Walter had been forced to stay home for the first two weeks after his surgery while he recovered from the beating he took. Paige and Megan both ensured his school work was brought home and turned into each class. Once he was able to return to school things were a little different. He was seldom included in anything with the other students and he found after returning to school after the attack that he seemed to be excluded that much more. But he didn't really care as Paige spent all her time in between classes and lunch with him. Walter even walked to her house and walked her to school and walked her home each evening despite her protective detail. At first it was a little disconcerting because of her body guards but he grew used to them. And while Thomas and Conner were toeing the line Ralph didn't trust them and wouldn't order the detail to return to normal.
At first Megan was both happy and confused. And slowly as time passed she became irritated. Walter had always been her care and the first few weeks she walked with them but as her resentment over the situation grew she began distancing herself from him and socializing with her friends more. Two months after Walter's surgery Megan was sitting in her room working on her homework when she heard a knock on her door.
"Come in." Megan said as she pulled her headset off her head. She figured it was either her Mother or little brother and she watched as the door opened and then Paige stepped into her room.
"Good afternoon Megan." Paige said a bit reserved.
"Hey Paige, is everything okay?" Megan frowned.
"I'm not sure to be honest. I have to ask. Have I done something to upset you?" Paige asked as she kind of fidgeted.
"No, why would you ask that?" Megan asked as she put her math book down.
"Well, Walter has been a little off from normal and when I asked him he said he thought you were mad at him because of me." Paige gave her a smile that seemed to border on an apology.
"Oh, I see." Megan said sadly. "No, you haven't done anything wrong. And I'm not mad at Walter. Why don't you sit down?" Megan pointed at her bed. Megan watched her sit on the side of her bed. "I have been a bit irritated, maybe resentful would be the best description. You haven't seen how Walter is or more like was, it has always been me and him but since he met you I've kind of been forgotten in a sense. Which is okay, I'm happy you and Walter are getting so close. Your relationship is helping him to improve so much even in this short time and I am grateful for that. Most of my life has been watching out for him and making sure people don't go too far with him. And I don't have to do that with you. Walter may never be like everyone else but with your help he is making huge progress."
"Oh, I see, I kind of understand that. I got really mad and frustrated with him and I stormed away." Paige told her.
"Oh, please don't give up on him, Paige. I promise you, I know he is a lot of work, but he will be worth it, I know it." Megan nearly begged.
"Oh, no, I'm not giving up on my best friend. I was hinting that I wanted him to ask me to the Christmas ball at the Embassy but no matter what I try he just doesn't seem to understand. I thought about just straight out telling him, and I know with how he seems to be it might be best, but, something in me just wants him to want to ask me without being prompted. But he just shut down over it and it was so infuriating." Paige told her.
"Oh a Christmas ball, that sounds lovely." Megan brightened up.
Paige nodded.
"It would be my first real date too, how much more magical could it be then that? A Christmas dance with a real sweetheart. Every year I'm always escorted by one of the marine guards, which looks cool but really isn't. Who wants someone more than twice your age taking you? And they are so stiff and overly proper in their behavior." Paige sighed.
Megan nodded.
"Hey, don't sweat this, I've got an idea. Let me talk to Walter and casually mention the ball and see if he opens up. Maybe he's having a problem with something that I can help guide him through." Megan said excitedly.
"Really? Oh Megan, that would be amazing if you can, thank you." Paige told her. "Is there anything I can do to help you during this time with Walter? I don't want you feeling resentment."
"Seeing Walter so happy with you is what I need. I really thought he had brain damage after his fight with Thomas and Conner. Because that wasn't Walter. Walter held your hand, he let you hug him, kiss his cheek, that wasn't our Walter. But they confirmed he had no brain damage and he's just been growing more and more towards you ever since. Let me get my homework done and then I'll talk to Walter after you have gone home." Megan smiled.
Paige smiled and nodded before she gave Megan a hug and left her room.
Following dinner Megan walked out to the barn and looked up at Walter's loft.
"Hey little brother, you got some time for your deirfiúr?" Megan called out.
Walter appeared over the banister almost instantly nodding his head pointing at the ladder.
"So, I heard some of the kids at school today, they were talking about a big Christmas ball at the Embassy. With as much as you and Paige are hanging out are you going with her?" Megan asked as she sat down on one of the hay bales that made up a bed of sorts for Walter.
Walter spun around in his chair and looked at her and then the slight smile he had turned into a frown and he shook his head as he looked down at the floor. She heard him mumble something.
"I didn't understand you Walter." Megan told him.
"I don't know how to dance." Walter said sadly. "I don't want to break Paige's heart but I don't know how to tell her I can't take her."
"Silly, is that all that is stopping you? Why didn't you come to me? I can teach you to dance every evening after dinner, if need be." Megan told him.
"I considered that, but you seemed to be distancing yourself from me so I thought I had hurt your feelings and I wasn't sure how to fix it." Walter told her.
"I was a little hurt because of how well you are getting along with Paige, but Walter, I want you to get along with her. She's so good for you. I'm sorry I distance myself from you. I know we've talked about that feeling you get from Mom, Dad and everyone in general. I'm sorry I made you feel it from me." Megan smiled.
"I'm sorry my actions with Paige made you think I didn't have a place for you. You're my sister and I love you and will always need you." Walter told her.
Megan smiled.
"Okay, so I'll do some research and tomorrow you will ask Paige to go to the ball with you. Then once I've got the music and dances for it, we'll begin working on it. Okay?" Megan asked.
Walter nodded his head quickly.
"But, what will I wear? I doubt my church clothes would be good enough for that." Walter asked suddenly.
"That's true." Megan slowly answered. "You don't worry with that. You do the hard part, you ask her to the ball and learn to dance. Leave the clothes to me." Megan told him before she stood and kissed his forehead and went down to the house.
"Momma, can I help you with the dishes?" Megan asked as she entered the kitchen.
"Who are you and what have you done with my girl?" Louise teased her.
Megan laughed even as she stepped up to the double sink next to her Mother and began rinsing and drying the dishes.
"Momma, we have a problem. Walter wants to ask and take Paige to the Embassy's Christmas ball." Megan told her.
Louise dropped the serving platter that had been in her family for five generations and Megan barely caught it in time.
"Are you serious girl?" Louise turned and grabbed her shoulders looking her in the eyes.
Megan grinned and nodded.
"I'm going to find out what songs they will most likely be dancing to and the dances to try and teach him. But he'll need a tuxedo and those are expensive." Megan told her sadly.
Louise's eyes went wide.
"I've got money stashed away for emergencies. If we can find out what style and material I can get a pattern and cloth and I'll make him the best looking tuxedo this county has ever seen." Louise said excitedly.
"I'm going to call the Embassy tomorrow to get the information on the dance, I can ask about attire then." Megan told her excitedly.
"Now what has got you two so excited in here?" Sean asked as he walked in after his evening nap having been awakened by Louise's brother Tobin.
"Oh Sean, our boy wants to take Paige to the Christmas ball at the Embassy. Isn't that something? Megan is going to figure out what dances he'll need to know and I'm going to make him a tuxedo to wear." Louise giggled at him as she ran over and hugged him.
"Christmas ball huh? I don't know, the lad is barely thirteen, doesn't seem proper." Sean said as he scratched his stubble.
"Sean Patrick O'Brien, how can you say that? We've spent years praying for a miracle for our boy and here we are on the cusp of it and now you got cold feet?" Louise chastised him.
"Well that is good news then Louise, I'll tell you what, forget making him a tuxedo, I've got to go to Dublin this weekend to pick up some supplies, I'll take the boy with me and we'll stop by one of those fancy shops and get him a suit tailored." Tobin told them.
"Oh Tobin, that would be amazing but tuxedos are expensive." Louise told him as she stepped over and hugged him.
"The boy's my nephew and I haven't always been the best to him, let me do this deirfiúr." Tobin pleaded.
Louise nodded with a smile and hugged him tightly.
"Oh Walter's coming, everyone, break up and look natural." Megan told them seeing Walter leave the barn.
"Mother." Walter said as he opened the door and froze seeing everyone in the kitchen.
"What is it Walter?" Louise said in a bit too happy of a voice as she stood washing a glass and handed it to Megan.
Walter's eyes drifted across everyone before he spoke again.
"Would you help me make some shortbread cookies?" Walter asked finally.
"Cookies?" Louise frowned as she looked at him.
Walter nodded.
"Mr. Dineen really likes them and I wanted to ask his permission to take Paige to the Christmas ball." Walter told her.
Louise gasped and turned to look at him with a huge smile.
"Oh my boy, of course I'll help you make them. Let me get these dishes done." Louise told him.
"Go ahead Momma, I'll get these finished." Megan told her.
"I'll lend her a hand too." Sean said with a voice, thick with emotion. He walked over and he kissed Louise before she walked over to get her recipe out of the cupboard.
"Well, in that case, make an extra batch so I can enjoy some with coffee and then this weekend I'll take you to Dublin and get you a monkey suit to wear." Uncle Tobin told him.
Walter stared at his family for a moment. His eyes probing and calculating before he slowly nodded.
"Thank you, all of you." Walter said finally.
Walter left his house a half hour early the next morning and nearly ran the entire distance to Paige's home. He stopped on the porch and stood there breathing hard for a moment. He was happy to see Mr. Dineen's car was still there. He reached up and knocked on the door.
"Good morning Mr. O'Brien." The housekeeper greeted Walter as she opened the door. "Paige isn't ready yet but you can come in and wait in the den." She told him, opening the door further.
Walter smiled as she closed the door behind him.
"Is Mr Dineen still here? I'd like to speak with him for a moment if I may." Walter asked what he'd rehearsed all the way over there.
She nodded and gestured so he followed her.
"Mr. Dineen, Mr. O'Brien to see you." She announced as she stepped into the dining room.
"Walter, good morning son, how are you?" Ralph greeted him as he folded his paper and put it down.
"Good morning Walter." Veronica said after sipping her coffee.
"Good morning Mr and Mrs Dineen." Walter told them even as he held out the small wicker basket with the shortbread cookies wrapped in a towel inside.
Ralph smiled and took the basket and opened the towel and grinned.
"Shortbread cookies, my favorite, thank you Walter." Ralph told him as he pulled one out and bit into it. He pushed the basket halfway between him and Veronica.
"I was wondering sir, I understand the Embassy is having a Christmas ball and I'd really like your permission to ask Paige to let me escort her." Walter told him what he had rehearsed dozens of times since he'd gotten up that morning.
Ralph had stopped mid chew and Walter felt like he was looking at him through a gun scope.
"So, this is a bribe then?" Ralph asked as he dropped the other half of the cookie on the small plate under his coffee cup.
Walter's eyes went wide.
"No sir, definitely not a bribe. I just remembered how much you loved my Mom's shortbread cookies." Walter promised him.
"You know she's only twelve right?" Ralph asked.
Walter nodded.
"I'm only thirteen sir and I promise not to do anything you would have a problem with." Walter told him.
"How do you know I don't have a problem with you escorting her to the ball? Are you sure you understand what is involved? The dress requirement alone is pretty substantial." Ralph told him kind of enjoying watching Walter squirm.
"Well I don't actually sir, but I think I understand the rest pretty well, my uncle Tobin wants to take me to Dublin this weekend to buy me an appropriate suit. And my sister is going to find out what songs will be played and expected dances to teach me. I promise to do my best not to embarrass Paige or you. If she agrees that is." Walter told him.
"Ralph, don't torture the boy." Veronica whispered as she leaned over to his ear.
"Well you both have had a special connection since you met, I don't see any harm in it. Remember though Walter, she'll have her protective detail with her. Seriously now, no kidding around. You are going to get your picture taken, a lot. This will elevate your profile significantly. It could make you a target, do you understand what I mean?" Ralph asked.
Walter nodded.
"I want your word Walter, that going forward if any mail comes for you or your family that you and your parents don't recognize the sender or if it is blank you call my office without opening it. I'll have someone come out to inspect it. I'm being serious with you Walter, we've come to love you these past months and we don't want anything bad to happen to you. So promise me none of you will open that mail and you will call my office so we can investigate it. Okay?" Ralph held out his hand.
Walter nodded and reached out and shook his hand.
"I promise sir." Walter told him.
"Alright then Walter, you may ask her." Ralph told him. Just then they heard feet coming down the back staircase and then Paige came around the corner.
"Good morning Daddy, Mom. Walter, you're here already?" Paige grinned and ran over and hugged him. "Are you hungry?"
Walter shook his head.
"Good morning sweetheart." Ralph and Veronica said together.
"My stomach is a little uncooperative this morning but thank you." Walter told her as he watched her sit down.
"Well sit down here then. What brought you here so early?" Paige asked as she cut her grapefruit in half.
"Well I wanted to ask." Walter saw Ralph shake his head and just looked at Paige.
"You wanted to ask what?" Paige asked, looking at him since he'd stop talking.
Walter thought he finally realized what Mr. Dineen was trying to tell him. He sat down next to her.
"I was wondering if you didn't have plans yet if I could be your escort at the Christmas ball." Walter finally asked.
Paige grinned and threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"Walter, that makes me so happy you asked me. Yes, I would love for you to escort me. Did your sister tell you to ask me?" Paige asked as she sat back.
Walter shook his head.
"She'd heard about it at school yesterday and wanted to know if I was going to go with you to it. I was embarrassed to tell you the truth." Walter said softly.
Paige frowned.
"The truth about what?" Paige asked after taking a bite of the grapefruit.
"She promised to teach me how to dance after dinner each night so I won't embarrass you." Walter told her.
Veronica's eyes teared up even as Ralph silently chuckled as he looked at his paper.
"Walter, you couldn't embarrass me dancing. If you'd like I got VHS tapes with dance lessons and the music we're most likely to hear. If Mom and Daddy don't mind, you and Megan can come over and we can practice together." Paige told him.
Walter looked to Mr Dineen and saw him nod his head at him and Walter smiled as he looked back at Paige.
"Okay." Walter told her.
"I've got to make a phone call and then get to work. You kids have a good day at school. Sweetheart I'll see you for lunch today?" Ralph asked.
"I'll see you then Ralphie." Veronica winked.
Ralph grinned and left the room.
"Hey Tobin, it's Ralph Dineen, how are you?" Ralph asked on the phone in his study. "Good, glad to hear it. Yep, we're doing well here. Say, Walter came by this morning to ask permission to escort Paige to the ball. He said you were going to get his suit. I'm going to give you the name and number of my tailor. He'll give you the best deal on it okay?" Ralph nodded. "No I get that and I'm not trying to insinuate that you can't afford it. But we both know with your health care costs you could use any break you can get. Let me do this for you, please?" Ralph listened for a minute and nodded. "That's fine Tobin. Yes, have a good day."
One Week Later:
"Sean, how are you?" Ralph said as he got out of the SUV at the O'Brien farm.
Sean smiled.
"Ralph, it is good to see you. How goes the dancing lessons?" Sean grinned.
Ralph laughed as he shook hands with Sean.
"It is funny you mention those, because it is kind of the reason I'm here." Ralph told him before waving at Louise as she looked out the door of the house.
"Oh? Want to come inside for some coffee?" Sean gestured.
"I actually can't stay too long. I wanted you to meet a couple of guys." Ralph told him as he waved at the SUV.
Sean watched as two US Marines climbed out of the SUV and walked over.
"Gunnery Sergeant Will Anderson, sir." Will said as he stepped up and reached out his hand.
Sean nodded and shook his hand.
"Staff Sergeant Aaron Wilmore, sir." Aaron told him as he stepped up and shook Sean's hand.
"Nice to meet you men, but Sean is fine." Sean told them and looked questioningly at Ralph.
"It is good to see you Louise." Ralph said as she stepped up next to her husband.
"Thank you Ralph, what is going on?" Louise asked.
"Well to be perfectly honest with you both, I want you both to come to dinner tonight and stay to watch the kids practice their dancing. Sean, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, you and your wife have the right to raise your children the best way you can. But if you could see Megan, don't get me wrong she's very happy to be helping Walter prepare for the ball but she's feeling dejected. And I'd like to ask that you let one of these two men escort her to the ball. They're both married and Fathers of daughters like us, so they understand the concerns we have. Either of them would be a proper escort for Megan." Ralph told him.
Sean sighed even as he reached up and scratched his head under his hat.
"I don't know Ralph. I'm not too crazy about Walter going to this thing." Sean told him looking at Louise who was smiling.
"Oh Sean, Megan would be so happy to get a chance to go dancing like her younger brother. We've got to say yes." Louise told him.
Sean sighed as he considered that.
"If we did, what would we do for a dress? They've got to be wicked expensive." Sean asked her.
"Don't worry about that. The Ambassador's granddaughter was supposed to be here for the ball. But they just found out she is failing her biology class and so as punishment she can't come over. But her gown is already here and with a few alterations I am sure it will fit Megan." Ralph told him.
"Okay, well if both men can be there at dinner, I suppose Megan can decide which man can escort her. Seems kind of silly for her to be doing all this practice to help her brother and her not be able to go." Sean finally gave in.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! A really nice long chapter. Lots going on in the story!
Railman - hehe That they do. And Ralph and Veronica have been pretty surprising and accepting of Walter. Here's to the future!
Sigrun - Thank you! So glad you do!
Hallidaycat - I'm so glad you are! The story is pulling me in so many different directions at the moment. It has a lot to say and set up. lol
Lucy - I'm so glad you are! It has been so much fun to write so far. It probably is rivalling Lady Knight in sheer fun for me. I'm currently working on January/February 1999 and March/April/May 2001 in the story with several other story ideas presenting themselves to me. I can hardly wait to see where it goes next! lol
Pearliegirl - Thank you! So glad you are excited for it too!
Guest - Thank you! There is so much going on! lol
Marti - Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy my stories!
Susan - Thank you! Thomas and Conner certainly need a good attitude adjustment. Hope they continue to toe the line! I'm definitely loving some young Walter and Paige. hehe
To the Adventure! -Tim