Family Reunion

[NebulaFlare]

Rose couldn’t remember the last time she slept this well.

She rolled to her side, pushing the facemask out of her eyes. “Bloody hell,” she murmured, looking around the expanse of the guest bedroom, “Silverstone are bloody rich…”

Not an ounce of luxury was wasted. Lavender-pink walls were adorned with elegant paintings, some depicting landscapes of faraway colonies. The window filtered sunlight into the room, gracing an ornament rug. One wall was transformed into an aquarium, with different species of aquatic creatures milling around. The cozy queen-sized bed snuggled against Rose’s delicate frame, beckoning her to return to dreamland.

She pushed herself up, shaking herself of the desire for more sleep. Never rest, don’t let your guard down. There was a knock on the door. “Lady Rose?” a voice called.

“Uh, yeah?” she asked, quickly fixing up her camisole. “Who’s that?”

“Ah, it’s only I, Lady Rose,” the voice replied. “Vincent. Master Edward and Master Hawk are waiting for you downstairs. They wish for you to join them for breakfast.”

“Oh. Uh, I’ll be right there,” Rose called out. “Lemme just…change.” She said, quickly looking around the room. The only clothes she had brought in here were what she wore last night. Boots, cargo pants, and a tanktop with a little tear on the side – unceremoniously tossed ontop of a Victorian chair. She climbed out of the bed and grabbed the tanktop, bringing it to her nose. Dammit, she frowned. It stinks like yesterday sweat and engine fumes. “Yeah…um, gimme a minute.”

“Of course, Lady Rose,” Vincent replied from outside. “Take your time.”

Bloody hell, I’ve never been called a ‘Lady’ before. Rose looked around. “Um, okay,” she called back. “Thanks.”

Vincent paused outside the door. “By the way, a maid came by earlier, and left a clean change of clothes for you in the drawer. We hope it’s to your taste.”

Maids and butlers. They’re rich enough to hire mais and butl – wait, someone came into my room while I was asleep…bloody hell. She walked over to the drawers and pulled them open, nearly stunned at the gorgeous blouses and dresses at her disposal. “Nice…”

“Lady Rose. Just remember Master Edward is very insistent you join the family for breakfast.”

“Will do,” Rose replied, grabbing a tanktop at the top of the pile. “Thanks.”

--

Rose opened the door to the dining room, stopping in her tracks. “Um. Hi.”

Hawk Silverstone looked up from his plate, blinking once. “Oh. Hi Rose.”

Rose glanced awkwardly around the room. Both Edward and Hawk were dressed in uniform – Edward in a well-fitted outfit of the Sol Alliance Military, and Hawk in his cadet uniform. A wooden cane rested against the table next to Edward. Hawk’s PDA laid next to him, the screen opened to what seemed like schedule book. Rose stood at the entrance of the room, suddenly conscious about her choice for casual tanktop and jeans.

Edward glanced over at Hawk. “Hawk,” he said, “you better get going. I don’t want you to be late.”

Hawk quickly set his fork down. “Right..sorry.” He stood up, grabbing his PDA and his backpack. “Laters,” he said, edging around the table. “Um, excuse me,” he said, glancing at Rose.

Rose darted her eyes over to Hawk. They both had green eyes. “Huh?” she asked.

“I…” Hawk gestured behind Rose. “Door.”

“Oh. Yeah, no problem,” Rose said, stepping to the side to let him pass. She tracked his movements as he ducked out the door, quickly heading down the hall.

Tell me to hurry up to ‘join the family,’ then send my brother away. Rose turned back to Edward. “Hi,” she said.

Edward gestured to the empty seat across of him. “Rose, have a seat.”

Commanding tone, slightly controlling. Rose nodded, pulling the chair out and sitting down. Probably proud. He likes to flaunt superiority. “What’s up?”

Edward glanced over Rose. “…You’re very different from Hawk.”

“We grew up with different lives,” Rose answered.

Edward paused, studying her. “Rose,” he finally said, straightening in his chair. “Let me make this clear. You’re a Silverstone now,” he said. “And we have a respectable reputation to uphold.”

Rose’s trigger finger twitched. Just slightly. Thorns…she doesn’t like this guy. “I’m not doing anything to disrespect the Silverstone, sir.” Rose answered.

“Please,” he said. “I’m your uncle. You don’t need to call me ‘sir.’”

“Habit.”

He nodded. “Tell me about yourself, Rose Watson.”

--

“So what kind of weird name is Hawk?” Rose asked.

Hawk glanced over his shoulder. Rose leaned against the railing outside the combat simulator, one hand holding an apple, the other holding a pocket knife. She cut a piece of fruit out, holding it out to Hawk. “Want?”

Hawk shook his head, “No thanks,” he said. He grabbed a towel nearby and wiped his face. “…what are you doing here?”

“I was bored and decided to explore the mansion,” Rose answered. “Didn’t expect to find you.”

“Oh, well. Yes. Um, this is our gym,” Hawk said. “I was just practicing.”

“It’s a nice gym,” Rose said. Like everything else in this place. “You train often?”

“I…try to get at least half an hour a day,” he said.

Rose cut herself another piece of fruit. “Your punches are too stiff,” she said. “you’re gonna hurt yourself if you don’t loosen your shoulder.”

Hawk walked over, leaning against the railing. “You know how to fight?”

“Tch,” Rose smiled. “I went through the NT bootcamp too.”

“Right,” Hawk said, face going a bit red. “Sorry.”

“Relax,” Rose said, holding out another slice of apple. “Here. I stole it from the kitchen.”

“It’s technically not stealing if it’s from our kitchen,” Hawk said, accepting the fruit. “Thanks.”

Rose nodded, cutting herself another piece of fruit. Hawk stood next to her, equally silent. “Sorry,” he finally said, “Um. Still trying to get around the idea that you’re…well-”

“What?”

“That you’re my sister.”

“Half-sister,” Rose said, handing him another piece of fruit. “Yeah…I know. Shocked me too when I found out I had a brother. Although to be fair,” she nodded, “I’ve had over a year to get used to the idea.”

“…Why’d you help me?” he asked.

Rose paused, glancing over. “Because you’re my brother.”

“We’ve never even met,” he said. “Two months ago I was ready to face trial for murder. And then charges get dropped, and they catch the real guy.” Hawk shook his head. “I’m just – so much has happened in so short a time. Then you come out of nowhere and tell me you’re my half sister.”

Rose remained silent, cutting herself another piece of fruit.

“Did you have something to do with it?” he asked.

“…Maybe.”

“Maybe? My father died after meeting you. All I know is you’re some HoS cadet who went AWOL for over a year, then randomly resurfaced. Our DNA says you’re my sister, but I don’t even know who you are.”

Rose shut her eyes. “Hawk..”

“Rose. You at least owe me an explana-“

“Hawk,” she put her hands up. “Please.” she whispered softly. “Not yet. The shit-hell you went through –I swear I had nothing to do with it.” She looks over, eyes watering. “Just believe me when I say, I did everything I could to protect you. In whatever way I could. But I barely even remember what I did. There are huge chunks of my memory just…gone. I don’t remember.”

Hawk looked away. “…That sounds really convenient,” he said bitterly.

“It’s the truth, and I don’t know what else to say,” she sighed. “I didn’t kill our father. Please stop blaming me for that. I got kidnapped because our father was supposed to escort something extremely important for NT,” she shut her eyes. “After I got rescued, that was the first and only time I ever met him. Then he got killed. I don’t know, the police don’t know. They went after you next because you’re his son.”

Hawk looked away, eyes equally watering.

“I just didn’t want to lose the one chance I had. I just found out I have a family here. Please, don’t push me away.”

Hawk took a deep breath, letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s fine,” Rose murmured. “I’m sorry too.”

“You will explain it to me one day, right?”

“…I will.”

“You promise.”

“I do,” she nodded. “Just, please. Give me time. I need time to heal.”

Hawk nodded. “Take the time you need, Rose. No one’s gonna rush you.”