A Father's Worries (James, Open)

[Sheryl Montgomery]

Sheryl was patient and quiet, waiting for the other two to leave, and she nodded and waved politely.

Three beats after they had left, she turned back to Edward, a serious look on her face.

"Okay. Now tell me what's going on with my children."

[Edward Montgomery]

Edward smiled then stood and crossed the distance to his wife gently placing a kiss on her forehead, " There's been trouble at the school." he told her honestly. " The girls are safe, and Caleb will be watching over them I'm sure." Christine was just as much one of Sheryl's children as Samantha and Caleb were. That was just the sort of person Sheryl was, she had a deep affinity for family, at least he had known her to love them all, and that love, that overwhelming generosity for others had only made her more beautiful in his eyes, not that she wasn't incredibly gorgeous to begin with.

He pulled her gently into his arms then at a chair he settled her on his lap.

[Lillian Montgomery]

He didn't have to wait long, as soon as they were out the door Lillian slammed him with the same questions Sheryl had asked, with her own twist of course " What's really going on James? Is Christine in trouble? Hurt?"

[James Montgomery]

James almost laughed, and would have if he hadn't been so worried himself.

"Relax, Lils. Christine is fine... she is not hurt, and not in trouble, though I'm sure she's doing everything she can to remedy the latter. There was... trouble at the school, but Christine was not involved."

For once.

[Sheryl Montgomery]

Sheryl let Edward manuver her, but the worried look in her eyes didn't go away.

"What kind of trouble, Edward?" She asked. If there was even the slightest chance that her kids were in danger, she wanted to know about it. "Was it a one time thing, or is it something that could happen again?"

[Edward Montgomery]

" A one time thing." he said with conviction, " And the school is taking all preventive measures as well as security check's Caleb and Sam are fine. Caleb's a fine boy, and very capable he'll keep Sam and Christine safe you know that." he assured her.

[Lillian Montgomery]

"So what happened-exactly- then?" she asked less worried now that James had told her Christine was not involved. She knew her daughter was highly capable of course, but it was a mother's prerogative especially with a daughter like Christine, to be worried.

[Sheryl Montgomery]

Sheryl raised an eyebrow. "All right, Edward. What happened?"

She was careful to only ask one question so that he couldn't overlook it. She had faith in her son that he could take care of the girls. Merlin knew Caleb had taken care of her a couple of times when she had needed him. But it was still her perogative to worry.

[James Montgomery]

James shrugged. He needed to be as vague as possible here so that Lilian wouldn't panic or worry more than was necessary... or as much as he was.

"I'm a little fuzzy on the details. One of the students went missing... I don't know. But the school is taking a lot of security and preventative measures. Word has it, there are or will be several Aurors in place. And we have Sheryl's son there to watch Christine and Sam."

[Lillian Montgomery]

"You're hiding something James I know you are." she said her hands moving towards her hips as she turned to face him, "You know I'll find out what it is, so tell me now before I worry even more than I need to, it can't be worse than not knowing exactly what's happening." she eyed him, " A girl is missing..kidnapped? Runaway? What? Why would they bring Aurors? Who was the girl?" she asked everything rapidfire.

[Edward Montgomery]

Edward sighed ran a hand through his hair and turned away from her, how did a man tell the woman he loved something that would inevitably cause worry and heartache? His jaw clenching he laid the rest of the story out for Sheryl but still couldn't face her, it was hard to admit that something so horrible could happen to a student, and that their own children might be in danger.

[James Montgomery]

"Whoa, slow down," James said. "I don't know who the girl was... Katie, I think, was her name. She was no one important, really... I mean, she was important to someone, but you know what I mean. They're just bringing in Aurors to assure that none of the other students go missing."

There was absolutely no need to tell her that the girl had been murdered. No need.

[Sheryl Montgomery]

Sheryl caught her breath, but it was watching Edward worry that caused her not to panic and demand that Sam and Caleb both be brought home.

It could have been Sam, was all she could think, and she needed to take a breath before she moved to her husband and took him in her arms. "It will be all right. Caleb will watch over the girls, and I'm sure the school is doing everything they can to prevent another."

[Edward Montgomery]

Edward pulled her closer and held her tighter, " I love you." he said, for everything she was, she kept him steady, he wouldn't have had the strength to deny her were she to demand that the kids be sent home and now she was giving him a chance to find some way of fixing this, Dear Godric he prayed that he didn't fail. He nodded, " Caleb's a fine man, he'll be able to protect the girls." he agreed, certain of that fact, "I don't think the girls are a target however." he said into her hair, "Whoever was behind the attack, went for a relatively unknown girl... that poor family.." he shook his head, " if there's one thing to take comfort in however...I don't think anyone's brave enough to go against this family." he told her rubbing her arms lightly, " We'll find ways to protect them."

[Lillian Montgomery]

Lillian's stomach churned Christine went looking for danger, so the chances of her getting in trouble were doubled. She shook her head not calmed at all, " I thought we sent her to school so she'd be safe." she said but not really to James, rather just to herself. If anything happened to Christine she would blame herself for pressuring James to get Christine to go to school in the first place. What was falling out of boats compared to getting kidnapped?

[James Montgomery]

James shook his head. "She is safe. And we know where she is. Lils, I've never liked Chris out there, much less our daughter. I feel more comfortable with her at school... and the security now is so high that nothing could happen to her."

He was trying to convince himself as much as her, but he truly didn't ant her to worry.

[Sheryl Montgomery]

"I know we will," Sheryl said, nodding, but inwardly chewing the inside of her lip. Her stomach was doing flips because she was worried about her children.

But she had faith in her husband, and faith in Caleb.

"They'll be okay. I trust you."

[Lillian Montgomery]

Lillian felt an uncommon bond between her and her daughter. The way a mother knew when their child was in danger even if they were miles apart. Lillian had many nights just "knowing" something was wrong. The smallest scrape here or there, that once again Christine had managed through, nearly sent Lillian into cardiac arrest a few times.

But having such a difficult pregnancy and birth it was as if Lillian had infused her own lifeforce with her daughter.

Taking a deep breath she nodded trying to worry less, " You're right..." she sighed, " And...after all it is Christine." she said smiling faintly, if there was one thing Christine knew better than finding trouble, it was finding her way out of it.

[Edward Montgomery]

He pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head, " Thank you." it was her trust that he needed, her faith in him that made him feel like a man. Where Marrion had destroyed, Sheryl built, and she was building a foundation of strength slowly but surely in his own heart once more.