Short Fic: From the Diary of Pauline Wooster

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Title: From the Diary of Pauline Wooster
Author: Wotwotleigh
Pairing: Bertie/Pauline (but the story is pretty gen); there's some slashy speculation in this one.
Rating: G
Words: 1,071
Summary: Jeeves comes to visit.
Disclaimer: Jeeves, Bertie et al. belong to P. G. Wodehouse. I just wrote this for fun.
Author's Notes: This is the fourth installment in my epistolary series that started with Dear Mr. Jeeves. The second part is Jeeves Replies (and there is an awesome remix reply by erynn999  here).The third part is Affectionately, Bertie Wooster.

 

6/15/1950

The cab rolls up around 10:00 AM. We hear the tires crunching on the drive as we're tidying up after breakfast. I've never seen Rosie sprint out the door so fast. I should see about putting that kid on the girls' track team at her school.

I stumble out onto the porch just in time to see my daughter walking up the drive next to a tall, silver-templed mensch in an impeccable black topcoat and homburg. He carries a cane in one hand and a valise in the other. He's walking with just a hint of a limp, but damned if he doesn't manage to make it look graceful somehow. Rosie's grinning from ear to ear, looking more like her dad than ever, and trotting alongside him to keep up with those long strides.

I've known for weeks that he's coming, I know who this has to be, but it takes a few minutes for my brain to catch up with what my eyes are seeing. Then his gaze meets mine, and there's that kind but inscrutable smile, the same one I saw looking down at me over the side of my father's yacht so many years ago. I feel my heart lurch.

"Jeeves!" I blurt, and I rush down the steps to greet him.

"Mrs. Wooster," he answers. That sonorous voice brings back another rush of memories. He sets down his valise so he can clasp my hand. "What a delight. If I may be so bold, you are even lovelier than I remember."

"Same to you, you old smoothie," I say, and I can't hide the break in my own voice. I know hugging Jeeves is supposed to be one of those things that simply aren't on, but I do it anyway. Chalk it up to my crass American upbringing. I throw in a kiss on the cheek for good measure. He gives a startled chuckle and pats me on the back a few times.

At that moment I hear the screen door bang open and shut again. I turn and see Bertie standing on the porch. Those blue eyes of his are big as saucers, and I can tell he's going through the same mental catch-up routine I did a moment earlier. He takes a breath to speak a couple times, but he doesn't seem to know where to begin.

Jeeves smiles ever so slightly and tips his hat. "Good morning, sir," he says.

Bertie's uncertainty melts away. He descends the front steps in a single bound. "Lord love a duck!" he exclaims. "I might even go as far as to say odds bodkins! Is it really you, Jeeves?"

"It is really I, sir."

Jeeves steps forward to meet his old friend. For the first time, Bertie notices the cane and the limp. His brow creases with concern. "I say, Jeeves," he says. "You've added a couple of new accessories to your ensemble. What happened, old bean?"

Jeeves looks at the cane pensively. "Since we parted company, sir, my life has been fraught with adventure – and not, I fear, of the consistently pleasant variety that characterized my time in your employ. This particular story is long and harrowing, and perhaps best told over a strong evening cocktail."

"Of course, of course! We'll save it for later," says Bertie. He hesitates for a moment, then reaches out and grips Jeeves's shoulders. "It's damned good to see you, Jeeves."

"The pleasure is mutual, sir," says Jeeves. A silence passes between them, and I can see a million unspoken questions in both their eyes. Rosie, who has been watching the whole exchange in rapt fascination, is beginning to fidget.

"Bertie," I say gently, "we should show Jeeves his room."

Bertie snaps back to reality with a start. "Ah, how right you are, Pauline," he says. "I'm being remiss in my hostly duties." Jeeves starts to reach for his valise, but Bertie beats him to it with a triumphant "Ha!"

"Thank you, sir," says Jeeves.

"Not at all, Jeeves," says Bertie, bounding back up the steps. "You are a guest chez Wooster, and you shall receive the full treatment."

"You are most kind, sir."

"And . . . well, if it's not too much of a strain on your system, can I ask you not to call me 'sir' all the time?"

Jeeves raises an eyebrow, and a corner of his mouth turns up. "Very good, Mr. Wooster."

"I suppose 'Bertie' would be a bit much to ask for."

"Well, Mr. Wooster . . ."  

"It's all right. We must work our way up to these things." He stops suddenly, his hand on the front door handle. "Oh, gosh, I'm being a terrible bounder. You know Pauline, of course." Jeeves nods and tips his hat to me. "Have you met my daughter yet? Officially, I mean."

Jeeves turns back to Rosie, who looks completely star-struck. "Miss Rosie introduced herself to me immediately upon my arrival, Mr. Wooster. She welcomed me most hospitably. An uncommonly charming young lady."

Bertie beams with pride. Jeeves offers his arm to Rosie, and she takes it, blushing crimson. As we follow Bertie into the house, Jeeves asks Rosie if she has ever heard the story of how he saved her father from the swan.

"Yes," she says, "but I'd like to hear it again from you."

---

It's getting late. The lawn is glittering with fireflies, and two men are laughing on the porch: my husband and his "late man" Jeeves. (I didn't know Jeeves ever laughed like that, but, come to think of it, I never really knew him that well.) Rosie was nodding off between them in her chair. I just took her up to bed.

I'll be back down in a few minutes with fresh drinks. We're all pleasantly tipsy, even Jeeves. It's the kind of night you wish could last forever.

Bertie's so happy. So am I, but I can't help but feel a bit sad, too. Sad because I know this night won't last forever, and sad because . . . I don't know why else. Is it silly to feel just a tiny bit jealous? Is it ridiculous to think that my husband is – always has been – a little bit in love with Jeeves?

Hell, that's probably just the cocktails talking. Anyway, who wouldn't be a little bit in love with Jeeves? Like Bertie always says, there's none like him. None.  

Comments

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

The complete and utter d'awwwwww factor of this continues to amaze me. *happywibble*

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you!

[soul-bonnie.livejournal.com]

I'm sensing heartbreak in the near future for at least one of those lovely people. (Then again, I always sense heartbreak.)
But this has been very lovely so far!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I hope it will not end in heartbreak. I know the whole concept is sort of intrinsically poignant, though.

Thank you!

[imshi.livejournal.com]

I was grinning as I read this, grinning I tell you! But I'm warring a little inside, because half of me wants Jeeves and Bertie together forever and the other half doesn't want to break up Bertie and Pauline's family, because that would be awful for everyone...

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Thank you! <3

Oh, I don't think I'd ever be able to bring myself to break up Bertie's little family. As it is, this is kind of a bittersweet story, but I think taking it in that direction would be absolutely heartbreaking.

But wow, there's really some massive angst potential here. *pokes story cautiously* I guess the big question that I've kind of left open here is whether there's actually any kind of established romantic relationship between Jeeves and Bertie, or just deep friendship and a hint of UST.

[imshi.livejournal.com]

Either way, I don't want Jeeves to go back to England. Or at least, I want the Wooster family to follow him. They can't go back to not seeing each other.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been trying to come up with a good way for Jeeves to stick around. It would be awful for them to be separated again, and I think Jeeves would want to get to know Rosie.

Hmmm . . . I wonder if Jeeves would enjoy being a private tutor (and what sort of mischief could result from him instructing an intelligent and imaginative child in his crafty Jeevesian ways).

[imshi.livejournal.com]

OH OH YES. That would be PERFECT. That is actually the perfect answer. God I wish I were Rosie right now. I don't think I have words to convey how brilliant this idea is. Jeeves would know....

[durffy.livejournal.com]

Yay!! Another installment!!

This is LOVELY!! I adore Bertie's family! And I'm so happy that Jeeves has come for a visit!

I think I want to visit them, too!!

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Thank you! <3

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

this is absolutely charming. I want more, please? :)

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I just might write more of this. (I keep thinking I'm done, but it's awfully addictive!)

[umpteenth-gail.livejournal.com]

I have been enjoying this bittersweet series, it's so well told. Trust Pauline's daughter to be enterprising enough to track down Jeeves even at her tender age!

As much as we are all biased in the same direction, in this AU I don't want to see our boys even slightly yearning towards each other. It’s because an older and warier Bertie would not have married Pauline unless he really wanted to. Also because, just occasionally, it's nice to explore a warm friendship without any sign of the star-crossed lovers. Just for a change, it's refreshing. I would really like to see that. :)

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :)

And I totally agree with you -- it is really nice to explore other possibilities. Despite Pauline's cocktail-fueled suspicions at the end of this chapter, my feeling while writing these stories has been that the relationship between Bertie and Jeeves is just that: a warm friendship that they never fully acknowledged when they were younger. And Bertie definitely loves Pauline in this AU -- he just had to do a bit of growing up before he was ready for a real relationship.

[saylee.livejournal.com]

This is so lovely and bittersweet. Thank you for continuing this series.

[thirdblindmouse.livejournal.com]

This series is such a doll. The adoring way Bertie describes his family, the way Pauline obviously has her head on straight while adoring Bertie and Rosie and Jeeves too. The way Rosie is the one to write to Jeeves, and Jeeves' postscript to her about the cats. You've chosen the perfect narrator for each installment, particularly for this one (I suspect the others would have been too incoherent). I know I'm bucking the trend, but I don't find these bittersweet at all. Sure, there's angst in the back-story, but now everyone is together again, no more buckets of t., just laughter and cocktails, nights you wish could last forever, and everyone a little bit in love with Jeeves.

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

Bertie is just so endearing here, and Jeeves is as formal as ever.