Perfect School

Michael:

I sighed and walked over to sit down beside her. "Come here." Gathering her into my lap I held her against me. "Krissy..." I began in a soft tone. "Even I thought you hated her the first time you met her. But it's because I know you that I figured it out not long after. Kira doesn't know you yet, and this whole time you've been as timid as a lost little lamb." Gently rubbing her back I shook my head, "That's not the woman I know. The woman I know, knows how to be fierce and is full of pride in herself. If you want things to be different then you have to do more than just tell her. You need to show her. Things are going to be awkward, they will be hard. But I have faith in you Krissy."

Krissy:

I pressed my face into his shoulder. I couldn’t hold back the tears that leaked onto his shirt. I held onto him tightly and he held me. This would have been impossible if I didn’t have his support.

That evening Michael started the fireplace and I made hot coco. Throughout the day I had tried my hardest to relax around Kira, but she was so quiet, it was hard not to try to over compensate, or to become quiet myself.

I handed her a mug of hot chocolate. “Do you want to sit on the porch with me?” I asked her. “It’s a clear night and the stars are beautiful.” Apart from when Jonah had left the three of us alone at lunch, Jonah was always at her side. My heart beat was quickening at the thought of being alone with her, without Michael, but it needed to happen.

Kira:

I looked at the hot chocolate then up at Krissy. "Alright." Standing I held the almost scalding mug between my fingers. We went out onto the porch, sitting on the steps. Angel joined us, settling behind us. I had my focus on the pooch first before I finally looked up at the night sky. MY breath was sucked out of my chest at the sight above me. I spent a lot of time near the city, or near facilities that had huge light towers.

I had always enjoyed looking up at the stars when I'd been sent out into the field. Places in the middle of nowhere. I could stay up for a few extra hours even when I shouldn't just to look up at the night sky. I almost forgot about her presence beside me right up until I murmured softly, "It's beautiful."

Krissy:

“Yes, it is. It’s one of the things I love most about living here. The sky is different from the states.” I had a thick blanket draped over my arm. It was cold out. I offered her half, then draped it over her shoulders and over mine. It was big enough that we didn’t have to snuggle underneath it.

“Do you remember when I came to see you in the hospital?” I asked after a long moment of looking up at the stars. I glanced down at her young face. She looked so much like Michael. I wanted to hold her, but I knew she would never be comfortable with that.

"Is it? It looks the same but I'll take your word for it. Do you know any constellations? I only learned enough to navigate at night if I really needed too." I adjusted the blanket around my shoulders, tugging it closer to my neck. My eyes left the stars above only when she asked about the hospital.

Bits and pieces returned to me as I searched her face. "Pieces. I remember you were there for a while. I think I remember you holding my hand." I looked away and towards my mug. My focus was really however on my right hand, the one she'd held in the hospital room. "But I only remember the general feeling of what was said."

Krissy:

I looked up at the stars again, heart aching. She confirmed what I had suspected, that she didn’t remember much of the night. “I stayed with you through the whole night. It was the first time that I touched you…” I swallowed a small lump in my throat. “It was the first time I realized that I truly wanted you.”

I took a long drink of my hot chocolate before I looked up at the stars again. "I'm...I'm not good at touching. Not in the way most people want. When people hug me, or put an arm around me I feel trapped. When grabbed I feel threatened. Even casual touches like shaking hands is never something I enjoy." I swallowed and looked down at my drink again. Peeking at her from the corner of my eye I continued softly. "I don't remember minding at all that you'd held my hand int he hospital."

Krissy:

I let out a shaky breath. “Kira, I know you heard the things I said when I first found out about you. I’m never going to forgive myself for that. What I said was out of shock and confusion and anger.” My hands were fists in my lap. “But they aren’t true now. I’m so grateful that I get to meet my child. It seemed impossible that you were even alive, but I’m overjoyed that you are. That you’re here with us.” I continued looking at the stars while I spoke. My eyes stung but, by sheer will power, I kept the tears at bay.

“I hate that I never got to hold my baby. Or raise her with Michael. Or keep her safe from the world… But what matters now is that you’re here and that we have a chance to be a family. I just want you to know… I want you. I want my daughter, no matter who you are. I want you"

I didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to react. But for once around her, while I was fully myself at least, I didn't hold onto a mask of ice. My emotions rode on my face as my brows furrowed a bit and a look of sadness came to me. "I wish...I wish things had worked out differently." It was the only thing that made sense to say.

Words seemed so pointless now. What else could be said in this moment that wouldn't ruin it? I'm sure they existed but nothing came to my mind. Instead action came to mind, something simple, something that she and I had yet to really do. Shifting the mug to one hand I gazed at the other hand then over at Krissy. I had to drop my gaze but I made myself do the idea. I reached out for her hand, but found it closed into a fist. The first probing touch of my fingers was enough to surprise the woman beside me and her hand relaxed. IT gave me the opening I needed to slide my hand into hers and pull it between us. Still not another word escaped me as I turned my attention back up to the stars above. With my gaze skyward I gently squeezed, hoping to convey my belief in her words. I didn't think she hated me. I didn't think this was an act. I believed her that she wanted me. I believed she wanted me to be her daughter.

Krissy:

I squeezed her hand after a moment of surprise that she touched me. Her hand was small but warm from the coco mug. I closed my eyes and one tear squeezed loose. I was thankful for the darkness.

Jonah:

I watched Kira walk outside with her mother. Sipping my hot chocolate I looked over at Michael. "What made you decide on New Zealand?" I asked casually. Once the conversation was moving I could ask more personal questions.

I stayed like that for a few more minutes. After that I couldn't take it anymore and I pulled my hand from hers. I covered the move by standing up and dusting off my rear. "I'm going to go inside and get changed for bed."

Michael:

"It was safe. The laws of owning a fun here are very strict, the country is also controlling when it comes to letting people visit or move here. When you have been in the business as long as we had been you make enemies. And you have people wanting to make a name for themselves by targeting you." I stood with a grunt and went into the kitchen for a moment. When I returned I had a tray with long metal skewers with a bag of marshmallows and all the makings for s'mores. "It was a logical choice to disappear in a remote place like this."

Jonah:

I watched him move. “I imagine you’d have even more people after you when you’re titled best in the business,” I commented. I wondered how much of her skill Kira got from her genetics and how much was from training. Perhaps the reason Marie wanted her was not that she was her own blood, but because she was this man’s child.

Michael:

I set the tray down beside the fireplace, far enough away that the heat wouldn't make anything melt or burn. "Some called me the best but I didn't see it. I know plenty of people better than me. Someone better with explosives, knives, poisons. I know someone who could blend into a crowd and erase their entire presence. I can't do that. Even now." I turned my gaze up at him. "But something tells me, you are trying to walk the same path I once did."

Jonah:

“Not exactly,” I said. “But I do strive to be the best that I can.” I studied Michael and found that he was doing the same with me. He wouldn’t find anything. At least, nothing significant. The difficulty with reading him was that he was too quiet. Kira was the same way. The only advantage I had with her was utter familiarity.

"Interesting." I murmured softly after studying him for several long moments. Standing I dusted my hands off and went to sit in one of the chairs. Leaning forward as the two dogs still in the house came trotting up I briskly rubbed both of their heads. "No. My path is something very different than yours. But you are aiming for the top." I didn't look up at him. "You see yourself as more powerful than those around you. You want control. Of yourself, of others, so long as you feel in control it doesn't matter what."

Jonah:

I smiled.  “Well, I am ambitious,” I admitted.  “I take it Kyra has talked about her team mates.”  It was clear that he had more information on me than I did him.  He had more resources.  I was sure Kyra would not have painted me in the most positive light, at least not in recent years.  And the first time he met me I had kept them from giving Kira pain killers.  I had some making up to do.

"Ambition is good. Power hungry is bad." I let out a soft breath. "Jonah, if I go by what I know about you. From what I've witnessed and what my niece has told me. You are not a good person and everything tells me that it would save me a lot of headaches and pain for those I care for if I removed you from the picture now." I raised blue eyes up to meet his own. "That isn't a threat but an observation."

I searched his face for a moment then continued, "I don't doubt you want to get on our good side. Perhaps for Kira's sake. Perhaps for your own interests. That doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is proving your worth. Prove to me that you deserve to be here and a part of the lives of those I hold dear. If you can do that then the past wont mean a thing. My best friend has tried to kill me more times than I can count and has even made attempts before to kill my wife before we were married. And yet he has a key to our home. So now it's your turn to prove you deserve the same treatment."

Jonah:

It was not often that I spoke with someone who gave me pause. Michael was different. He understood people in a way that few did. I found myself uncertain if I could do what he asked. I could likely make it seem that I was worthy. I could charm my way through it. But true worthiness? He said it himself, I wasn’t a good person. Bad people were, by their nature, unworthy.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said and flicked my gaze to the door as Kira came in. My eyes locked on hers. Her mask was there, but not firmly in place. Krissy had gotten to her.

Krissy:

I stayed for a moment longer to dry my face on the blanket and pat Angel before I followed Kira. I joined Michael and piled the heavy blanket on top of us. My icey fingers snaked out to seek the warmth of his body under the blanket.

"That's all I ask of you Jonah." I looked away and up to my daughter as she walked inside then down the hallway. Curiosity made me wonder what they talked about, Kira and my wife, but I figured Krissy would say when she had time.

And as if summoned Krissy came in with Angel trotting behind her. She joined me in the chair, sitting half on my lap half on the arm rest. I slid an arm around her and smiled up at her. That smile turned into a wince as her ice cold fingers pressed into my skin.

Kira:

I went to my room first, changing into plaid pajama pants with a Scottie dog at my hip. My top consisted of a simple dark shirt. I slid socks onto my feet before going out and joining the others in the living room. I took my place at one end of the couch, tucking my legs up onto the seat beside me.

Krissy:

I smiled back at him with amusement. I felt like there was a weight lifted from by chest after the talk with Kira. There was still so far to go, but I knew now that she didn’t hate me, and that she knew I wanted her here.

I leaned down and kissed Michael softly, to make up for my cold fingers creeping under his shirt.


Jonah:

My eyes followed Kira when she returned. I wondered what had been said between the two of them outside. I glanced to Krissy and Michael when they kissed then to the fire quickly so as not to seem staring. They had been constantly touching since we got here. Krissy was always reaching for him, looking at him, reluctant to leave his side. It seemed to me that she was utterly dependent of him. They loved each other, that was clear, but not I could see by the way they looked at each other that they were deeply in love with each other as well. It was something I had never seen before.

Michael:

I smiled under her lips, returning the kiss. When I pulled away I nodded towards the fireplace. "I grabbed stuff to make s'mores with the fireplace." Looking up at my wife my smile gained a mischievous cast. As she was half on my lap, half on the arm of the chair I decided to get her going in the only possible way I could think of. Plus I had not only revenge to motivate me, but a blanket prepared by Krissy to hide it all. I slid a hand under her rear and squeezed while using the leverage to push her to her feet.

Kira:

I did a double take at my parents when they kissed. I knew people kissed all the time and everywhere. After a while your brain automatically learned to simply skip over the action as you were looking around. Even trained assassins only took a moments notice of it. But to see my parents do it was something else entirely.

Even I could see the tender and deep love the two shared. I swallowed as I looked at them, finding an odd lump in my throat. What would it be like to be cared for like that? I glanced at Jonah out of the corner of my eye and nearly laughed at myself. He wasn't someone to be like them. Instead of saying anything or remarking I got up and crouched down beside the tray, looking over the items in curiosity. I'd never made a s'more before.

Krissy:

I gave the smallest gasp when Michael squeezed my butt. While I was not unused to it, I had not expected him to do such a thing in the company of our daughter, even if the blanket hid it. I got to my feet quickly with his gesture motivating my speed.

After I squinted my eyes at Michael, I joined Kira by the tray and skewered a couple marshmallows. I held one skewer to my daughter with a soft smile. I wasn’t as shy anymore. There was still a nervousness in my stomach, but it was lessened by our closeness outside.

I took the skewer hesitantly, unsure why one would even make a kebab of marshmallows. I did the only logical thing that made sense. I took a bite out of one of the marshmallows. The puffy white treats were a rare thing for me to eat in other dishes. But almost never just on their own.

Krissy:

I blinked when she took a bite out of it. I would have thought she simply wanted a marshmallow, but there was a whole bag of them, and she had a confused look on her face. I heard a quiet chuckle behind and turned to see Jonah with an amused spark in his eyes.

“No, sweetie, you toast it in the fire,” I said and put a two on my skewer. I held mine in the fire to show her, turning it slowly to toast on all sides. “I like mine burnt, but Michael says it’s bad for me. So I try to do it when he’s not looking,” I whispered and peaked over her head to my husband who was watching us.

Kira:

MY gaze snapped to Jonah as he chuckled at me. I wanted to throw the skewer at him, or invite him to do it better himself. But Krissy showed me what to actually do. And even though one marshmallow had a bite out of it I brought my skewer closer to the fire.

Michael:

I heard my wife's whisper and I rolled my eyes while a smile touched my lips. It wasn't good for you, and Krissy had a talent for going through an entire bag of marshmallows until she felt sick if I didn't keep an eye on her. But I wasn't going to deny her tonight, not when the Krissy I knew was finally coming out of her shell.