Chapter 5 - staying with the kendricks: part 4

12.
Dinner was every bit as wonderful as Mrs. Kendrick had, that same morning, promised it would be. As Faye sat down at the Kendrick's kitchen table she found on her plate a generous helping of creamy potato gratin and pork chops drowned in a rich brown sauce. Though far from hungry after the cookies Niall had served her earlier in the day Faye nonetheless dug in with her usual enthusiasm.

The food was, predictably, wonderful and, just as predictably, unlike anything Faye had ever tasted. She could not help but to let out a soft moan as she shoved a forkful of the creamy gratin in between her lips. Nor could she help but grin as she took a bite out of her tender, sauce drenched pork chop. Before long she'd gorged her way through the entire plate, leaving her slender stomach comfortably packed with delicious, fatty food.

Stuffed though she was she couldn't help but eagerly nod as Maggie Kendrick, some minutes later, asked if anybody was up for seconds.

"How about you dear," inquired the older woman, turning to her daughter once she'd served Faye another portion.

Annie, though she'd not eaten with quite the same ferocity as Faye, had nonetheless swiftly cleared her plate. Now, however, she hesitated.

"No thanks," she said, at last. "I think I've had enough already."

"Are you sure, dear," coaxed Mrs. Kendrick. "You're a growing girl after all."

"I think I've done enough growing already," said Annie, a sardonic scowl on her face.

"Suit yourself," said Mrs. Kendrick, shrugging as she refilled her own plate. "I'd just hate to see you waste away."

Annie responded only by groaning and rolling her eyes.

Faye, though busy stuffing even more food into her stretched tummy couldn't help but smile at the interaction. Though she'd only been with them for a day she'd come to feel quite at home with the Kendricks. She would hate to have to leave them and their bakery behind, and even more to have to leave all their wonderful food.

Letting out a sigh she stuffed another forkful of gratin in between her lips.

As if able to tell that the girl was in a pensive mood Mrs. Kendrick turned towards Faye, a kindly smile on her face.

"Actually dear," she said; "there's something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Oh," said Faye, her already large eyes growing wide with curiosity.

"Well, we, Oscar and I, were wondering, seeing as that you don't seem to have any place of your own, if you'd like to stay with us?"

At that Faye's bright blue eyes grew somehow even wider.

"You'd have to help out around the bakery of course," added Oscar.

Faye said nothing, looking around the table she saw on Niall's face a pleased, encouraging smile and on Annie's an expression just as surprised, but not perhaps quite as pleased, as the one Faye had on her own.

"Well," she said, carefully; "I wouldn't want to be bother..."

"Don't be silly," Mrs. Kendrick beamed, "of course you wouldn't be. Now what do you say? Do you want to stay with us?"

"Oh yes, I'd love to," erupted Faye, thoughtlessly nodding to accept both the offer under discussion and Mrs. Kendrick's silent offer of a third helping of potato gratin.

13.
"Did you talk them into this?"

Looking up from his book Niall found Faye standing outside his room, one slight hand resting nervously on the doorframe. Her long fiery hair was loose, flowing around her slender torso, which was draped in an oversized nightgown, probably one of Annie's.

"Didn't take much talking," said Niall. "I told you already, they're very friendly people. Not the kind to leave a young woman to fend for herself."

Faye said nothing. Her eyes seemed somehow to glitter as for a moment she simply looked at Niall, a warm smile on her face.

"Thank you," she said, at length.

"Don't mention it," said Niall.

"No, seriously..."

"Alright," he smiled; "you're welcome."

Smiling in return Faye remained hovering in the doorway. She didn't say anything, yet neither did she leave.

Looking at her quizzically, his brow furrowed, Niall raised the corners of his mouth as finally he understood.

"How about a late night snack?"

He couldn't help but smile as the girl's eyes lit up at the question.

"Well, I mean, I'm still feeling a little full from dinner. But, well, if it's not too much trouble then I guess..."

"Of course it's not," he said, letting out a chuckle as he got to his feet.

14.
Faye lay curled up under her covers, her tummy packed tight, as Niall had made sure, with cookies and milk. Breathing slowly, at an even pace, she let out a soft moan each time she exhaled.

Once she'd gotten into bed the girl, it seemed, had swiftly fallen asleep. Though Niall knew very well that he shouldn't be peeking into her bedroom he hadn't been able to resist. She looked so sweet, so beautiful, as she slept. A contented little smile on her face as her elegant fingers cradled her swollen stomach.

He tore his eyes away after only a short glance. From now on, he thought to himself, he'd have plenty of time to look at her whilst she was awake.

That night as he crawled back into bed Niall found that his thoughts were still on Faye. On her appetite, on the pleasure she seemed to take in her meals, on what her enthusiasm for food might some day do to her figure. He found himself thinking about the girl's nightgown, about the oversized dress she'd borrowed from Annie. He imagined her body swelling until it'd filled both garments, until it'd split their seams and stretched their fabric to the point of tearing.

For some reason the thought made him smile.

Whilst Niall's mind was focused on the girl sleeping in the room across from his Faye's had of course already flown far further; to a giant, familiar hall in a giant, familiar, far away forest where a familiar woman sat on a familiar throne looking on as a train of familiar girls danced a familiar dance.