Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
This chapter is dedicated to Noble, M-Bianca94, Alphabloodwolf, Cara Gracious, Asherah Isa and BellaNessieCullen
I'd also like to give a special shout out to Alphabloodwolf for commenting and stopping me from moving my characters into a path of irreversible relationship breakdown. Essie borrowed one of your points ;-)
I decided to give Grandpa Jake until lunchtime; at least he would be well awake by that time. It also gave me the morning to help Addie organise his room, it would be better for me to send him out to play in the afternoon. He worked well and we soon had his room in order in time for lunch.
Once the children were fed they went out to attend their various activities, which left me alone to phone Grandpa Jake. I decided that given the time of day I would do better to phone the garage at first.
"Black's Garage, what do you want?" Somebody answered.
"Hello, is Jacob available?" I asked.
"Who?" The person replied.
"Jake. The boss?" I simplified.
"Oh right, Jake. Yeah, he's about." The person said and made no clear attempt to call him.
"May I speak to him please?" I asked.
"Who's calling?" He said.
"Liza." I replied, I could hardly say I was his granddaughter after all.
"Ok. Boss man, some chick named Liza on the phone." He called.
I heard a clatter in the background before Grandpa called back, "Liza?"
"Yeah, sounded stuck up."
"Thanks Buzz. You might wanna cover the mouth piece before dissing the customers." Grandpa said as his voice got nearer.
"Oh yeah." Buzz replied.
"Just go take that wheel off." Grandpa said, there was the sound of scuffling and then Grandpa Jake was on the phone. "Ye'llo?"
"Hello Jake, are you free to talk?" I asked.
"I'll just shut the door." He said, and there was a moment where I heard a door slam then the creak of a chair as he sat down. "What's up?" He asked.
"Has Mother or Father spoken to you this morning?" I began, perhaps they had given him advance warning that I would call.
"Nope." He replied.
"Then you have no former knowledge, very well. I need a favour Grandpa."
"What kind of favour?"
"Have you a work placement?" I inquired.
"I know you like engines kid, but I never thought you'd actually want a job." He observed.
"It is not for myself." I stated.
"One of the girls taken an interest? They could work with Harry you know, stay on the Res." He said.
"It is to do with the girls, but it is neither of them. It is Rupert Clearwater who I am seeking a post for." I explained.
"Why can't he ask me himself?"
"Because he doesn't know that he will need a new post at present." I said quickly.
"Ok. You wanna tell me what's going on, cause you're not making any sense." Grandpa Jake said.
"Rupert has imprinted on Seren, and it is such a difficult situation." I stated. "She is only six and he a man of forty. Although I know that the imprinter becomes what the girl desires, Seren has the body and hormones of a teenager, I want to limit temptation."
"By sending Rupert away?" Grandpa Jake asked and there was a hint of disapproval in his voice.
"Yes." I confirmed.
"But you really need to do something so drastic? Nessie was a dhampir and I didn't do anything with her until she was over eighteen." He stated.
"Yes, but you had a different starting point. You knew Grandma from the day she was born. She knew you from the day she was born and her family was able to guide her into thinking of you as nothing more than a friend until she was old enough. Seren is meeting Rupert for the first time when her body is fully functioning and able to feel things only an adult can." I explained.
"I guess it's a little different, but you really think sending him away will help?"
"It will keep them apart until Seren is ready to fully comprehend an adult relationship." I said firmly.
"Well you think it's a good idea?" Grandpa Jake asked persistently, failing to understand my feelings at present.
"It is the best I can think of, the one that will benefit Seren in the long run." I stated.
"Ok." He said, although he still sounded unconvinced, but he would help regardless. "Well sure I can use another pair of hands, and I know he does great work. If you go ahead with this then I'll give him a place here, but you might not want to press the issue. If he says no, accept it."
"If he says no I will be less inclined to him being the intended partner of my daughter. If he has Seren's best interest at heart he'll accept it." I said firmly.
"Well you say that, but the imprint bond is a strong pull." Grandpa Jake warned.
"But so is the urge to protect the one you're imprinted to." I countered.
"I guess. Well let me know either way, I'll need to work him into the roster." He stated. "I got to get back now before Buzz wrecks the whole car."
"Thank you." I replied.
"Good luck." Grandpa said. "I'd hate to be in your shoes right now."
"I wish I was not." I admitted.
"Bye."
"Good bye."
I hung up the phone and sat for a long while staring at it, what was my next step? I had to go and inform Rupert, but how to do it. I closed my eyes and allowed my mind to float away once more until Tony answered.
He's in work, like I am. Tony replied.
Could you ask him to meet you somewhere private so I may speak with him alone? I asked.
I don't like this. Tony stated.
I need to speak with him somewhere others will not hear. I insisted for I had already heard Tony's objections, but Seren was my daughter, I knew what was best for her.
Ok. I'll go round the garage after work, say I got pack business with him. I'll give your mind a buzz to come meet me. I got to get back to work now though. Tony said pointedly.
Thank you.
I hope you're doing the right thing.
I am. I said firmly before drawing my mind away and back to my body.
I spent the remainder of the day sat in the chair as I thought over everything I would say to Rupert. How I would convince him it was for the best. How it was of his best interest to leave his family. Well he was forty, was it not time for him to move out of his parents' home? I would make him see that this was for the best. I had to, for Seren's sake, and also for his own peace of mind.
"Liza?" Mal called and I blinked, realising he had been calling me for several minuets.
"What?" I asked.
"You were away with the fairies." He said.
"Sorry, I was thinking about what I will say to Rupert. I am to meet with him this evening." I explained.
"We'll meet with him." Mal insisted.
"What about the children?" I asked.
"Can't we fob them off on one of your friends for half an hour?" He suggested.
"They will become suspicious." I observed, especially Zoë, she had an uncanny ability to know when something was afoot.
"I don't want you to do this on your own." Mal said as he took my hands.
"I will be fine." I promised him. "You distract the children if need be, I must go when Tony calls me."
"I really think I should come with you."
"If I fail then you can speak with him, but I doubt the both of us being there will change matters." I stated.
"Well, I guess that's a point too." Mal conceded.
I nodded, and then gasped.
I will meet you shortly brother. I thought before saying aloud, "Tony has called me, I will be as quick as possible."
"Ok. Good luck." Mal said and kissed me.
"Thank you." I replied before leaving the house.
I headed straight for the tree line, heading into the forest, following Tony's instructions until I found him in a clearing with Rupert.
"What's going on?" Rupert asked when I emerged.
"It's Liza who wants a word with you." Tony said.
"You didn't have to lie bro, I would have come out anyway." Rupert said to Tony before turning to me. "We do need to talk."
"Yes we do." I agreed.
"I'll leave you to it." Tony said, before leaving.
"Look, I'm not interested in doing anything with Seren if that's what you're worried about." Rupert began.
"I know." I replied. "I know you will do your utmost to protect her."
"Yeah." Rupert said cautiously.
"Even if it meant moving away from the Res for twelve years and coming back when she is eighteen." I stated.
"You crazy?" He demanded.
"No." I replied. "I am thinking of the well being of my daughter."
"But you want me to up and leave my family?" He retorted. "Where am I supposed to go?"
"Olympic Pines. You can reside in Tregarran for the duration, or until you find other accommodation, and you can work with Grandpa Jake at his garage." I explained.
"Little Liza Black, organising everyone's life again?" Rupert growled.
"I would not do this if I could see another way." I whispered.
"I can stay here and stay out of Seren's way." He insisted.
"Really?" I demanded. "The Res is a small place, as well you know. It is difficult to avoid bumping into someone all the time. Besides Zoë is very mischievous and I foresee her finding ways for Seren to accidentally bump into you."
"What if you told her not to?"
"I would like to say she would listen, but Zoë is somewhat of a loose cannon." I said sadly.
"Really?" He asked doubtfully.
I nodded.
Rupert shook his head, it was unfair that I ask this of him, but…
"You wish to protect Seren?"
"Of course I do. I will protect her from anything." He said firmly.
"Then protect her from having to make adult decisions until she is old enough to do so." I stated.
"But she's old enough to make decisions." Rupert countered.
"Not such grave decisions." I replied. "You recall Tony and I as children, you know how our minds worked."
"I'm not a telepath." He said angrily.
"No. But you know the relative age we seemed, were we able to make adult decisions?" I asked.
"I…" He began, and then turned away with a sigh. "I guess not."
"So what makes you think Seren can?" I demanded.
"I don't know." He murmured with a shrug.
"Look, I do not suggest exile, you may visit the Res during this time, even have meetings with Seren, how else will you become acquainted, but to make things easy I think absence is best."
"I'm gonna have to talk this over with my parents you know." He said in a firmer voice.
"You are a grown man of forty, is it not time you struck out on your own?" I asked.
"Not exactly striking out is it if I'm just moving in with your parents." He retorted. "Anyway, I have to give Dad notice at the garage."
"That is fair enough." I conceded.
"I don't want to move so far away, and what about running? I'll miss being part of a pack."
"You will have Grandpa Jake and Uncle Hunter, not to mention Mother. You will not want for wolf company." I promised.
"You've really thought this through haven't you?" He observed.
"I wished to make the transition as easy as possible for you. I wish you as little discomfort as possible." I explained.
"But…" He protested.
It was time to state my strongest argument, I had hoped it wouldn't have come to this but he had left me no choice.
"Very well. In two years time Seren will be eight, that is fully grown by dhampir standards, she will look as old as I. How will your resolve fare then? What if she were to proposition you at the wrong moment? Or merely the fact that she looks the part, would it not play into your fantasies before playing on your mind. Would you not feel ashamed to admire her at eight years of age? You will not help it, she will look as if she is in her twenties, but you will know deep down that she is yet to reach double digits. Will it not be better to be away from her, to see her as little as possible so you may put her from your mind for as long as possible?"
"You have all these good arguments, I really see your point, but can't you go somewhere else for a couple of years?"
"After all the trouble we went through to be allowed to move here? Do you think the council would allow us back if we were to leave now? Would you ask me to remove my son from an environment most conducive to his lineage?" I asked.
"Isn't that what you're asking me to do?" He demanded.
"You need no guidance in phasing. In fact, you could stop if you so desired, but you chose to continue running, and good job you did, for Seren will be long lived."
"I know." He said, and sighed. "Ok, I'll go, but you have to tell Mom why I'm leaving."
"Would it not be better coming from you?" I asked with confusion.
"She might not believe me." He said with a shrug.
"Very well, I will tell her." I promised, trying to imagine what Auntie Nikki might say. "Shall I do it now?"
Rupert considered for a moment.
"Sure, why not." He said with a heavy sigh.
"What?" Seren exclaimed, jumping into the clearing, Zoë was trying to hold her back but it was to no avail. "How could you do this Mam? Sending him away? You think that's right? You think that's fair?"
"Calm down." I counselled.
"No!" Seren exclaimed, shaking Zoë's hand away. "I will not calm down! You're making decisions about my life and not even consulting me? Don't I get a say?"
"I'm trying to save you from making this decision." I stated.
"Oh, ohhhhh… I get it now. That's what that whole 'if I can make it better regardless of the decision' thing was about yesterday. Goodness Mam, that was a low way to go about it. I didn't think you meant ordering him away. Who are you to do that anyway? Who gave you the right?" She demanded.
"I am your mother!" I snapped.
"Well yeah, but this is my life you're messing with." Seren replied as tears showed in her eyes. "How were you going to reveal it to me? Have him write a little note? Nothing at all, just you telling me when I start to wonder why I haven't seen him around? How do you think I would have felt?"
"I know you would have hurt, but in time you would come to realise…" I began.
"And I couldn't do that now?" She raged, cutting me off. "I couldn't be part of this conversation to control my life?"
I admittedly had no answer to that.
"I know I'm young, but I'm competent enough to understand the gravity of the situation." She stated. "You always use the excuse of what you were like when you were younger, but all dhampir are different, and you know that. Even between how you and Dad were, but you know I know I'm not mature enough for an adult relationship, but I'm intelligent enough to take part in this conversation, but you didn't even let me know it was a possibility. You didn't trust me. I thought you trusted me, but you obviously don't." Seren said with a sob and she turned away from me, dropping down to the floor and burying her face in her knees as she sobbed.
"Seren?" I asked.
She ignored me.
Zoë came back into the clearing, panting, I hadn't realised she had gone, but she had Mal with her. Obviously she had gone for help.
Rupert looked at me for a moment with hesitation, but then he looked determined as he turned from me and placed a hand on Seren's shoulder. Her head snapped up.
"And you!" She hissed. "Agreeing to it?" She demanded as she got back to her feet, glaring angrily at Rupert. "You were going to just leave without a word."
"It wouldn't have been without a word." Rupert said.
Seren gave a snort as she turned from him with her arms folded.
"I am the one to blame." I said.
"I know. Just go." Seren growled.
"I…"
"Leave me alone! I need space!" She exclaimed. "You're all crowding me, just go." She added with a murmur as she sat down and leant her head against a tree.
"Come on." Mal said, taking my hand.
"But…"
"Mam, give her time to cool down." Zoë said, taking my other hand.
"We can't just leave her out here." I protested.
"She'll come back once she's cooled down." Mal assured me as they both began to pull me from the clearing.
"But what about Rupert?"
"He won't let anything happen to her, but I think they need to talk. Like you should have let them do in the first place." Zoë said with a scowl.
"But I…"
"Only had her best interest at heart, yada, yada, yada." Zoë said as we walked on through the trees. "Didn't you think in all your talking to everyone that the one you should have talked to was Seren? She's not me, she would have understood, but she doesn't appreciate being treated like a kid, and you know that."
"I wanted to save her the pain of having to make the decision." I explained.
"She may not have to, you know she's not like me." Zoë said firmly.
"I'm sorry." I whispered.
"It's not me you have to apologise to." Zoë said pointedly.
"I know." I sighed.
"And you'll have to as well Dad, you knew this was happening." She said, rounding on Mal.
"I told you I should have come with you." Mal observed.
"It was my idea, I should bear the brunt of Seren's anger." I stated.
"She won't be angry for long, Seren's more reasonable than me." Zoë said shaking her head. "But didn't you think that this would be a good way to drive her into Rupert's arms. Nothing promotes sex quicker than teenage rebellion."
"I did not think of that aspect." I admitted.
"No. You were just thinking of how to keep your little girls, little girls so you didn't feel so old." Zoë said firmly, placing her hands on her hips.
"That is not true!" I snapped. "I want you and Seren to have your childhood as long as possible. Brining imprinting into it and making such a grave decision would take away a chunk of that innocence. The others agreed with me."
"Really? Or were they just humouring you?" Zoë asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hu…humouring me?" I stammered, drawing to a stop.
"Well let's face it Mam, you do go on about stuff, and a lot of the times you don't win by the brilliance of your argument, but by your sheer pig headedness and refusal to change ground. Were you really listening to everything everyone was telling you, or were you just hearing what you wanted to and ignoring the rest?"
"Zoë, that's enough." Mal said sharply.
"Well it's true right?" She directed to Mal.
Mal didn't answer.
"See." Zoë said with a shrug. "You really need to stop getting on your high horse over every little thing and start listening to people and considering other points of view."
"You think I have no idea of my failings?" I demanded. "My girl, you know nothing of the darkness I have witnessed in my life and how much of it was my own fault. You live comfortably, but at your age I had no idea where my parents were, whether they were alive or dead. I was little older than you when I allowed my heart to sway my judgement. I know what it's like to allow your body to make decisions you are not ready for. I am trying to save Seren from my mistakes."
"But you can't learn from other people's mistakes." Zoë argued. "You have to make your own to learn."
"Granted, but would you want that mistake to be your sister having a baby when she is little more than ten?"
"That's not going to happen and you know it." Zoë said with a shake of her head. "Seren's too timid for anything like that, and she said she doesn't want to do anything with him until she's twenty. She's got a lot of will power and she will do it. Especially since she knows who she's going to be with. It's me you want to worry about doing things too young, not Seren."
"The draw of being imprints is strong."
"But it doesn't change your basic personality, only solidifies the person you love." Zoë argued. "Being in love isn't a ticket to jump straight into bed, no that's all to do with lust and desire and all that stuff. Love is about wanting to know the whole person, not just do the dirty with them."
"That's a good point." Mal said.
"It is." I agreed, and then sighed. "I have made a mistake."
"Yep." Zoë said with a nod, "But put it this way, at least Seren found out before hand, she can be in on the decision making now. Can you imagine how angry she would have been if she hadn't found out until after he'd gone away?"
I nodded.
"Now we should probably go back to the house, we're quite close to the path here, someone might hear us." Zoë said with worry.
"We should return." I replied. "I merely worry what Seren is doing."
"She'll be fine." Zoë said firmly.
"Just give her space." Mal said, placing his arm about me.
They both led me back to the house.
Seren
I leant against the tree for support, I felt so hurt, throughout my body and my soul. How could Mam do this to me? How could Rupert do it? Standing around deciding my future? I finally understood why Jasmine had been so angry in Aladdin now; it was down right humiliating. It was like they didn't trust me to take part in a conversation. Was I thick? No I'm intelligent, my marks at school prove that, and although I've only been alive for six years, my powers of comprehension probably exceed those of the teenager I resemble. I should have had a say.
I knew Rupert was still here; he was sat propped against the same tree, just on the other part of the trunk. I sniffed and turned so that I was now sitting with my back against the trunk.
"You were going to leave me." I whispered.
"I just said what I could to get out of the situation, I didn't think Liza would really go to my mom." He replied, and I believed him.
"Then you don't really now my mother." I said, picking at a loose thread on the knees of my jeans. "She's not afraid to confront people."
"I forgot that for a moment. I just wanted her to stop harassing me." He said warily.
"Why didn't you just phase and go into the forest?"
"You think she wouldn't have followed me?"
"I suppose she would." I conceded. "But you could have said I should be part of the conversation."
"I did."
"Been more insistent then." I sniffed. "It's not so much that she's asking you to go away, I can see how that is a logical step, but she just didn't trust me. To make a decision, or to just be around you without doing anything. She thinks I'll turn into a slut." I started crying, I couldn't hold the tears back.
"She doesn't think that." Rupert said and I felt something pressed into my hands. "She's just worried about what I might do to you."
"But you wouldn't do anything, right?" I asked as I dabbed at my eyes with what turned out to be a cotton handkerchief. "Who has cotton hankies these days?" I asked in amusement.
"I do. Got a problem?" He demanded in joking tones.
"No." I giggled. "It's just so old fashioned."
"More environmentally friendly than paper ones." He stated.
"I suppose." I conceded.
"And no, I wouldn't do anything. You're just a kid, it would be sick." He said firmly.
"What about when I'm fully grown?" I asked.
"You'll still just be eight. I know you're age, it acts like a filter I guess. I get what Jake once explained about Nessie, about how he didn't see her as a woman until she was in her late teens, not when she looked like she was. I don't think I could make Liza see that though."
"Mam sometimes gets one thing into her head and can't see past it." I said with a sigh. "I shouldn't have shouted at her."
"You should let her know when she upsets you." Rupert said.
"Yeah, I know, but I shouldn't have shouted. I threw a tantrum and that's really showing that I'm mature enough to be included in adult conversations."
"Well you had a right to be upset, and Liza used to have spectacular tantrums over practically nothing. Even when she was an adult." Rupert observed.
"But Mam's always so calm." I said with shock.
"Now she is, but it's only cause she's trained herself. She was always throwing tantrums about stuff and acting without thinking as a kid. Like that time she beat up Peni and could have killed him when he broke his nose…"
"Because of the blood?" I asked.
"Yeah, cause of the blood." Rupert replied trying not to sound slightly disgusted because I'm a leech myself. "Then it was that time she run off to Europe, running off with some Russian guy who turned out to be Alec of the Volturi."
"Uncle Alec?" I asked with a frown.
"Oh yeah, he's all friendly now." Rupert said a little sarcastically.
"I suppose you have history with him." I guessed.
"Nope. Never met the guy, but I've heard all the stories." He explained.
"I haven't. I know hardly anything. I think Mam was probably worried it would cause trouble if we knew how bad he was in the past." I said before frowning. "How bad was he?"
"You heard of the Volturi?" He asked.
"Aro came to our house. It really scared Mam so I guess they're pretty bad."
"Yeah. Well Alec was one of them. I grew up on stories of how he stole my dad's best friend away. Jane did too. I know that there were a lot more vamps there than that, but it was Jane and Alec who got the blame from dad."
"Who did they steal away?" I asked with interest.
"Your Grandma Essie." Rupert replied and I hadn't realised all these connections before.
"She was best-friends with Uncle Harry?" I asked.
"That's why you call him Uncle Harry." Rupert observed.
"Oh. I call a lot of people uncle or auntie without really knowing why. It's just what I've been taught to call them." I explained.
"Guess the title loses significance when it's diluted." Rupert conceded.
"I guess." I said.
"Do you think you should go back now?" He asked.
"No. We need to talk." I replied. "I mean, are you going to leave?"
"I don't know. It might sound a little childish, but why should I? My whole family is here. My job. My life. Um…you…" He trailed off for a moment as if quietly cursing himself for admitting that. "Why should I have to move miles away? I can keep out of your way."
"You wouldn't have to. You won't touch me until I'm ready and I won't be ready until I'm twenty."
"Twenty?" He asked.
"I figure that if I wait until then I can go to school and college and maybe hold down a job for a few years before settling down with you." I explained.
"You got it all planned out." Rupert said with a laugh.
"Yeah. Well I have to go to junior high cause Zoë thought it would be fun to go to a school where Mam isn't a teacher." I stated, just to show him how many years of school I had left.
"Can you two pass for junior high kids?" He asked doubtfully.
"Well we'll be a little tall for our age, but all the papers are in order from school in Wales." I replied, but then I thought of something. "Do you think the other kids will make fun?"
"If they do I bet Zoë'll soon put a stop to it." Rupert observed.
"Yeah." I agreed. "Anyway, we've gone off topic. Are you going away?"
"Do you want me to?"
"I…I don't want you to…" I trailed off.
"But?" He coaxed.
"I don't know." I murmured. "I need to think about it, so do you."
"Yeah." He agreed.
"But I should probably get back now. I think I've let Mam worry enough." I said as I got to my feet.
"Don't be too hard on her, she's just worried." He said as he stood up.
"I know, but she went the wrong way about it." I said. "I've calmed down now enough to talk to her. If I hadn't I would bring you home to talk to her too."
"Are you trying to antagonise her?" He asked.
"No. That's why I'm not bringing you home." I said with a chuckle.
"Ok." Rupert said with a bemused look.
"Oh, here's your hankie." I said, and without thinking I levitated it over to him.
"Are you crazy?" He asked, snatching it out of the air. "What if someone saw you?"
"Out here? In the middle of the woods? It would just be our lot anyway." I said, and then gave him a thoughtful look. "They know that Zoë and me are telekinetic, they won't think it's you."
"I'm not worried about that." He said.
"You are, but it doesn't matter. That's something we can discuss in the future. I'll be going now." I said and waved.
"Yeah. Let me know what you decide."
"I will." I promised and left the clearing, I wasn't sure what Rupert was doing, but I knew I needed to head home.
When I got back Mam was outside the door, waiting for me. She had her arms crossed and was looking stern, but I could also tell she'd been crying.
"We need to talk." I said.
"Yes." She agreed. "Addie is home now, we'll go for a ride."
"Ok." I said and I followed her to the car. "Just no taking me to Tregarran and dropping me off with Grandma Essie and Grandpa Tobias until I'm eighteen." I joked.
Mam gave me an unimpressed look, but I was just trying to lighten the mood with humour. Without another word I got into the car, feeling weird getting in on the right, which had always been the driver's side to me. Mam got into the driver's side and started the engine. She didn't say anything, and I wasn't ready to talk just yet. I guess I was still a little annoyed with Mam and she would have to start this conversation properly.
She drove until we reached a little car park somewhere in the trees. It was close to a trailhead and empty at this time of the night. It was out of the way enough that I doubt kids would come up here for privacy so I doubt the police would bother us.
"I'm sorry." Mam said.
"I know." I replied.
"I was just trying to protect you."
"Didn't you think you should talk to me first?" I asked. "I now you asked me about it yesterday, but it was so cryptic I couldn't know you meant sending him away."
"I should have asked you outright." She observed.
"Yes." I stated.
"I'm sorry I did not. I should have been upfront with you."
"Yes. And you shouldn't have been so bossy with Rupert. I mean demanding that he go away? How would you feel if someone did it to you? You wouldn't like it would you?" I asked.
"No." Mam confirmed. "But being apart was the easiest way for Tony and Grace to bide their time until he was eighteen."
"But that was them. Rupert and me are different, I'm a lot younger than Auntie Grace for a start and Rupert knows I'm just a kid like Uncle Tony was. He hasn't been led to think that I am actually in my teens. And it goes by what I want, and I don't want Rupert like that. Not yet."
"But how soon will that feeling remain?" She asked.
"Well that's valid, but if my feelings change in a couple of years, then that's the time to send him away, not now." I explained. "At least it'll be less years he has to uproot himself from his friends and family. At least we'll have come to the decision on our own."
"I wanted to save you from such a decision."
"You can't make my decisions for me all my life, and that's a pretty big decision in my life."
"I know. I am very sorry Seren; I should have respected your intelligence and treated you as an adult in this matter. Instead I treated you as if you were a child who had done wrong and required her mother to clear up her mess. Rupert imprinting upon you is beyond the control of both of you, you have not done wrong."
"No." I agreed. "Although I should apologise for shouting at you today."
"You were angry, and with good cause. I am your mother, but I did wrong and in that case you should let me know your hurt." She said.
"I was angry, but I calmed down talking to Rupert."
"What did you talk about?" She asked.
"Nothing much, accept, did you really run away with Uncle Alec when you were my age?" I asked, since I wanted to know that.
"How did that come up?" She asked with a frown.
"Oh, Rupert was just saying what you were like when you were my age when I was worried about throwing a tantrum." I explained.
"Oh yes, I see. That was nothing like the tantrums I used to throw." Mam said with a nervous laugh.
"How bad were you?" I asked.
"Worse than Zoë." She said, looking guilty.
"Oh." I replied, trying to imagine it.
"Let us say that meeting your father had a very calming influence on me, but sometimes I can still allow my emotions to run away with me."
"Like over this whole thing with Rupert?"
"Yes."
"Well would it be wrong if I told you to keep your nose out?" I asked.
"You may tell me that, but I cannot remain completely out of this, you are still my six year old daughter, but I will no longer make decisions behind your back." She promised.
"Ok. I can live with that." I said. "It's just lucky I found out before you sent him away. I don't think I would have forgiven you then."
"Never?" Mam asked, and I saw the hurt in her eyes.
"Well, maybe I would have forgiven you eventually, but it would always be there, that you, well it would have felt like betrayal. Not just that you betrayed me, but Rupert did as well for agreeing with it and going behind my back."
"I did not think of that." Mam said. "I had convinced myself it was for the best."
"Let's just forget it now? It's getting late. I'm tired and I'm sure Zoë will want to talk about it." I said warily.
"We will return, but we should stop by the store on the way back to buy something as our excuse for going out." Mam said as she started the car.
"Ice cream?" I suggested.
"I think this has been an ice cream warranting day." Mam said as she began back down the forest track.
"Yeah." I said with a smile. "Ice cream is good."
Liza
I am a terrible mother, and a terrible person. How could I ever have thought it right to meddle in Seren's business? I was wrong to do so. So very wrong, and she was right to air her grievances. How could I doubt her maturity when after having time to calm she spoke with me in reasonable tones? I should have had higher expectations of her, Seren was a thoughtful child, she was not impulsive and likely to follow her feelings without due consideration.
I had a lot of apologising to do, first of all I had to apologise to Rupert, and let Tony know that I was not going ahead with my plan. I should apologise to Grandpa Jake, I feel now I was rude to ignore his advice. I would have to apologise to Mother and Father too. There was so many I should apologise to, and I had to mean it. I had to mean it, because I was wrong, so very wrong.
I had to keep it in, not allow Mal to know the shame I felt at present, I did not deserve his comfort until I had apologised to everyone. I had to be punished.
The children enjoyed the ice cream that Seren had suggested. I gave them each an extra serving, yes I was over compensating, it would not escape notice, but I had to make it up to Seren. I had to thank Zoë for shouting sense into me. I could not leave Aiden out.
The girls went up to bed early, I was certain they had much to discuss. I distracted Addie, keeping him downstairs to watch a movie so the girls had a little space. After the movie he was ready for bed so I took him up and tucked him in. The girls were settled by this time, having discussed everything they wished to discuss. I returned downstairs where Mal was sat in front of the TV.
"I take it you don't want to talk." He said.
"I need to apologise to everyone first." I stated.
"Oh Eliza, you can't take all the blame. I gave you bad advice." He said firmly.
"No. You relented and told me what I wished to hear." I stated. "Actually, when did you stop correcting my more emotional behaviour?"
"I guess I've lost my touch since this is the first time in years you've been so hell bent on a questionable path. Also I don't want Seren going off and doing something she'll regret later. I mean I know she's going to be with Rupert anyway, but I do wish I'd waited until I was older before I had my first sexual experience. I guess I let that sway my judgement to your side." He reasoned.
"I see." I replied and I leant against him. "I suppose I should not consider you my conscience alone, you have your own vested interest in this situation."
"That's why you shouldn't ask me to apply my craft to our own family."
"I won't in future." I promised.
Mal laughed slightly as he pulled me closer for a moment.
"Let's go to bed. If you want to make grovelling apologies you're going to have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Yes." I agreed as I stood.
We made our way up to our room and settled into bed. Mal wished to hug me, so I allowed him to, but I would not allow myself to draw comfort from it, I did not deserve comfort. I had to wait until I had put everything to right.
The next morning I went to find Rupert. He was in work but agreed to meet with me during his lunch break. Since I had a couple of hours to wait I went back to the house and phoned Grandpa Jake.
"Hello, can I speak to Jake?" I asked, when I recognised the voice of Buzz.
"Didn't I already talk to you?" He asked in confusion.
"Yes, yesterday." I confirmed. "I need to speak with him again."
"You know he's married right?" Buzz said aggressively.
"Don't be so disgusting, Jake is my uncle." I snapped.
"Oh. Right. Boss man, that stuck up bitch is on the phone again." He called.
"Buzz, what I tell you about phone manners?" I heard Grandpa Jake say in the background.
"Sorry Boss." Buzz replied.
"The oil needs changing on the Buick, can you drain it?"
"Sure thing Boss."
"Who is that boy?" I asked when I was certain Grandpa was on the phone.
"Buzz. Thick as a plank, but he got an affinity with engines. He's a good kid, just a little tactless." Grandpa Jake explained.
"I see." I replied.
"So what's up? You sending Rupert my way?"
"Not as far as I know." I replied. "I am phoning to apologise."
"What for?"
"For completely disregarding your view point yesterday. I was set on one course and was determined that no point would sway me from it, regardless of how misguided that course was. I now know better." I explained.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I have been told a few home truths by my daughters and I realise I have acted the fool in this matter." I replied.
"Well you were doing what you thought was right." He remarked.
"But I wasn't considering what Seren might think is right, and I ignored you when you tried to advise that it was possible for there to be nothing between Rupert and Seren until she is old enough. For that I am sorry."
"I gave you advice, you didn't follow it. You didn't offend me kid." Grandpa Jake said, brushing it aside.
"I still owe you an apology." I insisted.
"Then apology accepted." He stated.
"Thank you."
"Any other problems?" He asked.
"No. None that I cannot see to myself." I assured him.
"Ok."
"Thank you for your time Grandpa."
"No problamo, and if there's anything else you need…"
"I'll be sure to phone you."
We said our goodbyes and hung up.
I checked the time; it was still too early for lunch so I phoned Mother and Father.
"Hello?" Mother answered.
"Mother, is Father there too?" I asked.
"Yeah. You wanna speak to the both of us?"
"Yes please."
"Ok. Hold on." I realised Mother was placing the phone on speakerphone again. "Ok."
"Mother, Father I wish to apologise for not taking your advice on board the other night." I said, my voice echoing slightly through the speakerphone.
"How so?" Father asked.
"Because you tried to tell me that you could resist each other for the duration of the time you had to remain apart, but I ignored that. I overrode your opinions taking only what I needed and I should have had more respect and listened to what you were actually advising me. I'm sorry."
"Ok." Mother replied, but the confusion was clear in her voice. "What's going on?"
"I went ahead to ask Rupert to leave yesterday and Seren happened to overhear. As you can imagine she was not best pleased and Zoë told me how wrong I had been. I was, I should have spoken with Seren first not taken it upon myself."
"Is she mad with you?" Mother asked with worry.
"No. She is very understanding, but that's our Seren." I said with a laugh.
"Yeah." Mother agreed.
"What will happen now?" Father asked.
"I have no idea. It is up to Seren and Rupert to decide of course. At the moment Rupert is remaining until Seren decides otherwise." I replied.
"That's what I would have preferred. I don't know what I would have done if Jake sent Tobias away." Mother observed.
"What if it was Granny Ness?" I asked,
"Once I'd finished scraping my jaw off the floor, I would have been pissed. It's my life not theirs. I can understand them looking out for me, but where imprinting is concerned, well it's a supernatural bond and not some schoolgirl crush that's gonna go away in time. Even though I could kinda see that they'd be trying to protect me, at the end of the day it wouldn't wash. It really has to be our decision, not anyone on the outside."
"I know that now. I panicked and almost turned Seren against me forever. I should have given it some more thought." I stated.
"Well it's sorted now right?" Mother asked.
"Yes."
"So there's no reason to worry. As long as Seren is ok with you that's all that matters right?" Mother said in comfort.
"I must apologise to Rupert also, I fear I was rather curt with him yesterday when I should have shown more respect considering he is older than I."
"Only a couple of years, it doesn't count." Mother said with chuckle.
"However, he is still an adult and you have no right to treat him as a child." Father stated.
"Why did no one tell me these things before hand?" I wondered.
"Vela, dearest, you are thirty two years of age, these are the type of things you should already know." Father observed.
"One can forget common sense when caught up in emotion." I replied.
"True." Father conceded. "However, I am certain you will act with more caution in the future."
"I shall." I promised. "I must go now, I am to speak with Rupert at lunch time."
We said our goodbyes and hung up.
I checked the clock and it was indeed lunchtime. I left Mal at home ready to supply the children with sandwiches if they returned before me. I made my way to the garage. Rupert was already outside, waiting around the side of the garage, and he motioned for me to follow him. I followed him into the trees.
"So what's this about?" He asked, as we continued to walk.
"I have come to apologise for my behaviour yesterday." I stated. "I am sorry for speaking to you in such a disrespectful manner, for thinking I could instruct you on how to live your life and for insinuating that your character was questionable."
"You know I never did understand a lot of what you said." Rupert observed, it was a common complaint I had received as a child during my summers on the Res.
"I cannot help the way I speak, I have always spoken this way." I observed.
"I know, just makes it hard to understand you at times." He stated.
"Fine. I was wrong when I tried to boss you around and I shouldn't have implied that you might be a pervert. Is that better?" I demanded.
"Oh, right, yeah. Well Zoë outright called me one, so implying isn't so bad." He said with a shrug.
"Why?" I asked.
"I think it was because I grabbed Seren."
"You what?" I demanded, my rage suddenly piquing, leeway be damned.
"In my defence I didn't realise who she was and just thought a kid was falling over the edge of the rocks." He said, holding up his hands defensively. "It was the other day when I first saw her. I think I realised it at that time, but I didn't want to accept it until you and Seren came to see me."
"Have you told anybody?" I asked curiously.
"No. But Marshall knows. He sensed me worrying about her and put two and two together. He's not happy, cause he doesn't want to think bad of me, but after the stink he kicked up when Q imprinted on Tracey, well it would kinda make him a hypocrite."
"One must be wary of airing strong views." I observed.
"Yeah." Rupert said. "I accept your apology."
"Thank you."
"I'm not going anywhere though." He said firmly.
"I know, Seren said you have left the decision with her."
"Yeah." Rupert said. "I'd also like to add that you used you and Tony as kids as an example, I'm gonna use it too."
"Very well." I replied, uncertain where this was going.
"Well when you were kids, I could totally see that. Even though you looked like adults there was just this air around you that projected that you were kids, never could work it out. Anyway, it's the same with Seren. I only see her as a kid, and that's not changing any time soon."
"Very well." I accepted this explanation before thinking on it for a moment. "Do you think it has something to do with you telekinesis perhaps?"
"Gee what's with your family and thinking I got some freaky leech power?" He growled.
"You may wish to change your attitude toward telekinesis, Seren is highly skilled." I stated.
"And I should probably stop referring to vamps as freaky and calling them leeches." He said with a sigh. "I know, I got to train myself out of it now. It's just habit you know."
"Yes. I know. As long as you refrain from calling Seren a leech directly it will matter not. Although if you use it too often she will undoubtably correct you." I observed.
"Ok."
"I should return now." I stated.
"Me too."
"What will you tell your father?"
"Nothing yet, I'll tell him later with Mom. They're going to find out eventually, it's better they find out from me. Mom will never forgive me if she finds out from someone else first." He explained.
"How do you think she will react?" I asked.
"How would you react if Addie doesn't imprint until he's past his thirties and then it's on a kid?" He replied.
"I would feel happy that he will no longer be alone, but saddened that he will still have to wait." I answered.
"Yeah."
"If there are any problems I will vouch for you." I promised.
"I don't think Mom will have a problem." He said with a shrug.
"What about your father?"
"Nah. He'll probably tease me about imprinting on a vamp, but on the other hand he imprinted on an extra terrestrial being so what ya gonna do?" He said with a grin.
"Agreed." I replied, and then a thought occurred to me. "You must come to dinner one night."
"You really want to do that?" He asked with shock.
"You're destined to be my daughter's spouse, I should at least have the chance to grill you." I teased. "Besides, Mal barely knows you, he has the right to meet you."
"Yeah." He replied. "So when do ya want me over?"
"I'm uncertain, I will have to think of a date." I replied. "I will inform Seren and she can pass on the message."
"Ok."
"I will see you soon." I said and with a nod I left him.
I returned to the house and on the way I met up with the girls as they were returning for lunch.
"Where have you been?" Seren asked suspiciously when she noted that I came from the direction of the garage.
"I have been to apologised to Rupert." I replied. "I acted in an unbecoming manner and it was only right I make amends."
"Thank you." She said, and hugged me.
"Your old mother may be fallible, but she knows how to humble herself and apologise when she does wrong." I remarked.
"Well, do you think you can be a little more infallible when I bring my first girlfriend home?" Zoë asked.
"As long as you warn me ahead of time so that I have the house in order then there will be no cause for tantrums." I replied. "And speaking of dinner, Rupert will come for dinner one night soon. I'm not sure when, you may decide that, but I thought I should let you know in case he happens to mention it."
"Ok." Seren replied. "I don't know yet, it would be a little weird. Maybe when I get to know him better."
"Of course." I replied. "Let us return for lunch, your father has made sandwiches."
"Yay." Zoë said unenthusiastically.
"Mal makes wonderful sandwiches." I said.
"Yeah, but not as good as you." Zoë observed.
"What are you hoping to gain?" I asked suspiciously.
"Nothing. Just thought I should be nice to you today after shouting at you yesterday." Zoë replied, before adding as an afterthought. "Well Seren said I had to be."
"Oh fear not girls, you did not offend me yesterday, merely talked sense into me." I assured them. "Now come, we will have lunch and then this afternoon we will go furniture shopping."
"What?" Zoë demanded.
"No." Seren said in despair.
"That'll be boring." Zoë said with derision.
"You may pick out the design." I coaxed.
"Really?" They asked in unison.
"Provided it's not to garish of course." I amended.
"We'll pick out a good one." Seren promised.
"I'm certain you will." I said with a smile, and together the girls and I returned to the house.
Thank you for reading
Reviews are appreciated, and can help me shape the story better, Alphabloodwolf raised some interesting points last chapter and I rethought a few things and produced a better chapter for it. Your reviews will not be in vain.
In case you're wondering what point Essie used, it was the one about imprinting being a supernatural bond and not just some schoolgirl crush. Thank you Alphabloodwolf.
Gemma x