Hector pulled up to Diane's small house, which already had a yard full of cars. "Looks like I'm relegated to the
backyard for some chaos." He said with a chuckle as he maneuvered between cars to find a good 'parking' space
away from the known drinkers. Last thing he wanted was something happening to his bike.
He took off his helmet and looked at her. "Okay, ready to go in?" He said, phrasing it like it was a combat zone rather
than a family gathering.
She laughed softly as she pulled off her helmet, running a hand through her hair to do the best she could at settling it
back into place. Looking at Hector with a crooked smile. He sounded, somehow, even more braced up about this than
she felt. And that helped her own nerves a great deal. Smooth, she slid off the bike and left her pack there.
It couldn't be as bad as they were both tensing for. Truly. She'd probably feel silly about how nervous she was now by
the end of everything. Yeah?
"Depends." She told him straight faced as she came around in front of him so she could step close and slip her arms
around his shoulders. "Is the extraction team ready if we send up a distress flare?" Then she exhaled with a soft smile
and rested her forehead against his. "We'll be fine." She murmured. "A little food, a little interrogation, a little
remodeling landscaping for the kids, and then we'll go." She touched her lips softly to his. "Yeah?"
"Deal." Hector said and kissed her forehead then took her hand. "Come on, let's go face the masses." They entered
the house, which was pretty full, and had people already spilling into the backyard. He looked and didn't see his
father right away, Pete must have picked up a keg as a 'christening gift.'
Sara came over, the only one to not have greeted her brother at the christening, there wasn't time nor room there.
Not that there was much room here!
"You are a bastard." She said with laughter as she hugged her taller brother tightly. The youngest, she was also the
littlest, and still bore some traces of childhood, rosy cheeks and baby fat that was quickly melting away to give way to
adulthood.
"Really?" He asked hugging her back.
"Yes." She said firmly with wide eyes. "You didn't bring gumbo."
"Doesn't travel on the bike that well." He said with a chuckle. "Sara, this is Andi. Andi, my baby sister Sara."
Sara hadn't missed the staring or the speculative looks directed this new girl's way. Hell, she'd sent her own share.
Since when did Hector have a girl he thought was crazy enough to meet his family? But he was holding her hand...
and she was taller than her... so Sara gave her a smile. The others would scout her out and see if she was worthy of
their big brother. Sara was just glad Hector was here and knew from experience to milk it for all it was worth while the
opportunity was there. So when Andi offered a smile and her 'hello' - and my, wasn't that an accent you could hang a
hat on - Sara just smiled back and returned the greeting.
Hey! Maybe they'd all be so interested in the newbie they'd stop asking her about when she was going to pick a
college!
"So, come on." She linked her arm through Hector's free arm and drew them both toward the porch out back. "Dad
and Pete are still MIA and everyone's just kind of helping themselves to the food. Did you bring me anything nice?"
She teased. Just the same way she always did. Because Hector NEVER shopped and probably wasn't around places
that sold things regularly anyway.
Andi kept her hand in Hector's and looked around as they walked. It was a good thing he didn't mind leading because
it always let her sightsee without worrying about walking into anything. Sara seemed more interested in her brother
and that was wonderful to Andi. There was the adult murmur of voices outside and the sounds of children laughing
and let loose too. Really, she told herself, she was worrying over nothing.
And then she saw Beth standing close to Cassie and Dee and talking, hand gestures restrained and sharp.
"I got you the same thing I got you last year, different color." Hector said to his sister as she led them carefully
through the crowd through the house to the outside, where there were more people, but more space.
"You didn't get me anything last time you came home." Sara said.
"Exactly." Hector said with a laugh, and got hit by his sister for that, who finally got it.
"Again. Bastard." Sara said. She noticed her sisters too, but as far as she was concerned, it wasn't her business. She
didn't get involved in squabbles that hadn't happened yet. Besides, if this girl, Andi, couldn't take being chewed up
and spit out by her sisters, obviously Hector deserved better. If she could, kudos!
It was like watching sharks smelling blood in the water, Andi thought as first one of the children playing on the lawn
raised their head and then the rest followed suit. Tiny faces turned toward the newest arrivals and great, hungry
smiles spread huge enough to rival the sun.
"Uncle Hector!" It was Josh leading the way and claiming his spot first because he was oldest and fastest. But the
other children weren't far behind and Hector's legs soon disappeared in children. All of them demanding 'pick me up'
and 'come play' and 'bpttohghhpttt'. Andi had seen it coming and Hector was on his own by that point though Josh
was good enough to flash her a 'watcher!' imitation of her own greeting without giving up his prime spot with his uncle.
She just smiled back, silently laughing, and stayed out of arm's range. More than willing to abandon the love of her
life to the mongol hoards.
Sara, standing next to her, was laughing just as mercilessly.
"One day soon they're going to be big enough between them to take him down and then it'll all be over." She quipped
cheerfully. Then she looked over at the tall woman next to her and the strangely wistful look in her eyes. It hit her
somewhere odd and she figured, 'what the hell'. The other would eat her soon enough. Maybe she could get some
good gossip first. "Come on." Sara offered with a jerk of her shoulder. "Let's see what's to eat."
"Thank you." Andi replied and than looked down at the younger woman as they moved to the long picnic tables piled
high. Knowing she wasn't going to be able to eat anything here. But something wet for her throat sounded good. And,
for appearances, she supposed she should at least carry a plate of food around for a while. "And he did bring you
something this time." She added. "He's just forgotten it."
Hector was dragged off with the kids, there was no way to fight back! Especially since he had been abandoned by
Andi to their not so tender mercies. But soon enough he was dragged to the swing set and jungle gym to push
various kids on swings or down slides, as if that were his new assignment and he better take it seriously!
Sara laughed. "No, you bought something and dragged him along." Sara said, knowing her brother too well. The rest
might be sure he didn’t 'chat' or 'idly talk' but Sara was positive that whatever else this British woman had done to
their brother, he still didn't shop.
Andi made a soft chuckling sound, adding random things to the plate she found in her hands before finding a can of
soda. Deciding she needed the extra sugar and caffeine.
"Don't tell the others." She murmured. "But your gift was all his idea." They moved away from the tables and settled
on some benches built into the deck. Andi gave the woman next to her a smile. Relaxing a little. "I set the choices in
front of him and he pretended to have an opinion on the other gifts. But yours - I'm not taking responsibility for yours.
He spotted it all the way across the mall." She laughed softly at that and then looked over at Hector playing with the
children and her face softened. "I think I asked him to the male 'ugh, hunt' thing."
"Ah, that would do it indeed." Sara said with a laugh as she watched the kids play. The next game on their list was
standing in line as Hector picked one up, threw the kid in the air, caught him and put him back down in time for the
next kid to shout for a turn. "The last time he was in town, he said 'isn't my presence present enough?' when asked
about gifts. Which is why I always bug him about that." Her smile faltered as Beth came over, looking perfectly casual
about it. Sara was an expert at avoiding crossfire, and wondered if she'd have to show that gift now.
"We're lucky it's not raining." Beth said. "Would hate to have all these people crammed into a house." What she really
meant was Hector and their father crammed into a tiny house, Sara was able to read between those lines. "Word in
the house is you're some kind of doctor?" She had pumped Cassie for info, so she could go in armed.
Andi, now that the 'gifts' conversation had sparked her memory was also remembering the Hector had said Beth was
pregnant. So she was not only dealing with a possibly hostile sister - she was dealing with a hormonal possibly hostile
sister.
It was a terrifying thought.
Especially since, given the way Sara had picked up her plate, she realized she wasn't going to get any help from that
corner. She took a breath. Bracing up to do what she hated doing. Talking about herself and her life in front of
strangers.
"Yes." She answered with a slightly embarrassed smile. It always sounded as if she was bragging when the
conversation started off at what she did. But this was Hector's family and they deserved to know what she did, etc. so
she offered what she thought Beth might be looking for. "I'm a bit of an all around doctor. I've been in Africa for a bit."
"I remember the first time Hector went to Africa, he had just become a Delta. Had to take a lot of shots." Beth said, idly
rubbing her slightly protruding stomach. "Are you fully vaccinated or should we worry about you giving the kids some
strange African disease?"
That's the way she started. Protection over the kids, then she moved on. Sara gave her a sharp look before returning
to her plate. Like if there was a chance that Andi had some 'strange African disease' he would have let her anywhere
near his nieces and nephews.
Andi shrugged. She supposed it was a fair question even if it did make her sound like some stray dog an errant boy
had brought home from 'God knows where'.
"Fully vaccinated. More than enough really." She supplied. As a doctor in a camp she'd received more inoculations
than most and from some things that would have made most sane people's hair turn white. After all, Africa's diseases
were the kind they made TV movies about in most 'civilized' countries. "Only my personality is infectious." She added
blithely. Then she looked pointedly at the hand on the woman's stomach and, as much in curiosity as in hopes of
turning the conversation, asked:
"Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl yet?"
"I believe it’s best when it’s a surprise." She said vaguely as she turned to watch her brother for a few moments. "It’s
good that he's home. I like it when he's home. I don't worry so much."
"Dee's the worrier. You're the bitch." Sara said with a shrug, which earned her a glare from her older sister.
"Maybe. But I don't like worrying. Especially about him."
"Because he can take care of himself?"
"Because he can't."
Andi's eyebrows went up at that last comment and it was a good thing she'd had good posture drummed into her
growing up because it made it hard to notice the little jerk that went up her backbone. Her chin rose fractionally as her
eyes focused entirely on Beth. But her voice was only calm and conversational as she asked mildly:
"Why do you say that?"
"Because just look at him." Beth said, far better at reading her brother's faults than anyone else. She held him on just
as high a pedestal, but still...the man needed help to see what was good for him. "The man gets shot, and from we
understand, let himself develop a dangerous infection before seeking help. And the chances of him getting that help
willingly still aren't good." She said and sat down, stirring her ice tea with her straw as she looked straight at Andi.
"Now, the question on my mind is, what the hell makes you think you can waltz in here and try to fix my brother?"
Sara collected her plate and glass. Deciding it was time to move along. Things were about to get nasty and she didn't
hang around for that kind of thing. Never had. Wasn't about to start now. She'd find out how it all came out later.
"Off." She commented without expecting a response and then headed for the interior of the house. Dee, seeing her
go, started to drift over to the corner occupied by the new girl and her sister.
Andi's chin came up. All the nerves fled completely and something settled inside her.
"Because I don't intend to 'fix' your brother." She answered, voice calm and as clear as the slide of a blade. And she
didn't offer anything else.
"You think that he's fine?" Beth shot back. "Are you blind? Of course he needs fixing. He takes vacations when the
Army makes him. It’s not even about coming home, it’s vacation period. He doesn't take them. He can't be in the same
room with my father without one of them taking a swing. It’s been that way since he was fifteen. He has a blatant
disregard for his own well being and you think he's 'fine'?"
Dee took a seat next to her sister, eyes wide. Beth was always better at this than her.
Beth continued. "I was just wondering what made you think you were the one to do it. Or are you looking for someone
to wallow with because you're just as damaged as he is?"
Andi raised her slim eyebrows at the other woman. Looking - more amused than offended. You didn't scream or yell in
her family. And you certainly never, ever lost your calm appearance. You either simmered - like her mother. Or you
took the old family's approach. And, as much as there was a part of Andi telling her the woman in front of her wasn't
her enemy... there was a part of her that told her to put this down now and put it down hard enough that it never came
up again. Not a very Christian, or even merciful approach at all and she was aware of it. One side of her family or the
other was going to be very disappointed in her by the end of the hour.
"Well, that's a very sooty pot talking about the kettle." Andi remarked casually. Meeting Beth's eyes calmly, her own
features entirely composed. Her voice remained conversational but it was precise and completely unapologetic. And
the British accent wasn't helping it sound exactly humble. "It’s truly none of your business why I'm with your brother. I
simply am. And I will remain so. 'Why' is between he and I."
Beth's blue eyes narrowed while Dee's went wide as they both looked at Andi.
"Well, then." Beth said. "We have nothing more to discuss I would suppose." She said. "My brother's life isn't harder
because of my presence. But your life could be so much harder because of ours. Unless your ultimate objective is to
distance him from those that love him? That would be a shame...making him choose between a girl and family. No
matter what else is wrong with our family, blood is still so much thicker than water. Or whatever else you have to offer
him."
Andi's eyes shifted. She leaned forward and brought her face suddenly very, very close to Beth's so they were nose
to nose.
"I would think very hard about what I just said if I were you." She stated softly. Voice so low that even Dee had to
strain to hear it. "I would listen to what I had just let come out of my mouth in my anger trying to provoke a stranger
into an argument and I would pay very careful pay attention to it this time. I will never pull him away from his family. I
don't need to. And I very much don't think you really want to push him either." She held the other woman's eyes. She
knew how this could go. Better than Beth could ever dream. Because it had happened in her own family. And the
choice hadn't gone the way Beth had threatened. But it had destroyed a piece of her mother and she was not going
to let that happen to the man she loved. She held the look, and the silence, for a long minute more. And than she sat
back.
"Now," she continued calmly, voice still soft but enough so Dee could stop leaning in to hear it. Her eyes hadn't left
Beth's but they softened too. "Should we try, you and I, beginning this again and see if we can't do better on our
second try?"
Beth looked away from Andi and watched Hector as all the kids took turns tackling him, even her own toddler.
"I wouldn't dream of making him choose, or setting him up with such an ultimatum." She said smoothly. "But I know
how he works. If we, if I, make things hard for you, and then you show resistance to coming over to see us, he won't
come. And a little bit of him will die with each occasion that he misses. Why don't you give me a good reason not to
make things hard for you?"
Dee held her breath as she watched Andi. And repeated to herself that they were just protecting their fragile brother,
no matter how he presented himself or what walls he put down, he was fragile. They all were, even if he wouldn't admit
it.
Andi looked at the other woman and there was something very close to compassion in her eyes. That - and sadness
for Hector. This is what growing up in his family did to people? This is what it turned them into? Compared to that - her
mother's family really wasn't that bad at all. She met Beth's eyes despite the shift and very softly, she honestly
answered with the only truth that mattered:
"Because you love him too much to do that to him."
Beth shook her head. She could see the pity in Andi's eyes. And was offended by it as her eyes blazed. She stood up
and put her plate on a nearby table.
"Think what you will." She said. "But I also will not allow my family to be torn apart by a piece of ass. I don't let my
sisters do it, I don't let Pete do it. Hector is by no way immune."
Andi shook her head calmly.
"And I won't let him be hurt because you don't want to share." She answered gently.
"So that's your answer? Interfering with the way this family works," Beth said and Dee coughed. "Even if it is
dysfunctional, because you don't want to share. You've known him a year. What gives you the right to decide if
something hurts him or not? Let me answer that for you, it doesn't."