DALEK WEEK : Parents

AN: This story is a little segment I'd like to add to my main story Musings of a Mother, which is an entire tale based around this very prompt. If it all seems a little abrupt, go read that for a little more background information.

There were times Deryn wondered how she put up with her child. Then again, there were times when Deryn wondered how Lilia put up with her and Alek (but that was a different story).

The reason for Deryn's frustration stemmed from the reason of most of their frustration; the fulfilling of Alek's dream. A fabricated airship that could be used for commercial purposes with a Clanker engine, seemed wonderful in theory, but putting it into practice was becoming increasingly difficult and expensive.

In the beginning, they'd gotten funding from the Society; after all, if their venture succeeded, the Society wouldn't have to depend on the military for transport anymore. But their meager funding wasn't enough, now. The year was 1931 and Clanker parts were becoming gradually more expensive as Germany's economy re-stabilized and finding decent manufacturers for all of the luxury items on ship was nearly impossible on their budget.

Which was why, when the news came from Count Volger that the aristocracy in Austria were holding a party, Alek secured his hands on an invitation. With Emperor Franz Joseph's death in 1916, the monarchy in Austria had collapsed, with large bids for power taken by Alek's cousins and other extended relatives. Count Volger, with Alek's background assistance, put a distinct stop to the madness however, and slowly guided Austria towards a republic that didn't need Germany's help.

Deryn had been duly informed by an overworked Alek that many Austrian politicians had wanted to create the Republic of German-Austria, despite Germany having lost the war and being all but bankrupt due to reparations paid towards France. Deryn had wondered then, just how stupid politicians were when she'd heard that particular news.

The invitation to the Austrian Republic's party had been rather difficult to obtain. Despite Alek's stabilizing presence throughout the monarchy collapse, he still was a figurehead of the Hapsburgs and Wilhelm Miklas, the president of the Republic had been iffy about extending that courtesy towards Alek.

However, though the party would be the ideal place to try and gain funding from the rich Austrian noble families and their Darwinist allies that would also be attending, it left the problem of what to do with her six year old daughter, Lilia.

"You aren't leaving me with Ma Sharp, are you?" Lilia asked, looking horrified, her Latin grammar left abandoned on the table.

"She's one of the only people who'd be willing to look after you for a week straight." Deryn said, calmly. Alek was standing behind her. Deryn had refused to let him break the news to Lilia alone. Knowing him, the moment she broke out her googly eyes and pathetic voice, he'd give in to her every demand. It was a very true fact that Lilia was 'Vater's little angel.

That wasn't to say that Deryn didn't love Lilia, but she saw straight through most of Lilia's tricks, having used most of them once upon a time on her unsuspecting father.

"But there's nothing to do in Scotland! She makes me embroider! I have to wear dresses all the time! It's all very well wearing dresses sometimes, but you can't do anything in them! And she hates me being in her precious garden. It's not fair! I don't want to go!" said Lilia, looking annoyed. The little girl stamped her foot, tossing her red curls in her anger.

Deryn had to suppress a fond smile. While she was the physical image of her father (not including Deryn's blue eyes), Lilia's personality was definitely very similar to her own as a child. And this made Deryn reconsider placing Lilia at Ma Sharp's house in Scotland. Deryn had hated being the typical girl, with corsets and frills, and she wasn't about to inflict that on her daughter, even if it was only for a week.

"Fine then Lilia. Where will you go?" Deryn asked, waiting for her daughter's answer. She was sure there would be one. As Count Volger repeatedly crowed, she was an intellectual, even at her young age.

"Uncle Volger's house!" she said, with a smile. At this, she heard Alek break into fits of laughter behind her. It was all Deryn could do to not follow suit.

"What's so funny?" asked Lilia, looking concerned that she had missed something.

Alek, between chuckles (they were really giggles, but Alek had always objected when she had called them that), started to explain. "You mustn't misunderstand me; Count Volger is a brilliant teacher, but as a stand-in parent? He'll go insane. God's wounds, I'm insane for even considering it! No, he wouldn't do. You would be studying all day and all night. You wouldn't sleep and you would probably get fed something that's only vaguely edible, unless he's actually employed a cook in the last month."

Lilia broke in. "He hasn't. Whenever I eat lunch at his house, it's always something really sus-suspicious. Last week, I forgot the food that you made, Vater, and the only thing in his pantry was some really old looking cheese and bread."

Deryn sighed. This was a point of shame, that she couldn't accomplish this particular skill, but Deryn's cooking attempts had always been awful and had usually ended with part of her adhered to the wall and flour all over the ceiling. Alek, on the other hand, had been a dab hand at it, once he'd started getting lessons from the cook, Simon, that they'd made friends with.

"That only confirms my suspicions. You aren't going to stay with Volger. What about with Jaspert and Miranda?"

Deryn shook her head at this one. "No, they're all busy. Thomas is at is boarding school, Jaspert's serving as coxswain for the Minotaur, somewhere over the Pacific and Miranda's at Suffragette meetings almost daily, notwithstanding the work she does for the Women's Institute."

This information had all been garnered from the detailed letters that Miranda sent as correspondence to Deryn almost every fortnight.

"Anyway, Thomas is really mean!" said Lilia, interjecting her opinion once more. "He's always pulling my hair and stealing my books. I don't like it!"

Deryn had to smirk again. She remembered that particular incident and the revenge her overly precocious daughter had taken on Thomas for it. Jaspert had been horrified by what his sweet niece had done, but Miranda had merely punished both of them, setting them to work in her kitchen.

"And there isn't a chance in the world we're sending her to Dr. Barlow." said Alek, rolling his eyes.

Deryn nodded emphatically. She respected the lady boffin, but she was still surprised that all four of her children had survived past childhood. Dr. Barlow could be very absent-minded about common necessities like food, sleep and entertainment, when they didn't pertain to her fabrications.

"Why can't I just come with you? I'll helpful, I promise. And I won't be pet-petulant? Petulant, like Uncle Volger says that I am when he makes me do fencing or boring things. Anyway, you're trying to raise more money for the airship, aren't you? I could help with that. Uncle Volger's always saying about how children have so much more influence than expected. If I'm cute enough, they'll listen to me." said Lilia, rapidly released all of the words into the world.

Deryn looked at her daughter for a second. There didn't seem to be any faults in her explanation, but it was a bit sudden. "Is this because you'll miss us too much?" Deryn asked.

Lilia looked away, and then started talking so quietly that Deryn had to strain to hear her. "You're always going away, somewhere. Some day trip to Newcastle for grunt labourers, some trip to Ireland for fabrication trainers and I'm always being left behind. Even in everyday life, I barely ever get to go to your workplace, I'm always being left at Uncle Volger's house. Which isn't to say that I don't enjoy it! I do. It's just; I never get to do anything that's actually useful to you. And I want to help. And I can help this time round. Please don't leave me here for a week."

Deryn crouched down and put her arms around her daughter. "We don't mean to, Lilia. We love you with all of our hearts, you know that, don't you?" She felt her daughter nod against her back. "We mean well. Our workplace is dangerous for a little girl. You may have the smarts, but it's still dangerous, and you're ever so adventurous. You're always scampering around. You never sit still. I was the same way as a child. Which is why we always leave you behind. I think, sometimes I forget just how wee and little you are. And, aye, you're right. Leaving you here for a week without us is a bit much. You can come with us."

She felt her daughter's back straighten and abruptly, Lilia flung her arms around Deryn. "Thank you Mummy! I promise, I'll try to sit still! And I'll wear dresses! And I—"

"You're allowed to come with two conditions." Deryn interrupted. Her daughter deflated partially. "One, you stay within our sights, unless we tell you otherwise. It's another country. If we lose you, it'll be near impossible to get you back again, especially since the Austrian government aren't too fond of us. Two, you don't complain about being there. Aye?"

Lilia nodded enthusiastically and ran off to her room, shouting back at them, something garbled that sounded like 'Packing'.

Deryn turned around and glanced at Alek, whose arms were crossed with one eyebrow raised. "What happened to not giving into her demands?" he said, in a stern voice. But Deryn saw the twinkle in his eyes and the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Alright!" exclaimed Deryn, "I crumbled! She was too forlorn! Blisters Alek, we're both unable to resist her wiles! But don't give me some mock-piety or any holier-than-thou attitude, Alek! You would have crumbled the moment she said 'please' in her pretty-girl voice!"

Alek shrugged and then grinned. "I can't wait to unleash her unto the Austrian politicians. The look on her face will be worth the whining."

And Deryn laughed and kissed him enthusiastically, because it looked like their venture would succeed.

(X)

Deryn didn't understand how her six year old daughter managed to wear a dress better than she did. Deryn herself wore a sleek, floor-length, blue dress and sapphires at her neck and ears. She would have much preferred to have gone to the ball in her military uniform as former Captain-Lieutenant, but Alek had insisted, that to gain points with the aristocracy, she had to be proper. Which had meant stuffing herself back into a dress.

Which wasn't as bad as Deryn liked to make out. Since Tesla's death, Deryn had worn dresses for a grand total of six times, each time, stunning Alek into silence, which had always led to passion once they were away from the public eye. The fashions were slowly improving, however. Dresses were getting shorter and bustles were completely unheard of in the modern woman. Corsets were getting less common and it was no longer strange for women to have short hair.

Which was all very well, but when your daughter, in her green flapper dress and hair in tight ringlets looked more natural and comfortable than Deryn did, she knew that she was most definitely not cut out for wearing dresses more often.

"Mummy, who do I need to try to talk to?" asked Lilia, as she fiddled with her ringlets.

Deryn paused for a moment. That she hadn't considered.

"Alek!" she called across the rooms. Their guest suite had come with three separate rooms for all three of them, which had been a pleasantly surprising courtesy.

She heard his feet sound out along the smooth wooden floor as he popped his head into her room. "What is it Deryn?" he said. He was midway between sorting out his neck ruffles and he was dressed in a very formal Clanker uniform.

Deryn's eyebrows rose at his get-up and he rolled his eyes. "I know, I know, it's really strange for you. But it's Clanker tradition to wear this type of clothing to formal occasions. This was my Father's coat, before he…." He trailed off and Deryn placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He still had trouble at times, coming to grips that his parents' lives were so abruptly ended.

"I suspect you had to do a lot of altering, aye?" asked Deryn cheekily, attempting to get his mind off of it.

Alek coloured. "If I've told you once, I've told you enough times. My father was not fat."

Deryn smirked. "I never said anything of the sort. I was actually referring to your height, midget. Your father was several inches taller than you, if the photos are anything to go by."

Alek merely rolled his eyes, being the model of prince-like aloofness. "I assume you summoned me for another reason, than to just insult me, hmm?" he drawled.

"Yes, she did, actually," piped up Lilia, who had been silent during their exchange, used to the banter that Alek and Deryn exhibited in daily life. "Who do I need to talk to?"

Alek answered quite promptly, despite his surprised look. "Well, Wladyslaw Umiastowski and his wife Sophia Jane are attending this evening. They are Poland's wealthiest family and highly influential. Wladyslaw also has a fondness for children."

Deryn's face screwed up in slight disgust and Alek coloured again. "Wrong wording. Sorry. He and his wife are childless, which means that he likes to think of every child as his, especially when they are well born and well mannered. All you have to do is smile and deplete your knowledge of complex words and mannerisms."

Lilia's face brightened. "Can I talk in other languages at him?" Deryn rolled her eyes; Alek had managed to infuse his love of languages into her. She spoke English and German fluently, with French coming close behind, though apparently she still struggled with vocabulary. She was learning Latin from Alek and Greek from Volger and the occasional Spanish from Simon, when he sporadically visited them.

However, amazing this was for a six year old child (or the freak of nature, as Volger 'fondly' called her), Deryn often felt out of the loop when Alek and Lilia talked in Clanker or Frog. She was proud of Lilia, but scared that Lilia would leave her behind. The only language that Deryn knew well was English. Clanker-talk had been easy enough to pick up, but Deryn didn't particularly like speaking German.

Alek nodded. "He speaks Polish as his home language and German as his second. He speaks English very poorly, but he speaks Russian well."

Lilia looked interested. "Do you speak Russian, Vater?" she asked.

Alek shook his head. "No, mein liebling, but I do know Hungarian. But I want you fluent in Latin before we get into other languages."

She pouted but then at Deryn's sharp gaze, straightened and beamed radiantly. Deryn grinned, her daughter looked like a regular angel.

"How'll I recognize him?" asked Lilia, "Will you point him out to me?"

Alek frowned, and Deryn understood why. Pointing him out would be rather obvious and would make Lilia' subtle nudgings towards supporting the airship less worthwhile.

"He has a very large mustache. It's very bushy. He will also be wearing the Umiastowski coat of arms. It's red and white, with a gold and green crown above it. You'll know him when you see it."

Lilia frowned. "Does he have a better mustache than Uncle Volger?"

Deryn burst into fits of silent giggles and she could hear the laughter in Alek's voice. "No, mein liebling, no one has a better mustache than Volger."

Deryn started wheezing and Alek gripped her arm and pulled her upright. "Careful, darling. It wouldn't do to choke and die before the dinner's done." Deryn slowly recovered herself and faced Lilia, who had impressively managed to keep a straight face through it all and winked at her.

Then she caught a glimpse of the clock and swore. "Blisters Alek, we'll be late to the dinner! Look, I'll do your neck things. Lilia, go put on your black buckled shoes, okay?"

Lilia nodded and sprinted out of the room. Deryn deftly pulled and tucked Alek's neck ruffles with ease; they were often used in the air-force at formal occasions as well. As she finished, Alek kissed her gently on the lips and she smiled but didn't kiss back. Wouldn't want to leave lipstick all over his mouth and cheeks.

"Come on," said Deryn pulling up her elbow-length white gloves. "Let's get Lilia and go."

Alek merely looked at her. "You look beautiful. Absolutely stunning."

Deryn scoffed. "Don't give me empty compliments, I look mismatched. I don't belong in a dress. And this hairband is driving me insane!" said Deryn, tugging at the hard metal.

Alek shook his head and Deryn threw him a look. "Alek, my six year old daughter looks better in a dress than I do. What does that say about me?"

"It says that she is very comfortable in dresses. It doesn't say anything about you. Deryn, I'll love you whatever you're wearing. I just wanted you to feel more comfortable tonight. I know we're supposed to be on business tonight, but it's the first Austrian occasion you've been to. I've been to several and I wanted you to take a walk into my world, for one night. Enjoy yourself a little."

Deryn rolled her eyes. "For you, I'll try. As I always have. I can't guarantee anything, however. I'll be too busy worrying, instead."

Lilia re-entered the room with her polished black buckled shoes over her white stockings. Deryn smiled and walked towards her. She linked her arm through Alek's, offered her hand to Lilia, and as a family they walked towards the dinner.

(X)

The meal was superb, that Deryn couldn't deny. There was variety after variety. French food, German food, Russian food, Indian food, food from the Caribbean. It had been difficult to decide which meal to go for. But there had been no enjoyment through this for Lilia. All Lilia had done was fidget with her stockings and push her food around the plate with a fork.

Deryn had been too busy conversing with potential investors to be able to worry too much about her during the meal, but now they hung around the back of the dance floor, Deryn coerced her daughter into spilling the beans.

"What's wrong Lilia?" Deryn asked, keeping an eye on Alek dancing with Princess Juliana of the Netherlands.

"I don't think I can be convincing enough, Mutter." She said, and she looked so upset about this, Deryn let the German pass by without comment.

"You will be. If I'm able to get stuck in a dress for this occasion, you'll be able to act. I trust you, Lilia. So does your father. You aren't a wee lass anymore. Remember rule number two, aye? No complaining. Now come on. You wanted to do this. Go and find Wladyslaw."

Lilia nodded, looking happier about the whole affair and disappeared into the crowd. Deryn tried to sink into the background. She had played nice at dinner, but the last thing she wanted to do was dance.

"Deryn Sharp? You are Deryn Sharp?" a loud voice interrupted her sulky thoughts. She turned around to find a tall woman with short blonde hair and an orange dress staring at her.

"Yes," said Deryn, feeling surprised, "That's me. I'm afraid I am at a disadvantage here. I don't know your name."

"I think you do. Most people do," she said, a clear American accent twanging through her words. "My name is Amelia Earhart. I fly airplanes for a living. They call me an inspiration there, but you are an inspiration in Britain."

Deryn laughed dryly. "No, I'm a disgrace. A woman in the front lines of war? Preposterous. A woman parading herself as a man? Degrading. A woman earning higher honours in the military than a man? Disgraceful."

Amelia Earhart didn't look convinced. "Yes, but I read your interview with Adela Rogers. You said that you did it all because you wanted to fly. You felt free when you were in the air. That it was all you ever wanted to do, and you went to every length to reach that goal. That's admirable. It's what I did. Am doing."

"But you didn't hide." said Deryn, "You're achieving so much more respect from women than I am. I'm just a disgraced nobody, who wanted to fly and got involved in a war."

Amelia shook her head emphatically. "Don't put yourself down, Miss Sharp. You did so much more than most men could do. You were on the front lines of battle and you survived with a medal and then went on to receive military highs! You were Captain of a ship, weren't you? That's a huge honour. And they kept you on that ship, until you quit."

"Yes, but it was a forced resignation, I didn't wa—" Deryn protested but was quickly interrupted by Amelia again.

"And now you're trying again. To get back in the air. I heard about your attempt to make a hydrogen breather that would be commercial with Clanker engines. It sounds absolutely fascinating. You must tell me more. I have never been in a hydrogen breather before. I have traveled in Huxleys on occasional points in my life, but never a hydrogen breather." said Amelia.

Deryn perked up, this sounded remarkably like she wanted to sponsor them… "Well, it's wonderful being in the air. But you know that so I'll carry on. It's an ecosystem, a fragile balance between all of the organisms on board. The animals are more important than the people, so there are days when you go hungry so the animals can continue to supply the hydrogen to the beastie. Its slow travel, compared to the speeds of airplanes, but it's much better for the environment. If you see the difference between Germany and Britain, the environment is so much purer for not being filled with factories, emitting plumes and plumes of smoke….

(X)

They all converged in the hotel room that night, all flushed and tired. Deryn flung herself unto the bed, throwing the high-heeled shoes away, happily into the corner of the room. Lilia looked fit to burst with happiness and Alek had a smug grin plastered over his face as he loosened his dress shirt and neck ruffles.

"Who's going first with their victory then?" said Deryn, as she massaged her feet.

Alek shrugged. "I don't mind. You go first Deryn."

Deryn smirked and leaned forwards. "I managed to garner Amelia Earhart's attention. She'll sponsor our airship, with the condition that she gets a place on the ship's maiden flight, preferably in first class. She also introduced me to Harold Sterling Vanderbilt, who was also interested in sponsoring us. He said that he'll give me an answer tomorrow. But I remain hopeful, he seemed really positive about the entire venture."

Alek grinned. 'That's brilliant, Deryn!" he said, kissing her cheek.

Deryn leant her head on his shoulder. "Too much of using feminine wiles. I don't want to have to go through that all again. Also, too much dancing. My feet ache."

"I'll go next then?" asked Alek and Lilia nodded. "I was talking to the Princess of the Netherlands and she thinks that most of her treasury will back our venture. She says that it will come out of her personal treasury, rather than the country's treasury. I also found a supplier of materials. Margaret Carnegie Miller was also attending this party and she's a trustee member of Carnegie's Steel Company so she is fairly certain that her company will agree to provide the steel we'll need for the main engine plates to protect the inner workings."

Deryn nodded slowly. "Carnegie was a lucrative man. I've heard of his company, because he came from Scotland originally. If his daughter has inherited his wealth, we'll have no problem finishing this airship." Deryn squeezed his arm and he looked excited.

Lilia grinned and straightened. "I'll go last then. I not only managed to snag Wladyslaw's interest in this, but Louis Nathaniel de Rothschild pledged support!" she said smugly.

Alek's eyes widened. "Rothschild? They are a good ally to have. They're extremely rich and influential. I'm related to them actually. They're honourary Hapsburgs, a part of them were granted that privilege by Franz Joseph. That was a good snag indeed."

"Also," said Lilia, looking very smug, "I managed to charm the Princess Elizabeth of Britain. She thinks that I'm the next best thing after chocolate. Her father thinks that I'm very nice and that I should go and play with the Princess sometime when we are all back in London."

Alek's mouth dropped open and Deryn lost her grip on the bed, tumbling off the edge in surprise. "What." uttered Deryn and Lilia merely smiled again.

"It was like you said, Mam. A bit of charm, twirling of ringlets, sophisticated vocabulary and they're all convinced that I'm cute and a good friend to have. Besides, she's nice." said Lilia.

Deryn started chuckling, perhaps slightly hysterically. "Of course. Of course you've just gained a strong friendship with the King's daughter and heir to the throne. Of course. Why didn't I expect it?"

Lilia blinked innocently. "I just did what you told me to, Mummy."

Alek grinned and lifted her up and swung her around. "Haha! You truly are your mother's daughter, Lilia! With this many sponsors, it's bound to go well!"

Deryn swept Lilia out of Alek's hands and kissed her cheek. "Well done, my darling! Well done."