When Claire is 20.
…...
"I just don't understand why he has to come here when both Uncle Sam and Daddy and all the boys are here." Fiona rolled her eyes at her daughter's whine. "He's already had to deal with you and your H&K SL8!"
"Oh please McBride!He should have knocked, then I wouldn't have had to pull the gun." Her mother groaned.
"He didn't know my psychotic trigger happy mother was visting." She retorted. "They're just going to freak him out."
"I had five brothers. Five. And they were terrorists! Your father had to charm the crap out of them while trying to remember to hold up a very regionally specific Kilkenny accent!" Fiona crossed her arms across her chest, a distant smile coming to her features. "And I'm pretty sure he was bleeding internally at the time."
"Does your little trip down memory lane have a purpose or is it just to torture me?" Claire leaned against the wall, crossing her arms to match her mother.
"It's to tell you that if he really loves you, he'll put up with more than Uncle Sam, your father and a bunch of teenage boys." Claire tilted her head back and examined the double arch molding. "And eventually, you're going to have to have conversation where you explain that your father is a dead American spy and that your mother is a formally wanted international terrorist."
"I should just break up with him now." Claire huffed, dropping down onto the sofa.
"Nonsense." Fiona snorted.
"Mom do you hear yourself?" She moaned, stretching out like she was lounging on a fainting couch. Fiona thought she looked like her grandmother.
"Claire. Does he really love you?" She asked, dropping down and laying her hand on her calf.
"I think so." The younger woman sniffed, covering her face with her hands.
"Then.. this is.. just.." She shook her head. "Something you have to do."
"Fi? Maddox and Charlie broke the door knob off of the-." Michael McBride (Westen) stopped short. His eyes moving between his daughter and wife. "Hey Baby Girl. I didn't know you were here already."
"I just got here." She sighed. Michael's eyebrows furrowed. He looked back at Fiona.
"Am I-?" He started. Fiona shook her head quickly, before smiling at him. He stopped speaking immediately. He was usually okay dealing with the boys, but had learned it was best to leave Claire's bad moods to her mother.
Fiona waited blinking at him for a few seconds. He mused about the days when his little girl was still his little girl. His wife cleared her throat.
"Huh?" He looked up at her.
"The boys." She whispered patiently.
"The-? Oh! Yeah. The boys are.. locked in the game room." He held up the door knob as evidence. "I can't find the channel locks."
She made a face for a second before her face lit up.
"Third floor guest bathroom. Under the sink." She smiled. Michael looked back at his daughter.
"Great." She raised her brows at him, he shot her a look and she rolled her eyes.
"You need help?" Her voice was sickeningly sweet. A sure sign she was annoyed.
"Need may be a little strong.." He muttered before her features sharpened. "But yes. I'd like you to help me."
"I'll be back." She told Claire, smacking her leg as she stood up.
"What did I do now? She's been at school, I haven't even seen her in thirty days." He huffed as they started up the stairwell.
"You exist." Fiona hummed.
"She'd rather I didn't?" He mumbled.
"Dad! Dad?" McBride (Westen) rolled his eyes at the game room door as his youngest child continued to bang.
"Charlie.." He exhaled slowly. "Give me just another minute."
"Can't you just break it down?" Maddox growled.
"No he cannot. This is an 17th century solid oak door and no one will be breaking it down anytime soon." Fiona yelped before turning back to Michael. "And she'd rather you not exsist when she brings her new boyfriend home from school."
"Boyfriend?" Michael said stoically.
"Yes Michael. I know you didn't expect it this early, but what can I say. It's a changing of times, people are dating and getting married before they turn forty these days."
"Married!" He moaned at her.
"Not tomorrow." Fiona shook her head. "But someday I'm pretty sure Claire will want to get married. Go get the channel locks."
"She's only twenty. She's still in school Fiona!" He balked.
"Mommy?" Charlie's whimper made her roll her eyes.
"He's such a wuss, Michael." She whispered. "You have to stop babying him."
"Babying-?" He hissed. "Can we talk about your daughter?"
"Dad?"
"After we rescue your sons." She sang. "Channel locks."
"Mom?"
"Charlie please. Your father needs to get a tool."
…...
"Anybody home?"
"Uncle Sam?" Charlie's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Hey Chuck. Yeah I'm out here." He looked at Fiona in concern.
"Stop it he's fine." She hissed.
"He's been in there alone for like-." Sam looked at his watch as Michael came around the coner.
"He's not alone. Maddox is in there too you just can't tell because he's not freaking out." She hummed gesturing between the two of them. "You two are making him a wuss."
"Fi come on!" Michael grumbled. "Did you bring it Sam?"
"You really need liquid Nitrogen to get a door open?" Axe asked skeptically, running his hand down the frame.
"Locking mechanism is warped and I can't fit a saw blade between the door and the frame." McBride (Westen) huffed.
"So you figure we freeze the hell out of it and shatter it out." Sam finished with a nod.
"Maddox get your brother away from the door."
"He can walk Michael." Fiona huffed. "Charlie get away from the door!" She glared at him.
"Why don't you go spend some time with your daughter before she starts her new life." Michael growled.
"Fine." She snipped.
"Claire's here?" Sam smiled before yelling into the room. "Are you two all the way back!"
"Yes." Came Maddox's dry reply. Sam started spraying the Nitro, pulling back so Michael could start to chisel out the lock.
"Yeah. She's here and apparently tomorrow her new boyfriend is coming down." Michael grumbled.
"Boyfriend? Already?"
"Yeah. Apparently." He grunted, smacking the hammer against the metal tool a few more times. "Damn it."
"So who is this boy?" Sam grunted, wrapping his own hand over the chisel so Michael could focus on the hammer.
"I don't know but apparently she's not thrilled that we'll all be here."
"All?"
"You and me mainly."
"Good. I hope he's not thrilled either." Axe quipped.
"She's worried about telling him.." Michael smacked away a few more pieces before knocking the actual bolt holding the door shut away. "You know about.. everything.."
"She's that serious?" Axe leaned against the door until it popped open. Charlie McBride (Westen) sagged forward before hurrying over.
"Apparently." Michael finished, as both boys made a run on the newly opened door.
…...
"So. Your Uncle Sam. He's the one that was raised in America. He's your dad's half brother right? He's married with two step sons." William looked at her for confirmation. Claire nodded. "And your mom and dad are from Ireland. Your brother Maddox is 13 and your brother Charlie is ten?"
"Will, You've repeated this to me like seven times." She sighed. "There won't be a quiz."
He re-gripped the steering wheel of the car and glanced at the house again.
"It's so big." He murmured.
"It's just a house." She grunted opening the door the car and starting towards her front door. Fiona met them at the steps Charlie in tow. Will gathered up the wine he'd brought and made his way to the door.
"Hello William." Fiona said sweetly. The young man gave her a wary glance. "I'm unarmed." She smiled before muttering "sort of" under her breath.
"I'm Charlie." The boy said quickly, shoving his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I got locked in the game room today."
"Enough Charlie." Claire whispered, moving her youngest sibling back into the kitchen. "Come in Will."
"I think you've met Charles here." She glared at the boy, he continued beaming. "Everyone else is in the dinning room." Claire shot her a pleading look. Fiona rolled her eyes dramatically before moving past them. "Follow me."
"This is my husband Michael. This is Claire's Uncle Sam. His son's John and Andrew his wife Mary. Claire's brother Maddox." She gestured slowly. "This is Claire's boyfriend Will."
The men in the room continued to stare at him. Mary Axe coughed uncomfortably. Fiona rolled her eyes again.
"So Will. What is it that you do?" Sam asked.
"I'm at University right now. Studying Political Science." He looked between them.
"Government work?" Michael asked flatly.
"Um. Yes. Her Magisty's Royal Army probably." He looked between the two of them. Sam and Michael exchanged long looks.
"Five terrorist brothers." Fiona whispered to her daughter.
"Reeaallly.." Michael hummed. "What area?"
"Military Intelligence." Will blushed a little. "Hopefully."
Sam started to laugh and Westen grinned like a predator. Will actually winced.
"Internal bleeding." Fiona reminded, through tight lips.
"Will.. sit." Sam gestured. "Tell us more about Military Intelligence. Sounds intriguing.
Claire McBride (Westen) vowed that no matter what happened between her and Will, she was never bringing anyone else home again.
