[Which in some ways is a boon she hadn't known she needed. Shep was the next child born, so a sibling she could bond with, unlike Kai who seemed to want to take over the world from birth. Shep was also the body they never found, but given how viscerally some of the damage Kai did was done, they weren't sure if they would, and when he never reappeared ...
Well.]
I hate to cut things short, but do you think we could take this research back to the East Coast?
[She really wants to see her brother, and she wants to be ready as soon as he's ready to see her.]
I know. But I also know you've been enjoying your time with Jeremy, even if he and Dawn might be ready to be rid of their indefinite house guests.
[She says that warmly, because she knows that if they were sick of them, they would have said so. And with Dawn planning to return to Scotland for a bit, they probably would have been leaving soon anyway.]
I appreciate it. I'd like for Shep to have a chance to meet the girls, but even if he decides not to come, it'll be good to have all of us under one roof anyway.
[No pressure for Shep, but still quality family time for the Parkers that they don't get often, given that they are oft flung to far corners of the country these days.]
( is she worried he really wouldn't? he doesn't know everything about their family. he does know the gory details. but he's learned her siblings as they've cropped up. )
We don't, ( Jo's phone vibrates, indicating that she's been added to a new group chat. Geminis Do it Best and then another vibration indicating a shared contact. ) but it doesn't sound like he retreated away from your brother and sister, just that they got caught up in his work. It's likely, he returned to that work. Maybe it wouldn't hurt, reaching out first.
[She raises the glass, before heading back to their room to start looking for flights. She finishes the glass, but still decides to wait to send the text.
Maybe Shep isn't the only one who might need a minute to breathe. But later that night, when the flights are booked and Ric is asleep she sends a brief, simple:]
Hey.
[He can respond whenever he's ready. But with that, she rolls over and goes to sleep.]
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he pushes himself to standing )
Not Liv and Luke. Another sibling survived? Who?
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[Which in some ways is a boon she hadn't known she needed. Shep was the next child born, so a sibling she could bond with, unlike Kai who seemed to want to take over the world from birth. Shep was also the body they never found, but given how viscerally some of the damage Kai did was done, they weren't sure if they would, and when he never reappeared ...
Well.]
I hate to cut things short, but do you think we could take this research back to the East Coast?
[She really wants to see her brother, and she wants to be ready as soon as he's ready to see her.]
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alaric crosses to the doorway, leaving his research behind him. )
We can go anywhere you want. The hunters are no longer after you, and if you want to go back, I know Caroline will appreciate if I'm right behind you.
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[She says that warmly, because she knows that if they were sick of them, they would have said so. And with Dawn planning to return to Scotland for a bit, they probably would have been leaving soon anyway.]
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( he agrees, too. )
He has a life to get back to. I'm sure there's a job around the corner.
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[She really does appreciate it.]
Also, I may have pitched a Parker Family Thanksgiving to Luke and Liv so if you talk to the girls, try to convince them to come home for Thanksgiving?
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( anything for her. anything. )
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[No pressure for Shep, but still quality family time for the Parkers that they don't get often, given that they are oft flung to far corners of the country these days.]
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( is she worried he really wouldn't? he doesn't know everything about their family. he does know the gory details. but he's learned her siblings as they've cropped up. )
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[Which she's not angry about, but is a little sad about.]
I just don't want to pressure him if he's not ready to be family again. We don't know what he's been through between when I last saw him and now.
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( at least with a hello. )
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[She holds up her hand with her phone in it.]
I just got added to the group chat. But I don't want to plan too far in advance.
[Even if it is only three weeks to Thanksgiving. It's not like she's planning three months.]
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( whatever she wants. )
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[She takes a deep breath.]
Just nervous, I guess. It's been almost forty years.
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( it's highly likely. )
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[She'll probably wait until they're back on the East Coast regardless, but she will do it.]
Anyway. I'm going to go look for flights. I'll let you get back to your history rabbit hole.
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( which, before she goes, he will pour her a nice glass of something old and stiff. )
For courage.
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[She raises the glass, before heading back to their room to start looking for flights. She finishes the glass, but still decides to wait to send the text.
Maybe Shep isn't the only one who might need a minute to breathe. But later that night, when the flights are booked and Ric is asleep she sends a brief, simple:]
Hey.
[He can respond whenever he's ready. But with that, she rolls over and goes to sleep.]