darker_london | Love! In a way... (Quinn, Family) (Reply)

Quinn hadn't been expecting it. Not even a little. But his mother was in the same room with his Aunt Maree and his Uncle Bob for the first time in over ten years, and they were all fighting. Over him.

After Quinn had arrived back home in Whitehead after running away and living on the streets for four months, just to be with Flynn, there had been repeated threats against his safety by Flynn's former fellow PIRA members. Quinn, then going by his first name, Ardal, had been sent away to live with his Aunt and Uncle in the English countryside. His parents had actually given up their parental rights and Bob and Maree had adopted Quinn so that they could make decisions about his schooling and if there were any issues with his health, they would legally be in charge. Ardal Quinn had become Ardal Wakefield. Eamon, Bob and Maree's son had been the one to coin the nickname 'Quinn' as it had been Quinn's former surname. And he said it fit better than 'Ardal' did. Quinn agreed. He also never regretted being sent to Bob and Maree's in the least. It was a nurturing environment where he was loved for who he was. Something his parents had never done. They hadn't accepted him or his relationship with Flynn because it was a homosexual relationship.

Quinn hadn't even spoken to his parents again until he'd been diagnosed with a genetic disease. Then he'd had to speak to them to tell them to get tested. And it was then that Susanna Quinn finally decided to get to know her son as an adult. And she liked what she found. So much so, that she was no arguing with Bob and Maree about where Quinn was going to spend his birthday. Quinn rather thought he was going to spend it at home with Flynn, quite naked, with a bottle of champagne and lots and lots of chocolate.

And then the topic moved to Quinn's graduation. Quinn was in the running for a University medal because of his stellar results. And instead of celebrating, his parental units were fighting over it. "I knew he was going to be brilliant. He used to read to us when he was about 6. Big books. Big for a child." Susanna informed them.

"Did you listen?!" Maree shot back, seemingly shocked that her sister remembered something about the son she'd sent away.

"Of course we listened!" Susanna sighed. "We gave him an excellent start in life. He gained a good study ethic because of what we taught him. He deserves this medal."

"Of course he deserves it, but not because of what you taught him. He did this himself!" Bob interjected.

"Guys, really, it's-" But Quinn was cut off.

"It doesn't matter." Susanna hissed. "Ardal, Darling, after you graduate, you'll come out to dinner with me, right?"

"Er..." Quinn looked torn.

"We can all go out to a big dinner." Maree suggested. "You and your Flynn and your family." She included Flynn because she knew it was a sore spot with Susanna. Or it had been, though Susanna was warming to Flynn because he oozed charm and sweetness.

"It should be a nice dinner with his mother." Susanna growled.

"The mother who gave him up?!" Maree yelled.

Quinn had had enough. He actually didn't mind the fighting...it felt nice to be wanted, actually. It really did. He just clearly wasn't needed, that was all. He stood up, unnoticed, and he slipped upstairs to his room where he pulled his cat, Booster, into his lap. "I promise never to fight over you, Big Guy." Quinn said to Booster. "Everyone knows better than to challenge me anyway."

Booster looked up at him and mewed.

Downstairs, the battle waged on. Eamon glanced around and he chuckled to himself. "Er...guys? Q left!"

The three of them took no notice. And they continued to argue about who loved Quinn more.