Eli: I had to re write this. First time round my computer froze. Forgive
mistakes because there is no spell check on this computer.I beg forgiveness
if anyone who reads this is offended by my remarks against the two authors
I mention. Besides that, enjoy as Ian learns the finer points of parenting.
-Days later-
The three of them were in Ian's weapons room. Ian and Blake were in training as Eli sat against the wall watching them. He was teaching Blake how to correctly do a roundhouse, when his cell went off.
"Ian."
"Yes, sir?"
"Come back home immediately!"
"Yes, sir." He hung up.
Ian picked up his shirt, sweater, and jacket off the floor. "I have to go."
"Man. Can't he ever give you a break?"
"Yes, but right now isn't one of those moments. I'll be back tonight. Oh, don't spend the day watching t.v. or going online. I have a whole library full of books here. Okay?"
"Okay, Bye Uncle Ian."
"Bye Ian."
"Bye." He left. Blake went over to Eli and sat down next to her.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. Want to check out the library?"
"Sure. I hope he has my author on hand."
"Eli, I don't think he's the type to read Anne Rice."
"Why not?"
"Her books are vampiric romance novels."
"No! One, they are not all vampire books, thus the book 'Violin'. Second, they aren't romance. That would be I-like-to-put-my-characters-through-hell writer Danielle Steel. Or incest obsessed V.C. Andrews. Her books are about horror and history. If you actually read one of her books, instead of your comics, you would know that."
"Don't you dare try to say reading comics is bad."
"I'm not. I'm saying reading comics all the time is."
"You read more comics then I do!"
"Yeah, but I also read books."
"I read books too."
"What was the last book you read?"
"The Dark Knight Returns."
"Graphic novels do not count. C'mon." She got up and pulled Blake to his feet. "We're going to the library to get you a book."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes." They walked into the hallway."Uh, Blake. Which of these rooms is the library?"
"I forgot. I'll check this door and you check that door."
"Okay." Eli opened the door and discovered the library. "Here it is." Blake didn't answer. "Blake?"
"Oh My God!"
"What?"
"Eli, you have to see this!" Eli walked over to him. "Wait! Isn't this the room Ian tried to hide from.......Oh heaven on earth!"
"Exactly."
"Do we dare to consume the gifts that are now before us?"
"We dare." They both entered the room and started touching everything they could get their hands on.
-Hours later-
Ian returned to find both the t.v. and the computer off. Usually, Blake would be watching Ian's endless supply of fighting movies, while Eli would be online doing what she called "reserch" on the paranormal. "I guess they took my advice." He mused to himself.
He went to the library, but was surprised to find it empty. He turned back out and spotted the door in the hallway open. "They're not!" He rushed to the room to see all he feared. Blake was on a chair reading a copy of Midnight Nation. Eli was sitting on the ground surronded by issues of Batgirl, Tomb Raider, and had a copy of Parracide in her hands.
"Hello."
"Hi Uncle Ian. You are so cool! I didn't know you collected comics. And you collect the good ones, too!"
"Yeah! Most adults don't like Parracide!"
"Why are you guys reading my comics?"
"Well, you said not to watch t.v. or go online all day long."
"So we didn't."
"I thought you would entertain yourselves with the library."
"We were going to, when we found this secret treasure. Why didn't you tell us about this?"
"Because I didn't want you to know about this!"
"Ian, chill. We didn't ruin anything. We just read them. We're collectors, too. We knew what we were doing."
"You don't understand. Nobody was suppose to know! Not even Irons knows!"
"He doesn't? Surprising since you must have been collecting since you were about ten to have some of these."
"Fourteen actually, but that's beside the point."
"So, you're mad because we discovered your evil secret."
"In a way, yes!"
"Okay, sorry."
"Sorry."
"Oh, you think you're getting off that easily?"
"What?"
"You two need a lesson learned."
"What are you proposing we do?"
"I'll think of something. In the meantime, put all my comics back. If I find Any of them damaged, it's your blood."
"Yes, Uncle Ian."
"Yeah, Ian."
"All right."
-The next day-
"You two ate all the food all ready?"
"It's been two weeks."
"Okay. I'm gonna have to go shopping then."
"Take me with you!"
"No."
"Oh, c'mon Uncle Ian! I'm going crazy being stuck inside all day! Please?"
"All right. Put on a cap and sunglasses and pray to God no one notices you." Ian turned to Eli. "I'm guessing you want to come too."
"Nah, I rather stay here."
"At least one of you has sense. Do you need anything?"
"Actually, yes. I need some........How do I say this? Uh...."
"What?"
"I can't say it to him. Blake, you know what I need, explain it for me." She walked into the other room. "What did she mean?"
"Uh, did you learn about the female anatomy?"
"Yes."
"You know that monthly thing that happens?"
"Yes." Ian finally understood. "Oh. That." Blake nodded. "Yeah."
"We need to pick that up?"
"Yes." Ian groaned. "Let's get this over with." He and Blake began to leave, when Ian called back to Eli. "Remember, no t.v., no computer."
"Yeah, yeah." And the guys left. Eli collapsed onto the couch. "What to do? What to do? Can't watch t.v. or go online cause Ian will find out and get in my face about it, and I really don't want that. Can't read comics for the same reason. Would like to read the Anne Rice novels, but I can't find them in the library where he says they are, and I don't want to search for them all afternoon." She got up and went to the phone. "I could call someone, but who?" She flipped through Ian's phone book. "Damn, most of these are Irons' estates. Oh, here's one for a weaponry shop, surprise surprise. Here's one for comics, one for books. Ah, here's the winner!" She picked up the phone and dialed.
"Pezzini."
"Sara?"
"Yeah. Eli, is that you?"
"Yeah, hi."
"Hi, how did you get my number?"
"Ian's little black book."
"Hilarious. Why are you calling me? Is something wrong?"
"No. The boy's ditched me."
"Oh."
"So, whatcha doin'?"
"Nothing. It's my day off."
"Oh. Do you want to come over?"
"What?"
"Do you want to come over?"
"I don't know."
"Please. I'm stuck in the house all day with only Blake and Ian to keep me company and they're both guys! Please?"
"When you put it that way, sure."
"Thanks, Sara. The address is 111 Dragon St."
"Okay, I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
"All right, bye."
"Bye."
-Later-
"Hi."
"Thanks for coming Sara"
"This place is huge!"
"I know."
'What's Nottingham doing with a place like this?"
"I don't know. Sanctuary, most likely. He lives with Irons. I lived with them for a day and hated it. Think what he feels"
"Yeah, I guess." They sat down at the table. "So you met Irons?"
"Yeah, wish I didn't."
"What did he say to you?"
"Bastard said I was a commoner, so I gave him a taste of what this amulet can do."
"What did you do?"
"Made him feel fear."
"Beautiful."
"Yeah. Then he found out about the amulets and tried to sweet talk us into giving him control of us. I just told him to go to hell."
"Good. So, What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. Can I ask you some questions?"
"Sure."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-two."
"You don't look it."
"Thanks, it's a gift."
"What's your full name?"
"Sara Magdelaine Pezzini. What's yours?"
"Eliza Amelie Carver."
"That's pretty."
"Thanks. Found it myself."
"What?"
"I denounced my birth name. It wasn't my name, just one made up by my supposed parents."
"Ah. Teen rebel."
"No."
"So you don't blame your parents for all things that went wrong in your life."
"No, I blame me for my mistakes. I blame them for theirs. Can we change the subject?"
Sara remembered what Blake had told her about Eli's parents and wanted to hit herself on the head for mentioning them. "Yeah, sorry."
"It's okay."
"Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"The other night you asked me 'Are you sure it's just a crush?'"
"Yeah."
"What did you mean by that?"
"You know what I meant."
"No I don't."
"It's very obvious."
"Well, I don't see it."
"Use your mind, woman."
"It's about Ian and that's all I know."
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?"
"Yes, if you don't mind."
"Okay. Sara?"
"Yes?"
"Ian is in love with you."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"No!"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"I read other's emotion, it's my destiny. Whenever your around, it's like his conscience puts out a neon sign that says 'I love you'. Even without the amulet, it shows."
"You're lying."
"No, you are."
"Who am I lying to?"
"Yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"Originally, I thought you didn't like him. Now, I know the truth. You're scared."
"Scared? Of what? Scared to like him?"
"No. Scared of the fact that you all ready do."
"I don't like him!"
"Stop lying to me."
"I don't like him!"
"Then answer me this: Why did you help us?"
"Because I know what you're going through and I don't want Irons to obtain any more power."
"That's not the only reason."
"How would you know?"
"I all ready told you how I know."
"How can I like him? I barely know him."
"You could always ask him."
"Have you tried to have a conversation with him?"
"Yes, he's cool for a guy. But you're right, he wouldn't give you straight answers."
"See."
"But me and Blake interrogated him the other day, so I know alot about him. What do you want to know?"
"Um, what's his full name?"
"Ian Christian Nottingham."
"How old is he?"
"Thirty-six."
"Thirty-six? Damn, he......doesn't look it." Eli started to laugh.
"What?"
"You were going to say 'Damn, he looks good for his age.'"
"No I wasn't."
"You're lying again."
"Moving on. What's his favorite color?"
"C'mon now."
"What?"
"That's like asking Michael Jordan what his favorite sport is."
"Oh, so black?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, miss knowitall, why does he wear so many layers of clothing? Did he answer that?"
"No, but I know the answer."
"What?"
"Two words: Isolation and Insecurity."
"What?"
"Explanation: Ian doesn't have a good opinion of mankind. He wears the clothes as a way to seperate himself from the world. Second, Irons has taught Ian to hate himself. He holds alot of self hatred, especially toward his body. Also, Ian has been administered numerous, though I think that might be an understatement, punishments from Irons through the years. He doesn't want it to show, so he covers himself up."
"Ah. How do you know he has scars?"
"I've seen them."
"You have?"
"He taks his shirt off when he and blake spar."
"Spar?"
"Improving fighting skills."
"Oh. How did you come to this answer?"
"Observation."
"You should be a shrink when you grow up."
"Ya think?"
"Yeah."
"Any more questions?"
"Is Blake really his nephew?"
"Yeah. He's Ian's half brother's son."
"Is Irons really his dad?"
"Yeah."
"Hard to believe."
"Yeah. He's alot nicer and I don't see any resemblance between them. I think he must take after his mom."
"Yeah. Did you meet Blake's dad?"
"Yeah, of course."
"What was he like before he died?"
"How did you know he was dead?"
"Blake told me."
"Oh. Well, sad to say, he did take after Irons."
"Oooohh."
"Exactly. Wasn't as bad as Irons, but still enough to be destructive." She put her head down. "Towards Blake. He has scars similiar to Ian's." She sounded like that fact killed her inside.
"Social services?"
"They sure helped." Sarcasim was obvious. "They took him away once, but his dad got therepy, so he regained custody."
"Did it work?"
"Blake likes to say it did."
"What's the truth?"
"No, it didn't. After the therepy, Blake gave up on his dad. Luckily, we met after that. I saw first hand what his dad did to him."
"Irons caused that."
"I know."
"Did Blake ever say anything about his grandmother?"
"Yeah. She was this German model that Irons favored. They got married. Had a huge argument over something, then got the marriage annulled. Irons raised Blake's dad for a while, but ultimately deserted him and his mother. It was hard. That's why Blake has a grudge against Irons."
"Sad."
"Depressing." They heard someone appraoching the door. "They're back. This conversation never happened. I wasn't suppose to let all that info out."
"Agreed." Blake and Ian entered. Blake went over to Eli, put his arm around her neck and kissed her on the cheek. "Hello."
"Hi. Why are you in such a good mood?"
"Because I conviced my uncle to stop by Best buys and pick up 'Lord of the Rings'."
"All right!" Blake finally noticed Sara. "Hi Sara."
"Sara?" Ian stopped in his tracks. "How?"
"Eli asked me to come over."
"Why?"
"Because I got bored and lonely."
"Don't worry, Nottigham. No one trailed me here."
"Okay." Ian went to the kitchen to put the stuff away. Eli got up to help him. About half way through the bags, Ian handed a box over to Eli. "Is this the right stuff?"
"Yes, thank you." Blake laughed at them as he sat down on the couch. He was about to turn on the t.v. when Ian stopped him. "No t.v., Blake."
"Oh yeah, sorry."
"Why can't he watch t.v.?"
"Because we're grounded."
"You grounded them?"
"I resticted them."
"Why?'
"We......" But Ian cut him off.
"They invaded my privacy."
"How?"
"We......"
"They got into my stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Some........"
"Private belongings."
"Ian, let him speak." She turned to Blake. "As you were trying to say?"
"We got grounded because we got into his comic book collection." Ian went back into the kitchen.
"His what?"
"Comic book collection."
"You collect comics?"
"Among other things." He called from the kitchen. He heard Sara let out a laugh.
"Which comics does he collect?"
"Best of the best: Punisher, Aria, Diablo Chronicles, Midnight Nation, Ranma1/2, Fantastic Four, and JLA."
"He's also got Batgirl, Nightwing, Tomb Raider, Harley Quinn, No Need for Tenchi, X-Men, Mystic, Scion, Fathom, Parracide, the list goes on."
"Intresting." She gave a maniacal smile toward Ian. Then she checked her watch. "I have to go. I have a baby shower at Danny's. See ya, guys."
"Bye Sara."
"Bye Sara, thanks."
"Yeah, see ya." She left. Ian then called Blake to him. "Why did you tell her about my collection?!"
"It's nothing to be ashamed about."
"I'm not ashamed, just......"
"Embarassed?" Eli called from the next room.
"Yes! And you, young lady, what were you thinking inviting Sara over here?! What if she was followed?!"
"Isn't that your job to trail her?"
"Yes, but there could have been another! You guys have to think before you do things like that! I do not want either of you hurt!" The last statement got to them. The point was taken.
"We understand, Uncle Ian."
"We're sorry." Ian calmed down.
"Okay, all right. Let's eat."
"Yeah."
-Later-
"I have to go. I have another duty to attend to." Eli and Blake started to laugh.
"What?"
"Stalking duty."
"Will you two give up on that?"
"No, it's too funny."
"Would it be funny for me to extend your restictions?"
"No."
"All right then. I'll be back in the morning. Don't stay up till dawn again. Early."
"Okay."
"Bye Ian."
"Bye." Ian left.
"Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"What did you and Sara talk about?"
"Girl talk."
"Does she know Ian is in love with her?"
"She does now."
"Did you read her?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"She likes him."
"Could she......"
"Love him? Yeah, I think she's beginnig to. I think the comics helped. Made him seem more human."
"Remind me why we're doing this again."
"As a thanks for helping us."
"Do you think it's gonna work?"
"Yeah, they're meant for each other." Blake sat down next to Eli and put his arma round her. "Meant for each other. You're a good judge of that." Eli leaned into him. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"Are we doing the right thing? Is this what they want?"
"Yeah. Everyone deserves happiness. Especially them."
"Then I hope our plan works."
"Me too."
Eli: Fun to write, despite the fact I'm freezing to death. So the two have hacked a plan. And Damn you Roguegal for guessing my plot ;) J/k. Last note, Amelie is pronounced Ah-mu-lee, for those who get confused like I did the first time I saw the name. See ya's later.
-Days later-
The three of them were in Ian's weapons room. Ian and Blake were in training as Eli sat against the wall watching them. He was teaching Blake how to correctly do a roundhouse, when his cell went off.
"Ian."
"Yes, sir?"
"Come back home immediately!"
"Yes, sir." He hung up.
Ian picked up his shirt, sweater, and jacket off the floor. "I have to go."
"Man. Can't he ever give you a break?"
"Yes, but right now isn't one of those moments. I'll be back tonight. Oh, don't spend the day watching t.v. or going online. I have a whole library full of books here. Okay?"
"Okay, Bye Uncle Ian."
"Bye Ian."
"Bye." He left. Blake went over to Eli and sat down next to her.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. Want to check out the library?"
"Sure. I hope he has my author on hand."
"Eli, I don't think he's the type to read Anne Rice."
"Why not?"
"Her books are vampiric romance novels."
"No! One, they are not all vampire books, thus the book 'Violin'. Second, they aren't romance. That would be I-like-to-put-my-characters-through-hell writer Danielle Steel. Or incest obsessed V.C. Andrews. Her books are about horror and history. If you actually read one of her books, instead of your comics, you would know that."
"Don't you dare try to say reading comics is bad."
"I'm not. I'm saying reading comics all the time is."
"You read more comics then I do!"
"Yeah, but I also read books."
"I read books too."
"What was the last book you read?"
"The Dark Knight Returns."
"Graphic novels do not count. C'mon." She got up and pulled Blake to his feet. "We're going to the library to get you a book."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes." They walked into the hallway."Uh, Blake. Which of these rooms is the library?"
"I forgot. I'll check this door and you check that door."
"Okay." Eli opened the door and discovered the library. "Here it is." Blake didn't answer. "Blake?"
"Oh My God!"
"What?"
"Eli, you have to see this!" Eli walked over to him. "Wait! Isn't this the room Ian tried to hide from.......Oh heaven on earth!"
"Exactly."
"Do we dare to consume the gifts that are now before us?"
"We dare." They both entered the room and started touching everything they could get their hands on.
-Hours later-
Ian returned to find both the t.v. and the computer off. Usually, Blake would be watching Ian's endless supply of fighting movies, while Eli would be online doing what she called "reserch" on the paranormal. "I guess they took my advice." He mused to himself.
He went to the library, but was surprised to find it empty. He turned back out and spotted the door in the hallway open. "They're not!" He rushed to the room to see all he feared. Blake was on a chair reading a copy of Midnight Nation. Eli was sitting on the ground surronded by issues of Batgirl, Tomb Raider, and had a copy of Parracide in her hands.
"Hello."
"Hi Uncle Ian. You are so cool! I didn't know you collected comics. And you collect the good ones, too!"
"Yeah! Most adults don't like Parracide!"
"Why are you guys reading my comics?"
"Well, you said not to watch t.v. or go online all day long."
"So we didn't."
"I thought you would entertain yourselves with the library."
"We were going to, when we found this secret treasure. Why didn't you tell us about this?"
"Because I didn't want you to know about this!"
"Ian, chill. We didn't ruin anything. We just read them. We're collectors, too. We knew what we were doing."
"You don't understand. Nobody was suppose to know! Not even Irons knows!"
"He doesn't? Surprising since you must have been collecting since you were about ten to have some of these."
"Fourteen actually, but that's beside the point."
"So, you're mad because we discovered your evil secret."
"In a way, yes!"
"Okay, sorry."
"Sorry."
"Oh, you think you're getting off that easily?"
"What?"
"You two need a lesson learned."
"What are you proposing we do?"
"I'll think of something. In the meantime, put all my comics back. If I find Any of them damaged, it's your blood."
"Yes, Uncle Ian."
"Yeah, Ian."
"All right."
-The next day-
"You two ate all the food all ready?"
"It's been two weeks."
"Okay. I'm gonna have to go shopping then."
"Take me with you!"
"No."
"Oh, c'mon Uncle Ian! I'm going crazy being stuck inside all day! Please?"
"All right. Put on a cap and sunglasses and pray to God no one notices you." Ian turned to Eli. "I'm guessing you want to come too."
"Nah, I rather stay here."
"At least one of you has sense. Do you need anything?"
"Actually, yes. I need some........How do I say this? Uh...."
"What?"
"I can't say it to him. Blake, you know what I need, explain it for me." She walked into the other room. "What did she mean?"
"Uh, did you learn about the female anatomy?"
"Yes."
"You know that monthly thing that happens?"
"Yes." Ian finally understood. "Oh. That." Blake nodded. "Yeah."
"We need to pick that up?"
"Yes." Ian groaned. "Let's get this over with." He and Blake began to leave, when Ian called back to Eli. "Remember, no t.v., no computer."
"Yeah, yeah." And the guys left. Eli collapsed onto the couch. "What to do? What to do? Can't watch t.v. or go online cause Ian will find out and get in my face about it, and I really don't want that. Can't read comics for the same reason. Would like to read the Anne Rice novels, but I can't find them in the library where he says they are, and I don't want to search for them all afternoon." She got up and went to the phone. "I could call someone, but who?" She flipped through Ian's phone book. "Damn, most of these are Irons' estates. Oh, here's one for a weaponry shop, surprise surprise. Here's one for comics, one for books. Ah, here's the winner!" She picked up the phone and dialed.
"Pezzini."
"Sara?"
"Yeah. Eli, is that you?"
"Yeah, hi."
"Hi, how did you get my number?"
"Ian's little black book."
"Hilarious. Why are you calling me? Is something wrong?"
"No. The boy's ditched me."
"Oh."
"So, whatcha doin'?"
"Nothing. It's my day off."
"Oh. Do you want to come over?"
"What?"
"Do you want to come over?"
"I don't know."
"Please. I'm stuck in the house all day with only Blake and Ian to keep me company and they're both guys! Please?"
"When you put it that way, sure."
"Thanks, Sara. The address is 111 Dragon St."
"Okay, I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
"All right, bye."
"Bye."
-Later-
"Hi."
"Thanks for coming Sara"
"This place is huge!"
"I know."
'What's Nottingham doing with a place like this?"
"I don't know. Sanctuary, most likely. He lives with Irons. I lived with them for a day and hated it. Think what he feels"
"Yeah, I guess." They sat down at the table. "So you met Irons?"
"Yeah, wish I didn't."
"What did he say to you?"
"Bastard said I was a commoner, so I gave him a taste of what this amulet can do."
"What did you do?"
"Made him feel fear."
"Beautiful."
"Yeah. Then he found out about the amulets and tried to sweet talk us into giving him control of us. I just told him to go to hell."
"Good. So, What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. Can I ask you some questions?"
"Sure."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-two."
"You don't look it."
"Thanks, it's a gift."
"What's your full name?"
"Sara Magdelaine Pezzini. What's yours?"
"Eliza Amelie Carver."
"That's pretty."
"Thanks. Found it myself."
"What?"
"I denounced my birth name. It wasn't my name, just one made up by my supposed parents."
"Ah. Teen rebel."
"No."
"So you don't blame your parents for all things that went wrong in your life."
"No, I blame me for my mistakes. I blame them for theirs. Can we change the subject?"
Sara remembered what Blake had told her about Eli's parents and wanted to hit herself on the head for mentioning them. "Yeah, sorry."
"It's okay."
"Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"The other night you asked me 'Are you sure it's just a crush?'"
"Yeah."
"What did you mean by that?"
"You know what I meant."
"No I don't."
"It's very obvious."
"Well, I don't see it."
"Use your mind, woman."
"It's about Ian and that's all I know."
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?"
"Yes, if you don't mind."
"Okay. Sara?"
"Yes?"
"Ian is in love with you."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"No!"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"I read other's emotion, it's my destiny. Whenever your around, it's like his conscience puts out a neon sign that says 'I love you'. Even without the amulet, it shows."
"You're lying."
"No, you are."
"Who am I lying to?"
"Yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"Originally, I thought you didn't like him. Now, I know the truth. You're scared."
"Scared? Of what? Scared to like him?"
"No. Scared of the fact that you all ready do."
"I don't like him!"
"Stop lying to me."
"I don't like him!"
"Then answer me this: Why did you help us?"
"Because I know what you're going through and I don't want Irons to obtain any more power."
"That's not the only reason."
"How would you know?"
"I all ready told you how I know."
"How can I like him? I barely know him."
"You could always ask him."
"Have you tried to have a conversation with him?"
"Yes, he's cool for a guy. But you're right, he wouldn't give you straight answers."
"See."
"But me and Blake interrogated him the other day, so I know alot about him. What do you want to know?"
"Um, what's his full name?"
"Ian Christian Nottingham."
"How old is he?"
"Thirty-six."
"Thirty-six? Damn, he......doesn't look it." Eli started to laugh.
"What?"
"You were going to say 'Damn, he looks good for his age.'"
"No I wasn't."
"You're lying again."
"Moving on. What's his favorite color?"
"C'mon now."
"What?"
"That's like asking Michael Jordan what his favorite sport is."
"Oh, so black?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, miss knowitall, why does he wear so many layers of clothing? Did he answer that?"
"No, but I know the answer."
"What?"
"Two words: Isolation and Insecurity."
"What?"
"Explanation: Ian doesn't have a good opinion of mankind. He wears the clothes as a way to seperate himself from the world. Second, Irons has taught Ian to hate himself. He holds alot of self hatred, especially toward his body. Also, Ian has been administered numerous, though I think that might be an understatement, punishments from Irons through the years. He doesn't want it to show, so he covers himself up."
"Ah. How do you know he has scars?"
"I've seen them."
"You have?"
"He taks his shirt off when he and blake spar."
"Spar?"
"Improving fighting skills."
"Oh. How did you come to this answer?"
"Observation."
"You should be a shrink when you grow up."
"Ya think?"
"Yeah."
"Any more questions?"
"Is Blake really his nephew?"
"Yeah. He's Ian's half brother's son."
"Is Irons really his dad?"
"Yeah."
"Hard to believe."
"Yeah. He's alot nicer and I don't see any resemblance between them. I think he must take after his mom."
"Yeah. Did you meet Blake's dad?"
"Yeah, of course."
"What was he like before he died?"
"How did you know he was dead?"
"Blake told me."
"Oh. Well, sad to say, he did take after Irons."
"Oooohh."
"Exactly. Wasn't as bad as Irons, but still enough to be destructive." She put her head down. "Towards Blake. He has scars similiar to Ian's." She sounded like that fact killed her inside.
"Social services?"
"They sure helped." Sarcasim was obvious. "They took him away once, but his dad got therepy, so he regained custody."
"Did it work?"
"Blake likes to say it did."
"What's the truth?"
"No, it didn't. After the therepy, Blake gave up on his dad. Luckily, we met after that. I saw first hand what his dad did to him."
"Irons caused that."
"I know."
"Did Blake ever say anything about his grandmother?"
"Yeah. She was this German model that Irons favored. They got married. Had a huge argument over something, then got the marriage annulled. Irons raised Blake's dad for a while, but ultimately deserted him and his mother. It was hard. That's why Blake has a grudge against Irons."
"Sad."
"Depressing." They heard someone appraoching the door. "They're back. This conversation never happened. I wasn't suppose to let all that info out."
"Agreed." Blake and Ian entered. Blake went over to Eli, put his arm around her neck and kissed her on the cheek. "Hello."
"Hi. Why are you in such a good mood?"
"Because I conviced my uncle to stop by Best buys and pick up 'Lord of the Rings'."
"All right!" Blake finally noticed Sara. "Hi Sara."
"Sara?" Ian stopped in his tracks. "How?"
"Eli asked me to come over."
"Why?"
"Because I got bored and lonely."
"Don't worry, Nottigham. No one trailed me here."
"Okay." Ian went to the kitchen to put the stuff away. Eli got up to help him. About half way through the bags, Ian handed a box over to Eli. "Is this the right stuff?"
"Yes, thank you." Blake laughed at them as he sat down on the couch. He was about to turn on the t.v. when Ian stopped him. "No t.v., Blake."
"Oh yeah, sorry."
"Why can't he watch t.v.?"
"Because we're grounded."
"You grounded them?"
"I resticted them."
"Why?'
"We......" But Ian cut him off.
"They invaded my privacy."
"How?"
"We......"
"They got into my stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Some........"
"Private belongings."
"Ian, let him speak." She turned to Blake. "As you were trying to say?"
"We got grounded because we got into his comic book collection." Ian went back into the kitchen.
"His what?"
"Comic book collection."
"You collect comics?"
"Among other things." He called from the kitchen. He heard Sara let out a laugh.
"Which comics does he collect?"
"Best of the best: Punisher, Aria, Diablo Chronicles, Midnight Nation, Ranma1/2, Fantastic Four, and JLA."
"He's also got Batgirl, Nightwing, Tomb Raider, Harley Quinn, No Need for Tenchi, X-Men, Mystic, Scion, Fathom, Parracide, the list goes on."
"Intresting." She gave a maniacal smile toward Ian. Then she checked her watch. "I have to go. I have a baby shower at Danny's. See ya, guys."
"Bye Sara."
"Bye Sara, thanks."
"Yeah, see ya." She left. Ian then called Blake to him. "Why did you tell her about my collection?!"
"It's nothing to be ashamed about."
"I'm not ashamed, just......"
"Embarassed?" Eli called from the next room.
"Yes! And you, young lady, what were you thinking inviting Sara over here?! What if she was followed?!"
"Isn't that your job to trail her?"
"Yes, but there could have been another! You guys have to think before you do things like that! I do not want either of you hurt!" The last statement got to them. The point was taken.
"We understand, Uncle Ian."
"We're sorry." Ian calmed down.
"Okay, all right. Let's eat."
"Yeah."
-Later-
"I have to go. I have another duty to attend to." Eli and Blake started to laugh.
"What?"
"Stalking duty."
"Will you two give up on that?"
"No, it's too funny."
"Would it be funny for me to extend your restictions?"
"No."
"All right then. I'll be back in the morning. Don't stay up till dawn again. Early."
"Okay."
"Bye Ian."
"Bye." Ian left.
"Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"What did you and Sara talk about?"
"Girl talk."
"Does she know Ian is in love with her?"
"She does now."
"Did you read her?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"She likes him."
"Could she......"
"Love him? Yeah, I think she's beginnig to. I think the comics helped. Made him seem more human."
"Remind me why we're doing this again."
"As a thanks for helping us."
"Do you think it's gonna work?"
"Yeah, they're meant for each other." Blake sat down next to Eli and put his arma round her. "Meant for each other. You're a good judge of that." Eli leaned into him. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"Are we doing the right thing? Is this what they want?"
"Yeah. Everyone deserves happiness. Especially them."
"Then I hope our plan works."
"Me too."
Eli: Fun to write, despite the fact I'm freezing to death. So the two have hacked a plan. And Damn you Roguegal for guessing my plot ;) J/k. Last note, Amelie is pronounced Ah-mu-lee, for those who get confused like I did the first time I saw the name. See ya's later.