Room 406, late afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

Wyatt had left early yesterday morning, promising to return soon. Isabel had tried not to panic as her increasingly frantic calls went unanswered. She'd tried to convince herself that his phone was dead, that they were just engrossed in whatever project they were working on but talking to Johnny made it obvious that wasn't the case.

Then the letters came. One from Wyatt, one from Andrew.

A visit to Chris confirmed he'd gotten that same news. And that there didn't seem to be any magical way to get them back.

She made a few more calls to check up on people, wondering who else wasn't going to to answer.

Frustrated and angry, Isabel decided the best way to not think was to clean.

Loud music was blaring and the air smelled of pine cleaner.

The door, despite what she promised Chris, was open.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"When Fandom wants to be amusing instead of angsty? Potential children show up," Isabel explained. "So don't be surprised if one day some little kid shows up and calls you daddy."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

He pulled a face.

"Yeah, here's hoping for no repeats."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's not so bad," she shrugged. "Shocking yes. At least at first. But they're cute. And it's, I don't...something hopeful, for the future."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"I s'pose, when you look at it that way. Don't know who I'd have kids with, though."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You've got plenty of time to figure that out. I'm not ready to be an aunt yet," Isabel told him. "But I will spoil any kid of yours rotten. I promise that."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

Michael chuckled.

"Well, hey, you can afford it better than I can."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That'll change. You'll turn eighteen. You can build a future for yourself."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"And pay for college how?" he asked casually. "A high school diploma only goes so far."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There's scholarships. There's aid. There's community college," Isabel said firmly. "There's no law that says you have to do it in four years. Yeah, it'll take you longer and it'll be hard. But if anyone can do it, you can."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"We'll see."

He'd got so used to the idea it wasn't happening.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm going to nag you," she promised.

Because that was something she had some control over. Not stasis chambers, not creepy statues, not unknown futures.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

That got laughter.

"Wouldn't expect anything less."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Everybody's got their job to do," Isabel shrugged sheepishly.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"And you're good at yours."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's a natural talent. Someone has to keep you guys in line."