i) Thank you to everyone who has ever left a review for this little tale. Big thanks to gemini006007 and Sabrina for their constant support,
ii) 'She's been in disguise forever, she's tried to disguise her stellar views. Much brighter than all this static, now she's coming through.' (James, 'She's A Star')
Chapter Twelve
Miss Parker sighed heavily and, wrapping her gown tighter lay back down on the bed. She sensed him approach then felt the bed sink as the familiar figure scooted up behind her, tenderly smoothing away her hair. "I hate you", she said, though there was no malice in her voice.
Jarod chuckled soflty, "I love you, too." He laid down behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist, his hand coming to rest on top of hers.
"Did you take Matthew in?", she asked. Matthew had begun to lobby his argument for starting school not long into the new year. She had hesitated to agree, his intelligence could be easily identifiable. In the end it had been her original promise she made to him back at The Centre, to let him experience life, that had made her consent. One of the conditions of the agreement was that someone had to take him in and then pick him up after school had finished.
"Yeah, dropped him off round the corner as usual." Jarod smiled as he said this. He had skillfully managed to remain neutral throughout the whole week that the school debate lasted, instead he concentrated on helping both of them see the other's point of view. After Matthew's first couple of days at school however it became apparent that fifteen year olds taken to school by their parents were not cool.
She turned around so she could face him, "I know I should relax more, it's just... you never know do you?" She looked deep into Jarod's eyes and saw the understanding there. Ever since that night in the kitchen, the night her whole world turned upside down, she should have been able to at least notch down the paranoia just a little. Sydney's news about The Centre's demise had been substantiated less than two weeks later.
All that currently remained of the once imposing building was a crumbling outer shell - a fire had ripped through all the sublevels, by the time it reached ground level and firefighters had arrived there was little to save. The structure had consequently been deemed unsafe and fenced off, the Triumverate remained owners but were seemingly unwilling to put the final nail in the coffin and tear the ruins down. And it was this act that caused her to keep up her guard.
Jarod rubbed her back soothingly and nodded his head. "How are you holding up?" He didn't have to be more specific than that with his question, she knew what he was asking. Though they hadn't actually discussed the subject he knew what was at the back of both of their minds.
Miss Parker closed her eyes momentarily, remembering that night almost a year ago when she had discovered her father had been killed. Opening her eyes she smiled at Jarod, "I won't be shedding any more tears for him." Her father's body, Brigette's too, had been discovered a couple of days after Sydney brought the news to them. The local police had an anonymous tip and going to her father's house had found them both the apparent victims of a burglary gone wrong.
Lyle's decomposing body had turned up a few days after the fire, bullet hole in his head and a rather convenient note at his side. The local police, happy to wrap up all four incidents in one go and no doubt under assistance from the Triumverate, had Lyle guilty of double murder, arson and suicide. "For any of them", she amended.
Jarod nodded understandingly and held her closer. His initial fears over her ability to cope with the loss of her family were proved foundless; the softness he had witnessed her display with Matthew remained however she had held on to some of those attributes that had gotten her through life at The Centre.
Her smile slipped a little, "Except the baby." She was still unsure how to feel about the baby Brigette had been carrying. Both Sydney and Angelo had disputed the possibility that the child had been hers and Jarod's. Sydney had told them of Brigettes reaction to Angelo's comment in the lab. Then there was the fact that the Triumverate had washed their hands of Brigette too. That Jarod had destroyed any remaining samples hopefully meant that Project Silence had been failure, for The Centre anyway. However that meant the child had been a sibling or, as Broots as said, with Lyle involved maybe even a niece or nephew. Whichever was the truth another soul had been destroyed by The Centre.
Jarod ran a finger gently down her cheek. They had discussed the babys parentage on the one journey they had made back to Blue Cove since The Centre burnt down. They'd waited until they were sure the Triumverate were long gone before their return. No one had claimed the bodies of Mr Parker, Brigette or Lyle; the authorities had thus buried husband and wife together, a fact that pleased Miss Parker as she didn't want her father anywhere near her mother. Together they had placed a single rose on the double grave for the innocent lost. Jarod cupped her cheek and kissed her gently on the forehead before wrapping his arms around her again.
She leant further into him, enjoying the closeness they were sharing. Jarod had been her tower of strength in those early days, anytime she was feeling hard done by she just had to look at him and remind herself how lucky she really was. Somewhere along the line she began to see him in a whole different light - maybe it had always been there or maybe it was because ever since he had caught up with her and Matthew he had been constantly in her life. Either way she woke up one morning with the realisation that she was most definitely falling for him, and this time there was no one to disapprove; no father to disappoint, no Centre to punish her, and she knew Thomas would have approved. Matthew certainly did...
A few days after that notion hit her, and after sitting on those feelings through uncertainty about Jarod's response, Matthew had intervened. The three of them had been decorating the house for christmas, it was Matthews first experience of the festive season and both she and Jarod had wanted to go all out for him. By that point Jarod was visiting almost every day occasionally bringing his father along too, she and the Major had come to an understanding mainly because of Jarod and Matthew. Matthew had overdosed on christmas television and had come up with a plan that involved her, Jarod and mistletoe...
"What are you thinking about?", Jarod asked softly, rousing her from her memories. Her smile had returned slowly, intriguing him and as usual making his heart soar. He would often lay awake at night and watch her dreaming, a smile playing on her lips. There was nothing else in this world that made him feel the way she did when she cast him a smile, not even meeting his mother after all those years apart could top that feeling.
It was almost four months ago when his father had finally called with the news that he had found Margaret and Emily; the Major had taken over the main responsibility for locating them as Jarod was usually otherwise engaged. Despite the Triumverate's retreat from Blue Cove and The Centre's demise, both his mother and sister had remained on the run.
In the end locating them had been the easiest part. The new dynamics of his life meant his mother and sister had some unexpected adjustments to make. Matthew was readily accepted by them both, however it was the family context he had created with Miss Parker that came as a surprise. And news that he was still in regular contact with Sydney was greeted with suspicion.
Sydney had since taken a step away from both himself and Miss Parker in an effort to give Margaret and Emily time to adjust one step at a time. Though this had saddened Jarod he was thankful for his mentors foresight as both his mother and sister were gradually coming around. Sydney, having taken sole responsibility for Angelo, had used the time to work with the younger man and some progress in his communication skills had recently been made. So much so that, with Broots' help - as he had not strayed far from the other Centre exiles - and using the DSA's Angelo had acquired, they had impressed upon the Triumverate the importance of leaving them all alone.
Miss Parker smiled seductively at Jarod, "Us." Feeling better now that the morning sickness had passed she raised herself up on one elbow and lowered her head to kiss him. Though her pregnancy had not been planned, they hadn't exactly planned against it either. She was certain that she'd missed her chance at motherhood, she'd abused her body enough over the years to prevent it. They had both been ecstatic to be proven wrong, but not long after the doctor confirmed it the morning sickness had kicked in. Thankfully it barely lasted past nine in the morning.
Jarod flipped her onto her back and hovered above her, "I thought you hated me?", he grinned at her.
"I do", she began as she unbuttoned his shirt, "with a passion."
ii) 'She's been in disguise forever, she's tried to disguise her stellar views. Much brighter than all this static, now she's coming through.' (James, 'She's A Star')
Chapter Twelve
Miss Parker sighed heavily and, wrapping her gown tighter lay back down on the bed. She sensed him approach then felt the bed sink as the familiar figure scooted up behind her, tenderly smoothing away her hair. "I hate you", she said, though there was no malice in her voice.
Jarod chuckled soflty, "I love you, too." He laid down behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist, his hand coming to rest on top of hers.
"Did you take Matthew in?", she asked. Matthew had begun to lobby his argument for starting school not long into the new year. She had hesitated to agree, his intelligence could be easily identifiable. In the end it had been her original promise she made to him back at The Centre, to let him experience life, that had made her consent. One of the conditions of the agreement was that someone had to take him in and then pick him up after school had finished.
"Yeah, dropped him off round the corner as usual." Jarod smiled as he said this. He had skillfully managed to remain neutral throughout the whole week that the school debate lasted, instead he concentrated on helping both of them see the other's point of view. After Matthew's first couple of days at school however it became apparent that fifteen year olds taken to school by their parents were not cool.
She turned around so she could face him, "I know I should relax more, it's just... you never know do you?" She looked deep into Jarod's eyes and saw the understanding there. Ever since that night in the kitchen, the night her whole world turned upside down, she should have been able to at least notch down the paranoia just a little. Sydney's news about The Centre's demise had been substantiated less than two weeks later.
All that currently remained of the once imposing building was a crumbling outer shell - a fire had ripped through all the sublevels, by the time it reached ground level and firefighters had arrived there was little to save. The structure had consequently been deemed unsafe and fenced off, the Triumverate remained owners but were seemingly unwilling to put the final nail in the coffin and tear the ruins down. And it was this act that caused her to keep up her guard.
Jarod rubbed her back soothingly and nodded his head. "How are you holding up?" He didn't have to be more specific than that with his question, she knew what he was asking. Though they hadn't actually discussed the subject he knew what was at the back of both of their minds.
Miss Parker closed her eyes momentarily, remembering that night almost a year ago when she had discovered her father had been killed. Opening her eyes she smiled at Jarod, "I won't be shedding any more tears for him." Her father's body, Brigette's too, had been discovered a couple of days after Sydney brought the news to them. The local police had an anonymous tip and going to her father's house had found them both the apparent victims of a burglary gone wrong.
Lyle's decomposing body had turned up a few days after the fire, bullet hole in his head and a rather convenient note at his side. The local police, happy to wrap up all four incidents in one go and no doubt under assistance from the Triumverate, had Lyle guilty of double murder, arson and suicide. "For any of them", she amended.
Jarod nodded understandingly and held her closer. His initial fears over her ability to cope with the loss of her family were proved foundless; the softness he had witnessed her display with Matthew remained however she had held on to some of those attributes that had gotten her through life at The Centre.
Her smile slipped a little, "Except the baby." She was still unsure how to feel about the baby Brigette had been carrying. Both Sydney and Angelo had disputed the possibility that the child had been hers and Jarod's. Sydney had told them of Brigettes reaction to Angelo's comment in the lab. Then there was the fact that the Triumverate had washed their hands of Brigette too. That Jarod had destroyed any remaining samples hopefully meant that Project Silence had been failure, for The Centre anyway. However that meant the child had been a sibling or, as Broots as said, with Lyle involved maybe even a niece or nephew. Whichever was the truth another soul had been destroyed by The Centre.
Jarod ran a finger gently down her cheek. They had discussed the babys parentage on the one journey they had made back to Blue Cove since The Centre burnt down. They'd waited until they were sure the Triumverate were long gone before their return. No one had claimed the bodies of Mr Parker, Brigette or Lyle; the authorities had thus buried husband and wife together, a fact that pleased Miss Parker as she didn't want her father anywhere near her mother. Together they had placed a single rose on the double grave for the innocent lost. Jarod cupped her cheek and kissed her gently on the forehead before wrapping his arms around her again.
She leant further into him, enjoying the closeness they were sharing. Jarod had been her tower of strength in those early days, anytime she was feeling hard done by she just had to look at him and remind herself how lucky she really was. Somewhere along the line she began to see him in a whole different light - maybe it had always been there or maybe it was because ever since he had caught up with her and Matthew he had been constantly in her life. Either way she woke up one morning with the realisation that she was most definitely falling for him, and this time there was no one to disapprove; no father to disappoint, no Centre to punish her, and she knew Thomas would have approved. Matthew certainly did...
A few days after that notion hit her, and after sitting on those feelings through uncertainty about Jarod's response, Matthew had intervened. The three of them had been decorating the house for christmas, it was Matthews first experience of the festive season and both she and Jarod had wanted to go all out for him. By that point Jarod was visiting almost every day occasionally bringing his father along too, she and the Major had come to an understanding mainly because of Jarod and Matthew. Matthew had overdosed on christmas television and had come up with a plan that involved her, Jarod and mistletoe...
"What are you thinking about?", Jarod asked softly, rousing her from her memories. Her smile had returned slowly, intriguing him and as usual making his heart soar. He would often lay awake at night and watch her dreaming, a smile playing on her lips. There was nothing else in this world that made him feel the way she did when she cast him a smile, not even meeting his mother after all those years apart could top that feeling.
It was almost four months ago when his father had finally called with the news that he had found Margaret and Emily; the Major had taken over the main responsibility for locating them as Jarod was usually otherwise engaged. Despite the Triumverate's retreat from Blue Cove and The Centre's demise, both his mother and sister had remained on the run.
In the end locating them had been the easiest part. The new dynamics of his life meant his mother and sister had some unexpected adjustments to make. Matthew was readily accepted by them both, however it was the family context he had created with Miss Parker that came as a surprise. And news that he was still in regular contact with Sydney was greeted with suspicion.
Sydney had since taken a step away from both himself and Miss Parker in an effort to give Margaret and Emily time to adjust one step at a time. Though this had saddened Jarod he was thankful for his mentors foresight as both his mother and sister were gradually coming around. Sydney, having taken sole responsibility for Angelo, had used the time to work with the younger man and some progress in his communication skills had recently been made. So much so that, with Broots' help - as he had not strayed far from the other Centre exiles - and using the DSA's Angelo had acquired, they had impressed upon the Triumverate the importance of leaving them all alone.
Miss Parker smiled seductively at Jarod, "Us." Feeling better now that the morning sickness had passed she raised herself up on one elbow and lowered her head to kiss him. Though her pregnancy had not been planned, they hadn't exactly planned against it either. She was certain that she'd missed her chance at motherhood, she'd abused her body enough over the years to prevent it. They had both been ecstatic to be proven wrong, but not long after the doctor confirmed it the morning sickness had kicked in. Thankfully it barely lasted past nine in the morning.
Jarod flipped her onto her back and hovered above her, "I thought you hated me?", he grinned at her.
"I do", she began as she unbuttoned his shirt, "with a passion."