Hi,

As I promised, I'm here again with the next story. (The translation of "A megbocsátás képessége".)

I think I couldn't find a right category. It's just a bridge story, which tell you, how the men in the treehouse handle the situation after they find out Charlotte's true identity.

Disclaimer: I don't own the original TLW characters, but the new ones are the product of my imagination.

Thank you Kssarah for your help!J

Hope you'll like it. :)

To cairo1: Hope you didn't brought that dictionary. J)))

The Ability To Forgive

The Beginning

"Marguerite! Marguerite!"
Nothing.
"Marguerite!"
Some noise.
"What is it again Veronica? What time is it?"
"I don´t know, around four I guess."
"Um, Good, I will get up and get dressed, and ... what?" The heiress eyes practically dropped out. "Four o´clock in the morning, and you wake me up? Are you crazy?"
"Calm down!" Veronica put her hand against Marguerite´s mouth. "You will wake up the whole house!"
"I will wake up the whole jungle if I can´t sleep." Marguerite hissed. "Why did you wake me up?"
"I´ve got an idea."
"Congratulations."
"Don´t be so sarcastic!"
"I´m sorry, I can´t behave myself at dawn. So, what about that idea?"
"I figured out how we can reconcile our housemates.
Marguerite lifted her head and waited for Veronica to continue. This had been their biggest problem since their last adventure. The men in the house couldn´t forgive Charlotte´s lie. No, they didn´t go out of their way to hurt her, never said a bad word, but the tension could be felt every time she appeared. They simply didn´t talk to her (unless it was necessary) and they wouldn't take her on trips with them. Charlotte had not stepped out of the house for weeks. She kept the tree house clean and orderly. The library, Veronica´s drawings, and even the kitchen! Marguerite was scared that Charlotte would know her jewels hiding places better than herself. She and Veronica plotted to bring peace into the house for weeks, but were so far unsuccessful. They couldn´t brake the ice.
"Come on and get dressed, and I will tell you on the way..."
"But... Where are we going?"
"To the Zanga's. I left a message for the others. Hurry, the sun is nearly up now!"
A few minutes later the elevator came down and the two women were on their way to the village.

Lord Roxton slept well again. He had had beautiful dreams. I´m sure it´s not necessary to say about whom... the point is that he awoke in a cheerful mood and whistling a joyful melody, he went to have some breakfast. But the scene was a little bit different. Richard and Challenger examined one of the cupboards with a thoughtful expression on their faces. He stepped behind them and stared in the same direction, but after some time he asked:
"What are you doing?"
"Thinking." Said Richard.
"Hm. And about what?"
"We don´t know what to eat," answered Challenger.
"Veronica didn´t make breakfast?"
"No, she didn´t"
"How can that be? Is she still sleeping?"
"No."
"And Malone?
"He is still sleeping. That´s why we didn´t open the letter."
"What letter?" Asked the reporter.
"This letter." Richard waved an envelope into the air.
"Let´s see it!" Roxton grabbed it from his hand " To Professor, John, Ned and Richard. Can you feel the order? Open it together!"
The four man exchanged glances.
" Open it!" Ordered Richard.
Roxton tore up the envelope and started to read the letter aloud.

Our Dear Friends,

Since all of our efforts to make you accept Charlotte as a human being in the treehouse failed, we have made up our mind to take a dramatic step. We have gone to the Zanga village, and will stay there for a week. Everyday at noon we will signal you to know everything is all right. We left Charlotte another letter in which we wrote down her chores. Your task is to help her. If you won´t you will have to face our wrath. We hope, that when we return, we´ll find everything in perfect order, and harmony. You can take advantage of this one week long opportunity to become friends with Charlotte.

Good Luck!

Marguerite and Veronica

p.s.: Charlotte doesn't know anything about the reason we left. Please don´t tell her.

"That was under the belt" Noted Roxton.
"Agree." Added Ned.
"Without a doubt" Said Challenger. "But I have to agree with the ladies. We haven't handled the situation well."
"WE have to play nursemaid?" Richard nearly shouted.
"According to this letter..." Thought Ned aloud. "It´s only one week... We can survive... Can´t we?"
Although none of them said it, they all knew that the ladies were right. But they were disappointed in Charlie, and they simply couldn´t trust her. This couldn´t and wouldn´t change. The manly pride...

"Good morning!" In this moment Charlotte appeared on the steps.
Everyone just stared at her without a word.
"Is everything all right?" She asked. "Marguerite and Veronica?"
"Well" Started Challenger. "They´ve gone. But there´s a letter for you. Just read it while Ned makes some breakfast."
"Me?"
"Since you are the only one who can make something digestible..."
"You know that's not true, Roxtan and Redgrave also can..."
"Maybe I can help you" offered Charlotte " I can do omlettes, if it´s acceptable."
"No, thanks, I will do it myself" said the journalist.
Everyone started to do something. Anything but being near the girl. Charlotte sat down, opened the letter and started to read it.

Dear Charlotte!

We have some business in the Zanga village. We got an early start, and didn´t want to wake you. Hopefully, you will forgive us for not bringing you with us. Please take care of the house and the men until we are away. Next to this letter you´ll find a list of chores.
See you soon

Marguerite and Veronica

"It can´t be true!" She said to herself, as she examined the 2 page long list. After she read it she stood up and went to the kitchen. Ned was searching for salt and he was becoming irritated. He asked Roxton, than Richard but by this time the professor was there too to help them. Charlotte just took a teacup with her freehand and a plate, poured some tea ( still reading) and after she dropped in some sugar, she took the salt from the shelf and gave it to Ned. After that without a world she left the kitchen and sat down.
The men just stared after her for a minute, than they joned her at the table.
"I can´t believe it..." She murmured again.
"Is it so bad?" Asked Roxton at last.
"No, it´s even worst..." She answered immediately, than she recognized the others next to her, and corrected herself. "I mean... I´m sorry, I didn´t pay attention. What was the question?"
"I just inquired after the contents of the letter. It seems to me quite long"
"Well, the letter itself was short, but the list they made..." And she showed the papers to him.
"List?" Asked Ned.
"Marguerite and Veronica asked me to do some of their chores until they returned. Did you know they went to the Zanga'ss for a week?"
"Yes, they informed us," Grunted Richard.
"But what is your problem?" Asked Ned
"I´m a little bit nervous about these tasks... Well, I was never good at housekeeping."
"Why am I not surprised?" Said Richard again
"Surely because of your blessed calm nature." She answered calmly. She had listened to Redgrave´s ugly remarks for a long time and she felt she did not have to bear it any longer. Sometimes she asked herself how she could ever find him good, caring and charming. He had no sense, no mood and nothing she could value in a man.
"Sewing won´t be a problem. I like it." She continued. "There´s laundry, cooking..." She looked up from the paper. "...Have you ever thought about a healthy diet?" But she regretted this last sentence after the faces the men made. "It was only a joke. Than cleaning, watering the plants... oh-ohh..."
"You can sew but watering is oh-ohh," said Challenger. "But I have noticed that you are very interested in nature ."
"It´s true but with plants I´m unlucky."
"Well, You won´t be bored." and with that Roxton.
"Where are you going?"
"I am going to help Richard and Challenger at the water mill, but Ned will stay here, to give you company."
"Roxton, it´s..." Stood up Malone. "Doesn´t Challenger have to work on the model?"
"I´ve finished it yesterday." The professor stood up. "Hurry! The sooner we start..."
"But.." Ned tried again.
"We´ll be back for dinner!"
And with that Roxton jumped in the elevator with the others and soon they disappeared from sight.

"Veronica! This idea was fantastic!" Laughed Marguerite as she walked.
"Or horrible."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe when we get back, there´ll be blood everywhere."
"I don´t think so. Charlotte is too shy and the boys are afraid of us. They will be forced to pay attention to her, and I can tell they will like her..."
"Yes, Charlotte is a fine girl, but ..."
"Shes living in a dreamworld?"
"Well, yes"

Please review:))))))))))