Voyagers! Asylum

Chapter 7: Que sera sera

"When I was just a little girl I asked my mother, what will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Here's what she said to me: Que sera, sera! Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera! What will be, will be.

When I grew up and fell in love, I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead? Will we have rainbows day after day? Here's what my sweetheart said: Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera. What will be will be.

Now I have children of my own. They ask their mother, what will I be? Will I be handsome? Will I be rich? I tell them tenderly: Que sera, sera! Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera. What will be…"

~Oo~

Phineas and Daryl watched amused as Lilly pranced through the square, exciting the crowd with her pretty voice and playing around with individuals that appeared to have funds. Phineas observed how jolly men readily drew coins from their pockets and handed them over when she flitted by with her sweet smile and danced with them. He folded his arms with a grunt and Daryl looked up at him.

"Jealous, huh? Hey, I bet ya can get the ladies to throw ya some pennies if ya get in the circle and jump around!"

Lilly smiled at Daryl and then glared at Phineas and casually stuck out her tongue. Phineas had to laugh and he looked down, kicking the dust. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea. He could entertain if he had to. He marched to the center of the crowd and waved and winked at the women. With a bright smile he did a few cartwheels, handstands, and three back flips in a row. The audience clapped loudly and more coins dispersed around his feet. He quickly picked them up and then took Lilly by the elbow, dragging her off under a bakery awning.

"That was nice, very nice. Look, I'm sorry, you have good ideas, I just didn't think about it."

Lilly sighed. What was she going to do with this pirate? "I'm sorry too, and you're not a bimbo, or a mimbo for that matter. You were awesome just now! Phineas, I get mad too, but I try not to take everything you say to heart. Sometimes things just fly out of your mouth and they make no sense, but anyway…do you want to finish this or not? I already made two shillings myself!"

Phineas caught her joke at his expense, but felt he deserved it. The day he made really stupid decisions in regards to him or Jeffrey, was the day he quit being a Voyager. He wasn't counting on that anytime soon. He smirked and shrugged.

"Why not, the money's coming in pretty fast."

"We're missing instruments, but there's a piano in that pub down the road. Let's go there and stir the drinking crowd!" She laughed happily and bounced ahead.

Phineas shook his head and chuckled. "Here we ago again, Lilly. Promise me…" He warned.

"I promise! No morphine here! This high kick is all me!" She winked.

Inside was a breakfast crowd and a few sobering drunks left over from the night before. Lilly noticed some onlookers from the square, including fascinated women, had followed them inside. They wanted more entertainment. She led Daryl to a table. Phineas took a seat by the piano and cracked his knuckles, he put his ears to the keys and tested the sound.

"Don't worry 'bout that, lad! Just tuned it me self the other day." The bartender announced.

Lilly came up behind him and held his shoulders. "I didn't know you could play?"

"Sure could. I think my parents made me learn, but I loved it anyway. I can't remember…so, what's on the playbill? I got a nice song; let's start with something sweet and mellow."

Without telling her, Phineas struck a few opening keys, Lilly bobbed her head, very familiar with the tune. She slid beside him on the piano seat and the people eagerly awaited to listen. Lilly was very impressed with his smooth bass.

"When I was a young lad, I've never been kissed, I got to thinking over what I missed…" Phineas stopped and gazed at the females in the crowd. He gave them a wink and a smile, and resumed while they sighed and giggled.

"I got me a girl, I kissed her and then…" He leaned over to Lilly, and quickly caressed her cheek. "Oh Lord, I kissed her again!" He did kiss her again, only this time on the lips. When he pulled away, Lilly stared longingly at him and sang in soft harmony.

"Ohh, ohh, kisses sweeter than wine, oooh oooh …kisses sweeter than wine."

Phineas nuzzled her hair and they continued to croon the soothing melody. "I asked her to marry and be my sweet wife, and we would be so happy the rest of our lives. I begged and I pleaded like a natural man, and then, oh Lord, she gave me her hand. Ohh, ohh, kisses sweeter than wine, oh oooh oh oooh oh oh…kisses sweeter than wine."

"I worked mighty hard and so did my wife, workin' hand in hand to make a good life. With corn in the field and wheat in the bins, I was, oh Lord, the father/mother of twins. Ohh, ohh, kisses sweeter than wine, oooh oooh …kisses sweeter than wine…"

"Our children they numbered just about four, they all had sweethearts knockin' at the door. They all got married and they didn't hesitate; I was, oh Lord…"

Lilly cut in the song with a different line. "The grandmother of eight. Ohh, ohh …kisses sweeter than wine… oooh oooh …kisses sweeter than wine…"

"Now that we're old, and ready to go, we get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago. We had a lot of kids, trouble and pain, but, oh Lord; we'd do it again. Ohh, ohh, kisses sweeter than wine, oh oooh oh oooh oh oh…kisses sweeter than wine."

Phineas raised his hands from the keys and put an arm over Lilly, hugging her close. The audience clapped and whistled. She nudged Phineas and they saw little Daryl walking around with his cutest face, holding out his cap and collecting coins. He ran over with a happy grin.

"I think we're gonna make it, but ya gotta do somethin' lively! Get 'em going so they can fling the money! That chunky bloke over there can play, he has an accordion too!"

Lilly had one more idea for a song, but she doubted Phineas would know it. Daryl wouldn't either as it was written in the late eighteen hundreds as a music hall song. She took them to a table with a smile for the audience.

"We'll be back!"

Everyone clapped again and some shouted to hurry. Lilly took some paper and a quill from the bartender and wrote out the simple lyrics to the song. She slid it over to him.

"How fast can you learn this one? The tune is very simple."

"I'll try, if I mess it up I can always do the back flip again." He muttered, committing the words to memory.

"That worked, you better do it anyway! Come outside, I'll show you a few moves for it."

"Great, now I have to soft-shoe too?"

"If you had a little polka dot dress, I'd call you Shirley Temple! Daryl, you wait here, okay, honey?"

"Sure!" He beamed. "I'll be all right."

Lilly dragged Phineas away from prying eyes and for the next fifteen minutes they worked on a few dance steps and songs. She called out the accordion player and he was happy to learn a new song, picking it up within a few minutes. Phineas was a natural entertainer and Lilly reminded him it was okay to be spontaneous, just make it look good. They came back into the bar and Daryl was eating cookies and talking to the bartender. They approached the center of the pub and the accordion player struck up the tune. Phineas took a deep breath and began a sprightly walk around Lilly.

"Last week down our alley came a toff… He bowed to her then continued. "Nice old geezer with a nasty cough. Sees my missus, takes his topper off… He mimed an old man removing his hat with another bow. "In a very gentlemanly way!"

Lilly swiftly put her arm through his and they jumped into a series of grapevine steps and then danced around each other, singing the bubbly chorus.

"Wot'cher!" All the neighbors cried! Who yer gonna meet, Bill? Have yer bought the street, Bill? Laugh! Oh, I thought I should've died! Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road!"

Phineas picked up the song again and wowed the audience with his flip.

"Ev'ry evenin' at the stroke of five, Me and the missus takes a little drive! You'd say, "Wonderful they're still alive!" If you saw that little donkey go!"

Lilly took over with a few steps, hopping left and right. "When we starts, the blessed donkey stops! He won't move, so out I quickly 'ops! Pals start whackin' him, when down he drops…"

Phineas wrapped his arms around her waist with his chin on her shoulder, and they cheerfully continued the song together. "Someone says he wasn't made to go... Oh!"

They went back to the soft-shoe steps and the accordion player and Daryl joined in singing the refrain.

"Wot'cher!" All the neighbors cried! Who yer gonna meet, Bill? Have yer bought the street, Bill? Laugh! Oh, I thought I should've died…Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road!"

Phineas bowed to her and she curtsied at the same time. Daryl continued dancing around the crowds, collecting even more coins, and picking up the ones scattered on the floor. He gave them a thumb up. Phineas ran over to him.

"Do you think we got enough?"

"I'll say! Don't worry, it's all covered." Daryl responded keeping his hands tight in his pockets.

Phineas eyed his actions and snapped his fingers repeatedly, urging him to give up what he had stolen.

"Give it over, kid. That wasn't right. If these people find out, they'll hunt us down and then where would we be? In the village jail. Since you're so skilled at pulling the money out of their pockets, let's see how you do putting it back in."

Daryl glanced up at him, he wanted to argue, but Phineas crossed his arms and refused to hear any of it.

"Go now, and give it back. I don't care how you do it, you just do it."

"Yes, sir!" Daryl slumped his shoulders and did as he was told. It wasn't an easy task, but Daryl wore his sweetest face and told the patrons that they may have dropped their purses or that he saw their change fall. In the meantime Lilly was singing a haunting rendition of 'Greensleeves.' When she finished she joined Phineas at the table again.

"So, how much do we have all together now?" She asked, putting the last of it on the table.

"Without counting the money Daryl stole, I'd say we did very well, about two pounds!"

"Terrific! Hey Phin, I bet those women would be willing to give you more the way they're eying you. Looks like they want you for lunch." She noted with hints of jealousy.

"Are you suggesting something? Those men seem pretty taken with you too!"

Lilly shoved him. "Hey! watch it, of course not! So, aren't you proud of yourself? You were great out there! We really need to take this act on the road, like the Osmonds or the Carpenters…no, they were family…Captain and Tenille! They're married. I can just see you sitting at the piano with a sailor hat and…"

Phineas stared blankly at her but grinned. "Lilly, sometimes I don't know what to do with you, and that's the honest truth."

"Why?" She pouted.

Phineas bent forward and took her hand. "I don't know! You amuse me, confuse me…"

"It's nice to know I'm your personal clown." She looked down.

"Hey you…" Phineas lifted her chin up and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I never said you were a clown. I find you awkwardly captivating, beguiling…" He played with her hair, twirling his fingers around the soft layers that cascaded over her shoulders. He moved in closer. "I think you're beautiful Lilly." He murmured, taking her in his arms.

She gladly fell into them and they kissed softly. He pulled her close and she rested her head on his chest. Phineas kissed her forehead, then slowly moved down to the tip of her nose and she kissed his chin. She slid onto his lap. He teasingly bounced and cradled her affectionately.

"I still don't know what to do with you." He whispered.

"Do you need ideas? Maybe that old pirate brain of yours forgot how to romance a lady?" She asked seriously.

Phineas laughed loudly. "Ha! Never! But…"

Lilly lowered her arms and she nodded. "But now is not the time. We have to save Jeffrey, that's more important than anything."

She ran her hands through his hair and kissed his cheek, then jumped off his lap. "Well then, let's go! There's a stable out there and we can rent a carriage! Come on!"

She called Daryl over. "We're leaving now."

"I know, and I'm coming with ya! I can't leave my friends!"

"But Daryl, it's dangerous, you've just escaped, you're exhausted, we could put you up in our room and…"

"No, I have to go! The boys need me." He insisted. "I can sleep in the carriage."

~Oo~

Phineas managed to rent a decent size carriage and they took off to Gravesend after he acquired directions. The moment the wheels started moving, Daryl fell sound asleep in Lilly's lap and she stroked his hair. She felt sad for him and couldn't hold back her tears.

"Phineas, what do you think? Would VHQ mind if I took him with me? I could use a little partner. He wouldn't be any trouble. He's got a Voyager spirit! I mean look what he did for his friends! How he got away and…"

Phineas glanced back pitifully. "I know, he's a very self-reliant little guy. But Lilly, you can't just take him. I know it seems I did that with Jeffrey, but it was brought out in my trial that he was supposed to be a Voyager, he had to go sometime, and what about the new Voyagers Assist program?"

"But Phineas, he needs someone."

"Lilly, they all do, but we can't change this fact of history. The program is designed for us to help each other."

Lilly sank back in her seat dejected. It wasn't fair; she didn't want to admit to Phineas that sometimes…

"I know what you might be feeling, Lilly. You're lonely. I get that way too, and even with Jeff…we both feel like that. He misses his parents and school friends and I miss…I miss my family, though it's hard to remember them."

"You also miss the ladies?" She questioned coyly.

"I never said that."

"You don't have to, it's written all over that pained expression." She laughed a bit.

"Great, now I have to work on that one. It's not as hard as we tend to make it. We all have burdens and loads to carry and being a Voyager is ours. You're gonna be fine, Lilly."

Phineas didn't want to sound over-enthusiastic. Things were never fine for women out on their own in history and he could imagine the demands of being a Voyager. They had to cope with the many stumbling blocks that history, men, and their feminine makeup imposed on them. He sometimes wondered if it were a good idea to send them out on their own, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He didn't want to hear it from the angry female Voyagers about women's rights and especially didn't want a debate with Olivia Dunn. She'd bite his head off for those chauvinistic remarks. Even Susan would talk him down. He had a feeling Lilly would be more understanding. He peeked at her. She crossed her arms and stared at the trees.

"Phineas, it's not fair for a woman out there! We get into so much trouble; we have to put up with these rotten, skeevy men all throughout time! It's really hard, you know? Sometimes I just want to quit, quit and go home!"

She cried more and Phineas pulled on the reigns to slow down the horses. He held out his hand.

"Come up here…come here. Don't worry, he'll be fine, let him lay out on the whole seat."

Lilly climbed on the front of the carriage and Phineas started up the horses. He made sure they trotted at a fast pace, but he didn't want to wear them out either.

"You're not the first woman to feel that way. I can understand, Lilly. Everything you just said about women, I was thinking myself…but don't take it the wrong way!" He added quick, nearly ducking in case she slapped him.

Lilly smiled at him. "I figured you would, you don't have to worry about me going bonkers on you with all this women's lib stuff. I'm happy we made it this far, and proud of every woman who took a stand. Personally, I don't mind being "in the kitchen." I'm simple that way. I'd love to settle down and have a family one day. I never had brothers and sisters and my parents split up when I was still young. My mom left me when I was twenty. I know that's old enough to be on my own, but it still hurt. I was living in this big, beautiful farmhouse and it was falling apart and I had to work two jobs to pay off the lousy mortgage and I was so…alone! I'm still alone, I don't want to be!"

Lilly's body shook with deep sobs and Phineas halted the carriage. He seized her in a tight, warm hug, allowing her to spill out her frustrations and tears. He figured it best to remain silent and just let her come to her senses. He didn't want to say the wrong thing. A few minutes passed and she pulled away from him.

"Thank you, Phineas. I really needed that. I wasn't expecting you to keep talking or try and solve my problems. I know what has to be done. Come on, let's keep moving, Jeffrey needs us!"

Her face took on a new determination.

"Phineas?"

"Yes, Lilly?"

"You're a real friend…and I love you for it."

Phineas cracked a smile, getting the sense of what she truly wanted to say. He grasped her hand and caressed her fingers, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I love you too, Lilly, I love you too."