Day 15: Cake/Barbecue

Set after the events of Legacy.

She sat on her bed. Adrenaline was waning now that the GDF had taken the Hood away and she was crashing. Her hands were shaking.

They knew. They all knew and she had not been the one to tell them. He had not only told them; he had implied that she was working for him. And yet…and yet her brothers had come to her rescue without hesitation.

And yet Kayo was nervous about facing them.

Scott and One had gone with Colonel Casey and the GDF, paperwork to fill out and discussions to have. John had already wiped the location of the island from every database the GDF had. And Kayo had gone straight to her room and collapsed on her bed, thoughts whirling around her head.

The discussion her brothers had about her, not aware that her uncle had left the comms on and she heard every word. They had no doubts. But she couldn't get over the flash of disappointment on Scott's face when she admitted that her uncle was telling the truth.

There was a light tapping on the door. She didn't reply.

'Kayo? It's Alan.' She smiled at the unnecessary addition of his name. So very Alan. 'We're having a barbecue out by the pool as soon as Scott's home. Grandma says that we're having 48 hours downtime.' He paused when there was no answer. 'Come up when you're ready. Virgil and Gordon are cooking.'

She listened to him leave and drew her knees up, hugging them to her chest. She wanted to join them, yet still she hesitated. Even though she knew who would be knocking next.

Sure enough, a firmer knock and a sing-song voice announcing her Fish brother.

'Knock, knock!' Pause.

'Who's there?' Pause.

'Lettuce.' Pause.

'Lettuce who?' Pause.

'Lettuce in so I can tell you about the superb salad I'm preparing for you.'

Kayo stifled a snort. But the smile stayed on her face even as she didn't move and again she listened to her brother retreat from her door. The youngest two never failed to lift her spirits, and even now they were behaving as they always did.

Virgil's knock made the smile wider. She heard the gentle thud of his forehead on the door, and it enticed her out of bed, but not to open the door.

'There will be baked sweet potatoes and corn on the cob. We'll wait for you, if you want.'

Kayo opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Virgil sighed, but it wasn't an unkind sigh and she knew he understood. As his footsteps disappeared the sound of One returning set her heart off racing, and she returned to her bed.

Waiting.

She didn't have to wait long.

Scott's firm knock had her nervous all over again.

'Kayo?'

'Kayo, can I come in?'

'I come bearing gifts.' She could hear the rustling of a box opening and the chink of china, and her curiosity was mounting. She heard him sit down and the scrape of cutlery on a plate.

Scott groaned.

Kayo whipped the door open to find Scott sitting cross-legged, a giant slice of chocolate cake in his hand. He nodded at a plate beside him and she folded herself next to him and picked up the second plate and took a small forkful.

Scott groaned again and Kayo echoed the sentiment. This chocolate was the most amazing thing she'd eaten in a long time.

'Oh, god, that's good.' Scott merely groaned in agreement. His groaning was decadent. She nudged his shoulder and he grinned at her and nudged her back. Kayo nudged back, harder, tipping Scott onto his side.

He responded by picking up some of his cake and placing a daub on her nose. She reciprocated by smearing her cake over his face.

And they dissolved into laughter. God, it felt good to laugh. And before she knew it he was hugging her and she was crying into his shoulder. She didn't need to hear him to know that he was reassuring her that everything was alright, just as he had done when she was fifteen years old and needed a big brother.

He helped her up and they washed up in her bathroom, and they made their way to the pool, where the rest of her family were waiting for her.