Serenity Angel: Hey guys! Here's the third chapter. All Alex's P.O.V. today.

Disclaimer: I don't own Four Brothers of the characters except Alex and her friends

Enjoy

Alex P.O.V.

Of course I was knowingly wrong. I woke up in a cold sweat hearing gun shots echo in my head. Not only had my old foster home experiences come out of my mental fear closet but I was dreaming that I was right there when Ma was killed and I stood there unable to stop it.

Then of course there was the Latina cursing out my oldest brother on the steps. I was already beginning the day in the perfect mood: pissed off. I get out of bed and change into some jeans and a layered t-shirt. Opening the door to the outside of my room was worse. It just got louder.

"Great there's the migraine." I say when I hear Bobby yelling something that was probably directed at Angel.

I go down the steps and slip pass Sophie without a word into the scene. Jerry was laughing his ass off in the lazy boy facing the stairs. Bobby was armed with one of his favorite hockey sticks and yelling at Angel. Sophie didn't even notice I'd pass and was cursing Bobby out calling him some part of human reproductive organs in Spanish. To put it simply everyone was yelling. By the time I'd reach the bottom step my head felt like it was gonna explode, so I did.

"Can y'all shut the fuck up?" I yell louder that I wanted with each word. I looked at Sophie who was shocked to see me standing there. Probably thought I was still in bed.

"Yeah Sophie." Bobby said when he saw who I was looking at.

"You too Bobby cuz one, I'm not on your side either and two, I don't need a fucking commentator." I yell pointing at him. Immediately he clamped, but he looked pissed about it.

"God damn. It is too fucking early in the fucking morning to be cussing and screaming like this." I yell at the top of my lungs.

Bobby had opened his mouth but I stopped him.

"So help me Robert Mercer, if a word comes outta your damn mouth bout Sophie startin this shit, I'ma stick that hockey stick down your throat. Jesus. Why the fuck can't y'all act civilized for one fucking morning?" I yell at him, but addressing everyone.

Boy did I know how to bring the spirit in a room. I grabbed the nearest black hoodie off the coat rack not caring who it was for and make my way to the kitchen in silence. Until it was broken by my 'smartest' brother.

"Jeez what crawled up your ass and died?" Angel commented lowly as to not let me hear, but I did. I stopped mid step.

Then turned and glared Angel in the face. I gave him the perfect death glare. The glare that said 'say one more word and you're gonna be on the five o'clock news as missing or hacked up into little pieces. Let's just say if looks could kill, everyone on that side of the room would have been dead.

After a few seconds of being under that gaze he became extremely uncomfortable, coughed and when to the other side of the living room. I return to my original mission of going to the kitchen, but remember manners after my outburst. I turned back and looked at Sophie on the steps.

"Oh and Happy Thanksgiving Sophie." I said turning back toward the kitchen.

"You, too sweetie." She said a little uncertainly.

I put on the hoodie which I found to be Jack's. It actually smelled like his cologne and not smokes. I avoid whichever looks where being sent my way and sit down at the small table in the kitchen.

Putting the hood over my head I sigh and let my head crash the table with a loud thud. I hear the click-clack of someone's high heeled boots across the floor and the setting of probably a mug on the table and then they rub my back. I uncover my nose and take a whiff of the air. There was turkey, stuffing, potatoes and coffee? Not just any coffee. It smelled like Starbucks roast vanilla: my favorite. I sniff the air some more then raise the hoodie from over my eyes. There was a steaming mug of coffee right in front of me. I drag it over and lift my head over to take another whiff of the aroma. I took a sip and melted. It was Starbucks! I took another sip and then looked around. Jack was roasting the turkey and Hailey was mixing something in a bowl on the table right across from me. She looked at me, worry evident in her eyes.

"Dreams sweetie?" she said and I looked down at the cup.

"Nightmares on blast." I say. Jack had set back the turkey in the oven and taken the seat next to me. I laid my head back on the table and he played with the few strands of my hair, brushing them out of my face.

"How bad?" Hailey asked.

I had always been able to talk with Jack and Hailey when it came to my past. Then didn't try and attempt to go on a killing spree for my old foster folks or force it out of me when they knew I had been thinking of my old life and it was showing that I was distraught. They just waited, knowing I'd come sooner or later to talk.

"Tell me how, not only did my old foster parents come out to play, but I was dreaming that I was right there when Ma died." I said looking down at the table and taking a sip of coffee.

I saw the worried and confused looks on their faces and sighed.

"I mean I was standing right next to her. Heh, even what she said to them sounded like her." I say letting the mug hover in my hands. I close my eyes as I hear it echo in my head.

"May God forgive you for your sins and have mercy on your souls." I repeated the words hearing her voice echo it in my head along with the gunshots.

"Ma would've been the first to forgive." Jack said looking on the table.

"That's what made her who she was." Hailey said.

Another argument had started up again in the next room and Bobby was saying something about turkey cuts. I sigh and get up from the table.

"I'm going outside for some air." I say taking my mug of coffee with me.

They nodded me off and I walked through the kitchen door. The cold air felt good on my face and I take a seat on one of the steps. It was a bleak day. Cold and some clouds. I sigh again and take a sip of my coffee. Maybe I should burn Jack's cigarette stash while I'm out here. I hate it when he smokes. No doubt there's a batch in this hoodie. And it might probably make me feel better.

"Too cold to be sitting out here in only that." Someone said, their voice breaking me out of my thoughts. I look to find Sam, only stubble today, walking up to me.

"You always did love to come through the kitchen door. First to see what Ma was cooking." I say smiling at him.

"It's safer too. Sophie just stormed out of the front door and I could hear your brothers' yelling in the driveway. Not a good start to the day?" Sam asked taking a seat next to me.

"Ooo there is more truth in that then you know." I say taking another sip of coffee.

"Got to love the holiday time with your family." Sam said looking out in the horizon and I chuckled. It was true even though I was pissed off and they were only making it worse.

"Here. Piece offering to your brothers." He said handing me a bag I didn't notice before. I set down my coffee mug and peered inside. It was a pumpkin pie from the bakery, freshly baked.

"Thank you." I say and without really thinking about it I hug him.

"But you know my brothers are human garbage disposals and you should've brought at least two or three. Thought's that count though." I say still in the hug.

I let go and look at him. I really don't know for how long but I locked my gaze with his and we were like that for a while, until Bobby's loud mouth shook my senses.

"And here I thought you were talking to yourself again." Bobby said and I look up at him, feeling I was caught with my hand in the cookie jar. But why? I mean Sam was just a friend. A good friend. A childhood friend. A great childhood friend with really gorgeous eyes and a sexy grin.

"No Bobby, I was talking to the spirit of that dog you ran over a few years back. Still waiting to bite you in the ass." I say trying to get the previous thoughts out of my head.

"Well aren't we Miss snippety today." He said eyeing Sam.

"Do you even know what that means?" She said and he didn't answer.

"Thought so. He brought pie." I say before he got the chance to answer and holding up the bag so he could focus on something else.

"Really, well thank you." Bobby said and both my and Sam's eyebrow's raised and jaws dropped. He actually said thank you to Sam! He's actually being polite to him! Hell must have frozen over good.

"What?" Bobby said to our expressions.

"Nothing." I said. Sam got up and helped me up along with him.

"Well I'm gonna head over to my parents. They say I don't visit often enough." He said. I handed the pie to Bobby who took it inside all the while still watching Sam.

"Knowing their definition of often, you probably don't." I chuckle. He smiled at me and hugged me again.

"Talk to you later."

"Same to you." I say and he let go walking back to his car. I walked up the steps with my almost empty mug and just as I was going inside he called back to me.

"Oh. Before I forget!" He said and I turned to look at him.

"I ran into Andi and she sends her Thanksgiving greetings by the way. She also says she want's the call for the traditional Mercer pick game. Same here." He said smirking at me.

"Sure you can handle? We Mercers' play hard." I said raising an eyebrow.

"I've been waiting for a Mercer game ever since I got home. So yea I can handle." He said walking backward.

"Alright. Just remember the essentials and a first aid kit." I say and he laughs.

"Later!"

"Later." I say smiling I watched him get in his car and drive away before going into the house again. Jack was bent over the turkey again, smirking this time. Hailey was putting on some winter gear, but I noticed the smirk on her face too.

"What?" I ask. They were just a little too quiet and the smirks were getting to me.

"Nothing." Hailey said putting on a snow cap.

"Alright I've got some cake and brownie mixes in the cupboard if you want to make dessert for them. I'm gonna head out." She said wrapping her scarf around her neck.

"Come on Hailey you can stay here. Have dinner with us." Jack said looking at her.

"Actually I'm having dinner with my aunt and uncle. They're in town for the holidays and they want me to meet my in-laws on his side of the family." She said pretty surprised.

I looked at Jack and he looked at me. We knew that was a first.

"Well I'll head out now. Call me too if you guys decide to do a pick up game and save me." She said kissing my cheek and then going to Jack and doing the same thing without thinking about it.

"Later." She called going out the door. I looked back at Jack with a smirk.

He was looking out the door Hailey had gone through, unconsciously touching his cheek where she kissed it. I giggled and went about getting out the brownie mix. I knew my brothers' love for brownies were always before cake on the list. Jack and I passed the time talking and catching up with each others professions. Only once was cooking interrupted to see Jerry and Angel, a.k.a. Nitro and Midnight wrestle it out on the living room floor. Jerry had won much to my surprise, but Angel didn't seem to mad about it. After a while the food was ready and we were around the table heads bowed in prayer.

"Amen." we all said and sat down.

I took the seat next to Angel and across from Jack, the one right next to Ma's seat. It was quiet as everyone passed around the food. I saw them each steal a glance at her seat and smile and let it quickly fade away. I ate slowly thinking of how empty the room felt without her.

"Ally." I almost froze when I heard one of her old nicknames for me.

"Ally, look at me." She said and I turned my head slowly to her seat.

She sat there smiling as if nothing her happened. She was wearing her favorite blue sweater, the one that almost matched her bright blue eyes. She tilted her head toward me and I swallowed hard.

"They'll always be here for you. Let them take care of you for a change, baby. You will always have them. It's alright now, my beautiful little girl. But you better pull your hair back or it will fall into your food." I smiled and looked down at my food.

I pulled back my hair into a ponytail with a clip from around my risk. When I looked back in her seat she was gone. I bit my lip, but before I could even think about touching my food again, Bobby sighed loudly.

"To hell with this man." He said getting up from the table.

"Let's go get a pick up game. I wanna see some quick sticks and some tight passing."

"It's too cold man. I didn't come all the way back here to play hockey." Angel protested.

"Come on. Let's go and show these ladies some fucking skills." Bobby said turning away from the table.

I sighed and looked at Jackie. He was staring at Ma's chair and I could see him trembling a little. I get up and touch his shoulder, then hug him from behind. He touched my arm and I let go.

"You wanna call Hailey or me?" I say smirking at him. He looked at me curiously and I just rolled my eyes.

"Call her and save the day. I really don't think she'd mind." I say moving to head upstairs. I heard him get up from the table and almost run into me on the steps.

"And what do you mean by that?" he asked. I shrugged and kept the smirk on my face.

"Just call her dude. Tell her pick up game at the old rink. I'll grab her skates and stick." I say turning and heading up the steps.

I head into her room first. It was pretty much the same like I'd last remember it. I looked into the closet and sure enough there was her gear. Before I left the room something caught my eye. I looked to find a picture of her and Jack on her stand, along with many others containing at least more that two of the whole gang. I smiled and picked it up. She was kissing Jack on the cheek and he was grinning taking the picture. I remembered this one. It was the first gig she got to go and see. It was his good luck kiss, or at least that's what he called it.

I put the picture back on the stand and head into my room. I had already called Andi about the game and was calling Sam now. I put Hailey's stuff on my bed and went to look for mine, listening to the dial tone and digging through my closet. He picked up in a matter of seconds.

"Hey Sammy."

"Hello Detective Jackson." I couldn't hide the confusion on my face, but then I remembered he was with his parents and laughed.

"Jackson is as best you can come with it?

"Yes, yes it is. What do you need with it Detective?"

"Pick up game at the old rink."

"What time do you need it for?"

"Game starts as soon as we get there. Suggest you leave now."

"But Jackson, I'm with family."

"I'm not holding you back. Go ahead and stay with mommy dearest."

"No, No. I know how important this case is. I'll leave right now. I think I have the file in the office. Where do you want me to meet you again?"

"Old rink."

"Lot of problem's to sort out?"

"Game might take a while. I need to blow off some steam and then there's Bobby."

"Alright I'm on my way. Bye."

"See ya later Sammy." I say and flip my phone of laughing.

I had found my gear and was now sitting on the bed trying to regain control and stop laughing. I just helped the dude weasel his way out of a family dinner. Something I promised I wouldn't ever do again. Some things never change. Jack and Angel were in the door way, looking at me like I was crazy while I held my sides, which were aching at this point.

"What?" I managed to get out.

"When you're finished we got your older brother and his fix for a game to feed." Angel said and I nodded getting up grabbing my stuff along with Hailey's and calming down.

I went down the stairs first, then Jack and finally Angel. Bobby was waiting at the door tapping his foot impatiently.

"Are we done fixing our hair ladies? Let's get this show on the fucking road." He said heading out the door and to Jerry's waiting car.

I was stuck with putting the rest of the gear in the back. I got into the car where I was squished in the middle of Jack and Angel. As usual. I sighed and fixed my cap on my head and smiled to my self. Half way there Bobby looked at me through the rearview seeing as how I wasn't really in conversation.

"So we got some more players or what?" I looked at Bobby through the rearview. I looked at Jack who nodded my way and then sighed.

"We got three extra Bobby." I say fiddling with my nails.

"Three? Hailey or Andi bringing someone?" He asked and I didn't look in the mirror.

"Nah. Sam's playing." I knew that if Bobby was driving, the car would've come to a screeching halt. I was glad it was a smirking Jerry at the wheel. Bobby however, turned around so fast I thought he caught whiplash.

"What? He can't even play! We're gonna have a handicap. No he's going to the other team." Bobby said to the brink of hysterics.

"Take a chill pill brother. Yes he can play. And he can play very well. This is Detroit in case you forgot. Gotta do something to pass the time in the winter." I say feeling my pissed off mood slightly returning.

"Oh yeah and how would you know?" I looked at him through the mirror and sigh looking out the window on Jack's side of the car.

"I remember a time where I couldn't walk much less play. To escape you mother hens in the house I'd go by the rink for a few hours. There I would find young Sam playing against whoever could skate. I admit I found it shocking at first as well. Once I could stand on two feet I'd play him once in a while. And believe me he can play. You remember how he was skinner than Jerry back in the day?" I said looking at Bobby.

"Yeah, regular white Steve Urkel. Minus the clothing and glasses." Bobby said chuckling while looking out the window.

"Well if he could take down guys triple his size back then, I really don't think he'll have a problem playing with us now." I say raising an eyebrow and smirking at the look on Bobby's face.

The others were quiet. I know they don't really like the mention of some parts of the past. I really couldn't blame them. They worry about me a lot and I know it kills them when it slips and they weren't there to protect me.

We reached the rink by that time and were unloading our gear. I was already lacing up when Bobby had come over.

"I don't like to play with someone on my team who's skills I don't know. You know that Alex." He said and I sighed.

"I stake my rep as a skilled player on it Bobby. He can play." I say finishing up my laces.

Hailey and Andi had showed up and were with Jack and Angel lacing up. I took to the ice first as always with my stick and a puck. The rink was empty for now. Bobby had called some old friends out for a pickup and we had arrived early. There were some teenagers coming round, But not on the ice. Probably heard the news of a game going and that the infamous Michigan Mauler was playing it. Bet they didn't want to taste it first hand. Some of those who were playing were just sitting round waiting for the rest.

I tightened my gloves while I skated around on the ice, getting back the feel of it. When I felt I was ready I drop the puck and skate around with it. As I skated around with the puck all the memories of the past games, experiences and practices came back to me. Those were great times. Painful, but great.

I eventually got bored of being by myself. I looked at them and they were talking, watching me, or still lacing up. Bobby just beginning to unload his gear from the damn car. Sam had finally come and was lacing up and talking to Jerry and Angel.

"Oi slow pokes, hurry the flip up." I say refraining from cursing in front of minors. It was a habit of teaching and I intended to break it because my students didn't give a rat's ass.

"Don't get so worked yet Speedy Gonzalez. Save it for the game." Bobby yelled back and I went back to playing with the puck muttering.

Finally some other cars began show. Bobby's friends. I smirked and started to circle the rink again. They piled out their cars and greeted Bobby and the others but when they turned to the ice to see me on it there was uproar.

"Hey, hey, hey! What the hell is this? Yo miss! You need to get off the ice now and let the big boys play." A chunky black guy said motioning his hand like he was hailing a cab. Immediately I got pissed, but Bobby beat me to a retort.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's the problem?" Bobby said going on the defensive.

"What's the problem? Girls don't belong on the ice if they don't got them sparkly shits on. So Shawty needs to get off the ice so we can play some hockey. Not like she can anyway." He said looking at me. Some of his other buddy's grunted in approval as they looked at me as well.

At that moment I was facing a goal, puck aimed. Before they could even blink, I brought my stick down hard the thing went flying, hitting the back of the net and almost touching the backboard. I was inwardly happy though it was a little off. I put a frown on and looked at Bobby who was smirking and the chunky dude how had his mouth open so wide a fly could go in. A lot of them sported the same look. It was priceless.

"That one was a little off. Wasn't it Bobby?"

"Nah, it was pretty good." He said then looked at the guy.

"Looks like she can play C.J. She is a Mercer after all. She and the other girls play on my team. So does the other dude." He said motioning to Sam who was getting on the ice along with my other brothers, Hailey, and Andi.

"Oh and don't be calling my little sister over like she's some hooker, got it?" Bobby said staring him down. He nodded and Bobby went off to join us on the ice.

Sam skated over to me smirking.

"One: that was awesome. Two: You're a lifesaver."

"Oh really? Well what did Detective Jackson save you from?" I ask skating backward slowly chuckling.

"My mother and her continuing nagging of how I should settle down early, find a good wife, and give her grandchildren to brag about." I laugh as I give him my stick and pull my jersey out of my back pocket.

"Bet she was pulling out that book of possible candidates." I say pulling it over my head and I hear him groan.

"I swear she had one on the freaking table next to her the whole time." He said as I fixed my hood laughing.

"And what's so funny?" Andi said skating up to us.

"I saved Sam from getting an arranged marriage." I say laughing. He gave Andi a sheepish grin and handed me back my stick.

"Mom's on the war path isn't she?" She asked and he merely shook his head. Bobby started to call team members out and it was basically Mercers and their family friends vs. the old neighborhood team Bobby used to roll with. The game was about to begin and I was pumped.

"You better bring your A-game today buddy. I staked my rep for you." I say skating into line.

"Just hope you not that rusty." He said falling into line with Jack. I flip him the bird and get ready to play one of the old Mercer family traditions.

To Be Continued

Serenity Angel: Hope you guys like! See ya next chapter!