Water went flying out of her mouth landing all over Scuba and leaf. Coughing, Alicia Spinnet wiped her mouth and gave a sympathetic look to the dogs. “Callie’s here.” She told them, they both just tilted their heads at her.
After a second of sitting there in surprise, she snapped out of it, leapt up and nearly sprinted to intake. She was looking around for a little girl but when her eyes fell on her niece, she was grown up, taller, well, not tall tall, but a lot taller than a little kid. “What’d you do? Age overnight?” Alicia asked pulling her into a big hug. It hit here in that moment. Shit. Ell was in Atlantis too. She was going to have to tell Callie that.
Callie’s face, which had been fixed in an expression of worry, split into a wide grin as she was engulfed by her aunt’s hug and she readily returned the tight embrace.
“I wish,” she laughed, pulling back a little to look at Alicia. “I could have done without living through third year. I don’t think thirteen years old is ever fun for anyone.”
“But look at you!” she carried on. “You must be years younger than the last time I saw you. How is it that the timelines are so wonky?”
"Thirteen is rubbish," she waved off the comment as she looked at Callie, she was so grown up. Alicia still couldn't believe it.
"Hey, are you saying I age badly!" She pretended it hurt her feelings, but if Callie was what, 17/18 than Alicia would be a good deal older.
“Absolutely,” Callie replied, trying hard to keep a straight face. “You turn into a complete hag some time around 2010…” Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t keep from smiling and the smile quickly turned into a giggle.
“Don’t worry,” she reassured her aunt. “Nonna ensured that we have great genes.”
"Damn straight she did," she agreed.
Laughing Alicia laughed rolling her eyes throwing her arm around Callie's shoulders. "Come on, let's get out of here, there is a lot more to Atlantis than just the base." Besides she didn't want to bring up Elle in a crowded room.
~
“Okay, you’ve been acting strange since you met me… what is it? Is there something wrong?” Callie, who had been all smiles upon meeting her aunt, had started to look more concerned again now that they were alone.
"My niece isn't a kid anymore," Alicia said but knew she had to get to the point. "Listen, Callie, most all of us are here. Emilia, Rocco, Me, and Elle." She said. "Your mom is here."
A frown formed on Callie’s young forehead and she looked down, taking a moment to process what she’d just heard. She drew in a slow, deep breath before blowing it out again and meeting Alicia’s concerned gaze.
“Wow. Right. That’s… interesting,” she replied, the usual brightness in her voice sounding strangely forced.
“Does she remember me?” she added, hesitantly.
“Of course she remembers you,” Alicia hated the pain Elle caused Callie. “She’s from a little before…” she let the sentence trail off knowing Callie would get it.
“Before she died,” Callie nodded, still looking stunned.
“You don’t have to see her if you don’t want to. If you want to, and you want someone with you, you know Em, Rocco or I will be there.”
Callie took a deep breath as she tried to imagine what it would be like to see her mother again after twelve years. The thought terrified her but wasn’t it also took good an opportunity to pass up? She gulped.
“I don’t know,” she said, with a sigh. “I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t think I can decide at the moment.” She paused. “I think I’m going to have to get used to the idea of her not being dead first.”
“You don’t have to decide until you are ready,” Alicia was not going to let Elle push Callie into anything that she didn’t want to do. “It’s on your terms, and I’ll be there or not, that’s all up to you.” She meant it too. She knew how hard it was to see someone alive you thought was dead, it just had never been her mother.