first_in_time | Zagreus Sits Inside Your Head (for Splendid

Barbara looked out at the view as Ian put the last of their things in the car. From the front door of the little Bed and Breakfast, she could see beautiful rolling hills for miles. The last of the morning was being chased away as the sun rose higher in the sky, thawing everything out. Even the cows seemed more active on one particular hill.

"I wish we could stay for a little longer," she sighed to Ian, turning her back on it all so that it might be easier to leave. Her arms folded, one hand still held on to the key they were yet to return. "I don't suppose your car has a secret time traveling device so we can spend an extra few weeks here?"

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From:

first_in_time

Barbara hasn't even bee thinking about her mother - what were they going to do there? She put a plate of toast for them to share in Ian's hand.

"I suppose I'll have to give her a call, too. The sooner the better." Barbara bit her lip a little before heading toward the telephone.

The call itself went alright. Her mother had had a good week in her various activities, so her suspicion levels were low when Barbara asked if the three of them could walk around the local gardens this morning. Hopefully that meant she wouldn't be easy to irritate, too.

"We're meeting her in about an hour and a half for a walk. That should give us enough time to tell her and put her mind at ease before seeing your parents."

From:

splendid_roman

Ian was looking forward to telling Barbara's mother even less than his, but at least they could get it out of the way. By the time Barbara returned from her phone call Ian had finished his tea and eaten a slice of toast.

"She can't say too much if we're out on a walk." And Ian could lag behind a bit, if necessary, so Joan couldn't see him easily. He pushed the plate of toast over towards Barbara and leaned back in his chair. "I think I'll be happier once we've got telling our parents over and done with."

From:

first_in_time

"Today is going to be a very long day indeed," Barbara sighed as she sat and forlornly picked up a piece of toast. "I hate the idea of our parents being upset with me but they just couldn't understand how much I didn't want what they were asking for."

From:

splendid_roman

"They'll come round in the end," he said optimistically. He hoped they would anyway. "It's not as if they can do anything about it anyway."

From:

first_in_time

"No but they might try," she said after finishing a mouthful. She was particularly worried about her own mother and thus had thought walking around a public garden would help things; there'd be fewer sharp, pointy objects she could pick up and threaten Ian with.

"At least we're not doing it alone."

From:

splendid_roman

"No, we're not," he said softly. He sat back up and took her free hand. "We both know we did the right thing. And if it comes to it we can always just leave and let them get used to the idea."

From:

first_in_time

"That is true," she replied, looking down at her hand in his. She was so very lucky to have Ian for the rest of her life. "I just hope that it doesn't come to that."

From:

splendid_roman

"Maybe it won't," he said optimistically, wanting to cheer her up. "Maybe they'll be happy that we're happy and didn't squander our money on our wedding when we could be saving it for a house instead."

From:

first_in_time

"Maybe," she smiled up at him then finished her tea. "We should probably start getting ready soon. I'll get dressed if you'll clean up here. Shouldn't take long."

From:

splendid_roman

"All right." When he stood up he stopped to kiss her before collecting their plates and mugs and taking them to the kitchen to wash up. Once that was done he went back to the bedroom and picked up the clothes that had ended up on the floor the day before.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara had halted her dressing mid-way to start digging into their luggage. She'd had an idea that simply couldn't wait until she was dressed.

As Ian entered, she glanced up at him. "Do you think we should give the portraits to our parents now? As a peace offering?"

From:

splendid_roman

"That's a good idea. We can distract them with them if they complain." He put his dirty clothes in the wash and went looking for new ones. He'd managed to rearrange everything before they went to Scotland to make some space for Barbara, which meant he couldn't find anything. He ended up opening all the cupboards and drawers before he managed to get a full set of clothing.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara had found the pictures in the suitcase she hadn't been looking in originally (of course), and put them carefully to the side before continuing dressing. She managed to find a pair of clean trousers and a nice shirt so that she still looked presentable while being comfortable enough to walk.

"Do you have any wrapping paper or nice bags we could put them in?" she asked Ian as he was doing up his buttons.

From:

splendid_roman

"I don't know." He thought about it while he tucked his shirt in and then folded down the collar. He definitely didn't have anything that could be described as a nice bag, but wrapping paper was something he used. "There should be some wrapping paper in the lounge. I'm not sure how much is left, though." He usually ran it down until he didn't have enough to wrap presents with and then had to rush out and buy some.

From:

first_in_time

She went and looked to find a few scraps of Christmas paper and some baby blue paper, presumably from something he had to wrap for one of his nephews. Still, it was nice enough to use and she got to work. Once both pictures were wrapped and presentable, she went to fix her hair.

Barbara's hip nudged Ian's as they stood at the sink together. "I've left the pictures on the counter. Please don't let me forget them."

From:

splendid_roman

"I won't," he promised, not pausing his shaving. But while he rinsed the razor out in the sink. "Is there enough space for all your stuff in the bathroom?" There was space around the sink for her toothbrush and toothpaste, but there wasn't any storage space for anything else, unless she lined it up along the edge of the bath.

From:

first_in_time

"We'll find room, and if not we can put some in the bedroom or buy a shelf to put somewhere. We'll find out when we get back and unpack." Barbara put an arm around him and kissed his cheek before digging around to find her hairbrush and start on her hair.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian put a briefly hand on her shoulder and started on his teeth. It would be easier when they bought a house, but they couldn't afford that just yet. It was just as well he didn't have a lot of stuff, although they both had quite a few books.

Then he was ready to go, although they didn't need to leave quite yet, so he settled on the sofa with the book he'd been reading the night before.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara made sure that her hair was just right and she was perfectly presentable before leaving the bathroom (although she did have to dash back into the bedroom once to find some things from her suitcase).

"Are you ready?" she asked once she felt adequate.

From:

splendid_roman

"Yes." Although he finished the page before looking up. "Let's go and brave the... parents." At the last minute he substituted a word before she complained about how he described her mother.

From:

first_in_time

Her eyebrow raised but Barbara said nothing. She handed Ian his keys and walked out the front door, leaving it open for Ian to follow. While she was slowly walking down the first couple of steps, Ian's landlady happened to be coming up.

"Back for breakfast?" she asked Barbara happily, a knowing twinkle in her eye.

From:

splendid_roman

At least now Barbara could have legitimately stayed overnight. Having locked the door Ian came up behind Barbara in time to have heard the question. He took her hand, grinned, and said, "No, we got married last week."

"Congratulations," she said, sounding pleased for them. "I was expecting an invite." She didn't sound too upset about not having got one though.

From:

first_in_time

"Well we...didn't invite anyone,: We eloped to Scotland." Explaining it put a wide grin on Barbara's face and she quickly leaned over to kiss Ian's cheek.

"What did your parents have to say about that?" she asked cheekily.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian squeezed Barbara's hand. Even mention of their parents didn't dull Ian's enthusiasm at telling someone they were married. "That's what we're going to found out. Wish us luck."

"Good luck," she said amiably. "But I'm sure you won't need it."

As they all went on their way Ian was cheered by her optimism. "If only they react like she did, we'll be all right," he said to Barbara in a low voice.

From:

first_in_time

"We just have to keep telling ourselves that they're our parents and they love us. Even if they're not happy now, they will be in time." And Barbara would keep telling herself that, even if she didn't feel that way.