Fic: Redemption, part 26 (PG)

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

This has been rattling around in my brain since I read Yours, Plum: The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse a few years ago.I wanted to try continuing the 1953 fanfic by J. Maclaren-Ross , which was lovingly transcribed here by chaoticchaos13

Pairing:Jeeves/Bertie
Disclaimer: I make no profit from the lovely world of Wodehouse.

Part 1: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/849688.html#cutid1
Part 2: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/851698.html#cutid1
Part 3: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/853433.html#cutid1
Part 4: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/854770.html#cutid1
Part 5: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/856387.html#cutid1
Part 6: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/861280.html#cutid1
Part 7: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/864721.html#cutid1
Part 8: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/867046.html#cutid1
Part 9: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/870100.html#cutid1
Part 10: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/871794.html#cutid1
Part 11: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/875432.html#cutid1
Part 12: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/876502.html#cutid1
Part 13: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/880681.html#cutid1
Part 14: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/881405.html#cutid1
Part 15: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/881540.html#cutid1
Part 16: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/890509.html#cutid1
Part 17: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/896757.html#cutid1
Part 18: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/899617.html#cutid1
Part 19: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/904805.html#cutid1
Part 20: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/913398.html#cutid1
Part 21: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/935186.html#cutid1
Part 22: http://community.livejournal.com/indeedsir/939558.html#cutid1
Part 23: http://indeedsir.livejournal.com/946312.html#cutid1
Part 24: http://indeedsir.livejournal.com/960845.html#cutid1
Part 25: http://indeedsir.livejournal.com/968533.html#cutid1



Jeeves sat on the chesterfield, and I followed suit. “Has he been harassing you, sir?” he asked, in a soft, yet vaguely dangerous tone which sent a thrill down my spine.

I hesitated. “He’s come by a few times, but I’d say Stiffy is more of a culprit in the way of harassment. I turned him down, you know.” I added, not quite certain of how this was going to go.

“I know, sir. I anticipated no less from you. “ He placed his hand over mine, and I felt at ease.

“I thought you’d be furious to see him in the flat.” I admitted. “I will assume that you heard all. He’s still… I mean, we were boys together, you know. I don’t want him to vanish completely.” It was as close to asking permission as I could manage. As annoyed as I was with the man, the thought of never seeing old Stinker again took the heart out of me. I didn’t have too many ties to my past, and the ones that I did, I guarded jealously.

“I would not forbid your friendship.” Jeeves replied, in a way that was soupy in the least damp sort of way. It was clear that he was furious, but the storm would not strike me. “I hold resentment for what the man has done to you, but at the heart of it, I believe that he does not mean harm. My trust in you is complete, sir, and that makes all the difference.”

I was dashed glad to hear these words, and I settled against him, so that he might drape his arm around my shoulders. He shifted to accommodate the position, and I noticed the small shift in his expression, the slight straightening of his back. Holding me against him , or in his lap, made him feel manly, I could tell.

“I trust that there is no other man, sir.” He added.

I shook my head. “Catsmeat- it’s a dashed long story, you see, but he acted as though I were, well, with him the last time Stinker came around. Jolly well convinced him, too. I’m grateful, of course, but I didn’t want; well, I mean to say, it’s a dangerous prank and I don’t want anything to happen to old Catsmeat-“

“Nothing shall, sir. I will see to it.”

I nodded. When Jeeves sees to something, well, it gets seen to.

“They need money for the parish, you see. I want to help them because… well, they love each other. I know they do.” Jeeves’ fingers stroked my hair, and rubbed my temples. I let my eyes close, and sighed in content, despite the troubling circumstances.

“I shall endeavor to help you, sir.” He said, unexpectedly.

I blinked open my eyes. “You will? I mean… you can get a bit of money off Lord Farthington?”

He was quiet, sullenly quiet. “Sir.” He began. “I shall be forthright and honest with you. I do not believe that I can, in the way that you imagine. He is what you call a ‘tightwad’. A twenty-minute egg.”

Things began to seem a bit clearer now. “So, you’ve been trying to touch the old man, too? Is that what you’ve been doing? I don’t mean to pry, old thing, but don’t you have money enough? If I’m costing you more than you can afford-“

“It is nothing of the sort, beloved.” He assured me, calmly. “I have money enough for the both of us, my Bertram.”

“Then… why the struggle with the old bird?” I asked, puzzled. He was silent, and I worried that I’d hit a nerve. Finally, he spoke.

“I did not want to tell you, sir, because I did not want to disappoint you if I should fail. I believe now, however, that it might be best if I explained my plans, for we may be able to help each other in these matters.” He squeezed my fingers, and I felt a surge of pride to think that I would be working with him as an equal.

I nodded. “Leave it to me, Jeeves. I’d do anything for you.”

“Sir… please, please forgive me if I cannot manage this for you.” He looked almost sick with grief.

I sat up, just slightly. “Out with it, now. I forgive you anything and everything, just let me help you.”

He nodded, and began, hesitantly. “Lord Farthington is the current owner of Berkeley Mansions. It is my ambition to purchase the building, and present it to you, sir. If I could give back to you the home which you loved so dearly…” His eyes were troubled, stormy, but they had no damper on the sudden leap in my stomach, as though Christmas had come. Home! I hadn’t dared to hope that I’d ever see it again. I dreamed of it so very often, and always awoke with the heartache I’d felt the night I left. I’d wept for hours, for Jeeves, for our home, for my lost life.

Jeeves was right to keep it under wraps, I decided, for now that the idea had been planted in my head, I was certain that I would be irrevocably heartbroken if it didn’t come to fruition. Jeeves must never know that, though.

“Oh, love…” I managed.

“The rental from the other flats would provide you with a handsome income, even if I were to pass away, sir. Between that and my will-“

“Damn and blast the will!” I choked. “I won’t have you dying on me. You’re not allowed to leave me again. Stop it. Stop it right now!” I hadn’t expected to erupt in a tantrum. Jeeves grabbed hold of me, and held tight until I stopped shaking.

“I will not leave you willingly, sir, ever again. I shall fight to the end. You have my solemn word.”

He said some other things in a low, soothing tone, and slowly I came back to myself. I nodded, meekly.

“Do you think… that we can really go home again?” I asked, wishing for the reassurance that I knew that he couldn’t give me.

“I will not rest in my efforts, sir. It is not money which is preventing the sale, but his lordship’s stubborn instance that I work a miracle for him. Much animosity exists between his lordship and his brother, sir. His lordship is of the most conservative fabric, and has high political ambitions. He worries that his brother, in all of his eccentricities, will create scandal which will reflect on him, causing irrevocable damage to his ambitions to the office of Prime Minister. To be concise, sir, he refuses the sale of the building until his brother has agreed to leave the country, never to return.”

“The brother isn’t biting, then?” I asked.

“No, sir. He is an extremely wealthy man, and proud as his brother. He will not accept a bribe, and the fact that his brother wishes him gone furthers his determination to stay.”

I understood now why the man had practically snarled at me when he’d heard Jeeves’ name. “I’ll help, somehow. I trust in your superior fish-fed brain. Let Bertram be your legs and whatever else is needed to execute the plans.”

Jeeves regarded me for a long moment, before nodding. I smiled, driven by thoughts of the familiar flat surrounding us, locking out the world around us. He brushed a finger across my lip. “Your smile is beautiful, sir.”

“I’m just thinking…”

“I know, sir. I know. I promise that I will do everything within my power to procure it for you. I will not rest.”

“It’s all right if you can’t.” I replied. “I have you…”

“Yet, you wish for more, and you deserve it.” He stated, firmly. “Do not deny it, sir, I think no less of you. I have thought on this for countless hours myself. I believe I shall take Mr. Waverly’s flat next door. The kitchens share a wall that can easily accommodate a door. I shall conduct business there, and we shall live our private lives in our old flat, which shall be officially yours.” His eyes were glowing, caught up in the joy of dreaming and planning. We indulged quietly, cautiously, as though if the world heard our whispered plans they would be destroyed. I hadn’t felt so bright and gay since before the war, and yet, there was that sense, that dreadful feeling, that it could all come undone in a moment.

Comments

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

You tease! Act like you're about to wrap things up only to add a new plot twist! It's, it's exquisite, dang it. Keep it up, or else;)

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

This was what it was leading up to :)Thanks!

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

That... is one of the most beautiful things I think Jeeves could do for Bertie. All this time I've been wracking my brain to figure out what you had planned, but this exceeds anything I could have imagined. Glorious! Fucking brilliant! I do hope they're able to pull it off, for I adore happy endings! :D

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

I'm glad no one guessed the idea! Home means everything to these two, especially since they aren't allowed to be a couple outside of it.

[mxdp.livejournal.com]

More plot! :D And how beautiful of Jeeves to plan the impossible!
Also: "He shifted to accommodate the position, and I noticed the small shift in his expression, the slight straightening of his back. Holding me against him , or in his lap, made him feel manly, I could tell." Heee <3

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

It's pretty obvious Bertie doesn't mind being the femme in the relationship. He's so adorable that way. ;)

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Bertie adores Jeeves in his manly moments, that's for sure <3

[dogwoodblossom.livejournal.com]

Things are looking up!

Heh, I said in the comments of another discussion here that I have a rule against J/W fic about the war/s. This fic is totally an exception. Always happy to see more of this.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I find I can write interesting post-war things. WWI is a bit too early for me to manage with Jeeves, though. I like to leave that at his "dabbling" and leave his adventures to the imagination!

[tourmaline1973.livejournal.com]

*gasps* this fic gets more and more wonderful :)

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm sorry for the late reply. real life has been... bad lately.

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

Greatly enjoyed this chapter, too! The gift Jeeves hopes to give Bertie really shows his love for Bertie.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

I promise to write more soon! irl has beaten me up a bit as of late.

[gini-baggins.livejournal.com]

<3 This is wonderful.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[random-nexus.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, oh, I missed this one! I'mma cry! I want to hug and cuddle them both! What a marvellous thing for Jeeves to try doing! Ohhh!

You are so making awesomesauce here! Truly!
Looking forward to more.

<3

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm going to write more very soon. Sorry for the late reply.

[the-archandroid.livejournal.com]

Aha! finally everything comes to light, but oh how badly i want this for the both of them, They say you can never go home again, and I'm sure that being together would be enough for them, but the fact that it's Jeeves dream and desire as well renders it even more poignant.