Kate is married. Henry's and Erika are planning to marry very soon. Helen's son Greg will be taking part in a commitment dance. Marring one of the Emule that live in Sanctuary City 1. Helen is feeling pressured to make a commitment to Nikola. Nikola is feeling unsure of where he stands with Helen and for once is afraid to make waves.
This will also deal with more of the guilt Helen feels. Some mothers know they did their best, but still feel guilty like they could of and should have done more.
As always I do not own the Sanctuary characters or world. Just my characters and my abnormals ;)
It was about 8:40am and Declan need to get to Helen's office by 9:00. He finished getting dress and looked in the mirror. He told himself to take that stupid grin off his face. He left his room in Magnus' family flat/unit, and walked into the kitchen. Declan didn't have to come to see Helen and City 1, but he had 2 very good reasons. The first was there was a very special someone he wanted to see. Second last time Jessica was pregnant she was baking goodies like a crazy woman.
"Good morning Jessica, what is that lovely aroma?" Jess smiled everyone else had already left for the morning and Greg was already in bed. "There are proper English muffins and I'm just popping in some scones now. I was hoping to make Nikola a Serbian Chocolate Torte Cake. But I promised Kate I'd give her a call after we got our Bi-monthly emails from the surface." Declan leaned over and inhaled the English muffins, before choosing one. "Anytime you want to come to City 2 and bake. You are more then welcome! I'll put you up in my Unit." Jess smiled at him wickedly, "What excuse do I give so I can bring Willow with. I know… as my baby sitter right." "Shu, we are just… well, actually I'm not sure what we are." Jess pulled a tray of scones out of the oven, "I believe the kids call it friends with benefits. By the way go tell her to come a get something to eat. I saved some of the meat Chris cooked up this morning, to put on her English muffin." Declan face turn a little red, "How did you know?"
Just then Willow walked into the kitchen in her normal Jaguar form. "Becaussse she is our friend and becaussse she is telepathic." Willow nuzzled Declan before looking to Jess to direct her to the meat she could smell. "I though you would be hungry after your horizontal mating dance last night." Willow saw a plate covered by a warm kitchen towel. She let her tail brush Jess' cheek, "Dancesss as in multiple." Declan knew he was now turning redder, then Jess's burgundy shirt. He smiled and with a few choice words excused himself. He really did need to meet Helen, in her office. Before they went to look over the areas that Declan would be bring the new teams for training.
Willow was tired but tried not to show it. But Declan's visits were always short and they liked to make the most of the time they could. Lucky Jess and Willow were very close. And Jess had made sure that after everyone had gone to their rooms for the night to message Willow so she could sneak in and surprise Declan.
"Dude this wedding business is going to kill me." Henry said as he sat with Will in his lab. Will grabbed a drink from Henry's small frig. "Girls get a little crazy when it comes to weddings. There're raised to think that it's princess for a day." "Yeah but why does she want me to help pick out stuff. I don't care about the colors or food." Will clapped Henry on the shoulder, "I can tell you from the professional training I've had. Women don't care what you think but they are still going to ask and you better have an opinion. Your opinion will be wrong but you better have one."
Henry put the color squares and other papers down, "Man, you and Abby still on the, I don't know break?" "I guess… honestly, I'm not sure what I want anymore. I mean I wanted a family, but with the lives we live. Now I'm not sure I want kids. I'm not sure what I want at all." "Will, man I'm sorry. Kate got married, we're planning ours and even Doc's boy Greg is doing that Commitment Dance with his Emule girl. Which means he'll be married for the next year, until the next dance. I guess that kinda puts the pressure on you?" "Hey, Magnus has had plenty of relationships and never got married. Some of us are just not the marrying kind. That doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to being your best man." "Thanks Dude, now help me with this list Erika gave me."
Helen went out to inspect a habitat in the other main building (Cricket was taking finale notes on the things Declan needed set up). Pili said there was a leak in one of the amphibian's enclosures and they needed help finding the cause of the leak. It had turned out when the neighboring abnormal had their mating cycle. They got a bit excitable and had damaged their side of the wall, causing the leak.
Helen only had 1 cup of tea and muffin, this morning and it was going on half past 10. She needed to get another cup of tea and get to her reports and emails. Every other month the underground Sanctuary people were allowed to send emails to the surface and vice versa. Henry and Erika had set up a relay of dummy networks so the emails couldn't be traced.
Helen put her hand on the door knob to her office at the same time she went to scan her bracelet. However her door was already unlocked. As she entered she heard and the saw Jess sitting at her desk. Having a video chat with someone. 'There better be tea in the pot' Helen thought to herself.
Kate was on the video screen talking, "I mean what an idiot, but that's younger brothers for you. At least he's not in jail… oops. I guess I should have asked about your brother before I said that." Jess smiled as she took a sip of her tea, "Don't worry, you know I won't be offended by you saying that. And no I guess my brother's still ok. Maybe he'll stay clean and go straight this time." Kate half smiled as she asked, "And your mom?" The tea cup clattered a bit as Jess put it down. "She's got another 4 months in a Wyoming jail. But he said she liked the picture of Me, Chris and Elizabeth. I tried to tell her I understood why she flipped out after having me. But that I was handling it ok, with help." Just then the door opened and Helen walked in. Jess gave her a blank, 'hi there… don't mind me' look.
"I guess you can't really tell her that she's an abnormal in an email can you?" "Not without causing more harm then good. I did tell my brother I'd like ALL of us to get together when baby number 2 is old enough." "Well, here's hoping our brothers can stay out of trouble."
Helen popped her head around the desk, "Hi Kate, how's married life?" Kate laughed, "Good Doc, you should try it." Helen waved her hand, "Nope, I'm a little to old and set in my ways, but it seems to agree with you. You look really happy." "Yeah, I'm sending off an email like Jess said to my mom and brother. I told them I got married and sending them a few pictures. I had to tell her that I was working with refugees and we didn't get good phone or email serves but that I would check in when I could. I have to give Jess credit for that little half truth." Kate pointed at Jess, who made an innocent face. "Hey it's half true. Anyway, take care girl and don't be a stranger." All 3 said their good before Jess turned off the screen.
Helen sat on the corner of her desk in a nice dark grey dress. It was sleeveless and had a black belt and matching heels. She teased Jess, "Would it be ok if I used my office?" Jess wasn't one to back down, "I guess, I've finished." Jess wrinkled her nose at her as she picked up her cup and went over to refill it. "Did you guys find the leak?" "Yes, it was from the over active mating next door, that caused a crack and therefore the leak." Helen moved some files around before continuing, "So, now you're calling Kate about your brother's email. Before you have even told me, I'm just gutted I tell you." Jess sat in the chair opposite Helen's desk, "Gutted, really? Well, if you must know Kate wasn't sure how her mother would react. So when I told her I about my mom not even having met her first grandchild. And that I was only now sending her a picture. Kate wanted to know how it went." Helen smiled, "Fair enough. Now if you don't mind I have work to do, so if you could toddle off." Jess put her cup back on the table. Placing her hand on her forehead dramatically, "I'm gutted, but it's alright I have to go see a Vampire anyways." She headed for the door and stopped before got to it, "Hey H." Helen looked up. "I know I've said it before but you know a hundred different commitment ceremony. Why can't you just pick one for you and Nikola?" Helen rolled her eyes, she was getting tired of this conversation. Jessica, Christopher, Gina, Erika and even Ashley all telling her to make some kind of commitment to Nikola. "Jess, Nikola and I will always be there for each other. I don't need some ceremony to confirm that. Now off you go, I need to get some work done." Jess sighed, who was Helen kidding. Jess gave a cheery wave and left.
Lizzie was sitting in her special high chair, next to Nikola's drifting table. At first he didn't like having to watching Lizzie by himself, but now he secretly enjoyed it. Lizzie loved music and Nikola loved exposing her to different artist. As he was working on drifting a new invention. He was dancing in place to Lizzie's amusement, while singing to Smokey Robinson. He didn't hear or smell Jess come in, she stood in the door way after quietly closing the door.
"Now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
And honey to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt with a show of gladness
But don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you
Cos I need to go, oh I need you so
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
For others I put on a show"
At the chorus he turned to Lizzie and started to really get into the song. Lizzie clapping away. Jess couldn't keep quite any more, she joined in signing.
"Well they're some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
The tears of a…"
Nikola stood straight up, turning with a hand on his hip. He glared at Jessica. As she continued to finish the chorus as she sauntered over.
"clown when there's no one around
Oh yeah, baby, baby, oh yeah baby baby"
"If you tell anyone about this," Nikola narrowed his eyes as she danced up and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh Nikola, what is there to tell, that you love your Goddaughter?" Jess walks around him to Lizzie. Putting her forehead to Lizzie rubbing them in a playful manner.
"How many times have you seen Helen or I do silly things to make her laugh? I'm glad despite you being an uptight Victorian genius that you can still be silly, for Lizzie." Nikola relaxed bit, "Yes well, I do enjoy her. I finally realized she's the closet I'm ever going to have to a..." He was lost for words. Elisabeth was not a daughter more of the niece feeling. He guessed like how Jess saw Ashley and Georgina. Jess must have sensed his longing for a family, his own child with Helen. But it would never happen, he told himself. "Nikola, you must stop this bemoaning what might have been. You're with Helen now." Jess said placing a hand on his chest. Nikola liked Jess more then he would ever admit out loud. She never seemed to judge him for the past. She looked at him now even though she could see and feel his thoughts. She seemed to ignore his faults and only acknowledge the good in him. Most of all she approved of him and Helen, without reservation.
She moved away from him and looked at the pad with songs that had been playing. She skipped ahead 3 songs and danced up to Nikola as it played.
"The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the birds and bees
I need money.."
"Real Jessica, Is that what you want?" He joked. As the song played and grabbed his hands so he could spin her. "No I don't want money. But I would like some fun! I haven't but naughty for a while, and I think today is the perfect day for mischievous." Nikola laughed, he enjoyed never knowing what Jessica would do next. "Like what? Should we streak the rotunda or perhaps get Ashley to teleport us gay Paris (parry)?" Jess rolled her eyes back thinking and got a wicked grin on her face. She stopped dancing and grabbed Nikola's head with both hands and pecked him on the lips. "Clean up your stuff, make sure the baby is clean. Then fasten your socks cause when I get back in 15-20 minutes I'm going to blow them off." She danced out the door sing the end of the song. "That's right baby that's what I want.."
Greg had gotten up an hour early to meet Van in his office. He was doing some final preparing with Greg. His soon to be wife didn't have any family except that of the flock/clan. Van wanted to make absolutely sure Greg understood what he was getting into and what was expected of him.
"So are you feeling more prepared?" "For live as a married man? As a man marring an Emule? Or as a man marring someone, I most likely will out live?" Van smiled, Jessica had raised Greg to be an honest and straight forward man. Which is why he was such a good fit for the Emule people. "Yes," Van said as he placed a hand on Greg's shoulder. Greg let out a slight chuckle, "No Van, I don't feel ready. Chris says that's a good thing." "It is, women are the strangest of all creature abnormal or not." "I've got a mother, Aunt, a twin sister and Ashley for a big sister. They are all different and all can confuse the crap out of me."
Just then there was a knock on the open door. Both men turned to see Helen in the doorway. "Helen." "Mom." "We were just talking about you?" Van said with a slight smile." "Hmmm, I don't know if that sounds good or not?"
Van turned back to Greg, "This evening I want you to find time to full discuss your feeling and desires for this year and the future. Emule women prefer to know you are in it for life. Even thought sometimes things happen and you don't." "Like you and yours?" "Yes Greg, to you 9 years seem very short but Emule live at most 80 years. You must live in the day and moment. If you remember that you'll do fine." Emule shook hands grabbing each other forearms. Which they did then he walked to the door, giving his mom a peck on the cheek before walking out.
"Now, what can I do for you Helen?" Helen walked up and sat in one of his leather chairs. "I confess, I was here to check on Greg and Kamish's relationship. Is he ready to make this type of commitment and to fix into your community?" Van sat down very relaxed, "Helen, the dance is a few days away. Don't tell me you're just now seeing how serious your son is for his mate?" "Of course not, I know Greg is a (she paused) man now. He should be starting to think about his future and a family. But can he make it… work with an Emule." "Our sexual organs are compatible and Pili has done exams on both of them and sees no reason why they couldn't conceive and have multiple children." Van said with a twinkle in his eye and a teasing smile on his lips. "Well, that is good news. I was more worried about his mental and emotional being."
"Helen, please let me same this and I hope you take it as a compliment. You loved your twin and raised them for 8 years. Then you placed them with Jessica and her later husband Christopher. They are shining example of how to do a marriage right. That has obviously effected Greg, in how he sees women. He knows a woman can be strong and soft. She can be scary or seductive. The female Emule looks for a kind, strong, caring, protective, loving, honest and above all else someone they can feel safe with. Greg seems to measure up extremely well. Like any male, I'm sure he will make mistakes but I see him as ready as any man in love can be."
Helen felt complimented and disappointed in herself. Jess and Chris did have a wonderful marriage. They both had taken care to make the twins well-rounded people. They had been the parents and she was able to be the fun Aunt. Popping in 2 or 3 times a year with gifts and a fun week or weekend. Only to leave again, letting Jess do the dirty work of parenting her twins. Montana had been the safest place. They had a wonderful up bring and were loved by wonderful people. But she still felt guilty for not being there.
"Thank Van, I guess I'm just having a hard time letting go of my little boy. Who is all grown up, it would seem." Helen stood up and smoothed out her skirt. Van stood as well, "If I may Helen? The first have of the Dance will be open to all Sanctuary residents. Perhaps you would like to bring someone. A skinny vampire with a love for you and wine." Helen's posture changed just for a "Please Van, not you as well?" "Jessica?" "Among others. I just don't think I can to marry an immortal. I truly love Nikola, but this is the longest we have ever lived in the same house. Shouldn't that be enough?" Van smiled a sad smile, "I've never hear a human woman say that before. I will leave you with these thoughts. The Dance is for a year's commitment. It's to make sure we don't take our mate for granted. If you do, they might just dance off with someone else."
Nikola was enjoying bouncing Lizzie on his knee when Declan walked in with his bag and 2 bottles of Jessica's sugar cane soda. Declan was surprise not only by the classic American Mo Town music. But that Willow and Jess were enjoying dancing to it. Declan thought Willow was beautiful in either of her forms. Although when they were intimate she held he human, until after when they cuddled.
"Jess love, I brought down your sodas. What's going on here?" Willow's eyes got wide and a playful smile curled across her lips. She walked up to him as he put the drinks on the end table by the sofa Nikola was on. She put a little more sway in her hips, "Perrrhaps you have time for a dance or 2 before you have to go?" Declan swallowed hard and saw Jess grinning ear to ear or Willow's shoulder. Declan decide why not have a bit of fun. He let his bag drop to the ground and took Willow's paw, "To right, I do!" The 4 of them quickly lost track of time.
They did Mo-Town, a few of Declan's favorites and a few Spanish ones Jess knew Willow would like. Nikola mainly danced with Jessica and a few time sat with Declan and Lizzie on the sofa as Willow and Jess danced a Jungle Cat dance. But Nikola and Declan did change partners, mid-dance a few time. Which was different and fun. Willow even changed into her human form for a while.
I don't know about you but sometimes it's fun to play a little hooky. Just hang out with friends and be silly. Also this gave Declan and Willow a chance to dance and have so fun. But yes Helen is going to walk in on them. Looking like they are having a little too much fun.