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Authors note: So this is my first Little Women fanfic. It's set before Jo's Boys, but closer to that end of the timescale than Little Men... if that makes sense. Anyway, this is just a random oneshot that came to me as I was practising my violin. So yeah... it's fluffy, which I don't normally do, but I just love these two characters so much...
Oh, and one other thing. They exercise that Nat gets Daisy to do to teach her to hold the violin, I had to do that when I was learning. My teacher called it 'Statue of Liberty' and it looks kinda stupid but it does work. So without further ado... enjoy the story!
Learning the notes.
Ever since they were children Daisy had enjoyed listening to Nat play his violin. She had first been drawn to him through her love of music, though she could not play herself, and her love for him had grown through that. Maybe her motives for listening to him play had changed ever so slightly for now, although she still loved the music he played, she found herself studying him and the way that he was absorbed by the music. She loved the slight frown that came on his face when he was practising some new piece and focussing on the notes. She loved the way that he swayed slightly in time to the music, as if freed from the shyness that would usually constrict him. She loved how patient he was, playing the same few notes over and over until he got them right. She loved every new song that he played. But above all, she loved the way he always came back to the old songs of their childhood. The ones he did not need music for because he knew them so well. It was reassuring to her, almost as if he was giving her an unspoken promise that he would always come back to her.
Today he was playing a new piece. She smiled to herself as she watched his fingers fly. He eyes were so intent on the music, she couldn’t help feeling that the whole world had vanished leaving just him and the violin. And her? Was he aware of her, sitting on the chair near enough that she could see him but at a distance that meant she wasn’t disturbing him. He stopped playing abruptly and considered the music for a while. Then he turned to look at her, almost as if he knew what she was thinking. She felt herself blushing, embarrassed about being caught watching him but he, who was usually so self-conscious, did not look embarrassed at all. His music gave him a confidence that few people saw. He smiled and turned back to the music stand, although there was no longer any music on it. He started playing the song that Laurie had composed for him, which he had played on the stage all those years ago. It still brought tears to her eyes to hear it, and she remembered how she had listened and watched him in awe. If she had to pick a moment to say when she fell in love with Nat, it would be that moment. They may have still been children but from then on he was her Nat, not just her friend Nat but her Nat.
She wiped her tears hastily as he came to the last notes of the song. He turned back to her and looked startled to see her crying. He sat down next to her and put his arm round her, offering her comfort.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, concerned.
She smiled and leant her head against him. She loved how he was always forgetting the effect his music had on people.
“It’s just so beautiful.” She replied, knowing, as she always did, that he would understand.
For a while they sat in silence.
“I wish I could play, or make some music of any kind…” She whispered, half to herself, half to the violin which lay in Nat’s lap. Nat sat up suddenly.
“I’ll teach you!” He said, looking as excited as a young boy. She laughed at his enthusiasm.
“Teach me?” She said unbelievingly. “I’m not musical in the slightest.”
“But you are musical! You sing don’t you? You have a beautiful voice. If you want to learn, I can teach you.”
She considered it. She looked at the violin which he was holding out to her. She looked at the excitement in his face. He looked so hopeful, and so earnest that she could not refuse him. Besides, she had always wanted to be able to play music…
“Yes then,” She replied, with trepidation, “Teach me to play.”
The violin felt smooth and cold in her hands. His hands, which collided with hers briefly, were warm. She blushed slightly at the touch, but he didn’t notice, so intent was he on teaching her about his passion.
“Hold it carefully.” He instructed. She nodded, suddenly feeling nervous. She knew how much his violin meant to him, and she did not want to damage it, or drop it.
“When I’m teaching my pupils I always get them to do an exercise so that they hold the violin properly… It may seem a bit… silly… but it does work.” He looked apologetic. She smiled, suddenly not worried about embarrassing herself in front of him.
“I don’t mind. You’re the teacher.”
He smiled back at her, looking relieved. He moved the violin so that she was holding the fingerboard in her left hand.
“Right, stretch your arm out straight ahead,” He told her and she dutifully obeyed. “Now stretch up.” She stretched her arm up above her head. It hurt a bit and Nat smiled.
“Not like that.” He said, gently moving her arm forward to a more comfortable position. This time he did notice their touching hands, and he blushed as she did but, looking determined, he did not move his hand until her arm was in the right position.
“Now, turn your arm round… and slide it down under your chin. There you go. Hold it there.”
He went from there to teaching her how to hold the bow, helping her support the violin with one hand and showing her where her fingers should be on the bow with the other. He was a good teacher, she realised. She never really thought about his teaching, apart from the fact that it meant she didn’t see him as much as she used to. He was patient and explained things well. His pupils were lucky to have such a talented man teaching them to play music. She wondered if they appreciated how lucky they were.
“Alright, now play. Pull the bow over the strings.”
She did so but only managed to emit a squeal of protest from the instrument. It sounded like a tortured ghost and it scared her. She stared shocked at the strings for a moment, before looking to Nat for comfort. He was laughing and she suddenly felt embarassed, feeling her lack of talent.
“You didn’t have to look so shocked.” He said, calming down. “It happens to everyone when they start off. It takes years for most people to refine their tone, and a great deal of practice.”
“Did you sound this bad when you started?” She asked, as she tried again and managed to get something vaguely like a note out.
“Er… I must have done. I don’t really remember though. Can you read music?”
The abrupt change of topic threw her for a second. She remembered something that her mother once said about all musicians, thinking about nothing but music. Her mother had been trying to stop her daughter from falling in love with Nat, but the truth was that it was one of the things Daisy loved about him.
“Yes I can, or at least I can sing from music.”
“Well the note you just played… that’s an A. It’s what we call an open string. No fingers needed.” He moved her first finger so that it was pressed on the A string. “This is a B,” He pressed her second finger down. “C,” He pressed her third finger down. “D”.