For once, I have nothing real to say. Read on! =D
"No, don't hold the knife like that," Winston instructed to Emily. "Turn it this way." He helped her to properly hold the large chopping knife in her hands, and then slide it down to cut the carrots into an appropriate size. "There you go," he said. "You've got the hang of it."
Emily proceeded to chop the next set of carrots, ever so slowly, as if uncertain of her ability to perform the task. Then, she increased the speed along, chopping away. Alister entered the kitchen. "Smells delicious in here," he said. "How's it all coming along?"
"Spectacularly," Emily replied. "We're having pot roast and French bread."
"Mind if I try some of the soup…?" Alister teased, leaning over the pot.
"Get away from there!" Emily ordered. "You'll ruin the illusion of the meal."
Alister chuckled. "Alright, then. I'll hold off."
Emily chuckled to herself, then continued to chop the carrots. She looked up through the kitchen window, out to the gray clouds and past the falling rain. She squinted her eyes – was that Kurtis sitting in the garden? She set the knife down and quickly washed off her hands. "I'll be back, Winston," she said.
Emily exited through the side kitchen door, covering her head as she reached the stone gazebo where Kurtis was seated. She leaned over the rock railing. "What are you doing?" she asked curiously.
"Having a smoke," he replied, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"That causes cancer, you know," she said.
He chuckled. "Now you sound like your mother."
Emily shuffled her feet, then looked up at Kurtis. "When did you two meet, anyway? She's never mentioned you…"
Kurtis scoffed in his mind. Of course she hasn't, he thought. He understood why, though. "I have to protect Emily," Lara would say. More like over protect, he thought. He took another drag, exhaling the smoke. "We met about fifteen years ago," he said. "I've just been…traveling a lot ever since."
"Oh," she said quietly. She picked at her nails nervously, then looked up at him again. "Do you like her?"
The question caught him off guard, and he looked up at her abruptly. "What?" he asked, chuckling a bit.
Emily shrugged her shoulders, taking a step inside the gazebo and seating herself on the stone railing. "You know…like her, like her."
He looked out to the garden, then grinned up at Emily with amusement. "You ask a lot of questions, kid."
"Well, do you?" she persisted.
Kurtis chuckled again, deciding he would play along with this child's persistence. He looked up at her. "Promise not to tell?" he humored her.
She nodded quickly, grinning. "I swear."
"Then, yes," he said. "I do like her." I love her, he thought.
Emily grinned devilishly. "I knew it," she said. "I just knew it!" She grabbed the stone rail above and slid off the railing she was seated on, standing to her feet. "I think it's cool. Mom doesn't date. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen her with a man outside of business. She just seems so…" She sighed.
Kurtis looked up at her. "So what?"
"So…I don't know," she said. "Heartbroken, I guess. I mean, she always makes time to yell at me, and to get her work done, and act like everything's okay, but sometimes, she just kind of goes off quietly, like she just wants to be alone." She drew in a quiet breath, gazing out to the fountain in the distance. "I think she misses my dad. She's never talked to me about him, and every time I ask, she just tells me stop pestering her. It makes me sad, though. I don't want her to be sad. I want her to be happy."
Kurtis slowly glanced out, towards the rose bush in the distance. I know she misses him, he thought. She just won't admit it. Not yet, anyways…"Heartbreak is a painful thing," he said.
Emily nodded, turning to face him. "I'm sure," she said. "But…" She drew in a silent breath, making eye contact with Kurtis. "It's funny. You see, she always seems so lifeless, but the minute she opened the door and saw you standing there, she seemed so…" She grinned softly. "So happy. It was like she was shocked and surprised, but underneath it all, she was just happy."
Kurtis let a small grin cross his face. "Well, she's your mother. You would be able to tell when she's happy or not."
"She was," Emily assured him. "Trust me."
"I believe you," he replied.
Kurtis rose to his feet, looking around for an ashtray. Normally, he would just drop the cigarette on the ground, but in this case, being in Lara's stately home, he wouldn't be so rude. He sighed, pressing the tip into his hand, and putting it out. It stung for a moment, but he quickly used his telepathic energy to heal it in an instant. Then, he'd realized his mistake. Emily was staring right at him, confused and shocked. "How did you do that?" she asked slowly.
He glanced down at his palm where the ring should've been. Emily quickly grabbed his hand, searching for a mark, as if it were an optical illusion. Then, she looked up at him, even more confused. "Where'd it go?"
He pulled his hand away from hers, chuckling nervously. "Nowhere," he said. "I didn't burn myself or anything…" he lied. Emily continued to stare up at him in confusion and shock, even as he walked away, heading back towards the manor.
Lara stared out the side window, her arms folded over her chest. She gazed out towards the garden gazebo, where her daughter sat on the stone railing, talking to Kurtis.
Kurtis, the man she'd loved for over twelve years. The man who had broken her heart when she'd thought he would be lost from her forever. The man who left her with a beautiful child, and ironically enough, without even the knowledge of Emily's existence. Now, here he was, sitting in her stone gazebo in the garden, conversing with their daughter as though they'd been best friends all along.
Lara sighed, hearing footsteps approach her from behind. She turned to see Alister, and offered him a soft smile. "Is everything alright, Lara?" he asked.
She faced out the window again. "All is well, Alister," she said. "I'm just thinking."
Alister gazed out the window with her, watching as Emily slid off the stone railing and onto her feet. "They seem to be hitting it off quite well," he speculated.
"Emily is quite a social butterfly," Lara agreed. "It's just funny how everything works out."
"Indeed," Alister said. "Your long-lost lover, also the father of your child, saves her life from a pack of bullies down the street, and the next thing you know, he's standing in your home, conversing with you and your daughter as though nothing has happened."
"He knows," Lara said, mostly to herself. "Of course he knows that she's his. He has to know."
"Oh, he knows alright," Alister agreed. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No," Lara said. "Not at all. But…" She sighed. "How will Emily handle it when I have to explain everything to her?"
"She should be fine," Alister consoled. "She's a strong young girl. Just like her mother…"
Lara glanced back at him, smiling weakly. Then, she returned her gaze out to the two in the garden. "That's what I'm afraid of," she admitted.
"And how are you handling all of this?" Alister asked.
"Just like I handle everything else," she said passively.
"Right," Alister said, hardly believing her. "Because you always faint at the sight of an old friend."
"Not now, Alister," Lara sighed wearily. "This is about Emma. Not about me."
Alister sighed, heading away. "It's about all three of you," he disagreed. Then, he headed down the hallway and out of sight. Lara drew in a deep breath, watching as Kurtis headed back towards the manor, and Emily stayed behind, looking dazed and confused. Lara narrowed her eyes at Kurtis as he entered through the side door, nearly bumping into Lara as he did so.
"Hey," he said casually.
"What did you say to her?" Lara asked slowly. "She looks like she's trying to solve a math problem out there."
Kurtis chuckled, glancing out as Emily made her way towards the house. "She, uh…she just witnessed some of my powers." Lara sighed, turning to walk away. Kurtis followed after her. "So she doesn't know about the Lux Veritatis? Or about any of it?"
"No," she doesn't," Lara confirmed. "I see no need to tell her."
"No need?" Kurtis asked, folding his arms over her chest. Lara turned to face him, glaring into his eyes challengingly, as if daring him to argue with her. They stood where they were for the next moment, staring into each other's eyes, both fighting a private battle inside themselves, as well as with each other.
They heard scuffles behind them, and looked up in time to see Winston poking his head out of the dining room, and Emily standing beside him with a bowl of salad in her hands, confused at the sight before her. "Dinner is served," Winston announced.
Lara sighed quietly. "Thank you, Winston," she said. She brushed her way past Kurtis, and towards the dining room. Winston followed behind. Emily watched as her mother walked past them, then turned her gaze to Kurtis, who, if possible, looked just as angry as her mother had. For once, Emily knew better than to ask what was going on. Instead, she turned towards the dining room, carrying the bowl of salad with her.
Kurtis sighed to himself, running his fingers through his hair, and heading in the direction of the dining room.
Emily stared up at the ceiling, lying in her bed later that evening. That was the most awkward meal I've ever had, she thought. Her mother had hardly spoken, and when spoken to, she'd snapped everyone's heads off. Kurtis hadn't spoken much, and whenever Alister or Zip spoke, it was to make a comment on the weather, or make some stupid joke, or something of the sort.
Emily sighed, rolling over on her side. All she wanted was a father. The likelihood of her ever meeting her real father – if he was even alive – was slim to none. Kurtis seemed nice enough, and he and her mother had known each other long enough. If she could just convince her mom to stop being so bitchy, maybe they would start dating, and eventually get married! Kurtis would be a cool dad, Emily thought, grinning to herself. She just needed to figure out ways to throw them together…
Emily heard a faint rapping on her door, and looked up in time to see light coming in as her mother entered. "You're in bed already?" Lara asked.
Emily rolled over to face her. "I'm tired," she said.
"I should imagine so," she said, seating herself on the edge of Emily's bed. "You've had quite the day."
Emily picked at the edge of her comforter, then gazed up at her mother. "Do you like Kurtis?" she asked quietly.
Lara sighed, glaring at her, yet smiling at the same time. "You are too nosy for your own good."
"It's just a question," Emily said.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Lara said, pulling the comforter over Emily's shoulders.
"But, I want to know…" she protested.
"Go to sleep," Lara urged. She kissed her on her forehead, then turned away.
"It's okay if you do," Emily called softly from under the blankets. Lara stopped and faced her as she rolled over, facing the opposite wall. "He seems like a good person."
Lara stared at the shapes beneath the blankets, taking in her daughter's blessing of, well, her father. That makes things a lot easier for future reference, Lara thought. A subtle grin crossed her lips, and she turned, exiting the room and closing the door. Now to find Kurtis, she thought.
She saw the door to the study cracked open a bit, and saw the flicker of light just beyond it. Alister, Zip, and Winston had already retired to bed, so she knew it could only be Kurtis in the study. She drew in a deep breath, then headed forward, moving towards the study. She quietly pushed the door open, then saw Kurtis standing before the fire, glancing up at the portrait above it. Lara closed the door behind her. "I'm kind of embarrassed by that one," she said quietly. The picture was of Lara and Emily, when Emily was just five years old. Her smile matched the one she still carried today – still so vibrant and alive. Lara, however, looked like she was forcing the smile, like she didn't even know herself.
Kurtis glanced in Lara's direction, grinning. "I have to agree," he said. "Emily looks cute, but you look pissed off."
"How should I have been?" she asked calmly. "I'd lost you five years before, and I was stuck with your child." Immediately, she regretted the words. She closed her eyes, sighing as she seated herself wearily on the nearby sofa. "That's not what I meant…" she muttered.
"I know," he said.
"It's just been so difficult," she said. "I've had to come home everyday to Emily, to look into her eyes and see not only her, but you. Do you know what that feels like?"
"I can't imagine," he said softly.
"There's so much I want to ask you, to tell you…" she said slowly. "I just don't know where to begin."
"You're not alone," he sighed, seating himself next to her. "Just don't ask me anything about Lemuria."
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "Alright, then," she agreed slowly. Lara looked into his eyes, smiling a bit. "It was…awfully nice and brave of you to stand up for Emily."
"Against a couple of high school kids?" Kurtis scoffed. "It was nothing."
"Bystander nonintervention," Lara shrugged. "A lot of people would've just walked on."
"I'm not like a lot of people," he said.
She searched his eyes. "I know," she said softly.
"She's given me her approval to have feelings for you," Kurtis said, grinning.
Lara looked to him strangely. "What?"
"Outside in the garden," he said. "She asked if I 'liked you'."
"And?" Lara asked slowly.
"And I said yes," he said. "I'm not going to lie to her. She's obviously far beyond her years."
"Yes, she is something of a genius," Lara chuckled softly.
Kurtis sighed, staring forward. "Well, I technically did lie to her," he said. He looked into her eyes. "I don't like you. I love you. I haven't stopped loving you."
Lara felt tears coming to her eyes, but she blinked them away, looking up at Kurtis. "And neither have I," she confessed. "It's just been so difficult. I wasn't sure if I should move on, or hold on, or what…"
"Yeah," Kurtis said. "Garin did mention that you'd tried to…forget."
"You spoke with Garin?" she asked quickly.
"I was trying to communicate with him from Lemuria," Kurtis said. "Fortunately, he'd gotten the messages and came to my rescue in Maldives."
Lara nodded, slowly looking away. "Did he…say anything else?"
"No," he said. "And he didn't tell me anything about Emily, before you ask." Lara breathed relief. It wasn't that she cared if Garin said anything, she just felt it was her right – no, her duty – to be the one to tell Kurtis. Although at this point, he was obviously aware that she was his daughter. "Tell me more about her," Kurtis asked quietly.
Lara looked up at him, laughing nervously and confusedly. "What do you want to know?" she asked.
"Everything," Kurtis answered. "I'd never imagined myself having children, but the moment I realized that she was…well, half of me, it just felt…right." Lara felt her heart melting inside. She'd always imagined that if Kurtis ever did return and found out about Emily, he would've run in the opposite direction. That was the stereotype she had of most men, anyway. I'm not like most guys, Kurtis would've said, and Lara knew it was true. She hadn't expected to be so overly ecstatic over the idea that Kurtis wanted to know his daughter. Anyone who is okay with Emma is okay with me, Lara thought. Even if I would've had to hold Kurtis to that criteria.
Lara laughed a bit in relief. "I wouldn't know where to begin," she admitted. Then, she got the idea. She stood up and rummaged through one of the nearby cabinets, removing a box full of photographs. She placed them on the table beside Kurtis. "These are some old photographs of Emma when she was younger. You're welcome to go through them."
Kurtis gingerly picked up one of the photographs. In the picture, Emily was holding up a small fish, still attached to the fishing line. She had a smile ten miles wide on her face. Lara smiled, staring down at the picture. "That was the first fish she caught," Lara said. "Alister and Zip took her fishing for the first time when she was eight."
"And she caught it all by herself?" he asked, grinning.
"Suprisingly, yes," she laughed.
Kurtis returned the picture to the box, then removed another one, gazing down at the beautiful baby girl with her finger in her mouth and a red ribbon in her hair, sitting on her mother's lap. "Her first Christmas?" Kurtis asked.
Lara smiled. "Yes," she replied. "She fell asleep in my lap before she even reached the presents."
Kurtis chuckled as he returned the picture to the box. He removed another one. This photograph was of Emily dressed in a karate uniform, at the age of ten years old. A man was standing before her, demonstrating the proper way to move and stand. She looked up at him with the intense desire to learn more. Kurtis lowered the photo a bit. "Who is that?" he asked of the man.
Lara glanced down at the picture. "Charles Windor," she replied. "He was Emma's karate coach."
Kurtis didn't know why, but he felt himself growing angry. He tossed the photograph down on the table and rose, leaning over the fireplace. Lara eyed him curiously, approaching his side, and placing a tender hand of compassion on his shoulder. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.
He sighed, slowly facing her. "This isn't how it was supposed to be," he replied slowly. "I should be the one in that picture. I should've been here to help raise her. I should've been here to be with you, and love you, and to comfort you."
"Kurtis, you can't help what happened," she pointed out.
"It doesn't matter," he said. "I've lost twelve years of my fucking life in that hell-hole. I've lost twelve years of loving you. I've lost the first twelve years of my daughter's life. Don't try to convince me that it's all alright."
Lara understood where he was coming from, and she immediately felt guilty for removing the photographs. She quickly scooped them up and returned them to the box, taking the box back to the cabinet. Kurtis remained still, leaned over the fireplace, deep in thought. Lara approached him, trying to find the right words to say. "She wouldn't blame you, you know," she told him. "She's so very wise for her years. She would understand."
"You don't know that," he muttered.
"I do know that," she argued. "She's my daughter, and I know her well."
Kurtis sighed deeply, turning around to face Lara. For a moment, she feared him. His eyes were glossed over with anger, and a tinge of hatred. If I could just figure out what he's thinking, she thought. She opened her mouth to speak, but was startled by the girlish scream coming down the hall from Emily's room.
FINALLY we're getting to some action!!
OveractiveImaginer: I kinda explain in the next story how that works out that she never knew her father's name, haha.
Jade the Grey: Gah, lucky. I wanted to see Metallica when they toured in our city a few months ago -_-
bettie91: Hahahaha. I was going to kill him off, but things just wouldn't be the same without that frail old man.
Alright boys and girls. Chapter six will be up on Tuesday! So hang on for the WILD ride!! =D
