How NOT to Raise a Girl
Mar. 16th, 2012 09:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: But Time Marches On
Author: Ericadawn16
Characters: Alice, Rhi, Iefan
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE Spoilers MPREG AU
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Alice and Rhi have some bonding time.
Author's Note: The Sequel to But Time Didn't Stop I'm also sorry about how long it's been. These past few months have been crazy.
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/113396.html
How NOT to Raise a Girl
Alice hugged Faba and put him on a table so Lula couldn't get him. Iefan was asleep on the couch and Lucia was coloring. A couple of trolls littered the floor. Then, she heard the doorbell. Rhi was there. Alice didn't know what had happened last night that David and Rhi were so upset but she also wasn't one to ask about it. These were things that she didn't have much experience with.
She'd never made friends easily since she had to make so many lies. When she'd left after Steven's death, she had vowed to change herself including this but it hadn't happened.
However, if her dad could could make strides to improve himself, why couldn't she?
"Would you like a cuppa?" she asked Rhi, letting her in.
"I'd love one," Rhi agreed and when Alice went for the kitchen, stopped her. "No, you sit. I know where everything is."
Alice still sat at the table because she seemed to be much more clumsy than usual.
"I wish I could be with her, I wish I could be there for her," Rhi spoke, sitting down. Alice could relate to that. On the other hand, at least it was a temporary situation.
"But you're getting better...?" Alice asked. Oh, it was the wrong thing to say.
"So far but I have to take these tests and then more tests and they won't formally agree that I'm getting better for months and..."
Alice wondered if she should hug her or take her hand or what she should do.
"Sarah Jane was sick and she didn't get better. She died and I don't want to leave them. Johnny and David and Mica...they need me. It's bad enough now. I'm not the mum I should be," Rhi complained and Alice couldn't take it. Nothing Rhi could say or do would be any worse than what Alice had done. She had caused the worst thing a mother could do. She could hear Lucia still coloring in the next room and Rhi continued until Alice couldn't hear the words anymore, just sounds.
"It was my fault," Alice uttered in a voice she almost didn't recognize and the tears started to come. She could barely see as it was so she closed her eyes. Rhi's arms were around her. It was obvious that Rhi had no such hang-ups or problems with closeness.
"What are you on about?" Rhi asked.
"Steven," Alice whispered.
"No, no, it wasn't. If anyone's to blame, it was the government. That's who I blame for Ianto now," Rhi spoke as she squeezed. Alice shook her head.
"It was still my fault that he was there," she said and saw that Rhi still didn't believe her.
"Jack told me what happened. Actually, he told me how it was his fault, that the government only took you and Steven because of him," Rhi told her and Alice nodded because she had never told anyone the truth. It was another way of punishing her dad, she supposed.
"I was given a new name, a new identity. Mum felt Torchwood owed us that much and when Torchwood gives you a new identity, no one's going to find you unless you mess up," Alice tried to explain. "We were hidden until that day...until the explosion happened. Do you remember? The explosion at the bay in Cardiff?"
Rhi pulled away.
"How could I forget? Ianto was acting so strange and then I was woken up by men with guns trying to find him. I was so worried for him, so scared," Rhi spoke, taking her seat again.
"Dad was acting strange, too...stranger than usual and then I saw the explosion on the news. I knew they had hit Torchwood but I couldn't get in touch. I phoned over and over and over but no answer. I was so worried. I knew...I knew he couldn't die but that was a gunshot. What if being blown up could really kill him? I didn't know what to do so I borrowed a mobile and phoned the police. I tried to be smart but it wasn't enough. That's how they caught us," Alice said and she could feel the sobs trying to force their way out again.
"That's not your fault though. You were worried 'bout your dad. You love him and they took advantage of that," Rhi spoke and that's when they heard small footsteps coming into the kitchen. She assumed it would be Lucia and tried to dry her face.
"Oops," Iefan said, embarassed. The front of his shorts were wet.
"Nappies can be just rubbish sometimes," Rhi complained.
"No nappy," Iefan spoke and shook his head.
"No nappy?" Rhi asked.
"He doesn't wear nappies anymore. He's a big boy," Alice said with a smile and Iefan nodded. "He's wearing pants...won't even let me put nappies on him."
"Wow!" Rhi spoke and smiled at him.
"Mama, Iefan weed on the couch!" Lucia complained, running in.
"I know and he needs new pants," Alice spoke, forcing herself up. "Come on, Iefan. Next time, that's why I wanted you to go potty before your nap."
"If it's upstairs, I'll get him. You shouldn't be on them," Rhi spoke, taking him by the hand. Jack must have told her to keep Alice off the stairs. She wasn't an invalid although it did get tiring. However, once Rhi and Iefan were out of earshot, Lucia came closer.
"Mama, are you okay?" she asked and it almost made her cry again.
"Yes, I am princesa because you're here," she said and hugged her. Then, in an impulse, she kissed her on the cheek and touched her ginger hair.
"But the couch is still wet," Lucia reminded her.
"When you were little, you wet the couch, too, and the car and our bed...multiple times," Alice spoke and couldn't help smirking at the little girl's indignant expression.
"I did NOT," she said.
"Oh yes you did, Papa could back me up on that," Alice told her. "Come on, we'll get some towels and things to clean it up."
It wasn't very long before Rhi and Iefan came back down with fresh clothes.
"Lucy, why don't you take Iefan and Lula outside? We'll be out in a bit," Alice told her and she obeyed after hesitation.
"Jack's not going to like this," Rhi commented.
"I didn't have a choice. Iefan is one of the most stubborn toddlers I've ever come across," Alice said with a smile.
"With his parents, he'd have to be," Rhi said with her own smile.
"So, Ianto was the same way?" Alice asked and Rhi nodded.
"He would argue with our dad about everything," she said before Alice saw a shadow cross over her face. "No parent likes to be reminded how their child is growing up but for Jack...it's also a reminder how long he's been without him."
They were all still hurting but Alice knew her dad was so much more bad at it. At least she had met Thomas and moved on.
"The way you talked before...have you seen Jack die?" Rhi asked and she should have known that question was coming eventually.
"I know I probably don't appear like it now but when I was a little girl, I loved him so much. I idolized him. He'd appear out of the blue in his coat with some new expensive gift and he'd just be there for me. We'd play outside and I'd make him have a tea party with me or chase me or...anything. I've never been sure if my mum was jealous of our closeness or just upset that I couldn't see what she did. I can't recall a time that they ever did anything but fight in each other's presence. One day, I remember it was sunny, she tried to tell me once again how my dad was a freak. I wouldn't believe her so she took out a gun. Dad begged her not to do it but she kept saying how I needed to learn the truth. I didn't understand why she kept pointing it at him," Alice described. "Then, she pulled the trigger, hit him right in the chest. There was so much blood. I was so mad that she killed him. I started hitting her. She laughed and told me to watch. After a horribly long amount of time, dad gasped...this horrible sound I'll never forget and sat up like he was fine, like he died all the time. It was never the same after that."
"Oh Alice, that's horrible," Rhi spoke and squeezed her hand. "I've only seen it once but it was different, like he was just waking up from sleep and when I asked him, he said Ianto had been there."
Author: Ericadawn16
Characters: Alice, Rhi, Iefan
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE Spoilers MPREG AU
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Alice and Rhi have some bonding time.
Author's Note: The Sequel to But Time Didn't Stop I'm also sorry about how long it's been. These past few months have been crazy.
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/113396.html
How NOT to Raise a Girl
Alice hugged Faba and put him on a table so Lula couldn't get him. Iefan was asleep on the couch and Lucia was coloring. A couple of trolls littered the floor. Then, she heard the doorbell. Rhi was there. Alice didn't know what had happened last night that David and Rhi were so upset but she also wasn't one to ask about it. These were things that she didn't have much experience with.
She'd never made friends easily since she had to make so many lies. When she'd left after Steven's death, she had vowed to change herself including this but it hadn't happened.
However, if her dad could could make strides to improve himself, why couldn't she?
"Would you like a cuppa?" she asked Rhi, letting her in.
"I'd love one," Rhi agreed and when Alice went for the kitchen, stopped her. "No, you sit. I know where everything is."
Alice still sat at the table because she seemed to be much more clumsy than usual.
"I wish I could be with her, I wish I could be there for her," Rhi spoke, sitting down. Alice could relate to that. On the other hand, at least it was a temporary situation.
"But you're getting better...?" Alice asked. Oh, it was the wrong thing to say.
"So far but I have to take these tests and then more tests and they won't formally agree that I'm getting better for months and..."
Alice wondered if she should hug her or take her hand or what she should do.
"Sarah Jane was sick and she didn't get better. She died and I don't want to leave them. Johnny and David and Mica...they need me. It's bad enough now. I'm not the mum I should be," Rhi complained and Alice couldn't take it. Nothing Rhi could say or do would be any worse than what Alice had done. She had caused the worst thing a mother could do. She could hear Lucia still coloring in the next room and Rhi continued until Alice couldn't hear the words anymore, just sounds.
"It was my fault," Alice uttered in a voice she almost didn't recognize and the tears started to come. She could barely see as it was so she closed her eyes. Rhi's arms were around her. It was obvious that Rhi had no such hang-ups or problems with closeness.
"What are you on about?" Rhi asked.
"Steven," Alice whispered.
"No, no, it wasn't. If anyone's to blame, it was the government. That's who I blame for Ianto now," Rhi spoke as she squeezed. Alice shook her head.
"It was still my fault that he was there," she said and saw that Rhi still didn't believe her.
"Jack told me what happened. Actually, he told me how it was his fault, that the government only took you and Steven because of him," Rhi told her and Alice nodded because she had never told anyone the truth. It was another way of punishing her dad, she supposed.
"I was given a new name, a new identity. Mum felt Torchwood owed us that much and when Torchwood gives you a new identity, no one's going to find you unless you mess up," Alice tried to explain. "We were hidden until that day...until the explosion happened. Do you remember? The explosion at the bay in Cardiff?"
Rhi pulled away.
"How could I forget? Ianto was acting so strange and then I was woken up by men with guns trying to find him. I was so worried for him, so scared," Rhi spoke, taking her seat again.
"Dad was acting strange, too...stranger than usual and then I saw the explosion on the news. I knew they had hit Torchwood but I couldn't get in touch. I phoned over and over and over but no answer. I was so worried. I knew...I knew he couldn't die but that was a gunshot. What if being blown up could really kill him? I didn't know what to do so I borrowed a mobile and phoned the police. I tried to be smart but it wasn't enough. That's how they caught us," Alice said and she could feel the sobs trying to force their way out again.
"That's not your fault though. You were worried 'bout your dad. You love him and they took advantage of that," Rhi spoke and that's when they heard small footsteps coming into the kitchen. She assumed it would be Lucia and tried to dry her face.
"Oops," Iefan said, embarassed. The front of his shorts were wet.
"Nappies can be just rubbish sometimes," Rhi complained.
"No nappy," Iefan spoke and shook his head.
"No nappy?" Rhi asked.
"He doesn't wear nappies anymore. He's a big boy," Alice said with a smile and Iefan nodded. "He's wearing pants...won't even let me put nappies on him."
"Wow!" Rhi spoke and smiled at him.
"Mama, Iefan weed on the couch!" Lucia complained, running in.
"I know and he needs new pants," Alice spoke, forcing herself up. "Come on, Iefan. Next time, that's why I wanted you to go potty before your nap."
"If it's upstairs, I'll get him. You shouldn't be on them," Rhi spoke, taking him by the hand. Jack must have told her to keep Alice off the stairs. She wasn't an invalid although it did get tiring. However, once Rhi and Iefan were out of earshot, Lucia came closer.
"Mama, are you okay?" she asked and it almost made her cry again.
"Yes, I am princesa because you're here," she said and hugged her. Then, in an impulse, she kissed her on the cheek and touched her ginger hair.
"But the couch is still wet," Lucia reminded her.
"When you were little, you wet the couch, too, and the car and our bed...multiple times," Alice spoke and couldn't help smirking at the little girl's indignant expression.
"I did NOT," she said.
"Oh yes you did, Papa could back me up on that," Alice told her. "Come on, we'll get some towels and things to clean it up."
It wasn't very long before Rhi and Iefan came back down with fresh clothes.
"Lucy, why don't you take Iefan and Lula outside? We'll be out in a bit," Alice told her and she obeyed after hesitation.
"Jack's not going to like this," Rhi commented.
"I didn't have a choice. Iefan is one of the most stubborn toddlers I've ever come across," Alice said with a smile.
"With his parents, he'd have to be," Rhi said with her own smile.
"So, Ianto was the same way?" Alice asked and Rhi nodded.
"He would argue with our dad about everything," she said before Alice saw a shadow cross over her face. "No parent likes to be reminded how their child is growing up but for Jack...it's also a reminder how long he's been without him."
They were all still hurting but Alice knew her dad was so much more bad at it. At least she had met Thomas and moved on.
"The way you talked before...have you seen Jack die?" Rhi asked and she should have known that question was coming eventually.
"I know I probably don't appear like it now but when I was a little girl, I loved him so much. I idolized him. He'd appear out of the blue in his coat with some new expensive gift and he'd just be there for me. We'd play outside and I'd make him have a tea party with me or chase me or...anything. I've never been sure if my mum was jealous of our closeness or just upset that I couldn't see what she did. I can't recall a time that they ever did anything but fight in each other's presence. One day, I remember it was sunny, she tried to tell me once again how my dad was a freak. I wouldn't believe her so she took out a gun. Dad begged her not to do it but she kept saying how I needed to learn the truth. I didn't understand why she kept pointing it at him," Alice described. "Then, she pulled the trigger, hit him right in the chest. There was so much blood. I was so mad that she killed him. I started hitting her. She laughed and told me to watch. After a horribly long amount of time, dad gasped...this horrible sound I'll never forget and sat up like he was fine, like he died all the time. It was never the same after that."
"Oh Alice, that's horrible," Rhi spoke and squeezed her hand. "I've only seen it once but it was different, like he was just waking up from sleep and when I asked him, he said Ianto had been there."
