Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is an understatement

[Grace Taylor]

Grace lost her glare but still squinted her eyes slightly at him, if there was usually anything wrong her dad was liable to have started it. “Yes dad sorry. Sorry Mr. Harris.” She said though it was more a case of she wanted to know what was going on and getting through to her dad at times. A glare was an easier route than just asking and him avoiding which is what she figured he might do.

She hugged her dad for a moment though she wanted to know what was going on. It wasnt normal that people ran from the house or that Stephanie followed them or that her brother and his daughter were there either. It was a day of meeting the Harris family but then that had seemingly gone so well so far. “Oh so it’s beyond my understanding right?” Grace asked as she stared between her father and Owen. “Don’t tell the kid because I might not be able to understand.”

Oh she had heard that one before, don’t talk about her mother because her dad didnt say much. Her grandmother, the Taylor side of the family nope it was all a case of understand later but right now. Right now she wanted to understand what was going on with everyone. “You upset Stephanie? No one upsets her.” Grace said as she glared again before she caught herself and stopped. “So why are they both upset right now?” Grace asked them both staring between them.

“If either of you don’t tell me then I’m not eating dinner ever again and I’m not coming out of my room, ever again.” She stated firmly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Nope if they were going to go all ‘you wouldnt understand’ on her then she was going to go full blown teenager. She went to school with them and she knew how this worked. “I swear it, I can be a nightmare if I have to be.” Grace added trying to make sure they knew she was serious about it.

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

[Deleted]

“No. It’s not your fault.”

Allison kept staring at the ground, “I have never been good with emotions...Me being upset, it’s sometimes an expression of things I can’t explain.” Allison glanced towards Stephanie only to see that she was looking back at her. “So sometimes I get upset and frustrated because I have a hard time expressing what’s really buried inside...Does that make sense.” she nodded, Stephanie kept going. Going on about how she had been lied to years ago and seeing Allison was like seeing a ghost. The Harris family was complicated, "One day when I was in the hospital I woke up and learned that instead of having no family, I actually had nine aunts and uncles...I spent my entire life being told by the people raising me that they did me a favor by taking me in because no one wanted me." Allison turned her head and looked at Stephanie, "He tells me the same thing about bottling things up, mostly because I don't like to think about the past, yet it happens sometimes." apparently a teenager bottling up emotions is not a good thing, but when she asked what she was supposed to do with her ever changing emotions Owen did not have an answer.  "So..." she wanted to change the subject, "What things did you like to do when you were my age. Owen said you and Peter were always close, he's an interesting person." 

TAG: Stephanie Taylor,

[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben was glad to know that other teenagers did that exact thing too, not the only one in that boat he thought for a moment before he tried to explain his way out of it all. What could you really say about something you were trying to work out in your head about your wife leaving something pretty significant out then finding out that her daughter was actually alive, living with her brother and today was the day when things had finally been said.

“Thank you Grace.” He said when she apologised though he knew with the glare, well teenagers were just that. Maybe if she had stayed ten he might have been able to handle life better than fearing anyone looking sideways at her was looking to date her. A friends house he wanted to do a full fire inspection because of the last incident.

He was glad when Owen explained things; it was likely to go a little better than him trying to explain stuff to her. Ben knew all too well that he was the one who normally said something or did something to upset Stephanie, not intentionally but he was learning things still about her and trying to make everything work. Then his daughter seemed to take it the wrong way, trust her to go for one word out of a few. “Grace I know you’d understand but this isn’t for me to tell you on my own. It’s a family matter. Owen never meant to upset anyone it is just a lot to take in for people today.” He stated not sure how much to say or not.

“Grace I swear if you pull anything like that you’ll lose the door to your room and I’ll force you to eat dinner. No question at all. You don’t get to pull that crap with me, ever!” He stated as he glanced to Owen, why did things have to go to hell on his watch he wondered as he took a breath. “Owen if you want to explain it’s okay with me and if you don’t then that is okay too.” Ben said wanting to give him any leeway he wanted. He was family after all and yes the possibility of Grace being a nightmare was daunting but her threatening to not eat. Nope not happening either.

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

[Deleted]

Grace stood her ground and told them what would happen if she wasn't told the truth, Ben of course responded and told her that that would not be happening.“Owen if you want to explain it’s okay with me and if you don’t then that is okay too.” Owen looked down to the other teenager, "Grace, Allison isn't my daughter, she is actually Zachs twin sister so that makes her Stephanies daughter..." he hoped it was explaining it well enough that she understood but he also did not want to make her feel stupid in the process. "Now how Allison ended up with me is kind of a long story that I think part of it would be better told by Allison herself, that is if she even wants to talk about it." he had taken her to a therapist and the other doctor agreed with him that getting Allison to talk about what had happened before she ended up in the hospital,  but maybe having someone her own age to hang out with would help things out. "Today also happened to be the day I decided to tell Stephanie all this...so that is why some emotions are a little high." he added. 

TAG: Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,

[Stephanie Taylor]

“That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Adjustment periods aren’t easy; but you are part of this family. It took me a while to realize what that meant too, when I was younger. You can always talk to anyone of us. It’s an open door, and if you don’t want to talk about things, You don’t have to do so. No one is going to push you into anything.” She assured her lightly putting her hand on her back.

When Allison changed the subject Stephanie let her. She knew what she was doing, and she didn’t really want to talk about it. It was something that Stephanie did, and she couldn’t help but make the connection. Like mother, like daughter. When she mentioned being her age, Stephanie didn’t want to explain what her life was like that. Though Allison had given her an out and asked what she liked to do. “Running mostly. I ran track a few years. I was usually chasing after my brothers or teaching my sisters how to defend themselves.” When Allison mentioned Peter she laughed. “Saturn? We usually got shoved in the same class, so we spent a good portion of the time together outside of the house. Had the same homework. I felt comfortable being myself around him. “ She explained with a smile.

"What about you? What do you like to do?" It was only fair to get to know her daughter, and turn the question back on her. Stephanie didn't usually do well with the whole getting to know people thing, but this was family.

SQUAD 3

HOUSE 51

@allie,@owen,Benjamin Taylor,Grace Taylor

callmekitty at adoxography

[Grace Taylor]

And they thought she was being the unreasonable one in the family, her dad was acting stranger than usual and Owen. Well he had things to say too and her dad was going all ‘only if you want to’ on the situation which in her head meant things where a whole other shade of bad right now. Allison running out, Stephanie upset and her dad being weird, yes the world was ending and that in her head wasnt too good at all. “Yeah and the two of you acting all secret service around here, people upset and running out and what I’m not to worry?” Grace asked.

“Are you two even on this planet anymore?” Grace demanded not sure if all adults were like this or just the two she was speaking to right now. Then came her dad going all weird again, well he was parenting but that didnt go down well with her at all as she shook her head. “You’ll force me, yeah not happening and I’m not the one pulling crap you two are.” She said pointing between them both, oh sure she was a teenager and yes if the asked her to try and solve a war then is wasnt going to happen but surely it wasnt that bad.

Grace stood there and listened to Owen explain that Allison was actually Stephanie’s daughter, she had never told Grace she had a daughter at all let alone that her brother was looking after her daughter which just made thing more complicated for a minute. “Long story it doesn’t matter because she’s here right and it doesn’t matter how just that you’re both here I guess.” Grace said cautiously as she thought about things in her own head. “So this is why you’re both acting strange because you just told Stephanie.” Grace said as if going over it, so Stephanie didnt even know she had a daughter, well that was odd she thought but on the other hand odd was good they all knew now.

“Wait so if Allison is Stephanie’s daughter, like Zach’s her son does that mean that I get a sister out of today too?” Grace asked looking between Owen and her dad to confirm it though she didnt take all of five minutes before she grinned. Yeah waiting on Stephanie and her dad to have a kid, well that might take awhile though an already grown up sister. It couldnt be better. Grace grinned as she practically threw herself at Owen to hug him for a moment. "Thank you thank you thank you for bring her around." Grace said grinning for a moment as she stepped back.

“This is so cool, a sister and a brother and another uncle on Stephanie’s side.” She squealed grinning excitedly, “Gah you adults act like everything is a major incident I mean seriously come on, I get extra family members, Stephanie gets another kid, Owen is family... it’s a great day.”

Grace took a moment as she thought about things. “So what do we do now? Go find them or leave them or what? Now it’s time for the adults to freak out over things because technically they are missing right?” Grace stated not sure at what point the adults in the room would panic over that but to her that was the bigger issue than Allison finding all of this out along with Stephanie.

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

[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben stared at Grace, why could she not have stayed five years old when things were far simpler in life. “Yes, if I tell you to worry then you can, if not there’s nothing to worry about.” Ben stated deciding that all in all if he could keep his head with all of this going on, then a teenager could. Ben never said a word when Grace asked if they were on the planet anymore, oh that could all be Owen he thought. He was a doctor so he could shrink his daughter into being more reasonable about it all.

“Language Grace!” Ben warned as he shook his head, “I’ll tell you what to do until you’re twenty one and after that too because you’re still me kid, like it or not.” Ben answered her, oh if she wanted to battle this one out he would do it because no child of his was going to stop eating or pull any crap under his roof. No one messed with family not even family themselves and this was getting far too complicated far too quickly he thought as he had no idea what to say to make things any better or if there was anything he could say.

Ben was grateful when Owen started to explain it as he was still wondering where to go with it all himself. Stephanie had never mentioned a daughter to him and now she was alive, living with Owen it was a lot when he just thought he was meeting Stephanie’s brother and his child which now seemed like the easier option all around. The way Owen explained it was great, there was no feeling stupid and he said everything as it was. If Ben had attempted it he would have still been at the Allison and daughter part while trying to work the rest of it out.

“Acting strange, no we’re just... you know acting normal under the circumstances.” Ben said though strange for him was well strange to start with. Acting more so was unusual though how were people supposed to react when his own wife had neglected to tell him about a major incident in her life, her daughter was now alive and they were finding out about it today. Ben waited to see how Grace might take it as he wondered on what level of teenage chaos this would all land though he was pleasantly surprised by her reaction.

“Grace I’d maybe wait until things a little more settled before we say anything about sisters, but technically yes?” Ben said as he looked toward Owen, he could jump in any time with this he thought as the look on his face said as much. Hearing Grace so excited over it all he felt like had just stepped into another universe, sometimes children really did have the best reactions to things but he never thought for a minute it would be this. Ben watched his daughter hug Owen as he grinned at the two of them, “Well you heard her, welcome to this side of the family.” He said grinning slightly.

Ben thought about going after the two of them but they had enough to deal with already. It was odd to want to go out and find them to make sure they were alright and yet want to say away so they had time to talk between themselves. “Listen Grace I’m not sure but why don’t you just take a minute to calm down.” He suggested as he looked at Owen. “What do you think is best? You know Allison and Stephanie better than most.” He said not sure what to do given that he hardly wanted his head bitten off by Stephanie or to upset Allison though the person that knew them both longest was stood there with them.

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

[Deleted]

She was glad when Stephanie told her that no one was going to force her to do anything, that was nice to hear. When she placed a hand on her back, she could not help but tense up at first, but after a moment she relaxed. Stephanie wasn't going to hurt her. If anything, she seemed like the type of person to hurt those who she cared about. “Running mostly. I ran track a few years. I was usually chasing after my brothers or teaching my sisters how to defend themselves.” Allison nodded, she hated running, mostly because it made her leg hurt more than usual, "Peter is odd... he has this cat that is huge and he always seems to be hungry." she replied, besides Owen, Peter had been one of the first uncles she had met, well second because technically Owen was her uncle.  "What about you? What do you like to do?"  Allison shrugged, "I like to swim, the doctors said I needed to have something physically to do so I decided on that, besides that I like reading and just...I don't know, hanging out?"  she trailed off, glancing over to Stephanie she gave her a small smile, "My foster parents didn't let me do much, so having some freedom with Owen is a nice change." yeah, life with her Uncle was far better than what she had grown up with. 

TAG: Stephanie Taylor,

[Deleted]

Grace's reaction to learning she had another sister made him smile, then she hugged him, "Thank you thank you thank you for bring her around." the reaction was surprising, he hadn't expected it. As she stepped back he just nodded, "I guess saying "you're welcome" would fit in here." he replied to the teenager, “This is so cool, a sister and a brother and another uncle on Stephanie’s side...Gah you adults act like everything is a major incident I mean seriously come on, I get extra family members, Stephanie gets another kid, Owen is family... it’s a great day.” He wished everyone had the same reaction Grace had, it would make life much easier, far to many times people automatically focus on the bad things, where Grace had immediately went for the fact that her family had gotten bigger.

“Grace I’d maybe wait until things a little more settled before we say anything about sisters, but technically yes?” Owen looked to Ben and nodded, "Technically yes, they are sisters." he replied, not bothering to get into the finer details of how the girls would really be step sisters, family was family.

“So what do we do now? Go find them or leave them or what? Now it’s time for the adults to freak out over things because technically they are missing right?” 

Ben followed up her question with his own about if they should go looking for Allison and Stephanie, or if they should wait. "I know for a fact that Stephanie is liable to really loose her top if either of us followed them, best to just leave them be and if they are not back in a little while, then we go out looking. But right now. No." he did not want to have to deal with an even madder Stephanie or her telling Peter and having him show up at his door looking for answers as to why Owen pissed Steph off. 

TAG: Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,

[Zach Harris]

The yelling had died down by now, so Zach poked his head out the door. Granted, he'd only heard little bits and pieces of what was being said, but he couldn't escape the raised voices completely—even locked in his own room. He could tell: his mom was definitely upset with Uncle Owen. Sure, his uncle might not have been related by blood, but through adoption, a point of emphasis that made very little difference to him. Because it didn't stop Zach from thinking of the Harris clan as family – and he hated to see family fight.

"Mom?" Zach didn't hear an immediate response, so he made the decision to head downstairs, where everyone had been gathered earlier. She must still be down there, or have gone outside, if she needed to get away from… things. Everything had been fine before Uncle Owen had come to visit. What had his uncle said to upset his mom so much? He called out again. "Is everything okay?"

Zach finished making his way to the living room. Some of the family was still gathered inside, including Uncle Owen and Ben. Grace was there too. Standing near the foot of the stairs and looking rather upset himself, Zach spent a couple of seconds deciding what – if anything he should say – opting to dish out a stern scolding to the person responsible for all of this. Coming from him, a voice of reason, even in the worst of circumstances, it would only carry more weight. "Stop ticking off my mom, Uncle Owen!"

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

[Stephanie Taylor]

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[attr="class","lost1"]Stephanie Taylor

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[attr="class","mouths1"]Stephanie made sure to keep her hand soft on Allison’s back. She could feel the tensing and then when she relaxed. It broke her heart to know that someone had to have hurt her, and if she ever found out, Ben might be having a hard time bailing her out of jail. Not much stopped Stephanie when she got a hold of something. Allison changed the subject. Anything to take her mind off of what she just snapped into place.

“Jack only likes to think he’s a cat.” Stephanie always liked to tease Peter about his cat being more pomeranian than cat, though she was quite certain the cat was larger than a pomeranian. Hearing her daughter talk about having freedom though struck the same nerve. Stephanie could feel the fury boiling. Stephanie can and would start turning over leaves, even if it meant getting help from a certain HRT commander. She was certain that Josh would probably help her hunt down whoever had done this, and maybe while he was at it could keep her out of trouble.

Stephanie lightly rubbed Allison’s back. “You ready to go back inside? If we stay out here too long they might send a search party.” She was lightly laughing a bit. Though she was serious in knowing that if they didn’t make it back inside that one or two or more of them would be outside trying to figure out if everyone was alright.

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ @allie, Grace Taylor,Benjamin Taylor,@owen,Zach Harris

ulla

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[Grace Taylor]

Grace glared at her dad’s answer, like all kids knew when their parents were acting strange there was a time to worry and right now. Strange was looking like the better option for everything. “Yeah tell yourself that dad, I worry when you act weird and you’re doing that.” Grace stated as if the man needed reminding that Grace knew Ben like Zach knew Stephanie, well enough to know something was wrong. Then came her warning about language, seriously crap was on the lower end of the scale considering what she heard at school. She should have been using a lot more colour language than just crap.

“You can’t. That’s not legal and besides you’re still my dad so do I get to tell you what to do for life too? Why do you have to be such a... such a.” Grace couldn’t even think of the right word to go along with that as she looked at Owen. “Can’t you say something to him about being a reasonable adult? You’re a doctor right, can’t you scan him or something to make sure he’s sane.” Grace almost pleaded with Owen, if she had him on side then her dad couldnt fight with two people could he. Sane thinking from the one told not to worry. Yeah.

“So strange it is then.” Grace added giving her sweetest smile to her dad as she glanced at Owen. “Yeah and anything you want from me then you can have it for bringing a sister around.” Grace said grinning at Owen, well it was only a fair exchange she figured and after all it wasnt every day that you got a new grown sister. “Technically so yes sister it is ... wow this is great. I mean an actual sister, I’ve never had one before. This is totally the coolest thing ever.” Grace almost squealed as she hopped from foot to foot with excitement.

Grace was about to burst when she heard Zach, oh now that was well yes that was an adult conversation she figured giving than she was the step sister and not the actual sister. Grace glanced between the adults in the room not sure what to say or do. Seeing Zach was upset Grace wasnt sure what to say to him as she practically was smiling from ear to ear. “Everything’s fantastic Zach.” Grace said smiling, “We get extra... people and an uncle too but you already have Owen as your uncle but if you’re okay with me calling him that too?” Grace asked not entirely sure that would be but then she figured the adults were ones to tell the sister story at least for now.

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

[Benjamin Taylor]

Ben often wondered just how much of his daughter Grace actually was, she seemed to take after her mother more than she did him especially when she was hyperactive or into her mystery of the world self. Then there was the arguing side and that was him which when it turned on him Ben was hardly the best at dealing with a teenager who could argue about as well as he could. “I am not, just mind your own and worry when I tell you to Grace. You’re a kid; kids never need to worry and especially you so go find the frog or something.” Ben said not entirely sure he wanted his daughter hanging around a frog because he was sure that in itself was a cause for alarm.

“Who said anything about legal, I’m the parent so just do as you’re told. You tell me what to do all the time so really no change, I just have a choice if I follow a fourteen year olds advice or not. You have no choice in it.” Ben stated as he rolled his eyes when Grace dragged Owen into things, well it would be interesting to hear another guys thoughts on his sanity but then again given he was Stephanie’s brother Ben was unsure if that would end well. Not that he would cause an issue over it but there was honest and the shake hands and live in harmony honest.

Ben smiled appreciatively at Owen when he confirmed for Grace that they were technically sisters. “Safer to stay here and wait it out, good plan.” Ben said glad that he had someone to tell him that, the last thing he wanted was to upset Stephanie anymore than she was already. He had a tendency to put his foot in things before he knew what was going on he was in a ten foot hole and struggling to get out of it. “I’m guessing they are both fine because there has been no ask for help or search party formed so likely they are talking together.” Ben reasoned out as he thought about things until he heard Zach.

Ben wanted to tell Zach it was all okay but he had never been into out right lying, unless he was telling them the ice cream truck was out of ice cream each time the tune was played. He felt that was a fair lie in the grand scheme. Ben could see Zach looked upset though where to even start with this conversation he wondered as right now he could use Stephanie being there as he was unsure how him saying anything might go over. “Zach language, Owen isn’t ticking anyone off.” Ben stated leaving out the it is far more complicated than that part of things.

When Ben heard Grace try to say something he stared at his daughter, extra people? Was that it he wondered as he heard the question about calling Owen an uncle and checking with Zach about it. Ben was proud of Grace in that moment, not that he ever was the opposite of proud but he smiled glad she had asked first. “Hey Zach, why don’t you come and sit down and we’ll wait for your mum to get back with Allison.” Ben asked as he looked toward Owen not sure if he wanted to get straight in with the situation as it was. After all this was about to get a whole lot more complicated he felt.

Zach Harris, Stephanie Taylor, @owen, @allie, Grace Taylor,

[Deleted]

“You ready to go back inside? If we stay out here too long they might send a search party.”

Even though she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she had finally met her mother, she was enjoying just sitting outside with Stephanie, ever since that day had started she had been nervous, now she was more relaxed and Allison was liking it. The young teen sighed, "I guess, no need for Owen to go calling people saying we decided to go vanish." she said to Stephanie, of course Owen would only do that after he looked anywhere and everywhere he could by himself. Allison got to her feet and looked to Stephanie, "I am glad I finally got to meet you." she said with a small smile, "It is nice to finally be able to stop imagining what you'd be like." she added. 

TAG: Stephanie Taylor,

[Deleted]

"I am afraid I am not that type of doctor, Grace." Owen replied to the excitable teenager once she stopped talking long enough to take a breath, he wouldn't go into the finer details of what type of doctor he actually was, no need to freak the girl out, though she could be like Allison and not care and start asking questions about who he had in his cooler that week. Then Zach came downstairs from where every he had been hiding, Owen studied his nephew, technically he was Allisons twin and older brother, just like Owens twin Luke was older than Owen, yet they both were identical. 

"Zach you know I rarely mean to intentionally annoy your mom, that is Peters doing." Owen told his nephew, it was well known that the other Harris sibling had a knack for driving Stephanie up the wall, and he seemed to be the only one who could get away with it. "And it is good to see you two Zach, you've gotten taller since the last time I saw you." he added.