The 100 Year Courtship
A.N. I have been away from writing fan fiction for years now. Now, though, I am back. Throughout the years my writing style has changed, for the better…Oh how I'd like to think and hope.
This idea of James and Helen, well it has been in my head for quite some time. According to canon and what we saw in the Normandy episode, Helen and James were together. However there have only been vague hints as to how long after or before.
The title of this does not mean it took James 100 years to court Helen, no… however it did take him some time for her to come round. John, as we all know, ruined many things and many people. None more I think than his lover and fiance Helen Magnus and best friend James Watson.
The chapters will be from each of their point of view...for now…
Ah…and if anyone has any ideas or prompts for how they would like to see their courtship…and then relationship going, please PM me or place any ideas in a review.
Oh, even though I have not been writing fan fiction, I have been reading. Always reading. Sanctuary fan fiction is my favorite. Please, those who write, never stop writing. You are all amazing and continually make my days and nights more entertaining. Thank you.
Adria…
Chapter 1
A Bitter, Stubborn Beginning
Timing is everything in their 100 year courtship.
John has disappeared, (off the face of the earth. Ha! He could only wish); leaving Helen to pick up the pieces of her heart and play a game of pretend she does not stand a chance of winning.
James does not enjoy the thoughts cascading through his mind whenever he catches a glimpse of the terrifyingly real fear in her eyes. (He wishes now more than ever it weren't true, can see it all so clearly now, John may as well have shot her himself.)
There is one minute iota of his brain that feels she would have been better off.
She is good, and because of her somewhat shocking naivete, he does not divulge to her his ideas, therefore the words continue to scream, clawing, scratching to escape the confines of his pounding head.
The only logical voice still making any sense, whispers- 'You love her you daft man, now make her yours before Tesla decides he loves her more than his inventions.'
His intentions are pure, and as such he cannot bring himself to allow himself to love a woman, any woman, let alone her, when she obviously is still in love with John.
Life is many things, and fair is not one of them.
The next time, and he's sure there will be one, when he runs into his former best friend, he'll be sure to show him just how much he ruined-Helen for other men, he for never having the capability to trust, Tesla for running to America, and Nigel for never coming round.
A punch in the face just couldn't ever be enough. Not for her, for her honor, the tears she can't quite hide, and definitely not for his peace of mind.
They carry on. He with his drawn out simplistic cases from Scotland Yard, and she with her Sanctuary.
Yet anyone with eyes can see the legacy of helping those who are unable to help themselves is wearing her thin. So he does what any sensible Victorian man in love wouldn't dream of doing.
He offers to move in.
To his suggestion she barely bats an eye, only raises an eyebrow. He understands to an extent why she would not put up a fight, but then as if a wave of freezing water has hit his face, he sees clearly as she cannot hold his gaze, she is not the same woman who would stomp her foot and tell him a firm 'no'. Where once a strong woman stood, a weary, tired, fed up woman has taken her place.
"You do realize there will be talk. I will not marry you if this is your way of asking. Appeasing people's opinion is not on any of my agendas."
Taken aback, he adamantly shakes his head.
"Good." She walks away, the direction in which he assumes is the basement.
While he would have expected a hug or at least a thank you, he chooses not to hold her foul moodiness against her.
He decides he will talk over the details later when she is well rested and has a glass of merlot in her hand.
The tactic works wonders when used by Tesla and if he happens upon her in a slightly better mood, it could work for him as well.
Time passes.
He moves in.
Enough, he thinks, it has been ten years, five since he's shared her castle.
In seeing a Helen with darker hair, he is sure she never will not love him, a murderer, not anymore.
James Watson has never been more wrong.
The anger shining in the much older Helen's eyes does nothing to sway James from believing or disbelieving the reasons why she would still choose a monster over him.
After the time traveling Helen is sent safely away to enjoy-or not enjoy-her very long, albeit deserved vacation he bravely opens up the subject of one John Druitt to the still very blonde Helen.
She does not want to hear.
She does not want to reason.
"We are still married," she says, and "He can still be saved."
"Excuses Helen! You cannot keep making them for John forever."
"Watch me James. You cannot tell me what to do."
"Someone has to woman, you have not seen sense in over a decade. When will you realize he is no longer the John we know and you love?"
"Never. Now leave me be James. I'm sure you have something better to do than to pester me."
This conversation occurs, much the same at least once a year for the next ten years.
Still he stays, though after 20 years, he's running out of reasons why he still should.