spamalot } { of spoiled secrets and teenage boys

[littlebitscary]

Peter: [knocks on the door, the little travel suitcase at his side with the things laundered and folded with care]

Fiona: [looks up in surprise from the book she was reading to Lucy, before pressing a kiss to the top of her head as she shifts her off to sit on the couch] I'll be right back. [and with that she'll get up to open the door to find ...] ... Peter!

Peter: Hello, Fiona. I figured I would stop by while you were alone and check on you since Nadia is busy with her brothers.

Fiona: Uh, sure. Come on in. [she'll step to the side to let him in, and he'll probably be able to see Lucy's head peeking up over the top of the couch with a smile - she pulled herself up so that she was standing on the cushions when they weren't looking]

Peter: Have you had lunch yet? [puts the suitcase just inside the door, and then smiles and waves at Lucy on the couch]

Fiona: [shakes her head] Nope. I think that was next on the agenda. [Lucy will just bounce and grin at her uncle, gripping tightly to the back of the couch cushions.]

Peter: Would you like to go out? My treat, of course.

Fiona: Uh. Sure? [she's a little bit surprised by the visit without Derek here, but she's not opposed to the idea. So she just turns and focuses on her daughter until she can wrap her head around it better] What do you think, Lucy? Want to have lunch with Uncle Peter? [Lucy, for the most part, seems very in favor]

Peter: [walks over and holds out his arms for Lucy before picking her up and tucking her easily onto his hip] I think that's a yes.

Fiona: Then I guess we're going to lunch. Let me just get my shoes.

Peter: [and he is going to just stand there and talk with Lucy while they wait because Peter as the doting uncle is the best Peter]

Fiona: [Lucy will happily babble back until Fiona returns with shoes and a jacket for her daughter as well] Okay. I think we're good to go.

Peter: Wonderful. We can do to the cafe down the street so it's not too far to go.

Fiona: Sounds perfect. [and she'll just get Lucy's shoes on as well as her jacket, before holding out her hands to offer to take her] Want to carry her the whole way?

Peter: Sure. I have to get used to doing this again for long walks. [and he will guide them to the cafe] How are you doing?

Fiona: Good. She's decided to skip walking entirely and go right to running, so that's been an adventure.

Peter: She's got wolf in her, so I'm not surprised. Take her running on the preserve and that will burn all the energy out of her fast.

Fiona: [nods] Well she's not that steady on her feet yet. She just sort of charges full speed ahead until she trips or runs into something like a couch or table to stop her.

Peter: So how many house calls does Jason make a week at this point?

Fiona: [she laughs] Don't worry. We pad her enough that all she gets is some bruises. And she's mostly gotten to the point where she doesn't even cry, she just keeps going.

Peter: Well, that's a good thing. She's learning that a tiny hurt isn't the end of the world.

Fiona: [she nods] She's never really been one to cry for that sort of stuff anyway. She's a tough kid.

Peter: You're probably rubbing off on her in that regard. [smirks a bit] Derek was a crier. But you didn't hear that from me.

Fiona: [laughs] Given how broody he gets, that doesn't really surprise me - but you didn't hear that from me either.

Peter: Derek picked up a lot of his mother's heart. It's a good thing Laura is a lot more practical.

Fiona: [nods] It's a good heart, though.

Peter: It's a very good heart. We wouldn't have kept him otherwise.

Fiona: Neither would I.

Peter: [and since he isn't one to beat around the bush] And I'm sure your child is going to be the best combination of the both of you.

Fiona: [chokes slightly on air, flustered and caught because that's not what she was expecting] Our what?

Peter: [looks over at her with a small, knowing smile] Let's not pretend, Fiona. My hearing is only confirming something I was suspecting already. [and he motions with his eyes for them to keep walking because nope, they didn't need to stand around and talk about it. It was just an easy conversation topic]

Fiona: [groans as she starts walking again] Yes, but you're taking it incredibly well. [aka she smells a rat]

Peter: Because it's a wonderful thing. [nope, you can infer who told him, but he won't out your brother in law while he's in town, Fiona] And I felt that it would be nice for you to be able to talk to someone and not be overwhelmed with everyone at the same time when you do choose to reveal the news.

Fiona: [sighs a bit, before shrugging] I'm just ... generally letting Derek do it one person at a time. Talia already knows.

Peter: [they get to the cafe and Peter helps settle Lucy into a high chair] Are you scared of people knowing?

Fiona: I'm trying not to jinx it.

Peter: That's not something you can control, my dear. [he sits across from her, a small smile] But you are a fighter - so I don't see any reason for you to be afraid. What will happen, will happen. But I can tell you that the more you play in your head, the more you upset yourself and miss the joy of the moment.

Fiona: [bites back the "easy for you to say" that was her initial first reaction and sighs it away. Peter's just trying to help, she knows that, but after everything that she and Derek have gone through to just get here, it's hard to swallow that kind of advice from someone else who had two healthy children without even really trying] Yeah, well ... my superstitions make me feel better and I don't really want all the attention. Before this point, the only people who actually needed to know were Derek and Liam.

Peter: [one who he didn't know he had until she was left at the sheriff's office, and the other a newborn and he's seen how it's effected Nadia. So no, he has his own reasons for being concerned] It's funny how the more you withdraw because of your fears and not wanting attention, the more people will be worried and pay attention.

Fiona: I'm not ... withdrawing. I'm just not looking to announce it to the world. Is there anything wrong with wanting to keep something for us? Even if it's only for a little while?

Peter: No, but Fiona... people knowing doesn't take that from you. Has Talia knowing taken away those moments from you? Or your sister?

Fiona: That's not ... [sighs] I get that you guys are incredibly close. I do. My family was the same way. And I understand that to most people this is good news and they want to share it but ... this wasn't supposed to happen, and it is, and it is wonderful, sure, but trying to remind me how much I can't control what's going to happen isn't helping me see the joy in it. It's just drawing more emphasis to the fact that at the end of the day I have no say how this is going to go, one way or another and I could still lose. [and watch it destroy Derek again, which is bad enough, let alone the added implications of everyone else] I understand that you're trying to help, but Derek understands why I feel the way I do and he's respecting it, even if he doesn't particularly like it. I'm not depressed or pulling away I'm just being ... cautious, which I think after everything that we went through to get here and how risky the pregnancy is, I should be allowed. If we get through this and the baby is healthy, I'll have the rest of it's life to be happy.

Peter: [he listened, then nodded] I didn't mean to sound as if I don't respect your fears, Fiona. If that is what you felt, I apologize. I understand your reasons to be cautious, and I don't intend for you to stop that. But caution and fear are usually different emotions on the same spectrum. The fears you have are the same fears that every mother has - you just have more reason to worry on them with all that has happened. And no one in this pack will not understand that. [and he thinks she is not giving the pack enough credit for how they will understand]. Are you more afraid of what will happen to us if things don't work the way you wish you could control them to?

Fiona: [it's not that she doesn't think they'll understand. She glances away, turning to Lucy as she lets a hand brush against the top of her head] I think that breaking his heart again will be bad enough.

Peter: [he reached across the table to put his hand on top of her free hand] The one thing Derek has going for him is that no matter how many times his heart may break, he has always picked himself back up and found his way to continue on. You are his reason, Fiona. No matter what happens, as long as he has you and you two share your bond... you will always have his heart and you can never fully break it.

Fiona: That doesn't mean it hurts less.

Peter: No, you're right. But I know you both, a bit more than you think. If the worst comes to be... it will hurt, more than any of us would wish upon either of you. It will take time to recover and find yourself again... but you will. You both will, and you will come out of it stronger, and in search of a new path to be able to fill that hole in your heart. [he looked at Lucy] I believe it was said that there were a lot of children out there who need good parents. And I'm sure Lucy and Liam are both glowing recommendations that you are both good at the job.

Fiona: [sighs softly] Right now, I'm not thinking that far ahead. I'm just trying to get through this.

Peter: Well, tell me what I can do to be able to help you with this. Because you are the one who set the rules for this, not anyone else - not even Talia.

Fiona: Just let me tell people in my own time. Right now, that's all I want.

Peter: Do you want me to keep the kids out of the living room then Sunday so they don't get close enough to hear? [the kids being Cora, Scott, Malia and Isaac. Laura too if need be, and all the little ones]

Fiona: [she pauses for a moment, before shaking her head] I'll figure it out. But thank you.

Peter: Well, if there is anything that you do need, do not hesitate to ask. I've been good lately at letting pregnant women order me around without question. [small smirk there]

Fiona: [huffs a bit at that, before nodding] I will.

Peter: [and look, they can order food.]

Fiona: [yep. yum yum food and talk about lighter things, before heading back to the apartment?]

Peter: [and when they are there, he will put Lucy down on the ground to go off on her own tear] I'm sure you have other things on your agenda today, but I wanted to bring these to you. I figure with Lucy, you may not have time to go out and get yourself some things, and you don't want Derek picking out clothes for you.

Fiona: [she nods a bit] I appreciate that. Thank you.

Peter: You're welcome. [he offered his hands out for a hug if she wanted one, but he knew pregnancy made people touchy on if they wanted to be touched]

Fiona: [she'll take it. She still likes the hugging part]

Peter: [and he gives good hugs, let's face it. The kind that pulls you close, makes you feel safe and secure and has promises of making it all better]

Fiona: [yep, very true. And she will take it right now, but it's pretty much a stand in until her husband gets home]

Peter: [he's always the protector of the family, after all. He pulls back enough to kiss her forehead, then smiles] I should get back to Nadia and the in-laws. I'll see you Sunday. [the unspoken call if you need anything in the air]

Fiona: [nods as she walks him to the door] See you Sunday.

Peter: [and home he will go]

Fiona: [and after that, she's going to go stretch out on the couch for a bit while Lucy is down for a nap and she's waiting for Derek to come home. As a result, she may pass out a bit herself, but it was an emotional afternoon]

Derek: [and she will be awoken by Derek and Liam coming home, obviously in the middle of an argument because of a fight Liam had gotten into at school with a bigger kid bullying him and Liam having punched him in the face and broken his nose] I don't care what he said, Liam. You're better than that. Now get to your room until dinner time, and don't even think of getting on the computer because I'm changing the wifi password.

Liam: You suck, you know that! [and he's going to storm upstairs and slam the door behind him]

Fiona: [startles awake as the door slams, blinking at the light of the room before turning back to Derek] What'd I miss?

Derek: [rubbing his eyes] Apparently one of the kids in his gym class called him a fag, and he exploded and broke the kid's nose.

Fiona: How much trouble is he in?

Derek: Suspended for a week. Luckily, I talked to the other boy's parents and they aren't going to press charges since they are angry at their son since he admitted he said it and that Liam "can't take a joke." The other boy is also suspended.

Fiona: That's good. [sighs as she shifts to sit up more, letting her hands rest over her stomach] I'll go talk to him later.

Derek: Good, because my whole 'we don't react with violence' speech is falling on deaf ears. Not that I blame him, or think I wouldn't do the same thing when I was his age... I'm actually proud of him for taking a stand, but just... [sighs and goes to sit next to her] He's going to have to learn how to handle assholes in a less violent way.

Fiona: I know. But he's sixteen and it's still a pretty sensitive issue for him. It's still ... new.

Derek: I know, I know. But I can't ignore that he broke a kid's nose.

Fiona: No, you shouldn't.

Derek: I'm trying to figure out a fair punishment though. Which is hard when you're mad, but proud at the same time.

Fiona: [nods] Just give it a little time, and let me talk him down.

Derek: [nods] Yeah. Alright. How were you and Lucy?

Fiona: Good. [a beat] We had lunch with Peter.

Derek: Peter stopped by?

Fiona: [nods slowly] He knows.

Derek: He... who told him?

Fiona: He didn't say but I'm guessing Victor.

Derek: You know, for an alpha, he has a horrible poker face

Fiona: [laughs] No, he probably forgot he wasn't supposed to say anything and said something.

Derek: You okay with that? Peter knowing?

Fiona: I don't know how I feel about it, but people were going to have to start being told anyway.

Derek: We can skip a few Sunday dinners if it gives you more time to prepare.

Fiona: Only if you're okay with that. I can handle it if you still want to go.

Derek: I don't want you to just handle it. I want you to do this your way. I'm going with your plan

Fiona: I'll think about it.

Derek: [he leaned over to kiss her] You let me know then, okay?

Fiona: [she nods as she sighs into the kiss] I will.

Derek: [Cups her cheek] You go back to sleep. I'm going to shower, and then I think I'm going to just order pizza for dinner if you're okay with that.

Fiona: [she nods, pizza is fine] I'm just going to talk to Liam first.

Derek: Alright. Call if you need me. [he kisses her again, and gets up to go shower]

Fiona: [nods before getting up and going to head towards Liam's room, knocking lightly on the door]

Liam: Go away.

Fiona: Liam, I'm not mad at you and I'm not going to yell at you.

Liam: [there's the sound of sniffling from behind the door] I don't care. I don't want to talk to anyone.

Fiona: What about hugs? Because I was thinking hugs.

Liam: I just want to be alone, okay!

Fiona: [she pauses before considering for a moment, before turning to start to walk away slowly] Alright. Alright, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.

Liam: [and he's going to just go back to crying in the corner of his room]

Fiona: [she'll give it another ten minutes before she's back again, letting her hand rest gently against the door] Liam.

Liam: I don't wanna talk.

Fiona: You don't have to talk. Can I come in?

Liam: [takes a deep breath, then sighs] Fine.

Fiona: [opens the door slowly before making her way in and closing it behind her. she then moves over to sit next to him, holding out her arms in case he wants to take it]

Liam: Garrett deserved it. He's an asshole, always thinking he's better than everyone else. [he leaned into her arms, sniffing]

Fiona: I know. [she curls her arms around him, keeping him close and letting her cheek rest on top of his head] I probably would have done worse.

Liam: He called me a faggot, Mom. And he said that I shouldn't be allowed in the locker room because all I wanted was to look at them in the shower.

Fiona: [she pulls him tighter against her] The first time I heard someone call my brother a faggot I punched them in the dick. So I completely understand the reaction, and he sounds like he deserved it.

Liam: I never did anything though. I haven't even told anyone really.

Fiona: How do you think he found out?

Liam: I don't know. I was talking to another kid in my class who's also gay. Maybe they thought if I was friends with him, I had to be too.

Fiona: Yeah, well. People are dumb that way. [she rubs his back gently] And sometimes they're a lot more perceptive than we want them to be.

Liam: I just want to fit in, Mom. I don't want to be different.

Fiona: I know, kiddo. Believe me, I know. But it doesn't matter what the differences are, people are always going to find them and pick at them. You're going to have to develop some thick skin.

Liam: I was standing up for myself

Fiona: And that's fine. Stand up for yourself. But you need to use your words - not your fists.

Liam: I'm not that good with my words.

Fiona: I know. But you're going to have to learn to be.

Liam: [he just sniffs and snuggles closer]

Fiona: [pulls him in tighter] People are going to be throwing crap at you your whole life. And you certainly don't have to take it. But you can't punch all of them out either. Even when you really want to.

Liam: It's easier to.

Fiona: I know it is. But you have to be careful, because it isn't just about you. It's about the pack too.

Liam: [sighs] I know. I know.

Fiona: You know, maybe you should talk to Cormac about this. He got pretty good at using words first rather than his fists.

Liam: I'd like to. Is he still traveling?

Fiona: [shakes her head] No, I think he's home now.

Liam: Dad changed the wifi code. I can't skype him.

Fiona: I'll get it out of him.

Liam: I'm sorry I got suspended.

Fiona: I know. You're probably going to be grounded.

Liam: Yeah, I figured. Dad really wasn't happy when he got called to the office.

Fiona: No, I don't blame him. But your dad loves you, and he is proud of you.

Liam: I know. He um... he really laid into the other parents because Garrett didn't tell them why I punched him at first.

Fiona: See? We've got your back. But you can't go around punching people.

Liam: [nods] Do you think Uncle Cormac can teach me the right words to use?

Fiona: I think that Uncle Cormac will teach you how to use your words first. I can't guarantee they'll be the right ones.

Liam: And what if the words don't work?

Fiona: Then you're going to have to learn how to walk away.

Liam: And what if they won't let me?

Fiona: Then you use your fists. But only as a last resort.

Liam: [nods] Okay.

Fiona: Okay. [shifts a bit and presses a kiss to his forehead] I love you.

Liam: I love you too, Mom.

Fiona: I'm sorry the kids in your class are dicks.

Liam: Me too. I just hope that it doesn't get worse when lacrosse starts.

Fiona: Hopefully it won't.

Liam: I don't want to not be able to play because Garrett is an asshat.

Fiona: Neither do I. Which is why you need to practice not letting him get to you.

Liam: I will try.

Fiona: Good. That's all I ask.

Liam: [lifts up his head a bit] I smell pizza.

Fiona: That must mean dinner's here.

Liam: Why would Dad order my favorite dinner when I'm being punished?

Fiona: Because it's also his favorite dinner and he didn't want to cook.

Liam: Oh. Yeah, that's probably a good reason why. I think I need to go wash my face before dinner.

- - - - -

[And Liam will sit in the kitchen with his laptop after dinner to skype his uncle.]

Cormac: [picks up, giving him a small smile as he does] Hey, kid. What's up?

Liam: Hi Uncle Cormac. I had a bad day at school today and wanted to talk to you about it.

Cormac: Alright. What happened?

Liam: I got suspended because I punched a kid in the face for calling me a fag.

Cormac: [winces] I take it your folks didn't take that well.

Liam: Not really. I mean, Dad kinda laid into the other kid's parents because Garrett didn't tell them why and when he did they were angry at him and he got suspended too. But I'm grounded too because I punched him.

Cormac: Yeah, punching him is not really a good thing, no matter how much they deserved it. Your mother especially knows that from experience.

Liam: She told me she punched a guy in the nuts for you once.

Cormac: [laughs] She did. And he was my baseball coach.

Liam: .... She didn't tell me that.

Cormac: [nods] She was in the right - he was calling me it to be a dick, but I was kicked off the team and she was grounded for two weeks. But she was a kid. She was just trying to protect her brother.

Liam: Yeah, she told I needed to learn to use my words instead of my fists.

Cormac: You do. Which is hard, because sometimes the words just aren't there.

Liam: I still don't know what to really say.

Cormac: It takes practice, just like anything else.

Liam: But how can I practice this?

Cormac: Oh, trust me. You'll have the chance. [his tone doesn't indicate that it's a good thing, because acceptance is one of those things that people will always struggle with for a long time] It's just ... remembering to take a deep breath and that they're doing it to get a reaction out of you.

Liam: [he sighs because he doesn't like the sound of that.] Why are people so stupid, Uncle Cormac?

Cormac: Because they're self-centered assholes. There are much more creative, much more pleasant ways to fight back then punching them in the face.

Liam: Would I get in trouble for calling them bigoted assholes?

Cormac: Not at all. Just remember, there's nothing wrong with you. All that hate they're throwing at you is something wrong with them, not the other way around.

Liam: They make me feel like I'm the one who's wrong though.

Cormac: I know. Because you figure they have to have a reason, in order to hate you that much, but ... that's the problem with hate. It's not rational and it's not right and sometimes it's just ... learned. It's one of humanity's fatal flaws. You just have to make sure you don't let them infect you too, which is the hardest part.

Liam: [he knows his parents are not home, but he looks at the door a moment before leaning close] I'm afraid to take gym class, uncle. They said a lot of crap about me in the showers and I don't want to go back to that.

Cormac: Unfortunately gym is the one class you kind of have to take. [he pauses for a moment] Do you think your guidance counselor will actually be able to do anything about it? Maybe get you switched to a different period or something?

Liam: Maybe. I could ask. Maybe get one of the ones that Coach McCall teaches. Coach Finstock tries but I don't think the kids take him too seriously.

Cormac: [nods] And if that doesn't work ... consider it that practice we were talking about. I know teenage boys suck, trust me, but some guys never grow out of it. You're going to be dealing with stuff like this your entire life.

Liam: How did you deal with it?

Cormac: Depends on the situation. If it's a professional one, I have to keep my cool. That's a lot harder, but it pretty much amounts to ignoring it and moving on. Not giving it any more weight than it's worth.

Liam: Mom says it's going to be harder for me because I also have to protect the pack secret.

Cormac: All the more reasons to keep your cool. And you'll get there. Teenage boys just ... suck.

Liam: [sighs] Does it at least get better?

Cormac: It does. You'll get out of there, go to college, and people will care less and less, and the people that do will be easier and easier to avoid.

Liam: So I really just have to survive high school then.

Cormac: Which I know can seem easier said than done, but trust me. It's doable.

Liam: [nods] I just feel so alone sometimes. There's another kid now, Mason. He's a freshman but he's cool and I let him sit with me at lunch because he has it just as bad.

Cormac: That's good. It's good that you two have each other. And while I can't make more gay kids appear out of thin air, I'm just a phone call away if you ever need it, alright?

Liam: Thanks. Dad said that calling you is exempt from my wifi suspension.

Cormac: [laughs] Well, try not to make it seem like you're abusing it.

Liam: I will. Thank you again, Uncle Cormac. I know Mom and Dad mean well, but they don't always get it like you do.

Cormac: [nods] Anytime, kid. If for no other reason than to keep you from making the same mistakes I did.

Liam: Well, I'll make sure Mom doesn't punch anyone in the nuts just to make sure.

Cormac: [laughs] Only if they deserve it.

Liam: And the words don't work.

Cormac: Exactly.

Liam: [grins, and hears voices in the hallway] Mom and Dad are back, so I should go. Thank you again.

Cormac: Anytime. Tell your mom I said hey.

Liam: I will. Love you!

Cormac: Love you too. [and hangs up]

Liam: [and he's closing the laptop and going to grab a snack before heading up to his room]