Montgomery Scott (
reversedpolarity) wrote2010-12-07 09:15 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Entry tags:
[future!verse]
The problem with letting Helen take care of most of the planning for the wedding meant having to make several trips up north in order to get things sorted out, because even if Helen was doing most of the planning, it was still his and Liz's wedding. He personally would have been happy leaving the decisions to Helen, but at the same time, he was trying to at least attempt to help make a few decisions here and there.
Currently, he was trying and failing to tell the difference between two types of flower, which were apparently different enough that they had to pick one or the other and by the way Helen talked about it, it was apparently a life or death decision. Okay, so maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but flowers were pretty much just flowers, as far as he was concerned. Eventually he managed to untangle himself from the discussion and went back to flipping through the magazine he'd brought with him.
Currently, he was trying and failing to tell the difference between two types of flower, which were apparently different enough that they had to pick one or the other and by the way Helen talked about it, it was apparently a life or death decision. Okay, so maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but flowers were pretty much just flowers, as far as he was concerned. Eventually he managed to untangle himself from the discussion and went back to flipping through the magazine he'd brought with him.
no subject
After a little more arguing about the necessity of flowers, Gerald finally joined them in the dining room where the table was covered in wedding things.
"This is disturbing," he commented. Liz and Helen both laughed. For whatever reason, this was funny to the both of them. Gerald remained unamused.
Of course, this is when Liz felt the need to blurt out something unrelated. She smiled up at her father, a look she often got when she was doing something she believe would make her father proud, that look of excitement. "I'm going back to school," Gerald remained unmoving. He'd want more information, "I'm going to get a masters in child psychiatry."
"Oh, Elizabeth! That's wonderf--" Helen said, being cut off.
"Of all fields, Beth, you choose the one that holds no merit in the medical community? Neurology, Beth, is what you should be working towards."
Liz just stared blankly up at him. The thoughts that he should be proud of her ringing in her head.
no subject
But of course, attempting to stay out of things wasn't really an option, not when Gerald completely dismissed Liz's announcement that she was going back to school for child psychiatry. He set his magazine down, glancing over at Liz, before looking up at Gerald, his expression flat. "Why?" he asked, quietly, his tone edging on challenging.
no subject
"Why?" he repeated back to him. "Because she's better than that. School for another fluffy field of psychology isn't worth the time it will take. She should be dedicating her time to making a substantial difference," he says flatly.
no subject
He probably shouldn't have started this in front of Liz and Helen, but he was fed up with Gerald, fed up with the man never giving Liz the support she so desperately sought from him. On top of that, he couldn't stand the man, and by this point, he'd do pretty much whatever it took to get Gerald to leave and let them get back to planning for the wedding.
no subject
"No, Beth, let him say what he needs to say," Gerald replied calmly. He raised an eyebrow, looking unimpressed. "Her contributions to that sector of science is over. You've returned from that mission and she needs to find a cause, preferably one that will improve those of us on Earth. You too, will benefit from something that our neurologists work on, not just your little friends up in space."
Liz look notably disturbed now. Helen was looking down at a few pages of wedding colors, effectively blocking out what was happening around them.
no subject
He pushed himself away from the table then, leveling a hard look at Gerald before glancing at Liz. "I'll be outside." He turned then, preparing to head for the door.
no subject
"Montgomery, turn around," she commanded. Helen was still looking almost like she was vanishing inside herself. "Dad, I get it. I'm not good enough. I have never done enough, okay? You don't have to tell me every single time I am making something of my life that it isn't enough. Can we just let your disappointment remain somewhere lingering in the background? We all know its there!" Liz raise her voice as she spoke and then turned her attention to Monty, "I don't need you fighting my battles. We have had five years together where you knew nothing about what it was like to actually live with my father and I am not about to let you disrespect him in front of me when you don't know." She cut the argument short. It sounded unfinished and she didn't care. Instead she turned and left, heading back to her childhood bedroom, now the spare room and sat on the floor, leaning back against the bed.
Helen remained unmoving. Gerald looked mildly surprised at his daughter's outburst. He glanced to Monty and then back at Helen. Helen gave him a look and Gerald retreated to his den. Helen looked apologetically to Monty, hoping that there was something that could be saved.
no subject
With a sigh, he glanced over at Helen, and said quietly, "I'm sorry. I... Sorry." She wasn't the only person he needed to apologize to. "I should. I. Right. Well." He turned again, not really sure what he was planning on doing.
no subject
"Don't be sorry," she said gently, "I never did stick up for her like I should. They have a complicated relationship, Montgomery. I don't know how it works or why they continually disappoint each other. There's something that neither of them have ever explained to me about it, but I suspect if you ask her, she will do what she can to explain. As for my husband, his actions are inexcusable. You shouldn't be apologizing."
no subject
He finally looked up, meeting Helen's eyes. "I just want Liz tae be happy," he said softly, his brow creased as he spoke. "I want tae know that she's happy doin' what she wants tae do, without havin' tae worry about whether or not she's disappointin' Gerald. We want tae have kids, Helen, but even that's a waste o' time, as far as he's concerned." He sighed, running a hand through his hair, looking back down at the table. "I just. I don't know what tae do."
no subject
"Montgomery, have you ever noticed that Elizabeth goes on making decisions for herself, presenting them to us, taking the abuse from Gerald and then goes on and keeps doing what she's doing?" Helen knew the question sounded complicated, "Elizabeth knows what she's doing. She knows what she wants out of life and even when Gerald looks at her and says he disappointed, she only lets herself hurt for a moment before continuing on the path that she's chosen. He may not being saying he's proud, but he's pushing her and regardless of what he wants, she keeps moving forward."
She sighed heavily after that. She didn't like to see Monty this upset either. "And if you let Gerald's opinion of how Elizabeth's life should go ruin your path of where you want your life together to go, you are giving into him. Liz has never once given into Gerald. It may look like she's hurting and that she's only ever gone to school and become a doctor because he told her to, but he always held the bar too high and she decided where to go from there. Don't give him the satisfaction."
no subject
He was quiet for a moment, tracing a pattern on the tabletop with his forefinger. "An'... I'm not goin' tae let him stop us doin' what we want tae do, but... The last thing I've ever wanted is tae disappoint Liz, an'... an' I don't want tae disappoint you, either, but knowin' that Gerald thinks Liz is settlin' for somethin' less because she married me..."
no subject
However, when he started to question himself, Helen shakes her head, "Don't you start that. Gerald hates the institution of marriage because he settled down with me when he always thought he'd be able to avoid marriage. Don't get me wrong, he didn't marry me because he settled, but because he realized he couldn't manage without me and he loved me. He hates that he lost that battle. I should resent him for it, but he beats himself up for it too often for me to mean it," she smile softly. "Do not let Gerald's foul opinions effect your marriage. You are wonderful and the absolute best thing to happen to Elizabeth since she discovered her calling as a psychiatrist."
no subject
He just hoped that she wasn't too upset with him, or that she'd at least forgive him quickly. From now on... from now on, it'd probably be best if he just shut Gerald out, no matter how difficult it was to do so. He had no desire to repeat today's events in the future.
no subject
Liz was still sitting on the floor of the spare room, counting the books on the shelf. She kept losing count and it wasn't making it easy on her to keep up. She was too shook up to actually keep counting and mean to get anywhere, but she was just fine with staring at the shelf to keep her mind occupied. She knew when Monty was coming, though and she straightened herself up a little bit even though she was still sitting on the floor.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)