Another chapter... the end is nigh folks.. two more chapters and an epilogue...
Shout outs:
marsupial1974 - good to have you back babes... safe and sound.
fragrantlily90 - holding you to the ending woman AND the one shots (yes plural)
dammitnaomily - we are ALL fools for love.
Thank you to all who have stuck with the story. I know it was a little rough for a few chapters but I needed to write it. Alright... read and enjoy.. review if you can though not necessary. If anyone is in contact with old Naomily writers and you feel like prodding them (in a friendly non-menacing manner) to write more...
Disclaimer: Don't own Skins. Just my own original characters.
Chapter 28
"A week?!" Naomi screamed at Sasha. "You haven't fucking seen her in a week? And you wait til now!?" She was fully dressed and looking through Effy's bedroom. It was too neat. Too organized. There was no chaos.
"Naoms... calm down." Emily had dressed as well and was standing by looking at Sasha who stood against the wall. The look on his face was both solemn and sad. "He's not..."
"Not what? Her fucking boyfriend?"
"Her warden." That word stopped Naomi in her tracks. She glared at Emily who didn't look away. She was serious. "We both know Effy has a mind of her own and will do whatever the fuck she sets out to do. It's not like you noticed she wasn't around."
"I noticed she wasn't here. We all noticed."
"Really?" Emily crossed her arms and challenged her. "And where did you think she was?"
"At Sasha's." She was trying to hold on to anger because it was easier than fear. She didn't want to feel fear. Not after this afternoon, this evening. She'd gotten what she'd thought about, what she yearned after for so long. She couldn't let fear ruin that.
"Ahh... well yes that clearly makes it his fault that you didn't know she wasn't. Cause he was what? Supposed to run to you and tell you about her every move? Or check in with you to see if she was where she'd told him she would be? Tell me how that would play out. How you'd take it if he called or texted to check in on her." Naomi had nothing to combat that argument.
"Fuck." Naomi plopped on the bed. "I'm sorry. It's... I worry about her."
"Maybe I should have..." Sasha interrupted.
"No." Emily turned on him and stared. "We all worry but Effy is a grown woman who should be allowed to do as she pleases."
"But" Both Naomi and Sasha tried to speak at the same time.
"No buts. You... and you... There's no controlling her. You're not her keepers. She's a person. She has things she needs to keep control of yes but it is up to her." Sasha looked at her and nodded. He knew she was right which is why he'd held off on coming by. But it still bothered him that he could lose her. Naomi was looking under the pillows and under the bed. "Naoms? Are you listening?"
"Yeah... Pato. He's not here." She pulled open the nightstand's drawer. "Her pills are gone too. So she wasn't off her tits when she left."
"That's good?" Sasha swallowed as he asked. He didn't want to imagine what could have happened.
"Yes and no. Means she wasn't off her meds... but it means she purposely left." The realization that Effy might not want to be with them hurt. Emily sighed and took a seat next to Naomi who was looking as dejected as she felt.
"I am so sorry. I am. I thought she would be here. I thought maybe she was avoiding me."
"Did you do something for her to avoid you?" Naomi's voice still holding an edge, wanting anywhere to direct her anger. Emily took her hand and squeezed it.
"Naomi, I don't think Sasha would..."
"Yes, I did." Naomi was on her feet before he could get all the words out. "I love her." Her hands already fists but she couldn't lash out. She understood what those words, what it would mean to Effy.
"Fuck." The silence was horrible. She was starting to feel guilt at not seeing what wasn't there. At not recognizing that Effy was more fragile than she'd let on.
"Why did you think she'd be here? Did she say she was coming to Gina's?" Emily asked and looked at the two of them. "I don't want to think about what might have happened other than her choosing to go off, but it's possible something happened on the way here." A new level of alarm went off in Naomi and Sasha. He shook his head.
"No." He tried thinking. "She's not... she's not hurt somewhere or taken or whatever. She's fed the cat."
"What?" Naomi asked.
"My cat.. our cat Madge. She's come by the flat and filled her bowl. I didn't see her but I know it was her."
"You're sure she's unhurt all cause of cat food?" She looked at him with her hands on her hips. He nodded. "Stranger things I suppose..So what did she say the last time you saw her?"
"She said she needed some time, some space. That she was going home." Naomi looked around the room. She thought this was home. Could she mean the hospital? She shook her head. She knew that wasn't right.
"Home." She took a deep breath and felt the answer slipping into her mind.
"Should we call Gina?" Emily asked.
"Nope. She'll worry and I know where she is. Or fucking hope she is. Come on."
..
Naomi drove Sasha's car as she knew where they were headed. They didn't talk a lot. All of them hoping she was right. When they pulled up in front of the house they could see a dim light in a room upstairs. The air in the car lightened even if they hadn't gotten an actual visual confirmation that it was Effy. Hope was a powerful thing.
"So this is where she grew up?" Sasha asked as he looked up at the place.
"Yeah... she lived here with her parents, her brother. Then just her mum after her dad pissed off. I don't know how she got in but she's industrious."
"Should I try her again?" He looked at his mobile. The call log showing five calls in the past half hour.
"Nah... if she hasn't answered yet, she won't now." They exited the car and walked up to the front door. Naomi reached it first, thought about the bell and gave the knob a try. Unlocked. She shook her head as they walked in. The place was dark. It was surprisingly furnished. A voice telling her to stay out of trouble popped into Naomi's head. If Effy had broken into someone's home, then they were all technically trespassing.
"Eff? You here?" At first there was silence, but then a small creaking noise from the second floor echoed throughout the place.
"Naoms?"
"Bloody hell." She put a hand to her head, feeling the weight of the anxiety they'd all been feeling disperse. "Eff... can you come down here?" The light overhead came on and they all covered their eyes at the sudden glare. They looked to the top of the stairs and Effy stood there in an over-sized jumper.
"A week." She stood above them.
"What?" Naomi asked waiting for an explanation.
"Took you a week." She came down the stairs. A smile on her lips. "To figure out I wasn't there."
"Yeah... about that... sorry." She felt herself blush at being called out.
"Don't be. Tea?" She touched Sasha's chest as she went by, then stopped turned and kissed his lips lightly before heading in the direction of the kitchen.
"Tea? What? Effy... no. We need to go." Naomi went after her. She didn't see the growing smile on Emily's face. Sasha stood and said a small prayer of thanks that she was safe. "Effy. What the fuck? You've been gone a week. We're in someone's house. We need to go."
"I fed the cat." She filled the kettle and put it on the burner.
"You fed..."
"Madge. The big fluffy thing that has taken over the couch." She looked at Sasha who had followed the girls to the kitchen. Emily took a seat at the table. She knew that until the brunette was finished making her point, no one was leaving. "You saw she was fed."
"I did but you didn't answer your phone. The texts."
"So you panicked and went to Naomi." The smile on her lips was a good one. Sasha held his hands palm up in answer. She grabbed four cups out of the cupboards. "No milk but I've honey."
"Effy. Stop. We need to go. If I get caught breaking the law, I'm fucked." She said plainly but the fear was seeping out of her body as she steadied her hands on the table. Emily reached over and understood what she meant. She went to stand when Effy spoke.
"Why would you be breaking the law?"
"We're in someone's house."
"Mine."
"What?"
"This place... it's mine."
"What do you mean yours?"
"Mum got it in the settlement. Left it to Tone and me." She looked at the cups a moment. "Now it's just mine." She met Naomi's eyes. Such sadness in those blue pools. It was a wonder none of them drowned in an instant. "Dad told Gina who reminded me about it when I wasn't... and I'd not thought about coming here. But the ghosts returned."
"So what? You've been here?" Naomi rubbed at her temple at hearing about ghosts.
"Talking to ghosts?" Sasha spoke and got a withering look from Naomi who'd almost forgotten he stood there.
"Eff, what do you mean ghosts?" Emily piped up.
"I started hearing them again."
"Hearing them?" She looked between all of them before answering.
"The voices. I'm hearing them again. Was." The weight of the words sunk in.
"Fuck. I'm sorr..." The sound in Naomi's voice was what Effy hadn't wanted.
"Don't." Her voice was stern. There was a fire in her eyes. "I don't want your pity. I don't want platitudes." She looked between all of them once more. She saw that neither Sasha nor Emily were looking at her the way Naomi was. They didn't know what it felt like to be caged. To be put away without being able to say no. She thought Emily might understand. Naomi definitely knew though. She went to her and took her face in her hands. "I'm still me. I didn't disappear Naoms." It took a moment but she hugged Effy. She tried pouring all of the emotion she was feeling into the embrace.
"I got scared. I didn't mean to not notice you weren't there."
"It's good tho."
"How is it good?" She looked at her. Effy was wearing the sincerest and happiest smile.
"It means you trusted me enough to let me live."
"You're happy? You're actually happy that I didn't notice?"
"Yes. You don't think I'm so broken that I can't be trusted." She laughed and it caused Naomi and the rest to laugh. She waited until the chuckling had slowed. "I was worried. After the thing with Peter, the police. Then I started hearing the voices again... I thought I was going to be mad my entire life. The medication. It didn't stop them from coming." She shrugged. "So I came here. I thought why not listen to them. Hear what they were saying instead of running."
"Kind of risky yeah Eff?" Emily knew what Effy had tried to do. She herself had gone into a house where evil was to get answers. Her friend carried her own version of evil with her everywhere. She'd only stopped running and turned to face them in a quiet place. Searching for answers to the mysteries. By herself. The brunette met Emily's eyes and nodded.
"Yes." She took a look at the rest of them before admitting another bit. "I bought stuff. Before I settled in here. In case of... disaster." She let out a small laugh, a tear escaping her eye. She wiped at it absently. "I flushed it." There was a collective release of breaths that it made a small woosh in the room a second before the kettle whistled. "Talk about climactic." She turned the burner off and began pouring the water into the mugs. Sasha stepped up next to her and took the mugs to the table. She smiled at him. Naomi sat down reluctantly after a couple of looks from Emily. Sasha took a chair for himself but pulled Effy on to his lap before she could sit in her own chair. She didn't protest and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Better?"
"Much."
"So the stuff is flushed. Guessing not herb?" Naomi asked as she played with her cup. The idea that Effy could have easily slipped not only to old habits but to dangerous depths before anyone knew where or why was terrifying.
"No Naoms. Not herb. It was a mix of pills and powder. Why half ass it right?" She gave a small smile that made her friend groan.
"You can't..."
"I didn't."
"No, but..."
"No buts. I didn't."
"Fine."
"Glad that's sorted." She smiled. "Even if it doesn't meet all of your requirements for sound mind and body choices." Emily giggled.
"Don't encourage." Naomi grumpily replied.
"Naoms... look at her. How can I not?" Emily gave Effy a smile. There was a clarity to Effy she hadn't seen since maybe the first day of college. It was a mix of everything she was but better.
"Fine." She blew on the cup. "But next time could you... I don't know... let someone know about your... spirit walk or whatever."
"I fed the cat." Naomi mouthed the words what the fuck as Sasha grinned and buried his face into Effy's neck. Emily bit her lip.
"You fed... ok great the cat didn't starve."
"She knew." Effy took a small sip from her tea. "Did you ask Madge?"
"You're insufferable."
"And you love me."
"Always you psychotic bitch."
"Likewise jailbird."
..
"Jesus... so much for a quiet night in." Naomi grumbled as they walked into the house. She tossed Sasha's car keys on the small table by the door. He'd opted to stay. He'd pick up the car the next day or something he'd barely muttered. It was almost spiritual how he looked at Effy. Emily, already taking off her jacket and hanging it up, stopped and looked at her seriously.
"Want me to go home? You can have a quieter end to your night."
She looked at the twin like she'd sprouted another head. "No. Why would... No." She went up to her and took her by the shoulders. "I was being..."
"A prick."
"Yes." She rolled her eyes as she agreed.
"I know." She gave her a brilliant smile and stood on tiptoes to kiss her. "She's more than ok. As are you." They smiled and kept kissing. The kiss grew into a spark lighting the fire they'd let cool. Emily pulled away. She shook her head no. "You owe me."
"I... how?" Naomi was sputtering. "How do you figure I owe you?" Emily reached out and began undoing Naomi's jeans.
"I didn't get my turn."
"Oh. Well then... I think that can be rectified." She tugged at Emily's shirt and had her hands slapped away.
"No." She pushed Naomi's jeans past her hips and down to her ankles. She stepped out of them. "My turn." Her voice had turned that husky sound that made Naomi's toes curl. Her nipples were hard by the time Emily pulled her shirt over her head.
"So we're doing it here. In the hall?" The twin shook her head and pulled her into the sitting room. She pushed Naomi on to the couch.
..
"You fed Madge."
"I did." They held on to each other where they stood. She could feel his heart beating and was content.
"You didn't wait for me. Didn't reply to me."
"I needed time."
"Ghosts?" She nodded. Her hand touching his face, his beard. "Do I get to meet these ghosts?"
She shrugged.
"They're not unfriendly but definitely not Casper friendly."
"Hmm. Are they here?"
"Not presently."
"In that case." He took her face in his hands and kissed her. His lips taking hers in a slow but hardening kiss. All the stress, worry, passion and love mixed into a fantastic burst of energy.
"Whoa." Effy felt dizzy when he broke the kiss. She let herself feel it. Really take in his emotion. It surprised her at how unafraid she felt.
"I missed you." He looked in her eyes. Funny how just knowing she was alright made everything else disappear. He didn't give a backwards glance at all he had felt. She was in front of him so his world was righted.
"Should I go away more often?" She joked and he smiled but shook his head no.
"It grieves me when you're gone too long."
"You were busy. Plenty to keep you occupied." He put a finger to her lips which she kissed.
"Busy, occupied. Yes." He leaned in and kissed her eyes as she closed them. "What I feel with you nearby... I want you nearby." His hands moved to her shoulders, her arms. "I don't want to stifle you. But I need you. You are what makes me..." Effy put her finger to his lips.
"I love you."
..
She was grabbing the back of the couch with one hand. Her other hand was in Emily's hair as she knelt between her legs.
She'd been pushed on to the couch then treated to a slow strip tease. It had been murder to sit there and not touch. What happened earlier destroyed whatever blocks, whatever trepidation existed. The unexpressed hunger for each other was rippling through the air. Next she was divested of her bra and knickers before she had the time to process Emily's nakedness to its fullest. Hands on her knees, legs being opened. Dark brown eyes full of need staring at her. Fingertips raking up and then down her thighs. She moaned.
Soft kisses leading to harder ones to teeth all along the inside of her legs. Naomi squirmed and moved towards Emily, giving her more access. Her head dropped the moment she felt Emily's breath on her lips.
..
They'd made it to the bedroom at least. Piles of Sasha's clothes littering the way there. Effy's jumper and knickers, which was all she'd been wearing, had been discarded before she even too the first step on the stairs. How she'd manage to undress him as he touched and teased her was a marvel. More than once he'd pushed his finger deep inside her to the point she stopped moving, almost stopped breathing. She'd let him thrust his finger in a couple of times, feeling herself get wetter for him, for them. But she kept urging him to keep going to the bedroom. There was a need for her to reclaim this place.
The second they were in her room, she grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him into a kiss. Her nails raking the skin on his chest. She could feel him pressed against her. He growled into their kiss. His fingers finding her breasts, pinching, squeezing. She shivered and turned away from him. Bending over the side of the bed, she let him know what she wanted. He paused, realizing he didn't have anything with him. Their eyes met, she nodded. He swallowed and moved towards her. He teased her with his fingers, wetting the tip of his cock with her wetness. "All... Sasha.. please." He grunted as he pushed into her until he couldn't go further. He could have died in that moment. Feeling her. His mind trying not to think about possibilities, consequences. Effy took hold of his hands and brought them under her to her breasts. She started pushing against him. His mind stopped working and instinct took over.
..
"Ems..." Naomi moaned and gripped Emily's hair. The twin sucked and licked at Naomi's clit. Her fingers moving in and out of her fast. She hadn't let up since the first taste. Through tremors, moans, grunts and near climaxes, she hadn't stopped. She'd slowed her pace and allowed the tender body under her to breathe and not reach the apex of pleasure. The more she did it, the more frustration was voiced. Some could say she was making up for lost time, lost opportunities. Some would say she was overcompensating. To her, however, she was simply showing this woman how much she needed and wanted her, of her.
Just like she'd chosen someone else in error, she was finally making the right choice. The only choice. The thought of being here, being this intimate brought out her own moan. She could feel herself, wet. Aching. Her legs half-parted and one hand between them. She played with herself as she pleasured Naomi. She felt her tensing up. Not wanting to make her wait any longer, she applied more pressure to her clit. Her lips on it, kissing it. A slight curve of the fingers and Naomi was there.
..
Sasha had pulled out at the last minute and made a mess on Effy's legs. She didn't seem to care. She'd already orgasmed once and was on the cusp of having another. Her hand moved to her sex while he finished coming. He then flipped her over and used his mouth, pushing her hand away. In his mind, he could taste her very being. Every emotion she'd held in and released. Every thought she'd shared and those waiting in the wings were on his lips. She tried sitting up to watch him but was overcome. Her hands dug into his shoulders as she pushed her hips into his face.
He managed to crawl up beside her. His limbs rubbery. His body a mix of hot and cold. The look on her face was worth it. Anything and everything he would face in life, in his future. She was worth it. She curled into him, protected, loved. She smiled and brought a hand to her lips, kissing his fingers.
"Did you feed the cat?"
..
"Why am I here? It's a family dinner. I don't need to be here." Naomi sat in the passenger seat holding on to the seat belt for dear life. It was Sunday afternoon and they were parked in front of the Fitch residence. She hadn't let Emily drive. She'd insisted knowing that the car might end up in a ditch or another city altogether if she let Naomi have the wheel. Fitch family dinner was a last minute thing after Katie called to insist.
"Naomi."
"I mean really... no one knows we're... which we don't know what we're... I don't think I qualify for a family dinner."
"Katie said you had to be here."
"Just cause Katie says jump..." She shrieked as a knock at her window startled her. Effy stood there with a nervous looking Sasha. She opened Naomi's door.
"Let's go. If I have to go in there, you have to go in there."
"Why do any of us need to?" She kept mumbling as Effy pulled her out of the car. Emily was by her side taking her hand.
"Well, you're eating out their daughter..."
"Shh!" and "Effy!" were lobbed out at her in unison with a groan from Sasha.
"We're not blind or prudes. You've been fucking nonstop since Friday."
"We have not... and how would you know?" Naomi asked.
"You've got a hickey on your collarbone." There was some cursing as she covered the spot she'd complained about earlier but had forgotten about once Emily told her they had to all have dinner at her parents. "Now come on. Doubt Jenna will be too thrilled to see me."
"Well the last time we were here, you were... explicit." Sasha took her hand as they started walking.
"Not my fault. If Toby hadn't brought up the whole living together at dinner time I wouldn't have had to rescue them."
"That's what you call it?"
"Yes." She flashed him a glorious smile and kissed him as the front door opened to Rob standing there.
"Ahh.. you're here. And Katie and Toby are in the living room." He looked at Effy. "Should I start drinking now?"
"Yes." There was a chorus of agreement.
..
Dinner started off quietly. Mostly because Jenna wasn't sure what to make of everyone being there. James was gone for the weekend with Gordon at some outdoor concert. So there weren't any cheeky comments to color the conversation. It was all very cordial. Rob had purchased a second-hand table with leaves that converted from a six-seater all the way to ten. For today, they had it set for eight so Naomi and Emily sat across from each other. It didn't soothe anxieties but at least she wasn't sitting next to Jenna. They were somewhat shocked when the food ended up being edible to the point of it being tasty.
"This is nice." Rob spoke up. He was on his second wine glass. Jenna had barely touched her first. The rest of them were looking at each other like it was time for something heftier. "So.. Naomi - Emsy told us you're getting your hands dirty?" She squeaked when her name came up. Effy shot her an evil smile.
"Uh yeah... I mean.. so to speak. Working part-time at a nursery. Owner thought it would be good."
"That's great! Isn't that great Jenna?" He looked at his wife who kept glancing at all of the people in her dining room. She wasn't used to this many of them willingly having dinner at their place. She'd gotten used to Emily being at dinner but this was odd.
"Mum.. this is really good." Emily commented trying to shift to neutral topics.
"Glad you like it dear. Your father and I are taking a couple's cooking class at night."
"Saw it advertised and thought it would be a nice way to connect. You know what they say in those shows... restarting the fires once the kids leave the nest."
"The kids haven't left the nest, Rob."
"Well... James will be off soon. And I can't imagine Emily wanting to live with us more than a few months."
"Hmm." Jenna ate her pasta and kept looking at everyone. She didn't miss the looks between the twins. She was used to the unspoken language between them but when the looks started going back and forth between all the girls, she put her fork down. "Out with it."
"Out with what?" Katie busied herself eating.
"There's something going on. And don't even think about lying Katherine. I know it was you who put all this together." She met her daughter's eyes with a steel glare. "And don't you dare interrupt Rob. There's something going on with our daughters and they need to come clean." Effy was about to open her mouth. "Nope. No shock value." She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "So what is it?"
"Mum... maybe Katie just wanted a nice fam..." Emily stopped talking when Katie interrupted.
"We eloped." She blurted out. Toby put his head in his hands while everyone else looked on in shock.
"You... you..." Jenna couldn't speak. Rob looked at his daughter.
"Surprise?" Katie said before gulping down the rest of her wine.
..
Katie stared at the open box and then looked at Toby. She shook her head and stood up suddenly knocking over her chair. Toby took a step back. She was staring at a set of pearl earrings. "What's the matter? You don't like them? They're supposed to be replicas of the teardrop ones the princess wore often. I know how much you like the Royal family and thou..."
"Toby!" She yelled at him with tears in her eyes. "You don't set up dinner like this.;. tell me we're celebrating, pull out a box and give me earrings!"
"What?" He looked at her in puzzlement.
"You said we were celebrating!"
"We are. There's teeny engraving with your initial on..." He went to pick up the earrings and she screamed in frustration. The moment she'd seen the gesture, then the box, her heart had stopped. While she couldn't believe he would ask like this, it would be totally him to literally pop the question out of nowhere. She stormed off towards the bedroom intent on him not seeing her cry at her disappointment. When she opened the door, she was met with rose petals covering most of the bed and candles lighting the room. She turned around to yell at him that he wasn't getting laid when she found him on one knee with a diamond ring in his hand. "So it's not very big... or fancy. But it's vintage. Around 1920s I believe. I have the paperwork on it. But... um.. will you?"
..
"Well, this is eventful." Effy said as she sat next to Sasha on the couch. Everyone but Rob, Jenna, Katie, and Toby were in the living room. They had helped themselves to the alcohol when Jenna leaped from her chair and told everyone to get out. Toby tried slinking away but she grabbed him by the collar which brought Rob to his feet.
"Think we need to call the medics yet?" Naomi joked.
"Ha ha. Toby might actually be in danger by mum's reaction. You know how she feels about weddings. Surprised Katie even accepted eloping."
"Why do you think it was his idea?" Effy asked.
"She's been planning her wedding since she was 6. She's got a whole book under her bed." Emily was pacing. "I can't see her giving all that up."
"Maybe she's changed." Effy stared at Emily who finally stopped pacing and looked at her. "She's not the same girl who created the book. The same girl she was in college."
"I know she's not."
"Maybe she saw a chance at love and took it." Effy looked at Sasha then before looking at Naomi. "We all change. Maybe this is her leap of faith in herself." The living room door opened and Jenna stood there.
"Emily. A word." She turned on her heel and walked away leaving the other twin to go after her. But not before finishing her vodka. Naomi paled and wondered if she could run away while everyone else was distracted.
"No." Effy said before kissing Sasha. "I stay, you stay."
"Since when are we ride or die?"
"Since you let us in." She met her eyes and they twinkled. Naomi crossed over to them and touched her shoulder.
"You're positively sappy Stonem."
"His fault." They chuckled until Emily reappeared. She was a little paler than before and walked to Naomi. "Oh dear." She took Naomi's hand in hers.
"So I may have told my parents we were seeing each other... casually... but reassured them we weren't eloping."
"You... you told them..." Naomi downed her drink and Effy replaced her empty glass with her own as yet untouched.
..
They were all seated around the dinner table once more. Plates had been cleared and everyone had a cup of tea in front of them. This time Naomi and Emily were seated next to each other as were Katie and Toby. Effy and Sasha smiled at each other across the table. Rob sat in his chair with arms crossed as he stared at Toby who seemed to be shrinking in his chair.
"So who knew?" Jenna spoke up. They all looked at each other. Katie shook her head.
"Mum... for the tenth time. No one knew. Not Emily, not Effy, not Naomi. I didn't tell anyone. It just happened."
"Weddings don't just happen."
"Eloping does." Katie countered.
"Nonsense. What about the dress? The flowers? We had plans. We..."
"We did mum. But it wasn't my plan with Toby." She looked at him and he beamed as she took his hand. His eyes met Rob's and his smile dimmed a little. There was a light green color that kept reappearing every time he looked at Katie's dad. "He proposed. And... and I didn't want to wait. I knew it wouldn't be ideal but I couldn't wait. Do you get that?"
"But Katie... we could have done a nice tasteful ceremony."
"How long would it have taken?" She challenged Jenna.
"What?"
"How long? Days? Weeks? Months?" She gripped Toby's hand tighter. "No. He asked. I said yes. And the next day we went and got it done." Jenna made a noise.
"Licensing takes time. Blood tests..."
"I'm a Fitch mum. Let's say I made my feelings known and pushed things along."
"Toby." Rob spoke up and Toby almost popped out of his chair. "You didn't think to come to me?"
"I did.. sir.. think of it.. but um.." He looked at Katie who gave him the warmest smile. He almost melted in his chair. "Katie's her own person. She decides what she wants not her parents... with all due respect sir." He met her dad's eyes, resolute in his stance. "I've loved your daughter from the beginning. And what she wants is what I want."
"I see." Rob turned his eyes to Naomi. "And you?"
"Umm..." She froze. Emily and she hadn't talked about anything more concrete other than telling each other there were no regrets to sleeping together. Most of the talk since Friday night had been sleepy or sex-laced.
"Emsy says you and she are... casual."
"Dad." Her hand went to Naomi's lower back.
"Well..."
"I'm not sure what that means. I don't want to know." He looked at Effy who was examining her nails. "But you've turned a new leaf. That's permanent yeah?"
"Uh...yes?" Naomi didn't know what to say, what to address. Rob sat forward in his chair. He rubbed his jaw.
"I want my girls happy. All my children." He looked at Jenna who had softened a bit as she kept her eyes on Toby and Katie. Their hands together. His thumb never stopped rubbing the back of Katies' hand. "Keep them happy." He took his cup and drank from his tea.
"And no more eloping." Jenna added. "I'm going to throw one wedding for one of my daughters if it's the last thing I do." She drank from her cup as Katie kissed Toby. There was a tug inside her at seeing how Katie and Toby were together. She looked at Rob and nodded. "Effy... you and Sasha either. If you're going to sit at this table, then you're included. Am I clear?" Effy shrugged and Sasha nodded.
"Good." Rob slammed his hand down on the table causing the boys and Naomi to jump. "Will someone please get the whiskey and add it to the tea? I think I've earned the extra calories."
..
After a hefty dollop of tea and whiskey with a side order of cake, they'd made lighter small talk to cap off the evening. It wasn't perfect but it was better than any of them thought the dinner could have ended. Rob and Jenna had walked everyone to the door to say their goodbyes. A loud noise brought them all to attention. A car screeched to a halt in the middle of the street. They all stared as a woman jumped out of the driver's side as another car came to a sudden stop just behind hers, blocking the street. She looked angry and manic. Two men were on her heels calling out for them.
"You! This is all your fault you fucking whore." She charged up the drive.
"Susan! Stop!" An older man yelled after her.
"Mum!" A younger man that they recognized as Christopher Huxley called out. Rob stepped in front of all of them. He didn't know the woman or the men but he wasn't about to let them near the kids. The unnamed man grabbed the Huxley matriarch and was forcibly holding her.
"Control yourself Susan."
"She's the reason. She's the fucking reason our sons are..." She grunted and tried to leap out of the man's arms. Her son joined in restraining her.
"I don't know who you are but I'm calling the police." Jenna yelled out with her mobile in hand.
"Please don't." The man managed to get out as he pushed the woman towards one of the cars. "Just give me a moment." They wrestled the angry woman into the rear of the second car and he held on to her until she stopped screaming. It took a few minutes. Rob tried to usher them everyone into the house but no one moved. Everyone was looking at each other and watching the spectacle like an unavoidable car accident. The man closed the rear car door and spoke briefly to Christopher who got behind the wheel and drove his mother away. The man walked calmly to the awaiting group. "My sincerest apologies for this. My wife... she had a bit of a shock and didn't handle her reaction well."
"Mister I don't know who you or who your wife is but this is my home and that's not..."
"They're his parents Dad." Rob looked at Emily who was pale. Naomi had her arm around her shoulders but it wasn't making her feel as calm as it should have been. She swallowed. "Connor's parents." Rob turned to face the man with a fiercer look in his eyes. The man held up his hands and took a step in reverse.
"I'm sorry... I am." He looked to Rob, to Jenna then to Emily. "My son... sons... aren't good men." He said it sadly but determinedly. It was surprising, to say the least. "My youngest." He shook his head. "I cannot apologize enough for what he did. Regardless of what transpired to him in his youth. It doesn't explain or excuse his wretched behavior." The man looked close to tears. Emily looked at him and took a step forward.
"Why are you here Mr. Huxley? Why did your wife choose to come to my parents' home?"
"My son... he wrote a missive before trying to end his own life last night." He looked down at his feet as he spoke. The shame evident on his face, his posture."He implicated his older brother in a number of... acts in his letter. The police... They took it seriously. A death declaration they said. The police picked Peter up at our home about an hour ago for further questioning. My wife. She didn't take it at all well. I'm sorry."
"Wait. Is he... Connor... Is he?" The man shook his head.
"No. He's in hospital in critical care. He tried to hang himself. Doctors don't know if he'll wake and if he does if there'll be damage. Seems he went a while without oxygen." He pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked up at Emily. "Again... there aren't words. I'm so terribly sorry. I am. If you'll excuse me." He turned and rushed away, getting into the car his wife had driven up in. He left and they all stood there.
