Closed Taking Refuge

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory couldn't stop shaking. He couldn't stop. He had never had a fight with his parents like he'd just had, and yet, this was just about the worst fight he could have. The worst part of it being that his father had moved in a way, just out of his eye sight, and it had scared him. For a moment it was Cassius or anyone else who'd picked on him, readying themselves to hit him. But of course it hadn't been that, his dad had just been moving, moving around. He had fled the room immediately after, had packed up a bag of his things and in his blind panic apparated to the only place he thought he could go. Zerrin's. They were sort of on the way to becoming friends again, and maybe this was a little too forward, but he just..he couldn't be at home. Gregory was shaking as he reached up to the door and knocked.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby was home alone- a not so rare occurance, but one she appreciated just as much as she did a full house. At least once or twice a month Graeme would take all the kids out somewhere and give her some space, and she tried to do the same, even if he often insisted he didn't need the time. She was humming about the kitchen, making some dumplings for that nights dinner, when she heard a knock on the door.

Abby's brow furrowed. She wasn't expecting any company today. Perhaps a friend of the kids? She wiped flour off on her apron as she moved to the front of the house, opening the door and offering a sweet smile to the frazzled looking child standing there. He was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. "Oh, hello!" She greeted him. "How can I help you?" She thought he looked about Fraser or Zerrins age. "Are you a friend of Zerrins? Frasers?" She asked, stepping aside and motioning him in. "Come, come, the boys are out right now, but I can send a message to let them know you're here?"

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory had been hopeful that it was Zerrin who'd open the door to him. But it wasn't, it was his mother. He could immediately see the resemblence between this woman and Zerrin. She also unfortunately didn't know who he was, because she started speaking. He didn't move from where he was at the door, unable to know what she was saying, though reading at least Zerrin's name. "Sorry, I'm mostly deaf," he said, his hands shook as he signed it. "Is Zerrin here?" he asked, and then he reached into his bag and took out the notes quill and paper so he'd be able to read what she said.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby's eyes lit up. Oh, hello Gregory! she greeted in sign- she'd been working hard to learn it in her free time and had been trying to teach a few of the other kids as well, thinking it would be a useful skill. I think I'm comfortable enough in sign that we could speak this way, if you'd prefer? She asked, waiting to see if he understood her- hoping she'd gotten it right, or at least right enough to be understood.

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory felt immediately relieved as she realised who he was and then that she too could sign, it was nice. His parents couldn't though he had also not really given them the opportunity to. "Please," he said as he signed, he didn't need to, but his hands were shaking pretty badly, and he needed to be understood. "Is Zerrin here?" he asked again, saying and signing. "I need...," he started, but his voice and hands trailed off.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby reached out, leading Gregory inside gently. She got him seated, wrapped in a blanket, before kneeling down in front of him. "Zerrin is out right now, it's just me," She spoke gently, signing slowly. "But you're welcome to stay," She gave him a gentle smile. "My name is Abby, I'm his mother. Would you like something to drink? Tea, cocoa?"

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory allowed himself to be led inside, to get him seated and wrapped in a blanket and then looked at the woman. She had such a kind smile and he could see in her all of the parts of Zerrin that he knew. "I had a fight with my parents, I need a place to stay," he told her, since she would likely find out anyway, and he knew that if he wasn't honest about it now he'd struggle with it and struggle with telling Zerrin which would make the other boy mad at him.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby nodded immediately. Of course, dearest, she signed. Have you met Zerrins father yet? I was just going to start dinner soon, would you like to help? She asked him, thinking that might help him feel better. I was making a sheperds pie. She told him. Do you like sheperds pie?

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory was glad as she signed back, she seemed fluent enough which was good for him. He had something to focus on, and his panic did begin to subside, perhaps helped by the blanket. "I haven't," he signed back, opting to not speak this time. "Sure," he replied, perhaps doing something, helping with something would help this.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby smiled, standing and offering out her hand to help him up. We're going to make it from scratch. Do you want to peel and dice the potatoes? Is that alright with you? She asked him, wanting to try and get him working to try and distract him from what was on his mind. I could always use some more hands in the kitchen. She pulled out her wand, sending a quick patronus message to Graeme to let him know the situation.