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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 17, 2008 0:46:41 GMT -5
Justin was not at all anxious to get home. He had a pretty good idea what kind of wrath would be awaiting him there, and he was in no hurry to face it. He felt that he had done the right thing, but he was pretty sure that his father and Tanya would not see it that way.
So, instead of heading home right away, he decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron to meet with Jadon. Now that his cousin was somewhat involved in the situation, he felt he owed it to him to tell him what was going on.
He walked into the Leaky Cauldron and ordered a firewhiskey, then took his drink to a table in the corner. Hopefully, Jadon would be able to spot him from here.
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 17, 2008 2:43:59 GMT -5
Jadon spotted him easily, actually, when he made an excuse to his parents and slipped out of the house.
He came up next to his cousin and ordered a drink before he just looked at Justin. "Well, let's start from the beginning."
He had a lot of questions. Why Zach wasn't the one to drop her off. Why Zach had a pregnant bird chasing him in the first place... wasn't he usually a lot cleaner about the sort of thing? Most importantly, why the hell was Justin getting involved? He kept quiet, though, trusting that Justin would answer all his questions in his explaination.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 17, 2008 15:20:25 GMT -5
Justin didn't answer for a minute. He took a sip from his drink and avoided looking in his cousin's eyes. Although he trusted Jadon, he wasn't quite sure how much of this he could really share with him. After all, it wasn't actually his secret. And his father would be livid if he found out that anyone outside of those who already were acquainted with the situation had been involved. But then, the fact that he'd managed to sneak Susie out of the hospital was more than enough reason for his father to be furious with him. Might as well go all out, right?
Fixing his gaze back on Jadon, he sighed. "OK, first of all? What I am about to tell you does not leave this room. No one else can know about it, is that clear?"
He didn't wait for an answer. "Zach came home about a week ago... just appeared out of nowhere. You know how he is. He wouldn't talk about where he'd been or what he;d been doing... just a vague mention of not going back to California. But tonight, California came to him. As far as I can tell, he actually fell in love with her. But she was engaged to someone else. He left town after some messy affair involving a lost bet... and now she's here and she's pregnant."
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 17, 2008 15:25:52 GMT -5
Jadon raised an eyebrow. His initial thoughts about the woman weren't favorable, but he said nothing for the moment about that. If Justin wanted to help her, he obviously saw more than an American slag.
"So why is she chasing Zach? I mean, no offense, but you said it yourself. You know how he is. If he left her, wouldn't it just be easier to let the fiance believe it's his?"
Love never really entered the equation. He had a hard time believing anyone in a lust driven affair was ever really in love.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 17, 2008 15:33:33 GMT -5
Justin shrugged. "Maybe so, but I get the impression she's not all that fond of her fiance. Based on the comments from both her and from Zach, I gather he's not a nice guy."
he took another sip from his drink. "I've never seen my uncle act this way, to be honest. He's used women and thrown them away like parchment paper. But he's acting very different with this one. She means something to him."
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 17, 2008 15:38:29 GMT -5
Jadon was silent for a moment, thinking things over.
"I'm trying really hard not to pass judgement on her, since I said maybe two words to her, and I'm trying to imagine one of my sisters in her situation... but I'm really curious, Justin. I know you, too... why are you getting involved?"
Imagine Fee, he told himself, arranged to be married to someone she didn't like. The girl would be miserable, and she would still want to fall in love. What if she were pregnant... he shook his head. Fee would come to him, end of story. He would help her. Or Kassia or Allaire, for that matter, but those two... he sighed.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 17, 2008 15:48:30 GMT -5
Justin swallowed a little more of his drink. "I was there when she showed up. I gave her a hard time at first, like anyone would. But she asked for my help in finding Zach... he'd gone out for the evening. Initially, it was more about just watching my uncle squirm a little... you know, he's always been so calm and cool. But then... just like you, I started picturing my sister in the same situation. And then I felt sorry for her." He gave a short laugh. "Zach, however, is a complete prat."
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 17, 2008 16:08:54 GMT -5
Jadon nodded... sisters changed nearly any situation when you pictured them in it.
"I imagine Tanya and Thatch aren't taking it very well. That alone almost makes you feel sorry for the woman. So what happens if it is Zachary's baby?" And why would the woman sleep with a man she didn't like? Still, he would try not to pass judgement.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 17, 2008 17:03:12 GMT -5
Justin shook his head. "No... they're not pleased. Tanya wanted to do the test right away. As in, before we left for the hospital. But Zach took her to the hospital, anyway... they did the test, but the results were inconclusive." He sighed and took a gulp from his drink, finishing it. "She was supposed to stay overnight at the hospital, and have the test done again in the morning, but she's undernourished and weak.... Zach wants her to wait until she has the test, so I agreed to help get her out of there. There was no way my dad and aunt were going to let him out of their sights."
Leaning forward, he looked at Jadon carefully. "I'm not sure I did the right thing... going behind my dad's back like that. When I get back and tell them she's not in the hospital any more, I'm pretty sure Aunt Tanya's going to kill me. At the time, it seemed like a good idea... protecting the baby. The girl's been under so much stress in a short period of time, and I don't want anything to happen to the baby, in case it's Zach's."
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 17, 2008 17:24:36 GMT -5
Jadon raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Right. And it's nothing to do with not wanting the girl to get hurt? You could have ust put her out and done the test again, you know." Under his rough exterior, Justin had soft spots... Jadon knew and understood the one for Gwen... he had one for his sisters as well.
He ordered another drink for Justin. "If Tanya doesn't murder you, Thatcher will. You know how his about keeping the image of the family and all that. I don't know what to tell you, though. There's really no way out of it."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2008 0:02:46 GMT -5
Justin sighed. He and Jadon knew each other pretty well, so of course, his cousin could see right through him. "Yeah... OK. I'll admit... I rather like the girl. In fact, it's a lucky thing that Zachary actually seems to have feelings for the girl, otherwise I'd almost be tempted to marry her myself. Don't get me wrong," he added quickly, "I'm not in love with her. I'm perfectly happy to let Zach have her. But if he did as he usually did and took off instead of making an honest woman of her, I would do it. Just to make sure that baby stays in the Scotts family. But I do care for the girl."
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 18, 2008 0:07:31 GMT -5
Jadon smiled. "And how much of this got explained to Derek? Cuz he's a great guy, but if he didn't know what happened... well, he can be brutal too."
He shouldn't have said anything. The girl needed a place to stay, and it was either Derek or... who else wouldn't say anything? Ursula, maybe, but she wasn't exactly on the up and up with the family.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you out more. We would have taken her if there wasn't that dinner, you know."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2008 15:10:17 GMT -5
Justin waved a barmaid over to bring him a refill of his drink. "I might have dropped her off a little abruptly," he said. "But even he couldn't turn her away. Not without a really good reason. But in bringing up Derek, it occurred to me I also could have brought her to Edmund Fairfax. He's one of Zach's oldest friends, and even though I don't know the guy too well, I do know where he lives. His estate is so big it has its own postal code. But Derek seemed OK with it... I didn't think Susie wanted to wander anymore tonight. And this way she'll be close when Zach or I go to get her."
The barmaid returned with the drink, and he winked at her before waving her along. Pausing to take a drink, he eyed Jadon carefully. "This has the potential to get ugly, you know, if anyone finds out about any of this. Do I have your word that this won't get out?"
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 23, 2008 2:02:36 GMT -5
Jadn shook his head. "No, it's better that she went to Derek," he reasoned. "We don't really want anyone outside of family getting wind of this, do we?"
To that effect, he raised an eyebrow at Justin. "You know very well that I'm not going to tell anyone. The Scotts are as good as Burkes, in my book. You're family, Justin."
And family looked out for their own. The Burkes, Scotts, and Webbs were like a mafia family almost... if you messed with one, the whole clan came down on you. Which was why they were being so hard on the pregnant woman... she was tampering with one of their own.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 25, 2008 16:49:57 GMT -5
"I just had to make sure. After all, if someone like Cygnus Black found out, it would be just like him to exploit it as a way of making his branch of the family tree look better. And Zach's reputation isn't really all that great to begin with, so it wouldn't be hard for someone to exploit something like this and make it look even worse than it is."
Shaking his head, he set down his glass and looked at Jadon seriously. "Honestly, it's just like Uncle Zach to blow into town with a fresh batch of controversy. I swear... every family's got their black sheep... except yours, that is. How are your beautiful, perfect sisters doing?"
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Post by Jadon Burke on Nov 27, 2008 2:36:29 GMT -5
Jadon let his friend and cousin change the subject, though he frowned. "You know, I think Andromeda and Zack and Ursula and her daughter... they're all enough Black sheep to make up for the Burkes not having one." Honestly, between them all, it was a wonder any of the families were still held in relatively good name. "And should I be so bold as to point out Gwen, or Timothy, or Thane?" Or was that all too close to home for Justin?
"Anyway, the girls are all doing well. All in twitters about some dance at the school. As it turns out, I'm going to be escorting Kassia."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 21, 2008 2:27:00 GMT -5
Justin's lips quirked up in a half-smile. "Yes... the dance. I'll actually be escorting Gwen, as it happens. I guess that means I'll see you there." He frowned at the thought of Gwen, Timothy, and Thane. He actually had some hope for Thane, who was at least dating a proper pureblood. Timothy was another matter, and it concerned him. Timothy needed to learn how to hold his tongue.
But Justin was most worried about Gwen. He adored his only sister and he feared what would become of her. She was strong, and intelligent, and independent. He feared his father would attempt to marry her off to someone who would crush that independent spirit of hers and make her miserable. He knew that was what he was supposed to hope for, but he couldn't bear to see his sister become some empty, vapid society princess, with no purpose but to look pretty. That kind of life might be perfectly acceptable to someone like Ophelia Burke, but Gwen would die a slow death if forced to live like that.
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Post by Jadon Burke on Dec 23, 2008 4:02:02 GMT -5
Jadon laughed. "Oh, our sisters have us wrapped around their fingers, don't they?" It was true. He knew Justin would do nearly anything for Gwen, as he would for Kass, Fee, or Allaire.
"I only worry when they start to figure out who we work for," He commented lightly. That had been weighing on him for a while. He wouldn't be surprised if Allaire already knew, and it would only be a matter of time before Kass figured it out. Gwen, too, was smart, and would figure out Justin given the right clues.
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