A/N1: Shout out to TypicalRAinbow, I found a way to bring in one of those Tumblr videos :)
"Hi." Abby's breath caught as she looked at her father. "I'm sorry you're sick."
David sat next to Jamie, not wanting crowd her too much, "So am I but I'm more sorry for what I put you through."
"Will we leave you to it?" Imogen wasn't sure what to do for the best.
"Stay please." Abby wasn't sure how this conversation was going to go but she knew she needed her biggest supporters with her. Facing David she continued. "I know what's been happening, why you cut me off."
"Do you have any questions?"
"Well yeah, but they don't really matter. I'm thirteen now, not a little girl, you should have told me. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad but I was so hurt by the way you treated me, I thought I'd done something wrong. Mum and Mama tried their best to reassure me but that thought was always there. Now I know the truth and that hurts too, I hate that you're sick, that you've been alone. And I hate that I have to say all this to you." Abby stopped as the tears flowed again.
David replied in a whisper, "I'm glad you can tell me how you feel. The fact that I've hurt you tears me up inside. I thought I was doing the right thing, I know now I wasn't. I just hope you can forgive me."
"Do you want to spend time with me, get to know me?", Abby looked into the blue eyes that were so like her own.
"I do and I know that's what your mother, Claire would want. I lay awake last night thinking. Everything I've done was always what I thought was right for you. Some things I was completely wrong about, hiding my illness for one. But the best thing I did was making sure you were raised in a loving family. You have these amazing mothers and sisters and you have Jamie and his family and your grandparents, that thought has kept me going throughout everything and I don't want to interfere with that. I do want to be your friend though, if you'll let me."
It took a moment but eventually Abby rose from her chair and hugged her father. "I do. I want to know you, really know you. I want you to get to know my sisters and Jamie's boys and my cats, but you can't let me down again."
"I won't sweetie, I promise." David hadn't cried once since his diagnosis but as he stood there, holding his now teenage daughter who was looking more like her birth mother by the day, the tears rolled down his face. "If you let me into your life I'll stay for as long as I can."
"Okay.", Abby cried softly.
Once they had calmed down, father and daughter started the process of getting to know each other again.
"Are you still painting?" David decided to go with what he hoped was a safe area to start their conversation.
His daughter nodded rapidly, "Yes. Well, I do graphic design as well but I still love painting and drawing the best and practice as much as I can."
"Why don't you show your Dad some of your newer work dear?", Constance suggested.
While Abby ran to get her portfolio from her room Imogen made sure David knew just how talented their girl was. "She's a good student in all areas but Art is definitely her forte. Her teacher really encourages her and she's had the chance to put her work in a few local exhibitions, she even sold a few last time."
From looking at the work David could see why. His mother had been a pretty talented but Abby was a clearly level above even her.
"These are incredible, I'm extremely impressed. I really like that one with the black cat. Speaking of cats, how many do you have now?", he asked, accepting the coffee Jamie handed him.
"There's a question." Imogen rolled her eyes.
"Ignore Mum.", Abby smirked as she put her artwork away. "Well there's Morgana who was in the painting but she's Mama's really. Then there's Pixie who's my cat and she had kittens six weeks ago. They're at the castle, Gaby and Stephen are minding them this weekend. We're keeping one, Ava and Zara have called her Minnie. And then there's Boots and Iris, Granny and Granddad are going to take them so they'll kind of be ours as well."
David laughed. "So lots of pets, they have two dogs as well don't they?"
"Yep.", Abby was pleased that he remembered that fact. "They're total softies though and they love the cats, even Morgana who can be a bit odd."
"Excuse me." Constance sniffed. "My Morgana is fiercely loyal… once she gets to know you."
"A bit like Zara." Jamie added.
And like Constance herself, David couldn't help thinking. She still intimidated him but he couldn't deny that from what he had seen, this was a wonderful wife, mother and friend.
"Well, it's nearly lunchtime, we'd better rescue Sarah." Imogen stood up and looked around the table. "David, will you stay? This would be a great time to meet the children."
"Thank you, I will."
Imogen drove over to collect Ava and Zara while Sarah followed with the boys. Thirty minutes later the kitchen was full.
"They're amazing." David looked at baby Cillian who had gone to him with no fuss. At two months old the boys were even more handsome, their skin had darkened slightly reflecting their mothers Indian heritage and both were alert and very social.
"Thanks, he likes you." Sarah was also shocked by David's appearance but decided to focus on the fact that relationships were hopefully being rebuilt.
That same topic was on Abby's mind as she asked to speak to her Mum in the hallway. "Are you and David friends again? You told me once that when grown ups fall out they don't make up as easily as kids do."
Imogen thought for a moment. "I want to be. Honey, you know how important Claire and David were to me and Jamie. Yesterday when I found out about his illness, it brought me right back to the time we found out she was sick. I cried and cried that day, for days after but then I did what I could to help. Your Dad is different, I think, no, I hope he's got more of a chance than she had but I want to be there for him too."
By this stage Ava had wandered out into the hall. As an empath she had known since the day before that something wasn't right and needed reassurance.
"David rescued Tilly.", she told Abby as they sat on the stairs.
"That was nice." Her older sister responded with a hug. "Do you like him?"
"Yes. He made Zara laugh too. He's your friend Mummy, that's what he said?"
Imogen held both her daughters tightly, deciding to bypass any more technical explanations for now. "He is poppet and he's very important to Abby."
Ava thought for a second, "Then he's 'portant to me. Can he come to my birthday party?"
It was her fourth birthday in a couple of days and she was very keen that everyone who meant a lot to her was involved. David was apparently in that circle.
"I'd love to. If that's okay with everyone else?" he responded when he received his invitation over lunch.
"We want you to come." Abby answered. "Please."
"I wouldn't miss it."
When lunch was over Abby and David went for a walk which allowed them to talk some more
"As much as I want to be in your life, I don't want you to feel you have to give up things for me. I want you to keep seeing your friends, going on holidays, doing your normal things, I'll fit in with you."
Abby nodded. "We'll work it out."
David wrapped his arm around her. "We will and I'll keep you and your mothers updated on my treatment plan but I'm not going anywhere soon sweetie."
After an hour they came back so David could say goodbye. He left feeling lighter than he had for a long time. He knew he ground to make up but speaking to Abby had been the right thing to do. He couldn't quite believe that this mature, articulate teenager was his daughter. And while he acknowledged that a lot of the credit for Abby's demeanour went to Imogen, Constance and Jamie, that didn't mean he couldn't be proud of her.
As for Abby, she spent the evening feeling secure in the love of her family. Her sisters as usual were the perfect distraction and it was only when they had gone to bed that she allowed herself to really think about things again.
"Will I get cancer?" She asked out of nowhere when alone with her mothers.
Constance held her as she answered. "I see why you're thinking that but please don't. We live a very healthy lifestyle, yes genetics are important but we can talk to the doctor about that when we next go." She stopped, remembering an incident from over four years before.
"When I was pregnant something happened, someone I had known when I was younger died. I didn't care for her, in fact I hated her but the thought of death, along with unhappy memories caused me to panic. I'm going to paraphrase what my clever, wise wife told me then. You can't live in fear of the future because if you do, you'll miss the present. Promise me you won't let that happen."
Abby knew her Mama was talking about more than just her health fears, she was also talking about the time she had with her father. "I promise."
Imogen kissed her daughter. "We're so proud of you honey, today you handled everything so well. David needed to hear what you had to say and I'm glad you got to say your piece. I'm also glad that you've decided to give him that chance and I'm going to go out on a limb and say I don't think he's going to let you down He knows you're growing up and he's proud of you too, he told me that."
"I'm not too grown up.", Abby whispered feeling slightly shy about what she wanted to ask.
"And I don't think any of us are too old to want some company during the night." Imogen knew her instinct was right as she saw the relief on her daughter's face.
That night after some more talking in bed, Abby did drop off to sleep, waking in the morning to find her sisters at either side having been brought into the big bed by their Mummy a little earlier.
"We love you loads and loads and loads." Ava informed her while Zara nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, Absy's cool."
"Thank you. I love you all so much."
It had been a traumatic weekend but Abby somehow felt even closer to everyone. She knew it wasn't going to be plain sailing but agreed with her Mum that David wouldn't let her down again.
It seemed they were right. Over the next few days there were several calls and texts and true to his word and looking healthier after some rest, David was the first to arrive to Ava's tea party the following Thursday evening.
"What's with all the presents?" Imogen asked as he entered, laden down with gifts.
David blushed, "Well some are for Ava but I missed Zara's birthday so there's gifts for her and for Abby. I have presents for Fionn and Cillian too but they're in the car, I couldn't carry them all." He stopped for a second. "Is that okay?"
Imogen laughed, "It's fine, don't look so worried. They'll love the presents but they'll love the fact that you're here more, they've taken a real shine to you and will be glad to see you. Just like I am."
As they hugged, Imogen's father entered the room. Tom and David had had their issues in the past and although they'd put that behind them previously, when her father had stopped contacting Abby he had been furious. However he was now aware of the reasons and wanted to leave the bad feelings go.
"It's good to see you."
"And you.", David responded as he shook Tom's hand.
"You came." Ava came speeding into the room dressed in her pink party dress with her long wavy hair flowing behind her. "Come see our kittens, oh and my party table, and my cards and the painting Abby made me. It's got roses in it 'cos my name is Ava Rose…" her voice faded as she led David away.
The party was soon in full swing with David sat next to the birthday girl and Abby at his other side. There was plenty of food and games and everyone, adults, teenager and children were thoroughly entertained.
One of the funnier incidents came when Zara, not really understanding why Ava was getting so much attention, had a bit of a moment. When it was time for Ava to blow out her candles from her place on her Mama's lap, the two year old had marched over with a scowl on her face and made a rather poor attempt at blowing out the candles. What made the moment so funny was that she couldn't quite see over the table and all that could be seen from the opposite side was her blonde fringe rising up slightly as she huffed and puffed.
Luckily Ava didn't care, in fact she insisted that both her sisters came and helped her blow out her candles and made a wish with her. Mummy had said that it had to be a secret wish but she couldn't help but share it with Abby because she told her big sister all her secrets.
"That was mine too.", Abby whispered back. "That doesn't mean it will happen but maybe we'll be lucky." She thought back to when she had made the same wish at Ava's first birthday. Hopefully her wish would come true again.
Knowing nothing about wishes, just that everything was under control, Constance took Imogen aside so they could share a quiet moment.
"It's been a busy few months Darling."
Imogen agreed. "It seems that a lot of the people in our lives have had big things happening."
They looked at their friends and family. Tom and Amelia seemed to be doing something similar, just taking in the scene as they sat holding hands. Next to them, Davina was cuddled up to Elizabeth, they had been quiet of late but were always part of the family.
Jamie and Sarah were holding Fionn and Cillian up so they could see what was happening. The new parents were still adjusting to the changes in their lives but were utterly in love with their boys and couldn't imagine being without them.
In the corner, Fenella and Griselda were as in love as ever, perhaps even more so. Fenny was still seeing her counsellor but they were looking forward to joining the Cackle's staff in September. Speaking of staff members, Gabrielle was sat with Stephen, both were head over heels in love and spending as much time as possible together.
Then there was David who, possibly for the first time in his life had admitted that he needed support. In doing so he had opened himself to his daughter and his friends, old and new and even though he had a difficult road ahead, he was happier than he had been in a long time.
Constance smiled. "They have, I'm glad we've been able to help out when they needed us. Things are never boring are they?"
"No Sweetheart, never, but that's life, there's always stories to be told."
"And us?" Constance bent to kiss the lips she could never resist. "Do we have more stories to tell?"
Imogen thought of all their hopes for them and their family, "Oh you know we do baby. Us, the girls, our family and friends, we've got plenty more stories in us and I for one can't wait to experience them."
A/N 2: And that's another one done. Thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing this insight into some of the other characters, I really appreciate it. I sometimes think that people must be getting fed up of the "A Life" Universe and wonder if I should stop but I know that for me, there are still stories to be told and I still enjoy writing this series and I truly hope some of you still enjoy reading.
I will definitely be back with a more magical story set in this 'verse in a couple of months but in the meantime the sequel to Charades will start to go up shortly. Thanks again
