Title: In the Beginning...

Author/pseudonym: Otter

Rating: G

Pairings: None, Naomi

Status: NEW

Date: August 20, 2000

Archive: YES (if you want)

Archive author:

Archive email address:

Series/Sequel: Not planned, but you never know these days

Disclaimers: Naomi's not mine; she belongs to Pet Fly, Paramount, and UPN. The other characters are all mine.

Notes: How did Naomi get to be so footloose, full of wanderlust? Why did she start?

Summary: Naomi finds she must leave home.

Warnings: Angst, implication of child abuse/non-consensual sex.

IN THE BEGINNING...

By Otter

She stood by the side of the road, a small soft bag resting by her feet...thumb out, trying desperately to get away.

She saw a multi-colored van come into view. She maintained her pose, praying that whoever was in the van would stop, and that whoever was in there was a decent human being.

The van pulled over to the side of the roading, slowing as it pulled up next to her. A girl not much older than she was stuck her head outside the window. "How are you going?"

"As far away from here as I can get."

The young man and woman looked at the bruises marring the pretty young face, and then their eyes slid to the slight protrusion of her absomen. The man leaned forward. "I'm Thomas Red Dog, and this is Lily. Hop in."

"My name is Naomi," as she crawled into the backseat.

"How far along are you?" Lily asked as they pulled away from the side of the road.

"About 5 months," Naomi said quietly.

"From the look of you, I'd say your folks weren't too pleased when you told them about the baby."

"No, they weren't."

"Didn't they like the baby's father?" Lily asked curiously.

"They didn't like who I told them the father was. They refused to believe me. They said I was lying, and that they'd beat the devil out of me."

Thomas looked in the rearview mirror. "Looks like they tried."

Her chin came up proudly. "They tried. They didn't believe me when I told them I'd been forced, and who had done the forcing. Now they want me to have an abortion. But I refused." She looked over at them, tears in her eyes. "This baby's mine. The father wants nothing to do with it...or me. I'll be damned to hell if I'll let them destroy my baby the way they've tried to destroy me. I've got to get something good out of this. Blair's it."

"Oh, so you've already named her, huh?" Lily said, putting an arm around Naomi's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.

"Unfortunately things like that happen," Thom said, "but you seem to have the right idea. Something good out of a bad situation."

Naomi looked over at Lily. "Blair can be a boy's or a girl's name. That way, I already have the name ready when he or she is born."

Thom pulled into a gas station just over the county line. He handed Lily some money. "Go pay the man for the gas, and get everyone a pop." Turning to Naomi, "Why don't you go with her, Naomi? Pick out the pop you like best - Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up, Sprite...whatever you want. And why don't you all pick up some chips or something to eat on the road...baloney and bread or something."

"Okay, thanks," and the two girls headed into the little country store.

The two girls paid the man for the gas, and then wandered through the store picking up things to eat - fruit, cheese, bread, soda pop. Lily looked at the kosher dills in their big jar. "I love those things, but I don't remember if Thom does or not."

Naomi looked over at her, and estimated the amount of money they had left. "Can we spend all of it?" she asked quietly.

Lily nodded. "Yeah...Thom and I did some good business at the Renaissance Fair. We're able to spend a little more freely now that we're on the way home."

"Where are you heading?"

"Oklahoma. We're heading to his folks'." She smiled at Naomi. "He wants us to get married now that there's a little one on the way," and she smiled. "And he wants us to be near his mother and grandmother, so they can deliver the baby...just like they've delivered all the babies in the area."

"Wish I had some place to go, but...everyone'd be like my parents. I'm just hoping to get far enough away so that no one knows me. Won't try to make me give up my baby, or to take him away from me."

"You keep saying him." Lily looked at her curiously.

Naomi smiled, and put her hand on her stomach. "It's just a feeling I've got. My baby's gonna be a fine man."

Lily looked at her, curiousity streaming from her. "And mine?"

Naomi put her hand on Lily's stomach, and then she smiled. "A fine strong little girl." She stopped suddenly, confusion in her eyes. "But, how did I know that?"

"Maybe you're a medicine woman," Lily offered.

"I don't know," Naomi said slowly, then shrugged. "Any way, what I was going to say was that, I've got a little money to help out with expenses. Let's get three of the big pickles. Then if Thom doesn't like the pickles, you and I can share the third one." She grinned at her new friend. "I find myself craving dill pickles."

Lily grinned back. "Me too."

They carefully brought their purchases to the counter and placed them for the old storekeeper to ring up. They headed out to the car, carefully carrying the food and drinks.

Thom put the nozzle back on the pump, and got back in the car. "Did you get everything?"

"Got fruit, cheese, bread...all stuff we can eat on the road and not have to refrigerate," Naomi offered, almost anxiously, half afriad that he was going to be angry with their choices.

"Good deal." Thom started the engine and pulled carefully away from the station. "We're not that far from home. We should make it by tomorrow." He glanced back at Naomi in the mirror. "I know it doesn't look like much, but that mattress in the back is comfortable, and it should fit all three of us. You can sleep on the other side of Lily. When we get to my home, I'll ask Nonnie to take a look at you. She's been the local midwife for over fifty years. She trained Mama. She'll know if everything's going to be OK. Sound all right to you?"

"Won't your parents be angry when you show up with two strangers in tow?"

"Lily and I have been married for about six weeks now. Mama gonna be angry that we didn't tell her we were getting married. But, once we found out that Lily was expecting, we knew we had to get married without any kind of delay. Mama's probably going to want to throw a big wedding party for us; have us married properly by Indian law. But, she's gonna be glad for us. Particularly that I picked a girl with good skills that can help make money."

Naomi looked over at Lily. "I'm a weaver, same as my Mama before me. She started teaching me when I was very small. And I also do beadwork. So, I'm able to make lots of small stuff that sells real well at the Faires. Thom is a blacksmith and silversmith. He makes all kinds of things for the Renaissance Faires...jewelry, swords, knives, armor, stuff like that."

"Yeah. I sold four suits of chain mail at this last Fair, and every last piece of my jewelry. Did a whole lot better than I thought I would. Don't really have much of anything left."

Naomi thought carefully. "I only got a little money to help pay for my keep. Do you think your parents could use an extra pair of hands to help around the house? I'd work hard for room and board."

"I think we can make sure of that. Besides, you'll be staying with Lily and me...not Mama."

"How much money do you make for your weaving pieces?" Naomi asked curiously.

"Usually, a large piece will run about $60.00. The smaller pieces are a little less. Of course, that's for the woven art. Woven cloth... depends on what it's made of. I usually work with cotten because I can get cotton thread cheap. I weave it into cloth. The cloth, depending on its complexity, can sell for $5-$10 per yard."

"Do knitted, tatted, or crocheted things sell well?"

"I've seen a couple people that have crocheted stuff there. Why?"

"My grandmother taught me to knit, crochet, and tat lace. I've been doing it for years. Just wondering if I could make something to sell...help earn my living."

"There's always a market for lace at the Renaissance Faires. People use it a lot. And handmade lace brings in a good bit of money too." Thom thought for a moment. "Tell you what. What do you need to make the lace?"

Naomi smiled over at him. "Nothing real expensive. Several spools of fine white thread, my tatting things here in my bag, and time...lots of time. Why?"

Thom pulled over to the side of the road. "I've been thinking. You need a place to stay. We need some new products.We'll give you a place to stay and food; you make lace to sell at the Faires. When we sell them, we'll split the profits - 60% for Lily and me and to cover your room and board, and 40% to you. How does that sound?"

"Sounds wonderful to me."

"So it's a deal then?"

"Deal."

And Naomi stuck out her hand. They solemnly shook on it. Then Thom grinned at her. "I think Mama's gonna like you. I can already hear her now. 'You bring us a woodpecker?'"

"Woodpecker?"

"With that red hair, you're gonna be lucky if she doesn't call you Woody."

They all smiled at the thought as he pulled the car back onto the highway, and Naomi headed into her new life.

July 2000