Giles looked up at the house with a shrug. It was small compared to most of the estates held my Council families. "Thank you," he said, getting out of the car. He jogged around to her side and opened the door for her before fetching Molly out of the back seat. "Lets get you to the back garden so you can run." Taking Fred's hand, he took Molly and her behind the house and let Molly go in the fenced area before taking Fred inside the house's back door.
"My mother is going to love you," Giles said to Fred before they started for the parlour. When they got there, an elderly grinned at them and stood up, with some help from a cane.
"Rupert!" She said, coming over to them. She pulled Giles into a hug and then looked at Fred. "You must be Winifred. It's nice to meet you dear. I'm Helen Giles." She eyed Fred and smiled again. "You are a picture of beauty and I bet you're a bit more classy than that heathen Rupert dated a few years back. What was her name?" Giles just stared at his mother for a moment. "Oh, it was Olivia. Left me poor boy when she found out what he did for a living."
"Mother…"
"Come along dear," Helen said as she took Fred's hand and ignored Giles' protests. "Come have a spot of tea with me." Helen looked over at Giles and waved him off. "Your father wants to speak to you privately. Winifred is in good hands. Now dear, I want to know everything about you and perhaps I'll even share a few stories about Rupert. Like how he used to carry a doll around when was three. Even taught himself how to change its nappies!"
"Mother!" Giles cried, his face going red. He didn't know if he wanted to leave Fred there alone. It was hard telling what else his mother would tell her.
"Your father is waiting, young man," Helen said with a scowl.
"I'll be back in a bit," Giles quietly said before leaving the parlour and walking down the long foyer to his father's study.
Fred felt herself blushing at the way Rupert's mother started gushing when he introduced him, having definitely not expected this kind of greeting. She actually hadn't been sure what kind of greeting she was going to get, but this had certainly not been it, especially when Helen took her hand and pulled her over toward the other side of the parlor while waving Rupert off to go speak to his father.
She felt like she had met her match when it came to talking. She hadn't even gotten a chance to say anything, and already she had learned something about Rupert she hadn't even known. She looked over at Rupert with wide eyes, seeing his embarrassment at having been outed as playing with a doll as a toddler. She tried to give him an understanding smile, but wasn't sure if he saw before his mother finally managed to get him out of the room.
"Good, good, now that we're alone, we have plenty of time to talk," Helen told her with a smile, leading her over to the table that had been set up with a tea set and a small plate of cookies. "Here now, sit down and I'll pour you a bit of tea, and we'll have some biscuits. Do you take milk and sugar?"
Fred nodded as she sat down, noticing Helen trying to balance on her cane as she picked up the teapot to pour. "Oh, please, let me do that for you," she said, reaching out to the pot.
"Thank you, love. That's very kind of you," she responded and handed the pot over before sitting down while Fred poured. "I understand that you're from Texas, and you're working for the Council with Rupert now. Tell me more about yourself - how you got into this life, how you and Rupert met, everything."
Fred chuckled a bit under her breath, not sure if his mother really wanted to hear how they had spent the entire first evening they meant flirting with each other before finally kissing the next day and making love at her son's home. "Well, how I got here is a pretty long story if you don't mind listening to me talk for about three million hours, but I'll be glad to tell you."
After pouring some milk and putting some sugar in their tea, Fred began telling her about herself, starting a bit with growing up in Texas and going from there.
When Giles came upon the door to his father's study, he saw it was cracked open so he stepped inside. His father was polishing one of the rail cars that belong to one of his train sets. It was something Richard Giles had picked up during his last years at the Council. "Mother said you wanted to speak with me?"
"Ah, yes, how was the trip?" Giles told him it went well and Richard nodded. "I do suppose you left Winifred with your mother. Poor girl will have her ear chatted by the time we get there."
"Oh, Fred's a bit of a talker also," Giles said with a smile. "I'm sure she can hold her own with mum."
Richard nodded and went to the window of the study and looked out it. "How are things with the Council? The board giving you anymore trouble?" Giles stood by his father and told him the latest happenings with the Council, including the bit about the demon. "Typical." Both men took off their glasses and cleaned them. "Probably Quentin or Roger's doing. You should look into it more."
"I will."
"Now, onto more important matters," Richard said as he took an envelope out of his breast pocket. He handed it to Giles and smiled. "It's an early wedding present."
Giles furrowed his brow and opened it. Inside was the papers to a house. "I don't understand," he said, looking over at his father.
"The Wilsons were selling their house in London and I thought it would be the perfect wedding gift for Winifred and you. Your mother and I spent the first three years of our marriage in a crowded flat with a baby. I certainly don't want the same for the two of you," Richard said. Giles smiled and gave his father a quick hug. "We should get to the parlour before your mother embarrasses you too much."
Giles nodded and followed his father to the parlour in time to see his mother showing Fred some pictures. "Dear lord," he muttered as he started to blush again.
Fred told Helen a truncated story about her life, leaving out most of the gory details of her time in Pylea and the time she had spent in Los Angeles with Angel Investigations. What she did tell her, however, was enough to make her understand what she had been through.
"Oh, dear," Helen said. "You're so young to have been through so much. No wonder Rupert's so taken with you - you're obviously very strong and very smart to have lived through all that. I always thought that he deserved an equal in his life. Olivia most definitely wasn't that by any stretch of the imagination. I think he's finally found it in you."
Fred found herself blushing again. "Thank you. I definitely know I've found what I was looking for in your son."
"He's a good one, my Rupert. Always so bright and intelligent - knew from the time he was a tot that he'd do great things. Sometimes it's hard to believe that he was young so long ago now." Turning, Helen leaned over and picked up an album, placing it on the table so both of them could see it and opening it up. "Here he is when he was a baby. And with his doll - didn't go anywhere without that for so long."
She was flipping through the pictures and talking about each one when an older man came in with Rupert behind them. Fred looked up and smiled. "Your mother was just showing me some pictures from when you were a child," she told him, standing up. "Is this your father?"
"Richard Giles," Richard said, going over to shake Fred's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Winifred."
"Isn't she lovely, Richard? By far the prettiest Rupert has brought home," Helen said with a smile. She turned to Rupert and looked him over. "Did your father give you the gift?" Giles nodded. "Well, then show it to your wife-to-be!"
"My parents got us a house in London," Giles said as he looked at Fred. "As a wedding present."
"It's a nice house too," Helen said. "Enough room to have children. Would be quite nice to have a grandchild or two before I pass on."
One of the staff peeked into the parlour and said lunch was ready. Richard and Helen went ahead while Giles took Fred's hand. "I told you that they would love you," he said, leaning forward to give her a soft kiss. He pulled back and held his arm out so she could take it.
Giles then led her to the dining room and pulled a chair out for her. His mother had outdid herself with the meal as he eyed the roast and potatoes. He sat down and poured some water for Fred, skipping the wine since they still had to drive to Bath.
"Eat up dears and what you don't eat, you can take to the other house with you," Helen said as she passed the meat platter to Giles.
Fred's eyes widened when Rupert told her what his parents had done for them, and she looked from him to her soon-to-be in-laws in amazement. "That's...that's so generous and...amazing. I never--thank you so much," she managed to say, hoping as well that they'd be able to give Richard and Helen grandchildren as well in time for them to enjoy them. She knew her own parents would be around for quite a while yet, but Rupert's parents were older.
She smiled up at Rupert after he took her hand and kissed her. "Your parents are wonderful," she whispered to him before she tucked her arm into his.
When she saw what they had prepared for lunch, she was very glad that she had taken Rupert's advice and skipped breakfast that morning. As he served each of them a few slices of the roast beef, she took the potatoes from Richard and spooned some onto both their plates before passing it back with a smile. Richard then passed her a bowl with some oddly shaped...muffins? biscuits? She couldn't figure out what they were.
"These are Yorkshire puddings," Richard told her, apparently seeing her look of confusion. "But not a pudding like you would think. These are a bit like your American popovers."
"Never heard of them before," she said, taking one of the puddings and passing the bowl onto Rupert.
"I'm sure you'll discover several new foods while you're here. I would, however, recommend staying away from haggis if you're ever offered."
The lunch was wonderful, and Helen continued to talk about talking about things, telling Fred about Rupert and what he had been like as a child and offering advice for their wedding plans. It was easy to see that Helen absolutely dotted on her son. Richard didn't say quite as much, but he obviously cared just as much about his son and adored his wife.
"You two really should ring Sarah Jane while you're in Bath. She's absolutely marvelous when it comes to helping planning events and could probably take care of most everything you need since I'm sure you'll both have your hands full with the Council," Helen said. "Remind me, and I'll get her number before you leave."
"Thank you," Fred responded, looking over at Rupert with a smile.
"My mother is going to love you," Giles said to Fred before they started for the parlour. When they got there, an elderly grinned at them and stood up, with some help from a cane.
"Rupert!" She said, coming over to them. She pulled Giles into a hug and then looked at Fred. "You must be Winifred. It's nice to meet you dear. I'm Helen Giles." She eyed Fred and smiled again. "You are a picture of beauty and I bet you're a bit more classy than that heathen Rupert dated a few years back. What was her name?" Giles just stared at his mother for a moment. "Oh, it was Olivia. Left me poor boy when she found out what he did for a living."
"Mother…"
"Come along dear," Helen said as she took Fred's hand and ignored Giles' protests. "Come have a spot of tea with me." Helen looked over at Giles and waved him off. "Your father wants to speak to you privately. Winifred is in good hands. Now dear, I want to know everything about you and perhaps I'll even share a few stories about Rupert. Like how he used to carry a doll around when was three. Even taught himself how to change its nappies!"
"Mother!" Giles cried, his face going red. He didn't know if he wanted to leave Fred there alone. It was hard telling what else his mother would tell her.
"Your father is waiting, young man," Helen said with a scowl.
"I'll be back in a bit," Giles quietly said before leaving the parlour and walking down the long foyer to his father's study.
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She felt like she had met her match when it came to talking. She hadn't even gotten a chance to say anything, and already she had learned something about Rupert she hadn't even known. She looked over at Rupert with wide eyes, seeing his embarrassment at having been outed as playing with a doll as a toddler. She tried to give him an understanding smile, but wasn't sure if he saw before his mother finally managed to get him out of the room.
"Good, good, now that we're alone, we have plenty of time to talk," Helen told her with a smile, leading her over to the table that had been set up with a tea set and a small plate of cookies. "Here now, sit down and I'll pour you a bit of tea, and we'll have some biscuits. Do you take milk and sugar?"
Fred nodded as she sat down, noticing Helen trying to balance on her cane as she picked up the teapot to pour. "Oh, please, let me do that for you," she said, reaching out to the pot.
"Thank you, love. That's very kind of you," she responded and handed the pot over before sitting down while Fred poured. "I understand that you're from Texas, and you're working for the Council with Rupert now. Tell me more about yourself - how you got into this life, how you and Rupert met, everything."
Fred chuckled a bit under her breath, not sure if his mother really wanted to hear how they had spent the entire first evening they meant flirting with each other before finally kissing the next day and making love at her son's home. "Well, how I got here is a pretty long story if you don't mind listening to me talk for about three million hours, but I'll be glad to tell you."
After pouring some milk and putting some sugar in their tea, Fred began telling her about herself, starting a bit with growing up in Texas and going from there.
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"Ah, yes, how was the trip?" Giles told him it went well and Richard nodded. "I do suppose you left Winifred with your mother. Poor girl will have her ear chatted by the time we get there."
"Oh, Fred's a bit of a talker also," Giles said with a smile. "I'm sure she can hold her own with mum."
Richard nodded and went to the window of the study and looked out it. "How are things with the Council? The board giving you anymore trouble?" Giles stood by his father and told him the latest happenings with the Council, including the bit about the demon. "Typical." Both men took off their glasses and cleaned them. "Probably Quentin or Roger's doing. You should look into it more."
"I will."
"Now, onto more important matters," Richard said as he took an envelope out of his breast pocket. He handed it to Giles and smiled. "It's an early wedding present."
Giles furrowed his brow and opened it. Inside was the papers to a house. "I don't understand," he said, looking over at his father.
"The Wilsons were selling their house in London and I thought it would be the perfect wedding gift for Winifred and you. Your mother and I spent the first three years of our marriage in a crowded flat with a baby. I certainly don't want the same for the two of you," Richard said. Giles smiled and gave his father a quick hug. "We should get to the parlour before your mother embarrasses you too much."
Giles nodded and followed his father to the parlour in time to see his mother showing Fred some pictures. "Dear lord," he muttered as he started to blush again.
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"Oh, dear," Helen said. "You're so young to have been through so much. No wonder Rupert's so taken with you - you're obviously very strong and very smart to have lived through all that. I always thought that he deserved an equal in his life. Olivia most definitely wasn't that by any stretch of the imagination. I think he's finally found it in you."
Fred found herself blushing again. "Thank you. I definitely know I've found what I was looking for in your son."
"He's a good one, my Rupert. Always so bright and intelligent - knew from the time he was a tot that he'd do great things. Sometimes it's hard to believe that he was young so long ago now." Turning, Helen leaned over and picked up an album, placing it on the table so both of them could see it and opening it up. "Here he is when he was a baby. And with his doll - didn't go anywhere without that for so long."
She was flipping through the pictures and talking about each one when an older man came in with Rupert behind them. Fred looked up and smiled. "Your mother was just showing me some pictures from when you were a child," she told him, standing up. "Is this your father?"
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"Isn't she lovely, Richard? By far the prettiest Rupert has brought home," Helen said with a smile. She turned to Rupert and looked him over. "Did your father give you the gift?" Giles nodded. "Well, then show it to your wife-to-be!"
"My parents got us a house in London," Giles said as he looked at Fred. "As a wedding present."
"It's a nice house too," Helen said. "Enough room to have children. Would be quite nice to have a grandchild or two before I pass on."
One of the staff peeked into the parlour and said lunch was ready. Richard and Helen went ahead while Giles took Fred's hand. "I told you that they would love you," he said, leaning forward to give her a soft kiss. He pulled back and held his arm out so she could take it.
Giles then led her to the dining room and pulled a chair out for her. His mother had outdid herself with the meal as he eyed the roast and potatoes. He sat down and poured some water for Fred, skipping the wine since they still had to drive to Bath.
"Eat up dears and what you don't eat, you can take to the other house with you," Helen said as she passed the meat platter to Giles.
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She smiled up at Rupert after he took her hand and kissed her. "Your parents are wonderful," she whispered to him before she tucked her arm into his.
When she saw what they had prepared for lunch, she was very glad that she had taken Rupert's advice and skipped breakfast that morning. As he served each of them a few slices of the roast beef, she took the potatoes from Richard and spooned some onto both their plates before passing it back with a smile. Richard then passed her a bowl with some oddly shaped...muffins? biscuits? She couldn't figure out what they were.
"These are Yorkshire puddings," Richard told her, apparently seeing her look of confusion. "But not a pudding like you would think. These are a bit like your American popovers."
"Never heard of them before," she said, taking one of the puddings and passing the bowl onto Rupert.
"I'm sure you'll discover several new foods while you're here. I would, however, recommend staying away from haggis if you're ever offered."
The lunch was wonderful, and Helen continued to talk about talking about things, telling Fred about Rupert and what he had been like as a child and offering advice for their wedding plans. It was easy to see that Helen absolutely dotted on her son. Richard didn't say quite as much, but he obviously cared just as much about his son and adored his wife.
"You two really should ring Sarah Jane while you're in Bath. She's absolutely marvelous when it comes to helping planning events and could probably take care of most everything you need since I'm sure you'll both have your hands full with the Council," Helen said. "Remind me, and I'll get her number before you leave."
"Thank you," Fred responded, looking over at Rupert with a smile.
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