#scoutxthomas

It was a complicated day for Valerie. She wanted to celebrate Thomas big and loud for his first official biological kids having Father’s Day. She knew it was bigger than that though. Scout and the boys were plotting which touched her heart. Chip was having his own big day and meanwhile honoring the Jet’s memory with Dale. That was something the twins had in their hearts. The non-traditional family had a web of love they had strings still tied to. Even in death some even had access to. To say the family was delicate but strong was one Hell of a conundrum but oh so true. 

Not only that, but she’d been preparing for feelings of Flotsam as Father’s Day approached. She didn’t want to step on Thomas’s day and yet everything in her, Flotsam was clawing at her insides to get out for this. 

She herself always took a moment out by her altar for Dr. Facilier, the shadow man of a father Flotsam grew up with. Valerie would even take a moment to flip through pictures of Zeke and put some bacon and bourbon out like a small tribute. She felt the need to wear her top hat and carry around her cards in her velvet bag for much of the day just to feel close to her Dr. F. She stuck a card in the band instead of a feather like her daddy sometimes did too. She chose the strength card. It would sit there with a big drawing a lion on the side of her head all day. She’d explain it would always fascinate her to stare at whatever card her dad had on the side of his head for however long he wore it that way. Valerie felt like she needed some strength today. It was a good card. 

It seemed she needed it more than ever when Maddy’s gifts arrived. It jarred her emotions even more unexpectedly. After her heart attack and everything else, it was just a lot. She needed calm on such an emotional day for all she held inside her about this day. She needed Thomas’s support on this all while she was trying to make it Thomas’s day. She’d only take her top hat with her strength card off for Thomas’s special performance. 

Thomas did not get any traditional breakfast in bed or greatest dad tee shirts or mugs this year. He didn’t get any power tools. But that man best bet his family had something in store for him. Maybe it was a lucky thing Scout had a month more with no sight because she and Chip and Dale were able to plan for this day without him seeing it coming. He’d only be able to see them setting up the living room come Father’s Day morning, but they had it all planned. 

Valerie would get herself all dolled up in most “Valerie” fashion, very Amy Winehouse hair, the big poof, wings on her eyes, fuck me pumps and all. She threw on her dress she wore on their first date and oh boy did fit so much nicer with a real body. She hadn’t worn it since. 

All the dogs, Dug, Willy, Wanker, the whole sled team were in the living room which was difficult. Willy, Wanker, and Dug were trained. The sled team were more their “outside dogs” that were allowed in whenever they wanted and were still in training. Still Scout managed to get them all in there and behaving for this image. Rephrase. Dug was able to snarl them into submission until they behaved nicely and settled down.  

It was set up for band practice they way they used to do it before everyone moved back away only holy smokes Chip and Dale were up at the mics too, not Valerie. Valerie and Scout were set to play the music with guitars strapped on. The triplets were in bouncers in front of the older kids. The lines of dogs were on the left. Valerie looked like a doowop girl. Thomas must have known he was in for a show when he was told he could come in. They were ready. River appeared on the drums in the background when the music started transparent, but he held those sticks and tap-tap-tap when that old school music that fit Valerie’s aesthetic started up his Father’s Day.

 Scout stood up and sang the first phrase with a twinkle in her eyes, eyes that could see right back through his own: 

 There's a man at my house, he's so big and strong He goes to work each day, and he stays all day long He comes home each night looking tired and beat He sits down at the dinner table and has a bite to eat Never a frown always a smile When he says to me how's my child I said that I've been studying hard all day in school Tryin' very hard to understand the golden rule I think I'll color this man father I think I'll color him love Said I'm gonna color him father I think I'll color the man love, yes I will

Then Dale steps up and says the next lyrics: 

He says education is the thing if you want to compete Because without it son, life ain't very sweet I love this man and I don't know why Except I'll need his strength until the day that I die My mother loves him and I can tell By the way she looks at him when he holds my little sister Nell I heard her say just the other day That if it hadn't of been for him she couldn't have found her way I think I'll color him father I'm gonna color him love I've got to color him father I think I'll color this man love

Then oh yes Chip stepped up and sang these lyrics: 

Our real old man he got killed in the war And she knows she and seven kids couldn't of gotten very far She said she thought that she could never love again And then there he stood with that big wide grin He married my mother and he took us in And now we belong to the man with that big wide grin I've got to color this man father I'm gonna color him love I've got to color him father I believe I'll color this man love He's just been so good to me I know I've got to color him love I'm gonna color him father I've got to color this man love He's just been so kind I think I'll color him love I'm gonna color him father

Valerie would be there doowopping little background oh’s and ah’s and swaying her hips as her kids did this all the way till the end when she pointed at the dogs and got them all howling for a final extra round of singing the chorus all silly and fun. River would disappear the moment the music stopped however, but he’d have his moments. He’d look Thomas right in the eyes smiling as he tapped away. 

Valerie was so happy by the end she managed to get through it without crying. It was such happy dappy doop-doop-dee-doo sounding song, but with all their history she knew it was emotional strings they were strumming. 

The night before Christmas Valerie had gone to bed in some new red velvet very similar to her original green ones that got ruined on their honey moon. She’d get up after a lovely evening with her husband and slip on her usual green robe, the one she wears daily on the regular. But, with red underneath she felt very Christmasy. But, she’d also slipped it on on purpose to give the illusion of a regular ordinary morning, Christmas, but still routine as she went out to the kitchen to put on everyone’s favorite drinks, coffees, teas, waking up the house. She’d feed the dogs, all the usual morning things until Scout would get up. 

Scout would be wearing a onesie as usual. Today of course she’d be wearing a Christmas themed one as a reindeer. But, those girls had a plan. It wasn’t just another Christmas morning. 

Oh, the usual things were done. Valerie got up in the middle of the night to set up all her gifts while Scout was sleeping and filled the stocking. Playing Santa was always a challenge for the Laveaus and their magic sight. Still, it was something that carried on well after the age of knowing who Santa really was. The routine of it was fun. So, that was something Thomas would have gotten to engage in despite their daughter’s age. It was part of why parents were so sleepy on Christmas mornings. They stayed up so late waiting to be able to do the whole routine when they were sure they wouldn’t get caught.

Scout would know it was her parents, but that was part of the magic of Christmas morning. The whole living room would be filled up new with shiny packages and candy. That transformation and seeing the surprise of the difference was always Flotsam’s favorite part, seeing the kids eyes light up when they saw it. It was better than any magic Flo ever learned through voodoo. Flo would do that forever no matter how old the kids got, even if they lived at home forever, and never moved out. Flo would be setting up Christmas in the middle of the night while their 30 year old children slept. They were sure of it.

Thomas already had the tree loaded so when Valerie added that much more the place looked like something from a Hallmark movie or the perfect Christmas card. The dogs were wearing their holiday sweaters too, even Dug and that was a challenge Valerie had to design herself for the beast of a canine’s proportions.

All that said while the water was heating Valerie was cooking up a real good Christmas morning breakfast with Pecan Pie French Toast, Maple bacon scones, and cranberry-orange scones with a nutmeg glaze.  She’d have a Roasted Ham & Shredded Brussels Sprout Hash. She had gingerbread muffins and eggnog coffee cake. The whole counter would be full of a holiday morning buffet. She’d throw all that together with a few standards like sausages and bacon. She’d have baked a lot the day before for lunch and dinner too. Christmas was all on board.

All they need was for Thomas to wake up too. Scout was already sitting cross legged on top of the kitchen table with her stocking in her lap and sucking on a flavored candy cane when she’d see him and her face would light up. “DAD! Dad did you see? There’s so much more under the tree now. I didn’t think it’d be so much with just me. But, it’s even more loaded now.”

Flotsam hadn’t shown face. Sure, it was his face, sort of, but Valerie was really taking hold enjoying the breeze on her skin again, Thomas’s touch, and the lay of their new land. Day or night, she was a girl in the bush, the mountains of New Zealand, her own piece of Lothlorien, the geothermal hikes, blading around a pit by her family, and view that dreams were made of.

She was even having fun in town. She was going to watch Scout’s soccer/football practices. She was meeting some other parents, teachers, coaches. She was becoming more involved than she first saw herself being. But, she’d always been involved in her kids. She was her kids. She did everything for her kids before. Not doing it became a chord unable to be cut like when they first went to the Magisterium. Flotsam had gone into a deep depression back then because he refused to set foot in the place. But, Valerie was involved in anything she was allowed to be here.

Then the drama started. Her phone was blowing up. She saw so much through her eyes she almost didn’t need to answer to know. She still didn’t know what camp was doing with River, but she kept seeing Summer’s face look dramatic and intense when speaking to Zeke, then River, Brigitte, then Chip, Ellie, Babyface. She could see what was happening with Dale. Yes, she was scared for Dale’s safety and there was a parental pull inside that was dying to help and was killing her not to answer. But, she was confused. Because it had to do with Ellie and had to do with outsiders in general, she just didn’t want to weigh in anymore. It was their world now. She left it them damn it. Fuck. Can’t they just leave her the fuck alone and do it? They want to live it their way, well welcome to it. Deal with it. Figure it out.

But, not answering hurt as much as being involved and the free feeling started to wear off. River blowing up her phone was really getting to her. That free way she looked would start to get stiff. Her body language would even appear tight at home. Chip kept signing for her to relax. Everything was fine. He had it covered like he could sense it and tried to get River to chill. Even from countries away Chip was trying to take care of his daddy that he knew just wasn’t always all right in the head.

That’s when the drinking would start and not in her usual fun way, but in a trying to numb out, tune out way. All her signs were there, all her red flags, all her triggers. If she’d been in Laveau House she’d already been in the tin and off the wagon. Sadly, if there was ever a moment when Val’s image shadowed the late great singer Flo reflected the name from, it was probably now. But, it wasn’t her talent this time. It wasn’t any aspect of her fashion sense, but some of her same personal challenges.

She was in a haze, numb lips, face too as she leaned her head against the rope to a swing she’d grown a liking to outside. It was a bad day. She was dealing with watching River and Summer go to camp finally. Happy, happy. Everyone was so happy. There they were at Chip’s house. It just put their special dads’ loft bedroom in her mind. She hadn’t meant to snap at Scout, but her tone came out pointed, “No, I don’t need anything. I’m fine out here.” Seeing her back there was harder than she thought it would feel even though Flo was the one that vouched for her to let her back in months ago.

What happened next was confusing. They went to the elders. She couldn’t hear them talking and frankly she was too drunk to try and didn’t want to. She was trying to tune it all out anyway. But, she saw the blade. The approach was a blur and then black. The window closed.

She’d bumble to the bed and and finally pass out mumbling the way she used to when she’d talk to Savvy until she snoozed all the way out into silent sleep.

Scout would pick up the dropped bottle and glass in the hall along her path and look into parents’ room at Valerie passed out in the bed.

Scout would tell Thomas, “The elders took River’s sight. They cut it right out. I guess that’s why he was blowing up her phone. He never even texted me once. Wish I’d have known that was coming. Aw well. At least I wasn’t in the middle of class or some place full of people when it happened.” Scout looked hurt by that. She had ‘strong face’ on over that. “Well, I guess that’s that.” Scout was a rather candid blunt gal same as most those Laveaus. “That’s as done as it can get now without actually killing your other daughter.”

Thomas could keep his flashbacks a secret, but Flotsam’s weren’t a secret. Thomas knew Flotsam had this problem. Thomas had to have known that a show as big as that hug would test Flo’s stability and they risked it anyway. He just had to by now. What a send off. It didn’t exactly set the new life off on the fun farewell she was hoping for. It felt passive aggressive, like a fuck you, Flo on the way out the door. No, correction, it felt like a fuck you, Valerie. She was shaking inside. She just needed some quick hugs and out the door. Was that really too much to ask for? She couldn’t quite shake it now. But, oh god she was trying. She felt nauseous the whole flight. This was meant to be fun. This was meant to be her fun and final escape away from that girl. Thomas kept thinking it was their dream and their never ending honeymoon that would have happened regardless, but he had to have known that part of that dream was the escape from that girl. 

Anything of Punz’s was garbage to Flo and always would be. The least Thomas could do is get on board if he wanted to claim all he wanted was for her to not be dead which at one point he did. Valerie lived and breathed that Thomas. That Thomas was Valerie’s very air. That hug read way more than just ‘glad you’re not dead’ to them. She needed the ‘all Thomas needs is for Summer to not be dead Thomas’ back like now, because Valerie was breaking fast for as strong as she was holding on. She needed the Thomas back that hated himself for ever choosing that girl over Flotsam again not the “can’t make everybody happy so fuck it” guy. No. Fuck that. That was not the Thomas she loved. That was not the Thomas that loved her. She was freaking out in her head behind her glasses. Staying in Nola was a mistake. They never should have went back. She was seeing that very clearly now. At least, she thought she was. 

Val needed the ‘let’s try not to kill her, but I will if you want me to guy’, like NEEDED him to function. That’s how she walked happy around Summer and could be all yay happy day in general because that lived in the back of Val’s head. So, everything was peachy. Like fuck with me and I will take you out and your father won’t even give a shit because they have me, that’s the power Val needed to hold in her hand to exist. If that gets taken away, if that bubble bursts, Valerie was going to shrink until she disappeared into nothing. That promise was like her life line and the Fate’s held her string by that vow. 

She shook it off as she went and saw everything again, breathing the different air, seeing the different trees, the different streets, signs, all of it, it helped. That little nagging voice in the back of her head kept saying we didn’t go home for you to rebuild the bond bigger you claimed to have let go of before. It made it feel like everything they’d already gone through over it all feel so meaningless. It made the very things she was looking forward to seeing when she got here feel like she was just looking through some screen of the past, and it wasn’t actually real anymore, like she was walking through a memory. They were good memories though so that kept the smile on her face. 

Scout being here made it harder. She watched them both seem happy to be here while she felt so distant and disconnected again. God, she hated when she couldn’t find herself, much less feel the things around her. Maybe that was part of having a split and spliced up soul that she didn’t even know she had. This disassociation Flotsam gets inside where they feel connected to nothing much less themselves is one of the worst feelings they could never describe. They wanted to grab Thomas’s finger and give the sign. Everything was wrong. They were wrong. This was wrong. They were breaking. They couldn’t even do it. But, that’s what they tried to explain when they tried to describe it to Thomas. They don’t understand what this is. They can barely control themselves much less give proper thought, proper voice, proper action to handle it while in the middle of feeling so lost. 

They had a talk. They could wear masks around the kids, but not each other. Right? Well, Scout was here. At least they had that out? She felt like Thomas was just going to be angry anyway. It’s why they don’t talk about their problems to begin with. Nobody ever gets it. 

She’d smile along as Thomas rented a car. She’d smile along as they took a short tour around the city so Scout could at least get a first glance of the world she’d just come to and heard so much about. Valerie would point out the sky jump and a few different places they’d eaten. Even her voice would feel muffled to her like it was on another channel or trying to hear a tv from another room. But, she just kept talking like everything was fine. Bruno had his head hanging out the window, cheeks flapping in the wind, having the time of his life. 

Going to the bush where their new home was was another long drive. It didn’t bother them considering they were used to living in the swamps. The concept was easily transferable. But, after their flight the plan was to spend one night in the hotel to rest, go to the grocery to stock up, and drive up, and go home together for the big happily ever after the next day. They’d be nice and rested. They’d be all excited to get going and could walk the place again together. This time it wouldn’t have a stranger’s things in it. It’d be waiting for the three of them to start anew and carve out a new world for themselves however they wanted.

 This was the first moment Val was very glad they weren’t going straight home. There was a part of her that didn’t think she could handle the suspense before. But, now she was very thankful. She needed a moment before going to that house. She needed to realign. She didn’t want that house tainted, not one night tainted. It would ruin everything. God, she needed some Thomas magic like she never needed it before because she absolutely couldn’t work it herself right now. She was trying behind those glasses. Oh, god she was trying. 

They got Scout all settled in to her own room with Bruno for the night. Dug would appear in her room after they got her snacks and filled her ice bucket. She would be just fine for the night and certainly not lonely. 

Then Valerie would go in their room, their same old room of course. It was another memory. Instead of settling in and getting more comfortable Val repainted her face and got herself re-tidy. She freshened up. She got in a black nightie and tried to get comfy, but she would still look done up instead of settled in. She wasn’t ready to take off the face and bare all, but Val had to be whole now, right? It was so confusing. They could have sworn they had a handle on this stuff before. 

She could hear the cartoon Hobbit song in her head. Everything that happened in this room started to hit her at once. The movies, the new foods with room service, the pamphlets, getting ready for the Shire, the workshop, the hikes, the fancy places, the walking through the city, noticing barefoot people in the grocery stores, secret handies under tables, only to come right back here for the full shebang, the long talks, hours they could talk and laugh here. 

It wasn’t like Nola with all the voodoo, camp, covens, and wars. No, this place was real magic. This place was the absence of all that, River and Summer included. The absence of them, not just Summer, but both of them, Cinderella’s first and most precious child. Summer, a little too much like Punz. River, a little too much like Gem. Punz and Cinderella were a little too much the same to differentiate anymore. They were one and the same name, same face, same dingy decisions, and personality traits Flotsam couldn’t stand being in the same room of anymore with anyone in the world if they showed even a trace of it. Punz and Cinderella and what they left behind were a little too much for Flotsam to bear anymore. Sure, the other kids were hers, but they didn’t act like her or look like her. They didn’t have her powers. Even Chip who had the closest akin to her power set had a completely different variation to what Cinderella could do. It didn’t really feel the same at all. 

They weren’t really Flotsam’s kids anyway. They were Jet’s. At least that’s a distinction Flo always felt even though he raised them. But, they felt it even more so now. Of course they had no idea Jet was technically part of him and therefore maybe it could be considered his own kids too somehow? But, no really. There was a part of Flo that was letting River go. Either way, no matter how much equality was preached, the distinction was always there. 

They brought the one kid they fathered with them, still just young enough to need them, the only electric kid like them left. Maybe if they separated Scout from the others they could get this one right? Just one kid, a few years with Valerie and Thomas and maybe it would feel like she was raised right or feel like theirs since Thomas had no room for baby talk though Flotsam had wanted it at one point. It almost pissed them off like he didn’t want to because of Summer, one more thing she ruined for them. 

Chip listened. Chip was good, but now Flo didn’t want the life they preached for. That wasn’t Chip’s fault. So Chip would always get flying colors from Flotsam for how he turned out, being their hero, taking out Jet, taking care of Savvy for them, doing what it took to even allow them this life with Thomas, handling Agnes like a man when it hurt like a bitch, doing what was called of him, no matter what. Chip was the man. 

Dale was close, but no cigar. They saw his soft spot for Ellie and knew Dale was a goner. At least Elsa seemed loyal. She was still another blonde that screwed up his life. But, she seemed to actually get it and cared she affected. That had to count for something though Flo never expected her world to infiltrate his once she got here. Dale got a pass either way since he chose a life path with the Trouillefous. There was still hope for him yet. River wasn’t even close anymore. Scout still had hope. That’s how Flo saw their children.  

She sat on the end of the bed. She held her own two fingers linked together since she wasn’t in a well enough state of mind to be able to reach out. Though it was covered between her knees in the soft fall of her nightie material all clutched together. 

Boy, did she need her Thomas to show up and work some of his Thomas magic now, the Thomas she knew, the Thomas she bonded and connected and made promises with in this very room because something bent. Something. She was trying to straighten it up herself and let it go. She wasn’t able to alone in her own head. Her own head was a place of self hatred. Val’s head was a little space right in the middle of Flo’s. How could she ever work this out on her own? She felt in a bubble like she shouldn’t touch anything in this room. She might taint it. She left it so perfect. Maybe it was just a fairytale in her head and she was lying to herself, but she needed her fairytale back. She didn’t know how to ask for it when she was sitting right in the middle of it and yet felt so far away. 

The little pendant was still around her neck. She hadn’t taken it off or more like she hadn’t asked to have it taken off. She didn’t want to let it go, not even for bed. But, she barely felt like she had the right to sit on the end of it. 

Then just for fun and since Scout thought she was probably going to have to leave her Mustang GT behind in the good ol’ US of A. She thought this was a good time to give her the ol’ beaut one last spin with her new favorite daddy. Show it off. So, she blasted some Doors, Road House Blues, Rolling Stones, shit like that and took Thomas the long way to the station. 

Thomas and Scout had started the tradition of going out just them, a little them time, before the hustle and bustle of babies and whatnot. Thomas said they’d keep it up even after, but as much as Scout wanted to believe that she knew babies were a lot and she might have to be a little lenient on that one. She was more than okay if that promise got bent a bit. It would be for the best reasons and she knew Thomas would try his best too. She was ready to enjoy the now before all the crazy started. At least that’s how her siblings described it. She was the baby, so she caught the tail end of it. It never felt like craziness to her. But, as the youngest, she got the usual babied title, spoiled to the maxus as Flotsam tried to hold on to the last. She not only got everyone’s hand me downs, she got showered with all the new stuff. She was showered in everything. 

Scout sighed as she pulled away from the book shelf when Thomas came in. 

“Trying to find something to read? Putting a book back?” 

She shook her head. Maybe it was all partly true. 

“Snooping?” 

She blew out making her lips vibrate. 

Koda would look over her shoulder and see Thomas over there and give him a little nod, but would refuse to let go till Scout did. Valerie backed up and let that happen. 

They all saw what Koda, Chip, and Elsa did, at least as much as Chip saw with his own eyes. Koda knew by the way Scout wouldn’t let go that coming right now was the right thing to do.