Winnifred began walking back and forth the aisle two hours before they arrived. She was nervously cracking her fingers, sharply bending them one after another. Aunt Martha crossly followed her with her eyes.
"Sit down, Winnifred, you're getting on everyone's nerves," she snapped after Winnifred accidentally tripped over someone's baggage. Quietly apologizing, she walked up to her seat, mercilessly watched by her aunt, and silently climbed over Margaret to sit next to the window. Her blue eyes anxiously darted from one point in the window to another, green trees and rolling hills reflecting in her eyes. Aunt Martha heavily sighed and returned to her book. Margaret was sleeping.
Winnifred clutched her hand on her seat, arm slightly shaking to the beat of the train. Anticipation clenched the inside of her throat in a strange fist. The insides of her stomach slightly trembled.
When there was only an hour left, Aunt Martha glanced above her book at her youngest niece. Winnifred closed her eyes, seemingly asleep. To a stranger, her face may be calm, but Aunt Martha knew, that the slight crook at the corner of her lips, as well as the barely visible crease above her brows gave away Winnifred's alertness. The train jolted, and Winnifred abruptly opened her eyes wide. She wasn't sleeping. Aunt Martha watched her niece's fingers travel across the metal rim at the bottom of the glass window, eyes wide open as if waiting for some sort of impulse. The train slowed down, the platform racing in front of the windows. Winnifred slowly stood up and pulled the window down. Her eyes tried to catch a familiar face in the blur of people that passed across her view. Brown work hats, waving hands, scarfs flying in the wind, blonde woman, a black poodle barking somewhere at the end of the platform, old faces, young faces...
"Damn it," Winnifred pushed harder on the window, trying to budge it down a bit more. The train now simply rocked back and forth. Winnifred glanced up again, desperately looking for the familiar face in the crowd, which now lunged at the train, ready to dissect it and escape with its insides. Johnathan hates crowds, he's wise enough to stand in the back of the crowd, waiting for me to see him...
And Winnifred saw him. He was standing next to a bench near the stairs leading down, a huge bouquet of flowers in his hands. Winnifred spasmodically jerked her hand up, then down, uncertain if he seen her or not, then up again. Even from the distance, she saw Johnathan smile and wave back. Winnifred's lips twitched in a grin, hesitating at first, then stretching across the entire face, painfully cutting at the edges. Winnifred felt anxiety let go in her throat, then abruptly pulse back. She hastily turned around, grabbing everything she saw into her bag. Aunt Martha chuckled and leaned forward, slightly shaking Margaret by the knee.
"Margie, wake up, lovey..."
Margaret mumbled something in return. Winnifred jerked the book out of her aunt's hand and shoved it inside. Zipping the bag up with an ear ripping sound, Winnifred looked around if she missed anything. The people around them began standing up with unforgivable speed. Winnifred pressed her lips in impatience, then turned back to the window. Johnathan already disappeared behind the crowd, jumping in front of the train. Aunt Martha glanced at her and shook Margaret again.
"Wake up, dear, or else your cousin may explode any minute..."
Margaret blinked, staring at her aunt in confusion.
"We arrived?" She finally asked.
"Yes, yes, we arrived, c'mon, let's go, we'll be late..." Winnifred quickly shooed Margaret off her seat, completely waking her cousin up, and pulled the suitcase down. Banging it down on the floor, slightly toppling back on a gentleman with a black coat, Winnifred brushed the hair out of her eyes and glanced at her aunt, still sitting.
"Johnathan's at the very end, so don't look for him in crowd. He has a lot of flowers. May I go now?"
Aunt Martha laughed, standing up and waking out into the aisle. She held a hand out to Margaret.
"Run off, my dear."
Which is exactly what Winnifred did, even though auntie and Margaret were not far behind her. Winnifred was stopped however, by a woman with blonde hair, and an old man with a cane in front of her, and a young student in a red, knitted sweater with "Maine" written on it. Winnifred bit below her lips and leaned over to see how long the line stretched. Not long, someone was just taking out the baggage and blocked the way. Winnifred thoughtfully dragged her teeth across her bottom lip and sighed. Margaret behind her took the suitcase out of her hand. Winnifred turned around with an inquiring look.
"So you wouldn't kill anyone while you run," her cousin explained, eyes twinkling. Winnifred smirked and turned back around. The line was not moving. Winnifred leaned over the seat, clenching the cushion on it with her fingers. The family was taking out a stroller. Winnifred held herself back from sighing and straightened out, hand resting on seat. The line jerked and started moving. Winnifred clutched her bag and quickly started after the woman in front of her. Grabbing the metal rails with slightly sweaty hands, Winnifred looked up at the clear blue sky, inhaling in the sweet summer air, the one that could only be here. The sound of her town was deafened by the crowd's welcoming, but it rang in every word. Winnifred quickly stepped down, the smile never coming off her face, and shoved through the crowd. Bags, elbows, hands, flowers appeared in front of her face, someone almost hit her with their outstretched hand, someone else stepped on her foot, but Winnifred didn't mind, confidently making her way, fingers numbing on the strap of her bag. She didn't see Johnathan, but she was sure he was here. Roughly pushing a person out of the way, she stumbled out of the crowd and ran, ran with all her might towards the smiling intern.
"Johnathan!" Winnifred clasped her hands around his neck, hugging him as much as she could. His flowers, showered in dew drops, were pressed against her chest, dampening her shirt.
"Oh, Johnathan!" She started kissing him, on the cheek, forehead, slightly above the nose, before hugging him again. Johnathan was laughing, flowers preventing to hug her back, patiently tolerating her burst of emotions.
"There, there, you'll ruin the flowers," he gently pushed her back, fixing the flowers in his hands. Winnifred happily looked at him. He hasn't changed at all; same eyeglasses, sleeves-rolled-up working shirt with a loosely knotted tie, and the face of a dedicated scientist. Johnathan, fixing the flowers one last time, handed her over a small bouquet of may lilies and dark purple violets.
"Welcome home," he said, smiling. Winnifred glanced at him in affection, stroking the fragile stems with the tip of her finger.
"Oh Johnathan, really..." She brought the flowers to her face and inhaled the magnificent scent. For a while, Winnifred just stood on the platform with closed eyes, a faint smile written on her lips.
"They're beautiful," Winnifred quietly said, opening her eyes. "Thank you."
Johnathan smiled. His eyes flickered above her head. Winnifred noticed a small wrinkle skate above his eyebrows and quickly turned around. Margaret, with Aunt Martha not far behind her, was approaching them, crookedly walking from the weight of the suitcase. Johnathan shot Winnifred a meaningful look.
"Making your cousin do everything?"
"She volunteered," Winnifred instantly rebuffed, not at all hurt by his comment. Johnathan smirked and took a step towards Margaret.
"Freddie's not letting you enjoy your life at its maximum, right Miss Margaret?" Margaret allowed herself to grin as Johnathan took the suitcase from her hand.
"Welcome back, miss."
"Thank you, Johnathan." Margaret sniffed the tender, rosy margaritas.
"They're lovely."
Aunt Martha accepted her portion of white lilies with a warm smile, tucking her ticket into her purse at the same time.
"Good to see you, young man. I'm sorry for all the worry we caused you with our arrival."
"It's alright, ma'am," Johnathan assured her, starting towards the staircase.
"I borrowed a local ambulance car, so you should be home shortly."
Winnifred held back a smirk and followed him. Low Hospital ambulances weren't very different from other rare cars that appeared at Gotham outskirts. A simple grey van with a faded red cross smeared on its indented side. Johnathan opened the trunk and lifted their suitcase in.
"There are seats inside," he proposed, turning to the women. "Enough for three."
"Well, I think it only makes sense if Winnie sits with you," Aunt Martha winked to Margaret, beaming at Winnifred's attempt to hide her pleased expression.
"Margie and I will make ourselves comfortable inside. C'mon."
Winnifred eagerly climbed into the front seat, slamming the door behind her. Johnathan climbed in also, quickly starting the engine. For the first part of the way, they traveled in silence, van bumping against the dusty ground. Winnifred looked at the familiar surroundings in awe, occasionally sniffing the flowers and glancing at Johnathan. He caught her glance and smirked.
"My best guess is that you're too astounded to speak, so you refrain to silence. Am I correct?"
Winnifred laughed, shaking her head.
"Absolutely. God, it feels like a thousand years passed, not some thirty days!"
Johnathan sighed at her words, turning to the left. The green trees flashed behind the windows, their vividness hurting Winnifred's eyes. She turned away.
"And it's already summer," she quietly commented. Then, Winnifred abruptly rolled the window down. The sound of a rushing current filled the passenger compartment. Winnifred thoughtfully drummed her finger on the button, listening to the river, before pressing the button.
"It's so different," Winnifred sighed, the window slowly rolling back up. The river abruptly fell silent.
"Time didn't wait for you, that's for sure," Johnathan a bit gruffly responded, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Winnifred answered him with a sad stare and turned away.
"How's it been here? Fine?"
"As a psychologist," Johnathan slowly said, watching her reaction,"I lean towards the diagnosis that my old client, already quite dull and shallow from the start, had entirely lost its soul and thus intrigue. But now I hope it will soon recover."
Winnifred chuckled, looking back at him. Johnathan winked to her, then transferred his attention back to the rode, the edges of his lips slowly lowering back to seriousness. Winnifred, with a faint smile on her lips, sorted the flowers on her lap.
"Where did you get these?" She asked, lifting a may lily up to her eyes. The sunlight played on the white petals.
"In the meadows, near the brook."
Winnifred nodded, admiring the violets in her outstretched hand.
"How is everyone?" Winnifred placed the flowers back onto her lap and gathered them in one bouquet.
"How were you and Heath this month?"
"Nothing special. I was working at the hospital," Winnifred noticed how Johnathan almost unnoticeable hesitates at that moment," while Heath was...I don't know actually. He looked pretty down all this time."
Winnifred nodded, thinking something to herself. They were quiet for a while.
"Did you miss me?" Winnifred suddenly asked, jokingly tilting her head. Her eyes mischievously glimmered.
"Not really, work you know," Johnathan calmly turned right.
"Johnny!" Winnifred laughed, teasingly slapping him on his knee with her flowers. Johnathan laughed as well, glancing at Winnifred from under his eyeglasses. Winnifred, still chuckling, turned away. She smiled all the way home.
They arrived at their small house shortly. Johnathan stopped the van and rested his wrists on the wheel.
"Alright, do you want to meet Heath today or do you need some time to come to your senses?" He inquired, expectantly looking at her from his eyeglasses. Winnifred snorted.
"You're a psychologist, you should know better," she sarcastically noticed.
"So," Johnathan leaned back on the seat, dropping one hand down on his knee. His other one gripped the wheel.
"I'll run this car back to the hospital, then come back here. It should be enough time for you to change and do whatever you want to do. Deal?"
"Deal," Winnifred happily nodded and jumped out.
"Anything else you want me to do?" Johnathan asked, right before she slammed the door shut.
"No, Johnny, we're good," Winnifred shook her head. "Thanks a lot."
The intern nodded, and she closed the door.
"Did you pick the card?" Heath impatiently asked the small red haired boy.
"Yup," the bonny lad cheerfully answered, looking at the card. His little auburn curled sister was siting next to him.
"Did you memorize it?"
"Yes."
"Did you memorize it well?"
"Yes, yes, yes, do it already!" The little girl happily bounced in anticipation. Heath gave her a broad grin and looked back at her brother.
"Place it in the middle then." The boy plopped the card into into the place where Heath instructed. Heath took the cards and opened it in front of his eyes. Here it is; the queen of spades in the midst of crimson diamonds and hearts. Heath grinned, looking at the captivated kids from above his cards.
"Where are you darling, come, don't hide from Mister Heath," he purposefully mused, shuffling the queen, slightly making it stick out, second to first. For credibility, he moved a few cards also. The children giggled at his words. Heath winked to them and, closing the cards together, covering the top of the sticking out queen, and showed the first card to them. The warm evening wind shuffled the leaves on the mill's creaky boards
"Is it that one?" Heath quickly asked.
"No," the boy triumphantly declared.
"No?" Heath pretended to be incredibly surprised, raising his eyebrows almost to the top of his forehead.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," The boy confirmed, satisfaction written in bold letters on his face. The little girl covered her mouth, not able to hold back the giggles that escaped from it.
"Yes, yes, yes," she repeated.
"Strange," Heath titled his head in confusion, and slid the queen, which, considering the light speed movement, for the kids looked like the first card, face down on the floor.
"Not that one then." Heath shuffled the cards a bit more and showed the first random card that was under his hand.
"What 'bout this one?"
"Nope!"
Heath bulged his eyes out.
"What, again?!"
"Yup, yup, yup!" The little sister jumped around. Heath smirked and placed the card face down next to the first one.
"How about this?" He flipped the first card, revealing the queen of spades. For a moment, the kids just stared at it, then erupted in a simultaneous current.
"Wait, how did you do that, the first one was the king of diamonds..."
"Again, again, again, again!"
Heath smiled and ruffled her little head.
"Magic, kid, magic."
"Will you teach me?" The little bunny immediately sprang up.
"Perhaps later," Heath smiled, slightly moving his foot, numb from his criss crossed position.
"When you'll grow a bit older."
"And me?" The boy instantly asked. "Am I old enough?"
"Not yet, kid," Heath shook his head. "Once you turn eight."
"Why eight?"
"I taught Freddie when she was eight."
"Liar, you taught me when I was fifteen."
Heath and the kids immediately turned around. Winnifred was leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed on her chest. She smiled.
"Hey, kids. How's your mother?"
"Oh, Miss Freddie, you're finally back!" The little girl scrambled up to her feet and ran towards the woman. She knocked into Winnifred's legs, embracing them with her small hands.
"You're back, you're back!" The little girl happily chimed, looking up at the woman. Winnifred smiled as she stroked the girl's curls.
"Yes, Lucy, I'm back." She lifted her head up to look at the boy.
"No worries, Robbie, I'll teach you all the magic tricks if Heath forgets."
Robbie, come back from his initial surprise, followed his sister's example, and now Winnifred was hugged from all sides. She laughed along with the kids, messing their carrot hair as they, interrupting and over talking each other, hurried to tell her all the latest news that she've missed. Heath slowly got up to his feet and leaned over the wall. His fingers instinctively shuffled the deck in his hand.
"Alright, I think your mother already discovered that you ran away somewhere, don't you think so too?" Winnifred asked the immediately embarrassed kids.
"I mean...we haven't been gone for such a long time," Robbie uncertainly responded, looking at his sister. Winnifred patted his on the arm.
"I think you have been, buddy. Go take your sister home, it's sunset soon." The boy nodded with a sigh and reluctantly took Lucy by the hand.
"Bye, bye!" The tiny girl waved as her brother exited her out of the mill. Winnifred followed with her eyes the little pair left, then slowly turned back to Heath. He was expectantly watching her.
"They're good ones, right?" Winnifred smiled, walking up to Heath. He remained silent, eyes studying her face.
"You have been gone for a long time," Heath finally said.
"I have," Winnifred quietly agreed. She lightly touched him on the arm.
"But now I'm back, ain't I?" The touch returned Heath back to reality. Letting the cards fall from his hand, he tightly embraced Winnifred, lifting her up from the floor.
"Oh, my lovely, most dear, absolutely marvelous Freddie!" Winnifred laughed into his shoulder as Heath slightly twirled her around.
"You're back from the monstrous place you've been, and now I can properly live again!" Heath quickly kissed her in the cheek and finally placed her feet back on the floor. His eyes studied her face with lightning speed, taking in every line with satisfaction.
"Oh, Freddie, do you even know what I have been through?" He gently stroked a curl back behind her ear. Winnifred pretended to look serious.
"You probably ditched class and pulled off another trick with Billy."
"Everyone keeps on saying that," Heath sighed as they walked out into the forest, his arm comfortably resting on her shoulders.
"But you can't call it the exact truth. I did skip the sessions though."
"Heath!"
His laughter rang all the way to the mill, which disappeared behind them in the distance. The cards slightly shivered on the floor. A sudden gust of wind blew into the mill, tossing the cards around the room, before carrying them out into the wild.
A/N DONE WITH PART 1!
We're done with all the exposition, the next parts will be action-packed, I promise (except the first couple of chapters, of course)
I appreciate everyone who were through this first part with me, you guys are GREAT, this means a lot to me! I would like to know what your thoughts considering this first part are, so please jot down reviews. Part 2 coming out next week. Thank you very much!
PS. Did you see the new Joker movie trailer? (Even though I'm doing the same thing, I personally do not like this backstory idea simply because of the reasoning that Joker's story should stay hidden. This fanfic is just for fun)