AN: This chapter might change if we get any canon on Cassie's parents in S3.
"Cassandra?" Her mother stared at her and Jenkins, mouth open. She was an elegant looking woman, otherwise, with soft auburn curls and well-tailored clothes.
"Who's at the door, Eleanor?" a man called from inside the house.
"Can we come in?" Cassie asked. Her mother nodded, clearly trying to compose herself, as her father saw them from the hall.
"Cassie?" he said. "Hi, Dad," she returned softly. It was clear Cassie had taken after her father in looks, if she had her mother's petite stature. The man's hair was no longer as fiery red as Cassandra's, but Jenkins was certain it had been at one time.
"Who's your friend, Cassie?" her father asked. Jenkins felt he was clearly the kinder one of the two, even if he had also treated Cassandra poorly.
"Galeas," she answered. Jenkins had told her his "first" name, so that she could use it in public. But she had told him that she would always think of him as Jenkins. It had warmed his heart, somehow.
"I have something to tell you," she started, but her mother interrupted.
"Let's everyone sit down, and I will make some tea," Eleanor insisted.
Cassie sighed, and nodded. She didn't want them to feel put out – she really did want them to come to the wedding.
They all went into the living room. It was a lovely home, all creams and chocolates. Jenkins had yet to ask Cassie about her parent's incomes – he simply couldn't tell if they were wealthy or just retired smart investors.
As Eleanor puttered in the kitchen, Dad extended his had to Jenkins. "Charles Cillian," he said.
"Galeas Jenkins. It is very good to meet you, Mr. Cillian," Jenkins said formally. He knew this was going to be tough enough on Cassandra's parents. He couldn't blame them, except for not being there for her over the years.
They all sat down, Cassie sitting close to Jenkins on the couch. Jenkins could tell Charles was a good judge of character at situation, from the look he was giving them both.
"How have you been, Cassie?" her dad asked softly, clearly waiting for his wife before attacking the elephant in the room.
"Good. I've taken a job at a library in Oregon," she said.
"Has that been OK for you? You said last time that the episodes have decreased…."
"Yeah, it's been good. I'm on some new medication. It doesn't cure anything, but it helps the nosebleeds," she explained. Of course, she couldn't explain that she was actually Merlin now. She hadn't told anyone yet. She didn't want to until she worked out if she could get rid of the tumor or not.
Jenkins sat beside her, listening, trying to give her strength and control an urge to run his fingers on her skin at the same time. He was starting to feel completely ridiculous, like what he assumed 17 year old boys feel like. And it was starting make him rather angry with himself.
Her mother came in with a tea tray. "I'm sorry I don't have any sandwiches cut," she said curtly, clearly miffed at Cassandra's abrupt visit.
"Thanks, Mom," Cassie said simply, accepting the cup from her mother. Eleanor passed a cup to her husband and to Jenkins, trying to avoid his eyes. She then took up her own cup.
"Well, why don't you tell us why you're here, Cassandra."
Cassie sat her cup on its saucer. "Galeas works with me at the library in Oregon. We've been working together for over a year."
Here she took a deep breath. "We're getting married the day after tomorrow."
Both of her parents gasped, though Jenkins could tell Charles was not quite as shocked as Eleanor.
"But...are you…," Eleanor trailed off, a rather horrified expression on her face.
Jenkins squeezed Cassie's arm, making her look at him. An unspoken thought went between them, Jenkins telling her to let him take the lead. She gave him a small, but grateful smile.
"I apologize for the last minute notice. But there are some things we simply are not willing to explain. And no, Cassandra is not carrying my child," he gave Eleanor a hard look, and took the airplane tickets from his suit breast pocket.
"The wedding will be in Rome. These are the tickets for you if you wish to use them. Everything is arranged. You will have access to a car and driver. Cassie very much wishes you to be there, but your presence is not required."
Charles and Eleanor simply started at Jenkins, processing. Then Charles blinked, trying to bring himself around. He looked at his wife. "Eleanor, why don't you take Cassie out to the yard and show her how well your Clematis is growing?" he suggested. It was not really a suggestion. Jenkins saw a glimmer of the man he used to be, before finding out his child had an inoperable tumor.
Tight-lipped, Eleanor nodded once, and left the living room without a word. Cassie looked from her father to Jenkins, and nodded as well, before silently following her mother.
Charles looked at Jenkins for a second or two, and then walked over to a side cabinet, and took out a brandy bottle and two glasses. "You drink brandy?" He asked.
Jenkins nodded, and Charles poured them both a generous drink.
"Thank you," Jenkins said simply as Charles handed him a glass.
"You're welcome. You know that Cassie has a brain tumor, I hope?" Charles started as they both sat back down.
"Yes, she's told me, and some about her life before she came to The Library," Jenkins said. He really couldn't help capitalizing The Library in his mind. "I know only a little about her childhood, however, though I understand yours is not an easy relationship."
"No," Cassie's father said sadly, looking into his glass. "We haven't handled it well. Cassie was our everything. We were so thrilled with her mind, were looking forward to what she could do. And then…." He stopped, and looked up at Jenkins. "Will you be able to care for her? She deserves so much more…."
"She deserves a family that shows they love her," Jenkins said a bit coldly. But then relented. He didn't want this to end in a fight. "But yes, I can take care of her."
"Do you love her?" Charles said abruptly.
Jenkins looked at him straight in the eye. "Yes. I know it seems a bit outrageous, for a man my age. I have never been married, but I have done well for myself. Cassie will have the best of everything, and want for nothing."
"Well then," Charles said, raising his glass to Jenkins, "I hope Cassie can convince Eleanor."
Mother and daughter along the garden wall covered with Clematis. Cassie breathed in the heady fragrance. The memory of their smell had helped her focus many a time.
"I'm not sure what to say, Cassandra," her mother started. Cassie looked over at her as they walked.
"I am sorry for the short notice, but I'm not sorry that I'm getting married," Cassie began, "because it's one of the many things I thought I'd never be able to do."
"Why this man? He's so much older, how old is he, anyway?" Eleanor's voice had a bit of pleading to it, as if she just wanted a normal child. No, Cassie thought, she just wanted the child of her dreams.
"Because he's the only one that's ever asked," Cassie said pointedly. "He's 54, if you must know. I've had feelings for him for a while, but I never would have asked to burden him with…me. I'll probably be dead in a couple of years," she said without emotion, "so it's not like it really matters how old he is. I'll die before him, no matter what."
Eleanor stopped in her tracks, looking at Cassie with tears in her eyes. "This isn't what I wanted for you," she said, her voice tight, straining to control herself.
"I'd rather not have a tumor, either," Cassie said coolly, "but that's reality. Jen- Galeas, I mean, can take care of me. Maybe even help me find better doctors. All I know is that I'm better when he's around. Happy. I'm actually happy, Mother," she said, reaching out to touch her mother's hand.
Eleanor looked down at Cassie hand touching hers. She had not touched her daughter in so long. She finally nodded her head in approval.
"I know we've not done right by you. I can admit that, now. It was so hard, at first, to admit that you couldn't go to college, couldn't hold a job, couldn't have anything. And there was nothing we could do about it. It was almost painful to talk to you for so many years." She looked at Cassie, and touched her cheek. "I'm sorry about that. We missed what time we did have together."
Tears split down Cassandra's cheeks. "Thank you. I've missed you both so much," she said as she hugged her mother, the first time in years.
They said their goodbyes quickly after that, with promises to have the driver meet them at the airport in Rome. They walked out arm-in-arm, Cassie clearly much happier.
After dropping off the rental car, Cassie took out her phone to call Col. Baird to turn on the magical doorway. But Jenkins stopped her.
"May I ask you…" he said softly, fidgeting nervously.
"Anything," Cassie said encouragingly.
"If this goes as planned, and nine months from now, you give birth…." He swallowed, clearly uncomfortable. He fingered his tie. Cassie wanted to drink in these idiosyncrasies, now that she was "allowed" to properly pay attention to him.
"And all is well, and you and the child come home, and before you decide if you wish to stay with me after that – no, you have that right, I will not deny you a divorce if that's what you want," he said in answer to her mouth open to protest, "but before then, would you consent to…one night, with me, without the Nataliam affect?"
Cassie looked at him, astonished. That was not what she thought he would ask. But it made sense.
"I know this is always going to feel like…a violation," she started slowly, thinking it through. Jenkins now opened his mouth to protest, but she raised her hand to silence him.
"No, let me finish. This isn't your choice, which makes it rape by all definitions. We're both adults, we both understand why it happened and why it has to be done this way, but I wish it could be different. And so… I say yes."
Jenkins looked at her, astonished. That was not what he was expecting her to say.
"If you don't hate me by then. Which you might." Cassie looked at him sadly.
She then slowly brought up her hand to his hair, and ran her fingers through it. Jenkins closed his eyes, and shuddered involuntarily. No one had touched him like this, ever.
She waited until he opened his eyes again, and smiled. "I've wanted to do that for so long."
And then her faced fell. "And I just said that I knew you would always feel violated. Oh, I'm so sorry."
Jenkins looked at her tenderly. "It does not feel that way. I know some of it is the Nataliam, but…some of it is also…just me. Which is why I ask for the favor. I would like to know what is "real", if you will."
Cassie nodded, and made the phone call to the Annex. They both walked through the door, feeling like completely new people.
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The Annex was busy with wedding plans. Flynn and Jake arranged for a honeymoon in Wales, at a small castle that could be rented, complete with staff. Ezekiel arranged for Cassie's parents' transportation and lodging. And Eve went with Cassie shopping for dresses for the bride and "maid of honor." Charlene even promised to come, so they were to pick up a dress for her as well.
Now the night before his wedding, and Jenkins was pacing his room. Pacing and pacing, like he couldn't stop. He was feeling the effects of the Nataliam keenly now, and it was difficult to sit, or eat, or anything else that required concentration. He couldn't think of anything besides Cassandra. It was both one of the worst feelings Jenkins had felt in his life, and one of the best.
He heard a knock at his door. "What!? He said sharply. He was long passed politeness. The door opened, and Flynn Carson looked inside. "Can I come in?"
Jenkins nodded curtly. He had asked Flynn to be his best man, with the other two Librarians acting as groomsmen.
"I just wanted to let you know what everything is set for tomorrow," Flynn began, and then paused. "Are you alright?
"I-" Jenkins tried to still himself, control his breathing. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I'll be fine."
"Well, ok. I just wanted you to know," Flynn said, as he backed out of the room and closed the door. He stood at the other side of the door, thinking.
When he returned to the main room of the Annex, he pointed at Eve, and then pointed at the general direction of Jenkins' room. "You. You're his Guardian. Go."
Eve gave him a look somewhere between incredulousness and indignation that he would try to boss her around so. But the look on his face stopped her from saying anything more. She walked straight to Jenkins' room and knocked on the door.