Okay, I think I focused too much at this fic and seemed to forget about the others, but I promise I'd keep update Crimes of love and Taking the wrong side very soon :) Anyway, I hope you'd enjoy this new chapter.

29 September, 2011

Crystal squealed and threw her tiny hands into air as the ball kicked by her reached the goal. Chris moaned somewhere behind her back and kicked the grass annoyed as his little sister were enjoying her victory. She ran toward her father and cried as he took her off the feet and turned around with her in his arms.

'I win! I win!' Crystal yelled and kissed her dad on the cheek. 'Daddy, you saw that?'

'Course I saw. I'm the goalkeeper.' He chuckled amused and put her down. 'You'd have to tell mum when she comes back you've got a goal.'

'Oh, come on, dad. You did it on purpose!' Chris whined offended. 'It was impossible for you to not see that ball!'

'He didn't!' Crystal scowled at him.

'Yes, he did!'

'Oy, guys, calm down.' He raised his hands and stood between two kids. 'You both are fantastic players, and I think there is nothing wrong about the fact that for once Crystal got one goal, am I right, Chris?' He raised eyebrows at him.

'You're right, dad.' He muttered reluctantly and flashed his sister unfavorable glance. 'But still, you cheated to let her win!' He accusingly pointed a finger at him.

'Dad is never cheating.' Crystal said firmly. 'You're just angry, because this time I won!'

'You won because you're stupid and dad felt sorry for you.' In one moment Crystal's eyes became watery.

'I'm not! Daddy!'

'Chris apologize your sister, right now!' Darren yelled and knelled down to hug his daughter. 'What bites you today?'

'I hate her! She always get what she wants!' He cried.

'That's not truth! I'm always trying to treat you both the same, without any exceptions.' Darren disagreed and tried to catch Chris by the arm, but boy pulled back with angry face.

'Mum's only love Crystal and you most of the time are in work.'

'Look, it doesn't mean me or mum don't love you. We love you all the same.' He said calmly and stood up. 'You're just older than Crystal and doesn't need so much attention as her. You know she's too small to understand some things and she might hurt herself.' He explained softly and tenderly stroked his head. 'I don't want you to feel unloved.' Chris wiped his nose and looked down at his feet as he again kicked the grass. 'Come here, Chris. Hug your sister and apologize for what you said.' He barely said it, Crystal moved on her feet and with cry ran out toward her mother, who appeared in the small garden outside the house with heavy plastic bags in hands.

'Mummy!' She moaned and sobbed loudly when Nancy put the bags down and took her on her arms.

'What's happened, here?' Nancy asked puzzled, moving her eyes from her husband to son.

'We already sort it out.' Darren replied and patted Chris back. 'He only needs to apologize sister and they'd be okay.'

'Well, it doesn't look like everything is sorted out.' She stated as she took a look at wet of tears Crystal's little face.

'They are.' He insisted. 'She wasn't crying until you arrived.'

'Chris said I'm stupid and I won, because dad was cheating.' She sobbed.

'But he wanted to apologize you, Crystal. Stop crying.' Darren licked his lips nervously.

'Chris how many times I said you to not be rude to your sister. She's small!' Nancy snapped at her son who was staring at her hurt.

'It's always the same! Only Crystal and Crystal! I was going to apologize her, but this stupid already ran to you with cry like I'd punched her or something like that.' He sulked, annoyed.

'Chris, go to your room.' Nancy ordered unmoved and hugged closer the youngest to her chest. 'It's fine, love. Mummy is already here.'

'But, mum!'

'Your room, now!' Darren watched the whole scene with disbelief for a short moment didn't even know how to react. 'And you can forget about going anywhere with your friends, today!' She called after him.

'What the fuck is that?' He finally yelled, losing his all patience. 'Why you sent him to his room? He didn't nothing bad to be punished like that.'

'I don't let him call Crystal names!' She snapped and put the girl on the ground. 'Babe, go back to home and play with dolls, okay? I'd be right back.' She smiled softly.

'He just called her stupid, not big deal!' Darren snorted and looked briefly at wide eyed Crystal passing by him. 'And you should stop crying over everything!'

'Don't talk like that to her! She's a small kid, Darren. Chris has to understand he should take care about her, not compete with her.' She said annoyed, giving her husband harsh look. 'You should behave like responsible father and sent him to his room already when he said that!'

'It won't teach him anything.' He argued, never liking her methods. 'Maybe he's eight, but still needs our attention and love, Nancy. And you punish him all the time, didn't even try explain him why he shouldn't do what he did and for what exactly he has been sent to his room.'

'I know how to take care about my kids, Darren.' Anger flashed in her eyes. 'I'm just reminding you, it's me who is with them all the time.'

'That's the other thing which bothers me.' If she already raised this subject, he wasn't going to lose a chance to use it and ask her a few questions.

'Sorry?'

'I thought you're working, but whenever I'm back, you're already in home.' He answered, irate. 'Did you lost your job, or what?'

'I decided it's not a job for me and it'd be better for kids if I stay with them.' He stared at her agape.

'You what?' He yelled, hardly stopping himself from grab her for shoulder and shake her few times so she'd retriever her brain back.

'I quit the job. I can write some articles to the local press in home and I'd earn the same money as at Janet's.' She explained calmly, like it was a normal thing.

'And you didn't think about telling me about your plans?' He felt hurt and betrayed. 'So now, I'm going to toil like an ox, while you'll be sitting on your ass in home?'

'I told you I'd be writing to newspaper.' She scowled. 'It's not a big deal and I knew you'd be angry at me, so I decided to not tell you yet about my plans.'

'Well, you thought good.' He snapped and took off gloves from his hands.

'Darren, please. Don't be mad at me, you know how much I hated this job.' She sighed heavily and tried to touch him, but he pulled back.

'And do you have any clue how I hate my job?' He looked deeply into her eyes. 'I hate it with all my heart, but I'm working there for you all, to give you a comfortable life. I'd give anything for work as a photographer, but you know why I can't…And now you're telling me you're going to do what you always love for few coins for each article, when I have to sacrifice everything I love to keep a house for you and to have something to put to pot?' He wasn't even angry anymore, he was just sad and hurt. It wasn't the same Nancy he used to love and married. He didn't recognize her anymore.

'If it touched you so badly, I can go back to my old work.' She said quietly, didn't dare to look into his eye.

'Do whatever you want. I don't care.' He snapped and marched toward the street. He need a fresh air and be away from her. What a selfish cow!

'Darren! Where are you going?'

'To work.' He replied shortly, couldn't stand looking at her.

'But you have a day off!' She reminded him and stared at him with shock, as the man didn't say nothing back, but just keep going into his direction.

18 September, 2011

'Are you sure about this?' She asked with croaked voice and smirk on the face when she slipped few bills under her plaid. Old witch.

'Sure I am.' He assured her, although he wasn't sure about anything anymore. Something was telling him he just drive a nail in his own coffin and nothing went the way he wanted it to go, but it was too late to change it. 'Do you gave me the all documents I need?' He asked for sure and sighed heavily, didn't quite understand what he just do.

'The all I have.' She nodded. 'You said you'd take care about other documentation, and I'd sign everything you need.'

'Fine.' He hid them under his blouse and with disgusted written over his face he grabbed some old rucksack. 'Is it everything?'

'What else you expect?' She snorted, eyeing him up unfriendly. 'I can give you biscuits on your way back to home, but that's all.' She offered, but Craig only sighed and turned around, already having enough of their taste.

'No, thanks.' He replied and glanced at the small creature watching him with her big eyes. 'I don't want to be late for my train.'

'God bless you, Craig Dean.' She smirked and chortled as he jumped down from the porch and pulled the girl for her arm. He just knew he did the biggest mistake in his life, but now there was no return.

26 September, 2011

He brought two glasses with water and ice and put them down at stylish coffee-table, while his friend threw himself on the couch and sighed with content when his head met with a soft cushion. He added a small bowl with candies at the middle and took the place beside the other man.

'I didn't know you're going to visit me.' He said and gently ruffle his hair. 'I'd fix something to eat.'

'It's fine, I already ate lunch.' He shrugged and clapped his hands together. 'To be honest I didn't think I'd visit you today, it just…somehow came out.'

'You mean you need something from me?' He smirked and handed him a candy. 'And what's happened to your lip? Someone hit you?' He frowned as he looked closer at man's face.

'You can say that.' He sighed and looked briefly at him. 'Some guys attacked me when I was heading back to home after work.' He decided to play open cards with him.

'Why you didn't tell me?' He asked worried and gently grabbed his face to turn it toward himself. 'Are you okay? Did you see the doctor? Why they attacked you?'

'It's nothing!' He pushed his hands back, annoyed. 'Maybe they wanted money, I don't know. Anyway there was some guy who saved me. He called himself Grey.' He fished for another candy. 'And I couldn't tell you anything, because I knew you'd sing everything straight to Hannah and I really don't have time to deal with her.'

'Okay, so do you know that guy?'

'No, I've just passed out, and when I woke up he was there, saying everything's fine and that I'm save.' He replied quietly. 'He helped me to get back to home. He was really nice.'

'So, you didn't know who attack you and what really happened there?' He asked carefully and scratched his head.

'Well, no. But this guy and his mates make them go away.' He shrugged.

'I don't want to ruin your image about this Grey guy, but how can you be sure it wasn't him who attacked you?' He bite down at his lip as the man stared at him in disbelief.

'It's ridiculous! Why he'd like to attack me and then play a hero?' He shook his head. 'It doesn't make sense!'

'I'm just saying you should be more careful who you're taking back to your home. You're too trustful, sometimes.' He explained before Spike has a chance to bite his head off.

'He was nice.' He insisted but not so forcefully as before.

'It doesn't mean he couldn't hurt you. Don't you think it's strange that accidentally he was around and wasn't afraid to chase away your attackers?' He raised an eyebrow at him. 'Just be careful. We don't want you to be hurt.'

'I'm fine, really.' He sighed heavily. 'Anyway, I don't think I'd see him again, so you can sleep tight.' He rolled his eyes.

'Knowing you it won't take you too long to fall into some new troubles.' He stated with a smirk and patted his shoulder. 'Maybe you'd like to eat something? Hannah was here yesterday and filled my whole refrigerator with food.' He smiled.

'All Hannah.' He chuckled. 'No, really, I already ate.'

'Okay…So about what you wanted to talk with me?' He smiled and nudged him on the arm. 'You need a favor or what?'

'Yea, I need a favor, but I understand if you wouldn't be into it.' He could say the man was very nervous and was avoiding his look. 'It's just an extra job. I thought you'd like to get some money and I'd like to have some company there.'

'Okay, I'm up for it.' He shrugged without any problem. 'You want me to work there as who?'

'As a waiter. And of course don't even think about drinking. I'd have an eye on you.' He warned him and took a sip of his cold drink. 'And you'd have to wear different clothes.' He added quieter, almost ashamed.

'It's fine…But about what kind of clothes we're talking, now?' He frowned a bit.

'Is your Mercy still working in theatre?'

'Yea, she might don't like this job, but at least she earns a lot of money, so she's still very thankful you for that. You know she had a hard situation in home.' He smiled softly to him.

'Yea, I know, and I guess she'd do a favor for us.' He muttered with sheepishly smile.

'But she…' Then everything clicked in his mind and he couldn't help but chuckle. 'No…Are you kidding me?' He grinned, his eyes shone.

'Unfortunately I'm not.' He sighed and looked at him heavily. 'But I need this money so much, it's better wear it and bear the whole night, than start working on the street.' He said drily.

'But we'd look ridiculous!' He laughed amused. 'I'm not sure if Mercy would do anything about that. It's not like she might help us a lot.'

'I know, but at least she can choose some clothes for us and teach some stuffs about…You know.' He rolled his eyes. 'If you don't want, I don't force you. I'm only doing it for Jasmine and I hope it's the last time.'

'Don't be stupid, I won't give up such a good fun!' He grinned widely and winked at him. 'Anyway, I guess it'd be quite interesting…But still we'd look ridiculous!'

'You tell me that?' He looked at him and for the first time chuckled slightly. 'Yea, you're right, it's silly. But what we can do to get money, eh?'

'Exactly.' John Paul nodded his head with a smirk. 'Exactly, mate.'

18 September, 2011

'Craig? What are you doing, here?' She froze in doors with a light bread in one hand, and with a belt of her fluffy bathrobe in the other. It was almost seven and Craig would never visit her at such time without previous notice.

'Are you busy? I need your favor.' He asked with small voice and shuffled at his feet.

'Oh, of course, come in.' She quickly moved aside, worried what has happened he decided to visit her. 'Something happened?' She asked softly, but he even didn't has to answer as she noticed another, small figure slipping beside her friend and everything seemed to be clear.

'Sylvia, this is my good friend, Sarah. And Sarah, this is Sylvia.' He made lightly introduction and rubbed the back of his neck as he moved his eyes from girl to woman's shocked face.

'Oh, hi, Sylvia.' She smiled softly, not quite know how to react. She didn't know why Craig bring her here and what he was expecting her to do. She knows nothing about kids. 'Nice to meet you.' The girl stared at her with big, Craigy's eyes and was frowning eyebrows.

'Is she your girlfriend?' She suddenly asked and Sarah almost burst in laugh.

'Don't be ridiculous. I said she's my friend, didn't I?' He snapped irate and pushed her into couch. 'Sit here, and don't move. Me and Sarah need to talk.' He ordered and grabbed surprised friend for the wrist, before dragged her toward the kitchen.

'Okay, would you explain me what's going on, here?' She asked impatiently and massaged her sore wrist, when he pulled back. 'I thought you said you're going to drop her back to her grandma? You missed your train?'

'No, we already were in Chester.' He replied and start pacing nervously around the room. 'We're back from there.'

'Oh.' She kept watching him confused, wondering if she missed something. 'So, you decided to keep the child who you don't know, and be a dad for her?'

'No, I didn't.' He shook his head and ran hands over his face. 'It's complicated.'

'Yea, I already notice that.' She rolled her eyes. 'But still I don't understand what are you talking about. You don't want her, but you took her. Why?'

'You know me, I was asking about Sylvia's future and we just kept moving toward other stuffs and, you know, grandma seemed to not believe I could like to have her and like her and that I won't be able to provide a good life for her, so I decided I need to do something about that. To show I can and I'd like to do that. I don't want to know that one day my child would be a cowgirl!' He snapped and for a short moment narrowed his eyes as he approached the door. 'Don't eavesdrop only go back at the couch!' He ordered, irate.

'How do you know I was there?' Sylvia popped her small head inside, shock written over her face.

'I sniffed you.' He snapped. 'If you don't want me to change my mind, do what I said.'

'Don't be so harsh for her. She's your daughter.' She said with a little ironical tone and smirked. 'Anyway, I think it'd be good for you to have her around.'

'I'm not sure if I manage to keep her too long.' He suddenly announced and Sarah didn't like his statement.

'What you mean by that? Craig, she's not a pet only kid. You can't give her back to grandma, when you'd be tired with her!' She snapped, outraged with his behavior. 'If you decided to keep her, you need to stick with that.'

'I know!' He yelled and pulled at his hair as he growled. 'My name is at some of her papers and I figured as her father, so I have rights to let her live with me. But to be her keeper and don't be afraid one day they'd take her back at the farm, I need to do paternity test.'

'I guess, it's waste of time. She looks almost like you.' She smiled softly. 'I think you did the right thing, Craig…Although are you sure, you have rights to have here?'

'I'm going to phone to few friends and asked him for favor. I'm sure they can sort everything out during few days.' He sighed. 'And I need your favor also.'

'If I only can help. What is it?'

'I thought I don't even have to tell you what is it.' He cocked his eyebrow. 'I thought it's obvious after one look at her, what's wrong is.'

'Still, I don't get it.' She sang with questioning look at her face. 'What you want me to do? Wash her hair?'

'Don't be stupid.' He snapped and again grabbed her for wrist. 'Just take a look at her and you'd know what's wrong with her.' She fizzled as he unceremoniously pulled her out of the kitchen and almost fall down as he quickly spin her around when he leaded her across the couch. 'Now, take a look.' Sarah grabbed her head in one hand and with a deep sigh glanced at the small girl giving them both funny looks.

'Well, she's fine for me.' She replied carefully, didn't understand what Craig wants from her. She was a pretty girl, although she'd like to do something with her pigtails. They weren't suit her.

'Really?' He scowled, staring at her in disbelief. 'Try once again. Don't you see nothing wrong about her style?'

'Ah, you mean her clothes.' She smiled, finally understanding. 'Well, it looks like this cardigan is a bit too baggy for her.' She stated. 'And it can be in different color. I think red would be fine.' She said in expert tone and was pleased as the girl smiled back to her, seeming to like her advice.

'You're a model! You should know a lot about fashion, Sarah.' He scowled at her. 'Just look at her! I think her cardigan isn't the worst thing she has on herself. Her grandma is wearing more fashionable clothes.' He rolled his eyes.

'Oy, I'm still here!' Sylvia said hurt. 'And my clothes are fine.'

'Fine. If you want I can take her tomorrow for shopping and buy some new clothes for her.' She shrugged, didn't see a problem.

'Are you kidding me?' He stared at her with shock. 'You need to do shopping, now!' He said firmly.

'But it's already seven!' She snapped. 'It won't kill you, if you watch her cardi for one night longer.' Sometimes he was such a baby.

'I'm not going to leave your flat with her looking like that.' He pointed at her with disgusted. 'She looks like a nerd! I have prestige, Sarah, I can't show people with my daughter looking like that. What they'd think about me?' Sylvia showed him a tongue.

'I think people have more important things to do.' She looked at him with indulgence. 'But if you insist, there's a few shops down the street still open.' She said reluctantly and rolled her eyes, when the man grinned.

'Good, good.' He rubbed his hands together. 'Now, I only need to find a school for her and almost everything would be sort out.' He smiled triumphantly and sat down on the free chair.

'I remember Rhys school was pretty good. I can find an address for you.' She offered.

'But it's private school.' Craig noticed and pulled his face out.

'Yea, it is.' She nodded, didn't see a problem. 'But it shouldn't bother you. You have money.'

'I'm not going to send her to private school!' He scowled. 'I even don't know if she's my daughter and you want me to lose my money at her?' She always knew he was a miser, but she wouldn't think he'd be the same when it comes about the child. Especially if it touches his daughter.

'So, you don't mind to buy her new clothes to keep your poorly prestige, but you mind her go to a good school? Don't you think people would be bother more about the fact you send her to public school, than walking around in not fashionable clothes.' She snapped with a shook of her head. 'That's insane!'

'The first look counts the most.' Craig stated and reached for his wallet. 'Now, take the money and buy her clothes, before they close all shops.'

'At first I need to change.' She sighed and grabbed the money. 'You're going with us?'

'I need to make few calls, but I'm sure you both would have a good fun together.' He grinned cheekily and fished for his mobile phone. 'See you later.'

'Cheeky twat.' She muttered and with a roll of her eyes, marched toward her bedroom.