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The Trade	By : sandyl666 Category: +1 through F > Coraline Views: 11933 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: Coraline book-verse is owned by Neil Gaiman and part of movie-verse is owned by Henry Selick, I own nothing. I make nothing whatsoever by writing and posting this on.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
Disclaimer: Coraline's original plot and characters (Which you need to watch the movie to know) belongs to Neil Gaiman and Henry Selick. Everything else is mine.
Chapter 21: Resolve

"Ow. Ow, ow, ow," Coraline winced.
"Sweetheart, you're biting mummy's nipple," Bel chided little Deirdre.
"Just a little gentler, Dre..." Coraline said, gasping as her daughter let up some of the pressure, allowing blood to flow back into her sensitive peak. Bel frowned in some displeasure at the nickname. He liked Deirdre, as tongue twisting as the name tended to be, and was less than pleased when Coraline started calling the child Dre. "There we go, Dre. Good girl," Bel watched, transfixed, as Coraline strained her neck downwards to kiss the top of Dre's head, while the infant lay in her arms, patting her breasts with her tiny hands and sucking vigorously. Way too vigorously. Not that Bel could blame her. He felt rather inclined to do fix his own mouth on that succulent pink skin and taste the sixteen year old's milk too.
"She's eating well," Bel commented instead, trying not to cross the line when he knew their deal was more or less satisfied, and she was not obligated to stay. At all.
"Yeah, she is. She's definitely my daughter," Coraline said proudly.
"Indeed," Bel replied. Coraline just laughed good heartedly, at her own expense.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Coraline remarked, cooing at the child, and beaming at her. She glowed with the ethereal light of a new mother. She was positively radiant, and Bel's heart throbbed painfully at the idea of losing her.
He cleared his throat akwardly, feeling a heavy lump form there. "I'll go get some food,"
"What? More food?" Coraline frowned at him without looking up from their child.
"Yes," he said, knowing that the food preparation would give him the time he needed to clear his thoughts and think of a way to keep her in the Other World... With her daughter, and with him.
It had happened. Despite all her efforts. Coraline had totally fallen in love with the child that was partly her creation. She nuzzled the little one in her arms, giggling along with the girl as the infant was tickled.
"Yes, you're my little Dre," she cooed. She'd never understood why people would talk to their children in that annoying goo-goo-gaa-gaa way. But now she did. It was as if she simply did it instinctively.
Her smile faltered when she once again realised that the child wasn't hers to keep. Though she feinted uncomprehension, she knew that was why Bel was acting so distracted, and seemed worried. At first she thought it was because he had been worried about what the labour had done to her skinny - well, not so skinny anymore - body. But he'd declared her completely fine after a thorough check a day or two after Dre's birth. Aside from slight fatigue of having to wake up every hour or so as Dre cried out for one thing or the other. As much as he tried to take care of the baby's needs, he couldn't stop the baby's cries from reaching her ears. But no, that worry was long past and still Bel acted... strangely.
Dre patted her mother's face with an outstretched palm, gurgling happily. Coraline's smile returned, albeit a bit less brightly. "I would love to stay. With you, my Dre, and with Bel... But I can't,"
Dre stared at her with her father's big black eyes. Not buttons, but actual eyes. Dre looked at her mother as if asking 'Why?'.
Coraline laughed at the quizzical look on her infant child.
"Many reasons why. My parents and my friends are there. And your dad... I can't let him hurt anymore children. I need to lock the door... As much as I'll regret never seeing him again. But also because of my pride," she paused, realising how ridiculous she was acting, telling her child who probably couldn't understand anything, that she was choosing her pride before her precious daughter. But she had to go on, simply to get it out. "I made a deal with your father, and those are the terms I put down. I can't take it back. I can't change it. And I can't tell your father I'll stay instead, and give him the satisfaction. I'm so petty, aren't I?" she asked the child, who only giggled in reply. Coraline stroked Dre's face, simply thinking of what she'd just said.
Minutes later, Bel entered the room, holding a tray. He placed the tray in her lap, before taking their daughter from her, and cradling Dre in his arms.
"My beautiful Dre," he said, unable to take his eyes off Dre. Coraline herself was unable to take her eyes off the father-daughter pair as she shoveled food into her mouth automatically. The more he cooed and played with her, the more she felt an urge to speak.
"I'm still leaving, and taking the key with me," she declared suddenly, knowing they would have to clear this up sometime anyway. But she knew he hadn't thought it would be so soon from the way his whole body tensed up, making Dre frown in his arms. "Now that Dre's born... I don't have to stay," She paused, watching his reaction. He stared at her emotionlessly, and she decided to continue. "But I won't leave until Dre can be weaned off milk. I wouldn't feel right just leaving her,"
For a long time, the room was silent except for Dre's occassional baby noises. Coraline felt slightly uncomfortable at the silence, apprehensive at what was going through Bel's mind.
"In other words," he spoke finally. "I have until Dre stops breastfeeding, or you run out of milk, to change your mind,"
"Change my mind?" she lifted an eyebrow.
He nodded, and smiled in an almost sinister manner. "I won't break our deal... But I'll get you to, don't worry."
"Sorry, but I pride myself on keeping my end of any bargain." Coraline said, nose turned upward and giving Coraline on what seemed like a haughty look.
"We'll see," Bel smirked to himself. Coraline caught sight of it and simply sniffed daintily. He chuckled and moved to sit beside her, Dre still in his arms. "I can't take my eyes off our daughter. She's truly..."
"Beautiful?" Coraline offered. Bel nodded with a smile. "So I guess you got your wish? To have a child you won't be able to eat. Unless..." she went silent, not really wishing to even voice out that thought.
Bel, sensing where she was going, quickly shook his head. It wouldn't help his case of getting her to stay if he let her think he still wanted to eat their child. "No," he said firmly. "I won't. Dre's too important,"
Coraline smiled in relief. "Good. Or I'd have to take her with me when I leave,"
"And break our deal?"
She shrugged. "I'd find a way,"
He chuckled. "I'm sure you would, sweetheart,"
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- 21
- 22
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The Trade