milliways_bar | (no subject)

At the sight of Family Charlie leaves the piano and sweeps Megan up into his arms. "Hullo, baby girl!"

She squeals. Liam grins at him.

"Hey, Charlie."

"Hey." He grins at Liam. "How's life treating the Pace family in the big wide world?"

"Oh, good, good. And you?"

"Just fine." He bounces Megan a little. "Just the usual."

"How's he doing?" Liam asks a little more seriously.

Charlie shrugs. "The same. Exhausted. A bit depressed, I think, too."

Liam frowns. "Still no better physically? And for the depression... he's been through so much."

"Yeah. I know he's hurtingmore than he's telling me." He scowls--and when Megan scowls back, screwing up her little face, he laughs and rests his forehead against hers.

"Uncle Charlie's really worried about his friend," he tells her. "Really, very worried."

She looks worried and pats his face.

"Be okay."

"Yeah, it will." He smiles at her tenderly.

She smiles back. Liam still looks worried.

"If he hasn't got any better, physically, in another few days, maybe you should get one of the healers back in", he suggests.

"If he'll let me." He sighs. "He's not too enthused about healers."

"Even since he came back?"

"Even so. Someone did come up and look at him when he first woke up, but said all he needed was rest. So he's been resting." He starts doing Itsy Bitsy Spider with Megan.

Megan giggles happily. Liam nods. "Who was it who looked him over then?"

Charlie shrugs. "Older bloke. Brusque, but knew what he was doing."*

*we backstaged-it--no time to get everybody online to play it out.

"Right. Still - he's been resting, and if he's no better... has Moiraine been up at all?"

"I haven't seen Moiraine to ask her."

Liam nods, and changes the subject, tickling Megan slightly.

"And how goes Milliways?"

"Oddly quiet, really. No explosions, no barwide love spells, no mysterious noises . . . I expect we'll all turn into pink elephants at some point soon."

Liam chuckles.

"Yeah, this place is never quiet for long."

"And when it is I get suspicious."

"See, that's just good sense."

"And you've missed most of the madness." He grins at Liam.

Liam grins back. "Oh yeah? Well, you'd better catch me up on it, then."

"Did I tell you about Halloween?"

Liam blinks. "Don't think so..."

"On Halloween Bar dressed up just about everybody in whatever costume she felt suited them. Dressed me up as a hobbit.

"But the real insanity was someone attacked the bar, and since she and Bernard are linked he was hurt from it, too. Was out for a month, poor bloke."

Liam winces. "God. Did they find out who?"

"I've never heard. I hope so."

"Yeah, me too."

Megan is glancing between them, evidently worried by their seriousness.

Charlie hugs Megan and says, "Want to sing me another song, Meggie love?"

She nods earnestly and launches into another song right away.

Charlie grins and bounces her on his knees.

Liam watches them, smiling.

He teaches her another song, with very simple hand motions.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You never know, dear, how much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away.

She sings along happily, picking it up fast.

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping,
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken,
So I hung my head and cried.

"My friend Joe says in his time this was a courting song," he tells Liam. "I'm not sure I'd sing it to someone I was courting. It's a bit sad in parts."

Liam grins. "Some of the classics are."

Megan, not knowing the words, has settled for humming the tune.

Back to the chorus, then!

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You never know, dear, how much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away.

And Megan starts to sing again, cheerfully.

Charlie smiles faintly at Liam as he and Megan sing. This is so much better than worrying.

Liam agrees, and smiles back.