Apple Pie 22 & Watermelon 12
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Apple Pie 22 (homesick) & Watermelon 12 (just like mother used to make)
Toppings &Extras: Caramel (superCaramel)
Word Count: 1,583
Rating: PG
Summary: One day, she was there.
Notes:Takes place about ten years after this aka Leigh’s ‘death.’
Will Darcy shooed his son out the front door and pulled it shut behind them. “Dad, you don’t need to walk me to school,” Jackson grumbled, scuffing a foot in the dirt as they set off towards his school.
Will smiled to himself, careful not to let the new thirteen-year-old see. Ever since he’d hit that all important thirteen, he’d been far too cool for his dad in public or around anyone but his unusual extended family. “I’m only walking with you as far as the Rees’. Then you get to walk Molly and Michael to school all by yourself. Maggie, Miles and I have work to do.”
“Is Bex gonna be there?”
“No, you may not stay.”
“That means she is going to be there,” Jackson said and made a face. “I haven’t seen her in two weeks, Dad!” His sister, despite her initial shock, and Jackson had developed a close relationship over the previous almost ten years. In fact, when she was home, his sister still lived with them and Will wasn’t expecting that to change any time soon, the two of them were practically inseparable. He tried not to take it personally.
“And she’ll still be there after school,” Will said absently, rubbing the back of his neck before he realized the hairs there were all standing on end. He knew that feeling well and scanned the area as subtly as he could.
“But I’ll have missed a whole day with her! Why wasn’t she home last night?”
“She’s supposed to get here about lunch and then she’ll be home for a bit.”
“What’s a bit mean?”
Will didn’t answer, his eyes having alighted on a figure on the other side of the morning’s fairly quiet square. They wore a hood that covered their face, only the faintest concept of eyes were visible, but Will somehow knew they were staring right at him and his son. They would have to pass close by the stranger to head to the Rees’ house and the school on the other side of town.
“Who’s that, Dad?” Jackson asked in a quieter tone and Will felt a flash of pride. He had mostly let Jackson enjoy his childhood, much as his parents had, but the boy lived in close proximity with him and Bex, he was bound to pick up things, and a certain awareness seemed to be the first thing all the kids picked up. Even Miles’ twins had it.
“I don’t know.”
The duo continued forward, Jackson stepping a bit closer to his father. When they were halfway there, within easy hailing distance, the figure reached up and pushed the hood back. Will’s step faltered as his feet, heart and brain all fluttered and stopped dead, frozen.
“Dad?” Jackson asked, sounding worried now, but his voice filtered in distantly.
It had been ten years. Ten years and one death. No, one apparently false death. The one little bit of his brain that was still working made a mental note to rip his supposed best friend a new one when he saw him next.
Only now did the figure step forward, gaze darting between Will and Jackson.
“Hello, William.”
His breath left him in one slow exhale. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“I know. I’m not, yet.”
He stared at her. She looked older, but he did a touch of mental math and realized she had to be in her late forties by now. Her brown hair had streaks of grey in it. “How?” he said finally.
“Dad,” Jackson muttered, pressing against his side and reminding Will the boy was still present, “who is that?”
Her gaze sparked with hurt at Jackson’s words.
“Don’t look so hurt,” he said, more harshly than he’d truly intended. “It’s not like you left me a picture to show him when you died.”
She flinched. “It was the right decision for everyone.”
“If it was, why are you here now?”
“Dad,” Jackson said, voice raising an octave even as it cracked, “Dad, who is that?”
Will held her gaze as he answered, putting an arm around his shoulders. As far as he was concerned, she had discharged her rights as a mother when she’d ditched both of them. “Jackson, this is Leigh Parker.”
It was strangely satisfying to watch her cringe, breaking eye contact. He had mourned her for ten years. How dare she just appear out of nowhere like a decade hadn’t happened?
“My…” the thirteen-year-old trailed off, “but how…? Kelly told me she died. You told me she died.”
“I thought she had. Miles told me she did. Fire gone wrong. But apparently we were all wrong.”
“I had to make your choice for you, Will,” she said quietly. “Me or your son.”
“Who said it was your choice to make?”
“You’re head of KIN.”
It wasn’t a question but Will found himself nodding anyway. “Yes.”
Now, she just stared at him, in a way he found both irritating and so very reassuring.
“Miles could have done,” he said, briefly annoyed to find a distinctly defensive tone in his voice. She was the one who should be defensive.
“Not as well and we both know it. I couldn’t force you to make a choice between the job you loved and had practically been born for, that came with your son and me. If the world knew Jackson was my son…”
The thought had occurred to him. Had occurred to him many times while watching Jackson do or say something that was so much his mother. “You let us think you were dead.”
“Would you have let me go otherwise?”
Will opened his mouth and then shut it again as he realized he couldn’t say yes. Even now. Even with as mad as he should be. He couldn’t say yes. “Why have you come back?”
“Things changed.”
“If you’re telling the truth on your reasons for leaving, nothing’s changed, except Jack’s big now.”
Her eyes now moved to her son hesitantly. “Hello, Jackson.”
He pressed a little tighter into Will’s side, something he hadn’t done in years, but offered a tentative smile. “Hi, Mom.”
“What’s changed, Leigh?” Will asked softly, suddenly afraid. If she’d cared about his well-being that much and had made those choices, why in the name of the gods would make her change her mind?
She let out a breath and then burst into a heavy bout of coughing. Will took a step forward in alarm but she held up a hand as she caught her breath. “I couldn’t stay away any longer.” She managed a wry, half-smile, as she wiped tears out of her eyes. “I should have known all that playing with fire would come back to haunt me some day.”
Dread settled in the pit of his stomach. She’d always coughed more than he thought healthy, but never like that. “That’s what’s changed,” he said and then stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug. She stiffened before relaxing into it, clinging to him.
“That’s what’s changed,” she whispered.
“Damnit, Leigh.”
“What’s changed? What is it?” Jackson demanded shrilly, inching over towards them. Will had never been shy about telling the boy who his mother was or how much she’d loved him to give him to Will, to keep him safe.
Will turned to him but Leigh put a hand on his shoulder to stop him and turned to face their son herself. “I’m sure your father’s told you all about me.”
He nodded.
“And you’ve probably learned that inhaling smoke is bad for you.”
He nodded again, lip starting to wobble. Jackson was very, very smart and, for a moment, Will wished he wasn’t.
“Well, I’ve inhaled a lot more than the average person and now I’m sick.”
“You’re really going to die,” the boy said, words barely audible.
Leigh closed her eyes briefly but nodded. “That’s what all the doctors say. It’s gotten into my lungs.”
Jackson threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around his mother for the first time. “You can’t die, you just came back!”
She didn’t respond, hugging her son back tightly. Will watched them, heart rending freshly. Leigh looked up at him. “I know I should have just stayed away. I’ve already made you mourn me once, but…I couldn’t. I couldn’t go without talking to you and making sure you were okay and we were okay.”
He managed a smile somehow. “We are, I promise. How long?”
“Six months, maximum. It depends on how quickly it…takes over.”
“You’ll stay with us,” Jackson said firmly.
“But…”
“No, he’s right. If Bex can’t handle it, she can move in with Miles, Maggie and the kids or she can go stay with Mom and Dad. You need time to get to know Jack.”
“It’s not that. I don’t…want to make you watch…”
“Leigh, we’re family. Jackson’s ours. If he says you’re staying, you’re staying,” Will said and offered his hand, pulling her upright. “Jackson, take her home. I’ll go let Miles know what’s going on.”
The boy nodded, taking his mother’s hand. “C’mon, Mom,” he said and led her off. Leigh looked over her shoulder at Will, eyes bright and glistening. He waved and turned towards the Rees’. They would make this work somehow.
Trailing behind him came Jackson’s surprisingly chipper voice, “You’ve got a burn on your hand.”
“It happens.”
“Dad makes the best burn ointment. He says it’s your recipe.”
Leigh burst out laughing and Will felt himself smile. Yes, it would work somehow.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Apple Pie 22 (homesick) & Watermelon 12 (just like mother used to make)
Toppings &Extras: Caramel (superCaramel)
Word Count: 1,583
Rating: PG
Summary: One day, she was there.
Notes:Takes place about ten years after this aka Leigh’s ‘death.’
Will Darcy shooed his son out the front door and pulled it shut behind them. “Dad, you don’t need to walk me to school,” Jackson grumbled, scuffing a foot in the dirt as they set off towards his school.
Will smiled to himself, careful not to let the new thirteen-year-old see. Ever since he’d hit that all important thirteen, he’d been far too cool for his dad in public or around anyone but his unusual extended family. “I’m only walking with you as far as the Rees’. Then you get to walk Molly and Michael to school all by yourself. Maggie, Miles and I have work to do.”
“Is Bex gonna be there?”
“No, you may not stay.”
“That means she is going to be there,” Jackson said and made a face. “I haven’t seen her in two weeks, Dad!” His sister, despite her initial shock, and Jackson had developed a close relationship over the previous almost ten years. In fact, when she was home, his sister still lived with them and Will wasn’t expecting that to change any time soon, the two of them were practically inseparable. He tried not to take it personally.
“And she’ll still be there after school,” Will said absently, rubbing the back of his neck before he realized the hairs there were all standing on end. He knew that feeling well and scanned the area as subtly as he could.
“But I’ll have missed a whole day with her! Why wasn’t she home last night?”
“She’s supposed to get here about lunch and then she’ll be home for a bit.”
“What’s a bit mean?”
Will didn’t answer, his eyes having alighted on a figure on the other side of the morning’s fairly quiet square. They wore a hood that covered their face, only the faintest concept of eyes were visible, but Will somehow knew they were staring right at him and his son. They would have to pass close by the stranger to head to the Rees’ house and the school on the other side of town.
“Who’s that, Dad?” Jackson asked in a quieter tone and Will felt a flash of pride. He had mostly let Jackson enjoy his childhood, much as his parents had, but the boy lived in close proximity with him and Bex, he was bound to pick up things, and a certain awareness seemed to be the first thing all the kids picked up. Even Miles’ twins had it.
“I don’t know.”
The duo continued forward, Jackson stepping a bit closer to his father. When they were halfway there, within easy hailing distance, the figure reached up and pushed the hood back. Will’s step faltered as his feet, heart and brain all fluttered and stopped dead, frozen.
“Dad?” Jackson asked, sounding worried now, but his voice filtered in distantly.
It had been ten years. Ten years and one death. No, one apparently false death. The one little bit of his brain that was still working made a mental note to rip his supposed best friend a new one when he saw him next.
Only now did the figure step forward, gaze darting between Will and Jackson.
“Hello, William.”
His breath left him in one slow exhale. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“I know. I’m not, yet.”
He stared at her. She looked older, but he did a touch of mental math and realized she had to be in her late forties by now. Her brown hair had streaks of grey in it. “How?” he said finally.
“Dad,” Jackson muttered, pressing against his side and reminding Will the boy was still present, “who is that?”
Her gaze sparked with hurt at Jackson’s words.
“Don’t look so hurt,” he said, more harshly than he’d truly intended. “It’s not like you left me a picture to show him when you died.”
She flinched. “It was the right decision for everyone.”
“If it was, why are you here now?”
“Dad,” Jackson said, voice raising an octave even as it cracked, “Dad, who is that?”
Will held her gaze as he answered, putting an arm around his shoulders. As far as he was concerned, she had discharged her rights as a mother when she’d ditched both of them. “Jackson, this is Leigh Parker.”
It was strangely satisfying to watch her cringe, breaking eye contact. He had mourned her for ten years. How dare she just appear out of nowhere like a decade hadn’t happened?
“My…” the thirteen-year-old trailed off, “but how…? Kelly told me she died. You told me she died.”
“I thought she had. Miles told me she did. Fire gone wrong. But apparently we were all wrong.”
“I had to make your choice for you, Will,” she said quietly. “Me or your son.”
“Who said it was your choice to make?”
“You’re head of KIN.”
It wasn’t a question but Will found himself nodding anyway. “Yes.”
Now, she just stared at him, in a way he found both irritating and so very reassuring.
“Miles could have done,” he said, briefly annoyed to find a distinctly defensive tone in his voice. She was the one who should be defensive.
“Not as well and we both know it. I couldn’t force you to make a choice between the job you loved and had practically been born for, that came with your son and me. If the world knew Jackson was my son…”
The thought had occurred to him. Had occurred to him many times while watching Jackson do or say something that was so much his mother. “You let us think you were dead.”
“Would you have let me go otherwise?”
Will opened his mouth and then shut it again as he realized he couldn’t say yes. Even now. Even with as mad as he should be. He couldn’t say yes. “Why have you come back?”
“Things changed.”
“If you’re telling the truth on your reasons for leaving, nothing’s changed, except Jack’s big now.”
Her eyes now moved to her son hesitantly. “Hello, Jackson.”
He pressed a little tighter into Will’s side, something he hadn’t done in years, but offered a tentative smile. “Hi, Mom.”
“What’s changed, Leigh?” Will asked softly, suddenly afraid. If she’d cared about his well-being that much and had made those choices, why in the name of the gods would make her change her mind?
She let out a breath and then burst into a heavy bout of coughing. Will took a step forward in alarm but she held up a hand as she caught her breath. “I couldn’t stay away any longer.” She managed a wry, half-smile, as she wiped tears out of her eyes. “I should have known all that playing with fire would come back to haunt me some day.”
Dread settled in the pit of his stomach. She’d always coughed more than he thought healthy, but never like that. “That’s what’s changed,” he said and then stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug. She stiffened before relaxing into it, clinging to him.
“That’s what’s changed,” she whispered.
“Damnit, Leigh.”
“What’s changed? What is it?” Jackson demanded shrilly, inching over towards them. Will had never been shy about telling the boy who his mother was or how much she’d loved him to give him to Will, to keep him safe.
Will turned to him but Leigh put a hand on his shoulder to stop him and turned to face their son herself. “I’m sure your father’s told you all about me.”
He nodded.
“And you’ve probably learned that inhaling smoke is bad for you.”
He nodded again, lip starting to wobble. Jackson was very, very smart and, for a moment, Will wished he wasn’t.
“Well, I’ve inhaled a lot more than the average person and now I’m sick.”
“You’re really going to die,” the boy said, words barely audible.
Leigh closed her eyes briefly but nodded. “That’s what all the doctors say. It’s gotten into my lungs.”
Jackson threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around his mother for the first time. “You can’t die, you just came back!”
She didn’t respond, hugging her son back tightly. Will watched them, heart rending freshly. Leigh looked up at him. “I know I should have just stayed away. I’ve already made you mourn me once, but…I couldn’t. I couldn’t go without talking to you and making sure you were okay and we were okay.”
He managed a smile somehow. “We are, I promise. How long?”
“Six months, maximum. It depends on how quickly it…takes over.”
“You’ll stay with us,” Jackson said firmly.
“But…”
“No, he’s right. If Bex can’t handle it, she can move in with Miles, Maggie and the kids or she can go stay with Mom and Dad. You need time to get to know Jack.”
“It’s not that. I don’t…want to make you watch…”
“Leigh, we’re family. Jackson’s ours. If he says you’re staying, you’re staying,” Will said and offered his hand, pulling her upright. “Jackson, take her home. I’ll go let Miles know what’s going on.”
The boy nodded, taking his mother’s hand. “C’mon, Mom,” he said and led her off. Leigh looked over her shoulder at Will, eyes bright and glistening. He waved and turned towards the Rees’. They would make this work somehow.
Trailing behind him came Jackson’s surprisingly chipper voice, “You’ve got a burn on your hand.”
“It happens.”
“Dad makes the best burn ointment. He says it’s your recipe.”
Leigh burst out laughing and Will felt himself smile. Yes, it would work somehow.