Out of the Woods || An Into the Woods AU
Starter for roguerunnertom
“I wish more than anything.”
She found herself repeating those five words every morning after returning from her daily trip to the Hob, collecting ingredients to run the bakery and talk to some older woman who may have tips for keeping a marriage long lasting. After putting all of the flour and sugar she bought away, Nova sat on the windowsill, watching as crowds of people walked past her late father’s bakery, repeating and repeating the same five words regardless of what her husband needed done in the shop. Thomas was the only person who knew what Nova wished for. After a year of trying for a baby, they had no luck. Nova had gotten so used to seeing a little pink negative sign on the pregnancy test that she always had Thomas look at it, hoping for different news than the last test. After trying everything in their power to attempt to conceive, the young couple lost hope, as much as it upset them. At least they had the bakery and each other – they weren’t alone.
The aroma of freshly baked bread drew in customers, eager to have their share of the Mellark secret recipes passed down from Peeta to Thomas, since Nova burnt everything. Peeta had taught Thomas everything he knew and specifically instructed him to tell Nova she could only decorate the cakes and cookies and run the cash register. Most of the time, Nova would try to get in the way and bother Thomas until he sent her to run to the Hob for ingredients. Though, everything was only a distraction from what they desired more than anything – more than seeing her parents, more than riches, and far more than absolute happiness. They wanted a baby to hold.
Moving from the window to the bakery’s countertops where Thomas was working, Nova placed a quick kiss to his cheek, a sad smile gracing her soft features.
“So, after I bought all of that flour, that older woman who sold us those new pans for the bread stopped me and asked me if we were with child yet.” Nova tapped her fingers on the counter, spinning around to grab a pan full of fresh loafs, moving them to the window to cool. “I told her no – that we probably will never have a child and she patted my shoulder, handing me a mason jar full of this green herbal remedy from the older days, I guess. She told me to drink half before we go to bed and then half in the morning but, I caught a whiff of it on the way back and it smells horrible. Though, she did tell me that’s how she conceived her first son so, maybe we can try that Thomas. I think this is our last hope.”
As much as her last phrase hurt like an arrow in the heart, she knew that this remedy she was speaking of would be their last hope. Nova felt like she was letting her husband down, not giving him what he wished for. The brunette even admitted this to her husband on multiple occasions but, he would always just pull her in and hug her, telling her that it’s okay and not her fault, even if it felt like it was. Thomas would have been a great father, if he had the chance to be one and for all Nova knew, he would never be given the chance.
Suddenly, the door opened, ringing the bell placed on one of the hinges. Minho, their frequent customer arrived, starting to fold his shirt up and sweeping baked goods into the makeshift pouch, a smile never leaving his face even as silence swept over the bakery. Nova knew Thomas would get annoyed for letting him take all of his freshly baked goods for free but, Minho was a sweet guy and did have a sick grandmother in the woods.
“You two look like you two are having a party.” Minho uttered sarcastically, grabbing a paper bag to put all of his goodies into. “I need one loaf of bread to take to my grandmother. You got that, Mr. Baker?”
