Verochka

Tatyana Vera "Verochka" Addison-Dale.

She was pretty dresses with combat boots.

Fairy wings with spiked collars.

The first time Donovan ever set eyes on her she was kicking a coke machine. She was dressed in a cute pink dress, the skirt set into ruffles - almost like something a little girl would wear. Only she had a pair of stripe socks that came abover her knees and a set of purple boots on her feet. Her hair was obviously dyed, a dark black-purple with reddish-pink highlights - pulled up into a messy pony tail. She wore a pair of pink Skullcanday headphones and a lollipop in her mouth.

As he walked passed on his way to the Headmaster's office she looked up at him with blue-green eyes and grinned before running off in the direction he'd just come.

The next time he saw her was lunch.

Coming from a small town school to a larger school was a difficult transition for Donovan. He didn't know anyone, and everything was just like in the movies - perhaps even worse. The popular kids ruled all. Donovan was a novelty for about three seconds with them. One kid in his first class - Peter - seemed set on scooping up a 'new friend'. Donovan went along with it since there was no way he was ever going to be popular here. At lunch Peter introduced Donovan to his group of friends.

One snickered a "Can we call you Donny?" to which Donovan firmly told them all "No, and no one is to ever think of doing such a thing." He faded into unknown conversation, picking up only when something he knew came his way.

She walked in, a tall and lithe blond male at her side. The popular females turned their noses up at her, and she merely grinned back in return, saying something that from this distance Donovan couldn't hear. He couldn't even read her lips to find out what she had said.

"Who's she then?" he asked Peter. Was the blond her boyfriend? They didn't seem like a couple. There was something off about the boy.

"Her name's Tatyana," announced Annabelle, one of the vocal of Peter's group of friends. "The guy is Alexander, only everyone just calls him Lexu. She thinks she's special or something because she's got famous parents. Sharona hates her because her father refuses to let her model for him."

"I don't follow the celebrity scene," Donovan admitted.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Fashion," he almost spat. "Models, A-list celebrities. She gets star-treatment everywhere but here - unless you're a teacher. Then you suck up to her."

"So she's a snob?"

Annabelle clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "She's lovely. Sweet, caring, and a wonderful person."

This confused Donovan. "But why the hate?"

"Because she hates the labels of high school. She doesn't like to fit in a clique, so she's either your friend or your enemy. But never try to get on her side to get to those parents of her's. You know the model Juliet Morhan?"

Donovan shrugged. "Heard of her."

"Her father is Lake Dale; Juliet's agent. Well, her adopted father is."

"What's her real father do?"

"Thats a black stain," added Nicolas, a green eyed red head. "No one knows. Even Tatyana."

"Her name sounds foreign."

"So does Donovan," snickered Peter.

"It's Irish." Donovan was very particular about his name.

"Tatyana is Russian. She's got two fathers."

"A lot a gossip surrounding her then?"

Annabelle chuckled. "You have no idea. Her mother is Noelle Addison. She's a photographer too. Only she does those big fancy premiers and stuff - so she's not home often." She scooted her chair back and began to rummage around into her bag. After a few minutes she pulled out a rolled up magazine. Flipping through the pages she found what she was looking for and passed it to Donovan.

He knew he had seen this girl somewhere before. She was photographed with a beautiful woman with vibrant blood red hair. The two bore a striking resemblance to one another, almost like sisters but not quite.

He scanned the article "Photographer to the stars Noelle comes before the camera to bear all," he read aloud.

'Noelle Karon Addison is the source of many amazing photographs of everyones favourite celebrities. But while she hides behind the lense to look at stardom, fame lives within her own home. Rumors abound about her relationship with the one and only Lake Dale surround her and her daughter; Tatyana.

Noelle, the first think everyone wants to know - what's your relationship with Lake Dale?
(Chuckle) Well, it all started a while ago. He was late for a show, and as fate would have it he crashed into me. It all began then. We talked a lot and found we had so much in common. He was only nineteen - only just getting into the profession. He'll kill me when he reads this, but oh well. He was cute, few years younger than me, but I thought 'What the heck?' and asked him about his relationship status.

And?
(Another chuckle) There was no 'yes' or 'no. The way he explained it made me realise something I had already spotted but didn't want to admit. He was, perhaps 'broken' is not the best choice of words, but he wasn't one hundred percent who he should be. A part of him was missing, and even if I couldn't help in the way he needed, I could still be there to help ease the pain. Its not a subject people constantly gossip about because both he and myself feel that if people haven't figured it out for themselves then they must really be quite stupid. The term best used for Lake is 'Gayer than a tree full of parrots'. (She laughs) His boyfriend is such a hunk that you have to look twice before it settles in that he's interested in the same sex.

So this must be the infamous Mr. Utkin then?
Dimitri is amazing. He's a perfect father figure for my daughter. Lake is not quite suited for a fraternal position, but the role he plays in Tatyana's life is one I would never change. We joke that he's the maternal figure when I'm away. He knows more about women's clothing than I do anyway! (Chuckle) He came into my life before my daughter was born and I knew he'd forever be a part of her life that I let him be the one to name my daughter.

Hence the Russian name Tatyana then. What does she think of these two men?
She loves them to pieces. My job takes me all over the world, and sometimes even Lake too, is forced to travel. But Dimitri is the rock that keeps this family together. He stays home to make sure she stays in school, and while not everyone is ready to accept the fact the main portion of her family is made up of two homosexual men I think she is blossoming wonderfully.

But don't you think that the influence of two men in her life is making her more masculine? Your daughter is not what many would say 'a model student'.
Tatyana is fine the way she is. If people have a problem with it then they should talk to me. I'm her mother; it is up to me who I place my daughter in the care of. She's an individual - and while I admit she's not as a hard studier as both Lake and myself would like she is smart in her own way. Tatyana, if you're reading this - go do your homework (Another laugh).'

Donovan looked up at the others, then glanced over at the girl who sat with the punk kids, perched on the cafeteria table, waving her hands animatedly as she spoke.

The third time he saw her, he said "Hello, my name is Donovan"

They talk with their hands

The two of them had their own personal langauge that few could enter into. They spoke not a word to one another, but they could perfectly understand each other. Their eyes watched one another, and they would react to whatever the other said in the appropritate way.

But not a word passed between them.

They sat in the school's cafeteria, isolated within their own personal and soundless world. The chatter reverberating through the room did little to silence their in depth conversation.

"So I thought that I was going to die of laughter when Jason stared at me with the expression of a dead donkey," Madison said, earning a chuckle from Angel that sat in the seat opposite from her munching away on an apple.

Setting the fruit down, Angel began his own reply. "I don't think he'll ever understand it though, Madison. Its been explained to him more times than I can count, but he still has that fish look."

"Are you going out tomorrow night, Angel?"

Angel shrugged, not sure whether or not he felt up to a Friday night of partying and loud music. There was no doubt that it would be fun, but he was tired from last week. "I promised my brother I'd do some homework."

"Homework? It can wait one night can't it?" She pouted, hoping that it would get the red haired male sitting opposite her to change his mind.

Angel chuckled, shaking his head. "I made a promise."

"I'll find you a really sexy guy to wrap yourself around." Madison flashed a toothy grin.

"Find one that can understand me first."

The world the two lived in was secluded. Only a few people could enter into it. The majority of people live in a place that the two consider as 'Those with sound', and their world is 'Those without sound'. Few people in Those with Sound could understand the ones living in the world of Those without Sound.

They talked with their hands, because one voice didn't work, and they both couldn't hear the voices of the crowded cafeteria around them.

Parenthood - Part 3

Focusing on work had to be one of the hardest things to do when one had a three year old attempting to climb up their leg. Looking down under the table into the bright blue eyes that looked up, the frown the child was given was returned with a toothy grin.

"Ewwy?"

"Daddy?"

"I'm not a climbing frame."

Ewan blinked several times, giggled, then proceeded to continue his attempts to reach the summit of Mount. Daddy.

"No, seriously, I'm not." But giving in, Jamie reached down and hauled the toddler up onto his lap. Sitting him down, one arm curled around his waist while the other returned to the paperwork on the table. Kate had put the kid in a pair of denim dungarees and a black hoodie. His brown hair was in the typical faux-hawk of late.

The little lad tilted his head to look up at his father. "Whah yah doin'?"

"Work."

"Whah kinda wowk?" the toddler asked.

"The kind that is very important and shouldn't be interrupted by being made into a set of monkey bars."

Ewan pouted his lips, peering over the edge of the table to get a view of whatever it was that his father was doing. His little legs stretched out on his father's lap, and he tapped the toes of his red Converses together. Every time he reached out to curl his fingers around the edge to lift himself up further to get a better view, the hand not holding him would tap the pen lightly on his knuckles before returning to whizzing across the paperwork.

After a few more minutes, Ewan set about fidgeting.

Jamie looked down at the boy. "Can you not go and annoy Mommy?"

Ewan beamed toothily up at his Dad. "She vewy busy! Unclie Jojo is visitwin."

Jamie rolled his eyes. "What does that dork want?"

There was a shrug for a reply. "I no know," he said honestly, tapping his toes together again.

At that, Jamie couldn't help but laugh at his son, giving him a one armed squeeze. Once more about to set to his task, he glanced up to see a tall, mohawked male followed by Kate. Jamie rarely ever saw Jojo much these days, but his dress sense hadn't changed in the many years since the day he'd first met him. He also still had that stupid grin on his face. With a wriggle, Ewan requested "Down," and was deposited upon the floor so that he could trot on over to the new male.

Jojo knelt down to his level, arms outstretched to welcome the boy in with a big hug. "How's my favorite Godson?"

"He's not your Godson," Jamie and Kate said in sync.

At that Jojo pouted. "No fair. Why does the ginger one get him?"

"If we both happen to die, and so does Nat, Evander and Jennifer then you 'get him', Jojo." Jamie responded.

"That's after Matthew and Anna also happen to kick the bucket," Kate added, watching as Jojo lifted the boy up in his arms and bounced him on his hip.

"I so too can look after kids. I'm great with babies." He looked to Ewan who had settled himself happily against his body and was giggling at his mother who was leaning forwards and playing peek-a-boo with him. She stuck out her tongue and ruffled his hair.

"You're still not being first in line for when we snuff it."

"If we ever die," Kate added with a grin. "Or at least out live you."

Its not you

"Do you mind picking up something for me from my mother's house? I'd do it, but I need to attend some pointless parent meeting with Harmony's lawyer."

It was a simple enough task - go over to the house of Alastar's parents, perhaps engaged in a friendly chat with either Stephen or Arista - or maybe even both if he was lucky. Once there, he'd collect a box of things Alastar had arranged earlier in the week for them to provide. Agreeing without so much as a thought put into it, David waved Star off and went in the opposite direction to make the journey to what were essentially his in-laws.

What he hadn't expected was that something could possibly go wrong in that scenario. He had met Alastar's parents many times before this one - he felt perfectly comfortable meeting with them on his own now.

He got through the door well enough. Arista was bright and smiling at him, welcoming the man into her home. She offered to make him tea or coffee and that if he waited in the lounge she'd go and fetch the items he'd been sent to collect. While waiting in the lounge, happily looking at pictures of old featuring both of the Hughes children and Arista's grandchildren the sounds of something crashing in the kitchen reached David's ears. Pulling his eyes from the memories, David started to the kitchen, curious over what the noise was, and worried if Arista had hurt herself.

He certainly had not expected to be confronted with a woman screaming obscenities at him.

"Who the fuck are you?" she demanded of him, her eyes narrowed at him like he was the foulest thing she had ever set her eyes on.

Al was private about his youth and his parents. Lyra was much the same. David knew there had been problems that resulted in both children moving to live with their grandparents, but neither seemed able to fully share what they had gone through growing up. Due to such, David hadn't been fully warned of what to expect when Arista had 'one of her bad turns' as they all described it. Shocked at her sudden change, David held his hands up defencively and hoped just explaining things calmly to her would help her recall what was going on.

"I'm David, remember? Your son's boyfriend. I'm here to pick up a box of things."

"Bastard. My son would never...He's a liar and I hate him!" Her small, old hands curled into fists, making David worry she would lash out at him. "He doesn't love me, he never has. He sends strangers into my home to kill me! Him and that conniving bitch of a sister."

She was their mother. The times he'd been around during a visit Arista was sweet and caring. She doted love and affection on both her children and simply adored her grandchildren. To see and hear such a woman say such things about those she cared for left a strange sensation churnining in David's stomach. Still with his hands held up, he took a step back and away from her.

She still had her hateful glare transfixed upon him. "They sent you, didn't they? Did you kill that moron of a husband of her's too?" she spat. "Well, you're not going to kill me."

They were in the kitchen. There was a lot of sharp and dangerous objects in a kitchen. Sure, he was much taller and stronger than the short, elderly woman, but David didn't want to hurt her. Returning to Al with the tale of 'How I killed you mother by accident when she thought I was going to kill her intentionally' was not a very good idea. Ever.

Fear continued to well up inside of himself, and he swallowed at the lump that was now a permanent feature in his throat. Never had he thought of Arista as a frightening woman, but right now David was close to terrified.

"Arista, please, it's me; David," he pleaded with her. "I baked you those cookies last weekend. Your children love you very much, and I could never kill anyone - especially not someone as wonderful as yourself Arista. Please calm down, there's nothing to worry about."

Somewhere in her coal grey eyes (obviously her children didn't inherit her eyes) something registered. Blinking several times, she looked up at his face. The whole world seemed to change and the atmosphere instantly switched back. "David?" she asked sweetly. "What's with the silly look? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Breathing a sigh of relief and releasing the sheer amount of air he had stored within his lungs in one heavy sigh, David slumped. "Arista...you worried me."

A brow arched and she looked like him like he was talking total trash. "Don't be absurd, David." She smiled at him and reached up to pat his shoulder. As her arm came up, he noticed for the first time the fresh bandage on her wrist. There was just so much both Alastar and Lyra weren't telling him. "Lets go and get Star his box."

Not chancing a second round with the completely different Arista, once he collected the box, he graciously excused himself and left. Once in his car, the first thing he did was call those that would know how to help. Al was unavailble, but Lyra understood what happened. After getting her to calm down after the foul mood brought about by her mother's sudden mood swing, she said she'd stop by to check on her and make sure she took her medication.

Back home, and David was unsure how to tell his lover. Lyra seemed intent on being the one to break the news, since after visiting her mother, she came straight over to their home and made herself comfortable in the kitchen. When Al walked in, he saw his older sister sitting at the table looking in a very foul mood.

"What're you sulking for?" he asked after giving David a kiss on the cheek in greeting.

"Mother."

A heavy sigh broke out of him, and a hand rose to his forehead. "What happened?"

"She threatened David. Said we'd sent him to kill her."

Al just grumbled and made his way to the fridge. "She thought my highschool history teacher wanted to kill her, and my college professor. Your ballroom dance instructor is also on that list - oh, and Dad, you and even myself. Several times."

There was a growl from Lyra. David felt in the middle, his blue eyes flickering between one sibling and the other. Both of them were very reserved with their feelings, but now and again Lyra would release and Al would snap back. Neither of them accepted defeat with grace and ease. "I never knew that was what you grew up with; both of you."

"Al got most of it, she just didn't accept me very well and as you know I grow up mostly with our grandmother," Lyra said, looking down at the table top. "But according to David she's got a bandage on her wrist. If she's self harming again..."

"Tell Dad," Al said before she could finish. He turned from the refrigerator and moved to the table, resting a hand on David's shoulder. His brown eyes looked to his older sibling. "There's nothing we can do beyond what we already do. I hate admitting it - that we can't help her - but there is nothing else." He leaned forwards and placed a tender kiss to David's templ. "I'm sorry about you finding out the hard way - but how do you tell someone as gentle as you that you're mother sometimes thinks you're out to kill her? Or that sometimes she thinks it would be better for her if her children were dead?"

"Or that it would be better for everyone if she was dead," Lyra added, folding her arms at her chest and leaing back in the chair.

"I hope this hasn't ruined how you see her. Don't loose your love for her - I was scared that you witnessing her like that would do such a thing." Alastar moved to sit in the chair next to David, placing his hands over David's.

It was subtle, barely even visible and he could just about feel it but Alastar's hands were shaking. Looking into those beautiful eyes - those eyes that managed to hide emotions so well, and was swept under by the feelings flooding the deep brown depths. Alastar loved his mother despite her faults. He knew how much David liked her, and was worried that now he knew the truth it would result in problems between them.

"Don't leave me because of this..." he breathed. "She doesn't mean it. Her brain is just different."

David gave his reply as a silent nod, then moved in to kiss his love's lips. He understood know, he knew things about those he cared for. Yes, it had scared him, but now he knew more about the family he had set his heart on becoming a part of. He knew what made these two siblings who they were.

He would never leave them.

He would never leave Arista, despite her flaws - just like her own children and her husband.

More importantly he would never leave Alastar.
























(Especially not after seeing the sheer amount of emotion those usually guarded eyes could hold)