Chapter 5 - Careful What You Wish For

Marguerite paused briefly just out of sight of her friends. She couldn't catch all of what they said and when Finn made a disparaging comment about her talking to frogs, she decided she didn't care to hear any more.

As the former jewel thief descended the stairs to her room, she quietly hissed to her batrachian companion, "Brilliant! Thanks to you Challenger thinks I pulled a Malone and the others are convinced I've gone round the bend."

How is this my fault? If you'd just stop being so independent and tell him who I am WE wouldn't be in this mess, John thought as they continued down the stairs.

Once in her room the dark haired heiress set Roxton on the dressing table while she set alight a candle and got ready for bed.

"Don't think for a minute that I'll let you get away with watching me undress, turn around," Marguerite told the greenish-brown lord as she moved the candle to the nightstand.

Roxton rolled his eyes as he obeyed. You act like I've never seen you in your underwear before.

"Between the nightmares and trying not to squish you, I'll never get any sleep," the linguist mumbled as she pulled her nightgown on.

What nightmares? Are you still having that one about Captain Askwith? the amphibious hunter thought as he slowly turned around. The helpless nobleman watched as his ladylove slowly pulled the covers back. She stopped midway through and turned to face the man, or rather the frog that owned her heart.

"I suppose you'll want to sleep on my pillow?" she inquired looking at the creature on her dressing table.

It would be nice, Roxton thought, moving closer to the edge of the table.

"Wait right there. I'll go get your pillow," Marguerite insisted and then left the room. While out in the hallway she could hear Challenger, Finn and Veronica discussing who would take first watch over her.

Really they are being so ridiculous about all this, the adventuress thought as she reached the hunter's room. She swiftly grabbed the pillow off the bed and headed back to her room. By the time she returned Roxton had already made himself comfortable on her pillow.

"Roxton! What part of 'wait right there' did you not understand?" Marguerite huffed as she carefully lifted the pillow and it's rider to make room on her bed for two pillows.

"Ribbit." The hunter-turned-frog thought he knew what was going on so he jumped off the pillow and onto the bed.

"John, this isn't funny!"

"Ribbit."

"I am not in the mood to play that game again! Now get back on this pillow!" Marguerite ordered as she finished getting the pillows situated. She had placed one pillow horizontal and the other pillow perpendicular.

Marguerite cautiously sat on her bed. "I don't want to squash you in the night so it would be best if you stayed on my pillow. I'll be using yours, mister know-it-all," she informed the batrachian fellow now jumping his way to her pillow. She deftly picked up the hopping lord and set him on the bolster in the vertical position.

"John, do you think you can stay put for a few hours so I can get some sleep?" the tired woman asked.

"Ribbit." I'll do my best, but being a frog makes it kind of hard. I feel like hopping around, a lot, John contemplated, as he got comfortable. He watched as Marguerite fluffed up her pillow. He could tell she was having a hard time getting comfortable.

Why won't you tell me about that nightmare of yours? You have to know I would never tease you about it, he thought as he moved a little closer to her.

"Roxton..." Marguerite started.

"Ribbit."

The enigmatic adventuress sighed deeply before continuing, "I truly am sorry this happened. I know I was not in the best of moods earlier, but you have to know I never wanted you to be turned into a frog."

I'm just thankful it wasn't a spider; otherwise I would have been squished well before now. He continued to watch the woman he loved trying to fall asleep.

"Sometimes I wish, no scratch that, I don't think I'll make any more wishes, not here anyway. John..."

"Ribbit."

"I wasn't really angry with you that day. I didn't get much sleep the night before and took it out on you, as usual. I had a horrible dream," the dark haired heiress mumbled.

What was the dream about? Tell me; maybe you'll stop having it if you talk about it, Roxton encouraged.

Marguerite turned on her side, facing Roxton. She opened her mouth as if to speak but quickly closed it again. What's keeping you from telling him now? He can't interrupt you, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she decided to risk telling him. "The horrifying dream I keep having concerns something that happened several months ago. I don't know why I keep having it. I'm running around in water, near the Inland Sea searching for..." Marguerite softly started

The weary woman closed her eyes. "...you," she finished. "It feels like an eternity before I find you and when..."

She opened her eyes and Roxton noticed tears forming. He longed to wrap his arms around her.

Wiping away an escaped tear, Marguerite resumed her tale. "And when I do find you, you aren't breathing. I try to get you breathing again, but nothing I do works. You...you never... You're...gone...and then I wake up." and then I wake up."

"You had better not tease me about that either," Marguerite threatened the greenish-brown frog sitting on the pillow next to her.

I would never do that to you Marguerite, Roxton promised as Marguerite reached out and rubbed his frogish head.

"Goodnight, my Frog Prince," she mumbled sleepily, rolling over to blow out the candle.

Goodnight my lovely, Sleeping Beauty, Roxton replied.

Upon seeing the light go out in the older woman's room, Veronica waited several more minutes to be certain Marguerite was asleep. She, Challenger, and Finn had decided to test whether or not this frog could be their missing companion. It was her job to get the frog away from the heiress without her noticing.

When she felt she'd waited long enough, she quietly sneaked into the room and searched for the frog. He was easy to find, there on a pillow by the sleeping heiress's head. He made no protest as Veronica picked him up and carried him away.

Once she made it safely out of Marguerite's room, Veronica quickened her pace to return to Challenger and Finn.

"If she wakes up and that frog is missing, all hell will break loose," Finn commented as Veronica returned.

"It will be nothing we can't handle, young lady," Challenger said placing a bowl of water on the table.

"What's the bowl for?" Finn inquired.

"Amphibians need to be near water or they get dried out," the scientist informed her.

"You couldn't have just said it was for the frog?" the young woman from the future teased.

Challenger looked sideways at her. "It's for the frog."

"Well we'd better get this over with," Veronica said, placing the batrachian in the bowl of water. "As Finn said, if Marguerite wakes up and the frog is gone, we'll never hear the end of it."

"No time like the present," George stated as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Veronica and Finn followed suit.

"What are we going to do?" Finn wondered, staring at the creature, which was staring back.

You are not going to eat me, that's for sure, Roxton thought

"Veronica, you mentioned that you thought you heard Marguerite referring to this amphibian as Roxton..." Challenger began.

"Ribbit."

The three surrounding the table gazed at the creature in the bowl not sure of what was happening.

"As I was saying, Marguerite was speaking to the frog as if she believed it was John?"

"Ribbit." The frog hopped out of the bowl when they resumed their talking.

"Yes, that's what I said. It seemed to me that she was convinced that this amphibian is Roxton..." Veronica started.

"Ribbit."

Veronica stared at the greenish-brown creature sitting in a small puddle of water on the table. "Roxton?"

"Ribbit." That's it Veronica, put it together.

"Is that you, big guy?" Finn tried.

Roxton look intently at the young woman he'd come to love as a younger sister.

"Roxton, that you old boy?" Challenger questioned as he picked up the slightly wet creature.

"Ribbit." By George, I think you've got it.

"Well this is a fine mess now, isn't it? I wonder how this happened to you," the redheaded man inquired.

Well it's a long story; one I'm sure Marguerite will never tell you.

"So what are we going to do? Marguerite obviously knows this is Roxton," Finn piped up.

"Ribbit."

"True enough. I suppose we'll have to trust her to set things to rights," Challenger said as he stood, still holding Roxton. He started towards the heiress' boudoir. As he got closer to the room he slowed down and stepped very lightly. Once in Marguerite's room, George gave himself a few moments to allow his eyes to adjust to the light. As soon as he could see in the dark, Challenger placed Roxton back on the pillow. He quickly and quietly left the sleeping woman's space.

"Do you think she will?" Finn asked upon Challenger's return.

"I'm sure she will. She wouldn't want to continue having a frog for a companion," Veronica replied as she took the bowl off the table and went to the kitchen. She placed the bowl in the sink and began washing it. "Besides, if she doesn't, we'll all have to put up with her foul moods without Roxton here to counter them. If she doesn't fix this, I'll make her."

Challenger and Finn followed Veronica into the kitchen. Challenger picked up a towel and started drying the bowl. "She'll make it right. She cares too much about Roxton to leave him like that, no matter how angry she was at him."

"I sure hope you two are right. It would be creepy having a family member who's a frog," Finn commented as George handed her the clean bowl to put away.

Veronica and Challenger inaudibly laughed as they all exited the kitchen.

"Well I suppose tomorrow will be another interesting day on the plateau. I'm going to turn in for the night. Sleep well you two," Challenger said as he headed towards his sleeping quarters.

"Night, Challenger. Night, Vee," Finn called out as she made her way to her room.

"Goodnight, you two. See you in the morning," Veronica responded to her companions as she went to her room. Soon all were asleep in the Treehouse.

Irina was pleased with what had transpired that day. Would Marguerite really change her ways? Or would she continue to push Lord Roxton away? After tomorrow, only time would tell. The queen of the nymphs and faeries was certain Marguerite would figure out how to break the spell. She left the inhabitants of the Treehouse dreaming.

The next morning Marguerite was up before the sun. Roxton was a bit shocked to see her up so early. After getting dressed she picked up Roxton and went to the kitchen. There Marguerite placed Roxton on the counter then quietly packed a small lunch and plenty of water. She picked up the frog again and went to the gun rack to grab her rifle and hat. She packed in a few extra rounds of ammo, just in case. Once she was sure she had everything, she placed Roxton and her full pack on the table to leave a note so the others wouldn't worry. That done, she grabbed her pack and Roxton. Marguerite entered the carriage of the lift and headed down. While waiting for the elevator to reach the bottom, Marguerite placed Roxton on her pack.

Once outside of the Treehouse compound, Marguerite quickly and carefully put her pack on and then made her way towards the lake she and Roxton had been at days before. The trip was rather quiet, as Marguerite was deep in thought trying to figure out exactly when and how Roxton had been turned into a frog. It had to be after I stormed off. Who would have done this? The Kanu? When Veronica replaced that cursed stone, they returned to their natural state, Cain toads. Couldn't be them. My head hurts... Marguerite complained to herself.

"I should have stopped for coffee. I have a feeling I'm going to need it," the linguist commented out loud.

I have a feeling as well. Especially when you find out it was Irina, Roxton thought

Before she knew it, Marguerite was at the lake and the boulder where she had left Roxton that day. She carefully took her pack off and set it on the ground. The dark haired woman gently lifted the lord-turned-frog off her pack and placed him on the boulder.

"Ok, fun and games are over. Get out here now!" the irritated heiress yelled. "I mean it, I'm tired of this little game. I wish you'd change Roxton..."

"Ribbit."

"...back! He didn't deserve this. If you're trying to teach..." Marguerite stopped. Someone is trying to teach Roxton and me a lesson, is that it? She wondered as she began pacing around, never straying too far from the boulder.

"Roxton..."

"Ribbit."

"Who did this? Was it Tribune? No, he's merely annoying, not magical. Locke/Olmec or whatever he's calling himself now? No, he's dead, I hope. Could the Vantu have done this?" Marguerite wondered aloud as she continued to pace.

No, it wasn't any of those people. It was someone you met once three years ago, or so you told me. Irina, remember her? She decided that you needed to learn a lesson this time. I tried to stop her, but she's a bit like you, independent, Roxton reflected.

"Careful what you wish for!" rang through the air followed by a clear, childlike giggle.

The enigmatic spy stopped in her tracks when she heard it. Marguerite turned to face the nobleman turned amphibian sitting on the boulder. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm going to have to kiss a frog, aren't I?" she asked no one in particular as she slowly opened her eyes and let out her breath.

'Fraid so, my love. If you had kissed me the other day, this might not have happened. Roxton grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Marguerite gaped at him. "Are you laughing at me?" she demanded. Shaking her head she moved closer to the boulder. "Have I mentioned how much I detest frogs? How slimy and slippery they are?"

I don't think you have, today. Just kiss me and be done with it.

"I guess this means I won't be having frog legs for dinner tonight, huh?" Marguerite teased from right in front of the boulder and Roxton.

Only if you find a different frog. Come on. Thata girl, Roxton silently encouraged.

Marguerite put both hands on the boulder in front of Roxton. "Well come on, we haven't got all day."

I promise I'll make you the biggest pot of coffee when we get home, Roxton assured her as he hopped into her hands.

When Roxton was securely in her hands, Marguerite slowly pulled them towards her face. About half way there she stopped.

"I don't think I can do this, kiss a...a frog."

You can't do this NOW! You can't leave me like this. Come on, Marguerite, just get it over with.

Sighing, Marguerite once again started moving her hands and Roxton closer to her face. She looked squarely in his eyes. "So help me if you are even thinking of using that...that frog mouth to return the kiss, you'd better think again," she threatened.

I promise I won't return the kiss...until I'm back to being human. He laughed in his mind.

When the frog was mere centimeters away from her face, Marguerite closed her eyes and reluctantly puckered her lips. She then made contact with the frog's skin and quickly pulled her hands away, almost dropping Roxton before setting him down on the boulder.

"Ok...I've kissed him, now get out here and change him back!" she demanded, heading to the lake to wash her mouth. While she was busy wiping her lips off Marguerite didn't notice the golden light starting to emanate from the frog. The light swirled and lifted the greenish-brown frog off the boulder. Marguerite didn't know anything was happening as she gargled to rid her mouth of the foul taste of the frog. When she finished and turned around, Roxton was sitting on the large rock, much like the day he was born.

"Roxton?"

"Ribbit."

"John?"

"Ribbit."

"Roxton?" a worried Marguerite tried again.

"Yes, my love," Roxton finally let go of his game; he couldn't stand the look on her face any more.

"Not funny."

"Did you think to pack some clothes for me?" he inquired as Marguerite stood at the edge of the lake, not moving.

"I packed a pair of pants. I didn't even think..." Marguerite blushed as she quickly turned around when Roxton moved off the boulder. She could hear him rustling around in the pack, but didn't dare turn around to offer her help.

After what seemed like hours to him, Roxton found his pants and put them on. "You may turn around now," he told her.

"I'm sorry I didn't think to add...anything more in there for you," she commented as she moved closer.

"It's ok, at least you packed these."

"So, who did this? Why?" she inquired as she picked up the items from the pack that had been removed in Roxton's search.

"I did," a childlike voice said. Suddenly Irina appeared on the boulder, startling Marguerite and Roxton.

"Why did you do this? What has he ever done to you? Who are you?" Marguerite insisted while sizing up the little girl.

"Oh I'm not a little girl, not by your world's standards. You might remember me best as an older woman, with..." Irina started.

"Headphones!" Marguerite exclaimed, suddenly recognizing Irina despite her changed appearance. The heiress finally put it together. "You're that old woman who needed Malone's blood to make a potion."

"That is right, Chosen One. It took you long enough to figure it out. You're lucky you did when you did, otherwise, your attendant would have remained a frog forever," the queen of the faeries cautioned.

"I am no one's attendant," Roxton insisted.

"Why him? What has he done to you?" Marguerite asked.

"This lesson wasn't for him. He learned his a long time ago. This lesson was for you," Irina told the enigmatic spy.

"Me? What for?"

"You have so many people in your life who care so much about you, yet you constantly push them away, especially this one. He loves you and you love him, yet you continue to push him away. Why?"

Marguerite stared at the childlike queen then turned to look at the man she loved. She shook her head as she turned to leave. She didn't get very far as Irina was in her path.

"Why do you resist what is in your heart? You do love him, do you not?" Irina whispered.

"If I don't let the others too close, when we return to London, none of them will get hurt because of me. Yes, I love him," the scared linguist softly replied, so John wouldn't hear. Marguerite moved farther away from the faerie woman and especially from Roxton. She didn't want him to hear the inevitable conversation between her and Irina.

"Why do you resist what's in your heart for him?"

"He'll only wind up hurt if I don't. There's so much he doesn't know about me, about my past. The last thing I want to do is hurt him. He has taught me so much. How can I repay him by endangering his life?" Marguerite answered. Tears in her eyes, she continued, "You don't understand. My life back in London is problematic and I do not want him harmed. If he and I... If anything happened to him..."

"You're afraid?

"Yes. That's why I can't let him know."

"That's exactly why you should let him know. You think you are the only one afraid of the what ifs?" Irina asked as she took Marguerite's hand and led her back to Roxton. "Chosen One, do you remember I told you I had fallen in love with a mortal man? I was too afraid to let him know I loved him. He died before I could ever tell him. It is something I regret. I do not wish for you to go through the same thing. Lord Roxton is a good man. He is more understanding than you give him credit for. Trust him," the queen of the nymphs and faeries said as she gently grabbed the nobleman's hand and placed Marguerite's hand in it. As quickly as she had appeared, she was gone, leaving the two lovers alone.

It was a long time until either of them spoke. Marguerite was busy digesting the lesson she had been taught. She was also feeling guilty that Roxton had suffered because of her stubbornness.

Roxton could see the emotions writhing around on Marguerite's face. "Marguerite..."

"John..."

Both laughed. "You first," Roxton encouraged, gently nudging Marguerite's arm.

Chewing on the inside of her lower lip Marguerite tried to think of the sufficient words to let John know how sorry she and afraid she was. She closed her eyes in an effort to shut out any more distractions. Tears slipped from her eyes.

Letting go of her hand, Roxton gently took her face in his hands. "Marguerite, it's going to be all right. We can work on this together," he promised her as he wiped the tears away.

"John, you don't deserve someone as selfish as I am. You'll only wind up getting hurt if you stay..." Marguerite started as she slowly opened her eyes. Through the tears still forming, she could see the love and concern in his eyes. "I'm sorry this happened. I'm sorry I keep pushing you away. I don't want you to get hurt. I know you will when you learn all there is to know about me," she finished.

Roxton never took his hands from her face. He knew how hard it was for her to open up to him or anyone. When he was sure she was finished, he slowly moved his hands to her shoulders and pulled her closer. He stood there for a few minutes with the woman he loved standing stiffly in his arms. He wasn't sure she'd ever hug him, but she little by little slid her arms around his waist. He then heard a muffled sob and yet another apology.

"Marguerite, all is forgiven. Let's go home shall we?" Roxton asked as he slowly gathered up the pack and rifle.

"I didn't think to pack your boots, I'm sorry," she finally spoke clearly, all traces of the tears in her eyes gone.

"I'll be fine. You can massage my feet when we get home as penance for forgetting," Roxton teased.

"I think not. It will be a cold day in..." Marguerite started, but Roxton cut her off with a kiss.

"Roxton!" a surprised Marguerite growled when he released her.

"Sh, Irina might still be around. I'd rather not experience winter quite this early," Roxton cautioned.

Marguerite laughed and led the way home.

He woke up slowly. In the dim moonlight the contours of his room seemed unfamiliar and vaguely threatening. What had roused him from his sleep? He sat up in his bed, a feeling of dread nagging at him. He looked around, but didn't see anything suspicious. He couldn't hear any noises that were cause for concern. What was it? And then he knew. Marguerite had had another nightmare. He wasn't sure how he knew it, but as he pulled on his pants he was sure that was what had woken him. He padded to her room and just as he suspected, she wasn't there.

Roxton quietly walked out to the common area, expecting to see her sitting at the table drinking tea. She wasn't. He walked towards her favorite spot on the balcony. She was there, sitting in a chair with her chin on her pulled-up knees and arms around her legs, staring out into the jungle. Roxton went back to the common area and pulled the blanket off the couch and grabbed another chair. He set the chair down next to hers and gently wrapped the blanket around Marguerite.

"John?"

"Ribbit."

Marguerite rolled her eyes as she pulled the blanket tighter. "That's getting old."

"I know, but I couldn't resist."

"Next time, resist the urge to croak. It's annoying."

Ah that's her cue to change subjects. Better tread carefully, The nobleman thought as he placed a hand on her back. He slowly started rubbing back and forth. "Care to share what has you awake at this hour?"

"I had that dream again. I guess it's my subconscious letting me know that..." Marguerite trailed off.

"Letting you know that, what?" Roxton prodded.

"Letting me know that we, us, whatever is happening between us is scary."

"You know I'd never hurt you."

Marguerite shook her head. "I don't mean that kind of scary, John. I've been on my own all my life. I've never let anyone in. But since living here, I've let so many in and that scares me. My life is more complicated than any of you can know or even imagine. It frightens me. I don't want anyone hurt because of me."

"I wish there was something I could do to assure you that we can all handle whatever secrets you have left. If it helps, I'm just as frightened about us as you are," Roxton told her, offering a hand.

Marguerite looked at the man she loved more than life itself. She took his hand and stood up. She waited for him to rise, too. Once he was standing they both headed back to their rooms. When Roxton started for his room, Marguerite still had his hand. She gently tugged at it, hoping he'd understand and follow her. They entered her room and crawled into Marguerite's bed. Roxton waited until she was settled and comfortable before he wrapped his arms securely around her. They soon fell asleep.

The Queen of the nymphs and faeries smiled. She quietly giggled and disappeared. Lesson learned.

Endnotes: For those of you not able to figure out what story/fairy tale this is based on, it's The Frog Prince. In case any one was counting, I used 8 of the 15 words CMS required us to use. They are: Vantu, Captain Askwith, Webleys, pterodactyl, cooking, underwear, penicillin, and Marguerite's locket.