I could use several," Assumpta said. "Pity my mutation wasn't a few extra
arms. Or something like Niamh has." Peter grinned.
"Ah well, yours matches your personality. Fiery." He walked over and began
collecting dirty glasses. Assumpta stuck her tongue out at him.
"Heh, you don't know the definition of fiery, Father," she said. "What's
your 'power' anyway? I heard you say you did have one." Peter tapped the
side of his nose.
"You'll find out someday," he promised. "When the time comes." Assumpta looked
slightly disappointed.
* * * * * * * * *
"Ah here he is, the flying curate," Brendan said grinning as Peter walked
over.
"Hiya Brendan, is Assumpta around?" he asked, noticing that Niamh was tending
the bar.
"She's up in Cilldargan for the moment," Brendan said. "You need to talk
to her." It was a statement, not a question, as Brendan had briefly probed
Peter's mind.
"Yeah could you-"
"Tell her you need to talk to her when she get's back," Brendan finished.
Peter glared at him.
"And - "
"Stop reading your mind," Brendan winked. "Sure thing." Peter rolled his
eyes and marched out of the pub.
* * * * * * * * *
Assumpta entered St.Joseph's quietly. It was mostly dark inside the church,
but she could barely make out Peter's form standing in front of the altar.
"You know, you'd be able to see better if there was more light," Assumpta
said. On 'light' she snapped her fingers and all the candles immediately
burst into life, filling the church with a shimmering yellow glow.
"Assumpta..." Peter said without turning around. He stood with his hands
resting on the altar.
"Is something wrong?" Assumpta asked, walking over to him.
"Lots of things," Peter said mournfully. "I feel like I've been pressing
on through darkness, without a light, not really knowing where I'm going.
I don't really know what to think anymore." He put his face in his hands.
Assumpta put a comforting hand on his back.
"Let me be your light," she whispered. "Let me help." Peter stared at her,
wide eyed.
"Do you know how much I would love that?" he said quietly. "I think about
you every minute of every day...No matter what I'm doing, I'm always thinking
of you. You haunt my thoughts, my dreams, my every waking moment." He moved
slightly closer to her. "I love you." It was Assumpta's turn now to go wide
eyed.
"Peter, I had no idea..."
"I thought dogs in the street knew," Peter muttered.
"Do you think I would have married Leo if I knew how you felt? I thought
he would be able to drive you from my head."
"And did he?" Peter asked quietly. Assumpta looked at the floor and shook
her head.
"Quite the reverse, actually," she said. "It only made me want you more."
She slowly turned her face up towards Peters.
Peter stepped closer to her, sliding his arms around her. He leaned his forehead
against hers. Though Peter could feel Assumpta's breath on his lips, and
was very aware of how close they were together, he couldn't bring himself
to kiss her just yet.
Assumpta slid her hands up Peter's back, stopping when she reached his shoulder
blades. She frowned as she felt his muscles shifting in strange, almost impossible
ways...
"You might want to move your hands," Peter quietly warned. Assumpta moved
her hands downward. With a soft fwoosh, and the rip of fabric, two huge,
white, feathered wings burst from Peter's back. Assumpta gasped.
"Oh my god..." she whispered, eyes open almost as wide as they would go,
as if she were trying to take in everything about Peter all at once.
"This is my power." Peter murmured.
"They're beautiful," Assumpta said, running her fingers over the silky white
feathers. "You look like an angel or something." Peter smiled and pulled
Assumpta close to him, drawing his wings about them like a screen shielding
them from view.
Slowly he brought his lips to Assumpta's, kissing her lightly. Assumpta kissed
him back, and the short, quick kisses quickly progressed into long, passionate
ones. Suddenly Peter pulled away, drawing his wings back, folding them away.
"What's wrong?" Assumpta asked, looking at Peter questioningly. Peter hung
his head.
"Not here, Assumpta," he said. "This really isn't the time or the place...I
love you, but...this is just wrong." Assumpta shivered slightly, wrapping
her arms about her. 'Funny, me being cold ...' she thought.
"I understand," she whispered. Peter looked up at her.
"Really?"
"Yeah." She turned to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"All right," Peter said. "Assumpta?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
* * * * * * * * *
Assumpta left the church and quickly walked down the road, heading back towards
Fitzgerald's. A wind had sprung up and it was getting quite chilly.
Suddenly Ambrose appeared in front of her.
"Yahh!" Assumpta cried, jumping. "Ambrose, would ya not do that? You're going
to scare me to death!"
"Sorry, Assumpta," Ambrose said sheepishly. Assumpta noticed he was in his
pajamas.
"What are you doing out here anyway...in your pajamas?" Assumpta asked, raising
an eyebrow. Ambrose fidgeted nervously, then glared up at his bedroom window.
"Niamh wanted me to see if you were all right, walking around at this time
of night," he said.
"Tell her I'm fine." Assumpta glanced at her watch. "This time of night?
It's only past ten! God!" She stomped off. Ambrose shrugged and teleported
back to his bedroom.
* * * * * * * * *
Peter stood, putting out the last of the candles. Suddenly he heard footsteps
and looked up, hoping to see Assumpta. To his shock, it was Fr. Mac.
"Well well, Fr. Clifford," Fr. Macanally said. Judging by the fact that his
mouth was drawn in a tight line, and his voice sharp, he had just played
witness to the past half hour's events.
"Fr. Macanally. Er...can I help you?" Peter asked nervously. He was suddenly
aware of the fact that the back of his shirt had two long rips down it. He
shifted, hoping Fr. Mac wouldn't notice.
"Actually," Fr. Mac said, glaring. "I was thinking I could help you." Peter
gulped.
"Oh?"
"Don't play coy with me, Father. I saw what just happened," Fr. Mac said.
"It was bad enough when your previous bishop informed me of your....abnormality.
Now you've been...seducing...the publican. This is unacceptable."
"Seducing the publican?!" Peter cried, inadvertently extending his wings
in anger which caused Fr. Mac to leap backwards in shock. "Seducing the publican?!
I was not seducing the publican!"
"Then what do you call that?" Fr. Mac snapped. He was eyeing Peter's wings
nervously.
"Father, I had hoped to tell you this in a different situation. But Assumpta
and I are in love," Peter said. Fr. Mac narrowed his eyes.
"Then it shouldn't bother you when I tell you you're fired then."
* * * * * * * * *
The next morning Assumpta sat drumming her fingers impatiently on the bar.
It was nearly 10 o'clock, and Peter hadn't been by at all. Niamh came in
around ten thirty.
"What are you so impatient about?" she asked, eyeing Assumpta's nervously
drumming fingers.
"Peter hasn't been by at all today," Assumpta said. Niamh raised an eyebrow.
"You mean you haven't heard?" she said, moving to sit at the bar. Assumpta
stood up straighter.
"Heard what?"
"Fr. Mac's kicked him out of the priesthood, I don't know why," Niamh said.
"But Kathleen said this morning. Peter's up in Cilldargan talking to the
bishop."
* * * * * * * * *
Brian Quigley took out a cigar, then searched his pocket for a match. Upon
not finding one, he let out an exasperated sigh.
"Assumpta!" he called.
"Yeah?" Assumpta said, looking up. Brian held out the unlit cigar.
"Could you give us a light?" he asked. Assumpta flicked her fingers and the
tip of the cigar lit.
"I should really start charging for that."
* * * * * * * * *
Peter entered Fitzgerald's that evening feeling warn out. He'd just spent
the whole day up in Cilldargan in Fr. Mac's study, having an argument with
the Bishop and Fr. Mac. Both of the other two men had seemed more keen on
simply having Peter transferred.
"You are a good priest, just not the one for Ballykissangel," the bishop
had said. But when everything came down to it, Peter said he'd rather leave
the priesthood than leave Assumpta.
"Peter!" Assumpta exclaimed as she spotted him. "Are you ok? Niamh said..."
"I'm fine," Peter said, taking a seat at the bar next to Brendan. "But, I'm
sort of unemployed." Brendan frowned at him.
"They can't just, kick you out!" he cried angrily. Peter shrugged.
"I don't mind. Actually," he looked at Assumpta, "I was planning on resigning
anyway." Brendan suddenly turned Peter so he was facing him. After staring
intently into his eyes for a moment he cried,
"So you can do WHAT?"
Peter rolled his eyes and muttered, "You could have waited to find out rather
then being so nosy." Brendan leaned back in his chair and waved one hand,
signaling for Peter to continue. Assumpta raised her eyebrows.
"What are you two on about?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest.
"Nothing," Peter said, shaking his head. "Brendan's just being nosy. Anyway,
you wouldn't have any positions open here, would you?"
* * * * * * * * *
It took everyone quite a while to get used to Peter not being a priest. Padraig
made a couple jokes about "holy man to bartender in less then a day" but
other then that, most people had a dour opinion of the matter. They were
either mad about Peter being kicked out, or mad at Peter, because they'd
found out why he got kicked out.
Kathleen Hendly had been the first person to find out about the circumstances
of Peter's departure. Though she was standing cleaning the altar, and Peter
and Fr. Mac were in the sacristy packing Peter's papers, Kathleen somehow
managed to overhear every word of their conversation...
Peter slowly began to adjust to his new life. After a while it became quite
enjoyable, he loved waking up and being able to walk a few feet and greet
Assumpta. He found himself looking forward to the drowsy way she would say
good morning and give him a kiss when he'd come into her bedroom just before
they'd have to open up.
As people became used to Peter as their bartender, they also became used
to the knowledge that there was something between Peter and Assumpta. Now
that there was nothing against it, Assumpta wouldn't hesitate to flirt with
Peter during lulls in the customers. After she went back into the kitchen
following one of these times, Brendan smirked at Peter, who was looking slightly
dazed.
"Assumpta certainly redefines the term 'hot chick', wouldn't you say, Peter?"
Brendan said. Peter laughed.
"Oh yes, entirely." He absentmindedly picked up a glass and began to dry
it.
"You know," Brendan said thoughtfully, "Dr. Ryan said that your mutant powers
can go out of control when your emotions are strong, if you don't learn to
control it, that is." He gave Peter a pointed , sideways look. "Has this
caused any problems for you? I'm just curious." Peter rolled his eyes.
"I know what you're thinking," he said. "And we haven't reached that stage
yet."
"Oh right. I suppose you'll burn that bridge when you come to it, ey?" Brendan
said, laughing at the pun. Peter groaned and put a hand to his face.
* * * * * * * * *
" 'Sumpta, are you sure this is all right?" Peter asked, closing the bedroom
door behind him. He was still remembering what Brendan had said a few days
ago. Assumpta walked over and put her arms around his neck, kissing him lightly
on the lips.
"What on earth do you mean?" she murmured, walking backwards towards to the
bed. "Of course it's all right." With a soft flump she fell back on it, pulling
Peter to her. Peter wrapped his arms around her and began gently kissing
her neck.
Assumpta carefully unbuttoned Peter's shirt, sliding it off over his arms.
As soon as she did so, two great feathery wings slowly unfolded from Peter's
back. He gently touched Assumpta's cheek with the tip of one of them, before
letting them fall limp.
Peter kissed Assumpta on the mouth, pushing her up against the metal frame
headboard. As he began trailing kisses along her jaw line, then down her
neck and along her collar bone, Assumpta closed her hand around one of the
bed knobs that adorned the headboard.
Peter slid his fingers under the collar of Assumpta's shirt, pushing it down
so he could press his lips to the smooth skin of her shoulder. Assumpta let
out a moan, her hand tightening on the headboard.
Suddenly she let out a yelp and leapt forward, nearly pushing Peter off the
bed. They both stared at the headboard. The parts of the metal that Assumpta's
bare skin had been in contact with were glowing bright red.
"Owww..." Assumpta said, staring at her palm, which was burned. Peter turned
her around and examined her shoulders, which also had the pattern of the
head board burned in red lines across them. "Ouuuch..." Assumpta groaned,
her eyes watering.
"We'll take you over to Dr. Ryan's," Peter said, folding his wings so he
could put his shirt on. "He'll fix those in a sec." Assumpta looked sadly
at Peter.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I should really learn to control myself." Peter smiled
and kissed her on the cheek.
"It's all right," he told her. "Now I can tell people my girlfriend's really
hot in bed."
* * * * * * *
"Assumpta, Peter, hello!" Dr. Ryan said as they entered his surgery. "What's
the matter?" he frowned, noticing Assumpta's pained expression.
"I kinda had a little accident with my er...power," she said, holding out
her hand. Dr. Ryan tutted and took it between his. Closing his eyes, he concentrated
for a moment then released it.
"There," he said. Assumpta examined her hand, which was back to normal.
"Thanks."
"She's got some on her shoulders too," Peter said. Assumpta held the neck
of her blouse down so Dr. Ryan could see the burns across the back of her
shoulders.
"Those are...odd looking. May I ask how you got them?" he asked after healing
the burns.
"From the headboard of my bed," she said, blushing furiously. "I lost control
of my powers for a bit and heated up my metal headboard."
"Ah, yes," Dr. Ryan said, nodding as he sat back in his chair. "One thing
I've learned about these powers is that they can go out of control when you
reach an extreme emotional high. When you're really excited, startled, angry,
sexually stimulated, or whatever. It's not your fault. But Peter, I'd be
careful if I were you." He winked at Peter who's cheeks turned bright red.
* * * * * * * *
"Assumpta?" Peter asked, peering over the table at Assumpta. They were vacationing
in Dublin for a couple days, and currently having dinner at a fancy restaurant.
"Yeah?" Assumpta said, looking up from the menu. The past two days had been
bliss, being able to concentrate solely on Peter was a wonderful break from
the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Ballykay. They'd gone to movies,
museums, the theater, and each day Assumpta found herself falling more and
more in love with Peter.
"Er, there's been something I've been meaning to ask you." Peter nervously
got up and knelt in front of Assumpta, taking her hand in his. Assumpta raised
an eyebrow, perfectly aware of what he was about to say.
"Go on," Assumpta said, "I won't burn you." Peter glared at her, but took
a deep breath.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
"What that's it?" Assumpta teased. "No long heart felt speech professing
your love for me?" She laughed as Peter turned brick red. Assumpta leaned
down and kissed him firmly on the mouth. "Of course I will," she whispered.
Peter grinned and got to his feet.
" 'Sides..." he said meaningfully, "I was waiting till later to 'profess
my love for you'." He winked and Assumpta laughed again.
* * * * * * * *
The phone began to ring. Niamh couldn't quite reach it, so she flicked her
fingers and the receiver flew into her hand.
"Fitzgerald's," she said, directing two glasses over to the taps, having
them fill themselves, then make their way to the customers who ordered them.
"Hiya, Niamh. It's Assumpta."
"Assumpta!" Niamh stared happily at the phone. "How are you girl?"
"Married," was Assumpta's short reply. Niamh almost dropped the receiver.
"What, again?"
"Yeah. Only, not to Leo this time."
"Who then?" Niamh caused a tea towel to shoot into the air, then begin wiping
off the bar.
"Peter," Assumpta giggled slightly.
Niamh frowned. "That was fast."
"I know....We're planning on coming back tomorrow, so would you mind breaking
the news to everyone?"
"Yeah...sure..." Niamh said slowly.
"All right, I have to go. But I'll see you tomorrow, 'k Niamh?"
"Yeah," Niamh said. They said their good bye's and Niamh hung up the phone,
before walking over to where the regulars sat at the other end of the bar.
"Well look who it is," Brendan said, looking up as Niamh approached. "Decided
to actually wait on us, Niamh?"
"No," Niamh said flatly. "I have to tell you something." Brendan stared intently
at her.
"Peter and Assumpta got married," he said after a minute. Niamh frowned.
"Don't do that," she snapped. Brendan grinned and shrugged.
"So they did get married?" Padraig asked, absentmindedly freezing Brendan's
pint of stout.
"Yeah." Niamh shook her head. "That girl...sometimes I don't know how to
react to her. Anyway, she's coming back tomorrow, so you all can talk to
her and Peter then."
"The pyrokinetic publican and winged ex-priest..." Brendan mused, while trying
to get Padraig to unfreeze his pint.
* * * * * * * *
A few days later, Niamh came up behind Assumpta, who was washing the windows
of the pub, and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What?" Assumpta said, whirling around. "Oh, hiya Niamh. You're here to get
Kieran, I take it?"
"Yep, thanks for watching him. It was so nice to be able to get out with
Ambrose for once, " she sighed. "So where is the little devil anyway?"
"He's with..." Assumpta suddenly stopped. Kieran came zooming past, shooting
right through thin air and hotly pursued by Peter, who was flapping his wings
quite fast in order to catch up with the runaway baby. "...Peter." Assumpta
finished, narrowing her eyes. Niamh held out both hands and Kieran and Peter
stopped their frantic goose chase.
"Problem solve,." Niamh said, brushing her hands off on her pants.
"Peter Clifford!" Assumpta cried. "Will you stop doing things like that,
or do I have to burn those wings off?" Peter gulped.
"He started it, " he said, pointing feebly at Kieran, who giggled and did
a midair somersault. Assumpta put her hands on her hips and glared at Peter.
"God!" Niamh sighed. She pulled Kieran into her arms. "You little rascal."
She growled. Kieran giggled.
"Excuse me! Niamh, do you mind?" Peter called, waving his arms to get Niamh's
attention. Niamh flicked her hand at Peter, and he fell to the ground in
a heap.
"Serves you right," Assumpta said, helping Peter to his feet, "you should
have kept a better grip on the baby."
"A better grip?" Peter cried, following Assumpta back into the pub. "Assumpta,
excuse me, but I looked up and the next thing I knew Kieran was flying right
through the wall!" He looked so flustered that Assumpta couldn't help but
laugh.
* * * * * * * *
"I love you," Peter said, stopping a moment while carrying a tray of drinks
over to one of the tables. Assumpta smiled.
"Yeah, I love you too," she said. Suddenly the lights flickered and went
out. Assumpta swore loudly.
"I'll get it," Padraig called.
"That's ok, Padraig. I've got it," Assumpta said heading towards the trapdoor.
Peter was just wondering where to set the tray of drinks, when suddenly a
pale glow lit up the bar. Everyone was looking around for the source of the
light. Suddenly, all faces turned to Fr. Mac, who was trying to sit on his
hands. Realizing that this was doing nothing, he grudgingly pulled his hands
out. Immediately the whole pub was lit up, Fr. Mac's fingertips appeared
to be shining as bright as 60 watt light bulbs.
A second later however, the lights came back on, only to go out with a bang.
"Assumpta?!" Peter cried. He would have dropped the tray, had Niamh not been
paying attention from across the pub and caught it. Peter rushed around the
bar and charged into the basement. Assumpta was sitting on the ground a few
feet from the fuse box, looking groggy. Peter rushed over to her and threw
his arms around her.
"Wha...?" Assumpta said woozily.
" 'Sumpta! Are you all right?" Peter asked, looking down at her.
Assumpta shook her head as if to clear it then said,"Yeah, I'm fine." She
smiled reassuringly up at Peter, who let out a breath of relief.
"The fuse box isn't, though," he said, helping Assumpta to her feet. "Guess
we'll be sending everyone home."
"Oh what a shame." Assumpta's tone was sarcastic, and her eyes glittered
maliciously. Peter raised an eyebrow and glared at her reproachfully.
"Assumpta, remember what happened last time?" He watched as Assumpta began
climbing the ladder back up to the bar.
"Peter. I refuse to let my mutation prevent us from having...umm...any physical
contact," she said stubbornly.
"I'm not saying it will!" Peter replied. "I just don't want either of us
to get hurt!"
"Peter!" Assumpta said sharply, turning around as they reached the top of
the ladder. "I'll control myself, ok?" Peter climbed up out of the trapdoor
and stood very close to Assumpta, putting his arms around her waist.
"All right," he said, kissing her forehead. Assumpta grinned.
* * * * * * * *
Peter awoke one morning, a few weeks after the incident with the electricity.
He rolled over and gently put his arms around Assumpta, nuzzling his face
against her neck.
"Peter, are you awake?" Assumpta asked softly.
"Mhmm," Peter said.
"I...don't feel well," Assumpta said. Peter sat up and peered concernedly
at her.
"What's the matter?"
"My stomach won't stop churning and my head hurts," Assumpta complained.
"Like hell," she added. Peter put a hand to her forehead.
"You don't feel like you have a fever..." he said slowly. Suddenly Assumpta's
eyes went wide.
"Peter...."
"What?"
"I need to go to the drugstore. Now."
Peter frowned. "I thought you were sick."
"I am. I think." Assumpta tried sitting up, then groaned and lay back down.
"Get me the phone, I need to call Niamh."
* * * * * * * *
"Hey, where's Assumpta today?" Padraig asked as Peter served him his drink.
"She's still in bed. Wasn't feeling good," Peter explained. "Dr. Ryan and
Niamh are up there with her right now." Padraig nodded.
"I hope nothing's the matter."
"Oh it's probably just a cold or something." Peter shrugged. "She was feeling
nauseated and had a headache." He looked up as he heard footsteps on the
stairs. Assumpta came down , followed by Dr. Ryan and Niamh.
"I told her she should stay in bed, " Dr. Ryan said, "But she insisted on
telling you herself."
"Telling me what?" Peter asked, frowning when he saw Assumpta and Niamh's
smug grin's. Assumpta beckoned to him. Peter walked over.
"Dr. Ryan diagnosed it as mutated morning sickness," Assumpta murmured. Peter
stared at her.
"You mean...?"
"Yep," Assumpta beamed. Peter let out a whoop. He picked Assumpta up and
gently swung her around, not even noticing his wings had opened, until he
knocked over a vase of flowers.
"Oh nice going, Father," Niamh said, shaking her head.
"Sorry," Peter said sheepishly, carefully refolding his wings. Assumpta tutted
and ran a finger down one of the rips in the back of Peter's shirt.
"You know, I could put something in the back of the shirt that would let
you open your wings without ruining your shirt," she said.
"Ah, the good little mutant housewife," Brendan teased. Assumpta glared at
him. Brendan's eyebrows singed off.
* * * * * * * *
"And how's the mother to be doing?" Brendan asked a week later, peering at
Assumpta over the top of his newspaper.
"I hate morning sickness!" Assumpta complained, handing Brendan his pint
of stout. She suddenly let out an almighty sneeze, causing Brendan's paper
to burst into flames.
"Oh very nice, Assumpta!" Brendan promptly dropped his paper and stomped
on it. "Do you mind covering your mouth when you sneeze?!"
"Sorry!" Assumpta said, wincing.
* * * * * * * *
Assumpta stood alone in the pub, wiping off the bar. She heard the sound
of the door opening and turned around.
"Leo!" she said surprisedly. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you, Assumpta," Leo said stiffly. Something didn't seem
right, Assumpta thought. She unconsciously put her hands over her stomach,
as if to defend her unborn child from whatever attack Leo was getting ready
to throw at her.
"What do you want?" she asked, shakily. Leo's eyes flicked sown to her stomach
before coming back up to her face.
"So it's true," he said softly. "You really are having that priest's kid."
"Yes," Assumpta said, calming a little. "And he's not a priest anymore. He's
my husband." Leo's fist tightened around something in his pocket.
"He's one of them too, isn't he?" he asked quietly. "One of you. A mutant."
He spat the last word out as if it were a swear word.
"Leo..." Assumpta said exasperatedly. "Don't tell me you've gone all 'anti-mutant'
now."
"So you've both got these crazy powers, and you're going to have a kid,"
Leo said. "And now this kid is going to be doubly weird."
"It's perfectly possible that our child will be completely normal, without
any mutations," Assumpta snapped.
"I'm not willing to take that chance," Leo said. "There's enough of you freaks
running around." He raised the gun he'd been hiding in his pocket and aimed
it at Assumpta.
* * * * * * * * *
"Thanks a bunch, Peter," Ambrose said as he and Niamh appeared in their kitchen.
"No problem," Peter said, handing Kieran over to his mother. "We had fun."
Kieran giggled.
"That's goo,." Niamh said. She held out her hand and the bottle flew from
the counter into her open palm.
"Yeah, I'm always half afraid that I'll come home and find Kieran hanging
from the ceiling or something."
"I'm sure to get him down before you two get home," Peter joked.
Suddenly two shots rang out.
"That came from the pub!" Ambrose cried, immediately vanishing.
Peter and Niamh exchanged horrified looks. Then Peter let out a cry, as an
image of Assumpta clutching her stomach as she slid to the floor flashed
before his mind.
"Assumpta!" Peter cried, running from the garda house.
* * * * * * ** *
"Oh my god!" Brendan cried out. He and Siobhan were having dinner together,
when suddenly images of Assumpta began flashing through Brendan's head. First
she was standing in front of the bar looking terrified, then she was clutching
her stomach, with a pained look on her face, the last was Assumpta laying
on the floor, blood pooling around her.
"What's wrong?" Siobhan asked concernedly. Brendan leapt to his feet, breathing
heavily.
"Assumpta's in trouble!" Brendan shouted. "Siobhan, we need to get Dr. Ryan
to Fitzgerald's."
"Right," Siobhan said. They rushed outside.
"I'll go to Fitzgerald's. You get Dr. Ryan," Brendan said, heading towards
his car. Siobhan nodded, transforming into a cheetah and charging off in
the direction of Dr. Ryan's surgery.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Leo!" Ambrose snarled. It only took him a few seconds to take in the scene
before him. He grabbed Leo and wrestled the gun out of his hands, Leo put
up a fight and Ambrose was forced to knock him out by a well placed blow
to the back of his head.
"Oh god, Assumpta!" Ambrose knelt next to Assumpta. She lay unconscious on
the floor, blood oozing out of the wounds in her stomach. The door burst
open and Niamh ran in, followed by Peter.
"Assumpta!" Peter let out a strangled cry, kneeling down next to his wife.
There was a ripping noise as his wings burst out, and Peter folded them around
himself and Assumpta. A minute later the door opened and Brendan came in,
followed by Dr. Ryan and a tired looking Siobhan. Peter looked up, tears
streaming down his face.
"Oh god, Michael, hurry!" he said, standing up. Dr. Ryan dropped to the floor
beside Assumpta's limp form. He pressed his hands to the gunshot wounds.
Closing his eyes he concentrated. Everyone held their breath. Peter stood
behind Dr. Ryan, watching him as he worked. First Dr. Ryan managed to remove
the bullets as the tissue around them began healing. But even after the wounds
were completely healed, he remained in position.
"I'm trying to save the child," he explained, not opening his eyes.
By the door, Leo was regaining consciousness. Ambrose was immediately at
his side, pinning his arms behind him. Suddenly Assumpta's eyes flashed open,
and she sat up. Then, seeing Leo, she leapt to her feet.
"I'll kill you!" she snarled, extending one hand in Leo's direction. Ambrose
vanished, reappearing well out of the line of fire. "You dare try and harm
my baby!" Flames were forming at the tips of Assumpta's fingers. Leo blanched,
thoroughly frozen in place.
"Assumpta, no!" Peter threw himself between Assumpta and Leo, spreading his
wings wide. Assumpta was so startled that she released the flames, which
hit Peter fully on his left wing, he let out a howl of pain as the feathers
burned away. Assumpta shouted and waved her had vigorously, causing the flames
to subside. Sobbing, she rushed to Peter, pulling him to her as he sank to
the ground.
"Oh god what have I done!" Assumpta cried, holding Peter.
" 'Sumpta, it's all right, you just got my feathers. They'll grow back,"
Peter reassured her weakly. Assumpta buried her face in his shoulder.
* * * * * * * * * *
Half an hour later Ambrose and Brendan had taken Leo up to the station in
Cilldargan. Niamh had taken Kieran home, Siobhan also returned home. Peter
and Dr. Ryan tended to Assumpta.
"The baby," Assumpta said, as she sat before a roaring fire, sipping the
cup of herbal tea Peter had made. "Is my baby all right?" She sounded frightened.
Dr. Ryan looked up from where he was attempting to speed up the re-growing
of Peter's feathers.
"The baby's going to be fine, Assumpta," he reassured her. "Strangely not
a whole lot of damage was done to it, but I was able to repair what was."
Assumpta walked over and gave the doctor a hug.
"Thank you so much," she whispered. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"Just promise me you'll be careful," he said. "I know tonight couldn't have
been helped, but really, in this last month it's crucial to your child that
you be careful. Avoid using your power at all costs." Assumpta nodded. Dr.
Ryan let his hands fall back to his sides. "There you go Peter, good as new."
Peter flexed his wing.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. Dr. Ryan nodded.
"All in a day's work," he said with a wink. "Good night, you two."
* * * * * * * * *
"So how's Assumpta doing?" Brendan asked two days later, taking his usual
seat next to Siobhan and unfolding his newspaper.
"Oh she's fine. Got a little cold, but otherwise fine," Siobhan replied.
She and Padraig exchanged a grin.
"Oh that's good," Brendan said distractedly. Assumpta came out of the kitchen
carrying Padraig's sandwich on a tray.
"Here ya are Padraig," she said, setting it in front of him. She then turned
to Brendan. "Hiya Brendan, what can I get you?"
"The usual please, Assumpta," Brendan said, continuing to read the paper.
Assumpta suddenly screwed up her face.
"Just a - ACHOO!" Assumpta sneezed. Brendan's paper burst into flames.
"Not again!" Brendan groaned, pouring water over the paper.
"Thorry," Assumpta said through her stuffed nose. At the end of the bar,
Padraig gripingly handed Siobhan a fiver.
"All right, you win," he grumbled. Siobhan smiled.
"What'd I say? Every time...."
* * * * * * * *
"Assumpta, you think we can slip away for a little bit?" Peter whispered,
sliding his arms around Assumpta's waist. It was the next day during the
usual post-lunch lull.
"Sure," Assumpta said. "Niamh, Peter and I are going to take a walk, would
you mind watching the pub for an hour or so?"
"Not at all," Niamh said. Assumpta thanked her, then she and Peter went out.
They walked down the road and over the bridge. Soon they were hiking through
the woods just next to Ballykay.
"Are you getting tired?" Peter asked. Assumpta had stopped and put a hand
to her chest, breathing heavily.
"A bit," she said. Peter slowly extended his wings, making sure they went
through the slits Assumpta had sewn in the back of his shirt. He drew Assumpta
into his arms.
"Here, allow me." He began to flap his wings, and in moments they were up
above the tree tops. Peter flew over to a rocky protrusion on the side of
a sheer face of the mountain, and set Assumpta down on it, then sat next
to her.
"It's so beautiful up here," Assumpta said, staring off across the valley,
over the village and the rolling green fields.
"Yeah," Peter said. He gently kissed Assumpta on the lips. "We'll have to
bring our child up here." Assumpta smiled and nodded. She leaned her head
against Peter's shoulder. Peter put one arm around Assumpta's waist, resting
his hand on her stomach, smiling as he felt their child give a little kick.
They sat there together, watching the sun set below the Wicklow hills. The
two lovers, the pyrokinetic publican and the winged ex-priest.
The List
Assumpta = Pyrokenisis - can create/control/destroy fire
Ambrose - Teleportation
Brendan - Psychic powers - reads minds, picks up on people in danger, ect.
Brian Quigley - Magneto powers - can control metal
Dr. Ryan - can heal people, but only tissues, for ex. he can't cure diseases.
Fr. Mac - can glow
Kathleen - Super hearing
Niamh = Telekinesis - controls things with her mind
Padraig - Same as Assumpta, except with ice rather then fire
Peter - Grows wings
Siobhan - Transforms into animals