call_me_chas (call_me_chas) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2009-10-22 21:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | chas, deacon, nia, npc |
UK; Norton Wood Farm, 8ish
Erik's tea was wonderful stuff. By eleven in the morning Charlie had been back on his feet and they had walked over to Leysters to pick up Nia and take her to the Dean Forest Railway where they were having a Thomas the Tank engine day. It had been quite a convoy because everyone had gone and Charlie thought they had had a good time, though Nia had been by far the most enthralled.
On the way back they had dropped in at Goodrich to see a genuine castle, then had a fish and chip supper at the farmhouse before Andy and Erik and Seth and Nick and Andras had returned to Leysters, leaving Charlie to linger for a last private moment with Deacon
It was traditional, Tom had said, to spend the night apart so Charlie had agreed to it and was putting his over night bag in the Land Rover beside Nia's car seat. She would continue to stay with Nana, just to give them a little bit of a honeymoon, and was looking forward to it, though right that moment she was grumbling.
"I don't like to leave you here all on your own," Charlie said to Deacon, his expression genuinely concerned. "I really don't."
"I'll be okay, Mouse," Deacon said, leaning against the Land Rover. "I don't like you goin' anymore than you do but I can be by myself for a bit. Supposed to make seein' you again at the ceremony all the better right?"
"Apparently so," Charlie said. Inside the car, already strapped in her seat, Nia was grizzling quite loudly because she hadn't been allowed to bring a chair she has decided was 'hers' and Charlie closed the door to muffle the noise a bit. "And it'll feel very odd not having you to cwtch up to tonight. I suppose that's supposed to make tomorrow night better too." He smiled. "But for now - a kiss to keep me going?"
Deacon made a soft humming sound and pulled Charlie close. "I'd give you more than a kiss if we had the time," he murmured, arms tightening around Charlie's waist. "But until then..." He kissed him, slowly at first but it grew deeper.
Groaning against his mouth, Charlie clung close. This was the last time - the last time they would kiss before everything changed. Intellectually he knew that a few words spoken and even fewer on a bit of paper made no difference, but in his gut he knew they did. Tomorrow he would become Deacon's in a very different way. And Deacon - well Deacon would be equally his. That thought was both glorious and terrifying.
When he ran out of breath he turned his head a little and gasped in some air. "I love you," he said. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Deacon said, holding Charlie close. "And I'm so - so lucky to have you. And Nia. To get to have you like this. I couldn't ask for anythin' more."
"Oh, D," Charlie said and gave him another more gentle kiss before stepping away and opening the car door again.
"Waaaaaaahhhhhh," Nia said, bottom lip prominent, but clearly crying more for effect than because she was distressed. "Wanna chair, waaaahhhhhh."
Charlie rolled his eyes and grinned at Deacon.
Deacon smiled and leaned in to kiss Nia's forehead. "Now then your chair will be here when you get back. If it went with you the other chairs would be jealous. We don't want that do we? And Nana has great chairs too."
"Nana," Nia said and bounced in her seat. "Dandad play horsies."
"If he does," Charlie promised, "I'll video it. Oh Good God, I'd better go. You - have a good evening. Sorry about the TV."
Only five channels!!
"You two be good for Nana now and I'll see ya tomorrow." Deacon kissed Nia again then pulled Charlie to him for one more deep kiss. "Tomorrow, Charlie. Not that long."
Charlie sighed, his throat closing and he nodded and got into the Land Rover quickly before he did something embarrassing. "Tomorrow, D," he said. "Have a good night." He started the engine then wiggled his fingers and set the vehicle moving. Nia waved Brian, her teddy, taking time off grizzling to grin at Deacon. The Land Rover pulled slowly away.
Deacon waved back, not quite able to stop himself taking a few steps after them. He sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets and watched them pull out of the drive. One night, he could do one night without them.
When he couldn't see the lights of the car anymore he headed back into the farm house. It was quiet - too quiet and so he turned on the tv just to have some noise in the background.
The five channels weren't up to much, but one had a film and it was during a quiet moment that there came the unmistakable sound of footsteps from upstairs and the creak of a door.
Deacon froze in the kitchen where he was pouring himself a cup of coffee. He listened for a moment then slowly made his way up the stairs and along the hall, checking in each room. It was when he came to the studio that he saw a shadow in the room. Slowly he shifted the knife he'd grabbed from the kitchen into a better grip.
Seated at the table, a dapper little man with a checked shirt under a tweed waistcoat, turned over another page of a sketchbook and nodded approvingly. That the pictures pinned to the wall beyond him could be seen through his shadowy face didn't detract from the warmth of his smile as he turned to Deacon and made an inviting gesture.
Come in, dear boy, come in. The words weren't heard but they were understood.
Deacon blinked in surprise then relaxed.
"Jesus you scared me," he said and stepped into the room, setting the knife down on a table. Talking casually to a ghost - only in his life.
Harry Vance chuckled, he looked more like Charlie when he laughed. He gestured to a chair and leaned on the table pointing out towards the Wood.
Welcome to the family.
"Thanks," Deacon said, sitting and looking at him. So like Charlie but so different as well. Even if you didn't count the fact Deacon could see through him. "You know Charlie's gonna pout since ya didn't come say hi to him too."
I wanted to look at these without him hovering anxiously, Henry explained. He's still painting with his head, not with his heart. Maybe after tomorrow he'll be more confident. Ah - this is better. Tom smiled from the page, his arm around Fly's shoulders. And this is better yet. He draws you with his whole being.
Deacon smiled softly. "He doesn't think he's good enough. Which is nuts cuz he is. I tell him, Seth tells him. Dunno what it's going to take to convince him."
Shell shock. Henry shrugged. After the war I didn't put pencil or paint to paper for four years. There seemed to be no point. And I hadn't spent several years being told I was no good. Oh these landscapes are lovely but he needs to sell them here - where people go 'I know that skyline. Oh look - I can see our house'. Ah, and another one of you. You look so like James, dear boy. Make us proud tomorrow, won't you?
"I'll do my best," Deacon promised. "Speaking of... is my grandfather here?"
I wish he was, Henry sighed. But since he isn't, I'd better give you the pep-talk, hadn't I? He has told me how much he loves you, how glad he is to see you finally settled, and how very pleased he is with the way you turned out. I know our children and grandchildren have to live their own lives, but that doesn't stop us wanting everything good for them.
"I just wish you could have had this too," Deacon said. "He never forgot you, ya know. Looking back I can see now that he never stopped loving you, even if he could never admit it out loud to anyone."
Henry smiled. If we had had each other, we wouldn't have you and Charlie now, would we? I would regret that. And those few hours, over all the years, that we were able to spend together - well, every single one of them shone. It wasn't time then. It is now. Enjoy your lives.
"We will. Thank you." Deacon smiled again, wishing he could shake the man's hand or hug him but that wasn't possible. Still, how many people got to have conversations with a long dead relative? He should count himself lucky and he did.
Henry must have felt the same impulse because he raised his hand and placed it against Deacon's shoulder, close but not quite touching. Why don't you go and sleep? he suggested. Tomorrow will come faster that way and, he smiled, you can get it over with.
Deacon laughed and nodded. "You're right. I'll worry myself sick otherwise. Night, Henry. Try not to throw any loud parties with your see through friends huh?" He winked and headed for the bedroom. Sleep, if he could find it, would be good.
Good night, Deacon, Henry said, his voice very quiet. Sleep well. And he turned another page in the sketch book and smiled to see James looking up at him. Sleep well he murmured again and looked out to the Wood losing himself in memories.