Atonement

By Seniya

Date

The phone rings in the middle of the night,

My father yells what you gonna do with your life

Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one

But girls they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have -

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

The night was still, the clouds transparent, the moon slumberous. Its nights such as these that one longs for, where there's only the quiet sound of your breathing and the gentle murmur of your thoughts.

And perhaps every once in a while one welcomes the intrusion of another; if only to listen to the steady sound of their breathing and to imagine the curious purr of their thoughts as well.

Or maybe…you choose to disrupt the solitude of the night when your thoughts no longer murmur or (even worse) when your guests thoughts no longer seem enticing.

…………………

Up and down, down and up, Juliana sat, her favorite doll safely tucked between her legs, (her safely between her own mother's legs) and watched with large, green, sleepy eyes as her father paced with mounting irritation across her parent's bedroom.

"Who's David?" he asked at last, directed not at her but to her Mother. Mother didn't answer right away, instead her hands stilled in her daughter's hair, her fingers wrapped around a chestnut curl; he'd had to stop and ask again. Then, she'd submitted: "a boy in her class."

"A boy? What boy?"

"You don't know him; we can thank God for that." The tiny brunette giggled and leaned closer into her mother's arms, hands immediately left hair and wrapped around the child's middle.

Her father was obviously displeased. There would be no answers from his wife—instead he asked the smaller one, in a voice that simply oozed security, "Juliana, what boy?"

She didn't get the chance to respond, for sensing his plot and having already decided that it would be best if he remained ignorant, Will replied briskly (not to mention vaguely), "You'll see him tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Because…he's coming here tomorrow."

"I asked why." Her eyes lingered on her father's frowning face, even in the darkness she could see his identical green eyes glaring at her Mother's (potentially) unsympathetic features.

"Because he was invited."

The final straw, and the pacing resumed, Juliana yawned…it had registered in her mind that this entire conversation, hence the source of her father's worry was her. "He can't come here…" Caleb stammered, "h-he…it isn't…proper."

"He's six."

"Exactly…and since when do six year old boys need to come over to girl's houses?"

Her mother laughed, and Juliana smiled, the slight bubble of worry that she'd been feeling floated away, they weren't really fighting…not if her Mother was laughing. "You're hilarious."

"I don't know what you do on earth, but here little hair pulling boys are not invited into your house."

Her Father most certainly didn't seem to share the humor, and Juliana held her little doll closer…David didn't need to come anymore she decided (feeling very grown up about her sacrifice) not if it made her Father unhappy.

"Mommy…" she tried to interject, but was shushed almost instantaneously.

"Don't mind your Daddy sweetie…" Will pulled her daughter closer, once again knitting her fingers in the girl's untameable nest of brown curls.

"Boys only want one thing." He continued, now folding his arms across his chest solely because it made him look all the more menacing.

"What do boys want Daddy?" Juliana questioned, that stopped his pacing, her mother however only laughed louder, "Yes, Caleb…what do boys want?"

"Don't even start Wilma."

"You always overreact, always."

"This isn't funny. Juliana, this boy…you should stop speaking to him."

Her breath shook, her curiosity about the supposed wanting of boys vanished…a single protest escaped her lips, "Why?"

He faltered at that, never, never ever, had he been a good adversary against the force of a girl's tears. "Because…I said so."

"That's a terrible reason." Will commented.

She didn't know what terrible meant, but it had occurred to her that her Mother was most likely on her side in this battle over her. "I think Mommy's right that is a terryrile reason."

Caleb frowned and shook his head. "She's becoming just like you."

"It's wonderful isn't it? You can't blame her though, her father's insane. I'm clearly the better role model."

Juliana giggled, not sure that she knew what insane meant either but she did know that it should be funny.

"All right he can come…but I'm not letting him out of my sight."

"No need to worry your pretty little head Caleb, I'll watch them."

"Why doesn't that comfort me at all?"

"You really are hilarious." Will laughed once more.

Juliana yawned again, curling her toes and pressing her head against her Mother's stomach. The danger was adverted she knew, hilarious was good, everything was normal again and she hadn't had to sacrifice anything.

"Come on," she was able to register the feeling of being carried through the haze of her drowsiness, "she's tired."

He took the now sleeping girl from Will's arms, easily carrying the bundle to her own bedroom and depositing her underneath her covers, dropping a kiss on top of her forehead before turning to face her Mother.

"Do you know his parents?"

"Caleb…" Will began, before deciding that he was best left to his trepidation rolling her eyes and walking away; he was such a control freak, and time was simply something he'd simply need to come to grips with.

He followed her out of the room, pausing once to close the door behind him. "Seriously…what if they were…"

"What if they were what? Power hungry aristocrats bent on taking over the world? I think that we can take our chances."

He frowned; he hated how she could take this all so lightly.

Will sighed and met his gaze, walking towards him slowly before hiding her hands in his. "Caleb, what are you going to do when she starts liking boys? When she wants to bring them home? She's growing up…he's her friend…they're just going to be playing..."

"I-I…" he looked at her face, the freckles that still dusted her nose and the lips that had held him captive from day one. "I want another one."

Her pretty face bent in confusion, "one of what?"

"A baby…another girl or…boy…" He removed his hands from his grip and caressed her arms, "please."

She laughed softly, "You're sure?"

"Well…haven't you ever thought about it?"

"Sometimes…but I never thought that you'd…"

This time he could mimic her ever-joyful tone, "I've never been surer of anything…" he brushed some of her hair from her face and continued, "I know that Juliana wasn't…we weren't ready for her…but look at how good she turned out…"

"Imagine how well we could do if we did plan it," she smiled. "She is strangely smart."

"I'll take credit for that."

"You what? Well then you can take the credit for her failing Math too, just wait for that one…"

"So is it a yes? Maybe not right away, but…"

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, burying her hands in his hair and finally pulling him down to her level. "Just lock the door." She whispered.

…………………

Author: Juliana is homage to Julian, who died in Graveyard.

Remember people, in Seniya-land, season two never happened. Phobos all the way guys!

I hope that this was all-right there was kissing and babies and stuff so I know that most of you will be grateful. Requests…I want you to give me things to write because currently I'm filled with the urge, but empty of the plot. I've got B, M, Q, S and T so far. Er…that's it. Review!

Next is B is for Breakfast. Hehehe. This is so funny.

Disclaimer: I disclaim.