Delbert groaned and cracked his back as he dumped the last of the dishes into the Benbow's sink.
"I'm to young to feel this old," He complained.
Matt laughed and started scrubbing, "Yeah. My hands are shot. How much longer do we have?"
"Fifteen? Unless—"
"Uncle Matt! Uncle Del!" Eight-year-old Jim Hawkins dashed into the kitchen, "You're almost done, right?"
"Yes, Jim." Delbert rolled his eyes.
"And we'll take you down to the lake when we're done." Matt agreed.
The bell at the desk rang and Delbert turned.
"Can I bring my solar surfer?" Jim asked.
"Sure, Jimmy," Matt said, "We can work on it at the lake."
"Yes!"
"Delbert?" Sarah called from the other room, "Can you give me a hand?"
"Coming, Sarah!" He ruffled Jim's hair as he passed through the door.
He stopped dead in his tracks. Standing at the Benbow's registration desk was Captain Smollett and two of his daughters. The younger one looked to be around Jim's age but the elder daughter he knew was the same age as himself.
Eight years ago Amelia Smollett had been his target. He had nearly been killed for not bringing her back. Sarah smiled at him.
"Ms. Smollett and her sister will be here for an extended stay so they have more things to bring to their room. Can you help them with that?"
Delbert swallowed and nodded. He could feel Captain Smollett's eyes on him as he picked up the largest chest from the pile.
"Which room, Mrs. Hawkins?" He asked.
"Room six. I've already unlocked it."
He nodded and went up the stairs. He was careful to put the chest away safely at the foot of the bed. Jim was prancing at the foot of the stairs.
"It's been fifteen minutes, Uncle Del." He chirped.
Delbert winced again, "Just a few more minutes, Jim. I have to finish helping our visitors get settled first."
Jim looked over at the Smollett sisters. The younger girl clung to her sister's skirt and stayed close to her. Amelia held her gently.
Jim looked up at his mother before stepping up to the girl, "Hi. I'm Jim."
"I'm Elizabeth," The girl leaned out slightly.
"How long are you staying?"
She shrugged. Jim shuffled his feet.
"My uncles and I are going down to the lake soon," Jim folded his hands behind his back, "Do you wanna come? I'm going to be working on my solar surfer."
"Really!?" Elizabeth lit up and looked up at her sister, "Can we go?"
Amelia glanced at Delbert before looking over to her father.
"I'll be leaving soon, Amelia," Captain Smollett said, "I trust you're judgment."
Amelia hummed and looked down at Jim, "We'll see what happens once we're settled."
Jim nodded and smiled, "Ok! See you soon!"
Delbert nodded and picked up another chest. Captain Smollett picked up another and followed him up the stairs. He swallowed thickly and tried not to think about the older felid behind him.(1)
"How long have you lived here, son?" Captain Smollett asked.
"Um, eight years, Sir." He answered honestly.
Captain Smollett nodded slowly and set down his chest. "Does your mother know that you're here?"
Delbert felt his heart stutter and his blood run cold. Yet he didn't know what he was more scared of. Captain Smollett knowing who he was or the idea that his mother could find him.
"No, Sir. Not that I know of. I haven't seen her since my father brought me here."
Captain Smollett nodded again, "I can see that you're making an honest life for yourself here, Mr. Doppler. And I respect that. So long as it stays that way, I won't say a word. However," He glared down at Delbert, "Should anything befall my daughters while they are here, I will have you hanged for piracy. You hear?"
"Yes, Sir," Delbert stood at straight as he could, "I'll protect them myself. No harm shall come to them on my watch."
Captain Smollett smiled and nodded again, putting one hand on Delbert's shoulder, "Now, no need to go quite that far. I know my Amelia is plenty strong enough to protect herself and her sister."
Delbert nodded this time, "That may be true but I know what Captain Doppler is capable of and two heads are better than one."
The captain squeezed his shoulder once more and led the way back down to the dinning hall of the Benbow. Amelia was now talking to Sarah about their arrangements while Elizabeth and Jim chattered nearby. Amelia turned and grabbed the last of the chests.
"Come on, Lizzy. If you want to go to the lake, we need to find our swim suits."
"Yeah!" Lizzy bolted off towards the stairs.
"Hey!" Captain Smollett laughed and turned, "Can I get a goodbye first?"
Elizabeth frowned and turned back. She launched herself from the stairs and into his arm. She held on tight, face buried into his neck.
"Hey now, no need for tears," The captain kissed her temple, "I'll be back in just a few months."
Elizabeth nodded and squeezed him again. He then let her go and watched her run up the stairs. Jim tugged on the hem of his jacket.
"Yes, lad?"
"I'll make sure she's ok." He promised, "My dad's a spacer too and sometimes he's gone for a long time."
Captain Smollett smiled and shook Jim's hand, "Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I'll keep that in mind."
Jim nodded back and ran off to get his swimsuit and solar surfer. Amelia watched him go before stepping up to her father and kissing his cheek.
"I'll see you when you get back," She said.
Captain Smollett smiled and rest his forehead against hers, "Take care of yourself, Darling. I'll be back as soon as I can."
She smiled and nodded before following her sister up the stairs. Captain Smollett tipped his hat to Sarah and shook Delbert's hand before turning and heading back out the door. Delbert watched him go before making his way over to the kitchen to grab his supplies.
LLB
Jim dragged Elizabeth along as they neared the lake in Montressor's Crescent Canyon. The water of the lake allowed thick soft grass to grow in the otherwise barren canyon and the mining refinery was far enough away to be just a distant hum. The perfect place to relax and enjoy some time away from the business of the surrounding towns.
"Slow down, you two," Matt shouted, "What exactly do you want to do first? Solar Surfer or swimming?"
Jim looked at his half finished solar surfer, then at Elizabeth, then at the lake. He shuffled from foot to foot.
"If we work on the solar surfer first we can wash the oil off when we swim," Elizabeth offered.
"Yeah. But if we start working on the solar surfer first then we might not want to stop so we can go swimming at all." Jim admitted.
"How about this," Delbert offered, setting down their lunch basket, "I'll set a timer. When the timer goes off then you stop working on the solar surfer and start swimming? Sound good?"
"Sound good!" Jim and Elizabeth cheered, running to help Matt get the solar surfer's supplies.
Delbert nodded and started the 30 minute timer on his pocket watch. He then pulled the blanket out of the basket. Without a word, Amelia grabbed the other end and helped him unfold it. With the blanket out, he pulled out his textbooks and started reading. Amelia sat next to him and pulled a knife out of her bag to cut her purp. He forced himself to keep his eyes on his book and away from the knife. The knife she had taken from him on her father's ship eight years ago.
"You don't have to protect us, you know."
He jumped and looked over. Amelia had set her purp and knife in her lap and was watching her sister and Jim.
"I don't know what my father said to you that made you think that you do but I can take care of us just fine on my own." She continued. "I've been doing it for long enough."
Delbert swallowed and looked over to where Matt was helping the kids with the solar surfer.
"I have no doubt that you can take care of yourself and your sister and your father told me as much himself when I offered." He explained, "But I'll tell you what I told him: "Two heads are better than one." Besides, just because youcando it, doesn't mean you should have to do it alone."
Amelia tilted her head. Delbert looked back down at his book.
"I've spent to much time seeing Sarah take care of Jim alone while Leland is away and my Dad took care of me and my siblings alone." He said, "If I can help, I will. Besides," He looked back at the kids and smiled, "I don't think we're going to get much of a choice."
Amelia looked over and watched as Jim happily showed Elizabeth how to activate the sail on the solar surfer. She looked back at Delbert and then back at her purp. They were quiet for a while, occasionally looking up to check on Matt, Jim, and Elizabeth.
"What ate you reading?"
Delbert looked over and smiled, "My physics textbook. My finals are coming soon and I want to be sure that I'm ready."
"You're studying to be a physicist?"
"Astrophysicist, yes." He looked up at the sky above them, "I don't have many good experiences with ships but I do love the Etherium. Perhaps I'll get to study on a ship some day. Or even just take a voyage among the stars. A proper one where I don't have to worry about if we have enough food to make it to port next or if an attack will hurt my family."
"I'm sorry to say that those are almost always things you have to worry about on a ship," Amelia looked up at the sky with him, "An incorrect calculation when stocking the ship's hold or mismanagement of the rations can make food scarce, even on the best of ships. And pirates don't really care what kind of ship you are. If you have supplies or passengers, they'll attack."
Delbert looked over, "Is that what you want to do? Be a spacer?"
She nodded, "A captain. Like my father."
"That's amazing! But, why are you here then?" He tilted his head, "You'll forgive me saying so but, you're plenty old enough to join the Academy."
"Yes, I am. But, with our sister already married and Papa deployed, someone has to take care of Lizzy." She looked down at her younger sister and smiled, "The Academy isn't going anywhere. I'd rather be with Lizzy than have her raised by a nanny or living with Olivia and her husband. Those are a last resort."
Delbert nodded slowly, "Well, in my honest opinion, your father couldn't have chosen a better place for you two to settle in. Montressor may not look like much but it's got wonderful views and plenty of space for small crafts if you want to practice maneuvering before you do go off to the Academy."
"And good people?" Amelia tilted her head over to where Matt was still playing with the children.
"Plenty of good people." Delbert nodded.
LLB
Delbert yelped as his books toppled off the table.
"Sorry, Uncle Del!" Jim shouted as he and Lizzy ran past.
Matt chuckled and set Delbert's meal on the table, "And I thought it was hard to work with one of them running around."
"You're telling me," Delbert groaned, picking up his fallen books.
"Don't look at me," Amelia crossed her arms as she rounded the corner, "You're Mr. Hawkins is a terrible influence on Lizzy."
"Andyoucan't bring yourself to be mad about it," Matt teased.
"Not at all."
They all had a good laugh about it. Even as Matt had to get back to work, as Delbert turned back to his studies, and as Amelia followed the children out the door. Though only two months had passed since the Smollett sisters had arrived in Benbow, it seemed as though much had changed. Delbert had been forced to quit working at the Benbow Inn in order to focus more on his studies. Matt had started working there more to help his sister-in-law take care of Jim and keep the business running while his brother was away in space. Amelia had taken up an independent study of her own in order to prepare herself for when she was able to enrole in the Academy.
"I don't know how you can study in a place like this, Delbert," Sarah teased as she walked past, tower of dishes in her hands, "What with all the noise."
"I honestly prefer it, Sarah," He admitted, "If it's to quiet then I'm left alone with my thoughts for too long and I can't focus on my work."
"If you say so."
"Hey, Del!" Matt leaned back out of the kitchen, "You wanna come surfin' when I get off?"
"I don't know, Matt," Delbert set his book to the side to eat his food, "I'm not much of a solar surfer and I still have more studying to do."
"Aw, come on," Matt bat his eyelashes, "Mia's coming. She said she wanted to get some more practice in herself."
"Then, I should probably stay behind. Someone has to keep Jim and Lizzy out of trouble."
"I can handle the kids for one night, Delbert," Sarah put her hands on her hips, "You go have fun. Enjoy your youth."
"But-"
"Look, Del," Matt stepped forward and put his hands on the table, "Your finals are over; Sarah said she'd watch the kids; neither of which are yours, I might add; and you need a massive brain break. Let's go. As soon as I'm off, meet me and Mia out back. We're going to Crescent Canyon and you're coming with us."
"You're coming with us?" Amelia stepped back into the dinning hall, "That's great! Wait. Are you sure you can handle the two of them, Sarah? Lizzy's gone a bit wild since we moved here."
Sarah rolled her eyes, "Yes. I can handle it."
"Alright," Amelia held her hands up, "Alright. Then I'm going to go and get ready. The two of them are out playing in the garden right now."
Delbert sighed and hung his head, "I'm not winning. Am I."
"Nope!" Matt turned on his heel and went back into the kitchen.
Delbert sighed but only a few hours later he was waiting for Amelia at the back door of the inn.
"Sorry." She ran down the stairs and into the hall, wearing a new pair of pants and a jacket rather than her usual skirt and dress. "Lizzy was giving me a little extra trouble."
"It's fine." He told her, holding the door for her. "Matt can wait if he needs to. I take it this is the first time Lizzy's been left with a sitter?"
"Yes. We've never really needed one before." She admitted. "There's really always been one of us around until reticently."
He nodded and waved to Matt in the garden. Then, they were off to the Canyon as they approached, the sun quickly setting behind them.
"When you said that we were doing this at night, I thought you mean later in the day. Not actually at night." He turned to Matt, "Does the solar surfer even work at night?"
"Yes it does," Matt assured him, "Maybe not as fast but it works. You have to be able to make it work if you enter the Galactic Grand Prix."
"Wait," Amelia leaned around Delbert, "Youwant to join the GGP?"
"Yup!" Matt stopped and started setting up his solar surfer, "I figured I'm good enough and Sarah could really use the money so why not give it a shot. Right?"
"Is that why you really dragged us out here tonight," Delbert lift an eyebrow, "So you could practice for the tryouts?"
"Maybe." Matt grinned, "But I also heard Mia talking about getting some practice in for the Academy so two birds and all that."
"And I'm here because?"
"You're sad and lonely and need to get out more," Matt popped up the sail. "Now, who wants to go first?"
They both looked at Delbert expectantly. He looked back at them.
"Why me?"
"Because I don't believe that you're as bad as you say," Amelia crossed her arms.
"AndIknow that you're even worse."
He fixed his best friend with a look, "You really sure about that? You do remember that story I told you about jumping off the top of a crow's nest, right? I was born on a ship."
"I don't believe it," Matt crossed his arms and stood next to Amelia, "Because I've seen you try to handle my surfer before. And it's not a pretty sight."
Amelia smirked. Delbert sighed and stepped up to the solar surfer. The sail glowed dimly in the fading light. He grabbed the bar and kicked it on. Almost immediately it shot out from beneath his feet and skittered a few feet away. He landed hard on his back, all the air forced out of his lungs at the impact.(2)
"Delbert!" Amelia gasped and bowed over him, "Are you alright?"
He blinked up at her for a moment. In the fading sunlight, the bright red hair that framed her face burned like a wreath of flames.
"Delbert?" She tilted her head.
"Y-Yeah. Yeah. I'm alright." He forced himself up and rubbed his neck, "Just got the wind knocked out of me. Maybe I am as bad as Matt said. Why don't you go next. Show him how it's done."
Amelia watched him for a moment longer before grinning and running after the solar surfer. Delbert went back over to stand by Matt. His best friend smirked.
"Mwah mwah mwah." He teased, puckering his lips.
Delbert shoved his face away, "Shut up."
"Dude, I think you're eyes actually turned into hearts for a moment there."
"Shut. Up."
Matt turned away, still chuckling as Amelia climbed onto the solar surfer. She powered it up and shot off like an old Earth bullet. Both men watched in awe at the maneuvers she pulled along the canyon walls. The twists and daring drops from the lip of the canyon; the race directly at them, daring them to not get out of her way before she pulled to a halt. Matt applauded quietly.
"Alright. I'll admit, that was pretty cool. But watch how a pro does it!" He jogged over to his surfer and turned back to face them, "Don't try any of what you're about to see at home, kiddies! This is Grand Prix level stuff." He jumped up and hesitated. He turned back, "But seriously you two. Please don't try any of this. I'm not kidding."
With that, he was off. He flew circles around them and up over the lip of the canyon. He flew flips, dives, and twists that made Delbert dizzy just watching them.
"He really is good," Amelia whispered.
"He's been practicing since before I moved here," He explained, "I think the GGP has been a goal of his for his whole life."
"How long agodidyou move here?" Amelia looked up at him.
Delbert swallowed, "About eight years ago. Just after Jim was born."
Amelia nodded but didn't get to say anything before they heard the solar surfer's engine sputter. They both turned and watched and it began to power down mid air.
"Matt!" Delbert shouted.
They both ran forward as the surfer nosedived back towards the ground. At the last moment, Matt pulled up. The solar surfer skittered to a halt and Matt was thrown off. He tumbled and rolled across the dirt and stones.
"Matt!"
They ran around to kneel beside him.
"Are you ok, Matt?" Delbert rest a hand on his friend's head.
Matt groaned and nodded, "Yeah. Not the first time I've fallen off the surfer and it probably won't be the last." He looked over his shoulder at the solar surfer, "I guess it's out of juice for the night, though. Sorry, guys. I thought we would have more time."
Delbert pulled out his pocket watch and hissed through his teeth, "Actually, Matt, it's almost ten o'clock."
"Is it really?" Amelia sat back, "It can't be that late."
Delbert lift an eyebrow and showed her his watch. She laughed. Matt chuckled and sat up.
"In that case, we should be getting back." He shuffled over to his surfer and tucked it under his arm. "I know the two of you got young-uns to get back to."
"I could have sworn that Jim wasyournephew." Amelia lift an eyebrow.
"Yeah but the way Del acts around him you'd wonder who his dad really is," Matt teased.
"Well it isn't Leland."
Matt frowned and turned, "Hey. That's still my brother you're talking about."
"Yeah? Well, who is it that helps Sarah with the Inn and with Jim? It's certainly not him." Delbert fixed him with a look, "You're at the Inn more than any of us. You're the one helping Jim build his own solar surfer. I help him with his homework."
"He's kind of got a point," Amelia looked away, "I've lived here for a few months now and I think I've only seen Mr. Hawkins once."
"He runs the ferry ships for the refinery," Matt looked away, "You gotta understand that. Your dad's a captain. I haven't seen him since he left you and Lizzy here."
"My father's deployed to the Procyon front lines," She defended, "And at least he writes. Not only does Mr. Hawkins not write but, I'm sorry to say, ferry ships aren't gone for months at a time."
Matt huffed, "Whatever. See you guys tomorrow."
Delbert and Amelia watched as he marched off, solar surfer tucked under his arm. Once he was gone Delbert sighed and led the way back to the Inn.
"Maybe I went to far with that bit about the ferry ships," Amelia muttered.
"No. I think he needed to hear it," Delbert assured her, "Even Sarah knows something is off with how long Leland is gone. Matt just doesn't want to believe that his brother is a decent brother but not the best husband or father."
Amelia nodded slowly and looked back towards the Inn.
LLB
1) I am aware that they are technically the same species. However, Canid and Felid is what was used back when the original version of this fic was written in 2012. Not sure if these are still terms that people use but it's what I'm sticking too.
2) Based off of my own experience with a skateboard. I am not an agile person.