Disclaimer: I own nothing you may or may not recognize. Characters are from RFR; I don't own them.

Rating: PG13, just in case

Pairing: Travis/Lily eventually

A/N: Let's backtrack a tad and see what Travis has been up to, shall we? Insert English accents…NOW!

Because I Know You

Chapter Seventeen: Obligation

After such a long flight Travis was ready to stretch his legs. It was a relief to finally deplane; he was looking forward to seeing his uncle. He let the throng of people at Heathrow International Airport flow around him and thin out before even attempting the search for someone he hadn't seen in years. He should have known it wouldn't have been that hard.

Uncle Barty towered above most people and was wide enough to shoulder through the thickest of crowds. His hair was just above the shoulders and wild and wavy with just a touch of distinguished gray appearing. But this is not what made him stand out. His companion was definitely the attraction. A man of smaller stature, thin and wiry with hair spiked twice as high as Travis had ever dared. Platinum blonde and eggplant purple spikes of color that hadn't been touched up in quite some time. To top it all off he had just as many tattoos as Uncle Barty with a matching number of piercings. How the man ever cleared security was a mystery.

Travis caught his uncle's eye with a wave of his hand and braced for impact. Uncle Barty picked him up in a huge bear hug and twirled him around as if he were a little girl. "Travis, it's been too long, mate!"

Once Travis regained his footing he replied, "Yes, Uncle Barty it has been a while. I see you've grown."

The laugh that erupted from Barty was well suited to his frame as several people were startled at its sound. "Yes, mate, I see you haven't."

Travis simply smirked and turned to the unknown factor in the group. "I'm sorry, we haven't met." He said with a glare toward Barty, "My name is Travis Strong."

The young man grinned widely and shook Travis' outstretched hand. "Name's Victor Midland. Vic for short."

Barty leaned down as if giving away vital information, "My latest stray, mind you. Quite talented with the tech equipment, not as musically inclined as he would like to believe."

Vic frowned, "I resemble that!" Travis wondered if he realized his verbal error.

Barty chuckled deeply as he propelled them forward through the mass of people, "Too right you do, Vic! Too right!" That answered the question. After they were properly stationed for the carousel of luggage he spoke again, "Travis, you've come home proper at the perfect time."

"How so?"

"You can help me with the club. She's just a fledgling now but we're gonna make our mark."

"Where is it?"

"You'll see. That's where we're headed. The flat is just above it."

"What's it called?"

"Well to me it's home sweet home but to the world she'll be known as…" he turned to Vic who chimed in unison with Barty "Two-Tone!"

The ride through London invigorated Travis somewhat. It had been a while since he'd been in such a thriving environment; he could feel its energy. Or maybe it was the constant chatter between Barty, who was beside him in the back, and Vic, who was half leaning into their space from the front seat. It almost felt like being with his parents and instinctively he had tuned them out. As he listened more attentively he realized they were discussing details of the club rather than pointing out the sights.

With a pang of regret he remembered being that excited about starting Radio Free Roscoe. The newness of a project always inspired him. Maybe helping with Uncle Barty's club could help focus him better than just his music alone. Perhaps Barty's enthusiasm would rub off on him. They certainly were animated as they talked back and forth in the cab. Their excitement had them waving their arms in the air and on an impulse he squinted his eyes to blur their images. Now they looked like they were re-enacting a bad martial arts sequence. He chuckled quietly and returned his attention to the landscape of the bustling city.

As he tuned out of their conversation once more he thought of Robbie and Ray and the station. And of course…Lily. He wondered how angry they were and if Lily had understood his gift. He hoped she grasped what he still couldn't find the right words to say. Every word seemed so inadequate compared to what he felt. He wanted to call but thought he might need to give her some time to calm down. Judging from how pissed Lily got when he and Robbie had broken her amp, he could only hope Ray or Robbie didn't sustain any injuries simply by being in her vicinity when she realized he'd left for such a far away location. He interrupted the conversation in the cab when he remembered that his cell phone was crushed. "Uncle Barty?"

"Yeah?"

"My cell phone was destroyed just before I left Roscoe, could you help me get a replacement?"

"Sure thing, mate. We'll get to that."

The abrupt halt of the cab captured Travis' attention. They all exited and Barty came to stand between Travis and Vic beaming with pride as they looked at what was obviously "the club."

"There she is, mates. The next hot spot for getting your funk on."

Travis quirked an eyebrow at his Uncle's unusual phrase. "You could start by not using the term "getting your funk on."

Barty seemed about to argue and then changed his mind. "All right then. I'm all for taking advice from a token representative of today's youth. Even if he is rude…and short." Travis smiled.

The building was sturdy and nondescript built with light gray bricks and appeared to be three stories tall. It stood at the convergence of three streets and was somewhat narrow due to the triangular shape of the lot. Above its door hung a rectangular neon sign split diagonally with two colors. It bore the name "Two-Tone." The "Two" was in purple letters on the upper orange diagonal half and the "Tone" in orange letters on the lower purple portion. A nice arrangement for the dual play on words.

They entered and set Travis' things behind a bar lined with high stools that ran the length of the right side. The inside had been remodeled but not much, just enough to bring some of the two-tone color scheme inside. The middle space was an open area, obviously the dance floor. The second and third stories had been knocked out above that area to leave that space with a high vast ceiling with metal girders running across it that held various lighting equipment. There was a balcony above the bar that held a few social tables and stools so people could rest if needed.

At the very back was the DJ booth. It was raised above the floor and boxed in with plexiglass. Travis was drawn to it and stepped up onto its platform; an odd narrow gate made of chain link fencing served as it's entrance. If ever there was a material item that caught his eye, this was it. The turntables were the most recent models with any type of gadget imaginable available for musical enhancement. He noticed a door leading out the back; he shot a questioning glance at Vic who had been at his heels.

"That goes out to the employee area, you know, supplies, the private loos, and the access stairwell to the flat." Travis narrowed his eyes; at least Vic was informative.

"So Vic, are you the DJ?"

Vic snorted as if it were a sore subject. "Only when Barty isn't lookin. He seems to believe I'm not all that good. But there's no accountin for taste."

Travis simply nodded and made a note to himself not to get involved in that argument. Vic seemed to notice Travis' infatuation with the turntable equipment. "What bout you, mate? You spin?"

"A little."

A wicked grin split Vic's face. "Wait 'til you see what's hiding in the basement."

They went through the booth, cut across a narrow hall and Vic pulled out a set of keys that must have weighed at least a pound. He deftly found the correct key and opened the door to reveal stairs going up and down. Heading down after Vic, Travis was in awe of this club already. Vic expertly opened a door at the bottom and stepped aside with a flourish of his sinewy arm. Travis only thought he had been infatuated with the booth upstairs. The basement was a full-fledged recording studio. He ran his fingers along the slide controls and walked along the boards to the turntables again supplied with the latest gadgets for the creation of "Techno" music.

Travis heard his uncle lumbering down the stairs as Vic went about firing up the studio. Barty came along side of him and wrapped a hefty arm across his shoulders. "This ought to get you started on your journey of musical enlightenment, eh Travis?" Travis could only nod slowly feeling like he'd been dropped in the Land of Oz. Just then an awful collaboration of thumping base and screeching synthesizer assaulted their ears. When Vic noticed their faces, he grinned.

"Told ya I was righteous! Who wouldn't be on this baby?"

Barty spun them both around without a comment to Vic and headed for the stairs talking in Travis' ear, "Don't worry mate, this baby is soundproofed beyond what is necessary, mostly due to his "talents."

Upstairs in the living quarters Travis was confronted with the true meaning of the word spartan. Some might say it was contemporary and modern. Travis just thought Barty didn't like furniture. Inside was one black sofa, one black lounge chair, and one long rectangular light maple coffee table with a neat stack of architectural magazines on it. The lone wall hanging caught his eye. A large city map had been professionally framed with the location of the club circled with black permanent marker and small notations of the competition in red.

Travis called out to his uncle who was rummaging in the small kitchen for bottled water. "This club is close to one of the hottest night clubs in London."

"Yeah, Cargo. It's far enough away that it shouldn't matter, I think we might even catch their overflow. Maybe if things go right, it'll be the other way around in a year or so."

Travis continued to study the map as Vic finally appeared at his shoulder. "One of the hottest DJ spots is nearby too, Plastic People, ever hear of that in the States?"

Travis shook his head and wondered if Vic understood Canada was not a state. He studied the map further. Two-Tone was the only club directly surrounded by four area schools. Colleges and tech universities. "Wow, you've triangulated a position among four areas populated with your target demographic."

Vic turned to him with a confused frown. "Speak English, mate!" This sharply reminded Travis of Ray and he smiled again.

With a grin he replied, "It's a good spot. A very good spot."

Vic spun on his heel and headed down the hall muttering, "Well, why didn't he just say that in the first place."

Barty replaced Vic at Travis' side and handed him the water. "Yes, I've waited a long time for it, everything I own is a part of it now. And it's nearly paid for thanks to a couple of bands I was lucky enough to sign. Any profit she makes comes straight back to us. Like I said, Travis, you've come home proper at the right time."

Weeks went by as Travis once again adjusted to a new school. He preferred to remain the loner this time, as he didn't have too much more to go. He was hoping to graduate early. He spent his evenings in a very busy environment with hardly a moment to spare. The afternoons he swapped information with his uncle about the musical tastes of the youth abroad and vice versa. Barty thought he might catch a niche if he could bring some of the new "American" music and blend it in with what was hot in London. Barty also showed him how to use the studio downstairs and he spent many hours experimenting with the new sounds. At night he helped in whatever fashion he could in the club. The DJ was decent and the crowd was steady. Unfortunately, it was the same regulars throughout the week and no push of fresh blood on the weekends. Two-Tone had yet to make its mark.

It was well past midnight and Travis was alone in his room contemplating what new gimmick to employ to boost traffic when he heard the flat's telephone ringing. Unconcerned he continued doodling in his notebook. Vic popped his head in the doorway, "S'for you, mate. Some dame."

Travis furrowed his brow wondering how his mother would respond to being called a dame. He took the phone from Vic and spoke softly and respectfully into it, "Hello?"

He was unprepared for the verbal assault launched by said dame. "TRAVIS STRONG! You misguided, insensitive, egotistical, moron of a monkey! If you ever leave me without any way to reach you like that again I will hunt you down and go ballistic on your butt!"

His smile was instant and the tirade warmed his heart, "It's nice to hear your voice, too, Lily Randall."

"Why didn't you just tell me, Travis?"

He didn't have any better answer for her now than then. "I just couldn't, Lily. I didn't want to burden you with anymore than you were dealing with, especially before leaving for something so important to you."

Her tone alerted him to the fact that his statement had definitely not pleased her. "Oh, so it's O.K. for you to deal with something so heavy before "finding your way" in London but poor little Lily might not be able to handle such a thing. Careful, Travis, your Y chromosome is showing." He probably shouldn't have laughed; she really was a worthy adversary.

Her voice softened somewhat. "Why didn't you call? I was so scared. Why doesn't your cell work?"

It was easier to answer the last question. "My cell phone was destroyed in a freak accident at the airport and I've been so busy here with Uncle Barty we just haven't replaced it yet." At her silence he realized this was not the question she had been most concerned with. He sighed, "I thought you'd be angry and wanted to give you some time."

"FOUR WEEKS!"

The distance must have given him courage. "I was scared too, Lily. I was overwhelmed by what I was feeling for you. I felt I was losing myself."

She quoted back to him, "Resolve to be thyself and know that he who finds himself loses misery." You went to London to find your way."

A little of the tension left him, "I wanted you to continue on as well. I didn't want you to feel an obligation towards me."

She let out an exasperated sigh, "What if I want that obligation, Travis? Maybe we felt like we were losing ourselves because we were finding each other?"

With that simple question some of his confusion lifted. Perhaps that is what people meant by "becoming a couple."

At his silence Lily continued, her voice soft and uncertain. "Do you still feel the same way about me, Travis?"

He realized how much of an idiot he had been by not trusting in Lily. He had not had enough faith in the qualities he loved, her honesty, her open nature, and her sense of confidence. "No, Lily, I don't."

"Excuse me?" Her voice was a thread of a whisper.

"You know what they say, Lily, absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Her laughter seemed to cover a happy sob, "Just for that, Travis, the next time I see you I will go ballistic on your butt!"

The next hour was spent in happy conversation about their new surroundings along with exchanges of all pertinent numbers and addresses with the assurances that obligation was definitely a good thing.

A/N: There was a list posted on this fandom, a what-not-to-do list. I had posted a response and removed it because, well, it was unnecessary. Other authors seemed to feel the same and were doing the job better than me. I personally feel that MoonGopher just wants a little attention and by reviewing any further I'm feeding into a narcissistic personality. So if you got an Author's Alert and then found nothing, I apologize profusely, I hope this chapter made up for it.

Hey! Review and I promise not to post a list! :)