The Lost Girl (Complete)

Chapter Twenty Four - Green Goo & Giggles

Gasp...

"She came..."

Further gasps...

"And then he..."

Judging by the way that her uncle was clutching at his stomach while sitting at the dinner table, Celestia guessed that Sean still hadn't gotten over the events of the afternoon. Two hours sitting in the hospital while Owen was subjected to a variety – some of which were probably unnecessary – tests.

She still felt completely mortified about how she'd burst into the emergency room thinking that her poor Uncle Owen was having a heart attack.

"Really, Sean, do you have to pick on the two of them so much?" Sang murmured as she deposited another dish onto the table. "I actually feel quite proud of Celestia. She suspected that Owen needed medical attention and she took immediate action. Would you be laughing if she'd just assumed that it was a little bit of panic and ignored it?"

Face almost planted into the table top, Celestia couldn't help but feel a little relieved that someone was trying to break up the good-natured teasing. It wasn't that she felt bad or overly embarrassed about taking Owen to the hospital, she just wished that it hadn't turned into such a spectacle.

"Of course not, Pookie," Sean blurted just as a hand came down to land on Celestia's back, her body jolting in reaction.

"Enough, Sean," North grunted, waiting until his tiny niece was sitting straight in her seat once again. "Tease Owen later, its dinner time and you're making an ass of yourself."

With a suitably contrite smile, Sean settled down as everyone finished taking their places, the atmosphere relaxed as hands starting passing dishes around at a dizzying rate. It wasn't that Celestia hadn't experienced a meal with the Blackbourne family but she still felt slightly out of place – just waiting to make a fool of herself, every movement measured.

"So, overall, how did the car go, Tia?" Silas asked in his rumbling voice, eyes flicking between his wife and children as he continued to pile his plate with an alarming amount of food.

Clearing her throat, she pushed around the peas on her plate, "I thought it was going ok. I guess I'll need to take some more lessons off the road before I can actually drive it though."

"Because Owen pretty much shit his pants?" Gabe swallowed his mouthful, expression surprisingly serious even as his electric blue eyes sparkled. "I wouldn't let his little problem today discourage you. You passed the test at school didn't you?"

"Well," she cleared her throat, "I did but today was the first time that I've been behind the wheel since then. I don't mind having to go for more lessons."

"You start work next Monday so we need you on the road otherwise you won't be able to get between there and school on time."

"If I may," Owen dotted the area around his mouth, the blush that he'd been wearing all afternoon finally gone, "although my reaction was quite unexpected, I believe that your skills were no worse than Gabriel's himself and he's been driving for twenty years. Don't let this discourage you." He smiled at her across the table, "Also, I need to thank you for caring for me."

Face flaring up at Sean's stifled giggle, Celestia tried for a shy smile as her shoulders finally loosened for the first time in hours, "You're welcome. Thank you for taking me out today."

... ... ...

"Is this really what we're meant to do?" Celestia asked, swiping a finger down the length of her face. It wasn't that she wanted to protest but the feel of the drying mask was beginning to make her skin itch.