Daughterly Duty
by Shadowy Star
April 2007
A/N: A side story to 'Survivals'. A missing scene Geraldine later refers to during a conversation with her father-in-law.
If you haven't read 'Survivals' I highly suggest to do so before reading this because things wouldn't make much sense otherwise. Enjoy!
"You will stop teasing the living daylights out of me?" he asked disbelievingly. Miracles did indeed happen.
Geraldine smiled cheerfully. "Of course, Dad. Doesn't make that much sense when nobody's around to join the fun."
Not really knowing how to deal with this far too mischievous daughter of his, Damien Vryce sighed. And froze, misgivings sprouting eagerly. Since when was it that easy to convince Geraldine not to do something she'd set her mind to? That could only mean she was already up to something else. And he had a sneaking suspicion he didn't want to know the details.
When did his life get that complicated? he asked himself.
Not to mention that his only daughter had managed to get engaged, married and pregnant in a single day's time, now she was obviously playing matchmaker on him. And her father-in-law. More exactly, on both of them together. Which wasn't making things ‒read: that already very complicated relationship Gerald and he had‒ easier. He counted backwards from ten, already knowing it wouldn't help. But he could try, couldn't he? Unbidden, his imagination supplied him with a completely different meaning of that last sentence and he found himself blushing. Oh, damn, he thought. And said.
Geraldine ‒who obviously didn't miss his inner turmoil, Damn, he thought again, helplessly, does she have to be that perceptive?‒ smiled again and that wicked smile would make even her namesake turn green with envy.
Damien resisted the urge to growl something unpleasant and biologically impossible in front of his daughter and counted back from twenty instead.
He was half through it when the door opened and a young man with brown hair, emerald green eyes, and a stunning case of family likeness for face entered the living room.
The look Geraldine exchanged with her husband did little help to ease Damien's worries. The younger da Silva was as much excited at fulfilling what he considered his sonly duty as Geraldine was at fulfilling her daughterly one. Which meant they continued throwing their fathers at each other. And enjoyed that very much. Which, in turn, meant he should consider to get out of here. To lunch, for example. Or dinner. Better yet, from lunch to dinner. And from dinner to lunch. Right now.
He turned to the door.
"Dad!" Geraldine called. "You're not staying?"
"No!" he all but barked, wrenching the door open. And stumbled right into someone obviously about to enter. To steady them both, his arms came around the other instinctively.
"You sure?" Geraldine said far too sweetly, her tiny smirk anything but that.
His eyes flew to the face of the one in his arms and he froze, unable to move even if his life depended on it.
Gerald relaxed slightly in his arms.
Geraldine's smile widened into a grin. A huge one.
"Too bad we're not back in Sheva," she said to her husband, still smiling.
"Why so, Angel?" he asked curiously.
"There I could go to the gardens and water the lemon trees!"
FIN