"I don't think this is a good idea," Grace said as they watched Beth twirl in her new dress.
Rip turned to her, "Why?"
"You're asking her to lie," Grace reminded him.
"I'm still not sure what your point is, Grace," Rip said, "Beth knows that we have to tell people she's my daughter."
Grace let out an annoyed sigh at him, "But to take her into a situation where she has to do it for several hours. She's just a little girl. You're making her lie for hours."
"How do you think we managed to steal things without being caught?" Rip asked her softly, "Beth lied constantly. She pretended to be lost, to find things or to have been hurt so that we could find ways to eat. This is something she can handle."
"I don't like it," Grace reminded him.
Rip shrugged, "It's a good thing it's my decision then."
He stepped into the room and smiled at Beth who ran over to him to show off her dress.
"You look beautiful," he told her, "Now you know what to say and do tonight?" Beth rolled her eyes at him making him laugh again, "How silly of me to ask."
"You need to get ready," Beth told him.
Tapping her nose affectionately Rip took his coat from Smith and slid it on before offering his hand to the little girl.
x
Rip sat after dinner wondering if he could set something on fire to get out of here. Being sociable with the people who deemed themselves better than everyone else made his trigger finger itch. He remembered being thought of as nothing but a piece of dirt by these people, he remembered the maid of this particular house chasing him away with a broom one night when he tried to shelter from the rain. Having to play nice with them left a bad taste in his mouth.
Sipping his wine while listening to the chatter around the room he kept an eye on Beth who was playing with her doll sitting near the other children but not with them. He hadn't really thought about how hard it would be for her to befriend other children.
Beth looked up at him and Rip discreetly motioned her over. When she reached him Rip lifted her onto his lap smiling slightly when she leaned against him.
"Mrs Foster," Rip interrupted his host, "My apologies but I should get my daughter home. It is well past time she should be in bed."
"Surely your maid could care for her," the older woman asked.
Rip forced himself not to snap at the woman instead replying softly, "Since my wife died Beth only sleeps if I am there to put her to bed."
Mrs Foster gave him a sympathetic smile as did the others sitting around the room. When he stood Beth wrapped her arms around him holding on, a sad look on her face and Rip made his goodbyes before heading to the door.
"Did you find it?" Rip asked as he walked along the street.
Beth nodded, "The necklace is in the main bedroom in the jewellery box."
"Good girl," Rip murmured to her.
Beth gave him a grin at the praise.
Rip grinned back at her, "Now it is bedtime for you."
x
Grace kept watch while Rip picked the lock to the Foster's house. She wasn't happy about robbing a house of people they had to socialise with but Rip had discovered that the necklace Mrs Foster had recently bought was connected to one of the things they spent their time hunting. Apparently it could drain the life of the wearer when activated.
She also didn't like the fact he'd used Beth to find where the necklace was being kept, the three of them were adults and could make their own choices but Beth was just a child. A child who adored Rip, her big brother who had disappeared before coming back as an adult to give her a safe place and would do anything he asked her to do.
"Stay here," Rip ordered when he opened the door, "I will be back soon."
Without waiting for an answer he slid inside and the door closed behind him. Grace grimaced as the minutes stretched while she waited for him to return.
"What are you doing here, Grace?" a voice came from behind her.
Grace turned finding the Foster's maid standing there and she fixed a smile onto her face, "Angela, I was hoping you wouldn't be too long."
"Why?" the other woman asked confused while she opened the door.
Hesitating Grace finally replied, "My employer, Mr Hunter, wanted to thank Mr and Mrs Foster for their hospitality last night," she tried not to wince knowing Rip would not be happy about this but she had to have a valid reason for being here, "He wishes to extend an invitation for them to join him and Miss Elizabeth for dinner tomorrow evening, if they are free."
"I will let them know," Angela replied.
Grace smiled at her before walking away hoping Rip heard them and managed to find a place to hide. She let out a squeak, barely managing not to scream when Rip dropped onto the ground in front of her. Looking up she saw the window he'd jumped out of and stared at him.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Grimacing he ignored her question, "I managed to find and swap the necklace."
"Good," she said telling him before walking quickly away, "Because I invited the Fosters for dinner tomorrow night."
x
Rip closed the door behind his guests, sighing in relief that they were finally gone. Turning to Grace he frowned at her, "Never again."
"I had to think of something when Angela found me standing in their doorway while you burgled the house," Grace reminded him.
Grimacing he knew he had to concede on that point, "Next time...pretend Beth lost something."
Grace chuckled and returned to the kitchen to finish cleaning up while Rip headed upstairs to Beth's room to check she was actually sleeping. Opening the door quietly Rip smiled to find her cuddled up with her doll dreaming happily. Even in the short time she had lived here it was clear she was so much healthier than she had ever been.
Rip knew that he would never stop missing Jonas but being the best father figure he could to Beth helped with the hole in his heart that losing his son had made.
Although thinking of them meeting made him smile wistfully.
Kneeling beside her Rip fixed the covers ensuring she was warm before he pressed a soft kiss to her hair. Standing once more, he quietly left the room heading down to his workshop in the basement.
"I want to help," Beth pouted, stamping her foot in annoyance.
Rip frowned at her, "That's enough, Beth."
She folded her arms across her chest and glared up at him, "I can help."
Motioning her to him Rip lifted the little girl into his arms and took a seat, "Beth, I know you want to help me but it is very dangerous. These creatures are bad and I cannot let you go anywhere near them."
Beth frowned.
"I know you are very smart, Beth," Rip told her, "You're like me and you see things in a different way from other people. Things make sense to you that some other people just don't understand but you're still only a little girl. It's my job to look after you and keep you away from the things I fight. Do you understand that?"
With a slight grimace Beth nodded.
"But," Rip continued, "I am going to show you something very special."
The little girl frowned confused when Rip placed her back on the floor and walked over to the cabinet in the corner. He unlocked it and gently lifted out the core.
Beth stared at the bright light he held in awe, "What is it? It's so pretty," she reached out her hand to touch it stopping when Rip moved it out of reach.
"It is pretty but is also very dangerous," he replied, "This is what powers the inventions that I use to fight the creatures," Rip explained, "And when you're older I will teach you more about it."
"What will you teach me now?" Beth demanded making Rip smile even more.
He put the core back in its storage, locking it and turning back to her, "I'm sure I can think of a few things. How about I teach you how to read?"
Beth grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
x
"Michael?"
"Yes?" Rip asked as he tucked his little sister into bed that night.
Beth looked up at him with wide eyes, "Are you and Smith chasing the monsters tonight?"
"We are," Rip replied, "Which means that Grace is in charge so you do everything she tells you."
A small grimace covered the girl's face, "Even if I'm going to sleep."
Rip tapped her nose, "Yes. Especially since I know you don't always go to sleep when you should."
Folding her arms across her chest Beth rolled her eyes at him, "I don't like to sleep when you're not here."
Reaching out he gently stroked her hair, "You are so stubborn."
"Just like you," she smiled at him.
Rip chuckled and dropped a kiss on her head, "Try to go to sleep. I'll come and check on you when I get home. Okay?"
Beth stuck her hand out to him, with an amused smiled Rip shook it sealing their deal.
"Goodnight, Beth," he said softly.
Cuddling her doll close Beth smiled, "Goodnight, Michael. Be very careful."
Pressing a kiss to her hair Rip murmured, "I promise."
x
Running through the park Rip grabbed the boy who fell to the ground keeping him moving.
"Matthew, can you climb a tree?" Rip asked the boy.
He nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Then get up there and stay until I tell you to come down," Rip ordered, "It can't look up."
Matthew nodded and began to climb the closest tree while Rip pulled out a knife and his sword to protect himself from the latest thing that was attacking people.
The creature snuffled the ground as it emerged from the tree line trying to find something to eat. Rip gripped his weapons as he moved into its path.
"What are you doing?" Matthew cried from above him.
"Stopping this thing," Rip replied before ordering, "Stay up there and do not move."
He watched the creature continue to sniff the ground, each time it moved its head acidic saliva burned the grass surrounding it. This was not going to be pleasant.
Finally it picked up his scent and Rip gripped his weapons tightly just as it charged. Rip held his ground swinging the sword just as it came into reach. The sword sliced into its flesh and it let out a high pitched squeal while Rip dodged to one side. It turned to attack him again and Rip moved this time skewering it through the heart.
It squealed several times before it fell down dead.
Letting out a sigh of relief Rip motioned to Matthew, "You can come down now." When the boy reached him Rip pulled out a coin for him, "Thank you for your help tonight, you should go."
Catching the coin Matthew gave him a quick nod before scampered away. Looking down at the carcass he had to get rid of Rip sighed, there were so many days he missed his ship with everything he needed to dispose of this easily rather than the lengths they were going to have to go through to get rid of it.
x
"I need a long, hot shower," Rip murmured to himself as he staggered into the house with Smith not far behind him, both filthy from burying the creature's remains.
"A what?" Smith asked.
Rip sighed, "Never mind."
"I will clean the weapons," Smith moaned.
"Thank you," Rip caught his friend's shoulder, "Make sure you get some rest as soon as you're done."
Smith nodded before he headed to the basement calling back, "Make sure you go to bed yourself."
Rip smiled slightly, "I have something to do first."
Removing his coat Rip tossed it over the banister before he gently opened the door to Beth's room. Moving to her side Rip smiled to see that she was sleeping deeply.
Smiling down at his little sister Rip knew that as much as he missed Gideon, as much as he missed his ship he had a place here and he had a family.
He wouldn't stop trying to get their attention but Rip knew that if they didn't come for him it didn't matter as much as it once did.
Not now that he had Beth.