Act like you care

[Lovely]

December 28, 2008
Mid-morning
Veinna Estate - Scotty's office

Certain details had come to light about the twin princesses and their leading men, just how long and how much sneaking around had been done. Both girls were grounded to put it lightly and their respective beaus were also facing restrictions. The punishments sent quite a shock wave through the house and each girl staged her own protest against them.

For Lily who was already a bit unstable, overly sensitive and mixed up, her gift being what it was sometimes made it very hard to deal with her own emotions. After being told that her wedding to Marcus was cancelled and that she would not be allowed to see him anymore, she was distraught. Her emotions got the better of her and while taking a bath she took a razor to her wrists. Thankfully Mitch had been assigned as her guard, and found her in time to help her before it was too late.

While Lily was upstairs resting, Josie made her way to Scotty's office to have a few words with him about their daughter. "Why did you have to be so hard an her??" The words flew out of her mouth, she was much more upset than she usually got, but this was their daughter. The next thing that came out was blame on herself for what happened. "I'm a failure as a mother!"

Scotty just looked up from his files... "no dear, you're not a failure and the only one I'm hard on is you" *teases*

"Don't you dare tease me.. and stop being so indifferent! damn you this is our daughter and she tried to kill herself!!"

"And so did Jaime... and she's still here and Lily will be fine."

"Could you just act like you care, for a minute?.."

"I do care. I'm not giving her pranks any more attention than they deserve. That's all she's doing it for is attention. She has to learn she cannot have everything she wants. And I said... she will be fine, Josie. Don't worry."

"I have to worry, I'm her mother.. it's genetic.. and this wasn't for attention Scarlatto." She rarely called him by his given name. "She's really.. in pain.. I know part of it is her age and temper tantrum.. and part of it is her gift, but she wanted to die.."

Scotty looked up from his desk and leaned back, tipping his chair so his feet would reach the desk. "What do you want me to do, Josephine? It's not in my intentions at all to marry her off to the first bull that spreads her legs with his horns. I'm sorry she is in pain, Jo. I'm sorry you feel I was hard on her, but all I told her was to stay in her room and behave. She has a child to care for and herself to look after. I told her no differently than I'd tell you. You are not a child and neither is she, not anymore. Consequences are what they are. If she cannot function, then ... well then perhaps it's best."

"Did you tell her from behind your stack of papers? Did you show any compassion or were you just as cold to her as you're being now?" She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Did you tell her she'd never see the father of her child again, that you'd feed her with a tube if she didn't behave? She is your daughter.. she needs your love. Okay so she f*cked up, punish her.. don't treat her like she's nothing.. like she's a stock you trade and sell."

"I told her like I'm telling you now," he said, holding his hands out over his chest like everything was plain as day, then laced them over his middle, rocking in the chair a little. "I did say she was not at liberty to chose the man who would rear her child, yes. She is not allowed to 'see' Marcus, no, but he will be seen. He works here and will continue doing so, but they will not be together. And I warned her, yes, that if she chose to simply not eat, as you know she is prone to doing when she pouts, then we will do what we need to to protect her and her child. Was that wrong?"

[Lovely]

"You just alienated me.. and I'm not her.. so yes.. that was wong. She's young, she one of if not the most sensitive child we have.. You've done a good job with the punishment.. " Josie gave a clap and shook her head. "Congratulations.. we're lucky it was Mitch up there.. otherwise we'd be down one daughter."

"Josephine, you're overreacting. Mitch was there in plenty of time and as you well know, it takes more than that to kill a Veinna. She's a strong girl. Stronger than I think you're giving her credit for. I'm giving her that benefit of the doubt. Why don't you?"

He sat his feet down to the floor and reached to the intercom. "Mitch, would you come down here please. Have Craig cover your post. Five mintues, thank you." He smiled at his beguiling wife though she stared daggers into him. "Josie, please. I do care and things will be fine. Come here a moment. Please.... please?"

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "I am acting like a mother who gives a shit about our daughter." Her shoulders squared slightly and she refused to move closer, she wasn't letting him 'charm' her out of this one. He had his ways and it was not easy to stay mad at him, though they had, had their differences, as every married couple would but most of the time she knew her place as his wife and supported him aggressively and even fiercely.

"Jo, I give a shit, okay? What do you want me to do? For you... for her... what? Tell me, here."

"Act like you f*cking care! Get upset.. yell. cry.. punch something! Talk to her, hold her, show her she means something more to you.. " She sighed and shook her head again.

"That's it? She's a grown girl, not a stuffed puppet, Josie. I tried to talk to her... she told me she hates me. How can I talk to her now?" He asked softly, curling back into his chair, looking at the desk and his papers. "I already got upset. Who do you think nailed her windows shut?"

She bit her lips, close to tears herself. "Try talking to her with a little more warmth and a lot less cold.. distant.. She's not a grown girl.. she's just 18.. You're her father, you're not supposed to just give up, you keep trying."

"She's going to be the mother of a feral wolf's child, Josie. That's hardly a child. And I've hardly given up. There's a time and place and having doors slammed in my face is neither. I intended to talk to her after she'd had some time to calm down," he said, looking away and starting to feel the guilt sink in though he was trying hard to pass it off. His hands ran up and down the arms of his executive chair as he started to pout a little himself though only Jo would like know it or see it, how he hid the expression as coolly as their children did. "I didn't want to speak out of anger, Josie. I know how she... that she's a bit more fragile than the others. I didn't want t-..." His own voice started to break apart and quiver.

She saw and she heard and it reached her heart, making it begin to ache for him as much as it ached for their daughter. She slowly started to circle around the office towards him, watching him closely. "Scott.." She murmured his name and held herself back a few feet from him. "See.. you do know how to talk to someone like they aren't a stock report."

"Damn him, Josie... she's just a girl... just a timid, unknowing girl...," he murmured. "He knew and he still... why her.. why Lilian?"

[Lovely]

She cleared her throat and came over to perch on the edge of his desk. "Because she.. needed him to.. she wanted him to.. because she was in heat.. and he's an animal.. he did what male animals do when they smell a female in heat.. not that you'd have any idea what that is.."

"No, I wouldn't, would I?" He winked and sat back, offering a lap, wanting to feel close but only if she'd come closer. He didn't want to get within striking distance of her paws or claws. "I only wanted her to understand that it wasn't okay, that he couldn't do it again.. that no one should have. The way she reacted to me when I told her... she couldn't see him... that wasn't just 'heat', Jo... that's fire and want beyond that. I almost think she thinks she's in love with him."

She looked down at the toe of her high heeled shoe and took a trembling breath, nodding slowly. "I think she is.." She whispered, hating to admit this fact, her fingers twisted together and she glanced at Scott. "Why.. him?" She reached for him, lifting up off the desk and moving towards him and his invitiing lap.

"Mmm... she thinks she is," he tried to convince himself that it wasn't true, emphasizing that it was a fantasy on Lily's part. Although the reports didn't lie and he was a match enough, he wasn't a perfect match, but that mattered little now. He chuckled and curled around Josie, seeking comfort. "He's the hired he'p, Marge. Cain't rightly say he's fittin' t'be tied up with our young'un," he played, sighing heavily and kissing Josie's arm. "Plans and schemes.. heh... for want of a nail. I should have had her better guarded since she was twelve."

"Scott.. what are we going to do?" She leaned to put her head on his shoulder and wrap around him a little more. "I know he's.. Marcus.. but.. can we even consider what we don't even want to think about?" She sighed and lifted her head to kiss his cheek. "When did our daughters become women?"

"The minute you had them?" He teased, but only partly. In this household, everyone grew up fast, least of all their mother. "I don't want to think about it to consider it. If she is, I can't stop her, but he's hardly the type of man to raise a child, Jo. She needs someone stable.. and stable, is not Marc."

"Would he even consider.. we don't know if he'd.. I know he's not the best choice.. He's not stable.. he's not that nice to most people.. but our daughter sees something in him that we don't see. Something that has made her seek him out.. that has made her feel the way she does at the thought of being kept from him.. she thinks you're going to eliminate him."

"He's suspended for now, nothing more. If anything further happens to Lily or if he does anything else that in turn causes her harm or pain... then I will do what I have to do," he said succinctly, ever word being perfectly clear, though to anyone else they may seem vague. He was not blind to the fact that he was a match and that the child produced would likely be as strong a feral as the father, but that would not appear for some time. Likewise, removing the man would do little for the morale of their daughter or her siblings and would disappoint Mitch to no end if he were left without a sparring partner to entertain him. "He has a reprieve. For now."

She sighed and nodded. "That may ease her some.. possibly enough that she will cooperate.. and maybe make an effort to.. get better." Josie trailed her fingers over his arm and leaned to nip his neck lightly. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I should have had him removed the night he made a nuisance of himself with the boys down at the ring. It's that kind of publicity we don't need. But, what's done is done. He has his last chance to make it right, starting with her, himself. When Mitch comes down here, I'm going up with him to talk with Lily."

[Lovely]

"You.. probably should have, but despite his assenine ways.. he's family.. one of our pack.. " She stroked his cheek with a soft touch and offered a slight smile along with a tender kiss to give him gentle support. "You want me to wait here?"

"Family," he chuckled, looking for his absent glass of scotch then looking up to her as her kiss came down to meet him. "I want you to do what you need to to keep me in line. I think I need to talk to her first. If you're there, she'll feel ganged up on for sure.. and I'd never get a word in edgewise, listening to 'Lily, your father has something to say... 'Lily, what he means to say is..'.... kinda blows that whole 'fatherly' image that she needs so much right now, don't you think?"

Josie pouted at him and nipped the end of his nose gently. "Be nice to me.. or you'll be in the doghouse.." She gave him a wink, feeling much better that he was going to make the effort with Lily. "Just.. don't go all cold up there.. keep being the warm man I know and love.. okay?" She nuzzled to him and growled softly. "Be fatherly.. but don't be distant.."

"No creds?" He reached up and rubbed his 'injured' nose then hugged around her waist tightly. "Alright, I'll earn it. I hate the doghouse. The boys all snore and I think Charlie needs a flea collar," he teased. Although he did tease, the purely business shroud wasn't cast off very far. He'd do what he could, but he wasn't expecting Lily to be immediately responsive or forgiving.

"Mm you're such a good boy.." She giggled and hugged him close, going quiet for a few minutes as she just embraced him and shared love and support.

"I'll be a better boy later," he teased with a wicked but small laugh. The knock on the door came just before the five minutes were up. "There's your "good" boy now. He's earned his and should see it soon.. he did save her. Up you go. And up I go. I don't know how it will come out, Jo, but I -do- care."

"You just need to work on knowing when to show it." She whispered, kissing his neck before slowly rising up from his lap to balance on strong slim legs. She straightened her skirt and smoothed her hair, blowing him a kiss as she moved to open the door for Mitch. "Hey there.." She whispered in a sultry voice. "I thought I told you not to come to my husband's office, when I was in his lap?"

Mitch gave her a confused look and sniffed discretely for the scent of the Master Veinna's scotch. Not smelling any, he proferred a curious smile and nod. "Won't happen again, Missus. I just came down as requested. If you need some more time..."

Josie let the light laugh float out and poked his arm gently. "Mitch.. relax.. We were talking and expecting you.. go on in.. I'm heading out."

"Do you need someone to drive you? I'll have the car brought around in a moment if you like, " Mitch motioned toward the front hall and offered his services any way he could. He watched her the full time and smelled the tang and salt on her cheeks, noting the hint of flushed exasperation beneath the healthy glow around her own feral eyes. It was understandable, completely. "If there's anything more I can do, Mrs. Veinna....please let me know."

[Lovely]

She nodded and tipped her head with a slight smile. "There is something you can do.. never call me Mrs Veinna again. For one you're family and two it makes me feel so much older than 17.. and I know I haven't aged a day since I've been happily married."

"Mitch... stop badgering that old woman and let her go do her shopping," Scotty teased, motioning the man in from the hall. "Jo, if there's a problem, you'll be the fourth to know. Mitch, your assignment is to keep my daughter from clawing my eyes out, if you can handle that."

She flashed Scotty a wicked grin and winked at him, scowling at his tease and bantering back. "I'm not going shopping. I'm going to meet my trainer for a hot vigorous session. He doesn't think I'm old.."

"Yes, Mi-... Aunt Josie, " Mitch nodded, sidestepping any of the dagger throws if they weren't actually teasing one another. He was in Scotty's office and protocol was to be adhered to at all times. He'd had his paws slapped enough with that when he was a small pup not to forget that. He cringed a little at the banter and stood by the desk waiting for the instructions from his uncle.

"Ooo, send him my bestest best," he teased, putting on a highly sarcastic 'lisp' as if portraying a gay trainer, blowing a kiss and tossing an invisible towel over his shoulder. "You tell Carl to behave himself. I want you fresh and ready later. If this works out, we're all going to dinner... and for dessert...." He wiggled his eyebrow and blew a real kiss and wink. "C'mon Lindsay... you and I have some cheering up to do upstairs. How is she? Sleeping? Has she eaten at all?" He rose from his chair, slipping an arm around the younger man's shoulder as he walked toward the door.