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toxic_cornSeries: When I Was A Boy
Title: You Brought Me Up (10/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Everything is Joss's but the kids are mine.
Warning: RAYNEKID FIC. The central focus is NOT Rayne.
Summary: A confrontation a long time coming.
Notes: The sequel series to Songs From A Firefly. To catch up on this series, check out the Organizational Post.
You Brought Me Up
“Thought she was an independent woman, now,” Jamey grumbled on the way to the bridge. He’d been so caught up in his work in the engine room that getting pulled away was almost physically painful. “What is it?” he snapped at his sister’s image on the cortex.
Nettie looked at him solemnly. “They’ve found us.”
~*~
“I wanna know why the hell we’re doin’ this,” Pop snapped. “You don’t owe these people a gorramn thing.”
Ma slipped her arm through his. “It’s something I must do, Jayne.”
“Then how come Si-”
“We’ve each had our own experiences,” Ma said, quietly.
That shut Pop up and they all fidgeted as Ma rang the doorbell.
“Jamey?”
He stopped tugging on his tie and looked into his little sister’s big eyes. “Yeah?”
“I don’t wanna do this, either.”
“Yeah, well, join the club.”
The door swung open and all four froze as the bright lights poured over them.
“River,” Gabriel Tam said, holding out his arms.
~*~
“Come in,” Regan Tam said, ushering them inside. She touched Pop’s arm but blanched when he jerked away from her as if she’d disgusted him.
“I love what you’ve done with the garden,” Ma murmured to cover Pop’s rudeness. Not that Jamey blamed him much. He’d ducked away from Mrs. Tam himself, opting to hand his jacket to the waiting maid on his own.
“Do you? I never thought you liked geraniums much, River.”
“She doesn’t,” Nettie said, flatly. “She was trying to be polite.”
There was an awkward silence and Jamey did his best not to look at Pop, who was no doubt hiding his own smirk.
“The dining room is this way,” Mrs. Tam said and then laughed nervously. “Of course you know that, you haven’t forgotten…” She stopped. “You do remember, right? They didn’t…?”
“I remember,” Ma said, nodding.
The group silently walked into the dining room and sat down at the ridiculously long table. They could fit their whole crew here and still have room for half of Nettie’s schoolmates, too.
“So, James,” Mr. Tam said, trying for false cheer that made even Mrs. Tam wince. “I understand you’re an engineer?”
“Yes, sir,” Jamey said. “It’s good, challenging work.”
“Ah, there’s your Tam blood.” Mr. Tam sat back, smiling. “Simon and River were brilliant students and loved to challenge themselves.”
Pop’s fists clenched and Ma quickly covered one of them with her hand until he relaxed.
“I’ve heard that,” Jamey said with a nod.
“Doesn’t Serenity look just like River at her age?” Mrs. Tam said, suddenly. “I took one look at her at the Ashbys’ dinner party and thought ‘That can’t be River, can it?’ I was discouraged when she told me her last name but when she got to telling me about her mother, I knew.” Mrs. Tam’s eyes got watery. “I knew.” She ducked her head, embarrassed by her sentiment.
Jamey glanced over at Nettie in time to catch her mime a retch.
“While you, young man, look just like your father,” Mr. Tam added.
“I’m well aware, sir,” Jamey said, trying not to let disdain creep into his tone. Judging by the look on Mr. Tam’s face, it hadn’t worked as well as he would have hoped.
“How long have you been friends with the Ashby girl, Serenity?” Mrs. Tam asked. “I always liked that girl. Winifred is it?”
“Not very long,” Nettie said, syrupy sweet. “When I first met her, she turned half the school against me.”
Mrs. Tam glanced at Mr. Tam as if to say Your turn. Before he could open his mouth, Pop growled, “When’s that food gonna be ready?”
“I’ll go and see what’s taking Virginia so long with the salad,” Mrs. Tam said, standing up gladly.
Mr. Tam also stood, but Jamey and Pop stayed sitting.
Once Mrs. Tam escaped to the kitchen, Mr. Tam sat back down and cleared his throat. “So, River. What’s Simon been doing with himself all these years? Still practicing medicine?”
“Yes,” River said. “He hopes that his oldest daughter will follow in his footsteps.”
Mr. Tam’s expression softened. “Simon’s had children?”
“Yes. Three of them. David, Nova, and Annabelle.”
“That’s magnificent.” Mr. Tam thought a moment. “Did they know you were-”
“Yes,” Nettie said. “They don’t want anything to do with you.”
Mr. Tam looked stung. “Well, I’m glad that you two-”
Pop looked ready to burst but Jamey beat him to it.
“Sir, understand that if we felt we had the choice, we wouldn’t be here sitting at your table tonight.” Jamey kept his tone tight and controlled. “But our mother wanted us to give you a chance, even though the thought of you abandoning her makes us feel sick. None of us wanted her to face you alone. That’s the only reason we’re here. Don’t expect us to call you Grandmother and Grandfather or send you Christmas cards or wave you once a month. I can assure you that’s never going to happen.”
Mrs. Tam returned just then, leading in a few servers who started placing bowls of salad in front of the guests. She noted her husband’s flushed face with some confusion but pasted on a smile.
“Well, here it is, Jayne dear, I hope it’s to your liking. You don’t mind if I call you Jayne, do you?”
“Yeah, I do,” Pop said.
Ma sighed and folded her napkin. “I think this is enough.” She stood up, looking disappointed. “We can leave now.”
Jamey and Nettie looked at each other guiltily. “Ma, we’re-”
“No. You two have behaved well, all things considered.” She turned to her parents. “I should’ve known you’d try to turn this into a dinner party. That’s not what I came here for and you both know that. Simon knew this would happen, that’s why he didn’t come. I’ll thank you not to contact me again and to please stay away from my children, nieces, and nephew.”
“River-” Mrs. Tam started.
“You let me know a long time ago where I stood in this family. So as you can see, I went and made my own.” She reached out and cupped Nettie’s chin in one hand, placed the other on Jamey’s shoulder. “I’d do anything for them, which is more than I can say you ever did.”
Mr. Tam slammed his hand down on the table. “River, it was the government! If we had done anything, they would’ve destroyed us. Did you honestly expect-”
“No. That’s why I wrote to Simon.” She smiled sadly. “I know you loved me, that you still do. But I also know that your love is conditional and I’m not going to subject these children to that. They deserve better. I deserved better.”
The silence was so complete they could hear the clock ticking out in the hall.
“Get your coats,” Ma said.
They stood up and nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Tam. Jamey had walked into the house hating these selfish people but now all he could manage was pity. He never realized until now how lucky they’d been to be raised on their Firefly ship, to have so much support and love in one place. These people could never understand that and would no doubt die never having it. He glanced at Nettie and saw his own complicated emotions reflected on her face.
The Cobbs let themselves out and no one said a word until they got to the gate.
“So what are we gonna do for dinner then?” Pop asked.
They all gave him stunned looks before bursting into simultaneous laughter.
~*~
The laughing family was too busy holding on to each other as they made their way down the sidewalk, arguing over which restaurant to eat at to notice the sad, elderly couple watching them from behind white lace curtains.
END
Previous < Weird, Friendless Kid : Next > Just What I Needed
Title: You Brought Me Up (10/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Everything is Joss's but the kids are mine.
Warning: RAYNEKID FIC. The central focus is NOT Rayne.
Summary: A confrontation a long time coming.
Notes: The sequel series to Songs From A Firefly. To catch up on this series, check out the Organizational Post.
You Brought Me Up
“Thought she was an independent woman, now,” Jamey grumbled on the way to the bridge. He’d been so caught up in his work in the engine room that getting pulled away was almost physically painful. “What is it?” he snapped at his sister’s image on the cortex.
Nettie looked at him solemnly. “They’ve found us.”
“I wanna know why the hell we’re doin’ this,” Pop snapped. “You don’t owe these people a gorramn thing.”
Ma slipped her arm through his. “It’s something I must do, Jayne.”
“Then how come Si-”
“We’ve each had our own experiences,” Ma said, quietly.
That shut Pop up and they all fidgeted as Ma rang the doorbell.
“Jamey?”
He stopped tugging on his tie and looked into his little sister’s big eyes. “Yeah?”
“I don’t wanna do this, either.”
“Yeah, well, join the club.”
The door swung open and all four froze as the bright lights poured over them.
“River,” Gabriel Tam said, holding out his arms.
“Come in,” Regan Tam said, ushering them inside. She touched Pop’s arm but blanched when he jerked away from her as if she’d disgusted him.
“I love what you’ve done with the garden,” Ma murmured to cover Pop’s rudeness. Not that Jamey blamed him much. He’d ducked away from Mrs. Tam himself, opting to hand his jacket to the waiting maid on his own.
“Do you? I never thought you liked geraniums much, River.”
“She doesn’t,” Nettie said, flatly. “She was trying to be polite.”
There was an awkward silence and Jamey did his best not to look at Pop, who was no doubt hiding his own smirk.
“The dining room is this way,” Mrs. Tam said and then laughed nervously. “Of course you know that, you haven’t forgotten…” She stopped. “You do remember, right? They didn’t…?”
“I remember,” Ma said, nodding.
The group silently walked into the dining room and sat down at the ridiculously long table. They could fit their whole crew here and still have room for half of Nettie’s schoolmates, too.
“So, James,” Mr. Tam said, trying for false cheer that made even Mrs. Tam wince. “I understand you’re an engineer?”
“Yes, sir,” Jamey said. “It’s good, challenging work.”
“Ah, there’s your Tam blood.” Mr. Tam sat back, smiling. “Simon and River were brilliant students and loved to challenge themselves.”
Pop’s fists clenched and Ma quickly covered one of them with her hand until he relaxed.
“I’ve heard that,” Jamey said with a nod.
“Doesn’t Serenity look just like River at her age?” Mrs. Tam said, suddenly. “I took one look at her at the Ashbys’ dinner party and thought ‘That can’t be River, can it?’ I was discouraged when she told me her last name but when she got to telling me about her mother, I knew.” Mrs. Tam’s eyes got watery. “I knew.” She ducked her head, embarrassed by her sentiment.
Jamey glanced over at Nettie in time to catch her mime a retch.
“While you, young man, look just like your father,” Mr. Tam added.
“I’m well aware, sir,” Jamey said, trying not to let disdain creep into his tone. Judging by the look on Mr. Tam’s face, it hadn’t worked as well as he would have hoped.
“How long have you been friends with the Ashby girl, Serenity?” Mrs. Tam asked. “I always liked that girl. Winifred is it?”
“Not very long,” Nettie said, syrupy sweet. “When I first met her, she turned half the school against me.”
Mrs. Tam glanced at Mr. Tam as if to say Your turn. Before he could open his mouth, Pop growled, “When’s that food gonna be ready?”
“I’ll go and see what’s taking Virginia so long with the salad,” Mrs. Tam said, standing up gladly.
Mr. Tam also stood, but Jamey and Pop stayed sitting.
Once Mrs. Tam escaped to the kitchen, Mr. Tam sat back down and cleared his throat. “So, River. What’s Simon been doing with himself all these years? Still practicing medicine?”
“Yes,” River said. “He hopes that his oldest daughter will follow in his footsteps.”
Mr. Tam’s expression softened. “Simon’s had children?”
“Yes. Three of them. David, Nova, and Annabelle.”
“That’s magnificent.” Mr. Tam thought a moment. “Did they know you were-”
“Yes,” Nettie said. “They don’t want anything to do with you.”
Mr. Tam looked stung. “Well, I’m glad that you two-”
Pop looked ready to burst but Jamey beat him to it.
“Sir, understand that if we felt we had the choice, we wouldn’t be here sitting at your table tonight.” Jamey kept his tone tight and controlled. “But our mother wanted us to give you a chance, even though the thought of you abandoning her makes us feel sick. None of us wanted her to face you alone. That’s the only reason we’re here. Don’t expect us to call you Grandmother and Grandfather or send you Christmas cards or wave you once a month. I can assure you that’s never going to happen.”
Mrs. Tam returned just then, leading in a few servers who started placing bowls of salad in front of the guests. She noted her husband’s flushed face with some confusion but pasted on a smile.
“Well, here it is, Jayne dear, I hope it’s to your liking. You don’t mind if I call you Jayne, do you?”
“Yeah, I do,” Pop said.
Ma sighed and folded her napkin. “I think this is enough.” She stood up, looking disappointed. “We can leave now.”
Jamey and Nettie looked at each other guiltily. “Ma, we’re-”
“No. You two have behaved well, all things considered.” She turned to her parents. “I should’ve known you’d try to turn this into a dinner party. That’s not what I came here for and you both know that. Simon knew this would happen, that’s why he didn’t come. I’ll thank you not to contact me again and to please stay away from my children, nieces, and nephew.”
“River-” Mrs. Tam started.
“You let me know a long time ago where I stood in this family. So as you can see, I went and made my own.” She reached out and cupped Nettie’s chin in one hand, placed the other on Jamey’s shoulder. “I’d do anything for them, which is more than I can say you ever did.”
Mr. Tam slammed his hand down on the table. “River, it was the government! If we had done anything, they would’ve destroyed us. Did you honestly expect-”
“No. That’s why I wrote to Simon.” She smiled sadly. “I know you loved me, that you still do. But I also know that your love is conditional and I’m not going to subject these children to that. They deserve better. I deserved better.”
The silence was so complete they could hear the clock ticking out in the hall.
“Get your coats,” Ma said.
They stood up and nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Tam. Jamey had walked into the house hating these selfish people but now all he could manage was pity. He never realized until now how lucky they’d been to be raised on their Firefly ship, to have so much support and love in one place. These people could never understand that and would no doubt die never having it. He glanced at Nettie and saw his own complicated emotions reflected on her face.
The Cobbs let themselves out and no one said a word until they got to the gate.
“So what are we gonna do for dinner then?” Pop asked.
They all gave him stunned looks before bursting into simultaneous laughter.
The laughing family was too busy holding on to each other as they made their way down the sidewalk, arguing over which restaurant to eat at to notice the sad, elderly couple watching them from behind white lace curtains.
END
Previous < Weird, Friendless Kid : Next > Just What I Needed
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-11-18 08:40 am (UTC)Love the kids polite, honest, disdain. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-11-18 06:45 pm (UTC)The Cobbs have been through so much together, I think it's hard for them to wrap their minds around there being people like the Tams. Daughters aren't expendable, sons aren't supposed to be disowned when they do the right thing, and parents are supposed to be with you every step of the way.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-18 06:52 pm (UTC)*wimpers*
spooky
no subject
Date: 2006-11-18 06:58 pm (UTC)