.11.
Several Days Later
The repeated chiming of the doorbell echos around the house, a rough knock quickly follows. Lilly panics slightly as she races to the door, not sure if anyone else is up, and yanks it open. "What the hell is your-" Lilly starts but is struck dumb with concern when her mother stands in front of her, in all her pencil skirted glory. "Hey Regina, good morning."
"Nice to see you too, Samara. You've received mail." Regina says regally, her finger tapping on a rather large binder. "You left before we got a chance to see if you were okay…" Regina starts looking over her daughter appraisingly. "Aren't you going to invite me in? Or, are you just going to stand with your mouth agape like a fish?" She finishes coldly, her eyes pinning Lilly expectantly.
Lilly looks around her surroundings and scratches the back of her head feeling incredibly awkward and concerned. "Um… Uh...I'm not sure right now is a good time." Lilly stammers as her mother invites herself in.
"Of course it is. I'm worried about you. Honestly Samara, look at yourself." Regina says as she dismissively pats her daughter's head.
Lilly cringes, stifling a biting retort. "Who sent me mail to your house?" She asked instead. It would make her life so much easier if Todd worked her Mother's route as well; he would have just dropped this mystery mail off at the shop.
"Hey Lilly- I heard the doorbell are you oka- Mayor O'Connell. Hi! Why are you here?" Mae asks as she pauses on the stairs and shoots a quizzical look to Lilly who was watching her mother cautiously, as she pulled at the tips of her hair in distress.
"Elizabeth." Regina greets Mae coolly. "I have personal business with my daughter, but I'm sure she'll just inform you, we received a letter; and of course, I wanted to check on her. She has yet to return any of my calls." Regina explains, sending Lilly a reproachful look at the last bit.
"Imagine that…" Mae mutters under her breath.
"Regina, this really isn't the best time-" Lilly attempts to explain to her mother again, but quiets immediately under Regina's quelling glare.
"I'm sure you're busy, but thank you so much for visiting Madam Mayor." Mae finally finishes her walk down the stairs and stands next to Lilly.
"Mornin'. What the hell was with the door? Who the fuck has manners like that?" Dean demands as he stomps down the stairs, before looking at the woman standing between Mae and Lilly. "Who're you? Missus-Break-the-damn-doorbell? T'was was obviously working the first time."
Regina immediately turns and questions Mae. "Who is this man you've brought into your grandparents' home, Elizabeth?"
"Great impression there, Dean." Lilly clicks her tongue, before continuing "This is Regina, my mother."
"Whoa, when did a party start up?" Sam asks as he enters the room, shirtless. "What'd I miss?"
"Uhhhh…" Mae's attempt at coherent speech fails when she can't help but be distracted by how good Sam looks, all sweaty and short of breath after his run.
"Use your words, Mae." Dean teases with a wink. He wraps his arm around Lilly and pulls her close to him protectively, smiling though she pinches his side. "So... Yeah, I'm Dean. That's Sam."
Regina huffs quietly, her eyes darting between the men and back to the girls. "Right. Well if you gentlemen would excuse us. I need to speak to my girls quietly in private for a moment, if you don't mind."
From beside him Dean hears Lilly mumble "Or, you know, we could not…" barely loud enough for him to hear.
Being called one of Regina's girls pops Mae out of her silent contemplation of Sam's delicious abs. "Oh, Mayor, that's too kind of you, but perhaps we can speed this along." Mae says in her nicest voice. "As you can see, we do have company and we would hate to be rude to them."
"Oh surely they can be without your company for a moment, They seem like understanding young men." Regina says; a challenging smile twists her features.
"It's fine, let's just talk about this outside really quick." Lilly adds trying to keep the peace. Causing Dean and Sam to instantly protest.
Mae moves to walk outside but is blocked by Sam. Still shirtless Sam. Her face was a mere few inches away from his skin, so close she could feel the heat radiating off him.
"What, no tea? Samara I thought I've raised you better than that." Regina chides her daughter.
Gritting her teeth Lilly forces a smile. "Of course, my mistake. Mother, would you like some tea?"
"Thank you, Dear. How thoughtful of you." Regina responds and pets her daughter's hair, blatantly ignoring the man holding her side.
Dean shoots Sam a look, but Sam only shrugs. He brings his hands up to Mae's shoulders, noticing her dazed expression with concern.
Mae's eyes snap up to Sam's. She gives him a small, silly smile before she turns to address Regina. "We'll wait out on the porch Lilly, it's such a pretty day out. Don't you think Mayor O'Connell?"
"Uh… is that a good idea…" Lilly adds, concerned about leaving her mother alone with Mae. Regina had a knack for needling her.
"Oh, we'll be fine. Besides, you're the one who knows how to make your mother's favorite tea." Mae says in an overly sweet voice, pinning Lilly with a forced smile. Mae knew she couldn't leave to make the tea, that would only end in another disaster for Lilly. And it wasn't like Regina was going to let them both out of her sight.
"Oh… It's so nice to meet you, Mayor O'Connell. I've heard amazing things about your campaign for Governor in the upcoming elections. My apologies for meeting you like this, I just enjoy getting in an early run." Sam says, extending his hand out to shake with her. "I'm on break from Stanford right now, but I would love to hear your viewpoints on how the proposed open government meeting laws would affect the vastly different political positions." He flashes his best 'lawyer' smile at her. "After I grab a shirt, of course."
"Oh. Stanford? That's a wonderful school, but I really just came to speak with my girls about some personal affairs." She smiles "I'm not sure if we have time to cover all of it, but I'm sure I have a few moments for a law student."
"Right. That sounds unenjoyable, but the tea won't take long. Sam cover yourself. And everyone just, contain it. Regina, that includes you." Lilly says as she slips into the kitchen and races to get the damned tea ready. Her finger slams down the 'on' button on the electric kettle. Lilly grabs a tray and adds several cups, then tears from frustration and stress gather in her eyes as she grabs honey, lemons and milk to go with it. She runs her hands through her hair she lets out a deep trembling breath.
When the kettle finally clicks off she pours it in the waiting pot and attempts to pick the ladened tray up; instantly regretting it. She looks down at her broken wrist, giving it a withering glare. "Of fucking course." She sighs, glaring at the stupid brace. "Right. I can do this, oh Hathor it's gunna suck. but I can so do this…" She forces herself to grab it with both her hands.
"Tea waiter at your service." Dean exclaims, walking into the room.
The unexpected sound causes Lilly to jump, releasing her hold on the tray. "Fuck! What do you think you are doing?" She demands, as she spins around quickly.
Without answering he picks the tray up from the counter and walks away with it.
"What the hell, Dean?" She hisses, still not moving.
"Lilly, I'm carrying the tea, kinda thought it was obvious. Wanna hurry before your mother kills Mae?" Dean says, hoping that would make her walk with him to Mae.
Lilly pales at that before racing past him and out the door to the patio.
"Hey sorry about that. What's up Regina? What do you need?" Lilly huffs out between breaths, plopping into her seat next to Mae.
"You were gone so long and you didn't even manage to make the tea?" Regina questions with obvious disappointment.
Lilly shakes her head. "Sorry, Dean's bringing it."
"It would be difficult to carry a tea tray with a broken wrist." Mae says pointedly.
Lilly shoots her a warning glance, but clears her throat attempting to change the subject. "So that letter-."
"How thoughtless of you Elizabeth. Making her do all that work when she's injured." Regina says with a final glare in Mae's direction, before turning with a smile back to Lilly.
Mae opens her mouth to reply, when Lilly grabs Mae's hand and squeezes in what she hopes is reassurance and not permission to give Regina 'what for'. At Lilly's pleading look Mae lets Regina's remark go.
"Here. Tea." Dean announces and clangs the tray down in the middle of the table, then flops down next to Lilly. He slings his arm around her shoulders, all while still coldly smiling at her mother.
Lilly glares at him, but says nothing; shocking him.
After a few breaths Mae manages a smile. "Thanks Dean." She says as she leans forward to pour tea for everyone at the table. Dean's actions had shocked her at first; but how protective he was made her smile.
"Oh shit, forgot the sugar. Be right back, babe." He says and kisses the top of Lilly's head as he stands.
She just glares at him in response, resisting the urge to hurt him. Instead she just blushes and shifts uncomfortably in her chair.
"Now that I'm dressed..." Sam jokes as he walks out on the porch and slides into the seat next to Mae. "Hey hun, it was a great idea to have tea out here." He leans over to peck her cheek before catching her hand to hold in a comforting gesture.
Regina just watches, a satisfied grin pulling her lips up. "So are you two finally done playing lesbians then?" She all but purrs.
Lilly's face falls. "No, Mother, Mae and I are still very much in love." She gripes sourly, trying to undo the damage the Winchesters were wroughting all over her carefully cultivated lie.
"Oh, yeah they are. We just get to enjoy the show." Dean says as he rejoins the group empty handed. "Don't know where ya keep the damn sugar."
Regina's nose crinkles. "Oh. I see." She adds with skepticism clear in her tone.
"Yip. Made us bend both ways these two did." Lilly pipes out awkwardly, not used to someone adding to her mother's discomfort.
"Oh. Really?" Regina says as she glares down at her daughter, making Lilly look at the ceiling to avoid eye contact with everyone at the table. "So you have become a harlot, Samara? Your father will be very disappointed." She replies as she picks up her tea, sipping it before she eyes Mae. "And you, Elizabeth, what would your parents say?"
Mae's breath catches in her throat as Sam does his best to continue comforting her; running his thumb over her fingers when they tighten around his.
"Prob'ly somethin' along the lines of 'whatever makes you happy'." Lilly rushes to Mae's defense as she glares at her mother. "Since, you know, they didn't have a stick wedged up their asses."
"Samara! Watch your tongue." Regina snaps at her, eyes narrowed.
"You watch yours. Mind your manners mother, you're in her house." Lilly snaps back, matching her mother's glare.
"So, Mayor, you were going to tell us the reason for this visit? Apart from what we talked about earlier, I mean." Mae interrupts the open hostility, hoping to end this uncomfortable situation as soon as possible.
"Oh what did I miss?" Lilly asks leaning forward looking between her best friend and mother expectantly, assuming whatever it was was nasty, and completely unnecessary.
"Nothing for you to worry about honey. Just something between Elizabeth and myself. I do have that letter for you." Regina says in a pacifying tone.
"Bullshit." Lilly mutters before adding "Oh yeah, hand it over."
"I also need to remind you of your promise to do a complete interview and a complete photo shoot for my campaign. The riot you set off ruined the photos and that man's camera. It's the least you can do for wasting all of our time." Regina insists, not taking her eyes off of Lilly.
"Really? A riot she caused? Ya wanna try that again?" Dean questions, looking at the woman with disgust in his eyes. "We know that wasn't her fault."
"Oh, I'm sorry were you there? No." Regina snaps back.
"I was." Mae mumbles, glaring down at her cup of tea.
"And you. You were no help in containing her. What's the point of keeping you around, if you can't even keep Samara in her place?" Regina responds haughtily as she takes a sip of her tea.
"It helps when I'm not locked out of the room." Mae continues to argue, her voice becoming more shrill by the second. If it weren't for Sam's hand holding on to her, she would have been tempted to slam her fists on the table.
"Both of you just fuckin' breath. Mae it's not worth it. Regina, give it a rest. I really don't think another shoot is a good idea. I'm sorry I fucked up the last one, but it's not like another one is going to go much smoother…I know I said I would, but… Do I have too? I mean-" Lilly starts off strong but at the look her mother sends her she becomes more subdued.
"No!" Mae, Sam and Dean snap at the same time.
"You gave me your word Samara Lilly O'Connell. Does your word carry no value? Will you allow my campaign to be destroyed because you're too selfish to help the woman who adopted you? Do you know how many other children we could have chosen? Don't be so ungrateful."
Lilly tugs at her hair roughly as she looks to the ceiling. Guilt twists like a knife in her gut. Without looking to the rest of the table's occupants she mumbles out "Fine, I'll do it." She feels Dean's hand on the nape of her neck squeezing roughly, in what she was pretty sure was displeasure.
It looked like Mae was going to slam her face on the table before Sam managed to keep her sitting upright.
Both brothers share a look of concern as Regina watches the interaction with a cool detachment.
"Mrs. O'Connell do you really think that's a great decision? Your daughter ended up with a broken wrist and a stab wound after the last photo shoot." Sam asks softly, now fully understanding Mae's dislike of the woman.
"I see no reason to believe this is any of your concern. You aren't even dating my daughter-"
"Well I damn-well am. An' I ain't fuckin' happy with this shit either. Stabbed! She was fuckin' stabbed. And you're worried about photos? What kinda mom are you, lady?"
"Samara appears well now, obviously she was overreacting-"
"She did not 'overreact' a stab ta the gut! Jesus, lady! Th'fuck's your problem?" Dean responds so angrily Lilly fears he might actually hit Regina.
"Dean, it's fine. It was just-" Lilly begins to defend before he cuts her off.
"It's not fuckin' fine! I had to fuckin' patch you up. Stitches, Lilly! I had to give you fuckin' stitches."
"So? It's not like it's the first time I've needed them? No big. Oh, but b-t-dubs, thanks for that."
"You shouldn't need stitches after a visit with your mother!"
Regina stiffens in her seat and pointedly turns her head away from Dean. "And you young lady, I don't understand what you would see in this… Open lifestyle, but it's clear that Elizabeth hasn't been the wonderful influence on you that your father and I hoped she would be." She sneers before turning to Mae. "What a shame you take more after your… Mother. How disappointing."
Lilly stares at her mother in horror, and Mae looks as if she had just been slapped. Sam narrows his eyes and immediately pulls Mae back to lean against his shoulder.
"Regina that's e-fucking-nough. Leave River out of this, she was twice the woman you'll ever be. Don't ever mention her a-fucking-gain. Give me my mail, and get the fuck out." Lilly snarls slamming both her hands on the table as she stands, momentarily forgetting about her broken wrist in her rage. "Now." She seethes her entire body trembling with her anger.
Regina puts down her tea cup, and pulls two documents out of her breif case, placing it next to the empty cup.
"Here are the dates of the photo shoot and the interview. I'll arrange for your clothing and makeup for each, so make sure you're there an hour early. I can even send a car for you. But you will be there." She threatens, tapping the second page.
"Out, now. Regina." Lilly growls as she approaches her mother who just smiles at her calling her bluff.
"Oh, Samara, temper tantrums are never attractive. We will see you on the first." She pats her daughter's head and turns, ignoring the rest of the table.
After a moment of stunned silence, Lilly lets out a quiet apology for the scene and races into the house, leaving the other three occupants speechless.
"Well that was fuckin' awful. You ok Mae?" Dean asks as he pulls his phone out.
Though she feels like she's going to be sick, she manages to force a smile for him. "Yeah, I'll be ok. I should probably go check on Lilly though. Regina always finds ways to hurt her the most." She moves to sit up, but Sam gently keeps her locked to his side.
"Nah, I've got Lilly. You worry about you." Dean smiles as he excuses himself from the table and dials her number. "Pick up Hufflepuff. Come on. Pick up. I'll find you, you know I will."
When the phone goes to Voicemail Dean listens to the girl's awkward message. Hi, you've reached Lilly O'Connell Co-owner of Cakes, Cookies, and Pies Oh My, uh-um please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can… Unless I already know you obviously… then you can just tell me what you wanted. Or you can text me… Or something but yeah… thank you… Beep.
"Lilly you better pick up yer damn phone the next time I call. I am so pisssed right now, and s'not even at you. Maybe you're right and this isn't a curse, or something hereditary, maybe that bitch just did somethin' horrible ta you. Look Lilly, I'm a hunter and it's not that big of a house. I will find you. Call me back." Dean all but growls as he clicks his phone shut, and stomps his way back up the stairs. Ignoring Sam and Mae as he begins his search for the girl in question.
A/N
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