Chapter I
The Mansfields

Kate

Two hours after the funeral, I found Adrien on the stairway. I was heading up. He was heading down. I quickly changed directions and loped along after him.

"You know what's going to happen now." I could tell Adrien wasn't in the mood for this conversation. He'd spent the past few days working himself into a rather severe melancholy, the effects of which were hitting him full force right then. But it was something that needed to be addressed, and the sooner the better.

"You're dad is going to send me to live with Aunt Lucy," I continued, "where I will reduced from serventhood to slavehood, and—"

Adrien stopped walking and pivoted sharply on his heals. "Kate, that's an awful thing to be worried about right now." He sounded frustrated, looked even more frustrated. He turned and started down the stairs again.

I sucked in a lung-full of air and charged after him. "Adrien, listen to me," I demanded.

He whirled around again. "Stop it, Kate. You're making me feel horrible." He was exactly the same height as me, standing on the step bellow me like he was.

"Horrible?" I repeated, afraid that this meant he had no intention of helping me. "What about?"

Adrien raised his hands with a mixed expression of irritation and defeat. "About not… feeling… horrible. My uncle died." He emphasized "uncle" as if he were trying to make himself feel the significance of it. With a sigh, Adrien allowed his body to fall back against the wall. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor, dark curls falling forward and obscuring his eyes.

I felt bad for him. Adrien had a moral compass strong enough to keep this whole family in line, a task which required a lion's share moral strength. He obviously felt guilty about not being devastated by Uncle Norris' death. Not that any of us were devastated. Aunt Lucy wasn't even devastated. I think she was actually relieved.

I reached forward and pushed his hair off of his forward. He looked up mournfully at me when I touched him.

"You look like you feel horrible," I said softly, offering him a sad half-smile.

"Ah, Kate," he sighed, straitening up again. He slung his arm around my shoulder and we continued down the stairs together. "I won't let Dad lock you up in Aunt Lucy's apartment."

"Thank you," I said. After a moment I added, "I'm holding you to that now, you know it?"

Adrien laughed. "Fine," he said. "That's fine."

- - - - - - - - - -

After a stiff dinner, we all gravitated into one of the living rooms and sat down. Everyone was trying to maintain the proper attitude of solemnity. Everyone, that is, except for Jessica, who was flipping through Star magazine and humming Mariah Carey to herself. I sunk into the window seat and pulled my legs to my chest, choosing to remain unobtrusive as usual.

Adrien was the second of four siblings, and all of them played a particular role in the Mansfield family. Johnny was the rebel. Adrien, the saint. Jessica, the princess. And Manda, the youngest, was content with playing Jessica's sidekick. I don't mean to stereotype them, but that's what they were. Stereotypes. Caricatures. That's what we all were.

I was Cinderella. My father had been the Mansfield's cook. When he died, Mr. Mansfield kept me on, partly out of charity and partly because he didn't know what else to do with a skinny, eight-year-old orphan. Anyway, the Mansfield's were rich enough to afford to feed one more kid.

So Mr. Mansfield put me in the attic and pretended to raise me like the rest of his children. I quickly became Aunt Lucy's personal assistant. Jessica and Manda continued to snob me. Only Adrien, from the start, made me his friend.

Aunt Lucy, now, was sitting in the red armchair, staring imploring at Mr. Mansfield. She obviously wanted him to notice her. Finally, Mr. Mansfield looked up from his paper and at his sister.

"Yes Lucille?" he asked.

"I was just thinking," Aunt Lucy began dolefully. "I can't imagine living in that apartment all by myself…" she trailed off.

I sat up straighter in the window seat and looked across the room for Adrien to meet my eyes. But he was watching his father.

Mr. Mansfield began refolding his paper. "Yes," he answered, setting the paper in his lap. "I suppose you'll be wanting Kate, then, to live with you." It was a statement, not a question.

I finally locked eyes with Adrien. "Do something," I mouthed. Adrien, his eyes wide and anxious, opened his mouth and snapped it shut again. I had suspected it would be hard for him to stand up to his father. It was hard for anyone to stand up to Mr. Mansfield, except for Johnny. But still, Adrien had promised. I frowned. He bit his lip. Then Aunt Lucy was talking again.

"Oh, no, I mean," she stammered. "I thought, I mean—it would be easier, wouldn't it, if I just lived here."

I held my breath while Mr. Mansfield stared thoughtfully at one of his expensive paintings. Finally he answered, "Yes. I suppose it would be easier."

I exhaled. Then I scowled at Adrien, who had not done anything to help me. I quietly stood and left the room. Seconds after I was through the doorway, Adrien was jogging after me.

"Come on, Kate. Crisis averted." He fell into step beside me and massaged the back of my neck with his thumb and forefinger.

"Yes," I said crisply, batting his hand away from me. "Thanks for being ready to jump in there for me when I needed you."

I could feel Adrien sink beside me. "I was just about to say something," he said. "Really. I was building momentum."

"My hero."

Adrien sighed. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm going email Johnny," I told him. Back in high school, Johnny had decided to befriend me as part of his rebellion. We found out that we got along marvelously. It was a pity he wasn't around much anymore. I could use another ally in this family.

"Of course you are," Adrien said dejectedly.

Part of me wanted to forgive Adrien right there. The other part of me wanted him to feel for a little longer how much he'd let me down, and this was the larger part of me.

"Of course I am," I agreed and continued down the hall. Adrien and I would be friends again in the morning.

- - - - - - -

To: Johnny Mansfield
From: Kate Pierson
Subject: Your absence and other related topics

We were all keenly aware that you did not show up for Uncle Norris' funeral. Your father, sisters, and Dear Aunt Lucy were all v. cross. Adrien was scandalized. I'd like to point out that I was there, and he isn't even my uncle.

Speaking of Adrien, the poor boy has been wandering around for these past few days in a comatose state, burdened by his confused feelings of apathy, guilt, and hypocrisy. He also was quite willing tonight to let your father imprison me in Aunt Lucy's apartment. Fortunately, Aunt Lucy herself came through for me on that one.

Johnny, why aren't you here?

Be good, at least, for me. And don't drink yourself to death or anything. Cheers.

Your Pseudo-Sister,
Kate

PS. Because I know what you are thinking in that sadistic little brain of yours, I'm going to say this. I am NOT so distraught over Adrien's small betrayal because I'm in love with him. I'm am NOT in love with Adrien. I am also NOT having this conversation with you ever again.

A/N: I hope nobody's terribly disappointed. I decided to do Mansfield Park for a couple reasons: 1) there are like, absolutely no MP fics out there, and 2) I think it's going to be a challenge to keep this smart and lively without plummeting into melodrama, and I'm in the mood for a challenge.

I also just wanted to warn everyone that I might screw around with the details, subplots, supporting character a little more than I did in my Emma fic. I still want to maintain the feeling and authenticity of Mansfield Park, and Fanny and Edmund. But I've also got some ideas of my own. For instance, I want Tom (or Johnny here) to play a much bigger role than he does in MP because I think he has awesome potential as a character. I hope my little adjustments don't bother anyone. If they do, I apologize.

And one last shout out to Jill, who hopefully is reading this, because she is my most faithful, and possibly also most narcissistic (just kidding, Jill, you know I love you), reviewer. If you haven't read my other fic, My Own Mr. Knightly, you should just read her review-a-thon reviews. They're shorter, probably more entertaining, and you still get the whole story.

Anyways, I'm really interested to hear what everyone has to say about this. This chapter gave me loads of trouble. So please review!