Daughter AU - Over the Hill
Sep. 8th, 2018 01:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troublewillfindmeShe doesn’t put much stock in her birthday. It’s too close to the anniversary of her father’s disappearance for her to feel much like celebrating.
Still, Jack insists, and does what he can to make the day special.
She’s twenty-one this year, a number meaningless in all but its old world connotations. They both know she can’t drink, but acknowledge that it wouldn’t change much even if she could. They still would have taken her out.
But on the morning of this, her twenty-first birthday, she has the distinct impression Jack knows something she does not. This isn’t in and of itself unusual; her grandfather is, by his own description, shady. His living had once depended upon knowing things others did not; arguably, it still does.
This is different, though.
He herds her up and out of bed before dawn, into a coat.
“We’re going out?” She asks, disbelief and exhaustion heavy in her voice.
“For a bit.”
“…Why?”
“That’s need to know information.”
She’s certain she is quite the sight, traipsing over a hill in flannel pajamas, a raincoat, and galoshes, her hair thrown messily on top of her head.
They walk for some time before coming across a seemingly abandoned car, which flashes its lights at them. She darts behind a tree, pressing herself close for cover.
“It works better if you don’t have on flamingo pajamas,” her grandfather offers, unconcerned.
“You’re not worried about who’s in that car?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but you won’t be.”
She’s still cautious in her approach, her hand light as she opens the door.
“Surprise!”
Mike is in the driver’s seat, Melissa’s in the front, and Eileen is in back with a bottle of sparkling cider at her feet. It’s been years since she’s seen any of them, and for a moment, stares in dumb disbelief before sliding in, her grandfather following after.
Eileen pulls her into a hug. “We know champagne is traditional, but I heard that wasn’t going to go so well.”
Sally laughs, and wipes an errant tear from her cheek. “It’s really good to see you guys.
They spend the time until dawn playing catch up, filling in gaps and blanks. As far as she can tell, they’re enjoying their retirement, and Mike’s fingers healed just fine from that incident a few years ago. Melissa’s codes are holding – to no one’s surprise – and Eileen still manages to get some doctoring in.
They’re happy, given the circumstances.
When the light shines over the hill, they drag themselves up it, and hand her the bottle of cider.
She makes the same wish as always. Maybe this year, she thinks --- this time, with a little more hope than usual.
Still, Jack insists, and does what he can to make the day special.
She’s twenty-one this year, a number meaningless in all but its old world connotations. They both know she can’t drink, but acknowledge that it wouldn’t change much even if she could. They still would have taken her out.
But on the morning of this, her twenty-first birthday, she has the distinct impression Jack knows something she does not. This isn’t in and of itself unusual; her grandfather is, by his own description, shady. His living had once depended upon knowing things others did not; arguably, it still does.
This is different, though.
He herds her up and out of bed before dawn, into a coat.
“We’re going out?” She asks, disbelief and exhaustion heavy in her voice.
“For a bit.”
“…Why?”
“That’s need to know information.”
She’s certain she is quite the sight, traipsing over a hill in flannel pajamas, a raincoat, and galoshes, her hair thrown messily on top of her head.
They walk for some time before coming across a seemingly abandoned car, which flashes its lights at them. She darts behind a tree, pressing herself close for cover.
“It works better if you don’t have on flamingo pajamas,” her grandfather offers, unconcerned.
“You’re not worried about who’s in that car?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but you won’t be.”
She’s still cautious in her approach, her hand light as she opens the door.
“Surprise!”
Mike is in the driver’s seat, Melissa’s in the front, and Eileen is in back with a bottle of sparkling cider at her feet. It’s been years since she’s seen any of them, and for a moment, stares in dumb disbelief before sliding in, her grandfather following after.
Eileen pulls her into a hug. “We know champagne is traditional, but I heard that wasn’t going to go so well.”
Sally laughs, and wipes an errant tear from her cheek. “It’s really good to see you guys.
They spend the time until dawn playing catch up, filling in gaps and blanks. As far as she can tell, they’re enjoying their retirement, and Mike’s fingers healed just fine from that incident a few years ago. Melissa’s codes are holding – to no one’s surprise – and Eileen still manages to get some doctoring in.
They’re happy, given the circumstances.
When the light shines over the hill, they drag themselves up it, and hand her the bottle of cider.
She makes the same wish as always. Maybe this year, she thinks --- this time, with a little more hope than usual.
