Victor: Hello? Is someone there? (to Mary) Oh. Hello, miss. I'm sorry. I could barely hear you knocking. May I help you?
Mary (to Victor): I'm not sure. This may not be the right place anymore. I'm looking for a, uh, Vincent Potter.
Victor (to Mary): Oh. If you could be so kind as to wait here for one moment, please.
A moment later:
Victor (to Poppy & Vincent): Dad? Mom? And you awake and decent? There's some woman at the door asking for Dad.
Vincent (to Victor): Tell her we're not here. Tell her we died tragically in a fire and you and your sister are wayward orphans.
Poppy (to Victor): Is she wearing anything flammable? Does she look like I could take her in a fight, honey? Oh, sorry… I'm not quite awake. Late night. (to Vincent) Oh, honey, what if it's one of your other wives finally come to claim you? You don't want to disappoint her.
Vincent (to Poppy): Good. Then she can adopt the children, and you and I will be free to sleep in mornings.
Victor (to Poppy & Vincent): Dad! It's not polite to let people sit on the doorstep.
Vincent (to Victor): Good heavens! Who taught you all those manners? (to Poppy) What have you done to our children, lover? (to Victor) I'm getting up. Who is she?
Poppy (to Vincent): I didn't realize it would backfire on us so terribly. I'll join you in a bit unless I die under this pillow. One can only hope.
Victor (to Poppy & Vincent): I don't know. She looks like every stereotypical mom on TV. Everything about her seems polyester.
Vincent (to Victor): Ah. I wondered when would make an appearance. Do me a favor, Little Man, and round up your sister & cousin.
Victor (to Poppy & Vincent): Yes, sir. Is everything alright?
Vincent (to Victor): Everything is fine. Wrangle everyone and tell our visitor I'll be right out.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, do you need me to come with you? You know, for moral support… Or simply to hold her down?
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. You think it's who I think it is too, I take it. Actually, I wouldn't mind your company. I may need you to help me keep my temper in check. Or to hold her down. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): I'll grab my robe, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. Grab my black silk kimono while you're at it, hun. No need to make her feel TOO comfortable, is there?
Poppy (to Vincent): Heh... I'm very tempted to put lipstick smeared on you. But, I'll behave. I'm honestly surprised it took them this long to show up. I mean, if my nephew went missing, I'd have been making phone calls right away.
A couple minutes later:
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Why am I not surprised to find you two out here? You have to head in. There's someone at the door asking for my dad and he asked us to wait in my room until they're done.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh? That sounds serious... It's not the police or anything, is it?
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): No. She was definitely not law enforcement. I thought she was going to try to sell me bake sale cookies.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh? ... Bad haircut & frosted lipstick?
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Hee hee. A VERY bad haircut and dye job, but no makeup. I'd say she's in her early fifties, 5'3", & heavy.
Zoe (to Victor): We're coming. (to Nathaniel) Nate, stop trying to look out there.
Nathaniel (to Victor): It's just... Did she say what her name is?
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Oh. No, she didn't. I didn't think to ask. Come on.
A moment later:
Poppy (to Mary): Sorry to keep you waiting, honey... It's Mary Jones, right? We haven't seen you in ages. You're looking well. Vincent will be right out. There was a little accident with some lipstick. :-) Can I get you some coffee or tea?
Mary (to Poppy): Oh, yes. It has been. I wasn't sure you'd remember me. It's Mary McKenzie now. I remarried. I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. I didn't know how else to get a hold of...of, uh, Vincent. I know you don't want me here, and if it wasn't a family emergency, I wouldn't bother you, but...
Poppy (to Mary): Oh well, my apologies & congratulations, honey. And, I make a point of remembering all the people who think I'm a whore.
Vincent (to Poppy & Mary): Heh. If you ladies want to take this outside for a minute, I could make breakfast in the meantime.
Mary (to Vincent): Pau--I mean... Excuse me. You look good, Vincent.
Poppy (to Vincent): Lover, your sister was just explaining her sudden appearance.
Mary (to Vincent & Poppy): Yes, it's about my nephew. Well, our nephew. It's Peter's youngest boy, Nathaniel. He's disappeared.
Poppy (to Vincent & Mary): Here, both of you take a seat. I'll put the kettle on.
Vincent (to Poppy): Thank you, lover. You're better than I deserve. (to Mary) I think you'll need to explain. What happened to Peter's kid?
Mary (to Vincent & Poppy): Nate is... He's.. he's troubled. The poor thing is schizophrenic & has a history of stopping his medication. When he does, he takes drugs or drinks or runs away from home. He's had to be hospitalized a few times, I'm afraid. Most times, Peter has been able to convince him to come home, but this time...
Vincent (to Mary): How long has he been missing?
Mary (to Vincent): I'm not entirely sure. Peter only told me about it recently. A little over a month I think.
Poppy (to Vincent & Mary): Here's some tea for you both... That really is a shame about the boy.
Vincent (to Mary): Over a month? Good God, Mary! You're only looking for him now?
Mary (to Vincent): As I said, he's run away before.
Poppy (to Vincent): Lover, I'm sure they've had a lot on their minds with the holidays & their "healthy" children to be concerned about... I'm sure, this was the soonest they could look for him. Besides, it's SO much sooner than when they looked for you. Clearly, it's important. (to Mary) Isn't that right, Mary?
Mary (to Poppy): There's no need to take that tone with me, miss! I told you, I just found out about it less than a week ago.
Poppy (to Mary): That's Missus, if you please. I've been a married woman for over a decade.
Vincent (to Mary & Poppy): Everyone just calm down. Why are you coming to us, Mary? We're not exactly fixtures within the Jones clan.
Mary (to Vincent): Peter discovered pictures of Nate and another boy on his phone. He's had some, ah, issues with boys in the past, and I thought he might come here because you were...
Vincent (to Mary): Hee hee. I still am. I've been married for 16 years to this gorgeous creature, we have two kids--that was our son who answered the door--and I'm still as queer as the day Dad beat me up and threatened to kill me. ;-)
Mary (to Vincent): I... I don't...
Vincent (to Mary): Not that this hasn't been a charming little family reunion, but my wife and I do have things to do today. Don't worry, hun. Whatever else you may think of us, we're parents too. If we see Nate, we'll do what's best for him.
Poppy (to Vincent & Mary): Oh yes, you can count on that, honey. Now, If you'll excuse me, I need to go put some clothes on & check on the kids.
Mary (to Vincent): Um, yes. I should be going as well. If you do happen to hear anything, this is my card. I've written Peter and Suzette's numbers on the back.
Vincent (to Poppy): Are you sure about that first part, lover? I certainly wouldn't mind you staying like that all day. (to Mary) Let me walk you to the door.
Poppy (to Vincent): If you insist, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): I think I must.
A moment later:
Poppy (to Nathaniel, Victor & Zoe): Hello, children... Are you actually sitting on the floor playing a game? Who are you? What have you done with my real children?
Victor (to Poppy): Hee hee! Oh, um, we found this old card game. It's awful! I mean, hilarious, but awful.
Poppy (to Victor): Oh... I have no idea where that came from, probably something of your father's. (to Victor, Zoe & Nathaniel) You can stand down from red alert, by the by. Sorry to be all secretive, but we weren't quite sure how much yelling there might be. But, we managed to control ourselves. So, yay for us!
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Who was it?
Poppy (to Victor, Zoe & Nathaniel): I'm not going to lie to you kids about it. It was your Aunt Mary, Nate. Apparently, your father got in touch with her a week ago looking for you. And, for some inexplicable reason she came here. We told her that if we saw you, we'd do what was best for you.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Oh shit. I didn't think anyone would think to... Wait. You didn't tell her I was here?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): No, we didn't.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): ... Thank you.
Victor (to Poppy): How did she know where to find us?
Poppy (to Victor): They've always known where to find us, honey. They've had our address since the last time she came here to find something... You were just a baby. She thought I was shacked up with your father for money. She was, at least, a bit more pleasant this time. (to Nathaniel) You're welcome, honey. I certainly wasn't going to give that small-minded woman the satisfaction of thinking she had figured out where you were on her own. If you want to go home, we'll help get you there, but if you don't, you've got a home here with us.
Victor (to Poppy): Wow. And you didn't start screaming? I'm impressed, Mom.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): It's alright. I don't particularly wanna go home, so,um, if it's OK, I'd appreciate it if I could stay here a while longer.
Poppy (to Victor): I do on some occasions have an incredible amount of self-control, honey. (to Nathaniel) And, she seemed to think you had only been missing for a little over a month... I swear that family needs a calendar. I'm sorry, I shouldn't rant about your family.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): They only think I was gone for a month... fuck 'em. Oh. Um, sorry. I'm gonna... 'Scuse me.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, it's okay. I think you're allowed a little leeway in this particular instance… I wanted to talk to you about the whole staying with us thing, if you don't mind. It'll only take a minute. I'll even let you smoke.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Oh. Um, yeah. Sure.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Don't look so concerned, honey. I'm not going to ask you to leave or anything. I just wanted to know if you've given anymore thought to our invitation of staying here on a more permanent basis? You know, we'd love it, if you stayed. And, with Victor moving onto campus with Yoyo & Mars, it won't be so crowded.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I... I don't know what to say. I, um... I mean, you guys have already adopted Zoe, and you're half responsible for Yoyo. I don't wanna be a burden on you or anything.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, you're not a burden. I know, it's hard for you to believe this but we actually do care about what happens to you. At some point, you're going to have to deal with your "real" family. Whether it's going home to face them or giving up the ghost & realizing that you've got a home & family here.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I know... And thank you. For giving a sh-- for worrying. I know you care. I--I love my mom & dad, you know? And I wish... I wish they liked who I was. If it's not too much, I'd like to stay. I mean, I'm almost 18, so it shouldn't be for long.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, you can stay for as long as you like. Come here, I know affection burns but, you're just going to have to deal with it.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I--I'm sorry. I don't mean to... It's just... god...
Poppy (to Nathaniel): It's alright, honey.
Meanwhile:
Zoe (to Vincent): Hey Dad... How you holding up after the visit from bio-sister?
Vincent (to Zoe): Hee hee. Bio-Sister. That sounds like something that would fight with Godzilla. I'm fine, kiddo. Come give me a hug.
Zoe (to Vincent): Heh... Okay. Is it true that your family have always known where you live in town? Mom said something about Bio-sister coming to visit when Vincent was little... I don't have any memory of that.
Vincent (to Zoe): Oof. Heh. You should really, really learn to ease up on the hugs, you monster. You probably wouldn't, and yes, it's true. My sister did an interview with the local paper about finding me on her doorstep. My father was a popular figure in the conservative Evangelical scene at the time. He founded a bunch of those awful camps Nate was sent to. My sister tracked us down after it happened. She thought your mother, Aunt & I were trying to extort money from the family.
Zoe (to Vincent): Oh... And, she showed up today looking for Nate? That's weird.
Vincent (to Zoe): Mmm. It's very weird... If they thought there was any chance he'd be here, why not just come to us from the beginning? God, I hope that boy stays with us. I do NOT like the idea of sending him back to that family, no matter how well intentioned they may be. He's had some "issues with boys in the past." Ooo. I wanted to smack her.
Zoe (to Vincent): It'll be okay, Dad. Nate promised me he'd stay while I got adjusted & I think he likes it here.
Several hours later:
Aiden (to Poppy): Miss Poppy? I'm sorry to bother you, but you & Miss Kobayashi have been given an assignment.
Poppy (to Aiden): Oh blast! My apologies, honey. Let me read over the assignment & then, I'll have my response for you to take back. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I think the balcony is available at the moment.
Aiden (to Poppy): Thank you, I'll go grab myself a smoke.
An hour or so later:
Nathaniel: God, this day can die in a mother fucking fire... What the hell else could happen to-... (to Aiden) JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! What the what?
Aiden (to Nathaniel):Greetings, Nate. I'm sorry to be out here, but your aunt is reading over a mission file & I was waiting for her response.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): No, no. It's fine. I just wasn't expecting anyone to be out here. And you're doing that "hidden in the shadows" shit again.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Sorry... I, honestly, wasn't expecting to be here this long.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Is everything OK?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'm not really sure. I've been removed as Miss Kobayashi's handler & taken out of the field until the mission to the colonies. I'm supposed to report to a desk after I return with Miss Poppy's response. I clearly have upset someone.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. I, uh, I'm sorry...You know I don't really know what any of that means, right?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Oh, I'm sorry to bore you with it, then... Since, I'm here. I wanted to give you this.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I... Jesus. I'm sorry. You're not boring me. I'm sorry things are shitty for you right now. I really am. What is this?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It's a communicator... I thought you might like to come and visit, some time... It was a stupid idea. You probably have no interest.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. You...you want me to come visit you?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Yes, if you'd like.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Um, yeah. I wouldn't mind visiting sometime.
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Aiden): Well, that's good, honey, because I need you to do me a favor. Sorry to interrupt your discussion, boys. (to Aiden) Aiden, here's my response. (to Nathaniel) Nate, how would you like to run an errand for me on the other side?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): You want *me* to go with you? Are you... You're not drunk, are you?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Actually, I can't go, honey... Yoyo or I would be recognized too quickly. Aiden would have to take you. (to Nathaniel & Aiden) One of my old cohorts in the ISS has a message for me & they can't send it by normal means. Someone has to go get it. And, someone that no one has ever seen would be best. But, if you don't want to do it. I'll figure out something.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Oh. Um, no. I think I can do it. When do you need me to go?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): As soon as possible, honey. Isaac made it sound like it was very dire.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): OK. What do I do? Heh. I'm a redneck from the sticks. All this spy shi--stuff is kinda over my head. Y'all are gonna have to tell me what to do here.
Poppy (to Aiden): Aiden, I'm going to need you to get Nate to see Isaac Dickerson, can you do that for me? (To Nathaniel) All I need you to do, Nate, is to go see an old friend of mine & he will give you something to give to me. That's all.
Aiden (to Poppy): Dickerson, really? He's been working in the Vault for the last year... How does he know anything of import?
Poppy (to Aiden): I don't know, honey. That's why I need you two to go and see him. (to Nathaniel) Just listen to Aiden & you should be fine.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Um, yeah. OK. (to Aiden) When do you want to go?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Thank you, honey.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, I was planning on going back now, but are you free?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. I'm not working again until next week. I don't have any other plans. (to Poppy) Is Zoe home? I wanna say goodbye.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Yes, I think she's in her room. And, honey, please don't let her talk you into taking her. She'd be in danger, if she went.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I won't. Don't worry.
A moment later:
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Hey. You awake?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... Oh... yes... I'm fine. Was I being too loud?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): What? No. What the fuck were you doing in here?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... Crying. So, you didn't hear me? Damn. I'm an idiot... What do you want?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): No. You OK? What the fuck is wrong?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Just stupid girl stuff. Colin tried to kiss me... & I flinched.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): You flinched? So what?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Really? So what? ... I didn't flinch when we kissed, you ass. Why would I flinch when it's someone who actually likes me? It's fucking ridiculous. So, I was crying... Do you need something? Cuz, I'd really like to go back to feeling pitiful.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Cause the stakes are higher, dumbass. You already knew you weren't gonna turn my crank, so kissing me was safe. You're trying to keep yourself from scaling Colin like a mountain climber and ripping his clothes off with your teeth. You're just trying to be cautious. Anyway, I'll let you get back to all your gooey girl bullshit. I'm, uh, I might be gone for like a day or so. Aunt Poppy asked me to pick something up for her.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh? ... Where are you going? Do you need company?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): No. No. No, I don't. I'm going to a library to pick up a file, and you will get shot on site.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Fine, you big liar... Give me a hug & be careful... And, say hi to Aiden for me. :-P
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah. yeah. I will. Stop fucking stressing about Colin.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I will.
A minute later:
Nathaniel (to Aiden & Poppy): OK. I'm ready to go whenever you are.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Alright. (to Poppy) We'll be back as quickly as we can.
Poppy (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Thank you, sweeties.
Nathaniel (to Aiden & Poppy): Yeah. No problem. I'll see you soon.
A little while later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Lover? Where are you?
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm right here, sweetie. How are you holding up?
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm fine... I think I may have found out what's going on with Nate, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh? What's that?
Poppy (to Vincent): I think there's something going on between him & Aiden... which is both adorable & irritating.
Vincent (to Poppy): Ohhhh... Good heavens. That would certainly explain some things. What happened?
Poppy (to Vincent): Nothing specific, lover, just body language mostly.
Vincent (to Poppy): Of ALL the boys with whom Nate could have become entangled, of course it would have to be bloody Aiden.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm going to fix myself a glass of wine & a bath and try not to think about it.
Vincent (to Poppy): Go relax, hun. I'll keep the bed warm for you. ;-)
