(no subject)

[palace-anna.livejournal.com]

Christian left his room in search of something to eat. The sun had just gone down and his stomach was rumbling now that his headache had eased somewhat. It'd be back, he knew, but for now, food and a chance to get out of his room was good. The hall lights were still to come on as he strolled down toward the lifts and when he spotted a familiar figure walking in front of him, he snuck up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her into the air, narrowly avoiding the expected counter move. "Gotcha!" he crowed into her ear.

'Christian!" Anna shrieked, trying to turn to look behind her. "That is no way to treat a Captain of Her Majesty's Personal Guard of Dnara and if you don't put me down now I'll tell Mother and Father." She was barely able to keep from giggling.

"Try it." he threatened, still holding her up. "Just try it and see what you get."

Anna put her arms back, trying to find that one spot on Christian where he was ticklish. "I thought the Rangers were supposed to make boys into men. What the hell happened with you?"

"I was already into men." He grinned, sliding sideways at the same time as he let go, avoiding the finger. "No supposition needed." Crossing to the other side of the hall, he leaned back against the wall but stayed ready to defend himself if she came at him again. "How are you, anyway?" he said.

Anna turned, than stared at her brother. "Better than you are from the looks of you. What wall slammed into you? You didn't run into..." She bit her lip than forced a smile. "So, where were you going? I was just remembering where everything is."

"I am in search of food." he pronounced. "Father's out tonight, so we're on our own. And no, it wasn't a wall, it was a fist." He gave his little sister a keen-eyed look. "An unrelated fist." he added.

"Oh, that's good. I mean, not the hit but..." She glanced away than looked back. "Can I walk with you? I know where the dining room and the pub are. We can catch up on things. And..." she tilts her head to the side. "you can tell me why you're in here instead of back home on Mother's council."

Okaaaay. One of those chats. Christian hid his sigh behind a smile and began to walk, Anna falling into step beside him. When they reached the lift he pressed the button and turned to her while they waited, saying, "I'm here because here is home. That's all there is to it." He shrugged and glanced toward the indicator lights. "Dnara's not for me, Anna, you know that." Then, more quietly. "And I wanted to work things out with Father. What about you? Why'd you come?"

"Because of Himself. I was going to visit in little over a week and called Orli to tell him. He told me the rumor about Himself so I came early." She stepped into the lift, keeping her eyes forward. "Did you? Work things out with Father?"

The doors closed behind them before Christian spoke again. "Tentatively." he said. "I mean, we're talking and it's all good but we haven't talked yet, not properly." Changing what was for him an uncomfortable subject; he reached out and pulled Anna closer, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "You're not to make yourself responsible for Jake, you hear me? We're all here, we'll all deal."

"Will we? You know how Father feels about Himself. And Craig." Anna leaned against him. "We've been 'dealing' with Himself all these years. It hasn't gotten any better, Christian. How long til we stop waiting? Who has to-" She pulled away as the doors opened and walked out.

Outside the lift, Christian took Anna by the arm and hustled her into a corner, away from passers by. "Listen to me." he said, holding her by the upper arms. "I don't think Father is as blind as . . . well, as blind as he wants us to think he is. But that's beside the point. The point is," and he leant in closer in order to make it "that we are all here this time. All aware and all ready. Okay? No more part-time big brother me, no more far away Orlando or even Craig. And there are . . . others who know. We will find a way."

"Why are we still looking for a way, Christian? Why can't we accept that Jake is gone? I loved him as much as any of you, but I can't anymore. Not after what my boys went thru. And Mother and Gwyn." Anna hugged Christian tight. "We were both taught what to do with an enemy. Himself is one now. Especially to you."

"To me?" Christian kissed the top of her head. "I think he's an equal opportunity problem there, muffin." He pulled back just a little and looked down into her solemn face. "What we're looking for now, is a way to stop him. To have him somewhere he can either get the help he needs or at least can't hurt anyone else. We're the one's looking for opportunity now."

"And if we can't? What then?" She closes her eyes. "Can we go to the pub, need something to drink. And you know you're wrong about not being at the top of Him self’s list. We've all known the top three names on that list for years now."

"Okay, pub." Christian tucked her under his arm and started walking again. "And let's not be defeatist without even a drink under our belts as an excuse." He looked sideways and down and gave her a smile. "So, who's the top three?"

"You, Craig and Orli. Always has been, always will be. I'll just be the last bit of the celebration." Anna's quiet til they get to the pub and sit down. Ordering a beer, she reaches across the table for Christian's hand. "Harry said that too. That I couldn't carry it all on my shoulders. I had to share. Still trying to figure out how and who with. I want Craig to be thinking about the wedding, not Himself. And Harry's only in it cause of Orli. And I want my boys as much away from it as possible. And I don't know what you're doing anymore. God, seems like all I do is have to deal with Himself. Even if I don't really I end up doing it."

Christian squeezed her fingers, feeling the slight tremble. "I'm here. Right here. I'll watch out for Orlando and for Craig especially. Jake has it in for him, always has done for some reason. I'd put Craig at number one on my list and Orlando and you next. He's gonna know you're here sweetheart," he told her "and he's going to know why. Me," he shrugged "he can't get to, not really. And that's enough to divert him, I think. He's got no other reason to come after me. Harry's with Orlando and a good man" he went on, resolutely ignoring the pain in his cheek. "And he can keep Jake out, too."

"I might have put Craig at the top, but he wants his crown. That moves you back up to number one and makes me last since I won't help with that. Yeah, Harry is a good man. He's so in love with Orli. He calls me Firecracker, cause I kinda threatened him that he better treat Orli good, so he knows about what I can do." She sighs. "Himself's making us wait and I hate that. I just wish it was over with." Anna shakes her head. "Okay, I can't talk about Himself anymore today. Anything else would be alright." She smiles. "So, are you my only brother not having fun at Palace?"

"I get my licks in." he grinned. "But nothing I'd tell you about." The waiter's approach momentarily killed the conversation as they ordered food and then Christian turned back to Anna, glad to leave the subject of Jake behind for a while. "Let's talk sisters instead." he said. "Update me on my supercilious twin. How's Gwyn enjoying matrimony . . . ."