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At the Barrie’s:
Elliott *walking with Dawn
to the Barries’ house, looks down at her* Did
you remember to bring the picture book, sweetie?
Dawn *nods, holds up a small
book with a puppy on the front* It’s all about puppies, Emma loves doggies.
Elliott *smiles* It’s very nice of you to want to share it with her. *they
walk up to the house, Elliott rings the bell*
Sarah & Barrie *they’ve given Louise the rest of the day off and are now sitting quietly in the living-room
listening to the constant TIK-TAK of the wall-clock; neither of them able to move or do something to make the time pass while
they wait for the result of the DNA test. They did, however, manage to convince
Emma to go outside in the backyard and play with the dogs for a little while. Sarah
jumps slightly as the door-bell rings; she looks at Barrie nervously*
Barrie *gently touches her face* I will go see who
it is … *he rises from the sofa, goes into the hall and with his heart pounding in his chest, opens the door. Breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of Elliott and Dawn* Elliott,
Dawn. What brings you here?
Elliott *grins a little self-consciously* I’m sorry to drop in unannounced like this.
*nods toward Dawn* Dawn here has been missing Emma. She wanted to see her, an’ she has a book she wanted to show her, knowing how much she loves dogs. *he looks at him carefully* Oh, I’m
sorry, this is a bad time, isn’t it? We can come back another time if you
prefer.
Barrie *smiles to Dawn* Oh, I see … *turns serious
again* You are welcome to come in, I suppose, but truth be told, I doubt any
of us would make very good company. And … I’m not sure that Sarah
will be up for any visitors. *Sighs heavily*
A couple is claiming to be Emma’s real parents and … *looks at Elliott desperately* I don’t know what to do! *Starts ranting* They came by this morning with a court order for a DNA test and a nurse to take the samples needed, and
now we’re waiting for the result. Oh lord, the waiting will drive you crazy! I’m trying to be strong for Sarah and Emma, but … I don’t know if
I can do it. *Tears fill his eyes* She’s
my little princess too. *Suddenly remembers Dawn and glances down at her; clears
his throat* Why don’t you go join Emma, she’s in the back-yard with
the dogs. Just go straight on through.
*To Elliott* I do apologize for my ranting; will you join us for a drink? Maybe you know something of Emma’s background?
Dawn *watches Barrie solemnly, then looks up at her father* Daddy, is Mr. Barrie okay?
Elliott *leans down to her* He’s okay, sweet … go on to the
backyard and show Emma your book, I’ll be in the house with Mr. an’ Mrs. Barrie.
*he watches Dawn bolt away, follows Barrie inside* This must be driving you crazy. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about her background. *he hesitates, then adds sternly* But I will say this –
you do have some options here. Even if they’re Emma’s real parents,
you have the right to have them investigated. After all, you don’t know
how they came to be separated from the child. They could be telling you that
Emma was kidnapped an’ maybe that’s not what happened at all. You’re
Emma’s legal guardians, and you’re within the law to make sure that these people really deserve to have her back. It’s not enough that they’re her biological parents, if that’s indeed
the case. I would bring this up with your lawyer, and if he doesn’t want
to pursue it, find one who will. *he stops, grins* Now who’s ranting! You see, I learned a lot from my
experiences with Dawn’s mother. I spoke with the Wonkas’ lawyers,
and they were very enlightening. *puts a reassuring hand on Barrie’s shoulder* So don’t give up too quickly. These people may be very
nice people, and if their story checks out, then it’s wonderful that they can be reunited with their little girl. But find out before you let her go. Don’t
just take their word for it. *smiles again*
An’ yes, I would love to join you both for a drink.
Barrie *smiles slightly; he leads Elliott into the living-room and gestures for him to take a seat
while he pours them both a brandy; looks at Sarah* Darling, Elliott and Dawn
came by to see Emma. *hands a glass to Elliott and then looks at Sarah* Would you like a soda, some water, tea?
Sarah *she looks unusually pale and tired; shakes her head* No, thanks,
James. *Turns to Elliott with a small smile* Hello
Elliott, it’s good to see you again. *She shakes his hand; speaks quietly*
I hope you’ll excuse me … *she rises from the sofa and turns to Barrie* I’m going upstairs
to rest for a bit. *She turns to go*
Barrie *stops her and looks at her with concern; speaks in a low voice* Are you alright? Are you sure you don’t want me to call
the doctor?
Sarah *takes his hand and gently kisses it* I’m sure … I didn’t
sleep well last night; the baby and I need our rest. That’s all. *She kisses him on the cheek and leaves the room.*
Barrie *sits down next to Elliott and takes a drink of brandy; he remains quiet for a while almost as if he’s
forgotten that he’s not alone. Suddenly turns to Elliott* Sorry, didn’t mean to forget you. To be honest, I’m
not sure who I’m more worried about … Emma or Sarah. I did talk to
my lawyer early this morning and he did inform me of our options, but he didn’t seem very optimistic about it. You see, if we take it to court then the Andersons’ lawyer will quite naturally look into our backgrounds
… for me that’s not an issue; I’ve had the guardianship over children before and am considered a well-respected
citizen. *Quickly adds* As is Sarah,
of course. But … *hesitates* her father is in prison for second-degree
murder and although Isabella has never been convicted of anything, I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a skeleton or
two in her closet. *He sighs heavily* Of
course, I don’t want to give up, but it feels rather hopeless right now.
Elliott *stands up and nods politely as Sarah leaves the room. He sits
back down, listens to Barrie; takes a drink of the brandy, shrugs* Well, wait an’ see. Maybe it won’t even be an issue. Maybe
they aren’t Emma’s parents. But if they are, I would still push it. Go ahead, let the investigations begin on both sides, and the law will decide what’s
best for the child. But you have to admit, it’s rather telling that Emma’s
not overjoyed at the thought of being reunited with her parents. *leans forward* You have the local citizenry on your side, and your guardianship of Emma is approved
by the Mayor and Vice Mayor, as they’ve approved all adoptions from la Maison de Paradis. At this point, all the burden of proof and showing that they’re fit parents is on the Andersons. You
have every right to investigate and find out how the child came to be lost, and I’m a little surprised that your lawyer
isn’t more suspicious about all that. Any judge worth his salt is going
to want that information before making a final decision about what's best for Emma.
*pauses, takes another drink* As for skeletons in the closet, let it all
come out. What’s fair for the Andersons should be fair for you an’ Sarah, as well. I guess what I’m tryin’ to say is, if it turns out the Andersons are Emma’s biological parents, find
every argument you can for why you should keep her anyway. *smiles* At that point, if you think about it, what have you got to lose?
If you don’t try, you’ll lose her for certain. At least this
will be a chance. *looks serious* Blood ties aren't necessarily the best ties for raising children. You
know the Abberlines, don't you? Do you know who Kat's father is? Marchand.
Barrie *listens carefully to Elliott’s words; nods* Oh yes, I did
hear about that … and I know that Sarah would never be capable of doing what her father did, but it’s not my own
views and beliefs that worries me. It’s those of the court. And the fact that the Andersons’ had a court order for the DNA-test tells me that the court already knows how they
lost their child. I am not saying that I won’t fight to keep her, of course
I will, but I’m not so foolish to think that it will be easy. But you’re
right, we may be worrying for no reason at all … *smiles slightly* I suppose
it would do us all better to stay optimistic rather than pessimistic. *Adds quietly* Easier said than done ...
Emma *enters the living room dragging Beth with her by the collar; looks at Barrie* Daddy,
Beth is doing it again! And she won’t stop!
Barrie *smiles and pats on his leg to call the dog to him; Beth runs over to him and sits down in front of him, looking
at him expectantly* No, I don’t have a treat for you. *Points to the floor* Lie down. *Beth looks at him for a moment longer and then lies down by his feet.
Barrie is about to say something to Emma, but she’s
already run back outside. Looks at Elliott*
Emma has just the right height for Beth to reach her and lick her face … and she doesn’t consider Emma
an authority figure.
Elliott *laughs* Dawn loves it when dogs play with her like that. When she was at the Wonkas’, she actually put chocolate on her face so their
dog would ‘give her big kisses’, as she called it. I think she wants
to be a dog trainer. *pauses, adds* Y’know,
once this whole matter is totally in the hands of the law, maybe the best thing you an’ Sarah can do is enjoy your time
with Emma. I used to have to do that with Dawn, when she lived with her mother
an’ I was only allowed to see her once in awhile. It was horrible, but
I always did my best to not dwell on the troubles. I would just enjoy my time
with her, as if it would be the last time we would have together. There were
times I feared that might be the case. It’s all worked out, but I have
to admit, every day with her is like a gift to me now, after goin’ through all that. I don’t think I’ll ever take any of our time together for granted. *finishes his brandy* You’re right, optimism is easier
said than done. But try not to worry too much about things you can’t control,
and try to concentrate on spending time just playin’ with Emma. If it turns
out that your time with her is limited, make it as happy a time as you can, for her sake.
She’ll never forget it.
Barrie *laughs* Emma does like it too, but Beth doesn’t
know how to stop again. *Turns serious again; nods* Yes, that does sound like a very wise thing to do … and who knows, even if she has to live with the
Andersons, maybe they will still let us see her. *Smiles wryly* How’s that for optimism?
Elliott *smiles* Well, stranger things have happened! You never know, you could all wind up being friends. Where
are the Andersons from, are they from out of town? I’d be interested to know where they were living when they lost Emma.
*stands up* I’d like a cigarette, but I don’t want to smoke
in your home, especially with Sarah’s condition. Let’s go outside,
see what the girls are up to. *grins, shakes his head* My Dawn has this tendency to dress up dogs … we may find poor Beth in a hat!
Barrie: I certainly appreciate your consideration;
let’s go outside to the girls. *Turns to Beth* Come on, Beth, let’s see if Dawn has a hat for you. *Beth
follows as Barrie leads Elliott outside on the small terrace
by the lawn; frowns* To be honest, I don’t believe they ever mentioned
where they came from. I will talk to Isabella later; she’s excellent at
finding information about people.
Emma *sees Barrie and Elliott – and Beth – and instantly runs over to them; looks at Barrie a little reproachfully* Daddy, you were supposed to keep Beth inside! She gets so wild
when we play! *Changes her expression and smiles sweetly* Daddy, can me and Dawn have some cookies, please?
Barrie *smiles* If it’s alright with Elliott
… and it’s may Dawn and I have some cookies.
Emma *grins* You forgot to say ‘please’.
Barrie *laughs* Very cute!
Elliott: Sure, cookies all around!
*quietly, to Barrie* That’s the kind of thing I’m talking about. Court order be hanged! Find out more about these people, you
owe it to yourselves and to Emma. *pauses, adds*
By the way, forgive me if I’m being too forward. It’s just
that, when you told me what’s goin’ on, I remembered all too well what I went through, an’ I just wanted
to offer some advice. All well-intended, I assure you. *he laughs as Emma and Dawn run squealing from Beth, who’s decided to chase them*
Barrie *laughs at the girls and Beth; even Porthos decides to wake up from his nap in the sun and
join them; Barrie turns to Elliot* I can’t let anyone break up my family without a fight … I don’t mind your advice, it’s
good to talk to someone who truly understands what we’re going through. How
does a cup of coffee sound? No one says that cookies are only for children.
Elliott: I would love some coffee an’ cookies. *he starts to follow Barrie, then cries out as Porthos runs right into him, knocking him down; he raises
an eyebrow at the girls as they laugh*
Barrie *laughs heartily; then reaches out his hand to Elliott and helps him to his feet* I do apologize … *still laughing a little, he goes into the kitchen and puts over a pot of coffee;
he finds two mugs, a plate on which he puts a stack of cookies, and two juice boxes for the girls. He places everything on a tray, but before he goes back outside, he goes upstairs to check on Sarah. He smiles as he sees her sleeping on their bed; he quietly kisses her on the cheek
and then heads downstairs; he goes into the kitchen and pours coffee in the two mugs and carries it outside. Hands Elliott one of the mugs and calls out to the girls* Girls,
I have cookies and juice for you.
Elliott *laughs* Don’t worry about it, I love dogs. *he takes the coffee, tries it, nods* You make good coffee,
Barrie. It’s
good to be handy in the kitchen, especially with Sarah’s condition. She’ll
love havin’ you take care of her as she gets farther along. *he grabs a
cookie, starts to say something else, then turns just in time to see Beth dash up and snap the cookie from his hand* Looks like we have a circus dog here! *Dawn
stops drinking her juice long enough to point and laugh; Elliott looks at her and Emma sternly* So, are you two teaching Beth such tricks? Is this part of
your dog training? *tries to hide his smile as they both giggle*
Barrie *looks reproachfully at Beth* If you keep eating so many cookies, we'll
have to put you on a diet! *The dog just wags her tail and looks up at him,
then the plate of cookies, and back at Barrie* No!
No more cookies, Miss Beth!
Emma *giggles* No, we didn't teach her that! She does it all the time ...
she's a silly dog.
At Vice Mayor Lisa’s:
Lisa *beaming back at Cesar* Honeymoon? I have no idea! This is all happening so fast ... *stares back into his smouldering eyes, feeling a bit overwhelmed; she's
never seen him like this .... he's always intense, yes, but this time seems different.*
Where would you like to go? The honeymoon is for both of ... *he
interrupts her with his kiss, and the next several hours are spent in passionate bliss*
At the coffeehouse:
Abberline *smirks, frowns,
when he finds himself thinking how that playful little smile makes Isabella very attractive, then he grows serious and holds
her eyes* Can't the phone just give a decent ring? Can you fix it for me? *he lifts it from the table and puts
it in her palm, moving very slowly, his fingers brushing the inside of her wrist, then he lets her go, breaking the moment
on purpose.* That's better. Cops
should not cry, not at least in public. Why on earth do you want to join the
forces? If you really want to be a cop, you'd better come with me to the warehouses. I know that I am off the Salome investigation, but I know who the murderer is and
I am going to get him. Now. And
I don't want to arrest him. I have a score to settle with him. And I know that's not what I am supposed to teach to you, but as it seems that I can't get rid of you,
you might as well accompany me. So, are you in?
Or will you complain about me to the Chief? *looks at her with a challenge* You are not the one to conform to authorities, Martin.
You know how to shoot, don't you?
Isabella *quickly accesses the phone’s menu and finds a more neutral ringtone; hands the phone back to him; quietly,
slightly stammering as she can still feel the chills down her spine caused by his gentle touch* Here you go … *Smiles slightly* I thought I might be
able to do some good instead of causing trouble like I usually do. *Hesitates
for a moment, then decides it’s OK to at least tell a little* Don’t
worry, the Chief and his wife already gave me such a lesson … and yes, I know how to shoot.
Abberline *looks at her curiously* Donnie strayed, eh? *smirks, gets up,
leaves a crumpled bank note on the table for their coffees*
At the cemetery:
Candy *blushes, looks at
Daphne* Why do you say that I am not happy?
I love my work, and I don't want to leave her, not now. Chiana will need
a nanny for a long time, and the Inspector, and Kat, they haven't said a bad word to me and *she suddenly remembers the spell
that was put on her and the Inspector, and how she herself leaned down and kissed him on the mouth ... she shudders* and finding
a new nanny is not so easy. Did he really tell they are breaking apart? I can't believe that, she will be back. He
will go after her and fetch her back, that's what he always does. How can it
be possible that two people crazy in love with each other have such a hard time living together? *Chiana starts to wriggle and turn, as if getting restless by her words, she lets her down and she crawls
to the stone* I wish you would stay, Daphne. Miranda
needs help. As for me, if I could start again ... *she looks down* I don't have any ambitions. I want a home, a good husband and
children of my own.
Daphne *sees Candy blush
a little; thinks to herself, ah, you’ve been attracted to him, too –
but she lets it go* Maybe I was wrong.
You don’t seem miserable. You just seem like … I don’t
know, I thought I sensed it from you, that you’re feeling a little like there should be something else in your life. *smiles at Chiana* You can tell by her
that you’re doing your job well, she’s a wonderful child. *she shrugs* The way Freddie talked to me, it sounded like this time they’re finished. But who knows. He sure seemed devoted
to her before, an’ even now he doesn't sound like someone who wants it to be over.
*they watch Chiana crawl for a moment, then she adds* I don’t know,
maybe I’ll stay a little longer, if I can be useful to Malachi an’ Miranda.
Malachi’s been a good friend. *she grins* I haven’t had a chance to tease him yet about livin’ with someone. He used to tell me he didn’t figure that would ever happen for him.
*she puts a hand on Candy’s arm* See? If it can happen for Malachi, it sure can happen for you, too. You’re
still young, you’ll meet someone. There are a lotta nice guys here.
Candy *notices once again
that she calls him Freddie, and once again she would like to ask how it was to be with him* I
haven't had much time to think about my life. *she turns and looks at her father
walking away with DeeDee, his wide gestures telling that he got another wonderful idea* It
was hard enough to break from home and all that fashion stuff and all the great expectations of Daddy. I am just the grey little mouse, Daphne, not like you or DeeDee, or like Salome was. And ... it happened to me once, he was handsome, and nice and attracted to me and then ... *she brushes
the tears from her eyes* he turned to a monster … Oh dear! *she forgets Serge and the horrors when she sees that Chiana has got hold of the Salome statue and breaks
it easily loose from the stone.* Oh look at that, it's not marble at all! It's just plaster painted over. *And she
starts to laugh hysterically, not really knowing if she's laughing or crying, while Chiana watches her sitting on the ground
and holding hard the small statue*
Daphne *stares as Chiana
breaks the statue loose, then she also starts to laugh; she gestures toward Cavalcanti and DeeDee* Oh, our fashion experts over there won’t be happy about this!
*she goes to Chiana, picks her up* You are very entertaining! I can see why Candy doesn’t want to leave you. *Chiana
squeals triumphantly, clutching the statue; Daphne looks at Candy* You’re
not a grey mouse, darling! You’re very pretty! Your dad wouldn’t have wanted you to be in one of his photo shoots if you were a grey mouse. You know he’s never gone in for nepotism, not where fashion’s concerned. *she laughs again as Chiana makes a funny face, then adds* I’m sorry you had a bad experience, but really, there are some wonderful guys out there, still. How’s the little boy, what’s his name, Raven? Is he still at Bournemouth House?
Candy: I am not a DeeDee, I don't have any charisma about me. I know
that she annoys many, but everybody notices her. Oh am not like that at all. *she tries to take the statue from Chiana, but fails*
If I had the cigarette case, I could swap it for that statue, but unfortunately, I don't have it on me ... I am not
very keen on dating. And I work full hours.
Raven, he's now at the Bournemouth House, but he's not much there either. I
don't know if he intends to stay if his mother won't come back. He is so much
older than his years, he comes and goes as he wills. They both are such special
children. *she looks sadly at Chiana, smiling triumphantly to Daphne*
Daphne *glances over at DeeDee,
smirks* If the Abberlines really do call it quits, I bet she’ll be comin’
around a lot. He’ll be considered a very eligible bachelor. You better warn him! *she hands Chiana back to Candy* Here, hon, go back to Candy. *she kisses
Chiana’s little cheek, looks again at the headstone, sighs* I wonder if
we’ll ever know what happened. Sergeant Godley told me to be careful, that
the murderer might be after people who are related to her, too, or people who were close to her. That seems a little far-fetched, doesn’t it? Still,
I guess it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. *shivers* I heard about another
murder that just happened in From Hell Court the other night, I think they said it was a pirate. Did you hear about
that?
Candy *suddenly feeling very
scared* No! I don't follow the news
and I have never been to From Hell Court - or just one time ... I don't want to know more.
Has - has anyone been threatening you? *she presses Chiana against her
shoulder and the baby lifts her hand and strokes her cheek as if to comfort her and calm her down* I wish they would pull down the whole From Hell Court. I am
afraid, Daphne! I want to go home.
Daphne: No, nobody’s threatened me. *she looks at Candy sympathetically,
then looks over at Cavalcanti and DeeDee, still totally absorbed in their discussion, and she frowns. She turns back to Candy* Then you shall go home. C’mon, Candy, I’ll take you there myself. This
is a joke! Those two don’t care about Salome. We’ve paid our respects, let’s just go. They won’t
even miss us. *she leans in, smiles at Chiana, speaks softly* Hon, can I please have that? *she holds out her hand, and
she tries not to laugh as Chiana looks at her with a very serious adult expression, as if sizing her up. Then the child places the statue of Salome in Daphne’s hand.*
Thank you. *she takes the statue, sets it back on the memorial, but it
won’t stand on its own, so she lays it on its side.* That’ll do. *she turns to Candy* C’mon, let’s
go. *she leads the way, they leave the cemetery and start toward Bournemouth
House. Daphne turns once more to look at Cavalcanti and DeeDee, still at it;
she sighs* Y’know, Candy, I don’t think I understand the fashion
world, either.
At the warehouses:
Abberline *talking as he
and Isabella walk towards the area* Salome had one of the warehouses for her
business, it had something to do with clothing and fashion. She even showed me
a sample - a teddy ... Now I am sure that she didn't get murdered for any business dealings, however shady they may have been. She witnessed something she was not supposed to see.
*he stops in front of building* This was hers. *he glances nervously at the neighbouring warehouse, where the murderers of Victoria met their fate, and quickly averts his gaze.* I think we should have
a look at the other buildings here. The doctors have probably moved away, but
they must have left some traces ... *he takes his gun and walks slowly to the next building, trying the door, but it is locked. He beckons Isabella to follow him into the small space between the buildings, and
when she hesitates, he grabs her by the arm and pulls her against him, they are so close that he can feel her heartbeat, he
pushes her a little farther and whispers into her ear* Did you hear that, footsteps
...
Isabella *takes out her gun and reminds herself to concentrate and ignore the fact that Abberline is dangerously close;
she listens intently to the footsteps coming nearer and soon after sees two figures crossing the lot by the warehouses. Whispers* Anyone you recognize?
Abberline *nods, quietly,
a bit distracted by how near she stands to him* Dr. Marbury and Dr. Rainey. Bastards.
Dr.
Marbury *talking eloquently, and when the doctors get closer Isabella and Abberline start to discern the words* ... in spite
of all the odds, we are very close to a breakthrough.
Dr. Rainey: George
Jung was very impressed with the new version of ghost tranq. A small dose and
you will see wonderful things for a whole day and feel fine afterwards.
Dr. Marbury *dryly* I take that you didn't mention any side effects. Like death
after about four doses?
Dr. Rainey: Who cares about that there are few
junkies less. It was such a useless task to try to cure them. When you turn them out from the rehab, they seem to be fine and out of drugs, but as soon as something
even a little disconcerting appears, they gallop to the dealers again. And so
it starts. It is real waste of resources badly needed elsewhere. Do you remember Inspector Abberline? How many times has he
been out of it? And how many times has he fallen again? *face darkening* Those damn junkies make me angry.
Abberline
*draws sharply breath, his eyes going dark, and he digs his fingers into Isabella's arm without noticing it, and she can hear
him swear under his breath*
Dr. Marbury: He's a lost case. We don't have to care about him. But Brasco has a new recruit
we should worry about - that nosy reporter Isabella Martin. Sooner or later we
have to deal with her.
Dr. Rainey *sighs* Everything is so much harder
nowadays. It was so easy bargaining with Commander Portsmith ...
Dr. Marbury: But she still keeps the strings in her hands.
She appointed Brasco. She can get rid of him when she wants. I think she did it just to vex us and get the upper hand. Have
you seen that new office of hers? *laughs*
She is said to have hidden a painting of Empress Portsmith waiting for the opportune occasion ... But let's hurry. Mr. Armacost does not like to wait. *he
opens the warehouse door that Abberline knows far too well and the doctors slip in*
Abberline *still enraged about
the comments, but maintaining his composure, leans closer to her* Who is Armacost? Those doctors, I saw them in a vision. They
rolled the body into a bag and buried it in the cornfield of Mort Rainey. Godley
and I, we found it there. But as visions don't work as testimony or evidence,
I don't think there's another way than take the justice in my own hands ... *he finally releases his hold on her* I am sorry ... I didn't intend to hurt you.
*he knows he should make some more space between them, but he stays where he is, feeling her breath on his face,
and her mouth is so close to his*
Isabella *wonders if he’s going to kiss her … or if she should kiss him; tells herself to take a step back,
but somehow her body doesn’t seem to be responding; mutters quietly* It’s
okay, I’m fine. *Looks into his eyes with an intense gaze; gestures towards
the warehouse; stammers a little* I suppose we should … I mean, that’s
why we came here, so we should … *notes how he very subtlety moves slightly closer* … or you could kiss me? *Instantly realizing what she just said; begins to rant* My brain has clearly stopped working, I don’t know why I made that very inappropriate suggestion,
but we should get over to that warehouse before the bad guys leave again and *sighs* please say something to make me stop
talking.
Abberline *looks at her and
listens at her quietly, then he starts to talk slowly* Sure ... Don’t want
to keep them waiting ... I don't want to kiss you, Martin. *and he draws her
against his chest, tips her head backward and presses his mouth on her lips, shutting his eyes, he expects her to break loose,
hit him, slap him, but he can't stop himself, he just tightens his hold on her, his other hand grasping her hair and pulling
her head backwards. Isabella hadn’t expected him to kiss her; she had expected that he’d ridicule
her for even bringing it up despite the building tension between them. She knows
that she shouldn’t have brought it up and that she should stop him, but instead she puts her hands around his neck and
kisses him back*
At the cave:
Jeanne *puts down her sharp
deluxe shovel and sits down on the ground to have a break. She finds her thermos
and a Wonka bar in the backpack, and starts absentmindedly to munch the chocolate. For
days she has been doing excavations in the cave and following all the tunnels. It's
the most extraordinary network she ever has seen. Like a whole world under the city of Deppville. There must be some truths in the tales telling of the Golden
City that sunk in the sand ... She feels a thrill when she starts to think about it. She just has to find the right path, and she will see something that has been hidden from human eyes for
centuries.*
*She drinks the lukewarm coffee with a grimace and feeling refreshed enough, she gets up and stretches
herself, taking a look around to find the most promising direction. Her eyes
have already adjusted to the eternal darkness in these passageways. The small
sphere of her flashlight is all the light she needs. In a way it is cool, like a vampire ... Or a bat. She hasn't even bothered to climb out for a few days. She has
everything she needs in her backpack for a few days stay down in the caves. She's
becoming more and more fascinated though she hasn't yet found anything of real interest. Her
most important find hitherto has been the large cave built of bones, but the only path she could follow from it led to the
prison. Maybe there was a former prison on the same place? As for other
artifacts, her collection is very meager. Some bronze buttons from long since
rotten uniforms, some Indian looking artifacts - apparently nothing that would interest Spencer Armacost, who is starting
to get impatient.*
*She grabs her shovel and lets it sink in the wall, but the blade only chinks as it hits the rock.
Once again. Frustrated, she throws
the shovel, but instead of the expected soft thud there is a completely different sound she hears - rumbling, like a small
earthquake, and she turns fast around. In front of her astonished eyes is an
opening to a chamber. She steps in, looking cautiously at the ceiling, but it
seems to be safe. Her beam finds something on the floor. First, it seems to be just lumps of rocks, but then she can see something white ... She moves closer. A skeletal hand. Remains of clothes. A skull. A rusty sword. She circles around the skeleton of some unfortunate man who probably got lost in the tunnels a long time
ago. She turns away to fetch her camera to document the find. She takes pictures from all directions, blinded by the sharp flash of the camera, and when she takes a step
backward, she trips over a stone and lands heavily on her bottom. The camera
flies from her hand and she curses and takes her flashlight, when the light suddenly falls upon yet another object. It looks
like a brown leather bag.* Wow, what do we have here? A mailman? A courier? *she
takes the bag and opens it. There's a bundle of cloth, preserved uncommonly well.
The leather has been protecting it from moisture. She knows she should not open it before documenting everything, but she decides that her camera is out of
function from the fall ... She unwraps the bundle and uncovers an aged parchment* Now
this is something ... *Quickly, she wraps it again and puts it into the bag. She
seals the bag in a plastic bag and hastily collects her effects to start her journey back into the light.*
At the warehouses:
Abberline *kisses Isabella
deeply and hungrily, caressing the nape of her neck, holding the gun still in his other hand, embracing her hard, and she
is soft and yielding and her lips are intoxicating ... like ... like ... poison - and suddenly Kat's image flashes in his
mind, followed by Metrea ... and he pushes her violently from him, and still badly out of breath, in an angry whisper, eyes
flashing, he addresses her* So this is the way you got from Donnie what you wanted,
eh? This is how you got to him so that you could play a cop? What is it you want from me? I refuse to be your plaything!
Isabella *stares at him in surprise for a moment before her reaction comes; she slaps him hard on the cheek and speaks
angrily, but still keeping her voice low* You fucking asshole! How dare you talk to me in that way! I’m not even going
to justify such accusations with a response. *Turns to leave; feeling so foolish
for letting her guard down*
Abberline *dazed by her slap,
pulls her back roughly and hisses to her* Calling names won't get you far. You won't respond because you can't. You
don't dare to tell the truth. I need to know what it is that you are after! *he feels like a spark flying between them, and her angry eyes burn into him hot and
throbbing, just like his cheek, and it just turns him on more, and he pushes her against the wall locking her arms with his
hands and his lips find hers again, and this time there is no gentleness in his kiss*
Isabella *confused by his actions and by the turmoil of emotions running through her; at first she struggles a little
to free herself, but he’s stronger than her and to her confusion and bewilderment, his kisses turn her on. But eventually reality dawns on her and she tries to wrestle herself free again, but his hold is strong.
Finally she lifts her knee and hits him where it hurts the most; backs away as
he buckles down. Speaks calmly, although trembling with anger* Don’t treat me like some worthless From Hell Court tramp! I
will not have you do that! *With contempt* What
could you possibly have to offer? As for Donnie, he asked me to join the Security
Office before anything happened between us … *instantly regrets admitting that something has happened* … it was
one kiss, one giant mistake.
Abberline *the pain is overwhelming,
as he buckles his gun clatters down, he tries to breathe, he gasps for air, and slowly he rises and leans on the wall, unable
to move, and he looks at her with both passion and hate in his dark eyes, muttering between his teeth* And what ... is it that ... makes you so different .. from all those tarts? The
price? *he smirks at her error* I
knew it ... A kiss with you sure is a big giant mistake. Don't you ever try to
seduce me again!
Dr. Marbury *hearing a noise, peeks out of the door* Armacost,
is that you? *he looks with a sharp eye all around, shrugs and closes the door
again.* No sign of him yet.
Dr. Rainey: Fool!
What was that noise? Someone is
out there. If it is not him, who is it and why?
Dr. Marbury *uncertainly*
Perhaps we should just wait here for a while?
Isabella *studies Abberline as he struggles to his feet, trying to figure out his strange behaviour – first kissing
her, then pushing her away, then kissing her again …shakes her head and mutters* You
are unbelievable! In your head, you have no fault in this at all, do you? You intend to blame me for the whole thing, because God forbid you’d make a mistake!
You’re the type of man who’ll instantly accuse a woman of being a
tramp and trying to seduce you, if you did something you weren’t suppose to – how about taking some responsibility
for your own actions … yes, I brought up the idea of a kiss, but I refuse to believe the thought hadn’t crossed
your mind long before that and besides, no one held a gun to your head! *Mutters*
Although, I am sorely tempted to shoot you in the foot right now! Shit happens, and don’t blame me just because you can’t handle the guilt trip. *Almost smiles a little* And if a kiss from me is so horrible,
why did you do it twice? I was walking away when you pulled me back. But don’t worry, I won’t be kissing you again. I’m
not that big of an idiot! *Lowers her voice again and calms down a bit*
Well, regardless of who did what, we either have to deal with those characters
or get out of here before they start looking for us.
Abberline *snaps* Yes, I made a mistake. A giant mistake as I said ... You don't
have to fear that I will touch you in any way again. Yes, I behaved like a fool,
my mind was clouded by lust. It must be the likeness of your behaviour with the From Hell unfortunates. With the exception that they are honest. It's amazing how fast
a woman can turn on the innocent face. Don't think for a moment that I haven't
seen how you were looking at me, and I ... *he looks at her body, deliberately sweeping it with his gaze like he were undressing
her with his eyes* I have to say I enjoyed the kiss *he smirks* and you may state
otherwise, but your body revealed that you ... *then his eyes grow very dark again* I
won't ever again let any woman play with me. I've got enough of that. *he stoops to retrieve his gun* Are you now running to dear
Donnie accusing me of abuse? Are you telling him that you begged for a kiss?
No wonder men don't like you more than for one kiss. Bloody hell. *he turns to peek out to the alley* You are just spoiling everything with your incompetence. I
should have left you to write the reports, or water the flowers and swipe the desks clean ...
Isabella *glares at him* Is that the best you can come up with? Comparing me to the prostitutes of From Hell Court? Because
what? I gave in to an attraction? Where
was I dishonest? *Shakes her head* I
already said I was attracted to you, so yes, I looked … like you did. I’m no worse than you and I haven’t
played with you … you should’ve been a writer with that vivid imagination. Or
maybe it’s just paranoia. I realize it’s difficult for your ego to
handle that someone other than you is in charge, but I don’t see how your resentment towards Donnie has anything to
do with me. It wasn’t my idea to work with you and stop assuming I’m
some little girl who has to run and tell the teacher when the big boys are being mean. I
can take care of myself. Now could we please get this over with so we can go
our separate ways? *Walks past him and creeps quietly along the warehouse towards
the front of the building.*
At the DeMarcos’:
Don Juan *gives Ava a sleepy
smile* I have not been avoiding you, I have just tried to take care of things
to make us more time to be together, mi amor. You know what I want from life,
you know what is the most important in life - it's love. I want to teach the
whole world to love ... *she sounds convincing, but ... he wishes he had broken a leg or something more convenient* Ava, there is something I want to tell to you ... It's my ... *he looks her into her loving and trusting
eyes and sighs. No. That does not
happen to the world's greatest lover* ... my leg. It hurts sometimes so much
that I can't sleep. See, there it starts again!
*he winces with pain and rises up fast* It's worse when I lie down.
Ava *sits up and takes is
hand and she is genuinely worried about him* Oh my poor baby let me
have a look at it *she pulls the covers away to show his legs* which one *Don points to his left leg* where does it hurt here *she runs her hands over it* Baby I cant sense anything wrong with it maybe
it's just a spasm or cramp. *She moves behind him and rubs his shoulders* Don your so .. so *Stuttering Ava has the
overwhelming urge to throw up* Don I am going to be sick *she jumps out of bed and starts to throw up in the en suite bathroom Ava has left the door open.*Ava cries
and she clings to the toilet* Don I don’t like being sick *throws up some more* Don make it stop.
Don Juan *staring horrified
after her* I don't like that either, honey. Could
you please stop that, you are making me feel ill *he shudders, gets up fast and
wraps his robe around him. Has Maryann poisoned her food? But then he recalls how she fed him bits from her own plate ...* Er
... should I call Maryann? Or the hospital? Have
you eaten something unsuitable? *his eyes dart fast from the bedroom mirror to
the bathroom door. Blasted woman .... *
Ava *after 10 minutes the
sickness subsides* I think it's stopped now *wiping her mouth she picks herself up off the floor and she cleans her mouth
out with mouth wash. Ava has now produced a certain glow to her face* No no hospital nor the hag Don I'll be fine honest *she
walks out of the bathroom like nothing happened* Maybe it was something I ate Don I feel fine now *smiles* how’s the
leg doing darling. *she climbs into bed and taps the bed* your sides getting cold *she looks at the clock* would you look
at the time Don it's 7.00 am maybe we should stay in bed for a bit longer *smiles* I hope I didn't scare you it came
on oh so sudden, I had no control of it. *shrugs* you sure look pale Don is the pain too much. *climbing out of
the bed again* why don’t I fix you up a rub of some sort for that leg.
At Vice Mayor Lisa’s:
Cesar *wakes up after awhile,
smiles at Lisa, who’s still fast asleep. He quietly gets up so he doesn’t
disturb her, leaves the bedroom and makes his way to the kitchen, where he puts coffee on.
He looks around, finds some cinnamon rolls from Chez Roux, starts them heating up in the oven. He smokes a cigarette while he waits, then soon the coffee is ready, and the rolls are warm and filling
the house with the irresistible scent of cinnamon and butter. He puts the rolls
in a basket and covers them to keep them warm; pours cups of coffee, puts everything on a tray, carries it back to the bedroom,
sets it on the table next to the bed. He gets back into bed, takes Lisa in his
arms, kisses her, grins as she slowly opens her eyes* Now, where were we? Oh yes, planning the honeymoon … or perhaps it’s already started …
Lisa *awakened by Cesar's
kiss, looks at him dreamily, and kisses him back.* The honeymoon? Of course .. it does seem we've already started that! *She
looks into his eyes, and then realizes what he's been up to … the scent of the cinnamon rolls fills the air.* Did you fix me breakfast in bed? Oh sweetheart,
thank you so much! You are so good to me.
*She sits up, looks at his work; he's brought fresh coffee and Chez Roux rolls. She
smiles at him, reaches over and strokes his gorgeous dark hair* Wow, I had no
idea how famished I was! Must have been all that honeymoon activity! *She
blushes slightly, and reaches over for the coffee and a roll* So, I suppose we
need to talk about this visit to Aaron Monroe, not to mention the real honeymoon. Would
you like to get married this afternoon? *She takes a sip of the coffee*
Cesar: Sounds perfect. I think we’ll need
a witness. Who do you trust to not spread the word? Someone from your office, perhaps? *takes a bite of a roll,
grins* We mustn’t let your Commander Portsmith find out! Who knows what nonsense she would try to pull … at best, she would probably try to turn it into a
coronation, with herself officiating!
At the warehouses:
Armacost *stops in front
of the warehouse, tyres screeching. Driving and flying are the only pleasures
he has got on this damned planet. He gets out of his yellow sports car and slams
the door shut. It is very primitive technology, but he kind of likes it. He strokes the gleaming metal and then he suddenly freezes. Someone is looking at him. He always knows when those humans
are staring at him, it is an uneasy feeling. He scans the vicinity in his mind
- there are two humans hidden between the warehouses, a female and a male, and both of their thoughts send red angry waves
... Enemies? With a stupid-looking
smile the humans use when they encounter each other, he walks to the warehouse, muttering to himself* So this is the one on sale ... *Nonchalantly he saunters towards the alley between the warehouses. The female is very close to him, he can feel her presence very strongly ... She is
out of tune, somehow. Great. He
steps into the alley and pretending to be very surprised, he smiles even more pleasantly* Oh,
sorry! I didn't know there was someone. I
wonder if I am at the right address. One of these warehouses is on sale, and
I am considering buying it.
Isabella *looks at him suspiciously; something’s not quite right about this guy. She
can’t really explain why, but something about him makes her uneasy … especially his eyes; he’s smiling,
but it’s as if the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes* What’s
your name?
Armacost *sensing her wariness,
cheerfully* Spencer Armacost from Armacost Avionics, nice to meet you! *he extends a hand to her in the way he has learned. They
want you to look straight in the eyes and they want your palm to be dry and they want you to shake hands properly, not just
a light touch. How very odd, but it has worked every time.* I am starting a small research center here in Deppville and I got a tip that there are these free warehouses.
Abberline
*moves closer, carefully avoiding Isabella* Really? What kind of research would that be? Biological? *he motions for Isabella to move back behind him, but she pretends not to see; he curses her in his mind
and pushes past her.*
Armacost: Biological? Why? No, I am in the avionics business. *smiles at Isabella, who probably is very fetching by human standards. He
has learned that they like when you pay attention to them, but not too much.* Sorry,
Miss, I didn't get your name?
Abberline *replies before Isabella* She
is Miss Martin, and I am Inspector Abberline of Security.
Isabella *glares slightly
at Abberline and then reaches past him to shake Armacost's hand* Hello,
nice to meet you. Avionics ... that is electronics, right? Airplanes and radios.
Armacost: Oh yes, but I can't tell more of our projects right now. All
I can tell is that we are doing research on a quite new type of planes. *he decides
to completely ignore the male who is outright hostile* But I could show around
you at the hangar. Are you interested in planes? *he tries his best to be friendly.
He can see by the look in her eyes that she is intelligent, which is a very rare
condition among the humans. But the intelligent are the easiest to fool...*
Abberline
*testily* Some other time, Mr. Armacost.
Armacost *puts on his most charming
smile* Commander Armacost. I was
a former astronaut.
Abberline *frowns, it doesn't tell him anything* Commander
Armacost. Which one is the house you are interested in? As far as I know, none of them are for sale.
Armacost *trying to look puzzled* Is that really so? Then I have been given wrong information.
What a pity, these look perfect, and it is costly to start a whole new building
project so soon after the hangar. *he turns to look at Isabella* It was very nice meeting you. Perhaps, now when we are introduced,
we could sometime share a drink at the Shark's Tooth?
Near Bournemouth House:
Candy: I never did understand. I don't see where the fascination
is ... So you are not leaving, Daphne? I am so glad, I feel sometimes so lonely. Well there is Marta, she is nice, but she doesn't talk. She's mute ... But maybe Kat has returned. *anxiously she
looks at Daphne* I am sorry, but it is maybe better that you don't walk me to
the house. She ... she would not perhaps like to see you.
Daphne *sighs* I don’t know if I’m leaving or not.
I’ll think about it a little longer. *she looks at Candy, smiles* I’m glad you want me to stay … it’s nice to feel wanted. *she looks up as they start to draw closer to Bournemouth House*
You’re right, I’d better not go to the house with you. I don’t
think either of the Abberlines would want to see me. I just wanted to make sure
you got here safely. I’ll stay over here, an' I'll watch till you and Chiana
get in the door, all right? It’s still light out, I’ll be fine walkin'
the short distance back to Chez Roux from here. *she kisses Chiana’s cheek,
smiles, gives Candy a slight push on the shoulder* Go on now, they’re waiting
for you.
Candy: Dont leave, Daphne! *she smiles and hurries to the house, opens
the door and turns and waves at her before going in.* Be careful, will you! *she enters the house and closes the door and locks it. At first, the house seems to
be very quiet, with no body home, but then she hears a familiar and homely sound from the kitchen - Marta is washing the dishes.
She misses still Miranda and her singing, but at least with Marta she doesn't
have to be alone.* Time for supper, dear! *She
takes Chiana to the kitchen, nods to Marta and puts Chiana in the baby chair. It
is starting to get darker outside. She gives one more worried thought to Daphne,
hoping that she would go straight to Chez Roux, and then she starts to prepare the supper for Chiana.*
Daphne *smiles, waves at
Candy till she goes inside, murmurs* Take care, cousin. *she turns, heads back toward Chez Roux, then stops. She feels
too restless to go straight back to the inn; and she’s been curious about Salome’s business ever since she first
heard a little about it. She changes her direction, and starts walking out toward
the warehouses*
At Rartigillichal:
Manouche *at
the guest house, after spending a little time visiting with Alifi, goes up to the bedroom that she knows Chírilo is using.* Chírilo, I’m goin’ back to th’ house. Jus’ thought I’d come up an’ say goodnight … *she stops, frowns as she sees Chírilo
packing her clothes in a large shawl spread on the bed* What’re ye doin’?
Chírilo *folds
a shirt a little sloppily, doesn’t look at Manouche* I’m gettin’
ready to go back to la Maison de Paradis. *she brings the corners of the shawl
together, ties them up to form a bundle*
Manouche *raises
eyebrows* Blimey, are ye missin’ yer mates as much as all that? Apologies, luv, I been so preoccupied ‘ere lately, that I had’t—
Chírilo *looks
at her quickly* It’s not that! I
mean … I do kinda miss ‘em, but I can go see ‘em. It’s
… *she lowers her eyes*
Manouche *enters
the room, sits on the bed* What? Tell
me, luv. *she pushes the girl’s long dark hair back from her face* Ye can tell me anythin’, savvy? Rom
to Rom …
Chírilo *eyes
still lowered* Well … I figure you’re prob’ly … prob’ly
gonna be havin’ a baby …
Manouche *looks
at her, startled* Where'd ye hear that?
Did Alifi—
Chírilo: No. I … *she raises her eyes, starts
talking fast* … I did a card reading an’ I was thinking of you the whole time, an’ it all pointed to you
havin’ a baby. So it must be true, if it was in the cards. That’s what … that’s what … *she ducks her head again*
Manouche *softly* That’s what yer mum taught ye. Right? *Chírilo nods silently* Listen to me,
luv … *she brings Chírilo around, sits her down on the bed next to her* First,
I don’t know that I’m carryin’ a child. Truth be told, odds
are against it. Second … y’see, th’ cards … they ain’t
always to be taken at face value. Sometimes th’ meanin’ ain’t
what ye’d instantly assume. Now, ye say they indicate a child on th’
way. But they could also be symbolizin’ somethin’ else, like th’
start o’ somethin’, per’aps a new project, a new phase in me life … *she brings her arm around Chírilo’s
shoulders* … it could be they was indicatin’ me relationship with you.
Chírilo *looks
up quickly* What do you mean?
Manouche: What I mean is, I’ve gotten right comfortable with ‘avin’ ye ‘ere,
savvy? An’ I know Mr. Blake is mad fer ye …
Chírilo *excitedly* Oh, I love Mr. Blake! He’s so smart,
an’ sometimes we write an’ draw together …
Manouche: There ye are. An’ Alifi, I don’t
‘ave to tell ye how fond she is o’ ye. So … what I were thinkin’
is … if we all ‘ave an accord regardin’ th’ plain an’ obvious fact that ye fit in around ‘ere
like yer part o’ th’ bloody scenery … I were wonderin’ if ye’d care t’ make it of a more
permanent nature?
Chírilo *stares
at her* Y-you mean … I’d live here forever? You … you’d adopt me?
Manouche *nods* Aye, that’s precisely what I mean. Would
ye like that, luv?
Chírilo *brings
her hands up to her face, takes a deep breath* I … I’d love it. But … *her voice trails off, she looks away*
Manouche *frowns,
squeezes her shoulders* What, Chírilo?
Chírilo *still
looking away* I – I’m afraid of why you’re doin’ it. *she turns to Manouche* I … I know
you like me, but … you’re not like my mother.
Manouche: Well … ‘course I ain’t. I
could never replace yer mother.
Chírilo: No, that’s not what I mean. I mean
… you’re always nice to me, but … you don’t seem like you care about me like that. *her eyes fill with tears* An’ … an’ …
if you don’t feel that way ‘bout me, an’ then you have your own baby … you … you … *she
sobs, lowers her head*
Manouche *stricken,
draws her close* Oh, by th’ powers, is that what ye think? Hush, luv, don’t cry … *mutters to herself* Blast,
I can be dashed stupid at times. *she hugs Chírilo tight, thinks for a moment,
then speaks* If I’ve seemed remote, it’s jus’ been me skewered
way of sparin’ ye, savvy? Y’see … I … I don’t know
‘bout me health these days. I ‘ave what ye might call a condition. It’s very serious, an’ truth be told, I don’t know how much time
I ‘ave. I didn’t want t’ tell ye, ‘cause I didn’t
want t’ upset ye or scare ye.
Chírilo *cries* I’m sorry. *she looks at her, her
dark eyes moist* Are you in pain? Does
this mean you ain’t havin’ a baby?
Manouche: I don’t know, luv. It’s all
very uncertain. I ‘ave a lotta good mates scurryin’ to see if they
can find a cure fer me. As fer a baby … I still ‘ave to go see a
doctor about that. *pauses* I’ve
faced death more’n once. That’s nigh impossible t’ avoid in
th’ world o’ piracy. Who knows, per’aps I’ll slip through
once again. I been very lucky. *she
draws Chírilo closer* So y’see, I been keepin’ a bit o’ distance
from ye fer a reason. I … I reckon it were me way o’ protectin’
meself, as well. ‘Cause … t’ be honest, I … I …
*she lowers her eyes, swallows* … I never come across a child who feels so much like me own. *tears fill her eyes* Raven come right close. He’s me lil’ mate, he an’ I share th’ dreamer connection, an’ he’ll
always be special t’ me. An’ his mum an’ dad an’ his
uncle Gili, they all know Raven always has a home ‘ere with us, if he’s ever in need. But … you, with yer Romani heritage an’ all … by th’ powers, Chírilo, I love ye
so much …
Chírilo *turns,
looks at her, stunned* B-but … th-that’s usually why no one wanted
me, ‘cause I’m a Gypsy … *tears fill her eyes; she flings her arms around her, sobbing* I love you too, Manouche … th-then you won’t wanna .. s-send me away?
Manouche *laughs
through tears* N-no, luv, I swear it. If
I were to ‘ave two babies or ten, I’d still want ye ‘round jus’ as much. Matter o’ fact, I’d be quick t’ put ye to work on diaper detail! *Chírilo laughs, Manouche adds* I only want ye t’ know
what yer gettin’ into. Ye’ve suffered through enough loss fer one
lifetime as it is. Stayin’ ‘ere with me, ye may experience more. I were hesitant t’ put ye through that possibility. *she holds Chírilo away slightly so she can look at her* Ye’ll
always ‘ave a home ‘ere. There’s Mr. Blake an’ Alifi
both, an’ Malachi an’ Miranda, too. So it ain’t like ye’ll
ever be alone again. But th’ thing ye ‘ave to understand is, I don’t
know how long I’ll be ‘round. *she looks deep into Chírilo’s
eyes*
Chírilo *meets
her gaze, sniffs loudly; pauses, thinks about it all, then shrugs* No one knows how long they’ll be around. *smiles a tiny smile*
Manouche *smiles,
hugs her again* Aye, that’s a fact, innit?
So we’ll make th’ most o’ whatever time we get. Do we
‘ave an accord, lil’ soulbird? *Chírilo beams, nods enthusiastically* Right, then it’s settled. Oh, one
more thing … don’t be sayin’ anything about th’ possibility o’ me bein’ in a family way,
savvy? Not a word t’ anyone, ‘specially t’ Mr. Blake. I don’t want t’ get his hopes up, ‘cause it really ain’t likely. Promise me that.
Chírilo *nods
solemnly* I promise.
Manouche *hugs
her again, kisses her cheek, smiles at her proudly* It’s all I can do t’
keep from goin’ out an’ shoutin’ all this from th’ rooftops.
But it’s late, ye need to get some sleep, an' I need t’ get back over an’ check on Kat. I’m worried ‘bout ‘er, she’s been out of it fer so long. I hope she shows some improvement soon. *she
pauses, shakes her head, then looks at Chírilo again* We’ll celebrate tomorrow,
I promise. We’ll do somethin’ special. Meantime, ye be thinkin’ o’ which room ye’d like to ‘ave as yer own, an’
be thinkin’ how ye’d like t’ decorate it.
Chírilo *eyes
wide* My own room? I can do anything
I want?
Manouche *nods* 'Course. It’ll be yer room. *she kisses her once more, stands up, walks to the door; turns to look at her* Oh, one more thing, luv … adoption this may be, but I realize that yer older
than some o’ th’ other children. An’ I know ye ‘ave fond
memories o’ yer mum, an’ as I said before, I wouldn’t dream o’ tryin’ to replace ‘er. I know that’s impossible, an’ I wouldn’t want ye t’ ferget
her. So … ye don't 'ave to call us Mum an' Dad. Ye can simply call
us Manouche an’ Mr. Blake, as ye been doin’. Savvy?
Chírilo: But I’ll still be … your daughter?
Manouche *smiles
warmly* Aye. Yer me daughter. *she motions toward the bundle on the bed* Now,
get that lot sorted, at least fer tonight. Then tomorrow we’ll see about
gettin’ ye settled in th’ room o’ yer choice. *blows her a
kiss* Sweet dreams, soulbird.
Chírilo *beams,
watches as Manouche withdraws from the room, closing the door softly. She waits a moment, then murmurs* Fais de beaux ręves, Maman.
Manouche *starting
away from the closed door, hears Chírilo’s words; tears fill her eyes. She
smiles happily, starts down the stairs to go check on Kat*
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