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valiantlystrangecomputeruniverse · 3 years

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All that Glitters

Hiya!

Finally got my act together for a Choices Challenge (well sort of...I do apologize to @choicesfebchallenge for the under the wire timing!) This Alex and Hunt fic was inspired by the Day Seventeen prompt: Ring. This story is a follow up to my True Colours series (Part 1 here) as well as a loose continuation of my Christmas Time in the City series with my version of The Hunt’s. It follows Thomas as he tries to...reconnect with his family through a major announcement.

Warnings: None that I can think of—pretty fluffy, a bit suggestive at the end but that’s it. Words: 3800+

Eleanor frowned at the intrusive jingle of an unforeseen call—then caught sight of the name.

“Thomas, Dear. How unexpected!”

“Hello, Mother.”

“And to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m in New York.”

“Even more unexpected.”

She spoke with the zeal of a gossip hound picking up a fresh scent. Thomas made an effort to relax his shoulders. “I was hoping we could meet for lunch.”

The most unexpected of all. Withholding her glee, Eleanor said, “I was to catch-up with the girls at the Club...”

She paused as if it were a pressing engagement—The silence grating.

“…But I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“So, that’s a yes?”

“Yes, Dear.”

“I’ve made a reservation at The Carlyle.”

“Oh, I do love their tea sandwiches.”

Thomas nearly cracked a smile at her delight. “I remember. See you at 1?”

“See you then.”

Sitting by a rain-streaked window, Thomas straightened his barely askew knife. Heel clicks on the marble unearthed a familiar discomfort. He stood, automatically pulling out the chair opposite him. Eleanor placed a greeting kiss on his cheek, which Thomas acknowledged with a well-rehearsed hug.

“Isn’t this a welcome surprise!”

She was like the cat who’d caught the canary.

Thomas took a deep breath as quietly as he could and put on his best WASP facade. “I’ve been scouting locations for an upcoming shoot. The people I hired turned out to have a rather unimaginative vision of New York.” In truth, he had only one purpose, but he wanted to ease her into the idea…

“You were always a perfectionist,” Eleanor commented pridefully. “So, here on business…I guess that explains Alex’s absence.”

She was fishing for a rift.

“Her series is about to wrap, so she’s pulling all sort of hours.”

It seemed the crack Eleanor wanted. “That must be difficult.”

Thomas didn’t appreciate the bogus sympathy. “It can be. But we’ve both adapted to our schedules by now,”

Their waiter materialized to take their order. A welcome disruption, he took coffee, her Earl Grey tea.

Not getting the dirt she sought, Eleanor moved on. “And what was all this unpleasant business with that Montmartre fellow?” She unfolded a napkin into her lap. “He seemed perfectly charming when I talked to him at the Met last year.” To her, the fall of a wealthy figure was always a tragedy.

“That’s because Viktor was careful to insulate himself from his actions and their consequences.”

“So, it is true?” She seemed unwilling to believe. “Because with these girls, you never—,”

“Every word,” Thomas cut her off. He was out of practice playing pretend. Or perhaps he no longer possessed the patience. “Regardless, I didn’t come here to give you fodder for your next luncheon with Dottie—”

She turned on a dime. “I knew this wasn’t a social visit. Out with your ulterior motive.”

Tension radiated from Thomas’s temple through to his jaw. He had tried to make this pleasant.

“It’s about Nonna’s ring.”

Eleanor went pale.

He scoffed. “It can’t be that big of a shock.”

Tersely she replied, “You’re sure?”

“Would I be here asking for an engagement ring if I wasn’t?”

The waiter returned with their drinks. Eleanor thanked him, her kindness souring as she faced her son. She stirred cream into her tea. “No need to get testy. I’m simply not going to handoff a family heirloom to have some random girl run off with it in a couple of years.”

Thomas laughed in disbelief. “You never change.”

“And you only call me when you want something.”

“I never call you,” he retorted.

Eleanor raised her eyebrows as if she’d still proven a point.

“Because you act like this.” Thomas wouldn’t be guilted. “And if I had accepted it when she offered the ring to me all those years ago, we wouldn’t be here,”

“Yes, well, my mother was extremely sick then and believed Yvonne would make you happy. Look how that turned out. She never even laid eyes on this one.”

“You know damn well she would love Alex.”

Obstinately, Eleanor replied, “I know no such thing.”

“She wanted me to have it.” Untethered emotion bubbled up in him. “And you keeping it as punishment—” he shook his head “—I can’t begin to understand.”

“She was my mother. And you have no claim to any of her things.”

“Nonna was more a mother to me than you ever were,” he fired ruthlessly. “At least her love was unconditional.”

“Ready to order?”

Careful not to direct his ire elsewhere, Thomas made up something about wanting more time with the menu—however, he sensed they wouldn’t be breaking bread today.

Eleanor, who’d been holding her tongue while in company, hissed, “How can you be so ungrateful?”

“I came here with no ill will. I—for some insane reason—thought we could actually—” he stopped; this was going nowhere. “A simple no would have sufficed.”

“And some manners would’ve been appreciated.” Recognizing her leverage, she declared, “If you want the ring, I expect you at dinner tonight.”

After this disaster, he couldn’t fathom why. Thomas glared.

“Your choice,” Eleanor threatened sweetly. She gestured to their server. “I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone lunch. Could you please bring the bill?” Gathering her purse, Eleanor got up to leave. “We start with drinks at five.”

“Hey, Handsome,” Alex sang through the phone.

“Hello…I would say Gorgeous, but I’m not sure it’s adequate,” Hunt replied suavely.

“You and that silver tongue,” she tutted, wearing a wide grin.

Although he couldn’t see, Hunt knew her cheeks had turned a flattered pink. He loved how they’d never lost the ability to make the other’s heart flutter. With a matching expression, Thomas assured, “I only speak the truth.”

Brightly, Alex enquired, “So, how’s the Big Apple?”

Having called to vent as a reflex, Thomas realized he couldn’t discuss the crux of the issue and went quiet.

“Everything okay?” she said with concern.

He sighed. “My mother.”

“Ah.”

“She invited me for dinner tonight.”

Baffled, Alex asked, “How’d she know you were in New York?”

Thomas should have thought through his story more. “I’m guessing Danielle let it slip.”

“They’re on speaking terms?”

He really should be better at this.

“On occasion,” Thomas fibbed.

“Hm,” she sounded curiously. “I mean, you don’t have to go.”

“Don’t I?”

As often as he claimed he was ‘done’ with his parents, Thomas still felt a tug—That obligation to be a ‘good son.’ Alex could tell he’d already decided and simply wanted encouragement.

“Wish I could come with you.”

“Do you?” he challenged.

“You know what I mean,” Alex replied gently. “For support.”

She sensed his smile in the silence. He wished she could too, but for a multitude of reasons, she shouldn’t. “Think you’ve been subjected to my family more than enough.”

“True,” Alex murmured. “Will Robert be in attendance?”

“I assume.”

“Well, at least promise me no physical altercations?” she teased.

“I’ve only hit two people in my life—and they’ve both been on your behalf,” Thomas countered.

“I know I shouldn’t like that, but I kind of do…” Her voice turning sultry, Alex asked, “What time do you get home tomorrow?”

He beamed at her train of thought. “Six.”

“Thomas is coming for dinner.”

Roderick could not have heard that right. “What?”

Eleanor huffed at his inattention. “Thomas, our son, is coming for dinner.”

“When—How did this come about?”

“He’s proposing to that Alex girl, and he wants my mother’s ring to do it.”

He had his initial reservations, but his wife’s continued distaste for their son’s relationship seemed unearned. Roderick thought they settled this. “It isn’t exactly unexpected,” he said dryly.

“Well, it certainly isn’t good news,” she sniped.

“It’s not like you ever wear it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“What is the point?” he replied with disinterest.

“I don’t have time to explain everything to you. I have to tell Eloise to add four more table settings and inform Jacques we’re going to need something more significant for dinner.”

“Four?”

“I invited Robert, Alice and Lucas too.”

Roderick’s quiet evening was swiftly evaporating. “Of course, you did.”

“I also don’t have time for your attitude.”

He forced a smile. “I’ll be there with bells on.”

Eleanor ignored his disdain. “Good.”

“Tommy! Hi!” Danielle sounded out of breath.

“Hi, Dani…uh, is this a bad time?”

She wheezed a “Huh?” then laughed. “Not at all! Just out for a run. These San Franciscan hills are no joke. Timings perfect! I could use a break. Oh, look! A bench!” There was a pause as she sat. “So, what’s up?”

The cheer in Danielle’s voice was incomparable to when she’d lived in New York. The move had been great for her, but at the moment, very unfortunate for him. Blithely he joked, “For starters, I wish you weren’t in San Francisco.”

“Why? Where are you?”

“53rd and Park.”

“New York?”

“And heading home sweet home.”

“Why in God’s name are you doing that?” she said aghast.

“Because our Mother is blackmailing me.”

Danielle laughed at the lunacy. “How about you start at the beginning?”

“I’m going to propose to Alex.” As only the second person he’d told, it was a relief to expect nothing but excitement.

“Finally!!!” she squealed on the other end. “Honestly, Tommy, if you waited any longer…”

“I know, I know.” Thomas had no reason to put it off…they’d all but agreed to it months ago, but there was something in actually asking. Without the official question posed…he could always imagine her answering yes.

“So Mother is withholding The Ring?”

He was glad she’d gotten there so fast. “Precisely.”

“Incredible how she doesn’t care about it until someone else does. Told me I’d have to pry it out of her cold dead hands and when I implied that would require her to wear it….” Danielle trailed off. “…You know what, not worth revisiting! So, what does she think dinner will accomplish?”

“No idea.”

“She’s gonna try to talk you out of it,” Danielle warned.

“I expect as much. She can talk until the room runs out of oxygen. It’s not going to change a thing.”

“Technically, that would kill you all…you really need it to be this ring?”

“When Nonna offered it to me the first time…I could tell how much it meant to her. It’s part of what made me question if Yvonne was the one. I knew that once I found someone, I could see giving it to…I can’t imagine anything else would hold the same significance.”

“You are such a teddy bear…. If people only knew,” she teased.

“I wouldn’t get half as much done.”

Danielle laughed. “Okay, so, what’s your game plan?”.

“To be more stubborn than our Mother,” he kidded.

“Well, if anyone’s capable,” she ribbed, “It’s you.”

“What do you think this is about?” Alice asked in the elevator silence.

Robert shrugged. “She throws a party any time The Prince is town.”

Alice wasn’t convinced. Something was up.

Thomas regretted being on time. These walls were suffocating.

“So, how are things?” Roderick asked unimaginatively.

“Fine,” Thomas replied stiffly.

“Work?”

“Busy.”

“And Alex?”

He was trying, in his way.

“She’s doing well,” Thomas answered, more relaxed.

“Glad to hear it.”

It may have been out of politeness, but he welcomed his father’s efforts, nonetheless.

His mother entered. She’d been avoiding him since his arrival. Almost as if she ignored it, Thomas would forget why he’d come.

“So can we talk about—“ he started.

“First, we need to discuss your choice,” Eleanor said cuttingly.

“There’s nothing to discuss.” It took a monumental effort to keep his voice even.

“Eleanor—“ Roderick tried.

“Oh, stay out of it; you don’t even care,” she dismissed.

He glowered in response.

Thomas seized the silence to make his case.

“Nonna asked me to give that ring to someone I wanted to spend my life with. This isn’t something I’m taking lightly. And as all of you have been more than happy to point out, I’ve taken my time finding them.” He looked fiercely at his mother. “Alex is that person. You can either accept it or not. She’s not going anywhere.”

Eleanor ignored his plea, pragmatically asking, “Will she sign a prenup?”

Her son shot daggers. “Is money the only thing you care about?”

The elevator dinged, relieving his mother of any reply.

“Where’s Lucas?” Eleanor asked.

Alice shot a look at Rob, who had insisted his absence wouldn’t be minded.

“Nice to see you too,” he said indignantly. “Alice’s parents offered to take the little rascal this weekend.” At his mother’s scowl, he defended, “To be fair, our invitation was last minute.”

“Blame your brother for that,” she retorted.

No, doting Thomas? Robert exchanged another glance with Alice. “And why has dear Tommy Boy graced us with his presence?”

“I’ll let him tell you.”

This was a welcomed anomaly. Wearing a smug smile, Robert followed the voices down the hall. Alice made a detour to the kitchen.

He hadn’t spoken to his brother since that Christmas. Thomas didn’t really think there was anything worth discussing, but it wasn’t as though he could ignore him outright. Their father facilitated some small talk but soon left them to their own devices. After a minute, Thomas ventured, “I thought Lucas was coming?” His nephew had been the one guest whose attendance he’d hoped for—if not as a buffer, his presence tended to soften Eleanor.

“With the other grandparents,” Robert informed. “Mother’s being very reasonable about it.”

Thomas felt a flicker of long forgotten camaraderie. “That probably has more to do with me.”

Rob, clearly enjoying his brother’s predicament, asked, “What did you do?”

“I’m going to ask Alex to marry me.”

Their mother’s antics had reached an all-time high. “That’s it? She’s acting like you’re running off to become a monk—relinquishing all your worldly possessions.”

Thomas surprised himself with an appreciative chuckle. “Well, it’s not just that. I was hoping she’d give me Nonna’s ring.”

Pure unrecognition washed over Robert’s face.

“The one valuable our great-great grandmother had when she immigrated here?” Thomas elaborated. His brother looked back blankly. “Sapphire set in diamonds?”

Rob shrugged. “Not ringing a bell.”

“Doesn’t matter. The point is Nonna more or less left it to me, but Mother refused to honour her wish it if I didn’t come here tonight. And now I’m not even sure that’s true.”

“So, what’s the dirt?” Alice appeared armed with Chardonnay.

“Tommy’s getting engaged,” Robert teased juvenilely.

“And?” Alice pushed.

“And I’m hoping—,” Hunt started.

“He’s after our grandmother’s ring,” Robert informed gauchely. Thomas cast a withering stare.

“With the sapphires?” she pried keenly.

“How does everyone know about this thing?” Rob interjected.

Alice scoffed. “An absolutely gorgeous antique? Pretty hard to miss. I just knew there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d give it to you.”

Robert eyed the glass in her hand—The third to two she’d had before coming. “Maybe you should ease up.”

Alice’s contemptuous glance was overshadowed by the call to dinner. Taking off to the dining room, Thomas felt as though he was jumping from one fire into another.

Jacques had managed a beef Wellington in the brief time frame—at least Thomas could always count on the food being outstanding. They passed a significant amount of time discussing Lucas and school. Lucas and soccer. Lucas and piano lessons. Next, they moved on to news at the firm and the problematic client Rob was having to contend with.

After a particularly long lull, Alice instigated, “So, Thomas, you and Alex are getting married? How wonderful!” She seemed to bask in Eleanor’s scorn.

Not looking at his Mother, Thomas warmly answered, “Well, I still have to propose, but yes, I hope she’ll accept.”

Alice waved away his reservations. “I have no doubt she will. I mean,” she gestured to the table, “she stuck around after meeting this bunch.” With no Lucas to tend to, Alice’s wine consumption rate had remained steady through dinner.

Eleanor looked murderous…his father, somewhat amused.

Thomas stifled a laugh.

“What? It’s true,” she muttered.

“Alice,” Robert cautioned through gritted teeth.

She made a face but went silent.

“Uh, but that…uh is good news,” Robert tried.

“Yes, we all know you’re a fan of hers,” Alice disparaged.

“Alice. Dear,” Eleanor said venomously, “Why don’t you go freshen up.”

She waved her hands mockingly. “Ooh, I’m excuused, am I?”

Robert started to say something, but Alice brushed him off, grabbed her plate (much to the distaste of her host) and left the dining room.

“I suggest you go help your wife,” Eleanor ordered.

The remaining three sat in silence.

“Look. I really didn’t expect this to be so contentious,” Thomas tried.

“For goodness sakes, Eleanor, you know it’s what your mother would have wanted!” Roderick exclaimed.

Hunt hadn’t expected that. His father usually erred on the side of taking no side at all.

“You always gang up on me,” she cried melodramatically.

Thomas felt his blood pressure rise.“No. You always make yourself a victim. And I refuse to play your games anymore. If you don’t want to give me the ring, then fine. Alex and I will be happy regardless.”

“Then go!” Eleanor yelled shrilly. “Run-off like you always do when you don’t get your way!”

“I’ve never run from you. I’ve followed my heart, and yes,” he referenced their opulent but cold surroundings, “it led me far away from here. The strife between us is your doing and I’m finished having this illogical argument. Why don’t you want me to marry, Alex?”

Eleanor said nothing.

“See. You can’t even come up with a valid reason!”

Defiantly she argued, “I don’t need one. It’s a mother’s instinct.”

Thomas might as well have been screaming into a void. Exasperated, he declared, “You’d cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Eleanor knew she was pushing him away. But was it her fault his judgement was so clouded? She’d tried to see Thomas’s side but proposing was a mistake. It was one thing to date her…but marriage? As well as Alex had presented herself on their calamitous visit, Eleanor still felt she wasn’t good enough. She certainly brought out an ugly rebellious streak in her son. But more importantly, you couldn’t trust these starlets! Alex would walk away as soon as Thomas no longer served her.

He was so enraptured by the girl there was no point in voicing her concerns. Her son never believed her anyway.

And if Alex was going to leave with half—Eleanor wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of taking the family ring too.

Roderick walked Thomas out, running damage control. “I’m sorry this didn’t go how you hoped,” he clasped his hand to his son’s shoulder, “I’ll talk to her. We’re happy for you. We really are.”

“It’s pretty clear she doesn’t care one ounce about my happiness.”

“She does,” His father defended. “She’s not seeing clearly. She will in time.”

“Well, she’s out of it.”

Roderick started to counter; Thomas reacted before he could, “This rift is her doing, and I gave her a pretty straightforward way to mend it. It’s blatant she doesn’t support our relationship, so I can promise neither of you will be subjected to it any longer.”

Roderick frowned. “Is that to mean we won’t be at the wedding?”

“Or Christmas. Or Thanksgiving,” Thomas said glibly.

“Guess last year’s invitations got lost in the mail?” his father replied snidely.

“You know what I mean. If she wants to apologize —genuinely apologize—she can. But I’m no longer gifting her opportunities to make things right.”

“Take it from me,” Roderick was struggling with the seriousness of it all and reverted to his time-tested sarcasm, “Expecting an apology from your mother would be like waiting for pigs to fly.”

Thomas stood by the elevator, feeling rather faithless.

“Leaving empty-handed?” Rob taunted.

“I’m really not in the mood,” he fired.

“Mother’s a real peach, isn’t she?”

Thomas couldn’t even muster a polite nod.

“Jesus, you’re glum,” his brother jabbed unhelpfully. Hands in his pockets, Robert appeared anxious or at least like he was withholding something. Only the arrival of the elevator forced it out of him. “By the way…” he paused, penitence still a relatively foreign concept. “…I’m sorry about that night. How I treated, Alex…It was unacceptable.”

Thomas was flabbergasted.

Rob’s mouth curved knowingly. “Alice has us in therapy.”

“You? In therapy?”

“It took some convincing,” he admitted.

“But you went.” Thomas looked meaningfully down the hall. “Which is more than they’d ever do.”

Robert was quick to accept the credit. “Thanks.”

“However, it’s Alex you should apologize to.”

The moment fizzled.

Robert’s jaw clenched. “I apologized.”

“ ‘I misjudged the situation’ Is not an apology,” Thomas growled.

He went quiet for a minute, fighting old habits, at last admitting, “No. No, it’s not.”

Thomas was still skeptical.

“I will. Apologize…properly.” The words were stilted but honest. “In the meantime…I hope you’ll accept this as a placeholder.” Robert presented his brother with a small red leather box.

“Is this?” Thomas frowned, perplexed. “How?”

“Alice, had a bit of a rebellious youth,” Robert said with admiration. “And…uh…didn’t appreciate being dismissed.”

“Plus, your mother’s a witch,” Alice expanded, handing Robert his coat. “If Alex still wants to marry you after dealing with her, only a priceless heirloom will do. It was right where I thought it would be, practically begged me to take it.”

“Uh, well, thank-you.” It was all so highly unusual. “She’ll go berserk when she finds out...” There was a dash of concern in Thomas’s tone.

“And you’ll be far away from Mother’s wrath,” Robert said genially. “So, enjoy. You and Alex deserve it.”

Thomas arrived at the house feeling lighter than he had in weeks. He entered to find Alex at the end of her workout bent over in a forward fold.

Wryly he commented, “That’s a sight for sore eyes.”

Alex looked over her shoulder, devilishly replying, “You can thank the Pilates.” Righting herself, she asked, “How was your trip?”

“Productive.”

Knowing he would soon propose brought a swell of emotions Thomas hadn’t expected.

He’d found his spark. His guiding light.

Hunt dropped his bag and walked towards Alex with purpose. Her brow knitted together at the unusual behaviour.

And then she was engulfed in his kiss—wanting and tender. Then another, head-spinningly fervent.

Catching her breath, Alex bemusedly remarked, “Well, Hello to you too.”

The flecks of gold in her eyes, the rosy glow of her cheeks that kind cockeyed smile...Thomas never wanted to look anywhere else. “Missed you.”

“After 36 hours?” Sporting a confident smirk, she added. “Guess I can’t blame you.”

Hunt chuckled.

More sincerely, Alex confessed, “Missed you too,” before sweetly kissing him back. Keeping Thomas close, she played with the knot in his tie. “You know...I could use a rinse…and I bet you’re dying for one after the plane...Whaddya say? Wanna unwind after a long day?”

With an understated smile, Thomas gently traced a line across her bare shoulder. The glow of exertion resurfacing memories amongst tangled sheets. “For the record, the answer to that question is always a resounding yes.”

Alex’s eyes sparkled with all the tantalizing possibilities. “Noted.”

#AlexxHunt #ThomasxAlex #Choices #choicesfebruarychallenge2021 #Day Seventeen #Ring #HWU #Hollywood U #choicesfebchallengeday17 #valiantlystrangestories

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