Courage

Chapter Six

Preparation

Hey guys, I'm so sorry for leaving you hanging for so long but I've had my A Levels, I'm sure you'll appreciate that I've concentrated more on that than writing I'm just sorry I took so long. I promise I'll never give up this story but it's very emotional to write and I've just lost someone close to me so I've been avoiding it if I'm honest but now I'm back and I promise to try and keep this updated whilst I wait for my results, anyway I've delayed this enough, hope you enjoy this chapter.

My fingers glided over the edges of the photo frame. The two smiling faces inside looked at me. Their smiles weren't fake but true to life. Nothing could compare to their smiles. They were contagious and I couldn't help but smile down at them, becoming numb to the feeling of Dad's breath on the back of my neck and his strong arms wrapped round me, protectively. I didn't want to be protected from them, they were my aunties and they were all the protection I would ever need.

"They're very beautiful, aren't they, Pal?" He whispered, gently, once sure than everyone but the two of us had left the room. I simply nodded.

"They are," I whispered back, "did you ever tell them that?"

"No," his voice was sad, regret flowing through it, like he was disappointed in himself. I couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for him. "I may have told you Auntie Maura once or twice but never your Auntie Jane. I only ever told them how beautiful their children were."

"I wish I could have told them..." I sighed.

"You were only a baby..." Dad began.

"I know but, I just, they'll never know how much I care about them, even though I can't remember them," I moaned, in an un-annoying way.

"They know, TJ," Dad said.

"Really?" I said, turning to look up at him. "How?"

"They're right here..." He said, pointing to my heart, "they'll always be there, there, they're alive. Your Auntie Jane and Auntie Maura are your Godparents, I asked them to always look after you, no matter what. They were thrilled and do you know what your Auntie Jane said?" I shook my head, my eyes clearly showing my interest. "She said, not even death could keep her apart from you."

"She knew?" I asked, more to myself than to Dad but he answered anyway.

"I think she did," He said, "She knew her killer was after her, he was obsessed with her, I think she was trying to tell me that if he ever got to her then she would protect you with her life."

"Do you think she kept her promise?" I asked.

"Oh yeah," he said, "you've been the spitting image of her since the day you were born and there are nights when I see them all in my dreams and I just think of her protecting Frankie at the precinct, protecting you and Lana before she was killed and how Lana felt protective of you just before she..." He couldn't finish but I knew what he meant. Yet I couldn't see the girl on that video killing herself. It just wasn't right, something didn't add up. Maybe it was Auntie Jane telling me to think and trust my gut but it just felt wrong.

"What happened to Lana at school?" I asked him with curiosity.

"You'll see son," he said to me.

"It's that bad?" I asked as a rhetorical question but Dad answered anyway.

"Yeah," he whispered, nodding. "She was bullied, bad..."

"Badly," correctly Grandma from the kitchen door. "Sorry, that's your Auntie Maura coming out on me, TJ." I just smiled.

"But I've been bullied at school, things can't have been that bad?" I comment.

"Oh it's bad," Grandma confirmed, "People used to make fun because she had two mothers and no father..."

"But that just makes her different, not a reason to make fun of her," I argued.

"We know that but some people rush to judgements and with the death of her family, things must have appeared that bad that she felt she had to end it," Grandma said, sitting next to us.

I just dropped my head to look down at the photoframe once more and I felt my heart sink. "But I want her here with me," I whispered, sounding very weak. I hated that.

"I know that, son," Dad whispered, hugging me close. I felt the wet patches of tears against the back of my neck. I sometimes forget that he's missing a sister, a sister-in-law and two beautiful nieces. I felt horrible for being so stupid.

"I'm sorry," I said, quietly.

"It's not your fault," He whispered, "I nearly lost you with them, it's not your fault."

"You promise?" I asked, looking up at him.

"I promise," Dad confirmed. I turned to hug him and Grandma put her hand on my shoulder as a comfort.

"Should we continue?" Uncle Vince said as he walked inside.

Turning to him I said, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

"Put the next disc in, TJ," Dad said.

I simply nodded and jumped off his knee grabbing the next DVD before putting it in the machine. What happened to you Lana? I thought to myself.

Thanks for reading guys, again I am sorry for the delay, can't apologise enough, please don't be mean about it, I really am emotional at the moment over everything and I will cry because I'm soft haha. But feel free to request anything, review, favourite and follow.