Chapter 48
Previously: The Rose of Whitby – Chapter 47
Nostrils flaring, Darcy’s mind shifts away hard from her embarrassment. Arthur is scared and Papa is tense. That’s unacceptable! So she shakes Gregory’s hug off and stands up tall to introduce herself as the Lady Rossmore. “Thank you for your assistance.” Her display falters a bit when the man’s pupils go wide. He’s staring at her, outright staring, but not at her skirt. No, she can feel his eyes hot on her hair, on her eyes, before he blinks and slowly, ever so slowly turns to her papa. Is he going to attack him? Without thinking, she follows the first impulse her drac has and growls as she darts forward. Her paws hit the desk as she presents a snarling wall of fur shielding her papa from the man she doesn’t know. He’s not part of her family and nobody hurts her family!
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“She really is…” Art is still staring at Seward, not even taking a step back from the wolf. “Jack? Please?”
It’s not as if Seward knows what to make of the situation, but his rose petal made one thing clear, he can’t even attempt to lie. So instead, he puts a hand on Darcy’s shoulder, tries to calm himself for this. Lucy is only a room away, if all else fails, if he’s too slow, he knows that his wife is going to do what he wants to believe he can do. He’s lied to his best friend for so many years; surely he could do even worse.
But somehow, he can’t find the cold and rational place he normally goes to when he needs to be tactical. He had so many plans to fall back on, but here he is answering his best friend’s intent look and… he thinks he can’t see any anger? Seward knows he’s bad with emotions, but he thought he could read at least this man. Not predict his reactions, no, that’s why he hid Darcy, but at least read him, and he thinks he looks… hurt? So Seward does the one thing he always has believed in, he throws the dice of probability in his mind and hopes he calculates right. “Yes, she really is, both my daughter and a dhampir. I didn’t know what else to do. You were burning with so much hatred for vampires. You know I can’t deal with emotions well. And I tried for years to cure Darcy. I couldn’t, but maybe… Art, maybe we were wrong.”
“Wrong? Jack, what are you saying? You…” Art starts shaking, leans heavily on the desk, and looks back at Darcy.
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She suddenly realises that he’s not staring, he’s pleading, his eyes are large and tear-filled. He’s not threatening her papa, her papa wasn’t tense from being afraid. This is Papa’s friend! She’s heard about him, a little bit, not too much, but she knows that her papa always went with him. And again her drac sweeps her along as she leans towards him and nuzzles her snout against his cheek with a little whine. She doesn’t like when her family hurts, and now Papa and his friend are both hurting. Her starting wolf howl turns sob when she changes back to her human form and stretches her arms to be able to hold both Papa and his friend.
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Arthur tries to keep up- okay, Dr Seward and this man clearly know each other as more than just acquaintances, it looks and sounds like there’s lots of history there, and the man isn’t attacking, doesn’t even seem particularly startled or scared at Darcy suddenly turning wolf. And also… “There isn’t anything wrong with Darcy,” he speaks up. Part of his mind is shrieking at him to keep quiet and not draw attention, but… but he’s annoyed with all those nasty things he’s read about dhampirs and vampires in the book, and that whole cabin was a vampire hunter thing, and Darcy was all scared of hurting him, she wouldn’t care if she was a bad person. And even though she was really hungry she didn’t hurt him, so he crosses his arms and glowers at the men.
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“Nothing fucking wrong at all.” John backs him up, slowly lowers his fists again, having been ready to deck the guy one if he so much as tries to do whatever hunters do. It’s not as if it’s difficult for him to put the pieces together, and he’s frankly fed up with all the social bullshit. Arthur finally actually spoke up for once, Seward is still insecure but at least he was talking, Darcy, well, that’s his girl and this is a small enough group so of course she immediately pulls something amazing… and okay, Gregory is japing on the side, he’s not even going to listen to that.
Instead, he’s going to show who Darcy’s man really is. That would be him! So he walks right up and looks between Seward and this Lord Godalming. “Darcy’s got nothing that needs to be cured. And if either of you say that one more time, I’m punching you. Now for fuck’s sake, act like grown men and get the issue out in the open and dealt with or you’ll make her cry.”
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His vehemence makes Darcy blush, but then she nods and pulls harder, tries to hug them both more. “Uncle Art? You’re Uncle Art, right? You’ve always kept Papa safe when he had to leave me alone in my room, right? Thank you. I love my papa.” Darcy thought that would get a reaction out of him, but she wasn’t prepared for the extent of it, the way she can feel him shudder and his scent getting fully into her nostrils as he crushes her close to his chest, but that intensity pales next to the one when there’s another voice joining.
“He’d be daddy Art if he hadn’t listened too much to Harker.”
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Turning instantly towards that voice, Art unintentionally rips out of Darcy’s grip as he feels the blood drain from his face. “Lucy? But I…”
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“Murdered me? Yes, sweetheart. Luckily, Jackie didn’t really agree with that terrible idea. Now, are you going to just stand there or are you coming over here so that I can first slap you and then kiss you? I’ll even keep my fangs to myself; you’ll have to earn that privilege. Ask Jackie if I know how to use them.” She grins and waggles her eyebrows.
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Arthur could’ve done without that addition, the tone and expression make it clear it’s a… that sort of thing, it makes her look… younger, kind of like the way Gregory can look, so of course his blush comes right back, but he inches his way back over to Darcy’s side, and… well, the stranger, ‘Uncle Art’, doesn’t look mad. Shocked, but not mad. Um… maybe like he’s about to cry? Arthur’s not sure what you do with a grown man crying… or anyone crying, for that matter… And, right, Darcy was worried about Harker because he was one of the men who hunted her mother, so this Art clearly was another one of them- but Harker didn’t recognize Darcy as being a dhampir, but this man did, so… he must know more about vampires than Harker does. That would make it a good thing to have him on their side, Arthur decides. …Even if he murdered Lucy. Or thought he did.
Darcy notices the blush on Arthur, and up goes her normal shout of “Mother!” but then she pipes down as her papa nudges her slightly and shakes his head.
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In the sudden silence, Art’s breath sounds loud in his own ears before he fully cracks and starts crying, but rushes to Lucy, throwing his arms around her and sobs through heavy apologies and love declarations and how much he missed her and he thought his life was over and ruined without her. All he had was his grief for her and the wish that nobody ever again would lose the love of their life to vampires but… but he’s so happy she’s alive and… and he’d rather damn his soul than be without her ever again.
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Well, fuck, okay, John decides not to cuss at the man again soon. He himself wouldn’t want to be caught dead showing that much emotion, but Darcy is having sparkles in her eyes watching that. John can see her melting at how tragic and romantic this is, yes, yes, right out of a story. Ugh, sometimes his girl is a bit predictable. Now just to see how this turns out, because Darcy might be melting, but her father looks unsure. Jealous? No, really not, interesting. What’s going on in that head of his? John finds that even now that he for once actually tries to read somebody, Seward is not making it easy. Although, maybe he doesn’t know himself?
Seward’s girl seems to know what she’s feeling about the situation, though. Lucy definitely is hugging back and if she’s keeping her fangs really to herself, John can’t tell from this angle because she sure as fuck has her lips on Godalming’s neck. Now he feels kind of gross for being in the room, he knows that he definitely doesn’t want anybody ever seeing him react to his girl like that, let alone his girl biting him. But… well, he wants his own girl happy and she’s still making sparkling eyes so he nudges her and whispers that she should use that ‘daddy Art’ quip of her mother. Might help to pull the hunter fully on their side.
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It’s a good thing Lucy has vampire strength, Arthur thinks, because otherwise that man would’ve totally bowled her over right now, he’s at least twice her size and weight. And, yes, there’s crying and uh, kissing, and he really thinks he shouldn’t be here for that, but it’s not like he’s going to leave Darcy alone here, even if probably the man isn’t any threat to her after all. So Arthur inches back to half-hide behind Darcy and turns his head away to inspect the wall and it’s really very nice wood panelling, only keeping Lucy and the man in the corner of his eye so he’ll notice if they move away from each other again and finish with the tearful reunion.
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At John’s advice Darcy tilts her head, looks at her papa next and starts smiling. He doesn’t need to worry; she’ll protect him and his happiness. She’ll make sure, uh, Daddy isn’t getting any ideas. She’s seen how romantic Papa is; he doesn’t need to be afraid! And if mother is being silly well, they both have dracs, they’ll talk it out the not-so-scary way.
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Seward looks down at the hand Darcy has placed on top of his, it’s so small even now that she’s a grown woman, and despite that petite appearance, yes, he trusts her to take on anyone and anything. And he also trusts Lucy, something he didn’t think possible for years, but no, he was wrong, Art was wrong. There is nothing evil or damned about his rose petal or his rose, and he’s sure they’ll make Art see it, too. If anybody can make Art forgive him and bring his best friend back to him, it would be the two women in his life that make everything seem so much easier and brighter.
So he nods at her, then realises that she said ‘Daddy’ and his eyes narrow as he leans in and starts whispering, telling her about how much Art wanted to have children. And with that, he finally finds that space of calm calculation again. He can think this through and work with what he has but… it doesn’t feel cool this time. He’s not calculating for advantage. The realisation makes him swallow, because for once, he can easily identify his own emotion as hope. No, he’s calculating and making plans for happiness, not only his own, but that of everybody he cares about, Darcy, Lucy, and Art.
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John knows that listening in is rude, but fuck this, Seward finally dug his brain back out and he’ll help Darcy with any plans, so he better should know what’s going on.
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Arthur leaves Darcy, Dr Seward and John to their whispered conspiracy- from what he catches, how to make sure ‘Art’ is firmly on their side, which he’s in favour of. Especially since clearly, Lucy cares about him, and now, what with the crying and all, Arthur feels sorry for him. It’d be… nice if there was more happiness around? He likes it when people are happy and no one has to die. Especially not because of some misunderstanding.
It occurs to him to glance around for Gregory, to see what he thinks. The moment Arthur looks at him, Gregory grins and walks over to him, tips his head with a knowing look at Lucy and ‘Art’. “My mother-in-law’s got this, huh?” he says. And, well… he’s not wrong, so Arthur shrugs and agrees.
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Darcy feels even happier when Papa notices that John is leaning in and, after a second of deliberation, starts including him, which turns her listening to Papa to her listening to Papa and John discussing things. Something about that gives her a hot ball of emotion right in the depth of her stomach and she starts to bounce, only to blink with a giggle when Jack beckons her to come even closer. It’s been years since he put her hair into two braids, but, well, her daddy never got the chance to see his little girl, so they need to cheat a bit. And her clothes are a disaster, so how about she goes over there and steals her daddy from Lucy so that he can help his little princess with picking a new dress.
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Jack is well aware that Art is known as a scoundrel, but, in reality, is the sweetest man he knows. He suspects that with just a little bit of a nudge, he’ll show off that he wanted to be a father more than Jack ever did. So how about bonding over him teaching him how to look after their daughter? Now, if Jack could identify the feeling it gives him to call his rose petal ‘their daughter’, he’d feel a bit more secure in this plan. But John agreed that it might work, so they set it into motion by having Darcy bounce over and trill at Lucy if she could borrow her daddy. She wants to spend time with him, too, and it looks to her as if Lucy needs a bit to get ready for a clearly overdue date anyway!
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Arthur catches some words about the picking of a new dress, and that reminds him of his own state, and he hastily buttons his waistcoat and straightens his collar and shirtsleeves and jacket. Which he’s grateful for sleeping in, now, because his jacket pocket is where his notebook is, and he wouldn’t have wanted to leave that behind. Bad enough that he’s out of a pair of boots. But the house can probably get him new ones.
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Lucy’s laughter fills the room as she looks after Art, being dragged out by the hand by Darcy, tiny in comparison to him. She makes a point of walking over to Jack and kissing him just as deeply as she just did Art. Before that silly man thinks she has any ideas about catching up with her old fiancé and choosing him over Jack again. No, no, no, she didn’t live through so many horrible things to not do exactly what she wanted all those years ago already. She’ll have them both and they’ll have to deal with it!
Oh? Or not deal with it, apparently, because while yes, her Jackie wanted that kiss, he immediately starts scheming with her once he can talk again. He’s behind Darcy’s assault on Art; she should have suspected as much, he can be terribly strategic and devious. Oh yes, so devious, and some days she wonders if that’s her or him Darcy inherited the tendency to drag people off from. No, he doesn’t do it like Darcy, but he’s so clearly already hip deep into plans for how she should have that date and how to resolve the situation best for all of them.
She could kiss him again! Both for how scandalous he is, but, also, he doesn’t notice it, but to her it’s so clear that he wants his best friend back without any lies between them. And well, maybe that little bit of bounce she has in her own step now looks very much like Darcy’s and she’s just fine with that.
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Everyone suddenly seems very pleased with themselves, though Arthur could do without all that kissing going around- he squirms a bit, but not too obviously so Gregory doesn’t decide to tease him about it in front of everyone. But whatever is going on with Lucy clearly liking both Dr Seward and ‘Art’, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for Dr Seward, and therefore Arthur decides it’s not any problem of his. As long as there’s no duelling and killing going on, fine by him.
And John is still standing really close to Dr Seward, so must hear what they’re whispering about, and is grinning rather smugly. So whatever they’re planning, it’s probably good for Darcy, too. So the only thing left for him to do is to ask: “Um… what about the book?” Because it seems that everyone has quite forgotten about that, over all the reunion social drama stuff.
Dr Seward, already half out of the door, turns and tells them to lock it into the desk, he and Art will deal with it later, just please, nobody be so stupid and activate it again.
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John snorts and does as told, grabs Darcy’s extra key from where she told him it is and locks the book up before pocketing the key for right now. He’s feeling rather very good about himself. And he’s not feeling sorry one fucking bit about, yeah, part of the reason for that is that Darcy’s father, the man he knows she idolises, had a shouting match with Gregory only yesterday, but will pull him into scheming for the family’s future. Who is the preferred son-in-law here, eh?
And that Godalming sounds like he just might get along with him, if he can get over the fact that he’s boiling with jealousy about how much of a guy he is. Seriously, he breaks down into blubbering tears and still seems like a real man, that’s just not fucking fair. If he’s really lucky maybe he can get him to teach him a bit about being a man like that without making it obvious that he has no clue on his own.
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Arthur watches with his breath held as John locks up the book, relaxes once it’s safely tucked away and John isn’t sucked into it. “…I guess I’ll go find some boots…” he announces to no one in particular, and makes his own way out of Darcy’s study.
Of course, Gregory attaches himself to him and wants to know everything about what happened, and so Arthur tells him about the snowy forest and the cabin and how they couldn’t get out. He kind of doesn’t go into any detail of Darcy getting hungry or riding around on her back, but Gregory doesn’t ask, either, too busy to declare that that teleporting barrier actually sounds like a lot of fun! And Arthur supposes if you’re not worried about being stuck in a strange place by magic you don’t understand, it could be fun.
Either way, Gregory soon heads off again, and Arthur decides he deserves a good meal and maybe even a… late afternoon off in the library with some fun reading. And the house does give him new boots. They’re actually kind of nicer than his old ones. Warmer, too.
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It is, yes, still far too early in the day for Lucy to have a proper date. She takes her time, both for sleeping a bit more, and for going full out on her dress and makeup. Yes, even with help from Jack, who always did have the better memory, so she is delighted when he can remember what she was wearing on that first ball that had both him and Art fall for her.
Speaking of falling for anybody, she has to say, sitting here and scheming with him for a date with Art makes her feel her love for him with a burning passion, maybe the strongest since they reunited. Yes, he can be shy, but there is such a free spirit below his own insecurities about his emotions, how hard they are for him. She’ll do her absolutely bloody best to rope his best friend in so that her Jackie gets all the love he could ever want. So, oh yes, she’s looking forward to this date just as much for what it might mean for Jack as how much fun she expects to have with her old flame.
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Said old flame doesn’t even notice the time going by as he is allowed to comment on the little fashion show Darcy puts on for him. She’s showing him all her treasures that Jack gave her over the years, the ruby necklaces and the rose camisole, the rose embroidered slippers, and her red dresses. He can see Jack’s love all over it and it makes him sniffle. He could have had this if he just had managed to make Jack trust him that he would love this girl. That he would not let his grief blind him. But here he is now, having her hug him whenever he seems overcome with melancholy. Here he is, with a girl shyly asking him if he likes drawings, and then making him the happiest daddy ever by climbing on his lap and showing him her drawings.
How could he ever believe she could be damned? For a moment, his heart bleeds for all the other dhampirs he’s known, all the hunting dogs the hunters abuse and not let be children, but for right now, he has his own dhampir. He has a daughter, a daughter who keeps him company while he waits to go on a date with his old fiancée, who isn’t dead. He has his life back, suddenly, after nearly two decades. There is a future for him again, and he will not let old pain take it away from him.
And then Lucy returns, dazzling and even more beautiful than he remembers her, on Jack’s arm even. His best friend, yes, despite the lies, he still loves Jack just as dearly. It hurts, but he said he wouldn’t let himself give in to pain. So instead, he laughs when he sees Jack smirk at him. He knows Jack doesn’t smirk freely. He knows that Jack is a social disaster, but seeing that smirk tells him that yes, Lucy is doing her old magic. She’s making Jack confident again, and he’s sure she’ll do her magic on him, too. She’ll give him his smile back. He’s already smiling at it being Jack who specifically hands her over to him and then has Darcy on his arm instantly. The girl is looking so concerned at her papa, she’s so full of love, and that brings the tears right back to Art’s eyes.
He just wants some of that love, he wants a family, and more, he wants this family. Darcy might not be his daughter by blood, but he couldn’t care any less, she’s Lucy’s girl, and Jack’s girl. He loves those two so much. He’ll have to show them, he has to get them back, so he makes himself remember that Lucy likes when he breaks social conventions. He shows off again that he is a scoundrel. Instead of leading her by the arm, he lifts her up into his arms as he gets down the stairs, asking her what she has planned and how he can make it even better.
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Jack looks after that and yes, the smirk stays right there. That’s the Art he… he missed. It’s Darcy reaching up that makes him realise his eyes are wet. Oh, he must be sad about that, looking at Darcy. Seeing his emotions reflected in her makes it easier, as always, to read them for him. He squeezes her hand and starts to reassure her. No, he’s not sad about seeing those two go. No, he’s happy, he thinks. The tears are for not having seen that side of his best friend in far too long. Now, is his rose petal still willing to also spend time with her papa or should he bring her to her husband?
She shakes her head vehemently. She doesn’t know where Gregory is anyway, he tends to vanish when nobody is directly paying him attention. She’s gotten used to it, so no, please, she wants to spend time with her papa! She hasn’t in too long, and spending time with Daddy just reminded her of how much she loves her papa, so please, he hasn’t met her bunnies yet. He has to come and say hello and tell her if she got the drawings right!
Gregory does what? Maybe Jack should say something but, okay, that can wait, he is far less surprised by yes, he missed this, too. He has felt isolated from his rose petal, with her being all grown up now, and of course preferring to spend time with her husband. Her husband who clearly isn’t fond of him. But right now, if he isn’t around, yes, of course he wants to meet her bunnies. It’s so good to feel Darcy drag him by the hand again. It doesn’t matter how old she’ll get, she’ll always be his little girl in his eyes, and he wants her happy above all else.