InsaneJournal

RP: I know it's not what you want...
Date: September 15, 2006
Characters: Cass, Marietta, Aiden, Percy
Location: Marietta's house, then Percy and Cass's home
Private/Public: Private
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: A nervous Cass goes to pick up an even more nervous (and rather angry) Aiden to take him home.

He'd stood outside the door for minutes, before collecting himself enough to knock. He was nervous, or rather terrified, of what was to come once he did. A child – his child – responsibilities and a possibility of failing. No matter what Percy said he wasn't sure he was cut out for this. He did know he couldn't leave Aiden with Marietta though; he would never be able to forgive himself if he did.

Cursing Lestrange, and wishing his mum was around to help, he gathered up the courage Percy claimed he had and knocked, waiting for the answer. This time things were different. Marietta knew he was here to collect Aiden, Aiden would know the same. Everything was different.

Was it strange that he was nervous?

'But why, mum?'

The stubborn voice filtered through the door even as it opened, but Marietta simply hushed over her shoulder before smiling at Cass. It was obvious the boy behind her was not pleased, but then would any child be? Cass sighed internally, nodding curtly at Marietta, greeting her as he stepped in. It didn't take him a second to notice the boy.

Aiden stood in the middle of the living room, his expression at once curious and stubborn, a look of displeasure on his face as he'd tilted his head and looked at Cass. The way he held his jaw reminded Cass of his mother, but when he looked past that, and past the Weasley red hair and freckles, he thought he was able to see some of himself in Aiden's eyes.

'Hey there,' he said softly, crouching down to Aiden's level. 'You must be Aiden.'

'I am,' the boy answered formally, still looking at him. 'And you're supposed to be my father,' he said. 'But I don't look like you,' he then pointed out, his voice very to the point and matter of fact. Cass smiled. Aiden's voice and stance reminded him of Percy somehow. That could never be a bad thing as far as he concerned.

'Do you want us to find out for sure?' he suggested to the boy, who eyed him a bit longer, glancing over at his mother, then nodded. Well that part was easier than he'd expected. He took out his wand, noticing the way the child's attention seemed diverted for a moment. He let him have a look, then explained the spell he was going to cast and how it would look if he was or was not his father. Aiden seemed to understand and nodded, almost as if giving him permission to cast the spell. His arms were still crossed over his chest, and he was still hesitant, but as the spell was cast there was no doubt on the matter. Aiden was beyond the shadow of a doubt his flesh and blood.

Cass put the wand away, wondering what to do next. This part was the easy part he all of a sudden realised; now he had to get to the point where Aiden went with him. Preferably without too much drama.

'You're here to take me away,' Aiden said plainly, catching him in his doubt. Cass nodded, a bit surprised, and still not sure of where to go from here.

'Your mother thought it would be better if you lived with me,' he said, fighting not to add that she was a selfish bitch that should think more of him than herself. That wouldn't help anything at all.

'She's wrong,' Aiden said sourly, glaring at his mother. 'I want to live with mum.'

Cass sighed, looking at Marietta himself, but she did not intervene to help him, instead she crossed her arms over her chest. 'Don't be difficult, Aiden, we've talked about this.' Cass got the idea that the "talk" had consisted mostly of Marietta telling the boy how things were and nor allowing him to disagree, but he didn't say anything about that, instead he turned to Aiden again. He hesitated for a moment, not sure what to say that didn't sound like fake – or as an attack on Marietta.

'I understand that this is strange and new. It is for me too,' he said, trying to think of everything Percy had said. In his mind he could hear his voice, We need to make sure he'll feel wanted. He cleared his throat. 'I would want to get to know you better, Aiden,' he tried, not sure how to go on.

'You can come to visit. Mum came to visit when I lived with Nana.'

Cass wasn't sure what to say to that, because in a normal situation that would be the most logical. It would be what was right. Now though, nothing was normal.

'Aiden, don't be silly! You don't want your daddy to think you're a bad boy,' Marietta snapped, and Cass could have hexed her for less. Aiden though seemed to focus on something else than what she said.

'Do I have to call you daddy?' he asked, tilting his head again.

Cass shook his head. 'You can call me whatever you want, Aiden, that's not important. We can figure that out together. But right now, I need to bring you with me. Someone I like very much is waiting for us and he really wants to meet you.'

Aiden hesitated, seemingly pulled between curiosity and suspicion. 'What's his name?' he finally asked.

'Percy,' Cass answered honestly. 'I need to talk to your mother for a few minutes. Do you think you could go and get your bag while we talk?'

The boy hesitated, torn, but as he looked to protest, he glanced at his mother and sighed, shrugging his shoulders as he headed upstairs. Cass got up, glaring at Marietta even as he sat up privacy spells. The following conversation was short, to the point and spent, by Cass, largely trying to avoid wanting to hex Marietta.

As expected she did not react well to the news of his mother, though what she seemed most upset at was the news that Cass didn't have a knut to his name. She accused him of lying (which he admittedly had) and stringing her along and she wasn't pleased when he reacted by laughing in her face. Knowing that Aiden would come down at any moment though, forced Cass to keep it short and he interrupted her before she could go too far.

'If you care to visit write in advance,' he said simply, turning his back on her and removing the spell. She huffed but called out and a moment later Aiden lugged a bag too large for him down the stairs. Cass took the steps two at the time and grabbed the bag from him.

'Have you ever used a portkey?' he asked Aiden. The boy nodded firmly, a hint of pride in his stance. 'So then you know how it works. Just hold on tightly to this,' he said, holding out an old broken wristwatch, though at the last moment Cass placed his arm around Aiden as well. They were all set to go when he suddenly tore away, running up to his mother and hugging her legs. Cass didn't say anything, but walked down the stairs and waited for him to say goodbye to Marietta. He left her with a stubborn 'you're not being a good mummy because then you'd let me stay!' something Cass could hardly argue with.

Once more he placed his arm around the child and handed him the portkey, holding onto him tightly until they landed in the yard outside the house.

'So, should be go inside and meet Percy?' he asked, getting the door and holding it up for Aiden.