Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is an understatement

[Grace Taylor]

Grace grinned and nodded, “You like Harry Potter? They are my favourite books like ever and yeah we need to have a frog renaming ceremony. Harry is now going to become Trevor. I don’t think he’d mind the name change at least it would give me something to write about when we have to tell what we did with the frog at the weekend.” Grace was a great believer in adventure and what was more adventurous than a frog name change she figured.

When Grace heard the door slam she glanced at Allison and then at the door. Well that wasnt a good sign she thought, it was her dad or Stephanie but when adults needed to talk then it was probably better they were out of the way. At least that way she couldnt watch her dad put his foot in it several times before digging a hole to throw himself in.

“Yeah, he was one of three but we had to give the other two to different classes. We had a pond just a few blocks from the school so we sort of adopted him I guess.” Grace explained as she grinned. “Ewww, serious he’d eat a frog? Weird taste if he likes frogs, I mean there have to be better things dogs can eat. So what else does Finn eat?” Grace asked curiously and also to hopefully take their mind of what was going on downstairs between the adults.

Tag: @allie

[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben was trying to see both sides of things, he knew it was upsetting as if it had been him he was sure he would have had a complete breakdown by now but being the optimist at least Allison was alive. It made the news no easier in a sense but to him to know that your daughter was alive after thinking her gone for all those years was a miracle and something not to be sniffed at. Ben was still in the learning phase of how to handle Stephanie but this was far from a PTSD issue this was far bigger than that.

“I know it might not seem like it now but the key to that sentence is alive and well... it beats the other side.” Ben said though he understood had things been reversed then he would have likely reacted the same way. Ben glanced upstairs as he listened for footsteps, the door slamming he was sure the children would have heard but then when he heard no feet on the stairs he hoped that they had enough entertainment in the frog to actually stay up stairs. He doubted that teenagers getting involved with everything was going to help but then there were stranger things in life.

Ben moved aside as he watched Owen sit in front of the door as he leaned against the far wall not entirely sure what he could say would make any difference to things. He was still trying to get his head up to speed with the fact Stephanie had twins and had only told him about one. Listening to the story Ben could feel his heart break as he was glad Owen had managed to get Allison back and take care of her. Organ farm was horrific and to think cancer after that he was glad that Owen had managed to be there for Allison.

He could hardly deny in Grace’s first year he had though many a time about giving her up for adoption, a single parent it was tough when he had no idea what he was doing but looking back he would never have changed a thing. Ben smiled and nodded lightly to Owen as he listened, it made sense and to have a brother that would take on a child for Stephanie was a brother that was worth more than anything. Ben wanted to find the right words but he had no idea what they were at all.

“Allison is lucky to have you Owen.” He stated, “Takes a good guy to do all of that and Stephanie had another fantastic brother too.” Ben glanced at the door as he considered breaking in though with the children upstairs he doubted that was the smartest idea he had. “He did the right thing Steph, I know it might not be easy but with everything that you had going on... it was the right thing at the time.” It was all he could think of to say about it as he took a breath trying not to be mad that she had left out a whole child in her history though it had been a struggle to get her to tell him about Zach. Life was... complicated and none so much as now.

Stephanie Taylor, @owen,

[Deleted]

“You like Harry Potter? They are my favorite books like ever and yeah we need to have a frog renaming ceremony. Harry is now going to become Trevor. I don’t think he’d mind the name change at least it would give me something to write about when we have to tell what we did with the frog at the weekend.” 

Allison nodded, "Owen read them to me when I was in the hospital, then when I actually had the strength to hold a book up I'd read them to him, and sometimes throw them, they made good weapons when needed." she replied as she kept looking at the frog formerly known Harry. "You could make up a story about how Trevor went on an adventure around the house only to end up here where he learned his true name..." the idea sounded better in her head, Allison glanced to Grace, trying to judge her reaction to her idea.  “Ewww, serious he’d eat a frog? Weird taste if he likes frogs, I mean there have to be better things dogs can eat. So what else does Finn eat?”

Allison didn't immediately reply as she tried to think back on what the large Irish Wolfhound had eaten in the past, "He likes pancakes, artichokes, lo mein, he has eaten a rat before, then barfed it up a few hours later, that was nasty. He ate the frog one day at the park, but unlike the rat he did not throw it up, so I guess he likes frogs." she trailed off and listened for any noise from downstairs, after the door slam, things had gotten quiet, "What do you think happened?" she asked quietly. 

TAG: Grace Taylor,

[Deleted]

“Allison is lucky to have you Owen....takes a good guy to do all of that and Stephanie had another fantastic brother too.” 

Owen glanced up to Ben and gave him a small smile, he didn't do it because he wanted people to constantly praise him and behind over backwards to give him any special treatment, he did it because it was the right thing to do and it was easier than tracking down the people who had "raised" Allison and dealing with them himself. He still wanted to do that but not he had other things to focus on. “He did the right thing Steph, I know it might not be easy but with everything that you had going on... it was the right thing at the time.”

Owen rested his head against the door, fully aware that if his sister opened the door he'd probably end up on his back, but he didn't care. "Steph, I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just didn't know how to tell you." he did not say he also did not want to tell her because he was worried how she'd take it. Well now he knew. Owen let a few more quiet minutes slowly move past before he spoke again, "Steph...say something....and if you don't I'll call...I don't know, Peter? Maybe?" it was a partial threat, mostly because he didn't know who'd he call because he was sure half his siblings would side with Steph on wanting to kick his ass. 

TAG: Stephanie Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,

[Stephanie Taylor]

Stephanie refused to show the men her tears, refused. Ben siding with Owen when he didn't even know but half the story. Yeah that was the last straw as she swallowed the rest of her tears and dried her face before flinging the door open. Grabbing for Owen's shoulder she went to shove him. "So you let me believe in a lie that has destroyed my life." She said it with a bitter tone and a hot headed snort.

She turned at Ben. "You have no idea Benjamin." She wanted to accuse him of not knowing what it felt like to lose a child but she already knew the answer to it. He'd lost family but nothing compared to losing a child. Stephanie broke and wrapped her arms around Ben's shoulder. But she wasn't crying she was taking deep breathes to calm down. Clearly she was angry, the clenching fists grabbed a fist full of his shirt on his back.

She picked her head up and stared at Owen. "Peter wouldn't let me believe a lie." Her tone just as much poison as it contained before. "Call Peter and James. I dare you." She knew that one or both might chastise Owen in their own way. "Might as well call Meg while you are at it." Stephanie snapped at Owen. Peter had always been protective over Stephanie more so than the others were, she almost dared Owen to drag Peter into this. Maybe he'd rethink what he had done.

SQUAD 3

HOUSE 51

Benjamin Taylor @owen Grace Taylor @allie

callmekitty at adoxography

[Grace Taylor]

Grace chuckled when Allison spoke about the Harry Potter books, it was always fun to read and especially when you threw them but when she thought about it some of those books were inches think. The sort of thing you’d dive into the next room to avoid entirely. “Yeah I mean with five hundred pages plus, I’d say so. Never thrown one but dropped one on dads foot before when I fell asleep.” She explained remembering how her dad had manage to hope around her room, jumping on a stuffed toy and then landing in a heap on the floor.

Not the coolest move he had ever pulled but funny and yes she knew it depending on the view point but her point it was hilarious. Grace glanced at Allison for a moment before she grinned and nodded, “Yeah sounds great, Harry’s adventure around the house to find his true name... I think we do even have a stairs cupboard too.” Grace said thoughtfully before grinning, “I’m guessing painting the lightening bold onto him is a step too far?” She asked Allison though in her head it was all for the adventure of it.

“Yuck, rats and frogs... but kinda cool too but pancakes are way better. I’ll have to keep Harry away from the dogs here but maybe I should feed them pancakes see what their favourite foods are.” She said as she listened for a moment and glanced at Allison when she asked what did she think had happened. Slamming doors, in her mind that was all her dads fault usually. The man had a way of saying things the wrong way or just generally being goofy which sure to her it was something she was used to but she had heard enough rows to know that Stephanie, well her dad was an acquired taste at times.

Grace felt a little nervous, did she even admit that her dad and Stephanie argued to Allison? What if Owen found out and well it was just their thing that they did, act normal and argue. “I guess my dad might have said something weird like he usually does.” Grace explained, “It’s normally work related or sleep, or food or well I guess most things but yeah. We can go and see if you’re worried? I’m sure your dad is alright.” Grace offered not sure if going to see was a great idea but then usually no one fought when the kids were around right? It was a rule or something somewhere.

Tag: @allie

[Benjamin Taylor]

Praise was worth it especially for what Owen had done for Allison, there were so many other options that could have been taken but no Allison was with family and that counted for a lot. It hardly fixed anything now but then he was sure that the child had a good upbringing and in the end, she was safe from those who had seen to hurt her. Ben listened to Owen explain why he had never told her, telling peoples things was tough and none tougher than when it involved a child.

Calling Peter, yeah he had met the brother, argued with the brother and now they were friends so sure more family had to get her out of the bathroom he thought until he saw the door fly open. Was it better for the door to stay closed he wondered as he heard her bitter tone before he almost glared at Stephanie for what she had said. Ben wrapped his arms around Stephanie as he rubbed her back, it usually calmed her down but this was a little different than anything he had seen before.

“No I don’t but I do know that Allison could have ended up a lot worse off, so yeah I know a little about not knowing what to do with a kid, losing people and yeah adoption too.” He stated trying not to snap but he had looked into it when Grace was there, three weeks old and he remembered being stuck in the kitchen with a crying baby way out of his depth in life and about everything that came with it. Adoption seemed to be the right thing until he found he was unable to make that call and now he did feel guilty for that lack of belief.

Sure knowing what he knew now he never would have thought it but then, there was far too much going on. “Stephanie, dragging anyone else in isn’t going to help anyone.” He said not sure how the rest of the Harris family might take things. “What’s done is done, you’ve a daughter Stephanie, she’s alive and right now that’s what matters right?” He asked her doing his best not to take sides but to try and fix the situation if it was possible.

“Allison knows right so what does she want? To see her mum and dad...uncle... I urm well her parents arguing like this?” He asked knowing he would prefer the other option, happy and not a world war but then the way things were going he had no idea what would happen. Owen was her uncle and her dad of sorts and trying to work it all out in his head was confusing as he hugged Stephanie not entirely sure what to say about any of it. Stephanie had told him about one child and not the other which given they were married now, he wondered how many more secrets she had from him.

@owen, Stephanie Taylor,

[Deleted]

"So you let me believe in a lie that has destroyed my life."

He was rubbing his shoulder from where she shoved him, "If I wanted you to keep believing a lie then I would not have shared the truth." he shot back. She could get mad all she wanted, he expected that, but saying he did not tell the truth, that was wrong. If anything, Owen was as honest as anyone could be, even being blunt at times. The only reason why he had waited to even tell her about Allison was because he did not know how to go about even starting to tell her, it was not like he could give her the cliff notes and be done, there were so many fine details that were important. 

“No I don’t but I do know that Allison could have ended up a lot worse off, so yeah I know a little about not knowing what to do with a kid, losing people and yeah adoption too."

Once again Ben seemed to be taking his side on things, he did not know if that was a good thing or bad, but it was helpful. When he mentioned that Allison was alive and well Owen nodded, “Allison knows right so what does she want? To see her mum and dad...uncle... I urm well her parents arguing like this?” Owen glanced down the hall, making sure that Allison wasn't nearby. "She isn't a fan of the father word...last time I said it she threw a book at my head." that had been a lovely day, it had been his first time having to deal with teenage hormones and what he suspected to be a buried case of PTSD. "And I am not going to call anyone, I just wanted you out of the bathroom so we could try and talk about this." Owen shrugged, "I am sorry Stephanie, I really am." he added quietly.        

TAG: Benjamin Taylor,Stephanie Taylor,

[Deleted]

Something was going on downstairs, slamming doors and then suddenly silence followed by the occasional loud voice. “I guess my dad might have said something weird like he usually does.” Allison shrugged, she did not know Ben at all but she had a feeling that was not the cause of the commotion. “It’s normally work related or sleep, or food or well I guess most things but yeah. We can go and see if you’re worried? I’m sure your dad is alright.”  Allison winced when she said the word dad. She had never liked that word, mostly due to the fact that the man who was the "father" for most of her early life ended up being an abusive asshole, and then now the person who'd was more like a father than any man she had ever known...was really her uncle. "Owen is...." she trailed off, she did not know many kids who called their dads by their first names, nor did she know how to explain things to Grace. 

"I'll be right back." she said as she left the bathroom and headed back downstairs, moving faster than when she had gone up. Allison turned the corner of the hallway the adults were in just as Owen was apologizing...apologizing for what? He had told her no one would be getting upset, so why was he standing there looking guilty and everyone else looking upset. "Why are you apologizing?" Allison asked, she glanced to Ben and Stephanie, her eyes lingering on her mother before moving back to Owen, "You....-" she stopped and just shook her head, spinning on her heel she took off down the hallway and was out of the house before anyone could say anything. She did not care, she just wanted to be out of that house and not be a problem for anyone. 

TAG: Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,Stephanie Taylor,

[Stephanie Taylor]

Stephanie yanked herself away from Ben the minute that Allison ran out the door. Stephanie was fast and didn’t miss a step. “Allison.” She kept her voice softer but she wasn’t about to let her daughter run down an unfamiliar road at night. Familiar or not, this was still Chicago. Anything could happen. Stephanie was terrible with emotions and feelings and trying to reach out to others. “Please. Wait.” She got ahead of her daughter and put her arm out to wrap around her. Though it was only lightly.

With her free hand she pointed under the tree. “Come sit down and we can talk.” Stephanie’s face was red from crying; though her voice lingered no signs that she was upset. “Just us, no boys to think they know what’s best for us.” Stephanie squatted down the few inches so she wasn’t staring down at Allison. There was a soft side to Stephanie and not many got to see it. “This is a mess for everyone, but it’s not a reflection of you.” Stephanie knew the blame game, the guilt game probably better than anyone around. If she had known the truth and if she found the person responsible for what happened, he would be a dead man.

SQUAD 3

HOUSE 51

Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,@allie,@owen

callmekitty at adoxography

[Grace Taylor]

Grace was used to her dad usually throwing what she would call a wobbler on various occasions in life. Generally it was work related or she had done something that could in an over protective parent’s world be classed as remotely dangerous. Commotion and yelling was the usual and now with Stephanie it was like her dad had gone into wobble overdrive. Still it wasnt normal to hear raised voices and door slamming when guests were around, nope all that stuff was family related.

Grace saw Allison wince when she said the word dad, yeah urm this was complicated she thought though sure she had assumed Allison was Owen’s daughter from the start. She hadn’t any other reason to think anything else when she heard Allison call him Owen, that to her was strange. Calling her dad Ben, yeah she was either super mad at him or was trying to introduce him to someone but it still didnt exactly feel like a normal thing to her. Dad was dad and that was it to her though Ben, it was always an ‘Eh who’s Ben’ moment whenever her dad’s name was used.

“Oh sure.” Grace said as she set about making sure Harry was alright in the bathroom and didnt have any escape options. Yeah her dad had said what would happen if he escaped and Stephanie at least liked frogs so Grace trusted her not to make frog soup. It took a few minutes as she waited to Allison to come back though after a moment or two she opened the door only to see Allison running out of the house followed by Stephanie. Yeah on a normal Taylor scale of family situations this wasnt right at all she thought as she ran down the stairs.

“Dad, Mr. Harris.... Owen.” She yelled as she jumped the last few steps and tried to find the remaining adults in the house. “What’s going on, who upset Allison?” She asked annoyed that a possible friend or even family member if she was some third cousin or something had left the house running. She might have expected a frog to do that but not the adults in the house as she glared when she set eyes upon the two of them.

Tag: Benjamin Taylor, @allie, @owen, Stephanie Taylor

[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben could hardly fault Owen’s logic, if the man wanted his sister believing in a lie then the best way would be to say nothing at all. It would be easy enough to believe the story without Allison being Stephanie’s daughter as he still tried to get his head around all of that. Then again how could his wife tell him this when she never knew herself but then she had left out even having a daughter. Was it a lie or a mistruth or simply an omission but still he was playing catch up to the entire situation.

Ben could barely hide the grin at Allison throwing a book at Owen’s head over the word father, it was complicated enough trying to work it out from his view of it but Allison. It must be tough though she was lucky to have Owen there for her. It was tough to imagine Grace not calling him dad, it was strange to begin with and sure he had cried the first time she had said it but not ever hearing it. It was tough to imagine though it depended on what they were both comfortable with in the end. “So uncle it is then.” He said managing to take that leap.

When Allison appeared it could have been a worse time and it could have been a much better one too. Ben hardly knew what to do in the situation, apologies were being made and Stephanie had just come out of the bathroom and now Allison was right there in front of them. Everything became slow and fast in the same moment when Allison took off followed by Stephanie. Ben glanced at Owen wondering if they needed to go after then as Owen would know Allison better than anyone when he heard his own daughter yelling.

Seeing Grace glare at him Ben glanced at Owen again. “Please tell me your one does this glaring thing too?” He asked Owen quietly as he did his usual smile and everything’s okay look. “Grace don’t you glare at family, Mr. Harris included.” He stated firmly as he reached out for his daughter, yes now how to explain all of this to a second fourteen year old in the house let alone Zach too. “Grace things are... no one upset Allison there is just a lot going on that you’ll understand later but now, Stephanie, Owen and Allison need to talk.” He explained not sure that was satisfactory but then how did any of this make sense to teenagers.

Grace Taylor, @allie, @owen, Stephanie Taylor,

[Deleted]

Owens face fell when he saw Allison, then like that she ran. Like mother and daughter. "Allison!" he called after her as Stephanie took off after the teenager, last thing they needed was for her to be running around a strange city alone. “Dad, Mr. Harris.... Owen.” Grace had followed Allison down the stairs,  “What’s going on, who upset Allison?” the other teenager glared at the two men.  “Please tell me your one does this glaring thing too?”  'His one..' did he mean the kid who just ran out of the house, chased by her mother who she just met for the first time, the same kid who was probably very mad at him. Even though Allison wasn't his biologically his, she was basically the daughter he never had. Owen slowly nodded, "She's been known to do that a time or two." he replied, before Ben starting explaining to Grace what had happened. 

 “Grace things are... no one upset Allison there is just a lot going on that you’ll understand later but now, Stephanie, Owen and Allison need to talk.” 

He wanted to follow after Allison and Stephanie but had a feeling that it would only result in Steph being madder at him, and he did not want that.  Ben's explanation was simple but did not really answer Graces question. "I upset Allison...after she saw that I had upset Stephanie." Owen told Grace, he looked to Ben again, not knowing if he should just explain things to Grace, then again he did not get to make that choice, "I should mention that I did not intentionally mean to upset either of them...it just happened by accident." 

TAG: Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,

[Deleted]

She wasn't running, more so jogging...well attempting to. She did not care what she was doing, just as long as it got her as far away as possible. She kept moving, not really having a destination in mind, someone called her name but she did not look back to see who it was. "Please. Wait." Stephanie managed to get in front of her, grabbing her arm in the process, Allison tensed up, though she had a feeling that Steph wasn't going to hurt her. “Come sit down and we can talk.” she glanced behind her mother to see if Owen had followed, but it was just them. “Just us, no boys to think they know what’s best for us.” Allison looked to Stephanie as she knelt down in front of her, “This is a mess for everyone, but it’s not a reflection of you.” her mother told her.

"But its my fault you're upset, I told Owen that I did not want to make anyone mad and looked what happened!" she shrugged away from Stephanie's touch and moved to sit under a nearby tree, "Family is supposed to be happy...not mad at each other." she mumbled as she pulled her legs up to her chest. 

TAG: Stephanie Taylor,

[Stephanie Taylor]

Stephanie shook her head, but let Allison have her space. Listening. Truth be told, she did know how to listen. “No. It’s not your fault.” There was a pause as she sat down closeby but still giving Allison her space. “I have never been good with emotions.” How was she supposed to explain this to Allison without sounding broken or crazy? “Me being upset, it’s sometimes an expression of things I can’t explain.” She looked towards Allison.

“So sometimes I get upset and frustrated because I have a hard time expressing what’s really buried inside.” Okay now she was sounding like she was insane. “Does that make sense.” She paused again for a moment. “I am not mad… Confused maybe. Angry at the people who lied to me years ago. I’m relieved and glad what they told me was a lie at the same time; but it’s like seeing a ghost.” She was being honest and open but at the same time not really expressing the emotions. Stephanie was using the long cover face. “I was two years older than you are now when everything happened. Just a kid. I don’t know where to start. Owen is family, I’m not really mad at him. I just… when I let all the anger go, it just goes.. Somewhere. I know he knows I don’t mean it. But he’s the same one that tells me bottling up the emotions is bad for me” Cue eyeroll.

“The Harris family is complicated. Owen has always been the brother I have felt expressing myself without words. But I’m there when he needs me too. I’m most certainly not angry at you in any of this.” Stephanie was rambling because she didn’t know what else to do. Expressing emotions through anger wasn’t going to help her daughter. “I’m sorry that I upset you.” She rarely apologized for anything, but she was trying her best to be the mother Allison needed right now. The last thing Stephanie wanted was for Allison to think that she was upset with her or not willing to look out for her, because the exact opposite was true. Stephanie would go to hell and back for Allison, Zach, and Grace. End of Story.

SQUAD 3

HOUSE 51

@allie Benjamin Taylor @owen Grace Taylor

callmekitty at adoxography