He looked at her when she mention the kid's father being a wimp, "You didn't?" he asked as he took a sip of his coke, "You are breaking my heart. I could have beat one up for breakfast." Then frowned into his glass, "Noel has a kid?" Then dismissed the question entirely, it wasn't any of his business, "At least you have your family's support. Don't lose it." It was never worth losing it. Trying to gain it again wasn't easy, not that he was here to try for that.

Setting the glass down, "Some have more bad than good. But that's life." And jumped when a deep voice boom, seeing Charlie he paled, "Rob?" the word left his mouth while his brain tried to process the fact that he was seeing a ghost. Certain he had too much to drink, he tried poking the man, but his hand went through, "I'm not drunk that is for sure."

His cousin's reaction wasn't what he was expecting, nor was her easy talking like it was a everyday event. Perhaps for her it was, "You know ..him," he carefully eyed the man/ghost again, "I'm Jason Oxford, I'm her...." he trailed off. Not really sure how to explain the connection they shared to a ghost, for crying out loud, "friend." He settled on that. It was better than nothing.

<<Tag: Veronica Anderson >>

Veronica lost it when Bobby jumped at Charlies arrival, she had tears in her eyes she was laughing so hard. "Yes I know him!" she replied to Bobby as she wiped her eyes. Charlie frowned as Bobby poked him, if he had been able he would have grabbed his hand and slammed it to the bar top. "You poke everyone you just meet?" Charlie asked in a cool tone of voice, "And I know who you are, you're Sarahs son." he knew family as soon as he saw them, they had a certain glow to them. Now keeping up with everyone name was difficult sometimes, there were so many of them. "Jason..." she said with an eye roll, that was the first time she had heard him say that was his name, "This is our great-great-great-great grandfather, former sheriff of Winterly and lover of horrible soap operas. Charles Miles O'brien, or Charlie." Veronica glanced to Charlie who was still looking Bobby over, "You better be nice or I will unplug the tv." she threatened, at the mention of one of his favorite advancements in technology, Charlie looked over to the corner of the room, he blinked the the tv turned off before sighing and looking back to Bobby, "Nice to meet you Jason." he said as he held out a hand for him to shake. 

Her laugh baffled him as he could only gawk at her. She knew a ghost? He was sure he hadn't walked into a different reality. Jason noted the expression on Charlie's face and grinned as he picked up his coke for a sip, but it was his words that stopped the glass midway and setting it back down. He shifted in his seat as the memories slammed in his head. He could see it clearly when she was mad or happy. His eyes betrayed a little of his inner feelings before he closed them shut and wall up, "I haven't been her son in twenty years," he made sure his voice was controlled and free of emotions, but it did hurt, "I doubt she even remembers." He picked up the glass and drank awkwardly, "I don't make a habit of poking strangers."

Was he really talking to a ghost? Since that was the case, he needed his head examined.

The way Veronica said his name made him frown, and look at her, "I don't use the other one. Nor I go by it's nickname. I'm not the Bobby you knew." He had changed since he had left Winterley as his name did. He rose an eyebrow, at the number of greats that was used, "Impressive," he nodded as he asserted his great-great-great-great, grandfather, over the rim of the glass, "that you are still hanging around. And likewise. So," he set the glass, "How come you haven't gone to the other side?"

<<tag: Veronica Anderson >>

Almost two hundred years of watching people, Charlie had learned to tell when people were hiding things. He had seen the look in Bobby's eyes many times before, the man was fighting demons. Veronica eyes moved to Bobby when he mentioned he was not the same person they had known before, "Your past mistakes do not define you, it is what you do in the present that matters." Charlie said,  "I do not know why I am here, everyone else seems to be able to move on...I guess I am stuck." he replied to the question as to why he was still on Earth and had not moved on. 

At Charlie's words he wanted to laugh, instead he reached for the bottle and poured the whiskey into his coke. Who the heck was the old ghost kidding? Fate? Him? Jason couldn't be sure. If his past actions didn't define him, then what did? His family couldn't stand the sight of him. As most weren't pleased that he was back here. Of course his past actions defined him.

Saying nothing he took a sip as he gathered his thoughts, "What I'm going to do today, tomorrow is the same. Count down the days till they transfer me back to New York. Outside of that, the only thing that I'm going to do is keep my family I have made safe as I can. I'm not out here for anything."

Taking a drink again as anger ran through is veins, "I don't want to be here in Winterley. Thanks to CG, I'm stuck here." Setting the glass back down, he looked at Ver, "How are the old folks?" he asked about his parents. If he knew his father well, the Admiral was still likely to be mad as Hades.

Tag: Veronica Anderson

It was Veronicas turn to frown as he asked about her parents. Even Noel knew better than to bring up mom and dad, like it had to be something serious and even then she did not like hearing about them. They had lost their chance to be apart of her life back when they kicked her out for coming out and especially after her father said that "Logan was a blessing even if he did come from a harlot." of course the man had quickly tried to cover his ass after he learned Veronica had heard him say that but the damage was done. Like Bobby she poured more alcohol into her glass and took a long drink.  She did not speak till her glass was empty, Charlie just shook his head, he had never been a big fan of drinking but he really could not avoid he since he hung around a bar majority of the time now days. 

"They are alive." she said in a flat voice, "I have not seen them in...four years? Though we have spoken on the phone." the phone calls she had with her parents probably could not even be considered conversations. "They get Logan for a week in the summer and a week in the winter every year, Lisa or Noel drives him over."  it was an unofficial agreement that took both Lisa, Charlie and Noel to convince her to consent to, even though her parents were still jerks. "They are fine, living a nice life in Rayton." she added. 

He tilted his head at her, wondering if she had listened. Poking her on her head like old times, a chuckle followed, "I was talking about mine." Asking Travis was not done. He couldn't be sure if the Colonel wanted to even see him. The idea of facing any of the other Oxfords made him internally tremble, facing Charlie, "Since you are a ghost you might know." He wanted to know about his mother. She had been the one who suffered the most from the drama that had been started by Galacio.

Ver's story hit home as well. Why did their lives had to be similar from different paths, "At least they get to see them. That's better than not knowing that you have grandchildren." The web of lies he had build for his kids would eventually crumble. "Maybe one of these days you might want to bring Logan over so he could meet them." He wasn't sure if the word cousins applied. Didn't want to take a chance in case he offended Ver.  Picking up his drink he took a sip.

<<Tag: Veronica Anderson >>

"If I had my way, they'd never see Logan." Veronica replied, reaching across the bar she lightly hit him on the arm after he poked her on the head. "Your mother is doing well." Charlie replied as he looked over to Robert, "I think she was in the paper this past summer for something about flowers, your parents always send Lo a card on his birthday." She felt bad that the kid had such a small family, but having something was better than nothing. Charlie had been studying Robert while Veronica spoke, the old spook knew all about what had gone on, it had been the hot topic of the town for a while then like everything gossip wise, it eventually faded away. "You worry about what they might say when you see them again." Charlie sighed, he looked like he could use a nap but the last time he had slept was a long while ago. "I am going for a walk." he said with a nod to Veronica, "You should at least call on your parents, if anything go "old fashioned" and write a letter. Worst thing they can do is burn it before reading but at least you can say you tried talking to them. Lastly, do not let her finish that bottle." 

"Don't listen to him." Veronica said as she rolled her eyes, but Charlie had already vanished, leaving Bobby and Veronica sitting alone in the bar. "Actually...I take that back. Listen to him, but do as you please with what he says." she did not know if that made sense to him, it sounded right in her head at least. 

He looked at her in mild surprise. But he understood her feelings. If it had been up to him, Galaico wouldn't have see the girls let alone develop a relationship with them. On the side o things was that the old man was the only grandparent the girls had. Whatever the feelings he had for the Late Mafia Don, was not something he would have projected on the girls. Once they were older they could make their own choices. But instead he nodded and picked up his drink.

There was a flare of pain, followed by a chuckle, "Flowers?" he asked, knowing his mothers love affair with her garden she was always tending to. "Sounds like she found her life calling in that. They enjoy being grandparents to him I take it." No he was not let that eat him up. But he couldn't deny it would sting a little. Taking another sip he listened to Charlie, he knew that the old ghost knew what went down. Too much gossip at the time. After Charlie had gone, he almost laughed at the suggestion. Calling them was out of question, yet he was right about the letter.

"I won't listen to him, but I'm going to lsten on the fact that no more drinking for the night." He polished of the remaining and sighed, "I'm here on the orders of the Coast Guards, Veronica, nothing else." He looked at her, "My girls needs time to adjust to town life." It was so much easier living in NY.


Tag: Veronica Anderson

She did not want to admit to him that his parents had been great grandparents to her son, it seemed like it would be saying that they had been there for her son more than they had for his kids. It did not sit well. Or was that the alcohol talking. Veronica didn't reply for a moment, she just stared at her glass, "Don't hate me. But yes, they have been great towards Logan, but not because I've forced them or anything like that." She took a long sip of her drink before setting her glass down and reaching for the bottle again, "I only called them when I had no other choice."

Veronica refilled her glass again. Charlie be damned, she was already several drinks in, why not finish the bottle, if anything she could sleep a little in the back office and then go home. Of course that would mean facing Lisa who would probably get mad that she had gotten drunk and not come home. "They'll adjust soon enough, the schools are great here and Logan can introduce them around." She said hoping to change the subject before they started arguing.

When Veronica didn't respond, Jason helped himself to more of the amber liquid. Then looked at her while waiting for her response. Somethings between them didn't change as he knew her answer before she even replied. Closing his eyes as he fought the flinch of pain, he drowned the glass's contents in his mouth. "I can't hate you," he assured her, wanting to embrace her yet refrained from doing so, "One thing I know is that you or anyone can't force them to anything they don't want to. At least they had a grandchild to dot on, keep them busy. I never called them when the twins and later Kevin were born."

"I won't count on them loving this place at all. They are too much of city girls, then of small town." New York was all they twins knew since they were born. Sure they might have gone to other states, but they had never been in small towns or country side. "I can only pray that Logan and the kids get along. On that not, are you sure that you want your son meeting my kids?" He won't even blame her if she swung that bat on his head right about now, if she found the question stupid.


Tag: Veronica Anderson

Veronica have him a look, "I wouldn't have purposes it if I was not serious about them meeting. Besides, our family isn't exactly large, and I don't see any cousins coming from our side anytime soon."

His nervousness was new to her, she remembered him always being confident with everything he did, to the point of it being annoying when she was younger. "Stop worrying and drink more" she told him. Sound logic, drink enough and you don't worry about much.

When she pointed out that she sure of it. It made him realise how much more he had missed out her development. He knew the teen, but not the woman she had become. Knew the troublemaker, not the mature adult. "Fair enough," he agreed as kept the glass away and knew to full extend on what she meant by lack of large family. It wasn't like his was opening their doors for the children, expect her, "Yea, I know. That brother of your needs to get married."

Drink more? Jason shook his head, "I gotta drive and I already had more than my share for the night or rather the week. If Vicki doesn't chew me out, Doctors will. I'm not even suppose to be drinking more than one finger worth of the hard stuff." He could feel the drink reaching his brain, "Unless I want to land back in the hospital with..." he trailed off. It wasn't easy to admit that drinking had drove him to the brink of everything. He could wait for a bit before driving. The house wasn't that far anyway. "No more for me." Yet it was temping to drink a little more.


Tag: Veronica Anderson