Disclaimer: I still haven't found those papers.
Oh come on guys…Supernatural own I not. Characters Supernatural in not I own. Not Supernatural Characters in own do I. Get it? Got it? Okee doke.
Warnings: Don't think there are any.
AN: I'm still looking for a beta/editor/really much-needed and wanted help. Any takers? Please? Tankie much!
For all those waiting for this, I'm so sorry for the wait. Only the third chapter, and I'm already bogged down with writer's block. That's not very comforting.
And I thought I had it all planned out. Sigh Oh well…hopefully my muse will not abandon me.
Chapter Three – Forgotten Blood, Forbidden Blood
The child was strange, the old man thought as he watched her walk down the street. Always had been.
Even for the things he had seen in his sixty-three years of life, the child was strange. It wasn't just those witch-smoke eyes or that soft, quiet voice. It wasn't just that those eyes seemed to make a person either dream their greatest and fear their worst, or that that voice could calm just as easily as it could torment. It was just her.
It wasn't something you could miss. She was nice enough, sure. Polite and friendly. Ready to lend a hand when one was needed. But there was a darkness in her. Something that wasn't quite evil, but wasn't quite good either. Something that she didn't let out all that often.
That face was just as quick to smile as it was to snarl.
She was pretty enough to have a man. But she turned down all offers. Yet he wouldn't doubt the stories told by the ones she had allegedly bedded. With, what was it that youngsters said these days, no strings attached?
But, still. She was very nearly his daughter. God knows, she and his youngest had been two peas in a pod once upon a time. And as such, as the sister of his daughter's heart, it was an old man's god-given right and duty to, what was that other thing? Blast those teenagers; it seemed they made up a language all on their own. Be all up in her face?
He couldn't help the small grin as he imagined what his own son and daughter—both grown, and both living their lives—would've done. They would've looked at him, all shocked and indignant. His lovely Amy would probably say something along the lines of 'Dad, I love you. I do, you're my father. But never, ever do that again!'
Then she'd kiss his cheek with that little impish grin and be gone.
Brandon would roll his eyes and groan, looking around furtively to see if anyone had caught his father's faux pas.
He pulled himself out of his past to focus on the young woman just feet from him.
"Well, well. Look who's out and about and looking pretty as a sunbeam."
He grinned at her laugh. "Good morning, Al."
"I have missed you so, pretty Alexi," Al theatrically inclined as he stood and opened his arms with a flourish. "That delightful smirk; that dry, cutting wit; that long-suffering eyeroll you always grace me with. The exasperated sighs and the resigned head shakes."
Alexa tried to suppress the grin tugging at her lips as she stepped into the waiting embrace. "You wily, old man. Such a way with words. You sure know how to charm a woman. How has Meredith held onto you for so long?"
He laughed. "She's been waiting for the perfect woman to come along and send me to my crotchety, arthritic knees."
"Well, then. Work up those divorce papers. Treat me like the queen I so deserve to be, Mr. Beckworth."
"Albert Edgar Beckworth!"
He and Alexa shared a wince and heavy sigh. "Yes, dear?"
"What are you doing to that poor girl, Albert!"
"Meredith—"
"Don't you Meredith me, old man! Bring her in now! Don't make me come out there and beat you with my spoon."
"I'm just having my fun with her!"
"Albert!"
"Yes, dear."
"You're so whipped." Alexa observed, a brow lifted and a smirk shining.
"Alexandra, don't make me wash that mouth out! Get your pretty little tush in here. And wipe that grin of your face."
Alexa couldn't help the flush. "Yes, Meredith. Sorry, Meredith."
Albert and Alexa once again traded glances, made unique, comical facial expressions that said 'we're in for it now' and went in to face the Mama Bear.
Meredith Annabelle Graham Beckworth was a tiny woman. She barely topped five feet; her husband towered over her by more than fourteen inches. Her curly russet brown hair was streaked liberally with grey, but her face was youthful and very nearly free of wrinkles despite the fact she was pushing sixty. It was a pixie's face, with quiet blue eyes like a spring lake, pouty lips that could either curl up in a smile or thin in a frown.
It was a face that caused many to call Meredith sweet and soft-hearted, but the hands and lasers that could shoot out of those cornflower eyes spoke of the very, very tough woman who survived hell.
It was those hands that grasped Alexa's face, and it was those eyes that stared into Alexa's for so long that Alexa fidgeted.
Out of nowhere, a huge smile broke out over Meredith's face. "There we go." She stroked Alexa's cheeks softly, "How are you, my dear?"
Alexa narrowed her eyes, "Why do I have the feeling you know what kind of underwear I'm wearing?"
"Oh sweetie, don't be ridiculous." When a fine eyebrow arched, that angel's smile became a little more…devilish. "Oh fine. Darling, why do you need black lacey Victoria's Secret—"
The color fled out of Alexa's cheeks as she glanced furtively at Al's grinning face then the red exploded back on again. "Uh uh…let's not continue that, please?" Then she paused, "And it's plum."
Meredith let out something Alexa would've called a snort. "I'm colorblind."
Al made a choking sound in his throat.
Meredith sent him a deadly look, "Are you alright, dear?"
"Oh, I'm fine, my love." He coughed once and cleared his throat before looking up at the ceiling and whistling innocently.
"If you say so, dear." Then she turned back to Alexa, "Well, Alexandra, what have you been up to lately? Meet any nice young men?"
Alexa wrinkled her nose, "Ugh, I don't think I want another man in my life. Same old, same old." She eyed the cough just behind Meredith. Should she? Would she make to Chris in time?
Meredith started waving her hands, "Of course you'll make it to Christopher in time. Sit down, sit down. You're not leaving us so soon." She dragged Alexa over and sat them both down on the plush cushions. "We missed you too much."
Alexa snickered, "Meredith, you spent three weeks in Hawaii! I highly doubt you missed me between the sun, the shine, the mai tais, and the beaches."
Meredith winked, "And it was quite enjoyable, just let me say."
The younger woman looked like she was musing over it, "I think I will." She shrugged self-deprecatingly, "But only because I have no exciting life. The one I do have…I have to live vicariously."
"That's not what Julie Ross's boy says." Al groaned as he lowered himself unto the couch.
"Julie Ross's boy better watch what comes out of his mouth." Meredith decided, "Else somebody might take it upon themselves to do it for him. I remember that boy when he was younger. He used to be such a sweetheart."
Alexa couldn't help herself, that derisive huff just escaped.
"Now, now, Alexandra. Let's not be like that, huh? Hopefully, a nice girl will come along and show him the error of his ways." Meredith looked at her pointedly.
She smiled sweetly, "That girl, Meredith, will not be me."
"And here I thought you liked a challenge, Alexandra."
She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, "Low blow, Al, low blow." Then she patted Meredith's knee, "Now, I really gotta go. I need to go get Chris, then we'll start over for Kyleigh's practice. Hopefully we can make the last hour or so." She leaned to kiss the older woman's cheek, then hugged Al. "I'll be by later okay?" She stood up and prepared to leave before Meredith grabbed her hand.
"Be sure of it, we brought some stuff back. And don't tell me you're walking?"
Alexa's eyes lit up with delight, "Really? What is it?"
Meredith laughed and patted her butt. "Your incentive to come back. Now, be on with you. And bring those little angels over."
She smiled affectionately, "I don't need the promise of presents to bring me back here, Mere. Your cookies and tantalizing company do it just as well. And 'those little angels'. Are we talking about the same people here? And what about me?"
"On with you, lovely!" Meredith smacked again.
"Ow! Al, I'm being abused! You're just gonna sit there!"
Al winked, "I have a very healthy sense of self-preservation."
Alexa rolled her eyes, "My God, chivalry really is dead." When Meredith made a sweeping motion with her hand again, Alexa let out a mock squeak. "I'm leaving! Bye!"
And blowing a kiss over a shoulder followed up by a saucy wink, she left.
Meredith looked at Al, Al raised an eyebrow at her. "That girl." Was what they said in unison.
To be continued….