The first in a little series I decided start. I know I owe everyone the sequel to my last St T's story but I'm lacking inspirtation for it and need something to get the creative juices flowing. This idea just came to me. Hope it makes up for my lazy updating schedule...
The Proposing of a Proposal
"Belle! We gotta go!" Kelly urges, her usual calm shaking slightly.
"What? Why?" Annabelle yelps in confusion as she's push towards the door until someone knocks on it and the Jones then leaps in front of her protectively.
"They've found us," She murmurs and fists bang on the door loudly.
"This is the police! Come out with your hands up!" A voice shouts, in a plainly non-french accent because that is NOT the police. The pair within the studio apartment share a glance then both look to the glass double doors, the view overlooking a Paris evening and the Eiffel Tower and swiftly Kelly laces her fingers with the brunettes. "I SAID OPEN UP!"
"The window?" Belle prompts knowingly and her girlfriend nods.
"The window," She confirms and in another moment she's pushed the doors open and attached her grappling hook to the metal railing securely, testing it with a few solid tugs.
"Come on," She urges as the banging increases, the wood on the lock beginning to splinter from the force and Annabelle Fritton sighs before stepping over the railing and a strong, reliable and familiar arm wraps around her waist and lips press to her cheek swiftly. "Don't look down." They drop, sliding down the rope and closer and closer towards the pavement below, passing other flats and various windows and more than a few people shouting, squealing and recoiling in shock but the two women merely smile politely or wave, carefully mind, it is a rather tall building after all.
"Bonjour Madame Dupont," Kelly greets, passing by the tanned French lady watering who plants who watches their descent mutely, the water flowing from the watering can missing her flowers and spilling across the tile floor before she blinks.
"Martin! Avez-vous…?" She cries in shock, trailing off with a confused frown as she watches the two woman touch down below and run off towards their car, the angry shouts above her head draw her to look up at the men leant over another railing, the girls railing in police uniform. Madame Dupont frowns at them, then the retreating car, they'd been nice enough, a bit of life to the place… She's sad to see them go and in such baffling circumstances…
"Kelly! Slow down!" Belle pleads, gripping the seat tightly and Kelly does, if only to stop Annabelle slamming her own foot on the brakes, she'd done that before and the car had almost ended up eating a brick wall.
"Alright, we're slowing," Kelly smirks, easing off the accelerator and dropping a gear, and the passenger scowls at her in a way that the source of her irritation just thinks is cute.
"What did you do? We've been fine for months! How did they find us?" Annabelle questions and her girlfriend remains silent a moment then smiles crookedly, somewhat sheepishly.
"I ran into somebody and it turns out they're looking for her too… kind of drew a bit off attention to us and they voted follow me…" She explains.
"Who is it? You know what, I don't care! Whoever it is, is going to be in some serious-" Belle threatens.
"It's my mum," Kelly interrupts and silence drops over them again before chocolate brown eyes turn to her, mouth slightly agape.
"You told me your mum had DIED!"
Kelly fidgets slightly, uncomfortably in seat of the Jaguar, not meeting the gaze burning into the side of her head and she licks her lips. Most could pass it off as casual but Annabelle knows her well enough to understand that the black bobbed woman is nervous.
"… I know… That's because I had to," She mumbles.
"… You had to?" Belle repeats before sitting back into the chair and looking out the window, the hurt clear on her face and it pains the ex-MI7 agent next to her to know that she put it there.
"Yes, she asked me to… She's in about as much trouble with MI7 as me, for similar reasons and the last time I saw her, when she dropped me off at St Trinians she asked me to tell everyone that she was dead… She made me swear Belle…" She whispers gently and the Fritton rubs her face and sighs gently, thinking and Kelly remains silent as they drive around the L'Arc de Triomphe.
"Did you not tell me because she said or because you were worried I'd tell someone?" Belle asks eventually and eyes dart to her in shock.
"Belle… I trust you with my life…" The Jones returns fiercely, somewhat horrified by the accusation that she didn't.
"But do you trust me with your secrets?... Kelly is there anything else you haven't told me?" Belle asks seriously and it hurts Kelly to hear her say that.
"No… I only didn't say it because she asked me to… No other reason… I love you Belle and I didn't EVER want to lie to you… I'm sorry," She replies gently and there's a pause.
"I know…" Her long time girlfriend says and she links her hand with Kelly's free one, for once rather glad for the automatic gearbox even if it was dreadful. The Jones feels a weight shift off her shoulders and smiles warmly at the younger girl. "But if you ever lie to me again Kelly, I won't soon let you forget it." Belle smirks dangerously, teasingly before she kisses Kelly's jaw, wiping away the look on her face which she would never admit was slightly fearful.
"Very well Fritton," She agrees, her bravado returning and Annabelle relaxes into the seat and watches the world flying past out the window, a thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand…
...
"I can't believe this…"
"What?" Annabelle asks, smiling slightly at the look on Kelly's face.
"You're going to meet my mum…" Is all she gets in return.
"Is that a good thing?" Belle teases.
"Very… but I can't say I ever saw it happening…"
"Me neither," A smooth and slightly sly voice intervenes and Annabelle looks to the woman stood by the table and she can't help her eyes widen slightly because she looks SO much like Kelly it's unreal. The same dark hair, same eyes, same glint, the only real difference is the fact her hair is tied back and there are a few signs of her age, none very obvious though… she could pass for forty yet holds herself with the grace gathered from years of practice and experience. She's wearing casual clothing, a black dress to her knees and sandals with a bag slung over her shoulder and she looks somewhat smug at Annabelle's expression as she slides into the seat opposite her daughter.
"Kelly… and Annabelle… I'm Maria Jones," She greets and it snaps Belle out of her daze.
"I'm sorry… You just…" She says and the woman smirks at her in a VERY Kelly-like way.
"I know, I can hardly believe it myself and to think, when she was a child she looked rather like her father," She recalls, a fondness crossing her face.
"Where is dad?" Kelly mumbles and her mum smiles again.
"Cooking my dear girl, he's a chef after all… Suspect we might have to move after today's mishap…" She sighs. "He's got his own restaurant…"
"No wonder Kelly's such a good cook," Annabelle puts in and the eyes that are Kelly's but not look to the aforementioned girl, clearly pleased.
"Really? Well that is marvellous," She beams sincerely and Kelly can't help smile back. Yes, she is rather a whiz in the kitchen, especially with Italian… They order their drinks, the waiter lingering around the three for slightly longer than necessary before he shuffles off.
"Where have you been then?" Kelly questions her mother.
"Everywhere, moving every year or so. Bless your father for being so patient," Maria says as she fiddles with her wedding ring idly. "So… I hear you've got yourself in a spot of trouble…" She continues, flashing a brief smile to the waiter as she takes her drink from him and the other two follow suit. The young man looks rather dejected as he walks away, he'd been hoping to make an impression. The three women sip their drinks.
"When can I expect a wedding?"
Kelly hacks on her drink, coughing and spluttering and Annabelle is too stunned to help her, a light blush tinting her cheeks. She might be made of stronger stuff but marriage… She eventually notices her girlfriend's predicament and pats her back until she's breathing again.
"M… Marriage?" Kelly confirms.
"Well yes, how long have you two been together?" Maria questions, leaning forward, elbows resting on the table, her gaze demanding answers.
"Ten years in a month, two weeks and three days," Annabelle tells her without thinking as Kelly opens her mouth to respond and she smiles at Kelly who grins back.
"Ten years in a month, two weeks, three days… and two hours," Kelly nods slightly as she wraps her arm around Belles neck loosely before sending a meaningful scowl and low growl to the waiter who scuttles away hurriedly.
"Night ten years… and you're not married?" Maria points out ad when she says it like that it makes it sound somewhat daft.
"I suppose being on the run for eight of those years makes it kind of difficult to discuss marriage. It goes on record and it could help them trace us," Kelly reasons logically and she wasn't about to let MI7 get their grubby little hands on Belle.
"Not if you know the right people…" Her mum smiles.
"And besides I don't think Kelly is ready for that kind of commitment," Annabelle adds with a smirk and the Jones next to her huffs indignantly.
"You KNOW I'm not going anywhere Fritton," She retorts lightly.
"I KNOW that you don't have a choice in the matter," Belle replies instantly, leaning into the embrace and Kelly rolls her eyes at her.
"I like her, she MUST be a keeper," Maria smiles.
"That does not mean marriage!"
"Commitment issues," Maria and Annabelle chorus and they share a laugh at Kelly's expense.
"Glad you both find me so amusing," The girl grumbles and as her girlfriend and her mother get talking she suspects it'll be a really long night…
...
Kelly and Annabelle sit in the back of the taxi, with the latter tucked into the formers side, both dozing and listening to the engine.
"I like you mum… I hope we'll see her again," Belle mumbles.
"Hm. Me too, I thought I was mad she left me at St Trinians with only an annual call… but I'm not mad… not really," Kelly says softly.
"Why's that?" Annabelle whispers tiredly.
"Because I wouldn't have met a bunch of amazing people… I wouldn't have met you…" The Jones explains with a lazy smile and her arms around Belle tighten slightly.
"I love you Kel…"
"I love you too Belle…"
Come one month, two weeks, two days and twenty two hours, Kelly Jones will have proposed somewhat nervously, stuttering uncharacteristically, twirling the ring in her grasp and then completely NOT nervously, Annabelle Fritton will say a simple yes.
Marriage? Le gasp! Bet the title didn't give THAT one away... Review! What do you think?