Life's Swindle by henri8l
Simon and Adèle were destined; their wild and ambitious spirits were well suited. At different times, when they were lost, Thomas makes sure that they survive. Yet Thomas seems to be destined to lose them both. Which loss is the biggest swindle? S/A UNBETAED.
Disclaimer: I own no rights to The Returned or the movie it was inspired by. I own only these invented plot changes and any added characters.
Ch1 What They Would Be.
Simon and Adèle were still very young. Though to them, they couldn't be anymore grown. They were finally ready for anything that was to come. Simon and Adèle knew who they were and understood what dreams could be realized together. Their lives were stretched before them and tomorrow would be their official, church sanctioned starting line. Tomorrow morning at eleven in the morning, if everything went to schedule, they would be pronounced man and wife.
"Night," Adèle whispered. She smiled and turned away from the light to settle in for sleep, on her side. Simon gave her a kiss on her bare shoulder in reply. She fell asleep staring at her airy wedding dress.
Simon remained awake; his energy was still high from the night at the bar. His band had played at an anxious pace, perhaps mimicking his own nervousness. Since all of them were broke, they had put everything into the late night session. That way it made a good double as his stag night. Simon gave a small grin. Their playing had left everyone in the bar, even at closing roaring with warmth and life.
Twenty minutes passed, Simon was still staring at the ceiling. His grin was gone, but he still had a warm glow to his cheeks. Simon was simultaneously imagining Adèle in her white dress, and a newborn wriggling around in hospital blankets. Adèle's baby announcement had really shocked him. He was worrying his lip, when the phone rang.
The phone was in the kitchen, in it's cradle on the kitchen counter. Simon held onto the handle of the fridge as he picked up the phone. "Allo, oui?"
There was a long pause on the line.
"Simon," said, the caller. The voice was one he couldn't mistake. Simon gave a silent gasp, his mouth was in an open, oh. He torqued his body away from the counter to peak into the bedroom. Adèle was still sleeping.
Simon looked back towards the phone in his hand and went to speak. But before he could say a word, the earpiece warbled and another voice was added to the awkward exchange. "Who is this? Merde! Do you know what time I have to be up?" asked a groggy, female voice.
Simon rolled his eyes in exasperation. The lines had been crossed again. "Go back to sleep, Julie," Simon told her. Their particular numbers had been crossed at least six times this week. "It's happened again, sorry. This call's for me." Julie hung up, and silence again reigned on the phone.
"How did you get this number?" Simon asked, the man on the other end. He knew that he was still listening; there was still no dial tone.
"Meet me at my house. I'm leaving the station, now," said Thomas. It was a firm order.
Simon smoothed over his eyebrow with a finger as he contemplated a refusal. He grimaced and answered, "D'accord. I'll be there." It didn't take him long to be ready. Before Simon left he leaned over his bride, and gave her kiss behind her ear. Adèle didn't stir until he was out the door.
A/N. For those of you who haven't seen The Returned/ Les revenants… It's an awesome and mysterious show that I found by chance on Sundance. I cannot wait to see the next season. H.
