What A Piece Of Work Is Man (Siobhan) FIN

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“I’m glad that she has a good mother, and I can’t recall hearing about Elliot, but I’m sure he tries to be a good uncle,” Siobhan said, and Gregory appreciated her politeness. "It’s nice to know that she has some family. She is Irish in roots, after all.”

"That she is,"[/b] Gregory smiled, "And our family isn't family without at least a small brigade of people, eh?"

He started on a roll, savoring the taste of freshly baked goods and wondering if it would taste good to dip in the stew. When he asked Siobhan how she got to New York City, she said, “Oh, the usual way – I followed my heart." Gregory nodded gently; the usual way indeed.

"Nick – my first husband – talked me into it when we were teens. He wanted to become a famous artist and you couldn’t do that in Canada, apparently. So it was either go with him or stay on my own. So we came here and after months of living from hand to mouth, he sold a painting or two and I got into modelling. Before we knew it, we were at home here. I’m sure you’ve felt how this place just pulls you in and then you just become a part of it. After a while, you just kind of feel like it was always home.”

"Gee, Siobhan, that's... you've certainly been living out your life, haven't you?" It saddened him a little to hear of Siobhan's past -and current - hardships, but she seemed happy enough, at least to him; but it was nice to know she was close, now. Family needed to look out for each other, after all. He was sorry had hadn't known to for her the last couple of years.

“So, what brought you here? I would have thought you’d be sticking to the west coast.”

Gregory had to keep from snorting. Well, so had he. But things didn't always work out the way they were supposed to, did they? Perhaps settling in the state one originally came for in hopes of a single promise: sex, was not a good basis for living in California. He may have moved out of the Castro, after all, but going directly from that life to the one he led now, when he was so young, had been a startling difference, and he believed it was one of the factors that had ruined his marriage.

"Oh, I don't know,"[/b] he ended up saying after a few seconds of thought, "The other coast was nice, but.. I needed a change. Like you said - New York draws you in." He remembered the second he'd gotten off that boat and said, I'm going to live here forever, that he had meant it. He had made detours west, but he was back now, and he planned to stay, at least for a substantial amount of time.

"The city keeps my mind busy, which I like."[/b] Sitting still, he thought too much.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That she is, and our family isn't family without at least a small brigade of people, eh?"

Siobhan couldn’t disagree. Family reunions were apparently crowded beyond belief. She’d never gone to one, seeing as how her father had preferred to hide from the family after her mother died, and they were too poor while she was alive. So Siobhan had stories, but not much else. Still he was wrong. They had each other now, and that was family enough for her.

"Gee, Siobhan, that's... you've certainly been living out your life, haven't you?"

“Well, you only live once,” she replied, eating some of her stew.

And sometimes not for very long, so it was best to live your life to the fullest. No regrets, no missed opportunities. Greg probably knew what she meant. After all, he could have stayed in Ireland, had his family there, and never seen the world.

"Oh, I don't know, the other coast was nice, but.. I needed a change. Like you said - New York draws you in. The city keeps my mind busy, which I like."

“That it does,” she agreed.

She’d never had the problem of being bored in all the time she’d been in the city. From work to socializing to charity, she always found something had her attention. Even the quiet moments gave her something to think about, mainly about how it had gotten so quiet, and what she should have been doing to fill the quiet.

“It makes me want to go visit somewhere slow every once in a while so I’ll appreciate it more. Or maybe just to have a break from it,” she amended.

Not that she would know what to do with a vacation. Probably find somewhere comfortable to sleep through it. Maybe travel somewhere.

“I’ve been thinking that I might...well, it’s silly,” she paused, realising she was musing aloud. “But I think I’d like to see Ireland.”

Her family had come over on the boat from Ireland. Thomas and Tara both had accents, even though they’d been children when they came to Canada, so it wasn’t that far out there for her to want to see the place. Still, it was a bit silly because she knew no one there, but it would still be and interesting experience. And if any place out there was slower than New York City, it would be Ireland.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“That it does,” she agreed, “It makes me want to go visit somewhere slow every once in a while so I’ll appreciate it more. Or maybe just to have a break from it." Gregory nodded, continuing to eat the stew. It really was good. It made him want to cook more than he did; honestly, he ate out far too much than was probably healthy, he thought.

“I’ve been thinking that I might...well, it’s silly,” Siobhan started, then stopped, pausing, and Gregory thought she was probably wondering whether or not what she was about to say really was silly. He was sure it wouldn't be, but didn't say anything, letting Siobhan think it out herself. “But I think I’d like to see Ireland.”

Well, that certainly wasn't a silly idea. Gregory understood why she would want to visit the country she'd no doubt heard plenty of as a child. And Patty, being Patty, had surely loved to tell Siobhan stories before she died, probably romanticizing everything while she was at it. And while Gregory loved some parts of Ireland, he wasn't himself ready to go back, not just yet. But Siobhan would have a nice time there, he was sure; he was mildly surprised she, who seemed to have the means to go anywhere, hadn't yet been.

"It'd certainly be an adventure,"[/color] Gregory said. "Not a silly idea at all, really! Chase probably would've wanted his daughter to see the sights," he smiled. "Honestly, you're mam and da always loved home,"[/b] he mused. They had, really. After all, they'd grown up, fallen in love there. They were the sort of people who were undyingly loyal to family, and Gregory had always been surprised when he heard they moved to Canada. Bit of a strange place to go, but Patty liked animals and Gregory had the idea that there were many moose in Canada.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"It'd certainly be an adventure. Not a silly idea at all, really! Chase probably would've wanted his daughter to see the sights."

Siobhan felt like laughing. Her father wouldn’t have allowed her to go to Ireland, especially not on her own. He was over protective to a fault. Now, had he come with her, it would have been a different story. Now, it was impossible, so if she went, she was going to have to be extra careful, just for him.

"Honestly, you're mam and da always loved home."

“They always liked to talk about it,” she agreed.

They really had. Her mother liked to talk about the people and the memories she had of the place. She’d never been there, but she could almost see the place her family had come from. Her father, on the other hand, liked to tell her stories – myths and legends about Ireland. The game was that all the stories were always in Gaelic, though, so she’d had to learn the words to understand them. It was something she hadn’t appreciated until she was older and found that being able to mutter in what was considered a dead language was to her advantage.

“Well, Mom did. Dad was always more into the fiction of the place than the fact. I knew more Irish stories growing up than Canadian ones,” she chuckled. “The other kids at school used to make fun of me for it, but I’ve got a ton of stories for when I have kids of my own.”

It was a bit of a bittersweet thought. She’d lost the baby she and Nick were supposed to have, and Jamie had thought they had time, so actually having kids would be a toss up. Maybe she’d teach them to Delores.

“If I have time, I plan to write them all down one day,” she mused. “I think Dad would have gotten a kick out of that. I’ll have to dedicate it to him. Do you think there’s a market for a bunch of Gaelic fairy tales and ramblings?”

She’d been a model, radio host, charity head...why not writer? At least she knew Gregory would read it. He'd probably know all the stories, especially since he grew up hearing them, too.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“They always liked to talk about it -- Well, Mom did. Dad was always more into the fiction of the place than the fact. I knew more Irish stories growing up than Canadian ones. The other kids at school used to make fun of me for it, but I’ve got a ton of stories for when I have kids of my own.”

"Yes, you will,"[/b] Gregory agreed with a matching smile. He was almost a bit curious that she hadn't kids already, having two past husbands and the perfectly caring attitude that came with being a good mother. He'd like to see some new family, too. Even if he and Siobhan weren't extremely directly related, they were blood, and there was very little of that left on this side of the world went.

“If I have time, I plan to write them all down one day. I think Dad would have gotten a kick out of that. I’ll have to dedicate it to him. Do you think there’s a market for a bunch of Gaelic fairy tales and ramblings?”

Gregory contemplated that for a moment, not sure, really. He knew she could probably get fairy tales published in one way or another, without doubt, but the actual audience... well, Gaelic fairy tales tended to be a bit violent. They'd have to be for older children, as American children were apparently sheltered from any and all violence until they could comprehend it fully. Most of the ones he knew had to do with bad children being eaten or weaker animals being mauled by larger ones. They were certainly more exciting than the version of the three bears story over here.

"I dunno, but it'd certainly be interesting,"[/b] he said thoughtfully. "Though - hey! You could tell them on your radio station, if you're allowed to talk on there? It might be interesting."[/b] It was a random idea, but he thought it could be a good one. He wasn't really taking into account how that could be incredibly unpopular on a music station, but it was spur of the moment and he knew very little about the music industry.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"I dunno, but it'd certainly be interesting. Though - hey! You could tell them on your radio station, if you're allowed to talk on there? It might be interesting."

Siobhan laughed a little, wondering how well that would go over with the station owners. Oh wait, that was her. It was funny how life worked out that way.

“I’m not so sure it’s what people want to listen to at 3 AM,” she replied. “It’s not the kind of crowd who are looking for anything more than a bit of mindless entertainment, I’m afraid.”

Just music and a bit of talk. Siobhan was sure they put up with the talk, but the music kept them awake in the middle of long night shifts that just wouldn’t end. What other purpose was there for her show, after all? Of course, it made her happy, which was always good, but there wasn’t much else it was good for.

“I think there’s much less chance of backlash with a book,” she added, always thinking about PR. PR was always something Jamie had to consider when he did anything, and Siobhan had naturally fallen into that way of thinking. That was something that she wished that she had known when she was modelling and married to Nick.

Live and learn.

“If nothing else, maybe I’ll share them with Delores sometime. She’d have some interesting stories to tell the other kids at school, if nothing else.”

And that would be her teacher’s problem to deal with when she told stories about gruesome deaths and the like. Or her mother’s, if Gregory was particularly vindictive towards her.

“Ready for dessert?” she asked, seeing as how most of the stew was gone.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

Siobhan laughed at him, and Gregory smirked at himself; well, it must not have been a very bright idea. Ah, well, Siobhan found it amusing. “I’m not so sure it’s what people want to listen to at 3 AM. It’s not the kind of crowd who are looking for anything more than a bit of mindless entertainment, I’m afraid," she said, and Gregory nodded. Well, that was probably true. He didn't really listen to the radio ever, but when it came to having it on to keep awake, he decided that someone reading would definitely put him to sleep even faster.

“I think there’s much less chance of backlash with a book," she added.

"I guess probably, I don't know much about marketing,"[/b] Gregory admitted with a minimally apologetic tone. “If nothing else, maybe I’ll share them with Delores sometime. She’d have some interesting stories to tell the other kids at school, if nothing else.”

"I'm sure she'd love that!"[/b] Gregory said brightly, adding a second later with a smile, "Though telling them at school might not be the best idea." Children tended not to enjoy those sort of death-tails as much, these days he supposed.

They were mostly finished eating, and Siobhan asked, “Ready for dessert?”

"Sounds lovely,"[/b] Gregory agreed, somewhat childishly eager. There really was a whole different feel to dinner when it wasn't spent alone, in front of the telly, and it wasn't take out. "Really Siobhan, this dinner was really amazing,"[/b] he acknowledged again.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"I guess probably, I don't know much about marketing."

Siobhan smiled a bit at how Gregory sounded apologetic about that. It was one of those things he really shouldn’t feel bad about in the slightest. Siobhan only knew about marketing because Jamie went on and on about it until she knew enough to keep up with him. It was all terribly boring, but as long as you could read the trends in what appeals to consumers, it was pretty easy to figure out. He was much better off not trying to wrap his head around it, though.

"I'm sure she'd love that! Though telling them at school might not be the best idea."

Siobhan did laugh then. “Oh, I’m sure.”

Children loved those gory stories, but the problem was that they weren’t smart about telling each other. Teachers overheard, they told younger siblings or younger students, parents were called...it could be quite the ordeal. She remembered when Eric told stories at school. It was quite the hassle when she’d had to accompany Thomas to the school to smooth things over with the headmaster over the whole incident. Eric had pulled the charm on everyone, but Thomas had still grounded him for a week when they got home. There were never calls about any misbehaviours after that.

"Sounds lovely. Really Siobhan, this dinner was really amazing.”

Siobhan took the compliment with grace, not arguing with him, even if it was just stew. Having company had made it mean more to her than just sitting down for an average weekday meal. It was special because she had someone to talk to and reconnect with.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she replied, shifting the dishes to the side and getting to her feet. “The pie just needs to be cut, and I have some ice cream in the freezer, or cheese if you prefer.”

Turning, she made her way to the oven, pulling the pan out. It was hot and she immediately sucked her fingers to take the burn away. Clearly, she wasn’t as thick skinned as she thought she was. She gave the pie a dirty look for a moment before looking back at her mother’s cousin with embarrassment.

“It’s hot.” She shrugged a bit, consciously pulling her hand from her mouth, rinsing her fingers quickly and reaching for a knife. “How big a piece would you like?”

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Siobhan said gracefully, standing and taking the plates. He'd offer to help clear but there was only two of them; he offer to do dishes later, at least. “The pie just needs to be cut, and I have some ice cream in the freezer, or cheese if you prefer," she said. Mm, sounded delicious. It wasn't like he wasn't full already but Gregory, like any good Irishman, always had room for desert.

Gregory watched when Siobhan burned herself on the pan, and immediately said, "Oh, are you okay?"[/b]

But Siobhan didn't seem to do much more than cover it up, saying, “It’s hot," in explanation. It made Gregory feel a little guilty just sitting and watching her rinse her poor fingers, so he stood and made her way over to her when he asked her, “How big a piece would you like?”

"Whatever you're having, I suppose,"[/b] Greg said with a smile. He motioned to the sink, "Let me do the dishes later, will you?" His mother had always told him, whenever you went to a person's house, you were morally obligated to a. bring something to eat and b. wash their dishes.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

Siobhan felt silly for burning her fingers. She did know better than to touch it without a pot holder, and it was a minor sting rather than a serious burn, so it wasn’t anything to worry over. Still, Gregory’s "Oh, are you okay?" did cause her to nod in reassurance, feeling a bit embarrassed. She never did like it when people fretted over her. So she moved on, asking about the pie.

"Whatever you're having, I suppose."

Siobhan nodded, picking up the knife and moving to slice the pie into fractions. She was looking forward to the pie. She only ever made dessert when she was expecting company, seeing as how she would eat it all on her own if she made desserts all the time. So the pieces she cut were fair sized, both carefully placed on the plates. She moved to the fridge for some cheese – her favorite on apple pies.

"Let me do the dishes later, will you?"

“You can help,” she replied with a smile, slicing the cheese. “I do have a dishwasher, so there’s not a lot.”

Just the pot from the stew, really. The bowls could go in the washer, so could the utensils. Still, the offer was appreciated. And she already planned to put the rest of the pie into some Tupperware for Gregory to take home, so she supposed that there was also the pie plate, but that was pretty much a given.

She offered a plate to Gregory, taking her own back to the table. “I hope you like it. I picked up the recipe from a diner I used to work at.”

That had been an adventure. She was barely making due in New York when she’d been working there, looking for ways to make more so she could afford to turn on the heat during the cold winter months. The head waitress made fantastic pies and taught Siobhan the secrets she claimed made all the difference. She loved to bake, so she’d picked it up quickly, bringing in home baked pies every morning and getting a chunk of the profits. Now it wasn’t a necessity to sell baking to make ends meet, but she still enjoyed having people eat something she’d put love into.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“You can help,” Siobhan saoid - now she was slicing cheese, good God this was 'awesome,' as Martin had started saying all the time - and Gregory supposed that was the best he'd get out of her. He really ought to push a bit farther, but he knew from literally hour-long arguments with obstinate cousins, don't even try. You have to sneak in later on, if there's a lot of people a the gather, and do them quick before anyone can stop you.

“I hope you like it," Siobhan said, placing the slice in front of him. Gregory couldn't help but stare in wonder at the fact that he had actually found someone as great as to give him pie. Simple pleasures, he supposed, though pie wasn't simple in its deliciousness. "I picked up the recipe from a diner I used to work at.”

Greg nodded with a smile, and took a bit of the pie. "Mm, god," he said, trying not to sound too inappropriately... orgasmic, or something. "This is so great."[/b] He pointed down to the bowl and said, "I have a real sweet tooth, Siobhan, and this is just hitting the spot."[/b]

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"Mm, god.”

Siobhan couldn’t help but chuckle. Oh, he liked it, if that was anything to go off of. Her last husband had been a groaner for good food, so she could read what he was saying. She carefully cut into her own slice with her fork, savouring the taste for herself. Oh yes, if she ever needed money again, she was going to sell these commercially.

"This is so great. I have a real sweet tooth, Siobhan, and this is just hitting the spot."

“I’m pretty sure the sweet tooth runs in the family,” she replied, thinking it was all too true. Her brothers were sugar fiends, which led to a lot of cavities. “And I’m glad you like it. I really don’t get many opportunities to bake.”

Sadly so. She just didn’t entertain, and that led into the whole spiel about her hips. As long as Gregory liked it, that was all that mattered, though. And yes, she would be sending him home with the rest of the pie, especially if he snuck in to do the dishes. Oh, she was wise to him. Several of her family members were like that, after all. She’d caught her aunts and uncles and cousins all sneaking in and out of the kitchen when her father had died, and as much as it annoyed her then, she did understand it. When there was nothing else that you could do, you could clean and make things easier for the people who have to deal with the grief of losing a loved one. Even when it was just a family get together, the family were always concerned with doing their best to help out.

“I’ll tell you what – whenever you need a bit of sugar, let me know and I’ll bake something.”

That way she’d get the enjoyment and he’d get something to eat. It was a simple thing that would work out well for both of them.

It didn’t take long to get through her pie, setting her fork down against the plate. “And I am officially stuffed, so if you had any strenuous exercise planned, it’ll have to wait,” she teased.

She might even be inclined to let him take over the kitchen completely.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

Siobhan chuckled, though it was a nice laugh, not an annoyed one - surely she understood: “I’m pretty sure the sweet tooth runs in the family." Understand, indeed she did. “And I’m glad you like it. I really don’t get many opportunities to bake.”

"Me neither," Greg made a face. It was a little disappointing - he liked cooking, was good at it, but there never time to really get down and do it. And anyways, there was no one to bake for except himself, and it wasn't like he could eat a whole meal himself unless he wanted to eat it for the rest of the week as leftovers.

“I’ll tell you what – whenever you need a bit of sugar, let me know and I’ll bake something," said Siobhan. Greg smiled.

"That's very sweet of you,"[/b] he said, genuinely touched, "And I may just have to take you up on that offer sometime."[/b] He chuckled. "Though, of course, the offer goes both ways."[/b]

Having both acknowledged their mutual sugar cravings, they finished their pieces of pie quickly. “And I," announced Siobhan, when they had finished, "Am officially stuffed, so if you had any strenuous exercise planned, it’ll have to wait."

Greg laughed, "No, no, I'm with you there, on all accounts."[/b] He searched his head quickly for something to talk about now the food was gone - food was a fantastic prompt for conversation, Greg didn't know what he'd do without it on any date, ever - and ended up with, "Oh, hey, you know, if you're really set on going to Ireland, I'm sure I could get in contact with some of our relatives, get you place to stay or something. I mean,"[/b] he backpedaled, "I know you could do it yourself, but I've got some of their numbers and stuff, ya know."[/b]

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That's very sweet of you, and I may just have to take you up on that offer sometime. Though, of course, the offer goes both ways."

Siobhan smiled, a little strained, but still a smile. “Please tell me you got the elusive male cooking gene.”

She was serious. Her father could fry everything, her brother could open cans of soup, and her younger brothers managed simple things, like Kraft Dinner, but that was about it. She didn’t think any of that was cooking. Her father had claimed that cooking didn’t come with his genes and it was something Siobhan had always remembered. O’Bannon men couldn’t cook, nor could her mother’s male relatives, but then, Gregory was a Lestrade. Maybe there was an exception there.

Either way, it looked like they would be having more meals together in the future, if only to prove that they could both feed themselves.

"Oh, hey, you know, if you're really set on going to Ireland, I'm sure I could get in contact with some of our relatives, get you place to stay or something. I mean, I know you could do it yourself, but I've got some of their numbers and stuff, ya know."

This time, Siobhan’s smile was genuine. “I’d appreciate that. Honestly, it’s just a vague plan in my head to go there someday, but I’d have no idea where to start on my own.”

It was sadly true. After her mother died, their father had cut himself off from the family, and after he died...there wasn’t much more separating to do. She figured if she went over to Ireland, she would want to get to know her relatives still living there, but she didn’t even have names or numbers or addresses. It would be very time consuming to find them all on her own. Gregory’s help would be invaluable.

“Thank you,” she offered, feeling suddenly grateful to have him there. “I’m really glad you’re here and giving me a chance to have a bit of family again.”

It was lonely sometimes to be the only family she had. Knowing she wasn’t alone was worth more than all Jamie’s money.

[GREGORY LESTRADE]

“I’d appreciate that. Honestly, it’s just a vague plan in my head to go there someday, but I’d have no idea where to start on my own. Thank you,” she said with a smile, and Greg was sure she meant it. “I’m really glad you’re here and giving me a chance to have a bit of family again.”

Greg nodded, "I feel the same."[/b] Finished and fattened and automatically opened in a way only familial jeans could explain, Greg bid Siobhan goodbye soon afterwards, feeling good from being full. He stood in her doorway and hugged her, kissing her on the cheek to say goodbye.

"Next time, my place,"[/b] he promised; there was no chance he would be cutting the bit of family he had in this big city off so soon after finding her. "Thank you again so much for the meal, it was delicious."[/b] And with an earnest smile, he left. He'd make sure to give Siobhan some numbers next time, too.