Warning: There is NO BO-LO in this chap. Solely a small glimpse into everyone else's story and some plot points - Not your cup of tea, I'll be back soon.
Dani's Voice Over: It's astonishing the things people do when no one is watching.
When they think no one is watching.
How different they all become when they believe they're safe.
The naughty desires that come out to play.
The secrets buried away from prying eyes.
The skeletons hidden in the closet.
But what they forget is there's those of us who live in the shadows.
And oh,
It's so fun to watch people become who they truly are.
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Victoria's POV
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"Often…often..girl I do this often…" Singing along to the song blaring from the speakers, my eye surveying the room for my clothes. The duo in the bed attempting to talk to me over the music. Ha, good luck with that.
"I said," She stops, turning the music down as she finds the remote. "Where are you going?"
"Look, Lisa…" No. "…Lilah…" No. "Liz…" Nope. "Lana…"
"Kelly."
"Riiight. Kelly." Fingers snapping as I vaguely remember getting her name. "Definitely remembered that."
"Irarian." He points at himself, looking between us.
Did I really sleep with a guy name Irarian?
"Do you really have to go?" She pouts, tapping the empty space between them on the bed. "We could have some more fun."
"Uh, yeah bout that." Laughing, I slip into my pants. "I got to make appearances, if I go missing too long it will get back to my parents."
"So, like, what number are you?" He manages to get out, words obviously not his friend.
"I'm the fourth born."
"So, like, that what, like means you have to wait for like, everyone to die first before you rule?"
"Pretty much." Another laugh escaping as I pull my hair back, glancing in the mirror.
"Don't you hate that you'd have to wait?"
"Are you asking if I wish my parents and my brothers and sister would die so I could rule?" My eyebrow raises, smirk plastered to my face at the stupidity I had managed to find while I slip into my shoes. "No. I like my family breathing."
"Really?" He laughs, sitting up.
"Careful." Hand raising, stealing my mother's move. "The punishment for treason is you know, like a bitch."
"Just saying, don't you want to be Queen?" She cuts in for him, obviously not quite so confident anymore.
"Be queen? Nah. I'm good."
"But like, you could have like anything you wanted."
Laughing, tuning them out for a moment as I sing along with part of the song I like. "As oppose to what?"
"Well you can't-."
"Look, kara-."
"Kelly."
"Right, Kelly." I nod. "Look at me, what do you see." Silence. "I am young. I am sexy as fuck. I am not only rich, but famous as well. I am loved by people everywhere. All of this and I haven't had to do a single day worth of work or responsibility in my life. All I have to do is look good, which comes nature. Keep myself out of tabloids, I'm sneaky. And take photo shoots, I'm naturally photogenic. Why the hell would I wanna give that up?"
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Ethan's POV
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"Look, I understand." I nod, pushing my paper back across his desk. "But you don't understand me. I cannot fail this class."
"Ethan, there is nothing to be done at this point. It is too late in the semester."
"I cannot tell my mother that I did not pass genetics. You may not know this, but my mother had a very close relationship with science and-."
"I have read every biography and article on your mother. I do know this, and believe me informing her will hurt me more than it will hurt you."
"Stop." My hand slams against his desk causing him to jump. Jaw clenching as I shake my head. Drawing in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Look, I cannot fail in general. I sure as hell, pardon my language, but I cannot fail a genetics class. I am the only one of five children who show an interest in science. She will die if I cannot pass this."
"Ethan, it's not just genetics you're struggling with."
Hand running through my hair, forgetting about the gel now coating my hand. "Look, I've asked nicely. Now I am going to tell you what's going to happen."
"I th-"
"Silence." I hold my hand up, not quite getting mother's posture correct, but it gets the job done. "I am the second born son, and in direct succession to rule one day. You will show me the respect my name is entitled. You will give me extra credit, a lot of extra credit papers so that I can bring my grade up and pass."
"Why," His words pull me to a stop at the door. "Why not just have me pass you?"
"Because it would displease my mother if I didn't earn this." I brush myself off, straightening my shirt. "Now if you excuse me, I have to see Ms. Alstrz about a mathematics test."
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Sean's POV
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"Say something." I order, staring at her as she sits on Charlie's bed doing her favorite impression of a statue. "Mila."
"I don't know what is left to say…anymore."
"You came here."
"I know."
"What was the point in coming in you have nothing new to say to me?"
"I thought maybe you had come to your senses."
"Come to my senses?" I laugh, resuming my pacing in front of the dresser. "This is your damn life we're talking about."
"MY life. MY body. My choice to make."
"We are married, you gave up the right to make decisions on your own."
"That's your argument?" Her words bringing me to another stop. "You've wanted kids since I met you. I've wanted them…since I met you. We decided that we wanted them together."
"That was before."
"Before what? You fell out of love with me?"
"Don't act like my mom."
"Don't act like your mother."
"Careful."
"Sean," She stands, hands on her hips as she stares me down. "We've wanted this."
"Again, that was before. BEFORE we knew the risks that came along with it."
"In a few years my body will no longer even be able to carry a child. Yes, now it has it's risks, but it's still possible."
"Don't…don't talk like that." My head falling forward, tears filling my eyes at the mere thought of where we're heading. "Don't."
"Sean," I feel her grow closer, but I don't look up. Her hand comes to rest on my chest, over my heart. "This is our reality my love, and I want you to at least have a son or a daughter, maybe both if you have enough of your parents DNA. " She sort of laughs, but I can't bring myself to face her. "I want you to have a piece of us, of me. I want you to have something to remember me in a decade…a century…a millennium."
"You'll be all…" Forcing my head to tilt up, teary eyes meeting hers. "I remember."
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Michael's POV
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"Can't score on me bro." I taunt Ethan, lazily reaching in every few seconds for the ball just to keep him on his toes.
"Our sister could score on you."
"That supposed to be an insult?" I laugh, not falling for his pump-fake.
"I'd let her score on me alllll night." Victor laughs.
"What you say?"
"Mikey, let it go." Ethan's dropped the ball, moving in front of me.
"Yeah Mikey boy, let that shit go."
Forearm into Ethan's chest, pushing him aside. "What did you say bout my sister?"
"I know you stupid but damn." He laughs, tapping my chest with the back of his hand. "Lemme say it so you can understand it. I wouldn't mind letting your sister…S ride me all night."
Victor looks almost as surprised as me when my right hook doesn't connect. Ethan's arm locking with mine, catching my blow. "Chill out."
"Get off me." Pushing him off me, he steps back between me and the joker. "Move."
"It isn't this serious."
"Why are you such a little bitch about everything?"
"I'm a bitch? Why? Cause I don't like a child? I don't embarrass our family? I don't want to get thrown off of the team."
"You a little bitch Ethan. You always have been."
"Are you done?" He asks, as I shove him.
"All you do is run and back down like a little bitch. Charlie's got more balls than you."
"You need a reality check." He laughs. "Look around you brother. Look at the school we're in, the house we live in, the clothes we wear. Looks at your last name. We aren't street kids Michael. You're the son of the Queen, you're a straight A having star jock. You aren't a badass. You aren't a thug. You aren't anything but a little rich boy stuck in your feelings."
I step in, face inches from his but surprising me, he don't step back. "Blow me."
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Victoria's POV
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"Are you reading?" Michael laughs from the doorway, drinking orange juice straight from the bottle. Mom would kick his ass if she was back. Thought making me laugh as I lean back in the chair, eyes going back to my book.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ethan barks, shoulder checking Michael on his way in.
"Can't a bitch read a book up in this bitch?"
"If anyone asks, I told you to watch the language." Aunt Kenz says from the couch, eyes still closed.
"Did we wake you?" Ethan asks, all that base from his voice gone. Big surprise there.
"I've been awake."
"Headache again?"
"She's under the weather jackass, let her rest. Damn." Michael barks this time, shoulder checking Ethan on his way to the stairs.
"Can you children play nice enough to go get pizza for dinner?" She asks, eyes still shut. Damn flu really took her ass out this time, been a while since that happened. Note to self: Get some meds on way home.
"I'll supervise." I jump up, tossing my book on the table. "I'll be needing your keys of course Aunt Kenz."
"In the bowl. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Never do!"
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Sean's POV
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"Few more days and you'll have to go back to work. Think they said they're coming back the….what are you doing?" My smile, vanishing like my good mood. Tossing the pile of clothes down I had been carrying. My eyes focusing on the syringe in my wife's hand.
"They're hormones."
"You need more hormones?"
"Yes, if I want to get pregnant as soon as possible."
"We discussed this last week."
"Yes we did, you made your point and I made mine." She jabs her stomach, giving herself the injection despite my wishes. "In the words of Bo, I like my point better."
"I bet you did."
"Sean, we can have this conversation, discussion and argument a billion and one ways from Sunday. You can scream and yell and plead or even beg, but my mind is made up. I want a child and that's final."
"That so?"
"It is."
"Well tell me master," I condescendingly bow. "How do you plan to do that without my sperm?"
"I'll get it."
"No, you won't."
"You want to bet?"
"This is ridiculous Mila."
"Sean, I love you. I want a child. I know the risks and I don't care."
"Then how can you make the choice so easily?"
"Because I love you. I know the risks Sean, understand that I understand them. I've been beaten over the head with them a billion times, believe me I know them."
"Mila."
"Sean, in the words of your mother, we're tabling this."
"Excuse me?" My eyebrow raising, it's been years since I've heard that.
"I have soup on the stove for Kenzi, she's got the flu."
"Flu? Thought it was a cold?"
"Well the green snot and fever says different."
"That's gross."
"You think that's gross? Wait until you're changing diapers." She calls out playfully heading out of the bedroom with me in toe.
"Mila."
"I know. I know."
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Ethan's POV
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What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
Fists clenching the sink, blood dripping from my knuckles. Heart racing, as my mind goes a mile a second.
What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
I look up into the mirror, the sight of my disheveled reflection arising an indescribable rage. My balled fist slamming into the glass, shattering it into dozens of pieces. Some reaming. Enough for my reflection to remain just enough to keep the rage building.
What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
Nothing.