Time After Time

Summary: Ten year old Kathryn returns to the Rosemond estate looking to reconnect with Sebastian but not everything goes as planned.

Chapter 2: End of Innocence

"Can you please put the phone away?" Tiffani asked with her typical annoyed sigh. "I don't want to have to spend the entire trip explaining to people why my husband can't leave his work at home."

Victor barely gave his wife a glance as he continued on with the phone conversation. However Tiffani was not to be ignored "VICTOR hang up the god damn phone this instant!"

Sending a dangerous glare her way he replied into the receiver "I'll get back to you later on that." Calmly he turned the phone off and snarled at his wife "you'll be smart to keep your trap shut while I'm discussing business."

"Or you'll what?"

"Or I'll cut back on that hefty allowance you've been getting" he threatened.

"You can't do that! I'm calling the lawyer!"

"Oh is he another one of your lovers you're seeing behind my back?"

Tiffani flushed at her husband's words "you will not speak about such things in front of Kathryn."

Upon hearing her name ten year old Kathryn glanced away from the window and looked over at her parents. At this point there fighting was nothing new to her. Frankly she had become accustomed to it but that didn't stop it from bothering her.

Victor glanced down at his daughter with a soft smile "I'm sorry about that darling."

"Its ok daddy" Kathryn replied giving his a half smile.

"Don't you dare try and turn her against me" Tiffani warned as she glanced between the two sitting opposite her in the limo.

Kathryn said nothing she only glared hard at her mother. The truth of the matter was she blamed all her parents' marital difficulties on her mother. She was so shrewish and cold that no man could possible stand her. Kathryn considered it a small miracle her father had for this long. Still she had a little bit of adolescent optimism left and really believed her parents would eventually work things out.

When Victor seemed to go back to his work once again Tiffani turned her criticism back on her daughter. With a distasteful glance she asked "Kathryn why couldn't you have worn that white dress I picked out for you?"

Smoothing out the silk fabric of her simple but elegant black dress she told her "mother I'm sick of white and black is much cooler. Besides I'm ten now, I can pick out my own clothes thank you."

Actually Kathryn's new sense of fashion could be contributed to seeing a photo of Audrey Hepburn a few months back and then watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. After that she went to her room and disposed of anything that she deemed too "childish." From then on everything would be clean couture lines. No more hideous print dresses that her mother insisted on dressing her in. Kathryn threw out her teen magazines and replaced them with Vogue and Elle.

Tiffani hadn't been too impressed with her daughter's new found love for fashion. When Kathryn started demanding to wear what she picked out and dispensing of the clothes her mother laid out for her, Tiffani had attempted to put her foot down. However in the past few years her daughter had grown into quite a sneaky and manipulative child. She would order clothes through the mail and have the maids bring them to her discreetly while "accidentally" ruining or disposing of the other clothes.

It wasn't that Kathryn looked bad; on the contrary she looked beautiful and elegant. It was embarrassing for Tiffani to walk into a room and have a ten year old look better than her. However no matter what she threatened her with Kathryn ignored her and did as she wanted.

"Victor do you think this in the appropriate way for a ten year old CHILD to dress?"

He glanced down at his daughter and replied "what's wrong with it? She looks very sophisticated. Very Holly Golightly."

"Thank you daddy" she beamed at the compliment while her mother stewed in her seat.

They were quite for the rest of the drive to the Rosemond estate. After the last time a little over two years ago the Merteuil's had not been back. Well Victor and Tiffani had but Tiffani had refused to bring Kathryn along after the 'incident' as she liked to call it. Her mother still hadn't forgiven her for running off with Sebastian for half the night and more importantly running her new dress.

At the thought of Sebastian Kathryn smiled slightly. In the past two years she had not forgotten about him but she wondered if had forgotten her. Ever since she started her elite prep school which was coed she was becoming more and more aware of boys as were all her friends. The older she got the more she started to realize there appeal. However most of the boys at Hanover were nothing special to Kathryn. Sebastian was special.

"Are you coming?" Tiffani demanded waking Kathryn from her thoughts.

She blinked up in surprise at her mother, realizing that the car had stopped and her parents were waiting for her. Getting out she followed after them as they entered the large house. Upon arriving they were greeted once again by Helen Rosemond. She welcomed her parents with hugs and handshakes then turned her attention of Kathryn. With her typical kind smile she greeted her "oh my, is this young Kathryn? It's only been two years and look how grown up you look!" Cupping her chin she shook her head and marveled "such a lovely child. You must be so proud."

Kathryn wasn't really sure who she was talking; to her parents or her but she smiled politely any way. "Thank you Mrs. Rosemond."

Just then four boys came running down the stairs all talking and laughing loudly. Kathryn looked amongst them and immediately spotted Sebastian. He looked just as she had remembered him except better. Sebastian was taller and his eyes seemed even more blue.

However the boys just walked past the group as if they didn't see them. Rolling her eyes Mrs. Rosemond called out "Sebastian come here for a second."

As Sebastian turned around they all did looking slightly annoyed. With a heavy sigh he walked up to his aunt "yes?"

"Sebastian you remember the Merteuil's don't you?"

He answered her with a shrug and she sighed "well you remember Kathryn at least?"

For the first time he glanced over in her direction. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Sebastian replied simply "no. Can we go now?"

"Yes just behave yourself and don't go in that shed by the pond" she warned him.

"All right" he told her before running off with his friends in tow.

Kathryn watched them leave and couldn't help but feel pained. She couldn't believe he didn't remember her, everyone remembered her, everyone liked her. Why not him?

Mrs. Rosemond must have seen Kathryn's hurt expression because she leaned over and whispered "don't worry about him dear. He's at that age where young men try to put on an act."

Kathryn just smiled sweetly as she followed her parents into the sitting room. Twenty minutes of this and she was nearly going out of her mind with boredom. Deciding she couldn't take one more minute of this she excused herself to go to the bathroom.

Instead of going to the lavatory however, she wandered around the house looking for something to do. Walking past the back terrace she stopped when at the sound of raucous laughter. Peaking out Kathryn stopped Sebastian and his friends sitting on the lounge chairs. Deciding she wanted to see what they were up to she walked out and found them laughing and smoking. Kathryn was surprised but she hid it as she strolled out and asked casually "what are you doing?"

All the boys except for Sebastian looked up at her with scared, wide eyes as if they had been caught by an adult. "Nothing" they said in unison while trying to put the cigarettes out.

"Yeah right" she scoffed rolling her eyes.

Sebastian meanwhile continued to puff away on his cigarette as he eyed Kathryn. Calmly and coldly he told her "get lost Caitlin."

"It's Kathryn" she told him just as coldly.

"Whatever"

"Dude" one of his buddies interjected "let her stay, she's hot"

Judging by the smiles all the boys gave her it seemed they would agree however Sebastian only turned up his nose and sneered "she's only ten guys. She's still a kid."

"So?" One of them whispered in his ear.

Rolling his eyes Sebastian got to his feet and ordered them "come on lets go down to the shack and hang out." As he walked by Kathryn he stopped and warned her in a menacing tone "don't you dare open your mouth to anyone about this. You didn't see anything and you don't know where we went understand?"

"Fine" Kathryn muttered as he turned around and followed his friends down the lawn. Watching them leave she practically seethed with anger over Sebastian's treatment of her. No one, male or female, treated her like that. She couldn't believe he called her a child and he couldn't even remember her name!

With her fists clenched Kathryn turned back to the house thinking how unfair it was that just because Sebastian was a boy he was allowed to act however he wanted but she had to sit inside and be the perfect debutante. She would love to pay Sebastian back for embarrassing her but she couldn't...

Turning back around something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Resting on one of the tables was a pack of cigarettes with a packet of matches that one of the boys must have forgotten. Bending down she picked them up and examined them. Slowly a smile formed on her face as an idea came to her.

Tucking the items into her small purse she hid them away until later and went back into the house. Sebastian would get his soon enough.

* * * * * *

Since the Merteuil's were staying the night Tiffani insisted that Kathryn go to bed early. Normally she could give a damn when her child went to sleep but an always she had to put on appearances that her daughter was the perfect child. Kathryn had agreed but only because she had other plans that night.

After dinner (which Sebastian had skipped in favor of going swimming with his friends) Kathryn had heard his father mention that Sebastian would probably be out until late since his friend was staying the night. This gave her the perfect opening for her plan.

When she heard her parents go into the study with Helen and Edward, Kathryn quickly threw her dress back on and as quietly as possible exited the house. Although the grounds were very dark at night, just as she remembered them to be, she had little trouble finding the shed Mrs. Rosemond had warned her nephew away from.

Standing off by the pond it looked to be the remnants of an old fishing house that was now under construction. Kathryn assumed Helen didn't want Sebastian and his friends messing around with the place before it was finished and if something were to happen to it she would be very upset.

Smirking Kathryn opened her purse and pulled out the pack of cigarette and matches. Pulling one from the pack she brought it to her lips and then lit it. Seeing as she had never once smoked anything in her life her immediate reaction was of course to cough and then nearly vomit. God it was disgusting! Why would people ever do this?

Although the cigarette was making her sick Kathryn continued to smoke it while she coughed and tried to control her gags the whole time. Then when the bud was three fourths of the way gone she held it in her hand while she lit another match then carelessly flicked it onto some old wood resting beside the house. Immediately it caught fire and started to burn quickly.

Kathryn stood and watched it for a moment before planting her cigarette bud strategically near bye so that someone was sure to find it. When everything was to her liking she ran back to the house and entered through one of the back entrances that led upstairs. Then went to her own room and quickly dressed back in her nightgown.

Now securely in her room she watched as the adults ran outside towards the fire. Smiling in satisfaction at her handiwork Kathryn got back in bed. She laid there was awhile not sleeping when Edward's harsh voice wafted down the hall "I know about the cigarettes Sebastian and I know you are to blame for that fire!"

"But dad we weren't even by the shack I swear. We were-"

"I don't want to here it" Edward bellowed. "This time you will be punished!"

At that Kathryn got out of her bed and rested her ear against the heavy wood door. "Dad" Sebastian pleaded "you never punish me."

"Well this time you went to far. For now until the rest of the summer you are to have no friends over and you will be in bed by nine."

"But dad-"

"That's the end of it Sebastian now go to bed!"

When she heard Edward's retreating footsteps Kathryn opened the door and saw Sebastian standing miserably in the hallway looking after him. When he saw her he scowled and demanded "what?"

Smiling sweetly Kathryn tossed him the cigarettes and matches "I thought you're friend might want theses back. He left them on the terrace this afternoon. Good night." As she closed the door Kathryn relished the look of shock on Sebastian's handsome face. He wasn't likely to forget her name now.

* * * * * *

The following day Kathryn relaxed out of the terrace letting the sun wash over her as she sipped her water with lemon. Since Mrs. Rosemond had some meeting to do to her parents were off doing there own thing. Her father had gone back into the city for work and her mother was off doing god knows what. Kathryn didn't care so long as it didn't entail bothering her.

With a smile she reached for her drink beside her but instead someone grabbed her wrist. Kathryn's eyes flew open as she saw Sebastian standing in front of her looking angry. "You think you're real smart don't you?"

Pulling away from him she replied curtly "yes I do."

He shook his head "well you're not. I know you're the one who set me up and I'm going to make sure everyone finds out about."

Kathryn didn't flinch once at his words. She knew Sebastian was smart enough to figure out she was behind the fire but she wasn't worried in the slightest that she would be blamed for it. With a confident smile she sat back in her seat and told him "go right ahead."

Sebastian nodded trying to hide his surprise at her lack of fear "I will."

As he started for the house Kathryn called after him "but they'll never believe you."

"Says you" he retorted turning around. "My aunt adores me and would believe anything I told her."

She nodded "that's true but you see she also knows you and she thinks she knows me. You're her bratty, trouble making nephew, and I'm just an angelic, sweet ten year old. Do you really think anyone would take your word against mine?"

Sebastian opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out. He knew she was right and the more he thought about it the angrier it made him but at the same time he had to admit that he was a little impressed. Approaching her slowly he eyed her curiously prompting Kathryn to look up at him and ask "what?"

"It's just...you planned all of this just to get me back for being mean to you. It's almost...impressinve."

Containing a smile Kathryn replied "thank you" before turning back to the latest issue of Vogue in front of her.

With a sigh Sebastian sat down beside her. They said nothing to one another for awhile then finally Sebastian broke and muttered to her "I didn't forget who you were."

Kathryn, who hadn't really been reading, pretended not to have hear him "what was that?'

"I said I never forgot about you. I just pretended to because..."

"You wanted to look cool in front of your friends" she finished for him.

He shrugged "yeah I guess. I can't help it those losers look up to me. I'm sort of there role model so I have to appear cool to them."

She tilted her head in thought "that's sort of sad."

Sebastian rolled his eyes "you're still as snotty as I remember. God I can't believe you burned down that house just to pay me back."

"Oh please" she sighed "I'm sure you've done a lot more worse things."

He shrugged when grinned mischievously "well there was this one time with the nanny when I took some pictures of her and the gardener having sex! It was so funny when she got fired and started crying. The bitch never should have rat me out to my dad." Kathryn laughed at his misdeeds along with him but then Sebastian stopped and leaned into her just a little bit. When he brushed a strand of her dark hair from her face Kathryn nearly blushed. "You're even prettier than the last time I saw you" he whispered.

When she smiled Sebastian began to lean in a little more until there faces were almost touching. Kathryn could feel his breath on her and she knew he was about to kiss her. She had never been kissed before and was more than a little nervous but at the same time she wanted it more than anything in the world. Just as Sebastian was cupping her chin and bringing his mouth to hers a loud, obnoxious voice rang out "Sebastian! What do you think you're doing? You're suppose to be helping with the clean up!"

Pulling away he frowned "god it's my new nanny."

Kathryn laughed "you have a nanny?"

"My father hired her after 'I' burned down the shack." Getting to his feet suddenly he grabbed Kathryn by the hand and pulled her up "come on lets go inside before she gets her fat ass up here."

Laughing Kathryn followed him as they ran back into the house. She started to go upstairs but Sebastian stopped her "no in the study. She'll never find us in there."

Following behind him they went to the study and Sebastian opened the door but stopped before going in. "What?" Kathryn whispered. However when she saw what stopped him in his tracks she didn't need an answer. On the desk a mere ten feet away from them was her mother and his father fucking. There backs were to there children and they were so caught up in what they were doing they didn't notice they weren't alone.

Backing away from the door Kathryn walked upstairs with Sebastian following behind. She was too shocked to say anything but Sebastian wasn't "god that was so gross. You would think they would have the decency to do it in a bedroom like normal people."

Whipping around to face him Kathryn spat "you would think they would have the decency not to do it at all! I can't believe she would do that to my father."

Sebastian shrugged "what's the big deal. I'm sure my father's not the first guy she's done it with since marrying your dad."

As he said it Kathryn realized it was probably true. She also realized that her mother was the one to blame for all her parents marital difficulties and why her father was never around just as Kathryn had always suspected. Still she didn't want to admit that to Sebastian and replied "that's not true."

"Yeah right that's probably why your dad high tailed it out of here as soon as possible."

"Shut up!" She yelled at him "the only person I blame for this is you and your father!"

"Why?"

"Oh please everyone knows your father sleeps with lots of women. He probably seduced my mother just like you were trying to seduce me."

"That's ridiculous" he exclaimed.

Kathryn turned away and started for her room but Sebastian pulled her back "Kathryn wait-"

She yanked her arm away from him and hissed "leave me alone. I never want to see you again." As it happened she wouldn't, not for a couple years anyway.

- to be continued (Please Review)