She woke up with a nasty taste in her mouth. She had no idea how she had made it home but she was still in the violet dress she had worn to the club. The last thing she remembered was standing in the bar downing shots. She needed a toothbrush more than anything.

The house seemed quiet as she walked through it. Roman had spent the night with Ember again and he probably wouldn't be home for hours. No need to close the bathroom door. She sat down and peed before moving to the sink to wash her hands and brush her teeth. A shower would be next on her list. She spat the toothpaste out in the sink and jumped back in shock when she raised her head and saw both Seth and Dean in the mirror. She spun around and stared at them. They stood in the open doorway looking in at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"We couldn't leave last night, seeing how drunk you were," Seth answered.
"What about those girls? Liv and Sarah?" She asked.
"We sent them packing before you decided to pass out but you were too busy keeping your back turned against us to notice anything," he answered.
"What else was I supposed to do? Stay by the table while you did everything you could to make me jealous?" She started feeling angry.
"Jealous?" Dean laughed. "They had nothing on you but who the fuck cares about them now? They're long gone."
"Do you expect some sort of gratitude?" She asked.

She walked towards them and pushed her way between them to get out of the bathroom that suddenly seemed way too small. She needed coffee and she needed them to leave her the hell alone. They followed behind her, not about to back down. She spun around in anger and stared at them.

"What the fuck do you want?" She yelled.
"We want you to choose," Dean said.
"Choose what?" She asked.
"Choose between us," he answered.

She stared between them, waiting for them to start laughing or doing something, but they just continued looking at her.

"Have you gone absolutely mental? Why the fuck would I choose between you?" She asked.
"Because we're both in love with you!" Dean yelled. "It's not fucking ideal and we know that, River, but we've both wanted you for years but that Elias fucker was always in the way."
"Not to mention that you're Roman's sister," Seth said. "That night we couldn't stop ourselves. We just had to have you and we told ourselves it would only be that once but you're fucking addictive, you know that?"
"So it's my fault now?" She asked.
"Yes, it's your god damn fault!" Dean was still yelling. "So just fucking choose, okay? Break a heart!"
"I will not!" She yelled back.
"Choose!" He yelled even louder.

Her eyes widened as she realized there weren't just two men standing there looking at her. There was a third man behind them. Seth and Dean turned around and stared at an angry Roman.

"You put your hands on my sister?" He sneered.
"Look, Roman..." Seth started.
"You put your filthy paws on my little sister!" He yelled. "There will be no choosing because she's not taking any of you! Get the fuck out of my house and leave us both alone!"
"You don't get to decide!" She yelled.

All three men stared at her in surprise.

"I won't choose because I can't choose," her voice dropped. "I'm sorry if I'm a disgrace in your eyes, Roman, but Seth and Dean has done more for me these past two weeks than Elias or any man before him has. I won't choose. I can't choose."
"You either cut ties with them or you leave my house!" He crossed his arms.
"Fine, I'll leave!" She sneered.
"And go where? Back to Elias?" He asked mockingly.

She pushed past all three men and ran to her room to get her purse. It wasn't ideal to leave in the little party dress but she didn't wanna stay a second longer. She ran to the front door where her long boots had been dropped. She put them on and ran out of the house.

"Roman," Seth said softly.

Roman fell down on a chair and put his head in his hands.

"How could you? I trusted you," he said.
"We're sorry," Seth said.
"No, we're done," Dean cut in. "We're sorry we went behind your back but we're not sorry for what we did. We're both in love with her as crazy as it sounds."

She stared at the apartment door on the third floor that she had left two weeks earlier. He still hadn't removed the name sign that held both of their names. He was expecting her to come back and there she was like a coward. She held the key to the apartment in her hand. She should have left it when she picked up her things Monday but for some reason she hadn't. As if she knew she would come back. She unlocked the door and stepped inside. Footsteps moved through the apartment and Elias looked at her surprised before crossing his arms and smirking.

"I knew you'd come back," he said. "Finally tired of playing house with your brother? Or did he kick you out?"
"No, I left at my own free will," she said.
"You missed me," he said.

He walked over and twisted his hand around in her hair, tipping her head back and kissing her. She tried to kiss him back, thinking no one else would ever want a damaged person like her other than him, but it felt wrong on so many levels. She couldn't breathe and she used the little strength left inside her to push him away.

"No!" She snapped.
"What? I'm not good enough for you anymore?" He gave her a once over. "Coming here all dressed up like a whore to trap me once again. I wouldn't even be surprised if someone got to fuck you before you walked over here. Worthless whore!"

She slapped him as hard as she could and then backed up against the front door in fear. She hadn't meant to and the anger oozed out of his eyes.

"You wanna play it like that?" He asked.
"No, I'm sorry. I just came to give you the key back," she answered.
"I'll fucking break your hand!" He growled.

He charged towards her and she sidestepped him in time. He crashed head first into the door and the sight was somewhat comical to look at. He turned towards her and she used the momentum to plant her knee up in his crotch. He fell down howling in pain.

"No, Elias, you're not good enough for me. You never were," she dropped the key in front of him.
"Worthless whore!" He got out between his painfilled whimpers.
"You're the whore!" She yelled. "You fucked Becky and probably every other female working there! You're the whore, Elias! You're the fucking worthless whore!"

She ran out of the apartment and down the stairs with tears streaming down her face. She had found an unknown strength within herself that she never knew she had. She knew it came from the little self confidence Seth and Dean had managed to build up inside her.

"I'm gonna go get her," Roman finally stood up again.
"Do you know where she went?" Seth asked.
"Like I said before she stormed out. Elias. She's got nowhere else to go. She's a loner. She doesn't really have a lot of people in her life," Roman answered.
"We'll come with you," Dean said.

They all got out in Roman's car and drove to Elias' apartment. The front door was ajar and Elias was standing up against the wall with a hand on his crotch while switching between whimpering and cursing. He looked up at the three men.

"Great! She sent you to beat me up some more?" He asked.
"She was here?" Roman asked.
"She just left. You must have met downstairs," Elias said.
"Fuck!" Roman hissed.
"Did she kick you in the balls or something?" Dean snickered.
"She fucking kneed me, that worthless whore," Elias said.

Both Seth and Dean flew forward, grabbing the man and slamming her back first up against the wall.

"Roman, go wait in the car. You really don't wanna hear this," Dean said.
"Whatever!" Roman held up his hands. "Kick him from me and I'm happy."

Roman closed the door behind him and walked down the stairs.

"She told us about you," Seth said.
"Worthless whore," Dean said lowly.
"She told us those were your chosen words for her," Seth said.
"Worthless whore," Dean repeated a bit louder.
"You treated her like shit," Seth said.
"Worthless whore!" Dean yelled.

He grabbed Elias' throat and squeezed tightly while Seth leaned in a bit closer.

"Three years, Elias. You spent three years degrading her while we spent two weeks making her cum like never before. Do you know why she'll never come back to you? You're staring at the answer. We've fucked her better than you ever could and we'll make damn sure she'll never even think about you again," he said.
"Remember that, you ugly son of a bitch!" Dean sneered. "If you ever come near her again, I'm gonna break every single bone in your body and I'll be smiling for each crack I hear."

They let go of Elias and walked out of the apartment. Roman was waiting in his car for them.

"Do I wanna know?" He asked.
"Nope," Dean answered.
"Let's find her," Seth said.
"I have no clue where she went when she's not here. What have you two done to my sister for her to start thinking differently?" Roman asked.
"We made her independent," Dean grinned.
"We better fucking find her or I'll be kicking both of your asses," Roman said. "Let's try the shelter."

He walked into the shelter but her coworkers hadn't seen her. As he was about to walk out, he was stopped by one of the homeless people in there.

"She's with Kevin. I saw them walk away together," he said.
"And where can I find this Kevin?" Roman asked.
"He hangs out by the closed pharmacy. The back door is broken so some of us go there to get a roof over our heads," the man said.
"Thank you," Roman said.

Someone had dragged an old couch into the pharmacy and Kevin did his best to dust it off before holding out his hand for River to sit. She was always so good to him, giving him an extra bun even though it was against the rules, and now that she needed his help, he wasn't gonna let her down.

"So I sleep here when there's no room at the shelter," he said.
"I won't tell anybody," she said.

He sat down next to her and took her hand.

"Don't end up like me, River," he said. "Whatever you're running from, make amends and go back. The streets are not for you."

The door opened and three angry men barged in. Kevin jumped back in fear but River was fast to stand up.

"Relax, Kevin, this is my brother and his friends. They won't hurt you," she said.
"Let's go," Roman said.
"Go where? Home with you where you can tell me how I've embarrassed you?" She asked.
"Fine, so fucking date one of them! I don't give a shit as long as it's only one!" He shouted.
"I'm not choosing," she crossed her arms.

Seth and Dean looked at each other, once again communicating silently. They nodded at each other and took a step forward.

"Actually, we can make this work," Dean said.
"We know we'll get a lot of hate from people who won't understand it but we're both in love with you, River, and if you're up for a crazy relationship with both of us, let's give it a go. We're still asking you to choose. Choose both of us," Seth said.
"Do what makes you happy," Kevin squeezed her hand.
"Roman, will that be alright with you?" She asked.
"Whatever, just get in the car," he sighed. "I'll drive you all home."
"I'll see you tomorrow night," she smiled at Kevin. "Extra bun as always."

They drove in silence until they reached Seth and Dean's house. No one moved at first until Roman turned in his seat to look at her.

"You can pick up your clothes tomorrow after work. I'll be working all night so we won't run into each other at that time," he said.
"Roman," she pleaded.
"No, I don't wanna see you. You chose them so go be with them. I won't stand in your way but I won't accept it either. From this moment on you're with them and them alone," he said.
"Roman, please," she reached over to take his hand.
"Go!" He yanked his hand away. "Get the fuck out of my car!"

Seth and Dean jumped out from the back seat. Seth quickly opened the door to the passenger seat to help her out.

"Come on, mouse," he said.

They walked into the house while Roman drove away. She was crying as they moved to Seth's room and all three of them lied down on the bed.

"Why?" She cried.
"Just give him time. He'll come around," Seth said.
"You don't know that," she cried.
"He has to," he said.
"Or we'll beat him up," Dean said.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Someone knocked on the front door. She wasn't expecting anyone. She had this evening off but Seth and Dean were working. She went to open and her eyes widened at the sight of Roman. She hadn't seen him since that day.

"Hi," he scratched his head nervously. "I was gonna call but I wasn't sure you'd pick up."
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Can I come in?" He asked.

She stepped aside and let him into the house. When he turned around and looked at her, he had tears in his eyes.

"I've been so fucking stupid and I understand if you'll never forgive me. I couldn't understand it and a part of me still can't but I want to. I want to be in your life. I love you, River, and not a day goes by where I don't think about you," he said.
"What made you change your mind?" She asked.
"I always knew what I did was wrong but you know how stubborn I can be," he answered.
"Don't remind me," she chuckled.
"Ember finally kicked some sense into me. She said I was treating you like many people are treating gay couples. She said that love is love no matter what and you're not hurting anyone," he said.
"Smart woman you got there," she said.
"Funny, she says the same thing. You two will get along great," he said.

He took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. He studied her face with a smile.

"You look happy," he said.
"I am happy," she said.
"And they're treating you like they should?" He asked.
"Even better," she answered.
"Good," he said. "Because as your big brother, I will still kick the shit out of them if they hurt you no matter how good friend we are. Or were."
"You're still friends," she said. "They miss you just as much as I do."
"I'm here now," he held out his hands. "So where do you sleep? I know they have separate rooms."
"Not anymore," she said. "Come, let me show you."

She walked him to what used to be Seth's room. The room had changed. There was a giant bed in there and three closets.

"This is our bedroom now," she said.
"And Dean's room?" He asked.
"I better not show you that," she gave him a naughty smirk. "That has turned into something you'd rather not wanna know your sister is into."
"Say no more," he stopped her. "My heart can't take it."
"I was just about to order Indian food. Wanna stay?" She asked.
"More than anything," he answered.

Dean and Seth returned three hours later.

"Dude, that's Roman's car," Dean pointed.
"About fucking time," Seth said.

They parked in the driveway and walked into the house. Laughter reached them from the living room. They walked in to see the two siblings sitting on the couch.

"This looks cozy," Seth said.
"You're home," she jumped up and kissed them.
"Hi Roman," Dean said.
"Hi guys," Roman took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for how I reacted."
"Water under the bridge," Seth said. "You're here now and that's all that matters."