o O o
A/N: While I wish that Mulan were mine, it is yet another creation belonging to others. Readers of my fiction will frequently catch sight of Disney characters. In my opinion, Mulan is by far the best role model of them all.
o O o
Spencer was putting the finishing touches on April's oil on canvas when the phone call came. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but given past history, still qualified as surprising. He listened quietly, a few scattered "mmm hmms" his only contribution to the initial conversation. "Ok Granddad; I'll let her know…Yes, I'm sure she'll be excited. ..Why don't you come on up for dinner this weekend? It might be a good time to start putting things in order. ..Right, we'll see you then…" He disconnected the call with a grimace, running his hand through his hair until it stood straight up in unruly spikes.
Sam looked up from the magazine Carly had foisted upon her; she was supposed to be helping her best friend select the perfect prom updo. (As if she had any talent for that!) Picking up on his vibe, she tossed the periodical away and zipped to his side before Carly could open her mouth to protest. "Something's wrong – what's up?"
Carly looked concerned. "IS something wrong Spencer?"
"Not exactly, no, but I want to run something by Sam."
"Spencer," she complained, "I thought we agreed that you would not exclude me from –"
"Carly, I promise I will solicit your input. This falls into the category of needing to include Sam first, ok?"
She frowned, but nodded. Even though she supported the relationship, it was still hard sometimes to acknowledge that Sam deserved Spencer's first consideration.
Sam threw her an apologetic look and a small I-don't-know shrug before following Spencer to his room. She didn't know, but she did have a strong suspicion. She suspected that there was only one person who could provoke that reaction from her normally laid-back lover, and his appearance on the scene would not be welcomed. She further suspected that telling her it didn't matter what people thought was not entirely the truth. It was what Spencer thought she needed to hear. While she loved him for it, she didn't want him shouldering the full burden of their combined parental angst alone. In the back of her head she set the Sams spinning; she needed something from all of them. The patriarch was coming home.
o O o
Spencer collapsed onto the bed, pulling her down beside him.
"Your father's coming home," she guessed.
"Bingo," he replied, staring at the ceiling. "That was Granddad. Evidently the Colonel will be attending graduation. I find this astonishing, considering the multitude of other significant events for which he has failed to appear over the years."
"So…is there a game plan for this?"
"Yes, there is a game plan, but I'm torn over it Sam, and I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing. "
She coaxed him up, tugging his shirt over his head. "Tell me about it," she said calmly.
"Sam, now is really not the best time-"
"Just be still Spence." Capable hands found the knots of tension in his shoulders and went to work on them. "Tell me what you want to do about this."
"Basically, I want you here with me."
"I AM here with you. I'm virtually always here with you."
"Yes…but are you willing to be here 24/7? With me."
The hands stopped. "Are you asking me to move in?"
"I am," he answered without hesitation.
"Spencer, I will move in yesterday. That doesn't even require discussion, but isn't that kind of like waving the red cape in front of the bull?"
"It's EXACTLY like waving the red cape in front of the bull," he agreed grimly. "We need to close ranks; I want you established as part of this household. I want him to see and understand that I'm committed here. I'm not just going to hide you away somewhere until he leaves again. However, this puts you in the direct line of fire, and I don't like that at all."
"Spence, maybe you're jumping the gun a little bit. How do you know your father isn't going to come in here and shake your hand to congratulate you for your fine catch?"
This brought a small smile. "You're undoubtedly a fine catch. That said, you don't know my father. There is very little I have ever done that met with his approval. You, Mädchen, will be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. To add insult to injury, our relationship isn't the only news that's going to be sprung on him. All this time he's believed I was in law school, and I never disabused him of that notion. There's a very real possibility that he will cut me off. Carly's graduating – I've done his job for him and he doesn't 'need' me to stay here anymore. I think he'll keep the apartment so that Carly has a home base while she's in college, but that doesn't mean I'll be welcome to stay. "
"So does being kicked to the curb constitute winning or losing?
"Both, I think. It's a minor victory in that forcing me out is the fade back and punt strategy that he's left with when he can't compel me to follow the path he set. It's also a loss. I don't want to have to send you back to your mother when the Colonel sends me packing."
"I'm not going back," she replied firmly. "I'm going with you."
"Sam, you know that for being 30 years old, I'm only marginally better off than some guy coming out of college. I won't be able to afford a place like you're used to living, and –"
"Spencer, listen to yourself! Where I'm used to living is not here. Anywhere that you are is already a million times better than where I've been. I'm not that immature girl anymore – the one who doesn't know the meaning of 'work.' I've been planning to get a job anyway – I'm going to need it to help with school. If we have to move, we have to move. But remember, we're a WE. We're in this together, and I'm not about to jump ship because Lord High Muckety Muck wants to come in here and tell us how to live our lives."
"He will not make it easy," Spencer warned.
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all," Sam quoted with a smile.
He tilted his head to study her face. "Yes, and as I recall, they don't come around every dynasty…"
"You should remind your father of that Spencer. Or I will. Surely he was in love once."
"He still is Sam, and he's come to perceive it as a weakness. I honestly think he keeps taking these hardship tours to avoid us; we remind him too much of our mother. "
"That's HIS problem Spencer, not yours. HE's the one losing out – it's not your fault…" her voice trailed off and she looked at him wide –eyed. Forget the small step; the girl took a giant leap. "It's not my fault either…"
Enfolding her in a hug, he agreed wholeheartedly. "No Sam, it was never your fault, and I'm going to keep telling you until you believe it to the core –you're beautiful and brilliant, and –"
Her eyes gleamed as she finished the thought for him – "a force to be reckoned with."
The Colonel had best choose his battles carefully. The goddess was arisen.