Happy New Year!
Enjoy!
The first day of her trip, Chloe enjoys the time with Phoebe, whom she decides not to fully address with a title. They go to dinner and Chloe realizes that some of their mannerisms are the same. Phoebe pays for the meal before asking if she is tired after her trip. Trying to stifle a yawn, Chloe tells her that she may be a little tired. Forgoing dessert, Phoebe takes her daughter to her two bedroom flat in London proper which Chloe can only imagine costs her a fortune. Entering the apartment, Chloe is immediately struck by how clean the place looks.
"I had my maid clean it thoroughly before you got here. The room down the hall is yours," Phoebe remarks before heading to the kitchen to make tea. Chloe smiles slightly before heading to her room which is painted in soft yellow and holds a bed and a dresser. Putting her suitcase down, Chloe looks around the room and notices some books on the dresser. Reading a couple of the titles, Chloe smiles. She's read one already, but is surprised her mother is a fan of Terry Pratchett. Deciding to clean up a little, Chloe heads to the kitchen to find out where the towels are kept when she overhears Phoebe on the phone.
"That's fine. I'll have her there tonight."
Wondering what that is about, Chloe waits a moment before entering.
"Hey," Phoebe states before asking her daughter if she wants any tea. Shaking her head, Chloe asks where the towels are.
"Oh, I'll show you," Phoebe states leading Chloe back down the hallway to a small closet. Thanking her, Chloe goes back to her room to grab a change of clothes when Phoebe states, "How do you feel about coming with me to a Christmas Party with my friends?"
"Sure," Chloe answers with a smile, hoping Phoebe does not see how forced it is.
At the party, Chloe suddenly realizes what the invite is officially for. Being paraded around is not what she has in mind, especially when it is in front of Phoebe's work friends and boss. She easily notices how Phoebe tries to play mom of the year to her boss and a few colleagues before ushering Chloe to another part of the room.
"Chloe, I want you to meet my friend Angela's son, Jack. Jack, my daughter Chloe," Phoebe announces with a smile before talking to her friend.
"Hi," The teens each mumble in turn. Being left by their mothers, Chloe stands awkwardly with Jack who asks her why he never meets her before. Shrugging, Chloe answers, "My mom doesn't really like kids."
Jack simply nods sensing there is something there that she does not want to tell.
There is another brief silence until Chloe asks, "What do you all do for fun?"
At this, Jack smiles before telling her he will show her around sometime. After that night, Chloe decides to distance herself from Phoebe who is working anyway, and happily accepts Jack's offer as tour guide. He shows her around the city and to his favorite spots, but each time she heads back to the flat, Chloe feels like she is simply living alone in London. Thankful she is only staying for a week and a half, Chloe makes the best out of her trip, and really starts to feel like Jack could be great friend. Then, the day before she leaves, Chloe overhears Phoebe talking on the phone.
"I was hoping she'd help me get that promotion, since Cox loves someone family oriented for the position... I know! Just because Teresa is the model career woman and wife... At least it's over... She goes back tomorrow. Her dad keeps e-mailing me asking about her."
Eyes wide, Chloe remembers she was supposed to e-mail her father. Running back to her room, Chloe grabs some change and heads out to a cafe for their wifi. Depositing the money, Chloe sends a quick e-mail apologizing for not contacting them and telling them she will tell them everything when she gets back before heading out of the cafe to get "chips at a shop" as Jack put it. Eating her last real, British meal, Chloe heads back toward the flat to find Phoebe looking over papers in her living room. Seeing her daughter come in, Phoebe calls her over.
"Darling, I wanted to give you a present," She announces, standing from her seat and heading toward her room. Coming out with a small wrapped gift, Chloe waits for it to be given to her. Opening it, Chloe is surprised to find a two sided piece of jewelry inside.
"This was my Great Aunt's. She said to give it to my child someday," Phoebe remarks. Not even feeling like her child, Chloe simply nods unsure of how to take such a sentimental gift. With a small smile, Chloe stands up and kisses Phoebe on the cheek.
"Thank you," She replies before telling her she is going to pack to leave in the morning. Going to her room, Chloe goes over the list Scully writes out for her when she initially packed. Smiling, the teen remembers how annoyed she felt, but after a week of being ignored, she is happy to have a real mother back home who is maybe a little overbearing. Leaving what she will be wearing out for the next day, Chloe grabs the packet of photos she takes and goes through them. A few are of Jack, which she is hoping Kyle will not be angry about, but most are of her in front of different buildings or of different buildings and monuments in general. The tourism part was fun, she just wishes Phoebe to be present instead of manipulative and absent.
Stepping off the plane after over seven hours later, Chloe easily spies her parents and immediately hugs her mother. Wrapping her arms around her daughter, Scully strokes her hair wondering what exactly happens over there. Breaking the moment, Mulder jokes, "No hug for me?"
Breaking away from Scully, Chloe hugs her dad before they head home.
"I got you guys some stuff," Chloe remarks once they get in the car.
"You didn't have to get us anything, Sweetie," Scully states with a smile simply happy to have her daughter home.
"Yeah, but we saw the Globe, and I saw something you'd love. Dad, I got you something too."
"Thanks, kiddo. How was the trip?" Mulder asks as they leave the airport property.
"It was okay," The teen answers trying to figure out what to omit. She in no way wants to tell her father that most of the trip was her sight seeing with Jack while her mother spent time with friends or work and used her as a bargaining tool for a new position. As she talks around the misfortunes, Chloe decides she will tell them, but not for a while. Instead, the teen makes time to see Anna the next day. Feeling better about burdening her friend with her problems, Chloe confesses how she feels about Phoebe's treatment of her. Anna for her part, sits quietly trying to digest the information. Never has she been so thankful for her boring parents before. At least they care for their kids. Finally, Anna asks, "Did you tell your parents?"
Shaking her head, Chloe answers, "I don't want to burden them. Especially since they're so excited about the baby."
"Better to tell them now then when they're walking zombies. Trust me. When Carson was born, I had to forge a couple permission slips."
Rolling her eyes, Chloe answers, "You would've done that anyway."
"Yeah, but that's not the point."
"Whatever the point is, I would also not like Dad to get in a fight with Phoebe about me," Chloe remarks as she looks away from her friend and adds more to herself, "I'm sixteen, not six. He doesn't have to protect me all the time."
Nodding, Anna realizes she needs to change the subject.
"Can I tell you what all you missed while you were gone?" She asks causing Chloe to turn toward her friend eager for the gossip. Coming home, Chloe sees her dad and Scully sitting on the couch watching TV.
"How's Anna?" Mulder asks after Chloe enters the room. Shrugging, Chloe replies, "Good. Can I give you your presents? I forgot to do it last night."
"Yeah, go get them," Scully answers glancing at Mulder once their daughter leaves hoping her gift giving skills are better now that she is older. A few minutes later, they are each surprised at how thoughtful the gifts are. Scully is given an ornament with St. Paul's Cathedral while Mulder is given a mug with "Oxford Grad" written on it.
"I'll have to drink out of that tomorrow," Mulder remarks enjoying his daughter's pride in him as he sets his gift on the coffee table. Scully simply keeps her ornament in her hand admiring the cathedral.
"How did you know this was my favorite?" Scully asks. Shrugging, Chloe answers, "Every time I watched Mary Poppins with you you'd always make us watch the bird scene."
A small laugh escapes the red head as she answers, "Maybe one day you and I can go together."
Beaming, the teen answers, "I think we should."
Soon the family is sitting together catching up and watching TV, when Chloe's eyes grow wide.
"Oh, you have to see what Phoebe gave me," the teen remarks before dashing off to get her present. Surprised his ex gives his daughter anything, Mulder's surprise is genuine when Chloe shows him a gold ring five minutes later.
"Apparently an aunt wanted Phoebe to give it to her child," Chloe remarks. There when the piece was gifted to Phoebe, Mulder merely smiles not having the heart to tell her it was a gift from his and Phoebe's least favorite aunt.
"It's beautiful, Chlo," Scully states for both of the adults before thanking her again for her present. Smiling a little wider, Chloe tells them she is going to put her ring away. Easily noting her boyfriend's sigh once his daughter leaves, Scully asks what is wrong with him. Shaking his head, Mulder lies, "Nothing. It's just good to have her home."
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