Varian Wry hadn't seen one Hector del Bosque in thirteen years, yet, somehow Varian wasn't surprised when he came home to see Hector sitting at his kitchen table, sipping tea. Hector had seemingly decided to forego the aging process, as he looked exactly the same as he did when Varian was twelve; scrawny with thick dark hair and crazed yellow-green eyes.
If Varian hadn't of known who Vector was, he would have been frightened by his sudden appearance in his kitchen. But Varian did know Hector. And while Varian knew Hector was formidable in battle, Varian has also seen Hector cry over a bunny because it was too cute.
"You're lucky Juliet didn't get here first," Varian said, not bothering with a greeting. He also didn't bother to mention who Juliet was, despite the two never meeting. Hector has his ways of knowing things.
Hector took a sip of his tea and shifted in his wooden chair.
"I am still miffed I did not receive a wedding invitation," Hector said conversely, as if they were in the middle of their last conversation and thirteen years had not passed. "After all I have done for you."
Varian ignored that the amount of things Hector had done for him amounted to zero and took a seat across from him.
"It's hard to send an invitation to 'My Kinda-Sorta-Uncle That Lives With Two Bearcats and A Rhino In A Haunted Tree'. Not sure how to address it."
Hector narrowed his eyes. "Quirin would have found a way."
"Well, I'm Varian, and it was my wedding, so I could invite whoever I damn well please."
Hector snickered but did not smile because he did not smile.
"Where's your lovely bride anyway?" Hector asked. "I can't wait to meet the girl who managed to make you look up for five seconds."
Varian sighed. "She said something about helping a cow give birth this morning before running out. That was about...say, five or six hours ago. She'll be back shortly." Varian leaned forward, scrunching his brow together. He wasn't sure if he should ask if Hector wanted something, because it was completely in character for Hector to show up randomly but also with a motive.
"Relax your worried face," Hector said. "You'll get wrinkles. End up looking like your aunt Adira." Varian just rubbed at his temple. This was going to be a long visit, he could tell. "I'm just stopping by. I was in the area, thought I'd stop and see you're new Mrs. Wry."
New? Him and Juliet were twenty-five, they've been married for three years. The marriage wasn't old, but it wasn't new either.
Hector flicked one of his own braids and stood, leaving his teacup behind on the table.
"Where's the Mini Ones of You?"
Varian felt a deep part of him groan.
"You mean children, Uncle Hector?" Varian said. "Me and Juliet don't have any yet."
Hector hummed thoughtfully and then turned back around to Varian.
"Is it true she's some kind of an animal whisperer?" Hector said. Varian nodded slowly. Juliet's abilities were no secret and Hector had been quite a spymaster back in the days before Varian lived. Hector would know even if they hid it.
"And before you ask, no, we don't know how she does it."
If this affected Hector, he didn't show it.
"Interesting," Hector said, "I can't wait to meet her." If Varian didn't know better, he would say Hector looked almost excited.
Varian heard the front door slam open and shut, and Varian quickly stood.
"Well, here's your chance."
"Varian?" she called out.
"In the kitchen!"
"Okay!" He heard her feet start to shuffle towards the kitchen as she kept yelling. "Sorry it took so long! Manny was grateful for all the help and tried to get me to take some meat from a pig he just killed, and I know you like ham, but taking meat after delivering a cow just seemed wrong. So I picked some apples, I thought we could make pie instead, since I know you like that."
Hector turned to Varian, raising a brow.
"Pie?" Hector asked. Varian sighed.
"She really likes pie," he said. Ever since she discovered it at eighteen, she had been crazy about it. And she was pretty good at making it, actually. Her apple pie, especially, was great. Varian was always excited when she said she was going to make one, and the news she planned to actually made the day seem a little brighter.
"Then you won't believe who I ran into!" Juliet said, pulling into the kitchen with a basket full of shiny green apples. "Cosette's grandbunnies! They're so cute, they look just like her—"
Juliet stopped suddenly, eyes finding Hector. Her eyes were wide, mouth open in surprise and confusion, feelings she didn't bother to hide. Not that he could blame her. Hector was quite a character.
The closest thing that Hector could make to a smile crossed his face.
"You must be Juliet, Varian's wife," Hector said. "I'm Hector, his uncle. I'm sure Varian must have told you about me."
Juliet twirled to face Varian head on.
"Uncle?" Juliet said. "But I thought you said your dad was an only child."
Varian bit his lip. "Long story."
Hector's brow raised subtly and he crossed his arms.
"You didn't tell her about me?" Hector asked. "Some kind of nephew you are."
Varian could feel a headache building, and he wished he didn't keep the medicine in the basement lab. Then he could take some and not be tempted to disappear and leave Juliet alone with Hector. It had only been five minutes, and he was already so tempted to do so.
"It just never came up," Varian said. "We've got lives of our own."
"Apparently so," Hector said thoughtfully. He picked up there salt-shaker, like he was inspecting it and then put it back down with a simple nod. Varian didn't ask.
"Adira sends a message," Hector said. Varian gave a small smile. He rather liked Adira, at least she acted more reasonable than the man before him. "She says to please give Quirin grandkids so he'll stop talking about wanting them in his letters."
Varian felt his insides die and his cheeks burn red. Of course that would be what Adira sends to say. He took back what he thought about liking her. Juliet just smiled and put down her basket on the counter.
"Tell Adira is that it's not for a lack of trying Quirin doesn't have them yet." If Varian could die twice, he did it, because Juliet really just said that. Of all things.
"Jules!"
"What?" Juliet asked. "We're trying to have a baby. There's nothing shameful about it. In the animal kingdom, it's pretty much a known and accepted truth amongst mates that the two are trying for mates."
Hector nodded. "She's right."
Juliet smiled brightly. "I like him."
And then Varian died a third time.
Because of course Juliet liked Hector. Of course she did.
"Hector do you like pie?" Juliet asked. Hector shook his head.
"No. It's disgusting," Hector said. Juliet's smile didn't waver.
"Too bad," Juliet said. "Because if you stay for dinner, I'm making pie for dessert so eat it or weep."
Hector smiled — not smirked or snickered — he smiled.
"I like her."
"Out of Hector and Adira, you had to like Hector?" Varian asked, cutting carrots at the kitchen table. Juliet smiled sweetly at him from where she was mixing the stew in a pot.
"'Rian, last time I saw Adira was when we were fifteen, and she threatened me with a sword," Juliet said.
"Yeah, she does that," Varian said. Threats were how Adira showed affection Varian sometimes thought.
"Naturally I'm going to like the one who doesn't do that more."
Varian finished with the carrots and brought them over to Juliet.
"But he's just so...weird," Varian said. Juliet chuckled softly and threw the carrots in the soup.
"Honey, isn't that pot calling the kettle black?" Juliet said. Varian titled his head in confusion.
"Since when have you started using common phrases?" Varian asked. Juliet rolled her eyes and kept stirring.
"Since I realized the potential it has for sarcasm," Juliet said. She motioned towards the table, where an onion sat, ready to be peeled for the soup. "Now, can you please peel the onion? It's the last thing we need for the soup."
"Why are we making soup anyway?" Varian asked. "Neither of us particularly like it."
"Because we have guests," Juliet said. "We have to make sure they're well-fed." Oh, right. In addition to Hector, Juliet had suggested inviting Quirin over for some kind of makeshift family reunion. Which meant soup, because it was the only thing besides pie and sandwiches that either knew how to make worth anything.
"Besides, I've been craving some carrot soup," Juliet said. Varian picked up the onion but turned back to her.
"You hate carrot soup," Varian said. "We only make it for guests. Why would you be craving that?" Juliet seemed surprised too at the revelation but then but her lip nervously. She twirled the spoon around and didn't answer. Varian decided to let her suspicious behavior go.
"Where's Ruddiger?" Varian asked instead. Juliet shrugged.
"Disappeared into the forest after we picked apples," Juliet said. "Said something about telling the others the apples were in season."
Onion now peeled, he brought it too her.
"Ruddiger?" Varian said. "Focus on apples, who would have guessed?"
Juliet clicked her tongue in annoyance and took the onion from him.
"I hope your uncle doesn't mind vegetarian food, love," Juliet said. Varian smiled and hugged her shoulders from behind.
"No, he too has embraced your joyless way of life," Varian said. Juliet turned back to give him an seething look and Varian chuckled, kissing her cheek once. "I'm kidding Jules, you know I don't care about you being a vegetarian. But Hector is one too, for real. He won't care."
Juliet hummed to herself and hugged one arm around her stomach. Juliet seemed like she was going to say something else when Hector appeared in the doorway of the kitchen again, Dad by his side.
Dad smiled at them, wearily but kind all the same. Time hadn't been the kindest to Dad — his hair was more gray than brown, and his wrinkles were beginning to be too numerous to ignore. And next to the seemingly ageless Hector, it was easier to see. Yet, somehow, it hadn't diminished the respect he could receive just by his arrival. Dad carried himself strong and sturdy, just like always, like a grand, old lion. Time hadn't been kind, but Dad seemed ready to fight it's unjust affects.
"Hello son, Juliet," Dad said. Varian grinned and let go of his wife, walking to greet them.
"I see you've caught up with Uncle Hector," Varian said. Hector beamed wickedly and walked over to the chair he had occupied earlier.
"Yes, Hector, you can take a seat," Juliet said, crossing her arms. Hector seemed one step removed form surprised, and raised a brow. "Varian, can you please help Hector set the table while I finish the soup?"
Varian helped pull Hector from his chair and led him to where they kept bowls. Hector seemed more than a little confused.
"Why doesn't Quirin have to help?" Hector asked like a five year old.
"Because he's my father," Varian said simply.
"And he didn't just take a seat, Mister Rude," Juliet said. Dad laughed and moved deeper into the kitchen.
"I can help set the table, it's not a problem," Dad said. Varian dug through a cabinet for spoons as Hector set out the bowls with a scowl.
"Quirin," Juliet said, "you're fine. Just take a seat. Consider it a reward for not barging into our house when we're not here."
"Oh, Varian told you about that," Hector said dully. Varian put down the spoons and turned to Hector with a raised brow.
"Did you think I wouldn't tell her?" Varian asked.
"If you were a good nephew, no, you wouldn't have told her."
Uh, hello? It's been awhile, hasn't it? I love Juliet, and I wanted to revisit her again. What do y'all think of her meeting Hector?
And I was thinking of maybe rewriting some episodes with her in them? Would that be something you're interested in?
Questions, comments, or concerns? Let me know! Have a blessed day!