Disclaimer : They are not mine, I take no credit for them, the only thing that is mine is the plot line of the story, and even that is questionable.

 

Author : Eviefan

 

Summary :  A normal Family vacation to a large estate in the lush forest.  Then again what is normal for the O'Connells. 

 

 

Family Vacation

 

Chapter 1 :  Preparation

 

 

It was such and exciting time.  Evelyn had taken a few months off from work, so she could go on a much needed vacation with Rick, and their children,  Emma, who was 12, and Alex who was 9.   This would be the first vacation, since Emma's arrival in their lives, almost 4 months ago, and everyone was excited.  Now on a Friday afternoon, everyone was packing their things for the trip.  They would be staying at an old estate in the woods, about a days drive from their home.  It was just outside a quaint little village, and secluded, which was good for family time.  In her room, Emma was trying to decide what clothing to pack.  She had never been away from London, or the part of England they lived in, therefore, she wasn't certain about what she needed.  Someone knocking at her door, caught her attention, and she called out for the person to enter.  The blond hair girl looked up as Evelyn walked in.

 

"I thought maybe you could use a little help."  Emma nodded.

 

"I can't decide whether or not to take my dresses, or my jeans and shirts,"  she told her mum.  Evie looked at the many articles of clothing on her daughters bed.

 

"Perhaps a little of both,"  Evie said.  She helped her daughter select what she wanted, then pack it in the suitcases.

 

"May I take Annabelle?" asked Emma.  A few weeks ago, Rick's work had taken him to Germany, and he had brought her back a beautiful doll, whom Emma had given the name Annabelle.  Evelyn smiled.

 

"Of coarse you can, we don't want her to stay here and be lonely while we are away on our vacation,"  Evelyn responded as she lifted the delicate doll from her daughter's bed.  That brought a smile to Emma's face.  She was still not used to having a family, and despite spending time with them, having even gotten her own horse, she wasn't sure about some things.

 

"Is the place where we are staying bigger than our house?"   Evelyn nodded.

 

"Its much larger, not so much the home itself, but there is more land than what we have, miles of it in fact,"  Evie added.

 

"Are you and daddy packed?"  Emma asked, as she walked over beside her mother.

 

"I think so."

 

"I was just wondering..."  She trailed off, as Alex ran in.

 

"Mum I'm all finished with my packing, and dad said we could all go into town to get some Ice-cream at the Soda shop," Alex said.  He was excited.

 

"Just a moment Alex."  She turned back to Emma.  "Now, what were you about to ask me?"  That made Emma feel better.

 

"If we could go riding, but I guess we should go with daddy and Alex,"  she said, sadness in her voice.

 

"Alex, why don't you and your father go ahead alone, Emma and I are going to have a ride."  Alex shrugged and ran out, thinking both his mum, and his sister crazy for not wanting ice-cream.

 

 

 

It was a cool night outside, as mother and daughter road their horses out into the field.  Emma was not nearly as good a rider as her mother, but she was learning quickly, and never tired of taking rides.

 

"Why don't we practice your posting," Evie suggested.  Emma nodded, and held her horse at bay while her mum demonstrated posting while the horse trotted.

 

"I think we can do that," she said, rubbing Cleopatra,'s neck.

 

"All right girl."  Emma clicked and Cleopatra moved into a walk, then a trot.  Emma tried to get the right rhythm, but  it was much more difficult than her mum made it look.  She got her horse to stop, and Evelyn had her go again, telling her when to sit and stand, and with that method she caught on very quickly. 

 

"Can we go faster than this?" Emma asked.    Since Emma was still new at riding, Evelyn wasn't keen on allowing her to go at a faster gate.

 

"Why don't we wait a little before we try that."  They road for almost another hour before they went back to the barn, and as they arrived Rick was there.

 

"My knight in shining Amour,"  Evelyn said, causing Emma to laugh.  He helped his wife off of her horse first, pulling her in his arms for a kiss.

 

"Aren't people a funny sort,"  Emma asked her horse.  In response Cleopatra winnied, and got a chuckle from Rick He walked over slowly, holding out his hand.  Cleopatra nuzzled him there, then lowered her head in acceptance of him.  She was still a shy horse, and especailly around men, which made Rick wonder how she was treated with her last owner.  He patted her side, and walked around her side, to help Emma off of her.  Once she was settled on the floor, he got her saddle, and her reins taken off, then Emma came and curried her, or the parts she could reach.  When Emma finished Rick did the parts she could not reach, then led Cleopatra to her stall.  Evelyn had already gotten her horse put away for the evening, and took her husbands hand, while Emma ran ahead of them.

 

 

 

 

 

It was quite early the next moring, when Rick and Evelyn got up,  after some snuggling, to get themselves and the children ready to go on vacation.  This vacation was just them, as Jonathan had opted to  stay at home.  Once they were ready, Rick headed downstairs to fix a light breakfast for everyone, and Evelyn went down the hall, to Alex's room first.  She quietly walked over to his bed, and settled down on the edge rubbing his back.  At first Alex didn't stir, deep in sleep, not used to having to wake up at such and early hour.  Then slowly he began to wake up.

 

"Mum?"  he asked.

 

"Yes.  You need to get up so we can get underway for our vacation,"  Evelyn told her son.  With her words, he remembered what to day was, and hurried up.

 

"Okay mum you can go now,"  he said, and gave her a hugs and kiss.  Once she was sure Alex would stay awake, Evelyn went across the hall to Emma's room, finding that her daughter was also in deep sleep.  Emma always slept curled up.  In her arms was Annabelle, her baby, and seeing her asleep with the doll that Rick had gotten for her, made Evelyn smile.  It was still evident that Emma didn't fully trust Rick, though she called him daddy, she was still learning to trust him.  Since Emma's bed was larger, a double bed,  Evelyn lay next to her, and Emma subconsciously moved against her mum.

 

"My tummy hurts,"  Emma said.

 

"Are you having your cycle?"  Emma nodded.  This would make her third cycle, and Evie hated that she was having them at a fairly young age in her life.  They made her tummy hurt something awful, and Doc Brown had told Evie to give her aspirin to help with the pain.

 

"I'll bring you some aspirin."  Emma nodded, and Evie walked out of her room, as Alex came out of his.

 

"Is Emms getting up?"  Emms was Alex's nickname for his sister, and only he called her by that name.

 

"She has a tummy ache,"  said Evie, as she went to her own room to get Aspirin and a glass of water.  While she did that,  Alex walked into his sister's  room, over to her bed.  He climbed in where his mum had just been, and  Emma turned over.

 

"Why do you get so many tummy aches?"  asked Alex through a yawn.

 

"They happen because of my cycle."  At her words Alex gave her a funny look, which told her he didn't get it.

 

"Girls get cycles because that is the bodys way of getting rid of the egg in her tummy, ones that makes the baby, but I won't have one until I get married."  She reassured.  He nodded, not quite sure about that, but he wasn't going to let her know that.  When Evie returned with the aspirin, she smiled.  Alex really loved his sister, and it warmed her heart that while he did tease her, for the most part he was very gentle with her.

 

"All right my beautiful girl."  Evelyn came over and Emma sat up wincing as a cramp shot through her stomach.  She took the aspirin and washed them down with water.

 

"Alex go eat,"  she said as she helped Emma lay down.  He obeyed, and Emma whimpered as her stomach cramped up. 

 

"Why did it have to choice this day to start," she said frustrated.  Evelyn rubbed her hand over her daughters tender tummy.

 

"It seems like cycles pick the worst of days to begin.  Hush now and try to relax."  Emma nodded and let her mothers touch soothe her.  In a few minutes she drifted to sleep just as Rick came in.

 

"Alex said she wasn't feeling well."  He whispered.

 

"Should we postpone the trip?"  he asked.  Evelyn shook her head.

 

"She just needs to rest, when we are ready to go you can carry her out to the car.  I'll go pack some muffins for her."  Evelyn left and Rick knelt beside his daughter's bed kissing her forehead, then left to go get the car warmed up.  A little later he returned, and as he lifted her into his arms she came awake.

 

"Shh, were ready to go, I made a little bed for you in the back of the car."  She nodded, resting  her head against his chest feeling safe in his arms.  Once she was in the car, Alex snuggled up  against her, and she didn't complain as he did.  Evelyn got in the passenger side of the car, then they began their long days trip to the Estate in the woods.

 

 

 

 

It was nearly lunch time when Emma and Alex roused.  She moved first which woke her younger brother.

 

"I was wondering when you two would wake up,"  Evelyn said, as she handed them back two wrapped sandwiches.  Emma got a ham and cheese sandwich, and Alex a plain cheese sandwich, which they both devoured.  Evelyn had two thermoses made up one of milk the other of water, and Alex and Emma shared the milk.

 

"When will we get there?"  Alex asked.

 

"Not until tonight,"  Rick said moving his arm back around Evie's shoulders.  It was quite for a few moments.

 

"I'm bored,"  Alex said.

 

"Me too.  Lets play charades,"  Emma suggested.  He had never heard of that before.

 

"Okay what you do is that I will act out something, and you have to guess who I am."  Alex nodded, and Emma began.  She thought a moment then grinned, and began to swing her arm about.

 

"Your a bird?"  Alex asked.

 

"Nope." she responded.  She turned to face him and held out her arms, and he gave her a funny look.

 

"Your a mummy?" he asked.  She laughed as did he.  In the front Rick looked in the rearview mirror glad that the kids were getting along

 

"I think this trip is going to  be good for us,"  he said happy.

 

"I do to.  Maybe we can work on her trusting you more.  "  Rick nodded, and they remained silent as they traveled down the road.

 

 

 

It was dark when the car pulled up to the old house, and it was every bit as big as theirs.  When they got out the wind was blowing a little, and the trees swayed.

 

"Its dark,"  Emma said finding her way to her fathers side.  He took her hand.

 

"It won't be for long."  He led the way to the house, getting the key, opening the door with it, then turned on the lights.  The house had a huge front entryway, and a ceiling that was steepled.  The floor was marble, and everyone gasped at the sheer size of the place.

 

"It's so big,"  Alex said.  The steepled roof made the house look much bigger,  and the way it was designed gave it a grander appearance than the Manor home.

 

"Come on Emms, lets go find our rooms."  The two of them ran into another room where the stairs were and went up despite it being dark.  Alex found switch at the top of the stairs and turned it on lighting up a long hallway.  Evelyn and Rick came up with the luggage and helped them find a room that had one big bed, and a bath off from that.

 

"Emma this can be your room."  The bed was like hers at home with a canopy top and curtains that fell down around it.

 

"Its pretty here."  She set Annabelle down, and noticed another baby doll, one who had some of her hair missing, and a crack down her porcelain face.  As her family left to go find Alex's room she got a cold chill.  Something about this place didn't feel right to her, but she shook it off.

 

"Annabelle  Meet Dixie,"  Emma said bringing the new doll over to her baby.  She set them together and got up going into the bathroom.   She flipped on the light and found a large porcelain bath tub, and sink, and an ornate mirror, over the sink.  She walked back out into the room and sighed.  This would be a fun vacation.  For a little longer she explored her new room finding nothing more than the furniture, which consisted  of a dresser with another mirror, and a Wardrobe.

 

"All right here is your clothing,"  Evelyn said coming in, scarring the daylights out of Emma.  She jumped, and Evelyn set the cloths down, and came to her hugging her.

 

"Mum I don't like this house,"  she said.

 

"Oh sweety its just an old house.  Your father and I have been here with Alex many times before, and its a lovely place."  Emma sighed and nodded.

 

"Now we should all get a good nights sleep.  Your father, and your brother have decided that we need to go hike to the lake, so that we can learn how to fish."  Emma giggled, and Evelyn got the sheets out of the linen closet and made up Emma's bed, while her daughter got ready for bed.  Once Emma was ready, she lay down on the mattress and held Annabelle close.

 

"Mum will you sit with me until I sleep?"  she asked.  Evelyn smiled, and settled down with her daughter, notcing the doll which she had never seen before.

 

"Close your eyes."   Emma did and was soon asleep.  Once she was pretty sound asleep Evelyn left her turning off the light but leaving one Candle lit so she could find her way if she needed to.   She walked down the hall to Alex's room and found him already asleep as well, and Rick just leaving him.

 

"Now its our turn to sleep."  Rick said, as he lifted her into his rooms.  She smiled and they went to their room which was at the end of the long hall and shut the door for some privacy.