It's early morning and the group are sitting on the ground, staring at the burnt remains of the chateau. Cora is cuddled up in her brother's lap, his arms loosely wrapped around her. Rosie is sitting between her brother's legs, leaning back against his chest. Sarah has her head on John B's shoulder and is holding one of Rosie's hands, rubbing the girl's small hand.
"Could've been a faulty electrical wire." Pope says.
"Place was all wood. A tinderbox." Kie says.
"Thing just went up." Cleo says. "Boom."
"Verdict's in, bro. Whoever's up there does not like you." JJ says. Sarah glares at him. "Sorry."
+++
They're all on the dock.
"Sarah, when did you say the pilot was getting in?" John B asks.
"Probably like an hour?" Sarah replies. "I mean, once he's here, my dad says we can leave whenever we want."
"Okay, well, as much as I would love to ghost my parents again, I can't." Pope says.
"Pope, we're talking El Dorado here. Can you just slip out the back maybe?" JJ suggests.
"Great advice." Kie remarks.
"It always worked for me." JJ says. "How to avoid unpleasant circumstances 101. If there's a problem, you don't wanna face it, turn that face and keister around and walk the other way."
"I'm not doing that, okay?" Pope tells him.
"I just want you to be there, dog." JJ says.
"I'm gonna be there." Pope promises. "I'll meet you at the airstrip in an hour?"
"Yeah, we'll see you there." John B says.
"One hour, Pope. Not a second later." JJ warns.
"You two should go back with them." John B says, putting his sister down.
"No." Rosie whines.
"Rosie Posie, we are not taking you with us on a dangerous mission." John B states.
"But last time you left, you didn't come back." Rosie whines.
"I'll come back this time." John B promises. "I swear, I'll come back, even if it kills me."
"I don't want it to kill you." Rosie pouts.
"That-- it-- it was a figure of speech." John B says. "But it's not safe for you and Cora, we all know it. You two need to stay here, safe."
"And you're not gonna abandon me again?" Rosie asks, her doe eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Never." John B promises. He kisses her on the forehead and hugs her. "You get to stay back, spend time with the Heywards, play with Cora, and you'll be safe."
"So how long are you gone?" She asks.
"A week, tops." John B tells her. They pull away and John B brushes her cheek, wiping some of the soot off. "I'll see you later." He promises. Rosie reluctantly nods.
"Come on, mini poguelet." Cleo says, kneeling down. Rosie wraps her arms around the girl's neck, climbing onto her back. Cleo stands up, adjusting her grip on the girl so she doesn't fall. Rosie rests her head against the back of Cleo's head.
JJ looks down at Cora who is gnawing on her bottom lip, obviously just as terrified and nervous as her best friend.
"Hey." JJ mutters, crouching in front of her. "I'm coming back, too. Swear on my life." He tells her.
YOU ARE READING
birds of a feather, obx
Fanfiction[ outer banks -- seasons 1-3 ] Rosie Routledge & Cora Maybank Stand Alone: Birds of a Feather I DO NOT own Outer Banks, any of the show's characters or storylines. I ONLY own my OCs and their storylines.
