Never let them hurt you.

There was always something about Dantalaois. We met in a bar in Prague, and I just knew that he was trouble. No man dresses like that without being a mischief maker, but from my lonely corner of the bar, I wasn’t anything but amused. I knew right away that he wasn’t human. We non-human species can usually spot each other pretty quickly, and I wanted to see what would become of this demonic manwhore that was leaning across the bar counter to whisper into a woman’s ear. Her laughter was sickening, like the texture of vegetable oil, bland and slimy. It was with that oozing background noise that the vision flickered across my eyes: Dantalaois, in a back alley, being raped by the woman and her posse of grotesque men. Something told me to change the future, and so I did.

I didn’t know then, that I would be gaining a best friend.

After I saved him that night, we travelled together. He found out that I was a thief, and he made a wonderful partner in crime. He has a charming tongue, and could sweet-talk a tiger out of its stripes. He is all flash, and I am all danger. But even off the job, Danta is the perfect friend. He can always cheer me when I’m down, and he is always good for a hug when I need one. Yes, Danta is a wonderful friend. He’s a good lover, too. Not that we would consider ourselves to be lovers collectively, but there are times when I can’t help but label him that way. I’d never hold him back- after all, I don’t believe in clipping people’s wings, but while he’s mine I enjoy him, and when he isn’t I can still smile and savour his friendship.

That’s why I’m doing this. If my mother or the Harpy Council knew that I have given him the amulet, they would slaughter him for defiling our most ancient artifact. Even the mates of the council are not allowed to touch it. But I won’t let them hurt Dantalaois. I won’t ever let anyone touch him. Even if it means killing my own mother, in the least honourable way that I can find. After all, as Dantalaois says, that’s why I have wings. At least, that’s what I will keep telling myself forever, once I’ve killed my mother in cold blood.

Because I will never say it out loud, never admit it to anyone. But I love Dantalaois.

Oh, but be prepared to bleed.

The girl was back. According to Cori’s calculations, the girl had been in Anthony’s room four times in the past two weeks, and no other woman had been in there at all. As far as Cori was concerned, this was a bad sign. Cori always knew when the girl was in Anthony’s rooms. She could hear her brother’s voice, and nothing in response. The girl couldn’t talk without putting people to sleep, which Cori considered to be a good thing. If the girl could talk to her, and tried to, Cori would be tempted to do something that would only upset Anthony.

Normally when Anthony’s company bothered Cori, she could put on her headphones and go back to work with her experiments. Not when the girl was there. Nothing could drive the silence out of her head, but the silence drove Cori instead. Without a word, or putting anything away, or picking anything up, Cori left. Rain was drumming against the roof, and Cori wished that it could wash her mind clean from the hateful thoughts that swirled in the familiar emptiness. Tonight there was no relief.

There was only one place Cori could go in this dimension that hadn’t been ruined for her, that the girl couldn’t take away. Pushing out of a door and into the rain, Cori made her stumbling way to her greatest friend in the world. It was still quiet, but a silence filled with water, and movement, and cleanliness rather than the ugly hatred that was swamping her at every turn.

“Ezra.” Slowly Cori clambered onto the base of the forgotten statue that lurked in the shadows of the school. Fortunately, he was here, and she perched at the base of the statue, her head leaning against his leg- mindless of his undressed state. “I am a very screwed up individual.”

It wasn’t a plea for pity, but rather a cold fact. She sighed, rubbing her cheek against the wet metal, as though she were seeking comfort from the inanimate object. Which, she supposed, she was. “I’m broken, you know. It happened when Mom fell down the stairs. I could have reached her. Could have stepped down one step, and grabbed her hand. But when I stepped, I tripped the line. I stepped out of the dimension, and Mom died because of me. That lady laying in bed isn’t my Mom. The fall changed her.”

Cori dropped her arms, filled with disgust and shame. “On the inside, I’m still nine. I can’t seem to grow up, or even want to. I’m like stupid Peter Pan. I can’t do experiments- I don’t even know how! I only ever made it through physics. I can’t even read that well. My notes might as well be gibberish. I wish Anthony were still thirteen sometimes. I wish I could be nineteen.” With an irritated motion, she flung the lab coat she wore to the ground, shivering in the cold rain.

“I knew I couldn’t be a good student, or a normal adult. I just wanted to be a good sister, you know? I wanted Anthony to be proud of me, so I helped him with the girls. I made his little black book, and buy him stuff, and wash his sheets. I worried that he would get sick. I wanted him to find love. I never wanted him to have a reason to leave me.” Cori slid off of the statue, her dark blue eyes as watery as everything else that was outside.

“He loves the girl. I know he does, because until the girl showed up nobody knew Anthony better than me.” She sniffled, rubbing her arms. “He wants me to like her. He wants me to be happy. But I can’t, Ezra. Because for me to be happy, he can’t be. I’m only good at being a sister. That means he has to be happy, and so I have to leave.”

Cori reached up, her hand caressing her friend’s leg. “I bet you think you’ve been violated again. I only wanted to say goodbye, ‘cause I have to go home. I need to learn how to grow up. Anthony needs me to. Maybe someday, I can come back to see my nieces and nephews. Maybe by then I can love you like I want to. For now, though, I have to find a way to fix me. I can’t stay nine forever.”

Reaching into her back pocket, Cori produced a letter wrapped in plastic, Anthony’s name scrawled across the front. “Can you see that he gets this?”
Then she smiled, stepped back, and disappeared.

---------

Anthony,
I’m glad you found her. Really. I decided to go home, by the way. I needed you to be happy, and you needed me to grow up. I can’t do that around you. I love you, you know. I love you because you’re the greatest big brother in the world, and you didn’t mind that I was broken. Enjoy the girl. Love her, and treat her right. I know you can. Give Mom and Dad my love at Christmas. Sometime when you’re sleeping, I’ll drop by with my present for them.
My love always,
Agatha.
P.S. Give the girl my room. Just tell her to mind the Chemistry set. I can’t remember what I put in there last.

Jellybean

The snow was falling thickly across the city, and though she knew in a few hours it would be brown and gross, Ainsley couldn’t help but feel that it was beautiful. Snuggling into her coat to brace herself from the cold, she strode across the seven city blocks that were between the apartment of her oldest brother, and the apartment she had just begun to rent. The pleasant walk and relatively short distance were the reasons that Ainsley’s parents had allowed the eighteen year old to move out of the family home. Naturally, Madeline had let her baby go with much weeping, and even Jonathan hadn’t denied the sadness that passed over his face. Still, Ainsley knew it was about time that her parents had the place to themselves, and she’d promised to see Christian at least twice a week, and to come home for Sunday dinner.

Tonight, she was walking to her brother’s for dinner. Ainsley had always been close to this brother, in spite of the nine-year age difference between them. The grocer’s bag filled with chocolate and marshmallows swung easily in hand, and her pace quickened as she neared the proper building. Christian was blessed with a small fireplace in his apartment, and Ainsley planned on roasting s’mores. She’d not inherited her brother’s gourmet cooking talent, and so she nearly always brought something simple when it was her turn to provide dessert. The doorman nodded at Ainsley with a smile, knowing that any greeting he passed to the quiet woman would be returned with only a smile in kind, anyway. Ainsley took the stairs, and raced up the three flights- thanks to track and field, she barely lost her breath, and Christian greeted her at the door to his apartment with a loose hug.

“How was your walk?”

“Pleasant.”

Christian took her bag while she removed her coat, and she could nearly feel his perceptive gaze lingering over her waistline. Ainsley raised her eyebrow, and her brother shrugged helpless, saying only the word ‘Mom’. Ainsley knew what he meant- their mother wanted to make certain that there was enough meat on little Ainsley’s bones. Ainsley rolled her eyes, hanging up her coat, and then following Christian into the kitchen, perching on the island stool. The kitchen was beautiful, and state-of-the-art. Cookbooks were occasionally scattered here and there, but Ainsley knew that her supper hadn’t come from any of them- Christian liked to try his new recipes on her. Unlike his twin, Ainsley wouldn’t cushion the truth from him, but neither would she rip the cooking to pieces.

It was only a matter of a few moments before Christian set two plates on the island, one in front of Ainsley, and one in front of himself. It was some sort of chicken, a lovely and bright coloured sauce, and a rice pilaf concoction. Christian watched as Ainsley lifted her fork and knife, holding it over the plate, before she paused and glanced at his face. Christian, well-used to the silent communication, laughed at her expression.

“I won’t tell you what’s in it, until you’ve tried it.” The girl cut some of the chicken, and took a bite. For a few minutes, there was only the sound of her thoughtful chewing.

“Don’t bother to tell me, Chris, just get me a glass of water.”

The faucet cut on over the sound of her brother’s laughter, and the meal continued with continued laughter and conversation- most of it surrounding Christian’s employees and staff at ‘Madelynn’s’ which was the restaurant Christian had named for their mother- and also, which Ainsley frequented. After the meal was finished, and the two siblings had playfully washed the dishes, they settled in Christians lounge, in front of the fireplace.

“So, tell me. How are things with Izzy and Reuben?” Ainsley asked, sticking a marshmallow on the end of the roasting stick. Christian chuckled, watching the methodical and smooth movements of his baby sister, amused at the fact that of all of the friends and family surrounding Reuben Hughes, only Ainsley didn’t refer to him by a nickname.

“They’re alright. Little Dawson was drawing pictures on your invitation to his birthday party next week. He says you promised to be there.”

“My nephew’s fourth birthday is hardly something I can miss.”

Christian chuckled, adding his own marshmallow to the fireplace, nudging his elbow against Ainsley. “Have you gotten a good look at Isobel’s waistline lately? I think she’s trying to hide it from us that she’s expecting again.”

“She’s hardly hiding anything.”

“You know for sure?”

“She promised me I could come up with the middle name.”

Christian’s face was surprised, and he blinked a few times. Often he shared things with Ainsley that he didn’t tell Isobel, but seldom did Isobel share her secrets with anyone other than him. After a long pause, Christian relaxed, smiling wryly as his marshmallow erupted into flame.
“Have any ideas?”

“I was going to tell her Christine or Christopher, but I’m saving that for my first kid, or yours.”

“You’ll have children before I do, Ains.”

Ainsley didn’t reply that remark, removing her marshmallow from the fireplace, gently placing the sweet treat on a bar of chocolate, and with great precision removed the marshmallow from the roasting stick by pushing on it with her graham cracker.

“Well, it’s true. You and Izzy are way ahead of me and Jakie-cakes.” The nickname given to their other sibling by Isobel sounded odd, from Christian. “I mean, you two have someone in your life. We men fail at getting the women.”
Ainsley snorted, and her older brother’s dark brown eyes raised to hers, and he chuckled.
“Uh-oh. Is there something that Jacob neglected to tell me?”

“Her name is Hannah Cooper.”

“Your best friend from before you went off to France and met S.S.?”

“She’s still my best friend, silly.”

“Mhmm.”

“She is. It’s just that Sarah is more of my best friend. Anyway, it’s not official. Hannah just knows she loves him.”

“That means Jake’s a goner. I know that Cooper family- Julie’s got stories about them.”

“She’s Hannah’s biological mother, after all.”

“True. So….I guess that just leaves me.”

Ainsley shuffled over to her brother, one arm sliding around him, and the other hand daintily held her rather sticky s’more. “It’s okay, Chris. I know you’re happy without a partner.”

“I wouldn’t turn it down, you know. I just haven’t found someone like that.”

“As long as you aren’t lonely, Chris, don’t let it get to you.”

“Mom wants grandkids, Ains. She harps on it all the time, especially ever since Dawson was born. She’d love more.”

“Which is why she has Isobel, who’s already on baby number two; not to mention Jake, because once he wakes up and realizes he loves Hannah too, they’ll start a family.”

“What about you?”

Ainsley arched her eyebrow, a clear look on her face that warned him not to go there. Christian knew that look, and he knew that he was exempt from the danger it indicated.

“Come on, Ainsley. You and Avery have been official for a year now. When does he intend to make an honest woman of you?”

“You’d have to ask him.”

“I plan on it.”

For once, Ainsley did not react as he was expecting. Rather than another pointed look, her face took on a hurt and surprised appearance, and rather than speaking to him sternly, when she spoke her voice was begging.
“Chris, please, don’t do that!”

His hand smoothed her hair, holding her close.
“I won’t, Jellybean. I won’t.”

Ainsley relaxed against her brother, popping the last of her s’more into her mouth.

“So, when can we expect you to add to the grandchild list?”

Ainsley scooped up a handful of marshmallows, and lobbed them at his face. Christian grinned, wrapping his arms tight around Ainsley, so that she couldn’t throw any more.
“Love you, Jellybean.”
“Love you too.”

Can't hold you like I want to, so I can feel you in my arms.

“Where have you been, Adrie?” Adrienne leaned against the door frame, watching her husband wash the dishes. She hadn’t made him dinner before she’d left, so Adrienne could only imagine that he’d cooked for himself. Her backpack and hiking gear were set just behind her, in the entryway of the home that she’d shared with Tsubaki for four years. Tsubaki knew where she’d been. It was where she always went: hiking once a month, conveniently during the full moon. Without answering his query just yet, Adrienne moved to stand next to him, taking a towel to dry the dishes, and kissing him on the cheek. She could tell that he wanted her to answer the question, but she couldn’t decide what he wanted to know.

“I went hiking, Tsu. You know that.” Her husband didn’t look convinced, and he grunted softly as he handed her a dish that needed to be dried. Adrienne took it silently, unused to the silent disapproval radiating from her husband. Adrienne and Tsubaki had known each other since the fourth grade, when they’d competed head-to-head in science fairs. Always, they ran first and second, alternating who won. From that friendly rivalry, true friendship had sprung. The two had attended birthday parties, and school dances as they grew up. Their Junior year of high school, they had determined to go to the same University, so that they would be able to see one another. Their bond had run fast and deep. At University, both found that dorm living was not to their liking, and eventually agreed to room together in a small apartment. They could only afford one room and one bed, but with the innocent trust left from the age of nine, they shared the bed.

The innocent friendliness didn’t last long.

It had been a late night, finals and exams were over, a summer of fun had been planned….and the celebratory mood had gone to bed with them. The next morning, the two were horrified to realize what had occurred, not because they regretted their feelings, but because they had not intended to use each other in such a way. The next week had been the first and only awkward time in their relationship, and after much thought, both concluded that they loved one another. Within four months, they were engaged to the smiled and bemused happiness of their families. Indeed, their life had been blissfully happy. Until five weeks until their wedding. That had been at the bachelorette party her sister had insisted on throwing. That had been when Adrienne had been bitten by a young man. When she had become a werewolf; of course Vivi had figured it out. Her ‘boyfriend’ had promised that he wouldn’t bite anyone. She promptly dumped him of course, but by then the damage had been done. She had helped her beloved older sister get back on her feet, and hide the secret; the secret that Tsubaki came dangerously close to uncovering once a month.

Adrienne took another plate from him numbly, awaiting his response. When it came, it was not the response that she had been looking for. He turned his head to her, dark eyes taking her in, almost painfully. “Who is he?”

This blew Adrienne away. She had always loved Tsubaki, always loved him, and no one else. Never had the idea of cheating occurred to Adrienne. Never had she even felt the desire to be with another man, the way that she was with Tsubaki. Very slowly she dropped the towel she’d been using to dry the dishes with, reaching out to touch his shoulder, and caressing his skin. The way that he didn’t move away gave her courage, and she leaned her weight against him, her arms sliding around him and her head coming to rest on his shoulder. “No one. He doesn’t exist, Tsubaki. There is only you, there has only ever been you, darling.”

“Then why do you leave me so much? Why wouldn’t you want to be around me?” Adrienne moved away from her husband, as the weight of four years of lies came crashing down upon her. She didn’t want to lie anymore, didn’t want the shame or the guilt that filled her every full moon, every new moon. Her arms went around herself, as Tsubaki spoke with increasing volume, begging her to tell him. This time, Adrienne recognized that what she had felt to be anger or disapproval had really been fear- the fear of rejection. “Adrie, why can’t I ever come with you?!”

That was the breaking point, and she began to cry. Tsubaki took her into his arms, holding her and offering strength and support, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Adrienne pulled away. “I just don’t want to kill you, Tsu.”

The man blinked, filled with shock. “What? Why would you kill me?”

“Because I am a werewolf.”

For 48 hours, I don't think that we left my hotel room.

The airport was entirely too crowded, and he didn't see her anywhere. He was tired, and worn out, and somewhat drained from the emotions of the past day. Lucas Yates had not slept, had not done much of anything but make plans for the past twenty-four hours. Frankie's call had set his whole week in an uproar, a chance to spend three days with his wife before she left for Israel. Before she left to get herself killed. Of course, Yates had jumped at this chance; he'd called Olivia to see if she could pull the strings to get him a ticket, and to see if she and Jason were in the country. Since they were, he'd left his two children with them. This was not going to be child-friendly weekend; not if he had his way. And he would. But first....first he had to find his wife. Frankie had promised to meet him, but he didn't see a uniform anywhere, much less one that clothed a gorgeous, though probably very tired, woman. A soft sigh of disappointment escaped him, and he turned in the direction of the men's room.....and stopped dead in his tracks.

That was no Army uniform, and if it was, he'd missed out by not enlisting.

Frankie....no, she didn't need a masculine name in a dress like that....Francesca stood in front of him, the dark brown dress that she wore set off her olive skin, her warm eyes, her soft hair....and every single asset that she possessed. Yates hadn't seen his wife in well over three months, and here she stood before him, wearing a dress that was a very adult and beautiful version of the dress that she'd worn when they first met. Before he could stop himself, he reached out, sliding his hand behind her neck, bringing her closer for a long kiss.
"I've missed you."
Her only answer was a smile, and she stepped back, taking his hand in hers. Yates wished that they weren't in the middle of the airport. He really wished that there weren't so many people around. This woman was his greatest and only love, and he didn't know how long he could look at her without re-enacting their first meeting.
"So, Lucas, would you rather get a bite to eat, or go and get some sleep. You look tired."

He wanted to laugh. There was no way he was sleeping, not when she was laying beside him again. Not when she was where she belonged. The laziest of smirks stole across his face, as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Let's go to a hotel somewhere."

He was only mildly surprised that she already had a key.

-----

Room service was a wonderful thing, Yates decided much, much later. He and Frankie had not left this room for....around forty-seven hours, to the best that he could figure. Yates had made sure that Frankie didn't have a reason to want to leave. The empty trays and dishes were piled by the door, and Yates didn't feel like moving them. Frankie was sprawled against him, their naked legs tangled up with one another, and her cheek pillowed against his chest. Nothing was softer than the dark brown hair that he ran his fingers through, and the sensation of her breath across his chest was one that he wouldn't forget for a very, very long time. Yates didn't know when this would be possible again, when he would be able to hold his wife while she slept again. Their time was slowly running out, and the wonderful high that he'd been on for the past forty-seven hours was also fading.

He was going to have to bring up a sensitive subject soon.

They were sure to fight over it, he knew.

Frankie was beginning to stir in his arms, and Yates kissed the top of her head, slowly rolling her over, and leaning over her to trail gentle kisses down her cheek and jaw.
"Lucas..."
Yates sat back, a sweet smile on his face in place of the usual grin. He wanted her, one last time. Just in case...he knew that after their argument nothing would be the same, and he wanted one last memory of her, in case she...wasn't able to come home to him. Pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, he whispered in her ear.
"I'm going to grab a shower..."

Frankie had laughed softly, following him into the bathroom.

------

Frankie was towelling her hair dry when Yates stepped out of the bathroom. She'd put her brown dress back on, though she was still barefoot and her hair was still an absolute mess. Yates thought she looked just as beautiful now, as when she'd met him at the airport. He came up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist, and placing a gentle kiss upon her neck.
"Come home with me."

Frankie pulled away from him, turning to glare at her spouse. They'd been through this, Yates knew, and he also knew that bringing it back up would anger Francesca. But he couldn't live, knowing that he hadn't done everything that he could to keep her home, and to keep her safe. Her eyes were angry looking across the room at him, but his eyes were devastated. He was losind her twice over, after all.
"Lucas, we've been through this!"
"But...Frankie..."
"Stop it!"

She was in denial. She wasn't even trying anymore! She had resigned herself to this awful fate, and she wanted him to stop to make it easier on herself! Well, Yates couldn't take it anymore. He was tired of Luke quietly mentioning that mom cooked better than this, and he was dead tired of Felicity screaming for her mother every night when he put her to bed. He hated having to be a part of the PTA; he loathed that he crawled into a cold bed every night alone. Most of all, he hated knowing that his wife was out in danger, and that all he could do was sit back with the children, and pray to a god that he didn't even believe in all that much.
"No, Frankie. I won't. Your little girl said her first word last month. Yeah....we found out when she started screaming for you at bedtime, because she misses you. Luke lost his first tooth last weekend. The tooth fairy didn't come, because I didn't know it existed! Frankie, we need you more than the military does. Come home...we'll invent an excuse. Maybe you're pregnant? It is possible..."

His voice was begging, and he hated that too.
"Yates, I can't alright. So just drop it."
"I can't. I can't do this without you, Francesca."
"You aren't making this any easier! Do you think that I want to leave all of you at home? Do you think that I wanted to miss Luke's first tooth, or Felicity's first word? Don't you think that I miss all of you, and the life that we have? I do, but I have a higher calling right now-"

"Then you aren't the woman I thought you were."
"What?"
"The woman that I married thought that nothing was a higher calling than her family."

Francesca froze for a solid minute, before she let the towel fall to the floor, picked up her shoes and her purse. Then she stalked towards the door.
"What are you doing, Francesca?!"
"Since I am not the woman you want me to be, I'm leaving. Oh, and while I'm gone, maybe you can find the one you lost!"
She worked furiously at her hand, yanked off her wedding ring, and hurled it at Yates, who caught it, if only barely.

"Fine! It's not as though I loved you, or anything!"

The only problem was, he did.

Yates spent the next twelve hours, curled on the bed he had shared with his wife, holding Frankie's ring close, and trying his hardest not to cry.

It was the last time he heard from his wife.

I want to vanish inside your kiss

(A/N: So, Cali and I have had fun with Jake and Hannah (Trace and Elliot's daughter); We decided that they should have babies (because we like babies), and they were adorable, so we had them grow up. Phillip is in love with womankind as a whole (a bit of a player); Edward claims to have no attraction to women, but falls for a woman dying of cancer (whom he never even kisses); Devin is in love with his twin sister (looooon story); and Delilah is in love with the idea of love (So far). In this scene, Sandrilene (who has less than a month left to live), is speaking with Edward's older brother and best friend (Phillip), and writing a letter to release Edward from his love for her after her death. Enjoy, and grab som chocolate and tissues. You have been warned.)

The soft whirring of medical equipment surrounded him, the noises lulling him into a steady sense of dread as he approached the frail figure lying in the bed. It hurt, just looking at her, knowing how she had once looked, knowing that she had once been a vibrant young woman, so full of energy and passion. Right now, her pale skin was stretched over thin arms, the bones nearly perfectly outlined, and the steady pulsing at her wrist visible even at this distance. He approached her, trying not to cry, as he watched the woman that his brother loved sleep so lightly. He was frightened to see the thin blue veins on her eyelids, and the way that a scarf had been tucked around her head to hide the prominent hair loss. She looked like a small waif.

Patiently he settled on the edge of her bed, knowing that she had asked to see him. He was here to take her to his home, where Edward was getting things ready for her; his father, Jake, was waiting outside to help him move Sandrilene, but before they could, she had asked to see him. Slowly Phillip touched her hand, waited for her eyes to open, and focus on him.
“Phillip.”
She sounded genuinely pleased to see him, though her voice was so soft that he had to strain to hear it.

“You wanted something, Sandry?” This woman was the one his brother loved, and she was his sister-in-law in all but legality. The gentle curve of her lips broke his heart, because he knew it must tire her greatly to smile- she didn’t smile as often as she used to.
“I want to you write something down for me. I don’t think I can do it myself.” Phillip frowned, but took the pad of paper from her table, and the pen. “I want you to deliver it to Edward after I’ve….passed.”

Phillip froze, his heart shattering under the impact of her gentle words, knowing that it would kill his gentle brother to hear her talking like this.

“Dearest Edward,” She began. “Eight months ago, I would never have imagined that I could feel like this. You have changed my life, and made me feel more alive in my death than I felt in my life. I have never loved or been loved so deeply, and I have you to thank for it. My only regret is that I am leaving you here alone. So walk in our place, my darling. Hold our butterflies, and with each gentle touch they give you, think of me holding your hand instead. If you’re reading this letter, it’s all over now, and I am no longer in any pain. For you, that may be the only good news. I hope that it isn’t. I hope that you never forget me, but I hope that you move on. I want you to be free, my love. Free to love, and to laugh, and most of all, to live.” Here she paused, crying too much to be understood. Phillip was weeping too, and he knew that it would kill his brother to read this letter. Finally, she went on.

“Don’t tie yourself to my memory, Edward. Please. Find someone who will make you happy, who will love you as I cannot- it seems that this is the only gift I can give you. To urge you on with your life. I beg you, accept my brother Lucas into your family, as he has no one else in the world. I want him seen to, beloved, and I know that you will. Life has been wonderful, and you have helped me to accomplish my dream. I know that I am dragging this letter out, and probably embarrassing your poor brother as he writes this, but that’s in the past by the time you read this. Know this: I will love you, until the end of time. Not of my time, or yours, but of all time. I will be waiting for you on this side, watching you, hoping that you will live a full and happy life. I love you. Your beloved, Sandrilene.”

Slowly Phillip folded the letter, tucking it into his pocket. He kissed the girl’s forehead as she faded out of consciousness, and called for his father…

-A month and two weeks later-

She had been gone for two weeks, Phillip wanting his brother to have some time to grieve, had postponed delivering the promised letter, but he could wait no longer. He took Edward aside, handing him the letter.
“It’s from her.” He whispered in his brother’s ear, clapping his shoulder supportively, as he moved away to offer the man some privacy.

If you feel so empty, so used up, so let down...start a riot

The anger ran deep, welling out of him with each every breath, filling his lungs, beating his heart, coursing his blood. Yet deeper than the anger, ran the real cause of his emotional upheaval, deeper than any pain caused by anyone ever before. Frankie, his Frankie, had betrayed him. Of course, Yates couldn’t entirely blame her. He was the one who had pushed her away, not because he didn’t want her or the child (though he had to admit, he was not father material). He was reeling from the shock- but it had been the worst reaction to have. He had hurt her first, and that meant it was inevitable that it would come back to haunt him.

She’d gone out for something to make her feel better, and had made love with someone else while she was out there.

At least she had the courtesy to confess, to tell him herself before rumours spread and he learned from someone else. She’d cried, and the regret had been laid out for him to see. What choice had he, but to forgive her? Whether or not he’d ever admit as much, he loved her. He had taken her into his arms, softly kissed her hair, whispered that he would forgive her. He had asked only for a name, and in her state, Frankie hadn’t thought to withhold it from him. Personally, that was fine by Yates.

He lit a cigarette as he walked, holding the stick of nicotine between his fingers, dragging lightly on the small roll. It wasn’t what he really needed to calm himself- walking into a potential fight, he wanted his wits about him. His nerves were buzzing angrily under his skin, and he felt the need to really release all of the emotions he’d been holding back around Frankie. He knew about the history of abuse in her life, and he didn’t want to be like her father. He didn’t ever want to raise a hand to her in that way. Lately, he had to admit, it had been harder than usual. Turning onto the street, he approached the bar where Frankie had said she’d picked up the older man.

Once inside the dim, smoky, bar it didn’t take Yates long to figure out which guy ‘Hunter Collins’ was. His buddies were all laughing, drinking, and asking about the ‘little hottie’ that he’d scored last week. He could hear the guy talking about how she was probably waiting for his call, and wouldn’t she be surprised when she never got it? Yates could feel his blood begin to boil in his veins, knowing that had Frankie not desired to maintain a relationship with him, she would have been waiting for that call. He cleared his throat.
“Hey, Hunter- maybe you should forget about her. Do you even remember her name?”

The other man turned around, a smirk on his rather handsome features.
“Forgetting her would take out half of the fun. She had a masculine name…Frankie, I think. Yeah, but there wasn’t anything masculine about that girl, if you know what I mean!” The friends of Hunter all laughed, making perverted sounds. Yates was the only one who was unamused.
“Yo, Hunter, was she any good?” Yates wanted to kill these guys for talking about Francesca like she was nothing more than a piece of tail. He clenched his teeth.
“Man, was she! The worst part, though, was that she kept whispering someone else’s name. But, the way she writhed underneath me…Mmm. She was good alright, maybe a little too good. She felt like she’d had a lot of practice, like a proper little whore. Actually, maybe I should look her up? She looked like a girl who is up for anything.”

“You stay away from her!” That loud, furious voice ripped away from him before he could stop it, but he wouldn’t take it back. Even if he could. Hunter and his crew all turned very surprised looks to Yates, and he clenched his fist.
“Ahhh.” Hunter crooned, leaning closer to Yates. “Her little betrayed boyfriend came to defend her cheating, whoring little honor. I wonder how he’d feel if I mentioned that I was the one who heard her whisper your name in that tone of voice.” Before he could even think, he had the collar of the older man, pulling him close.
“Leave. Her. The frick. Alone.” Hunter pushed himself away from Yates, laughing.
“Why? She cheated on you once.”
“She’s carrying my child, you prick! I saw the bruises you left on her skin, and I swear to god if you ever touch her again, I’ll kill you!”

Hunter blanched, stumbling away from Yates.
“I banged a pregnant whore? You sure that the kid is yours? For all you know, she’s been screwing men behind your back for a long time, the little bi-“ Yates’ fist landed somewhere on Hunter’s cheekbone, sending him staggering back.“I told you to stop.”

With a roar, Hunter flung himself at Yates, and the two continued their scuffle on the floor, fighting until two very strong bouncers separated them. Hunter wiped the streaming blood from his nose and mouth, his face and chest would be horrifically bruise the next morning. Yates was sporting a cut above his eyebrow, and a bruise that spread down and around his eye. As far as he was concerned, he had won. As the bouncer dragged him out, Yates grinned, and spit on Hunter, shrugged the bouncer off, and walked back to school in much better spirits than when he had left.