Poppy made it back home safely before everything went completely dark. She walked down the entryway to find her mother reading a book and father was at his desk going through papers regarding to the town in the living room; her younger siblings were also in there and playing. Everyone paused what they were doing and found Poppy standing in the entryway.
"Poppy, you're home!" Her mother rejoiced, "We were beginning to worry."
"You almost missed supper," her father added.
"I'm sorry, I got distracted with the flowers on the way and I couldn't help but to go pick some," Poppy lied, presenting the flowers to her mother,
"Oh, Poppy, you're always distracted by everything in the woods," her mother chuckled, taking the flowers from her daughter, "When Will you ever outgrow your childish ways? But thank you. Juliana, will you please fetch the water from outside?"
"Yes, Mother," Juliana immediately answered. She gets up and goes outside.
"So what did your grandmother say?" Her father asked, going back to look over his papers. "Are you sick? I hope you're not sick."
"Fortunately, I'm not sick," Poppy answered with an assured, but weak smile. A minute later her weak smile faltered into a frown. Her voice shaken. "Actually...it was something else."
Poppy's parents looked up at their daughter blinking eyes and pursed lips. Her brother also looked up with blinking eyes. Juliana returned with a bucket of water to find her family gaping at Poppy. She glanced around at everyone with pursed lips. What was once a warm atmosphere turned unsettling.
"There's something that you should know," Poppy announced.
Poppy's parents looked at each other. They seemed to be thinking the same thing. The younger children still stared at the grown ups with blinking eyes.
"Juliana, take these flowers and put them in the vase," ordered their mother, handing the bouquet to her, "Once your done, you and your brother go upstairs and wait. We'll let you know when supper is ready."
"Yes, mother," Juliana once again obeyed.
Juliana took the flowers from her mother, grabbed a vase where she placed the flowers in and poured water in it. As soon as she placed the vase on the table, Juliana and William did as they were told and climbed upstairs. As soon as they were gone, there were only three adults in the living room. Her parents took a seat on the sofa, Poppy stood before them. She took a deep breath.
"Mother...Father...I'm going to tell you something," said Poppy, "What I did was strictly against what I was taught growing up and I have no excuse for what happened. All I ask that you wouldn't push me away if I tell you."
"Poppy, whatever it is, we won't abandon you,"her father assured her.
Poppy took a deep breath; her heart was racing.
"Mother...Father...I'm pregnant," Poppy regretfully announced her chin trembling, "And I will be having twins, a boy and a girl."
Both of Poppy's parents' jaws dropped and their eyes widened with the whites showing. They looked at each other for a long period of time and then they looked back at their daughter. Poppy swallowed hard, her skin turned pale and felt beads of sweat on her skin. Her mother's eyes were moist and pressed her lips together, exhaling noisily. Her father too was pressing his lips together but his eyes were more icy than moist. Breathing heavily through dilated nostrils, he spoke.
"How did this happen?" Her father lightly interrogated.
"And who is the father?" Her mother softly added.
"A month ago, when I was on my way to Granny's, I ran into a man named Kylo who is a traveler," Poppy falsely explained, "he stopped me and seduced me with his sweet words. I wanted to resist him but there was something about him, it's like he has me under a spell. I gave myself into him."
Her father lets out a heavy sigh and rested his hand on his forehead.
"Oh, Poppy," her mother tearfully moaned.
"Does this Kylo know that you're carrying his children?" Her father demanded, "Will he be coming back?"
"I was wondering the same thing," Poppy lied, "But after that night, he never came back."
"Poppy, you know very well than to do such a thing," her father scolded, "Especially with a complete stranger. I thought we've raised you well."
"Mother... Father...I'm so sorry," Poppy apologized, her eyes tearing up, "Just please don't send me away!"
Her parents's eyes widened when they heard her daughter's plea. They looked each other and silently communicated with each other. Poppy watched her parents silently communicating with each other, she saw that her mother is biting her bottom lips and that her father has a lopsided grimace on his face. After a moment went by, her mother stood up and rushed to Poppy's side and hugged her. Her father followed and did the same thing.
"Well, we will commend you for being brave by being honest with us," sighed her father. Poppy gave a small smile, though inside she winced at the word "honest".
"However, we're still very disappointed in you," she said, "But we will not send you out into the streets."
"We still love you," her father assured her, "Although things are going to be severe around town when word gets out. So be prepared for the backlash that you'll be receiving from other people. We will do our best to not let things get out of hand."
"Thank you, father," said Poppy, releasing a sigh of relief.
"Nevertheless, we'll all be by your side when your babies come," promised her mother.
"Thank you, mother," said Poppy.
Her father stood up before her and held out his hand. Poppy looked at his hand with blinking eyes.
"Poppy, as you know the ritual, when a woman loses her virginity she must give up her red cape," said her father, firmly, "Now hand it over."
"But father, this cape is a gift from Granny," said Poppy as she clutched onto her red cape, "I can't bear to part with it."
"Solomon," her mother spoke, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Please let me keep it," begged Poppy, "I promise I won't wear it."
"Very well, you may hold on to it," said her father, "If one of them is a girl, you may pass down your old cloak."
"Yes, father," said Poppy appeased, "thank you."
"Now, remove your cloak," her father gently ordered.
Slowly, Poppy reached up and pulled on the strings of her red cloak, repeatedly swallowing. She slipped the cloak of her shoulders and neatly folded it in a caring manner. She closed her eyes and gently hugged it. She remembered the time when she was given this red cape; it was when she became of age. Most girls who are transitioning into a woman would usually go down to a clothing shop to have it made. But this cape was specially made by her grandmother. Not only was she an expert apothecary but she was also skilled in dressmaking including capes. It was made with love in every stitches. She opened her eyes back to the present with a shaky smile.
"Now, let's go have that supper," said her father.
"Yes," said Poppy.
"Juliana! William! We can finally eat," her mother called out to the younger children.
Poppy's father placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. Poppy acknowledged with a smile. The three adults exit the living room with the sound of two children running down the stairs to have their dinner.
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After dinner, when everyone was asleep, Poppy was lying in her own bed in her own bedroom with her hands placed on her abdomen completely awake. I'm glad everything turned out well, Poppy thought, once again sighed with relief, I was able to pull off a lie without revealing the fact that I'm pregnant with a pair of werewolf babies. Though more thoughts occurred inside her mind. She can already picture everyone in town giving her a dirty look for her alleged sin—even though this alleged sin is an altered version of the truth—and she's going to have to put up with this for eight more months. Now that she's thinks about it, she's worried what will her friends think of her now. For all she knows, they'll probably shun her just like everyone else. Buttercup would probably be too proud to be friends with a whore like her and as for Hunter, he'd probably would want someone more virtuous. She would be happy for him, though. Of course, whether or not he's still romantically interested in her, she doubts that he would risk his reputation just to continue his friendship with her. Nevertheless, she's grateful that her family won't abandon her including her father. She also understands that even when she fakes her babies' death, things will never be the same again, she'll never to get to wear her treasured red cloak ever again. Regardless, her soon to be family will be safe and she gets to visit them anytime. Once she gives birth and takes her babies to safety with Kylo, everything will be worth it. Yes, it's worth the risk. She rolled over on her side and finally falls asleep.