Christmas in the loop

Chapter 10- 10'th December

The children were happy about having it snow again, and Alma seemed happy too. But you couldn't forget yesterday. She had wiped her face and it wasn't like it was hot outside, so she couldn't have been sweating. It of course hadn't been raining either, so not that...

Eventually you had decided that she'd been crying, but then again she seemed perfectly fine today? You let out a groan and hid your face in the pillows of the couches in the parlour.

"Is something the matter" a voice says and you feel a hand on your shoulder. You let out a scream and fall down the couch knocking whoever it was out too, and of course landing on top of them. Both of you let out a shriek as you hit ground. You opened your eyes slowly and saw it was Alma.

"So sorry!" You said getting off of her and helping the woman to her feet.

"Don't worry about it." She said with a soft smile. Easier said then done...
You gave her a polite smile and went to walk out, but her hand grabbed your wrist making you turn and stumble into her -for the second time- your eyes widened and you quickly straightened out to stand.

"Is something the matter today?" She asked but you quickly shake your head.

"No- no, nothing. I'm fine." You said fumbling with your wording for just a second. She didn't seem to believe you but nodded. She hadn't let go of your wrist yet, and her stare was making you nervous.

"So... did you need anything else?" You asked assuming that she had just wandered into a trance.

"No?" She said still examining you carefully, though her expression grew confused. Which she didn't even seem to notice at that point, she was just looking you over repeatedly, almost as if looking for a problem.

"So i can... go then?" You asked.

"Yes of course" she said but didn't let go.

"Your hand says something else" you said with an awkward laugh. Her eyes widened and she looked to her hand. She quickly let go and muttered an apology before heading outside to the children. You stood there just allowing yourself to be confused for a moment, before heading out too. You'd promised Claire and Bronwyn to play with them yesterday. You grabbed your brown leather gloves and brown coat along with the white scarf and hat. You slipped into your white docs and headed out.

"y/n!" You were met with the two girls you'd been looking for running over.

"There you are" you said lifting both of them up and propping them on either side of your hips. They giggled a little before Bronwyn went to speak.

"Over there" she said pointing towards a small picnic blanket were to your surprise, Alma was sitting. Shit...

"Oh- is Miss Peregrine joining our little tea party?" You asked giving the girls a smile that they didn't doom nervous. Claire nodded and you smiled at the two. Alma could keep up a mask in front of the children, so could you. So this shouldn't be a problem?... right?! You let out a sigh, though still maintaining the smile, and began walking over.

"Hello Miss Peregrine. I hear you've been invited" you said playfully, announcing your presence as you sat the girls down. She seemed surprised at first but managed a smile which she then nodded to afterwards. You smiled back and took a seat though Bronwyn shushed you to stand again.

"You are sitting beside Miss Peregrine." She stated clearly.

"Oh is that so" you said attacking the girl, tickling her all over. She laughed hysterically as Alma and Claire smiled, eventually sparing a small laugh at the scene too. You soon enough sat down the girl and took your seat beside Alma as you were instructed to. She flashed you a smile then quickly turned to her two wards again.

"Shall we begin, or are we expecting more guests?" She asks with a playful smile. Claire giggles and shakes her head.

"We can begin now" she says but as Miss Peregrine goes to pour the make-believe tea the girls scold her out of it.

"Miss Peregrine! You are the guest. Were are your manners?!" Claire scolds and you let out a laugh earning you a soft hit on the arm from Alma. She put on a fake offended look but her smile cracked through making you laugh yet again. Claire goes to pour the -still make-believe- tea, and you and Alma both patiently wait for everyone to have some. Claire gives cheers to everyone and Alma takes a sip.

"How do you find it Miss Peregrine?" Claire asks.

"Mm. I find it just to my liking." The taller woman says with a wide smile. The girls give her a big smile both, and take a sip of their own cups.

"Y/n? How do you find it?" Bronwyn suddenly asks, and you realised you'd been starring at Alma.

"I completely agree with Miss Peregrine" you said quickly and took a sip of the tea to hide your blush. She hadn't noticed, that's always something...
As the two girls sat making conversation, you saw Alma constantly blowing on her hands, making you notice they were white from the cold. You took of your gloves, and tried handing them to her, but she refused. -which of course she did-

"No need dear i'll be fine" she said but you knew she was lying. The woman was clearly about to freeze to ice.

"Oh my Birds, Alma" you scolded lightly before gloving her hands for her. She was too stunned by the move to do something about it, so she just let you. When you looked back at her with a small smile, you noticed the tinge of pink on her cheeks making you chuckle.

"Is it that cold Blue bird?" The nickname slipped making the two girls look over abruptly. Alma however, was confused as on what you had meant by your question. You let your thumb flick across her cheek making her blush so much worse, and she knew it too.

"Oh you're just being evil now" she says scoldingly, though with a smile and a roll of her eyes.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me!" You scold fake offended, and you both start laughing.

"Emma and Olive were right" Claire suddenly says making you and Alma look over, both exchanging a confused look.

"She was" Bronwyn agrees, only making the two of you more so confused.

"About what?" You asked, soon finding out you shouldn't have.

"You are just like an old married couple" they both said in unison and you quickly look at Alma who had choked on her own air.

"Oh-" you said before patting her gently on the back. She soon enough held up a hand to signal she was okay, though she looked to be in shock still.

"What now" she managed to say and you turned to the girls again.

"Don't worry we will still call you Miss Peregrine, and y/n..." Bronwyn said trailing of at the end.

"Miss Adilene!" Claire buts in remembering your middle name, which was impressive because it had been years since you'd told them.

(A/N yes i used the same middle name as in my other story. What about it-)

"What would you have called me else than Miss Peregrine?" The Woman laughs but to her own regret.

"Well Mom..." Bronwyn says unsure making the woman freeze. You choked and turned away for a second as it felt like your eyes were about to pop out of their place.

"I-" Alma said and then the girls ended the picnic.

"We need to go help Fiona" They said packing up. When it was just you and Alma under the tree you finally dared a look at her. She was still starring out in space and you decided to say something.

"Are you alright?" You ask and she seems to snap out if a trance.

"Ye... I- don't know?" She says but it was half a question. Before you could say more she walked in probably to prepare supper as it was around that time. Soon after you followed her to help with preparing the meal as usual...

__________

The woman was to stunned to speak-