Jenny disappeared.
Anne and Fabius Maximus stood frozen at first but then Anne's eyes became dark, she grabbed his hand and the two of them disappeared as well.
What she saw when they appeared made her almost laugh.
Jenny stood in mid of the garden with shiny eyes and almost dived into the flowers in front of her. "Falax Mirox flowers? How do you have them? How is this even possible!?"
The old man blinked at her than at the flower and shrugged. "I was shortly travelling and found these flowers on the nearby island. They were pretty and as we have the same weather, I felt they would bloom in my garden as well. Are they special?"
Jenny nodded with a huge smile. "Once in a blue moon these flowers become radiant and give of fruit of eternal beauty. Even an old person can become young. Not only that, but it also prolongs life for one century. They are rare if not extinct in our world. I must have them. Can I have seeds or maybe seedlings?"
The old man blinked at her and then watched at the flowers and then again at her. "What is a Blue Moon?"
Anne looked up and saw that it's a sunny day. "Uhm, John. This world has no Moon?"
He shook his head. "We do, but never had a blue Moon."
Anne just sighed. With her mother, she found out that the Moon can have many strange shades. "Blue Moon is when the Moon becomes a bit bluish and that is rare even in our world. We have the next one in a few months and the next after that blue moon will be next year on August 21st. So for the real blue Moon, we have to wait until next year, but in October 31st this year is one as well."
John just nodded as he had no idea what she was talking about. "Is the blue Moon really blue?"
Anne smiled and shook her head. "No. The real blue moon appears under rare occasions. It is too long to explain. Anyway, if we are already here, can you show us that island?"
Jenny saw a huge smile appearing on Anne's face and smiled. "You want to transport it straight back home?"
Anne nodded. "We don't know if their world even has the same rules as ours. If we can transplant those flowers to our world and they survive... I don't mind living a bit longer, you know."
What she didn't see was Fabius Maximus expression. He came near and wanted to say something, but then gave up. What right does he have to stop her living longer? He still needs to take care of his predicament.
John was curious and at the same time in wonder. Last time only this child appeared, now all three. "Can I see your world maybe?"
Anne shook her head. "You got rid of those monsters and we just got them. It will take us some time to clean our world from them. But in the time between, I'd like to ask you for a favour. Again..."
John chuckled and nodded. "Tell me."
"Can you give us your flowers so we don't have to travel now. In exchange, we will bring you a few plants that I don't see here." She didn't see any tomato or pepper plant.
Fabius Maximus saw her pleading eyes and cute expression and suddenly felt quite uncomfortable. John was quite old, but considering his own few millennia he is just a small child. If she likes that man and he becomes young again, maybe they will...
Suddenly he got knocked on his head. He turned his head and saw Jenny, rubbing her hand. "Damn it. Your head is so hard. What is it made of? Stone? Stop thinking stupid things and go help John to carefully dig out the roots of the plant. Ugh..."
Anne came closer and saw Jenny's hand getting red and angrily stared at him. He rolled his eyes and just walked away. It's not his fault if she hurt herself. He is eternal so his body is quite hard.
He froze as he realized his thoughts and was about to continue when he heard Anne's words. "Knucklehead! So many things in your mind. Better help him out and later..."
He turned his head towards her and saw a naughty smile on her lips. This girl was teasing him. He must punish her. But saw Jenny's expression from the corner of his eye and sighed. That woman can see through him.
With a big smile, he stepped towards John and started cheerfully chatting with him while the two women stared at him with astonished expressions. What just happened to him? Isn't he an icy stone? He can be this chatty as well?
Fabius Maximus helped John dig the plant out of the earth, with most of the roots and carefully held it in his hands, while Anne and Jenny stood next to him. In Fabius's head, he imagined cursing them out, plant as well and even the damnable old man. He is an Eternal Guardian, when did he become a gardener? Should he tell them who he really is?
"John, is there anything you want from my world that I can bring you?" Anne smiled kindly at the old man.
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I don't mind having more vegetables. New varieties are very welcome."
Anne chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll bring you some. I'll be back with plants."
John nodded and saw Jenny and Fabius touching Anne and disappearing. By now he already got used to it. "Somehow I hate people. But not these. I think many interesting things will happen soon. How will they react when they find out who I am?"
He got used to hatred. But somehow felt these won't mind. Is it because they are different as well? He went on his knees and pressed his hands on the ground.
As he started chanting, the few roots that were in the ground grew and a beautiful plant appeared which started growing. Soon a bush of flowers was in the same place again as before and the first flowers bloomed again.
He stood up and smiled. "At least plants don't hate me. Yes. Plants are good..."
His eyes turned dark and his skin became completely green. As he spread his hands he smiled brightly. "So comfortable..."