"The One" – Part 94
Summary and additional notes in part 1.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews :D We're onto part 94! Enjoy!
This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!
-oOo-
"So how are you holding up at Casa Torres?" Eli inquired, joining the two women on the couch.
Fiona turned to him with a bright smile. "It's been great! Abby and Drew are excellent hosts."
Eli smirked. "Abby's a sweetheart," he agreed. She was a good person and he knew Drew had lucked out! "Though Drew can be rather militant about having his bro time!"
Clare and Eli laughed. Adam shook his head.
"He's not so bad!" he defended his brother.
Eli looked at him unconvinced. "Uh huh..."
Adam looked at Clare for back up. She laughed and turned to Fiona.
"Drew can be dramatic at times," she reasoned. "But he just misses his brother. He took it hard when Adam moved away."
Eli snorted and sent Clare a knowing look. "We all did."
Adam sighed and sat down in the arm chair with Sierra. He didn't want to rehash this subject again. At the time he needed a change and working in the States was an opportunity he couldn't pass up! All around him everyone else had been moving forward in their lives. Drew and Abby were engaged. Clare had a new job and a new boyfriend. Eli had relocated to Calgary, Alberta for spell. Meanwhile, he felt like he was treading water as he tried to figure out what he wanted for himself.
"You're one to talk," Adam ribbed his friend. Eli had been gone for almost a year and entertained making his stay permanent before ultimately deciding to return to Toronto.
Eli smirked. "Touché," he conceded. He needed the distance at the time. Seeing Clare with Dave initially cut like a knife. Although his relationship with Clare ended over a year earlier, Eli hadn't been prepared for her to get serious with another guy so quickly.
Fiona looked on curiously. She and Adam hadn't discussed this much. She knew he returned home after graduating from Syracuse University, and then left for Boston under a year later. With all of his family and so many close friends here, she could understand it being a difficult transition for everyone all around.
"Anyway, don't you have a rehearsal to get to?" Eli reminded Adam, happy to move on from thoughts of the past.
Adam glanced at the cable box and took note of the time. "Yeah, I do," he said solemnly. He didn't want to leave! Drew had scheduled a quick afternoon rehearsal with Sav and Taylor. The four of them were performing tonight so it was essential!
He carefully stood up and walked over to Clare.
"Uncle Adam loves you, munchkin. I'll be back tomorrow!" he told Sierra. He kissed her cheek before gently handing the little girl back to her mother.
"Clare, this was great," he smiled. He had an awesome visit. "I'll see you tonight at Simpson's party."
"I can't believe you guys are performing!" she laughed. The boys played music together here and there, but reprising their high school band was going to be a blast from the past!
Adam grinned. "We're gonna rock it!" he proclaimed confidently. Eli laughed and initiated a fist bump. "You coming, man?" Adam wasn't sure if Eli wanted to tag along to their band practice or not.
Eli shook his head. "Nah, I'm going to hang out here for bit."
Adam nodded. "That's cool." His eyes fell on Fiona. "Walk me to the door?"
She chuckled at his lack of subtly, but Clare and Eli seemed not to notice. "Sure."
He reached for her hand once she was near and the two of them walked to the foyer. "So, are you having a good time?" he asked her.
She smiled. "I am. It's really good to see those guys again!" She hadn't realized how much she missed hanging out with them. There was no awkwardness or drama, even after years apart and painful break ups!
Adam stopped at the door. "Glad to hear that, princess." He let go of her hand and brought his to her cheek. "See you in a few hours."
He then leaned in and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. He started to move away, but Fiona deepened it. He eagerly responded and brought his other hand to her waist as their tongues caressed.
A few minutes later Fiona returned to the living room. Eli looked up and smirked.
"A long kiss goodbye?" he teased.
Clare swatted his arm.
"Ouch!" he feigned hurt. "How do you hit so hard when you have a baby in your arms?"
-oOo-
Adam grinned as he entered the garage. He had driven to Sav's house and was pleasantly surprised when Abby had answered the door. They shared a quick hug before walking further inside.
He quickly spotted his brother adjusting the height of the cymbals for his drum set. Drew looked up and smiled. "Hey bro!"
"Andrew," he replied with a nod.
Sav was standing a few feet away, connecting his guitar cable to his amp. His dark hair was cropped close on the sides and slightly longer on the top.
"Dude!" Adam greeted him as he walked over. They bumped fists. "Good to see you, man! I see that you upgraded the place some."
The garage doubled as both a practice space and a home studio. It was Sav's pride and joy! He worked as studio engineer for the Canadian division of a major record label and often played guitar on tracks for their signed acts. However, he still loved playing his original stuff! He didn't have his own band at the moment - nor did he have enough time to dedicate to one - but he regularly jammed with Drew and other musicians. Adam joined them from time to time.
Sav nodded. "Yeah, we replaced the speakers," he told him. He recently got a bonus from work. He and his wife, Farrah, agreed to put two thirds of it in their savings. The rest she joked was his early birthday present! She was the one who usually managed the couple's finances.
"That's cool," Adam told him. It looked like a nice one. "Where's Taylor?"
"She's on her way and should be here soon," Drew answered.
"Sweet!" Adam was looking forward to seeing her. They ran into each other about five months ago, when he was still living in Boston. Her current band had been on tour and had a few gigs in the area.
"Adam, I already connected your bass," Sav told him. They were almost ready, save for their lead singer!
Farrah Bhandari walked in holding a tray of delicious smelling snacks. She was a slender woman of average height, and had long black hair. Farrah and Sav had been married for two years. They had known each other as kids because their families were friendly. Although their parents thought they would be a good match, and even made them attend junior prom together, she and Sav never dated in their younger years. They met again as adults when Farrah moved back to Toronto after finishing graduate school in the UK. This time around, free from any parental meddling, the two hit it off.
Farrah smiled when she saw Adam. "Hi," she said warmly and set the food down on the table.
"Hey Farrah." He grinned as he eyed the mini mimosas. "Those look good."
Abby snorted as she joined Farrah on the couch. "Those are for the audience. Besides, you guys need to keep your hands clean!"
Farrah had offered to warm up leftovers for her and she didn't particularly want to share!
Both Adam and Drew slightly frowned, disappointed.
Sav shrugged. "She's got a point." Dirty hands and guitar strings were two things that did not mix!
Drew smirked. "I've got drum sticks, so I'm good," he reasoned. Abby gave him a look. "Or you could feed me," he suggested with a grin.
Adam playfully rolled his eyes. "What happened to the 'no girlfriends' rule?" he asked in jest.
It had been instated his Junior year at Degrassi, after Drew's off and on relationship with Bianca ended. They all agreed it would be easier to focus on practice without 'distractions'. Adam didn't mind because by then Fiona was attending college in New York City. Sav, who had enrolled in a local university, didn't raise any objections either since his relationship with Holly J was long over. Drew was the only one to protest because he quickly began dating a new girl.
"I don't see any girlfriends here," Abby quipped as she reached for a mimosa. Farrah nodded in approval.
Sav chuckled in response, whereas Drew openly laughed. "Burn!" he teased his little brother.
-oOo-
Fiona smiled as she looked at the pictures on the bookcase. She was in the living room, waiting for Clare to return. Clare left several minutes ago to put Sierra down for a nap.
It was slightly surreal seeing the years she had missed unfold in pictures. There were ones of Clare, Alli, Adam, Eli, and Drew in their college days. Photos of Clare and Dave from when they first began dating. Wedding photos with the couple along with family and friends. More recent photos of Clare with a very pregnant belly.
Fiona's eyes fell on one photo and she slightly frowned.
"The ghosts of girlfriends past."
She looked up startled, and saw that Eli had come up beside her. He had gone to the kitchen for more coffee and unceremoniously returned.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he quickly apologized.
"No, it's fine," she waved him off.
His eyes returned to the photo and she followed suit.
"That one was taken about eight months ago. In it is Drew and Abby, Clare and Dave, my roommate Jen and her Ex," Eli detailed. "She's bi," he preemptively answered.
"Oh, yeah? Represent," she chuckled. She was always happy to see other members of the LGBT community.
Eli grinned. "Yeah, Kelly was pretty alright, but she had to move away for work," he noted. "Anyway, there's me with my Ex, Jeanine."
Fiona sent him a sympathetic look.
He continued, "And on the end there's Adam with his Ex, Emily."
.
tbc
A/N: Just when you thought you'd never see that name again! There's more to Eli's tale in the next part…
To back up, good to see Misfits banter again, right? Aww, it seems like Adam moving away was hard for everyone… Did anyone guess Sav turning up? He, Drew, and Adam still jam! Nice. And the wives get along too. Yay!
Reviews = mad cool :D
In the next part… Eli and Fiona have an enlightening chat! As for the rest, you'll have to wait and see!
Off topic: Whoa! We recently had an earthquake here in New York! Insane. I definitely felt it! Apparently the last one we had was in 1985! We're not California, so this definitely doesn't happen often!