Author note: WARNING! I really don't like this chapter, it was only meant to be short but grew and grew as ideas popped into my head and I'm not even sure if I like them anymore. I'm not 100% sure that I've remained true to my characters here and I'm worried I've let them down slightly. Please tell me what you think and if it's as bad as I reckon. Also, I'm sorry It's taken me so long to update, as I said it is quite long (if that's any consolation) and my workload has been ridiculous of late. So yeah, here it is, chapter two of Giving in, read it with a critical eye.
Chapter two
Visiting Villains
Hudson Farm
A few hours later I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock beeping. After over a week of restless nights and nightmares I can't even begin to tell you how badly I wanted to hit the snooze button and crawl back beneath the sheets, where I would hide for at least the rest of the day. No such luck though as my mum walked into my room, sensing that I was attempting to overlay, and started to nudge me gently awake, telling me that I was going to be late for work and reminding me all the while that I couldn't afford to lose this job.
"Come on Robin, everyone else has to get up and so do you. Come on get up, Mr Jordans won't be happy if you're late." She said nudging me again.
"Ummm," I groaned as I opened my eyes to see my mum standing beside my bed, hands on her hips and her dark blond hair pulled off her face in a ponytail, revealing her serious looking expression "I'm getting up." I said pulling myself to an upright position and running my hand through my messy hair.
"Are you having trouble sleeping Robin honey?" mum asked in a concerned voice, her expression changing to a worried one as she scrutinised the bags that had undoubtedly formed under my eyes. I hastily threw back the covers and stepped out of bed, not wanting my mum to probe on this topic, as she had the uncanny ability to suss out what was wrong with me.
"No, it just took me a little while to get to sleep last night is all," I lied as I straightened my bed and turned back to face my mum, who I now noticed had purple circles of her own around her eyes. I didn't say anything though; I wasn't that rude as to accuse her of anything. Not until I got all the facts at least.
Mum's expression hardened and she folded her arms "I think that you're working too hard Robin, both at the office and at the café. Maybe you should ask for fewer hours, especially now that college has started, it might affect your studies." She said.
"I can't really afford to do that mum, like you said, I've got college and since so one dares to take out EMA there's no other way for me to buy all the books I need." I said, frowning as I thought about the injustice of it all and how no teenager of the Southside dared to take out EMA (education maintenance allowance) because it was obvious that most of us would qualify for the full £30 weekly amount and would only have to cop for it later. You see Baxter didn't want too many kids applying for EMA since it would show that Locksdale was deprived area, if lots of the teenagers needed to take out EMA because their parents wages were below the national average, and sooner or later someone would look at the numbers of kids claiming and wonder why no one in Locksdale had enough money to put their kids through college. The courses were free obviously, but the textbooks, stationary and specialist equipment weren't, then there was also travel and getting to the college itself as well as money to eat. Anyway, Baxter's deterrent was that for the past however many years anyone foolish enough to claim EMA found that their family was heavily taxed for some ridiculous reason so that the money they ended handing back to the council (Baxter) was more than they could ever claim from EMA. So basically there was no point applying.
"Hum," my mum said, her expression was one of annoyance and I could only assume that she had been thinking along the same lines I had. She unfolded her arms, told me that she was taking Alice and Wendy out for the day so she wouldn't be in when I got back from work and headed out of my room.
I sighed heavily before I headed to my wardrobe and took out my work clothes, trying to convince myself that I wasn't tired and trying to remember the reasons I had just told my mum as to why I was getting up on a Saturday morning, during the college term no less, to go to work. As though I could forget the reason, it, or rather he, was part of my everyday life and part of the reason why I was tired right now. Baxter. Deciding it wasn't best to start my day fuming about Robert Baxter's many evils I got dressed and headed for the bathroom which was mercifully empty, a rare occurrence in our house of late. I smiled as I thought of why, I could definitely and gladly put up with the inconvenience seeing as who it meant I got to spend more time with. Once my face was washed, my minimal make up was applied and my hair was acceptable I headed downstairs for breakfast. I walked into the kitchen to find it empty apart from my mum, who was the only one in our five bedroom house right now apart from me and my grandparents who were in the living room watching the Jeremy Kyle show, oooing and ahing at the scandals. I laughed as a woman's voice echoed from the TV in the living room, shouting something about her on and off boyfriend of two years sleeping with her sister while she was at home with their one year old baby, and my grandma urged Jeremy Kyle on in telling the man off for being unemployed and cheating on his wife while ignoring his child. I was starting to think watching that show was the highlight of their day.
"What's got you laughing?" my mum asked, a warm smile in place as she bit into a slice of toast.
"Nothing," I said, still smiling as I took a bowl from the cupboard, grabbed a spoon and poured myself a bowl of cereal. "Are you bringing Alice and Wendy back here for tea tonight?" I asked, I hadn't seen all that much of my sister since the start of the college term, what with my lessons and work and the fact that while George was living with us she was staying at Wendy's. I felt a little guilty about that, though I have no idea why seeing as the kid was a right little brat whenever she's around was me and she was happy enough stopping with her friend.
"Yeah, I have no idea how everyone is going to fit around the table, but I'm brining them both back here. Let Carrie have a little brake." She said as she cleaned her plate and put it back in the cupboard. I ate a spoonful of soggy cereal and nodded. Grinning as I watched my dad and Joey through the kitchen window, they were leading a smug looking (if cows can look smug) and now pretty big Dolly down the lane, the pair of them wearing exhausted expressions and covered from head to toe in mud.
"I'm guessing Dolly escaped again," I said before eating another spoonful of cereal.
My mum stopped what she was doing and peered out of the window, a small smile appearing on her lips "look's like it, though now I think about it I'm sure that I heard shouting a little while ago."
"And you didn't think to go and help?" I asked smiling all knowingly, my mum just looked innocent before grinning and saying,
"No, I didn't think that they needed my help." I felt my grin widen and my mum winked at me, yeah, I bet she thought they didn't need her help.
"Of course not, I'm sure they had everything under control." I said just as the dirt coated trio vanished from sight.
"Exactly," mum said before she flicked on the kettle and took a mug from the rack by the side of the sink "anyway, I'll bet that George will be glad that he wasn't here today when we tell him about this later, he had a lucky escape." She said before laughing a little.
I placed my spoon back in my bowl before saying "maybe not such a lucky escape, he's still got to spend a day with his dad." A frown wrinkled my brow and I felt a prickle of irritation.
My mum's expression changed and she nodded at my words "I suppose you're right, it can't be much fun for him," she said and I looked at her as though she had suggested that at night-time it might get just a little bit dark. Of course it wouldn't be much fun; this was Robert Baxter we were talking about here. My mum didn't catch my look though, which was probably a good thing, and said "though if that is the price he has to pay so that he doesn't have to live there anymore I guess that it's worth it."
"Yeah," I said agreeably though only half-heartedly. Mum was right, if that was what it took for George to stay here with us rather than live with his dad it wasn't so bad, but I still didn't like the idea that he was there, I kept getting the nagging sense that it wasn't safe there for him any more. I didn't say anything though, I wasn't one of those nagging girlfriends, George could make his own choices and I would support him. Though I'd still tell him flat out if he was being stupid, or if I didn't agree with it.
You see it turned out that Baxter wasn't happy with George staying with us, not that it had surprised me all that much, I had guessed that the superficial dictator wouldn't like the bad picture George's moving out painted of his home life. Anyway Baxter had paid George a visit at the farm, much to his own disgust and my parent's annoyance. I frowned as I remembered what an uncomfortable and infuriating experience that had been.
Last week
The noise of chatter floated up the lane as I walked towards the farm yard, I smiled as I recognised the voices, there were three male voices I could pick out anywhere. Picking up my pace I headed towards the voices, the memories of my painful day at work fading from my mind in my eagerness to reach the farm. The late afternoon sun shone brightly, warming the air around me, it was as though it was trying to make the most of the last of the summer before autumn arrived, bringing with it cold winds and chilly weather. I hurried past the house without so much as a glance at the familiar building; my lighthouse was drawing me to him and it was futile to resist. I stepped onto the farm and felt a wide smile spread across my face as I spotted three figures walking through the farmyard. All three of them were dressed in navy overalls and green wellies, two with dark hair and one with blond, as they walked side by side towards me their laughter carried across the short distance. Still grinning I cocked my hip and folded my arms, stifling laughter as my gaze fell upon George, who was trudging across the farmyard in mud covered overalls and laughing along with my dad and Joey.
"What happened?" I called as they neared me; all three of their heads snapped up and their grins widened even more.
"Your bloke fell over didn't he," Joey teased as he inclined his head towards George, who smiled at me and shrugged, his hands buried deep in his pockets.
I bit back a laugh "I can see that," I said gesturing towards my boyfriend.
"To be fair it was only my first day," George said cutely "and it's not like I've done anything like this before."
"I repeat; I can see that." I ribbed as the three of them came to a stop in front of me, George's face was splattered with mud as well, and he looked almost as though he had just climbed out of a trench or else been playing cowboys and Indians with a bunch of kids. It didn't seem to bother him though, he was smiling behind all that dirt and there was a mischievous twinkle in his bright blue eyes.
"You should have seen it," Joey said, meaning George's fall "it was hilarious; he got his wellie stuck in the mud and went flying."
I let out a laugh and George shot me a look before draping his arm over my shoulder and pulling me to him. "You've been framed worthy?" I asked as I leaned into George, who was sniggering for some strange reason.
"I'll say," my dad said as he raised an eyebrow at George's arm and Joey fought back another laugh. I frowned, wondering what was with them all and what on Earth was so funny "we'll make a farmer out of you yet though, wont we George?" my dad asked as he and Joey stepped around George and I and made to move towards the house.
"Yes sir," George said, earning a smile from my dad before the other two started to walk away "how was your day at the café then?" George asked.
"Ergh, don't even ask." I said pushing aside the memories, which were essentially a blur of plates, sandwiches and Jordans' disapproving gaze "I'd sooner hear about your first day working for my dad." I said grinning up at George, one of the provisos of George's staying here was that he helped out with chores and pulled his weight. He had certainly been doing that but had announced the other night that he wanted to help out on the farm with my dad and Joey, who had held him to that and set him on working today.
"What do you want to know?" he asked as we started to walk back towards the house, stepping around chickens and muddy patches on the farmyard.
"I don't know, how was it, did you manage okay?" I asked shrugging; enjoying the simplicity of my life at the moment, despite all my nightmares and other worries my life was the quietest it had been in weeks.
"What, you mean other than falling in the mud and providing your family with comedy gold?" George asked with a laugh.
"Well yeah, other than that," I asked as I knocked my shoulder into him playfully.
"Other than that, hum," George repeated mockingly, as though he was having a hard time remembering what else happened "it was alright after that, to tell you the truth I'm sort of enjoying it Robin, I could get used to this." he said as he tightened his grip on me slightly.
"Careful," I said with a slight laugh "don't let my dad hear you say that, or else he'll think his dreams of me or my family taking over the farm have been realised at last."
"I can think of worse ways to spend the rest of our lives," George said in all seriousness before he added "though I don't think Joey would be best pleased if that happened."
I smiled and pondered this for a moment, happy that George hadn't gone all commitment-phobic on me as I absentmindedly mentioned me and him in the distant future. My smile deepened, George was right, staying at the farm wouldn't be bad at all, a sweet little image of a family popped into my head before I pushed it aside. Gawd, George really did have a strange effect on me, here I was pondering starting a bloody family with George, we'd only been going out two weeks!
"I think you're right," I said as we reached the end of the farm yard.
"I know I am," George said with a grin "and by the way, you've got mud on your face."
"What?" I asked just as George raised his muddy hand to my face and whipped dirt across my cheek. I turned to face him, my mouth hanging open. "George,"
George stepped away from me grinning mischievously but holding his hands up to feign innocence. "Don't look at me like that Robin, I've not done anything wrong, oh and you might want to get changed when we get back home."
Confused I looked down at myself before I let out a gasp, my work clothes were stained with dry mud all down my left hand side, exactly where George had pulled me to him.
"Yeah, sure you've done nothing wrong." I said gesturing down at my clothes and realising why everyone had been sniggering earlier, but still smiling myself.
"I'm sure that it will wash," George said as we passed the outside tap on the side of the house, to which a hose was attached, I felt a sly smile spread across my face.
"Come here," I said as I stepped towards the outside tap "we'll see how well this cleans off then shall we."
"No," George smiled taking a step away from me as I turned on the tap and picked up the hose "I'm quite alright over here."
"I'm sure you are," I said as I pointed the hose at George and the gorgeous lad took off just as I shot a jet of ice cold water at him. It missed. "Come here SWEETIE, lets get you all cleaned up."
"I think you'll have to catch me first love," George said as he started to back away from me, a wide grin on his face. I smiled and started to follow him, before twisting the nozzle and shooting more water in his direction, it missed again. "Though to be honest I don't think I've got anything to worry about, aren't you supposed to be good at aiming?" George teased and I raised an eyebrow, George spotted this and made a 'bring it' motion by curling his finger at me. Whoosh, a jet of water shot through the air, hitting George square in the chest and drenching him from head to toe. I grinned and span the hose around a few times before dropping it to the floor and crossing my arms.
"You were saying?" I asked feeling kind of smug. George just blinked as he got over the shock, this didn't last for long though and a playful smile spread across his lips as he opened his arms and started towards me, gesturing for a hug. I laughed and took off at a jog, dodging his advances as he tried to catch me. He caught me in front of kitchen window, his arms circled me and he pulled me against his soaking chest and I was about to carry on with out game and pull away when he leaned in close to me and whispered,
"Got you," before brushing his lips against mine in a tender kiss, I reacted to his touch instantly and kissed him back quickly, wanting to wind my fingers into his damp hair but knowing the others would be waiting for us inside and cutting this kiss short.
"I think you'll find, that it's the other way around," I said as we pulled apart.
"I think you might be right," George said with a smile before taking my hand and leading me towards the front door.
We stopped suddenly; our gaze falling upon a black Aston Martin Vantage parked outside the farm house, a disgruntled looking driver standing by its side. I felt myself frown, I knew that car, heck, I had been in that car just a few short weeks ago when George had taken me to Marian's Bay for the day. I quickly looked towards the house, if that car was here then that could mean only one thing, so was its owner. Baxter. Fear took hold of me then, not fear for myself but fear for George and for my family who were inside with the cruel murderer right now, at his mercy. My grip on George's hand tightened as I looked at the car, it meant something, the fact that Baxter had chosen to take this car to come here, it was a reminder of the night that Baxter had laid into George and I for taking it and a sign to me that Baxter was not happy. He was putting me in my place. Because this car wasn't one that Baxter would choose just for the sake of it, and to come to a farm as well. I looked at George, whose expression had become harsh and hard, I squeezed his hand again.
"We need to go in, it could be something important." I said, guessing what that George was thinking, that he wanted to turn away now and pretend his father didn't exist.
"What if he knows Robin?" George asked suddenly and quietly "what if he has found out who we are? We should go, we shouldn't risk it."
"He hasn't, if he had he wouldn't come in here in person to tell us that he knew, he'd have sent the B.A. for us long ago." I said, only half convinced myself but fully aware that even if that was the case and Baxter did know who we were I could not just leave my family in there to deal with my mistakes.
George nodded and I took that to mean that he agreed with me and headed towards the house. I opened the door and together George and I stepped into the entrance hall, aware all the while of how eerily silent to usually bustling house was. I walked to the living room door and noticed that no one was in there, great, I thought sarcastically, everyone was in the kitchen and Baxter had probably just seen George and I messing about with the hose and then kissing in the yard. I shuddered at the thought of this cold blue eyes watching us in disgust and then caught myself, the very last person I was going to let make me feel uncomfortable was Robert Baxter, I was Robin Hood (though he didn't know it) and I was going out with his son, he had just better get used to that. George however seemed to have no concerns about his father knowing we were together as he never let go of my hand, not even as we reached the kitchen door and stepped into the quiet room.
"Mum? Dad?" I asked cautiously as I turned the door handle and walked into the room.
Everyone looked up as we entered, and when I say everyone I MEAN everyone, my whole family, minus Alice of course, were all standing uncomfortably in the kitchen with a snooty looking Robert Baxter when George and I walked in. The all stood together, my family I mean, presenting a united and openly hostile front to the unwelcome tyrant visiting our home.
"Mr Baxter is here to speak with George," my dad said eyeing Baxter, who was seated at the kitchen table, distastefully but being polite nonetheless.
George didn't say anything; he merely regarded his father with a look of dislike and shifted his grip on my hand. I realised then that I wasn't breathing, that I was holding my breath worried about what it was Baxter was going to say. There were so many potentially difficult things that could happen right now and that left me on edge, I didn't have a clue what was going to happened next and I didn't like that. Baxter, who had got to his feet upon being mentioned, eyed his son with an expression that was almost revulsion as he took in George's soggy, dirty appearance and mine and his interlocked fingers.
"Maybe you should get out of those dirty overalls George love," grandma said gently from where she stood across the kitchen with my granddad, probably uncomfortable with the all tension in the room and trying to restore some normality "you'll catch your death if you stay in those, they're soaking."
"I will, once he's gone," George said, his voice emotionless and his expression matching "but thank you for being concerned."
My grandma didn't look happy, not because of how rude George was being to his dad but because he was going to make himself ill. I tightened my grip on George's hand, setting my jaw when I felt Baxter's gaze upon me and trying to keep my wits about me as the murderous tyrant started to wind me up. I was determined that I gave him no reason to be suspicious of me, this was the closest I had been to him as just Robin Hudson since the day when George and I had gotten busted for joy riding, I had the funny feeling that he knew that there was something about me, that I wasn't just your average girl. Maybe I was being too paranoid, maybe Baxter wasn't as perceptive as I thought he was; all my walls were up anyway, I was taking no chances where Baxter was concerned. That wasn't to say that I acted the meek, submissive girlfriend, you know me better than that by now so you know that that's just not me, I might be trying to keep Baxter from figuring out mine and George's secret but I sure was going to give Baxter a piece of my mind if he said or did something I didn't agree with.
Baxter frowned and straightened his dark blue business suit, "I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter, I need to speak with you George it is of the upmost importance."
George pulled a face, no longer doing what his father asked with meek acceptance (not that he ever did much of that before) and more than willing to speak his mind, my mum bet him to it though.
"Of course he has a choice; if he doesn't want to speak to you he doesn't have to." She said sternly and Baxter turned to regard her, a most peculiar expression on his face, strangely enough this caused my mum to blush though she did not back down in any way. My dad then cleared his throat and locked his gaze with Baxter's; there was an undistinguishable look in dad's eyes as he folded his arms and moved closer to mum. I watched all of this, confused, my eyes darting between Baxter and my hostile looking parents.
There was a murmur of agreement around the room as my family echoed my mums words, all of them had grown close to George over the past few months that he had been visiting me here and even more so now that he is living with us. So naturally none of them liked the way his dad was treating him.
Baxter ignored my family's minor outburst; he showed no reaction to them and was looking at George instead "I want to speak with you George, and since you no longer wish to live with me," Baxter said with a professional expression on his face, which annoyed me a hell of a lot seeing as he was talking to his son and showing as much emotion that George might as well have been a stranger or a difficult prospect business partner that Baxter needed to persuade to his way of thinking "and prefer to stay here I have had no choice but to seek you out, as I said this is of the upmost importance."
"I have already said that I don't want to speak to you, and it is not my fault that you have decided to come here, if I had my way you wouldn't be here at all. You were the one who gave me the ultimatum; you should not be annoyed that my choice inconveniences you." George said firmly and I felt myself swell with pride as I squeezed George's hand reassuringly, happy that he was mine and glad he was speaking his mind.
Slowly Baxter turned a bright and angry red colour and I watched as his professional expression wavered, his mask was slipping and everyone else in the room was noticing it "You dare to speak to your father…"
"Father, what kind of parent treats his son this way? Any idiot can conceive a child and be its biological father; it takes something more to be a dad, to love and care for a child properly. That's something you are clearly incapable of doing." My dad snapped, clearly unable to lose the opportunity to tell Baxter what he really thought of him. I watched as Baxter's eyes narrowed as he regarded my dad and he asked,
"And you have that something more I assume?" Baxter asked coldly as he glared at my dad with open dislike now, his posh businessman façade slowly disappearing.
"Yes," I said loudly, unable to keep my peace while the infamous and sadistic Baxter turned on my dad "he's a proper dad."
"More so than you are," my mum said sharply and I watched as another peculiar expression crossed Baxter's face and he watched my mum intently.
"Enough of this," Baxter said swiftly turning back to face George "stop being foolish George; I need to speak with you right now."
George stuck out his chin defiantly and stood tall, I mirrored the action and was suddenly aware that I was still wearing my muddy and damp (thanks to George) work clothes, I was willing to bet Baxter thought that I was the devil incarnate come to corrupt his son with my working-class morals and values. No wonder he was looking at me like I was suffering from the bubonic plague.
"I will agree to speak with you, but only because it seems that is the only way that you will leave us in peace." George said, turning his posh upper-class upbringing on his father, whose jaw tightened at his son's words.
"Then perhaps we could go somewhere more private," Baxter said making a move to leave the room, George however did not move a muscle.
"What, and let you beat him again when he doesn't do what you want him to?" my Grandma, who had been informed of Baxter's visit to the hospital by my mum, asked. I felt myself shift into defensive mode as I regarded Baxter, my mum had also told me what Baxter had done to George when he took him aside at the hospital and I'd be damned if I let him do something like that again. Though to be honest I was slightly unnerved by the fact that I had known about this long before my mum had told me thanks to the dream I had had of the incident, while I had been unconscious. Quickly I pushed the thought aside and moved closer to George so that we were standing shoulder to shoulder.
"Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of my family." George said impressively, radiating that Baxter power and charisma that made his father so formidable but made George so amazing. I watched as each member of my family beamed at George for his words, he had called them family and that meant a lot to them I could tell, heck, it meant a lot to me. I squeezed George's hand again, to convey my love and support to him.
Baxter's expression flickered to insidious but no one backed down, seeing as he was outnumbered and out of his element Baxter gave in, loathing every second of his failure. I felt a bold smile cross my lips at his discomfort; it felt good to be knocking Baxter down a peg or two. "Very well," Baxter said with obvious reluctance "take a seat." Baxter said lowering himself into a kitchen chair and gesturing to the one across from him.
"I don't think you're in a position to be offering," my mum muttered loud enough for everyone else to hear, she was right, who was Baxter to be offering seats to anyone when he was a guest in OUR house.
Baxter ignored my mum and continued to watch George, who still hadn't moved. I stroked George's hand tenderly with my thumb to remind him that I was still here. George turned to face me then, smiled down at me sadly and started to move forward, he did not release his hold on my hand and I moved with him without question, wanting to support him. George and I took the two seats opposite Baxter, the rest of my family remained standing though they were now watching us intently. A resentful look crossed Baxter's face briefly before he pulled his mask back up and faced us with his businessman front.
"Well, now that I am here I can see why you chose to stay here, though I certainly would have appreciated it if you had informed me of your relationship." Baxter said formally with only the slightest hint of accusation in his voice, most people might not have noticed it but I sure did.
"We would have, were it any of your business." I said as I regarded Baxter, conveying only a minor portion of the loathing I felt for the cruel man sitting before me, holding back if only for the sake of George and my family. The cheek of him, he had no right to say that, if he wasn't such an uninterested and generally rubbish father George might have actually wanted to tell him about us. Besides, I reckoned he forfeited that right when he threw George out of his house and ignored him these past few weeks.
Baxter turned his cold calculating eyes on me as he spoke with purpose and intent "It is my business if the two of you do something to damage my reputation around the town, the scandal I would be forced to endure if any accidents were to be conceived would be inconvenient to say the least. Especially considering your social standing." Baxter said harshly and I felt my cheeks flame with indignation; he had just called me a slapper, a working-class slapper just waiting for his son to knock her up so that she could benefit from child maintenance!
"How dare you?" My granddad asked, appalled by the way Baxter had spoken to me, my dad on the other hand was frozen in place, staring wide eyed and furious at the businessman who had called me a gold-digger.
Anger bubbled up inside me, as my family let out sounds of righteous anger I felt myself boil over, I was snapping. How dare he speak to me like that? I might be a Southside girl and he might not like me right much, but he didn't know me and I was his son's girlfriend, though obviously none of that mattered to Baxter.
"Listen here you cold hearted, pretentious, cruel…" I started but Baxter cut across me, his voice cool and collected, very unlike my own.
"Insults will get you nowhere Miss Hudson; I only have my son's best interests at heart…"
"No you don't," George snapped, tightening his grip on my hand to tell me he would sort it, I turned and shot him an irritated look but George was speaking again before I could say anything "the only thing you care about is yourself, you don't give a damn about me or anything I do, you just don't want me to make you look bad, you said so yourself just then. And don't you EVER speak to Robin like that, I love her and that is just something you'll have to deal with. We are NOT sleeping together, though even if we were it wouldn't be any of your business." behind me my dad made a small noise like a wounded animal as George suggested the fact that we could sleep together quite easily, even though he knew that we weren't, my dad had made that rule perfectly clear when George and I had announced that we were together. I felt my heart flutter at George's use of the word love, it still made me feel dizzy and besotted, just as it had the first time he had said it to me when we kissed in the living room of this house. I would never get tired of hearing him say that and I would probably never stop having this reaction to those three small words, not that I was complaining.
"You do not know what love is, you're only young, and you haven't met enough people in this world to decide that you love someone. You don't know the meaning of the word." Baxter said, a distasteful look crossing his face as he regarded us, clearly he did not approve. Ha, like he could do anything.
"I know the meaning of love a hell of a lot better than you do, I can love other things as well as Robin," George said powerfully before turning to face me and adding "though nothing as much as her." A small smile played on his lips and I felt myself return it.
"I should think so too, I wasn't about to come in second to your love of fast-food." I said jokingly and George's smile widened.
"I'm assuming that this isn't why you came here to talk to me," George said after a few short moments of Baxter watching us unpleasantly.
"You assume correctly," Baxter said, his gaze flicking between me and my mum even though he was speaking to George "I have a proposition for you."
I watched as George's expression hardened, I could hardly blame him, his dad was speaking to him like a difficult business partner again and not like he was his son. I had never fully appreciated how difficult George's life must have been, especially after his mum died, his dad definitely wasn't one the most loving people and it was obvious George had been living in a loveless environment these past few years. I took my close knit family life for granted, it was all I had ever know and everything George had been without all this time, no wonder he liked it here.
"I'm not moving back in, I refuse to live under the same roof as you ever again." George said and I wasn't all that surprised to see that his words had almost no effect on Baxter; I got the distinct impression that Baxter couldn't have cared less about actually having George living with him. He only cared about appearances. This only wound me up even more, I was like a tightly coiled spring, ready to jump as soon as someone (Baxter) pushed me too far, and how could he care for George so little?
"George, I have been more than fair these past few weeks, I have let you stay with your little girlfriend and now I feel it is time for it to come to an end. People have begun to talk George, you know how you moving out will look to my opposition, they will call me an unfit father." Baxter said, George's frowned deepened and he opened his mouth the say something though my dad bet him to it.
"And that'd be the truth wouldn't it, you are an unfit father and now the world can see it. You really don't care about anyone other than yourself and your damn reputation. George didn't deserve any of the harsh treatment you've given the poor boy, I'm only glad that he's here with us now, safe and away from you." My dad said, visibly shaking with anger now, something had come over him today and he seemed unable to keep his opinions to himself. I looked at him, willing him to stop this, I knew that my dad was opinioned (just like me) and he had the right to speak his mind but he was smarter than this, he was only antagonizing Baxter and I was worried that he was going to put himself and the rest of our family in danger. I was going to step in, draw Baxters attention away from my dad and back to me, I was already on the guys shit list (second only to my alter ego after my 'taking' George away from him I reckoned), I didn't want to see my dad hurt.
Baxter turned slowly to look at my dad, a harsh expression on his face and a cold and threatening air to his voice as he said "just remember who it is you are speaking to Hudson."
"I can't forget, you're the man who tried to burn my house down, ruined my best friend's life and mistreated my daughter's boyfriend." My dad said, standing tall and looking impressive. And tried to kill said daughter on numerous occasions, I added mentally, though he didn't know about all that of course, I think he'd have a heart attack if he did.
"Uncle Alex," Joey said, speaking now for the first time since we had walked into the room I noticed. Joey widened his eyes meaningfully at my dad, who seemed to brush of the look though gave Joey a slight reassuring nod.
"Shall we discus what it is that you took from me?" Baxter asked, his voice threatening again and his eyes never leaving my dads face.
"No, I don't need reminding." My dad said with a look that was almost triumphant. I turned to look at George, going from worried to extremely confused in a matter of seconds. What was Baxter talking about, what had my dad taken from him? George looked no more sure than I was and only looked at me with confusion in his eyes before we both turned back to face our fathers.
"Of that I'm sure," Baxter said shooting my parents a glance before turning back to me and saying "your parents seem to forget the amount of power I have in this town; they forget what I can turn their lives into if I don't get what I want."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw my dad move to say something, a look of outrage crossing his face, I got there before him though, unwilling to let him dig himself in an even deeper hole "I don't think they have to be honest, forgotten I mean, the cost of living here is a never ending reminder. Thanks for that by the way, we all really appreciate it, how much our taxes have gone up since you tried to burn us all alive." I said with the confidence and charisma I usually reserved for when I was Robin Hood, though you all know me, I'm a naturally confident person, I wasn't going to let him talk to me like that.
Baxter seemed taken aback a little by me, not a lot just a little, he regarded me while my parents let out noises of shock, they didn't know that I knew about their tax increase, I had found out about it from George who had heard his father concocting the plan a month or so back. I ignored them all as they watched me, keeping my gaze locked with Baxter and my chin stuck out. A cruel smile flashed across his face as he regarded me.
"She has spirit does this one George," He said as his gaze flicked to his son "however spirit can get tiresome when the woman who has it never learns to do as asked."
"Robin has a mind of her own; it is one of the many things I love about her. I think you should leave, you're not welcome here and I've answered your question, I'm not moving back in with you, not now and not ever." George said, his eyes narrowing at his father who was still watching me with distaste. Well, the feeling was neutral buddy; I thought sourly as I resisted the urge to glare at Baxter, only just.
Baxter turned his attention back to George and his expression hardened yet again "That is not an option, I have custody of you, and if I say that you are to live with me it is as simple as that. Go and pack your belongings George, you are returning to the mansion tonight, there will be no more of this foolishness."
"No," I said, the word exploding from my lips as a result of my anger, there was no way I was letting George return to the Baxter Mansion, it wasn't safe for him there anymore, he'd really humiliated his father by moving in with us, Baxter would be sure to make him pay for that. I wasn't letting George go with Baxter, no way, no how. "He's sixteen; he can make his own choices."
"That may be so but George is still the responsibility of a parent or guardian until the age of eighteen, all of his choices have to be run by me first." Baxter said his voice cold and cruel as he flaunted his victory in front of my face.
"Any judge worth the title would be able to see that George ought not to be in your custody," my dad said, speaking up again.
Baxter didn't turn to look at dad this time, he remained facing George as he spoke "Once again you forget who I am, I have yet to meet a lawyer willing to go against mine or a judge that would even consider the possibility that I am capable of wrong doing. Besides George is not without anything, he is given anything his heart desires when he lives with me and he is not abused, there would be no case and you know it."
"You hit him," I said, unable to hold my tong while Baxter pretended to be the father of the year "how can could say you don't abuse him when you hit him all the time, its wrong and sick to hit your child and like I've said, George is sixteen, he's not a toddler that can be easily shut up by a new toy of a packet of sweets." I looked up at Baxter, sure as anything that my eyes were now showing the full extent of my hate for the man in front of me. He watched me again, his expression darkening.
"A child needs more than just material possessions, they need to feel loved." Grandma said as she looked at George, she had been giving him hugs and mothering him ever since he started living with us, I used to find it funny though not so much now that I knew why she was doing it.
"He is not your child, who are you all the lecture me? George is returning home with me today and that is that, the discussion is over, pack your things George." Baxter said, his voice sounding a little frustrated and bored, he had had enough of this.
"No, I'm not leaving, you don't honestly want me there with you and I certainly don't want to go back to the mansion. Why cant you just leave me be?" George asked, not even a hint of a whinging child in his voice, he sounded demanding and hard done by.
Baxter, who was by this point scrutinizing my mum's spotless kitchen table and looking for imperfections (much to her annoyance), raised his gaze to his son's face and looked fierce as he spoke, Baxter was fast reaching the end of his tether. "This foolishness ends now, go upstairs and pack your bags or else you and everyone in this room will suffer the consequences of your actions."
"Don't do it George," My granddad said as he glared openly at Baxter "you don't have to do what he says."
I turned to look at George, knowing him well enough to know that he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he caused problems for my family, if it was his fault that life (Baxter) was unfair to them. I felt myself frown as I took in George's helpless expression, don't get me wrong, I thought George's chivalry was cute and a big part of why I loved him so much, it was part of who he was an I accepted that, I just didn't like it when it got him into trouble. Baxter clearly knew George's weakness as out of the corner of my eye I could see him sitting back in his chair, thinking the battle won. George looked at me vulnerably, his expression told me that he was going to give in to Baxter, that he didn't have a choice and he was sorry. Well, I wasn't having that; I wasn't going to let him put himself through that.
"George, don't go with him, we'll deal with whatever happens, just don't go." I said, tightening my grip on his hand, I had a really bad feeling about what would happen if George went back with his dad, it wouldn't be good and there was no way I was letting it happen. My family made noises of agreement, clearly thinking the same as I was and unwilling to let George take a hit for them.
"Are you sure about that?" Baxter asked sinisterly, staring at me from across the table.
"We'll get by, I'm sure." I said confidently, my frown deepened as Baxter's menacing expression did not change.
"What about a compromise?" George asked suddenly, I turned to look at him. What was he doing? He was dealing with the devil here, this wouldn't end well. I was going to protest but Baxter was already speaking.
"What kind of compromise?" He asked, raising his eyebrow and clearly wondering if his son had the makings of a businessman after all.
"Hey, no compromise, this isn't a good idea George." I said watching my boyfriend, who shot me a pleading look, begging me to go along with this; clearly it was the only way he could think to get out of going to live with his dad. I narrowed my eyes as Baxter chuckled coldly, fine, I thought, fine I'll let you do this but don't come complaining to me when it backfires. George seemed to see the reluctant agreement in my expression as he shot me a small smile and squeezed my hand, happy that he could sort this out without having to live with his dad and without me and my family suffering because of it.
"I'll agree to a compromise, as long as I don't have to live with you and you leave the Hudson's alone when I do." George said, that alluringly stern and powerful voice back, though I hardly noticed it as I was sitting with my arms crossed and trying not to look too much like a sulking child. I wasn't happy with this, but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to sit here and make sure I knew all the details.
"Of course," Baxter said, a triumphant expression on his face that I really did not like "now, what are the terms of our negotiation?"
Two weeks later
I frowned and pushed the memory from my mind, I still wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing I could do, this was George's life and I wasn't in charge of it, as I said to Baxter, he makes his own choices. I just don't necessarily have to agree with them. The compromise had been that George spent a number of hours at the mansion after college every so many days, and also that he went to any functions, meetings or visits Baxter wanted him present at. That was were George was now, at some sort of business meeting with his father, keeping up appearances just like he was when he was running in and out of the mansion every other day, he was keeping the press off Baxters back. Of course though all of this solved the immediate problem, it didn't help our long term goal in any way, keeping Baxter in the media's good books was not what we wanted, if we were going to get rid of him someday surely it would be better that we had the press thinking he was a bad dad and an user and whatever else. But no, here George was making his dad look good. Still, I supposed I couldn't complain too much, George was still living with us.
"Right mum, I'm off, see you later." I said, trying to shake off my bad mood (which is hard when you're operating on several seriously bad nights sleep) as I stood and quickly rinsed my bowl before drying it and putting it away.
My mum yawned, raising her hand to her mouth to cover it up. I watched her, questions springing to my mind again, though I decided it was best that I didn't quiz her about it now, I'd find out where she and the others were last night soon though. "Oh okay love, see you later, have a nice day at work."
"I'll try," I said with a smile before picking up my handbag and heading towards the front door. I pulled my naff second hand iPod from my bag and put in my ear phones as I walked up the lane towards the bus stop. I had just reached the top of the lane when I spotted him, grinning slyly as he lent against the bus stop sign. I froze and felt my eyes narrow as the smug looking dark haired teen raised his gaze to my face and looked at me over the rim of his expensive looking (Baxter bought) dark sunglasses.
"Hi Robin," Greeted a haughty looking Adam. Perfect.
Author note: so yeah, there it was, my chapter two. Please let me know what you think, in addition to my other worries I think it might drag a little in places, I was going to make it shorter but when I read back over it I see all the little hints and warning for stuff that happens later in the story and realise I cant take them out. Please tell me what you think. :) x