Hey! Sorry this chapter took forever to be uploaded, it was a pain in the butt to write and I just really slacked on it, due to exams and college things.

I hope to have ch12 up in 2 weeks, if all goes well :) Enjoy!

"Mrs. Fowell," Jim began to say, only to be interrupted.

"Richard, please!" My mother exclaimed, looking at him pleasantly. "Just call me Seren. You're making me feel like I'm some old lady!"

"No one would make that mistake, Seren." 'Richard' grinned, and I swear my mother winked at him.

"Well, I know that's true! I had Lacie at such a young age that many people would swear that we're sisters!" I knew for a fact that no one had ever thought such a thing. She was 46, and other than our eyes, we barely looked alike.

"If I didn't know you were her mother, I would have said the exact same thing." Oh my god. I resisted the urge to groan. We had only been here ten minutes, and both Jim and my mom were practically oozing excessive niceness. I was torn between wanting one of them to cut the act, and wanting them to keep up the charade until we went home. According to the very nice doctor who we ran into as we headed into her room, she would be allowed to check herself out at three. It was only one now, and we still had two more hours (or more) with the Hallmark family charade.

Jim and I had woken up early that morning, and after eating an early lunch headed out to the hospital. Unless our plans suddenly changed, we'd spend the rest of today either with my mother, or (as Jim suggested) I would escort him around the main sights of Cardiff. We'd then head home, and… do whatever we felt like, I suppose.

"Oh, look at me! I'm blushing like a teenager!" My mother said, flattering her eyes at Jim.

"Seren, I wasn't exactly sure how to bring this up, but on our first date Lacie here," He reached over and patted my knee, "told me that you wanted to be a singer when you were younger."

"Yes, I did." She took on a glow that got when she talked about her singing. "I was somewhat popular in my home town and in Cardiff when I moved here, and I wanted to move to London to become a famous singer." She gave a somewhat apologetic smile, "Unfortunately I had to change my plans. I took a trip with a couple of my friends to Ireland, as we wanted to spend the weekend there having fun. I caught some sort of bug while I was there and just thought I was coming down with a cold. Before I knew it, I was in the hospital with some sort of virus that was wreaking havoc on my throat and immune system. It took several months of speech therapy before I could sing again, and even then I couldn't do so for more than ten or so minutes at a time."

"That's just awful." Jim commented, frowning sadly. "I'm sure you had a lovely voice."

"Oh, I still do! It's just not strong enough to sing professionally anymore." She gave a shrug. "If you wanted, I could sing a bit for you."

"If you feel up to it, that would be lovely."

"Feel up to it? I'm restless from all this lying down! Singing would do me a bit of good, I'd like to think." She smiled, glancing at me. "I know just what to sing, too." With this, she straightened up and stretched her arms and head a bit, attempting to find a more comfortable position. When she was comfortable, she opened her mouth and the same gentle, warbling voice that I remembered from my childhood poured out of her mouth as she began to sing a song that I hadn't heard in many years.

"Lavender's blue, diddle diddle,

Lavender's green,

When you are King, diddle diddle,

I shall be Queen

Lavender's green, diddle diddle,

Lavender's blue

You must love me, diddle diddle,

'Cause I must love you"

When she finished, she gave proud smile. "I used to sing that to Lacie when she got sick or couldn't sleep. She'd hear the first few note and just conk out!"

"You have a truly lovely voice, Seren." Jim complimented, his voice soft. "Lacie is lucky to have had such a lovely women such as yourself as her mother."

My mother seemed a bit flustered at the sincerity of his compliment. "Well… I… I did my best, as we all must. She raised herself a bit too, so it was a team effort." She gave a soft cough and rubbed a pale hand at her throat. "Lacie, would you run and fetch me a glass of ice-water? All that showing off has left me with a soar throat, I fear."

"Sure, yeah." I stood up. "Back in a minute, Ji- Richard." I caught the slipup in time and corrected myself, a bit flustered as I rushed from the room. There was a large group of people in line for the elevator, so I passed them by as I headed to the end of the hall, here the stairs were. I headed down them quickly; trying to reduce the amount of time my prying mother and Jim would be left together.

"So, Mr. Brook." Seren said as soon as the door latched shut again. The raspy tones her voice was gone, and it was clear to Jim that she had been faking. Something was so clearly about to happen; he could read it in her posture and in her voice.

"Please, call me Richard. It's only fair, you know." He continued his charade. No one could accuse him of being a poor actor; he was chameleon-like in that aspect.

"Why, pray tell, would I call you that when it is clearly not your name, Richard?" She gritted out, and Jim noticed that her tone was the same as it had been yesterday, during the annoyingly mysterious conversation between Lacie and Seren. It was painfully clear to him that this was the topic of that discussion. "Lacie squints every time she says your name, and you always take just a split second too long to respond. Stop treating me like I'm some old fool you can pull the wool over on! I demand answers!"

Jim ground his teeth. It was difficult to control his actions when he was demanded something. People did not demand things from Jim Moriarty; they begged for them. They pleaded and paid and begged him to play favorites. People did not demand things of Jim Moriarty, and the ones who did were no longer able to tell people of their demands. "I don't think you are in any position to demand things of me, Mrs. Fowell." The false tone of kindness slid from his voice and a harder shell replaced it.

She ignored him. "I don't care what position I'm in. I am Lacie's mother, and in the end, she will trust me more than any oily words from your mouth!"

"You want the truth?" He asked calmly, his right hand shaking slightly with anger. He forced himself to still it, and met Seren's stare, his dark eyes meeting her lighter ones. "Most people can't handle the truth, they scream. They fight, and they die." Jim Moriarty hissed.

Seren stiffened, though her gaze remained unwavering. "Gwiber!"* She spat the word at him, it's meaning to Jim unclear, although it was obviously an insult. "Don't threaten me!" *Viper

"You still insist on prying? A very poor choice." Jim vaulted up suddenly, and before she could even blink, he was by her beside, a hand on each side of her head. His mouth was close to her ear, and she could smell the brisk mint scent of the gum that he had been chewing earlier. His breath was warm, and a cold shiver ran up her spine. "I am Jim Moriarty, the spider in the web. I control the world, and I could destroy you with a blink of my eye. Do not test me!" He seethed. He blinked, and as if realizing what he was doing, he pulled himself back and straightened the dark blue shirt he was wearing. Speaking calmly, he continued. "I presumed it would be easier for Lacie if I went by an alias while we were here. Everything has ears nowadays."

"What does that mean?" Seren got her voice back, and gave him another prideful glare. "The spider in the web."

Jim sighed, and spared a glance towards the door. Even though he had only visited the building once before, he had been careful enough to observe and memorize the layout. It would be troublesome if Lacie returned in the midst of this… somewhat awkward conversation. Judging by the speed she rushed out of the room, Jim concluded that she would return in only a few short minutes. "Simply put, it means I'm a very scary person. It means that it would be best for you to not speak of this, even to Lacie. In the end, it is safer for both you and her to pretend that you have only met the kind Richard Brook."

Jim sat down, impatiently tapping his fingers on the faux wooden armrests of the chair. Solo Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major… Thank you, Johann Sebastian Bach…. His tapping was interrupted by another question. "Why you?" Jim brought his attention from the view out of the window back to Seren, who was sitting composed as if the previous incident had never happened. "Lacie is a good girl, why would she want you!?"

Jim gave the question barely a second's thought. "You'd have to ask her that yourself. I initiated contact, but she was the one who pursued it." He went back to tapping.

"Keep her out of it." She spoke up suddenly, after several seconds in deep silence. "I don't care what you do, but keep her out of it. I don't want her mixed up in your… business." Her strong voice softened just a bit. "I beg you, Mr. Moriarty…" She startled him when she used his real title, and he looked up to meet her gaze. "Don't get her involved in whatever you do."

"I assure you, I have never planned to include her." This was something that was rare in a man of Jim's nature. This was a pure honesty with no motive. He truly had no plans to include Lacie in his empire; he saw what happened to people who couldn't fend for themselves. He knew what happened to people who got too close to people like him; and he had no plans in allowing that to happen to her.

"Good." Seren leaned back a bit, comforted by the thought. A frown graced her face seconds later, however. "What on earth is taking her so long?"

"Why are there so many people here?" I thought, shifting my weight from foot to foot. I had managed to procure a bottle of water and a cup of ice in the cafeteria of the hospital, but now I was stuck waiting in the impossibly long line at the single checkout that occupied the section of the cafeteria where the food was set out. There were only two people ahead of me at this point, but both of them seemed to be buying food for multiple people, and I occupied myself by looking about the room at the people and families that were sitting and eating together. My thoughts were broken as a small child ran past me, nudging me with her elbow and causing the plastic water bottle to drop from my hand.

"Eloise! Stop that!" A somewhat frazzled woman caught the arm of the child and stopped her from running off. She turned to me, picking up the bottle and handing it to me. "I'm so sorry, she's just antsy from having to sit around in the hospital beds for too long!"

"It's fine, no harm done." I smiled and Eloise ducked behind the woman's legs.

"Yes, well… she still needs to learn better than to run amuck and bump into strangers. Sorry for bothering you!" She turned to go, and the girl looked behind her mother at me.

The deep voice of the attendant brought my attention back to the line. It was my turn to pay. I did so quickly, and headed out of the crowded room and back into the hallway. The elevators weren't took packed, so I grabbed the closest one and headed back up to where my mother and Jim were waiting.

"Sorry, sorry." I said when I finally managed to get back to the room. "The line was a mess." A thick silence greeted me. "So, whatcha discussing?" I placed the water and the cup on the table by my mother's bed, and she gave me a thankful smile.

"Nothing much." Jim said, glancing over at my mother. She returned the stare, and I faltered. What was that about? "Just small talk, really."

"Well, I'm glad that you two are getting along." I made sure to give my mother a very gracious smile. Obviously she hadn't said anything rude or voiced her opinions about Jim aloud, though I wondered if I would have to hear them later.

"Is this a good time, Mrs. Fowell?" A young man ducked his head into the room, the distinguished white coat on his body made me realize he was a doctor.

"Of course it is, Alec. Does your arrival mean I can finally go home?" My mother perked up at the prospect of getting out of the clinically clean hospital.

"Just a last minute check of your records, some minor paperwork at the front desk, and you'll be free to go."

"Oh, thank god. I'm wasting away in here!" My mother made motion to stand and climb out of bed, but Alec quickly stopped her.

"Policy states that because of the type of injury you sustained, you have to take a wheelchair with you until you are at least out of the building." A nurse walked in behind him, pushing a basic black chair. With an indignant huff, my mother placed herself into the chair and motioned the doctor and nurse away.

"I'm sure I can manage to get downstairs by myself, Alec." Alec bowed his head in apology.

"Of course, just be careful." With that warning he headed out, walking briskly towards the next destination on his schedule. My mother expertly guided the chair down the hall, scolding me whenever I went to help her. The three of us managed to make it downstairs and to the front desk with no trouble, and within seconds my mother had signed the last bit of paperwork and had already headed outside.

"You know…" My mother commented as she beckoned towards a cab. The car pulled up under the carport and I opened the door for her. "If this is your last day in Cardiff, then you should take Richard sightseeing." I glanced back at Jim, who was leaning up against stone pillars that lined the carport. His slick black phone was in his hands, and he was tapping away at the screen.

"He's not really the sightseeing type, mom. Besides, I really should help you get home and make sure you're okay."

"I am not some sort of decrepit fool! I can get myself home just fine, and I don't need anyone's help. I was only in the hospital so long because they wouldn't let me leave! I specifically asked them not to call you because I knew you'd rush up here immediately. Go off and have fun! Go eat lunch out, and just relax."

I was hesitant. It would be fun to just wonder around, but at the same time I was worried about my mother. "Are you certain you'll be fine?"

"Of course!" She leaned and grabbed me close to her, and I could smell the familiar vanilla and coconut perfume that she always wore. "You go and have fun, you spend too much time alone."

"Alright, alright." She slid into the seat of the taxicab, and gave a last glance at Jim. Her eyes took on a somewhat distrustful gaze, and I wondered what happened between them. "Lacie… you know I just want you to be safe and happy, right?"

Confusion clouded my face. "Well, yeah..."

"Do you feel safe with Richard? Are you happy?" Her grey eyes bored into mine, and she held her stare steady.

Where did that question come from? I turned back to look at Jim, who lifted his gaze from his phone and winked at me before drifting back to whatever was holding his attention. I smiled and turned back to my patiently waiting mother. "I am. Really." I struggled to find the correct words. "He's… unpredictable, but he's good. Jim's a good guy, Mom. I trust him."

"Alright then…" She gave another look in his direction, as if he would change or disappear when she looked away. "Just be careful, dear." As an afterthought she added, "And don't be afraid to call sometime. Just because you're busy doesn't mean you have any excuse not to check in!"

"I will, Mom." She smiled at me and shut the door. As the cab headed off, I walked back to wear Jim was standing. He looked up when he saw me approaching, confusion on his face.

"Where did she speed off to?" The phone was slid back into his pocket, and he rocked slightly on his heels.

"She said it wasn't right that you came all the way here and only saw her house and the hospital." I didn't lie; it was a bit disappointing to see nothing spectacular. If anything, it was a minuscule white lie. "I'm supposed to show you around the sights and let you absorb our illustrious culture."

"Alright then." He shrugged, seeming somewhat disinterested. I truly didn't blame him; there weren't a lot of things to see in Cardiff. "Where am I to be escorted first?"

"Uhmm…." I checked the clock on my phone, noting the time. "We could go to the Plass, it's only fifteen or so minutes away."

I decided that the nod that Jim gave me was a yes, and quickly managed to grab a cab in the busy entrance. Jim was silent most of the way to the Plass, only looking up from his phone once when the cab came to an abrupt stop at a stoplight.

When we arrived, Jim jumped out of the cab and began to briskly walk off towards the middle of the open space. Several small crowds lingered around the edges, and multiple groups of tourists milled around the large water tower that was considered the more popular sculpture in the plaza. I shoved the appropriate bills and coins at the man who had driven us there and ran after Jim, trying not to lose him in one of the groups that were there.

I managed to catch up to him just as he reached the base of the large metal tower that jutted into sky. Torrents of water ran down the edges of the tower, polishing the metal and giving it a bright sheen. I paused next to him, somewhat out of breath. I definitely needed to work out more or something if I was tired from a short run like that.

Jim didn't spare me a glance, and instead raised his phone up and quickly snapped a picture. He turned to look at me, and I gave him a weak smile. With a serious, somewhat blank expression on his face he spoke. "What now?"

He looked so serious in his question that I couldn't help but let out a small giggle. I clasped my hands over my mouth, as his forehead wrinkled in what I hoped was confusion and not anger. Unfortunately, the expression that Jim wore now was delightfully funny. He just looked so… serious about it! Another giggle escaped and within seconds I was full on laughing as Jim stared at me, a baffled expression on his face. "You just…" My laughing fit seemed to have thankfully faded off, and I tried to explain what was so funny. "You were so serious."

"I don't see how that's very funny…."

"You just had this ridiculous expression! And then you…" Jim was watching me intently, and I let my explanation drift off. "Never mind, it was nothing really funny…"

He gave me another look, narrowing his eyes as if he was staring at some sort of strange new creature. "If you insist." Jim looked back at the Tower. "What happens next?"

"Uhm… Nothing really… Whatever you want, you're the tourist. It's all up to you." This sightseeing trip was heading downhill quickly. Jim wasn't one to be interested in the sights, and I half wondered if he'd be more content back home, attending his 'business'.

"Lunch?" He questioned, slipping his phone into the pocket of his pants.

"There's a great little shop down the road from here that sells the best chips. It's within walking distance too."

"Wonderful." With a more relaxed gait we headed towards the road.