Disclaimer: The Mummy and The Mummy Returns do not belong to me.  They belong to Stephen Sommers, and Universal Pictures. 

 

Author: Shelby     

 

Summary: Jonathan’s free way of living pays him back.

 

Note:  I know this has been done, Jonathan and a long lost child.  I’ve seen it done, and wanted a stab at it myself, so I’m acknowledging here that I am not the first fanfic writer to do this.

 

 

Jonathan’s Surprise

 

 

 

Prologue

 

 

With her husband gone away on business all the time, Anna Weston frequented the Bella Lucia Resort, and it was there she met Jonathan.  She had been sitting at a table by herself, upset that Thomas had left her yet again when the charming Jonathan Carnanhan sat down with her.  They had several drinks, and whether out of spite, or the need to be in a mans company, she spent the night in his hotel room making love into the wee hours of the morning.  Before it was light outside, she left him, and had not seen him since.  Seven years later, she was a Widow, and now Victoria was all she had left.  When she had become pregnant with her, Anna knew whose child she was, and due to Thomas’s frequent trecks away, knew Victoria was not his. Now faced with an incurable disease, Anna was faced with leaving her daughter behind in an uncertain world.  They had made their home in London, and it had not been difficult for her to find out where to find Jonathan.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 1: The Truth

 

As the car pulled up to the huge estate, Anna’s eyes grew wide with amazement.  The house was enormous, and she idly wondered if Jonathan had a family of his own.  Once the cab parked, Anna paid the driver his fair, then with determination, walked to the door of the large house and pulled back on the large heavy Lion head knocker, banging it three times.  Not long after that, the door opened to a young boy, who looked to be 11 or 12.

 

“Is Jonathan home?”  she asked.  Before the boy could answer, Anna heard a familiar voice, then came face to face with the one man she had felt love for, inspite of her union with Thomas.

 

“Anna,”  Jonathan said totally surprised.  He noticed how pale she looked, and quickly let her in.

 

“Hey Partner, will you take a rain check on our game?”  he asked knowing that she would not be here without a very good reason.  Once Alex was gone, Jonathan led her to his part of the house, and helped her with her coat.

 

“Want a drink?”  he asked, remembering how they had spent their one night together.

 

“No thank you,”  she said, unsure of where to start.  Several times she had envisioned the moment at hand, and had practiced what she would tell him, now she wasn’t sure how to begin.

 

“I heard about Thomas,”  Jonathan said.  The times he was home, Thomas had frequented Bella Lucia, and when he had passed on, Jonathan had tinkered with going to see Anna.

 

“I’m glad he’s gone.  Jonathan sit down,”  she said covering her mouth as she coughed.  He did so, not able to take his eyes from her.  Anna’s long flowing red hair, and her dark blue eyes, as well as her soft curves had attracted Jonathan to her, that first time, and even now he felt a strong need to hold her in his arms once again.

 

“I’m dying,”  she said.  At his silence she continued.

 

“I came here because I have to tell you about Victoria,”  she said, then she began.  She told him of her birth, and of Thomas’s six months away from her after that night in the hotel.

 

“When he found out I was pregnant, he threatened to divorce, me, and I think the only thing that kept him with us was his need to keep his reputation good. If you don’t want her, I’ll have to place her in an orphanage,”  Anna finished.  What she had told him, left Jonathan in shock at first.

 

“Does she know?”  he asked.

 

“No.  I had to protect her, and everyone we know now thought she was Thomas’s child.”  When Jonathan got up and began to pace, Anna looked down at her hands.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me.  I understand Thomas wanting to keep a good reputation, but you should have told me,”  he said feeling hurt. 

 

“I didn’t think you would make a good father for her.  I’m not sure you will now, but you are the only family she will have once I’m gone,”  Anna said coldly.  She loved Jonathan, but his style of life, as far as their child was concerned was not anything she approved of.  Despite his anger, Jonathan knew she had a point.  It scared him to think that he was now responsible for a child, and while he knew Evie and Rick would support him once over their own shock, he was still afraid.

 

“When do I get to see her?”  he asked walking back to the couch.

 

“Tomorrow.  I realize how sudden this is, but I don’t want her to watch me die.  I’ve made arrangements to be cared for until that time, but I would like Victoria to be with you as soon as it is possible,”  Anna said.  Jonathan only nodded, still in a state of shock.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

At Dinner that night, Evelyn noticed her brother’s unusual silence.  After the meal was over, when Rick and Alex went out for a ride on Barney and Seti, Evelyn made tea, and approached him.

 

“Jonathan, you seem troubled,”  she said as she entered the Parlor.  He was seated on the leather couch against the far wall.  Glad Rick and Alex were gone, but still unsure of how to tell Evelyn of Anna’s visit, Jonathan remained silent.

 

“Jonathan, if it’s more trouble with money, I can give you what you need,”  she said, very used to bailing him out.  He looked up at her.

 

“Evie I found out today that I have a daughter,”  he said.  Like Jonathan, Evelyn found herself in a heavy state of shock.  She sat beside him not sure what to tell him.

 

“I am going to meet her tomorrow.  Her mother is dying, and she wants me to take care of her,”  he said.

 

“Oh Jonathan,”  Evie said.  The sad look in his eyes made her realize how afraid he was, and Evelyn hugged him.

 

“Rick and I will stand by your side in this,”  she reassured.  Her words and her hug brought him comfort.

 

“Thanks.  Listen, I need to think, so don’t say anything to Alex and Rick,”  he said, then left her, going to his part of the house.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The address Anna had given to Jonathan was in  one of London’s most prestigious neighborhoods, and after parking his car in front of the towhouse, Jonathan took time to gather his wits about him, then got out of his car, and walked to the door.  Before he could knock Anna answered.

 

“She is asleep.  I told her last night about my illness, and about you, she hasn’t stopped crying,”  Anna said.  Without hesitation Jonathan drew her into his arms.

 

“Everything will be all right,”  he said as he shut the door.  Anna led him into the Parlor where they sat down.

 

“My sister and brother-in-law have agreed to help me with her.  I have a Casino which I own, so there is now worry about providing for her.  How do you want her raised?”  he asked.

 

“I just want you to love her, do that Jonathan, promise me,”  Anna said, then looked up as her Six year old daughter entered the room.  Victoria had soft brown curls, and dark blue eyes.

 

“Victoria, this is your father,”  Anna said.

 

“I want him to leave,”  she said softly.

 

“I know baby, but he is going to take care of you now,”  Anna said.  Jonathan had not expected her not to like him, but it was evident from how she looked at him that she was not happy.

 

“Do you like horses?  We have several where I live,”  Jonathan tried.

 

“I do not care,”  she said, and with that she turned and left.  Anna leaned against him.

 

“I’m sorry Jonathan,”  she said.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The ride back to the Manor was quiet.  In the back of his car, Victoria sat looking out the window.  When they had left Anna, she had not wanted to hug her, or say good bye.

 

“Do you like ice-creme?”  Jonathan asked.

 

“No,”  she said simply.  When they arrived at the Manor, Evie’s car was parked in front, and Jonathan was glad to see her when she walked out of the house.  He got out of the car and accepted her hug.

 

“She hates me,”  he whispered, then they parted.  Victoria had turned away from them, still seated in the car.

 

“Do you want me to see if I can talk to her?”

 

“Do you mind?”  he asked.

 

“Not at all,”  Evelyn said.  She opened the door.

 

“Hello Victoria, I’m Jonathan’s sister Evelyn,”  Evie introduced.

 

“I don’t want to talk to you or him or anyone,”  she said as she got out of the car.  Silently she followed them into the house, and once she was in her room asked that they leave her.  Once they were gone, Victoria crawled into bed balling up.  She closed her eyes, terrified of all that was going on.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Downstairs Evelyn sat with her brother trying to reassure him that with time Victoria would come around.  Despite her words of reassurance, Jonathan was afraid that his child would never come to love him.

 

“Maybe I should try to go talk to her,”  he said.  Evelyn placed a hand on his.

 

“Give her time Jonathan, she has been through a lot,”  Evelyn said.  He nodded his head, then both heard Rick and Alex’s laughter before they walked in.

 

“Mum look what dad got for me,”  Alex said showing her his army knife. 

 

“I see.  Alex you need to be careful with that, and put it away when you are not using it,”  Evelyn said.  He knew about Victoria, and guessed that is why she had said that.

 

“Where is she?”  Rick asked.

 

“In her room.  She isn’t very happy,”  Jonathan said as he stood.

 

“Do you two mind if I go out for a drive.  I won’t be long,”  he said.

 

“Not a problem,”  Rick said.  He had been mad when Evie had told him about Victoria, but seeing the pain in his usually happy demeanor had quickly changed his anger to compassion.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A dogs bark caught Victoria’s attention, and now she stood outside her room looking down the hall toward the source of the noise.  After a moment of hesitation, she approached the room, and inside found a boy and a very big dog.  Max saw her and wagged his tail starting to approach her.  Victoria screamed and ran away with Max chasing her.

 

“MAX,”  Alex yelled as he went after both of them.  When he caught up Max was licking her face as she screamed.  She stood against a wall, and her screams brought both Rick and Evelyn.

 

“Max bad dog,”  Alex said pulling him away.  Evelyn picked Victoria up, and carried her into the master bedroom.

 

“Shh, Max just wanted to say hello, it’s all right,”  Evelyn crooned as Victoria clung to her crying hard.  As Evelyn got a washcloth from the bathroom Jonathan ran in.

 

“I want my mum,”  Victoria said as she cried.

 

“I know Angel,”  Evelyn said handing Jonathan the washcloth.

 

“Your daddy is here, will you let him wipe your face,”  Evelyn asked as she rubbed her back.  Victoria lifted her face from Evelyn’s shoulder and allowed Jonathan to hold her.  Gently he wiped her face, and settled in the rocking chair, not noticing Evelyn as she left them.

 

“There now, it’s all better,”  he said.

 

“Dog’s are bad,”  she said resting her head against his chest.

 

“Not all of them.  Max was just excited to see you,”  Jonathan reassured.  Victoria didn’t say anything, but the fact that she was letting him hold her was enough for the new father.  The events of the day, had worn the small girl out, and it wasn’t long before she was asleep.  In her own room Jonathan tucked her into bed, placing the doll he had gotten for her within reach, then left, feeling that things would be better when she had gotten rest.

 

*~*~*~*

 

Chapter 2: Runaway

 

When she woke up it was dark, and only a small lamp was on, giving her enough light to see her way to the door.  Victoria sat up, and her hand brushed against something beside her.  What she picked up was a doll, and she quickly put it down again.  Determined to leave, the little girl slipped out of bed and quietly walked over to where her shoes were, and slipped those on her feet.  She still had on her light blue velvet dress, and after putting on her black patten-leather shoes, Victoria quietly opened the door to her room.  Across from her, and down the hall was Alex’s room, and further down was her Aunt and Uncle’s rooms.  Victoria tiptoed down the hall, not hearing Max slip out of Alex’s room, until she felt his tongue lick her hand.  Max was a German Shepherd, and as such was very gentle with children.

 

“Go away,”  she whispered.  In response Max sat down and wined.

 

“Shush,”  she said placing her finger over her lip, then walked to the steps.  It was dark downstairs, and once she made it to the bottom, she retraced her steps, and made it to the front door of the house.  Carefully she undid the lock, and as she opened it she felt Max’s nose on her bottom.

 

“All right you may come, but you have to behave,”  she said.  Both of them left the house, and once outside, Victoria ran as fast as she could down the lane leading away from the house.  Her intentions were to go back to her mum, even if she had to walk all the way there.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

When Alex got up to go the restroom, he noticed that Max was not at his usual spot at the bottom of his bed, and after he did his business in the bathroom, Alex walked out of his room.  He looked down the hall, and right away noticed his cousin’s door open.  Fearing that Max had gone there, and was in the process of terrorizing her again, Alex hurried down that way.  Upon his arrive he found nothing there, not his dog nor his cousin.

 

“Alex?” came his uncle’s voice.  Alex turned and found his uncle without Victoria.

 

“She’s not in her bed, and Max is gone,”  he informed.  Jonathan moved past him and took a look for himself.

 

“Lets see if she is in one of the other rooms,”  Jonathan whispered feeling a chill run down his back.  With both of them looking, it took about twenty minutes to go through the entire house, and when they met in the parlor neither had seen her.

 

“I bet she ran away,”  Alex said.

 

“I think so, will you...”  before he could finish what he was saying both heard Evelyn’s questioning voice.

 

“What’s going on down here?”  she asked.

 

“Victoria is gone,”  Alex said.  Rick had followed, and quickly the two of them dressed, and left to see if they could find her, while Alex and Evie stayed at the house in case she turned up.

 

“Mum do you think she will ever like it here?”  Alex asked as they sat in the kitchen drinking tea.

 

“It’s going to take her time, but as long as we all love her, she will be fine,”  Evelyn said, hoping that was so.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

It felt like she had been walking for ever, and now Victoria sat with Max off the road, in a patch of thick grass crying.

 

“All I want to do is be with mummy,”  she sobbed.  Max whimpered, then perked up and left her side, which made her cry more.  In the car, while Rick drove, Jonathan looked out both windows in the back, and spotted Max ahead of them.

 

“Rick,”  he started, but Rick had seen him as well, and stopped the car.  Both of them got out, and Max wagged his tale, then took off with both of them hot on his tale. 

 

“Victoria,”  Jonathan said as he saw her, standing in the grass.  She had heard the car, and that had stopped her tears.

 

“Go away or I’ll run in the woods,”  she said backing up.  Max ran to her side and she pet him.

 

“Will you tell me where you were going?”  Jonathan asked, both he and Rick standing still.

 

“I’m going to my mummy, and you may leave now,”  she said softly.  Having never had to deal with Alex when he was being difficult, Jonathan wasn’t sure of how to handle his daughter.  What he wanted to do was hold her, but he knew that would only make things worse.

 

“Will you come back home with us, and tomorrow your daddy can let you call her?”  Rick tried.  For a moment she seemed to think that over.

 

“I’m not going back there.  My home is with my mummy,”  she said.  Jonathan just stood there lost on what to do.

 

“Will you let your Aunt Evie talk to you if I go get her?”  Rick asked, half tempted to just grab her.  When she nodded relief washed over both men.

 

“I’ll be right back,”  Rick said, and left Jonathan alone with his little girl.

 

“You go too,”  she said. Jonathan sat down, and Victoria turned away from him petting Max.  They waited in silence for ten minutes, until Rick came back with Evelyn, and it was she who coaxed her into going home with them.  Now in the back of the car, Victoria slept cuddled in her Aunt’s arms, with her father seated next to them, and Max in the front with Rick.

 

“I wasn’t meant to be a father,”  Jonathan finally said as they drove toward the house.  Evelyn reached out and took his hand in her own.

 

“You will learn in time how to take care of her. It just takes time.  She will come around,”  Evelyn whispered, confident of that.  When they got back to the manor, Jonathan got out and turned seeing his daughter awake.

 

“Aunt Evelyn may I sleep in your bed?”  she asked.  Unable to deal with her rejection of him, Jonathan left going into the house, passing Alex without a word.  His retreat had not gone un-noticed by Evie, and she frowned, then looked into her nieces blue eyes, so full of sadness.

 

“I will sit with you until you go back to sleep,”  she said kissing her forehead.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The next morning, early, Jonathan left without a word, which didn’t make either Rick nor Evelyn very happy.  Victoria, on the other hand, was in a better mood, and now in her room she was playing house with the doll Evelyn had let her have, the one she had found in the guest room.  In the far corner of her room the doll Jonathan had given her sat untouched.

 

“Now baby, you have to take your nap, and after you do, we will have a walk in the park,”  Victoria said as she put the doll to bed on her bed.  She didn’t notice Alex standing at her door, not until he knocked.

 

“Shh, my baby is sleeping,”  she said as she put a blanket over her.

 

“I’ll be really quiet then,”  he said as he walked in.  Victoria ignored him, going over to the little table her Uncle Rick had set up for her to have tea parties on, and once there sat down.

 

“You know, your dad loves you,”  Alex said.  He was not all that happy that she was being so mean to his uncle, and had decided to try and get her to see that she wasn’t being nice.

 

“Well I don’t care,”  she said folding her arms, and looking away. 

 

“You know what, your a brat, and I think that Uncle John shouldn’t have to deal with you.  Why don’t you just get the hell out of here and do all of us a favor,”  Alex said, then left closing the door behind him.  For long moments she sat in her little chair, then she got up and ran to the door.  She ran down the hall, and down the steps past both her Aunt and Uncle, to the front door, and when she opened it she bumped into her father, and started to cry.  Jonathan had come home to tell Rick and Evelyn that he was giving up on being a father, but now seeing his daughter so upset changed his mind.  To his utter amazement, Victoria let him hold her as she cried.

 

“It’s okay,”  Jonathan said as he shut the door behind them.  Both Evelyn and Rick had come after her, but seeing that Jonathan was handling things, they left.  He carried her down the long passage to his part of the house, and once in his room he sat down on the small sofa there, letting her cry.

 

“He said I was brat and get hell out, and you don’t love me,”  she cried.  She had spoken fast, so Jonathan wasn’t sure what had happened.

 

“Victoria, I do love you, and I wish you would let me show, you,”  he said hugging her tighter.  After a while her tears subsided, and when she had calmed down, she told him what Alex had said.  Never in his life had Jonathan been so angry at his nephew, and he would speak with him, but right now Victoria was his focus.

 

“Why would he say that?”  she asked playing with the ring he had on his finger.

 

“Well Alex and I have been good friends, the best of friends since he was a baby, and I think he knew I was sad, but he should not have said that,”  Jonathan replied.  She sighed.

 

“I want to see mummy.”  As much as Jonathan wished she could, seeing Anna now was not possible.  She was in the hospital, and they did not let small children in. 

 

“I know  you do,”  he said.

 

“Why do you sleep all the way in here?”  she asked pulling away from him so she could see his face.  Jonathan pondered on how to tell his daughter the reason behind his being separate from the rest of the family.

 

“Well, sometimes I like to have parties late at night, and since I don’t like to wake anyone up, I stay here.”  Victoria nodded.

 

“My Mummy had parties too, and I used to sneak down the stairs and watch the people dancing about.  All the ladies wore beautiful dress too,”  she said.  As she spoke of that memory her face lit, up, and Jonathan listened to her story totally captivated by her.

 

“Can we have a party?”  she asked.  Until she said that, Jonathan had forgotten that Evelyn was having a dinner with several of the Bembridge Scholars, and several people from the Museum.

 

“Actually, your Aunt Evie is having a party in a few nights.”  Victoria clapped her hands.

 

“I want a new dress then.  Mummy always gets me new dresses for the party,”  she informed. 

 

“All right, but perhaps we should see if your Aunt Evie will take you...”  when she frowned he stopped.

 

“But I want you to go too,”  she said.

 

“Of coarse I will, but your Aunt Evelyn will know what to look for better than me,”  he said.  Once she agreed to that he swung her into the air and settled her on his shoulders which made her laugh, then they went to ask Evelyn to go dress shopping with them.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

When they got back from buying Victoria a dress, she had fallen asleep in the back of the car.  After putting her in bed, Jonathan went down the hall to his nephew’s room to have a word with him.  He knocked on the door, and when he had permission he walked in finding Alex teaching Max, or trying to teach Max to roll over.

 

“Hey partner, can we talk a moment?”  he asked.  Never one to pass up spending time with his uncle, Alex sent Max to lay in his bed, then sat on his own bed.

 

“I think Max almost has rolling over down,”  Alex said, always proud of his dog.

 

“That’s good.  Victoria told me what you said to her,”  Jonathan said, feeling awkward about having this conversation with his nephew.  They where buddies, and this was really the first time Jonathan had to deal with Alex on something he had done wrong.  When he had said that Alex looked down.

 

“Well it’s the truth Uncle John.  She is a brat.  She isn’t nice to you at all, and I don’t think you should let her stay with us,”  he mumbled.

 

“I know she was difficult at first, but she and I, and your mum actually just had a really nice time with one another.  Do me a favor, please don’t call her names,”  Jonathan said as he settled next to Alex.  He tickled him which brought laughter, then the two of them engaged in a game of poker.

 

*~*~*~*

 

Chapter 3: A Constant Bother

 

In the four days since Victoria’s arrival, life suddenly seemed to revolve around her, and it made Alex want to lose his lunch.  Spoiled didn’t even begin to describe her, and he was really glad his parent’s had never had any more kids.  Several things about his cousin bothered him, like the fact that when she didn’t get her way she would start crying, and everyone would bend and give her what she wanted.  The biggest thorn in his side was how much time his Uncle now spent with her, and though he knew that was good, it still hurt.  Now in his room he was working on painting a model ship, when he heard the door creek.  When he looked up she was there holding her baby, dressed for bed.

 

“Okay there is one rule, you have to knock,”  Alex said.

 

“It was open,”  came her soft reply.  Alex only rolled his eyes, and got back to the task at hand.

 

“Can I please help you?”  she asked.

 

“Nope, I do this on my own, and girls don’t paint ships,”  Alex added.

 

“Your mean,”  she said folding her arms in front of her.  Somewhere in the back of his mind Alex remembered his promise to Uncle John about not upsetting her, but the temptation was there.

 

“Your right.  I’m big mean Alex, and don’t forget it,”  he said.  She huffed and walked out, and Max lifted his head looking from the door to Alex.

 

“I know Max, she is a brat.” 

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Having not gotten Alex’s attention, Victoria moved elsewhere to find some.  Carefully she walked down the steps, holding the railing, and when she arrived at the bottom her daddy looked up from his game with her Uncle Rick.

 

“Daddy I can’t sleep all alone, I want in your bed again,”  she said walking over to his side.  Jonathan was losing his game of chess, and thanked Alah and God for Victoria’s distraction.

 

“Quiting so soon?”  Rick teased, as Jonathan stood, lifting Victoria into his arms.

 

“Lets just call it a strategic retreat, one I’m making to save myself from the embarrassment of a bad game,”  he replied as he gave his daughter a kiss.

 

“Say goodnight to Uncle Rick,”  Jonathan said.

 

“Night night,”  she said as Jonathan carried her out.  Once they were gone, Rick began to pick up their game of chess pieces, setting them up for the next players, when Evelyn came in with her usual evening tea, and Rick’s glass of Brandy.

 

“What happened to your game?”  she asked, taking him his glass.

 

“Oh Victoria coaxed him into letting her sleep in his bed again,”  Rick said, then pulled his wife into his arms.

 

“Oh you two go to your room for that,”  Alex said making a face.  Just to embarrass him, Rick gave Evelyn a very passionate kiss, and placed his hand against her bottom. 

 

“Kids,”  Alex said, as he went down the all to the kitchen, which brought laughter from both parents. 

 

“So is it time for bed?”  Evelyn asked, still in her husbands arms.

 

“And play,”  Rick replied, as he lifted her into his arms, heading up to the privacy of their room.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

In his bed Jonathan leaned against a few pillows with Victoria cuddled against him.

 

“Daddy where did mummy go?  She said she had to go away, and that I won’t see her anymore,”  Victoria informed as she yawned.  She had her cheek pressed against his chest, content where she was.  Jonathan wasn’t sure how to tell her what death was, and wished he knew what her beliefs were, and how she had been brought up.

 

“Did your mum take you to church.”

 

“Mass,”  she replied

 

“Well your mum is going to heaven, to a better place where she wont be sick anymore.

 

“But why can’t I see her?”  Victoria asked lifting her head away from his chest to look at him.

 

“Heaven is a place only your spirit can go to.  When you die your body stays here, but your spirit goes to heaven,”  Jonathan said.

 

“Is she dead yet?”  she whispered, having lay her head back against his chest. Just this morning Jonathan had called her house, and the nurse had told him she was not long for this world.  It saddened him that he had never had the chance to get to know her, and wasn’t there when Victoria was born.

 

“Not yet Angel,”  he said.  Once she was asleep, he slipped out of his bed, pulling the covers over her, and placing a kiss on her soft brown curls, then went out of his room, and down the long passage to the Parlor where he found Alex playing the Piano.  Evelyn had taught him the basics when he was very young, and now he was really good at it.

 

“That’s nice,”  Jonathan said, causing Alex to jump.

 

“Moon Light Sonata,”  Alex responded.

 

“Are you mad at me?”  Jonathan asked, having noticed that Alex had been avoiding him.  Alex looked down.

 

“I know it’s stupid, but I liked it better when it was me and you.  When she is awake, she demands attention, why can’t she learn to share?”  he asked, the hurt evident in his voice. Jonathan had guessed that his nephew wasn’t happy about his daughter, and was lost in how to help them become friends.  When he had talked to Evelyn, she had told him to give them time, but it was still difficult.

 

“I know it’s rough partner, but she needs time.  Do you remember how you felt when your mum left us?”  Jonathan asked.  That time, as brief as it was, had been very frightening to Alex, and though he knew in Victoria’s case that there was no Book of the Dead to bring her mother back, that she had to live with that pain of loss, Alex still didn’t like her.

 

“Listen I need to get back to her, why don’t we all go out tomorrow.  Your mum is going to be preparing for that party, and I think Victoria needs to have time away to enjoy herself.  Alex decided to give it a go.

 

“Okay but I’m not going to talk to her,”  he said.  For now Jonathan decided to live with that, and after saying goodnight the two of them headed off to bed.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

It was a beautiful sunny day, and at the park Jonathan had realized he had made a mistake bringing both Alex and Victoria.  For the past hour, both of them had been picking on one another, and he was ready to leave both of them.  Now he sat on the blanket they had brought, having some of his sandwich while Alex got the kite he had brought airborne.  Victoria watched her cousin, settled beside her father, finishing her lunch.  Once Alex got it airborne she ran over.

 

“I want to fly it.”  she said crossing her arms.

 

“When I have my turn you can.  You have to share,”  Alex said focusing on making his kite dip and do flips.  Not happy with his answer, she went back to Jonathan.

 

“Daddy Alex won’t let me get a turn,”  she said pouting.

 

“I’m sure he will, just let him have some time Princess,”  Jonathan said, knowing she wasn’t going to be happy with that answer.

 

“You don’t love me,”  she said turning away from him.  She screamed when he grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her into his lap, and laughed when he started nibbling her neck.

 

“Stop your wrinkling my dress,”  she said through her laughter.  Hearing the laughter, Alex turned, and rolled his eyes, getting back to his kite when something hit the back of his head.

 

“Look if it isn’t the book worm.”  Mad anyway by his cousin’s presence in his life, being picked on by Franklin and Robert just fueled his anger.

 

“And he’s flying a kite, only babies do that,”  Robert chimed in.  Jonathan stood up then, but the two stayed where they were.

 

“You boys run along,”  he said.  Before either of them could get a word in, Alex let go of his kite and launched himself at Franklin, knocking him down, then sat on him pounding into his face.

 

“I’m sick of you teasing me.  I’m not a book worm, and if I had a gun I’d use it on you,”  Alex yelled.  Victoria hugged her dad’s leg crying, and Jonathan knelt down.

 

“Shh, daddy needs to go get Alex,”  Jonathan said, she nodded and let him go watching as the other boy knocked Alex away.  By then, a group of kids had come to watch, and Jonathan yelled which got Robert’s attention.

 

“Enough! You boys get out of here before I call the authorities.  Alex,”  he said as Alex knocked Robert over.  In the end Jonathan had to pull him off.  Now in the car, the only noise came from Victoria’s sobs as she rested her head on Jonathan’s lap.  Alex hadn’t spoken a word since they left the park.  The only evidence of fighting he had, was that one of his knuckles was cut from where he had punched Franklin in the mouth.  When they got home Jonathan sent Alex to his room, and by then Victoria was asleep.   He got her in her own bed, then went to find Rick, not wanting to bother Evelyn with her party arrangements at hand.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

With both Alex and Victoria gone, Rick had set up various targets out back, and was now shooting them.  They hadn’t had much adventure these past few years, but Rick still liked to keep his shooting skills in tip top shape just in case.

 

“Still good at that,”  Jonathan said not sure of where to begin.  Rick looked up seeing the weary look in his brother-in-law’s eyes.

 

“So I take it the didn’t get along,”  Rick said as he put his gun in its holster. Not getting along was the least of the problems that day.

 

“No, Alex got in a fight with two boys, the two with the rich parents,”  Jonathan said.  Not liking what he was hearing, Rick shut his eyes and counted to ten.

 

“And where were you?”  Rick asked.

 

“Consoling my daughter,”  Jonathan said, not prepared to be the one on trial, which it now appeared he was.  Quickly Rick got control of his anger, and sighed.

 

“I’m sorry Jonathan.  Where is he now?”  he asked.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

In his room, Alex sat by the window, letting the tears fall.  He hated being smart, and when he had been fighting it had felt good to hurt that kid, and thats what scared him.  Before today he had always been the victim, now he was the winner, and he wasn’t sure what to do.

 

“Hey pal,”  Rick said as he walked in and shut the door.  Alex’s eyes widened, and he decided facing the Window would be better than having to face his father.

 

“Your Uncle said you beat up a boy today,”  Rick continued sitting down on his bed.  When there was no response, Rick got up and went over to his son putting a hand on his shoulder, fairly certain that Alex was afraid.  His touch was all it took for Alex to break down.

 

“I got so mad dad.  They always call me book worm and I just got mad. I hit him so hard that I cut my knuckle on his teeth, and I told him that if I had a gun I would use it, and I wanted to,”  Alex sobbed against his fathers chest.  The realization that Alex had inherited his hot temper, was not something Rick was proud of, and unlike himself, Rick would be there for his son, so Alex wouldn’t have to go through that all alone.

 

“Sometimes you get mad.  When you let things build up inside of you without talking about it, or finding a way to release it, its like a bomb.  Now, while I understand how hard it is to control anger, when its all built up, its something you and I will work on together,”  Rick said kissing the top of his head.

 

“I was thinking that if I fought, the kids would start respecting me more,”  Alex confessed.  Rick sat on the bed and held his son at arms length.

 

“All fighting does is lead to trouble son.  Take it from me.  I didn’t have  a dad to tell me that, or a dad who cared enough to have talks with me like the one we are having.  All I had was my anger, and until I met your mum, I thought it would be cool to die.  Thats not something I want for you,”  Rick said.  Alex sighed.

 

“Then I’ll try to not do it anymore,”  he said, the disappointment evident in his voice.

 

“Good. The next time you do that, and I know about it, you won’t be able to sit down for a week,”  Rick said as he stood.  Alex subconsciously rubbed his bottom, and with that sort of threat, he knew he better watch himself.  After his dad left, Alex lay in his bed, and  didn’t even hear Victoria when she walked in.  His eyes were closed, and when he felt her small hand on his he opened them.

 

“Did it hurt?”  she asked.

 

“Not when I hit him but it really hurts now,”  he said.

 

“Why are they mean to you?”  she asked realizing that maybe her cousin wasn’t as mean as she first thought

 

“Because I’m smart,”  he said making room for her as she climbed on his bed.

 

“Do you hate me?”  she asked.  Alex was floored, his uncle asked that of him all the time, when he was mad at him, and now Victoria was asking the same thing.

 

“Well no, but it would be nice if you would share some.  I like spending time with your dad, and when you get mad about that, then I don’t like it,”  Alex said.

 

“I’ll be nicer,”  she said.   Soon both of them were asleep, and it was in Alex’s bed that Jonathan found them.  Though he knew they would likely pick on one another like he and Evie had, he was glad that they were making the effort to become friends, and after putting a blanket over them, he left to go have a drink, and some quiet time of his own.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Chapter 4: Victoria’s Loss

 

Not long after Victoria’s arrival at the O’Connell-Carnahan home, Evelyn realized that they most likely needed to get Victoria back to her schooling.  Now on a quiet Saturday afternoon, while Alex and Victoria had gone with Rick to town, Evie and Jonathan were playing a game of Hearts.

 

“Jonathan, I’ve been meaning to ask you about Victoria’s schooling.  I know she is still getting used to us, but it might be wise to get her started, or if she had a school she was attending, get her enrolled there,”  Evie said as she drew a card.  Being a parent was still something Jonathan was getting used to, and he was glad for any help he could get from his sister, and Rick.

 

“Her mother taught her from home, I guess to keep her from everyone’s eye,”  Jonathan said as he laid down his hand.  He had lost again, and sighed, and Evelyn noticed the weary look in his eyes.

 

“What is it Jonathan?”  she asked.

 

“I feel like I’m smothering old mum.  I love her with all my heart, but I miss my freedom,”  he admitted.

 

“Perhaps school would be good for the both of you then.  While she is there getting her education, and making new friends, you can have your time.  Don’t forgot too, that Rick and I are here to help out,” she said as she stood giving him a kiss before she went off to help Marie with Lunch.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

When Rick returned with Alex and Victoria, the first thing she did was to seek out her father.  In her arms, she held the kitten she had wanted for weeks, and was anxious to show him. 

 

“DADDY,” she yelled, as she approached the Parlor.

 

“Here I am my little Princess, and look what you have,”  he said smiling at Rick who shrugged.  Rick was usually the last to bend when she got winey, and Jonathan idly wondered how Victoria had talked him into the kitten he had been against a week ago.

 

“I’m going to name her Bonnie,”  she informed then ran upstairs.  Unable to resist giving Rick a hard time, Jonathan followed him to the kitchen.

 

“And here I thought you immune to her begging,”  Jonathan said, as they

 entered the kitchen.  After giving Evie a kiss he plopped down at the kitchen table.

 

“I thought so to, but one look at those blue eyes, and her pouty lip, and her promise to always love me, I just had to get it for her,”  Rick said lightly. Having heard his comment, Evelyn sighed.

 

“You two need to learn to say no to that child, or she is going to believe she  can get anything with her pouty ways,”  Evelyn said.  Both of them laughed at her.

 

“Well I never,”  she said starting to walk away from the table, then screamed when Rick pulled her onto his lap.

 

“I seem to remember when Alex was little, and when ever he pouted, how his mummy gave in,”  Rick said as he nibbled her neck.  He had her there, and Evelyn just shook her head. 

 

“I do suppose they out grow that sort of thing,”  she replied, then got up to sit in her own chair.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Not watching her kitten close enough, Victoria screamed when Bonnie ran out of her room, and when she got in the hall screamed louder when she saw Max approaching her. 

 

“GET AWAY YOU BAD DOGGY,”  she screamed.  All that noise brought all three of the adults, and just as they arrived Max gave Bonnie a bath, not hurting her, but not making her happy.

 

“He’s eating her daddy,”  she sobbed hugging his legs while Evie rescued the soaked kitten.

 

“No princess, do you remember the first tme Max met you?” Jonathan asked picking her up.

 

“Yes he licked me,”  she said softly.

 

“Well that is just what Max did to Bonnie, see,”  he said as Evelyn came with her wrapped in a soft blanket. Once she saw her kitten was unharmed, Victoria went back to playing in her room.  She sat in the rocking chair with her kitten and sang to her.

 

“That naughty doggy got you all wet,”  Victoria said as she kissed her kittens head.  As she was rocking her kitten, and sang her song, she thought of her mum, and decided it was time to go see her.  Daddy had said it was best that they not go, that mum was very sick, but Victoria being Jonathan’s daughter, and Evelyn’s niece was determined to do it, despite anything they told her.  She got her little creme colored Satchel and packed in it the new doll her daddy had gotten her, and then put Bonnie in.

 

“Now you must be quiet my children, or the mean ogres will come eat us up,”  she said.  Victoria snuck out of the house with great ease, and skipped merrily down the driveway to its end.  The road leading into London was quiet, and Victoria walked on, not worried about a thing, other than going to see her mum.  Not five minutes into her little trip, did she meet up with Alex who drove past her, in the car of one of his friends.

 

“Hey stop thats my cousin,”  he said to Dan’s mum.  Mrs. Corrington did so, and Alex got out.

 

“What are you doing?” he all but yelled.

 

“I’m paying a visit to my mum, so you can’t tell my daddy,”  she said.

 

“Oh well guess what, I’m going to, now get in this car,”  he said. 

 

“I don’t gotta do what you tell me,”  she yelled, then ran as fast as she could to the fence line, and before Alex could catch her she slipped into the woods.

 

“Come out here,”  Alex yelled.  Just a few feet away from him, Victoria slipped into some bushes hoping he would leave.

 

“If you don’t come out here the ogres will come eat you up,”  Alex tried.  That had scared her the first time he had told her that, when trying to get her out of his room one day, however her daddy had told her that Ogres were not real, so she wasn’t worried about it any longer.  When she didn’t come out, Alex gave up and decided to go on home and let his Uncle take care of her.  After the car pulled away, Victoria headed on her way singing and skipping, and not far along another car stopped with Mary and her mum.

 

“Victoria what are you doing out here all by yourself?”  Rebecca Conner asked.

 

“Going to see my mum,”  she said.

 

“Well get in this car, and we will take you,”  she said, not happy that Anna’s child was out all by herself, and wondering what kind of parent would allow her to be out like that.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

As soon as he got in the house, Alex started to yell for his uncle, and only found his parents.

 

“Where is Uncle John?” Alex asked.

 

“He is asleep,”  Evelyn said putting down the paper she had been reading, noticing the worried look in her son’s eyes.

 

“Victoria is out again.  When me and Dan were on our way back we saw her, and when I tried to get her back in the car, she took of in the woods,”  Alex informed.  Rick shook his head as he got up.

 

“Go wake Jonathan,”  he said as he went to the front of the house putting on his leather coat and his boots.  As he was about to go warm the car Jonathan came from his nap looking frustrated, a feeling Rick knew well from the times Alex would run off without telling anyone.

 

“Do you and Evie want another child?”  Jonathan asked as they got in Rick’s Buford.  He knew Jonathan was kidding, but he also knew that Jonathan was not having an easy time as a single father, and despite his help and Evie’s it was still not easy on him.

 

“Just try to have patience with her, Let me go see if Alex knew where she was headed,”  Rick said as he got out of the car.  While he was gone, Jonathan sat deep in thought.  Right now he was angry, and he knew from watching both Rick and Evelyn that he needed to tone that down before he dealt with his daughter.  The other feelings ranged from being tired and feeling trapped.   All of his adult life he had lived a frivolous life, and it seemed now he was paying for his ways.  He regretted feeling so weary of his own kid, but right now he just wanted to leave her.

 

“Alex says she was on her way to see Anna,”  Rick informed as he got back into the car.  Jonathan banged his head against the Window, and Rick frowned.

 

“Look why don’t you let me go find her.  You look like you need time to cool off,” Rick said.  Jonathan just nodded, and left the car, going into the house, looking as down as Rick had ever seen him.  As he drove toward London Rick looked out the passenger Window but didn’t see her anywhere.  He guessed his best coarse of action was to go to Anna’s first. Then if she wasn’t there drive the route back.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Rebecca had not known that Anna had passed away early that morning, and now she sat on the porch holding Victoria as she cried.

 

“I want my mummy,”  she kept saying.  Mary sat beside them hugging her friend.

 

“If you want I will share my mummy with you,”  Mary offered, Then both of them saw a car approaching and a handsome man step out.

 

“Are you Jonathan?”  Rebecca asked not about to let him take Victoria after finding her on the road to London.  Rick could tell she was not happy, and guessed the reason.

 

“I’m his brother-in-law,”  Rick said.

 

“Well maybe you should make sure he watches his daughter better,”  Rebecca said coldly as Rick approached.  He knelt down unsure of what was going on.

 

“Hey sweet pea,”  Rick tried, though when he touched her she pulled away.

 

“I’m not going back,”  she said lifting her face from Rebecca’s shoulder.  She was all out of breath, and it suddenly dawned on Rick why she was so upset.  Now he wished he would have brought Jonathan.

 

“Where do you want to be?”  he asked.

 

“Wi with my mummy,”  she said then started crying all over.  It took some coaxing but Rick finally had her in his own arms, and he thanked Rebecca for looking after her, despite his aggravation at her earlier words.  Now in his car he drove while Victoria lay with her head against his lap.

 

“I I wan want my mummy,”  she said again. 

 

“I know you do,”  he said rubbing her back.  The drive was forty minutes, and Rick was thankful that someone she knew had gotten her, and not someone she didn’t know.  One thing he was going to suggest to both Jonathan and Evie at least for a while was that they put locks on all the doors going out, so that she wouldn’t  be able to get out on her own.  Eventually Victoria fell asleep, her kitten resting beside her.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Just as she had been about to start work on her latest book, Evelyn looked up when she saw Jonathan enter the room.  Thinking he had left something, and was still going out with Rick she resumed what she was doing.  It was when she realized he was not going, when he had not come back from his part of the house, that she put away her work, and went to talk to him.  Now she listened as he told her his feelings.

 

“I just can’t do this Evelyn.  I know I should have watched myself, I know I shouldn’t have thought I wouldn’t have to pay for my actions, but I wasn’t meant to be a father,”  he said throwing his hands up in the air.  All of what he was saying was normal.  When Alex had been born there had been several times when she wanted to run away, but eventually both she and Rick learned how to be parents to him, and now she loved that job, more than any other.

 

“Jonathan I know how frustrating it is.  I’ve been there, and it’s not easy, but the fact is you are her father, and the only person she has left.  Sure she has all of us, Rick Alex and myself, but you are the one who needs to show her the way,”  Evelyn said.  Feeling defeated, despite her words Jonathan sat down beside her, and for the first time in a long time he cried.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

After putting the car in park, Rick carefully lifted Victoria out.  She let out a shuttering sigh, but remained asleep, and after getting her satchel with Bonnie, and her baby, he made his way inside.  It was quiet, and when he walked in the Parlor, he didn’t find Jonathan or Evelyn there.  Knowing that she needed her father, Rick made the treck to the other part of the house, and just as he was about to open the door, it came open, and he met Evelyn’s worried gaze.

 

“He’s resting,”  she said.  As much as Rick wanted to give him time, right at the moment there was none.

 

“Anna is gone,”  Rick whispered.  Evelyn closed her eyes and leaned against them, then together they went in to Jonathan’s room.  While Evelyn went to his bed, Rick set the satchel down swaying with his niece who had begun to stir.

 

“Jonathan, Anna is gone, and Victoria needs you,”  Evie whispered.  Her words woke him instantly, and when he saw Rick he got out of bed and went over to them.

 

“No,”  Victoria said as Rick started to give her to Jonathan.

 

“Hey princess,”  Jonathan said rubbing her back.

 

“I want to go away,”  she said then started to cry again, holding tight to Rick.  She was terrified, and unsure of things, and her rejection of him, didn’t’ make it any easier for Jonathan.

 

“Hey baby, why don’t you and I take a rest, with Bonnie,”  Jonathan tried.  She nodded her head, and let her Uncle lay her in bed, then Jonathan climbed in next to her.  When her tears subsided she lifted her head from her chest.

 

“I want to go live with Mary and Rebecca,”  she said.

 

“Will you give me more of a chance?”  Jonathan asked realizing that right now he needed to give all of his time to his little girl.

 

“I guess so,”  she said then rolled away from him.  When she went to sleep, Jonathan made a decision to sell his Casino, and also decided to try and get a job at the museum, and go after his first love which had always been archeology.

 

 

Epilogue

 

Time healed the pain for Victoria, and time also taught Jonathan that the only thing that mattered was his little girl.  Three months after her arrival in his life, the Museum in Egypt asked if he would return and be the assistant curator, and without hesitation he took the job.  Not wanting to be away from her brother, and realizing their life was made for Egypt, Evelyn Rick and Alex followed them there.  They lived in separate houses, but not far from one another, and life as it always was, was one great adventure.

 

THE  END