Family Ties - Chapter One
AN – Ok, this story has come about from one of the plotlines that really peeved me. I just didn't really get when the Grimm gang just decided to take a baby away from its mother. None of them at this point in the timeline are parents, none of them have spent, that we've seen, any significant time caring for children or in any parental/guardian like capacity. It's shown, emphasised really, from cases that Nick cares about children and reuniting them with their parents so it's always rubbed me the wrong way that he would just take a child away. Yes, it's Adalind and there's a lot of feelings of the negative variety (at that time) but it still never sat right with me that he would do that. So, this is me re-writing that, in my opinion, big plot hole. It also has allowed me to keep certain characters alive and put my own spin on some of the magic we see in Grimm.
I do not own any characters or stories from the tv show Grimm. Some dialogue is lifted from various episodes in Season 3. No infringement or copyright is intended. It's all for fun, no profit being made here.
-G-
"You're taking us to Portland? You're working with Sean Renard."
"I don't know who that is."
"He's with the resistance. He must have set this up."
"Nobody set this up but me."
"Then where are we going?"
"Someplace I know you'll be safe."
-G-
"Safe," Adalind mutters as the truck bounces, "I don't think anywhere in Portland will be safe." Her daughter sighs and she hugs her closer, feels her warmth and weight.
"Why do you say that?" The tone is as brusque as she's come to expect if also curious and Adalind knows this is the moment she has to truly decide if she's going to trust this woman. She can't do this alone but is this stranger, who yes has saved them and got them away but is also still a stranger, a better bet than those in the city they are rapidly approaching.
"Sean Renard is a royal bastard, literally and figurately. He's her father but he's just as likely to welcome her as he is use her. He's all about power, how he can get it and use it and keep it. He used me and I let him, killed for him only to be tossed aside when he thought me useless."
"That's a lot." Adalind laughs but there's no humour in it.
"That's not all. He instructed me to kill a Grimm and I tried but it didn't work out, I just pissed off the new Grimm in town and then we got tangled up in his police case and he saved me, had to really, but then Renard told me to infatuate his partner and that spell went a bit too far and so the new Grimm took my powers to save him and damn me and so I then put his girlfriend into a coma with a specific spell which only a royal, i.e. Renard, could wake her from and then they'd be obsessed with each other and only magic could undo that but they were all against magic and I was supposed to be well away from it all but then I got involved with the Royals, more than I bargained for and suddenly I'm being forced to sign a blood contract for a child I wanted to use for power but then she was real and I could feel her and giving her away was the last thing I wanted or thought I'd do." She's breathing heavily as she finishes and she knows that's a lot of information for someone to take in but it has actually helped a little to say it all out loud. Yes, she knows she got herself into this mess but she also thinks its fair to say others definitely helped along the way.
"That's some story," her companion agrees and if her tone is soft then it spikes worry in Adalind rather than comfort.
"Look, I've not been perfect. I've done things I'm not proud of but I guess most people would say that of their own lives. I can only go forward. I will do anything for my daughter. I will fight, I will run, I will hide, lie, cheat, steal. Whatever I have to do so I don't lose her."
"What if you had to give her up? Sometimes we have to sacrifice what we love most." Adalind feels her face ripple with a woge as she clutches her daughter tighter.
"As I said before I won't let anyone take my child. They will have to kill me; I'm not giving her up. I will fight for her." She deliberately woges and then almost screeches when the dark, dark eyes of a Grimm look back at her from her companion.
"Good," it smiles and she represses a shiver. "Then we're going to need some help, with the fight that's coming."
-G-
"Really? Spagetti?"
"No, I was talking about you."
"Ah. What's going on?"
"It's funny you should ask. Because I was thinking that now is as good a time as ever to-"
His phone interrupts him and Nick closes his eyes. He gets it out to mute it, turn it off, maybe put it down the back of the couch. He does not want this moment to pass, again, doesn't want to keep making these moments. But the number ringing is not one he recognises and, on the screen, it pops up with a message the number is associated with.
For emergencies only, M.
His fingers slide over answer before he's conscious of the movement.
"Burkhardt," he grunts even though he wants to say something very different.
"Can you talk?" Comes the semi-familiar voice and he breathes out.
"I'm at home with Juliette," He replies very aware of her eyes on him as he talks.
"Then no you can't," his mother answers her own question. "I need some time with you, just you and Nicky no one can know."
"When?"
"As soon as possible." He sighs as he sees their evening disappearing but he can't ignore this, can't not do as his mother asks. Well, commands. He takes a moment to think, she must be close by to request such a meeting and if she wants just him then they need a place off grid that no one would suspect they'd go to. He grimaces towards Juliette and then makes a show of looking at his watch.
"If this is advisory based then can I finish my dinner before heading in?"
"I suppose," His mother grumbles and then he catches her words even as it's clear from the lower volume she is talking to someone else. "We can sort you out while we get our timings."
"Then I can meet you there in say an hour? Do we really need to go to the location tonight?"
"Location?"
"Ok, I'll meet you there." He ends the call then, looking up at Juliette even as his fingers tap out a quick message.
"I am so sorry," He starts but she huffs out a laugh, though it's not her usual, happy titter.
"How many dinners have we had interrupted? I knew this might happen Nick, it's ok."
"It happens a lot," he can't help but comment as they sit down with the just warm enough food.
"Yes, it does. With you being a cop and a Grimm and just generally a very helpful guy. I know it's important, what you do and you'll know which dinners are important enough not to miss." She laughs at her words but Nick feels his insides twist slightly. He's not sure but it feels like there's something in her words he should be more aware of. Then she's passing him the salad and he tries to focus on just her rather than whatever situation, or more likely fight, his mother is bringing his way.
-G-
AN – So, thoughts?