Hey guys! So most of the dialogue in this chapter is from the Season 3 Extended Episode from the Blu Rays. I LOVED this scene and was kind of pissed that it didn't end up in the show. It was pretty awesome. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy it! Read and REVIEW!
He walked out from the meeting with the guys and immediately scanned the room for Fiona. She was standing over by the door, talking with Gemma and Maureen, but her eyes immediately found his and she smiled. She nodded toward the hall, where he knew Kerryanne was with Juice and Trinity. He knew that they needed to talk with her, let her know what was going on. He needed to make sure that they both knew they were safe. He wasn't looking forward to it, though. Kerryanne, and probably him and Fiona as well, would undoubtedly end up crying, which he hated. He saw her leave and make her way back towards the room, and he followed.
Kerryanne was sitting on the tiny bed with Trinity, while Juice sat nearby in a chair. The bed was littered with candy and cards. The pile of candy in front of Juice was absolutely enormous, while the pile in front of Kerryanne and even Trinity was…not. Filip supposed that it was about time to admit that maybe Kerry hadn't inherited his legendary poker skills after all. He was glad to see that, for once, she just looked like a happy teenage girl, playing games with her friends.
"Boom. Full house. Again," Juice's voice boomed, tossing his cards down on the bed. The girls looked at the cards in disbelief as Juice continued to brag. He was happy that Juice, who rarely won anything, especially poker, was getting a chance to taste victory. He did, however, feel the need to defend the Telford name, since Kerryanne was doing nothing about it herself.
"Hope you girls are letting him win a few hands, at least," he said, smiling at the lot of them.
"Of course we are," Kerryanne replied, looking at Juice.
"Gets all cranky when he loses," Trinity continued to mock him, while Juice was oblivious.
"Everyone hates a champion," the boy said, continuing to gather his candy.
"A cheater," Kerryanne corrected, mostly kidding.
The girls were mostly distracted, attempting to steal all of the best candy for themselves, so Filip took that moment to interrupt.
"Juice, can you give me a minute, please," he said quietly, not really asking.
Juice nodded once, before assuring them, "I'm coming back for everything."
Fiona joined Kerryanne on the bed, and the two of them began a silent conversation with their eyes that girls were so good at. Thankfully, Trinity had taken the not so subtle hint and left the room as well. Juice made to follow her. Filip quickly reached his arm out and stopped the boy. That's all he really was; just a boy. A boy who had risked his own life to protect Fiona and Kerryanne, simply because he had asked him to. Filip owed him.
"Hey," he said, looking Juice right in the eye. "Thanks for looking out for my family."
"With my life brother. Love you, man," Juice replied, completely honest. And he meant it, too. Filip knew, without a doubt, that Juice would have laid his life down if necessary. It meant more to him than he could admit. He pulled Juice into a sincerely, but still very manly, hug.
"Thanks, Juice," he said softly, watching as the boy turned and made his way out of the room, before turning towards the bed. Kerryanne was sitting cross-legged near the head of the bed, looking incredibly anxious. She had no idea what this impromptu family meeting was about, and she seemed very, very nervous. Fiona looked a wee bit apprehensive herself, and eager to hear what had been discussed in the meeting. She wanted to know what news there was of Jimmy, and most of all, what was going to happen to her family now.
Filip made his way over to the bed and took a seat next to Kerryanne. He spoke softly, not wanting to be overheard outside the walls of this room.
"So Clay is getting Abel back, and Jimmy," he paused, making sure to choose his words carefully, not wanting to go into graphic details on his plans to kill the man who had taken so much from them. He had told Fiona, promised her actually, that he was going to kill Jimmy, but he would really prefer that his daughter not look at him as a murderer. "You'll never see him in the six counties again."
It was like all at once, both on them exhaled a huge breath that neither of them knew they had been holding. He knew right then that both of them had been more worried, more afraid than they had let on. He didn't want that. That was why he would end Jimmy, so that his wife and his little girl never had to be afraid again. He looked at Kerry, and found her eyes trained on him, waiting for the next part. Fiona had her head bowed, and he could tell that she was feeling guilty again. He reached over and took her hand.
"Listen," he continued, taking a deep breath. He had to get through this next part. "There's nothing I would love more than to take my girls back to Charming with me, but I know that this is your life and your home here so…"
He allowed himself to trail off. He had gotten his point across, and he knew that is he continued to talk, he would absolutely lose it, and so he stopped talking. He had thought that Kerryanne would be relieved, pleased even, but she looked…sad. He supposed Fiona had been right when she said that it would not be easy for Kerryanne to see him leave. He did not want her to hurt, but it gave him hope that just maybe Fiona was right about the rest too.
"I love you, Da," came her voice, so soft he couldn't have been sure he heard it, if not for the look on her face. Her eyes were as big and brown as his own, and they were brimming with tears. Her lower lip was trembling. He couldn't stare at her anymore without his own tears starting, so her wrapped his arm tightly around her.
"I love you, baby," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
"You know, it won't be years next time," he said, letting her go and removing the beaded wooden crucifix from around his neck. It had belonged to his grandfather and father before him, and it had always, always kept him safe and kept them close to his heart. Now, it would belong to Kerryanne. As her laid it around her neck, he told her. "I'm gonna make sure I get back here and see you every few months. I promise."
He made sure to catch Fiona's eye as well, just so that she knew he was talking to her, too. He realized that he was being ridiculous, that of course she knew he was talking to her as well but he had to be sure. Her face was streaked with tears, and that killed him, because she should never, never be crying because of him or anyone else, really. He opened his mouth to say something, but she beat him to it.
"Oh thank you, thank you Filip," she cried, taking his hand and kissing his empty ring finger. How she could possibly think that he deserved any thanks was beyond him, but he would take it. He pulled her in and kissed her, quickly but earnestly, and then buried his head in her shoulder, finally allowing himself to cry. Fiona was hugging him just as soundly as he was hugging her. His other arm was around Kerryanne, was had found comfort against his chest and was holding his hand tightly. He knew, was at least 100% positive, that these girls loved him and would not let him go years without them. He would do everything he possibly could to deserve their love, from here on out.
"I'm going to miss you, Da. We both will," Kerryanne said after a few minutes, taking her Ma's hand as well. "Will you come back soon? There are still a lot of pictures we haven't looked at, back at home. I haven't heard nearly all of your good stories yet. And clearly, your poker skills are lost on me, so I could use some more practice."
He managed a small smile. She wanted him to come back, and soon. "As soon as I can manage, Sweetheart," he told her.
"And we can come visit you, too, sometimes. Can't we, Ma? When I have holidays from school, in the summer and Christmas?" Kerryanne asked, sounding incredibly hopeful. Fiona squeezed his hand, as if to say I told you so.
"Of course we can. I would love that," Fiona replied, with a small wink at Filip.
"I can't wait. That stupid cow Meghan Forrister was just bragging about how she is going to go visit her Aunt in Surrey this summer. Wait until I tell her I am going to see my Da in California. That will shut her right up. I hope she faints," Kerryanne said with glee, causing her parents to burst into laughter.
"That's the spirit, Love! Glad to see your heart is in the right place!" he exclaimed, but really not caring why she wanted to come. He was too busy being thrilled that she wanted to come see him at all.
He was seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe he wasn't actually going to lose them. Maybe it really would be okay. He had been completely sincere when he said he would be back as soon as possible. And summertime for Kerryanne was only four of five months away. He knew he could last that long. After ten years apart, four months was nothing, especially if there would be phone calls, as Fiona promised there would be.
He pulled both of his girls back into a much drier hug this time, knowing he would have to leave them soon, but already figuring and counting down the days until he could get back here.