A week had gone by and nothing went wrong. Carson had the chance to show Rodney all the places that he loved so much. And even though he didn't admit it, Carson new Rodney liked Scotland. The peace and the beauty of the places they visited charmed the lonely man.
They'd just returned from their morning hike. It sounded so... quaint, like they were two idle old men who had nothing better to do with their time. The truth was, they did have things they should be doing, but those "things" weren't to be done here. Carson loved the countryside, loved to walk and was surprised to see that Rodney didn't complain. They didn't have too much of that in Atlantis. It was nice to be home again, but he realized he would never trade it for the city of the Ancients.
They entered the living room, and as they dropped their backpacks to the floor, they noticed Carson's cousin sitting on the couch. "Hullo, Cousin."
"Hullo. I didn' know you'd be visiting today. Rodney... this is John, my cousin. John, Rodney."
"I heard a friend of yours was here and I jus' had to come an' meet him."
"Of course ye did."
Carson lowered himself into one of the armchairs and resigned himself to the fact that the peace was over.
In an uncharacteristic moment of understanding, Rodney suddenly saw everything for what it was. And he wasn't about to let it go.
"Well... here I am."
"Aye... I can see that. I wanted to ask you - "
"What was it..." Rodney said, trying to keep an even tone.
"John…" came Carson's response. He didn't know what Rodney was going to do, but it was clear he was up to something.
"Yes, thank you, Carson. John... how old are you?"
"Ah, I'm twenty two." John answered with some confusion.
"What Uni did you graduate from"
Carson had never spoken to Rodney about his cousin and as such, had never told him about their arguments, but Rodney seemed to have grasped the situation.
"I haven't yet," John started defensively, "But I've been accepted at..."
"Accepted? You're too old to be just starting now. Anyway, what were you going to study?"
"I want to become a teacher."
"Really..." Rodney's voice was dripping with sarcasm. But there was something different - this was a sarcasm Carson had never heard him use before, a sarcasm that was somehow even more condescending and spiteful that usual. "Not that there's anything wrong with being a teacher, but I really can't see you as one..."
Carson cautiously looked over at his mother. He expected to see some sign of disapproval at the way his friend was treating John. Instead, he found her looking back at him. He couldn't read the expression on her face, but he was glad she didn't seem upset.
A few minutes later, she stood and silently exited the room. She didn't say a single word.
Rodney and John were quite absorbed in their animated conversation, so Carson was able to follow his mother from the room without any undue attention.
Mrs. Beckett stopped in the kitchen and sat on one of the chairs by the table.
"Mum..."
"I'm sorry, Carson."
"Sorry? You don't need to-"
"I do, Carson... I'm sorry I didn't try harder t' understand you. I'm so sorry I've tried t' put you in a mold that wasne' right for you."
"Mum, I..." He knew he should say it was okay, but it wasn't. He didn't want to see his mother like this, he just wanted his happiness back.
"I've wanted to talk t'you about something. I've been thinking of selling th' house."
"It's fine by me, Mum." And it really was. "Rodney and I will help you move. Where do y' want to go?"
"To Betty's."
"Okay then. When? When do you want t'do this?" Carson and his mother sat there at the table together, making their plans, while Rodney stayed in the lounge room making sure John was fully aware of the limits of his intelligence.