InsaneJournal

Who: Penelope Garcia and Sebastian Vael.
What: Going to Scotland for Christmas.
When: Backdated to 12/22.
Where: Vael Manor.
Rating: PG-13 for innuendo.
Status: Complete!



To say Sebastian was nervous was a complete understatement. He wasn’t sure what to expect, though he was more nervous about his sister and nephew than his father. Da liked Penelope, but did he like her too much? Was he going to harass them? God, please let him not.

Lo had dropped them off in an alley in town, and they’d caught a cab to the house, just in case. Sebastian was now knocking at the door, waiting for one of the maids to come answer it. “You ready for family?” he asked Penelope, trying to smile.

Garcia was packed and fully ready for an airplane. Travelling via not-ginger lawyer demon was a new thing entirely. But convenient; she would use her stash of Ambien to adjust to the time difference instead of compensating for the boring travel time.

She was gawking at the manor home - more like castle - when Sebastian asked her if she was ready. She’d dressed more sedately for the trip in a longer skirt in muted teal, but she was still shivering. “Oh gosh, I doubt it. You?”

“Probably not. But still.” Just then the maid opened the door, smiling and greeting Sebastian as ‘young master.’ He might actually have blushed.

She beckoned them inside, telling him she’d go get his father and ‘the mistress’, who Sebastian knew was his sister. “Prepare yourself for family onslaught,” he murmured to Penelope.

Not five minutes after he said that, a tall, thin man appeared in the arched doorway. His hair was parchment-colored and thinning, but he still commanded a presence. “Sebastian!” His voice was a copy of his son’s, but deeper and more powerful. Then he smiled, and the entire effect broke away. “Come ‘ere, laddie!”

Blinking, Garcia tried not to giggle at ‘young master’, biting the inside of her cheek and mostly succeeding. Instead, she beamed at Sebastian’s father, grinning and bouncing a little. He reminded her of her own father, always trying to be scary and messing it up.

Sebastian laughed, going to wrap his father in a bear hug. “Hullo, Da!” He took a deep breath as he hugged the old man - he did worry - but his father looked fit as could be. “Da, this is Penelope.” He gestured to her, smiling.

Sebastian’s father peered at her through owlish eyes too vain to wear his glasses. “The famous Penelope ... I’ve heard so very much about you, lassie.” He held out a hand to her. “You’re welcome to call me Robert, firstly; I won’t have such a close family friend sticking to ‘m’lord’!”

Grinning, Garcia moved closer to him, took his hand, and shook it firmly. “Then, Robert, may I have a hug?” She was a hugger; if he wasn’t, that was fine, but she wanted to at least try. “It’s so nice to meet you after speaking on the phone so much.”

“Yes, you may.” Sebastian’s father chuckled, winking at his son as he hugged Penelope. “I do like it when there’s a lot of woman to hug. That is a compliment,” he told her firmly. “Now. Come get settled, and by then Emma ought to have put Simon down for his nap.”

Garcia giggled when he hugged her, looking back at Sebastian. “Now I see where the ladykiller genes come from, you rake.” She took Sebastian’s hand lightly, not wanting to be PDAish in front of the family, and followed Sebastian’s father.

“Rake!” Sebastian pretended to be offended, but he was grinning.

“Sebastian’s mother had many stories,” Robert said, smiling a little more softly. “Jane,” he said, addressing the maid, “will you take them up to their rooms, please?”

“Yes, m’lord. Come this way, please.” The woman bobbed a curtsey and pointed up the stairway.

Garcia felt badly that she’d made Sebastian’s father sad, but she followed Jane with a smile, introducing herself and immediately starting up conversation about living in such a huge household. She couldn’t help herself; she liked people.

Jane was no Victorian servant; she smiled and replied and acted more like family. She chatted as they walked, though Sebastian stepped in once or twice and translated her brogue when he saw the politely blank look on Penelope’s face. “She isn’t used to the Highland rhythm yet, Janie,” he said, winking. “So do excuse her; Yanks aren’t very fast on the uptake.”

“Oh! So rude, young sir. You wouldn’t have her if she were daft!” The maid laughed before holding the door to the second floor open for them.

“I’m smarter than he likes sometimes, if you ask me,” Garcia teased, winking at Jane. She couldn’t help but join in the family’s playful attitude. It was fun, and reminded her of her own. “I’m just not used to broad accents yet - Bast only goes that way when he’s shambolically pissed.”

“Don’t I know it, miss.” Jane laughed, directing them through the door. “Down this way, please; the master’s given you the run of the east wing.”

“He just doesn’t want to hear us shagging,” Sebastian said, which made the maid blush hotly.

That made Garcia laugh loudly. “It’s to make up for the fact we couldn’t at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving, the American celebration of sloth and gluttony. I have four older brothers,” she explained. “No time, no room.” They’d tried and been soundly mocked.

Jane was still blushing as she showed them down the hall, but at least now she was smiling. “So you’re both scallywags. Good.” She stopped at a door, opening it for them and letting Sebastian through first with the suitcases. “This room should do fine.”

“Oh, certainly.” Sebastian grinned. It was large, even by his standards, with a bath attached and an enormous closet. There was only one bed, thankfully, and he chuckled. “That’ll do nicely. Thanks awfully, Jane.”

She inclined her head. “Unpack, settle, and hopefully the mistress will be done putting the little one to bed and come say hello.”

“Oh my gosh, this is bigger than my first flat while I was at school!” Garcia’s jaw dropped. She did hope she’d get to meet the little one at some point, considering she’d bought him armloads of gifts.

Once Jane left, Garcia toed off her shoes and smiled at her boyfriend. “I hope I don’t embarrass you. Just ... elbow me in the ribs.”

“You haven’t yet.” Sebastian smiled right back, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re lovely and everyone knows it.”

She blushed a little, burrowing into his embrace, her arms around his waist. “You just think that because you fancy me. Though your father seems truly lovely too, so nice.” She liked fathers that were a bit on the sarcastic side, if only because of her own.

“Da’s ... there are times I think he’s mad, and then I realize he’s just a sarcastic bastard.” Sebastian’s tone was fond. “He had a difficult time after Mum passed on, but he’s rebounded - having Emma and Simon nearby makes all the difference, I really think so. Also the fact I’m not causing him heart attacks.”

“You could always visit him more. Lo seems like he’d come here every day anyway just to get a deep fried Mars bar. ... so that’s like, a deep fried candy bar? Why? Why would you do that?” Garcia made a face before starting to unpack.

“Because we do it?” Sebastian shrugged. “I’ve had them ever since I was a wee one. I’m fairly sure my nephew is being raised on them. Oh, you have to meet Simon. Probably not tonight, but definitely tomorrow.” He started to put his things in the enormous closet.

“I’m excited to meet him, I’m sure he’s adorable.” Garcia smiled, sitting on the bed and watching him. “I guess I’ll have to try one before we leave. I don’t even know what a Mars bar is, though.”

“You can’t hack the wi-fi and google it?” Sebastian laughed. He hung up his jacket for Christmas church, and it reminded him. “You don’t object to going to service on Christmas, do you? I’m sure you could stay home if need be, but our family does go.” Shit, he thought he’d asked her.

“I could, but that’d be rude.” Garcia watched him hanging up clothes, and she almost felt like she had to pinch herself a little bit. He was smart, funny, articulate, a genuine geek, handsome, well read, Scottish, and so sweet. She bit her lip and blinked, having stopped listening while she thought about her luck.

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s not a problem, I usually go with my brothers on Christmas Eve. My parents are really secular, I’m just kind of a general Christian, no sect.”

“Oh, good. I didn’t want to put you on the spot. I ought to have remembered.” Sebastian wouldn’t have wanted to push her. He finished hanging his clothes. “Care to go down to the great hall?” Yes, there was a great hall in this place. It was more formality than anything, but it had tickled his father’s fancy.

She giggled. “Is Grendel’s arm hanging up in there?” She hopped up and took his hand, a ball of energy. “God, I’m going to be so exhausted tomorrow, stupid not-jet-lag.” She wondered if his sister would like her; she was the only person Garcia was still really worried about.

“Da would have it there if he could.” Sebastian kissed her cheek before opening the door for her. “And I know, it’s going to kill us. At least it’ll be all right to sleep off.”

“True.” She walked out, pleased as punch to be there with her boyfriend. “Is it wrong to say I dreamed of living in castles when I was a little girl?”

“Why would it be wrong?” Sebastian smiled. “I’m fairly sure lots of little girls did.” He kept his tone light hearted. “You still could, if you marry m’Da like you said you might.”

“That’s only if you end up sacking me again,” Garcia teased right back. “And I don’t know, I don’t want you to think I’m dating you for your father’s house? I’m dating you for your bottom. Obviously.”

“I’m special. I sacked you and you still wanted to date me.” Sebastian grinned. “I feel so appreciated. You must’ve seen something brilliant in me.” He was teasing, and he opened the door to the hall for her. “After you.” He wanted to see her gawp.

Gape she did. She just stood, jaw dropped, stock still. “You grew up here?” She couldn’t even tease him in return, just stare and feel a bit humbled. “It’s like out of a fairy story.”

“Not here as such.” Sebastian was a little surprised himself. “He’s had it redone.” The hall was properly beautiful now. It had paintings and carpets that Sebastian knew were brand new, and it looked like a receiving room instead of a drafty pile of brick. “It’s rather nice, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t it?” A female voice echoed from a side door, and the woman stepped out, grinning.

“Emma!” Sebastian crossed the room in two steps and bear-hugged his sister, lifting her up. “Emma, you’re just in time; this is Penelope!”

“Hallo - oof! - Penelope.” Emma was laughing when her brother put her down, sticking out a hand. “It’s lovely t’meet you!”

“Rather nice? It’s gorgeou - oh!” Garcia laughed as she was interrupted by Sebastian being adorable with his sister. Shaking Emma’s hand enthusiastically, Garcia asked the woman if she was okay being hugged as well. “I know not everyone’s as touchy feely as we Californians are, so I have to check, just Bast has told me so much about you and little Simon!”

“Emma’s the hugger in the family,” Sebastian told his girlfriend with a laugh. “She’d have hugged you if you didn’t hug her; it was only decorum that made her stop.”

“He’s right.” Sebastian’s sister looked jokingly embarrassed, then hugged Penelope. She looked like Sebastian, just shorter and slightly more plump. Her dark hair was cut in a fashionable shaggy style, framing her face. “How was the trip, you two? Are you half dead? Simon so badly wanted to stay up, but he was falling over. Let’s get some food in you.”

Garcia liked Emma right away, and the hug sealed the deal. “The trip was lovely, but I could murder some food.” She tucked blonde curls behind her ears and smiled. “I hope Simon won’t get too excited when he finds out I couldn’t stop buying him toys. Kid Christmas gifts are so much more fun than cologne or jumpers, you know?”

“Oh, dear. Between you and his uncle he won’t know what to play with first.” Emma laughed. “Come on, come on. I think Da’s in the dining room anyway. Having his Macallan before anything.”

“Nothing wrong with it, it’s half nine at night,” Sebastian retorted amiably.

“Did I say there was something wrong with it, y’skelpit arse?” Emma laughed. “Come on, now. We can get you something for now, and then for brekkie we can do it proper. Black pudding, ham, the lot.”

“Did someone say Macallan?” Garcia’s eyes lit up and she couldn’t help a grin. “Maybe I can con him into sharing with me. And if you give me black pudding for breakfast, you really are spoiling me.” She took Sebastian’s hand and squeezed it, grinning up at him. Things seemed to be going fantastically, unless she was terribly mistaken.

She’d been speaking as they opened the dining room door, though, so the first reply was from the other end of the long dining room table. “No one gets my personal Macallan, bonnie lassie, not even you. Though we’ve got a cask for guests.” Robert Vael chuckled and rose. “I see you found your sister. Emma, did Simon go to sleep like a good lad?”

“Yes, Da. He’ll be fine tomorrow.” Emma smiled. “These two are about to eat the sheepdog, though, so let’s get them sommat, aye?”

“Yes, please. I think the dog would be gamey.” Sebastian piped up, earning a scoff from his sister.

“At least you’ve brought home a woman with taste,” Emma said. To Penelope she continued, “His last girlfriend he brought home didn’t like either. Nor haggis.”

“How did she not like either?” Garcia blinked, wrapping an arm around Sebastian’s waist. “Did she not have a tongue? Wait, don’t answer that in front of your father. Robert, is there anything I can help with?”

“I’m fairly sure she had a tongue,” Robert replied, smirking. “But no, lass, just sit. Do you like turnips? I won’t ask if you like potatoes, because everyone likes potatoes.”

Sebastian refused to blush. It wasn’t his fault that the last girlfriend he’d brought home had proved a very reckless enthusiast when it came to public shagging.

“Turnips are lovely, thank you. My parents are hippies, so I’ve had every single veggie and alternate meat product you can throw at me.” Garcia sat down by Sebastian and smiled at Emma. “How far away do you live, Emma?”

“Neeps and tatties it is, then.” Robert rang for the maid.

Emma sat down across the table, next to her father. “I live in a little place called Muir of Ord, maybe ten kilometers down the road. My husband’s the heir of Baron Inverness, and so his land actually abuts up to Da’s. Rather convenient.”

“That’s fantastic! One of my brothers lives really close to the commune where my parents live, so they get together a few times a week. He’s single though, no kids or anything to speak of.” Garcia wrinkled her nose. “He needs to grow up a little first, though.”

“Commune?” Robert echoed, amused. “Your parents are hippies, you said? God only knows what manner of notions you grew up with.” But he was laughing, and his eyes shone.

“Oh, I rebelled against all of them anyway. I’m a hacker, and my parents don’t even own a computer. They have a cell phone that’s in black and white and has buttons.” She waggled her fingers. “Ask Bast, I’d die without a wifi connection.” Garcia had really only embraced a few parts of the hippie credo: love is love, waste not so others may have, and don’t be a dick.

“Really.” Robert chuckled. “I’m a bit in between, I think. I’ve had to be; I’m a businessman, as well as in Parliament. Wouldn’t do if I didn’t know how to get my e-mail.”

“He was the first one of us to use Skype,” Emma said, amused. “Rather good, for a bloke getting on in years.”

“Impudent, you are.” Robert shook his head.

“Oh, don’t believe that ‘over fifty, no more gadgets’ myth. I know plenty of people who’re in their eighties and still freaking out about how crappy the iOS7 update was.” Garcia smiled and shook her head; this was why she used Android platforms exclusively. With a little tweaking, of course. “And Skype is amazing. Do you and Bast talk very much that way?”

“We do. And I don’t use Macs for that exact reason. Looks like a bloody colouring book.” Robert smiled. “Sebastian’s mother actually bought me my first computer. Nancy was very ahead of her time.” It was a fond memory, clearly; there was no sadness in his eyes.

“I happen to remember Mum calling you a ninny until you got it,” Emma added, also smiling. “Dunno if Sebastian told you,” she said to Penelope, “but our Mum worked in computer science until she got too sick. She was the technological wizard round here.”

Garcia beamed whenever they talked about Nancy. “He didn’t, that’s fantastic, though! Not enough women in the field. I was the only female doctoral candidate before I got kicked out my year at CalTech.”

“Mum got double firsts from Aberdeen.” Sebastian smiled. He didn’t mind talking about his mum, but it wasn’t his first topic of conversation. He did still miss her. “She was a bit old-fashioned, but not when it came to tech. Said the world was getting on, so must we all.”

Robert smiled. “And right she was, too! Is that potatoes I smell?” He turned his head toward the door, and indeed, the maid arrived bearing four plates of neeps and tatties, two on each arm. “Jane, you could’ve made two trips, no need to endanger yourself.”

Garcia immediately hopped up to help Jane, grinning and giggling with the girl who she knew she was going to be pen pals with already. Taking her own and Sebastian’s, she sat down and took a deep inhale. “God, that smells amazing.” She waited to tuck in, just in case they were the sort of family to say grace.

They usually weren’t. Robert just smiled. “Please, eat, lest you start to eat each other instead.”

“Tempting,” Sebastian said, in a way that would make Emma snort and Penelope blush.

Emma did snort. “Keep it in your room, please.”

Garcia did blush, but she also poked him in the arm with her fork, gently, but still noticeably. “Don’t give your father a heart attack, sweetheart, I still want to hang out with him some more.”

Sebastian only smiled innocently before starting to eat. He liked to joke, so be it. But he was soon distracted; the food was damned good, he was relieved to see. “Please, tell Jane she hasn’t lost her touch.”

“I take it back,” Garcia swooned. “If you sack me again, Bast, I’m going to marry Jane, not your da’.” She couldn’t help a giggle.

“She’s a better cook than either of us.” Robert said gravely, raising a glass. “I can only hope that you have more fun than this while you’re here.”

“I’m sure we will.” Sebastian smiled, feeling happy and loved.