"Letting Go"

By: Grizzled Rose; whitewolf666@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I only own the story and the homemade characters.

Summary: A future story, about both the Roxton and Malone families.

Notes: This is a future reality, so here is a little catch up. John and Marguerite are wed, along with Ned and Veronica; (via the Zanga shaman). The year is 1945, and the families are still trapped on the Plateau, having given up the search twelve years ago. A year ago in 1944, Challenger died of a fever, leaving everything to the group. Also a letter addressed to Jessie if they ever find a way off the Plateau. Summerlee is still MIA; (though because of his age, he's most likely dead now).

Children: The Roxton's; William Edward (age 19), Adrienne Elizabeth (age 15)

The Malone's; Tom Arthur (age 17), George Richard (age 13)

Marguerite sat out on the balcony taking in the fresh air, and re-reading "Moby Dick" for the hundredth time. She really didn't even need the heavily worn printed pages; long ago she had memorized the entire book. It was one of Adrienne's favorites, but it gave her something to do. The emptiness of the tree house got to her then; she didn't like to be alone. John and the boys were out working on the windmill, and the men needed their bonding time. Now she wished that she had accompanied Veronica and Adrienne to the Zanga village the other day, but they were due back anytime now.

***

"George, will you hand me the hammer there?" Ned Malone asked as he balanced himself on the homemade ladder. "I just want to make sure that this plug is in tight." A young man with the lightest blonde hair, and a deep bronze tan handed a hammer up to Ned. The boy wore a mixture of old patched up clothing that hung over his small frame, and some homemade clothing. He then headed over to a group of young men all dressed in the same manner. They were picking up the tools and getting ready to head out.

"You almost ready to head home Neddy-Boy?" Lord Roxton asked as he stepped around from the backside of the windmill. His shirt was thrown over his left shoulder, and although his eyes shined with fire and fury; his body just couldn't bounce back as quick any more.

"Just finishing up Roxton, and I think the boys have every thing ready to go." Both men looked over to the group of young men. "Though you know Tom," Ned pointed to his older boy, a strawberry blonde that did look like Tom Layton. His namesake. "He wants to go see if there is any change on his little experiment." Ned climbed down the ladder, with a smile across his face. Roxton noticed the happy look on his friend's face.

"That boy of yours is getting as bad as Challenger ever was." Roxton laughed and thought back. "What was it, at eight that boy was following Challenger around the lab?"

"Seven actually, poor Challenger didn't know what to do at first." The men laughed at the memories, as they put the ladder away and headed towards the young men. The boys were talking quietly to themselves, but as Roxton and Malone came near they stopped. The two older men shared a glance.

Roxton stared at his son, the oldest of the bunch. He was almost a copy of his father, except for his eyes, the boy had is mother's eyes. Roxton had spent many years learning how to read them, and like his mother William had away of coming up with some clever schemes. With him and Tom being so close in age, that meant both sets of parents had plenty to worry about.

"Ok what are you up to now?" Roxton asked eyeing William, and then letting his stare move to the others. George was the one to give it away. He dropped his eyes and lowered his shoulders. Ned also noticed the subdued look that his youngest son took on.

"George?" Ned asked. "Something going on?"

"Nothing dad, just talking." George didn't look his father in the eyes, but for now they'd just have to keep an eye on all the boys.

"Alright, well we better get home, mother is due back and she will want to make sure we're all right." Ned said as the group of men double checked their weapons and headed back to the tree house.

***

Marguerite was about to go crazy in all the quiet; she had given up on trying to read a bit ago. She busied herself by doing some "touch up" cleaning around the tree house. It really wasn't doing any thing; she'd turn that this way, and move this that way. She stopped mid-stride and then walked over to one of the living area chairs. A smile dancing across her face. She pulled out of Adrienne's old dolls, and thought 'Now how did this get there?' She shrugged it off and walked over to the old play chest. Carefully she placed the doll on top of the pile of the children's old toys.

She then heard the hydraulics of the elevator kick in, some ones home. Veronica and Adrienne came into view as the elevator reached to the top. They disembarked, and hung their packs up on the hooks.

"Mother! We're home!" Adrienne called out. The girl had her mother's raven curls and slim build, but her eyes were the color of emeralds. Marguerite walked up to her daughter, who gave her mother a kiss and then headed to her room.

"Where's Ned and the boys?" Veronica asked as she looked around the tree house.

"Their over at the windmill doing repairs with John and William." Marguerite replied. Veronica nodded and headed to the kitchen, Marguerite following behind. "Time to start lunch?"

"Yes, and your not weaseling your way out of helping this time." Veronica said with a smile.

***

The tree house was once again quiet as the children had all gone to bed, quickly followed by Ned and Veronica. Marguerite found herself out on the balcony staring into the star filled sky, memories of her life on the Plateau running through her mind.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Two strong arms wrapped around her waist, she leaned back into John's chest.

"Just remembering." She replied. They stood that way lost in thought for a bit, feeling safe and warm in their closeness. Roxton looking over to the doorway leading to the boys' rooms every once in a while. "John?"

"Hmmm?"

"What's the matter?" She tilted her head up on his shoulder so that she could see the look on his face.

"William and Tom are up to something."

"And you know this because?"

"He has that look."

"That's all?" Marguerite asked. John looked down at her with a smirk, his eyes saying more then words ever could.

"He does take after you." Roxton said with a smile.

"What, our little hunter? I do believe he gets his adventurous spirit from your lordship." They laughed, but they both know the truth. William was almost on even mix. John's love of hunting and adventure, but Marguerite's scheming and deception. A very dangerous mixture for sure.

"What are they up to now?" She asked with a bit of annoyance in her tone.

"That's the problem, I don't know." Roxton said flatly. Marguerite sighed heavily.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"Well, that's what brought me out here. I think I am going to keep that boy busy. So much so that he will not have the time to get into trouble." He had a determined look in his eyes.

"Just how are you planning on doing that?" She pulled out of his embrace, and turned to look at him directly. "You remember last time?"

A look of pain fell on Roxton's face. The last time William was looking for trouble, the pair had given the boy a couple of extra jobs. In which he used to help him, along with Tom, sneak out into the jungle. Which turned out badly when they ran into some cannibals on the way back. Luckily Tom managed to escape back to the tree house and find help.

"I remember. This time I think that a long hunting trip will do the job. That way I can keep an eye on him, maybe have a bit of a talk with him as well."

"I don't know John…" Marguerite began.

"What are we to do? He is growing up, and is no longer our little boy. Hell, by all rights he is a man now." Roxton's words were harsh, but rang with truth. That didn't mean that they still didn't hurt. Marguerite looked to her feet, and John could see that his words had cut deep.

"I know." Marguerite said in a whisper. John brought a finger under her chin, and carefully raised her head so that they were looking eye to eye.

"I don't want to let him go either." John whispered to her.

***

It was early morning; most of the jungle was asleep, as two dark figures snuck into Challenger's lab.

"So what are we looking for again?" William asked in his softest whisper. He lit a small candle and carried it to the furthest corner.

"A map of the plateau, Grandpa kept it here some where. It has all the places they've tried marked. Also his plateau journal, that has all his idea's in it." Tom whispered back. The two young men quietly started searching through all of Challenger's papers. Unknown to them they were not the only ones awake, and they were being watched.

***

"God damn it!" Followed by a loud bang. With in a few moments everyone in the tree house found their way to the living room. That is, almost everyone.

"What is it John?" Marguerite asked, a concerned look growing as she looked at her husband's face. Last night's conversation coming back to her.

"Where's Tom and George?" Veronica asked concern growing in her as well. Ned coming in behind her looked to Roxton and cursed under his breath.

Adrienne stood next to her mother, not realizing what was happening yet. Slowly it came to her; she looked up to her mother. Not knowing what else to do. Marguerite's face showed great anger, but her eyes reviled the fear that she was fighting to control. Roxton was already at the gun rack, a stream of silent curses flowing under his breath.

"John, what are they up to now?" Marguerite asked. At the same time Veronica asked, "What's happening Roxton?"

"Roxton, you have to slow down. We need to know what's happening. You can't go after them by yourself any way." Ned said calmly, adding. "Also, you can't go after them in your night cloths." Roxton stopped. He looked down and realized he was only wearing his long john pants. That was enough to snap him back to reality, with a sigh headed for his bedroom. He handed Ned the note on his way past; Ned began reading it out loud, so that all could hear.

"Going to find the way off the plateau. Don't worry we'll be careful, sorry we borrowed grandpa's rifle and the shotgun. When we find the way off we will come and get you. Love William and Tom." Ned handed the note to the women and headed to his room to change as well.

"So where's George!?!" Veronica was shaking; tears were forming in her eyes.



TO BE CONTINUED…..