It Takes One to Know One
Parts: One, Two
Julia sees her parents for the first time since she was a kid. She anticipated things to go poorely but what happens was unexpected.
Words: 2.5k
I also Just realized today is Julia’s Birthday. So happy birth Julia!
Julia and Asra had sent out a letter inviting Julia’s parents to visit. A couple months go by and Julia hasn’t forgotten about the letter but she is more relaxed. She thinks they maybe didn’t get her letter or they declined her invitation even though they wanted one... ok so maybe she was just making poor excuses so she could relax, but it seemed to be working for the time being.
Julia was out in the market shopping and on her way home with Asra, they were laughing and talking when the shop gets in view she notices two very well dressed figures in front of the door. When they get a bit closer Julia sees who they are. She freezes and drops all the things she was holding and her vision seems to fade around her,
“Julia get the fuck in here! What do you think you are doing?” Her father is yelling in her face.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she wanted to run but thought better of it.“I-I don’t... I d-didn’t mean to-“
“We don’t care about your stupid excuses or half assed apologies. You messed up and should be ashamed!”
Julia’s step mom comes up next to her father to ask, “why the hell did you have two kids?”
“I don’t know, but it was a sure shit mistake.” He turns to face Julia again, “ain’t that right Julia? Everyone would be so much better off without you... but we are unfortunately stuck with you for at least 9 more years. Ugh.”
As Julia comes back to her senses she can faintly hear Asra talking to her and she’s faintly aware he is holding her upright.
Once she is back to normal she sees Asra looking at her with concern. He is still holding her shoulders to steady her though she is standing on her own now. “Julia?...Are you ok?... What happened?” When Julia doesn’t respond he looks to the shop where she is looking.
“Those are them” It’s so quiet it almost sounded like a trick of the wind. Julia begins shaking “It’s them, Asra... Those are my parents,” She whispers.
“Wait... those are them? Are you sure?” Asra is rubbing a hand in circles on her back.
“Yes, I’m sure. Those are my p-parents.” Julia takes a deep breath, “well, here we go...I guess.” She reaches for asras hand to interlace their fingers, they gather their things off the ground before slowly walk to the shopfront. Asra Introduces himself and Julia. Her parents say a soft ‘oh’ before giving Julia an awkward, sort of hug. If you could even call it that. It was very obvious how uncomfortable they were.
“Nice to see you again , d-d-darli-“ He clears his throat, “Julia. And it wonderful to meet you Asra. Are you her..?”
“Fiancé.” Asra finishes for him. “And who are you two?”
“Oh, I am Julia’s father, Collin. And this is my wife, Nicole.” Collin extends a hand which Asra shakes, then does the same with Nicole.
“Well it nice to meet you two.” Asra looks back to see Julia practically hiding behind him.
“Likewise. Well, where will we be staying?”
“Oh right. We will take you to the palace where you will stay in a guest room.” They all walk down to the town square to get a carriage ride. The ride there it is fairly quiet. Every once and a while they would exchange a few words, overall they kept to themselves. Julia is quite uncomfortable the whole ride. She just can’t relax.
Once they arrive at the palace Julia and Asra lead them inside and make sure the guards know who Julia’s parents are so they let them in if they are alone. Collin said he wanted to just go straight to their room for now. On the way there they crossed paths with Portia.
Asra noticed Portia looks like she could use some help, “Hey Portia!”
“Oh hi Asra. I could use a hand if you wouldn’t mind.” Portia was holding a huge basket of fruit on each hip.
Asra turns to Julia, “Will you be ok alone? I can go with your parents and you can help Portia if you want.”
Julia shook her head and said, “no no, I should help them... they are my f-family. I will be ok.”
“Ok, I will be as quick as I can.” Then Asra takes one basket from Portia as she leads the way.
“Ok. Uh, your rooms-I mean room isn’t far.” They scoff behind her but follow when she starts walking. Every once and a while Julia could hear them murmuring stuff behind her that was quite obviously about her, it was making her frustrated but decided not to do anything. She didn’t want this to be any worse then it already was going to be.
They are only here so you can get answers. You won’t have to put up with this for long just hold it together Julia.
“Aaaaaaand here we are.” She turns around to face them only to see them scowling, it seems like it might just be their permanent expression.
“Hey Julia. Why don’t you join us for a moment to chat.” Collin says.
“Ah yes. That is a wonderful idea dear. We have some.... things... we want to discuss.” Nicole leans on the door a moment before opening up for them all to enter.
“Uh...um.......well,” Julia looks over her shoulder to still not see Asra, “sure...? I guess...?” She hesitantly walks into the room while looking back hoping to see Asra to no avail. After Julia enters her parents walk in, shutting the door behind them.
“Well Julia? No ‘I missed you both so much!’ Or ‘I love you!’ Or anything? Seriously?”
“Well about that-“ Julia was going to try explain her amnesia.
“No. It’s my turn to talk now. You ran away when you were what, 10 years old? No goodbye, no letter, nothing. You have always been so ungrateful for everything we’ve done for you.” At this point they were towering over Julia looking down at her. She is already short to a person with a normal height, but her parents were tall. As tall as Julian at least, maybe taller.
“You don’t deserve any of this Julia. You’ve done nothing to deserve this. Look at Ronin. He is the perfect child. Never got into trouble, did everything we asked, didn’t sneak out, the list goes on. And what have you done.” She pauses “exactly. You’ve done nothing.” Nicole’s tone made it seem like everything in Julia’s life was a big mistake. Like it was just some error and that why she got the life she has now and not her brother.
“I-I don’t know why I got all of this.... I don’t even remember what I was like as a child. Was I really that bad?” Julia was genuinely asking them.
“What on earth do you mean you can’t remember?” Collin was now looking at her with such a serious face.
“Well... I have bad amnesia and-“ she is cut off by him scoffing “um, and I cant really remember anything before 4 and half years ago.” Julia felt so small right now. Like she was walking on egg shells and one wrong step could make it all go wrong.
Collin and Nicole promptly turn around and murmur to each other, Julia couldn’t hear what they were saying. All of a sudden they both turn around and look very mad, “You are lying! Aren’t you! You just don’t want to face the facts! You think that if you ‘don’t remember’ you can get off the hook from everything you’ve done! You ruined our lives Julia!” Nicole usually had a very sweetly condescending voice but now her voice is so deep and threatening.
“What?! No I wouldn’t lie! I’m not lying! You have to believe me! I don’t hardly even remember who you two are!” Once those last words slipped she realized that was probably not a good idea. Oh no
“What the fuck Julia?! What is wrong with you?! You can’t just say that! And yes you are lying! You have always lied! You always will lie!” Collin was leaning over Julia yelling into her face.
“W-w, b-but I...” Julia starts tearing up but hastily wipes the tears away.
After a minute of just standing there Nicole continues like none of that just happened, “so Asra. He seems nice.”
“Y-yeah... he’s great.” Julia is so confused on everything that is going on.
“Hmm... He seems to good for her, what do you think Collin?”
“Ah yes. I was just thinking the same thing.” They both turn back to Julia with their arms crossed, “Julia, you will ruin his life. You probably already have.” He widely gestures at Julia, “You aren’t the kind of person he needs. He needs someone who won’t drag them down when they fail, like you. You will only cause him issues and make life harder.”
Nicole crouches so she is eye level and only a few inches from Julia’s face, “He will be better off without you Julia, I promise.” She stands back up
“And don’t think about squealing to one of your ‘friends’. They won’t believe you. We will turn everyone against you if we have to.” Collin points to the door while saying, “now leave.” Julia felt frozen in place, “I said leave!” Julia shakes her head and quickly makes her exit.
Julia stands in the hall for a moment still processing everything when She hears Asra and Portia talking. She plasters a smile on her face and quickly wipes her eyes.
“Hey Julia! I was just coming back to check on you!” Asra sort of shouts from down the hall. Portia says goodbye to him and goes back the way they came. When Asra gets up to Julia he wraps her into a tight embrace. Julia is hesitant to return it at first with her parents words still ringing through her ears but quickly melted into him as she usually does.
They have a room so when ever they visit they can have their own space to rest. They both walk to the room and lay in bed wrapped up together. Asra falls asleep but Julia can’t seem to rest. She looks at Asras peaceful face.
Do I deserve him? Ugh, who am I kidding I probably don’t-definitely don’t. I should talk to Nadia. She always knows best.
Julia carefully untangles herself from Asra and leaves the room. She walks down the halls where she usually finds Nadia. Instead she finds Portia. “Hey Portia.”
“Oh hi Julia! Where’s Asra?” Portia looks around a little bit before her gaze settles on Julia again.
Julia slightly shook her head and said, “He’s asleep. I wasn’t tired and was getting kinda restless, but do you know where Nadia is?”
“Of course! She’s in a meeting right now, is there something you needed?”
Julia waves her hand and shakes her head, “Oh no. I was going to ask her something but I’m fine.”
Portia tilts her head to the side and says, “Are you sure? I can tell her later you want to talk to her if you want?
“No, I will be ok. Thank you though.” Portia then continues on to do whatever while Julia decides to just keep walking aimlessly through the halls. She didn’t feel like going outside today, It felt to... open.
After some time she finds herself near the salon. She hears familiar voices and laughing from inside that make her flinch. She stands near the doorway, close enough to hear, but far enough away that they won’t see her.
“Ah, Nadia. You truly are such a great conversationalist.” You could hear the joy in Nicole’s voice.
“Likewise, for the both of you. I’ve really enjoyed talking to you but I do have to get back to my my countess duties.”
“Why of course. It was lovely talking.”
Wow they really are trying to win everyone over to spite me. Or maybe they are just like that? Am I really just that bad?
Julia continues wandering again as to not be caught when she ends up at her and Asras room again. She slowly opens the door and quietly walks in as to not disturb him. She sits on the bed and sighs before looking over to Asra to see him wake up.
“did I wake you up?” Julia spoke quietly so she would t disturb the peaceful atmosphere.
“Kinda. But don’t worry about it. What were you doing up?” Asra props himself up on his elbows.
“Oh nothing really. Just kinda wandering. I couldn’t sleep.” Asra gently pulls Julia to lay down with him so he was spooning her and he meets no resistance from her. He rests a hand on her side and Julia puts her hand atop his.
“What were you thinkin’ about while walking?” Julia really didn’t want to answer it because she didn’t want to talk about her parents.
“Just kinda everything from today. It’s still a lot to process.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine how you may feel about it all. It is a lot. And you know you don’t have to deal with this alone right?” Asra shifts a little bit before planting a Kiss on Julia’s shoulder.
At this point Asra couldn’t see Julia’s face, Or she hoped he couldn’t because hot tears were streaming across her face. She tried to steel her voice the best she could but when she spoke it came out as wavy and uncertain, “I k-know.”
Asra quickly sits up and Julia follows. “What’s wrong, Darling?” Asras face was full of concern and care.
“Oh. Well.... It’s just a lot for one day, you know?...But it’s nothing really. I shouldn’t be crying.” Asra brings his hands up to her face to wipe away her tears. He pulls her into a close and tight hug.
“Your reaction is perfectly reasonable. I would probably feel the exact same if I were in your place. Just if your having a hard time just come to me. I can’t read your mind, darling. And even though I’ve gotten used to reading your body language, it doesn’t tell me why you feel that way. I love you, and I want you to come to me for these things. It’s just like how I come to you. And I know this is something you struggle with and you’ve gotten so much better... I just really love you and care about you and want the best for you. And that’s why I’m going to marry you.” Asra rubs Julia’s back as she just cries into his shoulder.
Eventually she whispers, “Thank you.”
“For what?” He leans back to look into her eyes.
“For everything.”
