Changing by Remorse- Part Two

"What the fuc-?" Al started but immediately snapped shut when given a disapproving look by her father. It was her only rational response to what she was desperately trying to wrap her brain around.

She didn't understand; only last night he had silver in his hair and was matured nicely with age. This person acted like Robert, like her father, he was still unimpressed by her continuous swearing, and he was still as sarcastic as him too… but he only looked to be half a decade older than her.

"I honestly dunno…" Junior steadied his elbows on the work surface in which he then slid his head in hands from where they were ruffled in his hair.

He looked so sincere, slouched over an empty coffee cup, obviously thinking how he got into this position himself.

Al studied him over, wondering if any of this could be even remotely real and possibly all just a freaky dream. She was immensely confused on how this person who was barely out of their teens could be her father. Yet, something she noticed in this stranger that triggered a memory, fluttering her heart.

Clouded behind his dwelling blatant expression, there was an unwavering indifference in his eyes that she could remember in her fathers. There was that presence of uncountable defiance, and life, as well as inspiring belief and submitted regret. His eyes were her fathers; they were aged and full of experience.

It was that they had that same warmth as they did each time he looked at her, his daughter.

"Dad, you…" She uttered swallowing. Torn with so many contrasting emotions it was all she was able to summon vocally. Her voice was low and sorrowful, unable to string together words to form any sentence that could lighten the atmosphere.

He didn't turn or shift to her at all; his only response was a curling smile of reassurance, the only apparent signification that he had even heard her.

Getting straight to the point, the maid decided to throw herself in to the deep end and offer up some sane suggestions, coherent to the madness.

"Did you get plastered last night? That does seem likely." She raised an eyebrow as he rubbed his eyes with fists before continuing.

"Well, I've known you a long time Junior and what I can gather from these past five decades is this: When you get totally shit-faced, you do some real inhuman things. I think this falls under that category. My only real synopsis of the situation is that you had some work done last night."

Her stare on him lingered for a few moments; she was unsure whether he had even heard what she had just said at all. So she moved away from him, leaving her thoughts in the air, ready for him to contemplate over. Grabbing a cloth out of the sink she wiped down the kitchen side free from coffee bean dust. Lifting Robert's cup, as to wipe under there too, she cleared away the coffee ring that had formed.

Robert watched her circular motions work over the side; he considered her sudden urge for cleaning as her way of settling herself at ease, or straightening out her mind. Either way, it was rather mesmerizing the way he found himself indulged in her wiping.

Pausing for a brief minute, she looked up from her scrubbing,

"'Scuse my language there."

Both Al and Robert nodded in acknowledgement from the breakfast bar.

Seeming so completely unfazed by the whole fiasco, the maid blandly ushered the two teens up the stairs, aggravated at everyone else's lack of conversation. They disperse into their rooms, obeying their orders as to get dressed. Knocking on the living room door, she asks the same of Dylan, he groans, before following the sound of running showers.



Once all dressed and downstairs, they all stare at Junior as he eventually joins them.

His top drapes over his tiny frame and his jeans had been fixed to the tightest belt buckle he owned, yet they still hung nearly down his thighs.

"Who the hell are you?!" screamed Dylan before anyone had time to comment on how Junior looked.

The maid sighed, shaking her head and tutting at Junior, due to the state he was dressed in. Walking away she approached her laundry pile whilst leaving Dylan in a hyperventilating state of shock.

"It's dad." Al pointed, trying to reassure her brother. Processing what Al had just said was proving impossible for Dylan to conjure; his bulging eyes weren't helping either.

"You have to believe me Dylan, look, it really is him. Stop being such a twat and get over it! Just look at him you retard, how could it not be him?" Al tried to convince
Dylan who meanwhile, was frantically shaking his head.

Losing her patience, Al stomped over to the far wall of the kitchen and returned with a photo frame that she'd unhooked from the wall.

Shoving it in front of his face she demanded of him to compare the resemblance.

The photo was of Robert, enjoying that certain awesome holiday on the beach when he was roughly the same age as he looked before them. The only difference between the framed photo and Robert in real life was that Robert was now unearthly pale, dreading rejection from his own son.

Dylan stood there, eyes drifting from photo to reality, unsure what to believe.

Leaving Dylan frowning over the picture, Robert turned his attention to the maid and tried to fill in the awkward blanks.

"Erm, yeah. They're a bit big… but they are on the tightest, so… what are you doing?" he asked, peering at her.

"Looking for some decent clothing for you sweet pea. We can't have you walking round lookin' like that now can we? It'd just be- Ha!" submerging from the basket she pulled out a pair of Levi's, fresh off the line. She chucked them at him.

"Hey! Those are like my best jeans, do ya have to?" Dylan protested out of nowhere, suddenly shaking off his confusion and returning to his normal self.

"Dylan," the maid turned to him darkly, "He does, so shut your trap, boy."

Dylan only frowned at her, he knows when he's been defeated, but he would also never stand up to her, he respects her too much to do so, and is secretly scared of her.

Looking a little unconvinced and uncomfortable at wearing his son's jeans he decided that he initially has no other choice. He went away to put them on.



Emerging into the kitchen with not only the Levis on but there was also a slightly distinguishable smile existent on Junior's face too.

Gazing down at his legs he fore played the usual routine that one usually does when they try on new clothes. He felt himself down in the legs and checks is bum in a twirl, just to confirm that they did fit properly.

It was the first time that morning that had actually smiled.

All slight slithers of simmering joy were then obliterated when there was a ring at the door.

Smashing Junior's world completely, his face returned to the pale face he had had on previously that morning. It had no life, no indication, no sense of direction… just lost.

The other three stood ridged to the floor, scared at not only how quickly Robert had lost the tint from his face, but also who could be at the door.

Their home was located remotely hidden away, as not to be easily found or followed by anyone- especially the paparazzi. They had not only done this in America, but also in their other home in England, in which they were all now located. So it made no sense to either three of them as to who was at the door.

Suddenly growing a pair, Robert instructed Dylan and Al to be quite and to stay in their rooms. They did as they were told and simultaneously made a brake for it, pounding up the stairs.

Knowing full well who was awaiting on the other side of the door, he explained to the maid as to what he wanted her to do.

"Tell them that I'm not home, that I'm away, alright? Just don't let them in. Pass that message along to them." He informs her as he practically dragged her towards the front door.

To the right of the door is one of the three living rooms, in between the two is an alcove carved into the wall. Deciding he wants to listen in to the conversation, Junior sat himself in the alcove, completely sheltered.

Opening the door, the maid reveals a slightly swaying Jude Law, who was, by the disappointment on his face, expecting Downey.

Ever the gentleman, he clears his throat and starts off by asking,

"This is the right residence, isn't it? I mean, Robert being Robert has probably given me the wrong address, or I typed it in wrong to the Sat Nav... I'm not too sure to be honest, but do you even know what I'm going on about, in reference to who lives here? Although-"

To stop him trailing off any further she bluntly replies,

"Yes, this is Downey, Junior, residence Law. What brings you here this mornin'? Has he set you up love?"

In the corner of her eye she could make out Robert giving her both the middle finger, and the doubled one at her for showing him up like that.

Surprised that she asked but more so that she is allowing him to speak, he explains,

"Oh, he invited me over for a cuppa char…" even though she herself was British, she simply adored the way Jude spoke and embraced his heritage, referring to tea as 'char'.

Beyond the maid, Jude could vaguely see inside from the front doorstep and how beautifully tasteful it was. It was exceedingly large and a welcoming place to come home too, Jude considered, to come home too.

The warmth of the radiators were seeping out past the front door, drafting past Jude's legs, sending a shiver up his legs, and causing the hairs on them to rise.

Being unintentionally nosey, the maid just watched him, a slight little snort escaping her. On any other normal day she would have invited Jude in, weather Robert was home or not. Alas, this morning was defiantly not one that was to be spent sipping tea and enjoying company with Jude Law.

Being as equally as curious as Jude, Junior dared himself to risk sticking his head out of the alcove he was clocked behind, just to see if he could get a glimpse of what was going on without being spied.

Ironically, worst came to worst, just as the maid jinxed it.

"Well, I'm sorry, but he's not home right now darling, I'll notify him to organize another play date. Hopefully you'll see him soon."

Junior's and Jude's eyes locked.

Shit.

Praying to God that Jude hadn't seen him, Robert mouthed a few dozen curses, and then ducked back behind the alcove again.

"I saw you Robert!" in a playful manor Jude smiled and slid his way past the maid who was truly insulted at being pushed past.

Standing in front of Robert, he has his head on his knees, arms wrapped round himself and tucked into the alcoves corner, pretending that this isn't happening.

Despite his praying, Jude continues to shadow him.

Gently nudging him with the toe of his shoe, Jude then caught on that something wasn't right. He crouched down to Junior's eye level, then asked him what was wrong.

With no response, he asked Junior again, this time with a hand on his shoulder,

"Robert, you can tell me anything. What's wrong? You know that I'll help. What's happened?"

With Junior still ignoring him, Jude concluded that he was left with only one option. As a result to this, he pulled at Robert's arms, trying desperately to pry them away from around him. Robert's grip tightened in retaliation to this, his uneven breaths were apparent in his shaky breathing.

Biting her lip anxiously, alternative endings ran their way through the maid's mind, prior to Jude's reaction. Stepping back from the scene she helplessly watched on, knowing full well that there was no way of restraining Jude now.

Surprisingly, Robert loosened his grip.

Still hidden between his knees, Jude was unable to see his face; he waited for Robert to look up.

"Robert…"

Jude slid his legs down and his knees followed down, knocking down Junior's barricade.

With his legs gone Jude was able to receive a clear glance of Robert and to look into his eyes.

Embarrassed and slightly tearful Robert looked Jude straight in the eye.

Roberts's voice was high and wobbly, yet he finally sniffed before uttering,

"Hey, Judsie,"