MEG'S POV
"Saturday morning cartoons."
"Going to the zoo."
"Building a fort with blankets and chairs."
"Staying up late."
"Sneaking out late."
I smiled at that, considering my next idea. Alfons and I had been at this since midnight, when he claimed he couldn't stand being away from his sister any longer. I was his sister after all. I didn't mind if he woke me up in the middle of the night.
"You missed out on seventeen years of bothering me," I'd said, beaming, patting my bedsheets. "Don't be shy."
After last night, Al brought me back to his appartment. Well, he and Vic's.
Vic was a very...friendly man. I swear I was hugged about ninety-seven times. His blonde hair, containing low lights of brown and grey, was messy and looked as if he had just walked out of bed. Tan, course, muscled skin covered his tall body. He was still rather lean while also looking very strong. He had a sweet smile and a voice that was neither tenor nor bass. Very hard to explain. Very beautiful.
He'd fed me and shown me to a room in their ratty apartment. Mahoganny wood floors filled with splinters, one window over the sink. Wood paneled walls with dark ugly wall paper. Floral print sofas. This was a disaster from the seventies that no one had bothered the fix. Of course, two men living in an apartment didn't really solve any problems.
Al had come into my room later, and we were full circle. Now, he and I were playing a game.
"This just left me wondering what I'd missed out on. All the things siblings do, would I have done them with you?" He'd asked. It became a little game. Our hands were laced together, and we'd take turn kissing the other's palm and saying what we'd do next.
"Go on a double date," I replied. He cocked his eye brows.
"We could do that now, schwester!" He blushed and covered his mouth with his free hand. "Sister," he corrected. I smiled.
"I know what that's like," I said, wrapping my arms around him. "Two languages. It gets to a point where they just blur together. So, in my head, Al, you'd be my petit frère."
He smiled sadly at me. "I can't believe I didn't know about you. Growing up alone..."
He looked away. "Al, that must've been horrible, all alone..."
"Well, you were too," he said, looking up, sad blue eyes trying to mimick the false smile on his lips, but failing.
"Al, maybe I was alone, but it wasn't for long. I had a mother at least. Al...you never had that."
He shruged. I had a grandmother and grandfather who loved me. Meg...how old were you when your father left? Er, our father?"
I looked away. "I was six. He knew about you four years before he left. Probably five if he was there while your mom was pregnant."
"My mom left the second she had me. Do you think she's on her own then, and not with your father?"
I winched. I hated how he was my father. Al really needed to catch himself.
"I don't know. When I was six or so, I caught my dad with a prostitute. Unless your mother was latino, this wasn't your mom."
He looked down. "I hate him," he whispered.
I stared, tears forming behind my eyes, bluring my sight. "Al..."
"I do! It was one thing when he left me! But finding out he left my mom...he left you? Verdammt!" Al continued to murmur what I assumed wher German obsenities to himself. "How could any one leave something as sweet as you, Meg? I don't understand..."
I was shocked as Al barreled forward, clutching me as he sobbed. Sobbed. Full on shaking, snot-nose, squint face. I held Al, emotionless. He looked up at me.
"Don't you want to cry, too?" he asked, a little German creeping into his voice?
I smiled sadly. "I've done my share of crying. Besides, I'm the big sister. Big sisters aren't supposed to cry."
Al smiled sadly at me, before taking my hand again, and kissing it lightly.
"Baking cookies, and eating the dough."
Knock, knock
Al and I turned, sitting up in the bed. Vic lent me a pair of his pajamas, which I felt extremely awkward in, but man, they were freaking soft.
Vic peeked his head in, smiling.
"Sorry if I woke anyone up, but I made waffles, and they are way better hot."
Al and I shoved waffles down our throats, and I can't remember a time when I ever ate this much. Food in Paris was a little tricky, but you had to know where to go (I didn't) and the same went for London. Plus, portions were way smaller than American sizes.
But may I say, Vic knew how to cook. Like, amazing.
"So, Mr. Mignogna-"
"Meg," he said, wipping his hands on his apron and shoving it away,"Call me Vic. I am your cousin--by affair, of course."
I laughed, choking on Vic's amazing food, swallowing before continuing my sentence.
"Vic, you never told me what you did for a living."
He beamed at me. "Miss Giry, I am so glad you asked."
He ran for his bedroom, before coming back, dragging a huge box.
"I," he said, undoing a lock. "Am an automail mechanic."
"Automail?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said, opening the lid. I stifled a scream.
"Relax! Relax, they aren't real," Al assured.
"I'm glad she thinks they are, though. I strive to be real," Vic wiggled his eyebrows. "Well?"
"What are they?"
The box contained what appeared to be human limbs of different length and width. Skin stretched over them appeared greyish and pale. I saw bits and pieces of thing though--wires and metal.
"Automail," Vic told me, pulling an arm out of the box. "See, when you lose a limb, you still have muscle in a thigh or shoulder. Your brain still sends out these signals in a reflex. These machines take those signals, and turn them into movements, just like your arms or leg would."
Al smiled. "I don't pretend to understand it, but I'm glad he does what he does."
Nessa...
"The Rocket Boy doesn't understand automail..." Vic sighed. "There's no hope for the future of America..."
"Vic, you're only twenty-six! Don't like you're old and wise on me!" Al laughed.
I stared at Al as Vic dragged the heavy box back. "Rocket Boy?"
Al scratched his head sheepishly. "I...I graduated early. I plan to go out to MIT next year. They won't take me in now, not until I'm 18, but I really want to be a rocket scientist." He looked up at me through those eyelashes. "Nerdy, right?"
I stared at him. "I'm the only blonde in a law school dorm, and the youngest person in the FBI. Don't you dare think you're nerdier than me," I said, punching his arm.
"How can I repay you--"
Al looked down at my glowing pocket, and I swore in French.
"What?"
"It's a text from my friend. I have to go to work."
Al's smile faded. "Can I take you?"
"Can you drive?" I teased.
He blushed. My eyes widened.
"Al!"
"I'm an okay driver! I have a license...I just don't like driving..."
I sighed. "I guess that runs in the family. I hate cars."
Al smiled.
"I've always prefered the good ole' subway."
"I've always prefered rockets."
xxx
Al pulled up in his car, and I prayed no one saw me getting out of it.
"I'll text you when I get back, okay?" I said, pining up my hair into a bun.
"Sure thing, I'll pick you up."
I sighed. "I should probably get back to my boyfriend, actually. He hasn't seen me since Christmas. It's what? The seventh? Tenth? I'll have you over for dinner or something, kay? You and Vic both. Welcome over anytime."
Al smiled. "Thanks, Meg!"
Alfons drove off, and as I waved hugely, I frowned as I turned around.
Demy stood infront of me in the girliest thing I'd seen her where in a while. Black knee skirt, clinging to her waist nicely. Black blazer, grey top with ruffles about her chest area. High heels. Chesnut hair clipped back...were the tips curled? Lip gloss? Wow. Her glasses (which she hardly wore) were neatly polished, reminding me I'd slept in my contacts last night....
"What. Was. That?" she screamed, running over to me, her expression half disbelief and half bliss.
"Alfons?"
"So he's-"
"Yup," I replied, smiling big at her. She wrapped me in a hug.
"Spent the night at he and Vic's last night. Interesting guys, those two."
Demy just stared. "I'm, uh, so happy for you."
I smiled, wrapping my arm about her waist. "Some needs coffee--"
I stopped. So did Demy.
"Oh, shiz," she mumbled. I knew the feeling.
"Is that....?"
"My other boyfriend's car?" I asked, eyeing Darcy's two seated fiyero,"Yes. Yes, it is."
Demy and I stepped out of the elevator with linked arms. I saw Nessa in the back, her eyes big and warning us to turn around. I'm surprised she had so much energy. Her sister had died a day or so before Spence and I had left Paris. We'd been told on the plane. JJ had called us. Nessa never really let anyone in, and I knew she was grieving, but I also knew she was strong.
I looked at the rest of scene. JJ was standing next to Blake, both of them apprehensive. Spencer was half-standing at his desk, eyes wide, not aware of me yet. Hotch wasn't in the room, nor was Rossi. Penelope was standing next to two frames. Darcy was a head taller than Derek Morgan, but Derek had a bit more muscle mass on my boyfriend.
"I just want to know when she gets here--"
"Darcy," I called.
His head snapped up, eyes big and pleading. When had my emotionless shell of a fake-boyfriend become a teddy bear?
"Meg," he said. "You didn't come home last night and I was so scared--"
"I'm sorry," I said, no longer leaning on Demy. I clicked my blue-stilleto heels across the room to him, smiling, I kissed him. "I spent the night at Demy's. I should've called-"
"Don't worry about it," he said, kissing me fiercer. My eyes were open and wide as his tongue shoved down my throat for a millisecond. "I was only worried about you." He held my hand for a moment, rubbing them in his, before giving me an odd look, and leaving.
"Whew," Sofia said, wipping her bow and giggling. When had she gotten here? "That was climatic! I was sweating there for a minute!!"
"Yeah," I replied dryly, ready to tell the intern off,"I--"
"Meg!!"
I swallowed. Demy's eyes got huge as we both knew what was happening. I heard light footsteps as Al broke into sight.
"Meg," he said, beaming at me. "You left this in the car. I didn't know if you needed it or not, so I ran back here," he said, dropping something into my palm. I didn't know what it was, I just stared at him.
"Thanks, Al," I said dryly.
"Anytime. Call ya later!" he said, running off and giggling in only a way Al would. I looked down at my palm.
Darcy's ring.
Darcy had seen me without my ring. Spencer had seen Al. Everyone had seen Al. I glanced swiftly at Demy.
We shared a message.
This stays secret. No one can know.
She nodded at me.
I turned back to the team, who was staring at us.
"What? Do we have a case or not?"
__________________________________________________________NESSA'S POV
I sat in the back of the meeting area at the BAU.
I had just returned to Quantico and my body dragged.
Tears were still randomly appearing but I would survive.
It was official now. Mt last family member was now dead.
Gone. Done. Vanquished.
But I had Aaron, and Beth, and Jack, and the unborn baby.
My computer laid open and pictures of me and Elphie flashed over the screen.
There were even a couple with Shell for the time he had been alive.
I snuffled and pulled my knees up against me.
I sat in a thick black dress. It had a turtle neck collar and flounced around my knees. Paired with black kitten heels and and a black velvet headband, and I was officially in mourning.
Fiyero had planned the funeral and we had held each other up at it.
He hadn't even got married to her yet.
She hadnt informed anyone of her disease progression yet apparently.
"Saturday morning cartoons."
"Going to the zoo."
"Building a fort with blankets and chairs."
"Staying up late."
"Sneaking out late."
I smiled at that, considering my next idea. Alfons and I had been at this since midnight, when he claimed he couldn't stand being away from his sister any longer. I was his sister after all. I didn't mind if he woke me up in the middle of the night.
"You missed out on seventeen years of bothering me," I'd said, beaming, patting my bedsheets. "Don't be shy."
After last night, Al brought me back to his appartment. Well, he and Vic's.
Vic was a very...friendly man. I swear I was hugged about ninety-seven times. His blonde hair, containing low lights of brown and grey, was messy and looked as if he had just walked out of bed. Tan, course, muscled skin covered his tall body. He was still rather lean while also looking very strong. He had a sweet smile and a voice that was neither tenor nor bass. Very hard to explain. Very beautiful.
He'd fed me and shown me to a room in their ratty apartment. Mahoganny wood floors filled with splinters, one window over the sink. Wood paneled walls with dark ugly wall paper. Floral print sofas. This was a disaster from the seventies that no one had bothered the fix. Of course, two men living in an apartment didn't really solve any problems.
Al had come into my room later, and we were full circle. Now, he and I were playing a game.
"This just left me wondering what I'd missed out on. All the things siblings do, would I have done them with you?" He'd asked. It became a little game. Our hands were laced together, and we'd take turn kissing the other's palm and saying what we'd do next.
"Go on a double date," I replied. He cocked his eye brows.
"We could do that now, schwester!" He blushed and covered his mouth with his free hand. "Sister," he corrected. I smiled.
"I know what that's like," I said, wrapping my arms around him. "Two languages. It gets to a point where they just blur together. So, in my head, Al, you'd be my petit frère."
He smiled sadly at me. "I can't believe I didn't know about you. Growing up alone..."
He looked away. "Al, that must've been horrible, all alone..."
"Well, you were too," he said, looking up, sad blue eyes trying to mimick the false smile on his lips, but failing.
"Al, maybe I was alone, but it wasn't for long. I had a mother at least. Al...you never had that."
He shruged. I had a grandmother and grandfather who loved me. Meg...how old were you when your father left? Er, our father?"
I looked away. "I was six. He knew about you four years before he left. Probably five if he was there while your mom was pregnant."
"My mom left the second she had me. Do you think she's on her own then, and not with your father?"
I winched. I hated how he was my father. Al really needed to catch himself.
"I don't know. When I was six or so, I caught my dad with a prostitute. Unless your mother was latino, this wasn't your mom."
He looked down. "I hate him," he whispered.
I stared, tears forming behind my eyes, bluring my sight. "Al..."
"I do! It was one thing when he left me! But finding out he left my mom...he left you? Verdammt!" Al continued to murmur what I assumed wher German obsenities to himself. "How could any one leave something as sweet as you, Meg? I don't understand..."
I was shocked as Al barreled forward, clutching me as he sobbed. Sobbed. Full on shaking, snot-nose, squint face. I held Al, emotionless. He looked up at me.
"Don't you want to cry, too?" he asked, a little German creeping into his voice?
I smiled sadly. "I've done my share of crying. Besides, I'm the big sister. Big sisters aren't supposed to cry."
Al smiled sadly at me, before taking my hand again, and kissing it lightly.
"Baking cookies, and eating the dough."
Knock, knock
Al and I turned, sitting up in the bed. Vic lent me a pair of his pajamas, which I felt extremely awkward in, but man, they were freaking soft.
Vic peeked his head in, smiling.
"Sorry if I woke anyone up, but I made waffles, and they are way better hot."
Al and I shoved waffles down our throats, and I can't remember a time when I ever ate this much. Food in Paris was a little tricky, but you had to know where to go (I didn't) and the same went for London. Plus, portions were way smaller than American sizes.
But may I say, Vic knew how to cook. Like, amazing.
"So, Mr. Mignogna-"
"Meg," he said, wipping his hands on his apron and shoving it away,"Call me Vic. I am your cousin--by affair, of course."
I laughed, choking on Vic's amazing food, swallowing before continuing my sentence.
"Vic, you never told me what you did for a living."
He beamed at me. "Miss Giry, I am so glad you asked."
He ran for his bedroom, before coming back, dragging a huge box.
"I," he said, undoing a lock. "Am an automail mechanic."
"Automail?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said, opening the lid. I stifled a scream.
"Relax! Relax, they aren't real," Al assured.
"I'm glad she thinks they are, though. I strive to be real," Vic wiggled his eyebrows. "Well?"
"What are they?"
The box contained what appeared to be human limbs of different length and width. Skin stretched over them appeared greyish and pale. I saw bits and pieces of thing though--wires and metal.
"Automail," Vic told me, pulling an arm out of the box. "See, when you lose a limb, you still have muscle in a thigh or shoulder. Your brain still sends out these signals in a reflex. These machines take those signals, and turn them into movements, just like your arms or leg would."
Al smiled. "I don't pretend to understand it, but I'm glad he does what he does."
Nessa...
"The Rocket Boy doesn't understand automail..." Vic sighed. "There's no hope for the future of America..."
"Vic, you're only twenty-six! Don't like you're old and wise on me!" Al laughed.
I stared at Al as Vic dragged the heavy box back. "Rocket Boy?"
Al scratched his head sheepishly. "I...I graduated early. I plan to go out to MIT next year. They won't take me in now, not until I'm 18, but I really want to be a rocket scientist." He looked up at me through those eyelashes. "Nerdy, right?"
I stared at him. "I'm the only blonde in a law school dorm, and the youngest person in the FBI. Don't you dare think you're nerdier than me," I said, punching his arm.
"How can I repay you--"
Al looked down at my glowing pocket, and I swore in French.
"What?"
"It's a text from my friend. I have to go to work."
Al's smile faded. "Can I take you?"
"Can you drive?" I teased.
He blushed. My eyes widened.
"Al!"
"I'm an okay driver! I have a license...I just don't like driving..."
I sighed. "I guess that runs in the family. I hate cars."
Al smiled.
"I've always prefered the good ole' subway."
"I've always prefered rockets."
xxx
Al pulled up in his car, and I prayed no one saw me getting out of it.
"I'll text you when I get back, okay?" I said, pining up my hair into a bun.
"Sure thing, I'll pick you up."
I sighed. "I should probably get back to my boyfriend, actually. He hasn't seen me since Christmas. It's what? The seventh? Tenth? I'll have you over for dinner or something, kay? You and Vic both. Welcome over anytime."
Al smiled. "Thanks, Meg!"
Alfons drove off, and as I waved hugely, I frowned as I turned around.
Demy stood infront of me in the girliest thing I'd seen her where in a while. Black knee skirt, clinging to her waist nicely. Black blazer, grey top with ruffles about her chest area. High heels. Chesnut hair clipped back...were the tips curled? Lip gloss? Wow. Her glasses (which she hardly wore) were neatly polished, reminding me I'd slept in my contacts last night....
"What. Was. That?" she screamed, running over to me, her expression half disbelief and half bliss.
"Alfons?"
"So he's-"
"Yup," I replied, smiling big at her. She wrapped me in a hug.
"Spent the night at he and Vic's last night. Interesting guys, those two."
Demy just stared. "I'm, uh, so happy for you."
I smiled, wrapping my arm about her waist. "Some needs coffee--"
I stopped. So did Demy.
"Oh, shiz," she mumbled. I knew the feeling.
"Is that....?"
"My other boyfriend's car?" I asked, eyeing Darcy's two seated fiyero,"Yes. Yes, it is."
Demy and I stepped out of the elevator with linked arms. I saw Nessa in the back, her eyes big and warning us to turn around. I'm surprised she had so much energy. Her sister had died a day or so before Spence and I had left Paris. We'd been told on the plane. JJ had called us. Nessa never really let anyone in, and I knew she was grieving, but I also knew she was strong.
I looked at the rest of scene. JJ was standing next to Blake, both of them apprehensive. Spencer was half-standing at his desk, eyes wide, not aware of me yet. Hotch wasn't in the room, nor was Rossi. Penelope was standing next to two frames. Darcy was a head taller than Derek Morgan, but Derek had a bit more muscle mass on my boyfriend.
"I just want to know when she gets here--"
"Darcy," I called.
His head snapped up, eyes big and pleading. When had my emotionless shell of a fake-boyfriend become a teddy bear?
"Meg," he said. "You didn't come home last night and I was so scared--"
"I'm sorry," I said, no longer leaning on Demy. I clicked my blue-stilleto heels across the room to him, smiling, I kissed him. "I spent the night at Demy's. I should've called-"
"Don't worry about it," he said, kissing me fiercer. My eyes were open and wide as his tongue shoved down my throat for a millisecond. "I was only worried about you." He held my hand for a moment, rubbing them in his, before giving me an odd look, and leaving.
"Whew," Sofia said, wipping her bow and giggling. When had she gotten here? "That was climatic! I was sweating there for a minute!!"
"Yeah," I replied dryly, ready to tell the intern off,"I--"
"Meg!!"
I swallowed. Demy's eyes got huge as we both knew what was happening. I heard light footsteps as Al broke into sight.
"Meg," he said, beaming at me. "You left this in the car. I didn't know if you needed it or not, so I ran back here," he said, dropping something into my palm. I didn't know what it was, I just stared at him.
"Thanks, Al," I said dryly.
"Anytime. Call ya later!" he said, running off and giggling in only a way Al would. I looked down at my palm.
Darcy's ring.
Darcy had seen me without my ring. Spencer had seen Al. Everyone had seen Al. I glanced swiftly at Demy.
We shared a message.
This stays secret. No one can know.
She nodded at me.
I turned back to the team, who was staring at us.
"What? Do we have a case or not?"
__________________________________________________________NESSA'S POV
I sat in the back of the meeting area at the BAU.
I had just returned to Quantico and my body dragged.
Tears were still randomly appearing but I would survive.
It was official now. Mt last family member was now dead.
Gone. Done. Vanquished.
But I had Aaron, and Beth, and Jack, and the unborn baby.
My computer laid open and pictures of me and Elphie flashed over the screen.
There were even a couple with Shell for the time he had been alive.
I snuffled and pulled my knees up against me.
I sat in a thick black dress. It had a turtle neck collar and flounced around my knees. Paired with black kitten heels and and a black velvet headband, and I was officially in mourning.
Fiyero had planned the funeral and we had held each other up at it.
He hadn't even got married to her yet.
She hadnt informed anyone of her disease progression yet apparently.
Dad hadn't even known where I was till I got back.
I had been grounded for the foreseeable future and I probably deserved it.
But I had good reason.
And as soon as dad found out where I was, he had pulled me into a hug and held me.
But here I sat in the office.
Fiyero had transferred back to Australia and had left most of her things to me.
He had taken their photos and the engagements rings but he was long gone.
I had inherited an apartment and a bunch of furniture.
I took her memory box but sold everything else.
And now my door to my old life was closed.
I was moved on and could focus in the present.
And speaking of the present Darcy just stumbled in.
He looked ragged and ready to tear his hair out.
Dad and Rossi subtly slipped out of the room and Morgan went to greet him.
" Where is Meg? She never showed up last night and she never called!"
I assumed she has spent the night with Reid and that was why he wasn't here yet.
But he soon stumbled in.
"Where IS she?"
Darcy was very agitated and Morgan was about to deck him I could tell.
" Dude calm down! We don't know where she is!"
"Do you know when she gets here?"
"No we don't! And please calm down or we will have to escort you out!"
I stared at the elevator as it opened and I saw Meg and Demy step out.
I stared pleadingly at them, and they stared back.
Morgan stood jaw clenched and Penny held his arm.
"i just wanna to know when she gets here..."
Meg strode forward and soothed him.
I leaned back and tried to figure out where she had stayed.
Had she actually stayed with Demy? Or someone else?
A few minutes after Darcy left a blond boy scurried in.
He was über pale and had pretty blue eyes that sparkled as he talked.
With a tall frame, and lean muscles, he was actually pretty cute.
In a older sort of way.
But when he talked to Meg I figured it out.
Was he her next conquest?
He implied she had spent the night with him.
But before I assumed the worse I needed to get the facts.
So maybe it was time to inquire.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV
Good grief... Would it kill anyone for something to go right? I mean, Alfons just had to come in and...
I sighed inwardly as we sat in here listening to Hotch talk about the case. I wasn't even paying enough attention to know what he was saying anymore. Meg and I glanced at each other every so often, having a silent conversation.
Spencer glanced over at us from time to time, too. I could tell he wasn't as enthralled by the case as usual. I wondered how Meg was going to handle this. She apparently didn't want anyone else to know about Al yet, but now Spence is probably thinking that Meg is cheating on him. And I can't say anything to anyone without screwing something up.
And then there's the fact that I still needed to tell Meg that I went on a date with her cousin....
--
Later, back at my apartment, I decided it was as good a time as any to tell Meg about my sort of date with Vic. I picked up my phone and speed dialed Meg, then waited a couple of rings until she picked up.
"Hey, Dem," she greeted.
"Uh, hey!" I stuttered.
"What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing," I mumbled, deciding I didn't have the heart to tell her over the phone. It was just too...weird. Like, what was I supposed to say? 'I met your cousin before you did. Yup. We went and had some drinks at the bar.' Yeah, no. "Well, I was just wondering if you'd wanna come stay over at my place tonight. You know. Just for fun."
"Alright," she replied after a moment.
This night was going to be the most awkward thing ever...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MEG'S POV
Darcy was probably angry with me again for skipping out on him, Reid was probably worried about Al, and Al...well, Al was probably reading Forbes while Vic tinkered around with a wrench. I wondered how many people truly needed automail. I hadn't met many people in need of them besides Nessa. I guess veterans may need them...but that still wasn't a very large demand.
I packed up for Dem's for the night, wondering why she wanted me over. I supose it probably had something to do with the Al Spencer fiasco. We needed a cover story, like, soon. I knew Nessa was dying trying to figure out, you could always tell by the look in her eyes.
Knocking a few times, Demy greeted me at the door, smiling awkwardly and ushering me in.
Something was up with her.
"Hey," I said, giggling slightly as Demy took my gym back--containing my nesscesities and laptop. I love Netflix. So much--and moved it to her couch. Rose came up and jumped on my laptop the second I opened it, deciding to flop with her paws over her eyes, typing random characters into google.
"Hullo, Rabies Cat," I smiled, scratching her ears. Now, I admit, after months of having her, Rose probably didn't have rabies. However, since Demy has neglected checking her out, I still fondly greet her as rabies cat, and will until I know she absolutely does not have them.
Demy glared up at me.
"What?" I asked innocently, batting my eyes.
Demy sighed and removed her cat from my keyboard. "C'mon Rose, Auntie Meg doesn't want to google...er, how would you say that?" she said, looking at the string of consanants Rose punched in.
I preceeded to make several noises, sounding half-German and half like I was clearing my throat.
We broke down into giggles.
"Meg, can we talk?" she asked, smoothing back her hair, which responded by slapping her back in the face.
"About Al?" I asked. "Yeah. I really dunno what we're going to do besides saying he's a friend, or maybe say he's Sorrelli's boyfriend or something-"
"Not about that, Meg," Demy said. My mood darkened. Something was really up.
"Dem, what's wrong?" I asked, leaning forward.
She sighed. "Just...please don't freak out."
"Why would I--"
"Promise me."
I blinked. "I...o-okay..."
Demy took a deep breath before beginning. "Okay, well see, when you and Spencer were in Paris, I went on a little...guy hunting. On my own. And so, this guy, he knocked me down and we got to talking and we had a few beers--"
My eyebrows rose.
"Okay, several beers," she corrected. "And he was really sweet...and then..." she sighed, and I braced myself. "Meg, it was Vic."
I stared for a moment, and Demy's eyes got big as saucers.
"Please don't freak out!! I didn't say anything about you, so he doesn't know, and I'll probably never see him again--"
"Are you nuts?!" I screamed, standing. "Of course you'll see him again!! As long as I have a breath in my body, you will!" I was beaming, bouncing up and down on her bed. "You and Vic?! Omigod!! That's...that's amazing!! You two would be perfect for each other! Why did I never see that? Oh gosh, Demy, you have to come over and have dinner with us-"
"Meg," Demy warned, smile hinting her lips.
"I won't say it's you! I'll just say it's a friend! Oh, goodness--Woman! Don't you recognize destiny when you see it?!" I asked. She simply laughed.
"Please, please, please!!" I said.
She bit back a smile,"Maybe," she mumbled.
"VICTOIRE!!" I screamed with a giggle. "We have to go shopping and let me do you're make up and hair--"
She pouted. "Oh, girl, don't you dare think I can't do anything with that hair of yours. Because I can."
She smirked.
"We're going shopping," I continued,"tomorrow. We...well, I'd say we'd take Nessa, but she'd figure out something was up...I just...I feel like I need to wait to tell her."
Demy nodded, not really paying attention, as she braided my hair.
"Are you listening to me?" I grunted.
"It's like a field of wheat..." she mumbled.
I rolled my eyes. "You are such a dumbass."
"Vic doesn't think so..."
Best. Sleep over. Ever.
xxx
I went to Vic's the next morning after Darcy left for work. He and Al were both still there. Vic was tinker on some automail when I walked in, but stopped to wrap me in a hug.
"Day off?" he asked.
I nodded. "Weird, huh? I've had a lot lately. Guess I'm just lucky."
He shrugged. "Maybe God gave you this time to meet Al," he said, smiling. He let that sink in before returning to his chair. I'd never been a girl big on Christianity. It just was there my whole life. I believe in Him, now, don't get me wrong. When I was young, my mother got me baptized and all that jazz, but in her eyes, dancing came before God. I guess coming to America, it was just another thing I left behind. I hadn't occured to me that Al and Vic might be very devout Christians. Looking now at a cross on the wall, and a Bible on the coffee table, I realized I was wrong.
Al stumbled into the room, still in his pajamas and hair messy from sleep. He had a huge smile on his face, and was humming a strange song.
"Meg!" he exclaimed when he saw me, picking me up in a hug. (How strang, having someone so small and pale lift me.)
"Meg," Vic called from the corner. "Perhaps you can enlighten me. Ever since Al took you to work last week, he's been like this."
Al continued to hum as he cracked eggs into a pan, pouring some milk for himself.
I blinked. "I...I honestly don't know."
Vic sighed and left with the fake arm, which clanked as he walked.
"Meg," Al whispered as I came up behind him.
"Yeah, Al? What's up?"
"...What's...what's her name?"
I blinked. "Who?"
"...The girl...at your office..."
Demy? Oh goodness, if both Al and Vic had feelings for Demy....
"The girl with the short, dark hair?"
Al's eyebrows tightened. "No...the skinny one, across the room. The curly bronze-ish hair. Big brown eyes...."
I swallowed. "The armless one?" I asked, a little shocked. Al's eyebrows contracted again.
"She was armless?" he asked, almost to himself. He stared into space, then smiled. "Huh, I guess she was..."
I stared. "Al...Al...that's Nessarose. She's a friend of mine."
He sighed. "She's...she's beautiful..."
Nessa was not going to like this....
I'd just have to hide another thing from her.
------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I sunk back into the leather chair that occupied my room.
Books lay open in front of me on my IPad and notes lay half finished.
All I could think about was the mysteriously cute blond boy that had come in to see Meg.
Why was I doing this?
I knew that even I he was my age an single, I wouldn't the able to form a stable or healthy relationship.
I wasn't capable of that and it wouldn't be fair to anyone who wanted that.
I shook my head viciously and attempted to clear it of memories that lingered like cobwebs.
Men had proven themselves unworthy of me and my opinion wouldn't be changed by a piece of new meat.
Even if he was adorable.
Light footsteps echoed through the hallway and my door squeaked open .
Jack scampered in and he tossed himself onto my bed.
"Nessie, why don't you come play with me?"
"Of course little man."
Jack had been an amazing little brother for the many years I had known him, and I was sure he would be a great older brother to the new baby.
"Nessie, do we hafta get a new baby?"
I chuckled at the hilarity of the situation.
I remember asking the same question before Shell had been born.
I think every little kid asks that at some point.
He squirmed onto my lap and I steadied myself as he balanced himself.
He laid his tawny head against my neck and he snuggled in.
"Ness, I don't want another baby! Daddy and Bethy and you won't have time for me."
"Jack, I'll always have time for you! You're my little man! And you know Daddy and Bethy will always have time for you!"
How could he possibly think they wouldn't? Did he not realize how amazing his parents were?
He grabbed my waist and i helped him pull me to my feet.
"Let's go play!"
He grinned an impish grin and scampered down the stairs, leaping at the last two.
I padded out of the room and hastened down the stairs.
When I arrived at the bottom, dad had Beth backed against the counter and his lips covered hers.
"GET A ROOM!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, and for the fifth time today wished for the company o kids my own age.
Mindy had moved to Salem a couple of weeks ago and I was deadly bored.
Dad patted my shoulder an copied Jack's grin.
"I have a room. And we are about to go use it."
"GAHHH!!"
I screamed and ran for the living room.
I shoved my head into a cushion and fake gagged.
I imagined bleach being poured through my mind and it soothed me for the most part.
--------------------------------------------------------------
DEMYS POV
I generally hate shopping with a burning passion. But it does help when you have a little...insentive. Heheee... I tried not to let Meg see how giddy I was on the inside, though. I think she would get annoyed with me squealing every five minutes. Or two. I was just so excited!! I mean, going and having dinner with Vic freaking Mignogna!? Eff yeah!! And here I thought I'd never even see the guy again! I couldn't wait!
As Meg and I walked through the mall, I saw absolutely nothing that interested me. Sorry, but that's just how I am. Meg agreed to find an outfit for me, because I'm generally hopeless.
We went into Hollister and looked around for a while.
"$60 for a tee shirt!?" I exclaimed, a bit too loudly, but I probably wasn't heard over the music playing in the store.
"Yeah?" Meg said, not sharing my horror.
"People pay for this!?" I asked, completely apphalled.
"Yep. You sound surprised."
"Of course I am! This is rediculous!"
She laughed. "Welcome to the world of fashion."
"Where's the nearest exit?" I asked in monotone. I looked around to see if there was a clearance bin or SOMETHING. I found a table marked 45% off and rushed over. If Meg insisted that we shopped here, I at least didn't want my wallet to be as miserable as me.
"Look at this!" Meg chirped, trotting over to me in her little ballet flats, a powder blue scarf in her hands.
I grinned at how girly she was. "It's cute," I admitted. "You should get it."
"I think you would look adorable in it!"
"No thanks. Either way, it matches your eyes." I batted my eyelashes, making a stupid face.
"Whatever. Ooh!" She grabbed a pink blouse from the table and held it up to me.
"No," I said immediately.
She gave an exhasperated sigh. "Do you want to look cute for Vic or not?"
"Oh trust me, I do," I replied. "Cute. Not daffodil." I pushed her hands, still clutching the blouse, back down to the table. A black and white striped sweater caught my eye. I picked up the fuzzy sweater and held it up to myself, looking at Meg for approval.
She pursed her lips and examined it. "I still think you should wear something colorful."
"Maybe next time, Elle Woods," I mocked, winking at her.
--
Meg had found an outfit and we both checked out. We were now heading back to my apartment to finish getting ready, though we still didn't need to be at Vic and Al's for another hour. This worried me a bit. How long did Meg expect us to take getting ready...? I shuddered.
"Sit," Meg commanded, gesturing to a folding chair she had placed in front of the mirror in my tiny bathroom. I followed her instructions, though a bit nervous as to what she was planning. She had my flat iron and curling iron plugged in the wall and heating up, and she dug all of the make up I own out of the drawers and laid it out on the sink.
"Meg, please do not put more than foundation and mascara on me or I will kill you."
"You're going to look fabulous darling," she said, forcing her French accent a bit too hard. I rolled my eyes. It's not that I didn't trust Meg, but...okay, Meg was dangerous when it came to make-up. I supposed it was all of her years performing that could make her feel the need to put too much make-up on someone.
The chair was turned so I wasn't facing the mirror, which totally blew. I like to see my face when unknown substances are being put on it...
She traced my eyes with eyeliner, waved a mascara brush along my lashes, brushed my cheeks with blush, and painted my eyelids with some eyeshadow. Too much, too much, too muuuuch...
She started working on my hair, which I had no clue what she was going to do with. It was a few inches long, at best. It went a tiny bit past my ears.
Meg picked up the flat iron and rapidly ran several locks of hair through it, then grabbed a comb and teased what she could of my hair, spraying hairspray on it every few seconds. She picked up the curling iron and twisted it around a few strands of hair, then brushed it back out again, spraying it as she went.
"Go get dressed," she commanded, clipping some earrings into my ears, then smearing lipgloss on me. "And don't look in the mirror until you do."
I sighed and did as I was instruced--
"Don't mess up your hair!"
I carefully did as I was instructed, sliding on the sweater, black skinny jeans, and black flats.
"Am I allowed to look now?" I asked impatiently.
"Yup!"
I walked back into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes widened. Meg had done a better job than I would have guessed (which says a lot). My face was perfectly highlighted by makeup, making my more attractive features more prominant, my less attracrive features less. And my hair... It was amazingly styled with a pixie-looking quality about it, which I loved.
"I look so..."
"FABULOUS!"
"More than that..." I breathed. "It's--"
"LAAA~~~" Meg tossed her hair and grinned in satisfaction.
I smiled and hugged her. "I look amazing. Thank you."
"You are always welcome to my fabulousness, darling!"
I left Meg alone for her to finish getting ready, which she was a pro at, so it didn't take long. Then we were on our way to Vic's.
When we arrived at his apartment I was quaking in my little black flats. What was he going to say when he saw me? Would he be happy to see me? Does he think I'm a stalker?! Oh no, I hadn't even thought about that! He probably thinks I'm a total psycho!! Shiiiittt....
"Calm down," Meg said, knocking at the door. "I can practically feel the nervousness radiating off of you."
"I knooowww..." I groaned. "But what if he--"
"Meg ist da!" Alfons exclaimed as he opened the door, beaming. He looked over at me. "Ah! You work with Meg, right?"
"Yep," I replied with a grin, losing a bit of my anxiety. Al was just so charming and adorable. I probably would hug him if it wasn't pedophillia...
"Come on in," he said enthuiastically.
Meg and I stepped into the little apartment. Vic stepped into the room and did a double take at the sight of me. I smiled at him.
"Hey," I said with a little wave.
"H-Hey..." he replied in a bit of a daze.
Meg turned to Alfons. "Hey, Al, come here." She walked over to the room that Vic had just come from and gestured for Al to follow.
"Sure... But why?" he asked.
"Just come here."
Al shrugged and went into the room. Meg winked at me and disappeared behind the door as well.
You bitch... How dare you leave me in the most awkward situation ever...
"... Um... Hey," I said again, not really knowing what else to say. I just kind of stared dumbly at him, a stupid grin on my face.
"Demy...right?" he asked.
I nodded my head viciously. "Well, um, you see, it turns out that... I, um, I didn't... You, know, I didn't know when I went out with you-- well, not really went out, more of like just a friendly drinking session-- well, I didn't know you were Meg's--"
I stopped as I heard laughing. A deep, strong boyish laugh coming from Vic, as he sat on the arm of a chair.
My face turned a violent shade of red.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he staggered through his laughter. He took a few deep breaths, running his hand through his hair. "It's just...I felt so dumb... All I've been thinking about is how stupid I was for...not getting your number." It was his turn to blush. "And well...I'm just glad I'm not the only one."
"Y-You could tell?" I asked, a bit relieved I wasn't the only one feeling this way. I really had been wanting to see him again...
"Yeah..." He smiled a dazzling smile which made me almost melt.
I was grinning from ear to ear. Was this love? I knew it was probably a very premature thought, but... I'd never felt like this in all my life... It was like bittersweet tendrils grasping my heart and refusing to release, like I could scream with delight and agony at any moment, just to relieve the pressure.
"Vic..." I cooed. "I..."
He closed the distance between us, leaving us only inches apart. He looked down at me, his golden hair slightly shimmering in the dim light of the room, smiling so warmly I knew I would melt this time. Melting right into his arms would feel so...
"Oh!"
I whipped my head over to the door Al had just popped his head out of.
"Es tut mir leid! I'm so sorry!!" he exclaimed, slamming the door shut. I could faintly hear Meg scolding him on the other side of the door.
I looked back to Vic, who was now avoiding eye contact and scratching the back of his head. "So! Dinner!" he said briskley, rushing into the kitchen.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MEG'S POV
"Alfons!" I shoved my half-brother with a laugh. "I told you to stay in here!"
"What was that?!" he asked, guestering towards the door. "Vic...and that girl..."
"Have met before?" I supplied with a smirk.
"Uh, y-yeah!" Al said, leaning back onto Vic's bed. Vic's bedroom was way too clean for a man's....
I just laughed at Al. "Apparently, while I was in France, the two randomly met and had a few drinks..."
Al smiled at that. "I'm glad. It's just been me and Vic for so long...well, I don't think I'm as pretty as that girl is," he said, giggling. I snorted.
"I would hope Vic wouldn't think you're pretty, Al. That's when you call the cops and change your name. And move to Peru to herd goats."
Al laughed. "C'mon, it's probably dinner time."
We didn't eat in an awkward silence, as I expected, but to the stories of each others childhood. (And Demy occasionally sharing some stupid thing I'd done recently...)
Demy had to cover her face with her hand as she snorted in laughter. Vic was doubled over as Al was a bit red in the face.
"And the cat--!" Vic sputtered. "Al, you can't just pick up random cats! Some of them do have rabies!!"
We all broke into laughter, and Demy met my eye and collapsed into our own inside joke.
"What?" Vic asked, eying the two of us.
Demy opened her mouth, but couldn't get a word out before I answered with,"She can't tell you now. That's second date material."
She shot me a death glare, while Vic cocked his eyebrows and tried to hide a smile from me.
I could do this every night, I thought. Eventually, have Spencer over...once I told him. It wasn't a big secret...I just needed to sort out my head first. I'd tell Spence the first chance I got. I'd--
A violent knock caused us all to look up. We sat in silence before it echoed again, causing Al to shake a little. I rose slowly, taking my gun which I'd deposited on the coffee table, and cocking it. Demy pulled hers from her purse, but didn't leave her seat next to Vic.
My slippered feet made the wood floors creak under my weight as I stalked to the door. Another knock.
"Who-whose there?" I asked timidly, pressing my cheek to the door.
"Meg! Open the door!"
Demy and I glanced at one another, eyes wide.
"Spencer?"
I threw open the door, and Spencer pushed his way in past me.
"I knew it!" he said, finger jabbed in my face.
"Spencer, how...where did you...how did you get here?!"
"I had Garcia track down your phone."
"Excuse me?" I asked, laughing a little. Spence was red in the face and angry.
"I mean...I guess I knew something was up before London. Why would you keep something from me? You're open about everything! I knew something was up, just like Darcy knows something was up."
I blinked. Then put two and two together....Oh snap.
"And, when Anderson came up to us...I wanted to protect you, but you never need protecting, do you, Meg? I mean...I didn't know what was going on but now..."
He looked up at the table. "I mean, there are two flipping men here!!" Spencer was waving his arms madly, like he did when he ranted. "And Demy...I thought you were my friend."
Demy waved at him, twirling her fingers, face holding no expression as Vic tried to read it.
"I knew this would happen...I mean, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice..." He put his head in his hands.
I flipped back a strand of hair, my hands taking residence angrilly on my hips. "You done?" I asked, smirking.
"No, I have one thing left, the final statement because I don't think you get it," he said. "That man," he said, pointing at Al,"is definately your-"
"Brother."
Spencer stared. Finger still posed, mouth still open to scream, eyes wandering warily around from Al to me.
"Come again?"
I giggled, coming closer to Spence. "Alfons is my half-brother. I just found out. While we were in Paris, I was waiting for the lab results to come back. Alfons found me on the internet, and wanted to know. I was trying to sort out everything in my head before I told you."
He went slack as my hands massaged his chest and shoulders. "And Demy?"
"I slipped. And she and Vic had a freak-coincedence meeting, before I met him. I was going to come by tonight to tell you..." I said, but Spencer leaned down slowly and gave me a chaste kiss, smiling gently.
"Sorry," he mumbled, face red.
Before I knew it, Vic was beside us, hands clapping our shoulders.
"Well, Spencer, is it? Why don't you sit down, and I'll get you a plate..."
Spencer joined us, sitting next to me, Al still on my other side.
XXX
"That's...wow..." JJ said.
"I'm happy for you, baby doll," Derek told me, wrapping me in a hug.
"We have to meet them!! We could all go over to Rossi's for a dinner--"
"Speak for yourself--"
"See! This is why I didn't want to tell everyone! I knew they would make a big deal!" I said, burying my head in Spencer's chest. He laughed a little, and it shook my little frame.
"At least ask them, or I'll just track down their phones and ask them myself," Penny ventured. I groaned.
"Fine, whatever. Look, I'm tired and I'm going home. Anyone wanna walk to the subway with me?"
"I'll go," Nessa ventured. Demy agreed too.
I'd always like the subway. It was crowded, and with it's variety of people, I felt no one was looking at me funny.
"So, Darcy tonight?" Demy asked. I sighed, and nodded. We hadn't been spending much time together besides a good morning and good night. I guess he felt a tad left out.
"...No Al?" Nessa asked. I raised my eyebrows.
"Nope..." I said, glancing sideways at her. I guess now was a good of time as ever..."You'd like him, you know."
Her eyes shot up. "Your brother?"
I nodded. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced down. "Whatever...I could never...er, like him..." her voice drown out.
I shrugged. "Maybe," I said. "He's such a sweet boy. Maybe giving him a shot--"
"I said I didn't like him! Quit acting like I do!"
I blinked. "I never said you did, Nessa."
She looked away. "I know....He's just...don't go setting me up with...! He's stupid." She blurted out. I blinked.
"Excuse me? You've never met him!" I laughed.
"He just...looks stupid," she grumbled.
I put my head in my hands. Gee, Al, I'm really sorry. I'm trying here, bro....
"Look, I'm gonna grab a taxi from here. See you tomorrow."
I nodded off at her. "Tomorrow."
"What was that?" Demy asked as the subway lurched on after Nessa left.
"She hates him..." I mumbled.
"So?"
"Al's in love with her..."
------------------------------------------------Nessas POV
I had lied to Meg when I said I was catching the taxi back to my house.
We were only a couple of blocks from dads apartment and I need to clear my head.
How could Meg.........was she sane ............. it was just do illogical.
How could she think that Al could ever want such a basket case?
Or that I would want him?
Did she realize I had feelings for him? Was she trying to trick me into making a fool of myself?
Ugh!!!! I hate mind games and the connivingness that goes along with it.
Why did things have to be so warped in this world? Could a women lo......like a man and not be in the wrong?
But Demy had found a guy. And that was probably the best thing for her. A man to make her feel safe in her home, to love her, to protect her from harm. It was sweet the way she blushed when he talked of him. Or the way she bit her lip and leaned her head down.
She obviously had feelings for this man and she showed the signs of this being a green glass kinda love.
And Meg. What was there to say about Meg? She was cheating on a guy with her coworker, and she had a brother she hadn't wanted to tell us about.
Were we that untrustworthy? Did she think so little of us? How come all of her secrets found their way to Demy long before anyone else?
How come I had to tell Emily that Meg was cheating on her boyfriend?
Wasn't that something Emily deserved to know?
Or was the root of the problem ..............................................me?
It seemed that Meg had never been that reclusive before the first time I yelled at her.
Then the second time I yelled. She has flipped out and ran away.
We has been steadily growing apart, and I wasn't sure if we could be pulled back together.
I reached our street and turned down it.
As I approached the house, the front door was open and flower buds had fallen from the bushes beside the door onto the mat.
I walked inside and followed the flower bits that had blown in. They lead upstairs and down the hallway.
As I reached the end I heard voices.
"Beth........."
"And.........Aaron..."
I crept closer and peered into their bedroom.
Dad wa down on one knee and smiling up at Beth.
"Beth, will you do me the greatest honor I have ever received, and become the lady I come home to, the lady I wake up to, and the women I die next to? You're already my life, but will you become mine in matrimony?"
She stared at him opened mouthed. Tear dotted her eyes and small gasps escaped her mouth.
She shook her head, words apparently unavailable.
"Yes, just.............YES!!"
She jumped into his arms and he planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DEMYS POV
As soon as I got home, I collapsed on my bed in pure delight. And I'm glad there was no one else there, because if anyone had seen how I was giddily flailing around and screaming, I'm not sure they wouldn't question my sanity. But I was just... I just wanted to... SCREAM!!!!!!
"OMYGOSH, OMYGOSH, VIIIIC!!!!!" I squealed.
I was still upset at Al for interrupting us though. I mean, legit. Did he have to open the door RIGHT THEN? Little German jerk. Oh well. He's too adorable to be mad at. And I love Germans.
--
I didn't see Vic again until Superbowl Sunday. Weeee. Football. Excitement.
We were all gathered. Vic and Al and, well, the BAU. Fun to cram everyone in one room while they're freaking out about meeting Meg's half-brother. Trust me, I was glad to still be alive.
Penny. Would not. Shut up. She was pretty worked up over meeting Vic and Al. Shocker.
Spencer was very awkward around them, considering the first time he saw Al he thought Meg was cheating on him. And then there was the whole busting into Vic's apartment thing, which was pretty much the most hilarious thing ever.
The game had just started and hardly anyone was paying attention. I pretty much only watched the commercials. Isn't that what pretty much everyone does during the Superbowl?
"Everyone seems to be getting along nicely," I said to Meg over the noise of everyone talking all at once. I looked over at Vic, who was talking to Derek and laughing. So cute...
"Yeah," Meg replied happily, then followed my gaze. She grinned at me.
"What!"
"Nothing, nothing. You guys are just so adorable."
I giggled.
I noticed Nessa on the other side of the room staring at... Oh look. Staring at Alfons. What a surprise.
I smiled my mischievous smile, not unlike the Cheshire Cat. "What do you say we...help Ness with her little...love predicament?"
Meg smacked my hand. "No."
"Why noooooot?"
"Do you know what happens when you try to help?"
"Name one thing that I've done wrong."
"Well, for starters, you made out with Spencer."
"Shh! Not around Vic, okay?" I whispered loudly. "And besides, what does that have to do with anything?"
"You're the one who asked."
"Whatever."
She crossed her arms. "So. Did you enjoy it?"
"Enjoy what?"
"Your little kiss with Spence."
"Shh!"
"Well," she said louder, starting to grin. "I mean, when you KISSED SPENCER I'm sure you enjoyed it--"
"Would you shut up!!"
"You kissed Spencerrrr..."
I blinked. "Have you been drinking?"
She swayed. "I may have accidentally picked up someone's beer..."
I patted her head. "Of course you did, hon." It did not take much for this girl to get tipsy. I kept it in mind to tell everyone later, so they could enjoy drunk Meg as much as they wanted.
I walked over to Vic. "Keep the alcohol away from Meg," I laughed.
He smiled. Ahhh...my heart...I think it melted...that can't be healthy... "I'll be sure to keep it in mind."
"I thought you would've learned that by now, Demy," Derek sighed. "I mean, after what happened in London..."
"What happened?" Vic asked.
Derek and I exchanged looks, a grin breaking onto both our faces.
I opened my mouth to begin the amazing story--when Derek cut me off.
"We'll save that story for some other time," he interjected.
"You suck."
He laughed and walked away.
Vic cocked an eyebrow. "So, what--"
"You don't wanna know."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEG'S POV
Maybe I was a little tipsy...but it was Derek's fault. He was the one who asked me to hold his cup...and well, I'd never tried beer out of a red solo cup.
Nasty stuff...great feeling.
I was probably developing some addiction problems at this point....
"Meg."
Al's voice called me from behind, and I spun and smiled, letting my little brother's hands steady me.
"Have you met everyone, Al?" I asked, beaming up at my little brother....my little six foot one brother....
"Everyone except...her." Al's look got dreamy and far away. There was no question who her was. Looking back, Nessa was on the couch, eyes closed as she had earbuds plugged in. No doubt listening to 100 Monkeys (our favorite band) or a new audiobook. Looking back at Al, he was smiling sweetly to at the crippled girl, eyes taking in the sight of her pretty face and frame--which was wrapped in her black shawl, covering her stumps.
"Meg...I'm too nervous to talk to her. I want to...no, I don't. I can't. I won't. Meg, don't make me!" Al was wimpering, and it was--as always--adorable.
"Al," I said, grasping his shoulders, trying to be serious, but a giggle slipped out,"You have feelings for Nessa. Don't you think you should hear her name coming from her own lips? Maybe she wants to meet you too."
Lie number one.
"Maybe this is the beginning of something...bigger."
Lie number two. Nessa was going to hate me...but looking at Al...how could anyone say no?
"Help me," he whispered, clinging to my arm like I was the stronger one. Al was rather scrawny and stalky, but nonetheless, far stronger than I.
I smiled gingerly, leaning up to kiss my brother's cheek. "Okay, follow me."
I made sure Al was behind me, but not directly behind me. She wouldn't notice him right off.
I kicked her side with my ballet flat, causing her eyes to go wide. My slipper tickled her side, while she could do nothing about it. She burst into laughter unwillingly as earbuds popped from her ears. I heard Al's sigh, and glanced quickly back at him. Those eyes.
This was more than some crush. He was absolutely infatuated with her.
"Meg!" she protested, and I stopped, flopping down next to her.
"Hey, baby," I said, raising my eyebrows in a provocative way. I was hanging out with Penny way to much, and tended to be very sexual when intoxicated....
"Hello, Megara," she mumbled, trying to get out of my grip. I was by no means a hugger, but I guess stuff like 'Meg's Bubble' didn't occur as my brain was being raped by the drink of life.
"Whatcha doin'?" I asked. If I had said that six years ago, Spencer would've made me pay a dollar for every combined word and dropped G. But this was me. With a full cup of beer.
She laughed, unsure of what to make of my intoxicated state,"Nothing, just-"
She stopped, and suddenly, I wasn't in the room anymore. Looking between Nessa and Al, I felt like I was in West Side Story, re-living the 'Tony Meets Maria' scene. Although, I wouldn't have been against a dance....
"Er, Hi," she whispered. Was her voice a bit hoarse?
"Hello," Al laughed, but his throat sounded scratchy. Quickly, he snapped (or tried too) out of his dream state, stumbling forward and somehow ending up sitting at her feet with a cherry red face.
"I'm sorry, we haven't met formally yet. I-I...I'm..."
"Alfons," she said, her expression changing from wary to a shy smile.
Al's face however, began to beam. "Y-yes! Yes...and you...you're..."
"Nessa," she supplied again, trying hard not to giggle.
Giggle? Nessa?
Demy came up behind me (I guess Derek and Vic were male bonding, and our little Fantine got left out) smiling, pulling out of their way.
"I may be wrong," she said, looping her arm through mine,"but I believe we're witnessing the beginnings of love."
I beamed. "Oh...that'd be lovely!!" I screamed, and a few eyes turned towards me. It was too loud anyway, what with Henry and Jack playing in the corner while Beth and Hotch were being hoarded by JJ, while husband Will stood back awkwardly. Kevin was standing with Penelope, the broken engagement long forgotten. Sophia...with a beer in hand. If anyone was a worse drunk, it was her. She tended to get very drunk, very quickly. Sophia and I didn't really have a different body type...
I glanced at my chest, then at hers.
Damn, I might've guessed the bitch had tits. Me...well, they're there...and that's about all you could say about it. Despite Demy and Nessa's claims that the left breast was bigger....
Damn everyone....
"I really hope they get together..." I sighed, glancing back at them. Al had somehow clambered back up to the couch, filling my vacant seat, holding onto everyword the girl said. He even tucked a curl behind her ear, causing her to stop and flush red. I smiled.
"A green glass love..." I mumbled.
"Hmm?" Demy asked. I smiled, remember something someone had once told Nessa and I...in India.
"A story for later...Perhaps a maid-of-honor speech at the wedding of one Miss Nom and Mr. Mig--"
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Demy said, trying to do so quietly. I giggled.
"And if I'm not the maid of honor, I'm expecting God Mother, or at least a Meg Jr."
She stared at me. "How the frick does that even work."
"Well, when a Demy and Vicky love each other very much--"
"Stop!"
Nothing of interest happened for quite some time after this. Spencer and I talked, he even spit out a red-faced apology to Vic, who just man-hugged him. I know. First the room, then the hug. If he wasn't amazing and totally Demy's soul mate, I'd think he was gay. Well, he lives with a small German boy...
Stop, Meg, stop.
Spencer and I found Rossi's closet...well, you know what happened. My blood to alcohol ratio is probably off the charts (after I found another red solo cup...), so what do you think happened?
Everything was quiet...until Vic met Nessa.
"Oh my gosh," he said, as the armless girl stood up, and her shawl fell off.
Nessa blushed red, face staring down angrilly. Al looked pitifully up at her, fumbling to cover her shoulders again.
"Vic, stop man..."
"No, oh, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant, miss." Vic stepped forward, placing his hand on Nessa's shoulder...stumps.
"You're Nessarose, aren't you? I'm Vic. See, I'm an automail mechanic..." Vic went into the automail rant while Nessa stared, horrified as the party had come to a halt around us. "I'm sorry, Nessa, if that bothered you...but it's what I do for a living."
Nessa blinked. "That's a very...interesting choice of profession," she tried, almost smiling.
He shrugged. "I liked helping people. I liked medicine. Nessa...I'd really like, well, baby, you're like my holy grail."
She blushed, but didn't seem offended. Nessa was used to being this way, I supposed.
"If you ever want to consider, well, you know where to find us. Better yet, why don't you and Al exchange numbers."
I will never stop loving this man. Best. Extended Family. Ever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I sat huddled on Rossi's leather couch, and my earphones blasted 100 monkeys at decibel too high to be legal.
I found myself subconsciously flicking my eyes in Al's direction at every opportunity.
He was the life of the party and it wasn't hard to see why.
He oozed confidence and a boyish charm that was hard to deny.
He chanted at opportune times in the game and he acted like the typical male.
I tried to follow the game and became hopelessly lost.
Too many sweaty men chasing a too tiny ball for me.
I tipped my head back and attempted to sooth my raging headache. Mindy had kept me up on the phone and I was regretting it.
Suddenly a warm mass attacked my side and I was brought down in a fit of unladylike giggles. I sounded like wild animal when I laughed if you asked me.
"Meg!" I shrieked. Sh plopped down next to me on the thick couch.
"Hey, baby," she said. It was really distubing when she was drunk. She tended to get way to close and it was almost legally rape.
"Hello, Megara," I replied. I twisted and squirmed trying to escape her talons. She just didn't understand how to leave me alone.
"Whatcha doin'?"
She killed the American language in that sentence and it was in that moment i realized she was up to something.
I glanced up and Al stood behind Meg and suddenly I realized what she was doing. She hadn't given up the notion of pairing me and Al up.
"Er, hello," I piped up. Was it me or did I sound gruff?
"Hello," Al laughed, but his throat sounded scratchy.
"I'm sorry, we haven't met formally yet. I-I...I'm..."
"Alfons," I replied It was kinda cute how he forgot his name.
Al's face however, began to beam. "Y-yes! Yes...and you...you're..."
"Nessa," I replied again. This was kinda funny in a horridly mean sort of way.
Alfons sat down next to me and wrapped my shawl tighter around me.
He smiled a sweet smile and spoke up.
"Sooo.....do...Where do you go to school?"
"I'm home schooled. And you?"
"Um mm actually.....I'm.......kinda graduated already. I was very advanced and they did me early."
I ducked my head and a strand of my hair fell from my hair band.
A warm, rough hand hesitantly reached out and brushed it behind my ear.
I felt a warm blush creep across my cheeks and I cast my eyes down.
He reached out and turned my head up to face him.
I spoke back up, wanting to get this conversation back on track.
"So where are you from? Meg said something about Germany."
He bit his lip and nodded a slow yes. I sensed he didnt want to talk about his childhood and I could understand that.
He looked up and his infectious smile filled his face.
"So where are you from? Meg doesn't talk about you much."
I bit my lip and turned away.
"I'm from Wizamania. I moved here many years ago."
"He appeared animated and he spoke up again.
"So is Aaron your actual dad? You don't look much alike if he is."
I sighed and pulled my knees up closer to my chest.
"No. He adopted me before I moved here."
He turned my head back around and stared me back down.
"So what happened? Did your parents die in a car crash or something?"
I growled and laid back against the couch.
"Do you always ask such impertientent questions? An dfor your information no. They are dead now but my dad was alive then."
He blushed and appeared embarrassed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."
I nodded my head and we slipped into an easier discussion about classes and our favorite subjects.
He seemed to love mechanics and rockets.
He seemed interested that all of my classes were done by me following the team into the field.
After some time had passed and Meg had found the alcohol, I decided I needed to use the restroom. As I stop my shawl slid down.
I stood up and Al's cousin decided to make a freaking comment.
"Oh my gosh!"
I felt heat prickle under my cheeks and tears form in my eyes.
I was determined not to cry over this. It wasn't the first time people had done this to me. It was just the most recent.
Al spoke up.
"Vic, stop man."
Even Al coming to my aid wasn't healing my mortification. He grabbed the shawl an rewrapped my shoulders and I nodded in appreciation.
'No, oh, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant, miss." Vic stepped forward, placing his hand on my shoulders and he smiled at me. His hands were like sandpaper and they grated my skin.
"You're Nessarose, aren't you? I'm Vic. See, I'm an automail mechanic..." Vic went into this rant about fake body parts, while I sat seething in mortification at what this party had deteriorated to. This was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me. Could Vic not see my horror? "
"I'm sorry, Nessa, if that bothered you...but it's what I do for a living."
I stared at him with wide eyes. Did he not notice my disinterest? Was he challenged? He stopped talking so I spoke.
"That's a very...interesting choice of profession," I said. I hadn't focused much on what he was saying and I didn't know what to call it. I attempted a tiny smile at him and he seemed ecstatic.
He shrugged. "I liked helping people. I liked medicine. Nessa...I'd really like, well, baby, you're like my holy grail."
I blushed and I forgave him then. He wasn't rude or anything and the last comment had been kinda sweet. Even if it was a little creepy.
"If you ever want to consider, well, you know where to find us. Better yet, why don't you and Al exchange numbers."
I smiled at that and I hoped it wasn't obvious that I was ecstatic at the idea.
I walked of to the kitchen and Al followed me in.
"I'm sorry about Vic. He isn't always that overbearing I promise."
I chuckled and he chuckled with me.
"Don't worry. That isn't the first time that happened."
He turned his mouth down in a frown and I decided that he wasn't allowed to do that again. He looked so much better with a smile.
"Don't do that!"
"Do what?"
I sat in confusion and tried to figure out what I had done.
"Turn your head away and hide your face! You are much to pretty to do that!"
I blushed and he wrapped his arms around me in a gentle hug.
I smiled into his chest and he slowly let me go.
I scampered of to the restroom and returned momentarily.
I slid back into my seat and Beth popped up next to me.
"Somebody likes him, somebody likes him!"
She teased me with small comments like that for the next half hour and I knew I couldn't deny them.
I was officially in, not love not yet anyway, but like.
I was officially in like.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV BIATCHES
They'd been so adorable talking to each other! Nessa and Alfons sittin' in a tree...K-I-S-S-I-N-G~
I blinked and put down my beer, deciding that that was probably enough.
Either way, they were adorable, there was no denying. The way she blushed when he talked, and how he did the same. Maybe our little Ness finally found a keeper. Assuming Al wouldn't rape her. But I highly doubted that. Well...it's not rape if you like it... Heh...
The party drew to a close and we all went our separate ways. When I got back to my apartment, I vowed that I would take Rose to the vet tomorrow. I'm tired of Meg calling her rabies cat...
I yawned as I changed into a tee shirt and sweatpants and crawled into bed. Rose curled up right by my face. I sneezed, then hugged her. "Ah, I don't care if I'm allergic to cats...you're just too freakin cute!"
When I awoke the next morning I had a slight headache. Probably a mixture of allergies and alcohol. The best kind of concoction... I sighed and rolled over, putting my pillow over my head, trying to block out the sun coming in through the curtains.
My phone chirped and I sighed. Reaching over to my nightstand, I pulled it off the charger and put it up to my ear.
"Hello...?" I slurred.
"Demytra?"
That voice...
"... Mom?" I gasped. Why the hell would she be calling me? What does she want?
"Demy..." she said, sounding relieved. What a joke.
"How did you even get my number?" I snapped. "I made a point to change it frequently, and I think it's quite obvious why."
She was silent for a moment. "I just called to tell you that I wanted to see you," she said, as if she thought I would buy it.
"When hell freezes over," I scoffed.
"Oh, hon... Me and your dad miss you."
It took me a moment to process this. Lies, all of it. I chuckled, which then turned into pure laughter. I laughed like that for a good 30 seconds.
" Miss me?" I laughed. "What? Did your maternal instincts just now kick in, Mom ?" I spat the word. It felt foreign on my tongue.
"I've always cared for you, Demy!"
"Don't give me that crap!" I screamed. "Never. You never did!"
"If you'd just come home..."
"Well, Mom, I actually do have a life. A job. Friends. I'm not just going to drop all of that to come visit the terrible parents who didn't give a damn about me when I needed help!"
I could hear her take a deep breath.
I was shaking, clutching the phone with an iron grip. I blinked back tears that were forming at the edges of my eyes. I'm so stupid... I shouldn't be crying. I decided a long time ago to keep my old life away from my current one. Why should I be letting this get to me?
She still didn't speak.
I narrowed my eyes. "Fine. I'll come. See what happens."
I hung up.
I put on shoes and a jacket and walked to the door. "I'm going to the bar," I told Rose, then slammed the door behind me.
The bar. At 8 in the morning.... I could tell this day would go well.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MEG'S POV
"I don't care! I'm freaking out!"
"You're going to do fine."
"Spencer! I can't...I'm not ready..."
"Meg..." hands wrapped around me from behind, smiling lips pressing against my own. "You're going to be fine. Let's go again."
"Spencer...I can't do it. It's the freaking Bar Test! I'm only good at one kind of bar, Spencer, and this isn't it."
We were currently in my dorm room (Sorrelli was probably sexiling her boyfriend's room mate at the moment...). We were curled up in my bed, which was hidden in a little alcove in the wall. Spencer was pressed in the corner with me perched up on his lap. He played with my hair as he read questions out of my two ton text book.
"I promise, it's easy as pie."
"Which one?" I groaned. He laughed. I'm such a dork....
"Define malum prohibitum."
I pursed my lips. "Malum Prohibitum is...uh..."
"An act prohibited--"
"An act prohibited by law, like jay walking or chewing gum in Singapore."
"Therefore Malum Ensae?"
"Is an action that's evil in itself. Assault, Murder, White shoes after labor day."
His body shook with laughter, making me sink into his frame a little more. He tossed my text book aside, pulling me into him.
"I love you..." I mumbled. He kissed my forehead.
"I know."
Flipping over on my stomach, I rolled my eyes, pulling myself onto his chest. "I don't want the Derek Morgan answer," I groaned, kissing my way up his neck. "I want to hear you say it."
"Do I need to?" he asked silently, his fingers tracing up and down my back.
"'Course not," I groaned, nipping at the nape of his neck,"I just wanna hear it."
"Don't say 'wanna'. It's not a word."
I stopped my menstrations to his neck and sat up in front of him. "Are you avoiding answering me?" I asked.
"Don't end your sentence with a pronoun."
"It's perfectly fine and you know it!" I said. "Now I know your trying to get out of saying it!"
I rose heatedly, pacing the room. "What's going on here?"
"Meg, your test is soon. Go home, get some rest. Study. Okay?" Spencer held my wrists but I felt like falling over.
"I don't want to go home to Darcy. I want to stay here. Right here, with you. Please don't leave..." I whispered, but Spencer sat me on Sorreli's bed, and starting backing out of the room.
"I'll call you a cab. It'll be here soon, so be ready. Goodnight, Meg."
"Spencer-" but he shut the door. I don't know how long I sat frozen there.
He didn't want to say it to me....He was fine the other night. I don't understand. The last case we worked on, nothing of importance had happened. Yet he refused....
I looked away. Maybe I had been too close to him. Spencer and I had been debating on and off on the touchy subject of it. He says no, I say yes. I mean, really. It's my body. And I'm a virgin, it's not like I have STDs or anything. I know it'll hurt. It's kinda supposted to hurt the first time. He's not saving me pain. It's going to happen sometime...unless he wants me to be celebate our whole lives....I shuddered.
I can't keep it in my pants that long.
Sorrelli came home maybe, five minutes or five hours later. Her hair was disheveled and lipstick smudged. 1 for 1 on the sexiling.
"Hey, babe. There's a cabbie outside waiting for ya."
I nodded as she kissed me on my cheek, looking warily at me. I knew what she was thinking: Darcy. Ever since Darcy, I had been distant. But it was more than Darcy.
It was the almost-rape and the kidnapping and the murder. My father, mothers, Alfons. Everything with Spencer. Everything with Darcy. Nessa being raped again. Demy getting hurt. The fighting. The rejection. The fear. Everything. I felt there was always something...someone...breathing down my neck, waiting to drop another bomb on me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was going to explode.
I had class in an hour, so I went ahead and told the driver to take me to building C. Darcy was already in class. He'd take me home afterward.
"Miss Giry," he smiled slightly, unreadible eyes making me edge closer.
"Hi," I replied, wrapping my arms around him, refusing to let go.
"I didn't know you got back," he whispered in my ear. I nodded. "I'm tired, Will," I mumbled. He wilted a little. I honestly can't think of a time I'd called him by his first name. "Let's skip. Please?"
"Meg, no," he urged, trying to pull me towards his seat. I pulled away.
"Will-" I tried again, but he just shook his head. The proffesor walked in, urging me to take a seat. I swore, and took a place in the front row, several seats away from Darcy.
Dr. Callihan went on and on about a current case from current events. I didn't really pay attention, until I realized Darcy had joined the droning.
"Mr. Ladimer was clearly within his rights to ask for visitation.Without his sperm, the child in question wouldn't exist!"
"Now you're thinking like a lawyer!"
I groaned. No, Darcy wasn't winning this one.
I raised my hand.
"Yes Miss Giry."
"Mr. Darcy makes an excellent point, but did the defendant keep a log of every sperm emission made throughout his life?"
The Proffesor smiled. "Interesting. Why do you ask?"
"Well, unless the defendant attempted to contact every sexual encounter to find out if a child resulted from those unions, he has no parental claim over this child whatsoever. Why now? Why this sperm?"
"I see your point."
And, just to make Darcy even madder...
"And by Mr. Darcy's standards, all masturbatory emissions where the sperm was clearly not seeking an egg would be called reckless abandonment."
The room was quiet, excepting the few snickers formt the word 'masturbatory'. Callihan just stared me down.
I'd crossed the line...
"Miss Giry, you just won your case."
I blinked. "Omigod," I whispered.
"Excuse you?"
"Nothing!"
Class ended, and Darcy came over to my side.
"Nice job today," he said, wrapping his arm around my waist, leading us out the doors. It was raining.
"You aren't mad?" I asked through the downpour.
"'Course not," he smiled, as we reached out car in the lot. Thank God he parked close to the doors....
"Good..." I said. At least I'd stirred up class....
"Megara," he said, throwing his jacket over my lap. "Your tired. Get some sleep. It's a long drive back to Quantico."
I nodded, and as he started the fiyero, I fell asleep.
"Nessa! Over here!" the quiet girl came to my side, walking with a slouch, trying to keep her shawl on, consealing the place where arms should be--but the space was empty. The Indian market was busy. We got a few stares. The moping girl with all black mourning garb, and the blonde bouncing girl, dressed in all pink with a top way too low to be legal in this country.
I loved the little markets. Nessa and I had snuck away from Hotchner and Emily this morning, and we'd come upon a little jewerly place.
"Nessa, look! It's so pretty!"
An India woman came up to us, smiling.
"You like this?" she said in broken English, holding out the green broach. I smiled, nodding enthusiastically.
"It's lovely! Is it green glass?"
She smiled. "Does it matter if it's green glass, or an emerald?"
I put my hands on my hips. "Well, I'd like to know. An emerald costs a great deal more than I'm willing to pay, Madame."
She shrugged. "It only costs the value you put into it. Either way, it's worth five rupee."
I frowned, pulling out the money, but stopped.
"Well, which is it? Green glass or emerald?"
She smiled. "Come back here, girls." She opened her gate, but as I moved foreward, Nessa yelped.
"Meg."
I wouldn't have stopped--but this was Nessa. That was probaby the third word she'd said on this trip. I really liked her. I was getting her to open up, little by little. I could tell we would be friends--how couldn't we?
I realized what was going on. After what happened to her...I had been there. It wasn't long ago...Hotch's face...he'd had seen something in this girl. This girl, whose arms had to be fully amputated off. Who'd been raped. It must've been horrible.
"Nessa...she's not going to hurt us. I've read enough psychology...if anything happens, Nessa. You better believe I'd do some major damage to bring you back to Hotch. I owe him too much."
One of those facts being his wife died just a few months ago. Hailey...she'd been his everything.
I pulled Nessa along. My cellphone buzzed in my pocket as we were brought into a little hut-like area. Her back-shop. I checked my phone. Demy, the intern. She was a percistant one...very bad ass, very scary when angered. She was a tough girl. Very nice, very funny. She was just so much older than me...I couldn't relate. She was about nineteen, right? I couldn't remember.
The Indian woman fingered the broach in her hand.
"Girls...This was given to my mother a long time ago. I'm sorry to part with it."
My face fell. "Madame, if it means that much to you--"
"No. I need to sell it. I have a son. Plus...it's story needs to be shared.
My mother got this from my father...a little green glass broach. They were very much in love, and my mother didn't think much of a trinket from a poor man, but she loved the gesture just the same. One of her friends went out on a date, so she lent her the green glass pin. Her friend's date ended up being a jeweler...imagine her shock...the broach was an emerald. My father wasn't poor...nor am I, but I work hard for my family. But...my mother would've loved and married my father, even if the broach was green glass."
She tucked the emerald into my palm, and I handed her the money, which was also returned to me.
"You keep it. It's a story, just promise to share it."
We thanked her, and left.
"How romantic..." I mused. Nessa nodded, walking on.
"Where are you going?" I asked. She turned around.
"Huh?"
"Why in the world do think I was looking at this? Come here."
Nessa did as she was told, looking very timid as she did so, and wrapped her shawl more tightly around her, then took the emerald and pinned the shawl together.
"I don't know why you didn't think of that sooner," I said to her, slinging my arm around her waist.
"Honestly, Nessa, it's like I'm the blonde one."
We walked in silence, until the quiet girl spoke up again. "Do you think it was true? The green-glass love?"
"Everything has some truth...I think if you believe it's true, it has to be."
She smiled at me--a real smile. I think this is where friendship begins...
My first friend.
Maybe her's too.
"Maybe someday, we'll both find a green glass love..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nessa's POV
"I know Mindy! But its not that simple! What if he doesn't like me?"
"Well..isn't Meg his sister? Why not ask her?"
"NO! I already told her that I hate him. She'll think I'm doing it to embarrass him! Or worse! What if he does it to embarrass me?"
"GUURRRLLLL!!!!!! Listen to you! If he is as descent as you say he is than you have nothing to worry about. Lord, you have some issues girly."
"Thanks Mind. You always know how to cheer me up."
"Don't mention it. Speaking of mentions, I have some good news!"
"What?"
"I'm going on a date Friday."
"With who?"
"Brett. The Honor Society President."
"Weird. I always thought you would date the town pimp."
She chuckled and I glanced at the clock.
"Don't you have school tomorrow?"
"Maybe.........Well I need to go. Ill call you with deats Saturday."
"Bye. Tell Brett if he doesn't tap that, I will!"
She chuckled.
"Bitch I already told him you have tapped that!"
I giggled and hung up the phone.
I sat up and my phone fell off the nightstand.
I peered under my bed and saw a silver box shoved underneath my bed.
I used my legs to pull it out and I opened it with my chin.
Inside was covered with tissue paper and I knocked it out of the way.
Under that were a couple of things.
A green brooch.
Meg...
A rainbow colored scarf.
Demy...
And a ivory elephant.
The brooch was probably the most important thing in the box.
Meg and I had been aimlessly wondering in the crowded Indian market place for hours. I in my black wool and Meg in pink so bright that it would put Galinda to shame.
I was attempting to work up the courage to ask Meg if we could visit a sari stand when she called me over to a jewelry stand.
Meg was questioning the elder that ran this stand so I decided to browse.
The cart was full of unique jewelry and vibrant colors filled the eyes.
Meg was interested in a green broach and I had to admit it was divine.
Meg was insistent that she know whether it was green glass or an emerald.
I thought it was probably green glass, but that made no difference It was a gorgeous piece of jewelry and it would compliment Meg's hair and skin color.
Suddenly the crone opened her gate and Meg walked thorugh it.
Visions overcame me like waves in the ocean.
"Sweet cheeks, why dont you play with a big boy!"
"Come on! Are you afraid of a little pain?"
"I can make you forget. Like your dad never happened."
"You bitch! you're just a little whore! I'll make you pay!"
"....see how you do without arms...."
All I knew was that I needed to stop her.
"Meg."
This was probably the third word I had said this entire trip and you could see surprise blossom across Meg's face.
She turned and faced me and her look became almost maternal.
"Nessa...she's not going to hurt us. I've read enough psychology...if anything happens, Nessa. You better believe I'd do some major damage to bring you back to Hotch. I owe him too much."
Meg pulled me softly into the the hut and her hand never left my side.
The Indian woman fingered the broach in her hand.
"Girls...This was given to my mother a long time ago. I'm sorry to part with it."
Meg's face fell. You could see the disappointment on her face. "Madame, if it means that much to you--"
"No. I need to sell it. I have a son. Plus...it's story needs to be shared.
My mother got this from my father...a little green glass broach. They were very much in love, and my mother didn't think much of a trinket from a poor man, but she loved the gesture just the same. One of her friends went out on a date, so she lent her the green glass pin. Her friend's date ended up being a jeweler...imagine her shock...the broach was an emerald. My father wasn't poor...nor am I, but I work hard for my family. But...my mother would've loved and married my father, even if the broach was green glass."
She tucked the emerald into Meg's hand and returned the money to her also. The crone smiled a sweet smile and it warmed my heart to see such happiness.
"You keep it. It's a story, just promise to share it."
We thanked her, and left.
"How romantic..." Meg uttered. I continued walking and Meg spoke up.
"Where are you going?"
"Huh?"
"Why in the world do think I was looking at this? Come here."
She pulled me closer and tightened my shawl. She whipped the pin out and pinned the shawl closed. I could have slapped myself for not thinking of pinning it closed.
"I don't know why you didn't think of that sooner," she said to me. She grabbed my waist and we walked in relative silence.
"Honestly, Nessa, it's like I'm the blonde one."
"Do you think it was true? The green-glass love?"
"Everything has some truth...I think if you believe it's true, it has to be."
Meg smiled at me and her pearly white teeth flashed at me.
I think this is where friendship begins...
My first friend.
Maybe her's too.
"Maybe someday, we'll both find a green glass love..."
------
And then Demy's scarf.
An exhilarating tale and it was full of mischievous girls and a promise.
This whole trip to India was fro Demy's internship ending.
So we had all agreed to get her a gift for her to take with her.
Meg and I had been walking in the market the day before and I had seen an accessory stand that reminded me of her.
We hadn't been very close but that was because I wasn't close to anyone.
I was wondering through the crowded isles when a bright pattern caught my eye.
I wondered over and a hobbled old man limped out to meet me.
He spoke with a broken english and I had to struggle to understand him. He smelt like curry and the spices they left at temples here.
"So what the missus be after for day?"
"I want to look at that."
I gestured with my head at the material and I realized it was a scarf.
"Pleas to be service of you."
He reached up and I thought for sure he was going to break a hip getting it.
He grabbed it with a shaky hand and I felt my phone go off.
I flicked my eyes down and saw it was d.....Aaron calling. He had been checking up on me every ten minutes and it was annoying me.
A warm hand grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
"Missus want scarf me got down."
He laid it on the table and I ogled it. It was cotton and it reminded me of the skittles commercials.
"I'll take it."
I automatically reached for my wallet and I realized I couldn't grab it.
I was hesitant ot ask him to grab my wallet but I didnt want to waste time getting Aaron or Meg or Rossi.
"Lady paying or ot buy. Not all day."
He frowned and tapped his watch. I muttered obsenities and motioned to my coat pocket.
"Would you mind grabbing my wallet? I have no hands to do it."
He nodded and reached down.
Suddenly I found myself flung in a cart with a hankercheif shoved in my mouth.
"MJNDWOUNVUORN!!!!"
I screeched and suddenly a fist hit my jaw.
Black stars and white lights filled my visions.
I slowly came to and voices filled my ears.
It was the man from earlier and he was talking with a younger man.
Both were speaking Hindu and I couldnt follow.
I screeched again and a fuzzy image punced at me.
It was super tall with htick black hair and a stern face.
"Aaro....ron?"
It nodded and warm hands pulled me to my feet.
It dragged me and I had enough sence to grab the scarf as I walked away.
---
Meg and the rest of the team hadnt found out about it and we had planned to keep it that way.
Dad had found a different gift to give Demy so mine was packed away.
I was beginning to drift off when my phone beeped.
Hey its Al. Would you want to come over to meet with Vic? Say 4 tomorrow?
Sure:)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh..." I moaned, slamming down another shot. I leaned on my elbows on the bar, my head in my hands. This was stupid... Was I really just going to drop everything to go get on a plane and meet up with my parents? I never wanted to even see them again, then I told my mom I'd come! I can't stand myself...
I looked up at the clock, then slammed my head against the bar. It was already 10 o' clock. An hour and a half here, drinking at the rate I was... Who needs sobriety anyway?
I'd checked the website of the airport earlier and saw that there was a flight at 12. I had two more hours. Why was I doing this so quickly? I wanted to just get it over with. Quick and painless. I expected to be on the 1 o'clock flight back.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and saw that I had a text from Vic
'Want to hang out or something later? Maybe dinner?'
I sighed as I replied. I stopped midsentence of what I was typing, then just decided to just call him.
"Hey," he answered.
"Hi..." I mumbled.
"Something wrong?"
"N...No... I just....--"
"Something's wrong."
"Well, I--"
"What's wrong?"
I sighed. "Nothing. I'm just going out of town for a little while."
"With the BAU?"
"No... Personal. I don't know when I'll be back."
"I don't mean to pry, but...what exactly are you doing?"
"I'm just going to see my parents. No big deal." Way big deal.
"Then why do you sound so upset?"
"I'm not necessarily on good terms with them..."
"I see," he said. "So. When are you leaving?"
"In a couple hours."
"Do you have anything planned during those free hours?"
I grinned, slightly forgetting my bitter feelings. "Hmm... Gee, I don't think I do. Why? What did you have in mind, Mr. Mignogna?" I giggled.
"How about we just hang out at my apartment," he offered. "Not really glamorous, but I promise to be a perfect gentleman."
"I might just have to take you up on that."
-------
I hoped he couldn't tell that I was sliiiiightly drunk. The fact that I couldn't really walk straight was a dead giveaway, but as soon as I flopped down on Vic's couch, my state was barely noticeable. I hoped.
He sat down beside me, smiling.
He has such a cute smile...
I noticed how stupid the face I was making was and stopped. He chuckled and wrapped an arm around me.
"So... What exactly are the bad terms between you and your parents?" he asked.
"Is that the only reason you asked me over here?" I slurred.
"No," he answered. "But I am a very curious man."
"So I see."
He answered with a grin.
I took a deep breath. "Alright. I just... I've never gotten along with them, okay?"
"And why is that?" he asked solemnly.
"They were never nice to me. Just...abuse. Verbal and physical." I couldn't believe I was telling him this... We hadn't even known each other for very long and now I was telling him what kind of white trash family I came from.
He looked at me thoughtfully, then gently ran his finger over a scar under my left eye. "Is that how...?"
"No," I answered, turning my head a little. "That's from...something different..." Something that made me sick to think of. I could tell if it was the memory or the alcohol making me want to throw up.
"I see..." he whispered, looking into my eyes. "There's a lot I don't know about you..."
And a lot I wish hadn't happened.
"Yeah," I laughed sadly. "There is..."
"If you want to tell me, I'd be happy to listen," he said. "But if you don't want to, I'll respect your privacy."
Some part of me wanted to lie to him about everything. Another part wanted to just stay quiet. And another part wanted to...just pour out everything to him. But what would he even say...? How would he react to...
"I... I..." I started. The next thing I knew, I had my arms wrapped around him, crying like an infant.
He was startled a moment, then ran his hand through my hair, whispering, "It's okay..." in my ear. Gosh, I couldn't believe what I was doing. I swore that after this I needed to have no alcohol in my system when I was around Vic. I was a mess.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered, sitting up and wiping my eyes. "I just..."
"It's okay," he said again, his smile comforting me more than his words.
I took a deep breath and just told him everything. Everything that's happened up until now. How I ran away from home, joined a gang, became a whore, did drugs...and then what happened with Slash not too long ago.
But the most surprising thing that happened was...Vic...hugged me. After everything I said, he wasn't totally repulsed by me. He didn't look at me with the disgust I'd expected. He just accepted me...
"I'm sorry..." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes again. "I didn't mean to just give you a whole biography... I just..."
"Stop apologizing," he said, looking into my eyes. He leaned closer and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. "Everything's changed... You don't have to worry about any of that anymore."
A tear streamed down my cheek. "Vic..."
He leaned in again and planted a kiss on my forehead. "I could go with you, if you want," he offered. "We could face it together."
I shook my head. "No... I need to just go and get this over with. I'm just gonna go see my parents and be done with it. Then I'll never see them again. I'll make sure of it."
He looked down at me questioningly.
"No, I'm not going to kill them!" I giggled. "I just meant I'll avoid them at all cost."
He pulled me closer. "Alright," he whispered.
"And if Meg or Nessa or anyone ask where I am, you tell them. I don't want to be the one to. I'll probably get into another conversation like this if I do," I said.
"Can do," he replied.
--------
A few hours later, I was...home. If I could call it that. It was hardly a home. The little trailer wasn't very welcoming, and never had been. It took all of my willpower not to hightail it out of the trailer park. Walking up to the door felt foreboding. Every molecule inside me urged me to leave before I even had to come face to face with...them.
I rapped on the door a few times. Before I could knock again, it swung open and I was face to face with the barrel of a shotgun. I instinctively grabbed my glock out of my purse and aimed it in front of me.
My father lowered the gun and I did the same.
"Dammit, kid! I thought you was the landlord!" he growled.
I shoved my gun back in my bag. "Hi, dad," I spat. I could already tell I was going to have an absolutely horrid time here.
"Get in here," he commanded in his rough smoker's voice. He tapped the barrel of the gun against my butt as I stepped inside. One other form of abuse I hadn't mentioned... My least favorite... Living with this old pervert...
"Mom?" I called, arms crossed. She scurried into the living room, wearing a slutty outfit, true to character. She'd dyed her hair bleach blond, but there were still brown roots showing. She scurried over to me and gave me a hug, which I didn't find too convincing. "Demyyyy!" she squealed like a 15 year old girl. I sensed a mid-life crisis... But she was only 37. Do the math. Congrats to anyone who figures out how old she was when I was born.
"Hi," I greeted bitterly, separating myself from her and moving over to a chair in the living room. "Can we make this quick?" I fingered the bracelet on my wrist, the one Meg and Ness had gotten me in India. It made me a bit more calm. I was also more calm now that my dad left the room.
"Aw, hon!" Mom exclaimed. "Don't you just wanna hang out with us?"
"Not particularly..." I mumbled.
"What was that?" she snapped.
I took a deep breath. "I saidI don't particularly want to be here."
"Excuse me, young lady?"
"Oh my gosh..." I sighed, terribly annoyed.
She made her way over to me, smacking her hand across my face. "Listen, little girl! You are in my house! I know you haven't been here in God knows how long--"
"Six years--"
"--But you will obey my rules!" she shouted.
"I can't believe I came all the way here just to be yelled at like a little kid," I groaned. "You know what? I'm leaving." I started walking towards the door.
"Oh, what? I'm not good enough for you?" she laughed. "You wouldn't talk back to your pimp like that, would you?" She continued her fit of laughter.
"You bitch!" I screamed, closing the distance between us and swinging my fist into her nose. Blood gushed onto my hand, which I promptly wiped on my pants.
She held her nose with one hand, then retaliated by bringing her foot to my stomach, knocking the air out of me. "What's the matter, you little whore?"
Even if I couldn't regain all of my breath in that time, I still had to giggle. "You know, every time you call me that, I can't help but think how I learned from the best," I laughed.
She glared at me, then took a seat on the couch. "So, what have you amounted to in all this time you've been gone? I mean, besides the huge accomplishment of your whoring around."
"More than you've ever accomplished, and will ever accomplish." I crossed my arms.
"So, how many guys have you done it with? What's the rough estimate?"
"Well, honestly I haven't counted. How about you?"
"Just your father."
"You're a terrible liar."
"And what about you? Do you have a boyfriend? Friend with benefits?"
"You don't deserve an answer to anything. Show me a reason to let you into my personal life and I'll gladly share."
"I'm your mom. That's reason enough."
"Hardly."
"I gave you life, don't you forget it."
"And that's one reason I hate you." I reached for the doorknob and jiggled it. It was locked. When did...?
"Oh, no," Mom laughed. "You're not leaving until we get some real mother-daughter time."
"You've gotta be kidding..."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MEG'S POV
Darcy drove me home to my--our--apartment. By the time the elevator opened on our floor, my shirt was off, my slippers were slung over my shoulder, and my hair was out of it's usual bun, gold hair spilling down my back in an uncontrollable river.
Darcy couldn't take his eyes off me.
I'm not sure why I was doing this, what I quite wanted from him. Maybe it was just the attention. Part of me definitely needed it. I didn't know, but standing in our apartment in nothing but my tank top and peplin skirt, smiling at Darcy as he locked the door, returning my a smile, I felt like I was wild--I could do this.
But it wouldn't mean a thing.
As hard as I wished, Darcy would never Spencer.
But that's why I chose him.
I chose Darcy, because he was smart and quiet and alone.
Not unlike someone I know.
Darcy came forward, crossing our distance in three quick strides. He took my face in his hands, he beaming down at me.
"Did you mean it?" he whispered in my ear, gooseflesh forming where his breath grazed my skin. My hands instictively reached forward to tangle in his always perfect curly hair, steadying myself for falling as his lips traced up my neck.
"M-mean what?" I whispered, dizzy. As much as I loved him, Spencer could never kiss like this. In our relationship, I called the shots. Part of me honestly just wanted to be taken care of and held like a child, like a girl. The way Spencer had when I was just the runaway girl who didn't speak a lick of English. Looking back on it, I vagulely remember the jiberish they spoke.
"Toss this blanket over her," the witch-looking woman whispered. She seemed sweet. I looked between her and the young man. He looked in his early twenties. He was tall and pale, like a spirit. He scared me with the purple circles under his eyes and long bony fingers. It was unsettling about him....but he seemed so kind. He always held a book in his lean hands, brown eyes flecked with amber grazed pages.
"Toss this blanket over her," the witch-woman had said.
I remember that much now. But the rest of it's a blur. Trying to learn the language, to survive in this America. It was so foreign and new to me...
"Did you mean it?"
I was snapped back into reality. Darcy's hands, ghosting over my frame. His lips, everywhere at once.
Good God this man...
"Did you mean it? When you called me William?"
I smiled. "Dar--William...I...I want to be on a first name basis with you. I want to be with you."
Darcy's eyes widened as he wrapped me close to him. "Oh goodness...Miss Gi-...Megara."
"Meg," I corrected, pressing my lips firm to his. "And I meant it...every word. Every touch...Will, I just want to love you...to...to be loved by you."
I looked sheepishly up through my lashes, but my eyes felt surprisingly wet. Why?
He kissed my forehead.
"Well, I'm glad." He pulled away, and I frowned. He stepped into the kitchen.
"You've been gone for so long, Meg...it's really been hard to keep up with you. You're lucky to have Miss Brown."
Brown. Sophia. Freaking. Brown.
"Sophia?" I spat.
Darcy smiled. "Yes, she's the only one that's been informing me of your wearabouts. Such a sweet girl."
I frowned. That little....
"Yup. Fucking dandy," I mumbled. "Will, I'm tired. I'm heading off to bed."
"No supper?"
I paused in the doorframe. "I'm not feeling like it now, darling."
He nodded hesitantly. "I'll join you soon. The bed won't be cold for long."
No, Darcy. It's been cold for a very long time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV
"This is stupid," I mumbled, sinking further into the couch. I didn't even know what my mom wanted from me, or why she wasn't letting me leave. It was already evening, and there weren't any flights left back to Quantico for the day. So, I was stuck either way. "If it's all the same with you, I'd prefer to stay at a hotel tonight. May I leave?" That probably had to be the most polite thing I'd said to her all day.
She uncrossed her arms, jumping up out of her chair and taking a drag on her cigarette. "I'm hurt that you wouldn't want to stay here with you own mother! You ungrateful little brat!" Smoke billowed out of her mouth as she shouted. I always knew she was a dragon.
"You are blowing this way out of proportion," I sighed. "Besides, shouldn't you be out there blowing...other things?" I grinned. It didn't take a genius to figure out what she does in her free time. Sex, pot, and booze.
I may have deserved the slap I got for my comment, but it was so worth it. Every comment was. She deserved far worse than degrading words for what she's done to me. She pushed me off the edge into a living hell when I was just a kid. And when I was still a kid, I had to get myself out of it. No help from her. I was on my own. I wasn't sure if she'd disowned me or something, but it was only me following in her footsteps. Nothing more.
"I oughtta kill you!" she screeched, pressing the butt of her cigarette into my arm. I drew in a hiss of breath, wincing and slapping her hand away.
"I think it takes a bit more than that to kill me." And as if I wasn't in enough trouble, I threw in a wink at the end of my sentence. "Now, what do you really want from me?"
"I want my little girl!"
"What little girl?" I laughed. " Little came and went before you even cared about my existence. Why should you care now?"
She didn't have an answer.
"That's all I really want. An answer."
Silence again.
"Are you serious? You want your little girl, but you haven't even cared about me for all the years I've been alive! I'll have you know that I almost died because of your lack of interest in me. On more than one occasion."
She finally spoke up. "That wasn't my fault! It's because you were always such a dumbass!"
My confidence broke. Even if she was a terrible woman... She was...right...
"I..." My fingers trembled. "I never... I didn't..."
She grinned, more insane than the Cheshire Cat. "Yes," she laughed. "You know you're just trying to blame me for your screw-up!"
Is that what I'm doing...? "No... It's not... It's not my fault...!"
"You were always a stupid teenager. One could only guess that you would end up how you did sooner or later," she cooed.
I stared intently at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact. My hands were held so tightly in fists that I'm sure my nails punctured the skin. "No... I didn't mean to... No!"
"Yes," she laughed. "No one would've ever thought that you would amount to anything. And you proved them right. I mean, getting demoted like that for your...past affiliations."
I stared harder at the carpet, as if that would block out the terrible words.
"That gang leader... Slash, was it?" she chuckled, coming nearer to me. "He sure did leave his mark, didn't he? You just look in terrible shape. I say he should've just finished you off. You two'll meet in hell eventually, anyway. Why not make it quicker?" She knelt next to me, reaching into my purse. "Nothing would be easier." She nudged something into my hands and forced my arm up, making the object in my hand face my head. "No more of your past. Isn't that what you want?"
I numbly nodded.
"Then do it."
I gripped the object tighter in my hand, then recognized how it felt. It was my gun. A wave of panic surged through me, bringing me back to reality. Was I really about to...?!
I jerked the gun away from my temple and wiped some tears from my cheeks, which I wasn't even aware that I had shed. "No!" I screamed, repositioning the gun in my mom's direction. She backed away.
"Demy! Stop!" she commanded.
"No!" I screamed again, steadying the gun. My breathing was ragged, my heart rate intense. Adrenaline was the only thing I was aware of.
"Put the gun down! Now!"
"No!" I paused for a moment and glanced between her and the door. I made a dash and just kicked the old door off its hinges, regardless of the fact that I could've unlocked it. I didn't care.
I shoved the gun in my back pocket and ran into town, sobbing hysterically. I still knew my way around here, even through my tears. Or especially through, I should say. I went to one place I knew as more of a home than where I had just been.
I would get a flight home tomorrow. For now, all I wanted to do was just sit here in this alley and cry. It's not the first time I have.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
Warm sighs escaped my mouth and formed circles in the icy air.
My coffee sat chilling and my shawl sat drawn tight around me.
Fragile brownish blond locks covered my lap an boyish snores filled the air.
a thin hand held tight to my thigh.
The swing swung at a comically slow pace and it lulled me towards sleep.
"Jack.......Jack baby......wake up...we need to go in."
He stirred and glanced up with sleep filled eyes.
Tugging at my shirt he sat up and tugged at his eyes.
"Do we hafta go in?"
I nodded my head and he let out a low moan.
I smiled at him and he stood up slowly.
We walked towards the door and dad barged out.
"Hey Vic and Al invited a for dinner and to talk some more about automail."
I bit my lip. Had no one taken my opinion on the matter seriously?
I shook my head and dad glared down at me.
"You know this would help in the long run Nessa"
I glared back and he grabbed my back.
"Come on. We are getting ready to leave so you need tochange."
I growled and let all of my weight fall back.
Dad scrambled to grab me and he pulled me up roughly.
"Jack run up stairs and change into your khakis and a niceshirt."
Jack smiled and hurried up the stairs. He had grown attached toAl's stories of Germany and liked to listen to them before he fell asleep. Alhad been spending evenings with us and dad had grown fond of him too.
I was skeptical of several of his stories and he enjoyedproving they were right.
I did pity him his childhood however.
His stories after Jack was asleep were horrifying. He talked abouthis fear of abandonment and his fear of closeness.
I hated him for the fact that I pitied him. While my childhood hadbeen bleak, his was a cest pool of misery and denial.
His mom having abandoned him as a baby, he was left with hisgrandparents. Then left by Vic at age four.
The only bright spot was that Vic came back every summer to keephim company.
Walks along the river by his village, spending the weekend at anamusement park, snow cones and balloon animals, and innocent kissesand less innocent touches explored with a childhood friend underneath a willowtree in his backyard.
He maintained that he was a virgin and the touches had been fullyclothed for the whole ordeal.
Those stories had been explored in my bedroom withfaded afghans thrown over us and glasses of hot chocolate complementsof Penny.
His face had flashed crimson and his eyes had grown ten sizes.
His white, perfectly straight teeth had bit his lip and henervously scratched at his head.
"Sooooo.............did you enjoy it?"
"Whaaatttt?"
He blushed even harder if that was possible and he glanced downagian.
I giggled and imquired again.
"D-I-D Y-O-U E-N-J-O-Y I-T?"
He mumbled something and I leaned forward and whispered in hisear.
"Can't heaaarrrr yooouuuu................."
He sighed and leaned his head back up.
"I............d...id'nt."
I nodded my head and smiled at him encouragingly.
"Thank you for being honest. It was probably becauseit wasn't the right person."
He nodded downtrodden and suddenly snapped his head up.
"Soooooo, if I was willing to answer, you need to. Are you a virgin?"
I flicked my head down and bit my lip. How did I explain this?
He wouldn't look at me right again.
It would be like having another member of the team. Overprotective to an extremely agitating degree.
I mumbled an unintelligible response and he grinnedimpishly.
"Sooooo, I'm waiting....."
He gently teased me and I found myself wanting to tell himeverything. Just so there were no secrets on my part.
"N..oooo."
I hung my head defeated and whipped it back up.
"Butttt it wasn't by choice! I didn't want to lose it. If Ihad my way I wouldn't have lost it till after I was married to the man of mydreams."
It was crucial I make him understand. He couldn't have any doubtsabout me.
"I need to start at the beginning."
I told him about everything. The abuse from my father. How how hemurdered Shell, the almost rape of Elphie, everything up to the day I watchedmy sister die.
And to his credit he took it all in stride. He remained silent andlet me get it off my chest.
And when I was done he simply pulled me into one of his famoushugs.
He didn't try to utter sympathies or compare it to him. Hesimply let me shed my stories and the accompanied tears.
And it felt good. It felt amazing to shed all this baggage I hadbeen carrying around.
And when my tears had run dry and all that remained wascold hot chocolate and a pile of afghans where Al had kicked them offin a lunge to pull me into a hug, he still didn't speak.
He pulled me tighter for a moment and then he left. Not a word tome, he just stood up and left.
And know back in the present I found myself being shoved into adress.
A boring purple sackish dress with a thick black jacketto keep me warm.
My hair was pulled up into a ponytail and dadwas attempting to rub some of my makeup on me. I had insisted that ifI was going to wear this dress I wanted some makeup. But I was regretting thatnow that I saw dad actually putting it it on me.
He put to much foundation on and then not enough blush to addcolor. Then his eyeliner and eye shadow were all over the place by myeyes. And to top it off, he picked the most nude shades of makeup ever. A tanblush with tan eye shadow and a chocolate brown liner. Paired withnude lipstick, I looked like an old lady.
"Dad, what the hell?"
I rarely cussed but this was a good reason.
"You told me to put makeup on you!"
He glared and I glared right back.
Suddenly lithe footsteps filled the hall and Jack busted in.
His hair was disheveled and his shirt was half tucked in. Hispants were filled with wrinkles and you could see the perfectionism cogs indad's brain straining, trying to figure out how to clean and make perfect inthe short amount of time we had left.
"Daddy, we need to go."
Jack pulled at his arm and dad followed, stunned at the tone ofvoice Jack used. It was a mirror of dads and it was kinda freaky.
"Nessie, COME ON!"
He shouted over his shoulder.
I found myself following and the car was already started when Igot down there.
Jack had apparently snatched dad's key and started the car whilewe were getting ready.
The heat blared and his favorite veggie tales DVD played on themovie thing in the car.
His car blanket and travel pillow laid out ready for the ride homeand he had laid a change of clothes for the hour and a half he had to sleep onthe way back.
Dad's phone was charging in the cup holder, and the the sparklingcider we were bring sat in the seat next to Jack's.
I stared open mouthed atthe effectiveness Jack showed for being that young.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV
I want to say I can't believe I fell asleep in the alley, but I can believe it.
I reached for my phone in my pocket to check what time it was. 9 a.m. I put the phone back and sat up against the wall, sighing. This trip went worse than expected... My own mom tried to kill me. Not that I ever thought of her much as a mother, but it still hurts. I would say I don't care, but...I do.
A stray cat sashayed up to me and rubbed up against my pants, which I realized were spotted with blood. I pulled them up to see small pieces of glass in my skin. Must have been from breaking down the door. There was glass in my arms too. I suppose I was just too much of a wreck yesterday to notice it.
The cat purred and I pet it. It ran away. "Well, screw you too," I mumbled to it on the other end of the alley. I grabbed the gun sitting beside me and angrily aimed it in the direction of the cat, then lowered it, sighing.
I stood up and shoved the gun in my sweatshirt pocket, so no one could see it as I walked around town. I headed for the coffee shop I knew was just around the corner. Luckily my wallet was in my pocket instead of my purse, which I hadn't bothered grabbing before storming out.
As I entered the coffee shop I got a few strange glances, which I assumed were just people being curious as to why I looked like a total wreck. My clothes were bloody, my hair was...blegh... And what little makeup I had on was most likely smeared everywhere. I was exhausted.
I sat down and ordered some very very strong coffee. The lady taking my order stared at me for a moment, a quizzical look on her face. Annoyed, I sighed and asked, "What?" in a very exasperated manor.
"You look familiar," she mumbled.
"... And?"
"Do you live around here?"
"No," I answered a bit quickly. To avoid sounding suspicious, I added, "I used to. Not anymore."
"Hm," she said, seeming less skeptical. "Got a name?"
"Demy."
"That's cute."
"It's really not."
She paused, pondering again. "I've heard that name..."
I could've said that it's common, but it definitely is not. What my mind was most occupied with was the fact that she was trying so hard to remember something. Did I know her? I know the town isn't that big and pretty much everyone knows everyone, but I couldn't tell if I knew her... As a matter of fact her voice sounded vaguely familiar.
All of a sudden she stopped and stared, drawing in a sudden breath. "Get out," she ordered.
"Excuse me?" I asked, taken aback.
"Get out of here. Now." Her face held the slightest twinge of fear.
"Why?" This was really starting to get on my nerves.
"We don't allow criminals."
Damn it. Are you serious? "I'm not a criminal."
"The hell you aren't! You were in a gang!"
"Were being the operative word there," I said causally, leaning my elbow on a table.
"You mugged me!" she shouted. That could be why she seemed familiar... I do remember stealing a purse from a very annoying girl...
"That was years ago," I defended.
"Get out!" she repeated.
I hate this town. "Fine!" I exclaimed, standing. I left the coffee shop, coffee-less and angry.
-----
Have I ever told you how much I love airplanes? Especially when they're taking me back to Quantico. In just a few hours I was back at my apartment, ecstatic that I was home.
I immediately took a shower and put on clean clothes. I was happy to not smell like smoke anymore.
Rose brushed around my ankles as I was drying my hair and I reached down to pet her. "Good kitty," I mumbled, then went to go feed her. I felt bad about not being here to take care of her, if only for about 24 hours. I grabbed her food bag and, as I was about to pour it in her bowl, I noticed that the bowl was full of food already.
"What the...?" I mumbled, then turned to Rose. "You'd already eaten half of it by the time I left. And I didn't tell Meg and Nessa that I'd be gone..." I noticed a little sheet of paper sticking out from under the bowl. I picked it up and examined the strangely neat writing.
Hope you don't mind. I kind of borrowed a key from Nessa.
You can thank me later.
-Vic
My face lit up as I read. I giggled and pulled out my phone to call him.
"Hello, gorgeous," he answered.
"Hi," I giggled. "Thanks for feeding Rose. I owe you one."
"Not a problem," he replied. "You don't owe me anything. So, how'd the trip go?"
"Oh, it went fine," I lied. No one needed to know how it went.
"That's great! See, you didn't need to be so worried after all, did you?"
"Nope," I laughed uneasily. "So, do you want to hang out or something."
"Ah... I'd love to, but Nessa and Hotchner are coming over soon."
"Oh..." I said.
"Maybe we could go out afterwards? Maybe tomorrow?"
I smiled. "It's a date. See ya."
"Bye."
We hung up and I put my phone back into my pocket, then jumped onto my bed. "Well, Rose! Looks like it's just you and me this evening!"
---------------------/--------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I shrunk down in our SUV and dad glanced curiously over at me.
I was dreading this meeting with Vic, and more importantly Al.
We hadn't seen each other since the night I spilled my guts to him.
And it hurt!
The pain of not knowing his reaction. The pain of him taking my knowledge and abandoning me.
Tears welled up just thinking about this.
Soon we had arrived and Jack had been introduced to Vic and been gathered up in a flying hug.
Al had been drug from his room and dinner had been laid out.
Soon we had all gathered and Vic had asked about a blessing.
While religion had never been my thing, I remembered that Al had grown up in religion.
Soon he and Vic and dad and Jack had their heads bowed and a simple blessing was uttered.
"And in Jesus's name...Amen."
Amen's echoed around the table and I glanced at Al.
His thin neck was suspended like a baby bird's and his face was as eager as a puppy's.
Soon we had dug into the German stew and dad would slip bites into my mouth every so often.
Thick and slightly oaky tasting, it was a beef stew with chunks of onion and carrot and potatoes scattered throughout.
Vic had made a potato bread with it and a sweet drink that tasted like tea but also coffee and honey.
For desert we had a German cakish looking thing and Vic pronounced it done.
As soon as we were done, Vic rushed us into the living room and pulled out the box of automail.
Jack let out a bloodcurdling scream and dove into Al's lap.
Jack was shaking and Al scooped him up and whispered words of comfort in his ears.
I smiled at the adorable scene and soon he had Jack calmed down.
Dad sat Jack in Vic's room and shut the door behind him.
" So now it's time to discuss the big topic. When would you like to have the surgery?"
Vic smiled and he waited patiently for the answer.
"What if I don't want them?"
I spoke up. What if I didn't want to risk it?
What if I was that 25% who never gained full use of the automail?
Then what? Was this doomed to be permanent? I couldn't take that!
The fall would be worse than the slow climb here.
I bit my lip and suddenly Al slid into the spot next to me on the love seat.
Warm arms grabbed me and he turned my head towards him.
I noticed dad and Vic had left us alone in here.
"Why don't you want them?"
"Because......because.......what if they don't work? What then? What if this is permanent?"
I shook and his warm breath filled my face. Despite having just eaten it still smelt like mint toothpaste and that drink from dinner.
"Then they don't work. What's so wrong about getting things done for you?"
Anger stirred in my belly and I bit my lips together. No need to yell now.
I pulled myself further into his arms and his hand found my hair. He twisted it around his fingers and his lips pecked lightly against my forehead.
"If it doesn't work then I'll just take care of you."
"And if it does?"
"Then I will still take care of you."
"Then I will get them."
He smiled against my forehead and I leaned my head against his chest.
His hands continued through my hair and I longed to lean up and kiss him.
Really kiss him.
But not today.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MEG'S POV
Gloves. I wear them now. It's February, and it's cold in Quantico. There's nothing abnormal about a girl wearing gloves while snow still swirls to the ground.
But that isn't why I wear them. I wear them to cover it.
I should've known I couldn't hide it long, not with Darcy.
Walking into the BAU, and there they are on my desk. Three different flower vases. People lurk around it, admiring and reading cards. Nessa and Demy stare intently at one, until someone whispers my name and the room falls quiet.
My ballet slippers squeak as I stalk across the floor. People return to their work, but it's a half-hearted effort. I sit at my desk, and Demy places the card in front of me without a word.
Have a marvelous day, Mrs. Darcy.
I can't breathe.
Ce salaud ....
"When?"
I don't move. Demy and Nessa flank my right, blocking me from view. I remove my left kid glove, showing them the ring I've worn for quite sometime, only now earning significance.
Demy could've asked a number of questions. Why? Why did I do this to them? Why didn't they know? Why did I do this to Spencer? Where did it happen? Why did I agree? How? What did you do?
She chooses when, because she knows I didn't want this, that I got in over my head. It takes everything I have not to sob. But I don't deserve tears.
"Yesterday," I whisper, pulling a red rose from it's place and take the plants--vase and all--and dump them into the trash. I cling to the rose, holding it tight to me. "We were drunk. I didn't know..."
They nod anyway.
"Does...does he...?"
"Yes," Nessa whispers. I look down at my hand. There's a bruise at the base of my pinky finger. I can't remember what he did there. I wore a black turtle neck and long black skirt. I don't look like a bride. I look like I'm in mourning.
I am in mourning for my life....
Shakespeare. How do I manage to bring in Shakespeare at a time like this?
Spencer knows.
"Where is he?"
"Conferance room,"Demy says,"but I wouldn't go to him. Not yet."
I nod gently. Of course he's angry. I'd be beyond pissed if I had me as a girlfriend.
But I don't want to stay. For once, I'm tired. I'm tired of blaming me. I want one out of body expirence to just forget everything.
"Will you guys come walk with me?" I ask gently. They exchange glances. Leave work? Leave Spencer? I nod.
We pass people on the way out the doors. Penelope glancing at me. I can tell she wants to say something, but doesn't know what to say. JJ glares slightly from the corner of her eyes, but turns away. She doesn't know what to make of me, not anymore. Sophia giggles from her spot near Anderson, twirling a curl around her finger. She's on the phone, laughing like the love of her life is on the other end. Probably some idiot client whose checking to see if she has STDs....
No. I'm done hating other people. I'm done with it all.
The walk to the park is short. We park ourselves on a bench, Demy to my left, Nessa to my right. I wrap my arms around their waists. A young boy and girl play frisbee in the grass, while a dark-haired boy watches them from under a tree. Lovers on a bench. A mother pushing a stroller. It's quiet for a moment, until Nessa speaks up.
"I'm going to have the surgery."
I don't really move my head, but smile slowly. I turn to look at her, almost robotically. "That's wonderful," I whisper. Demy stares straight ahead.
"I talked my parents this weekend." She smiles, and I can see tears forming, but she'll never let them fall. "I got closure. I think I won."
I smile. Closure. That must feel great. I kiss her cheek, and her sad smile widens. "And now I've got Vic...and Nessa has Al...and you--" Her sentence stops.
I laugh darkly. "I've got two. Fun, right?" I laugh again, louder. The girl playing frisbee looks up at me from across the yard.
"It's a simple choice, right?" I ask, looking at the ground. "This or that. Either, or. Marry well, social whirl, buisness man, and I'll be 'the clever girl who married for money. She'll be comfortable for the rest of her life.' Or do I pin my whole life on the man I love?"
I smile as clouds block the sun, keeping light from my face. Good. I didn't want it anyway.
Neither answers, and that's fine. I didn't want an answer anyway. We walked back to the BAU in a silence.
Rossi caught my arm, and smiled at me.
"This is hard for you," he said. I nodded.
"You understand, though...right? Loving more than one person?"
He purses his lips. "If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one, because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."
"...Plato?" I guess. He shakes his head.
"Johnny Depp."
xxx
Spencer's appartment is dark. It always is. The last time I was here, there was a lit tree in the corner, and it gave off the only light. It was like this part of town just was dark, only over his door. He'd sent me a text, telling me to come. I'm not sure what I expected, open arms or a rejection, but his cold voice through the door saying,"Come in," wasn't it.
I opened the door, engagement ring on my finger with nothing to hide it. I wasn't hiding anything from him. He didn't deserve that.
It was dark on the inside as well. Stepping in, I had to let my eyes adjust before I saw him. There he was, on the couch, head in a book. Same brown eyes flecked with gold I loved staring into. Same boy. Same dreams. Same feelings.
Or so I hoped.
"Let me see you," he whispers, arms to his sides. I can't help it as I start crying and fall into his arms. I sputter out his name.
"I can't hide anything anymore!" I scream into his chest. He rubs my back soothingly. Why isn't he angry? This wasn't how it was supposed to end. He should be angry....
"Meg, we'll figure it out..." he mumbles in my ear, and I can only manage a fleeting smile.
"No," I whisper, rising off his lap. "I can't hide this. It has to end soon, Spencer. There has to be a choice made, and it has to be made fast. What are we going to do...?" I'm pacing now, and he's smiling sadly at me.
"Meg--"
"Darcy could find out...he could find out about us...then everyone will know. It's a wonder that dumb Sophia's been keeping it to herself..." I swear in French under my breath. "How much will I hurt him if he finds out...? Mr. Darcy--"
"Is a stiff. Isn't he?"
I turn to Spencer. His arms are folding across his chest, glaring at the window.
Psychology one-o-one: that ain't good.
Why has his mood suddenly soured on a dime?
"Oh, Spencer, I know you're skeptical of his emotions," I smile a little, but I'm really trying to convice myself as much as him. "Some would think so, but I see a side of him that few people are lucky enough to see."
He snorts. "When you're sitting on his lap?"
I step back. He's thrown up a wall...what's happening? "No."
Spencer rises, coming to face. "Has he kissed you?"
"Yes...what's with the thrird degree? Spencer?"
"Does he have a pet name for you?"
"What? No. Spencer, what's going on--"
"I don't know! You tell me, huh? Why...that thing on your finger...it moved!"
I grit my teeth, and I feel my blood boil. I get right back in his face, fangs bared and ready. "I'll let you in on a little secret," I hiss. "This morning, he popped the question."
Spencer was angry before, but now it's fallen. His lower lip trembles, and his eyesbrows press together. I remember a case, months ago, before all this started. That was always my favorite face Spencer made, because I like running my finger down his nose, releasing the tension, making him smile. I realize now I didn't like the face--I liked saving him. But I can't save him now.
What wouldn't I pay to be that girl again, who came in early and made the man sitting next to her coffee every morning, just to earn a smile. Who teased coworkers, who had a best friend. Who didn't have love, but at that time, didn't need it. What I wouldn't pay....
Spencer sputters a little as his whispers.
"He...he did?"
I nod, expression torn between grief and rage. I'm trembling, but I'm not sure what from. "Yes," I say. I'm hard as steel.
He looks away. "Great...and by that thing on your finger I'm assuming--"
"Another crack," I say, making an observation, not attacking,"Every time you mention it--"
"Can I ask you a favor--a really big one, 'cause I know hard it'll be for you," his voice is hard and sarcastic, and tears are welling up behind his eys, but he's angry and hurt. I don't understand. He knows what I want... "Could you have not played along with us for once?"
I step back. "What?"
"You've been playing him," he growls at me, voice sharp like a cat's,"that's no secret. But is there any guartee you're not playing me?"
I blink. "Wha...what...why would I do that?!" I'm crying again.
"To hell if I know! We talked about how this was going down, okay? You were going to turn him down...no...I don't want to talk about this now..."
"No, we're talking about this," I curse, grabbing him by the shoulders, but he shoves me off and I wince. He doesn't notice the extra tears, but it hurt. I think the mending skin on my clavicle broke open again.
"No, we aren't, Meg."
"Why the hell not?!" I scream, kicking over a corner table, and books scatter the ground.
"'Cause I'm sick of hearing about it! You want to marry a man who thinks of you as a new kitchen appliance, be my guest."
"Want? Want? Since when did I want to marry Darcy?"
"...The second you got bored with me."
I don't respond, but I don't let myself look weak. I'm steel. He's not winning this. We're going to be together, and that's all I care about right now. He needs to know that.
"...I still don't understand how it ended up on your finger, Meg...There's only one way it could've--"
"One way? Really?"
I do what I thought I wouldn't do today, but I do.
I strip.
My shirt's off, and Spencer yelps. The bruises are darker now, everything gets worse before it gets better, I suppose. I was right about the wound opening again, the gauze is falling off, and it's bleeding again, blood running down the valley between my breasts (clothed, mind you). Looking at them, he's pale. He looks like he's going to be sick, but he doesn't move to help me.
He's promised to protect me before, and he failed again. He knows that.
"...He...he did that?" he asks.
I nod. "That's how it got on my finger," I whisper. "And I want it off."
He doesn't look at me again, just grips the couch with white knuckles. "Maybe it's supposed to be on there. Everything happens for a reason, right?"
"...Spencer?"
"Remember when you were just getting good at English? You told me about string theory, how cool you thought it was, but you didn't believe in it." He laughs darkly. "That was a good conversation...with a good little girl. It was the first time I got a look at your intelligence outside of the foreign language. I understood how to teach you better. You were a very smart girl for having no schooling."
"...I used to steal books from the Vicomte's library...his servant would bring them to me, and we'd trade every week. When I wasn't dancing, I was reading."
"The point is, Meg, you don't believe in string theory...but it's a theory. It can't be proven or discharged."
"What are you saying?" I laugh, unsure what else to do. My voice sounds uneasy, even to my ears.
He sighs. "I'm saying maybe we shouldn't speak at all. Maybe our daily excursions are taking up to much time on my dance card." The corner of his mouth perks up and so does mine. His discarded sweater vest--the purple one Derek bought him last year for his birthday--lays discarded on a chair, so I sling it on. A reason to come back, just in case.
"Your dance card, Doctor? Others besides me...not shocking, but I'll gladly battle to the death." I perch myself next to him on the couch, but he doesn't look at me, just at his knees. His white-knuckle grip his holding on tight to his slacks. "But of course...what time will I have to battle when all my time will be consumed by my husband..."
We lock eyes for the first time. "Hello, Doctor Reid," I whisper.
He smiles sadly, eyes distant. "Hello, young Miss."
I blink.
I'm shaking. New York has rainy skies. A jacket is thrown over me, but I'm not sure who it belongs to. I'm in a car with the witch haired woman again. The dark man is gone, and a pale boy is in his place.
The witch-woman--Emily--gestures to him. "Doc-tor Reid," she says. I nod at him.
"Hello, Doctor Reid," I smile. English. I've learned little bits and pieces in my few days here. He smiles awkwardly at me.
"Hello, young Miss."
When I'm back from my memories, I find I'm in his arms.
"I'll fix it," I tell him, and he nods.
"As long as you're safe...just get away...so he can't-can't d-do this again..." he chokes, holding me like I'm some glass doll. I like being held like this, though. I wish he'd do it more often.
It's far better to be treated like breakable glass than a malleable emerald.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEMY'S POV MADAFAKAS
"I don't know," I mumbled.
Later that day, Ness and I were hanging out in my apartment, she lying on the bed, while I was sprawled out on the floor with Rose purring on my stomach.
"What will she tell Reid..." Nessa sighed. We'd been discussing Meg for quite some time. She'd just been so out of sorts earlier, which was understandable with the situation, but she still didn't seem like herself... "I mean, I know he already knows, but..."
"Yeah... I have no clue what she's going to tell him..." I replied, petting Rose's soft fur. Meg... Another thing I'd noticed today... Cuts and bruises peeking out of her fully black attire. A thought poked at the back of my mind, telling me that the sudden engagement and her getting hurt was connected somehow. But that couldn't be it... She probably just...fell... Or something...
I sighed, done with thinking about this. It would do no good and would just worry me. It was best for Meg to tell us everything first. I stood up, tossing Rose to Nessa. "Catch."
"With what!?" she screamed, the cat suddenly on her face. Rose picked herself up and scampered off to her food bowl. Nessa glared up at me. "You're a real bastard, you know that?"
"I take offense to that," I snapped jokingly, grinning. It was true after all...
I plopped down next to her on the bed and she sat up. I smirked. "Just think of it this way: soon you'll be able to catch however many cats I throw at you."
She blinked. "How many cats do you intend to throw at me...?"
"Who cares! You could catch 'em!" I laughed.
Nessa cast her gaze downward, a nervous look flashing across her face.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Don't be so worried about it, okay? You're going to get automail and it will be freaking awesome," I exclaimed.
I little grin appeared on her face. "Yeah..." A hint of anxiety could still be detected in her voice.
I smiled at her again, then glanced at the clock on my phone. Date tiiiimmee~~
I hopped off the bed and motioned for Ness to follow me over to the door.
"Date with Vic?" she asked, walking over to me.
"Heck yeah!" I shouted, fistpumping. I'm very feminine, in case you couldn't tell.
She gave me a calm down look and said, "Don't get too excited. For all you know, he may have an automail penis."
I stared at her. "What the hell, dude...?"
She giggled. "Ah, I'm kidding," she said. "Maybe."
This chick creeps me out... But that's why we love her.
---
After getting Nessa safely home and going to Vic's apartment as fast as humanly freaking possible, I knocked on the door. I tried not to make my knocking sound too eager, but I was. It was just...the thought of him made me want to just go crazy. He was like an addiction. The good kind.
The door opened and I was greeted with Vic's warm, welcoming smile. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," I echoed, stepping into the apartment. He shut the door, then came up and hugged me from behind. "Hey!" I exclaimed, a bit startled.
"Hey," he repeated. Yup. Pretty sure there was an echo in here. He lifted me off the ground, his strong arms wrapped around my abdomen, and carried me over to the couch, where he dropped me. I landed lying down and he kneeled beside me, his face mere inches from mine. Placing my hand behind his head, I pulled him in closer, pressing our lips together. He stood, not separating our lips, and sat next to me on the couch. I pulled him in as close as I could. He didn't object in the slightest.
This... This was just...amazing... This feeling of longing, being slightly snuffed out by each kiss, but then coming back more intensely than before. The feeling of being longed for. For him to look at me like I was special, something of worth. Not the way people would look down at me as they passed me on the street. Not the depraved way men would look at me when they were in the mood. Just him, with eyes that say I'm wanted... I couldn't ask for more.
"Vic..." I whispered, then took a deep breath. Tears formed at the rim of my eyes, which I quickly blinked away. He ran his hand through my hair and smiled. That smile that could only comfort anyone who saw it. It could warm anyone's heart.
"You're so beautiful," he said softly in my ear. A chill ran through me as I planted a more modest kiss on his cheek. His fingered intertwined with mine as he looked into my eyes. His eyes were so beautiful... I leaned forward, placing our lips just slightly apart.
There was a knock at the door.
I paused for a moment, then Vic glanced behind him at the door. He stood and walked over, opening it. Al walked through the door, then was stopped by Vic.
"The door was unlocked," Vic said with a hint if bitterness and anger. "It's always unlocked."
Al glanced over at me, realizing what Vic was so upset about. "Ah! I'm sorry!" he apologized frantically, then headed quickly to a different room. Before he could get through a door, Vic stopped him again.
"Well, while you're here, I might as well start dinner," Vic said, stepping into the kitchen. Al and I followed him and sat down at the kitchen table. Vic dug around in the cabinets, apparently not having planned ahead, not that I minded. It was enough to just be here with him.
"I-I'm sorry..." Al mumbled to me again, his face turning red. Gosh, he's just so adorable...
"It's fine," I laughed.
Vic grabbed a box from the cabinet, then turned to me. "Do you like spaghetti?" he asked. I nodded. "Spaghetti it is, then." He started boiling water in a pot on the small gas stove. He poured a can of tomato sauce into a pan and started heating it on the other burner. "Just so you know, if I wasn't pressed for time, I would be making this from scratch," he said, slightly boastful, but also in a joking manor.
"Someone's cocky," I laughed.
"Try living with him," Al mumbled, which earned him a slap on the head with a plastic ladle by Vic.
"One more word and I'm kicking you out," Vic said seriously, then winked and laughed.
The conversation made time go by quickly, and it seemed like just a couple of minutes before the food was done. Al went up to get food and I followed suit, only to be stopped by Vic. He smiled and handed me a plate of food he'd already dished out. I blushed, took the plate, and sat back down. That was so sweet. I mean, it's not like something totally amazing, but still... Very gentleman-like. Huh. A boy being a gentleman to me of all people. Life's funny.
Vic got his own food and sat down across from me. He and Al bowed their heads and said an individual silent prayer. I tried to do the same, but I had no idea what I was doing. I'd only been to church a few times when I was little, and didn't really know exactly how to even pray. I settled for just bowing my head as well and waiting for them.
---
I'm not sure if the spaghetti was amazing, or it was just the fact that Vic made it that made it amazing. Probably the latter.
Vic went to the sink to rinse his plate off, followed by Al. Once Al had done that, he uttered, "Danke," to Vic and went back to his room. I stood to go rinse my plate at the sink. I was once again stopped by Vic.
"I'll do it," he insisted, taking the plate.
"No," I said stubbornly, taking it back. "I will." I turned on the sink.
"Come on, Demy," he said. "You're the guest. Let me do it."
"Nope." I swished water around the plate.
"Demy..." he scolded playfully.
"What?" I said, shrugging, and accidentally moving the plate as well. All of the water splashed onto Vic.
I stifled laughter. "I'm sorry!" I exclaimed. He grinned and shook his head.
"Okay. I'll keep in mind to let you do things yourself from now on..." he laughed, ruffling his hair. "I'm gonna go change..."
"Okedoke," I giggled, going back over to the couch as he walked in his room. I sighed. "Ah... Way to go, Demy. Find a guy that likes you. Spill water on him. See how that works." I had to admit it was funny though... And Vic didn't seem mad, so what was the harm? We were both having fun.
"And maybe a little warning next time, okay?" Vic laughed as he walked out of his room a couple minutes later. He had changed into a tee shirt and shorts that went to his knees.
Or... Oh my gosh.... He... How did I not know? Why didn't he tell me? Oh my gosh... I couldn't believe it. I stared speechlessly.
Vic followed my gaze down to his legs. "Oh," he said. "My automail?" He smiled, as if my reaction amused him. But who wouldn't be stunned about something like this?
Vic came over to me on the couch. Gosh... Seeing him walk was a totally different thing now... Knowing he was being supported by prosthetics instead of his own legs...
He sat down next to me, leaning his elbows on his metal knees. "Surprised?" he asked casually, while I was still practically going insane.
"Oh my gosh..." I mumbled. "I didn't even know..." I stared in disbelief a moment longer. You'd think something like this wouldn't even phase me. I mean, I have a fried who's missing both arms for crying out loud! Maybe it was the fact that Vic never told me... Or that I was curious as to... "How did...?"
"Car accident," he supplied with a shrug. "My own fault, really. I was 17, stupid, and reckless." He faced me, grinning. "But, still, I don't really mind." So that must be why he started making automail. To help other people like him.
"Vic..." I whispered, glancing back to his automail.
He grabbed me by the shoulders, looking in my eyes. "Hey, stop that," he said. "It's not like I'm helpless. Stop looking at me like it."
I glanced back up at him and mirrored his smile. "Okay..."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NESSA'S POV
I barely touched my breakfast and my clothes became eerily similar to Penny's.
The world seemed so much clearer and the the sky seemed somehow brighter.
Today was ........the most amazing thing that had happened in awhile.
Al and I had plans to visit a theater and have lunch before I went in to get fitted for the automail.
He called it his way of prepping me for it. Vic had warned me it would hurt like hell to get attached, and no matter how much anesthesia they gave me, it wouldn't help. There was no avoiding it.
My thoughts were that it couldn't be any worse than getting my arms cut off.
Beth finished applying my light makeup and I glanced at myself in the mirror.
Pale almost translucent skin, ugly brown eyes the color of shit, a too wide nose for my face , and thin pinched lips.
My body was too short for someone my age and I had no sort of curve on me. I was a walking stick. My bones were visible underneath my skin and my untamable hair fell to the middle of my back.
I stood up and Beth followed me down the stairs.
Dad was away on a consult soe an Jack stayed at Beth's tiny apartment.
All the damage from the last time I had stayed here was repaired.
Jack was currently waiting at the door for Al and he looked impatient.
I sat down on her couch and flipped the tv to a criminal minds episode.
Mauve kinda annoyed me and I guess she was meant to be a sorta Meg.
But everyone knew that Meg was Reid's even if they weren't engaged or married.
Soon the doorbell rang and Javk jumped up and flew over there to answer it.
"Nessie, it's Al!"
He flung the door open an Al jumped to avoid being hit by it.
I smiled and he flashed a bright smile back.
He scooped Jack up and kicked the door closed behind him.
I smiled and he flashed a bright smile back.
He scooped Jack up and kicked the door closed behind him.
"So how is my favorite little man today?"
Jack smiled and started blabbering animatedly at him.
In Al's defense he took it and didn't appear unattentive for one moment of it.
When fifteen minutes of one sided conversation had passed, Al sat him down and helped me to my feet.
"By little man."
"Bye runt."
We said goodbye and Beth came downstairs.
"Goodbye Alfons. Bye Ness."
She patted us on the back and she waddled of to the living room with a hand on her distended stomach.
We walked out and Al helped me into Vic's big ass Jeep.
He buckled me in and his fingers left ghost heat on my skin.
He hastened to his side and I attempted to lose the blush that had formed like wildfire on my cheeks.
He climbed in and the Jeep growled to life. It spit and snarled and it sounded to wild to belong to Al.
We hit the interstate and his hound found purchase on my thigh.
"So are you ready for the operation? Or the rehab after?"
"Not really, but it........it needs to be done. Not just for me but for everyone."
Meg, Demy, dad, Beth.....etc. all of whom have up their time to help me. Even if the first two weren't so present these days.
All bad suffered for me and the time for suffering was over.
My ears perked up as my new favorite song played on the pop radio that Al had mindlessly turned it to.
I hummed and grew into the beat.
I bopped my head and he smiled at me.
"Eyes on the road!"
He chuckled and stared at me again.
"I won't crash."
As if to prove my point he swerved over the middle line and I leaned back into my seat.
"GOD AL!! FOCUS ON THE ROAD!!"
He speed up and suddenly a car attempted to merge with our lane an Al slammed the break to avoid us becoming a road cake.
He flung a arm out in front of me and I got flub forward and then back into my seat.
After our driving adventure we arrived at our play.
"So what are we seeing?"
"The King and I."
We walked up to the ticket counter and Al motioned for the lady.
"Tickets for Hiedrich please."
She riffled through the pile and she looked up puzzled.
"I'm sorry sir. It appears we accidentally sold those tickets. Your showing was earlier and when you didn't show up we sold them."
Al stared at her with big eyes and I hastened to his side.
"It's fine Al. We can go do seething else before dinner."
"Butttt...."
He stared at me and I saw how sad he was so I slipped forward an he automatically wrapped his arms around me.
He sighed and his head laid on the top of mine.
"It was supposed to be a special thing."
He whined and I stared up at him smiling.
"And I'm sure we will find something else to do."
He nodded and we headed back to the Jeep. He trudged and I resisted the urge to tell him to pick up his feet.
We loaded back up and he headed back to the center of town.
He glanced at me and suddenly spoke up.
"What haven't you done in awhile?"
I thought. Many things I hadn't done in awhile because of the lack of arms, but there were still many things to do.
"How about..............we just go to lunch? I'm fine with just spending the time chatting."
He nodded and we drove for the next 15 minutes.
When I finally began to think we were there he pulled over at a precipice.
He climbed out and lifted me out of the jeep by my waist.
He pulled my waist and soon he had found us a seat on the ledge. The view was of Quantico spread out beneath us. The town looked like a multicolored jigsaw puzzle from up here and it was gorgeous.
He pulled me up against him and I leaned my head on the bony crook of his shoulder.
He leaned his head on mine and we sat there for what felt like hours basking in each others company. Conversation was stilted and silence consumed us.
Or at least it did. Until Al's phone decided to ring.
He grinned sheepishly and answered the phone.
"Vic, man I love you, but I swear I'm going to kill you."
I could hear Vi casually chatting on the other end and the loud laughs that belonged to Demy.
"Tell Dem-Dem to remember our conversation about automail. And to find out if it is true."
I could hear Demy shut up and she implored Vic to hang up and to leave us alone for know.
Al laughed when they hung up and he pulled me back against his side.
I tilted my head up and admired his face in the strong light of mid afternoon.
His face was delicate and almost feminine.
Suddenly a warm hand encompassed my cheek and brought it close to his face.
We leaned our foreheads together and suddenly his lips met mine in a light yet intense kiss.
It couldn't have lasted more than 10 seconds but they were the best 10 seconds of my life.
He leaned back and a tiny smile crossed his face.
"Wow, that was .......awesome!"
He let loose a full on smile and and couldn't help but smile back.
We departed after the kiss and we ended up back at Vic's.
Vic took me hostage and took measurements of parts of my shoulders I didn't even know that I had.
But in the end he showed me a model of the prosthetics he was making.
They wouldn't quite match my skin time but that could be worked around.
At the end he pronounced me ready for the surgery and he set the date for a week from today.
One week till salvation, or possible damnation.
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MEG'S POV
Vic likes to laugh at me. And laugh he does, and often. However, today he doesn't laugh when I tell him about the predicament I've found myself in. We're sitting on the couch in he and Al's apartment, and I don't think I've ever seen him so...awkward. I blame myself for that, obviously. I'm sure he was having a fine day, sexual escapades with my best friend and all that, but honestly, I guess I'm just ruining moods over here.
"Meg..." he whispered, looking away from me. Again, he's not the one at fault. "Meg, I don't know what to say..."
"You don't need to say anything," I sigh, wrapping my arms around him. "I just wanted you to listen. So, thanks."
His eyes raked over me, trying to judge if I'm okay or not.
"Meg...maybe you did want me to say something?" he asked, eyes skeptical. I raised my eyebrows. Really? Maybe...Maybe I did...
Vic runs his hands over his jeans, rubbing the sweat off them. "Meg...I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say, but--"
"I'll get him the truth as soon as possible," I whispered hoarsely. "I promise."
Vic nodded at me, then rises, and stalks off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NESSA'S POV
My lips tingled and I couldn't help but lick them.
Al's taste lingered on them and it was faintly disorienting.
He had driven me home from the fitting and we had shared one other quick peck on the lips before he had left. No rushing. Just a simple peck on the lips that had quenched some internal fire I hadn't known was blazing.
We had talked on the phone and he had spent more nights talking with Dad and Beth.
They had given him, I wouldn't call it their blessing but it was as close to letting me date him that they would go right now.
The surgery was tomorrow and suddenly nothing was vaguely appetizing and nothing could lift me out of this funk.
I was severally worried about this operation and nothing Al or anyone could say would convince me this would go fine.
I continued to wake up throughout the night and my stomach rumbled from the food I wasn't allowed to eat for 12 hours beforehand.
---------------
I woke up and Beth slipped in and dressed me in simple sweatpants and a tank top. Clothes that were easy to slip off to change into a hospital robe.
I padded down the stairs slowly and dad appeared out of no where. He gave me a small smile and a warm hug from him. Jack grabbed at me next and Beth pulled me into a loose hug from around her stomach. It proceeded her into a room and it lugged her out.
Dad pulled me out to the car and he lifted and strapped me in for what may be the last time.
His fingers ran feather light and it surprised me how sorrowful he looked.
He seemed to be just as depressed as I was and I thought I knew why.
The reason he had adopted me in the first place was because he had been the one to rescue me after my abduction in DC.
He had felt pity for me and he had adopted me on a whim.
I had been with him through so much.
Hailey's death, the attack on dad by Foyet, and the countless other things that had befallen dad.
But I had been an invalid for it and he had been my protector.
His thoughts would be what would happen next.
Would I leave him now that they were no longer neccasery?
would I ditch them now that I was self sufficient?
No.
How could I?
They had done everything for me.
So I tangled in my thoughts was I that I didn't even notice we had pulled into the surgery ward of the hospital.
Vic stood waiting for us out front and he stood ready in his scrubs.
His signature grin stood attached to his face and he waved as we pulled in.
I nodded my head and he stepped forward to help me out.
"so are you ready?"
I nodded and his smile widened.
He rushed me thought the waiting room and back to a room.
He left for a minute as a bland female nurse slipped me into a hospital gown and brushed my hair back into a high ponytail with a rubber band.
She took my vitals and Vic rushed back into the room.
He looked like a kid getting his favorite candy and I realized that this was what he loved to do most. It wasn't just a job for him.
He showed me the finished automail and I admired how lifelike it was.
Nothing like my old prosthesis.
He fitted it against my shoulders and he gave the nurse some general directions.
He slipped out of the room again and she fit a morphine drip into my waist and she placed a anesthesia mask over my face.
She counted down from,
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1............and I was out.
-----------------------
Pain, coursed through my sides.
Heat blistered and bubbled at the surface.
My shoulders felt as if they were being ripped apart again and I bit my lips together.
My shoulders felt as if hammers were hitting each little nerve a million times and then ripping them out.
----------
Pain washed through me in a fresh second wave and this time I had to let a scream bubble out.
I screamed until my lungs ran raw and felt as if they were shredded.
Getting my arms cut off was painful but this ripped up the years of scar tissue I had accumulated.
--------
My shoulders stayed aflame but the anesthesia was beginning to wear off.
My eyes jerked open and the world was a tumbling mass around me.
Warm hands gripped my sides and I lurched forward even more.
The bland nurse from earlier pushed me back down and whispered a few words I couldn't hope to understand.
Another mask was shoved on my face and she didn't even bother to count down again.
-----------
My face was a mask of sweat and sticky tears.
My shoulders hurt and I strained to lift the automail up again.
It began to grow heavier and I grew weary of picking up the pencil again.
The physical therapist behind me patted me on the back and had me write my name again.
Thick sloppy letters covered the page and I glared at the lines I was supposed to be writing on.
My thin cursive I had written as a child was annilated.
I was left with the sloppy block letters of a preschooler.
But with only three weeks of practice down, she said any improvement was good.
I struggled through my name once more and looked down.
It was sloppily printed, but it was between the lines.
-----------
I gripped the pen tighter and my cursive slipped out of it.
It wasn't nearly as neat as I remembered but at least my recuperation wasn't taking too long.
It had only been 7 weeks since the surgery and my ability to do small tasks such as this was improving immensely.
I could do basic things such as writing and such.
Complex tasks such as dressing a doll or cooking were beyond me.
"Good work today Ness."
My therapist patted me on the back and she glided out of the small work room.
I stood up and flexed the auto mail in front of me.
It had quit wearing me down and I could lift it with ease.
I walked out of the room and waiting for me was a mass of tall and blond.
Al.............
He glided forward and he pecked me on the forehead.
I reached out and laced my hand into his.
I smiled at the contact and he smiled back.
We glided out of the building and he opened the door to the Jeep for me.
I hoisted myself in and buckled up.
He climbed in after me and I pushed down lightly on the gas.
Al had been teaching me how to drive and I had just gotten my license from the BMW.
We pulled off and he distracted me by lightly tickling my side.
I squirmed and fidgeted and he laughed at my discomfort.
"Bastard."
He laughed even harder and I stomped the brakes.
He flew forward in his seat and groaned.
"serves you right."
I grinned and continued driving back to my place.
We sone arrived and he opened the door for me again.
I nodded my head and we tramped up to my room.
I flicked the light on and he grabbed the hot chocolate we had picked up on the way home.
I flicked the movie we had been watching on and he pulled me onto his lap.
He petted my hair and I played with the pads of rough skin on his fingertips.
I suddenly became aware of how close we were and I twisted till I was facing him.
I landed forward and caught his lips in a gentle kiss. He responded and it lasted for only a few seconds.
He gently broke us apart and I turned till my head was back on his lap.
He pushed a pillow under my head and I nodded off rather fast.
One thought rang through my mind.
I could live with this.
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Meg's POV
"Darcy?" I groaned, throwing another box across the room.
"Meg, whoa--" Darcy stepped back to avoid getting a heel to the face. "What's going on?"
"Have you seen my ballet shoes? I wore them from France to here, and I can't find them!"
"The ratty ones you always wear?" he asked, plopping down on the bed. I glared.
"Yes," I mumbled monotonously. "The ratty ones I always wear. They're white, but look kinda vanilla cause..."
"Because they're ratty," Darcy finished, a smirk firmly in place.
"Har, har," I groaned, coming up to sit next to him.
"Will," I mumbled, letting my head fall into his lap. "I'm tired..."
"It's all the planning we've started," he mumbled stroking my long hair. "It's alright. We'll get through it. You always do. You're always so strong." He rose and stalked out. I pulled back my shirtsleeve to touch a yellowing bruise on my forearm.
"You really have no idea, do you?" I whispered,"William?"
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