That night, the five siblings were at home. Gabriella had already tucked the twins into bed and was sitting on the boy's bed with them talking about the day. Suddenly, they heard tyres screech on the driveway. Both the girls shot up from the bed and Gabriella's eyes shot to the door, seeing it unlocked. "Chad, lock the door." She instructed as she pulled the two girls into her arms. "Shh, it's ok. Nothing's gonna happen."
As Chad came back from locking the door, their eyes connected as they heard Casey's voice along with the voice of an unknown man. They nodded at the mutual understanding before turning to their siblings, the older boy instructing. "Locky, girls, we're not sure what's going to happen now but Mom's obviously brought someone home. Bud, take the girls into the bathroom and lock the door. G and I will stay out here and deal with them if we have to but do not open that door under any circumstance until we say, alright?"
Lachlan shook his head. "She won't believe that Chad, I'm only two years younger than Gabi, I have to stay out here with you guys or else she'll become suspicious and we need to keep her as far from Jas and Imi as we can."
Gabriella nodded. "He's right Chad, as much as I hate to agree with it, we can keep the girls away but she'll push if it's only the two of us." She turned to Lachlan. "You stick with us Bud, but I want you to stay behind me and stay silent. I don't want anything to happen to you. If they pull something, you run into this room and lock the door."
"But what if he hurts you guys, I can't leave you out here against them."
Gabriella shook her head. "Locky, you have to, promise?"
He sighed. "I hate agreeing to it but I promise."
Gabriella nodded and turned her attention to the girls. She could feel both of them clinging to her. "Alright my girls, it's ok. You have nothing to worry about, no one's gonna hurt you." She lifted them both up and walked into the bathroom, placing them near the door and turned on the light. "Ok I want you girls to lock the door for me, just in case. Stay in here until Chad, Locky or I say that it's ok. Don't unlock the door until then ok?"
They nodded hesitantly and she released them but Jasmine didn't let go. Gabriella sighed, knowing that it was from the last time that the girl had seen her get slapped by Casey. She hugged the little girl tightly and kissed her temple. "It's gonna be ok Jas, nothing's gonna happen." Jasmine looked at her pleadingly. "I promise Baby, everything's gonna be ok, you don't need to be scared. We're just trying to be careful to make sure you and Imi don't get hurt." She nodded hesitantly. "Ok, I love you Angel and I promise everything's gonna be ok."
"I love you Ella."
She released the girl and hugged the younger twin, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you too Im, it's gonna be ok, I promise Baby Girl."
"Love you Ella."
Their moment was interrupted bashing on the bedroom door, making all five siblings jump. Gabriella whispered. "Ok girls, shut the door and lock it." They did as they were told and Gabriella returned to her place with her brothers.
Chad responded through the door. "Coming." They all took a deep breath before slipping out of the room, closing the door to give the illusion of their younger sisters sleeping.
"Where's the other two brats?"
Gabriella inwardly narrowed her eyes, responding to Casey. "They're asleep, it's late and they're only five."
Casey scoffed. "Whatever. Austin, these are the brats and there's two more in the room. Feel free to do whatever you want with them, they're nothing but a burden like their good for nothing father." She turned to Chad, Gabriella and Lachlan. "You do whatever Austin or I say or there'll be punishment."
They all nodded in response and Lachlan discretely squeezed his sister's hand, noticing her paled complexion. Gabriella squeezed his hand in response but they didn't let go, keeping the contact as a form of support and reassurance.
Gabriella noticed Austin looking her up and down, she felt sick as he spoke to her mother. "I think I'm gonna have some fun with this one." She felt Lachlan grip her hand harder. Casey cleared her throat. "I'm gonna have some fun throwing her around, it's the only thing she'd be good for." When no one responded, he scoffed. "Ugh they're useless, let's go."
When Casey and Austin left, they slipped back into the room and locked the door. Lachlan went over to the bathroom door and knocked gently. "Jassy, Imi, it's ok girls, you can come out, they're gone." The girls opened the door and went to run to Gabriella but noticed that Chad was hugging her tightly.
"It's ok G, we're not gonna let him do anything."
She nodded. "I know, it just makes me sick to my stomach." She looked up and noticed the girls looking at her nervously. She tried to smile in reassurance and waved them over. "Come here." The girls immediately ran into her arms and Gabriella looked at Lachlan sadly. "Come on, you too Bud." He smiled and wrapped his arms around his sisters. Gabriella kissed all of her siblings on the cheek. "I love you guys, I know it's scary sometimes, but everything's gonna be ok."
They all responded with "love you too."
When Gabriella took the girls over to their bed and climbed in with them, he noticed the twins cling tightly to Gabriella, making him sigh. "Ok guys, I know we don't normally do this because it's really crowded but how about for peace of mind, we all share a bed tonight?" The twins immediately nodded, feeling safer with all three of their older siblings with them, making the boys smile. The boys slipped in either side of the twins and wrapped their arms around their sisters. "Ok guys, I love you all, good night."
They all responded, "good night Chad, we love you too."