Rachel Caustello (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thecutdiamond) wrote2014-08-08 02:29 pm
thecutdiamond) wrote2014-08-08 02:29 pm
Entry tags:
i'll come back to haunt you
The biological father of her son comes to try to claim him about seven years after he's born.
She'd been home alone-- a day of work, some time to spend with her son and get things done in the house-- when the knock had come on the door. Checking the security spells she had in place-- an Auror couldn't take any chances, no matter how lowly ranked-- had told her who it was.
It takes her half-a-minute to work her way out of the panic that ensues. Takes her another half-a-minute to contact her cousin and have him come by Floo to take Thomas to his house. It takes longer to convince Andrew that she doesn't need him to stick around-- that yes, she'll call Edgar before properly talking with the returned man-- all while ignoring the increasing louder call on the other side of the door that tells her Elliot knows she's home.
Andrew's dog and Rachel's lioness come for Edgar almost at the same time-- the former barking out a curt "Go home, Ed" before the other speaks, Rachel's clearly worried voice ringing through easily.
"Edgar, it's-- Elliot's here. He won't leave. I haven't let him in but... I don't think he's going to go. I-- I need you here. Now, please."
She'd been home alone-- a day of work, some time to spend with her son and get things done in the house-- when the knock had come on the door. Checking the security spells she had in place-- an Auror couldn't take any chances, no matter how lowly ranked-- had told her who it was.
It takes her half-a-minute to work her way out of the panic that ensues. Takes her another half-a-minute to contact her cousin and have him come by Floo to take Thomas to his house. It takes longer to convince Andrew that she doesn't need him to stick around-- that yes, she'll call Edgar before properly talking with the returned man-- all while ignoring the increasing louder call on the other side of the door that tells her Elliot knows she's home.
Andrew's dog and Rachel's lioness come for Edgar almost at the same time-- the former barking out a curt "Go home, Ed" before the other speaks, Rachel's clearly worried voice ringing through easily.
"Edgar, it's-- Elliot's here. He won't leave. I haven't let him in but... I don't think he's going to go. I-- I need you here. Now, please."
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Instead, she'd run off to the arms of Edgar Fucking Eicheln, who apparently had never outgrown the need of sticking his nose in where it didn't really belong.
"Open the door and let me talk to the mother of my heir, Eicheln. This doesn't concern you."
He may have married her, yes, but she had been Elliot's first, and he had been her first time. That was a bond the other man couldn't sever, especially with a child in the mix.
His son. Probably his only son, with the way things were going.
Which is, of course, why he was here.
...I'm so happy about this account but so angry about this thread help.
On a number of levels, and for a number of reasons, of course. He's doing well, so far, to keep his voice low and calm--but there's no question that the old flashes of hot, unbridled anger are still streaking through.
"Rachel--" his wife, yes, and the mother of Elliot's biological son, to be sure, but first and foremost her own person with her own name "--doesn't owe you anything, Reynolds. I'm sure that if she-- ever decides to talk to you, she'll find a way to be in touch. Leave."
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I FEEL YOU, BRO.
And it's so entirely the exact sense of entitlement that was always the problem with Elliot. It's only grown that much worse in the interim years, with bitterness and a misplaced sense of blame for the seeming troubles he's had since.
"I don't know-- how the hell she did it, but she's done something to make sure I can't have anything but girls. I'm the heir to the Reynolds legacy, Eicheln, I need more than that, so either she's going to-- undo it, or she's going to give me back my son."
It's the least she can do for messing up everything they had going.
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"Your s--"
And it's good, really, that he has Andrew's voice to ring through his head in moments like this. It's good that he's had someone to shout him down when he let his own emotions turn black and ugly and outward. It's good, because it means he's standing on this side of the door rather than outside of it.
It's also good, here in particular, that he's had Andrew to tell him a hundred times over, 'You can't argue with crazy.'
It takes a few deep breaths all the same. It takes the knuckles going absolutely white on his wand from the angry grip he's taken on it. There isn't any use to focusing on the madness in the other man's anger; just the practical.
"Rachel's made it abundantly clear she doesn't want you in Thomas' life. You want some rights, Reynolds, you come back with some lawyers and your half of the responsibilities."
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"He's my son," he repeats, as though by saying it again it'll make everyone else who needs to believe it, "I could give him-- far, far more than either of you ever could. She knows that. Besides, what are you even getting out of-- raising someone else's kid, Eicheln? Not like you're continuing on your bloodline. Just give him to me and you can-- start over with her, if you want. Least you already know she can have kids, right?"
Never mind that having Thomas had almost killed them both. Never mind that there were still days when Rachel jumped at her husband's touch because the marks Elliot had left on her heart would never fully fade.
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"You missed giving him a father for the last seven years. I'm not inclined to believe you've got a lot to give."
For many more reasons than just that, of course.
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"No."
Rachel's voice carries easily to the door despite her only just making her way out from the hallway. She's shaking, just slightly, her hand reaching for Edgar's as she comes to stand by the door.
"Rachel. I knew you'd come around. Open the door, mm? Let's talk."
"I said it wasn't for him to decide, Reynolds," she says, the words ice cold, "I didn't say I decided you were in the right."
Elliot pauses a moment, before he starts again, his own reply brief and blunt, "What do you decide, then, Rachel?"
She opens her mouth, but her expression falters for being this close to the man who had broken her heart. There's a glance at Edgar, for strength more than anything.
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It takes a firm blink before she's herself again. She's so much taller, stronger, prouder; with such a more self-assured lift to her chin as she moves toward him. She'll be marked by this forever, he knows, but she'll never lose herself to this again.
His grip on her hand is likely too tight to be completely comfortable. His smile is tight and tired as he nods to her when she looks for help.
The reassurance is softly murmured, because it's only for her, not for the man outside their door. "You're Rachel Caustello."
And she's not alone.
So if Ed wants to punch Elliot or w/e, he can do that thing now. If not just assume he Apparated o/
The statement gets her holding her head up a little higher, the spark back in her eyes.
"Reynolds," she begins, brisk and bold as she was back before the man on the other side of the door had started to quell that fire, "This is how it's going to be: If you truly want to be a part of my son's life, you're going to get a lawyer and I'm going to get a lawyer. They'll get the full account of both our desires out of this situation and will meet to discuss it, getting feedback from us as needed. I never intend to see your face again, and to be honest, I don't intend for my son to until he's old enough to understand exactly what you did to me and exactly what you want from him. So our lawyers will discuss the option of you ever seeing him, first, and then we'll see from there what else might happen."
The pause is clearly taken a back. The response is more a reflex than something with any real heat, "You're a bitch, Rachel."
"I really rather prefer lioness," she says sharply, "Now, either you agree to those terms and your lawyer will contact me later, or you don't and you lose any chance of ever seeing my son. Either way, you leave now."
The silence speaks volumes-- is largely full of pure fury. There's a clear struggle with his pride that takes place on the other side of the door.
"Fine." His voice is short, hot with anger, "We'll be in touch."
He manages, at least, to cut off the other slur-- a familiar one his parents wee fond of using, after she got pregnant-- but it's a very near thing. For all she's on a high of righteous fury, Rachel can't help the slight flinch that the half-spoken word causes.
EVERYTHING HURTS SO MUCH ALL THE TIME
She's absolutely a lioness.
And it's her moment. It's her victory. It's her battle that she's fought and finally actually dealt a definitive blow in. It's hers to have.
Except, well.
His temper has come much more in hand as he's aged. His fingers has been much less quick at the proverbial trigger. His instincts are primed here for the fact there will be a custody trial upcoming.
But the last dig is too much. He's thrown a Stinging Jinx through the door, cover of the mail slot blasting off its hinge, before he can think.
"--sorry."
To Rachel, obviously. Not at all to the target.
THESE BABIES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BREAK OUR HEART SOMEHOW LBR
But then it's over. It's quiet. The rush of panic and adrenaline and anger is starting to fade, making her sway just a little on her feet.
"--It's all right. Reparo."
She's going to need to curl into his hold again as the door starts to mend itself. It'll be the only thing keeping her upright and from falling into a panic again.
"Thanks, Ed."
/GROSS SOBBING
His lips find her temple firmly before he buries his face in against her neck.
"It was all you, Rach. You-- you were brilliant."
Every inch a lioness. Every inch the woman he had fallen in love with and who had honoured him with her love in return.
/LOTS OF IT /BUT ALSO LOTS OF LOVE
Because the hurt had taken hold for so long. The hurt lingers still in the shadows, comes out in moments like these that bring it to the forefront. At least hiding her face against him is an option to keep her breathing mostly steady.
"I almost wish I had cursed him, like he thought, although... God, Ed, his girls..."
There's a crackle in her voice, more from weariness than any actual tears.
"They're going to grow up thinking-- that's what it means to l-love people a-and it's just... It's awful."
It reminds her, too much, of what it had been like when she'd first been pulled in by Elliot Reynolds. Of the years of abuse that she had to heal from-- not just from her son's biological father, but her own.
Thank God Elliot had left her. Thank God Caleb had disowned her. Thank God she had Edgar and Andrew and Argine to teach her what it meant to love someone the right way.
There's an actual, physical shudder at the thought of all that could've been.
SO MUCH LOVE FOREVER AND EVER
She couldn't take on the weight of the world now. She couldn't even take on the weight of the girls she knew would need help breaking free of the destructive cycle they'd been born into.
She needed to breathe. She needed to pull herself back into the present--into the beautiful life she'd fought tooth and nail with her cousin and their friends to reclaim for herself.
;3;
It's been something that's helped ground her since the day her son was born. It's something she absolutely requires, right now, to remember everything that's gotten better since.
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Rocking very, very carefully from foot to foot sometimes helps. It certainly helps keep them warm and close while she finds her breath again with him.
"You're in charge."
There was still healing to do. There was still the custody ruling to get through. But there was so much victory in this moment here.
That had to be something to breathe into.
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The laugh is a little sharp, still a touch hysterical for all there's a real smile on her lips.
"--He's not controlling this."
He's not controlling her, anymore.
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One hand moves to cup her cheek, keep her eyes with his so the sharpness doesn't completely take over.
"You are, Rach. It's all you, now."
How long have they been waiting for that? How long have they been working to help find what would help get her here?
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It had been a genuine fear of hers, he knows-- That for all he had left, Elliot would come back just like this. Would shatter her son's world like he had hers.
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It's going to be so good to have a court order to back that assurance up.
"Don't think there's any 'might' about it."
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"Finally."
No more fear. No more uncertainty.
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"Finally."
Finally free.
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"I love you."
The right way. More than she could ever have loved Elliot.
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"I love you, Rach. More-- more 'n I've got words for."
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To keep teling Edgar she loves him intermittntly throughout the night.
ooc;