Jack sat atop the roof of the Bennett's house, looking up at the night sky, watching the trails of Dreamsand snake their way through windows into children's bedrooms, granting them dreams of gold. He peered downwards as he heard voices, and watched as Mrs. Bennett embraced that strange guy by the gate before the latter climbed back into his black car. A moment later, it drove off and Mrs. Bennett slowly walked to the front door and soon was out of Jack's sight.
The winter spirit more or less knew what was going on. He felt sorry for the Bennett siblings, particularly Sophie who seemed pretty distraught, but he understood it was best he kept out of such affairs. After all, he was a guardian, and he was supposed to bring joy to the children of the world, a huge responsibility and he didn't think it wise to meddle with family affairs. Though he wished he could do something, he couldn't think of anything save for freezing that strange man but that was out of the question.
Jack's mind wandered back to many years before, when Mrs. Bennett was just a child herself. She was born and raised in Burgess, so Jack knew her from a young age. She, too, like many other children, believed strongly in the guardians- the other guardians. She loved snow days and would usually win all the snowball fights if Jack didn't intervene. Her parents, however, seemed to quarrel much too often but their children had grown used to it except Mrs. Bennett, who was always in the depths of despair whenever quarrels flared up. Jack had once accidentally overheard a conversation between her and one of her best friends in which she mentioned she wanted to never get married lest she spent the rest of her life yelling at someone she was supposed to be in love with. Her friend had just laughed and teased that she would be the first one among them to be wedded.
Which came true. She married at an early age and Jamie was born about three years later. Jack still kept an eye on the grown-up children of Burgess, like he was currently doing, as he felt a strange sense of attachment towards them, probably because it was his birthplace and where he used to live before he died. Jack noticed Mrs. Bennett often seemed depressed; she and Mr. Bennett didn't converse much especially after Jamie was born. She almost single-handedly raised him. There were frequent quarrels, but Mrs. Bennett always tried to look cheerful and happy before her children and only mope or sob when she was alone. Jack didn't know much about Mr. Bennett, as he only moved to Burgess after he got married.
After the split, the winter spirit couldn't help wondering if Mrs. Bennett was finally able to live a peaceful life with no shouting or yelling. She looked like she did, though she didn't spend that much time with her children. But now, she was engaged again. Despite not knowing much about the whole romance thing, the guardian was surprised that Mrs. Bennett trusted this strange man so easily, like she didn't have any upsetting memories from her previous love life though she seemed genuinely happy. Perhaps she might finally fall under the category of people who are happily married? Jack hoped so, but Jamie and Sophie weren't pleased with this soon-to-be father of theirs.
From the roof, he spotted the two siblings in question alight a bus and walked in through their gate, about half-an hour after the man left, talking in low voices. They didn't seem to notice Jack, but then again, they didn't look up and were so immersed in their conversation. What it was about, the winter spirit couldn't hear and his curiosity was aroused. He waited till the lights in Jamie's bedroom flickered on before flying down to the windowsill. Jamie noticed him immediately and let him in.
"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere in Australia or something, bringing blizzards and snow?" asked Jamie.
Jack smirked. "Let's just say my work there is complete. Australia is pretty easy, not many parts receive snow. And it's Bunny's territory." There was a short pause before he went on. "So, what's going on?"
There was no immediate reply as Jamie and Sophie flopped onto the bed and Sophie smoothed out a piece of paper on which she had scribbled a lot and pored over it again, making notes here and there, ticking and crossing. "Sophie's trying to come up with a plan to stop the wedding," Jamie finally spoke.
Jack leaned on his staff. "And why?"
Sophie looked up sharply. "You mean, it's not obvious yet? He treats us like dirt, hates us and he's so infuriating, that I simply can't imagine life with him married to mom."
"And so you're trying to stop the wedding regardless of how it impacts your mother?" Jack asked.
Jamie sat up and stared at the winter spirit. "Jack, are you... against us in this? You think it isn't wise of us to do what we're planning to do?" He couldn't believe it.
Jack took a deep breath. "I just think it's pretty cruel to just tear your mother away from pure happiness like that." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Jamie and Sophie were incredulous.
"What are you talking about, Jack?" Sophie asked. "You should see how that man treats us! He must be some military officer or something! It can drive someone crazy, living with him."
"But we don't even know if mom is truly happy, Jack," Jamie continued. "For all we know, she may just be trying to get over dad."
"And since when was he the expert in these sort of things?" Sophie snapped. "Jack, you don't know our mother. She..."
"You're right," Jack cut her off. "I'm not an expert when it comes to things like this problem of yours. I'm not even a novice. And I shouldn't be messing with your family affairs, but I think perhaps you should give this guy a chance if your mother is truly enamoured of him. She was terribly unhappy when your father was around and..."
"What?" Sophie glared at the winter spirit. "Mom was happy! Dad may not have given her everything, but she wasn't sad or depressed. Sure, they had arguments as well, but that happens to everyone! And you may be a part of our family, but you're from a long, long time ago, so stay away!"
"Your mother was just acting! She didn't want you to feel depressed or traumatise your childhood so she put on an act before you after any quarrel or argument with your father!" Jack responded, aware that Jamie had not said a word. "I think you shouldn't..."
"You know what? I think..." Sophie began.
Jamie intervened at that moment. "Jack's right, Sophie," he said, earning him a stare from his sister. "Sometimes I overhear them quarrelling. You were pretty young. I thought it was something normal, despite constantly hearing dad threaten mom with divorce. Whenever I hear mom coming up, I would get into bed and she would usually look all happy as she tucked me in. I guess when dad finally found someone else, he decided to break it off for good."
An ominous silence hung over them as Jamie's words sank in. Sophie finally took a deep breath and spoke, breaking the silence. "But how do we really know that she will be truly happy with this creep?" She sounded calmer, but there was a bitter note to her voice, probably resenting the fact that she had not really known her mother.
"We talk to her. Wasn't that our original plan?" Jamie asked. "You should tell her everything. How you feel, and what you think and all. And we have to do it as soon as possible, like right now. Before Lloyd shows up in the morning again and goodness knows when we'll be able to talk to her. Imagine if he suddenly decided to stay the night tomorrow."
They crept out onto the landing, leaving Jack in their bedroom, as he would bring a drop of temperature anywhere he went and the siblings didn't want their mother worrying about the temperature when there was something else of greater import to be discussed. They stopped outside her bedroom door, listening. The sound of classical music from the radio was apparent. Mrs. Bennett was probably reading or something, while listening, as she did every night before she went to bed. An activity their father had never liked, they realised. Jamie brazenly knocked on the door.
"Jamie? Sophie? Is that you?" came her voice.
The two of them exchanged glances before Sophie answered. "Yes, mom. We... want to talk to you about... something."
Expecting their mother to call out to them to come in, they were surprised when they heard the sound of hurried footsteps and the door opened. Mrs. Bennett looked worried. "Come on in," she said, holding the door open as they entered. They climbed onto the double bed and had another round of glance-exchanging, mulling over what they wanted to say. Jamie had suggested a planned speech, so as not to accidentally hurt their mom or make her angry, but he doubted Sophie was going to stick to her script.
Mrs. Bennett positioned herself opposite them. "I know what this is about," she said.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "You do?" she asked, mildly surprised.
Mrs. Bennett sighed. "This is about earlier, isn't it? Is there something wrong, Sophie? Jamie told me you were in the bathroom... composing yourself. Sophie..."
"No," Sophie said, so firmly her mother was taken aback. "It isn't about that. Okay, well, it's partially about that. It's... it's about..."
"It's about Lloyd." Jamie decided to help her out.
Mrs. Bennett turned to him. "It's Mr. Bane to you, Jamie," she said, before turning back to Sophie.
Jamie couldn't help smirking. That surname fitted the guy perfectly.
"What was it, Sophie?" Mrs. Bennett asked.
Sophie took a deep breath. "Mom, am I really going to Ingram Prep? You know how they're like at that school."
Mrs. Bennett sighed again. "I'm so sorry, Sophie, but I think it's for the best. I do seem to notice that your attitude is getting bad these days and sometimes, your anger is out of your control. And it's time you mastered discipline. Look on the positive side. The school can benefit you in so many ways, Soph."
"But what if it doesn't? What if I'm not happy there? Will you take me out of it?"
Mrs. Bennett hesitated for a moment. "No... I guess," she said. "L- Mr. Bane is quite confident that you can grow to like the school over a period of time and be a totally changed and reformed person when you graduate."
"That's the problem, mom!" Sophie responded, her voice slightly louder, but she hurriedly dropped it a notch, remembering Mrs. Bennett mentioning her anger being out of her control. "That's... the thing, mom," she said, sounding a little too meek. "You... It... It seems that Mr. Bane has taken control over everything. You seem to be answering to him all the time!"
"Sophie Bennett, what are you talking about?" said Mrs. Bennett. "Mr. Bane has not... taken control over everything, he just makes suggestions and I agree to whatever I think is appropriate! And I think a prep school will do you good. It is costly, no doubt, but he is willing to sponsor. You... you should be grateful!"
Sophie heaved a sigh of exasperation. "Do you love him, mom?" she asked.
"What sort of question is that?" Mrs. Bennett said. "Look, Sophie, if you came here to ask questions of that nature, you can very well return to your room right now and go to bed. It's running late."
"Okay, fine. You won't answer that. What about this? Do you love me, mom?"
Mrs. Bennett shut her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Now that is a stupid question. Of course I do."
"Don't you ever wonder if we're happy or not?" Sophie pressed on. "Right now, we're feeling pretty down in the dumps with the presence of..."
"What Sophie is trying to say is..." Jamie cut his sister off, sitting up straight, jumping into the conversation. She was going to ruin everything. Jamie knew she wouldn't stick to the planned dialogue, so he forged his own backup. "... how can we truly be happy if we do not know if you're happy, mom?"
Both Sophie and Mrs. Bennett turned to stare at him. "What do you mean, Jamie?" asked the latter.
"We just want to know if you really love Mr. Bane. Like with your whole heart and that you feel happy just being around him. That you are genuinely happy," Jamie replied. "I hate to bring this up, but I know you weren't happy with dad. Sophie and I can't bear the thought of you having to go through all that again because this guy isn't the right one. It can be... pretty depressing for us. We can't truly be happy of we know you're not." Jamie sighed quietly upon finishing, surprised at himself.
If looks could kill, Jamie would've died a most gruesome death from the ones he was receiving from Sophie. Mrs. Bennett chuckled, much to their surprise.
"I understand what you mean, Jamie," she said. "But yes, I believe Mr. Bane can give me a whole new life, one that is quite different from the one your father gave me. And..."
"Aren't we supposed to forge our own lives?" Jamie interrupted. "Do we really have to wait for someone to 'give' it to us? Must we really succumb to fate? We can't choose our own paths? Or is that just you women's lots? Aren't you suppose to pursue your own happiness?"
Mrs. Bennett seemed lost for words for a moment. She blinked several times, and Jamie and Sophie could see she was on the verge of bursting into tears. Jamie tentatively reached out and took her hand, immediately causing her to burst into tears. But he held on.
"I just wanted you to have a proper family again," she sobbed. "I didn't want you to be without a father. I know you're already nineteen, Jamie, but still..." She trailed off.
"Is this marriage really necessary?" Sophie asked.
Mrs. Bennett dried her tears. "I suppose, Sophie," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I can tell you don't like Mr. Bane. But just try. Give him a chance. He has treated me well, more than I deserve. He doesn't have a particular fondness for teenagers, but that can change if you can prove yourselves. Can you do it? Please, for me?"
There was a short moment of silence before Jamie leaned forwards and enveloped her in a hug. "Okay, mom. I... I'll try."
Sophie ruminated. "As long as he stops being so militaristic and I don't have to go to Ingram Prep, then, alright, I'll give this guy a shot," she finally said, a bitter edge to her voice. She leaned forwards, against her mother. "Just... don't expect too much."
Gah! This is horrible! But I could think of no other way to write it. *digs a hole and buries myself in it*
*peeks out of the hole* But thanks for reading and all the reviews, favourites and follows! *dives back in*