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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 22:50:06 GMT -5
Thatcher was insantly relieved not to find his daughter, but it was replaced a moment later with a deep, deep frown.
There stood a woman, crying, whom he did not know, telling his baby brother that she was pregnant. His eyes slowly and dangerously raked to Zachary.
"Is she California?" He asked. "Is she what you left?!"
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Post by Tanya Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 23:08:19 GMT -5
Tanya knew that Thatcher would generally handle the situation for the moment, but that didn't mean she wouldn't step if if he failed to handle it to her satisfaction. But she used the moment to try to assess the situation, especially the girl. Her eyes narrowed over the woman's head however directly aimed at Zach. If he'd gotten this girl pregnant... he was going to marry her and that was the end of discussion as far as she was concerned. She looked over once towards Justin who seemed to have a smirk on his face as if he was enjoying Zach's attention. She made a mental note to make him next on her list if he seemed to be enjoying this so much. But her attention quickly refocused onto the girl and her brother, Zach. It was not a look you wanted to see on Tanya's face.
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Post by Zachary Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 23:18:35 GMT -5
When the door opened and Thatcher, followed by Tanya and Justin, all poured into the room, Zachary desperately wished he could crawl under the floorboards. Perfect. This night was just getting better and better.
He had always been the mystery in the family; no one ever knew what he did or what he got into while he was away on one of his long trips. This was easily the first time they had ever come face to face with anything that he'd done. And while he was sure they knew his activities weren't exactly on the up and up, this had to be quite a shock to them. The murderous look on Tanya's face said it all.
He slowly turned his eyes to his brother. "Thatch, I..." He sighed. "Look, this is a private matter between the lady and myself, OK? Please.... I'll try to explain later."
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 23:22:49 GMT -5
Thatcher looked towards 'the lady,' then back at Zachary and closed the door to the library. The girl made a miserable noise, as if she knew this was coming, and she sank back into the chair.
"Oh, you don't need to explain. I think the situation is very clear, and it is definitely not a private matter. This just became a family matter."
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Post by Zachary Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 23:40:07 GMT -5
Damn, sometimes he hated his family. It was the reason he stayed away so often; they were so controlling and stifling sometimes. He needed to talk to Susie alone, without all the interference. He needed to know what Taylor had done to her. If the bastard had laid a finger on her without her permission, he was going straight to California and kill him. That was not a part of their deal.
"She doesn't know for sure if it's mine. She's engaged to another man, and we... we had an affair. I didn't know about the baby when I left, or I swear, I would have stayed." Zachary looked at Thatcher pleadingly. "Please... the situation is complicated. Let me finish talking things out with her first."
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Post by Tanya Scotts on Oct 15, 2008 23:59:27 GMT -5
Tanya decided to speak up at that moment, she was not about to be dismissed just because her brother wanted to be an idiot.. of course.. though she might be the youngest of them.. she was also the most severe. "Zachary Scotts, I don't care what the complications are in your little situation here. But I can assure you that this is entirely a family matter that we will not be dismissed from. You had an affair and now possibly a child with a woman who is engaged to another man. You can be certain I'll find out who's baby that is first of all. Second of all, if it is a Scotts baby, you will take responsibility for it here, not in California. And for once in your foolish life you will show some respect to the Scotts name and grow up and be a man."
She turned her attention to the girl. "What is your name?" She was all hard ice and blazing fire in that moment and would not hesitate to do something if necessary and her tone said it all.
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Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 16, 2008 0:04:31 GMT -5
Susie wanted to scream at all of them. Her life was in California and if she wanted her baby to be in California, regardless of whose it was, damn it, she would raise it in California. She wanted to yell at them all to get out, to leave her the hell alone. She wanted to throw up.
Resigned, however, she said, "My name is Suzette Rousseau. I'm sure it's a name you'll approve of... you brother can at least pick influencial families. Can I get a glass of water?"
Her heart was still pounding and she was still crying, a little. "And would it be at all possible for me to just discuss this with Zachary before anyone else starts worrying? It might not even be his."
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Post by Zachary Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:05:18 GMT -5
Zachary pressed his lips together tightly. Tanya's tone brooked no argument. He had no further choice in the matter; his family was involved, and that was that. It would only be a matter of time now before they found out about the money.
He looked at Susie, who was still trying to hide her face. He wanted to tell her so much, but, thanks to his family's intrusion, he couldn't say a word. He tried to communicate his feelings through his eyes, but she wasn't looking.
"I'll get you some water," he said quickly, seizing on a temporary escape.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:09:58 GMT -5
Justin beat him to the door. "I'll get the water, don't worry Zach. I wouldn't want you to miss anything." He vanished into the kitchen to get the water from Tibby with a smirk on his face as soon as his back was turned.
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Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 16, 2008 0:13:32 GMT -5
Susie was thankful for Justin then, even though sh knew he was doing it to be cruel to his brother. It wasn't fair that Zach thought he could keep running away.
"Can you both please go?" She asked, her attention on Thatcher and Tanya. Her voice was broken. She was so tired, and she didn't know how to do this.
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Post by Tanya Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:16:52 GMT -5
Tanya looked directly at the girl, "No. If you have something to say I suggest you get used to saying in front of us. You will not be leaving this room I assure you until this is resolved one way or another." The alternative was not pretty and Tanya would enjoy it just as much, but she was sure Zach and Suzie would not.
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:21:41 GMT -5
"Wait a second, Tanya," Thatcher said. "I agree, we're not leaving, but we should start over. The girl is obviously scared, and I think she's right. The first order of business is to find out whose child she is carrying. There's no need to put her through this if it's not Zachary's."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:23:00 GMT -5
Justin came back a few moments later with a cup of water for Suzie. He took it to her and despite himself he felt sorry for the woman. And for some reason found himself being gentle and sat nearby the girl was looking a little pale and he was concerned.
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Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 16, 2008 0:25:47 GMT -5
In a flash of anger towards a woman she didn't know, Susie stood up, ready to yell at her, when Justin came back. It silenced her, and she stared at the glass of water for a moment.
Her vision was swimming and she couldn't breathe. She reached out for the water.
As soon as it was in her hand, her vision went black and she dropped the water, shattering the glass on the floor as her body started to follow.
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Post by Tanya Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:30:29 GMT -5
Tanya had been about to agree to let Thatcher take over the conversation when she saw the girl fall. Her healers instincts kicked in immediately, the situation momentarily pushed away. She wasn't going to let anything happen to that fool girl while she might possibly be carrying a Scotts in her womb. She quickly reacted going to her, her wand already out to evaluate her condition and do what she could to help revive the girl if she had no other injuries.
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Post by Zachary Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:32:53 GMT -5
"Susie!" Zachary yelled as she tumbled toward the floor. He moved quickly to her and grabbed her just before her head hit the floor. "Damn it, do you see what you've done? She's in a delicate condition and she's exhausted. All of you swarming around her like vultures... it's no wonder she passed out."
He lifted her up into his arms. As he did, he noticed a large red gash oozing blood on her hand. "And she's bleeding. Help me get her upstairs to lie down. Then I promise, we'll talk about this, between us. There's no need to subject her to any more of this until she's feeling stronger."
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:39:35 GMT -5
Thatcher stayed put while both Tanya and Zach rushed forward. It was only when Zach wanted to get her upstairs that he moved at all.
"I would offer to levitate her... but I don't think you would let me. I trust you can carry her?"
He was still thinking about this, and yes, he needed to talk to Zach, and Tanya would want to be there as well. As they took the girl upstairs and laid her down on Thane's bed, which Zach had been using, he looked to his sister.
"Tanya, see to her please. Make sure the child is all right. Justin," he said, raising his eyebrows then at his son. "I don't want her to panic if she wakes up alone... stay with her, please." It was not a question but a demand that his son should know better than to deny.
"Zach, when Tanya is finished, we will go downstairs and you will explain this to us."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 0:45:01 GMT -5
Justin knew better than to argue, as much as he wanted to hear what happened with his uncle. But he also knew when to listen to his father. "Of course, Father." He found a chair and sat down, he might as well make himself comfortable if he was going to be stuck here for a while. Though he had to admit he actually didn't mind staying for the woman. He felt his family sense of protectiveness towards the unborn child and hoped everything would be okay.
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Post by Tanya Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 1:05:35 GMT -5
Tanya nodded that it was safe to at least take her up the stairs and then followed them to the room as the woman was placed gently on the bed by Zach. As soon as Zach moved out of her way she began stopping the bleeding to heal the wounds. Luckily none of them were deep and there was no glass shards remaining in her skin. There would be no scars with her healing skills. "Justin go get my spare medical bag from the bathroom closet. I need some potions from it."
Justin got back out of his chair and disappeared for a few moments while Tanya cast a few spells to diagnose the woman and make sure the baby was safe and alive. It seemed like the woman had merely fainted though she did need a blood replenishing potion. The baby seemed to be doing perfectly fine but the mother was a bit weak even for fainting. Obviously the girl wasn't eating well the past week or two. As soon as she woke up she'd need to eat something, but for now she cast a few spells to help the girl's condition. She would be fine but tired and a bit weak for a few hours. When Justin returned with her bag, she measured a dose of two potions. She lifted the woman's head and poured them expertly down the woman's throat without making her choke in her unconscious state.
Soon the girl was breathing easier, she was asleep now. Tanya stood up, grateful the men had at least let her work without getting in the way. She turned to face Zach and Thatcher. "She'll be fine now, she's just sleeping. The baby will be okay as well. She hasn't eaten very well lately and as soon as she wakes she'll need to eat. Right now though she just needs some rest." She saw Zach's worried face and her expression softened at her brother, it looked as if he actually cared about the woman or the baby, though she suspected possibly both. "Zach, she'll be fine. But she does need to stay here a few days at least. She hasn't been taking as good of care of herself as she should have been and she'll need to recover." She was being completely honest and she sighed softly, the love for her family evident despite her anger earlier.
"Justin keep an eye on her for me. If she wakes up send one of the house elves to let us know and have Tibby bring up something for her to eat, if she's craving something try to have Tibby get her that. She has an Iron deficiency and I wouldn't be surprised if she has a few cravings because of it." She turned back to Thatcher.
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Oct 16, 2008 3:56:45 GMT -5
Thatcher frowned. She should have been eating better. But then, hadn't someone said that virtually no one knew she was pregnant? Eating more might have alerted them, whoever "them" was.
He sighed. "Thank you, Justin. Zachary, come on." he nodded his head and proceeded to lead his siblings back downstairs.
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