birds of a feather, obx

037. routledge family reunion

Rosie tightly holds onto Cleo's hand as they walk up to the chateau. Her grip only tightens the closer they get to the girl's home.

"Relax, little pogue. Gonna cut my hand off with that grip." Cleo remarks.

"Sorry." Rosie mumbles, trying to loosen her grip up.

"There's nothing to be nervous about." Pope assures. "I'm sure they're both super excited to see you."

"I'm still mad at John B." Rosie frowns. "He's been back for days and still hasn't seen me. Not to mention leaving in the first place. And dad left, I'm mad at him, too."

"And your anger is totally valid." Pope says. "Just... give 'em a chance. Act civil, at least."

"You act civil." Rosie grumbles, not having any other response.

They make their way to the backyard where the other pogues already are with the two Routledges.

"Hey!" John B grins when he spots his little sister. "Rosie Posie!"

"John B." Rosie grumbles. The said boy instantly deflates at her tone and lack of any excitement. He frowns at the use of his name, the girl never calling him that once in her entire six and a half years of life. He's always been "JB" and he really can't recall a single moment she's uttered the name "John." She always said it was too boring.

"Hey, baby girl." Big John smiles and he walks over to her. "Oh, you've grown. What, are you a foot taller, now?" He picks her up, tightly hugging her.

"I dunno." Rosie shrugs.

"I missed you, kiddo." Big John hugs her, rubbing her back.

"I missed you, too." Rosie mumbles, lightly patting his back in return. The frown remains on her face as she rests her head on his shoulder. After months of believing he was dead, being back in his arms feels so weird.

After a bit, Big John puts her down, starting to mess around with the others. Rosie stays back, only looking away when she hears grass rustle from beside her.

"Can I get a one-way hug too?" John B asks. "Please."

Rosie shrugs.

"That's not a yes." John B says.

"It's... not a no." Rosie says with a grimace.

John B smiles and crouches down, gently wrapping his arms around her. His grip tightens after a moment, holding her closer, even though she doesn't hug him back. At least he knows she's safe.

"I'm really sorry." He quietly says.

"You left. And you took days to see me again." Rosie glares at him, wrestling out of his hold.

"I know. I know, Rosie. I'm sorry." John B tells her.

"Whatever." She huffs, marching away from him. John B sighs, watching after her sadly.

~ ~ ~

They're sitting around in the yard while John B goes over everything he and has dad have been doing since they found each other, specifically since they've been back home. Rosie is curled up on a lawn chair and Cora quickly made herself comfortable on Sarah's lap.

"Yeah, yeah, so we, um... we went to the archives in Charleston and, uh... it was-- it was a dead end." John B says. "A dry hole. So..."

"So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado." Pope says. "We're three for three, guys." He throws the stick he was holding. "The streak continues." He says, walking off. "That's great."

"Mini pogues?" Cleo asks.

"I can keep my kid." Big John says.

"No." Rosie denies. "I wanna go home with Pope. I want my free ice cream." She gets up, rushing over to Cleo and holding her hand.