SONS OF THE FATHERS

Chapter 22:  Photo Op

Dess might be a combination of Maximus and Joimus, but Livi would be MaxiSid.  How perfect! A whole new generation to carry on the legacy! Sid's lips curved into a huge, satisfied grin. Could life get any better than that?  He kissed Livi's forehead.  "Mine," he said, lifting the baby and lightly tapping its forehead with his own.  "Strength and honor." Then he laughed.  
******************
In the morning, Maximus took Himself aside and in quiet tones explained where he had found Sid, Bunny, and the baby.  "They need to be gotten out of there before the security people discover them," he said, adding, "for Bunny and the child's sake."

His eyes locked seriously onto Himself's.  "I would go myself, but...," he indicated his cape and armor, "I tend to stand out more in a crowd."

Himself smiled at the General.  "True," he nodded.  His mind ran down the list of his characters, trying to think which of them would blend in most easily with a group of Sydney tourists.  He decided Andy and Johnny would probably attract the least attention to themselves.  Terry could handle the situation well, but the guards were already too aware of him.  Somehow the K&R agent's camo didn't serve to hide him all that well in metropolitan Sydney.  

"I'll speak with Andy and Johnny," he said to Maximus.  

The General nodded, liking the choices.  "Good," he said.  "They need to be back here on Woolloomooloo so that I...we...can keep an eye on them." He turned as his bedroom door began to open.  "Joimus, Dess, and I are going to take a walk to the Macquarie Chair.  She has something she needs to...return."  

Himself cocked a curious eyebrow but didn't ask questions.  Maximus smiled as Joimus crossed the room, Dess in her arms.  The baby was bundled for the outing in a red wool bunting with a fur-lined hood. Rose had made it for him and when Joimus placed Dess in the crook of his father's left arm, the two Meridius males matched so well in their attire that Himself could not suppress a fond grin.  "Has he unleashed hell yet?" he asked, still grinning widely.

Joimus laughed.  "So far he unleashes...other...things."

"Frequently," Maximus added, dipping his head slightly and chuckling.

Himself left the apartment with them, though as they continued on down the Wharf, he turned into the entrance of the W.  Finding Johnny and Mary in the lobby, he asked them to come with him up to Andy and Anna's room.

"I need your help," he said, immediately gaining their full attention. "Maximus has told me where Bunny and her baby are.  They must be brought back to the Wharf before the security guards find them."

"Sure," Andy grinned.  "Piece of cake. "

"Devil's food cake," Anna shuddered.  "Don't forget Sid is with them."

"She's right," Johnny agreed, a serious look on his young face.  "Sid may not like the idea at all."

"You'll think of something," Himself smiled.  "After all, both of you are....me."

"Not exactly," Mary amended.  "Technically, you were both of them, but they are not actually you, you know."

Himself opened his mouth to reply but thought the better of it.  Epis were unexplainable by their very nature and were best left so.  Instead, he told them about the room under the Reception Hall and that they should pass themselves off as local blokes taking their girls on a tour of the Opera House.  "That's why you're so perfect for this job...not a cutlass, a bear fur hat, or a dusty parson's suit between you."

"I always sorta wanted...greaves," Andy cracked, rolling his eyes.  

This was the first time either of them had been back to the area of the sandstone outcropping since Dess' birth, and both Maximus and Joimus found themselves flooded with memories. Joimus reached into her pocket, cupping her hand around Elizabeth's brooch.  The crisp winter morning was so different from the night she had waited alone while Maximus went back to get his cape, yet without even closing her eyes she could see it as it had been then, the moonlight revealing the deep crack under the bench.  

 

Maximus pressed his lips together, recalling all too clearly that sudden clutch in his chest when he'd discovered she was gone, the only trace of her being the half-embedded gossamer scarf.  

They paused in the flat space in front of the bench, both realizing that it was the exact spot where they'd...intersected...one another across the boundaries of time.  Maximus reached out his right hand, lightly touching her hair, looking into her face.  A tear tracked silently down her cheek as she relived the absolutely exquisite bittersweet pain of that moment.  "Together...yet so far apart," she whispered, turning her damp cheek into his palm.  "But you knew...you knew I was here."

His slid his hand down a bit, tilting her chin up.  "Red always...always... knows when yellow has come."

A little strangled sound burst through her lips.  "I said the same thing...those exact words...to Elizabeth when she asked if you knew I was here."

He pulled her more closely to him so that both she and Dess were in the circle of his arms.  She leaned into him as though standing in the lee of some great oak, absorbing the very shelter of his presence.  He, in his turn, was aware of the strength in his arms, in his hands curved about his wife, his son, ...yet...would the day come that his mind did not cast itself back to the abject helplessness of Spain?

Johnny, Mary, Andy, and Anna mingled with the large crowd taking the 10:30 AM tour of the Opera House.  They stayed with it for a while, but when the opportunity arose, slipped quietly down the steps to the lower level.  "This way," Andy said, leading the way to the door of the room underneath the reception hall.  He tried the knob and, finding it unlocked, opened the door just enough to peer inside.  

Bunny sat in the rocker, a bemused expression on her face as Sid, sitting cross-legged atop the bed with Livi in his arms,  read to the baby.  "He needs an early start in understanding the ways of the world," he had announced a few minutes earlier.  "So I'm going to read him a nice story about a kid and a dog."  

Andy's eyes open widely as he listened.  "And so...," Sid read, "Cujo lunged once again at the car's windshield...."

Shutting the door, Andy turned to his three curious companions in the hallway.  "He...he's reading the baby...Stephen King."

"WHAT?" Mary said, a bit too loudly, as the door was suddenly flung open and Sid stood there, baby in arms, glaring at them.  

"YOU!" he snapped, glowering at the four of them.  "What are you doing lurking outside my door?"

"Um...um...," Johnny gulped, searching for something to say.  "We...we...."

"We heard you were a father, Sid," Andy added, jumping in quickly.  "And...and...."

"We hoped you would, um, let us see, um, your baby," Anna continued.  She moved her eyes from Sid's face down to the baby in his arms, unable then to stifle the gasp that escaped her at the sight of his appearance.  He was a perfect little clone of the great General.  

Sid, pleased by her reaction, smiled.  "Beautiful, isn't he?"

Anna had lost her voice for a moment, so Mary supplied, "He truly is, Sid."  Though she, too, was thunderstruck by the child's looks.  Her mind was working rapidly.  How to get them back to the Wharf?  "Um," she resumed, "Steve had an idea, Sid."

"What?" Sid asked, his eyes narrowing a bit.

"Um, he said he would be, um, honored if...if...he could take some photographs of you with, um, your son today.  Back at the Wharf.  He'd need to do it back at the Wharf, you know, so the security guards wouldn't see."

Sid just stared at her a while, considering her words.  He knew they just wanted to get Bunny and his kid out of the Opera House.  Still, the guards would eventually discover their location so maybe it wasn't such a completely bad idea to leave now.  He turned to look at Bunny, who had risen and was standing near the rocking chair.  "You can travel?"he asked.  She nodded.  

Looking back at the others, he asked, "How did you know where to find us?"

"Maximus," Johnny offered.  "He told Himself."

"Maximus?" Sid repeated softly, raising an eyebrow.  Ah, the good General must have stumbled upon this room yesterday.  Hmmmmm? Why hadn't he been aware of that? Ah, well...if that were the case, then Maximus would have seen them together.  Sid smiled more widely at that thought.  Probably he had...suffered.  Nice! Very, very nice! "And the General, how is he...doing?"

"Better today, I hear," Johnny said.  "I understand he had a bit of a hard go of it last night, though."

"Ah, well...too bad...too bad," Sid said, the smile in his eyes belying his words.  He looked down at Livi again.  "My son and I would be...glad... to pose for Steve's camera."  Lifting his eyes, he added dismissively, "Go along now.  We'll be there around noon."  He stepped back into the room, closing the door and locking it.

The four in the hallway were left exchanging puzzled, worried looks. "Should we just...go?" Anna asked.  

"Do you think he'll really come?" Andy wondered.

"I think he will," Mary finally stated.  "I could tell he likes the idea of being photographed with the baby."

"The baby!" Johnny whistled.  "Did you LOOK at the baby?"

"Maximus, Junior," Andy said.  Shaking his head, he added, "Blows my mind."

"What about the General's mind?" Anna asked.  

"I bet he's back at the Wharf sharpening his sword this very moment," Johnny said.

The General, however, was holding Dess as Joimus took the brooch from her pocket. She stared at it a while as it lay on her palm in the sunlight.  The sight of her holding it so near the chair caused Maximus great agitation.  "Be careful with that," he admonished.  He feared some sudden vortex would swirl itself open and suck her off to a distant time.  

"I have to be wearing it, Maximus," she explained.  "It's safe just to hold it....I think."

"I do not like this at all," he stated firmly.  "Can we just get it over with quickly?"

Still holding Dess in the crook of his left arm, he stepped close to her, gripping her left arm with his right hand.  She looked into his face, seeing the determined set of his chin and lips.  "I am not letting go," he said.  

She took another step toward the bench and he stepped with her. Stooping slightly, she lay her palm flat atop it, its hard coldness familiar.  Shaking her head slightly, she murmured softly, "To think he was born...right here."

"I nearly missed it," Maximus added.

"But...you didn't," she said, turning to look fondly at him.  

He pressed his eyes closed.  "Will you get rid of that brooch?" he asked. It had caused him unbearable pain and he wanted it gone.  

Crouching a bit more, she slid it deeply into the crack under the left end of the bench. Instantly Lachlan Macquarie appeared on the seat. Startled, Maximus let go of Joimus arm, reaching for his sword.

 

"No," Joimus said, quickly putting her hand out to stop his motion.  "It's the Governor."

"Good day, Mrs. Meridius," Lachlan smiled, standing and bowing slightly.  

Maximus had again gripped her arm, pulling her back from the bench a bit.  "It's all right," she assured him.  "He means no harm."

"Indeed not!" Lachlan said as his experienced eyes took the measure of the General. He looked down at Joimus, chuckling.  "Italian army, eh?"  

She shrugged, laughing.  "He's...hard...to explain."

"So I would image," Lachlan agreed.  "But then I am used to such...difficulties."

Remembering his last words to her in 1818, she nodded.  "You are....well traveled...then?" she asked.

"More than anyone knows," he smiled.  

The General cleared his throat and Joimus introduced the two men. Maximus still kept his grip on Joimus' arm, though, so instead of offering his hand, Lachlan smacked his own chest in a Roman salute. Both Joimus' and Maximus' eyes widened a bit.  Lachlan grinned.  "Spent some time at Hadrian's Wall. Always did like to build things." 

He fumbled in his pocket, producing a small packet neatly tied with blue yarn. "Elizabeth sends you this," he said, proffering it to Joimus. He nodded at Dess. "She made it for the baby."

Opening it, Joimus found a small vest, made of needlepoint with intricately worked scenes of old Sydney on it.  Tears stung Joimus' eyes as she ran her fingers over the stitching.  She looked at Lachlan.  "Tell her thank you for me, and that I miss her and ever shall."

She turned toward Maximus.  "She was so kind...so good to me.  I wish you could have met her. You would...."

But she stopped as Maximus' was looking toward the bench and not at her.  "What...?" she began, then turned to follow his gaze.  The Governor was gone. As suddenly and simply as he had appeared....he had left.  Obviously he had it down to a fine art.  She crouched, wanting to see if the brooch were still in the crack, but Maximus pulled on her arm.

"No," he said quietly.  "Let it be."

The Opera House Four came into Himself's apartment, a bit out of breath from their rapid return to the Wharf.

"Where are Bunny and the baby?" Himself asked, frowning just a bit, thinking that now he'd have to go back there himself, er, Himself.

"They'll be here at noon...all three of them," Johnny said.

Himself sighed.  "Sid said this...and you believed him?"

Mary spoke up.  "He'll come.  I'm sure of it."

"Why?  Why would he come?" Himself wanted to know.

She smiled.  "For the cameras.  He'll come for the cameras."

Himself's eyes brightened.  "Very clever, Mary," he said.  "Sid's vanity has ever been the best way to deal with him."

"I told him Steve wanted to take pictures of him with his son," Mary added.

"Someone better tell Steve that," Himself pointed out.  Andy dashed out the door.

Making sure Maximus had not returned, Johnny said, "Wait till you see the baby."
"Is there something wrong with him?"  Jack asked from his chair across the room.

Johnny nodded affirmatively, causing the other people in the room who had not been with him at the Opera House, to frown in concern.  

 

"What? What's wrong with the baby?" Himself queried.

"He...he looks exactly...exactly...like Maximus," Johnny said.

Jack's eyes locked onto Himself's.  Terry stood so quickly his barstool flipped over.  Bud gripped the back of the dining room chair he'd been standing near.   The angst-o-meter on the wall burbled over, spilling its contents onto the carpet, noticed only by annsmac in her great relief she had not been the cause of it.  

Andy knocked hard on Steve's door.  "Hurry up!" he hollered.

Steve, still tucking in his shirt tail finally opened it.  Andy noticed the bathroom door closing.

 

"Sorry," he shrugged.  "Didn't mean to, um, interrupt, but Sid's on his way here."

"Why would Sid be coming here?" Steve asked, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it a bit.  

"Photo shoot," Andy grinned.

"Photo shoot?" Steve repeated.  "Of SID?"

"Yep," Andy continued.  "It's how we're gettin' him outta the Opera House with Bunny and the baby.  Told him you wanted to take his picture."

"Good grief!" Steve blurted.  He headed toward the closet, muttering, "Let me get my gear ready."  Looking back at Andy he asked, "Where?  Where am I supposed to do this?"

Andy shrugged.  "Don't know.  Where you want to do it?"

Steve glanced toward the bathroom door.  "Not here," he said firmly.  "How about the lobby?"

"Yeah," Andy agreed.  "Sid'd like that.  More people around to see it."

"Well go tell Himself to arrange it.  I'll be down there in a few minutes."  He began to look for his shoes.  Andy smiled toward the bathroom door then sprinted back to the Northern Apartments.

"I am glad that is over and done with," Maximus was saying to Joimus as they walked up the apron of the Wharf.  

"Ah, but my dear General, is anything...really...ever over and done with?" came a sudden voice from a restaurant alcove just to the side. Sid stepped out of the shadows, Livi in his arms, Bunny at his side.  Sid was holding Livi so that his face was clearly visible.

Joimus stopped.  It was her first sight of Maximus' other son.  The General reached out again, tightly gripping her arm.  Her eyes lingered a moment on Sid's face, noting his look of ...of...pleasure.  She had seen the same expression on farm cats playing with a captured mouse.  Swallowing hard, she let her gaze drop slowly to the baby.  Maximus' grip tightened a bit more.  Looking at the child was like looking at Maximus, shrunk back to his earliest days.  She licked her suddenly dry lips, thinking of all the permutations inherent in this fact.  The resemblance was even more striking than she had thought possible. Against her will, a great shiver ran through her and Maximus looked down at her, concern in his eyes.  Steeling herself, she smiled, and said, though to Bunny and not to Sid, "Your son is...beautiful."  

Maximus was glad he had already seen his son so that the shock of his appearance was not there now for Sid to see and enjoy.  He maintained a tight control over his emotions, centering himself on Joimus. Something deep inside was vibrating, though, with pain he could not completely stifle.

Bunny had been worried about this encounter ever since Livi had been born.  She stepped closer to Joimus, touching her arm.  "We need to talk," she whispered, and Joimus nodded gratefully at her.  

Sid had noted the wool and fur bunting Dess wore.  "I see...your...son is dressed for winters in Germania," he purred.  Looking down at Livi he continued,  "I think...mine...needs something a bit more...purple.  Something more suitable for, say, California."

Maximus inhaled sharply.  The thought that Sid might take his son far away had not yet crossed his mind.   Sid enjoyed the moment, then taking Bunny's arm said, "Come, my dear. It's time for my photo session."

"Photo session?" Maximus repeated, just as Sid had hoped he would.

"Yes, my son and I have an appointment with Steve and his camera."

Himself, Terry, and Bud hurried down the Wharf.  "Oh, God!" Himself moaned when he caught sight of the grouping of six some distance ahead of them.  

"Hurry!" was all Terry said as he began to sprint.

TO BE DIRECTLY CONTINUED AS: MIRRORS OF THE SOUL