Working Version: woW RP story - Chapter One
Pulling out the chair for his wife, Simon Larkin smiled and kissed Rebecca on the cheek affectionately. He gently pushed her chair in once she was seated. "Everything looks wonderful as always, Becca. You really have outdone yourself." He then moved to take the seat at the head of the table getting ready for dinner with their guests.
"Oh, don't give me all the credit!" She laughed. "Jehsa's become quite the cook. In fact she did most of the meal and I just finished up the baking for dessert."
Jehsa blushed softly at her mother's compliment. Quietly she took the seat offered to her by Captain Rathburn, one of the young men her father had become close to recently at Court and one of their dinner guests. "It really wasn't anything." Glancing across the table, her eyes sought out her twin brother, Sebastian. An amused smirk on his face, he clearly enjoyed watching her squirm under the attention from their parents. Nodding to the Captain to indicate her thanks, she slid into the table quietly waiting for the others to find their seats.
Sebastian took his seat next to Robert Sloane, their long time childhood friend and frequent dinner guest over the years. In fact, the second chair on that side of the table had come to just be accepted as Sloane's if there was company in the house and more than just the four of the family eating together. The two men sitting side by side made a sharp contrasting picture.
Short cropped crimson locks, matching his sister's in hue, framed Bastian's angled and well defined face. His beard he kept close cropped, yet fully covered around his jawline. Bastian's soft blue eyes were typically filled with mirth. His long lashes accented them and drew your attention to them quickly. A tall but muscular man, he was solid in build without being large or what one would consider imposing. Some light freckles covered his arms and pale skin where it was visible from his rolled up shirt sleeves. His complexion was what one typically expected a red head's to be. Hooking a foot easily around the base of the chair next to him, Bastian moved to slide it out from under the man just as Robert moved to sit in it.
Without even breaking stride, and as if this was mere habit, Robert caught the chair easily with his right hand, sitting and then sliding up to the table in one fluid motion. He didn't seem to even acknowledge the prank as if it were fully expected. A sidelong glance from his chestnut eyes is the only indication that he even truly caught what Bastian did. Jehsa laughed softly at the two men's antics.
Unlike the twins, Sloane's hair was deep ebony. His neatly trimmed goatee drew one's attention to his slim foxlike and angular face. Sloane was always shorter than the Larkin boy by a good three or four inches growing up, and that had not changed any when they reached adulthood a few years back. He never put on weight as solidly as Bastian, and always seemed sleeker in build. However, when the two wrestled he never failed to use this to his advantage. His hands look calloused and weathered from hard work and being outdoors most of the time, unlike the other men at the table. "Looks wonderful, Ladies." Sloane grinned across the table at Jess, which only seems to make her cheeks turn redder.
"Well don't let it get cold," Rebecca told them and gestured for everyone to start. "Jehsa started teaching at the school this week with the little ones, did you hear, Jonathan?"
Captain Rathburn laughs and turned to look at Jess. "Really? No, Simon hadn't mentioned that to me yet." He answered Rebecca and then continued to speak directed at Jehsa. "Though, he does talk about you and your brother nearly every other word." The tawny haired man grinned. "So it seems you're a good cook and teacher too?" There was something about his smile that made Jess feel like a doe being looked at by a large wolf about to pounce. She turned away, fidgeting.
Jess reached for the mashed potatoes from Sebastian, nearly dropping the bowl while Rathburn spoke to her. Her brother steadied it and just glanced at the Captain. "You have to actually try it first before you knew, wouldn't you?" Bastian chided the man with perhaps a bit of bite to his tone. Rebecca Larkin gave her son one of her rather patented "now-now" sort of looks. Bastian merely glanced back to his mother and said nothing further.
"How is your Mum feeling, Robert? Any better today?" Jehsa looked over while passing the bread to the man, hoping to change the subject quickly. A touch of concern was evident in her emerald eyes. Much like her brother, she was on the taller side for a girl. They shared the same fiery red colored hair. Hers fell in layers down to just below her shoulders flipping up on the ends a bit. Unlike many of the other girls, she'd never really been one to wear makeup or fuss over how she looked. Jess was luckily spared the freckles that plague most gingers. Her porcelain skin often seemed pink from the sun and rarely tanned.
"She's slept better the past few nights. Thank you again for tea leaves. They certainly seem to help." Sloane nodded to the woman, smiling warmly. "The cough is the worst of it now. It should pass in a few more days. It's the time of year people seem to catch these things." He seemed to be convincing himself as much as her while he spoke.
"Well Elizabeth is more than welcome with you anytime she wants to come, but you know that son." Simon spoke from the head of the table. "If she gets any worse you let Rebecca and I know and we will see what we can do to fetch the King's alchemist or someone for you. Being the King's jeweler gives me a certain amount of favor with the other professionals in the court."
Rathburn looked at Sloane curiously a moment. "Your mother is ill?"
Sloane nodded, the smile fading a bit from his lips. "She took with the chills and a cough late last week." He paused slightly. "It's just the weather. She tends to catch anything that seems to go around. Nothing to be too concerned about just yet. The cough was keeping her from getting a good night's rest. Sebastian and Jess remedied that with the tea leaves, though. That's all."
Jonathan let the matter drop and continued to eat. "The venison is amazing. Thank you for having me. I haven't had the pleasure of a home cooked meal in a few months since taking the promotion here." He smiled at the two women.
"I'd be careful out there right now. People are talking about monsters and things out in the woods again. Some folks are even saying that they see some of the nobles out there at night hunting beasts." Sebastian laughed between bites.
"Oh, that's just rubbish." Jonathan laughed. "The wall keeps the more serious threats out and is watched well enough. Then anything that we have to take care of close to the city itself or the towns surrounding it, is not dangerous enough that it would require our nobles to take up arms. The common folk are just looking for a new boogeyman to scare the children with now that Crowley is safely locked away for good awaiting trial." He nods and folds his napkin, sliding his plate a bit forward as he finished eating.
Sloane glanced up at the man as he finished the last of the roast on his plate. "I would think a man standing up for his beliefs far from the boogeyman. There is a respect due to someone who does something rather than just whining in the court."
"Respect?" Jonathan looked a bit stunned at Sloane. "The man is a traitor to King and country. He is responsible for the death of innocent citizens and uprisings all through Gilneas. If you ask me they ought to send him to the axe."
"Well then, I suppose he's grateful it isn't up to you." Robert met Jonathan's eyes, locking on them in a cold look.
"Boys! We do not discuss politics at the table. Now why don't you all go into the parlor if you want to speak of such? Jess and I will clear the dishes from the table and then be along. We can all have our tea and tarts in there in a bit." Rebecca interjected rising and starting to clear the plates. "Come now, Jess. Help your mum while they quibble like men are prone to do." She shook her head.
Without a moment's hesitation, Jess rose and started to gather things up from the table. "Yes, mum." She seemed relieved to not to be a part of the conversation occurring.
"I think that is a wise idea. Shall we, gentleman?" Simon gestured to the room off the dining area in the cottage. Walking ahead of the three younger men he held the door open for them to enter. Jonathan gladly nodded thanks to his host and moved into the parlor. Bastian followed suit.
Sloane stopped a moment, not following the other men immediately out of the room. He gathered up his own dishes and then started to take them to the kitchen. Jehsa, seeing this, laughed and reached for them. She took the plates off the man quickly before he could object. "Get going so ya can get to your gabbing. Me and mum can take care of this." She playfully shooed the man away from the table and dishes. "Thank ya for bein' kind, but ya should be in there with them." She smiled and gestured to the parlor.
"You both cooked. You shouldn't have to clean it all up." He simply stated.
"You're a guest. Now be off with ya before me mum fetches the broom. Wouldn't be the first time she's taken it to you, Robert Sloane." A teasing tone crept into her voice.
Sloane laughed and turned to head towards the parlor finally. "It won't be the last, either." He quickly disappeared into the room with the other men before Jess could reply.
The parlor was nicely furnished, but not elaborately decorated by any means. Wooden chairs and a small sitting couch for the women were staged around a stone fireplace. A few sparse paintings of landscapes featuring the areas around Gilneas hung from the walls to add color to the room. Dark forest green curtains framed the wooden windows. A thick throw rug of bear skin covered the wooden floor to keep the chill off one's feet in the winter.
Simon, Jonathan, and Sebastian were already sipping snifters of brandy by the time Sloane rejoined them. The men were standing around the fire already engaged in conversation. Sebastian moved to pour another glass and handed it to Sloane when his friend finally joined them. "You get lost?" He teased Sloane.
Nodding in thanks, Sloane took the glass and swirled the drink a moment. "Something like that." He smirked at Bastian. Taking a moment to listen, he waited to catch back up on the conversation at hand.
"No, it truly is a blessing that this horrid Northgate menace is now over." Jonathan sighed. "Far too many of the commoners were being drug into Crowley's treason and becoming incited about things that they truly know nothing about in all honesty."
"Know nothing about?" Sebastian looked at the man dubiously. "You don't think that they know what is going on around them in their own city and towns?"
"Oh, I think that they know innocent people suffered every time the rebels strike. Crowley is just causing mayhem, and in the name of what?" Jonathan sounded sincerely disgusted when he spoke of the rebels.
"Not acting like sheep waiting to be slaughtered behind a wall?" Sloane retorted, sipping his brandy.
"Surely you are not serious. The wall is what will keep Gilneas safe and whole while the rest of them once more lose their sons and daughters to the scourge and worse. If Lord Godfrey and Lord Walden hadn't had the sense to advise Greymane to keep us out of the mess, who knows what a third war would have cost us. I mean, why should we keep funding and dying for their wars?"
Mr. Larkin remained quiet, listening to the younger men exchange words a moment. He just shook his head at the mention of the war outside the walls.
"That wall is a death sentence! Sloane exclaimed. "It is keeping us in and nothing out. We should be aiding the Alliance in dealing with the monsters once and for all. We're Gilneans, not cowards."
Jonathan narrowed his eyes at Sloane. "You almost sound sympathetic to the rebels! The Northgate rebellion is the only enemy that Gilneas has a need to deal with at this time. Lucky for us, it is handled now as the bastard Crowley is in chains again where he belongs."
"Oh…because prison is so effective in slowing down Crowley." Sebastian rolls his eyes. "The man had his lands cut off and shut out from the rest of the Gilneas without so much as help to evacuate or move his people. Not to mention, called a traitor for sending aid to allies we supported in the past. I don't think this situation is simple black and white." He nodded in agreement with Sloane.
Simon cautioned his son. "Sebastian, mind your tongue. He is a traitor to the King. Allies or not in the past, the King decreed we were not aiding the new Alliance and involving ourselves in more bloodshed. To go against his edicts is treason in the eyes of the law."
Jonathan finished his glass. "And wise choices those are. No one wants to send their sons to die for Wrynn's personal vendettas. Our taxes funded building a keep and we already supported two wars for the rest of them. Let them deal with their own issues now." Rathburn nodded. "No, the wall was the best answer. Lord Godfrey and the others are thinking of what is best for Gilneas. Let the others worry about their own kingdoms for a change and stop taking from the coffers and army of ours." He sneered.
"That wall is not going to hold anything back. Allies are what we need to reinforce our position and safe guard things. Not to mention that it is nothing but foolish arrogance to think we could take an attack by the undead if we get hit by ourselves." Sebastian shook his head once more disagreeing.
"Crowley was damn right to send troops to Proudmore! You don't bloody abandon the people that helped you." Sloane finished the brandy in his glass. "Do you really think that a wall will hold back the undead? The only thing that waste of rock is doing is splitting us off from the rest of the world."
"Spoken like any commoner that doesn't have remotely any idea how politics work. Do you really think that Crowley cares about more than the land he lost?" Jonathan's voice was filled with clear disdain. "Crowley is nothing more than an ungrateful cur that deserves the axe for all the blood he's shed. His Lordly feathers wouldn't have been ruffled if one of the other nobles were called upon to support their King and make the sacrifice he was. I would mind your tongue, Sloane. Someone might mistake you for a rebel and cut it out sometime if you aren't careful. Many in Gilneas take their loyalty to their King seriously." Jonathan set the empty glass down on the nearby table with a slam.
An almost feral smile curled across Sloane's lips. "Any bloke thinks he's man enough is more than welcome to try." Glaring at the other man, his eyes locked on Rathburn in a challenging gaze.
Rathburn's hands balled tightly into fists and the color slowly started to crawl up his cheeks. "Traitors get the axe. It's that simple."
"And cowards hide, letting others die." Sebastian replied, placing a hand Robert's shoulder.
Sloane slowly set his glass down on the table next to him. His eyes never broke from Rathburn's. "People live on those lands outside the wall. It is their home. They were left to fend for themselves and die." His tone was cold. "Any Lord worth their salt takes up for his people not cuts them off to die." Every word was punctuated with a tone of vehemence.
Mr. Larkin moved slowly to step between the younger men. "I think we've discussed this subject enough for one evening."
Robert's eyes shot to Mr. Larkin. "You can't seriously agree with him?" he said, clearly shocked.
"I said, enough, Robert!" Simon glared at the young man. "Perhaps you need step outside for some air for a moment to clear your head." It was a statement, not a suggestion.
"I think that is a wise idea." Jonathan nods slowly in agreement with Mr. Larkin's suggestion.
Sebastian's looked at the Captain like someone leveling cross hairs. "Do you now?"
Simon Larkin glared at his son. "Bastian! The Captain is a guest in our home and you will mind your manners when speaking with him."
Bastian opened his mouth to say something and then just closed it, starring dumbstruck at his father's outburst.
"It's fine. I was just going, actually. It's late." Sloane curtly nodded to Mr. Larkin and turned in a sharp pivot.
"Robert!" Simon called after the man as he was heading out of the parlor. "Robert! That is not what I meant."
"Please give my thanks to Mrs. Larkin for the hospitality." He pointedly called back without turning or stopping, letting the door slam shut as he leaves.
Jehsa jumped at the sudden loud sound. She turned to look to make sure her mother hadn't dropped something or slipped letting the door slam. Her eyes then followed her mother's gaze to see Robert stalking through to the hall towards the front door. "Good evening ladies, thank you again for the meal." He called without stopping. His voice was terse. Quickly, Jess moved without a second thought to follow the angry man out onto the porch.
Shutting the door quickly behind her but making sure it didn't slam, she looked startled at Sloane. "What has gotten into you?"
Robert whirled at the edge of the steps to face the young woman, clearly expecting someone else. He paused a moment. "Go back inside, Jehsa."
"Oh no! Don't take that tone with me and tell me what to do because Bastian or someone got your knickers in a knot!" She crossed her arms and just looked at him, clearly not going anywhere. "What is going on?" Her voice softened, watching Sloane's reactions.
"You don't want me to answer that." He just flatly looked at her.
"I don't ask things if I don't want an answer. You, of all people, should know that." Her green eyes meet his without flinching.
"Fine. Your father's new friend, Captain Rathburn, is an arse. He is an idiot that thinks that wall is going to save people. Not to mention, he also thinks someone should cut out my tongue. And…your father…" he seemed to deflate a bit at the mention of her father, "Your father seems to sympathize. He told me to step outside, so I left."
"I…" She just stared at him, dumbfounded. "Robert, I'm so sorry." Her hands wring a bit, clearly distressed. Her brow furrowed. The internal conflict going on within her made clear in her eyes. "And yes, Jonathan Rathburn is a complete and total horse's arse." She narrowed her eyes, nodding as if passing a decree.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Jess." His tone calmer, but still was cold and flat.
"I'm sure my father is trying to keep the peace, that's all. I know it isn't right and he shouldn't have asked you to step out. He just…" she just shook her head. "I don't know what is going on with him lately. I think he is worried Bastian and others like you will wind up drawn up all the violence going on. He doesn't want to see the two of you harmed. You can't blame him entirely, after what happened with your brother in the riots and all."
"We already all are. It is only a matter of time before what goes on out there attacks here. That wall is not going to stop it." He just shut his eyes and gritted his teeth so as to not yell at her, and keep his temper.
"I can't believe that." She replied in a voice hardly above a whisper. "I refuse to believe that Gilneas can't stay out of the horrors going on out there. If you are asking me to accept that something terrible is going to happen to you and Bastian one day, it's not going to happen. I just won't."
"War is horrible for everyone in it, Jess. Why should we get to hide while the rest of the world suffers and fights? How does that make us good people?" He opened his eyes, looking at her.
"Why do they need the two of you? They don't! There are plenty of good soldiers that can go and fight and deal with those things. Your mother already lost one son to all this Northgate nonsense. She doesn't need to lose another." She looked at him an almost pleading tone to her voice.
"It's not fair to just make it about us, Jess. How many other mother's will lose their sons?" He glared at her.
"It bloody well is fair! Burying your father was horrible. Burying Charlie bleeding near killed her. Do you think that she wants to see her only living son go off to fight in some war?" She glared back.
"Do you think anyone's mother does? Why should we be spared? Our numbers could stop it, or turn the tide! Think of the sons no one would then have to bury. I disagree with you, Jess. Greymane is doing nothing but signing people's death warrant, both ours and the Alliance's. His failure to act is disgusting." He spat on the ground next to him seething still.
Jehsa's eyes widened. she moved forward, quickly placing her right hand lightly over his mouth. There was a look of fear in her eyes. "Hush…" She reflexively looked back over her shoulder to the house like a child making sure their parents aren't looking. "Think what you like, but careful what you give voice to and where. In case you didn't notice the Captain of the new garrison is in my house right now." She gave him a curt look.
He reached up slowly, and moves her hand. "That would be why I'm not. Nor will I be any time he is." Sloane's eyes narrowed.
"Robert Sloane, getting put in irons because you can't mind your tongue isn't going to change anything for anyone. You know that just as well as I do! Please…be careful what you say." She pleaded with him whispering now.
"Why? So I can live in fear of my own King? Crowley is right. Gilneas is rotting from the inside out." He kept his voice down some now as he argued with the woman.
"You're angry, and rightfully so." Again, Jess looked back to the house to make sure no one was paying mind to the porch. "Now isn't a good time to debate and discuss such things. Just please; consider who is about and what you say. As much as I don't want to see you or Bastian in the wars outside the walls, I don't want to see some radical loyalist have you arrested just as much. Times are not good, Robert." She pleaded with him once more.
"Oh, I'm well aware. And if no one says anything they aren't going to change." He paused a moment and took a breath, slowly letting it out. Watching her a few more moments he finally agreed. "You're right. I'm angry. We can talk about this another time, alright?"
Jehsa slowly nodded. "I am not going to fight with you about this. It is clear that you feel strongly about it and have made up your mind. Once you do, I know better than to try to change it." She sighed. There was a simple acceptance to her tone. "Just please, don't be angry about it anymore, alright? It bothers me you're upset like this at my house."
"Jess…" He just looked at her.
"Robert…" she just looked back at him.
"I'm leaving so I'm not angry in your father's house." He emphasized the word father's.
"Fine." She sternly replied. "Then when I have my own house one day you don't get to be angry in it." She decreed.
"Do you even know how ridiculous you sound?" He tried to hold back the chuckle that escaped him, but failed. "You know, you are aggravating at times."
"So you keep saying." She smiled slowly, happier seeing him calming down.
The door to the house opened slowly as Mrs. Larkin poked her head out. "My apologies for interrupting you kids. Jehsa, you need to come inside and say goodnight. Captain Rathburn is leaving." She smiled at Sloane. "Come by tomorrow dear. I have a care package for your mother."
"That's really not necessary, Mrs. Larkin." He smiled to the woman politely. Jess remained quiet, her eyes glued suddenly to a knot in one of the porch floorboards.
"Oh I insist. Jehsa will get it for you. It's not trouble at all." She brushed off the man's protests and turned to head inside. "Hurry up, girl. Don't keep the men folk waiting." Quietly the woman closed the door, heading back inside.
"I definitely am going now." He nodded to Jess and moved to step off the porch, not quite turning around yet.
"You should before…." She just let the words trail off. Sighing she moved to step back a bit towards the door, not turning to head in just yet. "Give your Mum my regards?" she smiled at him.
"I will." He paused a moment looking at her. He then just turned and starts to walk down the steps and up the road. "I'll come by and pick up that stuff for her tomorrow." He called back without turning again to look at the house or Jess.
"I'll have it for ya." She replied, watching him go. Once he is out of eye sight she turned and took a deep breath looking at the door. Straightening her clothes, she moved to step inside once more and put her best polite smile on her face.
Jehsa stepped into the foyer and closed the door gently behind her. Her mother and father were off in the dining area fetching one of her mother's care packages for the Captain. Bastian was seated on the stairs, an air of tension between him and the Captain. She looked at her brother a moment, catching his eyes with hers. Jess just nodded, knowing her twin would understand and know where and with who she'd been speaking. "Well I should help Mum with the last of the cleaning in the kitchen. It was kind of you to join us, Captain." She curtsied politely to the Captain. Bastian snickered as if something about his sister's proper and polite demeanor amused him.
The Captain's eyes drift to the porch where she walked in from a moment. He then nods to the woman. "The kindness was from your family to me. Thank you for having me in your home." He moved to take her hand and kisses it politely. Jehsa immediately froze, like a doe caught out in an open glen. She just blinked a moment and slowly withdrew her hand from the man, immediately protectively clasping it with her other.
"Thank you. It was nothing I assure you." She looked past the man to her brother again.
"We're used to having extras around the house. Hell, Sloane practically used to live here over the summers growing up." Bastian laughed with a hollow ring to it. "No trouble at all. Our father invites everyone new to the area over." Jess agreed with her brother.
"Well I would still like to repay the kindness." He smiled, ignoring Bastian's words. "Her majesty is having a dinner for all of the new officers in a week. I would be honored if you would consider accompanying me." He watches the woman gauging her reaction.
"Oh…she'd love to!" her father chimed in as her parents walked in from the other room with the package for the Captain to take with him.
"Actually, unfortunately I have plans." Jehsa quietly replies, desperately looking to Bastian for help.
"What plans?" Her father interjects.
"I … already…" she stammers trying to think of something.
"We already committed to going out to Duskhaven to help care for some of the sick with the fever there." Bastian piped up. "Jess said she would go with me to take them herbs and things I managed to gather. They seem to respond better to her dosing them up than me. Sorry, but people are dying there and it's really urgent we aid them. I'm sure you think that more important than a dinner, right?"
"You are? You didn't mention that to me…" Simon looks at Rebecca, clearly confused.
"Oh…I'm sure they did in passing. It must have slipped your mind, luv." Mrs. Larkin pats her husband lightly on the hand. "Bastian's been working for weeks gathering things up to treat people with and learning from me."
Jonathan slowly nods, accepting Jess's answer but not liking it clearly. "Of course, we wouldn't want the commoners to suffer. Perhaps then I could call upon you sometime next week before you go?" He smiles to Jess once more.
"You can if you like, but I'm not sure how much time I'll have. I promised Sloane I'd look to his mum while he's working with her being ill and all. Perhaps it best we just wait and see how times work out." She nods and returns the smile politely.
"That's my girl, always looking after someone." Her father reaches out and hugs her. Leaning up, Jess kisses his cheek a moment.
"Well then, it would seem we will have to wait." The Captain bows to Jess. "Again, thank you for having me and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Simon." He put his coat on and turned towards the door, pausing a moment to look back, mostly at Jeshsa. "I do hope that Mr. Sloane's mother gets well soon. The worry over her seems to greatly be impairing his judgment. I would hate to see him wind up in trouble over being rash from stress."
Jehsa just swallowed a moment and nods. "Aye. I don't think anyone takes kindly to someone being rash." She stands up straighter.
"Again, I apologize, Jonathan." Simon Larkin opened the door for the Captain. "Robert has just been going through some trying times these past few years. His father passed and then his brother was killed in the Northgate riots when things started. I don't think that he has had quite the role model to guide him that most young men need starting out. I wouldn't take too much of what he says too seriously. It was just gabbing."
Jehsa turned and looked at her father dead on. "He has had a fine role model. He grew up watching you."
Simon just looked to his daughter and blinked a moment, clearly caught off guard by her comment. Bastian just smiled.
"Well any way, good evening to you all." The captain stepped outside, putting on his hat and letting Simon shut the door behind him. Simon Larkin then just turned and looks at the twins.
"Well if you don't need any help further, I think I'll be off to read a bit before bed. I want to teach the children a bit of history tomorrow." Jess looked at her parents.
Rebecca moved to kiss her daughter's cheek. "Go on lass, I can manage the bit that's left."
Simone just nodded to her. "Of course…"
Sebastian stood up and let her pass him on the stairs. "Oh? Something interesting I can help with?"
"I was thinking a bit about the first war and how Gilneas aided in doing so much for so many." She smiled at Bastian.
"I think that that's a fantastic idea." Her brother smirked.
Simon just watched his daughter climb the stairs, followed by her brother. He shook his head and brought a hand to his brow a moment.
Rebecca just laughs softly at her husband. "You're just going to hurt your head. Ya can't change how it is and what it is."
Simon moved to hug his wife. "Is it so wrong to try?"
Rebecca looked up at him and laughs. "I don't know. You keep telling them it is."
Simon chuckles and shakes his head. "Whose side are you on?"
Rebecca smiled. "Mine."