My entry for Dalek Week, Day 7: Generations.
I can't believe Dalek Week is over already. I almost didn't take part in it but I'm glad I did. I've had so much fun writing all these chapters.
I wrote 5,052 words in fan fiction this week! I have amazed myself.
Creative play is like a spring that bubbles up from deep within a child.
~ Joan Almon
*
Family reunions with the Sharp clan were always something to remember. Mischief seemed to follow them like a plague and never could a gathering pass without something memorable occurring.
The holiday season of nineteen o eight was one that Deryn and Jaspert would always remember. It had been the year their Uncle's dogs had gotten into the kitchen and eaten the Christmas goose. Then there was the summer of nineteen eleven. Their Aunt Amelia, who had been very pregnant at the time, had gone into labor at the dinner table. The most recent incident had taken place the previous summer when Jaspert's youngest, Oliver, had brought in the hedgehog he'd caught. It had gotten away from him in the house and caused equal parts terror and delight as they'd all tried to catch it. And those were some of the more mild family adventures.
Three days into a weeklong get-together and, overlooking small incident with a spider in the kitchen, things were flowing smoothly. It was like the calm before a storm. There hadn't been a family gathering spared yet and bets being placed as to whether or not the summer of nineteen thirty would go down in infamy as well.
This year's gathering was at Mrs. Sharp's house and the living room was full of family members. Deryn and Alek, who had only just arrived that afternoon, where sitting on the couch talking with Jaspert and his wife, Abigail.
It was sometime during a conversation about the newest airships that Deryn happened to look out the window in to the back yard.
She could see Jaspert's children playing some sort of game with their many cousins. They were all dressed in mismatched outfits. Ma said she had let them play in the attic the day before. They'd had a grand time when they'd found boxes of old clothes and had been playing dress up ever since.
She frowned and stood, stepping closer to the window. Suddenly her eyes widened in amazement.
"Is that my wedding dress?" Her incredulous voice seemed to echo in the suddenly quiet room.
The long awaited event had finally happened.
Heads turned in unison toward the window that overlooked the back yard.
With a sinking feeling, Mrs. Sharp suddenly remembered that along with the all the old clothes in the attic there had also been a few things from Deryn and Alek's wedding ten years before; Deryn's dress included.
"Barking bloody hell." Jaspert swore extravagantly as he went after Abigail who had already run to the kitchen and out the back door. It was their oldest, nine-year old Annabeth, who was wearing the dress.
Alek laid a hand on Deryn's arm.
"Perhaps you should intervene, liebe." He gestured out the window where Jaspert and his wife were about to give their daughter the worst scolding of her live.
By the time Alek and Deryn reached the back yard Annabeth was in tears. She flung herself on Deryn as soon as she saw her.
"I'm sorry, Auntie Deryn." She sobbed. "I didn't know it was your wedding dress."
She knelt and hugged the young girl. Then, holding her at arm's length, she had a proper look at the dress. It was muddy at the bottom and there were grass stains on the front.
She shook her head, smiling gently.
"Oh, Annabeth, it's only a dress."
Abigail then gave her son a push and he slowly walked towards Deryn, one hand held behind him.
"I'm sorry too, Auntie Deryn."
She reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"What did you do?" She asked.
Slowly he pulled his hand from behind his back. In it was her veil, torn and soaking wet.
"I had it in the creek."He confessed. "I was using it as Kraken net."
Deryn threw her head back and laughed loudly at this. Then she put a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Don't you worry yourselves about any of this. It's only a bunch of cloth and lace."
Alek shook his head in amazement. Deryn was the only woman who would say that about her wedding dress.
She nudged Annabeth under the chin with her finger.
"It's nothing to cry all those tears over."
She stood, brushing the dirt from the knees of her pants and grinned mischievously.
"Besides, hasn't your Da ever told you about the time he and I took your grandma's best lace table cloth for butterfly nets?"
There was a chorus of laughter from the surrounding family members and the children's eyes widened.
"You did?" They both asked, eyes shining as they turned eagerly toward their father.
Jaspert winced as he remembered.
"Aye, you should have seen Ma's face when she caught us. I thought she was going to kill us both right here in the back yard."
Mrs. Sharp shook her head, smiling indulgently. The past was the past now.
Annabeth turned back to Deryn and tugged on her sleeve.
"Can I still wear the dress, then?"
"Aye," She said with a smile. "You can still wear the dress."
She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at Alek.
"I have what matters the most."