Stand By Me (Genevieve)

[Tristian]

It had been too long since the two of them had done this. Tristian really did love all of his siblings, he might not always show it but he did, and he always had a soft spot for Genevieve. Jenny was great for her fashion advice, Meredith for the banter and sword practice and Lorelei for well, she certainly made him laugh sometimes. However there were very few things he enjoyed more than sitting down to a nice cup of tea and a gossip with Genevieve, and today he really needed it.

She was the sibling that seemed to know him best, and he often wondered how much she knew about the things that he kept hidden, more than she let on most likely. However things were getting harder to keep hidden, Mordred knew and rather than that being a good thing, he felt like he was more sacred than ever. Now that he knew that secret what else was going to find out? He needed someone to speak to, someone to confide too and with his mother back in Camelot now…it was Genevieve that he had thought of first.

Something else had prompted him to invite her to tea, not just his own concerns but the things that mother had said to her the last time they all went for tea. He agreed, Genevieve did deserve her own spotlight, and he wanted to help her with that, he wanted her to know that he was there for her, that she could confide in him.

He sat at a table in the corner, the tea already ordered and brewing, reading ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for the sixteenth time. He never got enough of it.

The bell at the door ‘dinged’ and he looked up and smiled.

[Genevieve]

Genevieve missed her big brother. Since arriving in Tintagel so much had happened, so much drama, that she and Tristian hadn't found time to sit down and catch up in what felt like an age. Genevieve adored her eldest brother - he was the one to look up to, the protector and defender, and Genevieve had spent most of her childhood idolising him and following around the castles. She followed him around a little less now, but the idolatry had not faded.

She prided herself on being able to say she knew her brother better than most - she had always seen beyond a lot of what everyone else saw, and she certainly knew him better than he realised. Of course, she never pushed him, she never let on that she knew things he hadn't explicitly told her - it could never be said that Genevieve lacked tact. She was happy to sit back and wait until he was ready, at which point she would be there for him no matter what.

With all the drama of the last few weeks, drama she had mercifully managed to stay mostly on the edges of, she had wondered if Tristian might need someone to talk to, and she had been pleased to receive his invitation - apart from the opportunity to spend some quality time with her big brother, she had always embraced her role as the sibling the others went to for support and advice. She had noted the things their mother had said at the tea to each of them, and the comments about Tristian's mask had stuck with her. She too knew there was a mask that he wore, and she knew it must take a toll on him. If she could help him bear that burden, she felt she was fulfilling her role as a good sister.

And following her recent escapades with Cal, she thought she could do with talking to someone herself, and Tristian would have been her first choice (other than Jesse, but this just didn't feel like a Jesse conversation).

She stepped into the teashop and quickly scanned the room, her face breaking into a warm smile when she saw her brother. She flew over to him with a call of "Tristian!", giving him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, and smiled happily at him.

"Pride and Prejudice again?" She asked as she saw the book in his hand. "I could recommend something new that you don't already know word for word if you just asked." She teased with a twinkle in her eye, taking her coat off and sliding into the seat opposite him. She reached out and squeezed his hand over the table, her face serious as she took him in. "How are you?"

[Tristian]

He hugged her back tightly, he hadn’t realised until then how little he had seen of her since they arrived here. Laughing he held up his book and said, “I am of course open to your no doubt excellent suggestions, however nothing will ever tear me away from my Bennett’s.”

He almost said Mr Wickham but had caught himself just in time; telling the truth was going to be a lot harder if he kept doing that. He was determined to see it through, he had told Mordred, it really shouldn’t be this hard to tell his sister.

“I’m doing great,” he said automatically as he sat down, reaching forward to pour the tea.

He remembered the whole truth thing and then said, “Well...I’m ok. How are you?”

[Genevieve]

"I'm going to make you a list." She said with a grin. "Starting with bringing you a little closer to this century."

She raised an eyebrow at the automatic response, looking at him with kind, knowing eyes. She considered for a moment mentioning what their Mum had said about his mask, but Genevieve had never been pushy, and she wasn't going to start now. She had always found that people generally just needed to feel safe and loved to open up, and that's all she wanted her brother to feel.

"Tris?" She watched him carefully. "Are you sure you're ok? There's been a lot happening the last few weeks - you know you can talk to me." She smiled at him, leaning forward on the table. "Tell you what, we'll take it in turns. You go first." She smiled, thinking back to the question game she and Cal had played on their date, and thinking how clever it was in it's simplicity at getting someone to open up. "So, how are you really?"

[Tristian]

Tristian laughed, holding up his hands in surrender and said, “alright, alright, I’ll try something new. However in return after we have finished here you are going to let me take you shopping. I saw this great dress the other day that would look amazing on you.”

He poured some tea into her cup as she spoke. She really was very perceptive. He glanced up at her as he put the tea pot down on the table.

“I...have been better, I...told someone something recently but not...everything,” said Tristian, trying to find the right words, “how are you?”

Why was it this hard to drop the mask in front of her?

[Genevieve]

She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose slightly at the suggestion of shopping, but she conceded nonetheless. At least shopping with Tristian would be a thousand times better than shopping with Jenny - Tristian was much less likely to force her into dresses with skirts two inches long. "Alright, deal. But I will need chocolate cake to get through that." She smiled.

Adding milk and sugar to the cup, she stirred for a minute, watching Tristian carefully. "Well, that was cryptic." She teased, raising an eyebrow. "We're coming back to that."

Taking a sip of tea, she wondered what to tell him first. Food fights in the cafeteria? First kiss? First date? A date with a girl? She decided to start a the beginning, wondering if actually that would be the most shocking revelation after all. "I am... well, I've been stepping outside of my comfort zone." She lifted her cup and smiled mischievously at him. "I got into a food fight in the cafeteria." She took a sip of tea and grinned at him. "It was surprisingly fun, although I had to wash my hair three times to get all the food out."

"Your turn again - a little less cryptic this time perhaps?"

[Tristian]

He nodded and said, “Deal,” before turning around in his chair and calling our, “Todd, can we have two slices of chocolate cake please?”

“Right away your highness,” said Todd in his usual cheery manner.

Tristian couldn’t help but wince a little when she pointed out how cryptic he had been. It was difficult, after hiding everything for so long how was he just supposed to come out and say it? However he was determined to make the effort, he was determined to tell her.

He laughed as she told him about the food fight, “Well you should get involved in at least one food fight in your life, so I guess you check that one off the list. I’m glad you’re having fun little sister, and making new friends I imagine?”

Her pause before she said she was ‘well’ had not gone unnoticed, looking at her over his cup of tea he said, “stepping out of your comfort zone can be hard but, you’re a Summer, you can handle it. And if you can’t, well that’s what I’m here for, to help. So...what’s really on your mind?”

His turn. He put the tea down. “I told Mordred I’m gay,” he said quietly, “Well, he sort of figured it out but I confirmed it...and I suppose...I’m telling you that now. So...surprise?”

[Genevieve]

She couldn't help but grin as Tristian ordered them both some chocolate cake - she really loved chocolate. She threw Todd a happy smile as he called back to Tristian and began plating them up some cake, before turning her attention back to her brother.

She laughed at his response to her food fight revelation, raising an eyebrow at him. "And how many food fights have you gotten into, Prince Tristian?" She asked with a teasing look. "I have made a new friend," was that what she'd call Cal? "She started the food fight and put me in the line of fire, so I didn't really have much choice." She smiled. And then we kissed in the middle of the cafeteria...

She shook her head as he asked her what was on her mind, indicating it was his turn. They could get to her. She listened quietly as he spoke, her face calm and clear. At his 'surprise', she looked at him thoughtfully.

"Not really." She said with a small shrug. "I mean, it might be to other people, but I'm not surprised." She gave him an encouraging smile. "That must have been a big deal for you though. I'm proud of you, Tris." She contemplated her next question for a moment, before deciding to go ahead with it. Picking up her tea, she glanced at him before asking in a neutral tone, "And did you tell him you're in love with him?"

She took a deep breath, figuring it was now or never - solidarity between siblings. "That actually kind of brings me neatly to what is on my mind..." She said nervously, playing with the edge of her napkin. "I went on my first date."  Breath.  "It was with a girl." She glanced at Tristian, blushing slightly, nervously beginning to shred the paper napkin. "So... surprise?" She gave him a small smile.

[Tristian]

“I will have you know that I am capable of letting my hair down every now and then,” said Tristian in as haughty a manner as he could manage, but then smiled warmly and added, “however I believe the last time was when I was around 6 years old and I found myself in cooks kitchen…for some reason, ever since then I’ve never been allowed back in.”

He was a little concerned when this new ‘friend’ put her into the line of fire with the food fight. He was sure it was all in good fun; however he couldn’t help but be protective of his little sister. It was good for her to have fun but he would hate to think that anyone had been taking advantage of her sweet and accommodating nature.

He had been raising his cup of tea for another drink when she responded to his confession. Of course she knew, she was just like mum, just as perceptive, he should have known that she would see through the mask. He smiled a little when she said she was proud of him. Why hadn’t he done this sooner? Of course she would understand, of course she would see how hard this was for him. Already he was starting to feel better.

However her next question caught him completely off guard and he spluttered into his cup. His first instinct was to deny it completely, or change the subject or do whatever he could so that he did not need to confirm her suspicions. But they were being honest and she really could see behind the façade he put on. “Is…is it that obvious?” he said quietly, reaching for a napkin to wipe at his mouth, “and…no…I didn’t…and…I never will.”

When she came out with her own confession he could not claim the same as her, he was completely surprised.

“Surprise indeed,” he said, smiling a little before reaching out to take her hand in his giving it a gentle squeeze, “how did I miss that one?”

A girl, she had been on a date with a girl. Brotherly instincts were taking over, however he fought them down, at least for the moment, the Spanish inquisition could come later, right now she needed to know that he was there for her. “I’m glad you told me,” he said, “I guess you know I know that’s not easy…” then he echoed her words, “I’m proud of you.”

Enough holding back.

“So come on,” he said, going back into protective older brother mode, “tell me all about it, what’s her name, where is she from, where did she take you? What kind of prospects does she have? Was she a complete lady the whole night or do I have to go all big brother on her ass?”

[Genevieve]

She rolled her eyes at him, an indulgent smile on her face. “Right, so you’re about due for another one then I’d think?” She asked teasingly. “I’d suggest there’s no time like the present, but I think Mum would kill us when Todd told her.” She grinned at him.

She had to bite back a laugh as he spat out his tea, but she didn’t want to make this any more difficult for him that it already was. She shook her head, taking a sip herself. “No, it’s not obvious at all. But I know you, and I see things other people don’t.” She smiled. “It’s ok, your secret is safe. I understand why you don’t want to tell him.”

She had watched Tristian and Mordred’s friendship pretty much her whole life, and she knew how much Mordred meant to him, even with the fact that he was hopelessly in love with him aside. She couldn’t imagine how hard it was for him, and it made her sad to see him suffer. She wished she could help, but she knew it wasn’t her place to interfere here.

With a shy smile she squeezed his hand back, lowering her gaze to the table. “To be honest I missed that one until it smacked me in the face with a glob of mashed potato.” She laughed. “Besides, I don’t know if it’s just girls. I don’t know what it is right now.” A confused look crossed her face. “I just know I met a girl I really like. Beyond that...” she gave a small shrug.

She laughed as he turned on the protective big brother switch and fired a load of questions at her, taking another sip of tea before answering. “Don’t worry, she was a complete lady.” She gave him a shy, slightly embarrassed smile. “Flowers, and she serenaded me. Her name is Cal, she’s...” Genevieve smiled fondly. “She’s amazing.”

[Tristian]

Tristian nodded his head looking mock serious and said, “we could never disrespect the sacred tea temple of mother and Todd.”

Which was the perfect time for Todd to arrive with the chocolate cake and give them both a solemn look. He clasped his hands together after putting the chocolate cake down and said, “blessed be.” Before shuffling back towards the counter with a slight smile on his face.

Tristian leaned in towards Genevieve and said, “I’m also certain that Todd is mum’s spy, I think that’s how she always ends up knowing so much.”

He sighed a little with relief. “Thank you,” he said turning actually serious again, “I just think telling him won’t help, definitely not right now. He needs his friend right now, not to be weirded out by that fact that said friend is in love with him...and with the whole Meredith thing...it just...wouldn’t help anyone.”

He smiled fondly and said, “yeah, sometimes it just sneaks up on you, usually when you least expect it. Also, don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to that question right now, just girls or both, that comes with time. Even if you never find an answer then that’s ok too, as long as you are happy in yourself. And you should be, because any girl and or boy would be lucky to date someone like you.”

Cal? Why did that name ring a bell? Had he met a Cal recently? Had he heard of her? Well, in any case he had a name now, he could do a little more investigating later, make sure she was good enough.

“She does sound like quite the lady,” said Tristian with a smile, suspicions aside he was happy to see Genevieve looking so happy, “was she a good singer?”

[Genevieve]

Genevieve almost choked on the tea she had just sipped as Todd 'blessed' them, bringing her napkin up to her face quickly as she laughed, grinning at Todd as he walked away. She nodded agreement at Tristian, swallowing and coughing slightly. "Oh, definitely." She said in a low voice. "Maybe we should test it. Say something completely outrageous in front of Todd and see how long it takes to get a letter." She grinned conspiratorially at Tristian, her eyes shining.

She nodded a little sadly as Tristian mentioned the 'Meredith issue'. "You're probably right. I haven't seen him since the tea, but he didn't look good. Is he doing any better?" A part of her didn't want to ask, didn't want to show concern for the person who had hurt her brother, her sister, and her almost-sister, but she was Genevieve, and Genevieve cared about everyone. "The thing that worries me, Tris..." How to put this? She took a breath, studying the cake for a moment. "I just worry that you're hurting more by being his friend. I'm not saying you shouldn't be - you two have too much history and he adores you, no matter what he does or says, but with the way you feel... I just hate to see you hurting." She looking up at him, concern in her eyes. "You need to take care of yourself too."

She blushed and smiled at his words. "I don't know if anyone would be lucky to have me." She said with a shrug. "I'm actually quite dull." She smirked at him; she was finally beginning to believe that that wasn't entirely true, after all.

She flushed again at his question, her thoughts drifting back to her choice of song. "She's got an incredible voice." She said with a smile. "And she's so confident, and pretty and interesting," she could feel herself starting to gush a little, but she'd never had a girl (or boy) to gush about before, and she was excited. She had fallen hard for Cal. "She's like my complete opposite, but Tris, she's amazing." She smiled shyly at her brother. "I really like her, Tris."

[Tristian]

Tristian smiled with a slight mischievous glint in his eye, something that in recent years hadn’t made much of an appearance and loudly said, “why yes, dearest sister, I am in complete agreement, I imagine that you would look simply wonderful in a pair of neon pink legwarmers and orange lycra leggings. The perfect outfit for an evening dinner.”

He winked at her and whispered, “now all we have to do is wait for that letter…”

After taking another sip of his tea he said, “The truth is he’s…not great. I…I haven’t actually seen him looking worse and believe me; I have seen him in a lot of terrible states. However…I think he needed this, he needed to hit the bottom because now the only way is up. He’s off the drink, by force, Aiden and his friend Costin’s work I believe, which is good, I keep meaning to send them both a thank you for that, and I believe there’s a couple of us looking to get him on something of a fitness regime. Which should help with the withdrawal…he’s not great but…he’s on the mend.”

He was already shaking his head by the time she was finished speaking about his friendship with Mordred.

“I can’t, I just…cant,” he said quietly, “not right now in any case, he needs all the support he can get right now and I am more than happy to give him that. But it’s more than that…there’s never been a point in my life where he’s not been a part of it…I can’t imagine anything else and…yes…it hurts…but I’ve been dealing with that for a long time now…I’ll either learn to live with it or I’ll get over it.”

He hoped that it would be the latter, he doubted it would be.

However, what did make him happy was hearing his sister talk about this girl and he couldn’t help it, despite the more morose thoughts he was having he had to smile. He raised his teacup to her and said, “never think you are anything less than extraordinary Miss Genevieve Summer Legume, and if this girl is serenading you then she must think so too. So when do you plan on seeing her next? Or more importantly, when do I get to meet her?”

Cal…Cal…why was that name ringing a bell…and a singer too…

[Genevieve]

She laughed at him, shaking her head. "Oh please, even Todd wouldn't fall for that one." She teased, glancing over at Todd behind the counter. "Maybe if I was Rory, but you're going to have to come up with something much more convincing for Todd to pass the information back to Mum." She grinned at him.

Listening quietly as he talked about Mordred, her heart went out to her brother. She hated to see him like this, so intricately tangled with someone who caused him so much pain and heartache. But she understood - Tristian was loyal to a fault, she knew he would never abandon his friend in need. He was like her - she would be doing exactly the same thing in his position. "Well, if he's off the alcohol, if he stays off the alcohol, then that's huge. If he can do that then maybe things will start getting better all round." She gave Tristian a small smile. "Maybe you'll meet someone else that will make you forget all about Mordred."

She rolled her eyes, but with a pleased smile at Tristian's compliment, hiding her smile by taking a sip of tea. "Oh please." She said quietly, but couldn't really hide how pleased she was at his words. She didn't fully believe him, but it was nice to hear. She raised her eyebrows at his question though, shaking her head a little. "Not anytime soon, Tris. I know what you're like, I've seen you with Jenny's boyfriends. You'll go all big brother mode on her, you'll try and intimidate her so she's scared of you - which definitely will not work with Cal, by the way - and it will just be horribly embarrassing." She said, cutting off a piece of cake with her fork and eating it. "And besides, we've been on one date - I don't know much about how these things work but I'm pretty sure you don't bring someone you've dated once home to meet the family."

[Tristian]

She had a point, Todd did appear to be one smart cookie, he would be able to tell when he was being set up. He would have to think about this a little more and come up with the perfect bait for young Todd. He was certain he must work for Mum, it was little things he dropped into the conversation when the two of them were talking about the club, he seemed to know things about what was happening back in Camelot and the Summer Country before Tristian did. Yes, Todd had to be mum’s spy.

Picking up the cake fork he nodded and said, “He’s got a lot of people around him that want to help. He’ll be ok, and then…then maybe he and Meredith can work things out. I think she will be very good for him…keep him on the right path…”

He took a larger chunk of the cake than he intended too and stuffed it in his mouth as Genevieve spoke about him meeting someone else and moving on. He smiled a little sadly and after swallowing the cake said, “yeah…maybe.”

He doubted it though. He had gone this long with being in love with his best friend and despite the many people he had met during that time none of them had convinced him to change his mind on that. Then again, the kind of people he met didn’t tend to be the type to go in for the whole ‘love’ thing, what could he say, he had a ‘type’.

Taking another bite of cake he grinned as she explained all the reasons why he absolutely could not meet this Cal, “Well, actually back home in the Summer Country at least you wouldn’t even be able to start speaking to someone until mother had vetted them first and given them her approval.”

Thankfully their mother did allow them some agency with who they became romantically involved with. However whoever this Cal was she better be prepared for an inquisition unlike any other, and whatever she didn’t tell Gwen would no doubt be discovered anyway, and woe betide her if she found anything bad. If his siblings thought he was bad when it came to enquiring after his brother and sisters prospective courters, it was nothing compared to their mother.

He was about to take another bite of cake when he suddenly looked up at his sister, “Wait…you don’t mean…blondie? I mean, this Cal, you said she’s a singer right? Very forward…very…flirtatious? Is…is that who you mean?”