milliways_bar | (no subject)

"Hi, Megan," Dianne says. "It's nice to meet you."

Megan nods, and Liam turns to look up at her, prompting, "What do we say to that, Meggie?"

"You too!"

Dianne's smile widens a bit. "Thank you, love. You are just as sweet as your father said."

"Yes, she is." He grins and swings Megan easily down from his shoulders to the floor, but keeps hold of her hand.

Dianne, surprisingly, continues to smile. "So what brings you two here?" she asks, directed more to Liam than Megan.

"Family stuff", he answers with a smile. "She's sort-of got a cousin now - a good friend of Charlie's just had a baby and he's the only father the kid's got - so Megan has to meet him."

"Oh, how nice," Dianne says. "Is it someone I've met?" she adds, a little doubtfully, because if she'd been talking to someone who'd been pregnant or holding a new baby she probably would have noticed. Still, though. In Milliways, you never know.

"Er, I don't know... Claire? Tiny, blonde, Australian?"

Dianne thinks, then shakes her head. "I'm afraid not. You know, I never met Charlie either, for that matter."

He blinks.

"Didn't you? Huh. Have to fix that, then."

Megan perks up at the mention of Charlie and starts looking around the room for him.

Dianne smiles. "Yes." Normally, she would mention Liam's difficulties earlier, and how angry she was with Charlie until she saw that Liam was doing better, but she doesn't want to upset Megan. "I'm going to try the door today, though. For real this time. So, I don't know. It might just be a case of now or never, depending on the Bar."

"Ah... I don't see him downstairs right now, he must be in his room..."

Megan pouts. Adorably.

Dianne stifles the urge to coo, because she suspects that Megan doesn't appreciate her own cuteness as much as the average adult would. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to get your hopes up."

Liam chuckles and ruffles Megan's hair.

"I'm sure he'll be down later, she can see him then. How long are you staying?"

"Not long," she says. "The longer I wait, the more likely I am to lose my nerve for the hundredth time. But I had to come meet your daughter," she adds.

"I'm glad you did", he answers with a smile. "If Charlie comes downstairs before you go, I'll introduce you."

"That would be nice," Dianne answers. "If I can't get back" - please, please, if she can leave, let her be able to get back - "then I'll always wish I'd met him."

"I can't see why the bar'd keep you out, once it's brought you here", he tries to reassure her.

Dianne smiles a little. "Neither can I, but it seems she does have a mind of her own at times," she says. "For all I know, she's just keeping me here for as long as need be. Until it's safe at home." She really wishes she'd gotten around to trying the door earlier. She rather suspects that she holds some sort of record for Longest Gone Without Checking That You Can Bloody Leave Already.

"Well, we'll see. I hope you can come back, though."

"So do I." She hugs Liam impulsively. Also carefully, so as not to knock Megan off balance.

Liam grins and hugs her back.

Megan promptly latches onto her leg for no apparent reason.

~~As her mun wonders how she missed Liam putting Megan on the floor,~~ Dianne giggles and reaches an arm down to include Megan in the hug.

Megan laughs and hugs her back.

Dianne savors the moment - the warmth and connection - as it might be one of her last in Milliways. "Glad I got to meet Megan, anyway," she murmurs to Liam.