Chapter Text
If someone were to ask Elizabeth Sims about her grandson Jonathan, or Jon as he preferred, she would say he’s an odd child, different to all the other children in the neighbourhood - one with unnaturally bright green eyes and a preference to be alone with his books instead of playing with others. A child who seemed to know far too much for a child of his age. But she would also go on to say that she loves him dearly, that he’s all that remains of her son and daughter-in-law. He had his father’s cheeky little grin and his mother’s curiosity about the world.
There is nothing she wouldn’t do for him, from finding books in second-hand shops to add to his growing collection to making his favourite foods when he’s down to always supporting him on his dreams and aspirations - doing her best in looking after him. She had stood up and raised Jon, as soon as his parents, her child and his love, had died.
However she was getting old, her age making itself known; Elizabeth was bordering on 70 and looking after a young child was not helping that. She had been retired for over ten years, and she found herself struggling with the demands that raising Jon included. And so, when little eight year old Jon came crying to her about human eating spiders and bullies knocking on wooden doors, all she could do to help was make them both a cup of tea, sit him on the sofa next to her and let him cry to his heart's content, comforting him with softly spoken words and warm gestures.
She knew something had happened earlier that day, something terrible to the neighbourhood bully, alas she could not believe the story Jon had told her - over her life she had seen some truly odd things, but nothing quite as absurd as what her grandson was describing to have happened. Instead, assuming that what he had said was the only way he could comprehend what had happened. Still, she did her best to comfort him and ensure he was alright.
Not once did Elizabeth question his sudden, newfound fear of spiders.
When Jon started acting stranger than usual, she thought nothing of it. After all Jon had witnessed a traumatising event, it would have been weirder if he wasn’t changed from it.
When Jon had left for school the following Monday a little earlier than usual, she thought nothing of it.
When Jon was still out an hour after school ended, she thought nothing of it.
When another hour passed and there was still no sign of him, she started to worry.
When a call from Jon’s school came in that he had never showed up for the day asking if she had forgotten to call him in sick, she worried more.
When she had phoned the police to see if he was safely with them or if they might possibly know where he was and they responded with a ‘no but we’ll keep an eye out for him and inform us if anything changes’, Elizabeth Sims became especially worried.
Had she just lost her dear grandson? Was he okay? Alive? Missing? Dead? Did some horrid person kidnap him on his way to school? Or had he simply spent the day lost in the semi-near forest he liked exploring occasionally? The questions circled her head as she sat by the landline hoping for any new information, tea cold and long forgotten.
It was shortly past 7pm, the sky already dark, when the phone rang. Shaky hands reached for it as she answered the call.
“Is this Mrs Elizabeth Sims?” A voice crackled through the receiver.
“Yes, it is. May I know who I’m speaking to? Do you know anything about Jon?” The words she spoke were quick and frantic
“This is Elias Bouchard, Head of the Magnus Institute, London. I believe I have your grandson, Jonathan Sims, currently in my office after he decided to bring us an artefact and make a statement. I shall be returning him to you shortly however there are some things I would like to discuss when we arrive,” Elias paused briefly as though considering something, “if you would like, I can pass the phone over to Jonathan.”
“Thank you so, so much. Please, if you would.”
“Of course.” She could hear a faint call for Jon on the other end and fumbling as the landline was passed over into excited hands.
“Hi Gran! You won’t believe- ” A sigh of relief escaped her throat, he was okay. He was okay and in so much trouble for the stress he put her through.
“Jonathan James Sims, you are so grounded when you get back mister. Do you know how worried I was about you? Not a single word from you. Not even a note or a phone call. I thought something had happened to you. I thought I had lost you. If you had just said something to me we could have gone up to London together over the weekend. I could have figured out something, but for you to just skip school like that and disappear for the full day? You are grounded for life. And don’t you dare start protesting against me, I’m not the one who thought it would be a good idea to just disappear up to London for the day.”
After truly hammering how idiotic the idea Jon had followed through with, she calmed down. Jon was okay.
“Now, you are going to thank Elias for me and for bringing you back here while I am going to phone the police and tell them that you’re safe and that there is no need to worry.”
“Okay Gran, I’m really, really sorry Gran.” Even over the phone Elizabeth could hear the apologetic tone and remorse for what he had done in those few short words.
“Just, just don’t ever do that again young man.” And with that the phone was passed back to Elias for the two of them to figure out just what to do with Jon.
Later that evening, after two hours of driving for Elias and Jon, grandmother and grandson were reunited and involved multiple hugs and more threats of being grounded.