Chapter 38 – Misplaced Trust?

Lance looked up as he heard Malaika's silvery laugh, and raised his eyebrows when he saw Beth helping the girl down the steps. "I'm not an invalid Beth!" She giggled, her smile lighting up her whole face. "I can walk down some pesky steps by myself!"

Beth shook her head sternly and refused to loosen her grip. "I don't want you hurting yourself or the baby." She hissed. "I can see how weak you are…"

Lance got to his feet and joined the pair as Mali finally stepped onto the warm grass. "Are you alright?" He asked, a look of concern crossing his face, as Malaika did nothing but smile.

"I'm not ill." She laughed again, a slight sparkle evident in those dark eyes. "Will you two stop fussing?" She pushed Beth's hands away from her waist and shook her head. "I'm gonna go talk to some sane people now." She joked, walking to sit with Ally and Cooper.

Cooper looked up and shifted slightly away from the young girl. "Hey sis'. What's wrong?" His eyes darted to Lance and Beth who had followed her over and sat either side of her.

Malaika reassured her brother. "Nothing – its just that these two geeks don't seem to want to believe that…" She shot them both a look, warning them that they were two of the few that knew about the baby. "What about you both?" She shot a knowing glance in Coopers direction and then over to Ally. The usually smiling girl had her head bowed slightly and lips pressed into a thin line. "Ally?"

Ally looked up at the older girl, and felt herself warm slightly at her smile, Ally's eyes were slightly red from crying but she forced a smile back. "I'm okay – pretty good actually."

"Good." Malaika said and meant it, glancing up at a familiar figure moved to enter the house. "Scott!" She called standing quickly. The head-rush was almost too much for her and the frail girl reeled and doubled over the bench with a sharp intake of breath.

Lance's hands immediately went to her sides as he steadied her. "Are you sure you're okay?" He whispered in her ear.

"Yes." She nodded opening her closed eyes and breathing slowly but when she glanced over at Cooper she knew he didn't believe her either. Scott was quick to his sister's side, helping her from the bench as she told him she needed to talk to him. "You too Cooper." She added with a small smile.

Ally watched in bewilderment as the two brothers helped the girl over to a far away seat and made sure she was sitting comfortably. Ally felt a twinge of longing, for her own brother to be with her now – helping her through the bad times, fussing over her…

"What's up Mali?" Scott spoke almost immediately kneeling in front of her and looking up into her eyes as Cooper took one of her hands protectively. "What's happened?"

Malaika looked from brother to brother and suppressed a giggle at their overwhelming concern, shaking her head so that her long ponytail swished. "Nothing 'happened', I just think you'd better brace yourself for this…" She looked at them both, now was the time to tell them now was the right time. They needed to know – she wanted them too…they were going to be uncles, that was a pretty big responsibility, and her little one would need all the aunts and uncles it could get. "I'm pregnant." She blurted without hesitation.

"What?" Cooper choked out. "How did that happen?"

Malaika laughed as Scott sat back on his heels. "How do you think it happened little brother huh?" Her eyes danced mischievously. "Well firstly mummy and daddy have a 'special cuddle…'" She began with a wink to their older brother.

"You're silly!" Cooper shot back with a light punch on her arm, he was grinning from ear to ear. "Congrats Mals." He said giving his big sister a huge hug. "I'm gonna be an uncle!"

Scott watched the two, so obviously oblivious to the complications and repercussions this had for them all. He eyed his younger brother and sister with concern about their overwhelming happiness as they hugged and chatted quickly about this revelation. Scott sighed, Malaika looked so happy that he couldn't imagine beginning to have the conversation with her that he should. Asking her if she'd really thought this through, how was she planning to safely have a baby in a world like this – a world without adults or hospitals or doctors…or even medicine? He was worried that they were both ignoring the obvious – she would be a single mother…she would have to bring this baby up without a partner – and guys didn't usually find that attractive…god this was his sister he was thinking about, but still it was a valid point.

"Scott?" Malaika had turned those soft eyes on him now, asking him…begging him for approval.

"I don't think it's a good idea." Was the first thing he said without moving from the ground.

"Well it's a bit late for that…" Mali spoke slowly her eyes clouding slightly as she asked her brother not to judge, pleaded that he helped her and looked after her – how could he refuse that?

Scott smiled and leant forward to catch his little sister in a brotherly embrace. "Congratulations Mali." He whispered not letting her from the hug. "I'll be here for you both…whenever you need me – you know that…"

The girl bit her lip as she knocked softly on the door to the living room. She blinked rapidly and fluffed her hair up the tiniest bit, pulling her top a little lower to reveal the top of her cleavage – something she had over on Grace who kept herself respectfully covered.

"Come in!" Jay looked up quizzically as the door was knocked on and then opened, he half expected to see Grace standing in the doorway – playing one of her teases on him – but when the door opened he was surprised at who stood there. "Louisa?" He asked putting down the schedule he was working on.

"Jay…" Her voice was soft and breathy and her eyes were lowered making his gaze automatically follow them down to where her breasts were slightly showing. He blinked and looked away, cursing himself. "Can I talk to you?"

The tribe-leader nodded and cleared a space for her on the sofa he was sat on. "Sure…what can I do for you?" He wondered at she perched on the edge.

Louisa took a deep and shaky breath. "I didn't know who else to come too…" Her tiny voice shook as she struggled out the words. "…and you're such a great leader…" Louisa's hand gently found its way to his leg – a little too close to his groin for Jay's liking and he shifted uncomfortably. "I knew you'd help me." Her fingers gently began to trace tiny invisible circles on his thigh.

Jay took her hand firmly and placed it back onto her own lap. "Listen Lou – I'll help anyway I can if you've got a problem but I don't think you should do that again."

"And why not?" She quizzed snappily.

"Because I've got a girlfriend…" Jay spoke slowly as he folded his arms. "…who I love, and it's not appropriate for you to touch me like that." He was as straight talking as ever, whilst still trying to remain friendly and open if she really did need him.

"Oh Jay…" Louisa gushed as a tear slipped down her face. "You're so nice and kind and I…" Sobs appeared to shake her body as she buried her face in her hands.

Jay's dark eyes opened wide as the girl began to cry her eyes out – adding a few choking sighs and burying her face deeper in shaking hands. "Hey…" Jay whispered. "What is it? What's wrong…" He put an awkward hand on her shoulder and inched slightly closer. "Come on now…"

Louisa said nothing for a moment before whispering. "I'm sorry…I know you're busy and have better things to do than comfort me when I'm being stupid like this…"

"Being sad is not stupid." He cut in causing her to look up with slightly tear eyes.

"Jay…" She breathed falling forward against his warm chest and clinging to him, sobbing as if her life depended on it.

"Scott – hey! Where you going?" Silver saw him heading for the back of the house and ran slightly to catch him up. She put a hand on his arm and he looked intently at it for a moment before shrugging her off.

"I'm going for a walk. I need to be alone for a bit to think." His reply was a lot harsher than he had intended and he felt instantly sorry when he saw a flash of hurt in her pale eyes.

"What happened? I thought we were gonna talk?" She pushed slightly as she followed him away from the house and closer to where the stream was situated.

Scott spun around and nearly crashed into the girl with the long braids. "There's nothing to talk about is there? Really?" He just didn't know what to do or say to her now…what could he say when all he wanted to do when she looked at him was…

"What have I done huh?" Silver bit back at him. "I thought we were being nice, getting on…I'm really sorry for whatever it was. I'm going now so you can have your precious space." She turned on her heel feeling her cheeks flaming with confusion.

Scott watched her retreat a few steps before he called out to her. "Silver – wait!"

He slowly joined her shaking his head and putting a casual hand through his dark hair. "I'm sorry okay? But I just don't know what to say to you sometimes…"

"So being horrid is better than saying nothing?" She snapped.

He held up his hands in defence. "Guilty as charged, but you're not a total innocent are you?" He winked now shrugging his broad shoulders. "Listen Silver about all this admirer stuff…I don't quite know what you want me to say…?"

She laughed and pushed her hair from her face. "I don't particularly want you to say anything…you were the one who brought it up remember?" She wiggled her eyebrows comically and he laughed.

"It's me."

"Huh?" Silver breathed in shock, feeling as though she'd been kicked in the stomach.

Scott looked at her, searching deep in her eyes for her feelings about this and somehow not believing he'd just ruined everything by blurting out the truth. "I mean I…" He dropped his hands to his sides and shrugged. "It's me. The flowers, the ring, the song I wrote for the party…I got them all for you."

Silver just stared, a part of her didn't believe this for a moment and eyed him suspiciously, but another part – a part she wanted so badly to give in too – knew that it had been him all along. Of course… They young girl shifted uncomfortably as she looked up at him, almost three years her elder and looking so damn gorgeous as the sun pouring itself on his toned arms that she wanted to faint. This made things strange, changed the dynamics of their relationship…or the perfect triarchy leadership…

He shifted too but continued to search for a sign that she felt something for him too…he didn't expect to find anything, after all he had hidden the way he felt about he better than he'd ever hidden anything before…

"Silver…" He began again, not sure what he was going to say. "You don't have to say anything or…I know this changes things about us, but it doesn't have to make things weird okay? I think you're…" He felt the smallest blush and began talking faster. "I think you're sweet and pretty and I like you…I know maybe some of the things I've done tell you otherwise but…"

"Scott?" She broke in going with her impetuous nature.

"Yeah?"

Her eyes flashed as a smile fell onto her blood-red lips. "Shut up and kiss me."

Louisa was still sobbing hard into his chest, brushing herself against him and whispering his name over and over as Jay tried with no avail to calm her without getting too close. "Hey now…what is it?" He tried to get her to listen to him, but she didn't, she just kept on burying her face against his chest whilst listening for something from outside.

Jay put his hands on her arms and gently lifted her away from him making her look into his eyes. "Come on now." He was firm as they looked at each other. "What is it?"

Her eyes lowered as she bit her lip, waiting. Waiting for just the right time too… Louisa fell forward slightly as she heard the handle of the door turn, causing her lips to touch Jays and his arms to fall around her.

Jay's eyes widened in surprise and he pushed her from him as she began to fight against his grip. "Stop!" She screeched as the door opened fully. "Jay – I told you – I don't want…you've got a girlfriend for god sake!" Louisa jumped to her feet and spun round, her eyes crashing with the person stood in the doorway. "Grace?" She whispered.

Grace bit her lip and threw her eyes over to Jay who shook his head and looked as though he was about to cry. He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him by putting up a hand. "Get out." She shot as Louisa.

"I told him to stop…" She began – stopping when she saw Grace's scowl.

"Get out." Grace spat again. Louisa left hurriedly and the door was closed behind her.

Jay rose from the sofa shaking his head. "This isn't what she said…I didn't…I wouldn't…" He struggled for words, his eyes wide and open.

Honest.

Grace smiled softly and reached out for his hand. "As if I would believe her over you…" She whispered. "She isn't that good an actress." Jay tangled his fingers with hers and sighed happily, relieved. "I trust you Jay." Grace spoke again, he voice perfectly still. "My trust just better not be misplaced."

Tammy sat on the step, basking in the shadows gently patting Kugers soft head as she stretched and watched the people sat out on the grass. She remembered when it was just she and her dog, sitting alone, watching nothing but space and she smiled, glad she had decided to let everyone stay. Finally after so many years she felt like she had some sort of family again, and that made her happy.

Her eyes fell on Ved. Well, the back of him as he spoke with Cooper and she sighed. The more she tried to ignore the niggling feelings at the back of her mind about the bleached-blonde brother she couldn't fight her sweaty palms of nervousness at the thought of him, or the fact that just looking at him made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

She tried to fight her blushes as she realised what he was doing to her and shook her head in order to push the thoughts to the back of her mind. It was no use, sooner or later she was going have to give in to the fact that…

The air beside her moved and Kuger growled lowly as a figure moved passed and crossed to the back of the area, near the trees, where Louisa was sitting by herself. Tammy squinted so that she could see what was happening.

Louisa looked up in surprise as Grace stopped before her. "Gracey…" She began rising to her feet.

"Sit down." Grace commanded holding her composure even though the girl was trying to soften her by using her nickname.

Louisa obeyed and looked at the pretty girl guiltily. "I told him to stop…" She offered in a tiny voice.

"Don't give me that." Grace hissed putting her face near Louisa's. "I don't want to hear it." Her eyes flashed angrily. "You might not like me, but leave Jay out of it. I'm warning you Louisa…" Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. "…if you ever try something like that again – I'll scratch your f*cking eyes out."

"But…I-…" She stammered.

"Shut up!" Grace spat - surprised that she had used such a foul word - before turning and stalking away.

Louisa watched her go as her stomach turned, she felt sick. Tears sprung to her eyes as she thought about what she had done, how much of a b*tch she had been…but there was something that wouldn't let her stop chasing after guys…wouldn't stop her wanting all this attention. She'd thought if only she could get Jay to like her, to kiss her, it would make everything better…

Louisa lowered her eyes and hot tears spilled onto her cheeks.

And this time the tears were real…