Answers Long Due (Jamie)

[Alecsander]

Alex set the drinks down on the little table, studying his guest. The lad was looking around the library, almost twisted around completely in his seat. His flaming auburn hair was slightly curled, nothing like the curls he'd had as a baby. It was hard to believe his son was here, sitting across from him in front of the fireplace.

"Ahem." Alex took his seat and coughed lightly to get Jamie's attention. Those bright green eyes shot around and focused on him, Jamie sinking back into the chair again. "I'm sorry this took so long, I-- I know you have questions."

[James Malcom MacDougal]

When he'd met his father he'd looked like an ordinary, if marred, man. Then he'd found out he was Alex Kameren, war hero, head auror. He'd put away countless criminals! He was from an old, old pureblooded family. But knowing all that hadn't prepared him. He'd agreed to come here, to talk and to get answers, but upon their arrival in the library he was struck dumb. It was huge and full of stuff! Interesting stuff, like whatever that was on that pedestal over there, or the glass case filled with all sorts of trinkets, and the books. He'd never seen so many in his life! He wasn't sure it wasn't bigger than the Hogwarts library, and that was a school!

"Ahem."

Jamie turned around, brought back to reality. He flushed a little, sinking back into the chair from having risen to his knees to see better over the back of the chair.

"I'm sorry this took so long, I-- I know you have questions."

He gulped at his drink, regretting it instantly as the cocoa burned his tongue. "Is it true? Did you get hurt at Azkaban?"

[Alecsander]

[1 Oct]

He gulped at his drink, regretting it instantly as the cocoa burned his tongue. "Is it true? Did you get hurt at Azkaban?"

Alex didn't drink his drink, instead cupping his fingers around it, seeking warmth. Of all the questions he'd expected, that hadn't been one. He took s moment to reply. "Yes. I apologize, I did not get your letter immediately. I found it after I returned home." He'd already apologised, sending a reply to Jamie's uncertain letter the moment he could, but found himself repeating it anyway.

"I will try and answer as many of your questions as I can." He kept his eyes steadily on Jamie, waiting.

[James Malcom MacDougal]

"Yes. I apologize, I did not get your letter immediately. I found it after I returned home." He'd already apologised, sending a reply to Jamie's uncertain letter the moment he could, but found himself repeating it anyway.

It had been the most nervewracking week of Jamie's life, regretting sending that dumb and embarrassing letter, but a week later he'd received a reply. Apologizing, just as Alex did now, and inviting him to visit and get the answers to all his questions. In the intervening time he had met two of his cousins, the creepy little one with the all seeing eyes and Violet, his age, and way too comfortable with casual violence. He searched Alex's face, but it was unfamiliar andmJamie could not pick out any new scars.

"I will try and answer as many of your questions as I can." He kept his eyes steadily on Jamie, waiting.

He took a drink, more carefully, as he thought. His mind was a swirl of so many questions he could hardly focus enough to pick one and ask. 

"Am I your only child? What's with the creepy curse? Is that why your wrist was broken at the concert? Is that lady your wife? She's scary! Why didn't you ever visit? Why did mum lie to me? Are you ashamed of me? How long have you known??" He ground to a halt, panting. He hadn't meant those to all spill out like that. He watched Alex warily for his reaction.

[Alecsander]

"Am I your only child? What's with the creepy curse? Is that why your wrist was broken at the concert? Is that lady your wife? She's scary! Why didn't you ever visit? Why did mum lie to me? Are you ashamed of me? How long have you known??"

Alex was not prepared for this. Facing his some and his questions, he felt lost. All his reasons and explanations, they just felt like excuses now. Why hadn't he tried harder? He could have fought? Why had he let fear and Morag manipulate him into avoiding him? He felt a strong love for Jamie but he was afraid. Afraid of what Jamie would say, of his reactions. Of what would happen now that the world knew he was Alex's son. It was a perilous time, Max seemed like he was becoming a target yet again, the hospital had already suffered several attacks, Alex worried about what would come next. Would he be unable to protect those he cared about?

He took a deep breath. "Yes, you are my only child." He eyed Jamie, wondering how he had learned of the curse. "Our family is very old, and eccentric. There are many curses passed down to us. Your eyes, for example. yes, because I accidentally caused you to fall, my wrist also broke. I'm sorry for that, by the way." He chuckled a little. "The 'scary lady' is not my wife.,we." He was unsure how to explain it. "We're no longer together." He settled on the simplest explanation.

"I am not ashamed! Never, I..." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue, "I had what I thought were good reasons, I want you to be safe, to grow up happy. Our family... The Kameren name is as good as having a target on your back. And your mum... Morag. She didn't want me. She didn't want me to visit you and she didn't want me as a parent. I don't know all of her motivations but..." A sad look crossed his face.

"I know she lost everything, everyone, in the last two wars. She will protect you with everything she has. I didn't want to fight her, not in front of you. No child should see his parents fight like that.". Alex ground to a halt, uncertain. He'd probably said too much. He hadn't wanted to say so much about Morag.

[James Malcom MacDougal]

Jamie listened with growing impatience on his face. Was he broken? The famous head auror could not string together an intelligible sentence! Jamie clenched his hands together under the table, forcing himself to listen. He wanted to scream. All he heard were excuses. "That is such bullshit!" He finally burst out, leaning forward, fists tangling in his lap. 

"All you have are excuses! How can I believe anything you say!? What have you ever don't for me? Nothing!" Jamie subsided, breathing hard. His green eyes flashed up at his father. He took a deep breath, his voice calmer, venomous. "You didn't because you're a coward."

[Alecsander]

"That is such bullshit!" He finally burst out, leaning forward, fists tangling in his lap.

Alex had been leaning forward, arms tensed on the table. He started backwards at the outburst, shock crossing his face as Jamie continued.

"All you have are excuses! How can I believe anything you say!? What have you ever don't for me? Nothing!" Jamie subsided, breathing hard. His green eyes flashed up at his father. He took a deep breath, his voice calmer, venomous. "You didn't because you're a coward."


The accusation was like a bolt straight to the heart. He had already been berating himself, unhappy with the fallout of his choices. Ten years ago they had been hard, but he had thought they were the best of a collection of poor options. Coward. It cut deeply, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself against the fury he saw sparking in his son’s eyes.

“yYou’re right. I thought I had made the right decisions, tried my best. Thought that at least I could provide a good life for you, even if I didn’t know you. But I know now I could have done better. I will do better. If you’ll give me a chance?” He reached a hand forward, leaving it open. Beckoning, offering. A promise.

[James Malcom MacDougal]

"All you have are excuses! How can I believe anything you say!? What have you ever don't for me? Nothing!" Jamie subsided, breathing hard. His green eyes flashed up at his father. He took a deep breath, his voice calmer, venomous. "You didn't because you're a coward."

Jamie fell back into his chair, his drink forgotten as he stared at the man in front of him. Though he'd never gave much thought to what his father would be like, there had been times. Times where in his secret self he'd wondered and dreamed of having a father, and what he'd be like. He had conflicting emotions, simutaneously excited and disappointed. Angry. Estatic, eager. Anxious. All these emotions crowded him, tightening bands around his chest, he was afraid to breath. He stared Alex down. Those eyes were just like his.

“yYou’re right. I thought I had made the right decisions, tried my best. Thought that at least I could provide a good life for you, even if I didn’t know you. But I know now I could have done better. I will do better. If you’ll give me a chance?” He reached a hand forward, leaving it open. Beckoning, offering. A promise.

Somehow he managed to get through the speech without stuttering too much. What was up with that anyway? And provide? Jamie stood, looking down at Alex and his outstretched hand. "You're the one... " he said slowly, things clicking into place. He'd known something was up. Known that there was no way his mother could support them and keep the manor on her art alone. He'd assumed she had some sort of patron, but all along it had been him, his father. His chest felt tight, he couldn't breath. Suddenly Jamie thrust his hand forward, grabbing Alex's with a surprisingly strong grip. "I'll give you a chance. Don't fuck it up." he narrowed his eyes at Alex, trying once again to take his,measure. He still didnt know what to think. His words had surprised even him. He sank back in the chair, breathing quickly as he felt relief from the emotions crowding him. 

[Alecsander]

"You're the one... " he said slowly, things clicking into place. [...] Suddenly Jamie thrust his hand forward, grabbing Alex's with a surprisingly strong grip. "I'll give you a chance. Don't fuck it up."

"I'll do my best." Alex said solemnly, hand folding around Jamie's smaller one in a firm grasp. He couldn't help but chuckle, relief and disbelief. Who could have imagined him here? He sat back again, hands folding around the cup as if to anchor himself. He laughed again, more naturally.

"I hear you've met the girls." Violet was certainly a straightforward girl. And smart, he'd heard she'd figured out on her own Jamie's relationship to her uncle.

"You've got two more cousins, Max and Eden." he continued. "Do you have any other questions? Ask me anything."