Money
"A lawyer?" Xander said incredulously.
I chuckled at the pole-axed look on my son's face. While my actual reason for going to see Mr. Rochard wasn't pleasant it was almost worth it just to see that particular emotion gracing my son's face. ^He looks just like my father with that look on his face.^ Though I'd never met my old man he'd been a minor lord and I'd looked seen him on the television several times.
"My mother may have been a sucker for a pretty face," I reflected briefly on this other genetic trait, or flaw in certain situations, I'd inherited then continued, "but she wasn't a fool." ^No, she wasn't a fool. She was smart enough to get out of England and away from her 'shocked' relatives. You think none of them ever had a child out of wed-lock.^ "I have to pass two years worth of drug tests before I can claim my inheritance." With that said I carefully navigated my way out of the living room.
The localized windstorm that my son had produced had thrown several pieces of what loosely could be termed 'objects' but were closer in composition to garbage in my way. Losing my balance I my foot got snagged on a cap, one of the ones with tubes and cup holders that had somehow survived Tony's last Superbowl party three years ago, probably by hiding under other junk, and swung around trying to find it again. I landed quite solidly on my butt, which sent a flash of pain up through my tailbone and all along my spine. ^I just can't seem to get a break.^ I attempted to get to my feet and winced at the pain coming from my rear-end. ^Maybe I shouldn't have said' break'.^ I sighed and shook my head at my own stupidity.
Suddenly a hand was hovering in front of my face. "Here mom. Let me help you." His words were softly spoken, but oh, I could tell that was only an effort to keep from laughing. I looked from Xander's hand to his face and briefly flirted with idea of jerking him to the floor as well. Especially when I saw his lips twitching. However, I *really* wanted to get up off the floor, which I suspected harbored things better left unconsidered. I grabbed his hand, ironically what had started this whole thing off, and was quickly swung to my feet. ^He's stronger than I thought.^
"So... " My son drawled as I wiped dirt off the back of my robe in an effort to do... Actually I wasn't quite sure why I did it. Habit, I guess? "This inheritance would be... the world's largest collection of used gum?" I swung my head back around, I'd been considering the job I'd done on my cleaning my back end, and searched my son's face. I found only wry amusement and a sarcastic smile.
"You really think that?" I said unable to keep the shocked tone from my voice. He suddenly looked uncertain and I realized that he really did. "Didn't you ever wonder how we could afford anything? Tony hardly ever worked?" Xander tilted his head and gave a little frown. I just shook my head. He was a teenager after all, why would he question where the money came from. "I've been getting a monthly allowance ever since my mother died. Your f-" I stopped and winced. I'd been pretty good at remembering that Tony wasn't Xander's real father but 17 years of habit had caught me eventually. I swallowed the bitter taste that had flooded my mouth. "The only reason Anthony had to work at all is because drugs are expensive."
*** For everybody asking when Gambit is going to make an appearance.... I don't know. This whole story is ad-libbed and I hardly know what I'm doing one moment to the next. He will show up, eventually.
"A lawyer?" Xander said incredulously.
I chuckled at the pole-axed look on my son's face. While my actual reason for going to see Mr. Rochard wasn't pleasant it was almost worth it just to see that particular emotion gracing my son's face. ^He looks just like my father with that look on his face.^ Though I'd never met my old man he'd been a minor lord and I'd looked seen him on the television several times.
"My mother may have been a sucker for a pretty face," I reflected briefly on this other genetic trait, or flaw in certain situations, I'd inherited then continued, "but she wasn't a fool." ^No, she wasn't a fool. She was smart enough to get out of England and away from her 'shocked' relatives. You think none of them ever had a child out of wed-lock.^ "I have to pass two years worth of drug tests before I can claim my inheritance." With that said I carefully navigated my way out of the living room.
The localized windstorm that my son had produced had thrown several pieces of what loosely could be termed 'objects' but were closer in composition to garbage in my way. Losing my balance I my foot got snagged on a cap, one of the ones with tubes and cup holders that had somehow survived Tony's last Superbowl party three years ago, probably by hiding under other junk, and swung around trying to find it again. I landed quite solidly on my butt, which sent a flash of pain up through my tailbone and all along my spine. ^I just can't seem to get a break.^ I attempted to get to my feet and winced at the pain coming from my rear-end. ^Maybe I shouldn't have said' break'.^ I sighed and shook my head at my own stupidity.
Suddenly a hand was hovering in front of my face. "Here mom. Let me help you." His words were softly spoken, but oh, I could tell that was only an effort to keep from laughing. I looked from Xander's hand to his face and briefly flirted with idea of jerking him to the floor as well. Especially when I saw his lips twitching. However, I *really* wanted to get up off the floor, which I suspected harbored things better left unconsidered. I grabbed his hand, ironically what had started this whole thing off, and was quickly swung to my feet. ^He's stronger than I thought.^
"So... " My son drawled as I wiped dirt off the back of my robe in an effort to do... Actually I wasn't quite sure why I did it. Habit, I guess? "This inheritance would be... the world's largest collection of used gum?" I swung my head back around, I'd been considering the job I'd done on my cleaning my back end, and searched my son's face. I found only wry amusement and a sarcastic smile.
"You really think that?" I said unable to keep the shocked tone from my voice. He suddenly looked uncertain and I realized that he really did. "Didn't you ever wonder how we could afford anything? Tony hardly ever worked?" Xander tilted his head and gave a little frown. I just shook my head. He was a teenager after all, why would he question where the money came from. "I've been getting a monthly allowance ever since my mother died. Your f-" I stopped and winced. I'd been pretty good at remembering that Tony wasn't Xander's real father but 17 years of habit had caught me eventually. I swallowed the bitter taste that had flooded my mouth. "The only reason Anthony had to work at all is because drugs are expensive."
*** For everybody asking when Gambit is going to make an appearance.... I don't know. This whole story is ad-libbed and I hardly know what I'm doing one moment to the next. He will show up, eventually.