Renee / Deirdre / Kait / Pierre - Homecoming - G

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Renee was sitting on her bed, bag packed and ready to go, when the door to her room opened at 10 am sharp with Doctor Rheinegold's usual eccentric knock. He was beaming as he stepped through the door. "Today's your big day, Renee."



"Yes," Renee smiled, rising from the bed. "Is there anything more that needs to be done?"

"Your parents are signing the last of the forms now. Come along, we'll go and see them."

Renee's expression darkened slightly at the mention of her parents. They were the last people she wanted to see right now, and the doctor knew it. Still, it wasn't his fault they had to be the ones to take her out of here, and it had been agreed upon that they would take her straight to Victoria Lane. What more could they do? Her anger was perfectly justified, and she wasn't about to relent.

Still, it felt indescribably good to know that as she stepped out of that room, it was the last time she ever would. Never again would she cross that threshold. One step closer to freedom...

A few of the other patients waved and gave encouraging smiles as she headed down the corridor, but on the whole, the hospital was smothered under a sombre pall. Renee didn't know the whole story, but the rumours were that something dreadful had happened yesterday. Something involving Josie that was far worse than anything that had happened when the demon girl had locked herself in with Renee and Deirdre. Now that she thought about it, even Doctor Rheinegold's supportive smile seemed a little forced, but she was glad to see him make the effort. Despite the circumstances, she had grown to like the man. He was kind and honest, and had a warmth that most other doctors lacked. It was nice to feel that she had made him proud, that she was a success for him.

Even if her problems hadn't been nearly so dire as they had all thought. It really was just a question of faith, after all.

And there they were, her parents. Remy signing the last of the forms, Emilie clinging to him with one hand and waving to her with the other. Her mother was offering a fragile smile, which Renee didn't return, though she did wave. Then she stepped forward and hugged Renee, and it was so forceful that there was nothing she could really do about it except return the embrace lightly until it was finished, and Emilie backed away with tears in her eyes.

"Hello, Renee," her father greeted her, briefly rubbing her shoulder.

"Father," Renee responded coolly. "Are we done here?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Do you need to say any goodbyes?"

Renee turned to the doctor. "Goodbye, Doctor Rheinegold. And thank you. I didn't think you would, but... you did help me."

The doctor smiled, and this time, it didn't seem nearly as strained. "You're quite welcome, Renee. I'll see you soon."

Renee nodded, slightly irked by the reminder that she would still have to return here every day, but it was a small price to pay to be going home to her Deirdre at last. She turned back to her parents and nodded, the three of them walking out of the hospital in silence.

Outside, there was fog rolling over the grounds, but even with visibility at a minimum, something didn't feel right. It was off out here, moreso than it had been inside. As they walked to the carpark, she caught sight of something on the ground, a dark patch in the grass that couldn't have just been mud...

No. It was blood. Well, it made sense that they wouldn't be able to get all of it. How do you go about cleaning grass in fog?

The rumours were true, then. Josie had done something terrible. Were the rumours that she had escaped also true, then? It was worrisome, to be sure. But then, Josie would hardly have any interest in tracking her down, right? She probably had much better things to do. Besides, she had Deirdre to protect her. How many other people could say they were looked after by a demon? Renee was probably one of the safest people in the world.

That's what she kept telling herself, anyway.

The drive to Deirdre's was uncomfortable at best, Renee answering all of her parents' questions monosyllabically. Between her general anger at them and trepidation over Josie's likely escape, it was the best she could do.

But she would be okay once she was home.

And then she was. The car pulled up outside the familiar house on Victoria Lane, and Renee said her hasty goodbyes as she dragged her bag out of the car with her. She was halfway up the path to the front door when she turned and glared at the car until her parents drove off. She didn't want them watching her reunion with the people who really cared about her, even if all they saw was her walking in the front door.

As the car disappeared around a corner, Renee let out a sigh of relief. She felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders now that they were gone. Smiling, her mood infinitely more buoyant now, she stepped up the front door and knocked.

Deirdre knew who it was. She ran to the door and threw it open and propelled herself at her girlfriend, covering her face in kisses. "IU love you I love you I love you I love you!" She squealed, hugging Renee tightly.

Renee dropped her bag immediately and wrapped her arms around the rocket-powered Deirdre monster. Goddess, it was wonderful to have her back in her arms. "I love you too, mon amour!" she grinned, and kissed Deirdre back, never wanting their lips to part again. She had one hand sliding up the back of Deirdre's shirt and another in her hair, hungry for every sensation of this girl that she could possibly feel.

Deirdre kissed Renee back hard before pulling away. If she didn't know, she was going to sex the girl up on the doorstep. "Ahem. Maybe we should go inside. There's a surprise." Deirdre winked.

"Surprise!" Renee squealed, and dragged her bag about half a metre inside before dumping it by the door. She wasn't going to be wearing those clothes again for a while, anyway.

And then there she was. The beautiful girl that she had missed so much, who had been so painfully absent recently. But she was here now, and that was all that mattered.

Kait, as gorgeous as ever, a loving smile warming her features as her eyes sparkled at the sight of Renee.

Renee flew into her arms and held her tightly, burying her face in Kait's hair. "Oh Kait, I missed you so much!"

Deirdre grinned as Kait and Renee embraced. Renee was happy and this was perfect. She excused herself and went into the kitchen, allowing the girls to have some time alone.

Kait clung to Renee as Deirdre left them alone in the room. She raised her head briefly to kiss Renee on the brow, and let herself stay in this embrace for as long a time as possible.

Eventually, she pulled back and took a good, close look at Renee's features. "You're okay?" she asked in concern. "Nothing too horrible going on in that wonderful mind of yours?" Kait added a little caress to the side of Renee's head as she mentioned her mind. "Damn doctors, you are so brave. It's wonderful to see you so well!"

"Nothing horrible," Renee assured her with a smile. "There wasn't a lot of bravery involved, really... just searching. I needed answers, and I suppose in a way, it was a good place to find them. Somewhere without distractions. Somewhere they would kick me up the arse if I didn't find the answers!"

She took Kait's hand lightly in hers and led her over to the couch. The same couch where they had kissed... the memory briefly flashed through Renee's mind, but that was long ago now.

Since then, there had been Jack. Some couch this one was.

She shook those thoughts off and smiled at Kait. "And how are you, my dear? It's been so long!"

"I'm glad," Kait said sincerely. "I hope there wasn't a lot of that? 'Arse kicking' I mean." She said the awkward words with a little smile as she allowed herself to be directed to their couch. It was nice being here. Right. Right that Deirdre knew and was in the next room. No more hiding.

She gave Renee a significant look. "I've been fine. I made the decision to come back to livejournal, for as long as it lasts anyway, just to make sure I could keep tabs of you. I'm not the only one it seems has been long between seeing. I did miss you. I hope you know that?"

"I was worried," Renee replied honestly. "About you, I mean. Scarlett and I both were. You'd been hermitting so much. It was understandable that you couldn't see me all the time, but when it wasn't just me... I thought there might have been something wrong. I'm glad you'll be using your LiveJournal again. Then I won't have to worry so much," she said with a smile, reaching out to lightly touch Kait's hair. Something so simple that had been denied to her for so long. Being locked away for over a month certainly helped you to appreciate the beautiful little pleasures in life...

"Aww, sweetie, I never meant to make you worry." But inside, those words took on a different meaning as for the reason she and Pierre had never told Renee about Tasha. "And I did talk to Scarlett..." She looked to the side, trying to remember the last time the two of them had actually caught up properly, then gave up the argument. "If I had known you worried... You should have come to the dojo before... well, you know, before now." She ducked her head, and lifted it again to the feel of Renee's hand on her hair.

"The dojo? Oh sweetie, you should know by now that the only physical activity I willingly engage in is sex!" She poked out her tongue, just a little bit suggestively, then reached down to take Kait's hand and kiss it softly. "But I will make more of an effort now to see you too, Kait. I promise. It's one thing to live in another country, but with you living ten minutes away... well, we simply have no excuse!"

"That is true!" came a familiar voice from behind them. The only male voice that lived in this house...

"Pierre!" Renee squealed, leaping off the couch to take him in a half-tackle, half-embrace. Not one to be caught unprepared, Pierre lifted Renee off the ground and spun her through the air before setting her down once more.

"Happy birthday, Pierre!" Renee grinned once the room stopped spinning. A look of worry briefly crossed her features. "I was in the mental hospital," she said. At Pierre's confused look, she added, "I didn't get you anything."

"That's okay!" Pierre laughed, and ruffled her hair. "You are the best birthday present I could ever wish for!"

He squeezed Renee's hand then stepped over to Kait, giving her a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Hello gorgeous," he greeted her with a smile.

Kait laughed with her friend. "Did I say you would have to partake? I meant just visit is all," she clarified with a grin and she tapped Renee on the nose with the hand Renee had kissed. "You're absolutely right, there is no excuse."

She almost jumped out of her skin at the sudden agreement coming from behind her. She stayed her enthusiasm at his appearance with the guilt she felt at leaving him to deal with the dojo alone these past weeks.

Standing up, she was more than happy to recieve the kiss on the forehead as she too wished him a very happy birthday. "Hello yourself," she murmured.

"Well, it may be my birthday, but I have a present for you!" Pierre grinned to Renee.

"Deirdre!" he called, stepping over to the kitchen. "Do you want to come see Renee get her present?"

From the next room, both Pierre and Deirdre could hear Renee excitedly squeal, "Present!"

Deirdre kissed Pierre on the cheek and walked back in to the livingroom grinning at Renee and Kait. "Okay I am watching currently!"

Kait raised her eyebrows, uncertain on what this could end up being, but captivated nonetheless.

Pierre led the three beautiful girls upstairs to Renee and Deirdre's room, where he had placed the awkwardly wrapped package upon their bed.

Renee grinned and practically dived onto the bed, before quickly jumping up again and wrapping her arms around Pierre. "Thank you thank you thank you!" She was practically bouncing in her enthusiasm as she returned to the present and tore the wrapping paper off.

Inside was something that she never would have expected to see. A real, fully-functional record turntable. For a music lover, it was an amazing collector's item. She hadn't known that it was even possible to find them anymore...

"Oh, Pierre," she breathed. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much!" She wrapped the boy in another tight hug, tears welling in her eyes at all of the love these three were showing her. "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome," Pierre grinned. "I also found this for you..." He stepped over to the bed and pulled another, smaller, flat package out from behind the pillows. "To start your collection."

Renee made a small noise of appreciation and grinned as she unwrapped the record. Once again, it was something she never thought she would actually see... a copy of the very limited run of Lacuna Coil's KarmaCode LPs.

"Cristina!" she bounced happily, and kissed the picture of the singer with a loud Mwah!

Deirdre giggled as Renee kissed the LP label. "It's like you kissing your twin!" Then she thought of Avery and James and frowned. "Uhm...anyway....Pierre rocks."

"My twin with the less pretty nose," Renee clarified with a wink. "And Pierre does rock. He rocks the rock that rocked the... stones... the Rolling Stones!"

Kait laughed at Renee's remark, but had to say, "Oh no, Renee, I think Deirdre has a point. You do look eerily alike. Perhaps you should take the good with the bad."

To Pierre, she nudged jokingly and said, "Hear that? You rocked the Rolling Stones," with an amused wink.

"Oh yes, Mick Jagger wants my babies," Pierre grinned. "Aaayyyyiiieeee!!" he yelped as Renee dove on him in a frenzy of tickling.

"Don't you make fun of my words!" she laughed as she chased him around the room.

Deirdre's eyes widened and she stepped back. "Be careful, Lovely One, Pierre knows karate!" She called.

"Haaaaiiiyaaaa!!!" Pierre cried, and swept Deirdre off her feet and into his arms in one quick motion. "Stay away, I have a hostage!" he smirked from behind a flailing Deirdre.

Kait laughed out loud and glanced at Renee. "Quick, we should regroup and come up with a plan to get her back to us!!"

"AAUUGGHH!" Deirdre cried, though she wasn't actually worried. "Help help, I'm a hostage!" She yelled inconvincingly.

"Mmmm... oui," Renee said with a sultry smile. She pulled Kait close to her, an arm around her waist, and her other hand against her brow in mock despair.

"Oh, Kait, whatever shall we do? Two beautiful damsels with no man to take care of us, to cherish us and snuggle our warm, supple bodies..."

"Hey! I'll snuggle and cherish your bodies! Remember me! The HOSTAGE!"

"No man but the one who holds hostage the wonderful, hot redhead!" Kait cried, joining in the mock drama in joy. "Warm and supple!" she reminded Deirdre, "You forgot to say 'warm, supple bodies'!"

Deirdre shook her head. "Nononono I didn't forget that part!" She closed her eyes. "Mmmm...nope that part is remembered!"

Pierre looked down at Deirdre, then across the room at the beautifully posed Renee and Kait. They certainly were a tempting sight to look upon, but...

"A bird in the hand," Pierre said with a wink, bouncing Deirdre as if she weighed nothing at all.

Renee narrowed her eyes at Pierre, a devious little smile on her lips. She moved over to the bed and carefully set the record player on the floor out of the way, then beckoned Kait to join her. Renee sprawled out over the bed, her hair pooling about her shoulders.

"Deeeeiiiiirdreeeee..." she called. "You want to come here, don't you? It's only a little jump..."

"Hah! Oh Pierre, I think you better let go of her and let us both go to the kitchen. I recognise that look," she said, hugging Renee and walking towards Pierre.

Deirdre's eyes widened and she whispered into Pierre's ear, "Is she trying to initiate an orgy?"

"What?! No!" It looked impossible for Kait's eyes to be any further opened than they were, so worried was she of causing offence. She looked at Renee quickly. "No, I didn't mean that at all!"

"Well, who are we to deny her?" Pierre asked with raised eyebrows before dropping Deirdre onto the bed with Renee, then pulling Kait down onto the bed with them all as well into a tangle of limbs and laughter.

"Let the debauchery commence!" Renee smirked, burrowing her way into the people pile and trying to snuggle everyone at once.

"Hey! No tickling!" Kait admonished as some of Renee's snuggling poked a ticklish place in her side. "Deirdre, make her stop!!"

Kait's frantic pleas only encouraged Renee, and she wiggled her fingers like little nippers in front of her as she scooted around the bed, pursuing Kait and giggling all the while.

"Eeep!!" Kait cringed and tried to pull away, an idea thwarted right from the start considering that Deirdre was pressed closely on the other side of her. To stop herself from squealing so much, she hid her head defencelessly in Deirdre's side and kicked her leg half-heartedly.

Deirdre just laughed. "You're on your own there, if I thwart her, she punishes me!"

As Kait tried to hide herself in Deirdre, Renee clambered on top of the both of them, somehow managing to straddle both girls and raise her hands like a triumphant conquerer.

"I am king of the girls!" she crowed. "Watch as I survey my lands..." She made a point of letting her eyes roam over both Kait and Deirdre's bodies. "Ruler of all I survey. Veni, vidi, vici. Et cetera," she smirked.

"That's okay, we have many rooms at my house!" Kait said plaintively, her voice muffled. She lifted her head. "You could stay there until Renee says she's sorry!"

She buckled her legs while Renee was on top of them, hoping to catch her off balance. "Leering old woman!" she said.

Deirdre giggled. "Hee heee she's younger than yoouuuu" She pointed at Kait. Renee was straddling her girlfriend and her ex-girlfriend and all Deirdre could think was 'this isn't half bad!' and she smiled devilishly. "I bet we could take her, Kait."

"Ooop!" Renee cried, and tumbled down onto the bed once more. "Who are you calling old?!" she squealed, tickling Kait once more for good measure. "Cradle-snatcher!" She poked out her tongue at the other girl so she would know it was all still in jest.

"We could totally take her!!" she squealed, ducking another of Renee's well aimed attacks to her person. She poked her tongue out, then back in reflexively. Renee had always used to capture her tongue with her mouth and teeth back in France.

Kait blinked, coming back to herself for a moment. "Umm... Pierre? You still here?"

Pierre had propped himself up on the pillows and was just watching the three girls silently with a wistful look in his eyes.

"Oui," he smiled to Kait. "I was just enjoying watching you three having fun. Especially Renee," he said, giving her a loving look. "This is the best birthday party I've ever had."

Pierre was the most beautiful man in the world. It wasn't the first time that Kait had lamented over the fact that she just couldn't see past his maleness to a love of anything other than a friend.

Regardless of that, he, apart from Renee, was the closest friend she had, and even loathe to stop what Pierre so seemed to be enjoying, she pulled Renee close and made the whispered suggestion: "We should all three go close and smother him with kisses."

Deirdre smirked at the suggestion. Pierre was about to be smothered by a bunch of mostly lesbians. Lucky bastard.

"Sounds like a plan," Renee grinned, and together, the three of them advanced on Pierre, who fell back beneath an onslaught of beautiful women... quite happily.

Moments later, the four of them were all crowded haphazardly on top of pillows. Kait reached around and tapped Renee on the top of the head, idly asking, "So, this is your first day out, right? So if you could do anything, what would you like us to make possible for you today?"

Coming practically out of the blue, the question stumped Renee for a moment. She was unused to the freedom... it had already become habit to just stay in the one room. She probably would have stayed in this room with Deirdre, Kait and Pierre all day and not even realised that she'd done it. For a moment, the thought it was even quite disconcerting, but she managed to shake it off. She could certainly see how people became dependant on their institutions, though...

"Perhaps something like we used to do back in France," Renee mused. "But this time we will have Deirdre with us!" she grinned, squeezing her girlfriend close to her. "I think it would be fun to go to Regents Park and take pictures in the mist. We could create some really beautiful images. Then we could go for lunch at Dante's! And... whatever happens after that! I just want to be with all of you," she sighed happily.

Deirdre smiled, "Ooh, I'd love to see the kinds of things you Frenchy hooligans got up to!" She squealed, even though she was aware Kait was not french. She'd been IN France, so it counted. "It sounds wonderful." She said, kissing Renee on the forehead.

Pierre couldn't help thinking that the main hooligan of the group wasn't here, and he was quite happy with that arrangement thank you very much yes indeedy. But there was no point in bringing her up. Today was a happy day, and besides, he didn't want Renee to get it into her head that she would actually want to see Tasha today. Not that he would stop her, but... well, he couldn't imagine anyone actually wanting to accompany her, and Renee needed support right now. So, he kept his mouth shut on that topic.

"Yes! Like old times with Deirdre in them! The way it should have been," he said, giving Deirdre a warm smile. That would have been infinitely better...

Kait blanked her mind to what immediately popped up at Renee's first two sentences. She hoped Pierre hadn't noticed. He was observant like that. But that wasn't what she wanted. Right now, she just wanted to be able to be a good friend to both Renee and Deirdre.

"Dantes," Kait smiled. "That's a great idea. But I didn't bring my camera with me," she pouted.

"That's okay, we can share," Renee smiled, reaching out to stroke Kait's pouty face. "I have two cameras now, my old one and the one Lyn - Deirdre's mam - gave me. So there's nothing to worry about! And look," she added, "all these pretty people to take pictures of!"

"I'll pose! I'm a model!" Deirdre chirped and she leaned in to Pierre. And Pierre so should be. Not to mention you two hotties." She winked.

"Oh no, your old one? You mean the one with the sticky shutter?" Kait's face perfectly illustrated what she thought of that camera. But she sucked it up and looked at Deirdre. "Your mum must be wonderful to think to give a camera for a present. From Renee's glee, I can only assume it's a great one!"

"My mam is a photographer and it was her first camera. It was the perfect present for Lovely One here. She squealed and everything."

Kait grinned at Renee. "I can just imagine. But really? You're mum's a photographer? I mean, sorry. Mam," she corrected herself.

"It could be worse," Renee said, but her tone clearly indicated that she knew quite well that Kait's feelings were perfectly justified. "Well, you could always drop by your house on the way... we would only miss you for ten minutes or so, and as much as I know that you will be mortified to part with me, might it be worth the pain to collect your own, non-sticky camera?" She gave Kait a mischievous Oh, the quandary! smile.

Kait hesitated, then nodded. "I could meet you three at Dantes in about half an hour, if you want?" she offered. "Unless you guys want longer?"

"Or we could go WITH you to get it." Deirdre said, "And you can call her mum, I just say mam as my accent is all odd and foreign! And yes, she's a photographer. Caitlin O'Conner. She has your name but spelled differently!"

"Oh hey, I think I remember Amanda saying something about that one time." Kait squinted, trying to remember. "Of course you could come with me, all of you. We could make it a field trip."

"Will your father not be home?" Renee asked cautiously. She didn't want to cause any more trouble than she already had for Kait in that regard...

"He's... mellowed, of late." Kait didn't really want to go into it right now, but with how encouraging he had been just before she had left, and his knowledge of her lack of social life leading up to now, she had to believe he wouldn't make anything uncomfortable.

Plus, there was also that thing she didn't know about that he wanted to speak to her on tonight.

"Shall we go then?" Kait asked brightly.

Renee seemed unsure, but then, Simeon had let her stay there for quite some time when things were bad. So he couldn't have hated her that much... right?

She nodded, summoning up a smile. "Alright. I'll just get changed into something a little bit more appealing."

And with that, she disappeared into the bathroom with an armful of clothes.

Pierre simply shook his head and smiled as he watched her go. "Some things never change."

"Yes, let's!" Deirdre said, jumping up. She was feeling happier than she had in SO long.