WOWZER, thank you all for the reviews, favorites and watches! I thought this story would have a more popular appeal than my last one, but I was very pleasantly surprised! My last author's not was very rushed because I was running out the door to go on vacation, so I just want to say that "Scottie" is basically a rather generic Scottland, while Annie is my confederacy character. 8D Hopefully there won't be mistakes in this chapter since I had time to actually look it over, even though I don't have my beta. :'. Enjoy!
The chuga chuga sound of engines was always a constant at the rail station. If you were around it long enough you could learn to ignore it, but there was one sound that would wake even the dead from sleep. The shrill scream of a train whistle cut through the air, causing startling blue eyes to snap open. With a yawn and a careful stretch a man who had been sleeping comfortably with his front half in a barrel sat up, looking around at his surroundings. Reaching up to scratch the back of his golden locks that he some how kept perfect despite his living arrangements, he stood up and stared at the sky.
"Ah, what a day." He mused "Although it will be much better once I scare up some breakfast." Strolling out of the lovely train station he had called home for a little while now, he headed straight for the part of town where are the restaurants were bundled together, trying to woo patrons to choose them out of all the options. Walking past a pet store he paused, smiling down at the pups in the window. "My, what cute chiots." He said, before returning to the task at hand. "Now for that breakfast. Where shall I go? Bernie's? Hmm, no. Beilschmitt's? No, no too much starch." Turning a little the solution came to him instantly. "Ah, the Vargas Brothers! But of course." He smiled, heading towards the cute brick building with wonderful smell rising from it. Heading around the back he came to a wooden door, the top of it open. He could vaguely hear the sound of singing floating from inside.
"And they call it bella notte…"
Smirking the blond rapped his knuckles against the door, hearing a scrambling the instant he did so. Quickly a brunet head popped up in the door, single curl bouncing funnily.
"Oh, Ciao Francis! How are you, Ve~?" He said excitedly, eyes lighting up.
"Bonjour Feli, I am quite well, in spite of efforts against my wellbeing."
"That's you Francis, always in trouble!" the Italian laughed.
"Oui. Now would you happen to have any breakfast for this troublemaker?"
"Oh, si! There is lots of garlic bread and, well, mostly garlic bread! No pasta today thought…" He added looking sad.
"Garlic bread sounds magnifique." Francis said with a smile.
"I'll go get some for you then, ve~!" the boy said, running back to the kitchen. After having been given his rather large helping of leftover garlic bread Francis departed with a wave and "Merci." Walking over to a park he sat in an inconspicuous corner behind the bushes. He chewed his bread slowly, glad that it was only slightly stale. The sound of wheels on the street made him look up, even more so when they stopped.
"Whoa, boy, whoa."
Peering over the shrubs the man managed to get a look at a heavy carriage, one that he and everyone like him feared. The driver had gotten out and was tacking a sign up to a post. He already knew what it said.
"Warning. Notice hereby given that any unlicensed youth will be immediately impounded. By order of City Council."
Moving quickly Francis leapt over the bushes and snuck to the back of the carriage to see if anyone was inside. He saw two shapes, neither looking at him, both slumped over.
"Hey, Psst, psst!" He said quietly trying to get their attention. The first to look up was a boy with short messy blond hair and rather impressive eyebrows.
"Oh, blimey, it's bloody Francis." He said with a thick English accent.
"Shh." He said quickly, as the other person raised their head. It was a young woman with exotic eyes and long dark pigtails.
"Hey handsome, come to join the party?" She said with a smirk.
"No time for wisecracks, cheri, I've got to get you out." The Frenchman said seriously, beginning to work on the lock. "The pressure is getting hot. Signs all over town." With a satisfying click the lock gave and the door swung open.
"Gee, thanks." The girl said.
"I owe you one, Frog." The Brit said, not sounding happy about it.
"Oui, oui now get going."
"Hey, what's going on over there!"
"Run!" the Frenchman hissed with urgency as the other two bolted "And be careful!" hearing the footsteps of the driver he waited until he was just about to round the side of the carriage before springing out and punching the man square in the face. Before he had time to recover the young man ran. The catcher gave chase, but he was older and Francis had always been fast, not to mention very good at loosing people. He wasn't sure how long he was chased, but spotting a high fenced yard he ducked into it, smirking as the man ran right past it. Waiting until he was sure it was safe he sauntered out, taking in his surroundings thoroughly.
"Well, well, snob hill." He said, looking at the large fancy houses. "I suppose they have a lid on every trashcan," He paused, looking at the tree he just passed. "and a fence around every tree. I wonder what the license set does for excitement…" he laughed slightly, continuing his stroll down the pristine streets.
"Laddie, laddie!"
"Oh Miss Mattie!"
Hearing no answer the two who had decided to pop in for a visit moved further into the yard looking for their friend. Spotting him first Scottie strolled towards the blond sitting in the yard.
"A good mornin' laddie! 'Tis a bonny, braw bright day, "He paused, seeing the dejected look on the boys face "uh, today.."
"Why, Miss Mattie is something wrong?" Annabel said, catching up to the Scott.
"Aye, tell us laddie." The redhead practically growled "If somebody's been mistreatin' ya.."
"Oh no Scottie." Matthew said quietly. "It's something I've done, I Guess."
"You?" Annabel said with disbelief.
"It must be. Jim Dear and Darling are acting so-"He cut off as Darlings humming suddenly floated through the window. It sounded like a lullaby.
"Jim Dear and Darling?" Annabel repeated. Scottie hushed her, waving them both over and walking behind the greenhouse. "Now laddie, get on with the details."
Well, I first noticed it the other day when Jim Dear came home.." He said, remembering the day. He had run out to greet Jim Dear just like he always did, but hadn't even gotten a simple nod. He had tried to start up a conversation with a simple "How was your day toda-" but the door shut before he had even had a chance to finish. Walking around to the back door he had heard Jim Dear speaking quickly.
"Darling, Darling are you alright?"
"Of course I am, why shouldn't I be?" She had answered simply.
"I just can't help worrying." He had replied. "After all, in your condition, alone here all day taking care of that boy."
"That boy?" Annabel gasped.
Matthew nodded "He's never called me that before…"
"Well now laddie, I wouldn't worry my wee head aboot that. Remember, they're only humans."
"That's right miss Mattie. Why as mah grandpappy Old Reliable used to say…Don't recollect if Ah've ever mentioned Old Reliable before."
"Aye, you have lassie. Frequently."
"Oh.." The blonde scrunched up her eyes as if trying to remember.
"But now Darling is.." Matthew paused looking distressed. "Well we've always enjoyed our afternoon walk together. But yesterday…" He had gone up to her as usual, dressed to go outside. Darling had been knitting, and barely looked up at him had said simply. "No Walk today Matthew." Disappointed, he had asked if they could play a board game. All he had gotten was a "No Matthew. Not now." He stood there awkwardly for a moment, pouting slightly. It had been a lovely day, and it seemed such a waste to spend it knitting! Darling had shifted then, causing her ball of yarn to roll off her lap onto the floor. Thinking this was his chance to try to convince Darling to walk with him with a bit of a laugh Matthew had grabbed it, intending to play keep away. Instantly Darling had yelled. "Drop that Matthew!" catching up to him she had smacked him on the arm, causing him to stop and drop it in shock.
"It didn't hurt really." Matthew said sadly "But Darling's never struck me before.." Annabel and Scottie looked at each other, giving knowing smiled and nods.
"Now laddie, do not take it too seriously. After all, at a time like this…"
"Why yes, you see Miss Mattie, there comes a time in every person's life…well as they put it, the birds and the bees?" Matthew didn't show any recognition. "Or, um.. the stork, you know..?" Matthew still looked blank. That boy really needed "the talk".
"What she's tryin' to say laddie is that Darling is expecting a wee bairn."
"Bairn?" he said looking even more confused.
"He means a baby, Miss Mattie."
"A baby?" Violet eyes were instantly wide. "B-but they, can't have a baby, that's why they adopted me!" he didn't notice as a blue-eyed blond paused his walking past the house to listen.
"Well, they say sometimes these things change." Annabel said with a smile.
"Aye, Jim Dear and Darling must feel like a miracle has happened to them." Scottie said nodding.
"Oh mah, you're going to have a little brother or sister, how sweet!"
"Oui," a voice suddenly floated over, causing all three friends to snap their attention to the blond who was leaning against the fence, smirking. "a cute little bundle." He chuckled "Of trouble." He began sauntering over. "They scratch, pinch, pull ears, but of course anyone can take that. It is what they do to your happy home." He barged his way between Matthew and Scottie, staring straight at the boy. "Move over will you, ami?" Scottie simply growled at being pushed, not liking the look of this newcomer at all. "Home wreakers, that's what they are."
"Look here laddie, who are you to barge in?" Scottie growled.
"The voice of experience, ami. Just wait until the little bebe gets here. You want to hear a nice bit of music? It's 'Stop that racket, you will wake the baby!' Remember all your nice meals? Say au revoir. Left over baby food if you're lucky. And your nice warm bedroom? Taken over in an instant, and it's the basement for you, or maybe a nice broom cupboard."
"Dunnit listen laddie, no one is that cruel!" Scottie snarled, glaring daggers at the newcomer.
"Of course not Miss Mattie. Everyone one knows that they love you like you were their own!" Annabel said with her own glare.
"Oh, come now, tell me you haven't fallen for that old line?" The stranger said giving them a condescending smile.
"Aye, and we have no need for mongrels stirring up trouble. Now off with ye!" He said, backing the man out of the driveway with a look that could kill.
"Alright Sandy." The man said, still with a smirk.
"The Names Scottie!"
"Alright Scottie!"
"That's heather lad o'Glencairn to you!"
"Alright, alright." The man said, holding up his hands in surrender. Turning to leave his eyes traveled quickly back to Matthew. "Buy remember, pigeon a human heart has only so much room for love and affection. When a baby moves in, you move out."