I don't own CHERUB: Robert Muchamore does
Hello? I'm really really really sorry for not updating sooner, I know no excuses can make up for it, but I've had countless things to do, including the summer holidays, choosing GCSEs, helping my ten year old sister with grade 5 theory, power boating, learning the bugle, helping my idiotic friend/acquaintance try not to slash her wrists open etc. Sorry!
"So that's basically my life until I met Gwen's mum," James finished with a flourish. There was a moment of silence, then the questions began:
"So where did-"
"But what happened to-"
"You never explained about-"
"Whoa!" James held his hands up. "One at a time. Meatball, you first."
"You never explained about that black t-shirt and why you kept it." James looked mildly astonished.
"Didn't I? Oh. Well, I told you I was a black-shirt, right?" They all shook their heads at him. "Oh. Well, a black-shirt is the highest rank in CHERUB, so…yeah. When I was fifteen – I think – I was awarded my black-shirt and I kept it as a memento, ok?" When Meatball nodded, his father turned to James Jr. "You next."
"Where did the knuckle-duster come from?"
"Oh that old thing," James Sr chuckled, "Brucey Boy gave it to me when we left. I'd given him one several years before for Crimbo."
"But what's the blood from?" Terry asked curiously.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out," his dad said, mysteriously tapping the side of his nose.
"Da-ad," the boys complained – the girls looking faintly relieved – but James just shook his head and smiled, before continuing.
"Who next?" Hannah piped up.
"What happened to all your friends? You've got their numbers, why don't you call them?"
"Well," James scratched his head awkwardly, "I'd like to get together again, but they probably all hate me." Gwen shot her sister an 'I told you so' look, which Hannah ignored.
"Why would they hate you? You were their friend, right? Friends don't just abandon each other after spending half a life-time together…unless…" She looked hard at her dad who had bowed his head in shame, it seemed. "You didn't!" she burst out, horrified. "Did you?"
"Bed!" announced James suddenly. Groaning and moaning his offspring went their separate ways but not before, unknown to him, each had been slipped a note by Meatball detailing the time and place of another meeting…
James knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"
"Ngya-huh," a muffled reply came from within. He shuffled in quietly and sat on the end of Keith's bed. His youngest son had wriggled down into his covers so that just a thick mop of blonde hair was sticking out. Tattered teddies lined the skirting board and the walls were beginning to fall to pieces. James gazed around sadly.
"Needs a bit of decorating, doesn't it Keithy," he mused. Keith nodded. "Anyway, we'll do that another time. Nighty-night." With that he ruffled his son's hair and went to find his next child.
Terry was playing on a battered Game-Boy when James entered. Gently he prised it out of the boy's hands and shut it.
"Da-ad," whined the nine-year-old.
"Terry," his dad mimicked, "it's late and not incredibly good for you, ok? Now give me hug and go to sleep."
Terry ignored the last part. "But I've always played on my Game-Boy before bed!"
"No you haven't."
"Yes I have."
"No you haven't." James paused for a moment and frowned. "Have you?"
"G'night Hannah," James whispered across the room.
"G'night Dad," she yawned back.
"Sleep well." He began to leave when Hannah asked a question.
"What did the other Hannah look like? Did we look similar?"
"Not at all," he smiled in reply, even though she couldn't see him. "She was tall and blonde, and had a strange taste in friends. But you're just as beautiful."
"'Kay. Night." He was clearly supposed to go, so he tiptoed out.
"Hi Dad."
"Hi JJ. Had a good day?" James sat next to his younger self who was sprawled on his bed.
"So so. It was awesome hearing about Gran and stuff like that. Wish we could've met her."
"So do I." There was a pause, and then:
"Can I start karate?"
"What?" James was thrown momentarily, staring at his son.
"Can I start karate?" James Jr repeated slowly as if his dad was stupid.
"We'll see. Might have to wait a few months, but I don't see why not."
"Awesome. Night."
"Night."
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Whatch doin'?"
"Facebook."
"Any particular reason why you're not in bed?"
"Don't feel like it."
"Meatball, you're supposed to set an example to the younger ones, especially Keith."
"He won't know."
"But I will. Bed. Now." Groaning and muttering under his breath, Meatball logged off his laptop and climbed into bed, plucking his iPod from the table next to him and sticking the earphones in his ears. The room was promptly filled with the faint thump of heavy metal, and James heaved an impatient sigh before patting his son awkwardly on the back.
"See you tomorrow."
There was no reply.
"Go away Dad!"
"What?"
"I said, go away!"
"Joanna Lauren Choke, I am still your father despite what you may-"
"It's not that, I'm changing!"
"Oh." There was an uncomfortable silence. If James had been several decades younger, he might have motioned an 'awkward turtle' to himself, but as it was, he blushed. "Sorry." He'd forgotten she was now practically a 'young lady' – to him she'd always be his little girl.
"NOW you can come in." The door was thrown open and James yanked inside. It had been years since he had been in the room. Posters of the bands the teenager followed littered the room along with magazines about the latest fashion. He felt oddly out of place as he gazed around. She watched him silently.
"Did you want something?" she asked eventually.
"No, no – just to say goodnight."
"Good night, then," was the abrupt response. He gave her an uneasy smile then walked over to her and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"Night," he whispered. And left.
Gwen was sitting on the stairs leading up to her room. Her head was in her hands and she was leaning on the banisters. As he approached, James saw her body heave with a series of heavy sighs. He plonked himself next to her and waited. After a bit, she turned and wrapped her arms around him. It was their first hug since Gwen's mother – James' first wife – had left about ten years ago. They stayed like that for several minutes before Gwen stood up, said goodnight and walked slowly into her room. James watched, wondering when his first child had grown up so much, and why he had missed it.
Hello again, sorry for the big break in updates. If it's any consolation, this is the longest chapter I have ever written, and about the third time I've written it because we've recently got a new computer and all the files have been messed up, so it was all deleted. Sorry if there are any mistakes, I did this in a hurry instead of meeting my family in town so that you guys would get an update… And…the next chapter is already being written! So the next update should be soon if anyone is still reading…
Have a great Christmas/Hannukah/anything else you might celebrate!
~wolfergirl
Today's Bible Verse: "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."" Matthew 1:20-21 NIV