I'm so sorry I missed a day - but there's gonna be (hopefully) two chapters tomorrow - the second half of this, and an unrelated piece. Also, possibly another chapter of After, but we''ll see on that one.
This one features little Jemma / Leo when they're being funded by SHIELD at Uni - during their second degree, not quite at the Academy yet, but studying in America - just a little background that is and is not mentioned in the story.
As I always beg of you, I await patiently for your reviews - anything, everything, something in between, I love them all, and I love you more for them.
Okay, bye!
"Fitz?" Jemma pushed the door to his room open with a shout. "The taxi company phoned, they're gonna be here in fifteen minutes. Get your bag."
There was no answer as she walked into the tiny 'living room' - just big enough for a sofa and a telly, with a window (that was starting to look rather filthy again, she noted mentally) and two doors - one leading to a basic bathroom consisting of a toilet, a shower, a sink and a mirror, the other leading to a bedroom with a single bed, a wardrobe and not much else.
It was the exact image of her housing space the next room along, and about 300 others in the SHIELD funded housing they lived in while in the process of their second degree.
Passing through the living, she spotted the (thankfully already packed) suitcases stacked by the ghastly coloured sofa, as she made sure to make enough noise that he realised she was there, and therfore wouldn't accidently walk in on him changing in his room.
Again.
Finding him changing would almost have been a good thing compared to what she did find - her best friend sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixated on a blank space on the wall, his hands fisted so tightly - he looked to be squeezing the life out of his telephone.
He knew the moment she came in the room though, because he started talking. "Becca called. Grandma's sick." He sounded almost dead, his arm dropping limply to his side, the phone falling loudly to the floor.
Jemma opened her mouth to speak - she didn't know what the words would be, didn't know what words there could be, shock clear in her face, but Fitz shook his head.
"She said she's in hospital, that she's fine, she going to be fine, but that maybe I should stay here this year."
The statements were contradictory, and at this point he was talking more to himself that to Jemma, muttering almost under his breath, his accent thickening with every breath until no one other than her would have been able to understand him anyway.
There were a wide variety of ... choice ... words Jemma could have used to describe Leo's older sister at that point, but none of them would do any good, so she pushed them to the back of her mind, where they would simmer until the next time she got to see the twenty seven year old woman.
"But it's Christmas." Her voice was soft, her hand going up to comfort him, but stopping and hovering just shy of actual physical contact, not knowing what he needed at the moment. "And you've been looking forward to this trip for ages."
"Becca and David and the kids are there, and she said it could be harmful to overwhelm her, so ... it's not like I have anywhere to go."
The lost little boy look on his face almost tore Jemma's heart out at that point, and the desire to throw something at Rebecca grew exponentially.
A blind man could see just how much Fitz loved his grandmother, and how much he'd been looking forward to going to see her again - it wasn't like he remembered his parents, so she was the closest thing he had ever had to a mother. And now Rebecca was saying that Fitz couldn't come home, and why? Out of misplaced jealously most likely - it was no secret that Leo had inherited the brains of the family, with him doing his second degree already by the age of eighteen - while Becca's greatest achievement when she was that age was ... well she didn't really have one.
"Well you can't waste the trip." Her voice was final, a plan coming together in her head.
"Weren't you listening?" He didn't move. "It's not like I can go home."
"Well the airplane tickets are expensive - and I know SHIELD bought them, but don't even start - so you're not wasting it and you are not spending Christmas alone. You can come to my house with me. Mum and dad won't mind, and we have a spare bedroom anyway."
His eyes flicked up to her for a fraction of a second. "Don't be silly Jem - I can't come with you. You haven't seen your family in like six months. I'm not intruding - you should just enjoy yourself."
"And you think I'll be able to enjoy myself knowing you're here alone at Christmas."
The first inkling of hope began to grow in his eyes, "You're sure?"
She rolled her eyes. ""Of course I'm sure. You'll spend Christmas Day with me, then on boxing day, day after at the latest we'll go to Scotland and visit your grandma, Rebecca or no Rebecca. Now go and get your suitcase, the taxi'll be here in about ten minutes and we're not going to be late."
The second he left the room, a small smile beginning to play on her lips, Jemma pulled out her phone, dialling the number she memorised years ago.
They answered within three rings, and she spoke before the voice on the other end had a chance to say anything.
"Mum? I know its really late notice, but I need a favour."
Thank you for reading, and please review,
Mia
