"I know you don't want to see me or anyone, but please, Bash," Francis tells his brother over the phone. "Please."

"Two o'clock."

Then the line goes dead and Francis clears his schedule for the day, thumbing out a reminder for 2 PM the next day. He gets up and finds Mary leaving Bash's office, her eyes glaring at him.

"Did you tell him?"

"Mary-"

"He picked up, didn't he?"

"To only give me a time," Francis tells her.

Her gaze softens and she hands him the photos. "Tell him not to lose hope then."

"You want me to tell him?"

She nods. "He deserves to know. That and we will get Kenna back. By the time our babies are born, they'll be a family again."

Francis smiles happily, kissing her deeply. "You're wonderful. I know you're betraying Kenna's trust but-"

"He needs this," Mary says knowingly. "Send him our love. Let him know that Anne misses him and James really wants that horseriding lesson soon. He needs to get better, for us, for Kenna, for their baby, for himself. But don't put too much pressure on him. In his own time."

"Yeah, of course," Francis says, nodding. "Let's go home."

Mary smiles. "Let's."

...

Bash gives his brother a look. "Well?"

"You're thinner-"

"Francis..."

"You need to eat-"

"You're not my mother," Bash states, leaning back in his seat. "And I eat."

"What? A roll of bread a day or something?"

Bash shrugs. "Two boiled eggs actually. Quite delicious."

"Insufferable," Francis mutters.

"Well, I've thought the same about you for the past twenty-nine years," Bash replies.

Francis laughs. That's how long he's been alive for. "Connard."

"Meh, et tu."

"Are you alright?"

Bash rolls his eyes. "I want a drink but that defeats the purpose of this 60 grand a week clinic. Where did Papa find this?"

"Lord knows," Francis mutters. "We just want you to get better, Bubba."

"I am better," Bash tells him. "When I'm drinking and working and not thinking about how she walked out of my life again."

Francis tuts. "You drove her out the first time."

"Yeah, but... I was always going to get her back."

"You never fight, Bash. I mean, you do, but not for the things you want," Francis says. "You never fight for your own happiness."

Bash looks down. "What? I should have locked the doors, changed the pin and kept her prisoner? Just so she wouldn't return to him and be killed or something?"

Francis bites his lip. "Actually, she's... She's been doing well, they both have. Really happy because they found out she was pregnant."

"For fuck's sake," Bash mutters darkly. "Now, I really need a drink."

"Same," Francis says lightly but stops smiling when his brother glares at him. "The thing is... The baby isn't Antoine's because-"

"I know," Bash says. "She told me that she was on the pill with Antoine and she skipped the day we... It doesn't take a scientist to work out what that means."

"Yep," Francis says. "He hasn't touched her at all. Being a devoted father and husband and... he's seeing a therapist."

Bash laughs humourlessly. "She has a thing for fucked up guys. Considering she's as fucked up as us herself. The irony." Then he stops. "So, she's all good? No black eyes-"

"Nothing. All good. Happy. New house, the works," Francis says.

"Then, I have no reason to think about her," Bash replies. "She's moved on. I've got to. Again."

"Just... don't push us away," Francis begs him. "I don't want a repeat of what happened after Delphine. That bitch... Lord knows how much we hated her."

Bash rolls his eyes. "No crazy women in my life, you don't need to worry about that. Now, can we talk about something else other than my failed marriage?"

Francis smiles a little. "So, there was a peacock at the twin's school today..."

...

Francis smiles at Kenna when she opens the door in surprise. "Hey," he breathes out. "I know, it's weird. I'm sorry but-"

"W-What are you doing here?"

Francis sighs. "I wanted to check on you. Mary said she saw you and you were great but... I had to check on you myself because I'm-"

"Reporting back to Bash? Bash who's in a clinic somewhere?" Kenna asks, letting him inside. "I'm fine. He doesn't need to worry."

"But he does! Worry, I mean," Francis cries out before sighing. "He loves you, he misses you and you... you left him."

"He left first-"

"But he wanted to make things work. Antoine's not good for you. Everyone can bloody well see that!" Francis tells her. "Now, you're pregnant and it's-"

"Shh!"

Francis stops. "He's here, isn't he?"

Kenna nods. "Outside in the garden," she whispers. "Don't say anything. In fact, I'll meet you somewhere."

"Where?"

"I'll text you, just write down your number, my phone got broken," she says.

Francis nods and writes his number down on a stickie note she gave him. "I'll be outside."

"No," she quickly says. "Just... The bar we always hung out in? A couple of doors down is a hairdresser. Go there and say I sent you."

"Are you a hairdresser now?" He asks lightly.

She smiles wryly. "Helped them redo their salon after it got burnt down. Now, I'm a VIP customer with my own booth out at the back. We can talk in private there."

He nods and heads to the door. "Don't take too long otherwise I'd know he hurt you."

"He doesn't..." She sighs. "Nevermind, just go."

After he leaves, she grabs the tray of lemonade and heads outside, placing it on the outdoor table.

"Are you done trimming the bushes?"

"Almost!" Antoine calls out. "I'll be up in a minute."

"Alright," she says, before sighing. "I have an appointment for my hair and nails. I'll leave soon."

Antoine turns to her. "Alright. Do you need money?"

She nods. "Please."

He now controls her bank accounts after last week and Mary's visit. She will have to fake a purchase or convince him that they gave her treatment on the house as they were 'still grateful for all she did'.

"There's seventy euros in the top kitchen drawer. Take it," he tells her.

She sighs in relief. Cash, not card. "Thanks, Tonie!"

"Any time, baby girl."

Mentally, she gags but she plants a smile outwards and leaves.

...

The owner to the salon closes the door behind her, leaving the two alone as Kenna sits down and grabs a drink from the tray. She sips it and watches as Francis takes a seat as well.

"Yes, it's Bash's but I'm happy Francis," she tells him. "Antoine is really preparing hard for this baby and it will crush him-"

"And what about its real father?" Francis cuts her off. "Won't it hurt him too, having a child out there without being able to be in its life? If Mary ever did something like this, I don't think I'd be able to love her."

Kenna sighs. "He still loves me?"

"He never stopped," Francis tells her. "Come home. Leave Antoine and go back to Bash. He'll take you in and your baby. You can finally be the family-"

"Wishful thinking," Kenna says. "But I love Antoine."

"He will hurt you-"

"He won't," Kenna says. "I have faith in him. He's been great so far. He saw the error in his ways and now, he's making up for them. He is preparing for this baby and this is the only thing that is helping him let go of his difficult past. He was abused as a child, he watched his mother get beaten up - he didn't know any better! Now, he's a man who wants to break the cycle. I believe he can, I believe in him."

Francis blinks a few times. "God, he's really got his claws in you..."

"No-"

"The Kenna I knew was stronger than this," he snaps. "Not naive or stupid to see what's exactly in front of her. This isn't the first time, you know? You know what he did to Jeanne!"

She flinches, never seeing her former brother-in-law angry in her entire time of knowing him. "I know. But he and she weren't compatible. He's improved since then."

"You disappoint me-"

"Francis-"

"Kenna, why are you defending him?!" Francis cries out, baffled. "He won't ever change!"

"He has!"

"For now!" He retorts. "Until you say one thing or give an opinion on something he disagrees with and you end up with a black eye."

Kenna looks away. "Francis, we're done here."

"Kenna-"

"I don't want you or Mary in my life ever again if you won't accept that Antoine and I are in love, we're together and we're in this as husband and wife," she tells him slowly. "You can tell Bash to mind his own business too. I'm done with all of you, Antoine was right. You're so judgemental, you want to control my life! Telling me what's right or wrong, what to do, how to act... I should have seen it before."

Francis scoffs. "Kenna! Are you delirious? It's Antoine who is manipulating you-"

"No," she breathes out. "It was always you guys. All high and mighty-"

"You were the one going around judging people," he tells her. "Little Miss Trust Fund Baby. Vain, hedonistic, bitchy. I don't know why, but I miss her over this 'you'. Weak and pathetic-"

She slaps him.

"If you ever contact me again," she starts shakily, tears stinging her eyes. "I'll tell Antoine and he'll deal with you."

"You won't keep this baby from Bash, you know," Francis tells her, stretching out his jaw as he winces. "We could always take this to court."

"You wouldn't."

"Call up social services, child protection-"

"Francis," Kenna whispers. "You'd really do that?"

"You leave me no choice!" He cries out. "You're putting my brother's unborn child at risk. What if Antoine finds out and turns on them instead? Forget you, he'll want to hurt the one thing he couldn't give you. The one thing that links you and Bash forever. What the fuck's wrong with you? Why can't you see what we see?!"

Kenna lets out a sob. "Just go. Just leave, Francis. We're done here."

"I love you, Kenna," Francis says softly. "Like a sister. We've known each other for over two decades. I respect you and care for you. Your happiness means a lot to Mary and hers mean a lot to me. If she's up worrying about you at night, then I'm worrying about her. Please... I beg you, I pray to God to beg you... We all care, we all love you. We won't judge you-"

"We're done here," she cuts him off.

"I'm sorry-"

"Get out."

"Kenna, please-"

"Francis, leave. You beg me, I beg you," she says, standing up and looking down at him. "We're not family anymore."

He laughs wryly. "Sure about that?"

"Well," she starts, blushing as she remembers that she and Mary are cousins. "Immediate."

He stands. "Fine. Look after yourself."

"I will. Antoine will look after me."

Francis rolls his eyes, sighs and leaves.

Kenna wishes he stayed and fought harder because her barrier had begun to crack.