Picture Perfect: Princesses
This time of day, the airport is a bustling hive of activity. People run to and fro, trying to catch a plane at the last minute, to hail a cab, to grab a mocha frappe whatever at the coffee cart in a desperate attempt to fight off jetlag, to get to where they need to be as quickly as possible. Everyone’s too busy, wrapped up in their own petty dramas, to pay attention to anything or anyone else - for the most part. The petite blonde woman standing still in front of the baggage claim manages to draw the eyes of many of the crowd. Men look at her with appreciation for her beauty, women look at her with envy, but one woman in particular looks at her with relief.
“Claire!” Shannon calls out, rushing over to her sister’s side. “I didn’t think I’d ever find you.”
They women hug, before Claire asks her, “how are you? How was the flight?”
“Oh, you know how those are - don’t ask. I’m good,” she says, before taking a long, hard look at Claire, “and you look amazing. How in the world did you get your figure back this quickly? The baby can’t be more than three months old.”
“He’s thirteen weeks and two days, actually. Let’s grab your bags and get out of here; we can talk in the car. I’m anxious to get back.”
Shannon motions to the carry-on bag in her hand. “This is it.”
Claire eyes the smallish bag. “Seriously? You? I didn’t think you could travel without clothes for at least three weeks.”
“Grew up and got over it. Have to pack light for work, I can’t waste time with luggage on assignment. Now, where did you park?”
The women link arms and walk out towards the parking lot. As they approach a sexy black sports car, Claire hits a button on her key fob and the trunk pops open. Shannon whistles. “Okay, not what I was expecting. I was thinking something safe, practical, more… mommy-van like.”
Laughing, Claire gets into the driver’s seat and cranks the engine. “Actually, Gabriel’s the one with the practical SUV. This little baby,” she caresses the leather wrapped steering wheel, “was his present for me after Nathaniel was born. I take it you like it?”
“Damn, I knew I should have tried to take him away from you in college. Where is he, by the way?”
“At home with the kids. Well, Sandy’s at school, but still… by the way, do you have your camera with you by any chance?”
Shannon looks at her oddly, but pats her purse. “Always. Just in case I get called away unexpectedly.”
“Excellent.”
- - - - - - - - - -
“Oh. My. God.” Shannon tries to hold her hand over her mouth to stop the giggling. It doesn’t work.
Claire motions for her to be quiet. “Shhhhh. I don’t think they realize we’re here yet,” she whispers, “quick, the camera.”
Shannon quickly and quietly pulls her camera out and starts snapping pictures of the chaos. Claire’s husband and kids had obviously been having some sort of tea party - there’s a small table set up in the middle of the room with a pale pink tea set sitting on it. Two of the chairs have teddy bears occupying them, but the other chairs are empty, indicating that the tea party has long been over. The DVD player’s playing some sort of Disney movie, but no one’s awake to watch it.
Gabriel’s sound asleep on the floor, snoring loudly, with the baby cuddled in the crook of his left arm and Noelle curled against him on the other side. The three year old’s wearing some sort of Halloween costume over her normal clothes and high heels that obviously belong to Claire are lying next to her on the floor. Someone - and both women automatically know it had to be Noelle - had put lipstick all over Nate. The part that’s funniest to them is the fact that Gabriel’s wearing a bejeweled tiara, one obviously sized for a small child.
“Oh, that’s priceless.” Shannon whispers to Claire. “I’m so sending a copy to Shelby - she’ll love it! I take it you want some copies, too?”
Claire just gives her a look that screams ‘of course’. “Do you want to help set the room back right while I go scrub that lipstick off, or do you want to just wait in the kitchen? I’ll wake up Gabriel, he can fix you some tea or something.”
“No need to wake me, I’ve been awake since you walked in.” His eyes slowly open. “I just didn’t want to wake the kids.”
“Sure, honey. That’s why you were just snoring - you were pretending to be asleep. Gotcha.” Claire teases him. “Do you want to clean up Nate, or shall I?”
Gabriel slowly extracts himself from the kids, and stands, trying to stretch the kinks out of his back. He picks up the baby, and hands him over to Claire. “You take him. He was fussy awhile ago, even after I changed him, so he’s probably hungry.” He looks over at Shannon. “Good to see you again. Sorry the house is such a mess.”
“No problem. I understand completely.” She looks at him, and laughs. “Are you going to take that off or just leave it on all day?”
“Take what off?”
She doesn’t answer, but stands on her tiptoes and gently pulls his tiara off. Spinning it on her finger, she raises one eyebrow at him in place of making a comment.
He immediately blushes. “I forgot about that. I don’t normally wear tiaras, I swear.”
“Sure, Gabe, sure. I believe you. Now, I believe I heard something about tea?”
- - - - - - - - - -
“Dad!” Sandy calls out as soon as she enters the house. “Dad, I’m home!”
“Indoor voice, Sandy, use an indoor voice. Your mom just got Nate and Noelle down for their naps.” Gabriel walks up behind her, before dropping to his knees for their ritual home-from-school hug. “Now, come into the kitchen with me and say ‘hi’ to your Aunt Shannon. So, how was school today?”
“Seriously not good. Lizzie’s dad said no to the slumber party idea.” She frowns. “It’s so not fair.” They walk into the kitchen, and Sandy immediately runs over to Shannon for a hug. “Hey, Aunt Shannon.”
“Hi, sweetie. I swear, you get bigger every time I see you. You’ve got to be the biggest seven-year-old I’ve ever seen.” Shannon winks at Gabriel over Sandy’s head.
“Aunt Shannon, I’m turning nine this week!” Sandy immediately responds to the teasing.
“Oh, my mistake. We old people get so forgetful at times. Yes, nine - well then, you’re almost all grown up. Any big party plans?”
“Yeah, I was going to have a big slumber party, but I don’t want to now.” Sandy pouts. “My best friend can’t come. Her dad’s a big meanie.”
Gabriel puts his hand on his oldest daughter’s shoulder. “Now, baby, I told you he was probably going to say no. He’s never met us, why would he trust us to look after his daughter for a night? I wouldn’t let you stay at a stranger’s house, so I don’t blame him.”
“But dad…”
He hates seeing his daughter so upset. “Well… will he be at the play tomorrow?”
“He should. Lizzie’s got one of the best parts.”
“I’ll find him, introduce myself to him. Maybe your mom and I can talk him into letting her come over for a little bit - would that be okay?” He hopes he can reason with the man. If not, they might be able to work out a deal where Lizzie’s dad could act as another chaperon for the party.
“You’re the best ever.” She hugs him again, and he feels like the king of the world.
- - - - - - - - - -
“Princess, no, we’ve been over this.” His head hurts, and he just wants the conversation end.
“You’re so mean!” Lizzie yells at him. “Sandy’s my best friend, and it’s her birthday. I want to go! Why can’t I have what I want?”
There’s times where she’s so very much like her mother that his heart breaks again, and this is one of those times. “Please, Elizabeth, work with me here. You know I can’t let you do this. I don’t know her, I’ve never met her parents - and well, I can’t trust someone so very special like you with absolute strangers.” He hopes that by using her full name that she’ll realize that he means business.
Lizzie pouts and crosses her arms, wrapping herself in an awkward hug. “It’s not fair.”
“Now you and I both know that life’s not fair, princess.” He pulls her into a hug and she starts to cry. “Shhh, shhh, it’ll be okay. I’m just so worried about you - I can’t lose you too, and I worry about you accidentally telling or showing someone about our powers.”
“I won’t tell anyone, promise, cross my heart and hope to die.”
“I know, but I still worry.” He wants to say yes so very badly, but he can’t risk it. “Maybe you can invite her over here instead? How about the day after her party?”
“Her dad won’t let her. He’s a lot like you.”
He thinks for a minute, then offers her a compromise. “Sandy’s parents will be at the school tomorrow, right? I’ll talk to them. We’ll work something out.”
- - - - - - - - - -
If someone would press him to give a detailed synopsis of the school play, Gabriel couldn’t. As best as he can tell, there are four princesses, three princes, six frogs, two witches, five trees, and no discernable story line. He’s not entirely sure that there is a plot to the play; the entire thing seems more like an opportunity for the kids to play dress-up and jump about on the stage in front of their families. When one of the princesses stops in the middle of her line and starts waving frantically to someone in the audience, he has to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. He subtly turns, scanning over the audience trying to find out who the girl’s waving at, when he sees someone rather unexpected; he immediately freezes. His mind races, wondering if he should act immediately or if he should wait until the play’s over so that he can truly tell Sandy that he’d watched the entire thing.
It’s not like the man can get to his family while he’s sitting with them, and Sandy’s on display in front of everyone - no one would be stupid enough to try to attack her on stage. He makes sure he keeps an eye on the man, though, for the rest of the night.
- - - - - - - - - -
Lizzie really shines on stage, and he can see Elle in her so easily. She’s the center of attention since she’s playing the chief princess, and it’s like she was born for the role. He can’t help but smile when she stops what she’s doing and starts waving at him. Her teachers universally describe her as being “hyperactive” and “easily distracted”, and he understands how they get that impression.
The woman next to him giggles slightly, and he can’t stop from leaning over to whisper to her. “That one’s mine.”
“I can tell,” she whispers back, “you looked so proud when she waved to you. You must be Mr. Bishop. I’m Alicia. My daughter’s the shorter of the two witches; she’s really good friends with Lizzie.”
“Nice to meet you, then, Alicia. Call me West.”
- - - - - - - - - -
West loiters around the door that he knows Lizzie will be coming through, once one of the volunteer moms gets her out of the costume and gets all the makeup scrubbed off her face. He’s expecting her to come running into his hug any minute; he’s not expecting to be confronted by an incredibly angry Gabriel Gray.
“You. What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking my family?”
“No, sir.” West wonders where the ‘sir’ came from, figuring that his survival instinct has kicked in. “I didn’t even know you were here. I’m waiting on my daughter.”
Gabriel crosses his arms across his chest and glares at him. “I don’t believe you, so I’ll ask you again. What are you doing anywhere near my family?”
“I’m not part of the Company anymore, not really. Honestly, I’m waiting on my daughter. She was the lead princess in the play - did you see her?” It suddenly hits West that this is an incredibly odd coincidence. “What are you doing here?”
“Oddly enough, I’m waiting on my daughter too. I don’t trust you, not as far as I can throw you. Why are you in this town?”
The door opens, and two small girls come racing out into the hall before West can answer.
“Ha, beat you!” Lizzie crows. “Oh, Daddy! You’re here!” She throws herself at him.
Sandy’s out of breath, and she pants out “It’s not fair, you always beat me - I can’t run fast like you.” Her eyes light up when she sees Gabriel waiting on her. “Dad! Oh, good, you’ve talked to Lizzie’s dad.” She turns to fast West. “So, can she come now or not?”
Both men groan as they figure out that their children are best friends, and then look at each other. West hesitates, not wanting to be anywhere near Gabriel Gray or any of his family, but he can’t disappoint Lizzie either. “Well… she can if she’s still invited?” Hopefully, Gabriel will be the evil one who’ll say that Bishops and Grays can’t interact.
Gabriel immediately knows what West is trying, and grins. “Of course she’s still welcome. You know, I just had a great idea,” he smiles at Lizzie, “how about you and your dad come over to our house tonight? You and Sandy can play for a bit, while your dad and I talk.” He glares at West. “Isn’t that a great idea?”
“Wonderful.”
- - - - - - - - - -
“West.” Claire doesn’t sound happy to see him.
“Claire.” He doesn’t want to do this, and he especially doesn’t want to do it right in front of the kids. “Hey, princess, why don’t you and Sandy run off to play now?” All the adults watch as they scamper off, running up the stairs to Sandy’s room.
“Well, this is awkward.” Shannon speaks up. “I don’t do awkward. Why don’t I take Nate upstairs, Claire? I’ll give him his bottle, all that jazz.” She picks up the baby carrier, and follows the girls upstairs, but before she makes it all the way upstairs, she stops. “Why don’t I take Noelle, too? Come here, babe, you can help me with your brother.” Gabriel puts the girl down, and she toddles off to join Shannon on the stairs.
The three of them watch as Shannon disappears upstairs with the kids. “Okay, now that they’re all gone - what do you want, West?”
“Nothing. I just want my daughter to be happy, I’m not trying to mess you or your family. Well…” he hesitates, deciding if he should continue or not.
“Well, what?” Gabriel stands beside his wife, providing her with support.
“Now that I have the opportunity, I would like to apologize. I didn’t mean to put you through all that.”
Claire’s eyes narrow. “You’re so full of crap, West. No one ever ‘accidentally’ treats someone else that badly.”
“I had to! You don’t understand.”
“Make us understand,” Gabriel demands. “I’d love to hear this one.”
“Short answer is the Company made me. I was an operative, they told me to get control of Claire. I figured it was the easiest way to look like I was complying while at the same time I was trying to make you leave me.” West won’t make eye contact with them, too ashamed with his past to look at Claire.
“Oh, West,” Claire sighs, immediately understanding the problem. “Why didn’t you just tell me what the Company was up to? You knew about my dad, how he got out - why didn’t you just ask someone for help?”
“I couldn’t. What was I supposed to say - ‘hey, Claire, by the way, my dad runs the Company and he’s after you?’ I couldn’t do that. Really, in the long run, my way did work. After Mr. Overprotective there,” indicating Gabriel with a nod of his head, “broke my wrist and three of my ribs, Dad decided that you weren’t worth the effort and called off all attempts at controlling and monitoring you.”
Claire and Gabriel exchange glances, and it looks as if they’re having a mental conversation about the veracity of his statements, even though he knows it’s not possible. Gabriel finally shrugs, then addresses him again. “You said that you weren’t with them anymore - how did you get out?”
“My dad was furious that I’d messed up so badly with you, Claire, and he put me on probation. When… well, when everything happened with Elle and Lizzie, I offered to take her in exchange for completely freedom. Dad didn’t want to deal with an infant, but he didn’t want to give her up for adoption, so it was an easy decision for him.”
Claire can’t keep track of all the thoughts running through her head. “What about Elle and Lizzie? I thought she was your daughter.”
“Technically, she’s my niece. I adopted her; she’s never known any other parents, so I’m Dad by default. Elle… Elle was strong in so many ways; you remember what she was like when you met her in Costa Verde,” West blinks back tears when he thinks about how very badly the birth went, not wanting to let the Grays see him cry, “but weak in others. The birth was difficult; Lizzie made it, Elle didn’t. I lost my sister, but gained a niece. Most days, I think it was a fair trade.”
He’s not expecting Claire to reach across the table and grasp his hand, offering him comfort. He pulls back. “Don’t. Don’t touch me, I’m not worth it. God, Claire, you have no clue how sorry I am. I look at Lizzie now, and imagine some guy hitting her like that, and I just want to kill him. I’m so very sorry. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d turned me away, or tried to kill or castrate me before you let me in the door. Before you ask - I swear to you that I have never and never will raise a hand against her.”
“Let’s go back to the Lizzie story - why didn’t her dad take her, instead of you? Why would anyone trust you with that girl?” Gabriel wants to believe that the man before him had changed, but he knows how difficult a transformation like that is, and he doubts that West has truly matured.
West just shakes his head. “Elle didn’t know, couldn’t tell us, and then after everything… well, I’ve never really tried to track him down. She’s like us, special, and I have no way of knowing if her dad’s the same. It’s easier to keep her with me, keep her safe.”
Thinking back over how the girl had been acting, running about like a hyperactive whirlwind, Gabriel accesses his intuition. “She must be a hyperkinetic.” As he’s figuring out what power the girl has, he figures out something else too, but he keeps his mouth shut. That paternity information’s better off not being made public yet; not until he can discuss it with Claire at least.
“Yeah. Do you have any clue how hard it is to keep up with a kid like that?” West grins, thinking about an earlier incident. “I have to pay babysitters extra, like a hazard bonus.”
Claire laughs, and then offers up one of their own stories. “We do too. Sandy can be a handful when she starts flying around here and Noelle’s just flat out dangerous. You know, if you’re going to be in town, I don’t mind watching after Lizzie for you, if you ever need me to.”
The kindness that she offers, in spite of what he’s done to her, is what finally breaks West, and he can’t stop himself from crying.
- - - - - - - - - -
“You think he’s okay, especially since he doesn’t have Lizzie tonight? He seems so attached to her.” Claire asks as she brushes out her hair. “I still don’t think it was a good idea for us to let Shannon take him home. By the way, shouldn’t she be back already? She’s been gone for a while.”
“Oh, he’s fine. She might try to beat some sense into him, but she won’t actually hurt him.” Gabriel responds as he sits on the bed, untying his shoes. “Besides, it’s about time. We won’t be seeing her again tonight.”
Claire looks at his reflection in her mirror. “What are you talking about?”
“Sweetheart, please. You’ve got to be aware that she’s had the hots for him for years. She confessed it even, at our rehearsal dinner. I think her exact words were ‘He’s an abusive ass, but cute.’ Oh, that’s right; you were just as drunk as she was. No wonder you don’t remember.” He grins at her. “Not that I’m complaining about the drunkenness - that was a good night.”
“Oh, hush, you.” Claire blushes at the memory.
His shoes off, Gabriel slips his socks off before pulling off his pants and shirt. Clad only in his boxers now, he pulls back the covers on their bed and slips in between the sheets. “Almost through?” he asks, patting the bed next to him.
“Yeah, almost.” She struggles with undoing her necklace before turning towards him. “Help? The clasp is stuck again.” A delicate telekinetic touch brushes against her neck, and the necklace falls off into her waiting hands. “Thanks.” She turns back to her tasks, pulling off her earrings and then slipping out of her high heels and dress. She starts to unfasten her garter belt and stockings, but they won’t come off.
“Leave them on, I like ‘em.” Gabriel smirks at her from the bed.
“If you remember correctly, that’s how we ended up with Nate. Stop it.” Claire gently chides him as she pulls off the rest of her undergarments and slips a silk nightie on. She flips off the lights, and crawls into bed beside him. Before she lies down, she kisses him and whispers “I love you”.
“Love you too, baby.” He spoons behind her with an arm draped loosely around her waist, trying to fall asleep.
A few minutes pass, and he can’t keep quiet anymore. “You still awake?”
There’s no response, and he nudges her softly. Still no response and he knows that she’s sound asleep. He lets her sleep - Nate’s still too young to sleep through the night, and he knows that they should rest while they can before they have to get up again. He can talk to her about her cousin in the morning.