Waiting For Sunrise - The Books Of Beginning AU

7. Friends, Thieves, And Rumors

Supper was served in the basement, at two long tables that were actually several smaller tables pushed together to create the long ones. A mismatch of benches and stools and chairs sat around them, and the hungry, chattering group of children occupied them, reaching across the table for dishes of bread, ladling stew into their bowls. Emma's stomach growled as she smelt it, reaching for a spoon to fill her own bowl as soon as Michael finished filling his.

Kate took her own first bite of meat and potatoes and carrots in a savory broth, and it was one of the most delicious things she had tasted in a long time. She looked for the head of the kitchen, waving to Addie and calling, "you're incredible!"

Addie grinned back, half teasing, half confident. "Oh, I know. But I'm glad you like it!"

"Thank you!" Kate said sincerely, before applying herself back to her meal. If Addie's leadership and confidence in her role hadn't given away the fact that she absolutely deserved her position and a heaping ton of respect for it, the quality of her food would have. 

The three children, all who had received their portions of stew and bread by now, were seated on a bench at the table to the left, along with Abigail. There was shouting and laughing and Abigail was joining in, yelling taunts and teases to Sam and some of the others at the other table. It was completely different from the orphanage, where Mrs. Crumley made them whisper and sometimes even eat in silence. It was overwhelming, and they loved it all the same. Emma even found herself laughing too, though she didn't get any of the inside jokes.

"Well, you three look comfortable," a familiar voice broke through the background noise. Jake and Beetles had slid into seats across from the siblings and Abigail, the latter who groaned at the sight of them.

"Stop looking so smug!"

"Why Abigail," Beetles drawled dramatically, a little smile on his face, "whatever do you mean?"

Abigail huffed, "you two think just 'cause you brought these three 'round and you managed to skip potato peeling, you're the bloody kings of the world."

Jake smirked. "I was going to say kings of New York, but if you really think that..."

"Ugh!" She slammed a fist on the table. "Why do you make it your mission to torture me?"

"It's just so easy," Jake began.

"And we're so good at it," Beetles added.

Abigail made a growling noise at the snickering pair, but before she could do something, a crust of bread was launched across the table with impressive accuracy, hitting Beetles in the eye. "Hey!"

Emma looked very pleased with herself. Abigail hummed appreciatively, "nice aim."

"Thanks," she grinned widely, "as your new friend, I say we team up and get revenge on these two for all the stupid things they do."

Emma held out her hand and Abigail rung it enthusiastically, "great idea!"

"What?" Jake yelled, "you can't do that!"

Emma stuck her tongue out at him, "yes I can! And you two brought me here so it's all your own faults."

Abigail was laughing now, so hard she clutched her side. It was clear she and Emma were going to get on incredibly well, and it was just as clear this new duo of stubborn girls was absolutely destined to end up in a mischievous rivalry with the two boys sitting across for them. 

Damn, were the savages in for it, Kate thought with amusement. That amusement only grew when she saw the look on Michael's face as he realized just how many troublemakers surrounded him - and were already bonding with his little sister. The poor boy looked like he was about to face his demise. Kate knew it was rude to be giggling over it, but she had always found her siblings' childish antics funny, even when she was the one exhausted from having to clean up their messes.