Life After High School - Ten Years Later
By Risty and Silver
Disclaimer: We don't own them, only our characters.
Summary: Dude, chill out. It was like that when I got there.
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(Kane's POV)
Ria was very sad when her mum called to tell her about Casper's death. I could understand why, Sol-leks and Laddie have been part of the family since before I was born and if they died, we would all be very upset. Luckily they are both in very good health, even if they are rather old. Dad still spent most of his time at the hospital with mum, although he did come back once or twice during the day, and he also spent one evening with us when he brought us pizza. Ria seemed very nervous around him, and he didn't seem to know how to react around her, but he did his best to treat her as he treated us. She was a bit more relaxed when it was just us and Benny, but I suppose she felt cut off by the fact that whenever she mentioned anything about her family in front of Benny, dad or Lucas, they immediately changed the subject. I tried to tell her that to them, Jaime just did not exist, but she got upset and started crying. I didn't know what to say, so I just pout my arms around her and gave her a hug. Then Vince came along and decided that he wanted to give us both a hug too. And Crystal started crying so Ria picked her up and we gave her a hug too. Ria seemed a bit better after that, but she still seemed very sad.
On Friday, when Galia came home, she didn't seem too happy either. When Benny asked what was wrong, I overheard her telling him that she had had some problems at school, but she wouldn't tell him what sort. However, when dad came home that night, he had some good news for a change. Mum would be able to come home soon, although she would have to have a lot of rest and would not be able to do much. I couldn't wait…
(Damon's POV)
The following Monday, I brought Emma home. She still wouldn't talk much and I knew that I would have to keep a very close eye on her. I had tried to tell her about Ria and everything that had happened, but I had no way of knowing how much she had taken in.
When we got home, Benny, Lucas and the kids, including Galia were waiting for us. She gave each of them a hug, but when she saw Ria, her eyes widened and she glared at me accusingly.
"That is Jaime's daughter, isn't it?" she asked. "Damon, what is she doing here? I don't want her here; I don't want anything to do with any of Jaime's family. Send her away!" She clung to me and began to cry. Ria started to cry too, and ran out of the room. Galia, Kane and Vince followed her, taking Crystal with them and leaving Lucas and Benny to help me comfort Emma. I knew that something like this might happen, but there was little I could do. Ivan Silverblade and his allies appeared to have disappeared off the face of the earth and, until they were found, the only place where Ria was safe was with us…Now all I needed to do was convince Emma of that fact.