Jean and Scott wait for Jean's sister

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

Jean was pacing. Really, there was no other word for it. She was walking back and forth at the bottom of the stairs to the porch, occasionally stopping to peer down the drive and bite at her lip. "It's completely absurd of me to be this nervous, isn't it?" she asked Scott on something like her twelfth trip. "I mean, Charles called them, so it's not going to be the shock it was here, and, and they're family. It's Sarah, for God's sake." Of course, she didn't stop pacing while she said it, so there was a general lack of conviction to her words.

Scott, sitting on the stairs, just smiled. "They've had time to process," he said, quietly but firmly. "This is just Sarah coming to see how you are. You're right, you shouldn't be this nervous."

Jean took a deep, shaky breath. "Thank you," she said, and stopped moving about. "Er, which probably means the pacing is over the top." She tried to lean against the railing next to him, but within seconds she was off again, trying to get a better view down the driveway. "I wonder how the twins are?" she mused, almost going up on tiptoe to see farther, although it was clear there was no car yet. "And mom and dad. Maybe I should have called? Or written, or something? But this would be so much harder that way, don't you think? I mean, in person is just better."

"Jean?" He waited until she looked at him, then patted the stairs beside him. "Come sit down. Seriously. Or I may have to sit on you, and that would just be embarassing for both of us."

"All right," she said, settling down, "but I take no blame for any and all fidgeting which may or may not occur." And indeed, between the leg crossing, the arm folding, the shifting for a better view and the brushing her hair out of the way, fidgeting was most decidedly happening. "I'm hopeless, aren't I?" she asked idly after a bit.

Scott shook his head. "You're seeing your sister," he said, "for the first time in two years. Two years that Sarah's spent thinking that you were dead. If you were perfectly blase about it, then I'd be worried." He hesitated, then very tentatively put an arm around her shoulder, giving her a half-hug. "It's going to be all right, you know."

Jean leaned into his embrace, managing to sit still while his arm was around her. "Intellectually, yes, I know. I'm just... anticipating and worrying. Particularly about the twins. I must have missed so much of their lives..."

"She'll be here before you know it. I predict that the initial awkwardness will last all of five seconds before she throws herself at you, probably with a shriek." Scott smiled a bit wistfully. "I didn't really... keep in contact with your family like I should have, Jean. Sarah and I talked a few times, but..." He shrugged somewhat awkwardly.

Jean nodded. "I understand. It couldn't have been easy for any of you. And really, I don't think there are 'should have's in a situation like this."

Scott put it out of his mind and smiled down at her, more steadily. "Five seconds," he said very firmly. "And if I'm off by more than a few seconds, I'll... take you down to Harry's tonight and let you beat me at pool?"

"You're on. And if you're right the first round is on me." Jean grinned at him, but just then the sound of a car coming down the lane reached them and she was off the stairs in a shot, peering up the drive. "Oh..."

"Deep breath," Scott advised, getting up as well. He hoped that he was right. He really did, for Jean's sake.

In the car, Sarah was at least as nervous as her sister and, had anyone been riding with her, the white nuckle-grip she had on the steering wheel would have given it away. She slowed as she caught sight of the two figures in front of the house and the familiar bright red hair had all of her attention. The car was hardly even turned off before she was launching herself out of it at her sister. "Jean!"

Jean caught her, barely managing to keep from tumbling over, and burried her head in Sarah's shoulder, crying.

"You're alive! You're really alive," Sarah repeated, hugging her tightly.

Five seconds had been overly generous, apparently. Scott watched them, smiling, but feeling a little like an intruder, too. He glanced back over his shoulder at the front door, wondering if he should take the opportunity and slip away, here.

Jean sniffed slightly, looking up into her sister's beaming face, almost overwhelmed by the joy in Sarah's thoughts. "Yes, I really am."

Sarah pulled back, holding Jean at arms length so she could get a good look at her. "You look... well. You look well. I want to hear everything, and I have so much news. Can we go ta..." It finally dawned on her that there was someone else standing there and she glanced over at her almost-brother-in-law, bestowing her 'all is wonderful in the world' beam on him as well. "Hi, Scott."

"Hi, Sarah," Scott said, smiling back, then looked at Jean. "I'll let you two talk?" he asked, although it wasn't quite a question.

"I'd appreciate it," Sarah said. "Although I'll come find you later. The twins sent drawings and little eight-year-old style presents for their 'Unca Scott', and my mother wants me to grill you about why you didn't come to Thanksgiving these last two years, but I'll skip that."

Scott gave a slightly nervous laugh, then glanced at Jean. Yell if you need me, he sent silently, then waved at them both and turned, heading up the stairs and back inside.

Sarah gave Jean a curious look. "Are you two...?"

"It's complicated," Jean told her. "It's all very complicated." She brushed a few tears off her cheeks then said, "Come inside. Want some coffee?"