AN: OMG. I love you all, my precious reviewers! Thanks to: ValerieMonday, Steffles, Reincarnated Poet, marie potter riddle, WWESupernatural 102292, quackyMcquack, DecimateTheStars, Scilla E., AkashaCullen26, shaybay55, babycakes10121, Kris Knight TeamPaul15, LostGirl702, broadwayis4me, TAYLORandTOBYfreak88
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Chapter Ten: The Look
When Gaige opened the door to the Danvers mansion upon returning from the cemetery ten minutes later, Evelyn's angry, scowling face was the first thing that entered her sight. Her estranged mother grabbed ahold of her arm roughly and pulled her forward into the house angrily. Obviously, she'd caught her sneaking out, and was probably also worried about the Sons' return.
"Where have you been?" Evelyn seethed, her next sentence cut off by the approach of Caleb's broad form in the doorway behind her, along with the other Sons. She cowed slightly, shifting backward and away from the boys although not loosening her grip on the girl.
"Mother," Caleb glowered, gently taking Gaige's other arm and pulling her back from their mother and against his own chest. "Let her go."
Immediately, Evelyn complied and released her daughter rather abruptly. She looked between the two of them, attempting to determine if Gaige had told their shared secret. Judging by the stunned look on her daughter's face, she guessed not. Upon finding nothing worthy of her quite notable opinion, Evelyn spun on her heel and stalked off, sashaying away in the opposite direction like an angered feline.
"What was that all about?" asked Reid gruffly.
Gaige shrugged again and pulled away from Caleb, fully intending to hide out in her bedroom until her Ascension, when she could make her escape. Unfortunately, the Sons of Ipswich didn't quite agree with her ideal, and made way to stop her. Caleb's hand shot out and snatched her, enclosing on her wrist and rooting her to the group of tall males. He gently and carefully pulled her back to stand beside them.
"You just gonna go hibernate? Again?" he insisted, his grip tightening marginally as he fearfully awaited her answer. Gaige didn't reply verbally, just exhaling in a small huff. Upon receiving no determent, Caleb smiled. "Watch a movie with us or something." She nodded slightly. "Yeah? Cool."
Tyler grinned at the news and took her hand within his own, leading them into the kitchen for popcorn. Instead of rushing though, the group of five messed around for awhile, eating cookie dough and other junk foods before the movie had even started. Gaige became absorbed in the way of the kitchen, following Reid around as he attempted to teach her to cook. Although he failed miserably, because you cannot teach something that you cannot even do yourself, both had immense fun. While Caleb and Baby Boy busied themselves by locating a movie to watch, Pogue sat back leisurely on the counter top, taking large bites from a juicy, red apple.
He smiled as he watched her trot back and forth, spilt flour dusting the heavy winter coat that she had yet to take off. Gaige's cheeks were rosy and red-tinted from the hustle and bustle over the stove. Some batter had splattered her face, and her finger nails had long since been encrusted with brown sugar. Despite the fact that she was covered in raw egg and food goop, Pogue couldn't help but let his eyes follow her wherever she went. He didn't know why, but Pogue felt some kind of pull to her, like she was his gravitational center. His force field. It was all very Star Wars. Half the time it angered him and made him want to strangle someone, especially when she gave Ty that look - like he was the most important thing in her world and she just wanted to stare at him for ever - he doubted she even realized she did it. But it was more than that stupid look, too. Gaige pissed him off. She got on his nerves. She pushed every available button he had, and it drove Pogue absolutely nuts half of the time!
But the other half... The other half of the time, Pogue seemed to know just what was going on; though that half wasn't letting him in on the secret. It was like time had divided him into two separate Pogues. One was all-knowing and made him recognize that it was the first time he had been happy to be himself, since Kate, and the other was easily annoyed and grouchy with the new pretty girl.
The broody biker blinked, pulling himself from his harsh thoughts as Ty came back into the kitchen. Gaige immediately looked up at him and smiled - smiled like she never did for Pogue. Stupid fucking Baby Boy, with his too-cute blue eyes and fucking face that even Kate said was adorable, he was just pure evil. Tyler was everything Pogue wasn't, and he found himself wishing he was more like the youngest Son. If he was nicer, cuter, more shy, more sickly sweet, less rude and abrupt, then maybe Gaige would be nicer to him. But Pogue didn't really want to be Tyler. He liked himself - sometimes.
Besides, did he really want to be that cute? Ty's utter cuteness almost made Pogue hate him, and Pogue wasn't the hating type. He was too chill to really hate anyone; even Abbott had never pissed him off this bad. Pogue was always just quietly sullen; not quite depressed but never happy without being sad either. It wasn't often that he experienced an emotion strong enough to pull him out of his tough bad-ass shell, but it seemed to be happening alot recently, and every time it was centered around one person - Gaige.
As though he'd said her name aloud, Gaige looked up from her most recently failed baking attempt and caught Pogue staring at her. Neither of them looked away, smiled, or frowned. She watched him watching her watching him. There was nothing to be seen in the way they looked at each other; neither gaze held a hidden meaning. But, when they broke eye contact without a word, Pogue's eyes wandered back over the kitchen and paused on Tyler's face to evaluate his cuteness again. However, his cute face wasn't so happy anymore (secretly, Pogue rejoiced at that), it was more of a heartbroken face now.
Baby Boy's eyes were wide and unblinking, full of badly concealed sadness. He was looking straight at the long-haired biker, having seen the silent stare-down. Pogue tried to pinpoint what emotion Tyler's eyes held and found... Disappointment. He wasn't angry, or even jealous. Just disappointed. It was pathetic.
No matter how Pogue insulted his friend in his head, he couldn't help but feel guilty for what triggered the youngest Son's response. What had he done to deserve this guilt? Nothing! Nothing happened, and it wasn't like he wanted it to... Did he?
"Stoner! Fatty! Biker Boy! God, will somebody please get him to pay attention?" Reid spat angrily, waving a batter-coated spatula through the air. It splattered and dripped on all of them, finally waking Pogue from his trance. He glared at the evilly grinning blond. "Oh, how kind of you to come back from La La Land. We welcome you back."
"Reid..." Pogue warned in a low, gravelly voice that automatically sent shivers racing up Gaige's spine just like it had the last time he'd made a sound like that.
"Jesus, take a joke! I was just saying that we were about to start the movie, so would you get off your fat fucking ass and-"
SMACK!
Reid's jaw dropped and his hand rushed up to cup his split, aching lip, cradling the spot where Pogue had slugged him. From beside him, Gaige chuckled lightly. "Had it coming to you, Blondie."
"Kiss it and make it all better?" he teased, leaning down slightly so that she might be able to reach him. He never thought she would actually do it...
The brunette Danvers daughter eyed his bloody lower lip with distaste. Reid wanted her to kiss that? Ew, she thought, immediately recoiling. How fucking disturbed was he? She would voluntarily place her mouth on something bloody! However, as she was backing up, she realized - how would Reid react if she actually did kiss it? It would be a waste of a first kiss, but it's not like she was really kissing him... She smirked and did something she never thought she'd do.. To Reid, at least.
To everyone's surprise, including Evelyn, who just so happened to be walking by at that exact moment, Gaige leaned into him and place a soft peck on his bloody lower lip. She pulled back with a smirk, glancing over her handiwork. Pogue and Tyler stood frozen watching as Reid's jaw fell even lower and Gaige just grinned. She patted his butt in an oh so ironic way and walked off, hooking her arm in the crook of Baby Boy's and leading him out of the kitchen.
Just as the door swung shut, Pogue saw her reach up and lightly place her lips upon his cheek. When she pulled away, it left a bloody kiss-print behind.
Evelyn stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching the Sons react to Gaige. It was as though everything she did shocked them, every movement she made ripping them a new one. Gaige never said or did the same thing twice. None of the Sons reacted to her the same way twice.
Each kiss left each boy stunted. Reid couldn't speak or move. Tyler couldn't stop blushing and his voice wouldn't form the words his lips attempted to make. She left them frantic and plopped on the couch, flinging her long legs in Caleb's lap, making him jump. After the remaining Sons finally entered the living room, Evelyn couldn't stand it anymore.
Gaige was watching the movie, her head against the back of the couch. Tyler was watching her. Pogue was watching him. Reid was watching her. Caleb was watching Pogue watch Ty.
What had happened to her precious Sons of Ipswich to turn them into these pathetic creatures, controlled by lust and a girl's looks?
Her daughter. Evelyn's daughter had happened.
Sunlight streamed in through the bay windows, leaking onto Caleb's face. Something beside him shifted, and he turned his head slightly to see Gaige, curled into his side with her head on his shoulder. It would have been completely adorable if her mouth hadn't been open, drooling on his sleeve while emanating loud, boorish snores. He elbowed her stomach to get her to wake up and maybe, I don't know, get off of him, but she just held onto his arm tighter and quieted down a little.
From across the room, Pogue's snores took her place, combined with Reid's mumbles and Tyler's cooing sounds. With all the noise, Caleb couldn't help but wonder what kind of sound he made when he slept. It had to be something interesting, especially with the variety of the other Sons.
"You moan." his head shot up alertly, eyes black as night and ready to attack, but it was just Sarah. He smiled and let the Power fizzle out. Sarah had always been able to reply to his thoughts as though she could hear them, even though it was impossible. They were just that perfectly connected.
She ignored his smile and glared fiercely at him. "You moan in your sleep, Caleb. You kept saying a name. Gaige. Ring any bells? Maybe the girl you've been seeing while I've been out of town?"
"I-" Caleb attempted to defend himself, to deny it, but she cut him off.
"Is this her? Gaige? The girl you've been cheating on me with?"
Sarah screeched the last part, her voice ricocheting up several notes, waking the other four slumberers. Gaige immediately sat up, rubbed her eyes and spotted Sarah. In her mind, a blonde chick had suddenly appeared; nothing more, nothing less. Gaige definitely wasn't prepared for the girl to react the way she would. She just grinned at the new girl and waved. "Hi, I'm Gaige."
Uh-oh. Gaige's introduction wasn't helping; Sarah screamed again and picked up a vase to throw it, aiming straight for Gaige's head.
AN: Ooh, cliffie! Lol. Sorry. I had to end it somewhere. Review, lovies! Please?
Edited: 6/20. I actually made this a ton longer with edits. I've done that for most of the previous chapters, too!