Oh, and the serious stuff begins!

It took a while!

Don't own McFly.

Dougie

I woke up to the sound of a baby crying, and remembered James was downstairs. I glanced over at Shawna, who was fast asleep still and gently unwrapped my arms from around her and got out of bed. I glanced at the clock and sighed. 6:30 am. Seriously? I wore only boxers so I threw on a t-shirt and walked down the stairs to the guest bedroom and saw James crying in the car-seat thing. I gently took him from there.

"What's the matter, huh?" I asked, bouncing him up and down in my arms, trying to calm him down.

"The fact you act so slow, Poynter."

I froze at the sound of his cold voice. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I slowly turned around, wishing it wasn't true, wishing I'd imagined it. No. I hadn't.

There, dressed in his usual suit and tie and hat, was the round, slimy, ugly bastard who was so controlled by money and power it was sickening. Nothing mattered to him, as long as he got what he wanted. He fed from the occupants of my old street. His mere presence wasn't what made me feel slightly faint, though ... but the weapon he wasn't aiming at me... but at James.

I quickly turned slightly to shield him.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I spat at him, trying to conceal my nerves.

"You haven't completed your mission."

"I have another three and three quarter years." I snapped.

"Yes well, I'm getting impatient. Consider this your warning, Poynter, you have five months."

"Five months?! B-B-"

"Goodbye, Poynter."

And that's when I felt like joining in on James' crying. I sat down on the bed, and held the little boy close, hushing him, assuring him that it was going to be ok... but in all reality, it was me who needed the assurance.

"D-Doug? Who was here now?" I heard Shawna's shaky whisper from the door, looking like a deer in headlights.

"T-The Racketeer." I choked. It was worse when I had to say it. She gasped and launched herself at me; one arm flung around my neck and another around me and James, and buried her face in my chest. She was sat in an awkward position, half on me, and half on the bed.

"What did he want?" she asked, her voice muffled by my t-shirt.

"He- he moved the date forward. I-I have f-five months." the feeling of dread I felt was unbearable, and I finally allowed myself to cry.

Tom

I decided I needed to talk to Dougie about this whole Racketeer business. I was worried sick. He had to go through this all alone until Shawna came along. I felt so bad. I arrived his place and knocked on the door, then realized it was 10 am, so Dougie was probably still asleep. I decided to just walk in. The place was deathly quiet. I frowned, and noticed the door to the guest bedroom was open, and walked in.

Ok, I'm a guy. A straight guy. But even then I had to suppress and 'aw' when I entered that room. There they were, like a little family. Shawna and Dougie lay incredibly close; with little James snuggled between them both. Shawna was wearing Dougie's t-shirt... It was all too cute... At least I thought that until I noticed they had all been crying, their cheeks tear stained. My heart dropped. I knew it had to do with The Racketeer.

I decided to leave them alone, and as I made my way out of the house, I noticed a note by the front door:

Don't forget, Poynter. 5 months.

I felt my blood turn cold as I put two and two together.

In five months... one of my best friends was going to jail.

"Shit!" I involuntarily let out.

"Tom?" I looked up to see Shawna standing sleepily at the bedroom door. She noticed the note in my hand and rushed up to me and took it from my hand.

"Don't worry, I know." I told her quietly.

"H-he was here." Shawna choked out, "He was going to shoot James. If Doug hadn't heard him crying..."

Holy shit. The Racketeer was here? And was going to kill a one year old boy, who was completely innocent?! Now I understand why Dougie was doing what he was doing. I knew who The Racketeer was, and I knew he was notorious and powerful... but now I knew the extent of that, and it was frightening.

"What the hell?" my eyes were wide.

Shawna just nodded. "I-I don't know what to do. H-How can we get him in time now?" Shawna was starting to cry.

I hugged her gently, assuring her that it was going to be ok. God, Dougie must be feeling like shit, he had his girlfriend and her son's lives on his hand, and I knew for a fact Dougie loved her more than anything. I just imagined what it would be like to have Giovanna's life in my hands, and I felt sick at the thought of it… and if she had a child… God, I wouldn't know what to do.

Suddenly a child's laughter interrupted the mournful silence. Shawna and I went to the guest bedroom and saw Dougie tickling little James, who was looking overjoyed. I had to admit, I wished I was as good as him with kids. Dougie looked like he forgot all about last night… but I knew by now he could act. I knew he was only acting happy for James. I looked over at Shawna who still looked heartbroken. I knew she was thinking about what would happen in five months' time, and I knew this probably pained her more, because I knew she was thinking that he'd be the perfect father for her son… and he would be.

Suddenly she ran out of the room. Dougie looked up and frowned.

"Oh, hi Tom. Uh, where did Shawna go?"

"I don't know. Maybe it had something to do with this?" I showed him the note. He immediately paled.

"Yeah… maybe." He said, sounding emotionless, but I knew he was shitting it. He sat up and put James on his lap.

"I heard about what happened last night." I told him quietly, "Are you ok?"

"I have to kill a guy, Tom, and now I have even less time to do it. What do you think?" Dougie said, his happy front not faltering in front of James, who he was bouncing on his lap.

What will Dougie do?! What will Tom do?! I feel like there should be some dramatic music in the background...

I just want to thank anyone who reviewd, or has favourited or added this story to their alerts, or who have just read this story. You have no idea how much it means to me! Thank you so much!