Rebekah and Levi
Rebekah stretched languidly as she got up. She'd taken to leaving her clothes in Jono's room, so she grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt, then dressed.
"I am going to have a shower, zen grab some breakfast," she told Jono, before departing.
She headed downstairs and had a quick shower, and dressed again, in fresh clothes, then headed into the caf where she saw... oh no.
"Quand avez-vous obtenu ici?" Rebekah asked, looking shocked. (When did you get here?)
"Ce matin," her mother replied sternly. (This morning.)
"Nous sommes venus pour vous prendre la maison." (We have come to take you home.)
An argument in French followed this statement, which led to Rebekah bowing her head slightly and leaving the caf in tears. Her parents looked sufficiently satisfied, and they left too.
Levi caught her arm as she went past.
"I know, I saw them," he said softly.
"I have to go home," she replied. "Could you get Jules..."
"Of course."
"I need to say bye to Jono."
Rebekah went upstairs, and closed her eyes for a moment, then walked into the room.
"I..."
She bit her lip.
"I have to go back to France. I do not know how long I will be staying but..."
She closed her eyes again.
Dammit, not fair!
Jonothon
"You wot?" Jonothon said, shocked.
He put down the things he had been doing and walked over to her, leaning his forehead against hers and putting his hands on her hips.
"Why?"
Rebekah
Rebekah kissed him gently.
"My parents came to tell me zat I must return to France."
She sniffed slightly.
"My grandmother is dying..."
Rebekah burst into tears and buried her head in Jono's shoulder. Dammit, not fair, the only family member who hadn't shunned her and she was dying.
Jonothon
"Oh, luv..."
Jonothon hugged her gently.
"Want me to come with yer?"
Rebekah
"I would like that."
Rebekah hugged him tightly.
"I do not sink I can do zis..."
Jonothon
"Yes you can," Jonothon told her.
"Things like this take time. Yer just got whammed over the head with it, and yer still in shock."
Rebekah
"I do not even sink time can fix zis... after she is gone, I will no longer be welcome at home."
Rebekah looked at her feet.
Jonothon
"I'm not either," Jonothon said softly.
"I'm too dangerous. That, and my family loathes mutants. We'll make a new 'ome."
Rebekah
Rebekah kissed his cheek.
"I am sorry..."
She sat down on the bed.
"I just... having to go back makes me a little tense... zat place has not been my home for 3 years, and even before zat, it was never really home."
Jonothon
"If they say anything nasty ter yer or about yer, I don't know if I'll be able to control meself," Jonothon said honestly.
"I love yer, Bek."
Rebekah
Rebekah kissed him gently.
"Merci. I love you too, Jono."
She put her head on his shoulder.
"Levi is calling Jules, so he'll teleport us over."
She looked slightly bitter.
"My parents did not want to wait for me."
Jonothon
"Bastards."
Jonothon nuzzled her neck lightly.
"S'pose we should pack."
Rebekah
"My zings are in France still."
Rebekah nodded and stood up.
"I will go see Levi and Jules, I will be in my room..."
She kissed Jono gently, then headed out the door, sniffling.
Jonothon
"Lover yer, Bek..."
Jonothon started to quickly pack his backpack with some clothes and a spare set of bandages, then picked up his guitar.
Ready to go.
He walked downstairs to find Bek.
Rebekah and Levi
Rebekah stood with Levi, having changed into a pair of grey pants and a white button shirt. Her voice was softer and she slipped into French more often.
"Hi, I'm Jules, Levi's brother," Jules said, holding out a hand to Jono.
"Are we all ready?"
"Oui," Rebekah replied. She hugged Levi gently.
"Stay in touch, k?"
"I will."
Rebekah took Jono's hand, and Jules touched her shoulder and ported them out.
They appeared in the foyer of Rebekah's parents large house, and Jules saluted and ported out.
"Good luck, kiddo."
"Mademoiselle Rebekah, il est bon de vous revoir," a maid said, bowing slightly. (Miss Rebekah, it is good to see you again.)
"Merci, pourrait vous svp dire Monsieur et Madame LaVauney que je suis ici." (Thank you, could you please tell Mr and Mrs LaVauney that I am here.)
The maid nodded and hurried off, while Rebekah's posture straightened slightly.
Jonothon
Jonothon suddenly wished he'd worn the black bandages, just to shock them all a little more. Instead, he was wearing the ones Khaos gave him.
He touched Bek's hand gently.
"I'm 'ere fer yer, luv."
Rebekah
Rebekah tried to smile, but failed.
"Thank you."
The maid appeared again, and bowed slightly.
"Vous pouvez intervenir." (You may go through.)
Rebekah nodded.
"Pourriez vous avoir le sac de Monsieur Starsmore's pris à ma pièce, merci." (Could you please have Mr Starsmore's bag taken to my room, thank you.)
She took a deep breath and led Jono into the study, where her parents and her little sister, Armelle, were seated.
"Levez-vous droit," were Mrs LaVauney's greeting words to Rebekah. (Stand up straight.)
Rebekah straightened up slightly.
"Bonjour mère et père, Armelle. C'est Jonothon Starsmore."
"Hmmmm," said her father, non committedly.
"Je suppose que c'est encore de votre sorte." (I suppose this is another one of your kind.)
"Oui, Monsieur."
Rebekah's head was bowed slightly.
"Hmmmm. J'espère ceci pour être terminé bientôt, de sorte que vous puissiez retourner à vos propres." (Hmmm. I hope for this to be over soon, so that you may return to your own.)
"Je suis désolé si mon retour a causé un certain ennui, père," Rebekah said quietly. (I am sorry if my return has caused some trouble, father.)
"Allez à votre grand-mère. Et ne la dérangez pas. Armelle!" (Go to your grandmother, and do not upset her.)
Armelle obediently stood up, and led Rebekah and Jono from the room.
"I am sorry, Jono."
Rebekah's sister patted her shoulder gently.
"Zey will get over it."
"I do not sink zey will."
Jonothon
"Wot bleeding cheek! Another one of your *kind*? What the bloody 'ELL?!"
Jonothon was fuming, and his boots were leaving marks in the floor behind him. His brown eyes flared with anger at the way Bek was being treated, he didn't really care about himself, but Bek...he wanted to go back and punch her father in the face.
"So far, your gran sounds like the only blooming 'uman in the whole place, h'instead of being a robot!"
Rebekah
"I am sorry you had to see that," Rebekah said, squeezing his hand.
"And zat was Mr and Mrs LaVauney on a friendly day," Armelle commented, smiling at her sister. "Do not worry, Rebekah, I am sure zey will come around."
"Oui, zey are friendlier now zat ze so called illegitimate children are gone," Rebekah said, biting her lip.
Armelle sighed and opened the door to their grandmother's room.
Rebekah stepped in and half ran to the bedside.
Jonothon
"Bastards," Jonothon said bitterly.
Now he really wished he was wearing the black bandages, so he could flaunt the fact the he was a mutant in their faces.
"Should have brought along Sergei or Kurt. Now, that would really put a firecracker under 'em."
Rebekah
Armelle excused herself quietly.
"Ah, darling Rebekah," her grandmother said softly.
Rebekah smiled and sat next to the bed, taking her grandmother's hand.
"I have missed you, my girl. Why have you never been back to visit?"
"I did not exactly sink I would be welcome."
"You are always welcome in my house. My son, your father has no brain to not approve of you. Oh, and who is zis?" her grandmother coughed slightly, her frail body racked by the force of the cough.
Rebekah smiled, the first genuine smile she'd done since she'd been back.
"Zis is Jonothon Starsmore. He attends the school with me."
"A pleasure to meet you, Jonothon. I am Rebekah's grandmother, among other zings."
Jonothon
"Pleasure to meet yer, ma'm," Jonothon said.
He walked up to stand near Bek's side.
Rebekah
"Please, call me Evelien," she said softly.
Rebekah smiled again.
"How long are you intending on staying?" Evelien asked.
"As long as you need me, grand-mère."
Evelien thought for a moment.
"I know you and your mother and father do not get along. But I am glad you are here now zat I need you ze most. If you like, you and Jonothon may stay in my house."
Jonothon
"Pleased to," Jonothon said.
"They just better keep their nasty comments to themselves. That's all. Bek don't deserve that."
Rebekah
Evelien smiled sadly at Jonothon.
"It has been zis way since she was old enough to talk. But my darling Rebekah, do not sink on it."
Rebekah nodded slightly.
"I did try to stop zem from sending zat letter."
"I thought you might," Rebekah replied softly. "Merci for trying, but I - "
"Ian's parents called on me. Zey do not blame you, dear girl. Do not give it anozzer thought."
Jonothon
"Letter? Wot letter?"
Jonothon stared at Bek.
"Bek..."
Rebekah
Rebekah's eyes lowered to the floor.
"Zey told me zat I was more welcome at home, now zat..."
"Her children and Ian were 'out of the way'," Evelien finished. "You must understand zat was ze main reason Rebekah was sent to live with me. And I am sorry zat I could not stop zem."
"Non, it was not your fault. Please, I am fine, do not make an issue," Rebekah said, looking at Jono. "Please."
Jonothon
Jonothon was literally seething with rage, flames starting to flicker around the edges of his bandages.
"Those...bastards. Absolute bloody tossers. 'Ow could they..."
Jonothon shut off his telepathy and muttered curses to himself, fists clenching and unclenching.
Rebekah
Rebekah flinched slightly at his emotions.
"I have left my keys in your room, Rebekah. I knew zat you would need zem."
"Merci."
Rebekah's mother opened the door and Rebekah immediately stood up straight.
"Elle doit se reposer." (She needs to rest.)
"Oui, madame."
"Je t'aime Rebekah, ne les laisse pas vous descendre," Evelien said softly. (I love you Rebekah, do not let them get you down.)
"Vous engendrez des souhaits seul pour vous voir dans son bureau." (Your father wishes to see you alone in his office.)
"Oui madame."
Rebekah kissed her grandmothers head and took Jono's hand, dragging him out of the room and along the hallway to her room. She opened the door, and saw nothing had changed from 3 or so years ago.
Jonothon
"I love yer, and they're daft if they don't love yer as well," Jonothon said.
He touched the back of her hand softly, then kissed her neck.
"Thinking bout putting my black bandages on, me. Or not wearing them at all."
Rebekah
"I love you too."
Rebekah kissed him softly, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I have to go see my father, but I will be back shortly."
She kissed him again, and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. She made her way downstairs to her father's office, where she was berated in a mix of English and French. Rebekah took it all placidly, then headed back up to her room, crying.
Jonothon
Jonothon had switched over to his black bandages, and taken a dark amusement in scaring the bejeezus out of the maid when she'd caught him rewrapping. He could feel Bek walking up the stairs, and he opened the door to hug her hard.
"Love yer."
Rebekah
Rebekah hugged him back, crying into his shoulder.
"I love you too, thank you for - "
"REBEKAH!" Armelle came running up. "It's grandmother... I sink it is time."
Rebekah paled and pulled away from Jono, running after her sister, back into her grandmother's room.
"Out, all of you. I wish to speak to Rebekah and Monsieur Starsmore," Evelien ordered.
Jonothon
Jonothon stepped into the room, staring Bek's parents down.
He opened up a private line to them only.
"Yer look down on me cos I'm mutie? And yer do that to yer daughter? Yer ain't human. Yer ain't worth spit. And I can't understand how you produced a wonderful person like Bek. Yer hurt her again, and I *will* find a way to hurt yer back."
He closed it off, then went to Bek's side, curling his fingers around hers.
Rebekah
Rebekah's parents narrowed their eyes, but said nothing as they left.
"Mon peu assez," Evelien said to Rebekah. (My little pretty.)
"Happy birthday, firstly."
Rebekah held onto Jono's hand tightly. The only family member who had remembered.
"Rebekah, do not feel obligated to stay here once I am gone. But I have left everything to you, my house, and zis one too."
Rebekah looked confused.
"Once your parents have left zis world, you will own zis, not Armelle. Zey could not overrule zat decision. But do not hesitate to sell it, if zat is your wish. I know zis was never a happy place for you. Next, do not ever sink you were not loved, because I love you, Rebekah Lauren, you are my pride and joy."
Evelien turned her eyes to Jonothon.
"Take care of each other. I wish the best for you, Monsieur Starsmore. I know I can trust you to keep her safe."
And with that, her eyes slid closed, and Rebekah burst into tears.
Jonothon
"She was a grand old lady...I would have liked to 'ave known her better," Jonothon said.
He hugged Bek gently, hands rubbing her back soothingly.
Rebekah
Rebekah hugged Jono back and sniffed.
"I do not wish to stay in zis house until the funeral."
"And we do not wish you too," her father said, opening the door.
"Armelle will contact you on the details."
Rebekah bowed her head and left the room swiftly.
Jonothon
"Roight, I warned yer."
Jonothon's temper flared and he punched Bek's father in the face hard.
"C'mon, luv, let's get our gear and get out of this snakepit."
Rebekah
Rebekah's father stalked after Rebekah and grabbed her arm. He pushed her down against the wall and kicked her in the side.
"Do not sink zat you are welcome back here."
He turned on his heel and left.
Rebekah weakly got to her feet.
Jonothon
"ROIGHT!"
Jonothon's hands went to his bandages and his flames flared angrily, coloured a shimmering red-gold with his rage.
"Yer don't hit women, yer wanking bastard!"
Rebekah
"I can do as I like to her. She is nothing to us. She destroyed her life completely, do you sink zat I should pity zat?" Rebekah's father spat. "Leave. Now."
Rebekah held onto her side as she hobbled to her room.
"Please, Jono, let's just go or it will get worse."
Jonothon
"Bek, he hurt yer!" Jonothon protested, flame swirling around him like the northern lights.
"Yer know wot I pity mate? You. You're so dead inside yer should be in yer grave, not that lady upstairs. How she birthed a snake like yer is something I can't understand. And yer know wot else?"
Jonothon leant in slightly.
"The X-gene is carried through the male, Hope yer die in a car accident, mate. Let's go, Bek. Something stinks here like it died."
Rebekah
Rebekah had retrieved Jono's bag and the keys to the house and she pulled him outside, still holding her side. Fingerprint bruises were already starting to show on her arm.
The chaffeur came around in the car, and Rebekah rattled off the address and hopped in the car.
"Oh God..." she clung to Jono, crying.
Jonothon
"Shhh, shhh," Jonothon soothed, rubbing her shoulders.
He ignored the driver's stare at his psifire. Dammit, he should have been quicker.
"Yer better off quits with 'em, luv."
Rebekah
Rebekah closed her eyes for a moment and wiped the tears away.
"I know... thank you for being here with me."
Jonothon
"Nah, nah, not a prob, luv," Jonothon said.
He shifted them slightly so he could put his arms around her.
"Better?"
Rebekah
Rebekah looked out the window and sighed slightly.
"Oui."
She put her head on his shoulder.
"I am sorry you had to see zat. But believe it or not, zat was my father on a good day."
Jonothon
"I say we set the Mavericks loose on 'em," Jonothon said.
"Yer dad's a prick of the first order. And yer mum's a cold hearted bitch. Yer nan was alright though."
Rebekah
Rebekah tried to smile but didn't quite manage it as they pulled up outside her grandmother's large estate. She got out of the car and took Jono's bag from th chaffeur.
"I wish you well, Mademoiselle Rebekah."
"Merci Angus," Rebekah replied.
She pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door, fingers tracing over the ornate carvings on it.
Jonothon
"Blimey," Jonothon said, looking at the house.
He settled the guitarcase against his back, feeling slightly out of place.
Rebekah
Rebekah smiled lightly.
"Do not worry, zat was my first reaction on seeing it too," she said.
She opened the door and memories came rushing back at her.
"God..."
Jonothon
Jonothon hugged her awkwardly, then stepped away again so the guitar didn't hit her in the head.
"So, this yer nan's place then? And now it's yers?"
Rebekah
"Apparently so."
Rebekah looked around and smiled fondly.
"I used to hide zere... and Armelle could never find me..."
Jonothon
"Tell me bout it," JOnothon said.
"Yer nan seemed like a right old lady, and your sister was an alright bird too."
Rebekah
Rebekah walked around the foyer, smiling as she remembered little things.
"I was my happiest here... except for when..."
Her face clouded slightly.
"Let's find my room."
Jonothon
"Yer can tell me or not, I won't press," Jonothon said.
He followed her through the house.
Rebekah
Rebekah climbed the stairs slowly.
"You have to understand, zat me being sent here when I was pregnant was not a punishment to me. But... when I got here... my grandfather was dying, and my... my powers kicked in and I felt..."
Jonothon
"Yeah..."
JOnothon followed her quietly, glancing around.
"Right posh, innit? Feel like I should be going round to the tradesmen door."
Rebekah
"No, you should not. Besides, I am mistress of zis house now... and if I own my parents house, like she said, zen... obviously she prevented zem from cutting me off from the family money."
Rebekah opened the door to her old room and she smiled.
Fresh flowers had been left in the vase by one of the maids, with a "welcome back" note next to them. Pictures of Rebekah and Ian, the children, Rebekah in NY were scattered around the room, and indeed, the whole house. A harsh contrast with her parents house.
Jonothon
"Nice."
Jonothon shifted his guitar slightly.
"We sleeping 'ere?"
Rebekah
"Unless you want a bigger room, but otherwise, yes."
Rebekah smiled slightly.
"Did you want to go out or anything?"
Jonothon
"Yeah, s'pose...take a bit of a looksee."
JOnothon put his guitar down gently, then started to rearrange his bandages.
Rebekah
Rebekah touched his cheek lightly.
"I just want to stay for the funeral, zen we can go home. Because zis... is not home. And it has never really been."
Jonothon
"No way of making sure that yer parents can't come?" Jonothon asked with a sigh.
"Probably all they wanted was the money. And now..."
Rebekah
"It is all left to me."
Rebekah shrugged slightly.
"I do not even know if I could cut zem out."
Jonothon
"You just stay as far away from 'em as possible, orright?" Jonothon said.
"I'll do my brooding evil glare of hatred. They probably don't take me seriously though."
Rebekah
"I'm so glad you're here."
Rebekah hugged him tightly.
"I love you."
Jonothon
"Love yer too, pet," JOnothon said.
He hugged her carefully.