(Amaya POV)
A sigh escaped my lips as I watched the T.V., I could hear Serenity's soft music coming from upstairs as she practiced for the upcoming talent contest at Sky High and Ronan and Garret's video games, along with a few shouts of argument, Taylor was asleep and Warren was still out at work, trying to shut down the Ruby Triangle.
Every time he left I felt so worried and scared now, in case they found out what he was trying to do, Will had joined now along with Lash, which made me even more anxious, my cousin, best friend and husband were risking their lives and I was so scared all the time, for them, the kids, my friends, the Ruby Triangle target their enemies loved ones and that would mean the kids.
The door suddenly opened and made me jump about a mile, I turned my head sharply and saw Warren smiling slightly at me, he sat next to me and hugged me loosely, kissing my cheek softly.
"Hey," he murmured in my ear, "where are the kids?"
"Their rooms," I answered, then felt his hand curl round my throat, he changed in front of my eyes, becoming Barron Battle, the sitting room was full of fire and I could hear the kids screaming from upstairs, pleading.
"No more children," Battle cackled in my ear.
"NO!" I screamed and the sitting room formed into my bedroom, I was sitting in my bed, tears falling down my cheeks, a hand suddenly touched my shoulder and I yelped, swinging round and I saw Warren frowning at me worriedly.
"Amaya, what's wrong?" he asked softly, gently wiping my tears away with the pad of his thumb, "what happened?"
"It was just dream, just a dream," I whispered, hugging him tightly and burying my head into his shoulder, "just a dream, everything's okay, it was just a dream."
"What kind of dream?" Warren questioned slowly, wrapping his arms round me comfortingly and sitting with his back against the headboard.
"I don't want to talk about it," I muttered, a single tear falling from my right eye and landing on Warren's warm skin, he shifted slightly and sighed as he pulled me closer to him.
"You're always on at me to talk, so talk," he ordered, poking me gently in the back.
"Don't want to," I mumbled defiantly into his shoulder, cuddling closer to him, "and you can't make me Warren Andrew Peace."
"Yes I can Amaya Janice Peace," he retorted and I knew he was smirking, then he suddenly began tickling me and I squealed in surprise before laughter came bubbling out my mouth.
"Stop it!" I giggled, trying to push his hands away, he just grinned at me and I laughed harder, "we'll wake the kids up! Stop tickling me right now!"
"Tell me what made you so upset," he shot back, stopping in his tickling and looking down at me with a slight frown, "did you dream about some other guy?"
"NO!" I protested, feeling angry that he'd even think that, "it was-it was like normal at first, I was just waiting for you to come home, then you did, then you-you changed," I gulped slightly before continuing in a whisper, looking away from his piercing dark eyes, "into your dad, then I heard the kids screaming, then it all just stopped, the screaming stopped, then I woke up."
Warren let me go and sat up, a disgusted look on his face, "you think I'll become my father?" he spat, glaring at me as he climbed out of bed, "I'll sleep downstairs."
"Warren, no," I groaned, following him out the room and curling my fingers round his arm, "it was just dream, it didn't mean anything, it won't happen, I trust you, I love you Warren."
"For years I've had to put up with people thinking I'll be just like my father Amaya, I never thought I could have what I have today, I never thought you'd think I'd turn into my father," he growled quietly, turning his head to look at me darkly, "you say it was just a dream but you must think that I'm going to be like him in your subconscious, I thought you trusted me Amaya, I thought you knew me better than that."
"I do trust you," I protested, "how could even think that I don't, I love you Warren."
"Love and trust are two different things," he hissed, wrenching free and I heard the front door slam shut soon after, making me wince slightly, the door I was standing by cracked open and I looked up to see Garret frowning at me slightly.
"Mom?" he said quietly, "what happened?"
"It's nothing, honey, just go back to sleep, okay?" I smiled tiredly, running a hand though my hair as he nodded and went back in his room, I sighed and went downstairs, sinking into the couch and curling my legs beneath me and resting my head on the arm, my blue eyes fixed on the front door.
"Mom, we're leaving, I'll drop Taylor at the crèche," Serenity said, leaving the house with Taylor clinging to her hand, before I could protest the door was shut and I was left alone in my home, feeling cold and worried.
I don't know how long I waited before the door slowly opened and Warren stumbled in, I darted forward and supported him as he almost fell to the floor, my nose wrinkling as I smelled the alcohol on his breath.
"Warren, where the hell have you been?" I snapped, sitting him on the couch and he yanked me down too, grinning, "Warren, let go," I ordered, wriggling against his hold.
"I love you," he slurred, running his fingers clumsily through my hair.
"You've been drinking," I sighed, his grip on me never wavering, "Warren, you need some sleep and water, so you have to let me go, okay?"
"No, what I need is you," he chuckled, kissing me and I grimaced at the taste of whiskey, he frowned at me, "Amaya? What's wrong?"
"Mom, I for-" Ronan's voice stopped as he obviously caught sight of us, the door creaking slightly, "I forgot my gym kit, do you know where it is?"
Scowling, Warren let me go and flopped back on the couch as I sighed and stood, taking Ronan into the laundry room where I'd put his newly washed gym kit last night.
"Is dad okay mom?" Ronan asked quietly, frowning slightly in worry, his dark eyes boring into my blue ones.
"Yeah, we just had an argument last night, that's all," I smiled softly, hugging Ronan tightly, "now you'd best get going, you'll be late, and can you not mention this to your brothers and sister? I don't want them to worry over nothing."
"Mom, this isn't nothing," Ronan protested, "dad's been drinking, I've never known dad to drink mom, I want to know what's going on."
"Nothing's going on, trust me," I said gently, shooing him out the house, "have a good day at school, be good and don't get detention, okay?"
"Okay," he sighed reluctantly, hugging me and kissing my cheek before leaving, I sighed before closing the door after him and going back into the sitting room, my eyes landing on a lightly snoring Warren on the couch.
I sighed slightly and brushed a stray strand of his soft hair from his face, putting the blanket from the back of the couch over him before going into the kitchen to clean up the mess Serenity had left making breakfast for everyone because she didn't want to wake me up for some reason, though that might be because I was sleeping on the couch something I never did, it was generally Warren when I was mad and pregnant, but I was not pregnant or mad, he was mad at me, then he got drunk and now he's sleeping it off and will be a complete and utter grumpy bastard when he wakes up.
A few hours later an agitated groan sounded from the sitting room as I drank down some black coffee, my eyes flicked up from where they were staring into my cup to rest on my frowning husband, he sat opposite me and just looked at me, I bit my bottom lip slightly as he turned his wedding ring round his finger.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, meeting my gaze steadily, "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did."
"I'm sorry too," I said quietly, staring into my coffee as a single tear slipped down my cheek and landed with a splash in the hot drink.
Warren was suddenly hugging me tightly, his strong arms holding me protectively, "don't cry, please don't cry," he whispered in my ear, pressing his lips to my cheek softly, "you know I hate it, especially if I caused it."
"Warren, we're going to be okay, aren't we?" I sniffed, looking at him tearfully and he nodded, kissing my forehead.
"Yeah, we're going to be just fine," he promised, his grip tightening slightly, "I love you, always have, always will."
"We hated each other when we first met," I laughed weakly, he chuckled tiredly with a nod.
(Serenity POV)
It was like there was a hard stone in my throat as Ronan spoke, his face worried, something I'd never seen before, I gulped slightly in an attempt to get rid of the hard lump and felt Zeke slide his arms round my waist comfortingly.
"Like you said, they just had an argument, all married couples argue Ronan," I snapped, harsher than intended, "and if mom told you not to tell us why did you?"
"I thought you guys deserved to know what was going on, and yeah Serenity, married couples argue, but when have you ever known dad drink?" Ronan growled, his fists clenching tightly.
That made me hesitate, I'd never seen dad drunk or drinking, except maybe a quick glass of something at meals, but never enough to make him drunk, "they're having problems, all relationships have problems," I whispered eventually, looking at the grass beneath me.
"They were arguing last night, I heard our grandfather mentioned," Garret cut in quietly and everything in our group froze, us Peace kids, except Taylor, was there along with Jocelyn and Zeke who were family so they deserved to know.
"But-but Uncle Warren hates it when Barron Battle's mentioned," Jocelyn stammered, her green eyes slightly wider than usual, "why did they talk about him Garret?"
"I dunno, dad just said something about he thought mom would never think he was turning into his father, or something like that, I was half asleep but when I opened the door mom looked really upset," he answered in a low voice.
"What did you see when you went back for your gym kit Ronan?" Zeke cut in, kissing the top of my head lightly in an act comfort.
"Dad was on top of mom-" cue cries of disgust- "but she didn't look happy, kind of….disgusted, and dad was obviously drunk, mom looked upset as well when I left, I don't know what happened after she shut the door," Ronan sighed, his dark eyes fixed on the ground, we'd skipped school and were in the downtown park, knowing our parents and anyone who would tell our parents what we were doing were working uptown today.
"Everything's going to be okay," I said softly, making myself believe it was true, my blue eyes determined, "I mean, mom and dad have been together forever, they'll always be together, maybe mom's just acting weird because she's pregnant again."
"No, Uncle Warren said no more babies, remember?" Jocelyn squeaked, she would be effected too if mom and dad split up since mom was Will's cousin and dadwas hisbest friend, then Grace was one of mom's best friends which meant they could fight over who's side to take if my parents ever split up, I don't want my parents to split up.
"How can they do this to us!" I exploded, angry tears welling up in my eyes, "I mean, don't think that we'll all be effected by this! Didn't they think that we'd noticed they were having problems! WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL US!"
Zeke turned me round and I sobbed into his chest while I felt the others staring at me in shock, I usually had to hold it together in major parent situations, there wasn't many to be honest, only two at the last count, the first one was when I was ten, Zeke, Ronan and Garret were nine and Jocelyn was eight, dad had gone away on this week long mission or something and mom was kind of upset so we all banded together to try and make her happy, then the second one was just two years ago between Will and Grace, she was pregnant with Verity and they were arguing lot due to her hormones, Jocelyn was scared they'd get a divorce so we decided to spy on them, let's just say I was soon scarred for life.
"Why aren't you guys at school?" a familiar voice asked sternly.
"Because we don't fucking feel like it," I spat, lifting my head and glaring at Lash who had one eyebrow raised at me, "and don't even think of telling our parents, what are you doing here anyway?"
"I work right across the street," he shrugged, sitting down next to Ronan who was looking at him suspiciously, "don't worry, I won't tell your parents, any of them, just tell me what's got you so upset? You stopped traffic with that banshee scream of yours, you sound like your mom."
"You say that a lot, are you in love our mom or something? Are you the reason our parents are fighting about Barron Battle?" I demanded rapidly, glaring at him coldly, fire sparking at my fingertips.
"No, you're mom's my best friend, and what do you mean they're fighting about Barron Battle?" Lash frowned, "they never fought about Barron Battle, not even when your dad went after him, sure your mom was upset about it but she had to keep it together since she was pregnant with you Serenity."
"Dad went after Barron Battle at eighteen? They left that out of the family history," Garret frowned, Lash paled slightly, not knowing we weren't meant to know, "wait, I remember something from last night, mom said something about a dream, then dad said people have been expecting him to be like his father for his and that mom must think it in her subconscious if she had a dream like that."
"Amaya had a dream about Warren turning into his father," Lash clarified as we all looked confused, "just be careful you guys, the Ruby Triangle, that organisation your dad's trying to bring down, they can make you see your worst nightmares, make you see things, this could be their doing, so look out okay?"
"Thanks Lash," Jocelyn said quietly, leaning over and hugging him, "and we will be careful."
"Mainly Serenity, Ronan and Garret should be, they're after Elementals, Amaya warned you about them right?" he said, patting Jocelyn's back gently with a slightly surprised look.
"Yeah, ever since we were kids, mainly as stories then, stuff like a prince was turned into a lion and the princess who was his sister fell in love with a fire starter and they saved the prince," I drawled, "then I found out the lion was Uncle Pietro, the princess was mom and the fire starter was dad, my mom is so screwed in the head sometimes."
"Yeah, I know," Lash grinned and we all laughed happily.
All tension and worries forgotten for just a moment.
"Mom, dad, you home?" I called warily as I stepped into the house with Taylor holding my hand tightly with a happy grin and the twins following me into the house.
A sound from upstairs made us freeze.
Please tell me they're not-
A moan rang downstairs and we all bolted, Taylor in my arms as he looked confused, his small face creased in a frown.
"Serenity, why aren't we going home?" he asked in confusion, "I'm hungry and want a cookie!"
"We'll go and get you a cookie now, but we're going to Zach and Magenta's for now," I said brightly and grinned at me, man, kids were so easy to manipulate and make happy.
"Okay! We get to see Glow Stick and Rodent!" he sang, he took after dad in both his powers and his nickname giving, dad was so proud, honestly, Taylor's first word was 'Rodent'.
A few minutes later we were ringing the doorbell and the door was answered by Magenta who raised an eyebrow in question.
"Mom and dad are doing activities I'd rather not be around," I shuddered and she laughed slightly before letting us in, taking Taylor from me as he reached for her, Magenta was his favourite female adult apart from mom for some reason.
"Zeke's in his room," she said, "I'll take care of Taylor and I'll call your parents so they don't worry, you want to stay the night? It is a Friday."
"Sure, thanks Magenta," Ronan nodded with a smile and we all bounded upstairs as Magenta just smiled and picked up the phone, we soon heard her snapping rather obscene things at mom and dad and we all shuddered as we went into Zeke's room.
Me freezing as I caught sight of him on his bed, topless, damn, that boy had a six pac, he wasn't allowed to have a six pac without me knowing! He looked at us questioningly, then smirked as he saw my bright red cheeks and dropped jaw.
"I'll just go and wait outside while you put on a shirt," I muttered, darting out the door and fanning my face with my hand as I felt incredibly hot.
"Serenity's it's safe, there is no chance of you jumping him," Ronan smirked, sticking his head out the door and I slapped him with a light pink blush still dusting my cheeks.
The second I stepped into the room Zeke pulled down onto his bed beside him, his arms automatically winding round my waist and holding me close to him, I smiled slightly and placed my hands over his, relaxing back against him as we watched my brothers fighting over who got to play the stupid video game.
Sorry it's so short! I felt like I couldn't fit anything else in without making it seemed cramped….if you get what I mean, because most people don't since I'm kind of crazy but that's beside the point!
Thanks for all reviews and please review this chapter!