Chapter Text
Kieferberg Bakery
October 10th, 1862
Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen stirred the tea from the comfort of her own kitchen. Oh what a happy day this should have been. Elise returning home after being gone for more then 4 years. Just a happy nomad doing work wherever she could, from what she could tell. Apparently at some point having gotten together with Rozenmarine, the mysterious girl who showed up from nowhere and stole her childhood best friend’s heart.
Lebkuchen wasn’t going to pretend she wasn’t a little jealous. But she always wanted Elise to be happy above everything else. And if Rozenmarine made Elise happy, then so be it. She represented freedom, something Elise always strived for, and had gotten. These were good. These were happy things, the nun had to remind herself…
But what wasn’t happy was…. Certain circumstances that Leb was trying to desperately ignore. Instead, she needed to be a good host, and bring 4 trays of tea into the room. Walking in and seeing her beloved friend, who had been gone for many years…
With a fat pregnant belly…
They both looked otherwise healthy enough. Rozenmarine had cut her hair and was wearing a much nicer dress then before. Less patchy, looks like she had some honest work. And Elise wearing a red dress she recently bought. Apparently she has been going around wearing overalls and men’s work shirts, but with the pregnancy they were a bit hard to wear… Which was a shame because the idea of Elise in masculine clothing did make Lebkuchen smile.
“So…” Freya said, having been sitting across from the two of them. Clearly trying to hit the elephant in the room but dodging the question at every turn. “How have you two been? Together huh?”
“Yeah.” Elise said calmly, reaching for her cup of tea. “Thanks Leb. But yeah, we’ve only been technically together for about a year now. It took some years of growing before either of us were really ready to be together. I kind of took jobs from other villages here and there while working and it seems Rozenmarine had the same idea. Right dear?”
Rozenmarine had been suspiciously silent this entire time. Leb had been trying to put special attention to her but she just seemed incredibly guilty of something. “Y-yeah…” She said, reaching for her tea. She had poured something into it from a flask, and whatever it was it didn’t smell great. A generous assumption Leb had been making was it was medicine of some kind, or perhaps a spice? “We’ve been together for a year, living in inns and… you know, under the stars… It was nice… But, I think we have to start thinking about settling down.”
Lebkuchen nodded, and finally spoke. “To raise the baby correct?” This seemed to get a powerful reaction from both Freya and Rozenmarine. As if Leb had said something fiercely taboo, but Elise replied a smile.
“Yup! Wanna give a good life to the bugger and… this is kind of the only place I really know people. Though, my old house has been a bit in disarray, so it might take me a bit to fix it before it’s safe for me to live in…”
“Elise you’re fine to stay here.” Lebkuchen replied. “It’s good to see you and ever since Granny passed away I really could use more company.” As she said this, she noted a very grumpy look from Freya…
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t be getting… in the middle of something right?”
Freya and Lebkuchen looked at each other. Their history was incredibly messy. And not something she really wanted to get into right now. And honestly, Lebkuchen didn’t know how Freya felt. The two of them were pretty much the only other women who liked women in town after Elise left.
“No.” Freya said, folding her hands in front of her. “I don’t think you would be.” There was a fierce side eye she gave to Leb upon saying those words. Whatever was going on is certainly not going to be less complicated. But she knew both of them loved Elise.
“You’d be more than welcome here.” Leb said, smiling at the two of them. “Though, we’d have to get you a mattress, we only have one bed.”
“Oh so you DO sleep together.” Elise said with a smirk.
That, caused Lebkuchen and Freya to spit out their drinks.
“Elise!” Lebkuchen cried out. “A private matter…”
“Come on, won’t you tell me? I’m curious!” Elise tried to pry.
“I’ll tell you under one condition.” Freya said, pointing at Elise’s belly. “How did THAT happen!”
Elise looked down, it’s as if she herself didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. And more than that… Rozenmarine once again looked away with a horrifically embarrassed face. Surely Elise wouldn’t have cheated on her with a man right? Or… worse…. But, no, Elise didn’t seem that bothered by it….
“Huh? This? Uuuh…. It’s a long story….” Elise said rubbing her neck. “Well… it’s not but it’s one that I’m not really sure is my place to tell.”
Lebkuchen nodded, it did have something to do with how Rozenmarine was acting strange. But what?
“Yeah but like…. Elise.” Freya continued. “The idea of you with a man at all-”
“Ew ew EW!” Elise cried out, waving her hands. “No no no! There was NO man involved!”
This clearly confused Freya. Lebkuchen was also a bit thrown off but the red faced Rozenmarine clearly was the answer to this somehow…
“How do you have a kid without a man??” Freya asked tilting her head. “Uuh…. did like… you get….stuff from a jar or..?”
“Stuff?” Elise asked rubbing her chin. “I don’t really know what you’re talking about too much. I’m not exactly sure 100% how this all works. Granny Holle didn’t exactly explain the entire business. I just uh…. Know I’m pregnant really.”
Lebkuchen and Freya stared at each other.
“You’re just pregnant? With no sex?” Lebkuchen asked tilting her head.
“I mean-” Elise was sheepish and looked over to Rozenmarine who, very frankly seemed like she wanted to be anywhere else but here. “Y-you know… We are a thing…” Rozenmarine just, nodded once.
Lebkuchen sipped her tea once again, and looked down at Freya, who very much was puzzled by this. “But… It’s not like sex with women can get you pregnant……c-can it?” Freya pressed her hand against her own stomach. Lebkuchen thought it was silly but… subconsciously did the same.
“HAH! SO YOU TWO HAVE BEEN HAVING SEX!” Elise cried out while pointing. She had a big grin on her face.
“O-ONLY ONCE!” Freya cried out. “A-and I don’t think that’s how that works. For starters… women don’t have- you know….”
Upon saying this, Lebkuchen made special note once again that Rozenmarine was acting incredibly nervous. Her hand was shaking nervously. Her eyes were facing nobody, she was sitting at the far end of the table and she looked like she was ready to run at any given moment. These were all slowly bit by bit adding up.
“Elise….” Lebkuchen said. “I think I have a theory…” This alerted all three girls. All staring at Lebkuchen with mixed expressions. Freya looked curious. Elise looked slightly alarmed before looking over at Rozenmarine, who looked like she was holding her breath in a panic. Yeah, Lebkuchen figured that this was some kind of….magic witch thing. So she was going to speak in plain terms. “I think Rozenmarine is responsible for this pregnancy.”
Freya gasped. “Leb! That’s ridiculous! She couldn’t have-” But as soon as she looked over at the other two, it was very clear.
Elise had her mouth covered, Rozenmarine looked like she was about to cry. Yeah, okay. Leb realized she hit the nail on the head.
“I… I’m surprised you figured it out…” Rozenmarine said. “I’ve been…so careful hiding it I-”
“I don’t think anyone else would have guessed.” Lebkuchen assured. “I’m typically well known for being a bit perceptive… often too much for my own good.”
“You’re not…. Angry at her right?” Elise said. “I want you to know, she didn’t- she is a lovely girl okay! And I will NOT have you slander her!”
“Elise…it’s fine.” Lebkuchen said. “I’ve told you when she first arrived, that I had my suspicions and…that’s never truly gone away. But I trust you, and you clearly trust her. And while it’s certainly a shock, I know that she means well. And I’ll trust her.”
Rozenmarine stared at Lebkuchen. Mouth open agape. She let out a loud exhale, oh she seemed relieved. “T-thank you… oh my- thank you Lebkuchen! You’re every bit as great as Elise said!”
Lebkuchen wouldn’t pretend that didn’t feel a little good. Smiling sweetly at Rozenmarine.
“I’m still confused.” Freya said turning to Leb. “What’s going on?”
“Well…” Lebkuchen said, looking at Rozenmarine. “I feel… the exacts aren’t really my place to say, but…. Would you like to speak out more of them?”
“Yeah Rosmarine.” Elise said, patting her on the back. “I told you they’d be accepting. I promise you, she is really a wonderful girl.”
Rozenmarine let out a sigh, hands on the table…. “Alright. So. I uh….” She swallowed. “It always hurts me to say this. I- I’m afraid to tell people. And it basically took me 3 whole years of building up to be able to face Elise but…. I…. Was born a boy.”
What??? Lebkuchen’s eyes widened. Oh that- that wasn’t what she was expecting at all.
“I knew ever since I was little I wanted to be a girl though. No- not want to be…” Rozenmarine’s voice wavered a little but a gentle rub of Elise’s hand on her back soothed her. “I… I have the soul of a woman!”
Lebkuchen stared a little confused. The soul of a woman? She was born a boy though. This wasn’t, some kind of witch thing right? She found a woman and absorbed her soul? It wasn’t Elise’s soul was it? Was that what she was doing?
“So you were born a boy… but you wanted to be a girl?” Freya asked while Lebkuchen thought about the horrors of what this all could mean. “Well, honestly you could have fooled me. You look incredibly pretty! And your skin is very soft! I don’t see a single hair on your face either!”
“Oh yeah!” Rozenmarine said, rubbing her face. “I… use a special cream I make to make shaving it easier. I have to use a razor every morning… But it helps make my skin smooth!”
Lebkuchen tilted her head. She perhaps had been overestimating the magic here.
“And uh…” Freya looked at her chest. “You clearly have something there. You stuff your shirt or something?”
“Oh…. Uh…” Rozenmarine swallowed.
“They’re real.” Elise said in her stead. “Trust me, I can attest.”
“ELISE!!” Rozenmarine said covering her face. But the blonde girl couldn’t help but grin mischievously.
“How did she get them? Surely… boy bodies don’t just, make boobs…?” Lebkuchen asked, wondering if this was a witch ritual after all.
“Oh uh…” Rozenmarine lifted that strange flask she had. “Its… a special concoction I made. I learned this with the help of someone else like me. An older woman in the woods. See, it’s… a bunch of ingredients that help me make my body more… what I should be.” She said looking down. “Makes my skin softer, and gives me boobs and other stuff…”
Freya nodded. “But that means…between your legs…?”
Rozenmarine’s face was red. Rather then a verbal answer she just, gave a nod. Yeah, she was still… Uh. ‘Male’ down there Leb supposed. Though maybe that wasn’t the right word for it.
“This is… a lot to take in…” Lebkuchen said, rubbing her chin.
“Huh? I mean you said you supported her a second ago.” Elise said, staring at Lebkuchen.
“I….” It was Leb’s turn to be red now. How do you tell your best friend and crush that you suspected that her wife did some kind of weird baby making ritual that you were going to be okay with because you’re still ride or die for her even after all these years.
“Elise it’s alright.” Rozenmarine said. “It’s a lot to take in for anyone and… honestly.” She hung her head. “I’ll leave. If that’s what you want me to do.”
“What?” Lebkuchen and Elise both cried out at once.
“I know….it might be uncomfy… being with… um… basically a boy so-”
Lebkuchen was racing for something to say. Racing for words. She needed to assure her but… How? With…what? She didn’t even understand this fully. Elise looked like she was about to say something herself. But the actual first one to respond was…
SMACK!
Rozenmarine felt a stinging sensation… Freya had stood up and smacked her with everything she had. Tears were welling up inside the girl’s eyes.
“I…”
“FREYA!” Elise cried out. “How could you!”
“Apologize to her right this second Freya!” Lebkuchen cried out. Whatever confusion she felt for it, this was wrong.
“No!” Freya said pointing at Lebkuchen. “Not until she apologizes…for trying to skip out on her responsibility!”
Huh??
Elise and Leb looked at each other and even Rozenmarine looked confused.
“Wh-what do you mean?” Rozenmarine said. “I… I would have brought money-”
“And what? Leave the children without their other parent!” Freya said. “No! You’re staying right here missy! And you will NOT be leaving unless you want to get a LOT more where that came from!”
“But….” Rozenmarine swallowed. “Are you…sure you’d be comfortable staying in the same house as…”
“What? A girl?” She said folding her arms. “You said it yourself. You’re a girl. I don’t understand the rest of this stuff. But Elise seems to like you. And that girl visibly gagged the last time any man even looked at her with any sexual intent. So, the fact she slept with you at all clearly means you HAVE to be a girl. That’s really all there is about that.”
“...Huh?” Rozenmarine said rubbing her face. She wasn’t…prepared for that.
“Honestly that was my logic too.” Elise said, nodding to what Freya had just said. “Rozenmarine. I like you, you’re sweet, and I think you’re super cute.” Elise smiled and held her hand out. “When I hold your hand, that doesn’t feel like a man’s hand… When I kiss your lips, they taste exactly how I imagined a woman’s lips… I don’t see you as a man Rozenmarine.”
The purple haired girl looked like she was about to cry. Her hands fidgeted in place and she clearly wasn’t expecting to hear all this. She seemed ready to be told she had to leave. Ready to be told she’s a freak. Ready to be cast out. Maybe she even expected Elise to turn on her at this moment… Lebkuchen really had to wonder, how long had she been feeling this way? This guilt? Since Elise was impregnated? No… likely longer.
“I won’t lie and say that I fully trust you Rozenmarine.” Leb said to begin. “Last we met, you often showed strange behaviors, caused Elise a lot of trouble, and your presence brought with it so many strange happenings that I can’t fully say you’re not responsible for.” There was a pause as she looked up and stared at Rozenmarine who still seemed to have trouble facing Lebkuchen.
“...However-” Lebkuchen continued, causing the girls to all turn towards her. The holy woman stared at them all. “Elise clearly loves you. You clearly care for her. And you’ve been alone together for a while, and obviously haven’t hurt her… So. Where I have my apprehensions. Let it be said. My home is welcome to yours.”
Rozenmarine had a slight look of shock. She clearly wasn’t expecting to be allowed to stay here. “You really. Don’t mind? Even with... My body.”
“I confess I don’t fully understand.” Lebkuchen confessed. Staring at the girl in front of her. Not understanding things did trouble her slightly, but… “And I hope in time, you living here, will help me understand. I don’t think you mean ill will, with whatever this is. I’ve only ever known you as a woman, so I don’t really need to adjust my thinking I suppose. And if Elise still loves you… Well. I hope the two of you can make each other happy.”
Freya nodded. “If there’s any questions about womanhood you need to know ask us… Elise, uh…”
“Oooh?” Elise snapped her head. “Elise WHAT?”
“Ooooh…. Nothing.” Freya said smiling. “I was about to say… you’re, much more of a man than clearly Rozenmarine here ever was.”
Elise pouted, crossing her arms with a huff. “For goodness’ sake…”
The three other girls all giggled in unison. Lebkuchen couldn’t help but grin at seeing Elise’s grumpy face after all this time. She really felt like her heart was opening again. She looked and saw Freya looking at Elise with the same expression, the same longing desire of a past age. Freya’s eyes met Lebkuchen.
“So you really don’t mind me and Elise staying here?” Rozenmarine asked. “We can get out of your hair as soon as the house is all fixed up.”
“I don’t really think that will be necessary.” Lebkuchen said. “Like I said I have plenty of space here, what with Granny passing away… and, honestly, you two can help out with the bread making if you honestly feel the need earn your keep. Though you should be careful Elise… You are pregnant.”
Elise shrugged. “Hey, it’s just a kid. It’ll pop out in a few months right?”
Freya and Lebkuchen looked at each other. And then towards Rozenmarine who had a similar sympathetic look. “Uh… Elise…” Leb began, “Childbirth can be… pretty dangerous. That’s why I’m not too happy with the idea of you two moving back to your place.”
“Yeah.” Freya agreed. “Plus it’s…pretty weird out there. Me and Lebkuchen went to clean your house while you were gone… That place is INSANELY creepy. What is even up with that creepy tapestry?”
“Oh so it wasn’t just me…” Rozenmarine said with a sigh. “I felt a lot of aura coming from that place. At the time I was more than happy to bask in the glow of Her constant gaze, but I think now that I’ve settled into life, I don’t want Her gaze onto me so literally!”
Elise shrugged. “I don’t know what any of that means, but my granny made that tapestry. Sometimes it’s a unicorn, sometimes it’s a weird girl. I think there was a hunter there once?”
“I’m sorry.” Freya said holding her hand up. “IT CHANGED???”
“Yeah? Why is that weird?”
“It’s very weird Elise…” Lebkuchen said wincing. “To think you’ve been living in that house alone… the vines growing there were something else too! I thought I was going to be attacked.”
“They do that sometimes.”
Lebkuchen stared. Freya stared. Rozenmarine nodded.
“Elise you’re not ever going back to that house.” Freya said.
“So… you guys really want me to stay here huh? Me and Rozenmarine?”
Lebkuchen and Freya reached their hands out together. Both touching Elise’s hand. Before Freya reached and grabbed Rozenmarine’s hand and pulled her into the pile. “We love you Elise…” Freya said with a happy smile. “We always have…”
Lebkuchen couldn’t help but chuckle at Freya’s comment. That meant a lot more then she was saying. She and Freya really did love Elise, but, they were both too late. Rozenmarine took her from them. Rozenmarine, who despite her oddities, seemed like a perfectly fine young lady… Even with the news of the fact she is technically the father of Elise’s children, even her heart was telling her that was a lovely woman.
Things were complicated at the moment. But, the four of them together were surely able to work it out.