Disclaimer: I don't own The Penderwicks

Note: I'd like to thank Readwriteedit for the obvious inspiration concerning the kazoo that appears in this chapter. ;)

Chapter 14 (Skye's POV)

Glow in the dark stars, a beat up soccer ball with more black than white left on it, and a half chewed kazoo Jeffrey had given me about five summers ago. (I'm guessing Hound must have gotten to it somehow?) I always thought I was pretty organized, or at least compared to Jane, but now… Well with half my closet spread out on my floor I wasn't too sure anymore. I knew it was up to me to at least try and tame the mess, but I was starting to think I'd need way more cardboard boxes than I had. But with the pride I had in being a neat freak mostly offended, I was determined to bring order to the chaos.

To start with I needed to cut the sentiment and junk half of it. I'd seen Jeffrey's apartment plenty enough times to know that place already needed helped. So there wasn't any way I was going to add all my stuff to the nightmare. As usual I'd need to be the sensible one. But I admit today it wasn't as easy to be sensible. Not when I was having to pack up the one room I'd pretty much lived my entire life in. It wasn't like I wasn't to be sentimental but...

I leaned my head back against the wall as I stared at the collection of random items. It was just most of it was tied to some memory. Whether it was the old lens from the first telescope Iantha bought me, or the 5000 word short story Jane had written as an apology for that autumn she "accidentally" broke my arm. (Sure I may have lost a page or two over the years, but I knew it was the thought that really counted.) Or the pair of 3-D glasses from that stupid monster movie where Jeffrey laughed until he almost gagged to death on popcorn.

I'd never actually planned on keeping all of it but… But now that I thought about just throwing it away I didn't really want to. I frowned a little. I knew it didn't make sense, and if it would have been Jane I would have been telling her she was crazy… But… But I only had three weeks now. Three week until everything in my life turned upside down. Well I don't mean it'll be horrible or anything, but I knew it would be different.

I wouldn't be living at home anymore. My old room, my special spot on the roof, even waking up to the sound of my annoying sisters, they'd all just be memories… I thought I should have been really happy, but it felt kind of like a loss at the same time. And I guess I felt a little guilty for that too. I mean it wasn't like I wasn't happy to be with Jeffrey, it was just… Just like I was torn. But time was moving on and I couldn't stop it. Rosy had been gone for almost a year already, and I knew that it was probably only a matter of time before Jane would be too. And before I knew it I guessed Ben and Batty would be too…

I guess I really did like some things about growing up, like always having your family close. But… I frowned a little deeper. But then Jeffrey never was back then… He was always phone calls and letters, and too short weekends away. And though I'd never really let on how much that bothered me, I knew it had. It really had. It was like there was something always pulling me toward him, even when he wasn't around.

Jane would have thought it was all pretty poetic I guess, maybe even bitter sweet, but I just thought it hurt. It was the kind of hurt that mixed happiness and sadness together sure, but it still hurt all the same.

"Knock, knock sister of mine!"

When I heard Jane I admit I jumped a little, before I turned to her with a playful frown. "Why knock if you're just gonna walk in anyway?"

She just laughed as she plopped on my bed and stared down at me and the pile of stuff. "So, how's the packing going?"

I shrugged. "Okay I guess…" But even as soon as I'd said it I knew I'd dragged out my tone a little too much, because now she was raising an "all knowing writer" eyebrow at me.

"Oh come on Skye, why the long face?" Then her face lit up. "Oh wait, could it be that you are actually going to miss us?!"

I crossed my arms as I glanced over to the side. "I know, it's probably brain damage or something."

Jane slid off my bed and sat crossed legged on floor next to me. "Nonsense Skye, this is perfectly natural. I mean you are after all on the very edge of a major, once in lifetime, milestone!"

I swallowed hard. Jane always knew just what to say…

It always got me though how Rosy and Jane and almost everybody, kept telling me how natural everything was. I just thought I must have been naturally afraid then.

"Anyway, do you need some help sorting?" She asked. I admit I really did need help. I mean I was pretty much overwhelmed. But Jane was the last person I wanted to see me hesitating over whether I should toss a dog chewed plastic instrument. She'd never let me live it down…

But before I could even answer Jane just started reaching for stuff, and it really figured what her hands landed on first. Over in the corner was a old shopping bag stuffed to the top with letters. Jeffrey's old letters.

"Oh wow I remember getting some of these!" She looked up and winked at me. "Never as many as you did of course though." I just rolled my eyes.

"May I?" She asked even though her hand was already digging into the envelope.

I frowned. "Would it do any good if I said no?"

She laughed. "Oh come on Skye, these are from a long time ago, it isn't like he was sending you love letters filled with wit and poetry." Then she stopped to glance at me. "I mean he wasn't right?"

I groaned with a face palm. "He only sent something like that after we got engaged and I marked it return to sender so… Yeah I really doubt anything in a letter that old is interesting…"

Jane smiled slyly. "True, so why don't we just throw them out and make room for something else?"

My eyes narrowed and locked on Jane until she burst out laughing again and pulled out one of the letters. "Yep that's what I thought! Now let's see… Oh this one is from about five years ago!" Then with the same dramatic voice acting she gave her own novel reading she started.

"Dear Skye,

In preparation for an upcoming music recital I have officially given up sleeping. But fear not, my daily caffeine injections are almost as good, and I'm sure they will carry me to at least a passing grade."

I just rubbed at my forehead. It was like I could almost hear his terrible accent through the words…

"The performance is set for this Saturday at noon. Though I'll be undergoing the throngs of horror, it would comfort me so in my last hour to know that a friend was thinking of me. Enclosed is an instrument that requires absolutely no skill in music whatsoever. As I march to my piano in the grips of insomnia before an audience, I will be ever comforted to know that you are somewhere playing your kazoo along with me in that very hour. A shout for an anguishing soul even across the many miles between us. Sincerely, Sir J. Tifton"

Jane cracked a smile even as she looked a little confused. "So he really sent you a kazoo?"

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at the irony that she'd pick that letter. So with a huff I gave up and slowly tossed what was left of the instrument for her to catch.

She stared at it like it was some long lost artifact before she looked back up at me. Yep she looked up and asked exactly what I didn't want her to. "So did you really play on Saturday like he asked?"

I wanted to tell her she was crazy, because that would have been completely stupid. But as it was I had played it, yeah even if it was completely stupid.

I looked down as I shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah… But he was wrong about it not taking any skill, because it sounded awful when I played it. In fact I think it somehow messed up his whole performance, because he fell asleep during it and he almost flunked out."

Jane laughed again before it almost turned into a swoon. "Oh Skye that's so sweet! You'll treasure these letter for years to come! In fact they could become family heirlooms!"

I swallowed hard again. Yeah it was so sappy and sweet I almost felt my blood sugar rising...

So I just reached for the bag and stuffed them down into an empty box.

"Oh and don't forget this…" Jane said slyly as she waved the kazoo in front of me.

I sighed as I grabbed it from her and added it to the box. Then looking up I smirked a little playfully over at her. "Remind me again why I'm gonna be missing you?"

She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me tightly. "That would be because I'm so completely unforgettable…"

Before I could say or do anything else I heard something ping off my window. Turning I was about to ask Jane if she heard it too, but before I could something else hit the glass. And uh went through the glass. I heard a moan from down on the ground outside and suddenly it all made sense. So walking over to the now broken window I stared down at Jeffrey. He was rubbing his chin in thought.

"Uh that rock might have been too big." He called up to me.

I just shook my head both in and not in disbelief. "Yeah you think?"

He frowned. "I'll pay for that honestly."

I sighed. "Hey you do know we have technology that's used for communication now right?"

He waved off the thought, it was obvious something had him flustered. "Yeah, yeah but this was an emergency!"

I grinned a little. "Okay, so are you gonna come in the house or are we just going to keep screaming at each other through a window?"

He snapped his fingers as if that was a brilliant idea he'd never considered. "Right, hold on!"

In in a flash he was gone. I heard him racing up the steps and then out of breath he was standing in my doorway.

"What's going on?" Jane asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Jeffrey wiped at his forehead like it was summer instead of the end of February. "I got a call from my mother this morning. She wants to meet both of us to discuss something about the wedding."

I raised an eyebrow then I shrugged. "Okay so let's just go meet her." I guess before I would have been pretty jumpy myself having to face Mrs. Tifton out of the blue, but by now I was almost used to it. "I mean," I started with a smirk. "That's hardly a reason to bash people's windows you know."

Jeffrey looked a little playfully flustered. "Maybe, but I don't like the idea."

I shrugged again. "What, afraid your mom might try to convince me not to marry you?"

He frowned as he crossed his arms proudly. "No, not in the least. But I know how my mother is, if she starts making too many suggests and then doesn't get her way…" He narrowed his eyes. "Well I'd just hate to have to be the one to break up that brawl."

I laughed, which seemed to confuse him completely. "I'm not going to deck your mom okay? If I haven't yet, then I won't ever. Besides if we give it another hundred years I think she might even like me."

Jeffrey laughed insincerely. "It's always funny until she tries to convince you that pink glitter nail polish matches your skin tone. Or worse…"

I frowned a little. "Hey don't even bring that polish stuff up again…"

Jane patted us both on the shoulder if only to break the suddenly ominous vibe hanging in the air. "Hey I doubt it'll be that bad you guys. Just be honest with her. You both have to give a united front is all. Consider her suggests, then just explain to her how things are going to have to be."

Jeffrey cringed a little. "I'm not going to enjoy this, because I have a bad feeling it's going to get ugly. But…" He balled his fist in determination. And it was then that I really found this whole conversation hard to take seriously. "But I'm going to be firm for your rights Skye!"

I smirked a little as I stuffed my hands into my pockets. "Okay… Uh thanks I guess."

The three of us just stood there more or less in silence then. I got that Jeffrey probably had a complex from his childhood about his mother trying to control his life, but I felt pretty confident that things wouldn't turn out as bad as he was picturing. If I'd survived all the other Mrs. Tifton encounters, I knew I'd make it through this one too.

Jane drove us down to the coffee shop we were supposed to meet his mom at, and sure enough she was already there. So more a little hesitantly we both walked over to her table, while I eyed Jane slip into a nearby corner. Something told me she wanted to observe from a distant just in case things did turn to blows.

If anything Jeffrey was the one who seemed a little confrontational. I wasn't the best at picking up social vibes, but it was easy to tell he was a little on edge. I guessed he was flashing back to military school, and all the times his mom must have given him a hard time over his music. So strange as it was I knew I was going to have to be the calm one.

"Mother." Jeffrey said a little flatly to acknowledge her. Then reaching for my hand on top of the table he tried to emphasize our "united front." All I could think was that it seemed a lot like overkill.

Mrs. Tifton nodded and smiled slightly. "Jeffrey I'm happy you could meet me even on such short notice." Then shifting in her seat a little she went on. It was strange, but she seemed uncomfortable too. "Yes well, I've been considering the arrangements you had in place for the wedding. I knew three weeks is rather short notice but…" She focused her eyes on Jeffrey's. "I'd like it very much if you'd at least consider Arundel as your venue."

I felt Jeffrey's hand tighten a little on mine. It was hard to tell what he was thinking but I guess he was surprised that she'd offer. Or at least I was. I mean it wasn't like I was her first choice for Jeffrey, so I guess it was kinda nice to think she kinda wanted to support his decision. I wanted to just nodded and agree to it. I mean Arundel was special to us obviously, and it wasn't like we'd invited so many people that we couldn't let everybody know about the change. And we wouldn't lose any deposit of whatever since we'd planned on getting married in our back yard anyway.

But I didn't say any of that. Instead I glanced at Jeffrey and waited for him to say something. Was he going to go out of his way to disagree with her just so she wouldn't be telling him what to do? But when he didn't Mrs. Tifton spoke again. Honestly I think the strained silence was even getting to her.

"It would mean a great deal to me Jeffrey. And I imagine it would to you as well. Arundel is your home, no matter how old you become that won't ever change."

Finally he hesitantly opened his mouth. "We'll need to discus it so…"

Mrs. Tifton was nodding and mumbling out "of course" as Jeffrey was pulling me out of my seat and out the door of the coffee shop. Then he let go of my hand and paced over to the patio area to our right. Leaning against the railing he frowned but didn't say anything. So I figured it was up to me to break the ice.

"So...what do you think?"

He looked up to meet my line of sight before he looked back to the side. "I think it's probably a good idea."

A took a few steps closer to him before I leaned against the railing too. "So then why do you look so against it?" I frowned before I gave his shoulder a half hearted punch. "You're acting weird you know that right?"

He sighed before he turned to me and didn't look away this time. "I know… It's just Arundel is so full of memories..."

I shrugged. "So, I mean we met there it can't be all bad?"

He nodded. "I know, it's just… It also reminds me of all the years before we met. Frankly it's not all too rosy. Most of my time at Arundel was spent being either alone or pressured by my mother."

"Well," I started slowly. "That's probably true, but she isn't trying to pressure you now you know." I stuffed my hands in my pockets. "In fact I think she's trying to do something nice for you. I think she wants to at least try and support your decision. But…" I looked back up at him slowly. "Well I think this is the only way she really knows how. If you turn her down I think it would probably hurt her."

I watched as his face twisted between a few different emotions. Then rubbing at his brow he sighed. "I know you're right… I mean generally you're always right…"

I grinned a little at that as he went on.

"But…" He groaned in frustration. "Why is life filled with so much bitter sweetness?" I guess I found that question ironic, since I'd been wondering the same thing earlier.

He swallowed hard before looking back at me. "I guess I wanted to get married on Gardam Street because it doesn't have any of those bittersweet memories." He crossed his arms. "It doesn't remind me of my parents, or being alone." He sighed again. "It just reminds me of you. And that...that's all I really want to remember about my childhood…"

When I reached to punch him hard in the shoulder he winced before he looked up at me surprised. "What was that-"

"Because," I said cutting him off. "Because you deserve it. For being so lame."

"Lame…?" He repeated slowly as his face fell.

I nodded as I frowned, a little mad at him. "You can't run away from people that care about you. Not...not just because they remind you of bad things too. That's what's wrong with your parents in the first place…" I could hardly believe I had the nerve to tell him that, but I'd finally realized it was true. "People say they love each other, that they'll stick it out no matter what... But when they get hurt they just run away instead. They break all the promises they've made…"

I frowned as I looked at Jeffrey hard. "Now you're running too... Does that mean that if I ever hurt you you're just gonna run away like they did?"

He didn't say anything for a few long moments. But I didn't take my glare off of him. I knew Jeffrey wasn't really a coward, so I was determined to get him to stop acting like one.

Then without saying anything he reached to hug me. Then pulling back slowly to look at me he squeezed my shoulders tightly.

"No. No way... I'd be crazy and blind and...and a million other stupid things."

I grinned a little. "Good, then don't be stupid now either."

He smiled widely. Almost like all his resolve had suddenly reappeared. So grabbing my hand he started rushing back toward the front door of the coffee shop. But I stopped him before he went inside.

"Hey," I said slowly.

He stopped and turned to look at me.

I frowned before I focused on his eyes. They were green of course. The same color that all the trees were turning. It was so close to spring now…

I squeezed his hand a little tighter inside of mine. "I'm sorry...about everything I mean…"

And I was. From his parents to all the years he'd spent alone. I was sorry and wished I could have hid him from it all. But as it was I could only hope to help him overcome all the scratches and bruises he already had.

He smiled slowly before he leaned in to kiss me for just a moment or two. Then swinging our intertwined hands a little he finally looked like his old self again.

"Don't be sorry my lady… Just never ever, as in as long as we both shall live, leave me alone."

And I wouldn't. I already knew that. But soon… Soon I'd make sure the rest of the world knew it too.

Because I'd promise.

I'd promise…

Stay golden you awesome reader\reviewer people! More to come!