apachefirecat: Made by Apache (Default)
apachefirecat ([personal profile] apachefirecat) wrote in [community profile] tinyfandomflash2024-03-06 09:55 pm

(Challenge #17. Gravity) Mortal Husband

Title: Mortal Husband
Author: Apache Firecat
Fandom: Bewitched (TV)
Rating: G/K
Category: M/F
Relationship(s): Darrin/Samantha
Character(s): Samantha
Word Count: 1,476
Spoiler: None
Summary: Samantha relishes her first kiss from Darrin.
Notes/Warnings: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.




Samantha Dobson was no stranger to flying. She was well accustomed to the sweeping arcs one made as your feet left the ground and the freedom felt practically singing throughout every fiber of the body as it departed from Earth's mortal, and quite restraining gravity. But never before had she felt herself soaring as she now was!

There was something about that mortal guy, she thought, every inch of her body positively tingling. Her fingertips pressed against her lips as she actually heard herself giggling out loud. She had left her broom behind, but no Witch actually needed a broom. It was more a tool for guidance and balance than anything else. Tonight, she felt, for the first time in her long life, completely free! She didn't need any old stick keeping her down!

She could hear her mother shouting already, but she wasn't going to let the old hag's temper keep her away from the guy she had met today! Oh, no! No one -- no Prince, no actor, no interstellar being -- had ever made her feel the way Darrin Stephens had with that one simple kiss on her cheek tonight! On her cheek!, she thought incredulously, feeling her broom somersaulting in the air somewhere beneath her. The man had only kissed her on her cheek, yet she still felt herself soaring!

There was something about that man all right!, she thought again, something funny, oddly aggravating, and altogether endearing at the same time. But there was more to him too. No one had ever made her feel the way he had this evening, on their second date. Actually, if she was honest with herself, there had been something special about him since the first moment she'd met him. She could usually ignore the mortal guys, or maybe allow them to take her out on one date but never anything more. With Darrin...

She squealed, actually squealed with glee as she sailed over a cluster of stars. She could not wait to see him again! Serena always said it wasn't wise to let the guys know when you were really digging them, but she was going to call Darrin tomorrow. Samantha had always been straight forward. Her boldness had scared other guys, but somehow, she didn't think that was going to be a problem with Darrin. Indeed, she rather felt like she'd get to see him a lot sooner if she made the next move and called him, rather than waiting around and hoping he would call her.

But where was she going to go with him? Oh, they could go out to any number of restaurants in town, but where could her relationship with him ever go? She'd always wanted a mortal life, but she was a Witch. At some point, he was bound to find out the truth. How far could any relationship with a mortal go? It wasn't just that she would always outlive him. Her family, as reluctant as she was to admit it, was right about one thing: Humankind tended to fear what they didn't understand, and the poor mortals certainly didn't understand magic.

So she'd ride the adventure of her lifetime far better than any mere ride through the stars, she decided with sudden determination. She'd not let Darrin simply float away from her. She had always been one to know what she wanted rather quickly, and she knew he was the man she wanted. She could not build a future with him, but she could certainly enjoy whatever time they did have. She could certainly enjoy his sweet companionship until her family eventually chased him off.

She wondered how long they'd have, but she knew already that his would be the romance that any future suitor would have to beat. Her heart sank at the thought of ever not getting to leave him again. Such a strange notion, she thought, her nose wiggling instinctively, that she feel so awful and despairing at the idea of never again seeing a man she had just met. But then, already, she'd shared more laugh and smiles with Darrin Stephens than she had with any other man before! With any other person before, she thought, Witch or mortal.

She felt a presence and looked behind her lithe, cloaked shoulder to where her broom trembled alone in the sky. The poor thing was not accustomed to going anywhere without a rider. She reached her hand out to it, and as it came tentatively to her on the night breeze, she again thought of Darrin. He was so sweet, charming, and -- honestly, scared of his own shadow! He'd never be able to cope with her being a Witch. She would give up her magic. She'd always wanted to do so and had pretty much already surrendered it all. This was the first moonlit ride she'd been out on since leaving her mother's.

But eventually, her family would find her. They always found her. Magic itself always seemed to find her one way or another. Eventually, Darrin would learn the truth about her. It might be easier, better for them both, if she just went right out and told him, but he'd never understand. That sweet mouse of a man would never be able to cope with her natural-born Craft. But then that sweet shyness was one of the things she found so attractive about him. He was so unlike her blustering father or mischievous, loud, and cackling mother, and not simply because of his mortal blood. She'd seen, too, that he could make a stand despite how his voice quaked as he had that night at the theater when they'd not been able to hear for the couple gabbing loudly before them.

He'd make a fine husband for someone someday. But it would not be her. It could not be her. Her fingers wrapped unconsciously around the hard wood in her hand as Samantha began to descend back into Earth's gravitational zone, her mood dowering. She'd never be able to marry a mortal, because no mortal male would have her as a wife. Sighing, feeling suddenly heavy with the desire to cry very human tears, Samantha glided back into her little apartment's solitary window.

She glanced at her door as she entered, at the place where Darrin Stephens had kissed her cheek this very night before wishing her a nervous, stuttering adieu. The man was charming, and oh so sweet, but he was not for her. At least, not to keep. Suddenly, she understood what her cousin, Serena, had always said about playing with guys. She'd not play with him. She'd never be so cruel, and if he did start getting serious about their relationship, she would tell him the truth before they advanced too far.

But for the time being, for the first time in her life, Samantha decided, she would simply allow herself to enjoy a wonderful thing, the best thing, the best person, to ever come into her life. She would call Darrin tomorrow if he didn't call her, or perhaps the next day, but she would allow him to take the lead. And if it came to it, she would tell him the truth. She would tell him the truth before they could reappear in her life again. She would tell him the truth and watch, letting her own heart be broken, while he walked away or, perhaps, ran screaming away. But she would not lie to him. She would do him the honor of telling him the truth when the time was right.

But until then, she'd enjoy every moment of having the charming mortal in her life and of getting to be on his arm around other mortals, and perhaps just alone. She could invite him to the park tomorrow to watch the birds, she thought, pack a simple lunch of sandwiches and very mortal-made lemonade. It could perhaps be a quick luncheon on his lunch break, or an enjoyable afternoon snack after he got off work. But she would tell him eventually, before her mother could ruin everything.

Samantha tingled again. Her fingers lifted to graze her cheek. She giggled, grinning once more, as she again felt the touch of Darrin's lips on her cheek. He had been so sweet, so romantic! Yes, she'd surely enjoy every meeting with him until the time came when she'd have to tell him the truth -- and then she would and would let him walk away, as, in truth, would end up happening even if they did wed. After all, an Immortal Witch would never outlive a mortal husband -- but she would certainly enjoy every single moment of their time together until then. Samantha giggled, realizing she'd left the ground or, rather, the floor again. She floated toward her single bed, smiling happily at the days that were to come.



The End
quamquam20: Kate Sharma from Bridgerton with a sunburst behind her (bridgerton)

Love!

[personal profile] quamquam20 2024-03-12 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so sweet! Love how you captured her hopeful excitement even while she remains pragmatic and aware of the potential issues. And her plans for their date the next day are so cute.

I adored this show growing up, and this story was such a treat!