No pairing (But mentions of Grandma-Mom/Aiden memory)
Thank you to Jazmine F. for the Emily/Chris characters and background story. Great job, as always!
High School
Late May, 2011
Hayley finished her lunch while walking with Jackson to the coach's office. He held the cheese the whole time and realized that this had to be love. He would not do this for an another girl or anyone. He smiled to himself.
"What are you grinning about?" Hayley asked, as she disposed of the garbage as they entered the building.
"Nothing. Just thinkin' about how much I love you," Jackson said, with a small blush creeping up his neck. "And glad you are actually eating today."
Hayley reached up and touched his face with her right hand.
"You are everything to me, too, Jack. I-I, I mean, I honestly don't know where I'd be without you. It's funny that we were promised to each other so long ago and here we are," Hayley noted.
"Yeah, our parents musta been smart people," Jack said, going in for a kiss. As their lips meet, Coach Cormier came out into the hallway.
"There you lovebirds are! Come on, some of us do need to work around here," Coach quipped. "Well, that is, until we officially retire."
Hayley turned and greeted the large red-haired woman with a genuine smile. Her face was plain, but underneath her glasses, her eyes were kind.
"Thanks, Coach. We also have a little bit of a favor to ask," Hayley started. "Can we use your computer?"
The Loft, Algiers
Home of Josh, Aiden, and Sara
Aiden's mind was glazed over as the t.v. blared with yet another musical program for children. He had already changed Sara's clothes once when she got paint on them and cried. And another time when she spilled her juice all over both of them on the coach. Then, she yelled at him for putting the wrong lid on her cup. He felt like an abject failure. Aiden looked at the clock, it was his lunch at school. High school was a breeze compared to fatherhood, he decided.
"Daddy?" Sara asked, breaking into his thoughts, "Wolfie wants to know why you are sad." She took her stuffed wolf and thrust it in his face.
Aiden smiled, "I'm sorry, Sara. I'm not sad, what makes you think that?"
"Your eyes are sad. My mommy's eyes got like that and then she would get sick and fall asleep. I couldn't wake her up," Sara reported.
Aiden sighed and put Sara on his lap.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, honey. Your mommy was sick a lot, huh?" Aiden asked, feeling like a jerk for his self-pity a moment earlier.
"Yeah, but she used to let me eat candy. I would take it from stores and put it in my coat pockets," Sara said innocently. "I was weally careful no one saw me and got the powece."
"The police?" Aiden clarified. Sara nodded energetically.
Aiden made a note to watch his little girl a bit closer in the grocery store. She had picked up a lot of questionable habits from her birth mom. Father Sean thought the woman had been on heroin. They were looking out to see if she returned to the makeshift shelter, but so far, there was no word.
Aiden frowned, but tried to hide it. "Oh my, candy isn't always good for you. It can make you sick, if you eat too much."
"Oh, is that why you and Papa don't let me eat it? I thought you was just being meanies," Sara reported. "Wolfie also likes candies. A wot."
Aiden hugged her to him. "No, baby, that's not why we do anything. Our job is to keep you safe and healthy. Now, how about we get out of here and go to the park?"
"Yesh!" Sarah roared, knocking her cup on the floor. "Wolfie hash to wun."
Aiden grinned as he picked up the cup. "Look! The lid stayed on."
"Good job, Daddy!" Sara exclaimed.
Aiden did feel inexplicitly proud of himself. Maybe he could do this dad thing and do it well?
Then, Sara wet her pants on their way out the door. Still bolstered by his earlier success, he fibbed and told it that it happens to everyone.
"Weally? You still have accidents?" Sara asked as they travelled to the bathroom.
"Sure. Everyone does," Aiden assured her. "I just had one yesterday..."
This made Sara laugh hysterically. She started chanting, "Daddy pees himself! Daddy pees himself..."
Soon, to his surprise, he found himself laughing with her. Her laughter brightened his mood, like nothing else.
Coach Cormier's Office
High School
"Look up Emily and Christopher and maybe fire?" Hayley suggested.
Jackson grumbled, "Why am I doing this? I can hardly type..."
"Oh, stop complaining. I am writing up a list of things we need to get to the contractors for the building. Look, there, click on that!" Hayley directed, as she peered at the computer screen over Jackson's broad shoulder.
Jackson read slowly, "It says on April 29th, there was a house fire in an Algiers neighborhood...They suspect arson. 'Deceased were Christopher Gabriel Gilmore, Jr. and a Edyth Margaret Carmichael-Gilmore.'"
Hayley was stunned, she squeezed Jackson's shoulder in alarm. He gasped and she absentmindedly apologized.
Hayley continued reading the article aloud, "'The main suspect in the fire is a Christopher Gabriel Gilmore Sr.!' Oh my God, Jack, could that be Emily and Chris' grandfather? What the hell?"
Coach came in from the locker room. "You two almost finished? The bell is going to ring. You can print to that printer over there."
"Thanks, Coach," Hayley said, clicking print.
"And watch your language. I still have my paddle handy, young lady," Coach warned, looking serious.
Jackson smirked and Hayley's face flamed up in embarrassment.
She mumbled, "Sorry."
Jackson cleared the screen and got up. "Thanks, Coach. We'll get out of your hair. This was a big help."
Hayley then discussed a few matters about the school and told her that everything was ahead of schedule. In a matter of weeks, the dorm rooms would be ready, as long as Josh could expedite the permits with his vampire clout.
The rest of the school day passed without much excitement except for Ollie's insistence that he got a date with Jean Ann for the weekend. Jackson said he'd believe it when he saw it.
By the time the three teens got home, they were tired and hot from the long bus ride. But Hayley pulled out the news article print out and reminded Jackson that they had to confront the siblings.
"If there grandfather did this, they could be in trouble?" Hayley whispered. Ollie was flirting with a junior girl in the seat across from them.
"You think?" Jackson joked. He put his arm around Hayley and caressed her breast. She looked around them in alarm.
Hayley smacked his arm lightly. "You are getting mighty sassy and smart-mouthed, mister. What's gotten into you?"
Jackson inclined his head. "Sorry, babe. I would say too much Ollie but that's a copout."
"Well, watch it. I do reserve my right to take you down a peg or two if you need it. Remember that," Hayley warned sternly.
Jackson guffawed out a muffled laugh. Hayley looked around and then threatened, "I mean it. Behave yourself or I will ask Coach to borrow her wolfsbane paddle on your adorable, but misbehaving backside. Don't test me."
Jackson wanted to grab her butt, but he knew by the look in her eye that now was not the time to play.
"I'm not," Jackson said, removing his offending hands to his lap. "You don't have to threaten me to be good."
Hayley glanced down at his lap, "Oh I think I do...Behave yourself!"
Mary's House
Louisiana Bayou
Evening
After a supper of jambalaya, Ollie belched and said, "I thought we was having red beans tonight, Gram. But this was better."
Mary always served red beans on laundry days but with the kids with her all day and after Eve's visit, she hadn't got to it.
Mary smiled, "Well, we was busy today. The kids helped me go through some old junk and Eve called."
"Junk? Chris, I see you found more toys. I remember that truck," Jackson said. Christopher had set up a small matchbox truck on the table along side his plate. He glanced at it over and over again, almost as if to make sure it was still there. He grabbed it and clutched it in his small hand.
Emily looked at her brother and said, "He a-ain't g-gonna take it. Y-You can l-let him l-look."
Christopher cast a mournful look at Jackson and handed him the truck. Jackson took it and looked at it.
"Gramps bought that for me at the old gas station," Jackson recalled. "He had me helping him in the garden all day to earn that thing. But it's yours now, Christopher, I ain't gonna take it."
Mary got up to clear the table, "I think I remember that. You were like his shadow when you were Christopher's age."
Emily got up to help Mary, and remarked, "H-He s-ssounds n-n-n-nice."
Hayley looked at Jackson, "Um, Emily, y'all go take Chris and play. Ollie and I will help clean up. Right, Ollie?"
Ollie was still eating. "I ain't even finished. Golly...But yes, ma'am, we'll do the washing up. Git y'all. Go play before Hayley starts bossing ya."
Hayley and Mary were used to Ollie's antics and ignored him, but Emily nodded solemnly and followed Jackson and Christopher out to the porch. He saw the box of old junk from his childhood and smiled as Christopher dug through it.
"So, ah, did y'all have a granddad?" Jackson finally blurted out. Why Hayley tasked him with this was beyond him. He was more of an action guy that a slick interrogator. But if the kids were in danger, they needed to know about it?
Chris looked at Emily in terror.
She smiled wryly, "Y-You k-know?"
Jackson exhaled and took the folded up article from his pocket.
"We found this today. Are y'all in trouble?" Jackson asked bluntly.
Emily cleared her throat, "Christopher, t-take your n-n-n-new toys inside, p-please."
Christopher didn't budge until Jackson helped him gather up a few things and whispered that he would get him some more stuff this weekend.
Chris rewarded him with a rare smile and trotted through the open door.
"He's a cute kid," Jackson said to Emily.
"T-Thanks. Y-Yes, w-we are in t-t-trouble," Emily began. She almost couldn't get out the word trouble, but Jackson waited patiently.
"Just take your time, I ain't gonna bite," Jackson said gently, he smiled at his own joke.
After a moment, Emily swept her blond hair back out of her face. Jackson couldn't help but notice how pretty she was, but the desperate look in her eyes, made her look older than 14.
"I k-know what y'all a-are," Emily said without a hint of accusation. "W-We w-weren't around for the f-full moon, but f-folks t-talk. You are werewolves."
Jackson glanced at the screen door and took a breath. He had to be honest, if he was expecting her to do the same.
"Yes, ma'am. We are Crescent werewolves. Our pack has been through hell the last 20 years or so. But it makes us want to help others in need."
Emily nodded and continued, "Our m-mama was a mermaid, sea folk. She came here as a c-child and d-daddy felt in love with her. Grandfather found out and d-disowned him for marrying a f-freak. But M-Mama was v-very b-beautiful and k-kind...She n-never h-hurt n-no one."
"And he tried to kill them? Your grandfather?" Jackson pressed. He didn't even register surprise when she mentioned mermaids. He, too, had heard stories of sea folk.
"He came to our h-house to t-talk to d-daddy, but daddy told him to g-get l-lost. He was l-looking for something. We h-hid in the c-closet of the office. He had k-killed daddy with his h-hands," Emily stuttered. "C-Chris ain't n-never t-talked s-since. I c-covered his e-eyes. We c-climbed out the window. Mama yelled out for us to r-run but he kilt her n-next."
Jackson got up and sat beside her. "My folks, Hayley's folks, and Ollie's are all gone, too, from pack wars and violence. We know what it is like. Your ma sounds like a hero. She saved y'all, but what if your grandfather finds you?"
Emily looked out at the Bayou. "He'll kill u-us, too. He's a b-bad m-man."
Jackson put an arm around the younger girl. "Don't worry. We'll keep you safe. Did you go to the cops?"
"N-No, he's r-r-rich. Pays t-them o-off," Emily stammered. She shuddered to think about the evil man her father once called Papa.
Hayley cleared her throat at the doorway, "So this mermaid thing?"
Jackson rolled his eyes, "Sorry, Em. One thing about us wolves is we got real good hearing. She don't miss much."
Emily waved him off. "I haven't t-turned and d-don't know i-if I w-will because I'm a half-blood. S-Salt water helps and some plants can help control the turning. That's all I-I know. T-Thank y-you for t-taking us in."
"Of course. I knew you all had something. You smell a little of salt water to us," Hayley revealed. "And you are real beautiful and brave, too, Emily. You saved Chris and made it this far. When the school is ready, I hope you will join us. It might be safer for you there."
"Thanks," Emily added. "But w-we w-won't b-be s-safe until our g-grandfather is d-dead."
Ollie popped his head out before Hayley, "I can help with that. Crescents ain't afraid of no one. Woooohooooo!"
Mary swatted Ollie with a dishtowel across his backside. "Enough of that. You will wake the door. I thought you were drying?"
Ollie whined, "But Hayley didn't finish!"
"I was gettin' Chris his cookies," Hayley defended.
Hayley turned and went back into the kitchen.
Jackson got up and stepped a little ways off of the porch.
"You don't know what your grandfather was looking for?" Jackson prodded.
"N-No, but i-it must h-have been i-important. D-Daddy was his o-only son," Emily shared, looking at Jackson.
Jackson turned and said, "We are gonna need us a witch. They are right good at finding out secrets around here. Finding out the truth might be the only other way to keep ya safe besides hiding you."
"I a-ain't s-sure I w-want to k-know. I h-have n-nightmare something a-awful," Emily said slowly. "But for C-Chris' sake, I-I n-need to k-know."
"I'll call our buddy Aiden and his boyfriend Josh. They know a lot of people. I'm sure they can help with this. Don't worry, we can trust them with your story," Jackson assured Emily.
She nodded. She didn't have a choice.
The Loft, Algiers
Evening
Home of Josh, Aiden, and Sara
Josh came home late again.
"You look awful," Aiden said. He had just gotten Sara to bed after three bedtime stories, two drinks, one monster check, and a bathroom visit.
"Gee, thanks. I love you, too, honey," Josh snapped. Aiden's face fell.
Josh relented, "I'm sorry, Aiden. It was another awful day. I had to call Marcel. They found more bodies, charred. Even Father Sean doesn't know what the hell to make of it."
"It's okay. It wasn't a picnic around here either. I took Sara to the park and then she didn't want to leave. She told the other kids I pee'ed myself and Josh, I got bullied. Literally, by a group of kids and she ran off...," Aiden explained.
Josh got himself a blood bag from the fridge and sat down on the couch.
"That sucks. Um, kids can be so cruel?" Josh tried lightly. "How'd you get her home?"
Aiden looked down and then took the spot next to Josh on the couch. "You're not going to like it."
"What?"
"I bribed her with candy," Aiden admitted. "But, in my defense, I didn't let her steal it, like apparently, her mom used to encourage."
"Hey, no beating yourself up. I know you felt horrible when you swatted her at the hospital when she acted up there, but I would have done the same. We may need to be a little firmer with her," Josh said, he pulled Aiden into his arms and held him.
Aiden wiped away a tear.
"I thought we talked about only smacking her when she was in danger?" Aiden said.
Josh exhaled, "Yeah, we did, but she also needs to start listening. Hell, I deal with these baby vamps who don't listen until they understand that if they don't, there are consequences. It kinda sucks, but sometimes a few quick swats, seems to work for some, better. I mean, it did when Marcel had to set me straight a few times."
"Yeah, but Sara is almost still a baby. She's still learning," Aiden protested.
"She is and we will be by herself every step to teach her and love her. However, if you acted the way she did, wouldn't your parents have been a little more strict?" Josh asked gently, now rubbing Aiden's shoulders.
"Oh yeah, but I guess they laid down the law when we were little so they didn't have to when we were older. Like, I knew, not to push it too hard or I'd be staring at the carpet," Aiden laughed. "And I didn't want that."
"Right now, we'll letting her get away with way too much. We have to set some limits before she gets in real trouble," Josh said.
"Like I tried putting her in time out, but she wouldn't stay. I held her and...," Aiden turned away in shame.
"What, Aiden?" Josh asked, pulling him closer.
"She tried to bite me. Then, she tried to punch me in the balls!" Aiden said, finally laughing. "I'm not fucking kidding."
Josh broke down, and wheezed in laughter, "She did not learn that from us. Oh God, I just heard something..."
"Papa, you're home!" Sara yelped and ran to the couch.
"Sara, you're up. It's pretty late," Josh said as he got up and picked her up. "Did you have a good day with Daddy?"
Sara bit her lip and whispered, "Um, I was a wittle bad to Daddy. But Papa, I didn't want to weave the parkkkk."
Josh sat down, "I heard, baby girl. But you hurt Daddy and that wasn't nice. Plus, unless you are sick or really need something like the potty, you are supposed to go to bed. Didn't we talk about it?"
"Yeshhh, we did. But I wanted to see you!" Sara defended.
"I want to see you, too. I'm going to spend a whole lot of time with you tomorrow, but I think you and Daddy Josh need to talk. I need to go take a shower," Josh said, looking pointedly at Josh.
"Okay, night, Papa," Sara yawned. She was tired and her eyelids were drooping.
Aiden took the four-year-old and walked her back to her bedroom. They had decorated it in her favorite bright colors, hot pink and green. Now Aiden wondered if it was overstimulating to the small child.
"Daddy, sowee I hurted you," Sara sniffed. "I got mad when I wan away."
"I know. I get mad sometimes, too. But tomorrow, we are going to talk about this more when you are not so sleepy," Aiden said.
"I'm not tired!" Sara hollered.
Aiden nodded, but placed her carefully in her bed.
"Another story, please," Sara begged.
Aiden was about to protest when he thought of something that he remembered from their conversation earlier.
"Remember how you told me that you used to take candy from the stores before? Well, I did that once," Aiden recalled.
"Candy is good, huh? I like sour stuffs," Sara smiled.
"Yeah, I think I did, too. Only you are not allowed to steal candy without paying for it. I wanted some and I asked my nana, that's my grandma, and she said no. I waited until she wasn't looking and I stole some!" Aiden shared. "I though I was so smart. I waited until we got home and then I took it out and ate all of it."
"Was Grandma Mary weally mad?" Sara asked.
"Oh no, honey, this was my daddy's mama. She passed on, but she used to watch me while my parents worked. My brother wasn't born so I musta been about your age," Aiden clarified. "I must have had red gunk all over my face and hands. Grandma asked me if I ate candy and I lied."
"That was dumb," Sara giggled.
"Yeah, because the next thing I know, Grandma put me in the bathtub and made me take a bath. She scrubbed off the sticky stuff but I was so angry that I took a sponge and threw it at her," Aiden said in a hush.
"What happened?" Sarah asked in amazement that Daddy did that.
"I got my first spankin' from my grandma. Grandma yanked me up and paddled my bare bottom right there in the tub. I was fussing so much that I got her all wet. Then, I got put in bed until my mom came to pick me up," Aiden shared.
"Was your mom mad at your grandma?" Sara wondered.
Aiden was surprised that she would think that.
"Oh no, I was the one she was angry with. When we got home, I got a long talk and then she got her wooden spoon and gave me another spanking. The next day, we went back to the store and I had to tell the clerk what I did. I had to use money from my piggy bank to pay back the store, but I felt better," Aiden said with a wry smile. "I learned it is better to just tell the truth and listen to adults. I knew I wasn't allowed to have the candy, but I thought I could get away with it."
"Did you hate them?"
"No baby, my grandma and mom were trying to teach me that stealing was wrong. I loved them a whole bunch. I hardly ever got spanked, so when I did, I knew it for something serious," Aiden said.
"Oh," Sara said.
"Sara, Papa and I don't want to have to spank you, but if you don't start to listen, you will get a spanking," Aiden warned.
"Okay, I will listen better," Sara yawned. "And not steal anymore candies when we go to the store."
"What?" Aiden said.
"I shed that I won't steal no more when you take me the store," Sara repeated. "Love you, Daddy. I going to sleep now..."
Aiden was shocked, but managed to kiss her goodnight and tell her he loved her. He picked Wolfie up from the floor. As he grabbed the stuffed animal, he saw a collection of old candy wrappers and packaging. He grabbed them and realized that Sara was, indeed, telling the truth. He realized that unlike his childhood self, Sara hadn't realized it was wrong to steal until now. He couldn't fault her with doing what she knew. But he did wonder how she had managed to hide it from him.
Josh came in with a towel wrapped around his waist. Aiden held up the wrappers.
"Um, I don't even know what to say," Aiden said, tossing the garbage in the trash. He tucked Wolfie in Sara's arm.
Josh raised an eyebrow, "I'm not sure I want to know."
"Yeah, let's just, um, go to bed," Aiden whispered, turning out the bedside light, but leaving the night light on.
"Sounds good," Josh said. "I'm bushed. Also, I think you need a day off from fatherhood. I've got Sara tomorrow. You can relax."
With surprise, Aiden realized that he didn't want that.
"No way, I want to hang with you guys. I really do. We are a family," Aiden argued.
"Yeah, but even family needs a break from one another," Josh pointed out.
"Maybe, getting a babysitter once a week isn't a bad idea," Aiden thought out. "Could we swing that?"
"Yeah, of course, we need a date night. And Mary offered to babysit anytime," Josh said with a smile.
Aiden didn't answer, but just fell into the bed as soon as he got near it. He was asleep in minutes. Josh followed him into a deep sleep a moment later.